Chapter Text
Dick Grayson is currently sitting in the backseat of the car. Alfred is sitting in the front seat, driving him to his doom. (No, Bruce, he's not being dramatic!) Today has been a horrible, no good kinda day. The kinda day where he should go nowhere, do nothing but stay in bed and stare at the ceiling. On patrol someone hit him really hard in the side so his side hurts, he woke up late (still in pain), had to rush to get ready and is now going to be late to science class. He actually kinda likes the Mis. Janice, and really doesn't want to be late. Plus, he has a stupid test today.
"You are going to be perfectly fine, Master Richard." Says Alfred. Dick scrunches up his face. It sure doesn't feel like it. He's pretty sure he's screwed and his teacher is going to hate him.
"I'm sure, Mis. Janice will not hold it against you that you are late today." Says Alfred. Dick still doesn't answer. Alfred doesn't say anything else during the drive. Dick can't help but feel a small bit of relief, though it's also covered up by guilt. He doesn't mean to make Alfred sad or seem rude it's just that kind of day.
He really hates today.
Talon lays on the concrete floor. It doesn't move, and its eyes are not open today. It didn't need to open them to know that above it is a stone cellings that is attached to four stone walls. It's very original.
A cold metal door held it inside when it was younger, but now Talon doesn't need a door to hold it inside. To stop it from running. Talon's own mind became the closed and locked metal door. Forever trapping some part of it in routine and isolation down in the labyrinth of the Court. Trapping it under a stone celling and four stone walls. It's safe this way.
Unfortunately, being somewhere forever makes Talon's brain think, and no matter how many metal doors it builds, thoughts somehow leak through the cracks. Thinking will and always has been bad. It leads to Talon trying to leave and leaving breaks the routine. Breaking the routine is dangerous and means that Talon doesn't know what is going to happen. It also means it gets punished. Horrible things happen when the routine is broken. The routine is the only thing keeping it safe, so the routine must be kept. No matter what, thoughts break through the metal door.
So, to make sure Talon never breaks the routine, it finds ways to keep its head occupied and bad thoughts locked away. Sometimes Talon counts up to 66 and then back down to 0. Sometimes, it counts higher than 66, but it usually doesn't. It's harder to remember what number it left off on when it does. Counting stops Talon's mind from thinking, and so does watching the never-ending changing labyrinth of the Court. So Talon makes sure to do both as often as it can when alone. It's safe that way.
The rooms and halls never change for Talon. Well, they don't change where Talon is. It knows what is always outside its cell. Six metal doors that are indistinguishable from each other. Each Talon inside is indistinguishable from each other. All in the same uniform and identical. All property of the Court. All made as if they are 'cans' in a 'factory'. The same. No different from the other except for maybe a dent or two. It was safe. It is safe.
It needs to be safe.
A sound breaks away Talon's thoughts.
Footsteps are slowly approaching Talon's door. It knows who it is. It is the same person who always comes to collect Talon. It doesn't react. It stares at the ceiling with now open eyes. It was not told to move yet. It is completely still. It is a good Talon. The footsteps stop. He's outside the door. The door then quickly opens, and the Trainer steps inside. The routine is safe and has not been broken.
"Stand. You are to go to training room 4 and wait inside the middle of the room for further instructions." Says the Trainer at Talon. No one talks to a Talon. Only at one. The Trainer then goes to tell another Talon its instructions. Their are only 3 Talons in training. 3 baby Talons. 3 Talons on the fifth stage of being a Talon. Talon was in door three. Three is good. Going back into cell three means the routine isn't broken.
Talon begins to walk out of the room and down the halls. It is in the same place it always has been. It is in the same place it is every day. Talon walks the path it has walked every day. It follows the routine. The routine is safe.
It turns the corner just as it has done many times before and looks at the at the metal end of the hall. It walks up to it. No one is guarding it. With no hesitation, it opens the door and walks inside. The door slams shut behind it with a loud metal slamming sound. Talon twitches from the loud sound. No one is here to see it twitch. It is safe.
Stupid door sound.
Dick Grayson is currently walking to English. His worst class but not because he's bad at English but because of the other kids in his class. The hallways are as always crowded. His backpack is digging into his shoulder, and it's really not helping his ribs feel better. In fact, they hurt a lot more than they did this morning, but it's not like he can go up to the school nurse and ask for something for the pain.
That would be a good way to make sure Bruce got investigated for child abuse.
Taking another step, froward Dick grinds his teeth as another slice of pain goes through his side. At least he knows he's not bleeding all over the school as he's checked between every class so far. Wouldn't that be a front page story! 'Dick Grayson survivor of the circus tragedy bleeding all over the halls' and then right after 'Billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne abusing Orphan?' All by Vicky Vale, of course.
He takes another step, and so does someone else. Another kid from his English class and Dick only has a second to brass for impact as the kid bumps into him. Hard. Dick of course, has to play his part so he falls onto the ground.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry, Mr. ward Wayne. Here, let me help you up!" Says Mic-Kayla. The teachers pet, of course who would never ever bully someone, and yes, her parents willingly named her that. Dick can feel everyone's eyes on him. Staring at him as if he's still in the circus. As if he's just an act or something to entertain them.
He has to play his part.
He looks up at Mic-Kayla and smiles. Just like he does every other day sense, she decided this was the best way to spend her time.
"Oh, it's no problem, Kayla, right? From English. " Says Dick and she smiles back. Dick really wants to punch her, and now his ribs are really killing him. Thanks, Mic-Kayla.
"It's Mic-Kayla, Ward." Says Mic-Kayla with that same 'kind' smile as if she doesn't bump into him every other day at the same unavoidable hallway. But enough about that, his side hurts so much right now. He needs to sit down, but if he stays sitting for too long, someone will get suspicious. Mic-Kayla offers him her hand. He has to get up.
So he takes the offered hand and stands up despite the pain.
"Do you want to walk to class together?" She asks, and he remembers the first time this happened. How happy he was to make a friend. It was all a lie as she ignored him the next day and them bumped into him all over again when she needed proof that their friends Later, she loudly bragged about how they were friends at lunch and took so many selfies with him to show her parents. It's so annoying, and he just wants to get away from her.
"Sorry, I have to run to the bathroom before class." Says Dick loudly as he walks away from her. Thankfully, she lets him go.
He's not going to English today.
It walks to the center of the room and stands there to wait for the Trainer. The Trainer is always on time. The Trainer likes the routine, and that's what makes it safe. It waits. It doesn't have to wait long, though, as it can hear his footsteps getting closer and closer. It does not move and stands perfectly still. It's a good Talon, after all. It has to be a good Talon.
The Trainer enters the room and doesn't bother to even say hello. They never do. It's part of the routine. The door slams behind them, and like every time before, Talon doesn't flinch.
"Stand Talon. Now run around the room. 30 laps. Go." Says the Trainer. Talon is quick to comply with the demands. It runs on the gray mat, following along the wall. No other sounds are in the room other than Talon's not completely masked footsteps and the breathing of the Trainer. This was how every day really starts. Training. Running. After running comes knife practice, then comes the obstacle course, then the needle that gives Talon food, and lastly, Talon is returned to its room. Then Talon will rest. Day after day. No break in the routine unless Talon makes them break it. The routine is safe. It is known and treasured close by Talon's claws in secret.
Talon is good.
Four more laps. It is almost finished with the task. It is almost done. Talon is good. The last lap. Talon doesn't react to its run being almost over. It doesn't feel. Almost done. Once it finishes, it will have its knife practice. After knife practice is the obstacle course. The routine is safe. Talon is safe.
It has less than half a lap to run left.
Talon doesn't come to a stop in front of the Trainer. Not yet. Its eyes are on the ground. Never looking up. Never daring to show defiance or break the routine. A good Talon. Good Talons get fed and are allowed to rest. Finally, Talon finishes the last lap and stops in the exact stop it was in before. It shows no sight of needing rest. The Trainer doesn't look up from his watch, but Talon knows he is watching. They always are.
"Faster than before. Good. Come." Says the Trainer, but he is not speaking to Talon, just at it. The Trainer then begins to walk towards the room with the knives. Talon follows him silently. The routine is safe.
Dick Grayson would say he's an amazing student as he casually skips class again. He is currently hiding in the schools bathroom, waiting for his stupid English class to finally end so he can go to gym class. (Which is going to absolutely suck with the pain in his side. He's really hoping he didn't break a rib or something.)
Normally, he wouldn't skip school, but.... He knows he's being silly, and he shouldn't get ubset about her, but... Well, Dick really doesn't want to even see his 'favorite' group of bullies today. Let alone sit next to them for an hour so ya know bathroom. Also, he's not sure he can set there without passing out. He's so tired. Luckily, he can just distract himself.
Slowly Dick pulls out his phone. As long as he's careful, he will have successfully skipped class again. Hopefully, they won't call Bruce.... or even worse, Alfred, but... he just can't go in there. Not today. Maybe tomorrow, but not today. Not with the day he's been having already.
Then his phone buzzes. It's a text from Bruce....
Fuck.
Talon is now sitting with the needle in its arm. Glowing yellow liquid was entering it's veins, turning them a sickly dark brownish 'color'. Talon doesn't react. After the yellow is all inside of Talon, it will get another needle in the other arm for food. Every now and then, they feed Talon with The Tube. But that is only once every thirty days, and Talon had gotten The Tube six days ago.... Talon is good today, just like it is every day, so it will get food. The Court is merciful like that.
The routine is safe. Talon is safe.
"Other arm." Says the voice of the Master at Talon. The Trainer is not in the room like usual, and like always Master is. Talon arm is then turned towards the ceiling as the other needle is removed from its skin. This master has blond hair and, like all members of the Court who are human, wares an Owl mask. He is just like Talon was identical to every other who bore the mask. Indistinguishability. All the same. Never a difference. Routinely the same. Indistinguishable. Perfect. Good. The same. Calming. Talon needs routine.
The needle without warning is stabbed into Talon's veins. It doesn't react. It is good. Perfect. Indistinguishable from every other Talon behind the mask. In the head. Not in body but in mind. They are all the same. The same fish in the water, following the school and bread crumbs left behind for them. That is what the early stages of being a Talon were for, after all. Making sure all were the same in mind and in claws. It is routine.
The needle is removed. Talon doesn't react. Nothing changes about it except for the soft lime glow in Talon's eyes, changing a bit more yellow before the liquid goes through its chest and- and changes. It doesn't ask or question anything. It's a good Talon, and only bad Talons do that.
"Follow, Talon. Time to rest." Says the Master at Talon. Talon follows him out of the white rooms of the labs. Down white stone halls and over red carpeted stone floors. They walk down hallway after hallway until the Master finally stops. 12 metal doors sat in the hall next to it. Six on one wall. Six on the other. only three Talons lived in the cells. There are 4, 5, and Talon is 3. Has it always been three? Talon closes the metal door and looks at the ones in front of it.
5 has been here the longest. They learned the tapping game from the pervious batch of Talons. The tapping game is where one Talon would start tapping, and soon, the others would soon join.
Talon used to make a chirping sound, but the Court was not pleased when it did. None of the others could make the same sound, but they did try. Theirs just didn't sound health(?). Though moving away from chirps, if a Talon wanted to be brave, some Talons would click their tongue in their mouth to make sounds. 7 always called it clickling in hushed whispers. Clicking is good.
Every week or so, someone would whistle. When 1 was still here, it would always be humming when they started the game. Talon sometimes would humm too, but it couldn't get the sound right. But that didn't matter. It was way to show they weren't alone.
Though now, most of them just tap. 1 isn't here anymore to humm. 7 was buried in the walls and has long sense stopped clicking. 11 can't whistle anymore as they don't move anymore, and 12 soon followed them. It is only 4, 5, and it left. It will continue like this until the Trainer wants to restart the routine. When that happens what's left of the others will be brought back and forced to be awake and it'll start all over agian until a new one takes there place ot the leave to become level 6 Talons. Though sometimes they don't bring some of the others back... They stopped bringing them back one hundred and twenty-two days ago. 4 had started to keep track after they locked 7 away and never brought 1 back.
"Stay in there and rest." Says the Master at Talon. Talon did as it was told. Laying back straight eyes up on the concrete. Talons feel no pain. No discomfort. Nothing. Talon is good. Talon waits for 5 and 4 to start. They always return before it does. 5 rarely gets food, and 4 is always fast.
Luckily, it won't have to wait long. It's almost night. Night fall is a difficult thing to track in the Court. Though, there is one way reliable way to check. Which is by the guards. The routine is rarely changed, and so the guards never change either. Routine is safe. Talons work better with a routine. The Court says so.
It's too quiet...
The tapping hasn't started yet. Talon draws in a silent breath before slowly lifting up a claw. Then, as if the world had gone silent in waiting, Talon begins to tap. The relief of the routine calms it.
"Tap. Tap. Tap."
Two other taps joint in. 5 is still here, and so is 4. Talon is, too.
"Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap."
Safety in routine. Safety in obedience.
"Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap."
Tapping means you're not alone.
"Tap.Tap.Tap."
It can't be alone as long as someone taps back.
Dick sits alone in his room while drying his stupid face on his sleeve. Stupid Bruce and stupid school and stupid English and stupid everything! Everything's super stupid and mean! Dick lets out another muffled cry of anger.
His eyes burn a little as he cries. Stupid Bruce is not listening to him and stupid teacher telling on him but not saying anything to the jerks in his stupid class. It is all so stupid.
Then, comes a knock from the door. Great. Dick slowly looks up from his sleeve and glares at the door. What does he want now? To yell at him more? Maybe take Robin from him for a week.
"Dick, it's Bruce. Could I come in?" Says Bruce on the other side of the door. Dick glares even harder at the door!
"Go away!" Dick yells out. A sigh came from the other side of the door before the sounds of someone slumping against the door could be heard. What is he doing? Shouldn't he be yelling at him?
"It wasn't my intention to upset you." Says Bruce. Dick glares even HARDER at the door. Alfred definitely made B read one of those stupid parenting books before coming up here. Dick doesn't say anything.
"I don't know why you are skipping your classes." Says Bruce slowly. Dick lets out a sigh before he slowly gets up and goes to the door. Stupid emotionally repressed old man.
"If you tell me what's bothering you, I could help." Dick stands on the other side of the door as Bruce's monotone careing(?) voice comes from the other side. Dick huffs as he dries his face and opens the door, which makes B literally fall into the room. (Dick might have laughed a little when B hit his head on the ground).
He deserves it.
Bruce, instead of getting up, just lays on the ground while staring at the celling. Which is fair enough.
"Hey, chum." Says Bruce and Dick can't help it. He snorts.
"Hi Bruce." Replies Dick.
"Do you want to talk about school?" Asks Bruce, and Dick looks away from him. He doesn't want to talk about it. It shouldn't be bothering him as much as it does. He's Robin. He's stronger than that.
But it hurts. Each sly remark about him being an orphan, his heritage, everything. It hurts. Being shoved on 'accident' in the halls. They always assume he doesn't know about things just because he was raised in the circus. He knows what a coffee maker is and what cable is! He's not stupid! He wasn't raised under a rock!
"I was mistreated when I was in school." Says Bruce and Dick looks over at him.
"They would ask how my parents are and then apologize immediately after. They would steal my notebooks and hide my backpack all the time. I ah remember one time i was having a really bad day and one kid just wouldn't stop poking me. After class I had run to an empty class room and called Alfred. He picked me up and the next day that kid was gone from my class. I don't know what would've happened if I didn't have Alfred and some really good friends back then." Says Bruce. Dick just stares at him. Bruce has friends!? What? When- where are they?
"So I guess I wanted to say I get it if you're being picked on and I'msorry for not listeningto your side of the story earlier." Says Bruce and Dick has never seen him look so nervous. This is so weird. He- he should say something.... Maybe Bruce will listen this time.
"There's this group. At school. They keep bumping into me and calling me Ward Wayne. I- my ribs hurt and she just bumped into me and I had to fall and- I didn't want to sit in the same room as them for a whole hour." Says Dick and Bruce just nods and says nothing.
"Thank you for telling me. Now how about we go watch and movie and you have Alfred make some hot chocolate while I-" Says Bruce. He's running for the kitchen before Bruce even finishes. Not knowing how the call with the school is going to go is worth getting hot chocolate. And something for pain.