bildungsromans | for watcheslanterns

[ They won't.

Not if Batman has anything to say about it.

Before Rapunzel can even assess just how many figures stand in her way, the entire perimeter is obscured in a cloud of smoke. She can hear pained grunts and shrieks as the hapless assassins fall one by one, beaten and subdued by a towering, dark figure. As soon as the smoke clears, practically every threat that stood in Rapunzel's way lies either unconscious or far too injured to move.

The last man standing is the new Batman: Dick Grayson. ]

Might be pointless to ask if you're okay... but feel free to share with the class. Do you know who I am?

[ He briefly scans the area for any remaining hostiles, only to turn his attention back to Rapunzel. ]

And can you tell me why the League of Assassins are holding you captive?

[ He removes his cape, proffering it to Rapunzel in case she might need the comfort it brings. She's visibly distraught, after all, and who can blame her? This is the League of Assassins, for pete's sake. ]

I'm getting you out of here.

[ Dick's not about to unload any baggage about the reason he's Batman now. Best for the world to believe, after all, that Batman never died.

Still, if there was a chance to resurrect Bruce, bring him back to a world that still needs him so desperately, Dick wanted to assess his options. See if a pact with Ra's Al Ghul to restore life to a man they both respect is even worth it... or if it's just a deal with the devil. Bruce's loss pains Dick still, like the loss of his parents had been repeated and amplified the moment he learned Darkseid had killed his adoptive father.

The pain lingers, Bruce's shadow inescapable ever since, but it isn't enough to distract Dick. Not right now, when it's clear that this innocent girl - who's evidently been in the League's clutches - needs his help. ]

To think, I was only here to talk to Ra's. The bastard will get his due retribution... but not until you're safe.

[ For a moment, Rapunzel is frozen in shock. She didn't know enough about the league to tell if this new arrival is a part of them. If anything he looks more intimidating than any of the others. It's only the instinctual need to escape that pushes her out of her stupor. In fact, she's about five seconds from whipping her hair to trip him up when he speaks. ]

I don't know who anyone is.

[ She shakes her head. Physically, she has a few scrapes, but nothing she can't take care of later. Emotionally? Mentally? Well, she was okay as she had to be for now. She couldn't let anything get in the way of her escaping, not even her own feelings. ]

My moth-

[ Rapunzel stops herself, almost biting her own tongue in the process. She had barely spoken with Gothel since Eugene had died, let alone said her name. Eighteen years of conditioning was hard to break. ]

I was kidnapped. The woman who did it brought me here so I couldn't escape.

[ The smallest of hopes pulses in her chest. The idea of an ally hadn't crossed her mind, and now that she seemingly has one, she doesn't know if she wants him. Eugene had been her ally, and that had brought nothing but misery in the end. She can't let herself depend on someone else again...but she could at least use him to escape. ]

Do you know the way out?

Edited 2018-05-08 22:06 (UTC)

Yes.

[ From his spiked gauntlet, a hologram emerges displaying a three-dimensional floor plan of the entire base. Dick points to the specific exit they're about to make. ]

This is where we're headed.

[ A little strange that this girl was brought here. Ra's normally didn't do kidnappings, so surely there must have been something special about her. Dick figures that any answer he wants, he'll either have to beat out of Ra's or seek out from the woman who did this. ]

Where's this woman you were talking about? Is she still here?

[ Dick's primary objective is Rapunzel's safety, but being Batman, he wants to be absolutely thorough. ]

Don't want the cape? That's fine, I could still use it.

[ He puts it back on as he starts in the direction of the exit. ]

Follow me.

I have plenty more questions, but this isn't a conducive environment for Q&A sessions.

[ As long as Rapunzel's close behind him, Dick advances towards the exit - a window overlooking a deep valley, from which the fall would obviously be lethal. Not that there's any worry, of course, as a bat-like plane hovers in place within jumping distance. The cockpit opens, but Dick steps aside to let Rapunzel go first. ]

Jump. Believe it or not, the plane will catch you.

[ No matter how long Rapunzel might deliberate, and whether or not she does choose to jump... forces have gathered behind Dick and Rapunzel. While Dick addresses Rapunzel, an assassin pulls him by his cape, and he lands on his back in front of a vast array of assailants.

Fortunately, he jumps so that he can kick an assassin in the face before engaging several others. Seems he doesn't need to give them all his attention, as he looks back at Rapunzel. ]

Jump! Jump now!

[ Should Rapunzel make it to the Batwing, it will descend beyond the assassins' reach, gliding to a distant cliff on the other side of the valley. ]

[ The cape did bring a certain level of comfort, and for that reason Rapunzel returns it. She can't be comfortable right now. She needs to be on her toes, staying sharp. If she let herself relax, she could be trapped again. With or without this stranger's help, she can't let that happen. ]

I left her behind in my room, though I don't think what I left her in will hold for long.

[ She runs, not far behind him. Despite her long captivity, her endurance is strong, probably thanks to her hair. Bitter, she tries not to think on it too long.

When they reach the window, Rapunzel peers over and catches sight of the place. She's never seen one like it before, but she isn't nervous about the jump. In fact, she's climbing over the edge of the window...only to stop and look back. Even if she does get into the plane, she didn't know where to go from there. She didn't want to rely on anyone, but some advice couldn't hurt. Besides...it would be wrong to leave someone behind in the mess she helped to make.

So when she spots one of the assassins making a play for Dick's back with a knife, Rapunzel flings out her hair, wrapping it around the assassin. She flings him right at a batch of other assassins, knocking them off their feet and into a wall. She at least has the advantage of surprise with her attack method. ]

[ Dick refrains from proclaiming his excitement when he sees what Rapunzel does with her hair. She's practically made bowling pins out of these assassins. ]

Okay.

That is so much better than jumping.

[ He catches a katana blade between his palms before snapping it in half and kicking its wielder with a knee-breaking strike. As he continues to fight off amidst Rapunzel's contributions, the crowd of hostiles slowly thins once more. They have to remember the last time they fought Dick by himself, months ago when he was Nightwing-- it ended well for none of them then, so it certainly won't now.

To make quicker work of his opponents, Dick draws a pair of eskrima sticks to easily parry and counter the assassins' various weapons. He starts to notice that although the assassins are defensive against Rapunzel, they don't seem to be under any orders to attack her.

But surely there has to be a better reason than the length of her hair that's kept her in captivity. ]

We're nearly done.

[ He elbows an assassin in the face, one who'd attempted to attack him from behind. ]

Gather your hair.

When the smoke disperses, we leave.

[ Dick deflects several shuriken with his eskrima sticks, before intercepting an assassin's spear. His sticks seem to be durable enough that he uses them to snap the spear in two. He immediately kicks the spear's owner into the adjacent wall, just as he sheathes his eskrima sticks on his utility belt - only to pull out a smoke pellet in exchange.

He darts to Rapunzel's side and tosses the smoke pellet in the center of the remaining crowd. ]

To the plane. Now.

[ This time, Rapunzel can hop on the Batwing without fear of leaving Batman behind. He runs close behind her, encouraging her to lead the way as he keeps assassins at bay with concussive batarangs.

Before they can completely escape, though-- before Rapunzel can even step on the windowsill, she can hear a sharp and distinct cry behind all the clamor of the remaining assassins. A familiar calling of her name, albeit poisoned by entitled rage.

The voice of her so-called mother. ]

[ Rapunzel is all but ready to fling herself out the window when she hears Gothel's screaming cry for her. Years of faithfulness and conditioning halts her just as she's balanced herself on the window ledge. Her hair is gathered in her arms, pieces of it whipping around her from the wind outside.

She turns and faces Gothel as if they are the only two there anymore. Their eyes meet and anger meets anger in them. Despite a small part of her wanting to pretend nothing had ever happened and that this was still her mother standing before her, Rapunzel steels herself. She remembers Eugene's lifeless body on the floor, and that part of her is gone. ]

I'm keeping my promise. And if you try to find me, I'll keep fighting. Always.

[ She glances briefly at Dick, with no explanation. ]

I'm ready.

[ And with that....she jumps. ]

[ Dick's not gonna touch whatever just happened here with a 10-foot pole.

Not until he has to, but... it's obvious this girl can take care of herself, standing her ground against a scary lady like that. Dick nods at Rapunzel affirmatively once she's ready. ]

I'm right behind you.

[ Rapunzel should land in the cockpit safely. Because Gothel still wants to give chase, Dick tosses a flashbang batarang in her way to temporarily blind her. He backflips into the pilot seat, cape perfectly draping over the head of his seat. He steers the plane - the Batwing - away from the League's clutches, piloting it in the direction of some distant clouds. ]

Since we finally have room to breathe, allow me to introduce myself.

I'm Batman.

[ One would think introductions were unnecessary, given that he's Batman. But maybe this girl's been living under a rock?

He readies a GPS route on the dashboard console, though he hesitates in lieu of a crucial detail. ]

I can take you home. All I need is a general location.

And I'm not asking you to do this now, but before you leave, I'll need you to tell me everything you know about that woman.

If she's associated with the organization that held you captive in any capacity, she's clearly bad news herself.

[ Once safely settled in the jet, Rapunzel pulls her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around them. Her two-toned hair spills around her haphazardly, but she makes no move to neaten it. The adrenaline of her escape is still pumping through her body, but she makes an effort to contain all that energy. She's not out of the woods yet, so to speak. Her gaze is glassy as she looks in front of her, almost in a world of her own. ]

I don't...I don't have a home.

[ It's the one piece of the puzzle she never worked out. Who was she before Gothel took her? She never convinced Gothel to tell her, and she couldn't begin to remember.

Rapunzel's breathing becomes short and shallow as panic begins to take over. Now that she had escaped, what was she supposed to do? Where was she supposed to go? She needed to stop, to center herself. She couldn't lose control. She forced herself to take a deeper, longer breath. She moved one hand to touch the cool interior of the jet.

And then something Dick said cycles in her mind. She looks over at him finally. ]

...Batman? Really?

[ Dick smirks at Rapunzel’s recollection, though he’s too busy setting coordinates for Gotham to look back at her. ]

I know I don’t have to clarify that it’s only an alias.

[ He pulls down his cowl behind his head, revealing his true face underneath the mask. ]

There.

[ He inputs several commands on the console, after which he’s at enough ease to give Rapunzel his full attention. ]

I’ve set a course for Gotham City, where I’m based. Until we sort out this entire mess, you’ll be safe there.

[ Because Ra’s already knows who Dick is, Dick figures there’s no risk revealing his face to Rapunzel. If Gothel’s allying with Ra’s, she’s bound to know enough about Bruce and his associates - and Rapunzel would have likely picked up on it sooner or later, had she stayed in the League’s clutches. ]

If you were to spend any more time with Ra’s, you would’ve learned this anyway.

My name is Dick Grayson.

I know this situation is far from ideal, and I myself didn’t quite expect this, but I’m here to help.

My allies and I can provide all the resources you’ll ever need to set things right.

If there’s anything you need to work through or process... there’ll be time for that too.

[ Rapunzel studies his face after the cowl comes off, not bothering to be shy. Her natural curiosity and artistic eye follows the sharp curve of his jaw and the color of his eyes. She sees an edge to him that resonates with the sharpness inside her chest. She wonders what has brought him to this - what hardships he has endured.

She doesn't ask, of course. It isn't her place, and she knew how hard it would be if he asked her the right, or rather, wrong questions. ]

I'm Rapunzel. Thank you...for your help.

[ It had been a surprise, but goodness knows a jet is a much better way to escape than running on her own bare feet. ]

I wouldn't...I don't want to trouble anyone.

[ With his eyes ahead, he relies on his peripherals to catch Rapunzel studying him. He's fine, he's used to others glancing at him for various reasons - be it death glares from would-be opponents and longing stares from would-be lovers. Dick's not exactly concerned about where Rapunzel falls on that spectrum - it currently wouldn't make sense for him to be.

He nods at Rapunzel's gratitude. ]

Any time, Rapunzel.

Just know that you don't owe me anything for this. It's my job to help people.

But you can make my job easier if you tell me what all of that was about, back there.

[ Dick puts the Batwing on autopilot, and shortly reclines into his seat - perhaps to gain some well-needed relaxation. ]

Start from the beginning.

[ She's quite for a moment, her mind tracing over everything that has happened to her since her eighteenth birthday. Some things she didn't linger on, but she figures that Dick deserves some sort of explanation, especially if he's doing something about those people. Maybe he could bring Gothel to justice for what she had done. Rapunzel loathes the woman she once called mother, but she can't bring herself to inflict her own personal justice. She just wants to see her put away.

She could tell the story without the most painful parts. ]

Gothel...she kidnapped me when I was a baby. I didn't know that until recently though. She raised me to believe she was my mother.

[ Dick can't decide which was worse - living like Rapunzel did for almost a decade or losing his parents when he was a kid. ]

I'm sorry, Rapunzel. That's an ordeal no one deserves to go through.

[ He looks on at her in concern, trying not to seem too rigid or unapproachable. The last thing Rapunzel needs is further isolation or detachment, though Dick is considerate enough to give her space. He could be asking questions rapid-fire, callously proceeding with his interrogation... but that would be asking too much of Rapunzel, especially after what they'd just escaped. ]

She'll pay for what she's done. You have my word on that.

[ He sighs, mostly at the prospect of a question that might bring on more pain. ]

I want to know what the League wanted from you and your mother, but you don't have to tell me now.

[ He'd also like to know what the deal is with Rapunzel's hair, but that can also wait. ]

Gather your thoughts, first. Rest, and we'll talk once we reach home.

[ Now, he shoots Rapunzel a wry grin. ]

...The Batcave.

[ Her power. It's always been a shadow that haunts her, even before she knew it. Not for the first time since Gothel taken her away from the tower, Rapunzel considers cutting every last strand of hair on her head. She wants to be rid of the thing that caused all the terrible things that have happened to her.

But still... ]

The Batcave?

[ She moves on to this, less heartbreaking thought. She gives Dick a funny look, smirking at him. Maybe the man isn't as personable as Eugene had been, but she feels comfortable enough to tease a bit. ]

You're really running with that theme, aren't you?

Not my idea.

[ He smirks back at her, wondering what it is he should divulge about the history of Batman... until he figures that the pragmatic choice is the best choice. ]

Let’s just say I’m not the first Batman.

And not only that— I’m not the first Batman to kick Ra’s Al Ghul’s ass.

[ It definitely takes a while to reach Gotham, but the speed of the Batwing is not to be underestimated. As the conversation gradually transitions from serious matters to more small talk, time seems to pass a little more quickly until suddenly... Dick flies the Batwing through a waterfall, and into the mouth of a cave.

The cave itself is expansive enough to fit an entire headquarters laden with state-of-the-art technology. And for the Batwing, there’s a hangar it soon lands on. The cockpit opens, and Dick leaps out of it to glide onto the hangar. For Rapunzel’s convenience, though, a staircase emerges from the ship. ]

This, Rapunzel, is the Batcave.

Make yourself at home.

[ Dick heads in the direction of the Batcomputer, which rests at the very center of the Batcave. ]

But follow me, first.

[ Rapunzel bundles up her hair and descends the staircase out of the jet. Her eyes grow wide as she takes in the scenery. Everything has a dim look to it, despite plenty of light for them to see by. The atmosphere stays true to the name, even with all of the unfamiliar technology.

She follows along, her head never resting in one direction for very long. There's too much to see for her to focus on any one thing.

The word "home" gives her pause. She thought she had a home once, but know the once comforting memories are tainted with the bitter truth. She doesn't know if she'll ever have a home again. Not truly. ]

What are you going to do with that?

[ She knows, in theory what a computer can do, but she's never actually had a chance to interact with one. Gothel had kept anything like that away from her tower, telling her that strangers could find them, even with a computer. Now Rapunzel wishes she had fought harder for one. Maybe it would have saved her some trouble. ]

I have an entire criminal database at my disposal, pooled from every law enforcement organization on the globe.

[ Dick could very easily just walk around the large computer chair to take a seat, but he opts to vault over the top instead - like some kind of acrobat, as Rapunzel might gather. He only showed off his martial arts prowess back at the League's headquarters, after all.

The Batcomputer instantly boots up, and Dick opens a highly advanced search program. The Batcomputer itself is a colossal operating system, comprised of dozens of screens. ]

Gothel, right? That's how it's spelled?

[ He had just finished inputting the keyword before awaiting results. ]

Unless she's been living off the grid this whole time, there must be some record of her. Some history.

[ Never mind the possibility that Gothel, like Ra's, has been alive for centuries. ]

I think there's more you can tell me about her. Did the reason for her kidnapping you have something to do with your hair?

[ Dick can't keep pretending to ignore Rapunzel's absurdly long hair, after all. ]

[ Saying very little, Rapunzel nods, first at the spelling, and then at the more difficult inquiry about her hair. Her eyes remain focused on the computer screen as it runs through the database, searching for a name that may or may not even be there. Given her hair, and the story of the flower before her, Rapunzel doesn't actually know how old Gothel is.

Still not looking at Dick, she speaks. ]

My hair...is magic. I can use it to heal. To restore youth. She took me so that she could stay young and strong.

[ Though it's happened before, the Batcomputer's results are astounding:

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing on Gothel.

In a way, that makes her all too similar to Ra's Al Ghul, the way he was once so mystifying at the beginning of his rivalry with Bruce. Dick isn't exactly frustrated, though, despite the visible disappointment on his face.

He foregoes the defeated frown once he turns to Rapunzel. ]

Looks like Gothel's gonna remain a mystery. At least, anything about Gothel's life that goes beyond the scope of your experience.

[ Dick wonders if the occasional patches of brown on Rapunzel's otherwise blonde hair are anything significant. Hopefully Rapunzel's had enough time without extreme stress that another question can't hurt. ]

Your hair, though. A lot of it's long, and golden... but I'm guessing the brown isn't supposed to be a fashion statement.

Is it okay if I ask what happened? Gothel wasn't hurting you, was she?

[ Through his many years of crimefighting, Dick's had to comfort plenty of kidnapping and abuse victims after rescuing them. Besides the hair, Rapunzel doesn't seem to have anything else to show for it, so... he has to ask. ]

[ Rapunzel is happy to share what little she knows about Gothel, but it really is that; little. The woman had never been very open about her past, for reasons now obvious. And everything with the League of Assassins and Ra's Al Ghul was equally mysterious. All she had been told was that Gothel was bringing her to an old associate.

She turns to look at Dick, her expression mostly one of helplessness. For so long she's been focused on just getting free. Now that she is, she isn't sure what else to do. All of the fear and adrenaline from before is gone from her system, and honestly she just feels exhausted. At the same time though, she doesn't want to go to sleep. ]

Not physically. [ She sighs, recalling all the little ways in which Gothel had hurt her over the years. With the clarity of truth, she could see the emotional abuse that had always been there. ]

Something...well, something happened and I found out the truth. I was using my hair to threaten her. If it's cut, the hair looses it's magic and turns brown.

[ Well. That sounds a bit morbid. ]

Again... I'm sorry.

[ At this hour, Rapunzel must indeed be quite exhausted. Alfred is probably asleep because it's literally that late, 3 AM. Nonetheless, Dick turns to her in concern. ]

If you want any food or drinks, we've got plenty in the manor upstairs.

There's also more bedrooms than anyone in this household will ever need, so feel free to take your pick.

[ Dick puts the Batcomputer on sleep mode and stands up. ]

...Did you want to keep your magic hair?

If you want it gone, there should be a pair of scissors in each bathroom.

[ It was the only leverage she had against Gothel, but now that she's free... does she really want that burden, still?

Dick admits that the healing could be useful if Rapunzel stuck around, but he's just getting a little too hopeful, then. As far as he's concerned, as far as he should be concerned, the two of them are like ships in the night - merely passing each other in the journeys of their lives.

Like so many he'd helped before. ]

C'mon. I'll show you to your quarters.

I'm not sure, really.

[ Rapunzel twists a piece of the golden hair around her hand and studies it. Healing would be helpful now that she's out in the world, but it could still attract danger as well. Thinking on it though, her heart clenches. There's visible sadness on her face that she can't conceal. Some small part of her wants to believe that her hair could still do something about Eugene. Her hair is a miracle. Couldn't it do something miraculous for her? ]

But...I think I want to keep it. For now.

[ She follows Dick as he leads the way. She doesn't know what she's going to do tomorrow, let alone the rest of her life, but she's going to take up his offer for the time being. ]

[ Eventually, Dick's gonna want to know about Eugene. If Rapunzel suspects there's even a chance of her saving Eugene's life, Dick would want her to take it. ]

Gotcha. Might be for the best if you can still do some good with your gift.

[ Dick leads Rapunzel up a winding staircase that seems to lead to a dead end, only for a door-like shape to emerge and slide open from the cave wall. On the other side, Rapunzel will find that she's just come from hidden passage behind a large grandfather clock. As soon as Rapunzel stands a safe distance from the grandfather clock, it slides back in place to conceal the Batcave entrance. ]

Before you ask? We've got a lot of secret passages like that.

Now, c'mon. This way to one of the guest rooms.

[ Rapunzel will find the guest room Dick's picked out for her to be very spacious, though maybe not as spacious as her room back in the tower. It's not small enough to make her feel constricted, and it's not big enough to make her feel too alone - and maybe this happy medium this room occupies will help a bit. ]

I can leave you to it, then. I've gotta go change, and if I look hard enough... I think I can find you some spare clothes.

[ Rapunzel takes in every nook and cranny for the building as Dick leads her to the guest rooms. She's curious, of course, but mostly she looks out of habit. Whenever Gothel had brought her to a new location, Rapunzel had made sure to memorize everything so that she could have the advantage in her escape attempts. She may be welcomed her, but it's difficult to curb that instinct.

The room is, unsurprisingly, bigger than anything she's ever stayed in, but not intimidatingly so. It's difficult to feel one way or another about the accommodations. Part of her still feels numb from everything that has happened. Still, she is grateful to have a place to figure things out.

She manages the tiniest of smiles when she looks at Dick. ]

Thank you. For everything. Is there anything I should know about staying here?

Nearly every amenity you can think of is at your disposal here.

I wouldn't suggest searching every corner of the manor for secret passages, though.

[ He's only saying that because that might have been one of the first things he did here as a kid. ]

Be right back.

[ And indeed, moments later, Dick returns clad in a dark v-neck shirt and some pajama bottoms - a very stark departure from that Batsuit - while holding a stack of folded clothing: stuff for the day tomorrow, as well as women's pajamas Rapunzel will obviously need. ]

I hope these satisfy.

[ He leaves them on the corner of Rapunzel's bed. ]

Need anything else?

[ Otherwise, he has no plans on sleeping. He intends to perform a more thorough search on Gothel, more than simply entering her name as a search term. ]

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watcheslanterns - 2018-05-18 16:34 (UTC) - Expand

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bildungsromans - 2018-05-21 06:04 (UTC) - Expand

for watcheslanterns

works great!!

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