bildungsromans | for watcheslanterns

[ 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. ]

[ Rapunzel had taken a seat on the edge of the bed when Dick had departed for clothes. She isn't sure why, but it startles her when he returns in casual clothes instead of the intimidating suit. Her escape/rescue feels like a strange dream with everything that happened. A superhero savior hadn't exactly been a part of her plan, and it all seems like something impossible. Seeing him now, looking like any other person, well, an extremely cut person, is a bit jarring.

There's a millisecond of a pause between Dick's offer of the clothes and her reaction. Blushing, she takes the pajamas and holds them close to her chest. ]

Um...thank you. Again. [ She nervously tucks some of her hair behind her ear. ] I don't think there's anything...but if I have questions, is there a good place to find you?

Hm. Good question.

Remember that grandfather clock entrance? Just knock. I'll be able to hear you, then I'll open it remotely.

[ With that, he steps back, poised to make his leave. ]

And with that, I'm off.

Take care, Rapunzel. And get some rest.

I'll get Alfred to prepare you a mean breakfast tomorrow.

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