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The Penguin and the Raven	By : AsylumWritings Category: DC Verse Comics > Batman Views: 525 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Batman/DC Comics, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Death rides out from the storm
No time left to repent
No quarter, no escape
No line of self defense
Death, Judas Priest
I was tired of fighting against the pain, tired of holding back the darkness that was threatening to consume me. 24 hours in that place, five of which were spent tied up, with Tommy and his knife, and I was barely functioning. My mind was fractured, thoughts moving in and out, none of them coherent at all.
“Time to go.” Maroni told me, gesturing for Gabe to carry me out.
I didn’t have the energy to struggle, and I just let him put me over his shoulder. My limbs were so heavy, and the pain in my body was dull, but consistent. There was nothing left in me, no fight, no anger.
As they placed me down on my knees, I looked up to find Oz, Butch and quite a few of his men walking towards us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gabe step closer and felt the barrel of a pistol against my head. I flinched, but didn’t cry.
“Did you bring my merchandise?” Maroni asked.
Oz looked me over, a harsh, steely look on his face. I was together enough to realise he was planning something, but with my hands tied behind my back, there wasn’t much I would be able to do if this went wrong, except run. And I wasn’t sure if I could even do that.
“Hmm… See, there was a little bit of an issue with that.” He shrugged, sliding his hands into the pockets of his pants. “Mainly, I didn’t want to.”
“You would let your girlfriend die over guns?”
He shook his head with a grin. “I don’t intend to let that happen.”
There was the sound of glass smashing behind us, then I saw blood spray past me, some of it hitting the back of me. Gabe’s dead body fell to the ground, and I screamed, panicking. Suddenly everything just went crazy, and everyone was shooting.
I somehow managed to pick myself and I ran towards a row of crates. A bullet nicked my arm as I ran, causing me to lose my balance and I tumbled, falling behind the cover. The sound of bullets echoed around me, and it went on for what felt like hours. I was flashing back to my past, memories of death filling my vision.
Finally the shooting stopped, but I didn’t move. I wanted to be sure Oz had won before I left my hiding place, in case I got shot again.
“Maroni and Tommy got away, Boss.” I heard Butch say, and I began to cry quietly.
“We’ll deal with them later. Find her first, then search the warehouse. Anything we can use or sell, we take.” Oz commanded.
I could hear footsteps, but I still couldn’t seem to move, even as they grew closer. Boots appeared in my vision, and I looked up to find Butch.
“I’ve got her!” He shouted, crouching down to me. “They cut you up pretty good, didn’t they?”
I nodded, feeling a little better as adrenaline and relief washed over me. Turning, I waited for him to untie me. I winced as the cold air hit my rope burn, stretching my unbroken fingers.
Standing up, I managed to steady myself against the crate as Oz came running over. He wrapped his arms around me in a gentle, but comforting hug. Butch gave me a small smile, then headed off somewhere.
“I’m so sorry.” Oz whispered, refusing to let go.
My legs began to wobble, then suddenly gave way. He caught me, sliding his arm behind my knees and lifting me up.
“Butch, can you deal with all this?” He called, and I assume Butch must have nodded, because then he carried me out to a car.
My momentary high was quickly disappearing, and blackness closed in as I passed out.
He’d managed to stop the bleeding in her arm before they got home, and he knew she wasn’t in any serious danger, because most of her other injuries were shallow. But they would leave scars, both physical and mental.
He watched her sleeping, not wanting to wake her. Her face was tense, and she tossed and turned every so often. He knew it wasn’t good sleep, but she needed to get any sleep she could. It was going to take a while for her to heal, and he was going to be there for her every step of the way.
I lurched out of the bed, somehow managing to make it to the bathroom before I threw up. As I knelt there, still feeling nauseated, I heard the bedroom door open. Oz came running in and he sat down, reaching for me. I flinched away from his touch, panicking beginning to fill me again.
“I need a second.” I whispered, hugging my knees. I felt super gross and sore, and I really wasn’t ready to be touched.
“Do you want me to leave?” He asked, his beautiful British voice softer than usual.
“Please don’t.”
He nodded, leaning back against the wall. “I could run you a bath and help you wash the rest of the blood off. Molly dropped off some clothes for you.”
“Okay.” I watched him as he leaned over the bath, checking the temperature of the water as it flowed in. He looked like he hadn’t slept for days, which made me wonder. “How long was I out?”
“You’ve been in and out for a day and a half now.” He helped me into the bath.
I looked down, watching as all the blood began to swirl off my skin. There were shallow slashes all up my legs, along with deeper ones on my lower torso that were stitched up. My arms weren’t as bad, but they were still cut up. I couldn’t even remember most of it happening, I must have blacked out during it. So I had no idea if my face was cut up too, and I was too sore to move and check.
I thought my back was okay until Oz started to gently clean it. The pain was awful again and I whimpered.
“Are you in pain?” He asked, and when I nodded he stood up. “I’ll go get you something.”
He returned a few moments later with a glass of water and some pills. I took them, hoping they would work quickly. He continued in silence, only speaking when he wanted me to tilt my head back to get the blood out of my hair.
By the time he was finished, the water in the bath was red and the painkillers had started to work. He helped me out, wrapping a towel around me. I looked at myself in the mirror, finding one slash on my face, next to my left eye, aside from the cut just under my hair where they’d slammed me into the concrete. It extended from just above my eyebrow to below my cheekbone.
Turning, I looked up into his grey eyes, then leaned against him, burying my face in his chest. As he held me gently, I began to cry.
“I was so scared.” I breathed, pulling away after a moment. “I thought they were going to kill me.”
“I should have been there sooner. I’m sorry they did this to you.”
I was feeling a little dizzy again, and I found myself swaying. “I… I think I need to sit down.”
He picked me up, walking me over to the bed.
“Do you think you can eat something?”
I nodded, managing to stand for long enough to pull on some pants and a sweater. Sitting down, I hesitated as the pain ripped through me again.
“Let me help you.” He reached for me, but I stopped him.
“I can do it.” I carefully brought my legs up onto the bed. “I need to do it.”
He sat down on the edge, leaning forward with his arms on his thighs. “What do you want to eat?”
She had fallen asleep after eating, her head resting gently in his lap. Her face was softer this time, and he was happy to see it. Her hair fell gently over her shoulders and he ran his fingers through it. He looked over her body, thinking about all the cuts and bruises under her clothing. He wondered why she wasn’t angry with him. She should have been, because it was his fault.
“I have to go out for an hour or so.” Oz leaned over and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Molly is here to keep an eye on you.”
I nodded, watching him leave. There was a moment, then the door opened again and Mol walked in.
“Oh honey.” She joined me on the bed, looking me over. “You look like a Bond villain.”
“That does not help.” I laughed a little, then winced. “Ow.”
“I brought you some stuff, since I figured you probably don’t really want to move and come back to ours yet.” She placed a duffel bag between us, pulling out my hairbrush, my makeup bag, my favourite hoodie and my laptop.
I felt tears beginning to well up in my eyes and I looked away from her.
“Hey, don’t cry.” She pat my hand.
“I know you. And I know you’re probably gunning to punch Oz in the face, but don’t.” I squeezed her hand back. “He saved my life.”
“He also got you into this, but I understand. I did already give him a piece of my mind while you were still unconscious though.”
“Of course you did.” I slowly crossed my legs, sighing at the ache. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
She nodded, reaching past me for the remote. “Your raven friend has been looking for you. I’ve been feeding him, but I think he knows you’re hurt. Now, what terrible romantic movie are we watching today?”
“You choose.” I shrugged. “My brain is still barely working.”
I absentmindedly scratched at my bandages as she flipped through Netflix. On top of the pain, everything was starting to feel so itchy as it healed.
She settled on something, and I half-watched alongside her. I was recognising that feeling that was building inside me now. It was angry, but more than that. It was fury and vengefulness. I wanted Maroni to pay, I was going to make him pay.
I was still thinking about it as the movie ended, and I didn’t even notice until Mol waved her hand in front of my face.
“Earth to Bee.” She laughed. “The movie’s over, and Oz just got back. I’ve got a date with Danny, so I’ll see you later okay?”
“Sorry for zoning out.” I said, a little upset.
“It’s alright. You have a lot to sort through in that little head of yours. I’m not gonna get offended if you get distracted right now.” She gently hugged me, then headed out the door.
I yawned, suddenly feeling tired, but I didn’t want to fall asleep until Oz was with me. Anxiety was creeping up on me again, and I worried that I was unsafe.
As I was somehow managing to work myself into a panic, Oz finally walked in. He saw the look on my face and sat down in front of me.
“What’s wrong?” He softly touched my cheek.
“I… I don’t feel safe. I’m scared that I’m going to get taken again.”
“I won’t let that happen. I have some of my men on a rotating guard outside the room, and a lot of contacts keeping an ear to the ground for any information on what Maroni might do.” He leaned on his hand. “I will keep you safe, I promise.”
She was brushing her hair, her face betraying the pain she was in. But when he’d offered to do it for her, she’d refused, determined to do it herself. He wanted to take her pain away, hating to see her hurt like this. He couldn’t change what had happened, he could only protect her from the future.
- 9
- 10
- 11
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The Penguin and the Raven