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The Raven's Call	By : AsylumWritings Category: DC Verse Comics > Batman Views: 433 -:- 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
- 10
- 11
What was closure if not a clock? Not an end as everyone imagined, but a beginning. Celeste Chaney, In Absence of Fear
“Are you alright?” Oz asked, sensing my restlessness.
I nodded. “Just a little edgy, I guess.”
He leaned over to press a kiss to my cheek, just as the car pulled up in front of the conservatory. It was a beautiful glass building, surrounded by and filled with flowers.
I climbed out after him, thankful that I’d gone with a cocktail dress that was easier to move in, rather than my usual long dress with a train. It was easy to pretend that it was a fashion decision, but the truth was, I wanted to be able to run if I needed to. I was over-cautious, unsure whether I was truly safe, and I had a sneaking suspicion that something would happen at this party.
Crane didn’t seem like the kind of person who would care that I told him I wasn’t going to be part of his game. I was pretty sure he would find a way to make me part of it, where I wanted to be or not.
We stepped inside, close to the crowd of people, and Oz turned to me.
“I’ll go get you a drink. You look like you could use one.” He squeezed my hand.
“Thank you.” I nodded. “I’ll wait here.”
I stood there for a moment, a little awkwardly, until I felt someone touch my arm. My anxiety spiked for a moment, but then I saw it was Slade. He looked uncomfortable in his suit, but that wasn’t new. He’d never been one for dressing nice.
“Thanks for getting me out.” I said, hugging him.
“You lasted longer in that place than I expected.” He commented, tucking his hands in his pockets. “I don’t know what you saw in there, but you looked equal parts furious and terrified.”
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s about how I was feeling.”
Oz returned with my drink, sliding his arm around my waist.
“It’s good to see you, Slade.” He held me close. “I wasn’t sure if we’d see you here tonight.”
Slade shrugged. “I figured I should really learn how to blend in at a party. Some people seem to like the personal touch when they hire people like me.”
“I think it’s a good skill to have.” I sipped my drink.
“I’ll see you two later.” He headed over to other people.
I turned to Oz. “Well, you got me here. How are you planning on making it worth my while?”
“I thought we could mingle for the shortest amount of time possible, have a dance, then…” He ran his finger along the edge of the silk scarf I was wearing. “We could sneak off somewhere, disappear for a little while.”
“Oh? I have a better idea.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “We could ignore the people, dance and then disappear.”
“That’s a much better idea, you’re right.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Unfortunately, there are people here I do have to talk to, so I’m afraid I can’t skip that part.”
I nodded, pulling away and finishing my drink. “In that case, I’m going to go to the bathroom, then I’m getting another drink. I’ll find you soon, alright?”
Walking through the crowd of people, I made my way to the bathroom. As I stepped inside, I touched my thigh, making sure I could still the knife I had strapped there. I didn’t think I would need to use it, but it helped me feel a little safer.
I stood at the sink, resting my hands on the bench and looking down at them. Not feeling like myself, I hesitated to go back out there, with all those people who didn’t understand. Even Oz, who listened to everything I had to say, didn’t understand how I was feeling, how scared I was.
Every second of the past 24 hours had been filled with fear. A fear of not knowing whether Crane was going to be around every corner, whether I would be gassed again, whether the next time would drive me insane.
I looked up, but before I even had a chance to even notice that someone was standing behind me, my head was slammed forward into the mirror. Shards of glass dropped to the bench as I fell backwards onto the floor.
“Did you miss me, Brianna?” That familiar voice said, as Crane’s face popped into view.
I was dazed, but I pushed through, trying to fight him off. He hauled me up against the wall, his face so close to mine.
“What do you want?” I snapped. “Didn’t you get enough from me?”
“You ruined it.” He shouted, shaking me. “Locking me in that room, with your pathetic emotional talk. You made me hurt again.”
I was momentarily shocked, but then I laughed in his face. “I’m pathetic?” Bracing against the wall, I kicked him in the knee and knocked him to the floor. “I’m not the one who can’t perform because of feelings.” I held him down with my foot in his chest, my heel digging into his skin. “I’m not the one who is so defined by their past that they obsess to the point of insanity.”
He tried to push me off, but I pressed down harder. I pulled out my phone, trying to steady myself as I called Oz. I was feeling a little dizzy from having my head slammed into the mirror and I needed backup.
“Is everything alright?” Oz asked, concerned.
“Not particularly, no. Do you think you could give me a hand?”
“Is it Crane?”
I hesitated, not wanting to admit that I’d gotten myself in trouble again. “Yes…”
“I’ll be right there.”
I hung up, looking down at Crane. He hit my foot, shoving me off.
“Waiting for your boyfriend to come rescue you?” He asked, sitting up.
“Shut the fuck up.” I kicked him in the face, unsteadily leaning against the wall as the world seemed to tilt a little below me.
He laughed, wiping blood off his lip.
There was a moment of silence, then the bathroom door opened, and Oz came running in, with another man in tow. He caught me as I began to slide down the wall, holding me up. I looked around to see the other man hauling Crane off the ground and dragging him out the door.
“How are you feeling?” Oz asked, drawing my attention back to him.
“My head hurts, and I feel so dizzy.” I pressed my hand to my forehead. When I pulled it away, there was blood on my palm. “Is it bad?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think it will even leave a scar. But you might have a concussion.”
“I was just standing at the sink, and he just came up from behind me and slammed my head into the mirror.” I took hold of his jacket to balance myself better. “Who was that guy?”
“Detective Flass from the GCPD. I’ve been paying him to do work for me on the side.” He wiped some blood off my cheek. “Come on, let’s get you checked out by a doctor.”
“How is she?” He asked, as the doctor closed the bedroom door.
“She’ll be fine. Just let her rest.” She picked up her bag. “If she has any headaches, she can have an over-the-counter painkiller, but nothing stronger. If she starts to vomit or the dizziness gets worse, get her to a hospital.”
He nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on her. Thank you for checking her out.”
When she was gone, he picked up his laptop and quietly crept into the bedroom. Crane was unlikely to come after her again, but he didn’t want her to have to worry about anything for a while. He had an idea, but there were a couple of things he would need to take care of first.
I sleepily rolled over, ignoring the pounding in my head. Oz was quietly using his laptop beside me, and he didn’t notice that I had woken up. It was nice, just watching him as he typed away. After a few moments, I softly touched his arm.
“What time is it?” I asked, slowly sitting up.
“Nearly midday. How are you feeling?”
I rubbed my eyes. “Like I’ve got a bad hangover. Am I allowed to take anything? I fell asleep pretty quickly after the doctor left.”
“Here.” He handed me a sheet of pills and some water. “She said you’ll be fine. And that you need to rest.”
“And Crane?”
He closed his laptop, turning to me. “I’ve been assured he’s being transported somewhere that he won’t get out of for a very long time.”
“So… It’s over?” I asked, nearly in tears.
“It’s over.” He took hold of my hand. “I promise, he won’t hurt you again.”
I nodded, lying down on my side, facing away from him. I was crying again, but it was tears of relief this time, not fear, not anger, not sadness. He lay down behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“I feel like I should be excited that he’s gone, that we’re finally free, but I don’t. I feel relieved, but I don’t feel free.” I whispered.
“I thought you might feel like that.” He placed the laptop down in front of me, opening it. “Which is why I organised a trip for us, so we can get out of the city for a few weeks.” He woke the computer up, revealing the website of a hotel in Rome. “I thought we could start in Rome, then travel all around Italy. But I want you to decide, this is about you.”
“I don’t know what to say.” I rolled onto my back, looking up at him. “I’m too tired to think, but I love you so much. This… is the best gift I’ve ever been given.”
He softly kissed me, brushing my hair off my face. “You are so important to me, and I will do anything to make sure you feel safe here again. I love you.” He traced my lips with his finger, before leaning in to kiss me again. “Now, you need some rest. You stay here and watch something, and I’ll get you something to eat.” He got up to leave, but I stopped him.
“I’ll come out to the lounge. I can still rest out there.” I climbed out of the bed, hesitating when a wave of dizziness washed over me. “Or, maybe I’ll just stay here.” Sitting back down, I rested my head in my hands.
He knelt down in front of me. “Just lie down, love. I’ll get you anything you need.”
I nodded, doing as I was told. I quickly fell asleep again, but it was better sleep, because I didn't have to be afraid of Crane anymore.
- 10
- 11
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The Raven's Call