When Night Comes

Chapter Three

Oh god, what happened whilst I was gone? I placed my plaster on the side as I headed over to the screen that Bruce had indicated. And instantly paled, the blood match was mine.
"I don't know what to say Dick." Bruce sighed, "So you tell me what's going on, and don't lie and tell me you don't remember again. That blood is old enough to have been there when that man was killed. So I'm giving you one chance before I do something I'll regret."
I stayed silent a moment, debating what to say. Did I tell him about my possible murder sprees or keep it to myself? One would have me in jail, the other could end up hurting him even more.
"I was made to watch." I said in the end, "He'd already beat me slightly and I had to watch as he ate that man."
"Ate?" Bruce questioned, completely buying the lie just to question a slip of my tongue.
"Ahh, well..." I rubbed a hand down the back of my neck awkwardly, "The guy you're looking for doesn't torture them, he eats them, that's probably why you can't find some of the bodies."
I saw Bruce pale slightly below the mask, "Dick, I told you to tell me the truth."
"I did." I replied, maybe a little too quickly, "On my life, I told you the truth."
"Swear it on your parent's graves." Bruce said, "Or I'm going to have to lock you up and complete a proper interrogation."
I couldn't do that. I couldn't disgrace them like that. I hung my head and Bruce took that as my answer. I felt the cuffs go on my wrist and then Bruce removed me of all my weapons and technology before escorting me through the cave, past the confused team and to a cell where I was chained to the chair and table.
"I'm sorry about this Dick." He said as if he meant it, "But you've left me no choice. The handprint matches to yours, you're always the first to go and only one found alive, the blood sample matches yours. And you know that I need to get the truth out of you, for the safety of Gotham."
"Can I at least talk to the team?" I asked.
"I'll send them in for interrogation first, this is not a social call. Understand?" He said and I nodded as he left.
I wouldn't tell them, no matter what they did. I couldn't. I'd die first. The door opened again as Conner came in.
"So, Dick Grayson huh?" He said as he sat down.
"Batman told you my identity I take it." Of course he did, it was just such a Bruce thing to do.
"And that we're here to interrogate you about the murders of the missing people." Conner said, "So I'm going to start by asking nicely. What really happened with the dead people?"
"They were killed by a rampant beast of a person." I replied, which was the truth I guess.
"And, apparently, they made you watch as they, as they ate their victims?" He was trying to hide his discomfort at that statement, trying and failing.
"Yes, they did." I replied in short, wishing I could cross my arms, "It's the truth."
"But not enough truth to swear it on your parent's graves?" He questioned.
"Maybe, maybe not." I said, now starting to get a little riled up by his straightforward approach.
"So you're lying to us." He said calmly.
"Get out." I growled and he had the decency to look surprised, "I said get out. You don't get to come in here and decide what is true and false when you don't know the story."
Someone must have said something to him through the comms than as he did get out, only to be replaced by Kaldur.
"Hello, friend." He said as he took the seat Conner had just vacated, "I would be honoured if you could tell us the truth about these murders."
"You really wouldn't." I muttered, "Trust me, I don't know the full story myself and what I do know is hellish."
"We can be the judge of that." Kaldur said, still keeping calm and approachable.
"No, you can't." I replied shortly, "Who's next?"
M'gann was the one to take the seat this time, and obviously, Batman had given her permission to try and get the information straight from my brain. Not going to happen. I focused on putting my walls up as tough as possible, because though I couldn't remember anything, all of my memories are here somewhere. Every last one. I could feel her poking around, looking for an opening and I created a small one, as if it was a gap in the wall but it only accessed one certain emotion. Pain. She entered quickly and retracted just as quick with a scream as she curled in on herself in the chair.
"What did you do to her?" Conner asked as he came in, looking ready to pummel me.
"She tried to intrude on my mind, I didn't want her to." I shrugged with a pointed look at the one-way mirror where I'm certain Bruce was standing.
Conner carried her out as she shook in his arms and was replaced by Artemis.
"I know multiple different ways to break you Boy Wonder." She threatened, "Which one should I start with?"
"I don't really mind, take a pick." I smirked, now wishing the cuffs would at least allow me to lean back in my chair so that my little smirk had more effect.
"Alright then." She said, thrown a little off kilter but regaining her composure almost instantly, "We'll start with the nicest one, I will kill everyone that you love if you don't tell me."
"Two flaws." I said, "Well, actually, there's probably more than two but I'm just going to point out two. One: You left that life behind you, no more killing little archer. Two: You couldn't kill your boyfriend if you tried."
"Fine, moving on." She huffed as she kicked out the chair and leaned across the desk until our noses were almost touching, "I can break every bone in your body, and I will do it. Slowly, painfully. Until you're begging for mercy."
"Been there. Done that." I said, once again wishing the chains had more slack, "Next."
"No. I'm testing that little theory." She said as she took my hand, made a show of picking a finger and then dislocating it.
"Ow, that really hurt." I said mockingly as I could, "I'll tell you everything, just don't do that again."
"Screw you." And she stormed out.
I was then left alone for a couple of moments, taking time to try and relocate my finger, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't reach my other hand. That was slightly annoying. But I was spared from trying to do it as the door opened and the final member came in. Wally.
"Look, Dick. I know that you're hiding something, I always know when my best friends lying to me." He said as he pulled the chair back over and sat down, "So, please, just tell me the truth. I promise we're all on your side."
I scoffed at that but we both remained silent. I jumped slightly as he took my hand, but relaxed as he realigned my finger. I just looked at him, studying him. He trusted me completely. I was the golden boy, I'd never do anything wrong. And he really believed that. If I told him the truth he'd never look at me the same though, to know that I went around and ate people. Even I can't look at myself the same. In fact, I avoided looking at myself whenever possible.
"Please, Dick." Wally broke the silence, jogging me back from my thoughts, "We want to help you and these other people."
"Is there anyone else coming in to see me apart from Bruce?" I asked instead.
"One more. Bruce found some kid who said he gave refuge to the killer. He wants to come and identify if he ever saw you with him." Wally explained, "But he also knows what the killer looks like and is willing to tell us if he recognises you. So even if we don't want him here, he didn't leave much space for argument."
"Cool. Well, bring him in now. Because I'm not telling you anything other than what I've already told Bruce. So..." I said, internally panicking a bit because what if this kid knew me from that impression.
And to be someone who helped someone like that, definitely sick in the head. Wally waited a couple more moments before he got up and left, the door only closing for a moment before Bruce came in with the kid. He looked about 14, only 2 years younger than me. Jet black hair, pale skin and on the skinny side with a tough face. Bruce definitely found this one on the streets. Typical.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." The kid breathed as soon as he saw me.
"Langauge Jason." Bruce scolded, but the hints of curiosity were on his face, "Now continue in a more pleasant manner."
"He looks almost identical to the Talon." He said as he moved closer and examined my face, slightly irking me, "Same build, same hair but he's not pale enough, and the veins aren't visible."
"Is that it?" Bruce asked as he also came over.
"No, his eyes." Jason said as he moved my hair from in front of my eyes, "The Talons are golden, his are blue. It's not him."
"What?!" I couldn't stop the exclamation leaving my mouth, "You brought this kid in to see if I was this...this Talon? You think I could do that?"
Not as good at hiding this thing as I thought I was then.
"It was a possibility, and all avenues must be explored." Bruce said, "But you're mostly clear now. We just need you to tell us the truth about your time with the Talon."
"Oh, is this Dick Grayson?" The kid asked and Bruce nodded, "Oh..." He moved his gaze to me and gave me a knowing wink, "I know him. He's always with the Talon, it's almost like their the same person."
"Pardon?" Bruce asked further, his curiosity piqued again, "The same person?"
"No, not like that." Jason said almost a bit too quickly, "It's just that Talon loves to make him watch. Makes sure to take him before he goes on a spree."
I felt something drop in my shoe, a note by the feel of it. What the hell was Jason's deal? Did he know about my missing time?
"Is this true Dick?" Bruce asked as he turned back to me.
I spared a quick look at Jason who looked at me as if to say something I couldn't make out, "I don't know. I can't remember."
"Right. That's because Talon gives you an injection everytime." Jason said into the short silence, "But it's untested. It could wear off and then you might be able to give them the information."
Bruce nodded as if this explained everything and then I was given a stern warning and released.