bradygirl_12 | Fic: Rainbow’s Freedom (The Dark Knight Of The Soul Arc) (19/38)

Title: Rainbow’s Freedom (The Dark Knight Of The Soul Arc) (19/38)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: (this chapter): Clark/Bruce, Dick, Ollie/Dinah, Roy, Edmund Caldwell
Series Notes: In the 23rd century, Earth is a technologically-advanced society that practices the ancient institution of slavery. A Great Trial crashes down upon the House Of Wayne. Can Bruce and Clark’s relationship survive? Will the Family’s strength be enough to see them through this Time of Fear and Darkness? The entire series can be found here.
Genres: AU, Drama, Slavefic
Rating: (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: Worry hangs like gray clouds over the silent journey back to Gotham.
Date Of Completion (First Draft): November 5, 2008
Date Of Posting: October 19, 2009
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 776
Feedback welcome and appreciated.

Is there
A silver lining
In gray clouds?

Somehow
I doubt it.

Arthur Pendragon
"Here Be Dragons"
2121 C.E.

XIX

GRAY CLOUDS

Batman, Robin and Clark walked down to the road to a waiting van. Green Arrow and Black Canary were in the other van, Green Arrow driving and Black Canary and Speedy in the back guarding Edmund.

Batman helped Clark into the back of the van, Robin scrambling to sit next to him as Batman took the wheel.

The road was bumpy, Clark clinging tightly to Robin’s hand. Robin smiled and gently stroked Clark’s back, trying to calm him. Clark was still shaking, unable to look Robin in the eye.

Not good.

& & & & & &

Over in the other van, Black Canary and Speedy regarded their prisoner impassively. Edmund complained about the bumpiness in between smirking.

Speedy wanted to wipe the smirk off the old man’s face. He knew what freemen were capable of. Working as a jack-of-all-trades in a brothel, he had seen some men’s darker tastes. His owner had kept a strict eye on his slaves, demanding no major damage even after a damage deposit had been required. Still, that didn’t mean some customers didn’t get carried away, deposit or not.

Edmund Caldwell looked like those men.

His gloved finger stroked back-and-forth over the curve of his bow. His fingers were itching to take the bow and bang the old sadist over the head with it.

“I’m thirsty,” Edmund announced.

“You’ll survive until we get to Gotham,” Black Canary said.

“This is cruel and inhumane treatment!”

Speedy snorted. “Considering what you did to the Wayne Prize, that’s rich.”

“You’re quite mouthy, boy.”

You don’t know the half of it, old man.

“I would suggest keeping your opinions to yourself,” Black Canary suggested mildly.

Edmund snorted. “I have the right to free speech, young lady.”

Black Canary’s eyebrow went up but she said nothing further.

Speedy wanted to say a lot more but held his tongue. He concentrated instead on the fact that Clark was safe now.

Edmund frowned. “Though why you’re wearing that harlot’s outfit, I’ll never know.”

Black Canary blinked. “Harlot’s outfit?”

“Yes, all that tight material and those disgraceful fishnet stockings. You’re a freewoman. You should conduct yourself as such.”

“I don’t think you should be giving out fashion advice.”

A hard bump juggled everyone, Edmund groaning. “Barbaric way to travel.”

Speedy wished the road was bumpier.

He was worried about what had happened to Clark while in Edmund’s hands. In the short amount of time that he had known Lord Wayne’s Prize, he had come to like him very much. Clark had always treated him as an equal, not just some brothel kid. Slaves had their hierarchies, just as freemen did.

Pleasure slaves were at the top of the heap, though conversely, it could be said that they were at the bottom, their primary worth on their backs.

Beats a brothel.

A personal pleasure slave, a Prize, was highly valued, even more than the star attraction of a brothel. For one thing, a brothel star wore out far quicker than a pampered Prize. A personal bedslave was treasured, not forced to spread his legs for money.

Or not for a sadist, if he or she is lucky.

Yes, Clark was special, and Dick adored him.

Speedy hoped that Clark hadn’t been damaged by this bastard.

Sometimes the worst wounds were not the physical ones.

& & & & & &

Clark remained silent the entire ride back to Gotham, Robin keeping up his stroking and murmurs of encouragement. He was worried over Clark’s continued shaking.

Something had to have happened.

Robin also worried about the bruising around Clark’s mouth and that cut near his eye. What else might his body tell them?

They were approaching Gotham, and Robin hoped they could get to the Manor soon.

“Batman, are we going to the GCPD?”

Batman’s mouth twisted. “We have to.”

Robin wanted to get Clark back home as soon as possible. He didn’t like the skittishness he could see in his friend. Alfred’s comforting presence and homemade chicken soup would do wonders for Clark, but Robin understood the need to go to Headquarters first.

Batman parked in the back of the old-fashioned building that housed the Gotham City Police Department. “Stay here,” Batman said as he exited the van with a swirl of cape.

Robin smiled at Clark, who tried to smile back. It was quiet in the van, Robin wondering if Clark could hear his heart pounding.

Calm down. Clark is safe now.

Yet Robin could not help but feel the aftermath was going to be perilous.