Chapter Text
It was just bad luck, bad luck paired with being unable to not help people in trouble and just run away like any other Gothammites… So when the yellow ball of flame crashed through the buildings, sending bricks and people flying as it exploded Tim ran towards it. The only problem was that Tim and not Robin was the one running to help.
Stopping in shock Tim ducked as another beam of light carved along the ground next to him, digging deep into the pavement the really creepy voice in his head that sounded like Batman was growling that there shouldn’t be any meta’s in Gotham. And definitely not a Green Lantern that normally worked off planet.
Green light splashed over the destruction path, hastily covering the unmoving victims and deflecting the next yellow blast into a different building . More screams erupted as people tried to flee and were caught by addling rubble. Tim rand forwards to where a woman was half moaning, hands flittering about in pain, trapped under a huge piece of stone from one of the buildings. Tim heaved up against it, trying to move the stone that had to weigh more than him.
The green shield flickered and vanished, making Tim look up in worry. The Green Lantern he still hadn’t identified was falling out of the sky, crashing through the street and sending up plumes of dirt and asphalt as the force sent the hero digging a thick landing trench.
Tim froze as the woman under his hands went too silent and a humanoid he’d only seen pictures of in Batman’s database moved slowly after the fallen hero. Dark features were highlighted by the glowing yellow power as the man touched down and stalked forwards into the trench after his downed prey.
Fear and panic was turning into a tight ball of helplessness in his chest. Robin wouldn’t have a chance against the ex-Green Lantern but Tim still needed to buy time and hope that reinforcements would arrive and stop the villain.
Which is why Tim picked up the closet weapon he had, a decent sized rock, and threw it.
There was long moment of oh crap as Tim realized just what he’d thrown and then watched with dread as the rock sail and hit exactly what he was aiming for. Sinestros’s head.
The man stumbled backwards, one hand going to his head and touching at where the rock smashed into him, while looking down at the ground. The yellow power flashed again as his ringed hand extended and then the rock was floating up in a fist of yellow light. Sinestro looked slowly past the rock and locked eyes with Tim. Then the fist clenched and the rock exploded outwards.
Tim turned and ran. Racing for his life into the closest destroyed building, knowing how small he still was he could hide among the rubble and sneak attack Fear Lantern if necessary.
It would have worked if this had been any villain other than a lantern.
A glowing whip snaked around Tim’s ankle and yanked, pulling the young man off his and crashing against the street as he went flying backwards along the ground. His shirt was dragged up around his shoulders with the force, rocks and concrete tearing through his skin, Tim’s fingers were spread wide, trying to find something to hold onto and stop his movement.
Dirt flew up, clogging his nose and mouth, as the tightness around his legs grew harder and whipped him up into the air, left to dangle like a fish as he spun. One quick glance, use his brain before all the blood pooled and made thinking hard, showed that the Green Lantern was still lying motionless in the ditch. But Tim couldn’t tell if it was the motionlessness of death or just critical injuries.
“The human species is a pest.”
Tim was pulled higher into the air, far far away from the ground, to look the Fear Lantern in the eye. Seeing Sinestro rub between his eyes as the alien glared at Tim made him want to giggle.
The world went sideways, and Tim really thought he was going to be sick, as the power holding him flipped him around until he was mere inches away from the alien’s face.
“What was the point of that little human?” Sinestro purred one strong hand wrapping around Tim’s throat as the power released the boy to dangle from his hand. “Now I will kill you and you’ve accomplished nothing in your sacrifice.”
The was coughing, and struggling as Tim’s body reacted to being choked, curling up and hands tearing at the single strong one around his neck. Then he stopped, physically forcing himself to calm down and breathe what air he could get around the fist.
Sinestro’s face twisted into a frown at the blinding insanity filled grin crossing the human’s face. It was one Tim had learned well at Jason’s fists, and was used only in dire circumstances or when he felt like pissing of Jason some more.
When he tried to speak only garbled syllables came out with the fist around his neck still intent on choking him to death.
“What was that human?”
Tim grinned through the sudden rush of oxygen making his head spin, well it felt like everything was spinning around and knowing the alien’s powers he might not be that far off, but he kept the damning grin in place. It seemed to be pissing off Sinestro as much as it did everyone else.
“I would suggest you answer before I grow bored and break your neck.”
“I haven’t accomplished nothing.” Tim laughed hoarsely, already the bruises were forming a lovely purple necklace, as he stared up at Sinestro. “I got exactly what I wanted.”
There was a moment of silence as both tried to stare down the other.
“And what would that be little human?”
Tim grinned again, he was at the perfect angle to see the large gash in the road where the Lantern had fallen. It did take up most of the road.
But it was empty.
Sinestro whirled around, hooking one arm around Tim’s neck and lifting him, flying upwards as he saw the wounded alien flying again, along with other Green Lanterns.
As the hand around his throat tightened, Tim let his head fall back against the Fear Lantern, half giggling in hysteria.
“I just needed to buy some time.”
“Indeed.” Sinestro sounded positively frozen.
“Now what will you do?” Tim giggled again, high on life and adrenaline as the Green Lanterns moved into attack position.
“I still have a hostage.”
Tim’s laughter stopped as he realized that he was in between Sinestro and the hesitating Green Lantern corps.