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Rex never had scopophobia but recently he felt a shiver go down his spine a lot late at night. Rex felt like he was being watched and he had no idea why. Sure, Gotham was creepy but it's not like someone was purposely going out of their way to watch Rex everyday.
Red Hood had sent Rex home, noticing that he seemed on edge lately. Even though it was earlier than what he normally left work.
Rex walked down the street of Gotham. Hands in the front pockets of his jeans, as his shoulders were hunched up to his ears, in a way to make him look smaller. That feeling was back.
His eyes flicked around him, the streetlights only lit up a bit but Rex was still able to see a flash of blue in the shadows.
Taking a shaky breath, Rex walked faster, hoping to put distance between him and the blue he saw.
Still sensing the person, Rex took a turn down an alleyway hoping to lose them in the back streets of Gotham.
That was clearly a mistake.
Keeping his head low, Rex walked as fast as he could. He just wanted to get home and lock his door and windows.
All of that went away when he felt a heavyweight fall on his back. This caused Rex to fall forward, landing heavily on his front and knocking the wind out of him.
Rex let out gasping breaths as he tried to get his breathing back under control. This caused his anxiety to spike. It became worse when he felt a rope being tied around his wrists.
Beginning to shake as he felt the familiar feeling of a panic attack wash over him. He couldn't believe he was being kidnapped.
Getting pulled to his feet, Rex went weak in his knees. He could feel his legs shaking, he just wanted to be left alone. Trying to shrug off the kidnapper just caused them to tighten the ropes more.
If Rex was going to be kidnapped he was going to make it difficult.
Letting his legs go weak, Rex dropped his whole weight, causing the kidnapper to lose their grip and drop Rex.
"Freaking hell," he heard them mumble.
He was quickly manhandled again and dragged to feet. Maybe he didn't make it more difficult then.
The kidnapper fired something into the air that sounded nothing like a gun. Being pulled off his feet Rex didn't know what happened but now he was on a roof and facing his kidnapper.
Black hair, black mask and a black and blue suit. Nightwing has just kidnapped him.
"N-nightwing," Rex stuttered out.
Nightwing flashed a shark-like grin. Grabbing the rope that was tied around Rex's hands, he dragged him to the edge of the roof. Pushing him just enough that if Nightwing let go Rex would fall to his death.
Rex started shaking, as he faced what could be his death.
"Now," Nightwing finally spoke up, "would you like to explain why I've seen you with Robin?"
Rex heard the question but he couldn't speak. His mouth was dry, eyes wet with tears and he was shaking so much that he swore Nightwing could feel it.
"Why have you been with Robin? What have you been planning?" Nightwing pushed Rex's a bit further.
Rex let out a sob.
"I- I… please!" Rex begged.
"Tell me what I want?!" Nightwing yelled.
"I'm just a g-goon!" Rex cried out.
"That makes it worse. Who do you work for?" Nightwing asked.
"R-Red Hood!" Rex sobbed, "p-please, I w-would never h-hurt a k-kid."
Nightwing pulled Rex away from the edge and spinned him around to look at him. It only took a minute but for Rex it felt like hours.
Finally Nightwing let him go. Instead of dropping him, he pretty much threw Rex behind him and away from the edge.
Rex laid on his side as Nightwing walked closer and pulled out a batarang. Rex squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to see what Nightwing was about to do. He was surprised when he felt the rope be cut instead.
Rex quickly pulled his arms from behind him and pulled them to his chest and he rubbed at that.
Tears still freely flowing down his cheeks, as he watched Nightwing walk away from him.
If Rex was being honest, he is surprised he didn't wet himself.
He didn't remember making it home but the next thing he knew he was walking through his front door and dropping on the couch where he slept for the night.
A alarm wake Rex up from an uneasy sleep. Letting out a groan, he pulled out his phone from his pocket. Seeing that it was the alarm for his morning shift he let out another groan and dropped the phone on the floor, making sure to turn off the alarm before he did.
Rex didn't want to go to work but he knew that he couldn't just ring up and say it at the last moment.
Pushing himself up, he let out a hiss of pain. Looking at his wrist, it was lined with dark bruises from the rope.
Not even bothering with changing his clothes, Rex put on a hoodie and used the long sleeves to cover up the bruises. Hoping that Red Hood wouldn't notice them. He would know right away that something bad happened or he would jump to the conclusion that he was into some kinky shit. Which he was not.
Rex walked to the safe house, trying to relax. Even though he hates waking up early he knows that Nightwing isn't around till the night. So, he was safe, only if for a little bit.
Arriving he was greeted by the morning shift of people. They were all lounging around, some drinking coffee, some looking like they would just fall asleep where they were and others planning different games.
Rex want over to the ones playing games.
Turns out they were playing board games. Well one was a board game which was monopoly and the other was uno.
Rex decided to go play uno.
In the middle of the game he felt arms fall on his shoulders making him flinch.
"You, my friend, are fucked with a capital F."
Rex placed his cards down to turn his head a bit, almosting hitting heads with the other goon, who was still leaning on him.
"What do you mean, Teddy?" Rex asked.
Teddy pulled himself off Rex.
"I heard Red Hood yelling on the phone. Your name was brought up multiple times," Teddy explained.
"Rexy buddy, you are fucked," another goon that was named Liam spoke up.
Rex hanged his head. He so was.
It wasn't long until Red Hood walked into the room, causing all Goons to look his way.
"Rex!" He called out, "my office now."
With that Red Hood walked away expecting Rex to follow him.
Of course he did.
The sound of the other goons going "oooo" followed him. He swore he heard someone calling out "someone in trouble."
As he entered Rex closed the door and took a seat at the chair in front of Red Hood's desk.
"Gimme your hand," Red Hood told him.
"Why?" Rex asked, moving his hands towards his chest as if trying to protect them.
"I wasn't asking."
Knowing he had no choice Rex held out both of his arms.
Red Hood gently rolled up both of the hoodie sleeves to reveal the dark bruises. He let out a sigh and let go of Rex's hands.
"Wanna tell me how this happened?" Red Hood asked.
Rex's leg started bouncing up and down.
He could lie but if he was being honest he didn't know what lie could work. The bruises were clearly from rope and the fact that it went around both of his wrists in almost a perfect circle says he can't lie and say he hit it.
"I would prefer not to say," Rex decided that this was the best option.
"Oh, okay. You know I just got off the phone to Nightwing," Rex felt his blood turn cold, "he said that he hurt one of my goons and threatened to drop them off a building. That wouldn't be you now would it?"
Rex bit his bottom lip and nodded.
"Look, Nightwing wants to say sorry for his actions and meet up in person to do it. I didn't say anything because it's your choice," Red Hood explained.
"Would forgiving Nightwing be beneficial for you in the long run?" Rex asked.
"Rex, treat this as a personal matter. I for one think Nightwing is a dick but that shouldn't cloud your judgement."
"I'll think about it," Rex said.
"Just let me know by the end of your shift," Red Hood told him.
Rex sat there in silence not knowing what to do.
"Come on, I don't pay you to sit around," Red Hood commented.
Rex got up and walked out of the office back to the room full of goons. Where, even though Red Hood said he didn't pay them to sit around, more had joined in uno and monopoly.
The morning passed into the afternoon. Rex couldn't do any of his normal work, instead he stuck to marking down inventory. Even the writing seemed to hurt his wrist.
By the end of his shift Rex decided what he wanted to do about Nightwing.
Walking around the safehouse until Rex found Red Hood cleaning one his guns.
"Excuse me, Red Hood," Rex said, it was almost a mumble.
Red Hood hummed in acknowledgement.
"Its the end of my shift. I would like to meet up with Nightwing," Rex told him.
Red Hood looked up at that.
"You sure?" Red Hood asked.
"Yes," Rex said, hoping to sound confident even if to himself he didn't.
"The meeting point is the rooftop where it went down. Remember, if you want to just walk away. Good luck," Red Hood told him.
Rex took a deep breath and left the room.
Climbing up the fire escape, Rex was met with Nightwing waiting at the top.
"I'm so sorry," Nightwing said, walking towards Rex causing him to step back.
Nightwing stopped.
Rex took a deep breath.
"Fuck off," he told Nightwing.
"What?" Nightwing asked, confused.
"Fuck off! I don't want you talking to me even through my boss. You almost pushed me off this fucking roof. You expect me to forgive?" Rex asked, his voice full of rage.
"I was just concerned about why you were hanging out with Robin," Nightwing explained.
"Then ask him! Or ask me while not threatening my life!" With that Rex went back down the fire escape.
Walking home Rex could feel himself shaking. He couldn't believe he just did that.
Unlocking his apartment door, he entered just to stop in his tracks. The doors closing itself behind him.
On his coffee was a care package with a card, that Rex could see had Nightwing's name on it.
Rex fell to his knees and placed his hands over his mouth, trying to stop his gasping breaths but not tears that were flowing down his face.
Nightwing was in his apartment. Nightwing broken into his apartment, his safeplace.
Rex's chest began to tighten. He wasn't safe.
Taking out his phone from his pocket, Rex called the one person he knew he could trust.
They answered after a few rings.
"R-red Hood," Rex gasped out.
THE END