[Western Crossover] Say Goodnight to the World

"What do you want to do when you grow up, Heidi?"

Heide's parents once asked him this question, back when he still couldn't understand the world.

At the time, he was an unlucky kid whose mutant ability had awakened too early, forcibly shutting down his vision. He couldn't see things clearly and could only make out blurry, pixelated shapes.

But after his parents trained him to understand how to answer questions about something called a dream, he thought for a while, then looked at the two bright lights and replied:

"I want to change the world."

"That sounds like a wonderful dream. Do you want to build a new world, like discovering a new continent? It's like everything suddenly opens up and becomes brighter, isn't it, Heidi?"

As always, his mother Sally encouraged him, hugging Heide and kissing him as if she approved of every word he said.

She was sincere.

"Daddy can't wait to see our little Heidi do it one day. When that happens, will our little genius let Daddy come along to the new world?"

His father, Sully, echoed Sally, just as sincere. He sincerely lied to a child, telling him he had a great dream and could make it come true.

In theory, he shouldn't have noticed.

"I hate Daddy."

But Heide, sensing that he'd understood something, blinked and reached for the softer light, burying his face in it and finding himself held in an embrace that smelled of pastries.

"Huh? Heidi, little Heidi, why do you hate Daddy?"

Completely unprepared for that answer, his father looked surprised, confused, and flustered, and began asking Sally for help.

"It's all right to hate Daddy. Mommy's little Heidi has every right to hate anyone he doesn't like."

But his mother merely gave a sly smile, held little Heide close, and kissed his cheek, dealing Sully a heavy blow...

"Wait, Sally..."

"Because Daddy's a dummy."

"Daddy's smart, little Heidi. I can build you a castle if you don't believe me."

"Daddy's a dummy!"

"Little Heidi!?"

Everyone laughed and joked together.

And now.

"What do you want to do from now on, Heide?"

Timothy Drake leaned against the corner, covered in blood, and turned to ask him the same question, eyes burning like flames.

They had just gone through a desperate escape, risking their lives and sacrificing everything.

A knife in the back from the person they trusted most had left them all captured before they knew what was happening.

The former Robin, the one most like a detective, had taken several bullets for him as they ran toward an escape route he'd prepared without telling anyone. Half the knife's handle was still embedded in him.

"Me?"

Heide calmly replied with a question of his own.

He was just as battered, his hair faded halfway to a messy mix of gold and black, hanging over his forehead, ears, and neck. This hero was supposed to have sent him along the only path to hope.

But some piece of information in his head must have short-circuited his main processing stream, because he'd doubled back to grab Heide and run. His two main "legs" had been badly damaged, and when he used his left hand to deflect a thrusting knife, he nearly had the tendons severed.

Now he had only his right hand left to drag his fellow sufferer along as they ran.

He'd managed to gather a little of his wits. He thought it would be better to save his strength than ask this question, but he still relaxed and lay flat on the ground, thought for a moment, and gave this answer:

"Get off work early."

I'll clock out after dragging this world full of crazies down with me.

Theme: Overcome life's trials and setbacks.