Title: Knife Going In
Rating: T
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Author notes: Future installments of this story are completely dependent on the number of reviews I get, so please let me know what you think.
Summary: Post Battle For the Cowl. When the Joker kidnaps an important man, the New Batman and Robin go into action.
Disclaimer: All characters are owned DC Comics/Warner Bros. Batman, Robin, the Joker and related properties were created by Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, and Bill Finger.
Chapter One
Ned ran down the hallway, already stumbling and wheezing, but knowing he couldn't stop for a second.
"Give up, Ned," his pursuer shouted after him, his voice horribly certain, "there's nowhere for you to run."
Ned coughed up what felt like a piece of his lungs, but kept on running. They'd killed five people so far to get to what he knew, and if they caught him now that wouldn't be a drop in the ocean.
"None of this will change anything," the voice mocked.
Ned turned a blind corner and found himself face to face with two more of the Russian's enforcers.
"This is where it ends for you, Ned," the man behind him called mockingly. "You're stuck."
Ned shoot his eyes back and forth. He really was trapped. There was no way out of this one.
"Oh, god," he gasped.
Suddenly, that problem was instantly solved when both of the men closing in on him were unexpectedly cut to bloody ribbons and the one behind him caught a straightrazor in the neck.
"Oh god," Ned repeated.
Ned looked up to face his savior and was hit by each of his identifying characteristics one at a time like bullets: the Glasgow Smile stitched together at the ends, the prominent hole in his chalk-white forehead, the green, slicked-back hair, the split tongue lolling back and forth.
"ned eden?" the Joker rasped.
Ned nodded, too terrified to think of what else to do.
"you're coming with us," the clown said, grabbing him by the collar.
---
"I'll get right on it, Commissioner," Dick Grayson muttered.
No, that wasn't right.
"I'll get right on it, Commissioner," he repeated, with a bit more gravel.
"What the hell are you doing?" Damian Wayne demanded.
"Practicing my growl," Dick admitted lamely.
"Now, why the hell would you do that?" Damian asked, not at all amused.
"Batman growls," Dick explained simply. "He's always growled." Dick let his eyes graze over the empty Batcave. "Bruce growled."
Damian turned an evil eye towards his nostalgia.
"And if I'm going to be Batman, I'd better learn," Dick continued, trying to regain his footing.
"You disguised your voice as Nightwing," Damian fumed, "why can't you use the same voice as Batman?"
"That was really more about taking the 'carney' out of my voice... sounding a little more neutral and unplaceable," Dick replied. "Batman needs more. Batman needs presence."
Damian shot his predecessor a look of cold hatred. He almost certainly had an unfavorable view to espouse, but was cut out by the red flashing lights and klaxons that indicated the Bat-Signal had been activated. "Well, I suggest you work on it in the car."
Dick's eyes became steely slits. He slid the cowl into place. "Let's go, Robin," he growled.
Damian almost blinked. That was nearly perfect.