Note: The words in Italics are Robin's thoughts.
Disclaimer: I only own the mystery girl character. The rest belong to DC Comics.
Trying to look around Robin found that his vision could not focus on anything. When he tried to move he found he could only move his feet, hands, and head. He tried to rock back and forth and found he could not even do that. Finally coming to the conclusion that he was firmly tied in place, he tried to focus his mind and take in his surroundings.
At first his eyes were still to blurry to focus, so he closed them and listened instead. He could hear the shipping boats in the Gotham River to the right of him, the sounds of chains ringing against one another above him, the creaking of wooden floorboards below him, and the sounds of footsteps coming closer.
So I can't be too far from where Batman and I were fighting Joker if I'm still by the River. The chains could mean an old butchery or industrial building. The wood floors defiantly mean an old building and that means it could be any building along the River. Alright so that what you got of your surroundings so far, now how'd you get here?
Robin opened his eyes again this time they were much more focused with only a small amount of black around his sight. The footsteps had gotten closer and now he could hear voices to go along with the footfalls.
Sounds like two voices…..yah defiantly two. They sound clam, but in deep discussion. Perhaps they're talking about what to do to me, this is just great.
Robin found that as with his clearer sight his situation was becoming clearer as well. He found he couldn't move because he had been tied to a chair, he was tied with what looked like cuffs from the asylum and a soft looking rope. The rope wasn't what he expected; in fact it was almost comfortable and soft. Searching for his utility belt he found it on a table across from him, along with his cape, boots, and gloves. Robin was surprised they didn't remove his mask.
Okay, so they don't care who I am. So, why did they take me? Why keep me alive?
The voices had now entered the room, Robin instantly knew the first. It was Harley Quinn, Joker's right hand, if she was here this could only be a part of The Joker's plan. The second voice was unknown to him. It was soft, he would almost say calming in comparison to Harley's.
"You sure you can keep him here" Harley said to the mystery voice.
"Yes, nothing to worry about. Go, didn't you say something about your "Puddin'" needing you." The soft voice was steady voicing no emotion.
Harley sighed, "Alright, I'm off then. Hey! Bird Brains! Have fun!" Harley laughs as her footsteps fad out of the room and out of ear shot.
Almost silently the soft voice walks towards Robin.
Well with footsteps as quiet as that it most definitely was Harley I'd heard. But who is this person, why do they need to keep me here? Think Robin, Think!
Trying with all his might at the moment to recall what had happened, Robin failed to notice the soft voice had moved to stand in front of him.
"Are you still a bit lost on something?"
Her voice was so soft Robin almost missed it. Looking up he found himself face to face with the soft voice he'd only heard till now. He sized her up like Batman had trained him to do.
Fair skin, black hair, ice blue eyes, solemn features, petit figure, dark clothes: black tank top, dark blue jeans, black converse shoes. Fit, agile, calm, collected, fearless. My age or a year older. Working with Joker, most likely a crook.
Robin stayed silent, if it was information this girl wanted she wasn't getting it from him.
She sat down on the table where Robin's things were placed and proceeded to play with his belt. After a bit she spoke,
"I'm not going to torture you. I'm not after information. I'm only to keep you here till dawn, then you're free to go wherever you want."
Robin spoke calmly in return, "Okay, so why do you need to keep me here? And how did I get here?"
"You got here by the River. I retrieved you as instructed from after you fell from the bridge. And you're here for the simple reason that Joker does not want you to interfere with his plans for the Batman."
Robin eyes widen as he remember the fight between Batman, himself and the Joker. His fall then the feeling of the cold river water consuming him as he entered the water. After that all he can remember is this room.
"You are just to keep me here and out of the way?"
In the same toned she had used since entering she simply said, "Yes."
The room fell into silence; neither Robin nor the girl in front of him spoke.
So she keeps me here and Batman fights the Joker, great just great. Okay, I need to think of a way out of here! Now!
"Stop that."
Robin looks to the girl again, "Stop what!?"
"Stop trying to come up with a way to escape. If you try I will have to harm you, and I don't want to do that. In fact I only want to make this night as comfortable as possible for you."
Robin laughed, "Comfortable! How the hell would spending the night tied to a chair be com-"
"Please calm down." She moved off the table, stepped quietly towards Robin. "I will untie you at dawn or earlier if I find that you will behave."
Robin breathed in only to find himself consumed by the scent of vanilla. He knew it must be coming from the girl. "And if I don't behave?"
The girl moved even closer to Robin till her face was inches from his own, and the scent of vanilla was all that Robin could smell. She move her month slowly to his ear,
And whispered, "Well, then I guess I'll have to punish you."
She moved away from Robin, and stood by the window to his far right overlooking the River and what he could now make out as Arkham Asylum. Robin could feel heat still on his face from blushing as the girl had gotten so close to him, as her scent began to take over his thoughts. He felt shame for letting this girl he knew nothing about get to him. Batman would be so disappointed with him.
God, what's with this girl! What does she mean punish?
Robin looked towards the girl again.
Stop staring at her ass! Think, you got to get out of here!
Staying where she was the girl asked, "Do you still plan on escaping?"
Robin stayed silent, figuring it was best not to encourage any punishment.
Sighing the girl moved from the window, past Robin to another table he hadn't noticed. Upon it was a black backpack. The girl opened the bag and produced a small leather cord.
"I told you if you don't behave you'll be punished." She pulled the cord between her hands till it snapped.
Watching the girl walk back towards him, Robin finds himself caught up in a feeling of panic. She stands right in front of him, and snaps the cord once more.
In her calm voice she explains, "You see if you don't behave you're going to be punished, if you continue to misbehave I'll have to punish you harder. Now if you behave you'll find that you'll be rewarded. Sound fair?"
Baffled by her question Robin continues to remain silent.
Fair? She's asking me if that's fair. What the hell does that even mean?
While Robin muses in his thought, the girl brings the cord snapping forward till it makes contact with Robin's face. Creating a single red line across his cheek. This brings Robin out of his musing and to cry out in shock. She snaps the cord again. This time striking his other cheek, again Robin cries out in surprise.
"What the hell!" he snaps.
Instead answering his question the girl simply moves in and holds Robin's head still, and kisses the marks she just left on his cheeks.
Robin finds he cannot find a comeback; he can't comprehend what just happened. Why she would strike him then proceed to kiss it better.
She says calmly, "Now, are you going to behave?"
Still in shock Robin simply nods his head.
"Good."
Returning to the table with the back pack she replaces the cord and again moves to look out the window. The whole time this happens Robin watches her every move, she still appears calm like she knows he can't escape even if he tried. And this pisses him off.
If I can't escape her how can I get to Batman. He could already be with The Joker, he could need my help. And here I am struck in a chair. Perhaps I could get this girl to untie me, after all she said if I "behave" she'll "reward" me.
"So, do you always tie people up?"
The girl turns from the window, "Hm?"
"I said, do you always tie people up?"
The girl smirks, "Not always."
"Care to explain. It's not like I've got anywhere to go." Robin flashes a smile for good measure. It's something Nightwing taught him, not that he taught he'd ever do it.
The girl smiles in return, "I don't think you'd understand. You're to clean."
Behind her threw the windows a large flash comes from the asylum. Moments later smoke follows.
"Let me guess that where Batman is." He said it as a statement, knowing all too well he was right.
"I wouldn't worry about that if I were you."
"Why not? It's just my partner and mentor in trouble over there. That's not something to be worried about at all." He rolls his eyes at her.
Shaking her head as she moves across the room again to the backpack. Robin knows he just screwed up again. She removes a small whip, moves to stand behind Robin this time,
"And you were doing so well."
He hears the swing this time, then the crack. The sting came right after across his shoulders. Robin holds in his cries this time, at least until after the fourth swing.
"AWWWW! GOD!"
"There's that sweet voice of yours." The girl smiles to herself, and swings again.
"UHG! AW! GOD! OH UGH!"
She swings five more times, swinging harder with each pass. After finishing his punishment she kneels down and gently kisses his now sore shoulders.
Panting Robin barely feels her final action and simply lets his head fall forward. Feeling light headed he passes out.
When he wakes again, he finds he's still tied up though he's been moved. He's now in front of the window and can see a good portion of Gotham burning in front of him. The sight is one that could have him tears. He should be out there helping, not stuck here watching. As if hearing his thoughts the girl says to him,
"We wouldn't be much help out there. It's not as bad as you think. The firemen have the flames under control the police now have Harley in custody, along with most of Joker's gang. Truly by now it must simply be Joker vs Batman."
Robin have whispers, "How can you be sure?"
"Cause the radio said so while you slept."
"How long was I out?"
"An hour. There is still five hours till dawn."
"Five hours." Robin voice sounds defeated, and right on cue the girl is right there beside him.
"Like I said to you before you shouldn't worry about it. You would be much better off behaving for me. After all I'm sure you want out of those ropes." She nods her head towards him.
Looking down Robin finds that once again she seems to be reading his mind.
"And how do I get out of these ropes exactly?" He asks.
"Well, that's simple." She smiles.
"Simple how?"
"You simply have to address me properly and ask."
What!? All I've had to do was ask! Ask! Dear god, I've wasted way to much time. I should've just asked her from the start. But wait! Did she just say I had to address to her in a certain way?
Robin coughs, "Um, how do I ask, um, ask properly?"
The girl laughs and walks away. Leaving Robin to puzzle it out for himself.
Sitting in front of the window Robin watches as more explosions go off. As the city he swore to help protect burns right before his eyes. He hates the feeling of just sitting here, he needs get out there and help!
Think you idiot! What clues do you have! You can get out of this! You can! You know you can! Think!
She hasn't told you a thing about herself, not verbally anyways. Recap:
She's calm and quiet, a good read of character and mind, has been more than fair, told me exactly what was always happening, never lied, used words; punishment and reward, punishment was painful but always followed by a reward.
Well, what do we get from all that….
….
…
…..
Lost in thought Robin fails to notice the sun rising. Fails to notice the girl coming up behind him fails to notice the ropes falling off him. Fails to notice the girl leaving. Fails to notice Batman till he's right in front of him.
Batman coughs, "Plan on getting up?"
Robin raises his head, "Hm?" It takes him a few moments to realize who is in front of him. "BATMAN!"
Batman smiles, "Good to see you still know who I am."
Looking around Robin finally notices the girl is gone, "Where did she go? Did you see her?"
"Who? There was only you when I arrived."
"But, she tied me up!" Looking down Robin sees the ropes on the floor. "She let me go, just like she said."
"Robin, I'm not sure what happened to you last night but we need to head home."
"Right, I'll explain it on the way home."
Batman helps Robin gather his things, and they move to leave. Just at the door Robin stops.
"What is it Robin?"
"Just give me a second."
Returning to the chair he had spent the night in Robin gathers up the soft black rope that had held him. Gathering it in his arms he finds that it smells like vanilla. Smiling he takes the rope home with him.