A/N: Chapter 3 of Last Laugh is here! I know I keep giving you guys short chapters, but it's hard to write 3,000 words per chap when the story line is a span of hours. I hope you enjoy- and thank you for the reviews!
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Chapter 3: Ignited
"Go. Go. Go." Robin mumbled under his breath as he sprinted towards the burning building. Orange flames emerged from the walls of the lower levels, some crumbling under the intense heat. The Boy Wonder had one mission here: Save the civilians.
He had been right. The building engulfed in flames ablaze before his eyes was an abandoned super market. It had been used over twenty years ago, but closed down because of health violations regarding the products' storage. The building was the perfect place for the Joker to play his tricks. The cruel atrocities he wreaked upon Gotham.
When Robin had reached the old market, he quickly pulled out his grappling hook and shot it to the higher levels. Swiftly flying with the retracting handle, he grimaced, the heat reaching the teenager. He could only imagine the intense heat scorching his mentor and friends' skin. He shook his head to clear his mind as he reached the screams that pierced through the air. Robin quickly let go of his grappling hook and hopped onto the floor before scanning the area. His eyes caught a glimpse of movement.
The Boy Wonder inspected the scene. About fifteen citizens were scattered around the level. Violent coughing filled the silences between screams. Many had gone unconscious because of the rising smoke, and Robin decided it would be best to take civilians out in groups. He couldn't direct fifteen hysterical people out of an abandoned supermarket engulfed in flames.
"Over here!" He shouted over the turbulence surrounding the room. Robin caught the attention of the conscious civilians, directing them to the window he used to enter as he retrieved his grappling hook back into his utility belt. "I'm going to take you out in groups. Follow me." The small crowd of people that had not gone unconscious consisted of a mother, a crying baby in her arms, a small girl of no more than four, and two men. Robin could see the fear beaming through their eyes and their shaky movements only signaled the darkness that was about to close in on them. "The window!"
The Boy Wonder whipped around to their destined escape route, eying the civilians as he did so. They started to run towards it before orange flames burst out of the ground, lighting the wall on fire.
"Or not." Robin quickly looked around the room to find another exit. "I guess we'll have to make one." Taking a bird-a-rang from his utility belt, he flung it at the far wall, which exploded in flames. When the smoke cleared away, a large hole appeared in the wall. "Who said you can't fight fire with fire?" His signature cackle escaped his mouth before starting off toward the crumbled wall. "C'mon!"
When the last citizen ran through the opening, Robin had thrown a bird-a-rang at the next wall. It collapsed, sending another wave of smoke to fill the room. When it cleared, he desperately examined the area for an exit. Spotting another window, he charged toward it.
"Out the window!" The civilians speedily followed, looking out of the opening from a distance as Robin hitched his grappling hook to a nearby building and attached his multi-persons extension.
"Get on!" he ordered as the citizens flooded toward the window to grab onto the expansion. With a quick glance to make sure all citizens were secure, the group jumped through the small window and flew through the sky. The screams that escaped their mouths were hushed by the roar of fire encasing the building. He had to save the rest. Fast.
Landing smoothly on the street, Robin counted the citizens. 'Five. Ten to go.' He turned around to face the burning building. 'I'll have to take them out all at once now. I don't have much more time.' With one final glance at the saved civilians, he took a few steps forwards.
But what stopped him sent anger shooting through his veins.
The building exploded in flames, orange and grey color seeming to eat up each plank of wood as the levels shook and crumbled to the ground. The old supermarket collapsed in fire, razed to the ground by a bomb. The Joker had set off a bomb.
Screams shot out of the civilians who stood in mere shock next to Robin. His eyes went to the small girl who waddled toward the remains of the building, a tear streaming down the side of her cheek. Her eyes filled with another wave of water as she tried to hold back a cough.
"Daddy…"
The Boy Wonder's heart lurched out of his chest at the girl's reaction. Her cries shattered the last bit of strength he had, willing him to break down too. He knew what it was like to lose a parent—both parents.
His eyes shut to a close, holding back tears as he controlled the anger bursting out through every move he made. He had chosen to let Batman and the team die to save the citizens. He had given up everything for the lives of the ones dead among the flames of the abandoned building. The Joker had deprived him of everything he had lived for—for a few measly laughs.
He lifted his shaking hand up to his communicator and pressed it. "Joker," Robin's voice came out in a low tone that would send chills down a sane man's spine. "How could you do this?"
Hysterical laughter caused the young hero to cringe, anticipating the villain's reply.
"Oh, Bird Boy, the party's just begun."
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A/N: So, what do you think the Joker has in mind? Review! =D
