Kid Flash opened his eyes to reveal a sight he really didn't like. Mrs. Martian was strapped to a cold gray concrete wall with torches blazing next to her. The fire was barely failing at its attempts to lick her green skin. Superboy was next to her and was also strapped to a wall only instead of torches torturing him, he got a faintly glowing green rock tied to his hands and feet. Artemis and Kid Flash were both in a cold metal cage. Sharp pains traveled up the speedster's leg, telling him that they were broken.
"Well isn't this just great?" Artemis asked sarcastically as she began to pull at the cold metal bars. Kid Flash let out a small whimper as he tried to straighten up into a better position. He pretended not to notice Artemis hide a worried look as he cast another glance around the concrete cell they were imprisoned in. There were no windows in the large room and only one small door.
"Where are Robin and Aqualad?" he asked the archer next to him.
"Do I look like I know?" she snapped at him, feeling a little guilty as he just shook his head instead of giving her a snarky response. Laughter suddenly echoed around the room, causing the four of them to jump out of their skins. A man walked out of the shadows, his overgrown brown hair and crooked nose looked even more familiar to them now than it did before. Who was he?
"Dude, will you stop doing that? You're as bad as Robin." Kid Flash snapped at their kidnapper, who looked thoroughly amused by the words.
"Does Flash Boy miss his little bird?" he cackled as if he actually wanted to get a broken nose in the near future. In fact the trapped teen made a pledge to do exactly that as soon as he was out of this cage.
"It's Kid Flash and-" he was cut off by Superboy, who looked about ready to join Mrs. Martian in her unconscious state.
"Where….Where are Aqualad and Robin?"
"Glad you asked." The bad guy let out a long pelt of laughter before adding. "Don't worry. They are going to be just fine….or at least Aqualad will be if he plays his cards right." He seemed to think this hysterical and let out a very long cascade of laughter. It tore through the teammates painfully.
"Who are you?" Artemis finally asked.
"I am The Chuckler" The cackling man managed to choke out in between giggles.
"Huh. Fits quite nicely." Kid Flash muttered as he glared at The Chuckler fiercely. The Chuckler ignored him and instead turned away and left, leaving a trail of echoes. Superboy, Mrs. Martian, Kid Flash and Artemis were all thinking the same thing: What was going to happen to Robin and Aqualad?
The first thought that entered Aqualad's mind when the solid black lifted from his eyes was Robin. Was he okay? He looked badly injured. And he was so young and human. The Atlantian felt guilty for thinking that, but it was true. He shook his head as if to clear it of the guilty feelings and inaccurate thoughts. Robin wasn't just a young human. He was strong and talented, above all the other teammates. It was amazing that the young boy had been through so much and was still able to laugh and joke all the time. But enough of thinking about Robin, it was time to help him now. Aqualad forced himself to his knees and uncovered the surroundings. He was in a very similar room as Kid Flash and the others, not that he was aware of that fact. He and Robin were in a silver cage with thin but strong metal poles boxing them in at all angles, even the floor. Awkwardly Aqualad walked over to Robin, trying not to trip on the poles that covered the floor. The acrobat was crumpled on the floor. He was still bleeding from his forehead, the rest of his body covered in fresh scratches and dried blood. His left leg was definitely broken and sore looking yellow and purple marks covered most of his pale skin. The boy looked even worse than before.
"Robin?" Aqualad asked, pulling him half into his lap. Robin's lips were a faint blue, which alerted the leader to how cold it was in the room. Even for him, the Atlantien who was used to frigid waters and icy temperatures was shivering faintly. Robin must have been absolutely freezing, especially in his injured state. "Robin?" he repeated, his voice coming out stern but a little afraid.
"Kaldur?" Robin asked, his voice weak but stronger then when he had first been injured.
"Yes. I am here Robin." Aqualad soothed
"It's s-so co-cold. Where are w-w-we?"
"We are in a cage, captured by the enemy." He answered, regretting the news he had to deliver to the hurt hero.
"W-what ha-happened?" Robin asked, vibrating from the cold as much as Kid Flash did when he was on a sugar high.
"I do not know." Aqualad said, hating the defeat in his voice
"W-what about the others?" Robin asked. He sounded like he was trying to make his voice stronger and to stop stuttering.
"I am sure they will find us." Aqualad tried to sooth again "You should sleep." He added, although he wasn't sure is that was a good idea or not. What if Robin had a concussion?
"What?" Robin sounded horrified by the idea. He was a true bat. "W-Why? How w-will that h-h-help?"
"I just do not want you to hurt yourself even more." Aqualad tried to reason with him, to no avail.
"Hurt myself? W-what's that s-s-s-supposed to m-mean?" he snapped. The shivering and stuttering took most of the snappy sting out of his words but the point got across all the same.
"I do not want to argue with you about this." Aqualad tried again. Robin looked so small and fragile as he attempted to sit and failed miserably. His eyes were tuned to a glare under the mask, lips in a straight line. But the look of determination and anger was softened by the weariness and pain. "I just-"
"You d-don't think I c-c-can handle this? You thi-think I am w-w-weak? You think I'm just another w-w-wannabe super-hero without a ch-chance? Y-you think-" It was Robin's turn to be cut off this time.
"No. I have never said that or thought that. I just want you to be out of harm's way! I cannot lose my little brother!" A muted surprise took over the two at Aqualad's words. Suddenly and without warning Robin lunged at Aqualad. The elder tensed, ready to be punched for the way he babied Robin when suddenly he felt weak, wiry arms wrap around his neck. Robin's head buried itself into Aqualad's chest as he hugged his leader.
"Thanks Kaldur." Robin said with his voice muffled. A laugh ruined the moment suddenly.
"It's just so cute. You guys could be a great TV show, I swear!" a deep mocking voice erupted around the room, circulating from a figure that was pulling away from the shadows. Robin pulled away quickly, wincing as his hand went to his ribs. Aqualad added broken ribs to the growing list of injuries Robin had encountered.
"Who are you?" Aqualad asked, moving as if to shield Robin, who was leaning on the bars.
"I already explained this to your friends! Don't you have a physic connection or something?" The man laughed. Was that supposed to be funny? "I am The Chuckler!"
"C-c-creative much? H-h-hey wait! W-where are our f-f-friends?" Robin stuttered. Aqualad glanced at him. In the last few minutes Robin had somehow turned even paler and his lips were bluer.
"Don't worry little bird. Your friends aren't the ones you need to worry about."
"What do you mean?" Aqualad asked before Robin could. Even talking seemed too much for the boy.
"I'll show you." The Chuckled soothed, laughing his head off as soon as the words had left his lips. He suddenly pulled out a silver key and inserted it in the small hole that was set at the very top of the cage. A few metal poles fell away to crash to the floor. Almost instinctively Aqualad raced up to the enemy, a look of hatred and vengeance on his face. The Chuckler did what his name told him to do. And suddenly the laughter was filling every cell inside Aqualad, filling him to the brim. It hurt his head as the laughter pounded with a hammer. Aqualad let out a cry and fell to the floor, clutching his head. Blackness was pulled down and hands clamped over his ears but the laughter still went on and on and on…..
Aqualad jumped up as a loud clanging erupted and chased away the last of the painful laughter. The Chuckler was giggling on the other side of the cage. He was playing with something in his hands. What was it? The key? No….it was a syringe! Aqualad turned to Robin in time to see the little bird look up at his big brother and drop to the floor.
So what do you think? Did I drone on a bit? Was it too long? Good? Bad? Please tell me! And don't worry. Robin will not die….yet.
Please review! The more people that review the more I get happy and the more I get ideas and then the more I update.