Robin could feel all the weight of his body; Feet are taken for granted he realized in a groggy haze. All the weight, pressure, blood and heat of his being was rushing to his head. Blood, sweat and pain were painted across his tiny figure that floated a good six feet above the cemented ground. Ropes held him face first and right in place. Grunts and tugs were wasted and exhaustion was ever presents.

Robin felt his mind wander to nowhere and blank for moments at a time. What was he doing here again? How did he get tied up? How did he get separated from Bru-

Batman.

Where was Batman? The child moved his head as much as he could in his current position, but the room was empty. It was a draft room, one you might see in an old haunted house in the movies. A small room, about the size of a child's bedroom, with walls and floors made of unforgiving cement that was decorated with age as well as blood, moss and other findings of nature. Old furniture was here and there, but scarcely. A few brittle, wooden chairs sat upright or against the floor if they missed a leg. A bed and bedside table were pushed over in the corner, and a large window that was in the middle of a wall was left broken and open, thousands of glass shards dancing along the floor.

It was cold. That was all Robin could think. He yelled at himself mentally for not focusing more, what would Batman say? But with the cold December winds coming in from the window and the loss of blood was making him vulnerable. He could hear the ocean outside. Why were they by the ocean? It made Robin's cuts sting and his stomach turn with nausea, but the roaring of the waves was soothing in this moments of confusing turmoil. It reminded him of the sound of Bruce's heartbeat.

Batman.

Why wasn't he there to save him yet? If he had been captured, wouldn't the Dark Knight know? No, they had split up. The man had taken the east wing, the child the west. Batman had sent him to scout the area and report back in ten minutes.

Well what was he doing tied up? He was probably late by now. Robin had a lousy concept of time, meaning Batman was probably waiting for him, getting irritated with his absent partner. Robin hated when Batman got mad.

"Gotta...get out...of...these..." Robin panted with effort, his body swinging slightly with his attempts.

"And leave the party so soon, Bird Brain?"

Robin froze in his struggles as he heard a wet voice cackle behind him with footsteps echoing in danger. Masked eyes watched as the tips of expensive but heavily worn shoes came into view. Gulping down courage, Robin moved up the worn purple slacks and matching jacket. A fake flower was pinned to the front pocket, it was missing three petals. The green shirt he wore underneath was dirty around the collar, some of the white face paint smeared onto the fabric. The white painted face looked down into the boy's eyes with blood lust. Green died hair was greased out of his face, giving robin the whole view. The outstretched red smile widened, showing off his vicious, rotting teeth. Scars decorated the corners of his mouth, curving up in a cruel echo of a smile.

Joker may be the Clown King of Gotham, but robin always felt he was nothing like a clown. When he lived in the circus he was friends with a lot of clowns. They were funny, made people laugh, made jokes. Sure there was Freddy the sad clown, but he was never actually sad. This clown, thought, was nothing like the circus clowns.

"Now I'm just offended, Birdo, I thought the Bats taught you better manners." The villain drawled with mock hurt, leaning in closer to the hanging hero.

Robin let silence hang, the only sound of the ropes crying under his turning weight.

Joker's smile turned threatening as he brought his face right before the Boy Wonder's. "What's wrong, Boy Blunder? Cat got your tongue?"

When Robin still refused to talk, Joker slowly stood back to his tall, lanky height. "Not my best," He said referring to his joke. "That one only usually seems to work on Batsy." He laughed at the inside joke, leaving the boy to ponder silently.

"Well, Baby Bat, if you're not-"

"I have a name."

"What was that, Birdo?" Joker taunted, putting a hand to his ear. "couldn't quite hear you through your busted lung."

Robin took a few calming breaths before responding once more. "I have a name."

Joker stepped back in mock terror at the child's tone, then proceeded to burst into spine rattling laughs. "Ladies and gentlemen we have a voice to the face!"

Robin's face began to turn pink with embarrassment as the mad man continued with his outburst. Joker quickly grabbed for the child's hair and yanked his face up to his. Robin clenched his eyes against the smell reeking off the man; sewer along with stale skin and cheap cologne.

"And what would the Birdo's name be?" Joker asked in a high pitched voice that sounded on the edge of another laughing fit.

Robin took a chance to look the man in the eyes, noticing for a brief second there was no reflection.

"Robin."

As soon as the word left his mouth he was violently shoved away and left to swing harshly back and forth, causing robin to let out a surprised yelp of pain as the ropes continued to dig into his skin. Joker had started to laugh again, but he slowly had made his way towards the other side of the room. Once returning to the boy's line of sight he carried a bloodies bat, nails protruding along its surface.

"I thought I'd give you my normal weapon of choice, but decided you were a special case and went with the bat instead." He said, smiling darkly towards the small boy.

Robin's body suddenly felt much heavier as the mad man's shadow slowly encased him.

"So, Robin, if you're not here for the party, then you must be the entertainment."

Gone. Robin was gone. Sixty seven minutes. It has been sixty seven minutes since he had last seen his young partner, and fifty seven minutes since the Dark Knights proposed meeting time. He knew he should have left him at home!

When they had gotten the report about a mental hospital catching fire out off the coast of Gotham, Batman should have known that Joker was involved. Local authorities had found three patients bodies in the last two weeks, then two more just before the fire. Doctors said they were accidental overdoses, stating a couple prescriptions had gone missing and the patients might have taken a few pills too many.

Not Joker's normal M.O. But the Dark Knight should never have put it against him. Insanity that catches the public's attention. That should have been evidence enough.

And now, now Robin was gone.

The Dark Knight traced the path he believed his partner had taken. The hospital, which had never been in great condition to begin with, had seen the worst of the fire that had been put out three hours previously. Walls were now coated in black soot, dusting the foundation of the building in a way a child might color with a block of chalk. Pipes leaked and the lack of heat allowed the winter chill to flood the cemented halls.

Batman cleared the first level, seeing no possible way for the child occupying the area. He found a small stair case beside where the Cafeteria had been, small enough only for one person to go up at once and barely room for a full grown, cape clad male to walk up without his arms brushing up against the rough hallway.

Upon reaching the second level, Batman noted the condition of the rooms were just as bad as the previous one. This floor had been used as the Doctors' main level, where the prescriptions are locked down and where mental "check ups" were held. Offices were abandoned and labs left in a indistinguishable mess. No Robin.

Batman cursed under his breath as he walked up a second stair case.

The next two floors were nothing but housing for patients, and as soon as Batman set eyes on the three hallways, each holding ten rooms, he knew his task would be more trying then originally planned.

Smack, thudunck, fwhip, smack, whoosh,...

Front hand, back hand, over the top, coming from the bottom...

Robin could no longer bring himself physically to voice his pain. It was all just a rush of white fire that had it's moments of so much pain he was sure he would black out, and then a moment where it almost seemed bearable enough to think he could make it through this.

"Come on, boy Blunder, where's my candy?" The Joker asked, sounding a little curious why the boy hadn't popped open like a piñata.

"Alright, here's another one for ya," The madman offered after another beating. "How many hits does it take to break a Batman?"

Through half-lidded eyes Robin watched as a bat obscured the rest of his vision, positioning itself right in front of his eye line. Joker took a stance like one of a child at a putt-putt golfing game.

"None, you just gotta break the Robin first."

Joker pulled his bat back faster then it seemed possible, leaving Robin clenching his eyes shut tightly and letting out a pitiful whimper for the expected pain soon to come.

But there was no pain.

Robin experimentally peeked out of one eye, seeing the clown-like villain clutching his sides in fits of laughter as he leaned against his blood tainted bat for support. The Clown King walked slow circles around the young vigilante before speaking once more, his high pitched voice raking like claws in Robin's ears.

"You know, I like you Boy Blunder. So much more fun then big daddy bats."

The man came closer to harshly poke the boy in the side, much too close to his broken ribs for the boy's liking. Receiving a small grunt of pain as a response, Joker let out a small giggle of terrifying pleasure.

Returning to his usual distance, the villain twirled his wooden weapon and hummed a sharp tune.

"He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been good or bad, so be good for goodness sake."

Robin watched the man carefully as the boy was brought once more face to face with the painted clown.

"You like that one, Birdie?" Joker tilted his head to the side like an owl, more so then it seemed humanly possible. "That tune always seemed to remind me of Batsy. I always made sure to request it at Arkham when this season would roll on by."

The man let go of the child's hair, allowing him to pendulum awkwardly in circles.

"Now this is just ridiculous!" Robin heard the villain moan in a loud screech. "Batsy is usually so time punctual, this is so not like him."

He gave a wide grin in the boy's direction, causing him to shiver, but not from the cold this time.

"Guess this is just a party for two."

Twenty-six rooms and nothing! Batman was ready to tear the walls down himself. A growl echoed through the halls as he threw open another door to another empty room. Where the hell was his son? What is Joker had taken the boy to another location? No. Batman had to continue searching, there was more of a possibility of his partner being held at the mental hospital then anywhere else.

"He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been good or bad, so be good for goodness sake."

The Dark Knight stopped his search as he heard the chilling tune coming from the end of the hall. Silently, stalking slowly in the shadows, he crept up to the slightly ajar door. The raw smell of blood hit the vigilante full on, causing him to flinch away for a moment. Robin would never draw blood to the point it stenched the air. That would only mean...

"You like that one, Birdie? That tune always seemed to remind me of Batsy. I always made sure to request it at Arkham when this season would roll on by."

The sound of ropes twisting under sudden weight echoed through the room and into the halls, meaning Robin was hanging from something and not tied to a chair or lying on the floor. That gave Batman more room to fight without worrying of tripping over the child. From the sound of the swinging and Joker's voice, he would like to assume that Robin was more towards the left side of the room and closer to the door. He would need to act fast, knowing Joker got antsy when he had to wait.

"Now this is just ridiculous!" The Clown King almost sighed. "Batsy is usually so time punctual, this is so not like him."

Batman felt the atmosphere shift to a much colder setting.

"Guess this is just a party for two."

Now.

Batman quickly folded into the room, tossing smoke bombs to mask his dark, but invisible presence.

"Oh, honey, you came!" Joker yelled in glee. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't make the party."

Batman had a minute and a half before the smoke would begin to dissipate. Batman quietly made his way to where he had seen his partner hanging. The boy was a mess. Blood was everywhere, tangled into his black locks, all over his face but mostly his forehead an nose (probably broken). The ropes were wound around most of his small torso, seeming to be made up of at least two layers. The main problem was the ropes holding him up, which were tied around his ankles in what seemed like a tight grip. For a moment Batman was sure the child was unconscious, but at the slight twitch of the head Batman knew otherwise.

He put a finger to his lips but the boy already knew the rules and nodded.

Just when Batman had taken out a Batarang to cut the ropes a sudden punch in his side threw him stumbling to the left.

"Ah, ah, ah, Batsy. That's cheating. You can't just cut the birdie piñata down," Joker grinned sadistically as the Dark Knight held his side. "You gotta break it."

Batman watched in terror as Joker took a swing at his child. The blow was centered right at the chest, and upon hearing a loud crack, Batman flinched. Robin couldn't help himself when a strangled cry rang out from his broken form.

That was all Batman needed to feel white hot anger boil up through his body. A animal like growl came from his throat, making Joker burst into hysterical laughter.

"So that's all it takes to make the Batman crow?" Joker's movements were sharp and quick, standing with sickly purpose. "Well, how did I not see this earlier?"

Batman charged at the villain, drawing out his bow staff to block the sudden hit from Joker's blood stained bat. The mad man's blows seemed to be more chaotic then planned, easily blocked but no way to get in a blow of his own.

His cackles rang in his ears, making Batman more set on his mission to put the villain in a body cast. The Dark Knight jumped back from Joker's sudden jab an saw an opening on his right flank. Batman turned from another stab to pull out his own Batarangs.

Batman threw five flying towards Joker, pushing the man to the wall where he was pinned. The sound of wood striking the floor echoed through the small room along with Joker's strangled grunts and giggles.

"Why Batsy, you're usually so ready for a fight. Why stop so soon?"

Batman only glared, striding to where the bat lay abandoned on the ground. He observed the blood decorating the entire body of the thing; all belonging to his son. Taking hold of the two ends he snapped it against his knee, the two separate ends clanging back onto the floor.

Joker smiled at him almost knowingly, but Batman only turned to pull out his communicator.

"Gordon."

"Batman! We lost sight of you and Robin after they put out the fire."

"I have apprehended Joker."

"What? But-"

"He's on the third floor, thirty-first room."

Batman ended the transmission before the Commissioner could reply. The Dark Knight quickly ran to where his son was still tied to the ceiling. Taking another Batarang from his pouch, Batman threw it to the ropes holding the boy's ankles. Batman slide against the floor as he caught the child as he fell. A slight grunt came from the little bundle in his arms and Batman gave him a quiet apology as he clutched him to his chest.

Ropes were thrown from his partner and a heavy, black cape took their place. Batman pulled the child back into his arms and, without another glance at Joker, fled the scene.

"The boy has sustained six fractured ribs and three others that are broken. One arm is broken along with a broken collar bone. One ankle is twisted and both his shins are fractured. He will be needing a few stitched for the cut on his head." Alfred stated in a clipped tone.

Bruce flinched from where he stood behind the butler. After he pulled into the cave, the butler had shoved the man aside to assess the young boy's wounds, but it was becoming physically damaging to not be allowed to comfort his son.

"Other then the slight internal bleeding that I have already seen to, I do not believe the young master sustained any other major internal injuries."

Bruce was itching with impatience as he stared at the old man's back, willing him to move away.

"Master Wayne if you would please stop burning holes into me, I would very much appreciate if you would leave the room for a moment."

Bruce opened his mouth to object, but Alfred only cut him off.

"I am still not finished helping Master Richard, so please go an change so I may check your wounds easier."

Bruce continued staring at the butler before complying, but in a very angry fashion.

Five minutes later the billionaire was stepping out of the changing area in pajama pants a clean shirt. Alfred had seemed to disappear, leaving the now bandaged child to curl into himself for warmth. Dick whimpered where all he got was aches all over his body.

"Oh, baby," Bruce mumbled, quickly coming top the child's aid and scooping him into his arms. "Sh, daddy's got you, you're safe."

Bruce rubbed his son's back to try and warm him up, but the child still hugged himself closer, burying his face against his father's neck.

"I gotcha, chum, it's okay."

Bruce knew he should wait for Alfred to see to his wounds, but he didn't have that many. It could wait till morning, for sure. Bruce slowly walked up the stairs back to the manor.

The boy continued to hug him tighter until they were finally in Bruce's room. Dick was laid onto the bed where Bruce quickly followed, pulling the child back into the comforting embrace. He watched the child snuggle against his chest and press his face against his steady, beating heart. Bruce slowly relaxed, slowly rubbing the boy's back and watching for any of the tell tale signs of a nightmare.

Wow, this chapter took FOREVER! Sorry about that guys. I know I said I would have this up forever ago, but things got crazy with homework, getting sick twice and sadly school stuff (drama, sadly). But, here it is! I know it's not my best chapter, and I'm pretty upset because I SHOULD have had more action, but I totally blanked. Sorry peeps. And I'm sure my Joker was not the best, but I tried!

On another note, I have officially gone over 100 reviews! Oh my goodness guys, that is so great! Thank you all so much! I know I'm kinda crappy about responding back to reviews and stuff, but I swear I'm going to try and respond to as many as I can now :) My next chapter is a request from my 100th reviewer READINGhearts17 who wants to see the first mission of Batman and Robin. Woot! I'm also gonna say, whoever is the 150th reviewer will also have their pick for a chapter so try and get there ya'll!

I don't know when the next chapter will be sadly, but I'm trying! Tomorrow is my birthday and if I get a tablet like I asked, it will make writing at school so much easier :)

Thanks guys! Less than three 3

PS, one of the things I was working on lately was a young Justice styled Gangnam Style music video so if you love YJ check it out! Go to youtube and look under either rAdicalKevin123 or YOUNG JUSTICE STYLE! We also went to ikkicon and there are videos for that too :) hope ya like!