The video plays and what they see horrifies everyone in the room
Its Jason, in his old Robin tied up and being beaten with a crowbar. Joker in the video taunted Jason"Tell me, what hurts more? A?"He swings the crow bar in a forehand motion, landing on Jason's face. "Or B?"He swung again in a backhand motion, landing again in his face. "Forehand or Back hand?" He did the same thing again and again for 30 minutes until he got bored and went to the table in the corner. He picked up a hunting knife and stated walking back towards Jason, slowly. He looked like Michael Myers after one of his future victims. He looked at the knife, studying and admiring it at the same time. "You know why I prefer knives over guns? You see, with a gun its too quick. But with a knife, you can savor the coldness of their skin, the blankness in their eyes, the reveal of who they really are." He looked at Jason, who was terrified for his life. "You can't savor all the little emotions." He suddenly stabbed Jason in his left thigh, twisting it, making Jason scream. He let go of the knife and grabbed Jason by the face and forced him to look at him. "I'm gonna savor this moment, little bird." He Grabbed to knife again and took it out from his thigh slowly, making Jason scream in pain again and much louder than before.
The videos were similar in their graphic and cruel content. Some showed Jason being tortured by Joker, Quinn or even some of the other villains, who expressed what Batman had done when he captured them such as Two-Face (Harvey Dent) being stopped when he was robbing the National Bank of Gotham or when Batman and Nightwing had tracked down Killer-Croc (Waylon Jones) in the Sewers, they expressed their frustration and anger at Batman on Jason. Joker told them not to tell any of the Bats nor to land any killing blows on Jason. Tim, Roy, and Diana all grabbed a bucket or bag and emptied whatever food they had ate on their way here during the one where Zsasz cut Jason in the back, slowly and quite painful from the screams.
Tim had seen a lot of things during his tenure as Robin. Abuse and rape victims, mangled corpses with their insides out and more but this was too much for him. This was just pure evil and if Tim ever got his hands in the Joker, he's not sure if he could stop himself from killing the bastard and it would not be quick. Hell, he'd probably tell Oliver to make his last days on Earth as painful as possible and from the looks of it, he might not even need to give him permission. The question is, could he stop Bruce? Probably not cause heart wouldn't be in it and there are moments where he doesn't even listened to Alfred, FREAKING ALFRED, and is pretty sure that not even the old butler would attempt to stop him.
Diana had seen many battles and much death but none of that compared to this act of pure evil. She had lived through both World Wars but she couldn't help but feel sick in her stomach seeing the little boy who at first hid behind Bruce's cape when surrounded by so many heroes but later on showed who he was, a brilliant and kindhearted boy who had unjustly suffered and seen too much at such a young age. He even admitted to her once that she was his favorite Superhero, to which Bruce tried to change his mind but nothing he tried changed his opinion. Not even paying for a private screening of Phantom of the Opera or the best seats at all of Jason's favorite plays could change his mind.
Clark gripped his fists hard and his face was of one rage, something Bruce rarely saw in his best friend. The Man of Steel had seen some cruel and vile things, especially in Apokolips but this was just... pure evil. He loved Jason like a new nephew and seeing him in pain was awful. But the way Joker was watching and torturing Jason with a smile on his face, just made him want to run his hand through his heart. The only other time he felt like this was when Darkseid brainwashed him and made him into his personal 'knight' and ended up nearly killing Kara in the process by his own hands. He doesn't know if he could himself or Bruce from killing Joker the next time they see him.
Alfred meanwhile pulled up a chair and sat, watching his adopted grandson be tortured by that monster's hands. He had treated the injuries with Leslie but seeing him get those scars and injuries was something that not even the old MI6 agent was not prepared. He was even thinking grabbing his shotgun, going to Arkham and shoot that monster to hell. He made a silent vow that if the Joker ever came near Wayne Manor or his Grandson, he would kill him right then and there, dam Master Bruce's Rules. Though it seems his surrogate son wouldn't object to it.
Dick felt his guilt increase tenfold every time he heard Jason scream and felt like he was carrying planet sized levels of guilt. He should have searched more, interrogate more any one who had any connection to the clown. 'Joker' Dick mentally growled that man who hurt his little brother. No, that bastard didn't deserve to be called human. He was an animal that needed to be put down and if he so much as even thinks about going anywhere his little brother, who would beat the clown to death, fuck Bruce's rules. Though after seeing this, he has hard time seeing Bruce saying no to him killing Joker.
Oliver and Sara were practically fuming, bile rising in their throats every now and then but they held out thanks to their training and through sheer willpower. Oliver had gone through brutal torture before thanks to Fyers, Waller, Gregor and others but all of that was paled in comparison to what Jason had gone through. This made his torture look like a simple paper cut. Sara had also been tortured during her time in Ivo's ship (along with other things she doesn't want bring up again), and the League of Assassins. Later on, Shiva helped her and sister later to help increase their pain tolerance, Laurel in particular, something that came in handy in many combat scenarios, alien invasions especially.1
Roy was watching with a horrified expression on his face. He had seen alot of gruesome stuff while growing up in the streets like Jason and during his tenure as a vigilante in Star City and a member of the Titans but this was just pure evil. Roy hadn't killed anywhere near as much as his mentor had but he would gladly take the Joker's life and would sleep like a baby after. Hell, Oliver looked like he was a second away from grabbing his gear, going to Arkham Asylum and slaughtering the fucking bastard. He idly wondered if this would be Bruce's breaking point. He remembered that he had become much more violent and brutal common thugs and purse snatchers after Joker sent him the film. Would this finally push him over the edge and kill Joker? As a father, if something even remotely similar to this happened to Lian, he would hunt down and kill all those bastards responsible.
Bruce wasn't doing much better, think off all the ways to make Joker's death last for days. When they finished watching the videos, Bruce immediately went to one of his safes and opened it. He took out a bottle of scotch and some glasses. Bruce served himself and drank it one sip despite the burn in his throat. He rarely indulged himself like this but felt he deserved this one time, especially after what he saw. Oliver, Sara and Dick both grabbed one as well.2
"I swear to fucking god Bruce, if you don't put him 6 feet under, I will and it won't be quick." His voice filled with poorly conceived anger. Dick and Sara were thinking the same. Bruce had no answer. His pride would never allow himself to do it but what Joker did was something that very few villains would do and he did it all with a smile on his face.
They all sat there in tense and silence. Alfred got up and went upstairs to check on Jason and Diana went with him. Tim sat down on the floor and leaned on the wall next to the Bat-Computer. Roy went upstairs for something to remove the taste of bile in his mouth. Clark put a comforting hand on Bruce. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours but was merely a few minutes until it was time for Patrol. Clark stopped Bruce from going out and possibly getting himself and/or other civilians killed.
"I'll patrol Gotham for Tonight. You're in no position to go." Clark said and Bruce didn't even have the strength or will to argue with the Man of Steel. Oliver, Dick, Sara, and Bruce simply filled themselves with another glass and simply took it numbly. To anyone who looked on this scene could the feel the painful and somber mood emanating from the entire cave.
So that got dark. Let me what you guys think and incase you're wondering why I didn't describe every single video or more than one is because it would be mentally exhausting and there's only so much I can write before I question my sanity. I also forgot to add Dick and Alfred's reaction thus delaying this chapter. Hope it was worth the wait.
1. Laurel and Sara were both trained by Lady Shiva for a year in this story's universe. I did it in order to make Laurel a bit more of a badass and explain how she is so skilled and I included Sara cause she does fit the type of student Shiva would take on. It's also a nod to the comics where one of Black Canary's teachers was Sandra Wu-San herself. And incase you're wondering, both sisters have a Canary cry however Laurel's is slightly more powerful but Sara is the better fighter though her sister can still give her a run for her money.
2. This bit along with the recording of Jason's torture was inspired by one of the See How Deep The Bullet Lies by Ithoughtslashmeanthorror stories. I'd recommend you'd check those stories as they are very well written in my opinion and are entertaining to read. I also think that seeing something so brutal happen to Jason (his son!, don't care what other writers think or say, Bruce love Dick, Jason and Tim like his own) and seeing it for hours on end would certainly make him give in to the need for a drink despite him rarely drinking any liquor due his need to be at the top of his game. Same for Dick, Oliver and Sara.
And incase you are wondering, Selina will see the videos next chapter along the confrontation between the Gotham City Sirens, which will hopefully be up by next weekend. Hope you all enjoy and please leave constructive criticism on how to improve but I will delete any stupid hate comments from idiots who think they know these characters but really don't. Also, any of you catch the Injustice Gods Among Us reference?
