His head felt as though thousands of jack hammers were working on the
inside of his brain as he slipped in and out of consciousness. The world
seemed to swirl in front of his vision, and a burning sensations coursed
through his right arm. He tired to gain a sense of where he was, when he
was, and what he was doing there. He knew something happened, that he had
gotten careless.
His vision began to return to him. At first everything was a hazy blur, but it soon began to piece itself together as he cleared the cobwebs from his throbbing mind. He heard voices around him. Vaguely familiar voices. Where they friendly, he thought. His vision had pretty much been fully returned to him, but the world seemed to be upside down. No, he thought. The world wasn't upside down. HE was!
"Oh Puddin'!" A familiar voice, New Jersey-accent, squealed. "I think our little birdie is awake."
"Oh, good. I would hate for him to bite the big one. At least, not until I got done taking a few bites myself. Hehehehahaha!!" The laughter caught his utmost attention, as his memory came flooding back to him. He was Robin, the other half of the Dynamic Duo. And he was in a WHOLE lot of trouble.
The Joker bounded into the room, smile wide from ear to ear. He wore his standard lavender suit, boutique on his lapel and all. His hair, an unnatural green, bounced as he bobbed his head back and forth, nodding to the tune of a song that played only in his head, as he sauntered over to Robin.
"How's it hanging, Rob-Oh?" the Joker mocked, pinching Robin's cheeks between his boney fingers.
Robin tried to move, but he was firmly bound and gagged. Joker's smile widened, his off-white teeth dripping with his saliva. He was getting extreme satisfaction from this show. Robin tried to speak, but the gag only muffled his words.
"Oh, look Harl: Our little parrot is trying to speak." Harley Quinn giggled in delight, taking her cue from Joker.
"Aww...birdie wanna cracker?" She asked as she stuffed a handful of stale crackers in his face.
"Awww...what's the matter, kid? Not in the New Years spirit? Then again, you super-types were never very fun at all. But don't worry, Uncle Joker's gonna fix that. Just you see. "
Robin struggled, and finally managed to work his gag off. "Your sick, Joker," he spat out. "Worse yet, you're not even funny." He became shockingly aware that his mouth was working without any cue from his brain.
Joker just stared at him, his eye twitching with anger. He reeled back, as if ready to punch, but stopped and, laughing, rubbed Robin's head.
"Oh, your just a kid. You could never understand the intricate workings of adult humor. In fact, I don't think you're even old enough to shave." He rubbed his hands coarsely against Robin's cheeks. "Actually, I think I can feel a little bit of stubble there." He walked away for a second, then came back, holding in his hand a shiny, new shaving razor. "I think we'll give ol' junior here the barber shop special. After all, the sooner you shave, the thicker it'll come in. Heheheeee!!!"
****************
The team collectively known as Young Justice did what they could to get into the New Year spirit. Despite heavy-set objections on part of Impulse, the group began replacing the Christmas decorations with New Years. Superboy fixed a disco globe up in place of one of the chandleries. Wonder Girl hung banners above the door posts, while Secret accompanied Anita, who was trying, rather unsuccessfully, to explain the purpose of New Years. Red Tornado had the more arduous task of connecting a cable wire to the large computer monitor. His daughter, Traya, provided much needed technical assistance however, although Red Tornado felt somewhat embarrassed at the fact that his daughter, barely old enough to attend school, was teaching HIM about electronics. Lobo was nowhere to be found, and frankly no one seemed to care. However, the sudden absence of their leader, Robin, was slightly disturbing. But this wasn't the first time he pulled a disappearing act on them, so none were too concerned.
"Traya, will you pass me the...uh....thingy....there...."
"You mean the monkey wrench, dad?" Traya asked, handing him the tool he was mentioning.
"Uh....yeah, that's it honey," he said sheepishly, taking it from her hand and disappearing back behind the monitor. "Uh...I don't think you really need that, dad? Maybe you should use...."
"I know what I'm doing, Hon. I am, after all, a machine. And thus I should have a pretty good...." The sudden jolt of electricity, followed closely by the faint aroma of ozone and seared metal silenced his objections.
"Okay, YOU get back here, and I'LL hand the tools," he said, slinking out from behind the computer, upper torso singed black. Traya could barely hold back the laughter.
"No, Secret," Anita said frustrated. "New Years EVE is on the last day before the ACTUAL New Years!"
"So why are we celebrating the New Years at the end of the old year? Shouldn't it be called Old Years Day?" Secret said as she floated right behind the newest addition to the team.
Anita held her fingers between her eyes, massaging the bridge of her nose. "Ugh, never mind. Forget it."
"Forget what?" Impulse said, hands full of Christmas decorations. A small Santa fell from his arms as he streaked to a halt between the two ladies.
"Nothing..." Anita said.
"Anita was just explaining how we celebrate the New Year by having a party at the end of the old one," Secret said.
"Yeah, I never could understand that one," Impulse said understandingly. "And that whole `Leap Year' thing. What's the point of having an extra day if it's only going to come along every four years. I mean, you don't even get any presents for it or anything..." Anita grunted in aggravation and walked off.
"What? What did I say?" Impulse asked Secret, who could only shrug.
"Wow! Things are starting to look pretty good here, guys," a familiar voice called to them. The team turned to see their former teammate standing in all her Olympic glory.
"CISSIE!!!" Cassie called, dropping her decorations, which fell on an unsuspecting Impulse below, who could only wonder who turned the lights off.
Wonder Girl embraced her friend with a flying hug, while the others (save Impulse) calmly strode over to great her.
"What brings you here?" Superboy asked as he floated down for a landing right next to her. She had a smirk on her face and a large gym bag over her shoulder. She wore tight jean pants and a white Olympic t-shirt. Her hair was done in a tight pigtail, which hung loosely over her right shoulder.
"Well, since I didn't get a chance to do it sooner, what with all the chaos of having an agent and all this publicity junk, I decided to bring you guys some belated Christmas gifts."
"Presents???" Impulse said, appearing, seemingly out of nowhere, right behind Cissie's left shoulder. "Whatchagetmewhatchagetmewhatchaget???"
"Calm down, spaz," she said. "I'll get to ya." She put the bag down carefully, and unzipping, slowly pulled out neatly wrapped gifts, each of varying shapes and sizes.
"Okay, this one's for you, Kon. And here's for you, Red. And Anita, and Cassie, and..." She wasn't even finished handing out gifts when her greedy friends tore into the packaging like pirana at a fresh kill.
"Alright! 'Wrestlemania 15'!!!" Kon said, his eyes wide with joy. "The only one I've been missing in my collection!"
"EEEEEKKKK!!!" Cassie said, leaping with excitement. "An autographed `OnKey' album; Bruises on My Face!"
Impulse had a look of confusion as he opened his gift. "`1001 Ways to Stay Calm'? That's the FOURTH one I've got!"
"Ah mon, you shouldn't have!" Anita said as she held up an VERY expensive Armani skirt with matching shoes.
"Haha....very funny," Red Tornado said as he held up a copy of the Disney classic `Pinnochio'.
"Oops...sorry Red. That one's meant for Traya. I guess I got yours mixed up."
"I would hope so," Traya said, holding up a VERY large copy of `Leaves of Grass' by Herman Melville. "I don't think I could read this all in my lifetime."
"Where's my gift?" Secret asked in anticipation.
"Well, I didn't know what to get you Secret," Cissie said as the rest of the team quickly gathered behind her, smiles wide on their faces. "So I....uh..WE had this made special for you." She pulled out from her bag a medium sized picture frame, neatly ornate with carvings of birds and flowers. Inside was a picture of the group, which was taken candidly unbeknownst to her. On it was inscribed the names of all her teammates, and in the corner was written; "Merry Christmas, Secret. Love, Young Justice."
Secret held the picture close to her chest, tears streaming down her face while the group crowded around her, smiles of cheer on their faces at the sight of her reaction.
"You...you guys are the best," she said, a weak smile running from ear to ear. They all embraced, unifying for one big group hug.
"Aw, geeze. I'm not even back for ten seconds and you losers are already getting mushy," a ruffled voice spoke behind them. They turned to see that there mood was broken by none other than The Top Teen, `Lil Lobo.
"Ah, just the alien I was hoping NOT to see," Cassie said sarcastically.
"Good to see ya too, hot pants," he retorted.
"Here," she said, handing him a small box. "Merry Christmas."
"Fer me? Ya should have. Y'know, you're not so..."he paused as he unwrapped his gift. "Deodorant?"
"Yeah, I figured you could use some, since obviously you space types've never heard of bathing."
"Har har frikin' har!" he said, tossing the bar aside. "So, where's that other loser that hangs wit ya?"
"Oh, Robin?" Cissie said. "Yeah, I was about to ask where he was. I still have his present to give. Uh...where is he guys?"
"We dunno," Superboy said, shrugging. "He took off yesterday rather suddenly. Ask Bart what he did."
"Bart, what'd he do?" Cissie asked.
"His car slimed me with crazy glue," he said, obviously upset over the ordeal.
"Hpf. And none of you went to find out what was up?" She asked.
"Well...he did seem pretty bent up," Cassie said. "But he made it VERY clear that he didn't want to be followed.
"Has anyone bothered to ask Batman where he was?" They all looked away, as if to suggest that no, in fact, they had NOT thought of that.
"Didn't think so." She strode over to the computer consul, instantly noticing what a mess it was. "Bart, did you try to hook up your Dream Blast to this thing again?"
"Not me this time. Blame it on Red Tornado and Traya."
"We were trying to hook up a new cable wire to the monitor so that we could watch the festivities from here. I thought it'd be more...fun," Tornado said, somewhat sheepishly.
"That sounds cool." She fumbled her fingers through some of the wiring. "Now, you DID plan on having this done by THIS New Year, right?"
"Don't worry Ciss," Traya said. "I'm helping out."
"That's better," she said, rubbing her roommates head. "So, no one has any idea where he might have gone? I'd really like to give him his gift."
"Well," Secret said. "He DID say he was going to be spending New Years with his family. Maybe he went there."
"Yeah, but if it WAS for family, why the suddenness?" Anita asked. "Why the apparent urgency."
"And why'd he have to splat me with that white goo?" Impulse added.
"Whoa whoa, time out!" Lobo said. "Yer all so fraggin' worried that The Boy Chump decided he was too cool for ya losers and split? Heck, I'd just go over to Gotham City and give him a piece of my mind, my fist, and my boot!"
"That's not how we do things, Lobo," Cassie said, obviously irked. "But I say we SHOULD go to Gotham, at least to see if he's there."
"Sounds like a good idea," Traya chimed in, smiling a childish smile. "Daddy, can I go too?"
"That won't be necessary," a voice said from the shadows. "He's not in Gotham." The group all turned on their heels.
"Say, is it just me, or did it turn night all of a sudden?" Superboy said, noting the sudden onset of dankness.
"BATMAN!"The group exclaimed. The figure lurched out of the shadows like Satan from the doors of Hell, yet seemed umbilically connected to the shadows he came from. His eyes pierced them each like extended knives, and his face held the firm expression of one who had come from a funeral; bitter. There was not a single one who did not shudder in abject terror at the sight. Not Empress. Not Red Tornado. Not even Lobo.
"I have come in search of Robin. Why isn't he here?"
"Hey, you should know that," Superboy mustered the courage to say. "I thought you Bat-types always kept track of each other. And, for that part, what gives you the right to barge in here. Why didn't you just call?"
"I tried. Your connections were down."
"Oh, yeah, that." Superboy moved back, clearly embarrassed.
"I will ask this once, and I expect a response, because the answer might mean the difference between his life and his death," Batman said, his voice full of venom and fueled with urgency. "WHERE...IS...ROBIN?"
***************************************
The soft creaking sounded like a thundering echo in his ears as he rocked back and forth, hanging upside down like a piece of meat. His face felt the pain of a thousand nails tearing into his flesh. But as the blood streamed down his face, and as his soft tears of pain worked inside the large chunks of flesh that barely hung from his cheeks and jaws, their salty wetness stinging even worse, Robin knew that this was the greatest pain he had ever felt.
And it was just beginning.......
His vision began to return to him. At first everything was a hazy blur, but it soon began to piece itself together as he cleared the cobwebs from his throbbing mind. He heard voices around him. Vaguely familiar voices. Where they friendly, he thought. His vision had pretty much been fully returned to him, but the world seemed to be upside down. No, he thought. The world wasn't upside down. HE was!
"Oh Puddin'!" A familiar voice, New Jersey-accent, squealed. "I think our little birdie is awake."
"Oh, good. I would hate for him to bite the big one. At least, not until I got done taking a few bites myself. Hehehehahaha!!" The laughter caught his utmost attention, as his memory came flooding back to him. He was Robin, the other half of the Dynamic Duo. And he was in a WHOLE lot of trouble.
The Joker bounded into the room, smile wide from ear to ear. He wore his standard lavender suit, boutique on his lapel and all. His hair, an unnatural green, bounced as he bobbed his head back and forth, nodding to the tune of a song that played only in his head, as he sauntered over to Robin.
"How's it hanging, Rob-Oh?" the Joker mocked, pinching Robin's cheeks between his boney fingers.
Robin tried to move, but he was firmly bound and gagged. Joker's smile widened, his off-white teeth dripping with his saliva. He was getting extreme satisfaction from this show. Robin tried to speak, but the gag only muffled his words.
"Oh, look Harl: Our little parrot is trying to speak." Harley Quinn giggled in delight, taking her cue from Joker.
"Aww...birdie wanna cracker?" She asked as she stuffed a handful of stale crackers in his face.
"Awww...what's the matter, kid? Not in the New Years spirit? Then again, you super-types were never very fun at all. But don't worry, Uncle Joker's gonna fix that. Just you see. "
Robin struggled, and finally managed to work his gag off. "Your sick, Joker," he spat out. "Worse yet, you're not even funny." He became shockingly aware that his mouth was working without any cue from his brain.
Joker just stared at him, his eye twitching with anger. He reeled back, as if ready to punch, but stopped and, laughing, rubbed Robin's head.
"Oh, your just a kid. You could never understand the intricate workings of adult humor. In fact, I don't think you're even old enough to shave." He rubbed his hands coarsely against Robin's cheeks. "Actually, I think I can feel a little bit of stubble there." He walked away for a second, then came back, holding in his hand a shiny, new shaving razor. "I think we'll give ol' junior here the barber shop special. After all, the sooner you shave, the thicker it'll come in. Heheheeee!!!"
****************
The team collectively known as Young Justice did what they could to get into the New Year spirit. Despite heavy-set objections on part of Impulse, the group began replacing the Christmas decorations with New Years. Superboy fixed a disco globe up in place of one of the chandleries. Wonder Girl hung banners above the door posts, while Secret accompanied Anita, who was trying, rather unsuccessfully, to explain the purpose of New Years. Red Tornado had the more arduous task of connecting a cable wire to the large computer monitor. His daughter, Traya, provided much needed technical assistance however, although Red Tornado felt somewhat embarrassed at the fact that his daughter, barely old enough to attend school, was teaching HIM about electronics. Lobo was nowhere to be found, and frankly no one seemed to care. However, the sudden absence of their leader, Robin, was slightly disturbing. But this wasn't the first time he pulled a disappearing act on them, so none were too concerned.
"Traya, will you pass me the...uh....thingy....there...."
"You mean the monkey wrench, dad?" Traya asked, handing him the tool he was mentioning.
"Uh....yeah, that's it honey," he said sheepishly, taking it from her hand and disappearing back behind the monitor. "Uh...I don't think you really need that, dad? Maybe you should use...."
"I know what I'm doing, Hon. I am, after all, a machine. And thus I should have a pretty good...." The sudden jolt of electricity, followed closely by the faint aroma of ozone and seared metal silenced his objections.
"Okay, YOU get back here, and I'LL hand the tools," he said, slinking out from behind the computer, upper torso singed black. Traya could barely hold back the laughter.
"No, Secret," Anita said frustrated. "New Years EVE is on the last day before the ACTUAL New Years!"
"So why are we celebrating the New Years at the end of the old year? Shouldn't it be called Old Years Day?" Secret said as she floated right behind the newest addition to the team.
Anita held her fingers between her eyes, massaging the bridge of her nose. "Ugh, never mind. Forget it."
"Forget what?" Impulse said, hands full of Christmas decorations. A small Santa fell from his arms as he streaked to a halt between the two ladies.
"Nothing..." Anita said.
"Anita was just explaining how we celebrate the New Year by having a party at the end of the old one," Secret said.
"Yeah, I never could understand that one," Impulse said understandingly. "And that whole `Leap Year' thing. What's the point of having an extra day if it's only going to come along every four years. I mean, you don't even get any presents for it or anything..." Anita grunted in aggravation and walked off.
"What? What did I say?" Impulse asked Secret, who could only shrug.
"Wow! Things are starting to look pretty good here, guys," a familiar voice called to them. The team turned to see their former teammate standing in all her Olympic glory.
"CISSIE!!!" Cassie called, dropping her decorations, which fell on an unsuspecting Impulse below, who could only wonder who turned the lights off.
Wonder Girl embraced her friend with a flying hug, while the others (save Impulse) calmly strode over to great her.
"What brings you here?" Superboy asked as he floated down for a landing right next to her. She had a smirk on her face and a large gym bag over her shoulder. She wore tight jean pants and a white Olympic t-shirt. Her hair was done in a tight pigtail, which hung loosely over her right shoulder.
"Well, since I didn't get a chance to do it sooner, what with all the chaos of having an agent and all this publicity junk, I decided to bring you guys some belated Christmas gifts."
"Presents???" Impulse said, appearing, seemingly out of nowhere, right behind Cissie's left shoulder. "Whatchagetmewhatchagetmewhatchaget???"
"Calm down, spaz," she said. "I'll get to ya." She put the bag down carefully, and unzipping, slowly pulled out neatly wrapped gifts, each of varying shapes and sizes.
"Okay, this one's for you, Kon. And here's for you, Red. And Anita, and Cassie, and..." She wasn't even finished handing out gifts when her greedy friends tore into the packaging like pirana at a fresh kill.
"Alright! 'Wrestlemania 15'!!!" Kon said, his eyes wide with joy. "The only one I've been missing in my collection!"
"EEEEEKKKK!!!" Cassie said, leaping with excitement. "An autographed `OnKey' album; Bruises on My Face!"
Impulse had a look of confusion as he opened his gift. "`1001 Ways to Stay Calm'? That's the FOURTH one I've got!"
"Ah mon, you shouldn't have!" Anita said as she held up an VERY expensive Armani skirt with matching shoes.
"Haha....very funny," Red Tornado said as he held up a copy of the Disney classic `Pinnochio'.
"Oops...sorry Red. That one's meant for Traya. I guess I got yours mixed up."
"I would hope so," Traya said, holding up a VERY large copy of `Leaves of Grass' by Herman Melville. "I don't think I could read this all in my lifetime."
"Where's my gift?" Secret asked in anticipation.
"Well, I didn't know what to get you Secret," Cissie said as the rest of the team quickly gathered behind her, smiles wide on their faces. "So I....uh..WE had this made special for you." She pulled out from her bag a medium sized picture frame, neatly ornate with carvings of birds and flowers. Inside was a picture of the group, which was taken candidly unbeknownst to her. On it was inscribed the names of all her teammates, and in the corner was written; "Merry Christmas, Secret. Love, Young Justice."
Secret held the picture close to her chest, tears streaming down her face while the group crowded around her, smiles of cheer on their faces at the sight of her reaction.
"You...you guys are the best," she said, a weak smile running from ear to ear. They all embraced, unifying for one big group hug.
"Aw, geeze. I'm not even back for ten seconds and you losers are already getting mushy," a ruffled voice spoke behind them. They turned to see that there mood was broken by none other than The Top Teen, `Lil Lobo.
"Ah, just the alien I was hoping NOT to see," Cassie said sarcastically.
"Good to see ya too, hot pants," he retorted.
"Here," she said, handing him a small box. "Merry Christmas."
"Fer me? Ya should have. Y'know, you're not so..."he paused as he unwrapped his gift. "Deodorant?"
"Yeah, I figured you could use some, since obviously you space types've never heard of bathing."
"Har har frikin' har!" he said, tossing the bar aside. "So, where's that other loser that hangs wit ya?"
"Oh, Robin?" Cissie said. "Yeah, I was about to ask where he was. I still have his present to give. Uh...where is he guys?"
"We dunno," Superboy said, shrugging. "He took off yesterday rather suddenly. Ask Bart what he did."
"Bart, what'd he do?" Cissie asked.
"His car slimed me with crazy glue," he said, obviously upset over the ordeal.
"Hpf. And none of you went to find out what was up?" She asked.
"Well...he did seem pretty bent up," Cassie said. "But he made it VERY clear that he didn't want to be followed.
"Has anyone bothered to ask Batman where he was?" They all looked away, as if to suggest that no, in fact, they had NOT thought of that.
"Didn't think so." She strode over to the computer consul, instantly noticing what a mess it was. "Bart, did you try to hook up your Dream Blast to this thing again?"
"Not me this time. Blame it on Red Tornado and Traya."
"We were trying to hook up a new cable wire to the monitor so that we could watch the festivities from here. I thought it'd be more...fun," Tornado said, somewhat sheepishly.
"That sounds cool." She fumbled her fingers through some of the wiring. "Now, you DID plan on having this done by THIS New Year, right?"
"Don't worry Ciss," Traya said. "I'm helping out."
"That's better," she said, rubbing her roommates head. "So, no one has any idea where he might have gone? I'd really like to give him his gift."
"Well," Secret said. "He DID say he was going to be spending New Years with his family. Maybe he went there."
"Yeah, but if it WAS for family, why the suddenness?" Anita asked. "Why the apparent urgency."
"And why'd he have to splat me with that white goo?" Impulse added.
"Whoa whoa, time out!" Lobo said. "Yer all so fraggin' worried that The Boy Chump decided he was too cool for ya losers and split? Heck, I'd just go over to Gotham City and give him a piece of my mind, my fist, and my boot!"
"That's not how we do things, Lobo," Cassie said, obviously irked. "But I say we SHOULD go to Gotham, at least to see if he's there."
"Sounds like a good idea," Traya chimed in, smiling a childish smile. "Daddy, can I go too?"
"That won't be necessary," a voice said from the shadows. "He's not in Gotham." The group all turned on their heels.
"Say, is it just me, or did it turn night all of a sudden?" Superboy said, noting the sudden onset of dankness.
"BATMAN!"The group exclaimed. The figure lurched out of the shadows like Satan from the doors of Hell, yet seemed umbilically connected to the shadows he came from. His eyes pierced them each like extended knives, and his face held the firm expression of one who had come from a funeral; bitter. There was not a single one who did not shudder in abject terror at the sight. Not Empress. Not Red Tornado. Not even Lobo.
"I have come in search of Robin. Why isn't he here?"
"Hey, you should know that," Superboy mustered the courage to say. "I thought you Bat-types always kept track of each other. And, for that part, what gives you the right to barge in here. Why didn't you just call?"
"I tried. Your connections were down."
"Oh, yeah, that." Superboy moved back, clearly embarrassed.
"I will ask this once, and I expect a response, because the answer might mean the difference between his life and his death," Batman said, his voice full of venom and fueled with urgency. "WHERE...IS...ROBIN?"
***************************************
The soft creaking sounded like a thundering echo in his ears as he rocked back and forth, hanging upside down like a piece of meat. His face felt the pain of a thousand nails tearing into his flesh. But as the blood streamed down his face, and as his soft tears of pain worked inside the large chunks of flesh that barely hung from his cheeks and jaws, their salty wetness stinging even worse, Robin knew that this was the greatest pain he had ever felt.
And it was just beginning.......