I knew that I had to save him. I had to, he was my brother. Jason clung to me on the back of the motorcycle as we sped through the streets of Gotham in the darkness. The cold cut through us with wind.
"The manor, turn left." I heard Jason say through gritted teeth. He didn't want to go after Tim. I wasn't strong enough in his eyes. Besides, in the end, this was Tim and Jokers' fight. It was between them.
Still, he was my responsibility.
The manor was dark; Bruce and Damian were out still. Alfred was hopefully unaware of what the Joker was planning. He would get caught in the crossfire.
He let us in, unaware of anything amiss. The manor was a big place, if he had been in the kitchen, he wouldn't have been able to hear a scream from Tim's room.
"Yes I heard that the Joker had escaped. I radioed Master Wayne already." He said opening the door.
"Dick seems to think that he is after Tim." Jason said as we walked in.
"Why would he think that?" Alfred shot me a look. We hadn't told anyone in the family about what we had found out, it would only complicate things.
"No reason." I yelled to them as I ran up to Tim's room. Opening the door, I was greeted with the muzzle of a gun trained on my forehead.
"Now look who is up and walking!" I heard the demonic voice of the Joker again from inside. "I was just having a little chat with Timmy here, it seems he went back on our deal. It's seems he wanted to trick me along! Now we can't have that."
"Joker, I'm not the one you want." I said putting my hands up slowly. "Just put it down."
"You know what? You're right! You are not my queen." The muzzle was removed and I could see into the room. I remembered what Tim had told Jason. I had been Joker's original queen, the original sacrifice.
Joker was standing in the center of the room in front of Tim who was on his knees being held up by two of Joker's goons. His face was bloody. He had been beaten, but he would make it.
"Although Grayson, it is a bit interesting. Tim tried to sacrifice himself for you. Then he ended up living, and sacrificing you." He smiled at me, tucking the revolver under one of his arms. "Or did he really know what he was doing at he put you out to fool me?"
"Tim, I'm going to get you out." I looked at him. I heard Jason come up behind me. Three of us against three of them, the odds were good.
"Dick- Oh my god." He came to my side, looking in at the sight. I put my arm up, he was a loose cannon around the Joker.
"Well look who showed up! Another Robin who just refuses to be put down. What is it with you guys?" He laughed and Jason charged. Joker was relying on it.
"No!" Tim and I screamed at the same time, pulling Jason back. He didn't see the revolver under Joker's arm. Joker smiled, I could see the demented grin stretch across his face.
I heard the shot before I felt it again. Then I realized that I was not hit. I had not been the target this time. Jason staggered back, buckling to his knees before me.
"Oh well. Maybe I should just play chance." He walked to me. I crouched down to Jason. His eyes were already clouding over, looking through me. "Let fate decide."
He hauled me up and punched him in the face before he had the time to react. I felt the bones crunch beneath my hand and my god, it was satisfying. He let me go and I pummeled him down until the two goons pulled me back, letting Tim crawl to Jason, was already on his back.
"You monster." I spit at him. He covered his nose, which was dripping. It was a great sight. I committed it to memory. I would keep his beaten face with me because God knows when I'd get a chance to do it again. He stumbled up, picking up the gun on the floor.
"That's what I'll do." He continued, unfazed by the broken bones. His voice was muffled until he pulled his hand away and smiled again. It was ghastly, bloody and broken. "I'll let fate decide."
The next shot hit Tim, who was trying to make a tourniquet for Jason, bleeding on the floor. It was horrifying. It hit his back and he let out a brutal yell before hunching over and casting me a glace.
"Tim!" I scampered to him and Jason. Jason was getting paler, his breathing shallower. The blood was already pooling around them, soaking my clothes. "Jason."
Jason lost consciousness, for the better. The less energy he exerted, the less blood he lost. Tim however, was making choking noises. He hiccupped and blood seeped to spill on his cheek. He looked awful.
"Dick." He said, trying to focus on my face. "I'm sorry."
"Shh." I said, pushing his hair back and resting him on his back next to Jason. "It's okay, I forgive you… I forgive you."
"No really…"He sputtered. "I didn't know it would hurt you so bad, I just wanted to take the place. One for one. I wanted to save you guys. Please Dick, I thought that he would stop, that we wouldn't come back if he thought you were dead. You have to…understand. I was wrong. I am sorry…please Dick, I didn't mean…for any of…this."
He seemed to smile before slipping under as well. His breathing slowed. Looking up, I realized they were both going to die. I had to do something. I used the rest of my strength jumping on him and wrestling him to the ground. It was a last ditch effort, his goons pulled me off without much effort. I struggled against them both, but without my muscle strength I couldn't do much.
"I like this!" He said as they pulled my arms out to either side. "All three of us! Though, it does feel like it's missing a little something without the Batman. Perhaps I'll take a shot at the other little one he has running around. That ought to anger him! Don't you think?"
"You are a monster." I snarled. "You lay a finger on Damian and I will-"
"Do what? Kill me?" He laughed. "Oh that's funny! Besides you won't get the chance. Unless of course fate decides you will."
I said nothing. He was coming to the end and I could tell where it was going. It needed to be quick. Bruce would be here soon, if not already and the sooner Joker shot me, the sooner Bruce would be able to help us.
"Anyway…" He shook his hand and smiled another bloody smile again. "Arrivederci, as the Italians say."
With that, he shot me. I felt myself being propelled back onto the floor across from Jason. I didn't look down. I didn't want to see my body with more bullet holes. I would manage, my focus was on them. I could see Jason's chest rise and fall. He would live. I would make sure. Tim lay beside him, chest unmoving.
No.
No.
It wasn't possible.
My vision clouded and my eyelids drooped again. I forced myself to stay conscious. I kept my eyes trained on Tim, lying beside Jason. His eyes were open staring at the ceiling. His hair was pushed back the way I left it. He still had that small smile. My little brother. It was my job to protect him.
And with that parting thought, I slipped under.
Author's Note:
Please review and favorite everyone! This one was hard to write and I love encouragement. Anyway, there is only one more chapter left, so thanks for hanging in there, those who stuck with it 'till the end.