Disclaimer: I don't own the universe, just the words written here.

You're Gonna Go Far, Kid
The Offspring

Gotham City
May 26th, 2011

It's been three months since Robin was taken. Two full months since he started torturing the people the Joker brought him everyday. Two months since he was labeled dead. And only one month since he's been replaced.

Everyday for the first month he would tell him what to do to them. Then that twisted smile went his way, and the Joker asked him to help. He refused, but was tortured worse every time. He broke, took the knife and started doing what was expected of him. He tried to fight back with the weapons he was given, but he was kept weak and never even managed to hurt his enemy.

The day he made started torturing, the insane clown went out. Rob was forced to watch on a large television as the Joker fought his mentor- his father. The fight was going in the Joker's favor when Batman started asking questions about Robin. The smile got wider, and that annoying voice started laughing and simply stated "The little birdie? Oh, he's gone. Killed him just earlier today." Batman got angrier that Robs ever seen him and soon the clown was off to Arkham.

But did that stop Robin being forced to hurt people? Of course not. Everyday for the next two weeks Harley Quinn would waltz in and the process continued. Two weeks after his capture, Joker escaped and was back with Robin... wherever they are. He watched on that huge television-seriously, how could they possibly have gotten this footage?- as Batman told his team that he was dead. The looks of depression broke his heart. M'gann, Artemis, Zatanna, and Wally had burst into tears, while Kaldur and Conner looked shocked. He was forced to watch them cry over him more at his funeral with the Justice League. Alfred and Bruce looked absolutely distressed, while Jason cried next to them.

Seeing Jason did bring a smile to his face. Robin could remember almost two years ago, when Robin was home sick, laughing at Batman when he heard the story of the small boy- only a year younger than Robin- stealing the tires off of the Batmobile. He had got three off and was working on the fourth when Batman found him. Jay was taken to the Batcave and managed to find the way up to the manor. He had figured out their identities, and has been training ever since. Bruce adopted him a few months later and he was officially part of the family.

It wasn't a surprise when Rob was shown a video of Batman and a new Robin fighting Two-Face. But it hurt him, nonetheless. It felt like a betrayal, although he knew that was insane and that they thought he was dead. Throughout the next month, he was constantly shown clips of the second Robin fighting, both with Batman and the team. Needless to say, he knew he was completely replaced.

Robin can tell something is different today when the Joker comes in smiling larger than before. Apparently the victim of the day was a Veronica. It was not a woman Robin can remember ever seeing, but he knew he would never forget her face again. They started with the usual, Joker calling out a weapon and a place, and Robin doing what was demanded. It wasn't until the woman was panting and near death that he was allowed to stop. Never had he actually killed the person, although he was sometimes told to. Refusing to do that was the only thing he got hurt about anymore, but his mind wouldn't be able to handle it if he did finish the job.

But, then again, he was so broken he didn't really have control over himself.

He looked up at the Joker just in time to see him produce a small dagger from his purple suit. They lock eyes, and the painted on smile grew until it looked impossible. Robin didn't have to wait long to hear the voice that would haunt him for a really long time. "Well, Robbie-poo, I think today is the day. You can just take this," He pauses and kind of hops over to where Rob is standing and holds out the dagger. "and push it either through her neck or her chest. Your choice on which one."

Robin eyes the dagger before shaking his head. He lost his voice the day before screaming while being burnt for refusing to kill. He could hear the Joker laughing, but he couldn't focus on anything but the dagger. He thought about the day before, and knew his body wouldn't be able to handle anything today. Without even making it a conscious thought, his hands grabbed the dagger and he was once again standing in front of Veronica.

Am I really going to go through this? After fighting it for so long? All that pain endured for nothing... He thought. He wasn't surprised when his mind started fighting back. It has been happening a lot lately.

You have to do this. It could make the pain stop. And you haven't been fighting it. You gave up the fight two months ago.

He shakes his head no again, but makes no move to hand back the small blade pressed into his hand. Sure that the Joker is laughing behind him somewhere, he looks at his two options. He puts the blade up to her chest, right above her heart. He doesn't want to see the wound as easily as he would be able to with the neck. Standing there for what seems like forever, his mind keeps battling with itself. The new part and the old part. The old one was the one that was Dick Grayson, worked with Batman, and vowed never to kill. The new one just wanted to survive. It sounded creepily like the Joker, and it usually loses the arguments.

Apparently the burns were too much for him. The new part won the argument, and before he could stop himself, he pushed the dagger as far as it would go into the woman tied up before him. Blood quickly leaves the wound, but the flow was slow. She had already lost a lot of blood.

He could almost hear something inside him break. That was it. The Joker had finally completely broken the bird. He figures now that he has won, maybe he will just kill me. He is so caught off guard by the next thing he hears.

"Well, buddy boy. You just graduated. You think you are ready to go home? Or would you rather stay here with Uncle J? Of course, we would have to move to a larger home. Not enough room here, y'know?" Robin is so confused. 'Uncle J' probably goes on for twenty more minutes about their 'family' before Robin finally speaks.

"I... get to go home?" His voice is timid and scratchy. J looks at him, a frown appearing for a fraction of a second-probably more for him interrupting than for him not wanting to stay- before the smile goes back into place.

"Of course! Just stay in touch. Maybe you could help me get my hands on the new birdie. After all, he is your replacement," He says the last word with venom. "and you no doubt want to get revenge for that." The bad part is, it doesn't sound like a bad idea. The old part of his mind isn't arguing. Maybe the breaking he heard was it dying. At least him mind wouldn't be fighting anymore. He got a major headache from that sometimes. Robin doesn't say anything more, just stands in shock that he would get to go home.

Yeah. A home that thinks you're dead and has moved on. You'd be better off staying here.

Okay apparently his brain didn't get the memo about the headaches. He elects to ignore the voice and goes back to thinking about his family. His brain wouldn't leave the fact that they all had probably moved on. They had a new Robin, who says they didn't have a new Dick too? Wait, if there's a new Robin, then what am I? There can't be two Robins. Maybe I should become a new hero, separate from Batman. I could be called-

Robin jumps when he feels a hand on his back, leading him out of the room. He hasn't been able to leave that room in the three months he's been here, but he isn't in the mood to look around. To his surprise, he is led to a shower and there is a pair of clothes nearby, along with sunglasses. He is confused for a moment at the last item, but remembers that he never revealed his identity to the Joker and Harley. They never bothered to take off the mask. The door is shut and locked behind him, leaving him alone in the room with only a shower, his outfit, and a towel. It all seems too... nice.

He ignores his feelings and quickly strips out of his ripped clothing and into the shower. Soon it's hot and he just stands there, letting the water wash down his body. He had been in that room for three months with no shower or bathroom. He felt filthy, and he was staying there until he felt clean. Numbly he scrubs himself clean. Sometime later, probably about an hour or two, he steps out and dresses himself. Not long after, the door opens and Harley steps in and pulls him out.

He is soon led to a sight he is used to. He is in an old abandoned warehouse by the docks. It is a common place to find the Joker at, which makes him curious as to why Batman hasn't found him here yet. The Joker is there, crying fake tears as they walk up. Robins not fighting Harley as they walk something that surprises none of them. Has it really been only three months? It feels like I have been with them for years...

'Uncle J' walked with them towards the door. "Okay Robbie, don't be a stranger. You come visit your uncle once in awhile. And don't just come visit to send me to Arkham. That wouldn't be very family-like, now would it?" For some reason, he has to hold back laughter. What have they done to me? I would usually be sending him to jail for this. Am I seriously just walking out of here?

They reach the large doors, stepping outside where, of course, it was raining. He turns towards the two villains and asks "So, if you are my Uncle J, what does that make Harley?" He doesn't stick around to hear the answer, instead stepping into the shadows and leaving quickly. He just barely could hear the high pitch voice respond to him. "I'm your Aunt Quinn, of course!"

Oh yeah, of course. Like it is the most obvious thing in the world. He thinks with amusement. It doesn't matter, he will be home soon enough

What he didn't expect was for the Zeta Tube to not recognize him. This, in retrospect, was a really stupid thing to not expect. He had been pronounced dead two months ago, after all. After quickly hacking, he was allowed back into the system and swallowed up by light.

Recognize: Robin B-0-1

As the light died down, the first thing he noticed was the silence. It was suffocating. He didn't have to look around to know the team was here. It was a Friday-according to the Joker, anyway- and the entire team always hung out on Fridays. Plus he saw all of them on the Zeta beam history and none of them had left yet.

So where is the noise?

Shrugging it off, he walks towards the television room. He couldn't hear any noise from the TV itself, but he began to hear whispers from there as he got closer. Unable to stop himself, he stops outside the room and listens.

"It cannot be him. He-" That was Kaldur. Are they talking about Robin?

"He's dead! Yes, we know! But they never did find a body. It could be him" Wally. Yes, definitely talking about him.

"Can someone go check? Or are you missing the point that someone just walked into our mountain using our old teammate's name?" Okay that sounded like Artemis.

"I'll go check." Superboy. Footsteps followed his voice, heading straight towards Robin.

He doesn't move. Soon enough Supey turns the corner to the Zeta beams- and spots Robin. Rob puts on the smirk he uses around the team. "Hey, Supes. Long time no see, huh?" He hears the rest of the people in the television room run towards them, shocked to have heard his voice. He doesn't pay attention to them as his eyes lock with Superboys.

He can just barely register the growl before Superboy attacks him.