Raven

Harley presses a button on a remote, and the tables become electrified.

Electric currant passes through Raven's body, and she screams, unable to stop herself.

The Batman lays on a table adjacent to hers, also being electrocuted, growling in pain through clenched teeth. The electricity stops, and they breathe heavily.

"How was that, puddin?" Harley says into a radio.

"Haha, do it again, Harley! Do it again!" Joker's gleeful voice croaks through the radio.

She looks up at a camera mounted in the corner, then blows a kiss. "Sure thing, puddin'."

Raven sucks in a breath. Oh, you dumb bi-

Harley presses the button, and agony explodes through Raven's body, turning her face red. Her muscles clench, and she can't breathe as she convulses with no real control over anything. Her thoughts jumble, and she can't keep a coherent thought as everything blurs. She cries out harder than last time, her high-pitched voice echoing off the walls.

(******)

Robin

He squeezes so hard that the tablet cracks in his hand, his face contorts into an expression of pure, unadulterated, rage. His heart beats so fast he might fear a heart attack if he could be bothered to worry about such things, but at the moment, he can only worry about Raven and Batman. And worry about what he might do to Joker if the worst happens.

This is Joker's game. Find him, and end it.

Raven's scream echoes through his mind, chilling him to the bone, stealing his breath. He swallows the fear, pushing on deeper into the dark corridors of the asylum. He tells himself not to worry. Batman's with her.

He slows to a walk as he reaches the administrative wing. If he knows the Joker, then he will be in the warden's office. He walks past an empty security checkpoint. Offices, cubicles, water-coolers; you might actually believe this was a normal place to work if it weren't for all the signs warning employees about all the workplace dangers.

His vision focuses on the form of a body wearing a guard uniform on the floor. Quietly, he approaches. It's the nightwatchman. He must have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Robin sighs, then presses on.

A voice he hoped he'd never hear again calls behind him. "Well, dummy, will you look at what the cat dragged in?"

The next thing he hears is unmistakable metal sliding of a gun being loaded.

(******)

Raven

The pain finally stops, and she's surprised to still be alive. She pants, greedily trying to suck in as much air as she can. She isn't sure if she can survive another jolt like that. Her whole body trembles, and her stomach feels like it wants to jump out through her throat. Her mouth is dry and she doesn't think she could talk even if she tried- not that she wants to try. Even the slightest effort wracks her whole body with agony. Even trying to blink hurts.

"Breathe slowly," Batman's calm voice sounds from the table next to her.

His voice is perfectly clear and controlled. If Raven didn't know better, she'd think he hadn't been shocked at all.

"Remain calm," Batman says. "It's only pain. Pain is temporary."

Harley cackles, bouncing up and down. "Oh, puddin', did you see? Did you see?"

The Joker's maniacal laugh croaks through the speaker. "Harley, my dear, do try to contain yourself. We wouldn't want our guests to feel awkward, would we?" he laughs again a good long time. "Take me closer to Batsy."

Harley carries the tablet over to Batman's table and holds it out in front of him.

"If you think you'll get aw-"

"Ah, ah, ah," Joker cuts him off. "Enough hero-speak. Now, we're going to play a little game I like to call 'Batsy's decision time!'" he pauses, then whispers. "Applause, please?"

Harley slaps her forehead, then nods while slapping her hands together and whistling.

"Thank you, m'dear. So, Bats, here's the rules: you choose which life to end. Drum-roll please."

Harley begins mimicking a drum-roll with her high-pitched voice.

"Will it be... The Robin?... Or the Raven?... You choose, Bats, which of the little birdies dies tonight?"

Batman says nothing, his silence completely unnerving Raven. She tells herself that Batman knows Joker, and knows how to handle him, but still- she does not want to die on this table. There's still so many things left for her to do. So many things left unsaid.

Robin jumps back to the forefront of her mind, and she doesn't have to guess why. She knows those things left unsaid are for him. When her last thoughts come they'll be of him.

Tears fall silently out of her eyes and towards her ears as she lays on her back, staring unfocused at the ceiling.

"Sorry, Batman, but you can't play the non-choice game. If you don't choose, I'll blow up a hospital... Or, Hell, maybe I'll blow one up anyway." He laughs yet again. "What'll it be, Bats?"

"Robin," Batman says. "Kill Robin."

Raven's heart lurches. "No!"

Her voice is strained, but strong.

"She speaks!" Joker says. "Oh, Harley, lemme see, lemme see, lemme see!"

Harley swivels over to Raven.

Raven averts her eyes from the screen, not giving Joker the satisfaction of seeing her tears.

"Well, Harley, I don't believe it! I think our little birdy has a dove-crush on the other birdy!" Joker croaks. "Oh-the-plot-twists abound!"

He laughs, then chuckles, then lowers his tone. "Lucky for you, chicky-bo, I haven't found him yet. Will hope prevail? Will true love succeed? Will I finally learn the importance of human life?.. Ha, not on my watch... See you soon."

With that, the tablet breaks connection, and the place is again silent.

Author's Note

Thank you all for your reviews, follows and favorites. I'm sorry, I'm in a bit of a rush, so I didn't single everyone out as I usually would. I just wanted to get one last update in before Nanow. So I could let you all know that I've not given up on this story.

Thank you all so very much.

Until next time. Hope life finds you all well.

mojo