FudoTwin17: Yo, guys. It's been a while! ^^ Well, I admit I've had a lot of bad days, but I've been trying to focus my writing on my stories for my lovely readers. But I've had a seriously bad month. I'm STILL on crutches, though I'm starting to finally get off of them. But I've also been sick, but I CANNOT miss school for it since we're so close to finals. Plus I've been practically pulled out of drama club for physical therapy (continuing with the musical, though, was totally worth it). And a bit ago I had a serious scare. There was a tornado here in my home state. It was literally a fifteen to twenty minute drive away. If the tornado had gone north instead of south, I would not be updating right now. It was pretty scary. But anyways, I'm here and alive, and to prove it, I will be doing XxBatgirl-RobinxX's request now. Don't we all love the Joker? Anyways, really dark. Like, SERIOUSLY dark. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, stop reading! Read at your own risk. Well, I don't own YJ.
Powerless
To be perfectly honest, Aqualad had no idea how this-this nightmare came to be. He'd just been at his post with Superboy when there had been a sudden pain on the back of his head. And, when he woke, he had been there with the rest of the team.
Each team member had been restrained and made completely powerless. Each were only bound with simple rope, true, but all but the humans had been made to wear an inhibitor collar. It had made Aqualad grind his teeth as he realized what a nightmare they had gotten themselves into.
However, it was looking at Robin that he had really begun to worry. Said boy had been stripped of his tunic, his cape, his gloves, his boots, and his belt. Seeing the boy so completely degraded had made him stiffen immediately, but he knew that that wasn't the worst part of it.
It was that in the surprisingly good lighting, he could see all of Robin's scars. Aqualad had seen him without his shirt before for their team bonding beach days, but Aqualad now realized that Robin must have been using makeup because he had not seen all of those scars.
Though Aqualad could only see his front, it was enough. One scar had trailed from his collarbone to the opposite hip. Another was on his neck just bellow where the top of his cape began like a slash (he'd seen that same mark on bodies of fellow Atlantians with their throats slit). All over his stomach were little scars, too. They were everywhere. Not to mention almost healed bruises across his sides and front.
Aqualad immediately felt sick. He wanted to go curl up in a corner somewhere-no, he wanted to run over and hug Robin. And Aqualad was not a huggy person.
However, he restrained himself (like usual) from speaking out by looking at Robin's expression. It was grim and almost dead, the expression of someone who knew what to expect in the current predicament. He didn't say anything to Aqualad, and the Atlantian didn't know how to start a conversation with the boy (a part of him didn't want to).
That was what really disturbed Aqualad. The boy was thirteen, but he was more prepared for the situation than Aqualad was.
Immediately, Aqualad knew how he had gotten so many scars. He gritted his teeth at the thought, hands curling up into fists despite his bindings. He didn't want to imagine what was about to happen.
It was then that Kid Flash groaned. Slowly, his head lolled up and his emerald eyes opened slowly. He licked his lips, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the bright lights. Aqualad watched as he tried to get out of the ropes with no avail and took in the situation.
Then his eyes landed on Robin. His reaction would have been comical if it were in some other situation. "R-Ro-Rob? Wha-What-"
"KF, not the time." Stated the boy wonder calmly.
Kid Flash swallowed, nodding shortly before looking at the others. Unwillingly, Aqualad did the same. He blinked when he realized that Artemis had been awake the entire time. She didn't say anything either and he noticed her glance at Robin. She was probably following his lead. Miss Martian and Superboy were both still out.
A part of Aqualad was glad. He partially hoped that they were rescued before Miss M would wake. He didn't want her to see all of Robin's scars. He knew that Robin didn't want her to see them either.
It was nearly a half an hour before Conner opened his eyes tiredly. He adjusted and took in the scene before a look of horror and anger marred his face and he desperately tried to pull on the ropes. Eventually, Robin talked him down, though Aqualad noticed how Superboy's eyes lingered on Robin's form the first moment that he realized he was there.
It was barely ten minutes later that Miss Martian woke, moaning quietly. She took in the situation with wide eyes before she looked around and started to ask if everyone was alright. Obviously, she stopped halfway through the question.
"Robin," She breathed, lips parted in a silent gasp, "what happened?"
"I work in Gotham. It's not a nice place for humans." His voice was hard, and it made most tense in the room. Kid Flash and Miss Martian both physically recoiled as if burned.
Recognizing his mistake, Robin sighed before looking at them all again with a softer look that was almost sad and a bit wistful. "Okay, look. I began when I was nine. Things happen-"
"That many things?" Interrupted Superboy, looking oddly pale in the bright lights.
He sighed. "Yes. But I chose this life, and I can deal with the consequen-"
His tone was cut off by maniacal laughter that all of them recognized immediately as it rung around their containment chamber. The boy wonder's soft look was gone instantly, jaw clenched, hands in fists, and body tense.
Aqualad bit his lip, sending his gaze around the room, watching his teammates carefully. He opened his mouth to speak, but was surprised when Robin spoke. When he thought about it, he shouldn't have been surprised. After all, it was Robin's villain and he was the most experienced in the situation.
"Joker." He growled. "What do you want?"
"Oh, Robbie-poo! It's been so long!" The Joker's voice echoed around the room, making pinpointing his location nearly impossible. "You haven't been home in so long! Your Uncle J missed you!"
"I don't share the same sentiment." Stated Robin clearly, white lenses hiding eyes that Aqualad knew were probably scanning the room for the madman holding them hostages.
The clown kept talking as if he hadn't heard the sarcastic comment. "It's been so boring without you! You know that Batsie doesn't like to talk. I try so hard to get him to smile, but he's always so down. The only time I see him smile is when you do something he approves of!" As the Joker made the statement, he appeared behind Miss Martian's chair. Slowly, he made his way around, stepping toward the center of the room. Aqualad realized faintly that they were all arranged in a circle around the center. They were there for a show! "But I digress. One day he'll smile. One day . . . ."
For just a moment, the Joker's eyes were dark with desire and joy for suffering. The moment passed before he came back to himself and grinned at Robin again. "But until then, let's have some fun!"
Robin's eyes narrowed. "What kind of fun?"
The Joker's ruby red lips stretched if it was possible. "You've been away for so long, boy blunder! I just can't wait to play!"
"What kind of game?" Yelled Conner, anger at the Joker's threat against his younger brother making him act out. For a moment, Kaldur noticed Robin's eyes widen in horror before his face was a mask again. Aqualad's hands shook as he realized that Conner had just fallen into a trap that Robin might not be able to get him out of.
The Joker's grin faltered for a moment, hardening into a snarl. He stalked forward, leaning over the clone with an aura of absolute menace. "You're one of them. One of the brats that's been keeping my beloved baby bird occupied." His snarl melted back into an insane grin. "After today, bird boy will never leave Gotham again. No, he won't . . . ."
"Joker." Warned Robin, glaring. The mad dog paid no attention.
"I wonder which one to start with." He murmured almost to himself. "I've never played with a Kryptonian before." One of his pale fingers brushed the crimson symbol on Superboy's chest. Aqualad was sure that he could see Conner breathing harder at the touch. "Then again, I've never played with an Atlantian either." The Joker turned to the said victim, ruby lips glinting like blood in the bright lights.
Pale hands wrapped around his chin, squeezing his face. And just like that, the Joker's eyes were boring into his. Though Aqualad wouldn't be able to tell anyone the color of the evil man's eyes later, he'd be able to recall the darkness he saw. The absolute disregard for human life. He'd remember the way that no matter how long he looked, he couldn't find an ounce of humanity or-or a soul.
"Joker . . . ." Robin warned quietly once again. The Joker let go of Aqualad's face and stepped away, but his breather barely lasted a moment.
"Oh, and I just love blonds! You remember that reporter last month? Wow, she was a doll!" He laughed wickedly, the chilling sound echoing in the room. As he began to run his hands, dirty with innocent blood, through Artemis's hair, Robin spoke up.
"Good to know. I bet Harley will love to hear that." His voice had a forced edge to it, but the comment seemed to distract the Joker. He blinked before laughing, retracting his hands from Artemis's hair.
To give credit where it was due, Artemis didn't even flinch. She just gritted her teeth and said nothing.
"Ah, Harley! Now there's a doll! That nice blond hair! Black lips! Skin as pale as mine! Ha! It's been years since I've had a woman as devoted as her. She'll come back no matter what. Go ahead and tell her! It won't do anything." After he spoke he seemed to realize that he had been distracted. A sick grin appeared on his face. "And you know, you've got another doll here, too! A Martian! I've never ever played with a Martian before."
Conner growled as the Joker crossed to the girl, sick grin still on his face. He chuckled when he heard the noise and sent an eccentric grin toward the boy. Kaldur noticed how the blood drained out of Robin's face once again. His lips pressed into a thin line as he seemed to struggle to hold himself back.
"Yes, yes. Maybe I should do her first. After all, I do enjoy new things! And I have a new flamethrower, too! I named her Flare 2000." The Joker giggled madly. "You know, because she's gonna send up enough fire for a flare and when I'm done with her, at least two-thousand will be dead!" He laughed again. "She does need a test drive." He said thoughtfully. "And I do love redheads . . . ."
The clowns hand slowly reached for the side of Miss Martian's face, but right before he touched, he abruptly pulled back. Kaldur's eyes widened as one of the Joker's pale fists curled around some of Kid Flash's hair and pulled his head upward.
"Joker." The low tone of Robin's voice was dangerous. If there weren't a psychopath threatening one of his teammates, he knew that he would have stared in shock at the boy wonder.
The insane clown however just laughed wildly. "You know, he's pretty for a boy. His body's well built, he's got a cute face, and those eyes! We could have a lot of fun . . . ." Kaldur felt his heart sink. There was no way that the Joker was being serious. No. Way.
However, Kaldur's heart jumped into his throat when one of the Joker's hands slid to Wally's face, tracing the boy's lips with his thumb.
"Joker!" Growled Robin again, voice raising. Kaldur let his gray eyes flicker to Robin for a moment to see the vicious glare he was sending the murderer. Though Aqualad knew the glare of Batman, he decided that he feared Robin's more.
But at the Joker's slick grin, Aqualad realized something. The Joker didn't care at all about Kid. It was all about baiting Robin. He wanted a reaction.
"Yes, yes. We could have fun, huh, Flash Boy?" He asked Kid Flash (who Kaldur noticed still seemed to be in shock). The Joker laughed. "Yes, you first. After all, it'll be a lot of fun playing with you. I wonder how long you'll last. Hm. After all, with those healing powers you've got, you'll be around a lot longer." The Joker's grin was disturbing as he let go of Wally, standing up straight rather than leaning down to put his face in Wally's. "After all, I've always wanted to know if your super-healing would allow you to regrow a missing limb."
Wally's breath caught as he came out of shock roughly, emerald eyes wide.
"Hm. What else could I do with someone with super-healing abilities?" Wondered the Joker as he walked over to lean on Robin's chair. "Any thoughts, boy wonderful?"
Robin said nothing. By the way his hands were beginning to shake, Kaldur figured he had a reason.
"After all," Continued the Joker with a sadistic gleam in his soulless eyes, "he's gotta have fun before our play date ends! After all, I won't really get a second chance at playing with any of you!"
Aqualad's breath left his lungs and he knew that everyone else had similar reactions. He finally understood. The clown planned on killing them!
And with one look at Robin, he realized that Robin knew it from the beginning. He knew the Joker just like he knew Batman, only a lot less kindly.
The sadist grinned, looking directly at Aqualad with those chilling, deranged eyes. Eyes without a soul. "Batsie will never let you leave Gotham again, bird boy. You'll be all mine again. It'll be back to normal! Just you, me, and Bats! We'll be one big, happy family again!" He laughed again, leaning on Robin's shoulder to support himself.
Kaldur couldn't see Robin's eyes, but he knew that the thirteen year old was staring at Wally. Wally was first . . . .
"Joker, stop this." Commanded Robin, tone hard.
The Joker quieted down, looking at Robin as he wiped away a stray tear. "Huh?"
"Let me take Kid Flash's place." Immediately, every team member seemed to blanch, unable to find their voices. The Joker blinked, turning a hard eye on Robin as his voice became smooth and alluring. "After all, it's me you want. So play with me. Not KF." The Joker looked unconvinced, but his expression changed after Robin spoke again. "It'll be like old times. Just you, me, and Abagail."
Though the entire team's expressions changed to horrified confusion, the Joker's face immediately lit up. "And you promise to be back in Gotham more?"
"Pinky-swear." Robin stated solemnly. "I'll even visit you in Arkham."
The Joker jumped up happily. "Yay! Oh, we're going to have so much fun!" He pranced to the center of the room and pulled something out of his pocket. It appeared to be a metal box with a button on it. He grinned at them, pressing it. A loud clanging sound met their ears as what looked like a hook dropped from the ceiling the space directly in the center of their circle. The Joker pressed the button again and it stopped. He smiled happily.
"Be right back! Just gotta get my fun-bag!" With that, he skipped out, singing some disturbing tune that had once been a nursing rhyme, but was butchered to the point of no return by the madman singing.
After a door slammed, everyone stared at Robin.
Kaldur took a deep breath. "Robin, I can't let you do this. I am the leader. I'll take-"
"No." Robin stated simply.
"No?" Repeated Artemis incredulously. "How can you say that? He's going to torture you, Robin! He-He's-"
"He's not going to do any real damage." Stated Robin lightly, eyes narrowed behind the white lenses. "Besides, I'm trained for this. I've done this before. This'll be nothing."
"Dude," Wally breathed, emerald eyes panicked. His breath was shaky as he spoke. "let me do it. Like he said, I heal fast. While he wastes time on me, the League can find us and rescue us-"
"KF." Robin interrupted him, his face set in stone. "No. He won't kill me. He enjoys our game too much. And if one of you volunteers, he won't hesitate to torture you until you die. I won't loose any of you." He stated simply. "And the League doesn't know where we are at all. If they did, they would have gotten us out by now. We had the mission last night. It's morning."
Kaldur blinked. Morning? But that shouldn't mean anything. Robin was risking too much. "Bu-But-"
Robin looked at him seriously. "Aqualad, part of being the leader is staying in the game long enough to call the important calls. I'm not leader, you are. And when the Joker leaves, you need to-" He was cut off by the sound of the door opening. Robin cursed quietly.
"R-Robin?" Spoke Miss Martian weakly, eyes teary.
He looked at her. "Yeah?"
"Who's Abagail?" Robin didn't reply.
Thankfully, right then their captor reappeared, a black bag with a smiley-face on it and a pair of metal cuffs in his hands. He grinned at Robin, not appearing to even see anyone else. He dropped the bag and pulled a knife out of the breast pocket of his purple suit.
Immediately, every one of his teammates stiffened.
However, the Joker simply cut the rope around his wrists and ankles, clipping on the handcuffs.
"Well, boy blunder? Ready?" His grin was devilish. He was obviously already enjoying the situation too much. Robin didn't even nod before he was being practically dragged toward the center. He pulled up his hands and hooked the cuffs on the hook. Robin was practically dangling by his wrists, his toes barely touching the ground.
The boy on the hook managed to turn just enough so that Aqualad could see Robin's back. Right then he nearly choked. Down his spine were letters.
J
O
K
The Joker laughed, making the hairs on the back of Kaldur's neck stand up straight. "So, let's start! I'll go first!" He laughed again, kneeling down to the bag and unzipping it. Slowly, he pulled out a crowbar.
Almost instantly, Kid Flash began struggling against his bonds. His eyes were wide with the panic that every other team member was feeling at the sight of their youngest strung up and ready for something terrifyingly horrible to happen. "Take me! You-You said-"
The Joker grinned back at him. "Maybe another time, kiddo, but right now, I'm letting Abagail have some fun, too!"
Kid Flash choked, momentarily freezing. Abagail . . . Abagail was the crowbar? Looking closer, he faintly realized that it had a faint reddish-brown sheen to the shaft. Was that . . . Was that blood? Robin's blood?
He began to struggle harder.
"KF, stop. I'll be fine." Robin stated, smiling at Kid Flash. The Joker's grin turned into a discontented frown. "Don't hurt yourself. Next week, this'll all just be a distant memory. We'll all be in Happy Harbor somewhere-"
The Joker gave a crazy grin right then, trying to cut the boy off. It was obvious that he didn't like Robin talking so normally within the confines. And he very obviously didn't like that the boy wonder wasn't paying attention to him.
Abagail swung through the air, slamming into Robin's shin. Though Robin didn't flinch, his voice dropped. Each of his teammates flinched at the sound of flesh against metal. Though his pants provided enough padding to dull the thud, everyone heard it.
"Rob!" Exclaimed Kid Flash, struggling more against the rope.
"Robin!" Shouted Conner as another blow was dealt to the boy's hip. At the impact, his arms jerked as the hook swung slightly.
However, Robin barely grimaced as another blow was dealt to his knee. There was a distinct popping sound that made Megan's eyes water. The Joker laughed at the sound. Though that wasn't the sound he'd necessarily wanted to hear.
The boy wonder murmured something quietly that only he seemed to hear. The Joker grinned at him. "What was that?"
Robin looked up, eyes blazing behind his mask. His voice was still low, but the entire team heard it perfectly. "Happy Harbor. We'll be-We'll be at the docks."
The Joker's gloating grin fell and anger filled his eyes. As he pulled back the crowbar, Aqualad had a sharp, painful realization. Robin was baiting him just like the Joker had baited Robin. He wanted him to hit him! Maybe that was because the Joker would be entirely focused on Robin and not them. Or maybe Robin was getting back at him. Aqualad didn't know, but he knew he wanted Robin to stop. He wanted Robin to stop getting hurt.
"KF'll have a ton of ice cream and Arty'll be telling him off for-for-" His voice faltered as the Joker slammed Abagail into his ankle. For a moment he cringed, but the expression was gone almost immediately. "-for something stupid he-he did or-" The crowbar slammed into his upper leg, interrupting with a thud. "Aqua-Aqualad and Miss-Miss M will be having a splashing war that Aqua-" He gasped audibly as the crowbar hit his ankle with a sharp crack. Everyone in the room jerked up, eyes wide. "Aqualad will win. Supey will be-be on Miss M's side. And I'll be-" He gasped again as the Joker slammed Abagail down on his leg again. "I'll be on AL's side, 'cause we all know he's gonna win." He bit down another gasp as there was another brutal attack on his injured ankle. "Next week. Just focus on that. No matter what, just keep that-keep that in your mind."
He looked Wally right in the eye after a blow to his untouched hip. He smiled, keeping the pain out of his expression. "No matter what, just remember that. Next week. It'll-" He gasped roughly. "It'll be fun."
"R-Rob." Whispered Kid Flash, unable to struggle for the paralysis in his limbs at watching his best friend's beating.
"Remember." Robin repeated.
Then a loud crack resounded through the room. Robin gave a strangled gasp, squeezing his eyes shut. The Joker paused, laughing merrily as he realized what bone he managed to break. "HA! There's a turn! Aw, your poor femur. It's not so happy anymore, is it?" At the Joker's degrading pout, Artemis gave a sickened gag. "Oh, well! Let's move on! How have those ribs been since last time?" He laughed in a sick way that made the tied up blond want to take the crowbar and see how he liked it.
The Joker swung Abagail, slamming her into Robin's chest. At the rough impact, Robin gasped, gritting his teeth as he swung on the hook, his bare feet barely dragging on the cold ground. The Joker seemed to just keep hitting him, letting faint snaps ring through the room as his ribs gave away.
Not one of his teammates seemed to move or even breathe. They were too busy watching their little brother be . . . .
"Gah!" He finally exclaimed, not able to bite it back. The deranged clown stopped his attack before grinning at Robin.
"Now was that so hard?" He let a pause hang in the air as Robin gaged and panted. "I mean, your voice is so beautiful, boy blunder! You should use it more." The Joker grinned sadistically. "After all, a voice like that is made to scream!"
Laughing, the Joker sent the crowbar into his elbow. As it caved with a distinct crunch, the boy wonder finally let loose a real scream that echoed around the room. As soon as it was done, he sagged painfully, chest heaving and eyes shut tight.
The Joker smiled. "Okay, I think Abagail's getting tired. It's about time to let her take a nap." The Joker laughed, bending down to grab his bag. As he shifted through it, the team examined the boy hanging in front of him.
It was obvious that he'd broken his ankle, femur, possibly his knee (though that looked more like it was dislocated), elbow, and at least four ribs. Though no blood had been spilled, bruises were obviously on the way.
The Joker stood back up, holding what looked like a carving knife.
Wally was immediately struggling again. "No! Stop! Don't-Don't touch him!"
The Joker laughed. "Oh? Don't touch him? Like this?" He nudged the boy wonder, making him swing slightly. The boy wonder bit his lip as his broken elbow supporting his weight moved with horrifying pain.
"Stop it!" Wally's face broke, his voice conveying every emotion he was feeling. It was not a happy sound. "Just stop it."
The Joker paused, tapping his chin with a pale finger. "Hm. Tempting, but how about no?" He grinned at the horrified boy.
Slowly, he pressed the knife to the boy's stomach and drew it across in a long arch. At Robin's pained cry, tears began to drip down Megan's face. The Joker chuckled. He plunged the knife in twice with a twisted grin and a laugh that melted into Robin's short yells. Then the Joker stepped back to examine his work.
He laughed for a moment, his laugh loud and echoing. "Look! It's like a smiley-face!"
And indeed it was. The long slash looked like a smile while the two stab wounds made for eyes. Blood dripped down from them, making the dripping face look like it was crying blood. Sickened, Artemis felt like being sick.
She was starting to doubt Robin would be left alive.
Next week at the pier might never happen.
Robin gaged weakly, his eyes screwing up tightly.
"St-Stop! Please!" Sobbed Megan desperately, her chest heaving.
The Joker just smiled at her, speckled with Robin's blood. He spun Batman's partner, around, stopping him when he had turned around. The man grinned at Robin's pained groan, pleased at the noise.
Carefully, the Joker positioned the knife below the K on the boy's spine. Biting his tongue like a painter might as they perfect their art, he slowly carved an E, not deterred at all by by the boy's gasps and moans of pain. Once he was done, he stepped back to look at the bloody mess. "There! Proof to show we've had four of these meetings!" The Joker's grin was sickening as he dropped the bloody knife back into his bag without cleaning it.
"St-Stop." Commanded Artemis, her voice shaky. "He-He doesn't deserve it."
Abruptly, the Joker stopped, looking at her. His glare was dark and the look of his scars jaggedly running up the side of his face in such good lighting made her heart pound. The look in his eyes was darker than she had ever imagined and made her hands tremble in their hold. "What do I care what he deserves? This world isn't fair. Why should I be? I'm here to have fun." He paused for a moment before a haunted grin slid back onto his face. "So I'm going to have fun."
With that, he pulled out a bottle of . . . . something. It looked like milk. That made Artemis pause. Why did he have milk with him?
The Joker grinned as Robin opened an eye to look at him, grimace on his pale face. When Joker showed him the bottle, both eyes widened before closing again, not wanting to see. Every teammate tensed at the exchange.
"You know," The Joker began, approaching Robin as he popped the top off of the bottle, "they say that it hurts when you get salt in a wound. I always used to bet that chocolate milk would hurt worse. What do you think, Robbie?"
Conner's eyes widened in horror. "No! Stop! Don't!"
Aqualad joined in quickly after his shock wore off. "Please, don't!
However, the Joker completely ignored them as if they hadn't said a word. Slowly, he poured the substance on the smiley-face carved into the bird's stomach. The moment it touched the wound, Robin gasped, jerking against his will. As more infected the wound, he began trembling violently, gasping and making choking noises that were more than disturbing.
"ROB!" Shouted Kid Flash, pulling desperately against the ropes once again. If only he would realize that he wasn't going to be able to break free, just like Robin.
Robin gritted his teeth against the pain before he finally sagged, his eyes shutting. His breaths were quiet gasps and he shivered violently. He opened one eye to stare in pain at his torturer. Sweat dripped down his face as he stared at the Joker.
"You know, bird brain," Joker said thoughtfully, "you've barely sang for me today! Normally you're a lot more . . . vocal." His grin made Superboy growl in anger. "But don't worry! You'll sing for me yet!"
The Joker tossed the empty milk bottle away, digging through the bag again and pulling up a small box. He didn't open the box, just set it on the ground. Walking over, he laughed at Robin. "Let's see if the bird can fly!"
He pulled the controller out of his pocket again and pressed the button. There was the sound of chain-links clanging against each other before Robin began to lift into the air with the hook. His eyes widened and his head snapped up. A small cry of pain escaped his lips before the hook appeared to tilt.
With horror, Wally realized that his best friend was about to fall. And just a moment later, the boy screamed before-
Thwack.
Crack.
"Gwah hah ah . . . ." The boy gasped, eyes back to their screwed shut state.
The Joker chuckled, leaning down to retrieve the box on the floor. "I guess not."
"Robin! Robin!" Exclaimed Artemis in fear, her gray eyes wide in fear. Aqualad glanced at her for an excuse to look away from Robin. Tear tracks ran down her face, but she didn't appear to realize she was crying.
Shaken, he turned back.
The Joker had situated himself at Robin's feet and opened the box. Slowly, he pulled out-
"No!" Shouted KF, salty streams running down his face as well. Panicked, he desperately tried to pull on the ropes again. With the inhibitor collar on, Aqualad hoped it didn't affect his healing. He was sure that the speedster had many rope burns underneath his costume.
"Well, boy wonder, I hope you're having fun! 'Cause I sure am! Ha HA!"
A needle sat in the Joker's ready fingers as he grabbed Robin's broken ankle with one hand. Robin cried out, unable to loosen the Joker's hold. Slowly, the clown drove the needle into his heel. At Robin's scream, Aqualad felt his chest tighten. The Joker didn't pull it back out, just got another needle from the group and did it again.
For minutes, Robin's screams went until the Joker moved to the other foot and started again. About halfway through how many he'd done with the first, Robin's hoarse voice began to die away. The Joker immediately looked up and grinned. "I see we're getting tired! Well, I can't have you dying on me, now! That would ruin the whole point!"
Robin simply gaged in reply.
The Joker chuckled. "Well, it was fun! See you soon, Robbie-poo! Junior Justice League." He nodded at the others seriously before laughing, packing up, and skipping out of their circle. "Oh, and don't worry! Batsie will be here in twenty! Ha! Bye!" The slamming of a door signaled his exit.
No one moved for a moment before Wally spoke quietly. "Rob?"
"K-KF?" The boy murmured back, lips trembling.
Kid Flash gave a small sigh. "Than-Thank goodness. Keep talking, Rob. Keep talking."
"Wh-ah-What do y-you want me t-to say?" He barely whispered, breathing hard.
"Anything!" Exclaimed Kid Flash eyes wide, and breathing shaky.
"How pretty Zatanna is?" Suggested Artemis, desperately trying to find something-anything to keep Robin with them. "Or school. Your friends? Life?"
At the end of the whispered words, beeps rang around the room as the meta's collars undid themselves and fell off of their respective owner's. In under a minute, everyone was free and surrounding their youngest member.
He coughed lightly, cringing at the pain in his chest. "G-Good, you're fre-ee." He gagged.
Megan fell next to him, brushing his hair away from his face. Her eyes widened as she looked up at the rest of them. "His forehead-It's burning up!"
Kid Flash cursed. Falling down next to his friend's bloody stomach, he looked around before his eyes landed on superboy. "Supes, shirt!"
Superboy nodded, pulling it off quickly and sitting at Robin's other side, blue eyes fixed on the boy's broken form.
Kid Flash tore one of the sleeves off before ripping it again so that it was a long rectangle of fabric. He looked at Miss Martian, gritting his teeth. "Mi-Miss M, I need you to lift him up into a sitting position in a moment. When I say, okay?" She blinked, nodding. "Okay. Rob?"
Robin opened one eye. "Mm?"
"This is gonna hurt, okay? But I need you to help me-help me out here." At KF's wobbly voice, Robin nodded. "Okay. Ready?" Robin bit his lip again before nodding. Kid looked at Megan, nodding.
However, instead of helping him into a sitting position, she levitated him into the air. Robin moaned quietly, but was relatively quiet. Below him, there was a large blood stain. Slowly, KF took the small rectangle of fabric and pressed it to the bloody E, the blood acting as glue and holding the fabric to his skin. Wally's hands shook, but he nodded at Megan again to let down the boy.
Robin was quiet when he touched the floor again.
"Robin?" Murmured M'gann worriedly.
He swallowed. "Zatanna's re-really pretty."
M'gann blinked before laughing, tears still rolling down her face. Even Superboy cracked a smile, though strained.
"Rob, this is gonna hurt." KF stated. Then, without warning, he pressed the poor shirt down onto the boy's bleeding stomach. His breath left him for a moment, but after a moment, he reopened his eyes. "Come on, Rob, keep talking."
"School's bo-borin-g. I'll ski-skip that topic." Murmured the boy, his eyes falling closed.
"Robin?" Superboy asked in panic, eyes wide.
"Hav-ve few friends at school. Babs and-ah-one girl that's al-ways nice." He smiled secretively, eyes opening just long enough to fall on Artemis. During the quiet pause, Robin gasped painfully as the final needles were removed from his feet.
"This is going to hurt. Are you ready?" Aqualad asked, swallowing the lump in his throat. At the boy's easy confirmation, he began wrapping his feet. At first, the bird squirmed and whimpered in pain, but he quickly quieted down again. Once his feet were done, Arty and Aqualad moved up next to Wally and Conner. Absentmindedly, Artemis grasped his uninjured arm's (though the wrist was in bad shape from bearing all of Robin's wrasp) hand, soothingly subbing circles on the back.
Robin didn't seem to have the energy to hold his eyes open much longer. His breath was getting slower, though obviously ridiculously painful. Agony was in every line on his young face, begging for a reprieve.
"Ple-Please, keep talking." Miss Martian whispered, gently moving his sweaty bangs aside. She couldn't help but wonder where Batman was. Hadn't it been twenty minutes already?
He breathed a short gasp. "Hm. Life. I'm al-alive." He smiled for a short moment before it fell away. "Hm. Tired . . . ."
"Rob!" Exclaimed Wally, tears still running down his face. Robin couldn't help but notice the smeared blood on his face mixing in with his own blood from where the speedster had tried to wipe away his tears. Faintly, Robin wondered how bad he looked.
However, the darkness was slowly overtaking his vision. His breathing was slowing, and he found that he was starting to get tired. Really tired.
The last thing he saw before his eyes slid closed was Wally's terrified, bloody, tear-stained face. The last thing he heard was his name being shouted by his father figure since he was eight.
However, the last thing he felt before he was swept away was hope. When he woke up, he'd be sure to come home more. But at the same time, he had to get this experience out of his teammates heads.
Next week. At the docks. It'd all be okay.
. . .
FudoTwin17: . . . I'm a horrible person. But I'm satisfied with it. I enjoyed writing a lot of it (Ugh! My poor Robbie!). Anyways, once again, I love your requests and I plan to do them all! Also, expect another update soon. :( Finals are here. 'Nough said. Luv ya. Bye.