If you recognise it… I don't own it.
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Young Justice & Red Robin – Start
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Robin worked frantically at the ropes around his wrists. He was not going to die like this. He was not going to die!
But it was taking too long. And with each step the Joker got closer and closer. The crowbar in his hands being swung slowly and steadily.
It didn't take a genius to see what was going to happen next.
As the Joker stood over him, Robin curled himself up as much as he could bracing for the impact. His eyes were screwed shut.
The first blow was to his ribs and nearly knocked all the breath out of Robin. The force of the blow knocked him back a few feet and caused him to uncurl slightly.
It was just enough for the next blow to collide with his face. Dazed he tried to shake the fog from his mind. He didn't have time to be dazed. He had to get free.
"Which hurts more, lamb chop?" The Joker asked tauntingly, "Forehand or backhand?"
The crowbar was raised again. Robin screwed his eyes shut beneath the mask. He would admit that he was honestly afraid… Terrified.
A crash of glass and the loud thump of someone flying through the air from a kick allowed him to relax a little.
He opened his eyes expecting to see Aqualad or Artemis or Miss Martian… Not that Kid Flash or Superboy wouldn't have helped, but they would have used something other than the window.
A figure was crouched before him. Clearly positioned between him and Joker.
At first all Robin could see was the billowing cape.
"Batman?" Robin murmured.
"No, not Batman." The figure replied, though Robin could hear the amusement in the tone.
The man stood up. The cape went up to the throat and closed around it, a cowl covering the figure's head.
The only difference between Batman's cloak and this man's… Was the fact that the distinctive ears were missing.
"I don't know you." Joker snarled as he stood back up.
"No, but I know you." The man replied.
He shifted his stance slightly, clearly falling into a defensive position. A yellow bo staff just visible to Robin from his still prone position.
"Oh, go away!" The Joker sighed, "This doesn't involve you. The boy and I were talking."
"You touch my brother over my dead body." The man snapped.
"Your brother? I didn't know the boy blunder had family."
"You aren't exactly on the Christmas Card List." The quip was taunting.
"Well then. First I'll kill you!"
The Joker charged.
Struggling to keep the pain at a manageable level Robin continued to fight his way free of the ropes. His eyes barely moving from the scene in front of him.
It was clear from the outset that the stranger was doing everything in his power to keep the Joker away from the young hero. Every move was designed to keep the stranger between the two enemies.
What was more surprising to Robin was that this man, whoever he was, was beating the Joker. He'd seen more Superheroes than he cared to think about have problems with the insane clown before. Including those who had powers and abilities that should have meant it was over quickly, yet never did.
In fact the only person he'd ever seen who managed to own the Joker to this extent was Batman. The stranger knew every move and was using every opening. There were elements of a Chinese style he had only seen glimpses of before. And there were moves he had seen Batman use before as well, yet had never seen from anyone else.
Whoever this person was they were not only Skilled, capital 'S'… But they had trained with some of the same Masters as Batman… Yet he was far younger. Robin had yet to see the man's front, but if the person was over thirty, he would be shocked.
It would have taken years of intensive training, above and beyond what Batman had under-gone to achieve this level of fighting skill. Yes, he wasn't as good as Batman. Robin could see several moves that were weak or where a different move might have been better suited. However overall the man was fighting at a level that even Black Canary would have to respect.
Robin was still working at his bonds when the stranger managed to take down the Joker. However he only turned back to Robin, once the Joker was restrained thoroughly.
Robin finally got a good look at his rescuer. He had been right. The cowl was just like Batman's apart from the ears. It even had the nose. But that was where the similarity ended. The cape was pulled in at the front, held in place by a black and yellow emblem. It looked like some sort of bird's head. Twin black and yellow bandoleers ran downwards from the symbol, towards the waist. The tunic underneath was red. A black and yellow utility belt went around the waist. Black tights covered his legs, running into black boots. Black gloves encased fingers, and black bracers for protection.
The man was also younger than he had thought. Under twenty five, judging by what little of the face Robin could see.
The man knelt down next to Robin.
"Easy." The man smiled at Robin, "Let me help."
Black gloved hands worked at the ropes.
"I think you need a little more practice with ropes." The man stated conversationally, "Batman would be a bit disappointed."
Once free, Robin moved to sit up. But was stopped by a gentle hand on his chest.
"Let me check you over first." The man said, "Don't want you aggravating any injuries."
"I think he cracked a rib." Robin confided, "Who are you?"
"Your brother." The man smiled, "Sorry I didn't get here quicker. You're right. He did crack a rib. Possibly two. Take some pain killers. Give it two weeks and you should be fine. No acrobatics. Else they could break and puncture a lung."
"I don't have a brother!"
"Get away from him!" The cry came from the doorway.
Robin watched in horror as the man was flung into a wall, probably hard enough to knock him out. And possibly give him matching cracked ribs to Robin.
"No!" Robin yelled too late.
M'gann and Aqualad had arrived. By the panicked and slightly relieved looks on their faces, they had been searching rather desperately for him. Probably ever since they realized he was missing from the fight they had gotten into with the Joker's goons.
"Are you unharmed?" Aqualad asked, reaching Robin's side.
"Cracked ribs." Robin shrugged, "But he saved me."
"What?" M'gann frowned.
"It was the Joker." Robin explained, pointing to unconscious and bound clown, "He was beating me with a crowbar. The… The man saved me."
"Who is he?"
"I don't know. I've never seen him before in my life."
Almost as one the three of them looked to where the man had landed from M'gann's throw.
But he was already gone.
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It was a rather short debriefing on the actual mission, followed by a much longer one about the stranger.
"What can you tell me about the man?" Red Tornado asked Robin.
"Young. Mid-twenties at most. Caucasian. Clean shaven. Cowl and cape. Both black. Red tunic. Skilled fighter. Uses a Bo. Knows the Joker's style. Has a utility belt. Main motif isn't one I recognise."
"Would you know him if you saw him again?" Batman demanded.
"In costume? Yes. As a civilian? I doubt it. Whoever he is, he's good. Really good."
"How good?"
"I saw moves I've only ever seen you use. I saw moves that Canary uses. I saw moves I've never seen before… I saw a lot of different styles. I'd say you could definitely take him. But he'd give you a good run for your money."
"Anything distinctive?"
"No. All I could see of his face was pretty normal… Only thing that stuck out really was how he referred to me."
"Which was?" Red Tornado pressed.
"As his brother." Robin replied, "I told him I didn't have a brother. He just smiled. I think he would have said something, but that's when M'gann and Kaldur arrived. He was so certain he was my brother."
"Is it possible?" Kaldur asked.
"No." Robin and Batman spoke as one.
"No," Robin repeated, "No chance. He's not my brother. But he believes he is. Or he's very good at pretending he believes."
"What do you think?" Red Tornado queried.
"I think he believes. He was quite protective. But I don't know why he believes. He could be as delusional as Two-Face or the Ventriloquist. But he seemed so sane."
"They often do." Batman reminded.
"Yeah. But he saved me. I would have died had he not turned up. And the only quirk is that he insists I'm his brother. Seemed to find it amusing when I denied. Like it was some sort of joke. Normally when you challenge a delusion they get mad. He found it funny. I don't think he can be categorised like anyone else. One of a kind. I don't know what he'll do next. But I don't think we'll find him. Not until he wants to be found."
"Will he?" Artemis frowned, "I mean he scarpered quick enough after everything."
"I don't know." Robin shrugged, "He certainly cared for me. And hated the Joker."
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Right here's the next plot bunny that bit me. Only thing to point out is that Red Robin here is not from the future. He's a dimension traveller. And in his dimension, he's trying to find Batman who is presumed KIA, by everyone. Thanks to Superman's testimony.
Please Review.
And congratulations to: Bookwyrm95; Guest; Reader713; DJay and DaemonWolfe as they all correctly identified my last crossover.
Which was, drumroll please…. Alex Rider!
For those of you who asked me to continue it… I might try. But I'm not posting it until it's all written. Because then I don't have to let you down, when the muse goes awandering.
And as for SilverDragon-Purity, bad luck. And please don't feed the plot bunnies… You've sparked a thought. I just need to figure out how it goes.