This Game is Shockingly Not Aster, Not Aster At All. (Chapter Four)
Title: This Game is Shockingly Not Aster, Not Aster At All.
Author: Moi, Curlyqqueen.
Rating: PG-13 to Mature for violence and swearing.
Pairings/Characters: All of Young Justice, some of Justice League. Joker. Robin-centric. Robin/Kid Flash friendship (pre-slash if you really, really want to see it).
Warnings: Violence, Gore, Swearing, Dark Themes, Insanity, Torturing of Kids…
Summary: Batman is busy helping Superman and Wonder Woman take down a big baddie when a drug ring explodes in Gotham. Believing Young Justice is good enough for that now- with the aid of Robin- he allows them to go at it alone. But things are never as they seem, least not in Gotham. And then the Justice League receives a video…
A/N: Dark! I like to torture Robin… I don’t know why. D: If you don’t like characters being shocked, tortured, etc then don’t read. But if you’re a creep like me (8D) then read on my lovelies! READ ON~ And comment pwease 83
Chapter Four -
When Bruce arrived at Mount Justice it was a little unsettling to find out that Robin and the team hadn’t arrived back yet. They should have gotten back quite a few hours ago. A drugs bust wouldn’t take this long… unless…
No, Batman thought, Dick isn’t stupid. He told the kid to call him if there was a sign of trouble. Robin might get cocky but he wouldn’t try to take on someone like Two-Faced or- god forbid- the Joker by himself. He wouldn’t that was just… ridiculous.
“Bruce.” Batman looked up, eyes landing on Superman, a concerned look on the alien’s face. “I’m sure they’re fine.”
“Probably goofing off after a successful mission.” Flash offered, but Bruce didn’t miss the lace of worry in the speedster’s voice.
“Robin would still have checked in. Or at least Kaldur would have- Someone.” As he spoke, Batman moved over to the Mount Justice computer, typing away. A screen popped before little out a long beep.
.Unable To Track Signal.
That wasn’t good.
Panic hit Bruce and his fists clenched over the keyboard below his hands. “What does that mean?” Flash asked.
“That signal I can’t get comes from the tracking device in Robin’s belt. It can get signal anywhere. If I can’t get one it means the belt is broken. It’s water resistant so someone would have to smash it…”
Flash visibly swallowed, glancing to the blinking screen. Then, Batman was stalking past him, cape flowing behind him. “I’m going to the factory.”
“Wait I’m coming with y-“
”Don’t bother.” Flash jumped (Batman did not) and turned around, facing the huge monitor again. This time Wonder Woman’s face was on it. The look on her face made Flash’s stomach twist in dread. ”You need to come back to the station… We’ve received live feed… Hurry.”
Superman and Flash exchanged worried looks before following Batman, who was already walking to the teleporter.
When they arrived at the base station the original seven was already in the room, along with Aquaman and Green Arrow. “What is it Diana?” Batman demanded walking up to her side. “I need to search for the team-“
“J’onn is already on it.”
He frowned, “What do you mean?”
She took a deep breath, “Just don’t… Don’t freak out.” After saying that, the goddess reached out and pressed a button near the computer monitor. A screen popped up and what Bruce saw made his blood run cold. Flash cursed and gasped at the same time.
On screen sat Robin in a chair, tied down. His hair was in disarray and there were rips in his uniform but other than that he seemed fine. To the left were the rest of the team, all tied up but M’gann seemed to be the only one knocked out. Superboy looked out of it. Kryptonite was Bruce’s first guess and probably the right one. Aqualad was chained down, his backpack missing, and gagged. Beside him sat Wally who wasn’t fighting his bonds for some reason and then Artemis who was tied and gagged as well.
“Jesus Christ.” Green Arrow muttered, stepping forward. “Do something-“
“We’re tracking the link as we speak.” Wonder Woman reported. “That’s all we can do.”
There had to be something else. But, for the life of him, Bruce couldn’t think of anything else to do. It’d take him longer to search the streets of Gotham.
Then laughing sounded in the video, eerily familiar laughter that made Bruce’s cold blood freeze and crack.
“That’s not-“Flash stopped mid sentence because his question was already answered as a man with green hair and clown make-up entered the room. He was twirling some sort of baton in his hands. He walked around Robin’s chair before standing behind it, slowly running his fingers through the raven colored hair before gripping it hard and ripping his head back. Robin winced but didn’t cry out.
“Say ‘Hi’ to the League, Boy Blunder, they’re waiting.” Robin didn’t reply but Joker still found it hilarious, busting out in a fit of giggles. “It’s your time to shine, Robin. Time to be famous!” He laughed again, eyes moving to the camera. “First sidekick and first sidekick to die!” Joker laughed at his joke for a while, still gripping Robin’s hair as he shook. “Now-“He faced the camera again. “Before that we’re going to play a nice little game! Have you ever seen a game show? I hope so. Here’s the rules, Rob: you get a question right and I won’t shock you, you get it wrong and I do. Understand?” Dick didn’t reply and Joker sighed walking around so his back blocked out the camera.
The sound of palm hitting cheek sounded and Bruce’s fists clenched. Joker moved back to his original spot and the red mark on Robin’s face was a bright contrast to his paled skin. “Now, Robin, do you understand?” The boy nodded. “Good! Ready, Justice League? Yeah? OK! Question number one! Who is the greatest man in Gotham?”
Dick didn’t hesitate. “Batman.” Joker tsked and pressed the end of his baton against Robin’s ribcage. The boy cried out as he was electrocuted.
Bruce cursed, “God dammit, Robin.” Leave it to him to be stubborn at a time like this. But that’s how he trained him (not to mention the natural stubbornness Richard already had), Bruce reminded himself. And now it was backfiring.
“Question number two. The best sidekick to ever live?” Robin actually grinned, blood that had settled in his mouth from Joker’s slap dribbling down.
“Me, of course.”
“Eh! Wrong! Zap!” He pushed the baton against Robin’s ribs again and the boy jerked and let out another sound of pain. “I’d better start getting question right, Bird Brain, the human body can only take so much electricity. Now, number three… What is Superman’s identity?”
To Bruce’s right, Clark didn’t even flinch, but he did frown. Bruce could tell he wanted Robin to just tell him. The kid wouldn’t though. He’d die before doing something like that. Robin’s fatal flaw was that he was too loyal. He’d die before giving up anyone’s identity, betraying the trust Batman gave him when he aloud Robin to learn everyone’s name.
“I… I don’t know.”
“Nope!” Joker zapped him again. “I know you know because Bats knows and you know everything Bats knows!” He sing-songed, twirling the baton in his hands. The Joker glanced to the camera again and sighed. “Well, audience, our player isn’t being very fun, is he? We should up the stakes huh?” He laughed. “So, here it is, Bird Boy. From now on if you get a question right I’ll shock you, but if you get it wrong…. I’ll shock one of your little friends.” No one missed Robin’s eyes widened under the mask. “And depending on what number we’re on is how many they get. Ready? For number four, I’m going to use number one. Who is the greatest man in Gotham?”
“Ba-“But as Robin spoke Joker pointed the taser at Kaldur and his voice faltered. “You-You are.” The clown clapped.
“Good boy!” Joker rewarded him with a shock to the upper arm. “And the greatest sidekick?”
TBC...
( Chapter Five )