This Game is Shockingly Not Aster, Not Aster At All. (Chapter Five)
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 Five -
Robin swallowed the blood forming in his mouth. It was a trick question, he knew that. “No one, it’s why we’re just sidekicks.”
“Very, very good! Correct!” More electricity coursed through his body and Robin bit his tongue to stop himself from crying out, looking to the camera before down again. He didn’t want the Justice League- Batman- to see him like this. He had failed them, failed them all. His team. Everyone.
“Now- here comes the hard one, Robbie- Who is ‘The Batman’?”
Dick’s heart stopped. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t give up Batman’s identity. Not the man who raised him, who saved his life. Robin dropped his head, looking away in shame. “I don’t know.”
“Wrong!!!!” Joker laughed hysterically, swinging the baton around as he approached the others. “Now, since you answered incorrectly I have to shock one of your friends. That’s very selfish of you, Robin, really it is.” Dick knew it was but he couldn’t- he couldn’t betray Bruce.
“Who should it be?” He stopped in front of Superboy. “-the clone? Naaaah, might not hurt him as much. How about-“He pointed it at the sleeping M’gann. Part of Robin was happy she was sleep for all this. She was such a happy, pure girl. She didn’t deserve to see any of this. “-the green chick? No? Your right, it might wake her up. Okay then…. Fish boy?” He nudged Aqualad with the toe of his boot and the other just glared up at Joker. “I dunno, he does control electricity… might be dangerous. Alright then, how about-“Joker stopped in front of Wally, turning his baton around to lift KF’s chin with the safe end.
“Flash Kid?”
Something on Robin’s face must have betrayed him because Joker cackled. “Ohhhh, care about this one, do you? Well, you should have thought about that before you kept Bats’ name to yourself. What number was that? Oh right. Six.” As he said the number Joker turned the baton around and jabbed Wally in the arm.
The speedsters eyes locked on Robin’s as he cried out and the thirteen year old couldn’t look away.
“Five.” Joker gave another shock, this one to the other arm.
Speedsters were sensitive to electricity, Robin knew this. Joker probably knew it too. Wally cried out again, jerking in his bonds so they only tightened. Dick noticed the drops of blood trickle down his hands and felt his throat close. “Four.” Another scream and Robin’s eyes started burning.
On the third shock tears were falling down Wally’s face and Joker was laughing hard. Robin jerked in his seat, the rope around his wrists burning him. “Stop!”
“Too late, Bird Boy. Three!” This one went to Wally’s gut and Robin realized he was crying. At this rate the tears would make his mask fall off. Funny how he didn’t care.
“Two!” One to the thigh.
“And last but certainly not least- ONE!” This one went to Wally’s groin and the scream the boy let out was like nothing Robin’s ever heard. Joker laughed on, twirling the baton some more.
“I’m sorry.” Dick heard himself croak and Joker clucked his tongue.
“You should be, that happened because of you, you rude little child. He probably won’t be able to have kids now.” Something about that was funny because Joker laughed again. But, then again, everything was funny to the Joker. The clown stopped in front of him and stooped down so that Robin got an eye full of make-up. “Aw, are you crying Robin? How sad. It makes me feel… bad? Nah!” He laughed again before slamming the other end up the baton into Robin’s groin.
Boy Wonder let out a yell of pain, going stiff before limp. “There, now you two are even. Hehehehehahahaha!” Robin didn’t lift of his head and that must have angered the freak because he snatched him by the hair again, lifting his head to face the camera. “One last question, Rob, and we’re done. Promise.” As he spoke, Joker put away the baton and pulled out a gun.
“This time, if you tell me the truth I’ll just shoot you. If you lie I’ll kill. Them. All.” He swept the gun around the room, making sure Robin watched as he aimed at the head of each of his friends. “Ready to play?” Robin gave a weak nod before Joker got angry. “Good.”
“What’s your secret identity?”
Dick’s mind froze before he let out a defeated sigh. It figured. Suddenly, Robin had the urge to laugh, and he did. He giggled, that little insane giggle that M’gann and dubbed cute for some god given reason. This actually puzzled Joker for a moment who gave the kid a questioning look before glancing to KF. “Do you think I broke him?” He moved towards Wally and suddenly Robin sobered.
“Don’t touch him!”
Joker grinned- he was always grinning. “Why not?” As he spoke, Joker dragged the mouth of the gun over Wally’s cheek. The read head flinched but kept in control other than that. Green eyes met Robin’s mask again and he swallowed.
“Because then I’ll never tell you who I am.”
Joker huffed, “You’re no fun, Bird Brain. But fine the little speedster goes unhurt as long as you answer correctly. You won’t be… eh, Bats can find another sidekick I’m sure. Hopefully someone a bit more fun, ya’ know? Maybe a girl-“
“Do you want to know or not?” Robin snapped.
“Don’t, Robin!” KF suddenly gasped, finding his voice apparently. “If he learns yours he’ll figure out Batman’s- you can’t!”
“Shut up!” Joker snapped, flogging Wally with the gun. KF went silent and Robin noticed the trail of blood run down his forehead as it soaked into the yellow cowl.
“STOP!” Robin yelled, “I told you not to!”
“Then tell me!” Joker growled, obviously losing his patience. “Tell me or I will kill all of them. Now.”
Robin took a breath and nodded. He wanted to, desperately, to think of another way. Anything else that could help him- save his friends. But he couldn’t. This was the only way. Batman was watching so he’d know when Joker figured out who he was. He’d get Alfred somewhere safe before, for sure, right? Of course. It would be fine.
Except Dick would die. Yeah, he’d die.
He had the urge to laugh again but contained himself.
It was funny, actually. Even though he was the sidekick to the famous and scary Batman, even though he worked in the most dangerous city imaginable, even though he’s seen things thirteen year olds shouldn’t see, even though Robin has faced death plenty of times… he was scared. Scared because this time he knew that it was really going to happen. No Batman. No sneaky escape. Just death.
Hey, at least he’d get to see his mom and dad. He missed them.
“Well Birdy Boy? I’m waiting. At the camera please.”
Obeying, Robin looked to the camera, hoping Batman would forgive him for this. “Rich-“
Joker screaming out in pain stopped him and Robin looked over to see an arrow embedded in the clown’s shoulder, pinning him to the wall. The freak growled and lifted his gun at Robin- to at least shoot someone- but another arrow flew in from the window above and hit the mouth of the gun at the same time it fired, making it explode and destroying Joker’s hand. The clown screamed out. “Who the hell-!”
A figure slid in from the window before straightening up and walking out of the darkness. “Red Arrow.” Speedy growled out, “And no one hurts my friends.” He raised his an arrow and his bow again and took aim at Joker’s heart.
“No!” Robin cried, “Heroes don’t kill, Red!”
“Justice League doesn’t kill.” Roy corrected but when he looked at the desperation on Robin’s face he sighed and swapped out arrows before shooting. This arrow exploded in Joker’s face with knock-out gas, the clown hitting the ground seconds later.
Then the older boy was at Robin’s feet, freeing his ankles before going for his wrist. “Leave it to you, Boy Wonder. Even after the bad guy beats you and your friends you won’t kill him.” Robin didn’t miss the small smile. “Batman’s protégé indeed.” When Robin was free he faced the camera. “The fishing docks, Bats. The building with the red motorcycle in front.” He flicked off the camera then and went to free Artemis. The moment the blonde girl was free she took an arrow Roy handed her and started helping with sawing off everyone’s ropes.
“I-I think the kryptonite is in the air system.. W-we need to get SB out… fast.” Dick heard himself whisper.
“I know, Rob, just relax.” Roy freed KF who was doing his best to give the other a shit-eating, totally Wally, smile. The archer just muttered, “Idiot.” Roy went to hand Wally over to Artemis so she could get him out but, suddenly, The Flash was there, worry taking up his features as he took Wally.
Artemis jumped when Martian Manhunter fazed through the wall and appeared beside her, lifting up his niece before disappearing back through the wall. The door opposite of Robin opened and the boy couldn’t help how pathetic he felt when he hoped it was Batman.
It wasn’t. It was Green Lantern.
A green hand came from his ring and scooped up Kaldur and Superboy before floating out. Artemis went to Robin’s side, putting a hand on his arm as Speedy lifted the Joker and put him on his shoulders. Robin almost smiled when Joker’s head “accidently” hit the door on the way out.
“You were-“Before Artemis could finish a dark shadow was looming over her. Respectively, the blonde left the room and then Robin was alone, face to face with his mentor and father.