Inheritance

[0nightwing0]

Who:  Dick, Joker, Tim, Roy, Bones, and Matt Murdock ..Possibly Stephanie Brown
Where: Training room and moving to the Medical Bay
When:  afternoon
Summary: Dick's going to take up the Mantle left behind by his mentor..whether he likes it or not.
Warnings: Blood, Gore, Violence...its Joker, you know its going to be graphic

Comments

[entro_pist]

So, outnumbered was he? One of the newly arrived voices belonged to Stephanie Brown, but the other, though he recognized it, he couldn't place just yet. The Joker tucked the barrel of his Glock into the top of his pants, no longer in need of it. To make this situation work to his advantage, he needed something a bit more explosive, and he had just the thing.

"Aww, how nice of you to come join our party," the Joker said from his place of concealment. Then, he stepped out sideways into full view with both hands raised in front of him. But he didn't come out to wave the white flag; "...You know, we should all get together like this more often."

In his hand was a live grenade. Its pin was missing and the Joker's thumb was holding down the safety lever on the side to keep it from exploding. If anyone shot at him, they would run the risk of making him drop the grenade and release the lever. His eyes darted from face to face before alighting on Stephanie.

"Aaah, Robin. If I'dda known you were coming I would've prettied myself up a bit." He licked two gloved finger tips and daintily smoothed a few strands of hair out of his bloody, smeared face.

[lilbrownrobin]

"Since when is there a Red Arrow?" She retorted. She knew the Green Arrow, had met him before, and this was not him. There was a bit of a trust issue, you never know if it's an evil twin in a different colour costume, but he was dishing out orders and Nightwing, now that she got a good look at him, was in a really tight spot.

"I can handle anything you throw at me, big boy. Don't let my femenine charms throw you off." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm as she said the last part. Proving herself to these men of the cowl was really getting old. Was Batman the only one that really trusted her?

There was one other masked man that did, and he had entered right on cue. "Robin!" Steph called, obviously elated to know that Crane hadn't gotten to him. With Tim here, she knew it was safe to leave Mr. Doubtful alone with ... The Joker? Oh for the love of...

Just as Steph was about to rush to Nightwing's aid, The Joker appeared with that grenade in his hand. Perfect timing. She stopped dead in her tracks with a look of disgust (and maybe just a hint of fear) on her face. She hadn't forgotten the last time they'd met. He fought dirty.

"Don't feel compelled to gussy up on my account." She said in a dry tone.

[0nightwing0]

Dick kept his mouth shut, he was going slightly confused from the bloodloss. His hand was pressed firmly to the cut to his neck that had been left after joker pulled away to fast,to stop the bleeding that had started. He gritted his teeth but Bruce refused to move from his chest. He knew in his primitive mind that the danger had not passed.

" Just go.." he growled trying to force the dog off his chest but giving into the dizzy spell that followed he layed back down.

[niiroya]

"Can we save the introduction for later? We've got a crazed man mad toting an explosive, our leader is down and everything has got slightly more complicated with two Robin's showing up." Roy took a deep breath before he continued.

"Wing-nut, just keep doing what you're doing. Bat-boy, hopefully you know how to handle this guy and Robin get to Nightwing and Bruce."

Having spent more time as a hero than the sidekicks probably had added together, Roy really didn't want to be argued with as he tried to think of a way to disarm Joker without getting the six of them blown to pieces.

[entro_pist]

"Crazed and mad? Do I look mad to you? Hmm?" The Joker's attention had shifted back to Roy. His tongue sought into the corners of his mouth for the edges of his scars as he turned his head from side to side, deliberately showing off his Chelsea grin. The white paint on his face was just a ghost of its former color but the red pigment decorating his mutilated flesh was still rather prominent. "Now, I don't know about you, Cupid, but usually when people are mad, they aren't smiling quite so much."

Disarming the Joker might not have been a viable option right then, but making it out of here alive certainly was. Under the Joker's terms, of course. And those terms were simple. Making his intentions known, he slid a foot toward the nearest exit and smoothly shifted his weight in the same direction, pivoting slightly to keep everyone in the room within his sight. If nobody moved, he would start to back his way out peacefully.

Fear had no part in what drove his actions. He wasn't afraid of being blown to bits or of being beaten three-quarters to death by a gang of vigilantes. However, if they caught him, they would surely send him off to Arkham and have him locked up in isolation again. It wasn't that he feared being strapped into a straight jacket and thrown into a padded cell, especially when he had the skills necessary for escape. If he were sent to the real Arkham Asylum back in the real Gotham, he'd have enough patience to choreograph a breakout. But the very notion of being detained for any length of time in a fake Arkham Asylum by fake orderlies and fake doctors and fake guards and fake fake FAKES! That was absolutely unacceptable.

"Well, isn't this a predicament," he said with an extra crisp snap of his tongue. "Let a crazed criminal loose on the world and keep dear Nightykins from bleeding to death orrr... play a little game of Hot Potato. You know me, I just love games where everyone has a blast." He lifted three fingers off the hand grenade and gave them a little wiggle, eyes shining with malicious glee. Which would it be?

[niiroya]

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

Roy drew an arrow from the red quiver on his back as aimed it at the painted up man before any of the Robins could say anything, but he knows better than to let it fly even if it would hit it's mark.

"If you don't want that thing blowing up in your face, Chuckles I'd get out of here now. Us Arrows don't miss."

[lilbrownrobin]

Steph stared frantically from the grenade-wielding Joker to the arrow-wielding Roy before letting her gaze settle on the severely injured Nightwing. Any looks she had for Tim would have to wait until his 'brother' was taken care of.

She got into a readied stance with intent to sprint and slide to Nightwing as soon as the Joker was away from him and get him to safety. Dick had taught her, not long ago, that it wasn't always imperative to catch the villain and lock him up. Lives were more important.

[0nightwing0]

" Robin..don't..not yet" Dick ordered, his lips stained red as blood leaked from his sinuses into his mouth. The punch had ruptured his cheekbone and the knife had cut down to bone and all the way through cheek tissue, only half way down the cheek thankfully. The bleeding wasn't fatal but it wasn't somthing that could be left for a long time without things getting progressively more complicated. The wound on his neck however that he was grasping was bleeding faster than he expected and he gripped his throat with one hand to put pressure on it.

Bruce Remained on his Master's chest, determined not to get off until the threat passed. He was a loyal beast, and he had proven to be one that day.

[little_wing003]

Tim was poised, too, ready to go help Nightwing as soon as the Joker was clear. "She's just trying to help, Nightwing," he said, watching him and the Joker closely. Dick looked... bad. Really bad.

And there was nothing he could do until they got the damned grenade out of the picture.

[entro_pist]

The Joker's eyes remained fixed on the little brood of birdbats and on Red Arrow. His hand was still wrapped tight around the grenade but he wasn't afraid to let go. It looked like none of them were going to make any sudden advances so he backed his way toward the exit, grinning.

"I can see things have become a bit of a family matter. Lovely seeing you both again," he nodded at Dick and Stephanie. Then his gaze leapt to the youngest Boy Wonder.

"You too, Timmy."

The Joker smirked wickedly. When the doors behind him rolled open automatically, he slipped away into the corridor beyond.

[niiroya]

Roy quickly dropped the bow and arrow with a clatter as he rushes over to Dick's side, ever thankful that the black cape Tim wore easily came away in his hand.

Swearing at the amount of blood coming from the oldest hero in the room, the red-head ripped the black and yellow fabric to tightly wrap it round the bleeding neck being mindful not to suffocate him in the process.

"It's okay Shortpants, we'll get you fixed up and crime fighting in no time." There was a slight sad tone in his voice as he spoke. "Tim, ya wanna give me a hand here and Robin, can ya check over Bruce?"

[little_wing003]

"Hey!" Tim watched as Roy shredded his cape for bandages, and scowled a little. "You know, you could have asked. I have a first aid kit in my belt. Which doesn't involve shredding my possibly septic cape for bandaging."

He knelt on Dick's other side and pulled out the kit. "How are you feeling, big brother?"

[niiroya]

"I'm sure you've got spares and the little thing you guys pack into those utility belts is not going to cut it this time, Boy Blunder." Roy shot back as he checked Nightwing's other injuries.

[little_wing003]

Tim gave him a thin smile. "I don't know how Dick feels about it, but I'm not your Robin, and the only people that call me that have a permanent cell open for them in Arkham."

He frowned down at Dick. "I think we're going to have to get you to Bones before we try to do anything with your eye." There was just too much damage. He didn't know that Bones would,/i> be able to do anything.

[lilbrownrobin]

"Sure, not a problem." Steph nodded and called the dog to her, amused greatly by his name.

"It's okay boy, we're gonna take good care of Dick." She shot a glance at the two dark-haired figures that looked so alike despite having no real relation and then at the apparent Red Arrow... who else had a red costume like that and would be affiliated wit-- ...

"Speedy?" She asked in a disbelieving tone. He was supposed to be a kid! But then again, Tim was supposed to be with his dad and apparently she... she didn't want to think about that. Instead, she looked the dog over intently noticing nothing that needed any major veterinary attention. Dick, on the other hand...

Steph bit her lip. She didn't want to show any 'female weakness' but she was seriously worried. "I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to repay the favour, Dick. I... I'm kind of useless when that freak is concerned. He's a monster."

[niiroya]

"You inherit the 'R', you inherit the nicknames. Take it up with Dick, when he's better if you've got a problem." He said to the youngest man in the room with a small smile on his face.

Roy looked her way as his old moniker was called, eyebrow raised in question but it was soon lowered when she spoke. Knowing that his friend was in good hands, he wandered over to Steph and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"We've all got ghosts kiddo, be it a person or an event, so don't worry about freezing as we've all been there."