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introspectivememories · 1 year

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They’ve surrounded the Joker when it happens.

“Give up Joker.” Bruce growls out, “You’re outnumbered.”

“Oh, Batsy!” The Joker says with a face-splitting grin, “All these heroes for little old me? You shouldn’t have!”

And yeah, Tim supposes having the entire family here was a bit overkill but with Joker one couldn’t take any chances. He does wish that this fight could be over though — there's a cold case with his name on it back at the cave.

“Got the family back together!” The Joker laughs, “How wonderful Batsy! But… where’s my Robin?”

The family collectively inhales. From the corner of his eye, Tim sees Dick take a step forward only to be held back by Cass.

“Oh? Did I hit a soft spot there? I miss my Robin. You should’ve heard the way he screamed. We had so much fun Batsy!”

God, Tim didn’t even know it was possible for Bruce to get tenser.

The Joker’s face screws up into something more contemplative, “Maybe I should take someone new? How about you, baby bat? Whad’ya think? Wanna have some fun with Uncle Joker?”

“I will decapitate you with my sword, Joker,” Damian sneers.

The Joker laughs, “That’s the spirit!”

He’s about to take a step forward when all of a sudden two loud gunshots sound out.

The Joker drops to the ground, both kneecaps shot through.

His family shares a collective glance — Jason? No way, he sticks to the Bowery and Crime Alley when the Joker’s out. So, then who?

“That’s no fair!” The Joker wails, “You told me you don’t use guns!”

“What’s going on?” Babs says into the comms.

“Were those gunshots I just heard?” Jason asks, “I’m coming over right now.”

Shit, Tim thinks, Jason coming over will do no good for anyone. We need to wrap this up.

A voice rings out over them, “Goddamnit Mori, I think my aim’s getting worse. Whad’ya think?”

“You said two shots and you made two shots. It’s not like that clip isn’t still practically full.” Another voice — presumably Mori — says, “If it gets the job done…”

“Then it gets the job done.” The first voice says back.

Two people walk into the clearing both wearing black masks. The one with blond hair is wearing an oversized white button-up with a tie, a black knee-length coat, wide-leg pants, and combat boots. The blond-haired one was shorter than the other but still taller than Tim. He was quite broad too.

You think he’s cute, don’t you? His mind teases

What? No! He just shot the Joker. He retorts.

Yeah, but look at those arms. He could probably pick us up with one hand.

And now that his brain had brought it up, he couldn’t get the idea out of his head.

Look, now is not the time. We’ll jerk off about it later.

So you will jerk off to him?

Tim blushes furiously under the mask, Oh my god, shut up!

Focusing back on the scene in front of him, he catalogs the other man. The other man is quite tall, like Jason-level tall. He’s wearing all black — a turtleneck with two gun holsters strapped across his chest, and black cargo(?)/combat(?) pants tucked into combat boots. He also has a sword strapped to his waist.

Oh, and they both have black gloves on. Huh, hot.

By the time, Tim is done cataloging both of them, they’ve arrived in front of them.

The Joker turns from the ground, where is trying to stem the blood coming out of his leg, “Are you two the ones that shot me? That wasn’t very nice of you! If you wanted to-”

The blond one tilts his head and in one quick motion, the black-haired one backhands the Joker.

“God, do you ever shut up?” The blond one says, “Always fuckin yammering.”

The black-haired one sighs, “The sword causes too much drag.”

(Now that he's heard Mori speak a little, he notices a bit of an accent. Not enough to be identifiable but enough to know that English probably wasn't his first language.)

“I fucking told ya, Mori!” The blond says, “Why’d’ya bring it anyway?”

“It adds to the mystique! The aura!”

“We literally did not need that.”

“Whatever. You wouldn’t know flair if it smacked you across the face.” Mori says, “Now help me strap it across my back.”

Tim watches flabbergasted as the two men squabble over the sword. Finally, the blond one gets it strapped on.

(“So many fucking straps and for what?”

“It’s fashion,” Mori hisses.

“It’s impractical, is what it is.”)

Dick seems to get tired of this act and steps forward, “Can we help you two?”

Tim watches as the blond’s eyes curve into smiles, “No, no, it’s okay! Just sit back and watch the show!”

“What do you want?” Bruce says, as curt as ever.

The two men look at each other and then back at Bruce before bursting into laughter.

“Why what any Gothamite wants of course. To kill the Joker!” The blond says.

The Joker laughs, “Oh now this is going to be fun!”

Bruce steps forward, “We can’t let you do that.”

“Don’t worry, you just have to watch,” Mori says.

Bruce takes another step forward and quick as a whip the blond has a gun trained on him. Bruce raises his hands.

“Don’t move,” he says, “Take a few steps back.”

Bruce walks backward a few steps till he’s back in line with them.

“Now here’s what’s gonna happen.” He says, “I am going to kill the Joker and you guys are going to watch. And then, we are going to leave. Okay?”

“There are other ways than killing someone. Do not do this.”

The men look at each other and shake their heads.

“Oh Batman,” Blond says like he’s talking to a particularly disobedient child, “How many people have to die before it’s too many? How many children? How many graveyards does this thing have to fill before it’s too many?”

Jason inhales sharply over the comms.

“How many children do you have to lose, Batman, to this thing before it becomes unacceptable? One in a wheelchair and the other died and was brought back.”

Babs’ voice comes over shaky through the comms, “How does he know that?”

“If you had any sense,” Blond continues, “You would’ve ended this twisted game of tag years ago. But you couldn’t. So now I have to clean up the mess for you.”

“Let’s get started then.” Mori nods and steps back, falling into parade rest.

“First things first,” Blond whips the gun over to Damian. The family startles. “Get him off the field. Now.”

“How dare y-” Damian starts.

“You are, like, 10. I am not going to beat the shit out of Joker in front of a 10-year-old. Go home, kid.”

“I will not.”

Blond shoots at the ground in front of Damian, “I won’t miss next time. I’m not playing around. Go home, kid.”

“Robin,” Bruce says.

Damian stands up straighter, “Yes Father?”

“Go home.”

“Father!”

“That is an order. Go now.”

Damian deflates, “Yes Father.” And he grapples away.

Blond watches Damian until they can’t see him anymore. Then he turns back to the Joker.

“Mori, crowbar.”

The family stiffens.

Mori hands Blond a crowbar. He runs his fingers up and down it in a mockery of a caress.

Blond looks down at the Joker, “No, don’t be scared.” He coos, “It’s just payback. You understand, right?”

He traces the hook part over the Joker’s cheek, “What goes around, comes around. You killed someone and now I have to kill you. It’s nothing personal.”

Blond stops, “Well, actually it is. I’m a Gothamite, it’s definitely personal.”

Blond raises the crowbar and brings it down, again and again, and again.

THWACK — a bone snaps.

THWACK — blood squelches.

THWACK — the crowbar rips through Joker’s face.

Over and over again, the sound rips through the square. Mori never takes his eyes off the gruesome scene.

Finally, Blond seems to get tired of whacking the Joker and drops the crowbar on the ground.

Looking down, Blond groans, “Man, he got blood all over my white shirt!”

I’m pretty sure you did that yourself, Tim thinks hysterically.

“God Mori,” Blond whines, “What should I do?”

“Finish it,” Mori says.

“You’re right.” Blond reaches into his overcoat and pulls out a gun. It’s clearly special, considering the reverence Blond holds it with.

Blond presses a kiss to the hilt and aims it at Joker’s forehead.

“Don’t do this,” Bruce says.

Blond turns his head towards Bruce and oh, his eyes are so sad, “It’s too late Batman. It’s going to happen anyway.”

Below him, Joker gurgles out smiling maniacally through his mangled face, “You won’t kill me.”

Blond takes a deep breath, “For my darling.” He whispers.

He breathes out and presses the trigger.

BANG.

The Joker lies dead on the ground, a smile still on his face.

Blond crouches down and taps his gun to the Joker’s chest, “I hope you suffer for the rest of eternity. May you never find peace.”

Then he stands up and stumbles over into Mori’s open arms.

“Mori,” he sobs out, “What, what have I-”

Mori smooths Blond’s hair back, “Shh. It’s okay. You did the right thing. He would’ve killed more people if you didn’t end him. It’s okay.”

“I never wanted to become this. What would she think of me? She’d be so disgusted.” Blond gasps out.

“I didn’t know the young mistress as well as you did but from what you’ve told me of her, I think she’d be proud of you,” Mori says, rubbing his hand up and down Blond’s back.

Lovers? He thinks, Or are they brothers?

(Why does his heart hurt at the thought of Blond and Mori being in a relationship? Tim quickly files the thought away into his “Do Not Touch” folder.)

“The blood on your hands isn’t something you can lose, otouto. All you can do is choose is whose.”

“You have to calm down. You came here for one more thing. Finish it and we can have a breakdown later.”

Blond takes a few deep breaths as he tries to regulate his breathing. Pushing away from Mori, he spins around to them.

“Right! Sorry about that.” He says voice infused with fake cheer.

Blond’s eyes roam over their family before landing on Tim.

“You,” He says, “Come here.”

“What do you want with him?” Dick asks.

“I’m not going to hurt him I swear! I just need to ask him a few questions.”

And well, Tim’s always been too courageous for his own good, so he steps forward.

Blond looks him up and down before saying, “Take the mask off.”

The entire family protests.

“We can’t do that.” Dick says, “It would compromise us.”

Blond waves his hand, “I already know who you are. Don’t worry about it.”

This sends the family into a silent frenzy.

“People will see,” Tim says quietly. Blond’s eyes snapped toward him.

“My men have had this area blocked off for a while. Nobody will see.”

Tim takes a deep breath and peels his domino mask off. Blond inhales sharply.

“Oh,” He says quietly like he’s wounded.

“There are those pretty blue eyes of yours. Such a shame you hide them behind your mask.”

Tim’s cheeks traitorously start blushing. Blond raises his hand as if to cup his cheek and Tim can’t help but wrinkle his nose at the blood dripping off the glove. Blond follows his eyes and snorts in amusement.

“Don’t worry, pretty bird.” He says “I’ll take them off.”

True to his word, Blond does take them off and reaches back out to cup his cheek.

His hand is warm, Tim thinks, Does he have a fever?

“Are you eating well?” Blond asks.

“What?”

“Are you eating well?”

“Yes?”

“Are you sleeping well?”

Tim grimaces, “Yes? Sorta?”

Blond frowns and Tim has the irrational urge to smooth out the wrinkle between his eyes.

“Okay, not really the answer I wanted to hear but I guess for you ‘sorta’ is better than an outright no.”

He smiles and drags his thumb across Tim’s cheek, “And lastly, Red Robin, and this is the hard one, are you happy?”

(“What the fuck is going on?” Jason asks flatly through the comms.

“I have no fucking idea.” Duke responds, “I feel like we shouldn’t even be watching this.”

Steph chimes in, “Cass wants to know if Tim already knew this man. I don’t think so but like isn’t this soooo Wattpad?”

“What the fuck is Wattpad?” Dick asks.

“Is Tim having his Y/N moment? Is that what this is?” Jason asks incredulously.

“Guys, shut up.” Babs hisses, “I’m kinda invested in this.”)

Tim swallows and shit, isn’t that a question for the ages. Is he happy? He doesn’t know. He doesn’t know anything outside of being Robin. If he’s not solving cases, he’s out on patrol. If he’s not out on patrol, he’s working with his team. When was the last time he ever did anything for himself? When was the last time he went skateboarding? Or played video games? When was the last time he hung out with people who weren’t heroes?

When was the last time he was just Tim and not Robin?

(Probably not since high school. Not since Darla and Ber-

We are not thinking about that.)

Tim swallows around the lump in his throat, “I don’t know.”

Blond’s eyes go sad, “That’s okay. You can figure it out.”

Tim can’t help but lean into the hand. Blond caresses Tim’s face one last time before pulling his hand away.

Blond puts the gun back into his coat.

“Well,” He says, “It’s time for us to leave. I don’t know if we’ll meet again but if we do, I hope your answers are more concrete next time.”

Blond leans in to touch their foreheads together, “Be well.” he whispers.

Tim’s breath catches in his throat, everything laser-focused on Blond’s face so close to his. If he leaned in he could ki-

Blond turns around and walks back to Mori. Mori lifts up his arm to wrap it around the other’s shoulders.

Just as they’re almost out of earshot, Tim finally finds his voice.

“Hey!” He shouts. They turn their heads toward him, “Do I know you?”

Blond laughs a little, it’s sad and it’s broken, “Once. A long, long, time ago.”

And the men walk away.

#this is part of an au i have #where after darla dies henry offers bear the position of his heir and bear initially refuses #but ends up joining on the condition that he works his way up. and he does eventually so #here's a scene from that au #please ask me about my au!!#mob boss!bernard au #basically it's my wattpad mafia story timber version #tim drake #bernard dowd #timber #dc

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thatasianstereotype · 4 years

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Father, This Is Your Future Son-In-Law.

A short little side companion fic to my Adrien x Damian series.

First: Fuck. I’m Gay.

Second: Damn, You’re Looking Fine.

Third: Shit. I Got To Deal With This Bitch (Again).

I’m still working on the fourth and final part of the series (it won’t be as long of a wait as Part 3). But I wanted to write how the Batfam reacted to their youngest suddenly getting a boyfriend while abroad.

Creative liberties were taken. Also, this is a crack writing.

The Demon Spawn who has gotten better at not attacking people at first sight but still just tolerates people. And his holier-than-thou attitude is still there with his love for throwing insults around like free candy.

This is the kid that manages to snag a pure cinnamon roll sunshine as a boyfriend?

This angry grumpy child?

Needless to say, the Batfam is in disbelief.

“What?” Bruce thought that the Teen Titans mission in Europe was done. “Why do you want to stay in Paris longer? Is something wrong?”

“No Father. I have simply found someone I wish to court. I will be spending time in Paris to see how best to present myself as an exceptional suitor that is all. Give my regards to Grayson that I will be missing Family Night but that I will make it up by introducing him to his future brother-in-law soon.”

Bruce was too much in shock to answer when Damian hung up.

“DICK!”

“I think it’s cute that Dami is getting a boyfriend.”

“Dick, you oblivious and naive child, you are completely missing the point.”

Dick rolled his eyes. “Look, I’m pretty sure Damian isn’t actually going to marry someone right now.”

“He said ‘future brother-in-law’ inferring that this courtship he wants to initiate will end in a wedding.”

“I think you are reading too much into this, B.”

“And you are not reading enough. Have I taught you nothing at all?

“You taught me paranoia.”

“I taught you to be prepared for every kind of situation.”

“Pretty sure the possibility of your 17-year-old son getting hitched in Paris can be ruled out.”

“Where did I go wrong with you?”

And Dick rolled his eyes once again at Bruce’s dramatic-ness. This. This is where Damian gets it from.

Ever the peace keeper in this dysfunctional trainwreck of a family, Dick managed to stop Bruce from flying to Paris. But much to their frustrations (even Dick’s who wanted to know who captured his baby bro’s heart), Damian did not tell them the name of his potential boyfriend.

All in all, Damian spent about two months and a half in Paris before coming back home to Gotham. And the Batfam could see a difference right away.

Damian was happy. He smiled (it was a little one but it had Dick squealing in joy) more and he was more tolerate of his brothers and schoolmates.

“We should’ve shipped him off to Paris earlier if he comes back like this.”

Tim was still staring at Damian like he was an alien. The demon spawn still insulted him every other day but hasn’t threatened to kill him at all since he came back. No ripping out his intestines to feed to the vultures or throwing him off a building for the rats to feast on. It was nice. Although a little part of him felt slightly unnerving. He doesn’t have any contingency plans involving a Nice!Damian.

Dick shook his head fondly at his little brother, taking away his coffee full of too much caffeine and replacing it with decaf. He has truly ascended to motherhood. “Well, I think it’s nice that Little D found love.”

“In the city of love. Is no one paying attention to that part?” Jason munched on one of Alfred’s cookies. “Cause I think that’s hilarious. I thought Baby Bat would’ve choked on all the happiness and bright clean air there.”

Dick whacked his arm. “Stop being mean to Dami.”

“But Dickie. It’s how I show affection.”

Adrien Agreste was the son of the supervillain Hawk Moth that have terrorizing Paris for the last 3 years. Batman was not at all pleased to hear that the Parisian heroes called for help and the Justice League turned them away. People have paid for that. Dearly.

“So his mom’s dead and his dad’s a criminal?” Jason looked over Bruce’s shoulder at the BatComputer. “Kid’ll fit right in with our family. Demon sure knows how to pick them.”

“Hnn.” Bruce grunted.

“I mean with you dating Selina, a notorious thief and doing the thing with Talia, a very dangerously lethal assassin, it’s no wonder where your son got his taste from.”

“Jason.” Bruce grunted in a warning tone.

“I mean when I’m right, I’m right.”

“Ok.” Tim started off tonight’s Family Meeting (excluding Damian), the topic being one certain ex-assassin’s love interest. “Looking further into the Agreste kid shows he clearly did not take after his villainous dad. He is one of Paris’ teenage models and have a huge fanbase dedicated to how pure and sweet he is. He is a literal walking ray of sunshine.”

“How the fuck did that sunshine child tame our literal feral demon brother?” Jason said. Always the VIP asking the important questions here.

Tim actually had an answer for that. He pulled out several charts and data on his laptop and showed it to the others. “Looking further into Adrien, I have found evidence that he is the cat-themed superhero Chat Noir. Being a loveable and touch-starved kitten appealed to the demon brat’s almost non-existent affections.”

“Timmy, Dami is capable of love.” Dick said in a disappointed voice.

“I said almost non-existent, didn’t I?” Tim waved the Mom’s disappointment away. “But you guys have got to see this.”

He pulled up a video of Chat Noir and Ladybug on the big screen. They watched him using his signature move: cataclysm. No one spoke for a few minutes as they processed the sheer destructive powers of the hero.

“You know what.” Jason broke the silence. “I have no more questions. I can kind of see how Agreste is the demon’s type.”

What baby assassin wouldn’t be turned on by the literal godly destructive powers the baby kitten held in his hands?

Dick, the only one wanting to keep things semi-PG here, smacked the back of his head.

“Baby brother.” Cass greeted. She is back home from her Hong Kong trip and heard all about the famous Adrien Agreste. She thought it was adorable and that Adrien and Damian made a cute couple.

“Hello, Cassandra.”

She peered down at the list he was currently making. She gestured towards it with a confused look.

“I am compiling a list of tasks that needs to be done before my Chaton and new sister-in-law come to Gotham. Only the best for them after all.

Her eyes lit up. “New sister?”

“Yes. My mon amour’s sister will be our new one.” He pulled out a picture of her on his phone for Cass to see. “Her name is Marinette and she will be a fine addition to the family.”

“Baby sister.” Cass said happily. She was always up for new family members.

“Yes. I imagine you two will get along the best.”

But she couldn’t help but notice that with all the preparations he is making, even if it is for his boyfriend and new sister, is a bit —how would Steph say it?— overkill.

Her coal black eyes were sharp as she observed his body language. “You very serious on this. Why?”

He can never hide anything from his sister. “I wish for them to have a good impression of our family so that their family will not be disincline to reject my proposal for marriage.”

“Marriage?” She was still quite unfamiliar with some words in English.

“It means that you will be getting another brother too.”

“We will wed.”

Dick hasn’t even finished his cereal yet. He looked over at Damian’s serious expression. “Did you even ask him yet?”

“I will present myself as an extraordinary suitor that he will be more inclined to say yes when I ask.”

“At least you’re treating your man right.”

Damian took offense. “Why wouldn’t I treat my mon amour with anything but the upmost respect and love?”

“I didn’t mean it like that, Little D. I’m just glad you’re in a good relationship and from what I can see, Adrien adores you very much.”

Damian smiled. “I adore my Chaton a great deal as well. Would you like to come with me to pick out a ring?

Dick could just hear Bruce’s voice in his head saying he shouldn’t be encouraging this. But come on, this was his baby brother who grew up learning how to hurt people finding a precious loving relationship for himself and he will be damned if he doesn’t support this.

“Of course. I’ll be honored to help.”

His baby brother brightened before he launched into a rant.

“I’m having trouble finding the perfect gem to complement his eyes. They are a certain shade of forest green you see. And many jewelry stores do me a great disservice by not having that certain shade or having utterly appalling quality for what my Chaton deserves.”

Taglist:

@iglowinggemma28 @iz-bell-saiah @nach0ava @roselynfey @mochinek0 @wannajointhecrabcult

#ml x dc #gaydrien #adrien agreste x damian wayne #adridami #1K fic

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differentjokes4differentfolks · 7 years

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WTFIT Chap 8

Chapter 8, you guys! Who knew I’d actually go through with writing this?? This is one of the fics I’ve had the most fun writing, I gotta say. Anyways, enjoy!

AO3 Chap 1

It’s all Joker can do not to burst out in laughter. It’s also all he can do not to strangle the man under him either, staring down at the Red Hood. Jason Todd. Suddenly this seems familiar. A run-in a while ago hadn’t been so pleasant between them, he remembers that clearly. A rooftop, a scuffle, himself tied to a chair as Todd and Bats fought it out. An interesting show, but he doesn’t really enjoy being tossed about by Batman’s kids. While he wouldn’t ever kill Batman, he never set Robin off limits as well.

As it is, he won’t be killing anyone just yet.

“What in God’s name is the Red Hood doing in the sewers?” he asks casually, holding a knife to the man’s neck. The Robin to his side watches warily, ready to leap at moments notice. “You get tired of messing with people up on the surface?”

“What’s it to you, you sack of shit?” Jason growls from underneath him. Joker shakes his head, tutting in mock-disappointment. “Well, that was rude.” Todd growls. This is just too easy.

“What do you want, Joker?” Robin says, a steely edge to his voice. “Why are you here?”

Joker does let out a slight giggle at that. “Well, isn’t this just the craziest thing? I’m looking for Bats, and I found his Bat-babies instead. You wouldn’t happen to have misplaced him, would you?”

Todd writhes underneath him, trying to knock the clown off balance. Joker rolls his eyes, setting down the knife and adjusting himself so that he pins the anti-hero’s arms down as well. “Why the hell are you looking for him?”

“We’re partners at the moment, solving crimes like Sherlock and Watson, didn’t you know?” Joker says with a wide grin, savoring Todd’s obvious confusion. His mask might hide his face, but there are some emotions you can just feel radiating off people. “Well, no, you wouldn’t. Batsy probably thought you’d react like this. Anywho...” He stands up, springing away from Todd as the man swings at him viciously.

“There’s no way he’d actually team up with you. He knows better…”

“I thought he was just giving Batman tips,” Robin says in confusion. Todd turns to him.

“You knew?”

“Well, he knows the locations…” Robin’s voice drops off as he points to Joker, who dusts off his suit. It might be time to get a new one soon, the purple is starting to fade...

“That’s right, I do. Though where exactly Bats is I have no idea. I’m about as lost as you are at this point, and I hate sewers.” Joker shudders. He looks around, picking up the flashlight on the ground and shining it around, curling his lip when he sees rats scurrying around. “Well, nothing we can do, I guess. Are we all looking for the same man here?”

Todd snorts in disgust. “You don’t actually think we’re going to work with you.”

Joker frowns slightly. Damn, one awful run-in and Todd hates you forever. What is it with this bat-family and holding grudges? “Well, cupcake, you can go down the way I just came from, see if I missed something.”

“Well-”

“-Which I didn’t,” Joker finishes, crossing his arms and sticking his tongue out at Todd. The way Todd’s fists clench shows just how much restraint it takes not to strangle him. He loves it. Smiling again, he looks over at Robin, who takes in this whole exchange with perplexion etched on his face. “What do you think? You’re so quiet, not at all like his past Robins. No cheesy one-liners? No insults?”

“I… how did you know Batman would be down here?” He asks warily.

That's a good question, Joker has to admit. But he doesn't just want to go out and say he cajoled Harley into telling him after she’d received the call from Black Mask, who hides down here somewhere with Jonny. It wouldn’t be fair to them. All these villains…and for just one night of terror. It’d seem a little overkill, if not for the fact they’re up against Batman. And himself too, as it happens. “I heard it through the grapevine. And I'm sure if he’d gone to the docks I'd have been there.”

“Why's that?” Todd mutters.

“I know my way around there. He doesn’t, not like me. It’d take him ages.” Joker cocks a hip to shift his weight, wishing he could lean against the wall without ruining his suit more. “Besides, why do the easy jobs when you could finish off the hard tasks first, am I right? Now are we doing this together or not?”

Robin seems a bit easier to convince, but there’s a length of silence before Todd sullenly says, “Fine.”

Joker sticks out his hand, mouth slipping into a smirk. “Shake on it?”

Todd gets closer to Robin, stance defiant. “We don’t shake hands with clowns.”

Joker sighs, putting away his joy-buzzer. “Fair enough. Now let’s go find our Dark Knight. Shall we?” He gestures for the boys to go first. When it's clear that they won't move, he rolls his eyes. “Fine, scaredy cats. I'll go first.” The first tunnel they come across is a dead end, setting the example for a few others they come across. Todd stands between Joker and Robin as a barrier, which he finds hilarious. He isn’t going to do anything right now, not when there’s a task at hand. Maybe he’ll play with them a bit later on in the week. It’d give Bats something to do after this fiasco, that’s for sure. It makes him wonder where Grayson is. Joker hasn’t heard from him in a long while...

“Bruce?”

“Hnggh…”

“Bruce!”

A shaking sensation makes Bruce open his eyes, though they turn to slits at the change in lighting. His head pounds as he pushes himself up from the floor, stumbling, his legs heavy. Dick helps steady him as his eyes adjust. Slowly he looks around, remembering what happened. He tries to block out what he saw, focusing on the now. He’s had enough of terrifying hallucinations for now, there’ll be time to reflect later.

“Are you okay?” He asks Dick. Dick blinks, though his mouth forms a relieved smile.

“You’re asking me that? Goddamn, Crane must’ve dosed you with twice what I got! You wouldn’t move for a half hour. I would know, I tried waking you. Were you trying to fight it?”

Bruce meets Dick’s eyes. “It was awful, I couldn’t control anything. If this is how it affects me, how do you think it’ll affect the city?”

“We won’t let it.” Dick’s cool blue eyes are reassuring, though Bruce knows it’s a front. Just one of the many coping mechanisms of a hardened vigilante, alongside witticisms and time spent thinking on the tops of buildings. “Now help me find a way out of this, Crane closed the entrance. It’s locked, but I don’t know how. The wall’s too solid to break through.” He leaves Bruce to stand on his own, running his hands along the door.

“Maybe it only opens from the outside,” Bruce says, moving a bit to get his blood flowing again.

“Well isn’t that sadistic...” Dick mutters, looking back at Bruce. The latter shrugs.

“We both just got poisoned,” Bruce points out. “I don’t think he locked us in here to be nice.” Glancing around, he realises there aren’t any vents in the small space. Meaning they’ll run out of air if they stay here longer than they’re supposed to. There are cracks in the walls, but nothing solid enough to get out of with his gadgets. “Nightwing, maybe we should save our air.”

After pounding at the wall a couple more times Dick nears Bruce. “Do you think Crane is coming back for us?”

“That’s my guess. Why go for a quiet death when it comes to your enemies?” Bruce asks dryly. “It’s just a matter of when.”

“I can’t believe this.” Dick laughs shakily, trying to maintain some of his cheerfulness. Heights are more his thing, Bruce knows he can get rather claustrophobic in rooms like these, but the younger man remains calm all the same. “...does anyone know we’re here?”

“Barbara and Tim know I went looking for you, maybe they’ve figured out we’re in the sewers, but even so, there’s nothing to do but wait it out.” Bruce sits, taking a deep breath and trying to slow his intake of air. After a moment Dick joins him, both calming themselves down enough to slow their breathing patterns as they wait. Bruce doesn’t know what’s going to happen, but he needs to be ready regardless. If it is Crane, they’ll need to be fast and clever, avoiding those awful needles of his. He thinks back to all the canisters in that one shallow room he’d come across, wondering if his lock still holds. It should, but even so it’s something to think about. That’s one of the top priorities he has before he leaves the sewers.

He looks over at Dick, whose eyes are closed, fists clenching and unclenching slowly as he breathes in and out, in and out. It’s one of his talents, being able to stay calm even in trying times. He’s been that way since before he met Bruce, but working as Robin only strengthened that trait over time. He smiles, pride filling his heart. No matter how many times they’ve disagreed over the years, he couldn’t be happier to have Dick Grayson at his side. His first Robin, his first son. He’s proud of Tim and Jason too, knowing Tim is probably headed this way now, and that while Jason has his own version of justice, he’s capable and making the city better in ways only he can. He wonders if he’ll ever say this out loud. Saying it now would waste what short supply of air they have at the moment. For now, at least, he’ll keep it to himself facing forwards again and closing his eyes.

The sewers seem never ending the longer Tim walks. He knew they spanned the entire city, but no one had ever told him that they made up a labyrinth of tunnels. Jason never really breaks a sweat, and while Joker grumbles to himself on occasion, he walks at a comfortable pace as well.

Why would Joker team up with Bruce? It doesn’t seem like him to ally himself with his closest enemy, even though he’s been known to throw wrenches into other people’s schemes. It’s not likely that Joker is in it for the rush, he gets that just by blowing up buildings. There’s something niggling at the back of his mind, something out of reach that he just can’t pinpoint. The clown is clearly out of place here, occasionally he’ll say something like, “Why sewers? Why couldn’t it have been a collapsing highrise?” or “These were new shoes,” and “He could’ve called to tell me he was going to be getting himself lost in a sewer.” It’s amusing to listen to, but it leaves Tim confused all the same. How would Bruce call him anyway?

“How you holding up?” Jason asks Tim quietly, slowing down to walk with him. Tim gives a one-shouldered shrug.

“Alright, I guess. We’ve got to be getting a least a little closer, right?”

“I hope so. Nightwing’s with him?”

“I’m not sure.” He barely hears Jason’s sigh.

“I knew something was going on in Gotham, but I didn’t think it’d be this big. How many baddies are out and about?”

Tim counts on his fingers. “Not including Joker, seven. But we captured Dent and Bane already, so five then.”

“Is this your first night out?”

“For this ordeal? Yeah. I’d say I jumped into the the thick of it.” Jason laughs.

“What are you two doing back there?” They both look up to see Joker waving the beam at them, eyebrow raised. “You’re being awfully loud for heroics, aren’t you?”

“Says the dude who’s been mumbling to himself,” Jason retorts. Joker grins, clearly wanting to answer back, or maybe laugh, but he smothers it with a hand. It’d bounce all around, giving them away in seconds.

“Wait, do you hear that?” Joker turns to face the dark end of the passage, where Tim starts to hear a dull thumping noise. It ends abruptly, but now he knows they’re going the right way.

“Nobody would do that except them,” Tim says. Jason nods, but Joker’s already gone ahead of them, the light fading with him into the gloom. “What’s he so rushed about? It’s like he’s more worried than we are.”

Jason starts to run. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it. I don’t trust him.”

“I don’t think anyone does,” Tim responds, matching his strides. His heart starts to beat faster, he knows they’re close to finding Bruce and Dick, he just has to be super observant in these dark halls. His eyes roam, searching for any doors, any flaws in the walls, any sign of the men. He almost runs into Joker, who pauses, pulling out his knife. In front of them stand two thugs guarding a heavy metal door that he instinctively knows holds the men they’re looking for. Joker doesn’t hesitate, running at them before they can shout, Tim and Jason right behind. Tim knows Jason and Joker have no restraint, killing if they have to, but Tim stops himself at knocking one of the men unconscious. He looks over the door, knocking. Jason takes the lock in his hand, cursing.

“Who uses these anymore?” He pulls out a lockpick, making quick work of the contraption, but the door itself is heavier than it looks. It takes all three of them to open it, the door sliding open inch by inch. On the other side stand Bruce and Dick, both looking a little worse for wear but generally okay. They both stand defensively, apparently not expecting them. Then Dick relaxes and waves, and Tim smiles widely. Bruce steps forward to meet them eyes landing on each one. There’s relief in his eyes, but Tim notices his eyes linger longest on Jason. His eyes are wide.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oracle. She didn’t want this guy looking for you alone,” he claps a hand on Tim’s shoulder. “Gotham’s stuck in a mess, isn’t she?”

Bruce only says, “We’re taking care of it. You’d be a welcome help-”

“Are you actually working with the Joker?” Jason’s voice is frigid, the area drops a couple degrees just with his question. “You’re working with him and you want my help. You’re insane.”

Joker smirks, but Bruce frowns. “That’s not the point here, Jason. There’s too much going on right now. We need your help.”

There’s a long silence before Jason shakes his head. “No. I’m sorry, but I won’t do this. You’re asking me to team up with the man who almost killed me. How do you expect me to brush that aside?”

Tim catches Bruce sending the Joker a glance. Joker frowns, eyes dark. Then Bruce steps forward.

“Jason, can we talk? After we dispose of the toxin, I mean. I need to go back to this one room, it contains most if not all of Crane’s toxins. I have it tracked.”

Jason gives a curt nod before he says, “Are you just going to blow it up? You aren’t going to just drag it through the sewers, are you? That sounds like a stupid idea.” Bruce sighs.

“I don’t have a better idea besides blowing it up, unless you want to carry it. If it’s contained in the room there shouldn’t be a problem, it won’t go into the water,” he explains. “Crane won’t be able to open it easily either.”

“Just how many canisters are there?”

“About fifty in a crate, but it’s strong. Strong enough to send everyone spiraling into fear-induced insanity.” Dick says. Joker raises an eyebrow curiously. Tim narrows his eyes, Joker smirking and shrugging as if to say: I can't help it, I'm a villain at heart, really.

Some of the tension in the chamber fades away after that, but Tim still thinks if he tried hard enough he could cut right through it. Dick has stayed silent all throughout, tapping his foot uncomfortably. A family reunion and no one is particularly happy to see each other. Kind of like a normal family’s Thanksgiving, Tim supposes. Bruce starts heading down the passage to where he’s left the tracker, and the rest follow.

Bruce doesn't exactly know how to interact with anyone as he walks down the tunnels, so he doesn't. He gets to the room with the toxins, making sure the lock hasn't been tampered with. The rest file in behind him, all stuck in that same tension he feels. The guilt that he’d pushed away earlier slams into him tenfold, especially now that both Jason and Joker are here. He feels sick, feeling like he’s betrayed Jason with his feeling, with teaming up with the clown. The only thing is, as much as he hates it, he can’t change any of it. Can’t, or doesn’t want to. He knows it’s selfish, but his mind keeps fighting against what’s wrong and right, and how he feels. He doesn’t want to push Joker away, bad as that might sound. But there’s the fact that he doesn’t want Jason to hate him, to carry any animosity.

It’s a crossroads, one where he doesn’t want to move in either direction. And that’s the real problem.

In truth, he doesn’t really need Jason, Tim, and Dick here anymore. He doesn't know where Scarecrow is, but the longer they spend here, in a group, the easier it’ll be to capture all of them. It’s such an enclosed area, easy to get trapped in. Luckily the canisters are close. They come upon them relatively fast, the room glowing a faint green.

“That crate?” Jason looks at it. “Maybe me and Nightwing could carry it out, it doesn’t look that heavy.”

“True.” Dick circles around it, the box coming up mid-thigh on him. “Let’s try and lift it.” He and Jason do a count, lifting on three. It’s heavy, but they’re sure they can carry it. Bruce suggests they trade off if they get too tired, everyone agreeing. Tim leads as they lead the room, pointing out where to turn and when to stop. Bruce stays in back to make sure no one follows, Joker falling in step with him.

“You think you’ll stop this before Friday?” Joker says quietly. “There’s still plenty of stuff going on.”

“We will stop it, we have to.” There’s no getting around it, if Bruce can’t stop this scheme in its tracks Gotham will be destroyed. He should be over at the docks at the moment, if Scarecrow hadn’t set them back. Speaking of Scarecrow… he could still be in the sewers, just waiting. He should do something about that. “Guys. I’m going after Scarecrow.”

“Alone?” Dick’s voice drips with disbelief. “You know what he can do.”

“I have to take him in,” Bruce says, refusing to be swayed. “I’ll be fine. You just need to focus on getting that toxin somewhere safe. Promise me you’ll do that.”

Dick frowns, matching with Tim and Jason. “...an hour. I’ll give you an hour, then I’m coming to get you.”

Bruce agrees, looking over at Joker. “Are you going to stay with them?”

Joker laughs, pointing at the trio. “I’m not too popular with your kids, if you haven't noticed. I’ll tag along with you, in case I need to save you again.” Bruce wants to argue that point, but Joker is technically right, and there’s no time for banter anyway.

“Let’s go then.”

“Wait. Oracle and I noticed we haven’t seen Sionis anywhere. We thought that he might be in there with Crane,” Tim says.

“I’ll make sure to check that out. Be back soon, head for the entrance.” Turning back, Bruce runs back into the tunnel, the deep gloom an unwelcome but inescapable sight. He turns on his infrared, Joker’s quick steps follow.

“You know, I have a feeling Black Mask is around here somewhere,” Joker muses, his voice quiet enough to barely echo off the surrounding walls. Bruce knows that’s a tip, that he won’t get an elaboration and that he’ll have to take it for the truth. “Bats, I know this is important to you, but even if you get these two, you’ll still have to deal with three more. And it’s already after midnight. You sure you don’t wanna just blow up the sewers and call it a night?” He huffs out a short laugh. “We could go club hopping, stir up trouble with the authorities. Much more my style, wouldn’t you say?”

Bruce slows down, starting to edge around closer to the walls. He knows Joker wants to say more, voicing it as more of a jest than actual concern. He knows that there’s more at the tip of the clown’s tongue, but he’s so tired of people worrying about him, concealed or otherwise. He knew the risks that would come with being a vigilante, knows that any day really could be his last. Sometimes he just wishes he didn’t have so many people making sure he isn’t about to have a breakdown or something. There isn’t time for that.

“Can you not worry about me?”

“I’m not, I’m just-”

“Please.” He doesn’t turn to see Joker’s expression behind him, can’t imagine it being anything other than confused or annoyed at the moment.

“Batsy.” Joker’s voice is measured and even, different from what Bruce expects as he turns to face him. He expects a punch even less, but that’s what he receives, a sharp blow to his face that puts him off guard. It’s surprisingly accurate for it being pitch-black.

“What was that for?” He asks in shock and anger, his cheek stinging. He sees Jokers sharp grin, practically glowing through his vision.

“Stop acting like the world revolves around you. I’m making fun of you, not crying over how tired you look. I realise you aren’t a kid that needs taking care of, so stop acting like one. You’re with me, not your nanny.”

Oh. Oh. He’s right. Joker might care for him, in his own weird way, but he’s not going to baby him if he can help it. And Bruce doesn’t really know why he thinks he would. Fuck, this lack of sleep is getting to him. Or maybe it’s the toxin, still making its way out of Bruce's system. “I don’t have a nanny,” he mutters under his breath.

“Then stop acting like it,” Joker says, patting him on the cheek where he hit him. He walks up ahead, Bruce staring at his back like he’s an indecipherable puzzle.

He’ll be happy when he finds Crane and Sionis. It’ll give him something to beat up.

The closer Dick, Tim, and Jason get to the entrance on the outskirts of the East End the happier Dick gets. There’s no thrill to be had below ground, nothing but mud and sludge to step into. He’s sure it must be because of his beginnings in the circus, performing on the trapeze with ease, throwing himself without worrying about what’s there to catch him. He feels uncomfortable whenever he’s not in the air, funnily enough. Or at least, not aboveground.

He’s been carrying this crate the whole time, not letting Tim take his side of the box, though Jason readily hands it over. He hasn’t been much help tonight, might as well do this one thing.

He can almost see the lights of the city when Tim says, “Guys, did you notice Joker’s kinda...different? Around Bruce, I mean.”

Dick had noticed that, the clown was a bit more subdued, not as raring to get into a fight. Even on the rare occasions they did team up Joker was full of commentary and snark. At least, when he was around to witness the occasions.

“Maybe he’s getting tired of being a homicidal maniac and he’s chilling out?” Dick suggests, though he doesn’t believe that himself.

Jason shakes his head. “Are you crazy? The monster thrives off hurting people, no way he’s mellowing out. He’s faking it.”

“Maybe…” Tim’s voice drops off. The sound of wind whistling through the tunnels replaces the conversation, the sound of water nearby. They’re nearly at the shoreline the sewer lets out of, the dark sky a welcome sight. Dick clicks at his comm.

“Barbara?”

The reply is almost instantaneous. “Dick? Are you alright? What happened? Is the Bruce there? Are Jason and Tim there? Are they okay--”

“Barb, they’re fine. I’m safe.” The corner of his mouth tilts up as he waits for Barbara’s reply.

“Good. What happened? Were you in the sewers?”

“Yeah. There must’ve been a jamming system too. We were in a bit of trouble, Bruce is back in the sewers to take out Scarecrow and maybe Sionis.”

Barbara takes a few seconds to answer back. “You’re not with him?”

“No. I’m with Tim and Jason. By the way, can you have Alfred send over something to pick up a crate we have? It’s kind of heavy.”

“Yeah. You’re coming to back to the apartment, right?”

“As soon as Bruce comes back, yes.”

Barbara hums. “Bruce didn’t go back in alone, did he?”

Dick glances at Tim and Jason, neither obviously listening in but both focused on the conversation. “...No? I mean, he’s with Joker.” Boy is his hand getting tired, carrying the crate with one hand and he keeps one on the comm. Barbara doesn’t answer, silence coming through the device. At the end of the tunnel they set the crate down, Dick shaking his hand out to get the feeling back in. “Barbara?”

“Sorry, I’m just thinking. Why did he take Joker instead of one of you?”

Dick honestly doesn’t have an answer to that. Barbara seems to sense his uncertainty.

“I’ll be right back, I’ll tell Alfred you’re all alright and to send a vehicle.”

“Thanks, Babs.”

There’s audible relief in Dick’s voice, to which the woman replies, “You owe me, Grayson.”

He knows it, and he plans on replaying in full. He can’t help but ask, “Were you worried about me?”

“...” He knows Barbara is doing that pout only she can pull off, a small one that makes you feel like you fucked up and should do anything you can to fix it. Funny he can get that specific about it. “Just come back soon, alright?”

“You know I will.” He ends the call, knowing any longer and he’ll say three words into that phone that will spiral him into a mess of excuses. There’s too much going on for a snowball into a massive confession. It’s just one he’s not sure Barbara wants to hear. He looks up to see Tim smirking in his general direction, not quite meeting his eyes.

“I’m surprised you didn’t confess to her right then and there.”

Dick lifts a shoulder, looking up at the stars. “There’s too much stuff going on. And besides, she’s over me.”

“Obviously,” Jason drawls, resting on the crate. “You should’ve heard her when she called me. ‘I need you to go with Tim, you need to find Dick and Bruce, it’s serious, he’s been gone for twenty minutes and I can’t find him, Bruce went after and I’m worried sick--’” Dick frowns at him and he winks.

“Give her more credit, she didn’t sound like that, and your conversation was a lot shorter, she said something like, ‘Dick’s gotten himself captured like the idiot he is and Tim shouldn’t go alone to rescue him’,” Tim says through a snicker. Dick glares at him, and the younger man raises his hands to placate him, “But he’s right. She still cares about you. I’m sure you’ll be back together again in no time.”

Dick runs a hand through his hair. “You guys don’t know anything.”

#batjokes #wtfit #batman #joker #dc comics #my writing #as always comments appreciated :)#upload to ao3 later

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