DAMNED GODS,
chapter five: the tragedy!

          TIM DRAKE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO BECOME ROBIN. Or at least, to guess who Batman really was and how to find him - however, Drake became Robin's next successor on patrol, and Barbara Gordon took the mantle of Batgirl, being something of a companion for the dynamic duo from Batman and Robin. Olivia, meanwhile, continued to be helpful in the Batcave as Oracle - helping the two on all sorts of missions, as the blonde refused to sleep without having attempted a new search for Jason Todd. Six months have passed since the last time she saw him and the mention of his disappearance, six months in which Bruce Wayne had found a replacement for Robin and now Tim Drake was in his place - something that really annoyed Olivia Wayne.

          "How dare you...?" Her voice cut off and the young woman felt a sob emanate from her throat, wanting to break her voice. "How dare you replace him?"

          Bruce was silent that night, listening to every word his protégé mentioned and criticized for his behavior. Olivia knew Bruce very well, knowing that he wouldn't be able to replace Jason that quickly - unless she was terribly wrong. Olivia focused her green eyes on Bruce's blue ones and waited for an answer, an answer that she was afraid to hear with all the sincerity in the world. But she needed to know.

          "I'm not replacing him, Liv," Bruce replied, somehow, feeling that this wouldn't be enough for the blonde girl. "Tim is a good detective, he will help us find Jason."

          "And did you dress him up as a Robin?"

          "There was no choice."

          Olivia, despite her anger and rage at Batman's worst enemy, replied, "Yes, there's always a choice."

          Something darkened in Bruce, something that Olivia couldn't quite decipher but frankly feared doing it, something that only the two of them could understand and that Olivia was able to drop that bomb. A bomb that Batman and Bruce Wayne would stop before it exploded. "No."

          "Bruce..."

          "I won't make the same mistake twice, Liv," added the millionaire, looking at her seriously. "And I want you to abide by this order until the day I die: you will not be Robin."

          "Let me find him!" She implored and felt warm tears wet her cheeks. Olivia walked up to Bruce hit his chest. "We can't let him die. Please..."

          "Olivia, I will be firm in my decision," Wayne snapped in a shrill voice and took the blonde's wrists. "I don't want to lose you too. I'm sorry."

          Olivia Winifred Wayne's lips were sealed, as if sewn with needle and thread, and she allowed herself to cry silently as Bruce Wayne wrapped her in his arms, resting his chin on the blonde's head. Not having Jason with them was really difficult, and not only because a revolting soul was missing from the house, but that this place lacked the violence and at the same time the calm that emanated from Todd. It looked so strange, so unusual and unknown, leaving a bitter taste in everyone's mouth and uncertainty in their heads - that no one knew what was going to happen.

          There was hope. Olivia could feel it and that didn't stop her from continuing to help. Atlas joined them weeks after Jason's first month of disappearance, being Olivia's colleague and assistant. Tim was the first help that came after the first misfortune, becoming the second Robin, Barbara Gordon adopted Batgirl's alter-ego and dedicated her search to Jason, helping Batman and being one more ally for Robin - another lie for trick Commissioner Jim Gordon. But six months had passed and Jason Todd remained a ghost floating in the void of oblivion.

          Then another tragedy happened.

          Imagine something horrifying: something that would really make you fear for your own life - that fill your soul with horror and despair, something utterly scary that manages to shake your bones and make them scream with all their vocal cords until they break. Imagine something that scared you a lot and that your subconscious block it permanently: that, for Olivia Wayne, was impossible.

          And, for Barbara Gordon, she also came to feel the same.

          Olivia categorized that day as the most desperate day of her life. She remembered receiving a gunshot wound to her leg, nothing superficial or serious, but she was afraid of Barbara Gordon as soon as she lifted her off the ground. Ironic, isn't it? The simple fact of having it all, being happy with it and then having someone take it from your fingers - that was something that destiny played very well and nobody would dare to play against it. This was a test or probably a punishment, but why? The blonde didn't understand the fate and how fortune or consequence fell on people, but she felt anger hearing those two shots in the air, embedded in Barbara's spine and that laugh...that laugh caused acid tears in her eyes. Real tears, tears of injustice, tears of revenge.

          Olivia, for a simple moment, understood Jason Peter Todd.

          Barbara sobbed silently, lying on the cold floor of her room, while Olivia took a deep breath through her nose and pulled out her bracelet, leaving a signal for Bruce or Alfred - anyone who is available in the Batcave. The girl knew that there was no going back in time and that the same time was running out for the redhead if she didn't get her out of there. The Joker took photos of the moment and left, leaving the two young women lying on the ground. Olivia crawled and grabbed Barbara, who looked at her before letting out a howl of pain.

          "Easy, Babs..." Olivia murmured, trying to calm her down. "Help is on the way, I promise."

          "Liv..." Gordon's voice broke in a stifled sob. "I...I can't-I can't move."

          "What...?"

          "Liv, I don't feel my legs," she declared in a whisper, and the girl Wayne's heart broke into thousands of pieces.

          The blonde looked at the open door and growled as she stood up, Barbara was confused and scared enough to ask but her friend picked her up and headed for the door. She wouldn't allow one more victim, she refused to let the Joker have one more victim. The young woman crawled heavily alongside Barbara down the hall and the stab of pain from her left leg grew larger and larger. Olivia took a deep breath and went downstairs, being greeted by Atlas - who, seeing the open door, entered without hesitation - and they both helped Barbara to get her into the car.

          They got to the hospital on time but luck wasn't on their side this time. Olivia ended up with a bandage on her leg, being discharged almost at nightfall - but Barbara didn't suffer the same fate. Jim Gordon, Olivia Wayne, Batman and Robin witnessed the final news given by the doctors who treated the redhead urgently: Barbara Gordon had lost the sensation of her legs, confining her in a wheelchair forever. Olivia left the room and Batman silently ordered Robin to go after her. Tim Drake didn't know his new stepsister completely, but he knew where she would be right now: a remote place with fresh air, being lit up at night.

          The roof, he found her there.

          Olivia was sitting on the edge, admiring how the night lights illuminated Gotham and her gaze dropped to her hands. Tim approached slowly, setting his black cane aside as he took a seat next to her. Their relationship at first was somewhat tense, since she didn't accept that Tim was the next to take the place of the missing Robin - but with that six months elapsed, Olivia realized that Tim wanted to help her and this was demonstrated by his actions . Tim took the blonde's hand and pressed it against his.

          Olivia sighed "It's my fault, I should have been faster."

          "Don't you dare say that," Tim growled and squeezed the young woman's hand tighter. "You did what you could, Liv, that's enough."

          "Tim, my best friend just lost her legs," the blond-haired young woman wailed, stifling a sob before looking at Drake. "Thanks to the fact that a murderous clown broke into his house and we weren't aware of it."

          "There are times when you can't stop the inevitable," Tim replied and looked straight ahead, before removing his mask. "And even if you play your cards well, fate always plays against. It's something you can't beat and you know it."

          "Darkness follows us everywhere."

          "In that, mate, I agree with you," Tim said, smiling sadly. "Babs may have lost her legs, but she didn't lose her life, and that's something I'll treasure forever."

          Olivia looked at him with amusement. "I knew it!"

          "Huh?"

          "Come on, Romeo, you can't hide from me," the blonde pointed at him with her index finger. "I know you and Babs are up to something. Are you officially dating?"

          Tim rolled his eyes before putting on the mask again. "You are unbelievable, Liv."

          Olivia smiled and hugged Tim, which surprised him, making it clear that the two didn't have a good relationship at first - but the vigilante also hugged her, giving her hope. Batman joined them later, squeezing Olivia's hand tightly - and she knew her mentor was upset, not only because of Barbara's incident, but that she, too, might have suffered the same fate. Bruce Wayne had decided one thing: Olivia would stay away from this world and he would take care of it.

          However, the third tragedy erupted four months later.

          Bruce Wayne was trapped in Arkham City and sadly Olivia too. Tim was a long way from there and protected Gotham City along with Oracle and Phantom - Atlas Eisley's new alter-ego. Dick was unable to reach out to help but Olivia and Bruce managed to defend themselves as best they could. The blonde girl didn't take an alter-ego but Batman made sure to keep her true identity hidden thanks to a mask and a special suit for her in emergencies. Arkham City was the final card that the Joker and Hugo Strange played with them, leaving sequels of the Joker's infected blood on Bruce and Olivia - plus Thalia al Ghul saving them both, dying from a single bullet to protect Bruce.

          But that was not the only thing that happened at that miraculous moment.

          And that was not a tragedy: it was the end of a cycle.

          The Joker had died from his illness.

          The Joker ceased to exist.

          After those events, Batman and Olivia, after years of fighting, took the lifeless body of the Joker to a police car, being the gaze of the public and the police forces, including Commissioner Gordon, leaving the villain lifeless and closing a circle of tragedies. Olivia and Bruce witnessed the moment when Jim Gordon allowed the Joker to enter the furnace, as he pressed the button to start the cremation process and burn that slag. And the Joker left, with no answers or clues as to Robin's whereabouts. It only meant one thing, and Olivia flatly denied it, determined to find the truth for herself.

          A month after the events in Arkham City, Batman and Robin made their way to an abandoned cell wing in Arkham Asylum - as Olivia learned that there had been no investigation. They found one thing: a cassette wrapped in wrapping paper and with a red bow, like the Joker's lips. Batman didn't hesitate to know who he was addressing but his purpose really intrigued him. They both returned almost immediately to Wayne Manor, exiting the Batmobile and heading towards Olivia - who had been monitoring them the entire time. Barbara, Atlas and Alfred were there too. Bruce took off the mask and undid the wrapper, meeting the old cassette.

          "What the hell is that?" Asked Atlas raising an eyebrow. "I thought they were no longer making them."

          "Unfortunately, yes," Barbara declared and looked at Bruce. "It's from him?"

          Bruce just nodded before placing the small artifact for a scanner. A small video opened and everyone observed a face, an extremely familiar face, marked with a "J" on his cheek, leaving a scar that would mark him forever. Olivia winced and stared in terror at the image. She didn't know whether to feel relief or feel deep fear for what she was about to see: Jason Todd being tortured by that enemy he always wanted to hurt.

          His face was lit by dim light and his gaze was shadowed, fallen, without his mask and hopeless. His Robin uniform was stained and gaunt, completely pinned against the Joker's nets. His laughter echoed in the room like a holdover. "Have you got something to tell the nice man, Jason?"

          Robin, who kept his gaze on the ground, said, "My name is Jason Todd."

          "Who do you hate?"

          "Batman."

          Suddenly, the camera zoomed out and focused on his immobilized body. "Excellent! Of course you do." A couple of footsteps were heard and the clown's face showed on camera. "Did you get that, Bats? Kid's not yours any more. He's mine. Mine, mine, mine. To do with as I wish."

          Olivia mentally wished that Jason didn't betray Bruce, least of all because of a white-painted scum. The Joker approached Jason, with a humorous air. "Hey, I never asked. What's the big secret? Who is the big, bad bat? His name. Tell me!"

          Please, don't say it, the blonde pleaded.

          "Of course, sir. It's..."

          BOOM!

          A dull shot rang out from the eardrum of everyone in the room. They all watched as Jason Todd's body fell lifeless to the ground and remained silent. The Joker approached the camera. "Never could stand a tattletale. That's why I like to work alone. No one to spoil the punch line." He grabbed the camera and walked over to Jason's body, then stood in front of him. "You should try it some time. After all, you've seen what happens when you drag your friends into this crazy little game of ours."

          The video was cut instantly.

          And the silence began to fill with Olivia Wayne's heartbroken sobs, Bruce felt guilt gnawing at every nerve in his mere existence and cut Olivia short before she fell flat on her face. They both knelt down and Bruce hugged her tightly, feeling the young woman tremble against him. That had marked the first mistake in Bruce's life, the simple fact of having lost Jason Todd, the simple fact of letting him go: it was the only proof of his error.

          Olivia felt it now, the anger and suffering incarnate in her bones.

          After Arkham City, another tragedy happened.

          A tragedy that ended up breaking Olivia Wayne completely.

END OF ACT ONE!

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