Death and the Family
Soundtrack: Bleeding Out, by Imagine Dragons
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Who's your favorite resurrected Robin?" The Joker chimed into the camera, pointing the gun back at Jason and Damian.
Jason redoubled his efforts at picking the lock.
Almost there.
Damain looked over at him, Jason was pretty sure that that was the first time he had seen fear on the Robin's face.
He was just a kid, he didn't want to die. Jason knew the feeling.
Jason gave him a looked of reassurance and then glanced around for what he could use as a weapon when he got out. The crowbar most likely. He intended to make good on his promise to shove it up the Joker's ass.
"Make your decision, Bats. Only one of them is making it out alive." The Joker prompted.
Jason thought he saw Bruce's emotionless shell crack just a little. He hated how his pessimistic side couldn't help but wondered if it was in fear that Damain might die again. Would Bruce care if he died again? Was he going to choose?
Batman remained silent.
"Alright, if you won't then I'll have to decide for you." The Joker spoke after a moment.
"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe." The clown shifted the gun between the two of them.
Jason quickly worked his makeshift lock-pick. Just a few more seconds. Damain was also working furiously to free himself.
"Catch a Robin by the toe." He sang, moving the gun back and forth with every word.
Bruce was now searching with the others. He was moving through the stadium as fast as he could, and looking for any doors that might lead to them.
Truth be told, Jason wasn't even sure they were actually at the stadium.
"It he hollers don't let him go."
Even though the three vigilantes were spread out, Jason could see all of them on the 4 split screens.
"Eeny, meeny, miny," The Joker drawled out.
With a silent click the lock opened, and Jason was free.
"Moe." The gun's aim landed on Damian.
The Joker lit up in excitement, then he pulled the trigger.
Jason didn't even have to think about what happened next, he just did it. He sprang from his chair and threw himself into the path of the bullet. It was mostly instinct, and certainly not a foreign or uncommon feat for Jason.
The thought briefly crossed his mind that he was in civilian clothing, and wasn't wearing any Kevlar. However, it all happened too fast for him to have time to care.
He felt the bullet tare into his abdomen, fiery pain exploded through him. Jason landed hard on the floor, clutching his side. Blood was spilling from the wound and already beginning to pool around him.
For a moment the world was dull and distant, his ears rang from the boom of the gun. Through the haze and the pain, he could've sworn he heard Damian scream "Jason!"
The Joker looked on in shock for a moment before bursting into haughty and hysterical laughter. From where Jason lay, he had a good view of the screen in the corner, he could see all of them. Dick had dropped to his knees, a dazed look of shock on his masked features.
Tim, he had this shattered look on his face, and he was mouthing the words "No, no, no, no, no," over and over again. Then he started pacing, and looking around, eyes taking in every possible place the Joker could have them. He was frantically yelling into his com, probably to Oracle.
Tim was never one for inaction, or to give up on you. Jason was thankful to have had that kid as a friend...brother?
Batman just stood motionless and still, eyes fixed on the screen. There was fear, and sadness. It looked like something in him had broken. Jason knew immediately that he wasn't looking at Batman anymore, he was looking at Bruce.
All the while the Joker just kept laughing, while Damian yelled angrily.
"This turned out better then I could've hoped for." The clown gasped, doubled over.
The Joker sighed, catching his breath. "Looks like the decision was made for both of us. Your Angry Bird was always a little too noble for his own good."
"Thanks for staying for my little show, but I'm afraid it's time to drop the curtain." The psychopath took a bow.
"Oh, and bats," The Joker leaned closer to the camera. "I'll be seeing you again very soon." He spoke menacingly.
Then he turned the camera off, as well as the screen in the corner.
Jason's head spun and his hands were now slick with blood. Damian was screaming threats and insults at the Joker, not all of them in English.
Finally, the current Robin managed to get his lock open. Just as he was about to lunge at the Joker, the clown whipped out a syringe from his jacket and jabbed it into Damian's neck. He went limp almost immediately.
The Joker put the gun down next to the crowbar and walked over to Damian. He hoisted him out of the chair and began to drag him towards the door, giggling to himself.
"What the hell are you doing with him!" Jason demanded, at that moment he became aware he could taste blood in his mouth.
"Oh relax, would you. I'm a clown of my word. " He paused. "Well, most of the time. But I am today, only one of you die for now." He replied.
The Joker opened the door, with Damian in tow. He dragged the boy out, and kicked him down what looked like a small flight of stairs.
Then Joker slammed the door shut, and locked it. Now Jason was alone with the psycho.
Even though that thought made Jason extremely edgy, he realized it didn't really matter. He was going to be dead soon anyway.
Where the bullet had hit...it wasn't immediately fatal, but it wasn't a good prognosis either. He was bleeding profusely, his limbs already feeling weak, and his eyelids were getting heavier by the second. Jason managed to get himself to a semi-sitting position against the nearby wall, and attempted to staunch the flow.
The Joker started to slowly walk towards him.
"I suppose I should thank you for helping me make this one of my greatest opening acts ever." The Joker spoke, with a sigh.
"What are you yapping about now?" Jason muttered, gritting his teeth.
"Oh, all of this, this was just step one. The party's just getting started!" The clown exclaimed.
"You see, it's the Bat, he's so...so boring and predictable these days. I don't do boring. It's all of his other little Birds and Bats, you're all holding him back, back from his true potential." The Joker sounded almost as if he was whining.
"I tried to get rid of you all once, but I made the mistake of gathering you together. I have something much better in mind this time around." The clown informed, crouching down in front of Jason.
Jason was getting weaker and sleepier by the second, but he managed a glare.
"I'm gonna knock his birdies out of the sky one by one." He whispered, with a sickeningly wide smile.
Joker contemplated for a moment. "I think I'll start with the skinny one, what's his name, Red Robin? Then the original Boy Blunder will be the next to go." He paused for a moment more. "I think I'll save the small one for last, he reminds me a little of you."
Jason's anger was growing with every word.
"Don't worry, I'll find a way to fit the Batgirls in somewhere as well. It's almost too bad you won't be around to watch it all unfold, it's going to be quite something to see." The Joker added.
Jason clenched his fists and lunged forward. However, his movements were slow and clumsy because of the blood loss, the Joker easily dodged his attack. Jason landed on the floor, flat on his face. The clown found that quite amusing.
A fresh wave of pain washed over him and he coughed, spurting more blood all over the floor. Jason felt like he didn't have the strength to move, he was also dangerously close to losing consciousness.
He could feel his internal functions beginning to shut down, he knew the feeling all to well. He was dying.
"Do us both a favor and stay down this time, punch-line." The Joker bent down, speaking close to Jason's ear.
With that, the clown got up and headed towards the door.
Jason laid there, his sore face against cool, hard floor. He was tired, so very tired. He wanted nothing more than to just stay there. To let go, and wait for the inevitable.
He knew he couldn't, he wouldn't, at least not yet. Jason's gut was telling him the Joker was serious about killing them this time. He couldn't let him get away, this might be his last chance to finally end this. His last chance to do what he's been trying to do since he got back.
He felt a renewed burst of determination course through him. Jason firmly planted his hands on the floor, despite the blood. He took a breath and steeled himself.
Then with a grunt and an enormous amount of willpower, he shoved himself up off the ground and got to his feet. Jason was shaky at first, but quickly found his balance.
He snatched the gun off the table and pointed it right at the Joker.
The Clown Prince of Crime was almost to the door when he stopped mid-stride, slowly turning around.
"You really don't know when to give it up, do you?" The Joker had a look of both annoyance and disbelief.
"What can I say, one of my quirks." Jason snarked.
"If your gonna do it at least wait for Bats to show up, it's more fun that way." Joker chimed.
"You know, Batman always told me that one of the reasons he doesn't end your miserable life is because if he did, you'd win." Jason started "He said it was because you wanted to die." He continued, summoning what little strength he had left to keep himself upright.
"I don't think that's it at all, I think you want him to be the one that ghosts you. Because if he did, it would make him a killer." Jason explained.
"Here's the thing, I'm already a killer." The Red Hood's voice was ice cold.
For once in his life, the Joker remained quiet.
"Now, that being said, let me ask you one last question." Jason adjusted his aim.
"If my death was supposed to be your greatest joke, how's it gonna feel when the punch-line puts a bullet through your skull?" Jason said, in a low threatening tone.
The Jokers smile dropped just a little and Jason knew he had won. The clown had never been happy that Jason had returned, it had ruined his fun.
At the end of the day, that was really the only way to beat him.
"Well how about that, I wiped another smile off the Joker's face."
Then anger flared in the clowns eyes, he lunged towards the gun and attempted to grab it.
Jason pulled the trigger, the deafening boom once again filled his ears.
Joker's blood and brain matter splattered onto the wall behind him. He remained upright for a moment before his body fell to the ground with a dull thud.
For a moment Jason stood frozen. Some hellish, nightmare ridden part of his mind half expected the Joker to get back up and start cackling again.
He didn't, he laid there still and dead, blood slowly oozing from the bullet hole in his forehead.
Jason had lost count of how many times he'd imagined this moment. How many times he'd played it out in his mind. What he'd do, what he'd say.
He never imagine it would be like this, or that he would kill him for the reason he had.
Jason didn't kill him because of his own personal vendetta, he had killed him to protect them. He had killed him to protect his...his family. That was the thing about the Joker, he was never gonna stop. Never stop trying hurt them, never stop trying to kill them.
Joker would never have killed Batman, but everyone else was fair game. If someone didn't kill him, everyone close to Bruce and even Gotham itself, would forever be caught in the crossfire.
Someone should've ended the clown a long time ago. In the end, Jason had simply done what he always had, what others wouldn't.
He did what no one else was willing to do.
Now it was over, and as Jason looked down at the blood trickling from the gunshot wound, he realized in more ways than one.
Another wave of exhaustion hit him and the gun slipped from his grasp, hitting the floor with a metallic clatter. Then his knees gave out, and he dropped to the floor, landing on his back.
Jason laid there and stared up at the dull gray ceiling, covered in his own blood. The only sound that filled the room were his shallow breaths.
This was it for him, and he knew it. He was out of second chances and borrowed time. Briefly he wondered if this was how it was always supposed to end. If no matter what, this had been his fate since the moment he put on that Robin suit.
Jason breaths slowed and as his eyes began to get heavier, he let them slip closed. He could feel himself begin to lose consciousness. He thought maybe he heard the faint sound of voices, but he was now beyond the point of caring.
They say your life flashes before your eyes right before you die. He can't remember, but Jason thinks it might've the first time. This time he didn't see anything, rather he heard it.
Clear as a bell, he heard a simple set of sentences.
Check me out. I'm Robin, the boy wonder!
Jason was exhausted, and so very cold.
Come on old man, we've got bad guys that need chasing. The voice echoed through Jason's mind.
Jason exhaled slowly and let the darkness blanket him. Maybe it was time for him to let go.
This is the best day of my life.
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