mid-canon, you're the next victim part 1

not once in a million years did you think this day would come, that was, until the past week. you'd been paranoid ever since people started going missing. there was a pattern, they were all boys, and they were all in their teens. seeing as you fit the criteria, you had some sleepless nights in your room, afraid that you'd be next. it would either be you or someone you were friends with in your classes, and you feared getting a phone call from the police, telling you that you'd lost someone. you were especially terrified for someone in particular, your friend robin. he was strong, he had lots of skill in fighting, but that didn't stop you from being worried. this kidnapper had taken away vance, of all people, and managed to get away with it. if they could take out vance, there's no doubt they could take out robin.

arriving to school was enough stress, having to walk out in the middle of the neighborhood, where the kidnapper could strike any second. the thought was mortifying. eventually you got to the building, not a single sign of anything suspicious. as you entered the building, you were startled by a voice beside you.

"you look spooked. what's going on?" you turned to see robin, looking at you with curiosity.

"it's..." you looked around, and decided not to bring your imaginative thoughts up, "nothing," you muttered. robin wasn't convinced, but let you be for the meantime.

"we can talk later. bathroom after first?" he asked. you agreed to meet up with him, and split away from him to get to your first class.

you eventually get to the bathroom after first, as you and robin had agreed on. you turned the corner and there he was, leaning on the wall furthest from the door. he was wrapping his hand with some bandages.

"who did you fuck up this time?" you ask. he glanced at you, and it's almost as if he found your question amusing.

"just some idiot, doesn't matter." he answered, continuing to wrap his knuckles, which you could tell were bruised and bloodied.

"what did they do?" you pressed further, and he didn't spare a look.

"talked shit about you." he replied without hesitation. it took you by surprise a little, with how confident his response was.

"oh...robin you know you don't have to do that," you hummed, making your way beside him. he offered you the bandages that were still attached to his hand. you were pretty good with the wraps, and you often helped him with it whenever you caught him like this. you carefully pulled the cloth around his knuckles, but made sure to be firm. he definitely had a high pain tolerance, because he never really showed it when he was in pain.

"he called you a bunch of slurs. i had to put him in his place." he explained, and you nodded.

"still, i can deal with it." there was a pause filled with silence while you fastened the bandage off. you gave the roll back to him, and he ripped the fabric from it with his teeth before letting the roll fall around his wrist. you tidied up the last piece of the bandage, and smiled at your work.

"so what's going on?" robin finally spoke up. staring at him, you had almost completely forgotten that you were upset at all that morning.

"oh, right...i'm just paranoid. you know, with these disappearances going on in town." you stated bluntly. he hummed a bit to acknowledge what you had said.

"yeah, i get that. you'll be fine, i know i can beat up some stupid kidnapper for you anyway." he offered a small, comforting smile. you chuckled a little at his words.

"thanks. it's good to know you've got my back." you watched him as he knelt down to put his roll of bandages back in his bag. "that being said, do you think you could walk with me on the way home after school?" you asked. without hesitation, he responded.

"of course." he hummed as he stood back up. he smiled a little again. "wouldn't want you to get napped after i just said you'll be fine." he chuckled slightly, and you followed suit. "i'll meet you at the gate around 3:30?" he offered.

"yeah, i'll be there." you started your way out of the bathroom, but turned to look at him again. "thank you again, and thank you for...defending me. you know, with the guy you beat up." you tried to hide the heat rising to your cheeks at the image of robin beating the ever loving shit out of someone in your honor. he nodded and smiled.

"no problem."

you arrived to your next destination, the gate, around 3:30. robin was nowhere to be seen, so you waited. by the time a good 15 minutes passed, you wondered if he was coming to the gate at all. regardless, you waited until everyone had left the school. it was 4:30 now, and he still didn't show. you sighed and gave up. you would ask him about it tomorrow, but it was clear he wasn't going to make it. you started your way back home, when you noticed a black van pulling up the street. the van came to a slow stop, and a man came out of the driver's side, rushing to examine a tire at the back of the van. he exclaimed to himself, and you slowly got closer, but not too close.

"it's always this tire huh? crazy, just crazy." he stood up and looked around, spotting you on the sidewalk. "oh hello there! could you help me change this tire? there seems to be a nail in it." he looked puzzled by the revelation that his tire was damaged.

"uh...sure...do you have a spare?" you asked, and he beamed.

"of course! always gotta have one with a van this big!" he said very enthusiastically. you creeped your way closer to the van, and he ushered you to the back. "it's a heavy tire, but i bet a strong boy like you can lift it." he said. his words made you uncomfortable, but you nodded a bit.

"i...guess?" you hummed reluctantly. something about this man was off. the second you turned the corner to step behind the van, you heard someone call your name.

"y/n! what are you—" the voice paused when a hand grabbed your arm, yanking you back. black balloons surrounded you, and you panicked, lashing out and throwing your arms wherever you could to try and find the man. the voice got louder, yelling and crying out. it was robin, you were sure of it.

"robin!" you cried out, before feeling a hand grab your throat. "r-robi-" you choked out, clawing at the arm that the hand belonged to.

"y/n!! get off of him- fucking freak!" you could hear robin yell, but couldn't see him. there was definitely a struggle, the man kicking out and moving away from any strikes robin threw. occasionally, you could catch a glimpse of robin's arm or fist, hurling into the mess of balloons. you felt something sharp puncture your neck, and it stung. you sobbed out in pain, but was soon silenced by the void of sleep.

————————————
author's note: should robin win at saving you now, or should you be taken away? lemme know and i can make a part 2 for this