Chapter Text
The Joker caught them individually, strategically over the night, and this required the type of precise planning that only meant it was going to be big. Nightwing was nabbed from Bludhaven before anyone could realize it. Two hours later, Batman, Robin, Red Robin, and Red Hood all fell in quick succession.
Jason woke strapped down, held with thick metal clamps cutting circulation from his wrist, ankle, thy, and bicep. The room around him was some kind of concrete; the only access point was a metal door. The wall In front of him was covered in various TV screens and computer monitors, strung up haphazardly. The wires ran to a small black box next to an old CCTV camera held on the wall with duct tape.
Jason didn’t make it past the initial realization and just started taking stock of the situation when the screens lit up. Each screen held the grainy but undeniable image of his brothers and father figure, all in a similar-looking room to his. The final screen, in the middle and the only one in color, was the Joker himself.
The man smiled wide for the camera, his lips painted a vivid shade of red, his face bright white and newly powdered. His hair was slicked back and a brighter shade of green than the last time any of them had seen him. His normal pinstripe suit was replaced with a bright purple jacket over a bright orange shirt, a matching teal tie, and a waistcoat. A bright pink flower was in his breast pocket. The outfit was complete with a pair of purple and teal plaid slacks.
“Bats and birds,” the man started to tip, clearly moving for a dramatic bow. He brought a hand to his head only to stop when he reached hair. His face darkened instantly, and he whirled around to shout off-screen, “What imbecile has my hat?” he screamed.
A burly henchman came running from off-camera seconds later with a dark purple fedora, “See, was that so hard?” the Joker continued, ducking for the man to put the said hat on his head. The henchman took the honor seriously, placing the hat with a serious face, carefully as if placing a crown on the head of a king. The Bat watched as Joker used the movement to reach his jacket and pull a gun from within. He pressed it to the man’s forehead, “Are you trying to make me look a fool?” he hissed. There was a moment of silence, the other man terrified, and the Joker giving nothing away.
The moment was broken – and the man’s life was probably saved – by the entrance of another henchman. He came scampering from off-camera, clearly not realizing what he had interrupted. He looked excited, a stick clutched in his hands. “Boss, I found your cane.”
The Joker glanced away from the now cowering man at his feet, eyeing the offered cane. “See people, “ Joker snatched it from the outstretched hands, “take the initiative.” In a flash, he held the base of the cane to the chin of the second thug, His gun still in his other hand, “Next time, remember before I go on stage,” A rang shot out as Joker pulled the trigger, in a flash of smoke a flag popped out of the gun, “bang” across it in all caps.
The Joker let out a high-pitched laugh. The henchman he was threatening lay on the floor unharmed, laughing historically along with him. “This is a classic,” Joker told the room at large, smiling at the weapon in his hand, “One of my old favorites because the second shot-“ He spun around, aiming the henchman who delivered his hat. He shot again, the flag embedding into the man’s shoulder. “Darn,” Joker glared at the gun as the injured man collapsed to the ground, clutching at the metal rod now protruding from his chest. "It’s pulling to the right,” he tossed the gun carelessly off-screen. “Someone get him off my stage, get me a new gun, and reset to one; we have –“ He stopped, facing the camera head-on, “Have we been alive this whole time?”
There was muffled yelling in the background, and the camera shook, “Leave it on, you idiot,” Joker sighed, taking a few long steps closer, “Good help is so hard to find,” he started conversationally. “I’m sure you know what I mean, Bats. You’ve been through your fair share of help yourself,” his smirk turned dark, gaze drifting up to look at what Jason presumed to be the madman's own set of monitors. “Don’t bother talking; you’ve all been muted.”
Jason glanced at the other screens in time to see Bruce’s mouth snap shut.
“That leads me to why I brought you all here,” Joker continued. Over his shoulder, the injured man was dragged off-screen, something previously stuffed into his mouth to muffle the screaming. “I’m bored, Bats; I can’t find the joy in this anymore.” he slumped heavily against his cane, “Not like the old days when it was just you, me, Harley, and that first little bird. We had a good rhythm back then.” Joker sighed wishfully.
“Don’t you miss your Uncle J?” he asked, clearly talking to Dick directly, “we used to have so much fun. But then you left, and suddenly, there was a new Robin.” His whole body tensed, and Jason could feel the man’s burning gaze. “No warning, you didn’t verify with me or any of the others about the recasting. He didn’t even know his lines, Bats!” Joker raved. “So, I did something about it.” Joker's smirk sent a chill through Jason, his vision bleeding green and his nose filling with the smell of copper and smoke. “But it didn’t work,” the man continued, “and a third one showed up.” The man shook his head slowly, suddenly looking very serious.
“I’m tired of waiting, baby bird.” His attention drifted back to Dick. “I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands.” The Joker signaled to someone behind his camera, and the walls of Dick’s room slowly started to rise in time with the wall behind the Joker himself.
“You see, I’ve pulled a few strings, called In a few favors, twisted some arms, cracked some skulls, and created this-“ the man paused dramatically, the camera pulling out to reveal a towering, multileveled, metal machine surrounding Dicks chair, two large tesla coils aimed directly above him. Two people in lab coats moved forward, followed by a third with a rolling table covered with various instruments.
Jason struggled at his bindings as he watched the three circle his brother. One was taking notes, the others injecting him with various liquids, taking measurements, and attaching wires.
“Let’s just say the big bird isn’t going to be so big anymore,” the Joker cackled, ignoring Dick’s panicked struggle in the background. He pressed the large remote provided by a henchman, starting up the machine. The coils lit up, conducting electricity above Dick’s head. The scientists cleared out in a hurry. “I’d recommend picking him up soon, Bats. It'll be past his bedtime soon.” He laughed again, his silhouette illuminated by the electricity arching down to strike Dick. The locks on the others clicked open, and Dick’s scream echoed for a moment longer before the feed was cut.
Dick woke to a splitting headache, bright lights, and a bright red figure crouching over his body. He struggled to move. He didn’t know what was happening, but something was wrong, and he needed to move. The figure pulled the red from his head - a helmet Dick would later realize - “Shit Dickie-Bird, only you,” the man mumbled. Dick couldn't make out his face; everything was blurry.
Dick reached a hand out, wanting to push this stranger away, only for them to grab both his wrists easily in one hand. He brought the other to his ear, “B, I found him,” the man spoke; he paused for a moment, then snorted, “And here I was going to toss him in the harbor.”
Dick's head hurt, everything hurt. It was all over like his body had been crushed. He needed Batman. This person knew him somehow; he should know Bruce. He tried asking for Batman, but his voice came out slurred, sounding more like “bmmn.”
“Yeah, Batman is coming,” The man confirmed. Even in his confused state, Dick could see the clench of the man’s jaw, so similar to Bruce when he was trying to hide his irritation.
Before Dick could ask, a familiar shadow fell over them. Bruce was by his side, running a hand across his forehead. The strange man jumped back, dropping Dick’s wrists as if burnt. Dick himself didn’t realize the comfort gentle hold brought until it was gone. The two men stared at one another, having a silent conversation that Dick should have been able to follow. But his head started pounding again; an involuntary whimper escaped his lips.
It was enough to draw the other’s attention. Batman tucked a hand under Dick’s knee and around his back, lifting him into a familiar embrace. “I’ll take him to the cave,” Batman stated. “You-”
“Replacement, the Demon Brat, and I will check for clues. They trashed the place pretty good before they cleared out, but you never know.” The other man interrupted, scooping up his discarded helmet from the floor.
“Hood,” Batman growled, clearly a warning of some kind, but Dick didn’t know what. The strange man - Hood- nodded once, jaw clenched again, but turned away.
Batman swept out of the building in an ever-familiar dramatic fashion. The Batmobile was waiting outside. Something was different, but Dick couldn't put his finger on it. He tried to tell Bruce, but the man just shushed him.
“Hush, chum.” He whispered, placing Dick in the car carefully. Dick’s eyes dropped in response. Before the door closed, Dick could swear he saw someone dressed similar to him and another figure standing in the shadows. He slipped into unconsciousness before it could fully register.