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He laughs. It’s much better than screaming, though it annoys his kidnapper more and the cattle prod jabs into his side again. He clenches his teeth.
“That’s enough.” the cattle prod leaves and Jaon pants wishing he still had his helmet on so he could hide his expressions.
As it is, Black Mask walks up and grabs his chin tilting it up so that Jason has to look at him. He wants to jerk his head away but his whole body is shaking so much from the aftershocks that he can only bare his teeth.
“So, you’re the big bad Red Hood who’s been trying to take over my territory? I must admit, I’m a bit impressed. Not everyone has the gall to drop a bunch of heads off for the police.” Black Mask lets Jason’s head fall and turns away. “Though, if you think you could muscle into my territory you’re also quite stupid.”
He motions to the man sanding by Jason, and he barely has a second to tense before the cattle prod is jammed into his side again. His vision is starting to go black before Roman motions for his man to remove the cattle prod.
Jason gasps and his eyes sting, but he’d rather die again than let any tears fall.
Which was looking more and more likely if he couldn’t find a way to escape.
“I admit I was surprised,” Roman starts as he approaches Jason again, this time with a pair of brass knuckles, “Granted, it’s not the first time someone’s tried to challenge me, but then this person,” Roman grits his teeth, “starts being a pain in my side. I’m losing shipments and finding my loyal soldiers dead.” He gives a nod and another shock runs through Jason, he doesn’t have time to feel relief when the goon pulls the prod away because there’s a fist hitting his cheek and he’s tasting blood from where he bit his tongue.
Roman steps forward and yanks his head up by his hair. Jason can’t stop trembling, his muscles randomly seizing from all the shocks.
“And then,” Roman whispers in his ear, “imagine my surprise, I hear that this isn’t just some wannabe crime lord, but the second Robin.”
Jason flinches and Roman chuckles as he backs up, taking the cattle prod from the goon.
“I’m not–” Jason starts but cuts off when the cattle prod is jabbed into his stomach.
He doesn’t realize he’s screamed until after it’s taken away and he sees Roman smirking. He steps forward again, grabbing Jason’s chin from where it had fallen against his chest.
“I am curious as to what brought you back. Everyone says the Joker killed you. Would you care to enlighten me?”
Jason gathers himself as much as he can and spits in Roman’s face.
The man steps back, sighing and taking a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe the spit.
“I thought so, but I wanted to give you a chance to cooperate. But I guess this was inevitable.” Faster than Jason can see through his blurry vision Roman steps forward and lands several punches to his face, his stomach, his chest, his ribs, before jabbing the cattle prod into his aching ribs.
Jason screams again.
Roman doesn’t ease up and Jason loses track of how many hits he takes before Roman is stepping back, hardly even out of breath. “I have to ask, why you’re here instead of with daddy Bats? Maybe I should call him, let him know what his Robin’s been up to.”
“Nngg…” Jason coughs and leans over to spit blood onto the floor. He can’t let Batman see him. Not like this. Not now. He has a plan. A plan which is looking more and more likely to fail. He always had been the failed Robin.
“Or maybe,” Roman continues, “I should tell the Joker and let him finish the job he started.”
Jazon freezes. No. No no no no no. He can’t… That was… His breathing picks up and if he hadn’t been shaking so much he would have probably been begging.
Standing above him, Roman chuckles.
“Don’t like that idea? Well then,” he steps forward, wrapping his hand around Jason’s throat and squeezing, “maybe I’ll just finish the job myself.”
Jason’s vision has gone nearly black when another goon runs into the room.
“Boss!”
Roman snarls, hand tightening around Jason’s throat before he lets go and steps back.
“What is it?” he growls.
The goon tenses but continues, “The Bat’s here.”
Roman goes still, then smirks. “I guess the Bat decided to make the decision for us.”
Jason’s breathing starts to pick up again. No. He can’t see Batman. Can’t see Bruce. Not right now.
His dad
Batman will hate him.
“I wish I could see how the Bat reacts to his murderous Robin. Will he throw you in Arkham with all the rest of the crazies? Maybe he’ll even put you next to your friend the Joker. But I suppose I’ll just have to imagine it.” Roman jabs the cattle prod under Jason’s chin and turns it on.
His jaw clenches and his body shakes uncontrollably. When Roman finally pulls away, Jason collapses in his restraints, his vision starting to dim and his breathing becoming difficult.
He can barely make out Roman walking away, turning back just as he’s about to leave to call out, “See you next time little Robin.”
Just as Jason’s vision goes dark he sees a shadow burst into the room.