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It was a fairly normal day for the Waynes. Almost calm even. Which should have been an indicator that something was really wrong.
Most of the family was in the Batcave, readying themselves for patrol. Bruce was at the Batcomputer, putting together the assignments for tonight’s pairs. Dick and Damian were on the mats, stretching after they changed into their suits. Jason, joining the family for a rare partner patrol, was at his work bench putting his gun back together.
Cass was sitting back against a far wall, watching. She was supposed to be paired with Tim tonight, but he hadn’t arrived yet. While that might not have been cause for alarm on a normal day, these past few weeks haven't exactly been normal.
At every post patrol brief, she’s seen a tension in Bruce and Dick’s shoulders every time they looked at Tim. The boy himself pointedly refused to look their way. Why, Cass did not know. All she did know was that despite the cold, stone front her little brother put up, she saw the hurt carved into the very iris of his icy blue eyes. Tim couldn’t run from the hurt, and it was clear her father and eldest brother had done something to cause it.
Whatever had happened seemed to have boiled over three nights ago. Tim, Dick, and Bruce had been having a conversation, but it quickly dissolved into a heated argument. The two were trying to tell Tim what to do or something like that. Cass was trying not to listen.
It culminated in Tim stalking towards his bike, fuming as he tore out of the batcave. That was three days ago. No one had heard from him since. Everyone knew that if Timothy Drake didn’t want to be found, no one but Barbara could find him. Even then, it would mostly likely take a week for her to break through all his defenses.
Needless to say, no one was particularly worried for the boy. He’d done this before, disappeared for two or three days, only to show up and prove whoever he’d argued with wrong with airtight evidence.
It was still annoying and slightly worrying for Cass. When Tim went on these no-show days, he’d always texted her to let her know he was alright and sent her evidence on all the cases she was working as an apology for missing joint patrol. It was 15 minutes till the bats were supposed to hit the ground running and all she had gotten was radio silence.
Little Brother needs to text me. He hasn’t even sent his normal apology evidence. Cass squinted her eyes as she thought. Something must be wrong. Even when Tim is mad at the Others, he always makes sure I know he’s safe.
She rose to her feet, resolving to go to Bruce to let him know of her concern. Just before she reached the stairs that led to the landing that held her father and the computer, it dinged.
When neither Oracle nor Red Robin’s logo took over the screen, Cass froze. Instead, it was just a stretched out smile with lips messily painted a shiny cherry red. It was only after the smile moved that she realized it wasn’t just a pop up. It was a video.
Bruce was stock still in his chair as he stared up at the display, speechless. The man that prided himself on giving absolutely nothing up, Cass could plainly read the fear and rage in his stance. Her brothers noticed what was on the screens of all the monitors of the batcomputer.
Shouts of surprise and rage were silenced by Bruce as they all huddled up to watch. Finally, the video started speaking. Well. He started talking.
“Hello Batsy!” Joker backed away from the camera, his smile never leaving as he remained in the center of the frame. He was somewhere dimly lit, with grimy floors and walls. An abandoned warehouse maybe? Behind her, Cass heard Jason draw in a shaky breath. “I hope you and your brood are having such a WONDERful day!”
Bruce was typing rapidly, muttering under his breath as his hands flew across the keyboard. Not a moment later did Oracle pop up in the top corner, a pencil balanced between her nose and top lip. “What’s up Bruce?”
“Oracle, we have a situation,” Both the tone and the use of Barbara’s codename knocked her into high gear, the pencil falling with a clatter to her desk. “We’ve got a video from the Joker sent to the Batcomputer. I need you to trace the origins of the video as fast as you can.”
“On it.” The silly Babs was gone, all that remained was Oracle as her hands flew across the keys, dancing like Cass danced across the ballet stage.
After a pause, the Joker’s shrill voice started again. “Wondering why I’ve made a house call today? The anticipation must be absolutely killing you.”
Jason’s fist clenched audibly and Cass could practically feel the way Dick was analyzing the video in front of him, searching for any clues as to what the Joker was planning. Damian was shuffling from foot to foot, obviously annoyed at the interruption in the day’s schedule.
“Well, since you’re being so patient, I guess I’ll just cut to the chase! But wait, aren’t you missing a bird?” The ever constant laughter stopped, Joker only smiled eerily and stared directly into the camera.
Bruce’s hands stuttered on the keyboard, coming to an abrupt halt as his eyes shut up. Jason and Dick were cursing under their breaths. Even Damian had stopped his muttered complaints, his eyes going wide as he processed what the Joker could mean.
How could he know that Little Brother isn’t here? Cass felt her blood run cold. She squinted, trying to get a better look at the screen. In Joker’s posture, she could see the anticipation. A bolt of sharp, jagged fear shot through her skull as she saw glee and satisfaction in him.
“Oracle, track Little Brother’s emergency beacon.” Cass put a hand on Bruce’s shoulder as she leaned into frame. The touch seemed to jumpstart her father, his hands going back to flying across on the keyboard.
“On it,” She said in a steely voice. Cass knew anytime her mentor encountered the man that had paralyzed her, gone was the Barbara they all knew. Only Oracle was left, a vengeance searing her veins as she hunted him like prey.
Laughter started again, echoing off the walls of the back cave. The Joker continued on, not aware of the turmoil roiling through the Bats. “Oh right! He is here! Everybody, I’d like you to meet a very special guest of mine! Make sure to be nice, he’s a little green around the gills today.”
Joker stepped to the side to reveal- No.
Tied to a metal chair was Red Robin. Even with his head bowed, his mop of black hair blocking his face from view, Cass could spot Tim anywhere. Blood dripped from somewhere and exhaustion sewn into the lines of his very bones. Little Brother.
Beside her, she heard the moment her brothers recognized Tim on the screen. Dick brought a hand to his mouth, his other hand going to grip Damian’s shoulder. The shaky breath Cass had heard Jason take turned into two, then three.
“Jason, take Damian up to the manor,” Bruce called over his shoulder. Before either could even try to protest, Bruce sent a pointed look to his sons. “Go now , or I’ll get your sister to bring you both up.”
With a grumble that almost sounded relieved, Jason grabbed a dumb struck Damian and herded him up the stairs to the exit of the batcave.
The video didn’t stop, lending no mercy to the Bats. “Come now Pest, say Hello to the Batman and his pesky little birds!” Tim made an almost inaudible groan, not even attempting to lift his head. Joker’s smile morphed into a frown. “Now, now. You know what happens when you don’t listen.”
A crack sounded as Joker slammed a tire iron into Tim’s side, blood flying from his mouth as he coughed. Cass gripped Bruce’s shoulder tighter, rage burning bright in her. Dick sounded like he was gagging, turning to the trash can beside the desk and hurling. “Oracle!”
“Working on it B!” Barbara gritted through clenched teeth.
On screen, Joker gripped Tim’s hair and roughly pulled him up to look at the camera. “Smile for the camera!”
With his face in full view of the lens, Cass could see the damage. Cuts and bruises littered her little brother’s face. His mask was still on, but one eye looked swollen shut.
“Fuck- Fuck you,” Tim managed, but it was weak. Joker laughed again and dropped Tim’s hair, causing the boy’s head to fall forward fast.
“You should really be more careful with your birds Batman! Remember what happened to the last one?” Bruce growled. “Boy, what a FUN day that was! Such a shame I didn’t finish the job. But, second time’s the charm, right?”
Just then, a bing rang out from Oracle’s screen. Cass reluctantly tore her eyes away from her little brother. What she saw made the rage transform into chilling fear. Barbara was pale, eyes unfocused. Cass saw horror etched into the set of her shoulders, anguish in her breathing.
“Barbara, what did you find?” Cass said, her voice unwavering as she could make it.
“This- this video is from yesterday.” The words silenced everything around her. All she heard was the continued laughter from the Joker and the little whimpers coming from Tim, her Little Brother. Not him, not Little Brother, please, not him.
“Can’t have this one coming back now can we? This time, no one will ever find your body, little bird. No one to bring back without a corpse to throw into the green kool aid!” Joker giggled at his own joke. “We had such fun over these past few days haven’t we? Well, sorry not sorry, it’s time to say bye bye Birdy!”
It was like she was having tunnel vision. Cass didn’t hear the near silent begging from her older brother, tears rolling down her cheeks. Nor did she register the cracking of the mouse in her father’s hands. No, Cassandra Wayne was locked in on the crown of her little brother’s head, praying to a god she didn’t believe in.
Please, I’ll do anything. Don’t take him from me. I need him. Memories of nights filled with laughter forced themself into the forefront of her mind as the Joker raised his gun. Tim, holding her as she sobbed silently, talking about everything and nothing when she could barely manage a single audible breath.
There was nothing she could do but watch, silent as a gun rested on her Little Brother’s temple.
“Any last words birdie? Preferably three words or less,” Joker’s sadistic smile spread as Tim shakily lifted his head, struggling to meet the camera’s gaze.
“I love you gu-” A shot rang out. Cass couldn’t tear her eyes away as she saw the life seep from Tim, her baby brother’s eyes. Manic laughter filled the air as she watched Tim slump forward, unmoving. She searched frantically, looking for anything his body would give her. Sadness, pain, anything other than what she was seeing.
“EEEH!” Joker crossed his arms into an X, gun still smoking in his hands. “Went over the word limit!”
Cass heard Dick collapse next to her. She could feel him grip her cape, sobbing, cries of anguish filling the cave and beyond. Her hand dropped from Bruce’s shoulder, Dick’s free hand grasping it as soon as he could. It felt like he was crushing her hand, bones turning to dust in his grip, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.
She could only stare at her Little Brother’s prone form, still strapped to that metal chair. In the seconds she had to take to blink, his image was burned into her mind. She’d never escape it. She didn’t know if she wanted to.
Beside him, Joker holstered his gun. “Your move Batman! Which Bird’s wings should I break next?”