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[the_caped_crusader]

Display Name: Batman
Profile Photo: link
Notes: Private to Cassandra Cain, Jason Todd, Terry McGinnis, Bart Allen, and Kon-El. A day or two after this

Tim hasn't checked in. I want a sitrep from everyone now.

Comments

[robintohood]

Wasn't that long ago we last talked. It must've been before patrol. We live in the same building.

Don't suppose his tracker is any use?

[Jason knows there would be trackers on all the Robin suits]

[the_caped_crusader]

I'm on my way to it's last location. I'll keep you updated.

[robintohood]

[Something doesn't feel right about this]

I'm coming too. Where is it?

[the_caped_crusader]

No. We need to widen the search area, not narrow it. Terry is searching the North end, Bart is checking... around. I need you to look South.

[ he lands, crouched in the dark alleyway. ]

I'm here. Going silent.

[robintohood]

[Reluctantly, Jason starts to jump rooftops and make use of his grappling hook to head south]

Okay. Keep us updated.

[Jason sincerely hopes Bruce is just being paranoid again and it's not a Robin going missing again. This feels too familiar]

[thelastlaugh]

[The last place his tracker pinged is in a building in an industrial district. It's not far from a park, ie a place Tim might have patrolled near to keep an eye out for suspicious activity like kidnappings.]

[The buildings are mostly outdated 1920s warehouses that sit empty when they’re not being squatted in.]

[When he enters the building a scream echoes from another room. It's not an open one. It's the way someone would scream when they're trying to stifle it through a mouth held closed, teeth clamped shut.]

[But it is Tim.]

[the_caped_crusader]

[ this is immediately bad-- not what he was expecting. not here, at least. not yet. the detective training nags at him to take things slow, be cautious, but tim's screams set him off and he breaks into an immediate sprint to get his way to the door and barrel through it. ]

Robin!?

cw: dead animal

[thelastlaugh]

[When he reaches the room the scream seems to have come from, he finds...]

[A large jack in the box?]

[The handle turns on its own, in a rapid rendition of "Pop Goes the Weasel," but only a few notes play before the lid pops open.]

[A mannequin pops out on a large spring, only a torso and head.]

[The mannequin's face has clown makeup painted on it. It's dressed in three parts of Tim's uniform - his cape, tunic, and utility belt. The trackers were in the latter two articles of clothing. At the very least the mask wasn't left behind - Joker may have let him keep it on. There's a speaker at the mouth, where Tim's scream was projected from.]

[Pinned to the mannequin's chest is a dead Robin, speared by a razor tipped playing card.]

[A Joker card.

[here are no more screams that come out of the speaker, just a familiar laugh, a recording, repeating over and over.]

[the_caped_crusader]

No...

[ batman's eyes widen. he's here. he's here.

he should have known. should have been more careful. he should have made sure-- no. he had to concentrate. compartmentalize. figure things out. how long has it been? he'll be able to tell from the recording back at the apartment maybe. david could help, but that could compromise tim's identity... and his.

he had to focus. after a long moment of letting the anger and worry stew and knot itself inside of him, making his body rigid, he loosens his shoulders and approaches the box to retrieve the card, the tape, and anything else that he might find of interest.... ]