Chapter Text
Chapter II
The Killer
The Novelist
You are on a path on an island. At the end of that path there’s a tower. And in that tower, there’s a Robin.
The Novelist
You’re here to kill him. If you don’t, you will never receive retribution.
The Novelist
I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Voice of the Hero
No we... we’ve definitely done this before.
Voice of the Killer
Yeah, but we didn’t do it right. We didn’t finish the job.
Voice of the Hero
Okay, and who are you supposed to be?
Voice of the Killer
None of your business.
The Novelist
What are you all on about? This is the first time we’ve been here. The first time we’ve approached the tower.
Voice of the Hero
Does he really not remember?
The Novelist
The only thing I need to remember is that we’re here to slay a Robin.
Voice of the Killer
He’s right. We’ve got a job to do.
Voice of the Hero
Am I still the only one not down with killing a kid?
Voice of the Killer
He stopped being a kid when he put on that suit.
The Novelist
Finally, a voice of reason. Now, can we please get on with it?
The Novelist
We’re not in a time loop. This is the first time we’ve been here.
Voice of the Hero
If he doesn’t remember maybe we shouldn’t bring it up...
Voice of the Killer
It doesn’t matter. We’re here to do a job, and we’re going to get it done. We’re going to do much more than just slit a little bird's throat.
Voice of the Hero
Yikes. Remind me not to be alone in a room with this freak.
The Novelist
You make your way up the path towards the tower. You’ll find the Robin within.
The Novelist
A warning, before you go any further...
The Novelist
He will do everything in his power to stop you. He is both dangerous and clever, and above all else, he is a thief. He will lie, he will cheat, he will do everything in his power to manipulate you. Don't let him.
Voice of the Killer
He won’t get a chance.
Voice of the Hero
Yeah, we’ve definitely been here before.
The Novelist
The tower looms before you, tall and silent and imposing. You were never good enough to make it here. Never good enough to truly belong. You were kicked from the nest before you even knew how to fly and replaced with a cuckoo. Replaced before your body was even cold in the ground.
Voice of the Killer
We’re going to make them pay.
The Novelist
Yes. We are.
Voice of the Hero
He’s just a kid...
The Novelist
You were a child too, once. And that was ripped away from you.
Voice of the Hero
...
The Novelist
I think you already know.
Voice of the Killer
Let’s get on with this. I’m ready to paint the walls with his blood.
The Novelist
The Tower is simple to enter, all security measures have been taken care of so you walk in without issue. The tower is dark, empty. Long hallways cast in a dark shadow. Seemingly endless stairs for you to trek up, the moon casts a silver glow through the windows.
The Novelist
On your belt you have a simple handgun as well as a pristine blade. These are your implements. You’ll need them if you want to do this job right.
Voice of the Hero
Seriously?
Voice of the Killer
Excellent
The Novelist
You slide the gun from its holster at your waist. The weight feels good and solid in your hand. It feels right.
Voice of the Killer
Of course it feels right, this is what we do
Voice of the Hero
Um, no? We don’t kill people! We’re the good guy! Which is also why we shouldn’t kill a Robin who hasn’t done anything to us.
The Novelist
He’s done plenty.
Voice of the Hero
Like what?
Voice of the Killer
Doesn’t matter. All that matters now is how pretty he’s going to scream when I carve him up.
Voice of the Hero
Jesus, you’re a creep.
Voice of the Killer
Thanks.
Voice of the Hero
Wasn’t a compliment.
Voice of the Killer
Sorry, did I hurt your delicate sensibilities?
Voice of the Hero
Sorry for not wanting to kill a literal kid! I thought we were against that sort of thing!
The Novelist
The Robin isn’t a child. He gave up that right when he put on the suit, when he decided to become Robin. He’s an exception.
Voice of the Killer
Exactly, what the big man said. The Robin doesn’t deserve to wear that suit like he’s earned it, like he deserves it. And I’m going to make sure he regrets it.
Voice of the Hero
Oh, you’re right. He didn’t even mention the mirror. Was that here last time?
Voice of the Killer
Who cares about the mirror! The more time we waste here the less time I’m spending ripping that Robin in half.
The Novelist
What mirror?
Voice of the Hero
Uh. The one on the wall over there?
The Novelist
I don’t know what you’re trying to get at here. There is no mirror.
Voice of the Hero
What! Yes there is! It’s literally right over there!
Voice of the Killer
Can we stop talking about the mirror and go kill this guy already?
The Novelist
You walk up to a blank expanse of wall and place your hand on it. Now you are staring at a wall for no reason. Was there a point to this?
Voice of the Hero
What? But it- it was right there!
Voice of the Killer
And now it’s gone! Great! We can get a move on now!
Voice of the Hero
But-
The Novelist
I am rather inclined to agree. We are here with a purpose, after all. Could we please get back to that?
The Novelist
The Tower is large but entirely devoid of residents. The rooms you can see into are filled with storage or different equipment. Further up you know there are living quarters where different members might stay during their internment here. You don’t need to go quite that far, though. The Robin will be in the control room, trying to get all the systems back online.
Voice of the Hero
Yeah that’s a little... specific.
The Novelist
Where else would he be? Power is down, security is down, coms are down. It only makes sense for him to be in the control room to try and get things back online.
Voice of the Hero
I guess.
The Novelist
You head to the control room where only a simple electronic sliding door blocks you from the Robin. You maneuver the door open manually when you get there, and train the barrel of your gun at the Robin’s head. He has a bo staff out and gripped in both hands, knees bent slightly and ready to move at a moment's notice.
Voice of the Killer
Like that’ll do anything against a bullet.
Hood. Fancy seeing you here. Sorry, was there a memo I missed? Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but power’s down so I couldn’t access my email. Maybe we can reschedule?
Voice of the Killer
Oh he thinks he’s so clever. I’m going to cut that cocky mouth of his out of his face.
Voice of the Hero
You’re going to what!?
The Novelist
The Robin tilts his head as he watches you, gaging your reaction.
The Novelist
The Robin tightens his grip almost imperceptibly on his staff, a bead of sweat trails down his temple. He’s afraid.
Voice of the Killer
Good.
I think anyone would be a little shocked to see you outside of Gotham. Weren’t you hanging out in Parks Row? What’s the Red Hood doing so far from home?
Uh, I don’t know if you know this dude, but I’m Robin. I work with the Titan’s all the time. Shouldn’t you know this? Being a Gotham based villain and all.
The Novelist
Of course he would try to paint you as the villain. When he’s the one who’s taken everything from you. He wears that suit like it’s his to wear. Like it wasn’t covered in blood from the last boy who wore it.
Voice of the Hero
Wh... what? What are you taking about? We didn’t... Did we...
Voice of the Killer
It doesn’t matter. We just need to shut his stupid mouth up.
The Novelist
The Robin inches to the side as you debate with yourself. The time to act is now.
The Novelist
You take your aim, and shoot. The Robin is quick, but not quick enough. The bullet grazes his left thigh and he grits his teeth. It’s not enough, you want to make him sing. He pivots, moving just close enough to hit you with his staff while still edging towards the door.
The Novelist
It’s cute how he thinks he can escape this.
The Novelist
You grab the bo staff as he makes his move and pull him in close. You twist it from his grip and he cries out when his fingers are bent back at an unnatural angle as you force the staff from him. You sweep his feet out from under him and crack your gun against his temple when he tries to regain his footing. He falls hard against the ground and you drop down on top of him, forcing his staff under his chin and against his neck.
The Novelist
When you press hard enough, his airway is cut off. He scrabbles against your hands and the wood of the staff. It’s useless. You’re bigger and stronger and better.
Voice of the Hero
Oh my god...
Voice of the Killer
Oh my god!!
Voice of the Hero
You have to stop this!
The Novelist
You have to kill him!
The Novelist
You press harder on the staff and the Robin makes a wet choking sound, bucking underneath you. Like a turtle on its back. Like a spider still twitching its legs.
The Novelist
Like prey that doesn’t know when to quit while it’s ahead.
Voice of the Killer
We’re gonna rip his throat out.
The Novelist
You rip the staff away, throwing it somewhere behind you and hear it hit the far wall. You grip his chin with one hand, keeping his head tilted up and pressing down on his windpipe with the heel. With the other you reach for one of his wrists that are trying to pry your fingers away from his face. You grip it and squeeze and squeeze and squeeze-
Voice of the Killer
Fuck yeah.
The Novelist
You feel the bones shift and grind together and the Robin attempts to choke out something you can’t quite make out.
Voice of the Killer
Should’ve stayed with daddy, bitch.
The Novelist
You yank his arm up and away from his body, and then you twist and bend and-
Snap
The Novelist
The bone gives way easily, cracking under the pressure. The Robin jerks and twists and sings.
Voice of the Killer
Like music to my ears.
Voice of the Hero
I can’t watch this...
The Novelist
The Robin’s hand that was fruitlessly trying to pull your’s away grips weakly at your forearm as he tries, and fails, to breath through the pain.
The Novelist
You release the broken arm and it flops to the ground, the Robin whining as it does. You reach forward, fingers catching on the edge of his mask. He tries to jerk his face away but you hold him steady and work your way under the edge before you grip and pull
The Novelist
It has to hurt. Has to sting.
The Novelist
You peel the mask away and the skin beneath glows and angry red. You toss the mask to the side and grip his hair in your fist. His eyes are a bright blue and shine with unshed tears.
Voice of the Killer
Not for long.
The Novelist
You can see his brain stall, stutter. His mouth gapes like a fish so you release the pressure on his neck just enough.
I don’t- I don’t know what you’re talking about.
The Novelist
It’s a weak rebuttal and you both know it. His voice sounds wrecked, raw. His breath a rattling wheeze.
Voice of the Killer
Timothy Drake. As if we don’t know everything about him. As if we don’t know all he took from us. He deserves everything coming to him. He deserves to hurt.
The Novelist
You grip his uninjured arm and yank it above his head, holding it to the floor. You release his hair and grab your knife where it waits at your hip. You twirl it once before driving it through the palm of his hand.
The Novelist
The Robin screams.
Voice of the Killer
He can sing louder than that.
The Novelist
He jerks under you again, as if he could get free. As if you would let him go.
Please, Hood, Please I don’t-
The Novelist
He’s begging now. Pathetic as he is. Tears finally drip from his eyes and streak down the slides of his face.
Why are you doing this?
The Novelist
You know why.
Voice of the Killer
Little late for that, now isn’t it?
I don’t know what that means.
The Novelist
Leaving the knife still sticking out of his palm, still embedded to the ground, you reach up and undo a series of latches on your helmet. You feel the release and pull it off, letting it drop to the ground beside you.
The Novelist
The Robin stares at you agape. Mouth wide and eyes boggling.
You- you’re-
Voice of the Killer
The birdy finally gets it.
But I’m not- I never-
The Novelist
Oh, but he did. This little cuckoo crawled in the nest and took your place before you were even cold in the ground.
No! I didn’t- I never wanted that! If you’d only seen Bat-
The Novelist
Shut him up! He doesn’t know! He’s just a fucking brat that thought he could take your place. He thinks he’s better than you! He’s laughing at you!
The Novelist
You rear back and punch him across the face. Knuckles catching just on his cheek bone and scraping across it. His head whips to the side with the momentum, eyes squeezing shut upon impact.
The Novelist
You hit him again and again and again.
The Novelist
His face is bloody, bruised. His eyes leak a steady stream of tears and his mouth drools viscous blood.
The Novelist
It feels good.
The Novelist
It’s not enough.
Voice of the Killer
You know what we have to do.
Pl- please- Ja- I di- I-
The Novelist
The Robin’s mouth works but no sound comes out.
Voice of the Killer
It’s not enough.
The Novelist
You rip the knife from his hand and press it against the hollow of his throat. The Robin trembles.
Voice of the Killer
Do it.
Voice of the Hero
Please, just end this.
The Novelist
You drag the knife shallowly across his neck. A perfect line of red against the pale flesh. Blood bubbles over the cut and you resist the urge to taste it.
Voice of the Hero
Wait- taste it? What?
The Novelist
Yes that... hm. That was a little bit too much, even for me. Sorry about that.
Voice of the Killer
You’re all just pussies.
Voice of the Hero
Because we don’t want to lick blood? Okay, sure.
The Novelist
The Robin gurgles beneath you. His broken arm jolts and the fingers on hand that lays above his head spasm.
J- pl-
The Novelist
He knows this is the end. He knows you’ve won. A flash of righteousness flares through you, hot and vicious.
Voice of the Hero
Please. Just end this.
Voice of the Killer
Yeah, I’m done playing.
The Novelist
You reach for the gun again and press the tip of the barrel against his forehead. The Robin blinks blearily up at you, eyes dazed and glassy.
Voice of the Killer
Finish it.
The Novelist
You pull the trigger.