Tick Tock, Time's A Ticking - Chapter 2
3 years...I swear I didn't mean to forget about this fic QQ
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Tags: @toodaloo-kangaroo @vixen-uchiha @startouchedqueen1318,
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AO3 | PREV
“We have to help them.” Roy quietly said, his eyes not leaving the screen of the television despite Joker's broadcast already having ended. At that moment, Roy was grateful for not skipping over the international channel as he was skimming through the television to see what was on. The static that followed the broadcast slowly filled the silent room, Roy managing to block out the noise.
He had decided to drop by Oliver’s to pick up a few things before going onto the road again. Instead, Marinette’s blood-covered face now haunted his mind.
The way her eyes tried to hide her fear, only to show it the split second before she was thrown to the side. How her lifeless body got ingrained into his memory, replacing the memory of the bubbly girl he just video chatted and had a four hour conversation with just a few days ago.
They had planned on meeting up tomorrow…
“Roy. You know we can’t just drop-“ Oliver tried to reason.
“Are you telling me to turn a blind eye from this shi-“
“No, no, no, no.” Oliver walked over to Roy, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I understand the feeling of wanting to go and find her, but we’ve got to remember. Gotham is Batman’s-“
“Who cares if Batman gets pissed at us for going over to help him! Marinette is my friend and I’m willing to fight that bastard if it means saving her!” Roy yelled, not noticing he wasn’t sitting down anymore. “They’re going to need someone with their head still attached to their bodies and you know that.”
Oliver fought back a huff, running a hand through his hair because for once...Roy had a point.
He couldn’t believe he was doing this.
When had he gone soft?
“Pack your things. Gonna warm up the zeta tube.”
Oliver watched as Roy nodded and quickly went to grab his things, his demeanor more stern and focus. More so than usual.
“A friend, huh?”
——
“I know you want to search for her, but head to the cave first,” were the first words that were told towards Jason when he called his brothers as he made his way out one of his bases.
While he wanted to just go out and kill the asshole of a clown who had dared lay a finger on his sister, he knew he shouldn’t go in blinded by rage.
“Where the fuck is he?” Jason gritted, scanning over Gotham's map displayed on the computer within the Cave once he got there, his eyes darting from corner to corner. Tim’s notes on Joker’s sightings caused his rage to burn even more, taunting him as his head racked no answer on Marinette’s location.
Why couldn’t today be just like any other time they would hunt the clown? Why couldn’t they find him within minutes, just like any other week?
Why did he have to be two steps ahead of them this time? Why did he have to hide himself completely from the map, disappear without a trace? Why now?
Dick watched as Jason continued to scowl, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Jason, we’re going to find her. Babs and the girls are already searching for her, Damian’s also helping with the-“
“And what if we don’t?” Jason cut Dick off, his eyes never leaving the screen. “What if we don’t find her in time?”
“We are.” Dick firmly stated, his grip on Jason’s shoulder tightening. “B won’t let that ever happen again. Ever.”
Those words seemed to do something to Jason, Dick feeling him both relax before tensing up.
Thinking that Jason took his words the wrong way, Dick was prepared to say something else when Jason cut him off.
“The fuck are they doing here?” Jason muttered, Dick quickly looking at the screen as well, his eyes narrowing upon seeing an ever so familiar duo wandering through the streets of Gotham. Damn Tim and his cameras picking up on every little thing that happens in Gotham. “Pops is going to kill them if he- and he found them.”
“Think we should-”
“Probably.” Jason said, walking towards his bike, picking up his helmet along the way. “Who knows what Pops might do to them. Oi, Stalker!”
Jason didn’t need to look at Tim’s way to know he was glaring at him. “Keep us updated.”
“We’ll be back with her, Little Wing.” Dick reassured Jason, grabbing his own keys for his bike. “You know she won’t go down without a fight.”
With the silent agreement between the three brothers, Jason and Dick went off to make sure the intruders of Gotham didn’t get killed the moment B snapped.
-
“What the hell are you two doing here unannounced?” Batman gritted through his teeth, Oliver trying not to get overwhelmed by his masked rage. Sure, he’s seen Bats pretty pissed, but this was a new level. Then again, he expected this much.
It was his daughter that was being held captive after all. “This is Gotham, my city, not yours. Get out.”
“We’re here to help.” Roy stepped up, standing between Oliver and Batman.
“Don’t need your help. Leave.”
“Bruce,” Oliver said softly, slowly approaching Batman, no, Bruce. “It’s going to be fine.”
“It’s not going to if I keep wasting my time having to get you to leave Gotham. You came here unannounced, armed, and undetected until now. What makes you think-”
“It was my decision to drag Oliver into this, Bruce.” Roy cut off. “This isn’t just another kidnapping. This isn’t about any Gothamite. This is about Marinette.
And she’s not just your daughter, Bruce.
She’s my friend too. And I want to help you look for her.”
“I don’t need your help. I need you to leave so that we can-”
“None of you are in your right minds right now and you can use at least one head that isn’t-”
“We can handle this.” Bruce said, his voice booming. “We don’t need outsiders-”
“Marinette went out of her way to pay for my rehabilitation treatment when we met in New York those months ago. ” Roy watched as Bruce stood there silently, as if allowing him to continue. “She was there, by my side when Oliver wasn’t, when Dick couldn’t be…
She would reschedule her meeting with her clientele when it was time for my appointments, talked with me when I would start to back out…she was there…even when I didn’t want her to be there…
She was there every step of the way despite living in Paris -which might remind you is across a whole fucking ocean!” Roy looked Bruce straight in the eyes. “So what kind of friend would I be if I’m not at least trying to help find her?
Is this how I will repay her for all those times she waited outside the rehab center? Outside my operating room?” Roy could hear his voice rise in volume with every word he spoke, but he didn’t care. “My hospital room when I would relapse and be found on a curb? Is this how you want me to repay your daughter for her kindness?
By spitting at it?” Roy waited for an answer, but got none. “So please, let me help you. Let us help you find her, as not only her friend, but also yours.”
Before they could even get an answer from Bruce, they picked up the faint sound of bikes getting closer.
The three turned as the sound got louder, Roy narrowing his eyes when he saw Dick and Jason get off the bikes and headed towards them.
“This isn’t going to end well, is it?” Oliver murmured, hoping he and Roy would live to see another day. “Think they’re here to help us?”
“Hopefully.” Roy said, “if not, we’re going to have to fight our way in.”
-
The class watched as Joker paced back and forth, his eyes never straying from Marinette.
Adrien had been released shortly after the vile broadcast Joker had done, glaring at the clown as they all awaited for Batman’s appearance.
“I can feel your eyes, blondie.” Joker flatly said, not bothering to turn towards Adrien. “Glare all you want, it’s not going to help you one bit.” Adrien huffed, now turning his attention towards Marinette.
Her face was covered in dried blood, her hair unruly and her clothes covered in dirt and splotches of blood. New bruises were starting to finally set in, like the one on her temple. Older bruises like the one around her neck were starting to turn a shade darker. Her wrists were red due to being suspended in the air by some chains that looked years too old. The rust slowly chipped off, falling down the floor below.
She didn’t deserve this, not one bit. Not when she and her family have been helping him ever since he told her about his living situation.
“This is all Marinette’s fault.” Lila whispered, interrupting his thoughts. “It’s all that-“
“Don’t you dare say that!” Adrien hissed, causing everyone to flinch. They’ve never heard him yell, ever.
Yes, they’ve heard him raise his voice, but yell?
It was new…unsettling… “If anything, this is all your fault that we are in this situation! If you hadn’t gone off with your stupid lies on how you were a relative of the Wayne's -which by the way, you aren’t- we wouldn’t be in this mess!”
“My fault?” Lila scoffed, everyone torn between trying to get her to calm down or let her continue.
After all, some of them still wanted to trust her. Yes, they didn’t fully understand the argument between Lila and the Joker that well, but they were still able to pick up a few English phrases here and there.
And from what they picked up, Lila had lied to him. And seems like she had lied to them as well…
What else has she been lying about? “Who was the one who arranged this trip in the first place? Certainly wasn’t me! Last time I heard, it was that bitch’s fault!” Lila failed to see the wide eyes from her classmates and the series of gasps. “It’s because of her that we’re-“
“Shut your mouths!” Joker seethed, glaring at Lila. “Especially you!”
The classes split like the sea did for Moses when Joker approached them. “To think that I actually bought your words when I should’ve smelled them from a mile away! After all, you stink of lies and misery!”
“What do you know-” Lila started, only to stop when Joker gave her a feral grin.
“Doesn’t take much to recognize a fellow liar. After all, it takes one to know one, sweetheart.” Joker said, leaving the class in turmoil.
Just as Joker was going to continue to shout at Lila, Marinette began to stir, causing Joker to smile.
“Rise and shine darling!” Joker grabbed Marinette by her hair, a weak yelp leaving her. “Guess who has to look their best since daddy dearest is taking his sweet time getting what I want?”
-
“-already said she didn’t know.” Tim heard Roy say towards Jason, watching the two set their helmets on the seat of their respective motorbikes.
As soon as Dick and Jason were able to help Oliver cool off Bruce, Oliver suggested that the five split up and scout the streets to look for the class and Marinette. If they found nothing, everyone had to rendezvous at the Cave. Although, that was better said than done.
Dick was the first to arrive an hour after having separated from the rest, Oliver and Bruce following shortly after. Then half an hour later, Roy and Jason arrived.
“Probably saying it because she’s back with him again.” Jason muttered, taking off his mask as he approached the small group huddled by the debriefing zone. “That or Harley might have had a minor role in this in exchange for something he has.”
Seems like Jason and Roy’s interrogation with Harley wasn’t fruitful.
Tim and Dick exchanged a glance before looking at Oliver, who shook his head.
“I’m guessing you found nothing on your end either.” Dick stated, causing Tim to huff in frustration. “Ivy didn’t know anything either when I went to her place, although she did mention Joker being more unhinged than usual.”
“Not surprised.” Oliver said, taking out a vile and placing it on the table. “From what Victor told us, it seems like Joker has been paying visits to Scarecrow again. Something about Scarecrow wanting to test out a new toxin in the making.”
“Cat, know anything about this?” Dick asked through his earpiece, waiting for Selina’s answer.
As soon as Selina saw that broadcast, she also started to help with the search, bumping into Damian as she looked for the lost kitten. She immediately teamed up with her other beloved kitten, much to his distaste.
“Just learned about this from you guys. What about you, kitten?” Dick heard her ask Damian. “Know anything about this?”
“I told you many times, it’s Robin. And no. I also just found out about this.”
Dick let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. This wasn’t looking good.
Just as Dick was about to bring up their next phase, the Batcomputer went off, the alert blinking once before opening up a video call.
“She wasn’t at the Basin.” Steph announced through the live, “then again, I haven’t heard from Cass yet. Perhaps she found something-“
“She’s here.” Cass interrupted. “I found her...doesn’t look good. Going to need medical help.”
That’s all it took for the family to go into motion, Bruce barking orders, only to be overridden by Oliver.
“Aren’t you forgetting that Joker not only has Mari, but also her entire class?” Oliver challenged. “You can’t just-”
“Marinette-”
“Bruce, I know. We all know.” Oliver cut off. “As much as I want to prioritize Marinette’s rescue, Joker has an entire class hostage as well.” Bruce grumbled. “We don’t have a moment to waste! Let’s move!”
But before they could go, another alert went off on the Batcomputer, making them stop in their tracks.
Without delay, a broadcast started to play.
“Brucie!” Joker’s voice echoed through the Cave. “It’s been an hour!” He sang, the camera following him. “Seeing as you’re taking your precious time getting me Batsy, I thought of getting your precious daughter to help convince you to speed up the process.”
The camera then shifted to what seemed to be a gas chamber, the blue tinted glass making it semi-difficult to see inside.
But with one shine of light piercing it, anyone would have recognized the person sitting behind the glass.
And everyone in the Cave did; without a second to waste, they ran.
-
Marinette woke up to an aching headache, her head ringing in pain. Just as she managed to open her eyes, she noticed the blue tinted room around her…or rather…the blue tinted glass that separated her from the rest of her class…and Joker.
Why would-
It didn’t take long for Marinette to figure out where she was. She tried to get up, only to realize her hands and feet were bound to handcuffs behind her and to the floor respectively.
She began to violently shake her hands free, feeling her breaths became slightly uncontrollable when she realized the lack of wiggle room on her ankle.
Seems like she was strapped to her chair.
She tried to stand up, only to feel the chair pull her down…bastard made the chair weighted…
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Joker sang, standing in front of her. “You’ll just make me want to start the show earlier than when I need to!” He warned her. “Instead, why don’t you greet our viewers!” The clown grinned as he turned his back to her.
Marinette looked past him, noticing the camera and the guns pointed to her classmates. She noticed as some of them were frozen in fear, others holding in tears of frustration.
This is all my fault. “Marinette, dearest. The viewers are waiting.” He reminded her. “But! If you don’t want to greet them, that’s okay! Why don’t you, instead, remind your father-”
“Why don’t you try to find Batman yourself?” Marinette retorted. “Too lazy to track him down that you resorted to having to have a hostage to make him come to you?
It’s been, what? 10 years and you have yet to figure out his weakness?” She let out a scoff. “Some villain you are.”
“That wasn’t the correct answer.” Joker sneered, only to grin shortly afterwards. “And for your information, I do know his weakness: you.”
A hiss sparked from the sides of the room, Marinette turning her head, seeing nothing surrounding her. She smelled nothing out of the ordinary, causing her anxiousness to rise. “My, my. For such a smart-mouthed little girl, you’re not exactly the best at connecting the dots, are you?”
“What are you-” Marinette felt her heartbeat pick up the pace, noticing her vision begin to throb. The tips of her hands felt warmer than usual, her feet feeling heavier by the second.
She tried to hear what Joker was trying to say, but the noise buzzing in her ears made it hard to catch the words.
She kept picking up small noises around her, making her turn head to see what was causing them, only to find nothing.
She turned her attention back to Joker only to find him gone. But that wasn’t the only thing gone.
She was no longer inside the room, no longer bound by the hands nor feet.
But despite the lack of restraint, she remained seated as she looked past the camera that was left on.
There, just feet away from her were her classmates, laying in their own pool of blood…
Adrien’s lifeless eyes looked back at her with tears still in his eyes, his hand reaching out for her…
Then she felt a breath right next to her ear.
“I thought you said you were going to fix everything.” The voice told her, a voice she thought she had long forgotten…a voice that sounded just like Adrien’s, yet…a voice that wasn’t his.
Chat Blanc… “I thought you still wanted me…
I thought you still needed me…” She felt her heartbeat quicken with each word he spoke. “I thought I was still your partner…”
The voice made its way in front of her, materializing into the Adrien of her nightmares, his blue eyes looking down on her. “I trusted you, Marinette…so why?” He growled, wrapping his hands around her throat, Marinette feeling his claws dig deep into her skin, feeling it pierce her throat and closing her airway.
“Why did you let me die, My Lady?” She couldn’t hold it in anymore.
She screamed.
-
Everyone watched as Marinette screamed apologies as she tried to kick something away from her, eventually knocking herself over.
What was going on?
She was fine just moments ago.
They watched as she was talking to Joker when she suddenly grew quieter, watching as she looked around, her eyes darting to every corner.
She suddenly looked in their direction with wide eyes and the next, she began to scream and cry hysterically, causing Joker to laugh alongside her agony.
“Oh my! This is better than what I expected!” Joker continued to laugh, turning to face the camera. “But we’re just beginning!” Joker brought over a spinning wheel, several nicknames written on it. “With every ten minutes that Batman isn’t here, I will spin the wheel and see who will be our next vic-”
Suddenly, the lights began to flicker before permanently dimming, Marinette’s screaming still going on in the darkness. “Who goes there?” Joker demanded an answer, his cheerful attitude gone. His eyes scoured the darkness, trying to pick any type of silhouette in the shadows that didn’t belong to his henchmen.
A goon next to the class suddenly dropped to the floor, his gun hitting the floor with a thud. “Show yourself!”
But no one responded. Instead, his henchmen started to fall or disappear one by one, the class huddling closer together as some other them started to fight their assailants in the dark. “Will somebody turn the goddamn lights back on?” Joker spat the order, moving closer to the chamber Marinette was still screaming out of.
Not a second later, they heard glass come crashing down from above them, the class watching Joker got drop kicked by a person half his size. Judging from the sword that pierced Joker’s shoulder, the class knew it wasn’t Batman who attacked the maniacal clown.
The sound of the breaking glass had signaled more henchmen to appear and soon, the room was soon filled with them and their yells as they fought with the darkness.
“Adrien,” Nino whispered. “Should we-” Adrien shook his head.
This was new territory, there were guns involved, not magic. He couldn’t just guide his friends to their death. And then there was whatever gas Joker had made Marinette inhale in that chamber…
And then there was that: Marinette…
Before Adrien could figure out what to do next, another masked individual appeared before them, cladded in black with a purple hood and cape. The yellow bat insignia on her uniform allowed her to be trusted.
“You’re going to be okay.” She reassured, then realized that only some of them understood what she said, judging by some of them slightly relaxing their shoulders when she said that. “My name is Spoiler. I’m going to guide you out.” She motioned, only to stop when only one person followed her. “Everyone. I need-”
“We can’t leave Marinette behind.” Adrien spoke up, some of the others nodding in response. “She sacrificed herself for our safety. We need to-”
“My job is to help you guys escape,” Spoiler shared, “I need to-”
“We need to get you out of here before we can start saving your friend.” A voice spoke up, the class turning to see yet another vigilante, but this time, she was older than them and in what seemed to be in a spandex outfit. “Your hesitation is risking her safety.”
“Catwoman!” Spoiler hissed. “But, she’s right.” She sighed. “Once you’re all safe, we can start working on rescuing your friend until our backup arrives. So, please…follow me.”
That seemed to convince everyone as they soon followed Spoiler out of the warehouse.
The minute they were out, the class stood face to face with blaring lights and multiple paramedics rushing to their sides. Multiple voices asked them rapid questions in English, overwhelming the Parisian class. But one broody voice stood out among all of them.
A voice that questioned Spoiler, not them.
“Where’s Marinette?” Batman asked, only for five others joining their small rendezvous.
“Is she okay?” The red haired asked, Adrien wondering where he had seen him before.
Spoiler pursed her lips, her mouth opening and closing like a gaping fish. The red haired grabbed her by her shoulders. “Tell us!”
“She’s inhaled Scarecrow’s latest fear toxin…” she spilled, freeing herself from the red hair’s grasp. “And it seems to be more potent than his previous one.” She reported to the group.
“How so?” Batman asked.
“It took seconds for her to become insane and start to hallucinate compared to his previous dose that took a minute…we need to get her out of there before it does any permanent damage to her.”
-
Roy knew what to expect the moment they arrived at the Funhouse, yet he wasn’t prepared to hear what had happened to Marinette through Steph’s report.
Whatever plan they had spoken of beforehand was soon forgotten and the orders for him to come back fell on deaf ears as he ran into the Funhouse.
He ran past aisles of towering boxes and past the mobs of henchmen that Black Bat and Catwoman were holding off with ease. He saw as Tim joined her, allowing Roy to continue to search for Marinette.
With each stride he took, the louder her screams got and the heavier his anxiety grew.
By the time he got to where she was, he froze.
Marinette had managed to free her legs from her restraints and was kicking the air, screaming apologies to Adrien as she moved her head from side to side, as if avoiding something.
While he couldn’t see her face that well, he knew they were probably drenched in tears and covered in purpling bruises left from Joker’s manhandling.
“What the hell are you doing Harper?” Damian’s yells snapped him from his thoughts. “Help her!”
“Come on Roy,” Jason’s voice came from behind, a slap on his back causing him to step forward. “She needs us.”
That’s all he needed to rush to Marinette once again, helping Jason analyze the chamber, finding the keypad to operate it.
While Jason tried to stop the gas, Roy tried to break the glass but to no avail.
“I’ve got it!” Jason yelled, prompting Roy to help him open the chamber’s doors, causing Marinette’s already loud screams to become louder.
They approached her with caution, Jason going over to try and prop her upright when he locked eyes with her.
Her screams came to a stop before she started screaming again.
“Stay away!” She yelled, trying to create distance between them. “Don’t come here!”
“Marinette, it’s me.” Jason tried to tell her, but he knew she wasn’t able to hear him. “It’s me, Jay.” He tried once again only for Marinette to plead for mercy. “Roy, administer the temporary antidote.” Jason stood up and took a few steps back. “I have a clown to fight.”
Roy watched as he got out the chamber and disappeared from his sight, hearing bullets whiz with screams following shortly after..
Ignoring the mayhem outside the chamber, Roy took out a pouch he had on him and quickly prepared the injection.
He twisted the needle to the barrel and measured the dosage from the vial Bruce had given to him before they left the Cave. Once he withdrew the appropriate amount, he flicked the barrel to let out some air before pressing the plunger to get rid of all the air.
He turned his attention to the now cowering Marinette, her screams now quiet prayers of pleads as she kept Roy in her vision.
“Marinette, I’m here to help you.” Roy softly spoke, seeing her eyes dart from him to the needle in his hand. “I just need-”
“No!” She screamed, “stay away!” She began to kick again. “Stay away!”
Seems like he had no other choice.
He pulled the chair closer to him and pinned her down with his spare hand, making sure to at least stop her from flailing around too much.
Her screams grew louder the minute the needle pierced her skin and Roy administered the antidote. Slowly, Marinette’s screams grew quieter and were replaced by shuddering breaths. After a few seconds, they turned into wails and sobs.
Without a minute to spare, Roy worked on releasing her hands and brought her close to him, cradling her cold body to him.
He brushed her hair away from her sticky face, his heart churned at the bruises scattered around her face and the dried blood on her lips.
He held in a sob as she grasped onto him tighter, her trembling not stopping.
“You’re going to be okay, Marinette.” Roy whispered soft reassurances as he stroked her hair, wanting to take all her pain away and fear that very second.
She didn’t deserve this, not her… “You’re safe now Marinette.
You’re safe.”
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