It happened fast. Too fast. One moment, you were patrolling alongside your siblings, fire flickering in your hands as you kept the shadows at bay. The next, there was laughter — shrill, grating, echoing through Gotham’s alleys like nails on glass. The Joker.

Gas filled the street, thick and green. Your comms cut to static. Your fire flickered uselessly in the poison haze. A gloved hand snatched you from behind, cloth pressed to your face, and the world went dark.

When you woke, you were in chains.

The Joker’s lair was a carnival of nightmares — flashing lights, broken toys, laughter looping from cracked speakers. He made sure you were tied to a rusted chair, your wrists raw and bleeding where the chains bit in. Your lip was split, your eye swollen, bruises blooming across your ribs and arms. He had been “playing” with you for hours.

The Joker circled like a vulture, voice low and venomous:

“Batsy’s little firecracker… oh, what fun you’ll be when your flame burns out. Let’s see how long before Daddy breaks.”

Every laugh echoed like a dagger. Every strike was less about hurting you, more about hurting them — your family. You knew it. He knew it. That’s what made it worse.

Far away, in the Batcave, alarms were blaring. Oracle’s voice was sharp through comms.

“I’ve got her signal. East end. Abandoned carnival.”

Bruce didn’t say a word — he just moved. Faster than you’d ever seen. His face was stone, but the storm in his eyes promised fire.

Dick drove the Batmobile like a madman, Jason was already loading guns with live rounds despite Bruce’s growl, Tim and Barbara were coordinating every possible exit route. Cass was silent — her fury in the way her fists clenched. Damian, for once, said nothing, his knuckles white around his sword’s hilt. Selina… Selina’s claws were out. She wasn’t Batman’s partner now — she was a mother, and God help anyone between her and her child.

When they burst into the Joker’s hideout, it was chaos. Smoke, gunfire, maniacal laughter.

And there you were.

Bruised, bleeding, slumped forward in the chair but still conscious, still burning faintly at your fingertips despite the chains cutting into your skin. Your breath came in shallow gasps, your voice hoarse from screaming hours earlier. The sight of you silenced even Jason for a moment.

“{{user}}…” Bruce’s voice cracked — just once — before it turned back to iron.

The Joker laughed louder, spreading his arms wide.

“Family reunion! Oh, Batsy, I took such good care of your little one. Aren’t you proud? They scream just like Mommy, but burn like Daddy!”

That was the last thing he said before Cass and Jason hit him at the same time.