The Equivalents

33. Dick's Difficult Decision.

A/N: I like alliteration.

Jason had been left alone for almost 24 hours before Black Mask came in and dragged him out. Jason didn't even bother to fight him. He was weak, and frankly didn't give a frick anymore. He just let him take him out of the room to wherever Black Mask was going.

Dick had been deciding what to do about the note. Now, he didn't have much time left. When no one was looking, Joker had a private chat with Dick in the interrogation room. Someone even took out the cameras while he did.

"So you were the one who found my note?" Joker smirked. "I must say, I couldn't have chosen someone better if I tried."

"And why is that?" Nightwing asked.

"Because your family is your weakness." Joker grinned. "Just like the big bat. But the difference between you and the bat, is you won't let Jason Todd die. Hahaha!"

"What do you want me to do?" Dick asked.

"Obviously I wanna get out of here!" The Joker said like it was obvious. I mean, it was.

"I can't. I won't." Dick stated.

"I have a friend who might be able to change your mind." Joker grinned. He looked at a TV in the corner of the room that Nightwing hadn't even noticed until now.

For a second, nothing happened. And then the TV flickered on. Nightwing didn't know how Joker was doing this, but either he or someone else in some other place was putting something on the TV.

When the screen finally came into focus, Dick could see Jason lying on the floor, unconscious. He looked awful. Like the Joker had beaten him with a crowbar a few days prior. He was bound and gagged while Black Mask stood above him with a gun to his temple.

"Thoughts?" Joker laughed.

"What did you do to him?" Dick glared.

"Relax, party pooper. He's still alive. But he doesn't need to be." Joker smiled.

As soon as he finished speaking, Dick heard the gun on the screen cock.

"What do you want?" He caved. "How am I supposed to get you out of here without them knowing it's me?"

"To start, you can take these off?" Joker referred to his hands that were cuffed to the table. "Then, one of my new friends wants to meet up with an old friend of his. It's friends all around, hahahaha!"

"Who?"

"I think his name was Lieutenant Canada? I wasn't really paying attention. HAHAHA!!!" Joker laughed.

"Captain America?" Nightwing asked.

"Sure, why not?" Joker replied. "Bring him to the place you found our little note and Red Hood is yours."

Dick looked at the Joker and then back up at the screen. Either turn over Steve and save Jason, or don't and Black Mask kills Jason. He didn't want to, but he didn't have a choice.

"No one is to know I helped you escape. Not if you want me to get Captain America to the meeting place." He sighed.

"Scouts honor!" Joker joked.

Dick uncuffed him and unlocked the door. Joker then smiled and put his hand out for Dick to shake. "Put 'er there, pal!"

"No." Dick glared.

"Come on, you don't want them to find out it was you." Joker pushed.

Nightwing shook his hand and immediately felt the Joker's joy buzzer. How he hadn't had it confiscated was beyond him. But it sent Dick falling to the ground as the Joker ran away with glee. Singing and laughing like the lunatic he was.

When Dick got up, Joker was gone. Steve had rushed over as soon as he could. He saw the camera went out and tried to get eyes on Joker.

"What happened?" Steve asked.

"He escaped. I tried to stop him, but he shocked me. He's got this stupid joy buzzer thing that gets real old real fast." Dick groaned. "But I know where he's going. If we leave now, we could catch him."

"I'll get Bruce and Tony." Steve said.

"There's no time. We have to leave now or we won't make it." Dick stated.

Steve was a little hesitant, but agreed. They both took off to the place where Dick had previously found the note.

Upon their arrival, Steve didn't find anything suspicious. It wasn't until the Joker, Red Skull, and Count Vertigo showed up that things got a little more sus. Yes, I just said sus.

"It looks like you came through." Vertigo said.

"As I always do." Joker laughed.

"Nightwing, what are they talking about?" Steve asked.

"I'm sorry. I promise, I am-" Dick was interrupted.

"Ze young man haz brought you here to us." Red Skull smiled. "He betrayed you."

"What?" Steve gasped.

"I didn't want to." Dick stated. "Where's Jason?"

"Right, about that-" The Joker frowned. "He's having such a good time with us, it wouldn't be fair to make him go with you. So I think I'll keep him for awhile."

"You lied to me!" Dick exclaimed.

"And now we will kill you." Vertigo finished for Joker.

The fight started and was going pretty well. Well-ish at least. Steve fought Red Skull while Dick tried to fight Joker. Vertigo however decided to step in and help at probably the worst time.

He gave Steve vertigo and Steve collapsed to the ground holding his head. Red Skull kicked him in the head as hard as he could until he passed out, blood dripping down from his forehead.

Red Skull was ready to finish the job when Dick threw down a smoke grenade. All of the villains looked around for the heroes, but couldn't see a thing. Which was kinda the idea.

By the time the smoke had cleared, Dick had escaped and somehow was able to take Steve with him.