Weakness

9) Flourish, Wither, Bye

Here is an early update because I'm away for the next two days a two and a half hour drive away... -_-

Joker stalked into the room at an hour that was ungodly. He held a bloody serrated knife in one hand and a rusted crowbar in the other. He didn't say a word but started to mercilessly attack the unconscious boys, all without waking them up because of the sedative.

Unbeknownst to anyone, even Bruce, who was setting up the Batmobile for take off, saw Joker insert a vile filled with a marbled purple-green liquid into the eldest's chest.

All except the butler who had nothing to do except worry.

...

When three boys woke up a few hours later, they were met with indescribable pain as the rusted crowbar reopened scabs and infected them.

Damian worked at his chains since Harley did them looser. He finally got free, and, ignoring the other's protests, went as fast as he could - even through the pain - to his older brother. His eyes were shut tightly, flickering underneath the eyelids, fists clenched in pain and blood dribbling out of the corner of his mouth. His breathing was shallow and slow, and he was fidgeting slightly. Small, scared, noises would escape his lips every minute or so.

Damian's eyes widened as he quickly undid the chains around Richard's wrists and turned his brother to the side to allow the blood out of his mouth so he wouldn't choke or suffocate. He checked the pulse - weak, small, slow and getting worse.

Joker's face appeared on the screen again.

"I see you've noticed my little...gift for Batsy. He won't survive to see tomorrow unless Batman comes to save his little Robin. Good luck!" He seemed still in his mad like trance but had maybe taken one of two pills needed.

Jason and Tim had gotten free and they were all crouched around their older brother.

"Oh, the thing I gave him, it's a poison that normally takes three days to kill its victims but because of Nightwing's blood condition, it kills him in a third of the time. I added a concoction that Scarecrow was more than happy to lend me, that being the gas he uses to make his victims have nightmares more realistic than you think. Of course, this one is special, it makes any wound they get in the dream to appear in real life as well."

Joker stopped as soon as his voice started to crackle and the screen began to glitch, then altogether their father's face came up instead of the villain's.

"Are you all alright? I'm coming, I promise." Bruce said quickly, without letting anyone speak but still focusing on his driving. He glanced down to the smaller screen showing them crowded around his eldest. "What's wrong with Dick?"

"He's poisoned and won't make it if you don't hurry!" Tim was anguished. "It's set to kill him before tomorrow hits!"

Bruce's only response was to speed up.

...

Jason watched in endless panic as a small cut appeared under where his hand held, on his arm. He brought his hand off the wound.

As Jason watched, another, larger cut came over Dick's leg.

...

He ran from the attacker. He didn't know who it was, why he was running. The shadows were just behind him and knives would flash out and cut him. If he slowed down for even a moment he would have another wound to call his own.

But he was growing tired and wanted to sleep. Surely he could..?

...

As Dick's heart seemed to stop, even for a second, Jason, who had previously had his hand on Richard's wrist, was doing chest compressions. It took maybe ten seconds to restart the failing heart.