~.: "Saint Bernard" :.~
~.: Lincoln :.~
~.: Jason's POV :.~
Just as I was about to pull the trigger at Octavia, someone slammed into my back, arms wrapping around my shoulders as they toss their full weight against me, causing us both to tumble to the ground. Grunting from the impact, my gun is sent sprawling away from my hand as the person who'd tackled me snapped hurriedly to Octavia while struggling to keep me down as I snarled in protest.
"OCTAVIA, NOW! RUN, I'll catch up with you!" The voice takes a minute to register in my mind but that's all it takes.
"Little Timmy, huh?" I chuckled under my breath in a raspy tone as I wrench one of my arms free and toss him off with ease, my shoulder blade clocking him in the jaw as he flies backwards from the force of being thrown off, "You're always in my way, aren't you? You just can't fucking help yourself," Tim's eyes narrowed behind his domino mask while rubbing at his sore jawline as I easily snatch up my gun once more, "I bet you think you're better than me- that's why you were able to take my place from Batman's side," I seethed while I reloaded my gun and kept my cold stare on him as he pulled himself to his feet once more, "You'll always just be a spoiled little kid who stole what was supposed to be mine. I should've been the next Robin-"
Tim's gaze didn't falter as he took a defensive stance while measuring my movements with that same stupid calculating scowl I knew too well, "You still think I replaced you on purpose even after everything?" He growled softly as I chuckled in wry amusement, "Don't you remember anything or did this place take your memories away? I never replaced you!" I narrowed my eyes at him and raised my loaded gun at his head.
"You're lying," I snarled furiously, shaking my head as my temples started to pound in agony while I inwardly tried to search for a reasonable explanation, "You always thought you were better than me-"
Sensing the wavering aggressive tone in my voice, Tim warily moves forward.
~.: Tim's POV :.~
As I moved closer to him, Jason's shaking hand steadied and clenched the gun harder as he repositioned it so that it was still pointed directly at me, his gaze smoldering with the intensity of a cornered rabid stray dog.
"Jason," I carefully picked my words out as I spoke, I need to be very clear and concise, if he gets too spooked then I'm a dead man, "Jason, you were murdered by the Joker while on a mission with Batman. He beat you to death, do you remember that?" My ears started to ring as Jason gritted his teeth, "After your death, Batman was never the same, he didn't even want another partner! He never meant to lose you, he rejected the idea of taking me in as his new Robin. It took him a while to warm up to me, Jason," As I spoke, his tense posture relaxed a little and relief started to sweep over me when suddenly the surroundings around us started to glitch out like a bugged video game. With a low rumble, the ground beneath us started to become unstable and I glanced around in confusion.
"What the hell is going on.." Jason growled as he yanked me away from the rim of a hole that suddenly opened up too close for comfort to us. I narrowed my eyes in thought as I motioned for him to follow me to safer ground.
"I think whoever's in charge is losing grip of whatever this simulation is," I murmured softly, trying to pull up my holographic computer as I hurriedly tapped at the R on my chest. After several more unsuccessful tries as well as a few weirded out glances from Jason, I gave up with a low frustrated huff, "We need to find the others before things get worse."
"No shit, Sherlock," He grumbled softly while following after me as his gaze flashes around our surroundings, clearly looking for my sister, "Any ideas to where Octavia might've ran off to? We might be able to find her quicker than the others... plus I owe her an apology after... almost killing her," he gruffly mumbled, fixing his eyes firmly on the ground when I glanced over my shoulder at him warily.
"I have no clue..." I reluctantly replied, pursing my lips as I paused with Jason on the crest of a hill beside the base of a gnarled oak tree, "Maybe she'll find us first- she can't have gotten too far.."
~.: De's POV :.~
Dick carefully pulled me into his arms as Acacia nervously edged closer to us and away from Jared as he attempted to approach, his expression blanched as he swallowed hard. I could barely muster the strength to smile reassuringly as Acacia's gaze widened at the wide gash in my arm and the oddly bent angle of my left leg from being thrown against the trunk of that tree not even thirty minutes ago by that creepy wraith that took Seth's form as it had fought me.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me," I weakly murmured, nestling my head reluctantly against Dick's chest as he frowned in response, "I can walk, put me down. I'll just slow you down if you carry me, Dick, please-" I whined, clenching my eyes tight as I fought off the urge to hiss in discomfort when I shift in his hold to look him in the eyes.
"Uh, yeah, that's definitely not happening," Dick replied firmly, his gaze stern as it met mine, "Just let me carry you, okay? We need to find the others, and it's not like you're any heavier than Aria is," As he says this, I scowl unamusedly at him in response, "Don't look at me like that," he mumbled, looking away guiltily, "And don't tell Aria I said that. She's already pissed off at me, this would just make her want to kill me more," he coughed while Acacia snorted in mild amusement before rolling her eyes and tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"Let's just hurry up and get the fuck out of here," Jared grumbled irritably from behind Dick, "I'm sick of this stupid place, it's driving me insane..."
"That was more than obvious when you tried to practically kill me," Acacia icily countered his statement and Dick sighed in annoyance.
"Can we not start anymore drama, please?" He huffed agitatedly, scowling in disapproval at Jared as he moved to try and comfort Acacia who backed away from him when he attempted to do so, "I want to get out of here just as bad as you guys in one piece if possible, but we won't be able to if we keep fighting with each other,"
"Yeah, so knock it off," I mumbled, closing my eyes as I grudgingly rested my head against his chest once more, "We need to focus on reuniting with the others," As I said that, I sighed softly, reflecting on everything that we'd been through while trapped in this god forsaken place. It was like a horrible scary movie being played on loop for sick twisted shits and giggles.
"I should've stayed with Aria and Lexie..." I murmured softly, guilt washing over me as I recalled how we'd been scattered during the surprise monster dog ambush, "If only we hadn't split up..."
Dick glanced at me in understanding, "None of this is your fault, De," he reassured me as he kissed my cheek while we set off towards the last place Acacia had evidently seen Tim, "We'll find everyone and we'll get out of here, I promise."
~.: Rachel's POV :.~
I grimaced in disgust, attempting to thrust the couple's words to each other out of my memory as I shoved myself away from the computer desk where Justin was rubbing at his throbbing temples. He started making pained noises halfway into his charade as though he couldn't handle just how much of a fight the team was putting up against his manipulation but when I suggested he take a break, he'd irritably snapped at me that he could handle it just fine.
It's his own fault if he messes up the Joker's plans just because he can't control his powers, I thought irritably to myself as I leaned up against the wall while glancing up at the ceiling in annoyance.
"Are we almost done yet?" Joker groaned in exasperation, stretching as he stood from his own seat at the nearest table, "These chairs aren't exactly the comfiest to sit in for hours,"
Justin was about to respond but before he could he let out an agonized groan, slumping against the computer desk, "Agh!"
"Got a headache already from playing your mind games with the stupid kiddos?" Joker cackled, sneering in amusement as I rolled my eyes at him while approaching Justin and tapping his shoulder.
"What's going on, what happened?" I murmured in confusion, "I thought you said you could handle this,"
Justin shrugged me off, plastering his usual cocky smirk on his lips as he forced himself to look me in the eyes, "Of course I can handle it, don't you worry, cutie," he replied smugly and I scowled in annoyance, moving away from him as he sat up a bit, "Just didn't expect the team to actually have the nerve to fight back so much after the mental beat downs they endured prior to this... ughhhh, my head's killing me..."
"Too bad, we don't have any aspirin so better amp up those mind games of yours," Joker grumbled, "I wanna get this finished so I can go back to foiling Batsy's plans again,"
~~ TO BE CONTINUED ~~
Hey, guys, it's me again! It's been a while, shits been crazy lately but yeah. I'll try to write more.
