Bruce rubs a hand through his hair, dragging it down his face tiredly, he's thought of every possibility and only one option comes to mind. An option he can't ever imagine accomplishing, yet it's the only one available. Dick and Wally are way beyond saving; he can see it in their eyes. After he finds the surveillance videos of their take downs of the superheroes, he can recognize the glint in their eyes. It's a glint he knows all too well, the glint of insanity the same glint the Joker has. They won't stop maybe in the beginning but now…this is why he doesn't kill. It's too easy to go down that road and once you got down that path it's impossible to come back.

He stares at the screen, stats on Wally and Dick everything he knows about them is on that screen, he needs all the information he can if he's going to beat them. The bigger question is how is he going to beat them? Even if they were just average criminals he still wouldn't be able to end their lives, but they aren't average criminals. They're Wally and Dick, one his son in everything but blood and the other basically a nephew. How is he expected to defeat them? The problem lies in the fact that unlike The Joker they have a plan, a goal, a want. The Joker has none of that he kills because he's bored. Wally and Dick know what they want and will stop at nothing to get it. Maybe just maybe he can incapacitate them so they'll no longer be a threat. Paralyze them…

Bruce shudders at the way his thoughts progress, paralyzing children he practically raised. He knows it's only a matter of time before they seek him out and he needs to have a plan prepared but what could he do?

Wally sits in a chair and stares at Dick saying nothing, doing nothing; he doesn't blink or move he just stares. Dick knows he's staring can feel it, as the hair on his neck prickle but doesn't do anything he won't give him the reaction he's looking for. Wally doesn't even appear to be breathing and Dick twitches before turning around sharply, he has a very short temper now, he always did but he could control better back when he was…back before…the Lazarus Pit.

"What! What do you want! WHY ARE YOU STARING AT ME!?"

Wally blinks startled that's one thing that's change, he's patient eerily silent and quiet and watching all the time, compared to the boisterous self he used to be back when they were on a team. He blinks once more cocking his head at Dick who in turn flushes and curses at himself, once again Wally wasn't staring at him just zoning out in his direction.

"Are you prepared to handle Bruce?" He asks.

Dick freezes, and looks away from giant, green, imploring eyes, "Of course I'm prepared." Though it comes out more as a question.

Wally shrugs and looks away, "Do you think he'll kill us?"

At this Dick snorts and laughs, "He didn't even kill the Joker to avenge us. He's not killing anybody." Dick knows this, he knows Bruce, he knows Batman and most importantly he knows his father.

"A better world. A safer world. Our world. We're so close; all we have to do is deal with Bruce and were done. No more fighting, America is ours we have the supers, controlling the government will be child's play." Wally states.

"Any country that tries to fight us will be crushed. The world is our plaything." Dick agrees and thinks of the future, would Wally still be at his side? What where they supposed to do after they won? How would things change? He frowned pursuing his lips they'd find out soon enough.

Bruce considers not showing up, just to see what Wally and Dick would do if he didn't rise to their baiting. He knows they're waiting for him when reports of seeing mysterious figures on rooftops start pouring in. The only reason he goes is because he wants to end this as soon as possible. He's figured out a way to stop this madness. If he can subdue them and keep them medicated enough maybe he can manipulate them into telling him…he stops as he reaches the rooftop.

The Gotham City Pier where it all started how ironic. Batman straightens up and stands on top of a warehouse thinking back to that day. The day dreams ended, hearts shattered, and children were murdered.

"Pleaseeeeeeee!" Robin begs, sticking out his lip and widening his eyes though it doesn't work very well with the mask on.

Batman answers without even turning around from his work, "No."

"B-"

"No."

Robin looks a like a kicked puppy, but Batman really doesn't have the time or energy to deal with a hyperactive speedster ruining his mansion. He hears fast footsteps and a large slam as Robin exits out of the room and sighs. He considers going after him but ignores the instinct, he has more important things to deal with; The Joker and Harley Quinn have just broken out of prison again.

He picks up a rustle of clothing as his ear twitches and turns around just as Kid Flash and Robin jump down onto the warehouse. He calls them that because that's what they're wearing he inwardly snorts, knowing that they wanted to revoke a reaction from him that might make might harder to fight. It' a nice trick and it works...but not on him.

"Hello Bruce." Dick greets him. There's no expression on his face, just a cold gaze.

"Dick, Wally."

Three hour later with no progress Batman finally gets up too talk to Robin. He hasn't heard a peep from him and assumes he is still sulking, reaching his room he finds no one and goes after Alfred. Alfred however hasn't seen him all day and Bruce inwardly curses his stubbornness wishing he had just talked to the boy. It's late at night and his son is nowhere to be found. Pulling out his phone he can only hope Barry's with him.

Wally says nothing and just looks at him unlike Dick he doesn't have a cold gaze; no he has a curious look as if he's examining him. Nobody moves at first, waiting for someone else to make the first move. Dick takes out his escrima sticks and Wally shifts into a battle stance. Despite the fact that there are two of them Bruce knows he'll be fighting one person, they're practically one in the same. Pulling out a few batarangs Bruce knows he has to be the one to make the first move something he hates.

Bruce races toward them and Dick waits to the last possible second and sidesteps him and smashes one of his sticks into his former mentor's temple, making him stumble. Wally runs forward and sends a speed powered punch into his torso; however Bruce grabs his arm breaking it, only for Dick to slam his fist into Bruce's nose.

"No, they're not with me. Robin called earlier and said you gave Wally permission to come over. It's been a few hours don't worry Bats, they'll show up soon enough."

Batman handed up the phone frowning they weren't with Barry, where on earth could they be?

Bruce growls and throws Wally at Dick sending them both to the ground, sharp batarangs skimming by them as they barely dodged cutting open their cowls. He runs at them and slams his fists into Wally's ribs ignoring the pain yelled that came from his mouth. Turning to Dick he pulled out a batarang pinning his hand to the floor ignoring his yelp.

He knew from the beginning that this wasn't going to be an easy fight and he knew without a doubt that none of them were giving up without giving it their all. Dick shot up throwing three exploding batarangs at him sending him crashing to the floor, before he could get up Wally jumped up landing a punch to his jaw.

Bruce blinked and took a deep breath and spun on the ground delivering kick to Wally's knee with a loud snap making the boy drop to the ground with a loud scream. Dick let out an angry yell and swung at him something he'd been counting on fighting in anger always made them sloppy and grabbed his son's arm and pulled him down bringing his knee upwards. As his eyesight goes fuzzy, he thinks back on another time. Another moment where he was being thoroughly beaten.

Dick can remember everything about that day. He's never forgotten and probably never will. It mocks him; he led his best friend to his death. He was tricked so easily. If he had just stayed home, if he had just sucked up his pride, and called for help. Tears start to roll down his eyes whether from pain or not he doesn't know. All he knows is that he's glad it's raining hard enough to mask his weakness. Weak that's all he's ever been and that's all he'll ever be.

Robin stormed into his room slamming the door ignoring the way the walls shook. 'Stupid Bruce.' He did everything he asked all the time without question and when he wanted to spend time with a friend...It wasn't fair! Wally didn't have to deal with this from The Flash; he always let him come over. Even when Barry said no Wally would still invite him over and Barry would just sigh and let him stay. Robin shot up snapping his fingers that's what he'd do. He'd invite Wally over, and stay out late than it'd be too late for Bruce to send him back. It was only fair, he spent all week studying for the math decathlon, maintaining his straight As, and his other extracurriculars it was about time he took a break.

Opening the door he made his way downstairs, to a park texting Wally to meet him there. As he got there he spotted the hyperactive redhead and grinned. Too bad Roy couldn't join up with them. They spent the day hanging out and just having fun visiting the arcade, pier and various food stands. Walking back to the mansion was where they heard the lady scream. Two seconds later they were suited up and heading down a dark alley.

Dick dropped to the ground like a light, trying to catch his breath and Wally stood up leaning on his good leg and ran at him shoving a taser in his stomach. Bruce jolted and convulsed violently, and Wally paused before tasering him again. The man clenched his teeth, and when Wally paused again grabbed his wrist and snapped it.

He let out a sharp inhale as Bruce kicked him in the ribs adding another cracking sound to the night and sent him hurdling to Dick, who was just standing up. The two if them stood up and Wally grabbed his leg pooping his kneecap back into place temporarily and ran at him ducking under his legs, and appearing behind him. Before he had time to react the redhead stuck his hand in the back of his leg vibrating it fiercely.

Wally doesn't like to think about it...the day he died. Sure he's alive now but he knows the difference between being alive and living. He stopped living a long time ago. He has nightmares about it, he doesn't tell Dick and instead keeps it to himself, and it'll go away...one day. Wally misses his Aunt Iris more than anything in the world; he wants to see her again. He tries not to think about that night but with Batman beating him to a pulp it's kinda hard not to.

"Robs, what if it's like The Joker or something?"

"The Joker's in prison, and besides you and I could probably handle it."

Entering the alley they spotted a woman on the floor hand covering her face.

"Are you alright Miss?" Kid Flash asked taking a step forward, "Do you need help?"

The woman stopped sniffling as she threw her head back into his nose, bruising it. "Haha! Jokes on you!" She smirked ripping off her wig and clothes.

"What the-!"

"Harley!"

"Catch me if you can babies." She said disappearing down the alley.

"Isn't she supposed to be in prison with The Joker? Dude we should go get help."

"No we can handle her." Robin snapped, he was still angry at Bruce and didn't want to talk to him.

"If you say so." Kid Flash shrugged, Rob was his best friend and he wasn't going to leave him alone to chase after two psychopaths. The two of them chased after her, cornering her in front of an old warehouse at the pier.

"Surrender yourself!" Robin shouted.

Harley snickered and mocked him in a high pitch voice, "Surrender yourself." She ran into the warehouse shutting the door behind her.

"It's a trap." Robin stated.

Kid Flash stepped forward, "We can handle her remember?"

"Yeah you're right."

With that the two of them ran in, never to see the light of day again.

"Why is so dark?" Wally hissed out. "I can't see."

At once the lights turned on revealing a figure sitting on a chair, "Hello duckies."

Bruce dropped to the floor breathing hard and looked up just in time to dodge the kick Dick had aimed for his face, instead the kick hitting Wally in his bad knee. Standing up he turned around and slammed his elbow into the boy's head while he was still down and limped over to his son, pulling out a batarang, and throwing it, just barely avoiding Dick's eyes.

Dick lunged at him and Bruce smirked, grabbing his other wrist and breaking it also, pinning him to the floor, ignoring the cries of pain as bone begin to pierce his skin. Using his other fist he began reining his fists into Dick's body.

"Joker."

"Aw you don't sound happy to see me."

"I thought you were locked up in prison.

"You even brought me a friend. How wonderful." He grins clasping his hands together, "This will be fun."

He snapped his fingers and Wally suddenly collapses on the floor a large needle sticking out of his neck, before Robin could move hands were wrapped around his body band a cloth pressed to his mouth chloroform. A sharp pain shooting up his spine brought Robin back to the land of consciousness. He gritted his teeth letting out shape breaths as stars graced in his vision.

"Robin!" Kid Flash stood up running toward him only for the Joker to point a gun at him and shoot at him a thousand needles flying out of the gun. It looked like he took a visit to the acupuncturist. Except these needles had green liquid that was slowly emptying themselves into his bloodstream.

Robin made to move only for the Joker to slam the crowbar on his legs crushing it. He let out a choked gasp making the former grin as Kid Flash fell to the floor and began laughing hysterically.

"That's the spirit. You know bird boy I was only expecting you but then I saw you brought a friend not just any friend Flash Jr. I can't wait to break Jim."

Robin shot up ignoring the pain in his legs and kicked the Joker in the chest hard, sending him flying.

"Mistah J!"

He turned only to come face to face with a mallet before his vision went black once more. 'Bitch.'

They wanted to be psychopaths then they'd get dealt with like psychopaths. This is how he dealt with The Joker and this is how he would deal with them too, as much pain and damage as possible. One hit had Dick gagging and gasping for air as he began to cough up blood, pulling back a fist to deliver the final blow, he screamed in pain, as a terrible burning sensation went through his shoulder and turned to see the speedster yank his hand out of his body.

Damn speedsters were always annoying. Reaching back he grabbed Wally yanking his arm hard and smiled at the pop his shudder made. They couldn't do damage like he could, they were both far to lean and thin. Bruce begins pounding Wally into the roof of the building, ignoring the blood that started pouring down. Dick shifted and he moved back as batarang flew in front of him.

He woke to the sound of something hitting flesh and looked to his left the Joker was beating Wally black and blue The Joker himself was covered with bruises as well as Quinn. He guessed Wally put up one hell of a fight, no wonder he was hitting so hard. Robin made to move but inhaled sharply everything hurt so bad, beating him while he was unconscious talk about The Joker smiled at him aware he was awake and kicked Kid Flash over to him.

"You guys are such...cute... little...sidekicks." He said hitting them with each word.

Batman sat in his chair when a video calk came through opening it he discovered the Joker on screen and glared at him. He didn't have time for this he need t to find Dick and Wally.

"What so you want?"

The Joker let out a grin so big, stretching his mouth. "Haha!" He snickered, "It's not what I want. It's what you want."

Joker moved out of the frame to show the prone bodies of Wally and Dick being beaten by Harley. He could barely hear them groaning in pain they didn't even seem to have enough energy to scream.

"Better hurry, flash baby has been bleeding out for a while now, and bird boy has a few bones sticking out in so many places. You have twenty minutes exactly."

Batman stood up heading out, trying to think of any place Joker could've placed them in before he thought about the video again seeing the ocean outside in the window. They were at the pier, which was on the other side of town. He'd need help and fast, with that he pulled out his phone dialing Barry's number. Batman tightened his hands in the wheel, preparing himself for the worst.

Wally let out a groan and jerked his head up crashing into his already broken nose, and tackled him to the floor. Bruce ended up on top, one of his hands pressed against his throat preventing him from breathing. Just a few more seconds and he pass out and he could deal with Dick. Bruce cursed and turned just as Dick lunged for his neck, and grabbed his arms throwing him over his body and straight on to Wally.

Despite this he smirked and Wally grinned, and Bruce realized that he couldn't move. Was this their mind control, make you aware of everything you were doing but unable to stop it. It was unnerving and humiliating. It was torture to be aware of what your body was doing but unable to control it.

"Why aren't you singing birdie?" Joker asked stroking a bloodied crowbar. "You know I love to hear you sing."

He swung around bringing the crowbar down on a blood-covered body. "How about you Flash Jr? I heard from fellow friends that you loved to talk."

Kid Flash turned on his back staring up at the Joker with hate filled eyes. "Fuck you!"

"Such language from a pretty superhero." Joker grinned slamming the crowbar down on his neck. Kid Flash twitched in pain, gurgling up blood.

"You know Robin. I was only expecting you but when I found out you brought a friend well I couldn't resist." Joker grinned. "Where's that cackle I so love to hear? What's the matter Joker got your tongue?"

Robin glared at him unimpressed, "I rather you kill me than listen to..."

"Can't even finish the sentence. I need some new material. How about some physical humor?"

With that Joker brought down the crowbar on Robin's legs, relishing in the soft scream it brought from him.

"I knew I'd get a song out of you yet. Now I just need one from Flash Jr. over here and I'll be on my way."

Joker turned around again nudging Kid Flash with his feet. "Not dead yet are you?"

"The...Flash is going to kill you."

Joker grinned slamming the crowbar down on his stomach. Kid Flash whimpered twitching in pain. "Atta boy. You finally talked. Very riveting conversation. Flash isn't going to do anything Batman won't let him."

"They'll both kill you." Robin wheezed out, "When he gets here..."

"I'll be long gone before he gets here. All of us will be." Joker hummed, swinging the crowbar down again beating both of the sidekicks to a bloody pulp.

Joker sighed grabbing his crowbar, and throwing it at Kid Flash's body.

"Well kiddies it's been fun." Joker grinned, glancing around the room silence. "Don't stay out too late. Growing boys need their sleep."

With one last kick to Robin's body he was gone slamming the door close. Robin glanced at his friend and bit his lip, this was all his fault. He had dragged Kid Flash to his death.

"Feeling the aster." He mumbled.

Kid Flash lay on his back staring past him, and gurgled coughing up on the blood coming from his mouth. Instead he raised his hand shakily pointing at the wall. Robin turned around hearing the beep twenty seconds left.

"Honor." Kid Flash gurgled.

Robin's face was wet whether from tears or from blood he couldn't tell. He pointedly looked away at the syringes embedded in his arms the only way to keep him down. Kid Flash had a multitude of needles sticking out of his body it was grotesque to look at.

"Yeah it's has been honor." He coughed, stretching out his left his hand and connecting his pinkie with Kid Flash's own.

Kid Flash smiled blood dripping from his mouth and received an equally bloody smile from Robin. This wasn't like the mental exercise they wouldn't be coming back and he do it all over again if he had to. Even chasing after Robin when he went after Joker. It was better to die with company than alone.

Robin raised his other hand tearing his mask off ignoring the sting of glue. Wally already knew his identity but it gave him a sense of comfort. Wally did the same and green eyes stared into blue. Best friends till the very end.

He stayed unmoving over both of them as both boys struggled to get up, that made him smile on the inside at least he had done something, for a second before he thinks of The Joker doing the same. Bruce is no better than them for all that he's done, he sees Dick aiming a kick at his forehead, his son's boot connected with his face, as everything starts to fade.

Even with the last kick to the head, he flutters with consciousness for a few seconds and all he can think about is how he's failed them again. Yet this time he's failed everyone, Barry, Alfred, the team, the League. He's failed the inhabitants of earth and can only hope that they make good no their promise of making the world a better place. As all this runs through his mind a single tear rolls down his cheek as he finally sinks into unconsciousness.

"Batman to Flash come in." Batman tapped his com-link as he raced in the Batmobile. He wasn't going to make it in time but maybe Flash could.

"Flash here what's up?"

There was the sound of grunting and thumping noises.

"I'm kinda busy here."

"I need you to run to this location. It's an emergency." Batman stated.

"Have Superman do it I'm kinda-

"-Joker has Robin and KF-"

The line went static and Batman could only hope that it meant Flash was running. He got his wish as a red blur flew past him. He floored jumping out of the Batmobile and running up to the warehouse. Flash beat him there one hand already vibrating through the door when the building exploded.

Batman covered his body with his cape as Flash was propelled backwards. Batman ran forward moving rubble around, "Please let this be a joke." He muttered.

Flash was up and digging through rubble on the other side when he dropped to his knees.

"Flash what's wrong?" Batman asked, heart racing had this been a set up. He ran over and clutched at his cape.

It was a joke alright and this was the punch line. He picked up Robin's prone body careful of the finger he had hooked with Wally. He had failed; he hadn't been there when Dick needed him most. Batman chanced a glance at Flash who had picked up his nephew and was standing oh so scarily still.

"Barry-"

"Don't Bruce. Just don't."

They were gone, the heart, the youth, they were gone. They had been too late and Joker had gotten the last laugh.

Wally watched Batman go down and turned to Dick. "Now what?"

"Now, we're in charge." Dick answers but he's thinking the same thing, they've won what now?

"We can mold the world to our desires."

"Yeah we can, and anyone who doesn't submit-"

"-We'll take them down."

"We'll take them all down."

Wally and Dick sat on the roof ledge overlooking the city, even if they had to watch the world burn, even if they had light the first match, they would have their paradise, their happily ever after. It didn't matter that their happy ending looked a little bit grim.

People always write stories like these and the bad guys never win well in this they win but in the end they've still lost. Wally and Robin have lost their sanity, innocence, youth, and ideals. There not the same kids who started out with their crusade for peace and justice.