I don't patter

Undeserved Punishment

Characters: AK!Jason Todd, AK!Joker Word count: 607 Warnings: Torture, blood, emotional manipulation

“What was that?” Joker asked, mockingly. “I couldn’t hear you.” 

Jason’s body lay limp on the cold tile floor, eyes rolling in his head as he nearly fell unconscious due to pain alone. He wished he’d succumb to that, just to make it stop. It wasn’t the first time that thought crossed his mind, though it was rare that he was ever granted the courtesy.

Joker’s words almost sounded distant as it felt nearly impossible to focus on them, overtaken by the excruciating sensations all over his body. He couldn’t bear to move, nevermind garner the coherence to speak a second time. Just the day before Joker had taken a bone saw to him, today it was the crowbar. It seemed to be his favorite. 

Eyes clamped shut, Jason groaned, mind blank, but all ceased the second he heard Joker take a step closer. His body tensed; his arms instinctively flew up to guard himself as he let out an unrestrained whimper. 

Joker crouched down, harshly grabbing Jason’s cheeks, cruelly yanking his head sideways to face him. Jason’s lips parted slightly from the pressure and remnants of blood from his freshly broken nose seeped out onto his cheek, the rest already swallowed, making his stomach ache. 

Joker’s mouth twisted into a crude smile. This was a game to him. “You’re going to have to speak a little louder, Toddy.” 

Unimpressed by Jason’s lack of response, he shoved his face away from him, taking note of the blood that had run onto his glove. He clicked his tongue and carelessly wiped it off on his pant leg as he stood, before comedically gripping the crowbar with both hands, twirling it as if it were a baseball bat. There was a jovial tone to his words, as if he knew exactly what response he would get from them. “Well, I guess we’ll have to try this again.”

Jason’s hands sprung up in front of his face in a silent plea for him to stop, violently shaking with adrenaline. “No… no…!” he begged. 

Joker’s lips curled with pleasure in response to the sudden fear in Jason’s eyes. Exactly what he was looking for. His voice got a twinge deeper, more menacing. “Then say it again,” he demanded. “How do you feel about all of this? Really tell me.”

Fighting against his body’s responses to the pain, its power mentally pulling him in all directions, self-preservation pushed Jason to give Joker what he wanted. “I deserve it...!” he said, his words laced with desperation. 

He swallowed hard and said it again, even louder for good measure, more conviction in his voice as he did so. "I... deserve it." 

Joker looked on with satisfaction, rewarding Jason by tossing the crowbar aside, the sound of it striking the tile making Jason flinch. "Now that's more like it!" Joker applauded, gleeful in his praise. 

Jason let out a small sigh of relief, though remained apprehensive until Joker turned his back to him and began walking away. Finally, he closed his eyes, body curling up as he rolled onto his side, still hoping for unconsciousness to take him.

Jason was so close to being granted reprieve, but Joker's game wasn't over. Not yet. 

Joker’s smirk grew; eyes gleaning in the light of the world just outside Jason’s prison as he approached the door. His voice deepened again and the words he spoke were chosen carefully, insidiously preying upon an insecurity he knew Jason had to have. Words he knew would eat away at him, revoking any possibility of peace of mind even after he left. 

I wish I could give you a definite answer, anon. Unfortunately, I can’t. I’ve tried really hard to see if he does, and I think he just might!! It’s tough to say.

In this photo you can make out a lot of the little details on his face, including the redness in his eyes, his eyelashes, some of his less-prominent scars, and – yes – what appears to be freckles! Or at the very least, maybe a few birth marks. 

I also noticed what might be freckles on Jason’s Red Hood character model, beneath his mask, despite the fact that his face isn’t fully rendered. 

Here’s a closeup of that right cheek. It really does look like there are some freckles there!!