Killing Joke AU

A slow beginning

Tonight was a bad night to be a police commissioner. Especially if you got a psychotic, pasty face maniac bearing down on your head. Out of everyone in Gotham, even his own obsession with Batman, Joker decided to target Jim Gordon.

Now, because of that, Jim was in his apartment with seven cops and a Robin. Jim looked from his seat in the living room to the young boy standing at the largest window in the living room.

“Why don't you sit down, son? You can't stand up all night,” Robin made no move to look at the Commissioner before replying,

“The Old Man said to keep you safe. That's what I'm doin, Commish.”

Jim released a quiet sigh. He expected that type of answer but he'd really hope the kid would take him up on his offer. Jim felt his fingers twitch, wanting a glass of scotch. All the booze was taken, though, in case someone had sabotaged it. Jim opted to run his fingers through his graying red hair instead.

He thought about his daughter Barbara. She was sent to a friend's house, Steph or something, he couldn't recall her name at the moment. Mainly because Joker might hit the Gordon home first. But just in case they sent a few discreet cops to take watch at the friend's house. Jim glanced at his watch.

“Almost time for the shift change,” he remarked mainly to himself. Robin, who hadn't moved from the window the last time he checked, moved his head slightly in Jim's direction.

“Are you gonna keep constant vigilance all night?”

“Yeah,” the second Boy Wonder cheekily said. Finally, he moved, facing Gordon for the first time since he'd came to the Gordon residence.

He was young, about 14-15. He changed the original Robin outfit. Gone was the leotard and pixie boots. He exchanged the pixies for dark green combat boots and a dark red suit that fully covered his arms and legs.

Even the cape changed. It was now green with a yellow underbelly, as though honoring the original costume. The mask changed colors as well, from black to green. Robin let his hair have a ruffled look, compared to his younger days when it laid flat on his head.

He acted much different than his predecessor as well. Where the first Robin smiled and made jokes on whim, the second seemed more down to Earth. As though he had seen things at a young age that made him lose his childhood. He did smile and laugh as well, but that was depending on the situation. It made Jim think that he probably came from Crime Alley. Why Batman would take in someone who'd stab him in the back eventually, he didn't know. But if Batman trusted this child with keeping Jim safe, he would trust him too.

“Not to sound rude or anything, but where is Batman?” Jim asked the question that was but on his mind since the first half hour Bats didn't show. Robin dropped his smirk, adopting a more serious persona.

“Tracking down Joker. Seeing if he can hit him before Joker hits you,” Jim nodded grimly.

After a beat, Robin turned towards another window, his gaze not wavering as he scanned the city block. Jim got up and got a book from one of the shelves.

‘Not gonna just sit around and be bored while waiting for the reaper,’ Jim thought as he presented the book face to Robin, who had suddenly turned, batarang in hand, when he heard the Commissioner stand.

“Want me to read you a story while we wait?” Jim said jokingly. Robin gave him a small smile as he put the deadly weapon away.

“Nah. I'm good,” Jim shrugged as he sank back into his seat on the couch and began to read.

Let me know if you want more.