Demon time I guess- no I don't know how it got to this point either - is to blame for beginning another niche of mine

Did you guys ever read that vampire birdflash fic? I just want to know if someone has experienced that too

Bitches really be using the collars from bel rev as a way to rehabilitate characters that would easily solve the plot...

I'm bitches.

Demons. They existed. It came as no real surprise to anyone that knew Robin that he too was a demon. He was hanging out with Batman and everyone thought he was at least into the occult when he first started out. Robin was the most chill of demons though and he didn't really fit into the whole being evil part. He was more mischievous. His "evil" acts were more to do with revenge on various criminals than anyone who just so happened to come into contact with him. Batman had learned to harness this and taught him well to concentrate his mischievous deviousness into something that was more helpful. Of course, no demon was invincible. But you can bet that when they're back on top, they'll make you pay. 

The team was sitting together, awaiting their next mission, when the topic of the demonic being that was chilling with them came up. "So how do you work?" Artemis asked rather bluntly.

"That's a rather broad question. What do you mean?" Robin responded.

"Well I'm sure I've seen you bleed before but surely demons shouldn't bleed," she clarified.

"I'm in a human body so yeah I bleed. I feel everything a human would too before you ask. I just have a higher tolerance to that stuff," he answered. He didn't mind the questions. He was an open book on the subject since if they tattled on anything he said, they'd be considered outright insane. That was always fun. Every so often he'd let Dick Grayson show some demonic tendencies and he'd joyfully watch as some upper-class twat was discredited right before his eyes. It was honestly a wonderful scene and he'd recommend it to any demon out there. 

"How much salt is too much salt for you?" M'gann inquired. She didn't want to accidentally poison him if she baked him anything. He thought for a moment, genuinely stumped by the question. It wasn't something he really wondered about. It was like asking, how much window cleaner is too much window cleaner to consume. You probably shouldn't be consuming the window cleaner in the first place.

"Well I stay away from the stuff out of habit but I guess more than a handful would be my limit. The body helps me process it better but some bad guys have a habit of rubbing salt into the cuts which really sucks."

"What happens when you do have too much salt?" Kaldur asked.

"Pain like you can't imagine. Usually ends up scarring my skin a bit depending on how it's used and consuming it can make me super sick. I can jump out of my body and stop whoever is using the salt on me but that's the last resort. If you ever see me do that then...oof." He didn't care to go any further on that thought. He didn't fancy going that far. Not now at least. "I can jump out anytime, to be honest, but as I said it's the last resort."

"Like when M'gann brain blasts someone?" Artemis suggested.

"Yeah like that. Only I'm much scarier."

Before they could ask any further on the subject, Batman called for a meeting where he delivered their mission. A simple job. In to get some files that shouldn't be in the hands of the wrong people and out without destroying the place preferably. Of course, the dark knight was well prepared for them to fail with the latter part. Especially with his chaotic protege. Only there was one warning. There was a strong possibility that these people knew what Robin was so they had to be careful not to be caught. It's not that he feared what may happen if they were caught - well that wasn't quite true of course he was fearful of that - he was more fearful of what the team would think. Despite Wally's knowledge and brief dealing with the darker side of their youngest, even he might become frightened. The last thing he wanted was for their trust to be damaged. Even he could be a little put off by Robin's...less than human side. "Robin, a minute," he called as the team walked towards the jet. The younger nodded and waved to the team to keep walking out of the room. He turned toward his mentor with a smile. 

"What's up Batsy?" he asked cheerfully. The older rolled his eyes at the name although it was done with fondness.

"The probability of these people using your other side against you is great and I need you to prepare yourself for that."

"Alright? But I don't see what's got you so bothered by it. I know myself B."

"I know you do but they don't. Not to mention how you get when you're out of your body. I don't want to summon you again."

"It was one time!"

"Once was enough," Batman said. He put a hand on the smaller's shoulder and gave him an earnest look. "I never want to come that close to losing you again."

"You won't. I'll be right back to annoy you." He shook off the man's shoulder, giving him one last mischievous grin, then scampered off to be with his friends. Batman watched with a bad feeling settling in his stomach. Something was going to happen on that mission. He just hoped it wouldn't be awful.

When they got to the site, there was one massive warehouse. The team glanced around at each other since this place didn't match up with what Batman had told them would be waiting. He'd made it sound like they'd be going to a tall office building that looked similar to the ones that towered over the streets of government. This place looked like it was nearly a hundred years old and run down. Vine clung to its walls and some of the windows were smashed up. "Did we get the coordinates right?" Superboy asked. He wasn't too experienced with buildings that held detrimental information but he was pretty sure this wasn't the right place for that stuff. Then again, he could be wrong. 

"Yeah which begs the question - is this a trap?" Robin answered.

"That's a rather pessimistic thought," Aqualad commented.

"It's a rather realistic thought. All I'm saying is we should approach this with much more caution than-" He immediately stopped. A canister had rolled up to him and bumped against his foot. "Shit." Gas suddenly dispersed and filled the air surrounding them faster than they could comprehend what was going on. It infiltrated their lungs and made them lightheaded before they crashed to the floor. 

"Get them inside, I wanna play with the birdie first."

"C'mon birdie, uncle J wants to see what scared the pants off Harley," a voice sang. Kid Flash scrunched his eyebrows together before forcing his eyes open. Everything had a smear filter over it but he could make out purple and red blobs. 

"Well, uncle J is gonna be disappointed." He knew those voices. The taunting tone in the response. The light yet dark tone of the taunting victim. He knew them very well. He blinked a few times and the filter melted away. Joker had been the purple since his suit was predominantly that colour and the red blob was Robin. He had a lot of cuts on him, making Kid Flash wonder just how long he'd been out. He glanced around his immediate area to get a bearing on things. He found that Superboy was the only other teammate awake although he looked like he was only just stirring. He supposed that was for the best judging by Robin's bad shape. A harsh slap echoed throughout the warehouse they'd been dragged into.

"Don't try to make a fool out of me boy."

"I don't have to, you've already done that on your own," Robin replied, a grin planted firmly on his face. He stuck out his tongue and licked the blood trailing from his nose with a sick look in his eyes. There was a suaveness to his actions. A level of nonchalant that none of them could reach if put in the same situation. 

"I know how to get it out of you. It'll be so much fun to see it. I wonder if I can corrupt that side further. Make it strong. Give it a master to serve," Joker continued. His gloved hand brushed some of Robin's black locks away, gaining a grimace from the younger. 

"Sorry, I don't work with bitches."

"Tut tut. If I had soap, I'd wash your mouth out. I suppose this will have to do." He pulled out a white tub from his suit pocket and unscrewed the lid. Robin's teeth gritted together when he realized what it was. Salt. He was in for one hell of a week. 

"Do what you want but I won't serve you."

"Mhm? How can you be so sure when-" he scooped up a handful of salt and shoved it into Robin's open wounds. The young hero let out a scream as his skin burnt. There was even some smoke coming from the area of contact. "I've got your kryptonite right here."

"Bastard!"

"Oh, you hurt me so," Joker said dramatically.

Kid Flash squeezed his eyes shut and tried to block out the screaming. He knew Robin could take it but it didn't make it any more comforting. He pulled against his restraints but he couldn't get out of them. Something was pressing tightly against his neck and judging by his fatigue, it was the collars that prevented his powers from working. Crap. "Where- Robin!" Miss Martian exclaimed once she came too. Her shout mixed in with the screaming woke up the remaining two members who'd been spared from the beginning of the torture but not the worst of it. They cringed at the pained screams and almost gagged on the smell of burning flesh. 

"Still want to hide that dark side from me?" Joker asked mockingly. Robin forced a laugh to put on a brave facade in spite of things. 

"I'm more stubborn than you'd think."

"That's evident," the villain stated spitefully. He glanced over to the group of teenagers trying their best to keep their eyes off the terrible scene. An evil idea popped into his head and a light lit his eyes up that couldn't be trusted. He put down the salt and picked his knives back up. "You're strong, I'll give you that but I wonder if your friends are just as strong."

"Keep your filthy hands off them," Robin ordered. A dark look flickered across his expression yet that didn't stop the Joker from inching toward his friends.

"What're you gonna do to stop me?" He gripped the knife tighter as he got closer and closer and closer-

The lights flickered. Joker paused. An ominous feeling filled the room. Robin's body went limp and a black substance escaped his mouth. It dripped onto the floor and formed a pool of tar-like liquid. It moved away from the body that had acted as a cage and began mutating into some sort of form. They all watched in sick fascination. Somewhere in the distance thunder and lightning began. The black formed legs then lightened into a deep devil red as it formed thighs, a torso, and forearms. Black claws formed, the nails sharp enough to cut through diamonds. As the chest moved to the neck, bat-like wings sprouted from the thing's back. They stretched as though they'd been hardly used and once the head had formed too it snapped to the side to crack its neck. Sharp horns jutted out from the thing's forehead and blended back into the black. Long pointy ears were the next feature to be seen. A giant grin ran along the creature's face before black beady eyes with red pupils snapped open. The creatures stared at the scene before it and cackled. That cackle. Oh God, that cackle. "Robin," Artemis whispered in terror. The furthest light from the group blew its bulb, darkening that part of the warehouse. 

"You asked for the dark side Jokester," the creature presumed to be Robin announced. Another bulb blew. "This is the darkest you'll get." Another bulb. The dark was coming closer. Joker twirled the blade in his hand nervously. "Ya like that? I've got plenty of tricks. Wanna see?" The bulb above the demon blew and all they could see was his red glowing pupils. Black tentacles sprung out from the darkness and wrapped around the Joker. They pulled him into the inky black despite his protests and frantic kicking. Cackles. All the team could hear were cackles. They echoed through the room, sure to continue its echo through their nightmares. 

"Stop!" Joker screamed.

"Oh but I'm having so much fun!"

"Please I'll do anything!" he pleaded. The lights snapped back on. Joker was covered in his own blood from millions of tiny needle-like cuts. His eyes were wide with fright and his whole body shook with terror. 

"Run." The tentacles retracted and the older villain wasted no time running out the door.

Robin cackled even harder as he watched the man leave before turning towards the group. They looked...terrified. Terrified of him. He snapped his fingers and the collars dropped to the floor and their ropes loosened enough for them to shake it off yet their look remained. "What? I got you out of this didn't I?" Robin spat venomously.

"Change back," Aqualad ordered, unease clear in his voice.

"Urgh can't I just stay like this for a few more minutes? C'mon, we can have some fun! Criminals will cower under us! We could control everyone!" he exclaimed. His eyes were wild with glee just at the thought. He brought his hands to his face as they shook with pure excitement. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to see them all run in terror?"

"No of course not!" Miss Martian argued. "That's not why we're heroes." Robin's grin faltered before returning once he got an idea.

"But that's simply because you haven't tried it. Revenge is amazing. There's something so delightful about serving true karma. I won't tell Batsy you broke his little no-kill rule if you don't," he responded.

"Robin, it's time to go back now," Kid Flash told him sternly as he slowly got up. The demon's grin once again faltered, this time his expression turned to frustration.

"No, it's not! You're spoilsports. You don't want to try anything fun!" he shouted. They guessed he was throwing some sort of temper tantrum. 

"You're not yourself. Just go back into your body and we'll go home. Wouldn't you like that?" the ginger bargained. Robin spared a glance at his limp form. He scowled and stamped his foot angrily. The ground shook which knocked the team off their feet. It was then Robin caught a glimpse of Miss Martian's expression. She wasn't just terrified, she was genuinely fearful of him. She thought he was going to hurt her. He searched for the same expression in the others. They all shared it. 

"Maybe you're right," he muttered.

"Yea. You wouldn't want Batman to worry about you leaving your body for too long would you?" Kid Flash asked. The demon shook his head and sighed. "We'll get you fixed up, won't we everyone?" he added, his tone pointed.

"Yeah! I'll make you cookies," Miss Martian offered, her voice trembling.

"Fine, I'll go."

The demon closed his eyes and turned back into the tar-like liquid before retreating to his human body. Robin's body convulsed upon the reunion before his eyes snapped open. He let out a strangled cry as he was thrust back into a world of pain. Kid Flash ran to his side and untied him, hoping that would give him a little comfort. "What happened? Did I kill someone? Please tell me I didn't kill anyone," Robin asked worriedly.

"You didn't kill anyone but you sure gave all of us a fright," Kid Flash told him. He hooked an arm under his armpit and got him to his feet. Though he was still wobbly, he managed to stay upright. 

"Sorry," he responded. He was too tired to say much more. He leaned against the ginger and let his eyes shut for a few seconds too long. 

"Are you okay?" Superboy asked.

"He's just wiped out. The salt isn't helping," the speedster answered.

"Aww he's a tired wittle demon," Artemis joked. The atmosphere in the room was far too tense for her liking.

"Lay off. I'm like a toddler in demon years."

i didn't think i'd love this as much as I do