Chapter 107

Ladybird/Marinette's P.O.V:

I could hardly see straight through my own vision as my laughter began to intensify. The only thing that really kept me clam was Damian's thoughts inside my own head. At some point though, Batman and Red Robin joined the fight around me.

"Ladybird, are you okay?"

I looked over to see that it was actually the Riddler who was talking to me as he began to untie me from the chair.

"Why... are you here?" I asked between laughter.

"To help, obviously." He said as he finally got my feet free. "Everyone else should be here any second now. Looks like Joker had contingency plans. His whole arsenal is coming."

"I need... to... help."

"I'm not really sure you can." Riddler said as he untied the last binding to set me free.

I tried to stand up but instead ended up falling to the ground in a heap of laughter. Slowly, I rolled over onto my back to stare up at the ceiling and watched Damian's point of view. It looked as though he was just outside fighting with a group of Joker's men along side Catwoman, Nightwing and Red Hood.

"Ladybird." Batman's voice boomed over everyone else's. "I'm going to need you to try to control your breathing."

"I... I'm trying." I said, but my laughter was clearly out of control.

"This gas isn't the same kind he usually goes for." Red Robin spoke up from the other side of the room. "The toxins aren't deadly. This seems to only induce uncontrollable laughter."

"Well that's good news then." Harley spoke up right beside me. "Move it, Riddler." She pushed the man out of my view so she could get a better look at me. "Hiya, girlie. Everyone is outside now. I'm pretty sure they will make quick work of those goons out there. I sent Red to go help." She held up my yoyo. "Batman also said to give this back."

"Thanks... Harley."

"Aw, its no big. That laughter sure is a pain though, huh?" She smiled softly at me before hooking the yoyo around my waist for me. "My best guess is that it will only last a half an hour max. Mista J has a whole stockpile of that stuff just outside. I think that he was plannin' on keeping ya gassed up for days."

"Disgusting." Riddler said beside me.

"You never had much of a problem with Mista J before. Did he cross some line this time, Ed?" Harley raised an eyebrow at the man.

"Clearly, Harley."

As the two were talking, I noticed that Damian seemed to finish up with the men he was fighting with. I could feel his absolute urgency to make his way to me as quickly as possible. Harley must have caught sight of him as he walked in because she abruptly quit her talking with the Riddler to stand up and drag him out of the way.

I could see Damian looking at me through his point of view. I had to admit that I didn't look great. It looked as though I was crazed with laughter. In many ways I was but my mind was still working fine. I could tell that this was the only factor that was allowing Robin to keep his cool.

"Hello, Ladybird." Robin knelt down beside me with a sad smile. "I'm sorry I'm late."

"I'm sorry... I'm making you worry." I spoke again through the laughter. "I promise I'm fine."

Robin instantly felt the feeling I got from looking at his sad face so he immediately tried his best to neutralize his expression. "The police are on their way. We need to get you out of here so they don't see you like this. Batman agreed that I should take you home in the Batmobile."

"I do... love riding... in the Batmobile." For the first time throughout this whole experience, I gave genuine laughter. Although it only seemed like Robin only knew that. "Where is Joker?"

"Harley probably gave him a concussion with that bat she broke over his head. Batman has him tied up and he's keeping guard to make sure none of us go over there to try to kill him. Although at the moment, I have more important things to worry about." He looked down at me softly.

Without another word, Robin gently scooped me up and began to walk me towards the exit.

"You take good care of her, Robin." Harley waved. "Nice kitty ears by the way. Looks good on ya!"

Robin ignored her comment and quickly walked me to the Batmobile and set me inside. After buckling me up, he made his way over to the drivers' seat and started up the engine. Not long after, we quit sharing our vision.

"You know," Robin spoke up after silencing his own comm. "if it wasn't for the circumstances, your laughter would actually be enjoyable."

"How long... have I been... laughing anyways?"

"14 minutes." He glanced over at me for a moment before focusing on driving again.

I could feel the guilt coming off of him.

"This... isn't your fault."

"Perhaps. That doesn't negate the fact that the psychopath still got ahold of you. It should have never happened." Robin said with anger in his voice.

"Robin." I reached over to grab his hand. Though I was still laughing, it seemed to have calmed down a tiny bit. "Being angry at the situation... won't solve anything, trust me." I take a deep breath between laughter. "If anyone should be angry it should be me."

"You don't have an angry bone in your body." He finally smiles over at me.

"I try not to." I giggle.---------"Do you think you can walk now?" Robin asked after pulling into the cave. "Your laughing doesn't seem as severe.

"I think so." I chuckle before stepping out of the vehicle.

"Oh, it's great you see you." Oracle says from the bat computer. "Come sit down. The police just arrived and everyone is giving their statements. Shouldn't be too much longer until the team heads back this way."

I look over to the table to see Kori and Alfred already there with Kaalki nervously munching on sugar cubes.

"Good to hear." I manage to say with a straight face before reluctantly laughing again. "Man, I really tried to hold that in."

"You're getting better at it so I call that progress." Robin says as he lead me to the briefing table.

"Go ahead and detransform." Oracle said. "I know Red Robin already got a sample of the laughing gas at the scene but I want to get a blood sample before the toxins completely leave your body."

"Right." I giggle. "Spots off."

I had almost forgot that I had a mental connection to Damian. It wasn't until it was suddenly stripped away from me after my detransformation that I was realized I was getting a protective feeling from him.

"I'm so glad you are okay, Marinette!" Tikki said after reappearing.

"It will take a lot more than that to take me down, Tikki."

"I hope you don't mind needles." Oracle said as she pulled out a small needle with a syringe.

"I'll try to keep still." I said as I held my arm out.

"Just in case, Robin I want you to keep her arm still for me." Oracle rolled up to me.

Robin kept my arm completely still as Barbara drew some blood. Instead of wincing like I normally would when stuck with a needle, I instead laugh at the pain.

"I'm sorry." I giggle at my own reaction.

"You don't need to apologize, Angel." Robin shook his head.

"It just feels so odd laughing at the completely wrong times." I watched as Barbara put a bandage on my arm where she just drew blood.

"At least you aren't laughing nonstop anymore." Barbara grinned at me before running the blood sample through the bat computer. "I would imagine that that was even more annoying."

"It was." Both Robin and I answered in unison. Robin already knew exactly how I felt.

The two of us looked at each other briefly before laughing.---------"Welcome back, everyone." Barbara greeted when everyone returned to the cave.

"You okay, Sunshine?" Red Hood asked the moment he caught sight of me.

"I fine. I just giggle here and there when I shouldn't." I grinned at him.

"We have much to discuss." Batman said. "Everyone come sit for debriefing."

Once we were all seated, Oracle started it off. "Unfortunately, today didn't go quite as planned."

Just then, I giggled and immediately slapped my hand over my mouth. "Sorry." I whispered. "Please continue."

"Anyways." Barbara said with a smile. "I am happy to say that we did make it out relatively unscathed. We still aren't sure exactly how the Joker escaped Arkham but we now have police stationed just outside his cell. Their body cams will always be on and both the GCPD and ourselves can view it at any time. Batman." She looked over at him to continue.

"The Joker really pointed out a weakness our team has tonight. That's why I've asked Lucius for some help. We will all be getting new heat vision goggles soon enough. That would have been a simple solution to the problem we had today."

"Lucius is the one who makes all of our equipment." Robin said probably since he saw the confused face I had.

"Yes." Batman nodded. "I'm also having him build a simple utility belt for both of you to use while transformed. You will get more details on it when it's ready. Other than that, I want to commend everyone on keeping relatively calm in such a stressful situation." The caped crusader turned his attention solely on the bluenette. "Especially you. You never faltered once while in the Jokers captivity. Some of us might not have done as well as you have."

I was about to say my thanks but another laugh escaped my mouth instead. "I'm so sorry." I giggled nervously. "That was really rude."

"Don't apologize." He smiled back at me.

"Wow." Red Hood chuckled. "This is the one time you can laugh directly in Batman's face and not get in trouble for it."

"I can't control it." I glared at him.

"What do you think the Joker was planning on doing with her?" Kori spoke up.

"I'm not 100% sure and I hope to never find out." Nightwing said.

"I think we have all been through enough today." Batman took is cowl off. "Let's go ahead and call it quits here. Some of us need a good night's rest."