The night was cold. The Batman sat perched on a gargoyle overlooking Gotham city bank, eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the street below. The police had received an anonymous tip-off earlier in the evening, and though Commissioner Gordon had the situation in hand, he couldn't see the harm in coming along to ensure everything ran smoothly.
He opened his eyes sharply. He was suddenly aware of a presence on the roof with him.
"Hello Batsy, or should I call you Brucie?"
Batman turned and looked at the Joker.
"I don't get it."
"Oh now Brucie, let it go already. The game is up. Your not-so-secret identity has been revealed. The tip-off was a set up to get you out of the house, you really should work on your social life..."
Batman knew the Joker well enough to know he had 3-4 minutes to plan a way out of this situation while the Joker was monologuing. He eyed up his surroundings, calculating wind speed, analysing trajectories. But then the Joker said something that Batman did not expect, and needed his full attention.
"Alfred.." Batman repeated quietly.
"Ah, so you were listening Brucie, I thought you would be doing that weird creepy adding up thing you do to find a way out of the situation. Yes, old Alf was particularly amusing, begging for his life. But, as I told him, what kind of criminal would I be if I went around sparing people's lives? So I got my knife and cut him just above the..."
The Joker was cut short as he was pushed up against the wall, Batman's hand closing around his neck.
"Now now Brucie, no use crying over spilled blood..."
The gloved hand closed tighter around The Joker's pale throat.
"Brucie....careful...you wouldn't...want to break one of...your..little rules..., would you?"
Bruce Wayne approached the Joker until his face was an inch away.
"I may be crossing a line"he whispered."But you crossed it first."