The rain poured down over Gotham City, the clouds obscuring the night sky, tarnishing the starlight. A lone Bat-Signal shone onto the blanket sky and people everywhere would look up to it as a sign of hope. A sign that someone was watching over them. That maybe they weren't alone. But crime had a different plan, and one that would not be satisfied until the city was burning and screaming out for salvation. On this particular, normal night, Bruce Wayne had just finished his night patrolling. Of course, the city saw that Batman had. the billionaire still maintained his secret identity. His no killing rule was one that he lived by, but that didn't stop him returning with blood on his knuckles. The bruises on his skin a constant reminder that the city would never be without crime. Batman lived, as a symbol, to protect the city from injustice.

Meanwhile, Malandra watched the city from her bedroom window. She'd grown up in the local orphanage after her father had been killed in a car accident, having been ran over by someone trying to escape the Caped Crusader. She always had that twinge of resentment when she saw that glowing beacon among the stars. "False idol" she spat at the sight. The TV flickered and talked in the background but her mind was full of rattling and whining thoughts. She couldn't single out any through the dense noise, and it felt as though she was in a crowded room with everyone shouting to get their voices heard. She turned to look at the TV, the moonlight now shining through her window.

"I'm Mike Engel for Gotham Cable News. The news tonight: Crime has been on the low as of recently as many of Batman's notorious rogues are currently residing in Arkham Asylum. However, this does not mean that you can not be prepared. Many villains tend to escape so we advise you to be in your homes before nightfall" the aging news-reporter nodded at the camera, making life seem way more positive than what it actually was. Being cared for by a masked vigilante isn't perfect, and it's ruining the city, she thought to herself. The villains were winning.

There was a loud and sudden banging noise. Malandra rushed to her window to witness a large amber explosion in the direction of Amusement Mile, the flames reflecting in her eyes. As she squinted, she could make out green and purple sections, and immediately thought of Joker and Harley Quinn. She'd seen them on the news. Even at the tender age of 16, she knew a lot. Malandra, despite the relentless bullying of her fellow classmates, happened to be very clever. She told her teacher that she'd be as clever as The Riddler someday, but that resultyed in a trip to the Principal's Office. She snapped back into watching the explosion, and watching the police cars rush past the orphanage. She could see both Batman and Robin out of one eye, and Nightwing out of the other. Turning to her TV again, she watched as the news flicked to the scene. Finally, something good to watch.

"It's Joker" Nightwing informed Batman, who had reached the scene of the smoldering inferno after him. "He blew this place up, and fled. Either that, or this is only the beginning" he added, holding both of his Eskrima Sticks. "I'm glad you both turned up though!" he chuckled, looking at the Boy Wonder who glared up at him. "And hi, Robin..."

Just as the trio of heroes began to talk, Commissioner Gordon walked over to them. He ran a hand through his greying hair and was holding a walkie talkie, with voices of various cops blaring through it. "Definitely Joker. We managed to catch him and he's already on his way back to Arkham. We managed to find something unusual about this act thought, something that was left for us to find"

"What do you mean?" Batman asked, looking at the Commissioner. "Let me see"

The Commissioner handed over what appeared to be a Joker card, but Batman noticed that something was wrong with the card. Instead of being dirtied, or ripped, or even the slightest bit funny, it was immaculate and new. "This is not like Joker" Batman added, in his husky and broken voice. "Someone must be framing him"

"Or maybe he's just making it seem that way" Nightwing added, looking at the card. "Could be a double bluff" he passed the card onto the Dark Knight.

"I know Joker. This isn't him." Batman replied sternly, handing the card back to Gordon. "Get this analyzed. At least then we will have a lead to go off of. Did everyone get out ok?" he asked, looking towards the dying fires. Luckily, the fire department had shown up quickly. The police commissioner walked back over to his team and Nightwing looked up at his previous mentor as everybody else left, leaving the three alone.

"I can see it in the way you are. Something's wrong" he asked the Batman, looking Bruce Wayne in the eyes. Nightwing had once been the first Robin, and it could be said that he knew Batman more than any of the others. Damian scowled up at Dick who merely scowled back.

"I'm fine. I just can't deal with the villains playing cruel games at the moment. It's hard enough with their constant escaping, but having them get worse..."

"You'll be fine dad" Damian nodded. "We'll get them"

"I know. I know" Batman nodded, looking towards Nightwing. "Stay safe"

Nightwing chuckled. "Only if you try to. I just can't help myself" he grinned, before disappearing back into the shadows. The dynamic duo made their way home, with the silent night filled only with the cracking of the occasional embers from the fire that still thrived, though not violent enough to restart the blaze.

Malandra turned off her TV and shut the curtains, before smiling to herself. That was interesting.