Batman: The Darkest Knight

Chapter 1: The Darkest Night

My life in Gotham was enviable. Though I wasn't part of the wealthy crowd, I had my own apartment and wasn't trying to end the world. I have a job, a place to hang my hat and the unbelievable sense not to piss off the wrong people.

My stay in Gotham started a few years ago. I'd moved him from a rural town in Oklahoma. The city was enticing, especially Gotham University. I was in love with the idea of living in a big city, so much so that the crime rate was not an issue for me. Not as much as it was for my poor mother.

The legend went, and it was true to my knowledge, that there was man. A Batman. He was the protector of the innocent. This legend was only furthered by the emergence of other superheroes around the world, Superman being one of them.

I felt small in a world full of superheroes, as if I didn't matter as much. I guess everyone felt like that. I was part of majority of powerless people. It was then that I decided that I wouldn't be powerless and I took control of the situation. I began practicing martial arts and got well enough that I was able to protect myself very sufficiently.

During the day, I'm a copywriter for Gotham's biggest newspaper, owned by Bruce Wayne. I was lucky to get the job and very gracious to Mr. Wayne for allowing me to have the job, even after I spilled coffee on his very expensive suit.

"You have to be ready if someone comes after you."

I met Matthew Kiddon at the Kiddo Dojo, one of the best martial arts teaching locations in the city. He became my teacher and my best friend all in one fell swoop. He taught me everything and I have to admit, that took a while, me being as dense as I was.

Matthew was a tall man, just older than my twenty four, with shaggy black hair, usually pulled back into a ponytail. He had a perfectly chiseled jawline, which made him look like one of the actors from those old movies. His eyes were the perfect shade of grey, which could seem cold and hard to someone who didn't know him.

I was shorter than him, with caramel skin and short dark hair. My eyes are a dark shade of brown, almost black. The most distinguishing feature I have is my svelt frame, gained naturally. I'm just a normal guy.

"I'm ready."

"You seem to be somewhere else." Matthew said with a vacant smile.

Matthew's father owned the Dojo. He was an elderly man of around sixty, who was still gifted with the ability to move like someone in their twenties. He was bald on top but had hair around the length of his head. The hair was totally grey by now.

"I've just been going through a lot." I said as I took a fighting stance.

He shook his head, "Doesn't matter to a criminal." He frowned.

"Therefore, it doesn't matter now." I nodded.

He softened, "Not what I meant." His voice was still.

"Vale has me copywriting everything at the Gazette." I frowned, "I know, I'm a copywriter, but can I get a break?"

"No." Matt smirked, "It's what you do. It defines you."

"That's just it…it doesn't. I don't feel like I'm doing anything but wasting paper." I said quickly.

"What? What do you mean?" He asked.

I pulled out of my stance, "Batman is a regular guy. Minus a few psychological issues, he's just a guy in a costume with a lot of talent. I have talent." I said quickly.

"Do you?" Matt asked, "You thinking about putting on a cowl?"

"I just feel like there's something I should be doing." I said with as much passion as I could muster, "There's a whole world of pain and crime and I'm…just living it."

"What do you think? You're just going to put on a badly made costume, because you suck at anything with your hands, and traipse around Gotham? Do you know how insane that sounds?"

"Please feel free to keep them to yourself." I chuckled, "Can we spar now?"

"Of course." He said bowing, "Let's do this."

After sparring, Gotham grew dark. A dangerous place for anyone to be alone, so Matt walked me to my apartment, which was a few blocks from the dojo. As we walked, I enjoyed his conversation.

Matt and I tried the dating thing, but it wasn't what either of us expected. Good thing we remained friends. I think us sparring helped us remain friends. We were able to fight any awkward feelings out.

As we walked, I remembered that I had forgotten my cell phone at the dojo. We quickly turned and began to walk back to the dojo. I couldn't go without my phone, especially because of work. I was lost without it.

As we came upon the dojo, I noticed that all the lights were out. This was strange because this is the time when Matthew's father, Jinsu, would take to train and focus his 'chi'. Well, whatever chi he had at sixty.

"That's strange." Matt said quickly, "Dad's usually meditating by now."

I felt as if something was wrong. I immediately felt it and when I heard a thump and the sounds of fighting, I looked to Matt, who kicked down the door. We rushed in to find old Mr. Jinsu Kiddon fighting masked men.

The men moved like the ninjas they were dressed like. They blended with night moved like a steady stream, most in harmony. They were like shadows. There was a specific one, with some sort of crest on him. I could barely make it out, but I wrote it to my memory.

"Hey!" Matt shouted, causing all the commotion to come to a stop.

Jinsu took this time to take out the two figures he was fighting and roll between a group of them, coming into close quarter combat with the ninja with the pendant. The others advanced towards him but Matt shot into action.

I watched in shock as Matt fought off the attackers. The fight was going well until he was overwhelmed. This spurred me into action and I ran towards of the ninjas, jumping the air and spinning into a kick that knocked one of the ninjas away.

I grabbed the ninja closest to me into a monkey flip, throwing him through the glass window out front.

"Finish this!"

The voice of the ninja with the pendant sent a shiver down my spine. I felt cold after hearing his voice. It was cold and deadly, not unlike a serial killer's voice. But there was something more in it. An intent to hurt.

I shifted into second gear and began blocking the multitude of attack, landing a kick in here or there. I saw, through my fight, that Jinsu was losing momentum and I used one of the ninja's attacks to catapult me over them in a flipping motion and kick one of them coming down. He dove into the other ninjas, knocking them back. I got down just in time to see the pendant wearer plunge a sword into the heart of Jinsu.

"NO!" I heard Matt shout as he dove at the masked man, only managing to rip the man's hood off.

I knew this man. He was one of Batman's villains…Ra's Al Ghul.

Ra's Al Ghul reared back, about to do the same to Matt when I pushed my let out in front of me, kicking his sword away. He looked at me with fury in his eyes and shoved me back. He then advanced towards me, causing me to duck under his fist and throw a fist of my own. He caught it but I used the momentum to elbow him. He staggered back, wiping blood from his chin and smirked.

"Aha. So…this is the one." He said, his voice sounded almost as surprised as I was with his words, "Retreat."

The Ninjas stepped back into the shadows and Ra's moved with them. He disappeared into the corner. I felt his eyes bore into me, trying to remember my face perhaps. When I felt his eyes no longer on me, I was sure he was gone.

Matt sat on the curb in front of the Dojo, bawling as they wheeled out his father's corpse. I watched in horror as there was nothing I could do for him. We'd both given our statements to Commissioner Gordon and Detective Bullock, who both seemed more worried than they let on.

I moved to Matt slowly and put my hand on his shoulder. He moved his hand over mine and I smiled down at him. I wanted to say something inspirational or at least worth saying, but nothing was coming out of my mouth.

"He was an old man…he never did anything to anyone." Matt cried.

I rubbed his shoulder, "I know, Matty." I said softly.

I watched as Matt's eyes went wide, "YOU!" he shouted as he jumped to his feet.

I followed his eyes directly into a dark figure with large pointy ears. The cowl and cape locked it in for me immediately.

"This is all your fault!" Matt said moving towards him.

I ran and wedged myself between them, "Matt!" I warned.

"You and your freaks…He was a good man, never did anything to anyone and now he's…dead because of you and that freak!"

"I'm sorry about your father." Batman said in his darkest voice, "I knew him."

"Don't you dare!"

"Matt." I said softly, "Please."

"You two are free to go." Gordon said, "Take him home."

I nodded and grabbed Matt's large arm. I pulled him away, staring one more time at Batman, who seemed to be watching me intently. I pulled Matt away, cursing and yelling at Batman. I felt the need to silence him in some way but knew it was futile. I took him home and put him to bed, listening to his cries.