He soared over Gotham with pride. This was his city. A city he had defended for so long. A city he would die for. It contained his worse enemies, his best friends, and his lovers. But that was all about to change.
Batman landed on a rooftop. He saw a thief snatch a woman's purse. He began to leap down, but something snagged his foot and dragged him back. He threw a bat-a-rang and cut the vine. It was Poison Ivy sitting on the ground. Her hands were behind her back. A cat scratch was across her face, but she did not care. Or maybe she didn't know.
Batman whipped to his feet as the vine fell off. "Ivy, what are you doing?" He asked quietly. Ivy would not answer. Batman approached her. He noticed duct tape on her lips. He took it off.
"Batman," she said with fearful eyes. "He's making me do this. He said he would hurt my her if I didn't."
"Who Ivy? Who?"
"Joker! He's escaped again."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know. He told me relay a message to you. He said that you only had pick one. He wants you to pick between Robin, Commissioner Gordon, and Batgirl."
"Where are they?"
"By the docks!"
Batman rose to leave, but Ivy grabbed his wrist. "Ivy, let go," he said.
Ivy's lower lip trembled. "If I don't kill you, he'll hurt Harley."
Batman pulled his hand away from her. "I won't let it happen."
"You don't understand. I've come way to far to stop."
"Ivy, what are you saying?"
"He told me to kill others. I've already killed Catwoman and Alfred. Your my last target."
"You... What?" Batman pictured all the years Alfred cared for him. All the times Alfred helped him with his career, his homework, his finance, his emotions, his plans. He was a second father. Practically a therapist and butler, Alfred had given such a good feel to his lifethdoAnd now he was gone.
Batman picked her up by the throat. He was going to trow her off the roof. She would deserve it. No one would condemn him. They might even reward him.
But his mother wouldn't tell him to do this. His father wouldn't approve. Alfred would forgive her. And while some people would tell him that this would be the right thing to do, it wasn't. She was only being protective of Harley. She was different than him. But she needed to be dealt with or she would attack him or escape.
He slammed her head against a brick wall. She was out cold. Blood gushed from her forehead. He put a bungie cord on the end of her feet and put her upside down over a sidewalk full of pedestrians. They would call the ambulance. He used his bat-hooks to swing to the docks. He saw four people in the dark. Three were sitting at a small round table. The Joker was standing calmly with his sickly smile etched in his face. Batman landed in front of the table and The Joker's smile became bigger.
"Finally, Bats. It's a pleasure for you to join us. You know, we shouldn't play with weapons. Why don't you sit down and we'll teach this class why playing with guns is dangerous. Playing games are the special things clowns can give, so why don't we play a game for positive reinforcement."
"You're out of tricks clown," Batman said. "Let them go."
"No. You see, I have you're little Commissioner with some friends. If you don't play, he dies. I'm sure bullets fly faster than bats.
Batman sat at the table reluctantly. The Joker put a gun on the table. A revolver. The Joker put two bullets in the chamber. They were directly across from each other.
" We get to learn about other countries today class. Today, we learn a game Russians like to play. They call it, Russian Roulette."
The Joker removed the bags on all three peoples head. It was Batgirl, Harley Quinn, and the Riddler.
"Mr. J... What are you doing?" Harley cried.
"Harley," The Joker smiled. "Don't worry. Nothing bad will happen to you. Unless you live up to the squad you joined. Don't worry."
"Sometimes not right. You're not known to take chances."
"Neither am I predictable."
"Joker," Riddler snapped. "What is the meaning of this? I thought we would be discussing terms."
"Riddle me this. How many what burst from metal and penetrates your head."
"That's not a riddle."
"No, but just like your powers, it's a joke."
"Where's Robin?" Batman asked.
Joker pulled a gun from his suit and shot Barbara in the head. Batman leapt on him and drew back his fist to kill The Joker.
"Ah, ah, ah. Let's not forget about our dear Commissioner."
Batman snarled a low growl. He needed to keep his cool. It was so hard to do, but he could. He punched the ground and sat back down. He passed Batgirl's lifeless body. He grit his teeth as he clenched his fists.
A henchman rushed forward with a blindfolded Robin and picked up the chair Batgirl had fell back in. He put Robin in the chair and and dragged Batgirl back. Joker took off the blindfold. He picked up the gun and pressed it into his hand.
"Pull the trigger," Joker said laughing. "Otherwise the girl dies."
Batman raised his hands. "Robin, wait, she's already-"
Robin pulled the trigger.
