A/N: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD MORNING FANFICTION!
Ok so I have been on a LONG hiatus as of late and to be honest, I had lost inspiration for my fics. But recently Anonymous Quincy and I had been hanging out and we came up with the idea for this neat crossover. So without further ado, lets dig into Batman: Aura of Fear.
Disclaimer: Neither I nor Quincy own Batman or the new….."visitors" to Gotham city.
It was a quiet morning in Gotham, the sun shining brightly through the windows of Wayne Manor and Bruce reading through the morning paper when a knock sounded on the door. Alfred answered it and was greeted by a very peculiar sight. A teenage boy with leathery white skin and the scar of a cut in smile across his face. His eyes were rimmed in black, probably the remains of what happened to eyelid-less eyes and black hair down to his shoulders, accompanied by a young woman in a police uniform, hair tied back in a bun and cold eyes locked on the boy, though she spoke first.
"Good morning, I'm officer Natalie Drake, would we be speaking to the master of the house?" she asked, making the boy glare in the opposite direction, though he seemed more uncomfortable then angry.
"I'm afraid not. Master Wayne is not up at the moment. Can I be of service?" the butler answered. He was lying of course, but Bruce could do without the sight of the boy at the moment.
"I'm afraid not, it's required that Jeffery here speaks only to the head of each household." the officer elaborated.
"What seems to be the problem?" Bruce asked, looking from the butler to the cop before his eyes set on Jeff.
The police woman looked up at him and smiled.
"I'll take you you're Mr. Wayne?" she asked, Jeff looking up at Bruce and then looking away again.
"Bruce Wayne," he smiled, holding out his hand, "And who might you be?"
"Natalie Drake, I'm Jeffery's parole officer." she explained, shaking the other's hand, "This is Jeffery Woods, he was just released from the psych ward in his home town and came here for parole in hopes of getting a fresh start. However, state law mandates that he needs to introduce himself to everyone in the area where he'll be living so they know that while he was declared sane, there may be some risk to him."
Again, the teen shifted, clearly not wanting to be the center of attention.
Bruce turned his gaze on the teen, before nodding at the officer.
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention officer. Is there anything else you need of us?" he asked, looking from her to Jeffrey.
"Just for Jeffery to read the paper I gave him." she replied, looking sternly at the younger boy.
Removing the folded paper from the pocket of his hoodie he began to read.
"My name is Jeffery Woods, and I just recently moved into 22 West Henry Street and by state mandate have been required to inform you that I have just been released from the asylum in the town of which I had previously lived. While declared sane and capable of being released back into society, I am still under house arrest until further notice and may only leave the house accompanied by my parole officer. There is no need for alarm, and if any problems or concerns arrive please feel free to speak with Natalie Drake or any of your local Gotham Police."
Having said his piece, the teen returned the page to his sweater pocket and continued to stare at his shoes.
Bruce nodded, "Thank you Jeffrey."
He turned to Natalie, "What made you decide to bring him here to Gotham? This isn't the best city in the world to raise someone like him."
"I realized, but it was also the only city I could find that wouldn't shun him for the scars on his face and his lack of eyelids. It may be a gamble with his mental health, but there's no other choice when anywhere else would shun him at a glance." the officer explained, the look on her face showing that she knew it was lose-lose no matter where they went.
"I see." Bruce replied looking at Jeff, "Well thank you for bringing the matter to our attention Natalie."
The officer nodded, then led Jeffery back to the squad car, driving away and leaving the two alone at the doorway.
"Well Master Wayne, it seems Miss Drake has picked the wrong city to rehabilitate that young man." Alfred said, shutting the door as Bruce made his way over to the grandfather clock, turning the hands to 10:48, the exact time that his parents were gunned down in Crime Alley all those years ago. The clock swung open, revealing the hidden staircase to the batcave.
"I hope Master Bruce, you do not intend to go after that boy during your…evening excursions." Alfred asked as Bruce sat himself down in front of the Bat computer.
"I need to know what he's capable of Alfred. If this city has taught me anything, it's that it reveals the monsters true nature. Give him time and it will turn Jeffery Woods into another of the madmen locked up in Arkham." Bruce replied, "I'm sweeping every known criminal database for a Jeffery Woods."
There was a pause before the screen filled with articles of mysterious killings, all linked to one alias: Jeff the Killer.
"Jeffery Woods was detained over a year ago for the murder of a young child. Apparently this wasn't the first time he visited the town and the police just managed to take him into custody. He's been linked to the mysterious serial killer named Jeff the Killer."
"How original." Alfred replied dryly.
"Jeff the Killer has been wanted for hundreds of murders all across the country. Men, women, and even children Alfred. I need to keep a closer eye on him. As long as he remains in Gotham, he's a potential threat to the city." Bruce said, his eyes scanning the various articles.
[Magic time skip]
Later that night….
Taking another glance back at the door, Jeff finished lacing up his shoes and set the alarm on his watch. He wouldn't go far, he just needed some air and didn't want to listen to Natalie nag him about having to make a good impression. Besides, he had set his alarm so that he would have plenty of time to make it back and he was safer alone anyway. He heard stories of how dangerous Gotham City could be at night, so made sure he had the kitchen knife well hidden in the pocket of his hoodie before slipping out the window and raising his hood.
Taking a breath of the crisp night air he sighed. He could still hear the voices. Perhaps if he walked for a bit then the voices would leave him alone until he could get to a doctor and increase his prescription. Picking a random direction he started to walk, practically invisible on the still active streets of the city.
He had been walking for quite a long while before finally looking around and realizing he wandered too far. Internally cussing, he turned into an alley so he could check the GPS on his phone and find his way back, however what he saw there caught his attention and made his stomach drop.
Three dead bodies, all brutally murdered and blood staining the walls of the alley and the ground beneath them. And he was standing right there with a knife in his pocket and a criminal record.
"Shit." he deadpanned, hearing the sirens already approaching.
Before he even turned around, a tall shadow loomed over him, black gloved hands grabbing fistfuls of Jeff's hoodie, before he felt them being pulled skyward.
Batman tied the line to Jeff's ankle and securing him over a ledge.
"I'll be back for you." He growled, jumping off with his cape flared out, slowing his fall into a gentle glide.
Batman landed among the bodies, scanning the crime scene. Apparently they were taken by surprise, but managed to put up a struggle. As he checked the corpses, he noticed none of them contained lacerations from a blade. One was bludgeoned to death with a blunt weapon, and he spotted a bloody pipe that had been ripped from the wall. The other two were killed differently, one with their neck snapped, but the other sight made his stomach turn, but he didn't show it. The other was ripped apart, almost limb from limb.
"Jeff couldn't have killed these people, not unless he had some help. He hasn't a single drop of blood on him, and the knife is clean. Time to get some more information." He said quietly, firing a grapple line which pulled him back to the roof.
Meanwhile a few yards above, Jeff tried to get his bearings. This was not how he had planned his first evening in Gotham to go. He was dangling from a building, the voices were getting louder, he had been caught at a murder he didn't commit, and the worst part was he recognized the style of murder that was used, but couldn't place a name and face with the murder style. The teen shook his head, trying to ward off the dizziness at the blood rushed to his head and tried not to look down, as he didn't really feel like throwing up tonight.
There was a blur of grey and black as Batman grabbed Jeff by the leg, cutting the line before tossing him onto the roof of the building. He advanced on Jeffrey before holding the knife for the boy to see.
"Isn't it a little suspicious to be carrying this around in your pocket?" he asked, turning the blade over in his hand.
"Not when you've researched how this city is at night." The other replied, his voice wavering ever so slightly.
"You've already been in and out of rehabilitation for your past murders Jeff the Killer." Batman continued, "I've done my research on you as well. You belong with all the other madmen in Arkham Asylum."
Jeff's already wide eyes seemed to widen more before he grabbed his head and turned to run as fast as his legs would carry him.
With a flick of his wrist, Batman threw a pair of bolas which flew at Jeffrey before wrapping around his legs, immobilizing him long enough for the caped crusader to grab him again.
"Now what were you doing?" he growled, holding him over the edge of a building.
"I wasn't doing anything, I swear! I was just walking and was actually just stopping to find my way back!" he answered, trembling heavily.
Batman narrowed his eyes in a menacing glare, "There may not be blood on the knife, but you have a very detailed history of random killings."
"I didn't kill them, I swear! This isn't my killing style! But I do recognize the style! I really do, I can't think of the name of who's it is, but I can figure it out, I swear!" the teen gasped out, glancing down at the ground below and instantly regretting it as his trembling began anew, the voices in his head urging him to break the other's arm and escape.
"Who did it?" he growled, shaking him roughly.
"I don't remember the name or face, but I know it's someone I know! You have to believe me!" the teen replied, near-frantic at the possibility of falling to his death for a crime he didn't commit.
Batman narrowed his eyes, dropping Jeff back on the roof. "You're staying with me. Tell me everything that you know about your criminal companions."
His eyes narrowed in a glare and the teen rose from the ground.
"You're insane if you think I'll just willingly tell you everything I know. I'm not a snitch and I have to get home before my parole officer realizes I'm not in bed." he countered, deciding that he didn't really care much for this freak in a cape.
"I could drop you from the roof Jeff if you refuse to cooperate." He growled.
If he wasn't going to cooperate, he would have to take action. Any information he could get to help solve the murders was worth it.
"You don't have the guts." he growled, though he moved towards the center of the roof to be as far from the edges as possible.
That's when it clicked in the older man's mind. This famed recovering killer was afraid of heights.
Faster than the teen could follow, Batman fired a grapple line at his legs, with the line wrapping around Jeff's left leg. Grabbing him by the hoodie, he held Jeff over the edge once again. While Jeff was too busy worrying about his predicament, Batman secured the other end to the concrete at his feet, where it was hidden by his cape.
"Tell me what I want to know, or else your parole officer is going to be picking you up at the hospital!" he threatened.
Again, the teen was trembling heavily, holding on to the caped crusader's wrist to add some extra assurance that he wouldn't fall.
"You can't do this to me, I'm innocent!" he argued, eyes darting down then back at the other's face after taking in the height of the drop.
"Considering what I've heard about you, you are as far from innocent as the Joker." Batman growled, letting go and letting Jeff fall for about 20 feet before the line stopped his fall.
Gasping in fear and shaking heavily, he looked back up at the other, eyes filling with tears.
"Ok, ok! I don't know for certain, but I think it may be someone I knew before I was caught and institutionalized. I don't know which one, but I'll tell you whatever you want about the ones that it could be!" he finally relented, no longer hiding his blatant fear.
Batman pulled him up and cut the line, " Tell me right now and tell me about all of your friends."
Taking a moment or two to breathe and try to calm his tremors, he finally started to talk, not looking the other in the eye.
"I knew a lot of psychopaths and murderers in my hay day. Th-there was Laughing Jack, he's a clown. Insane, and can disappear at will. An imaginary friend that somehow manifested. Th-then there's Eyeless Jack, a bit- a bit of a wanderer that one. H-he wasn't human, had to keep harvesting organs from living hosts to survive, but he still killed if he had too. Th-then there was BEN. I never knew much about him, o-only met him a handful of times. I-I think he was trapped somewhere. Then there's the Operator and his proxies, Toby Rogers, Kate, Tim, and Brian. They go by Ticci-Toby, the Chaser, Masky and Hoody. All dangerous, all deadly, all human, except the operator. He was by no means human."
He paused again, still breathing heavily before continuing.
"The operator went by another name too, a name I don't dare say. Don't want him knowing I'm talking about him. He was really tall, always dressed in a suit and had no face. I know it sounds unbelievable, but I swear that's the whole truth." he concluded, keeping his head down as he continued trembling lightly.
Batman looked at him, "What do you mean he has no face? Is he alien?"
Jeff shook his head, keeping his eyes on the roof.
"No, not an alien. A monster." he replied, voice barely above a whisper as his watch beeped on his wrist.
"A monster? You expect me to believe that?" Batman asked, grabbing his arm.
The younger jumped, looking Batman right in the eye.
"I know it sounds crazy, but it's true! I swear!"
Batman narrowed his eyes before dragging Jeff behind him.
"You're coming with me." he ordered.
"Wait, what!? Why? I need to get home!" Jeff demanded, regaining his footing and resisting the other's pull.
"I'm taking you to Arkham. There's someone I need to see, and until I'm done, I'm not letting you out of my sight."
"Hell no! You can't do this to me, I need to get home before I'm caught out of the house!" he countered, glaring the other down and checking his watch.
Not only should he have been walking back by now, by the time he would have gotten home walking he would still have been 15 minutes passed when he was supposed to have taken his pills. That explained the voices getting louder.
"If your story is true, I will bring you back home." He promised.
"I don't believe you. You just threw me off the edge of a fucking building!" Jeff snapped, glare intensifying.
Batman glared at him and grabbed him before pushing him to a ladder, "Climb down, and don't even think of running."
"And what if I do run?" he challenged, glaring coldly at the hero.
"You will wake up with more broken bones than you would if you did what I said." The hero answered.
Glaring coldly, the killer begrudgingly obeyed, climbing down the ladder and waiting at the bottom like a trained dog.
Batman landed lightly next to him as Jeff could hear the squealing of tires against the pavement. There was a bright light and a roar of a monstrous engine as the Batmobile pulled up on autopilot, homing in on Batman's GPS.
"Get in." Batman ordered.
At first Jeff was still, stunned at the mere sight of the vehicle. Then he grinned, hopping into the passenger seat.
"When this is over I'm definitely finding an excuse to drive this thing." he stated, really more to himself then to the owner of said vehicle.
"No." Batman said simply, gunning the engine and driving of to the Narrows to the infamous Arkham Asylum.