The Laughter Ends
The Fallout
It was over. The Dark Knight had faced off against his arch nemesis and defeated him, once and for all. The 'Clown Prince of Crime' lay dead on the hood of a Gotham City police car, that ruby smile still on his pale, distorted face. His purple, pinstriped suit, ripped and torn. The greatest criminal in the history of Gotham City was now dead and the world would blame The Dark Knight. Batman walked silently down the street in the rain, Commissioner Gordon calling after him, hopelessly trying to know what had happened in the late Hugo Strange's 'Arkham City' a playground for Gotham's deadliest criminals. In theory and reality it was a bad idea, Batman was well aware of this.
"Don't beat yourself up about it" said a sly voice. Batman turned to see the scantly clad Selina Kyle, dressed in her tight leather cat suit. "You saved Gotham didn't you? And now I'm sure that 'city' is going to be torn down" Batman didn't reply. He turned back around and began walking. He heard her calling to him, but he ignored her. He needed to be alone. "You saved the day!" she called, but it was no use.
The events of the night before were all over the Gotham news. Bruce Wayne turned on his television to see the blonde Vicky Vale, her hair and make up a mess, covered in bruises, her clothing torn and with a still shocked expression on her face.
"I am standing outside the gates of the failed 'Arkham City', a cordoned off area of Gotham city which was used to hold the criminals of the former 'Arkham Asylum'. The facility was approved by mayor Sharp. As we know from last night, chaos spread throughout the facility, bringing panic to Gotham and as a result Doctor Hugo Strange was forced to launch 'Protocol 10' which was said to eradicate all crime from Gotham City. We saw helicopters flying into the facility to destroy it and ultimately exterminate all the criminals within. This protocol was eventually cancelled shortly before an explosion in the tower in the centre of the city. Many however perished during the protocol. At the moment among the dead are, Oswald Cobblepot, also known as 'The Penguin', Basil Karlo, Talia al Ghul and the Joker. It is not confirmed, but sources believe that it was Batman himself who finished off the infamous criminal-" Bruce stopped paying attention to the television before she went into more detail. He rested his head in his hands. He thought over the events in the movie theatre, in front of the Lazarus Pit, how the Joker taunted him one final time. He lightly moved his fingers over the knife wound in his arm. It was still painful. And he recalled the Joker's final words.
"That actually is pretty funny" he wheezed before finally giving out his last laugh. A fitting end to a worthy foe. Bruce heard the door opening.
"Would you care for some breakfast Master Bruce?" asked Alfred Pennyworth. Bruce Wayne's loyal butler.
"No Alfred" Bruce replied quietly. "I'm not hungry"
"You did what you had to Master Bruce" Alfred told him. "You put an end to the Joker, the city will be eternally grateful!"
"I would have saved him" Bruce whispered.
"-a funeral will be held tomorrow for the criminals who died during the 'Arkham City' crisis at the Gotham City cathedral by order of Commissioner James Gordon and the Gotham city council. It will be a heavily guarded event as a lot of criminals including Harley Quinn and Harvey Dent shall be attending" Bruce heard Vicky Vale say on the television.
"No" he whispered. "This won't end well!" he stood up.
"Sir?" Alfred said, puzzled.
"Placing Gotham's deadliest criminals in a whole city is one thing. But putting them all in one confined space. That is a disaster waiting to him" it was as if someone had charged him full of new found energy. "I'll have to go to that event Alfred" he told his butler.
"Understandable Master Bruce" Alfred replied politely. "I'll check if your suit is ready" he left the room. Bruce Wayne returned to the sofa.
"And I'm sure I speak for all of us here when I say. Thank you Batman" Vale concluded.
