"No." The Dark Knight had not been swayed.

"Bruce, we're not taking no for an answer." Tim persisted.

An uncomfortable Katherine Kane took this opportunity to chime in, "How about a trial run?"

Some of the most penetrating eyes in the world focused their glare on her. She held her ground, staring straight back.

"We're not taking no for an answer, and you're being stubborn, so how about a compromise, in the form of a trial run?"

A flame lit in the mind of Tim Drake, "Yeah, we take out the joker, and if we succeed faster and more efficiently than you have in the past, than this team stays."

Bruce's scowl deepened. His entire frame shifted, as if preparing for combat. Finally, his lips pursed, and uttered: "Fine. But this is happening on my terms. "

"Joker. It's over." Nightwing bellowed in a monotone voice.

"Always trying to be like him, aren't you? How about I leave you like him: Broken and bloody about to die?" The hairs on the back of Joker's neck prickled, and his bleeding grimace drooped into a sarcastic grin, "Why does the Bat always come alone, but you show up in groups? I guess I'll have to fix that." He drew his revolver from his purple coat, and fired three times into the shadows.

"AAAAUUUUGGHHH"

The blood from the gunshot wound was barely visible against the crimson of Tim Drake's uniform, as the third robin dropped from his perch, the Kevlar in his suit unable to hold up against three armor-piercing rounds to the same spot: three-quarters of an inch above his heart.

"RED" roared Nightwing, turning to face the tumbling boy wonder, only to be shot immediately in the inside of his knee, which caused him to crumple. Batgirl and Batwoman plunged down into the center of the room a moment after dropping several smoke bombs, snatched up the wounded boys as they went and vanished into the shadows.

The Cat pounced from behind the Clown Prince of Crime as he cackled, her claws mere centimeters from slicing his throat before the tripwire shotgun Catwoman slipped activated and blew her to the corner.

"JOKER. THIS IS THE GCPD. SURRENDER NOW OR WE WILL USE LETHAL FORCE" blared through the room, echoing across the walls. A little red and black jester hat poked out of the side door, calling

"Oh, Mister JAAAAY! We should probably skedaddle before the police pop in!" Her hip jutted jutted out, brandishing the chain of Police Badges strung around her shoulder stretching down to her lower thigh.

The Joker's frame slouched as he started whining "But Harley…" He straightened himself and rolled his eyes. "Fine," he grumbled. He strutted toward Harley, and upon reaching her, they began to waltz out, singing:

Mister J?

Do you wanna kill the Batman?

Come on, let's paint the town

I never see you anymore,

Come out the door,

Your smile's become a frown!

We used to be a duo, and now we're not

I wish you would tell me why!

Do you wanna kill the Batman?

It doesn't have to be the Batman!