Title: Not Quite the Bat...
Disclaimer: If I owned them they would have less clothing while together
Rating: PG13-R
Warnings: Gore, language
Characters/Pairings: Batman/Joker
Summary: A last stand by a band of Gotham's worst nearly kill The Batman and The Joker is less than pleased. No one stands between Joker and his Bat and he aims to make sure it never happens again...

Bruce was at the computer consol before anyone could say another word. The tapped signals of the police frequencies resonated through the cave. A robbery gone wrong. A priceless jewel collection normally held in Gotham City Banks' high security vaults was being appraised on the high-rises topmost levels. The robbers had taken hostages in the banks foyer, they had dozens of civilians at their mercy and tempers were running high…they had barricaded themselves in hours ago.

"Damn it." Batman growled, his lips already set in a thin line, fully the Bat even without his armor. "They should have called me earlier; I should have been out there!"

"They cannot expect you to be on patrol every night in this condition." Alfred stepped forward, eyes taking in all the police data tracing across the screen.

"They don't. Gordon knew I wouldn't be out." His fist slammed into the edge on the consol, the metal thudding painfully against the bared flesh of his fist. "He kept this from me."

Without warning warm arms encircled Batman's waist, their weight felt heavily through the thin civilian cloth. "He is trying to protect you." The voice was in his ear, not patronizingly soothing but matter of fact as a chin rested against his shoulder. "From yourself." One arm traced its way over his muscled chest, resting against his beating heart as adrenalin forced it into a dangerous rhythm. "It is harder to do than you would think."

"I have to go." Bruce closed his eyes against the images on the screen and the cops voices issuing over the speakers. He was trying to hold on to his anger but the feeling was slipping away under those hands, the beating of his heart was calming to match the one beating so close to his own.

"I know..." The arms tightened for a second in an almost embrace around him. "…can I drive?"

Bruce raised his stinging hand from the cold metal and held the hand that lay over his heart. "I said I have to go."

"And where you go I go. You made your token protest to me going and it is just as useless and obligatory as me asking you to stay." Bruce could not help the smile that pulled at his lips or the way his heart picked up speed once more, he could feel Alfred's eyes on them but he didn't care. "So now that we have established all that…can I drive?" Batman opened his eyes to the pictures of police cars and a barred building and laughed.

"Not a chance."

Bruce was able to pull on his modified Batsuit by himself but the Knight never left his side. As scarred and bruised skin disappeared in a veil of Kevlar those eyes were on him, those hands trailing softly over armor and skin. He never said how foolish it was to go, never pointed out how dangerous his injuries were, they both understood and they both knew that they were creatures beyond words.

Batman slipped into the Batmobile and as the lithe figure slipped into the seat next to him, a mirror image, an almost partner, he realized how this changed things, changed everything.

Batman had been untouchable, no family, no friends, a black demon who seemed almost…immortal. But now he strode into the night with a companion. If Batman was hurt he could recover but if this man was hurt, if he were to die…Batman was no longer untouchable.

Bruce wanted to say something meaningful, to let him know exactly what this meant, to go into battle like this, together. He had worked with the police on the odd occasion but this was different. He was responsible for the Knights life and at the same time he was trusting his own life to the Knights hands. 'I have never had a partner before.' Sounded too official, too permanent, but those are the words he wanted to say, the ones that refused to be put out of mind. That together they could be something brilliant, something beautiful and terrible, that even if no one else in the world mattered… they would not be alone anymore.

Too many things weighed on his mind. It was not only death that could touch Batman now, he had made himself vulnerable. If the Knight were to slip, to kill, if he could not be trusted and more death bloodied his hands it would dirty both of them …it would destroy what Batman stood for. He could not imagine his Knight killing these petty criminals, not the man that took such pains with him, the first person he could not push away…but they were driving into a situation where bullets would be fired. What if it was too much? What if the Knight could not change? Not even for him? He could not ask him to change, to become something else, something more like himself. He could not bear to hear the answer but they could not continue…

'Partner ' How sweet the word sounded in his mind, how completely foreign and unreachable.

"You cannot kill them." He was a coward, and the words tasted bitter- a temporary fix, a prolonging of their tenuous dance.

"Tonight we play by your rules, can't have you worrying about me killing people. You will get yourself killed and where would that leave me?." There was a smile on his face but Batman could see through it, see how unsure he was, not ready to promise anything real, anything beyond tonight. Batman knew that he would never be able to compromise, never let the Knight continue to kill. His soul, his promise to his parents demanded this of him and now all the power lay with the Knight. If he chose to keep his own path- if he chose to kill Penguin how many hours of blissful ignorance did they have left to them? How long did they have to pretend that they could be together always? The clock ticked down their time together with every breath Penguin took unrepentant in Gotham.

His heart was tearing…the moment of truth was approaching and they were running towards it tonight, tempting fate to steel their time away from them so he did what he always did when emotions began to take hold on him. Batman steeled himself as cold as the harsh world they lived in.

"How are you in hostile situations?" Those maddening hands drifted to his leg, moving against him, pulling him back to this reality, back to them- just an innocent touch, exploring the way he always seemed to. The touch was reverent, as if he was memorizing the feel of him, taking each moment and hiding it away in his mind where it could never be taken from him..

"You know my track record."

Batman repressed a wince; he could see the bodies in his mind's eye clearer now that they drove towards more nameless criminals. Without Batman there what would the Knight do with these men? What beautiful ironic fate would be their end? "But I have never actually seen it."

"I can take care of myself and you if necessary. Alfred is right you know, you should have stayed home."

Batman was ripped firmly back into Bruce, all feelings and humanity. "How do you know his name?" He watched the man out of the corner of his eye; his face was calm, his slim shoulders shrugging. Could the Knight see the turmoil within him? Did he know how every touch drew the anger and numbness from him like poison from a wound?

"He told me. Don't worry I still do not know your other name." His entire body seemed to lean closer to Batman. "I told you I do not care what your mask is called." He was smiling again, knowingly, accepting, and Batman could not hold on to his frigidity in face of it. "I think he liked me." He chuckled.... "How strange, I don't think anyone has ever liked me before."

'I like you' was on his lips and in his mind but he crushed the desire, he could not expose himself like that, not when everything they had could crash around them this very night. They both already knew the truth in the unsaid words but Batman needed that safety, that protection.

"He thinks you are good for me." Batman said instead. "He has always been afraid of what would happen to me if he died."

"You don't let a lot of people in do you?" The Knight stretched like a cat, arching his back and leaning over the consol between the two of them. He rested his head on Batman's shoulder, his eyes closed, trusting Batman to get them there alive. "There are not a lot of people that could understand you Bats. Alfred who was here from the beginning and now…"

"you." Batman sighed, his eyes closing against the pain of surrender, against the painful sickening thud of his heart. So it was too late to save any part of himself should this fail, pride, body nor soul was safe from this man who knew him better than he had any right to.

The Knight softened his touch, bringing a hand up to hold onto Batmans arm, just under his own head. He must feel what he did to the Bat, could see the subtle changes in his face that meant pain and suffering and something so tragic it could only be love.

"Yes. Me."

Batman hid the car a few streets down from the bank and its swarms of hungry eyed reporters and worried cops. The Knight gave him a crooked look, a silent 'of course you would' and bounded to Batman's side, taking the launcher from Batman's belt and firing it effortlessly into the sky.

"You know you have your own now."

"I know." His arms came around Batman, twined like dark lovers hiding in the night and waited until dark arms surrounded him in warm surrender, a sad smile creeping onto Batman's face. "But I like this way." Together they rose above their city, easily making their way to the bank over the rooftops.

Batman threw a small hovering camera into the air, watching it fly high above them, its silent motor pushing it through the sky. There were seven men visible spread out in the room, hostages at their feet and easily with reach of most of them. The stolen jewels sat in oversized duffle bags in the center of the room. Dozens of lives flickered in that room, balanced on a precipice, depending on him to save them…Batman turned back to the Knight and grabbed his shoulder in his gloved hand, demanding his full attention.

The men above them were hardened criminals- men that would shoot at them- men that would take both their lives if they could- men that only a few weeks ago the Knight would have killed with a flourish and no regret. "You cannot kill them. Any of them or I will have to-" Have to take you to jail? To Arkham? Have to give up on you and watch a part of myself wither and die?

The Knight put a finger to Batman's lips, saving him from having to decide, to voice what stood on the line tonight.

"I promised. I told you. These fools are nothing to me." He offered a wan smile, a small dark introspective reflection of Batman's own mind. "They mean nothing and you…are everything." The Knight glanced down only for a moment, forcing his eyes to focus on Batman again.

Batman felt a humorless chuckle rise within himself. How perfect they were for each other, how ill practiced at these fragile human emotions.

"Now what do we do? What would you do if you were alone?"

Batman swallowed thickly, trying to ignore the digit resting on his lips, he turned away ignoring for now the hand that brushed his face, gazing at the scene once more.

"There are seven of them at least."

"Four for me and three for you. Perfect!" The Knights smile was unabashed in the face of Batman scowl, both glad to be talking about risking their lives rather than their emotions."I get the extra. You are injured!"

" I am The Batman."

The Knight rolled his eyes and put on a fake pout, completely at ease with their immediate future. "Three each and then we will share the last."

Batman nodded solemnly, focusing himself on nothing but the dangers ahead, he readied his launcher "If I don't get there first." And then he was gone.

The Knight only took a moment to catch up and then they were moving together as one through the night, high above the tied hands of the police. Neither had ever had a partner or an equal in anything but this- the feeling of someone next to you- of someone who understands too well- was as familiar as breathing.

They landed on the floor just below the men, their agile feet balanced on thin strips of concrete. Batman released his tenuous hold, tossing a small black explosive onto the window, The Knight took this opportunity to flick Batman's cape away, monitoring the pace of the other man's heart in the subdued flashing on his belt, he would have to ask Alfred to make him a device to track the Bats health. Batman glowered over at him. Busted. He smile widely in return and motioned to continue. For now the Bat was okay, safe in his mind by concentrating on the here and now and as for his Body…he would take it upon himself to make sure the bat came to no harm.

They climbed to the next level on the other side of the building, an abandoned area where no one heard the breaking glass. What they did hear was the explosion of the far window.

They burst into the room while they were all dazed and preoccupied; Batarangs and fists flew through the air before the men realized they were not alone. A gun raised across the room, a .22, aimed before the Knight could take a step in retaliation, before he could voice his cry- but Batman could. A dark shadow he swooped onto the gunman, knocking the pistol away, his heavy fists slamming the man to the ground to join it. Neither was fazed, they fought on. The men were growing desperate; the hostages were out of the way for the most part now, the unlucky souls trapped in the middle scrambling out from under foot.

Two men were diverging on Batman, The Knight took off running, it was like a dance. A whole new dance, it was violent and crazed and impromptu and like nothing he had ever done before. He had a dance partner now. He leaped forward and the strong arms of Batman wrapped around his waist, propelling him forward, his inertia taking down one grunt, the backwards swing of Batman's body crushing the other. They were beyond words now, they shared a body a soul, and strangest of all a purpose. They were…partners.

Batman froze and from the corner of his eye saw the Knight do the same as the man he had been fighting fell to his feet. By the gaping window the light of the moon lit the leader of the group as he snatched the discarded pistol from the ground and leveled it at the Knights chest.

"I expected you might show Knight but bringing along your boyfriend?" One of the crumpled men groaned in pain but he was unable to stand, the man never looked away from the duo, his face only grew harsher as the piteous sound came again as if disgusted with the humanity of his companion.

"How cute." The man spat . "You won't attack me now will ya Bats?" Batman's eyes flicked between the gun and the Knight. He saw the thin leather costume, how little protection it afforded him, he saw the manic twinkle in the criminal's eyes -but more than anything he watched the Knight, afraid of what he would do. The fool and his gun were tempting a killer's instinct, Batman waited for the tightening of his body, the fire to consume him, a burst of cruel laughter - but he stayed still, calm, perfect.

"You Bats, you are afraid I will kill your little boy toy but it's not you I am worried about." The man grinned, his smile a little too wide, too desperate. "The Bat doesn't kill!" A burst of laughter shook the gun; the hairpin trigger pulled back more with every breath, Batman felt a new fear wash over him.

"It's you I am worried about, you kill big old baddies, but you don't seem too worried at all do ya? Maybe…Maybe I am pointing at the wrong man." The gun shifted so fast Batman had only taken a single step before his heart plummeted. The gun was trained on his heart.

The Knights body tightened like a spring, his body arching like a cat ready to pounce, Batman could not keep his eyes on the gun.

"Put the gun down!" Batman's growl pierced the room, the deep resonance making the man in front of his quiver but its real purpose was only vaguely successful. Beside him the Knight raised his hands slightly in defense but part of the violent coil holding him frozen in place released.

"It doesn't have to be like this! We can all walk out of here, and you can go on fucking each other. They said they would give me a helicopter, all you have to do is let me out of here…"

"NO!" A woman's scream broke the relative calm as a child broke free from her protecting embrace, a baby girl, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Don't hurt Batman!" She cried as she ran and the man snapped, he balanced on the edge of a knife and her crying face pushed him off the sharp edge.

Bang. Bang. BANG. Three shots exploded from the chamber faster than eyes could see. The only proof of their existence was the way Batman crumpled as he hit the wall and the heart-wrenching scream that was torn from The Knight's throat.

The gunman was running, and everyone was screaming. The woman was scrambling towards the child but she was too far ahead. The child bellowed as she was snatched off the ground and into the crooks arms, the hot muzzle of the gun buried in her brown hair.

"BATS!" The Knight fell to his knees, his elbows smashing into the ground surrounding Batman's head, hovering over him, protecting him.

Blue eyes blinked up at him through a haze of pain and he pulled in a ragged, wet breathe. The Knights hands were everywhere, his chest, his face, his lips- but there was time for no more. Batman did not hesitate once he had the breath to speak.

"Save. Her." The Knight froze for only a second, his teeth piercing his lip until blood flowed bitter into his mouth but he could not refuse when inches from him blue eyes begged in agony.

A drop of blood escaped his ruby lips and fell on Batman, the only touch he would allow now, the only touch they had time for when the Knights mind raced with fear and Batman's with focused desperation. Strong armored arms pushed at him, forcing him away and the Knight did not look back. He ran.

The crook stood in the middle of the roof, his charge screaming in his arms, silent and alone in the dark night. Just like him.

"They said it would be here. They promised a helicopter would be here." Soft. Broken. Hopeless. Pathetic.

"A real criminal would know better." The words were a deep growl but they were not like Batman's, Batman's voice promised justice, this was twisted in agony, slick as death. "A real criminal could tell when people are lying, they are the ones manipulating. But you..." He was stalking forward now, shoulders hunched, eyes flashing insane revenge, malice. Death.

The fool whimpered as The Knight stepped into a beam of light, more than a shadow, a demon of hell, blood dripping down his chin like a gothic vampire. The child twisted free, running past them both, her little heels clicking on the stairs away as the criminals shifted clumsily backward, tripping over himself.

"No…please."

"You waste of flesh! You want to take everything from me! FROM ME?!" He jetted forward, clutching the man by the lapels, pushing him over the edge, his upper body hanging over the dark precipice of the street below.

"No…" warm fluid saturated the man's pants, dripping down his legs as only inches away poison green eyes bore into his soul and red lips dripped blood.

A police searchlight from below fell on them, blinding the Knight. He could feel the man shift in his arms, wriggling, almost falling. No. Not like this. He wrenched him back, twisting them so the man would fall hard to the punishing ground. He felt it the same instant the sound cracked through the night, a sound whose twins still echoed in his mind with the image of the Bat falling. He reached out with the arm that did not sear with instant crippling fire, one last punch, the loud crack of his jaw making him smile even as it pushed him further back- even as his feet went out from under him only air lay beneath him.

"NO!" He heard it as he first began to fall, a lifetime passed in a second before he felt it, strong familiar arms holding him tight, his dark angel. Floors whipped by them before the grapple was fired, lights flashing behind his eyelids, the garish bulbs of reporters blinking like dying stars. Another endless moment before they caught and their fall slowed and finally stopped, frozen only a dozen floors above the ground he opened his eyes.

"Batman." He sobbed without tears, relief making his body melt against him. His legs twisted around Batman's waist, holding tight, freeing his arms to caress and hold, to pull their lips to meet in desperation. Blood smeared both of their mouths as their breaths came in a shallow pant. They spoke through their broken kiss, both asking at once…

"Are you okay?"

The Knight let out a breathy laugh and pressed a passing kiss to those well loved lips, his arms reaching to hold the line they dangled from, to hit the switch to pull them up, but Batman was already there, pulling them back to safety.

"I am just glad to be the one saving you for a change."

They landed on a relatively low building but they had no time to speak, to reassure or help. The police swarmed below, and the bulbs still flashed, catching the moment in time again and again, it was time to go. They managed to stay a step ahead, signaling the Batmobile to meet them on the empty street below. By the time the police appeared they were nothing but a trail of dirt in the wind.

They did not speak as they drove, but their eyes watched the each other carefully, measuring the blood lost, longing to touch but knowing now was not the time. It took half the normal time to return to the cave, the world around them whipping by so fast it did not have time to form before it was gone. The car was alive and warm as it slammed to a stop in the cave, its doors rising and its passengers tumbling out, stumbling in search of each other.

They met in front of the car, a tangle of black clad limbs and half formed words. They pulled each other further inside, needing to be assured, to see and feel.

"You did not kill him. He shot me and you kept your promise." Batman spoke as the Knight tore at the Kevlar, freeing his cape, letting it flutter, a forsaken shadow to the ground. The heavy chest plate released under his practiced grip, revealing purpled but intact skin. Three welts of purple and black- but whole and beautifully complete.

"I trusted you to live for me." The Knights hands traced over the revealed skin, reverent and greedy, taking in the heat of pooled blood. "I chose to believe in you." His hands traced over the welts again and again, gentle fingertips drawing a harsh breath. "I just…need to see you."

Batman ran his hands over the Knights arms, earning a wince and slick blood on his glove. He held the man still, examining the gash through the torn clothing, he could see now how shallow it was, how the bullet fired from only inches away in a moment of panic only grazed the flesh.

"You let me go after him, you trusted me to stop him and not kill him. "

Batman could not bear to look into the Knight's eyes, at the amazement and openness he found there. He crushed their bodies together, closing his eyes, protected in the familiar engulfing darkness. "I knew you would not kill him. I wanted to believe that even if I died that this…that we meant more to you than that.."

A laugh ghosted hot and alive over his face and the Knight twirled his arms around him, dancing across bare flesh. "What can I say?" His voice was soft and almost afraid, realizing for the first time that the words he was about to speak were true. "You bring out the good in me."

Batman took a deep breath and steeled himself against his fear. Fear that this was too much, fear that these emotions held too much power over him and pulled out of their embrace. His hand gently wiped the blood from the Knights lips. The Knight flinched away from the touch but Batman had made his resolution, he held his chin gently and fell into eyes as afraid as his own.

"I believe in you."

Neither remembered moving but there they were, locked in a kiss that tasted like blood and life and sweet surrender.

"Oh my." Alfred's trained polite voice cut through their blissful oblivion. The Knight took a deep breath, waiting for the rejection, the denial, for Batman to jump away from him but… instead he was held loosely in his arms and a deep happy laugh filled the cave, a strange unheard sound that made his heart jump.

"Hello Alfred. Sorry if we surprised you."

Alfred moved towards them, unfazed, he picked up the discarded pieces of the Batsuit armor and the Knight actually felt the heat of a blush rise to his face.

"I cannot say it is much of a surprise." Alfred looked over both of them with a critical eye, Bruce almost laughed again when he felt the Knight burrow further into his arms, this was strange for all of them. "I do however hope that you will clean yourselves up and bandage your wounds before partaking in any…extracurricular activities."

"Alfred!" Bruce almost laughed again, a grin stretched his face, he felt …light, lighter than he had in years, lighter than he could ever remember being. Bruce had always been this way, once he made a decision there was no going back, he was free of the choices that had weighed him down. Alfred returned his smile and nodded at the Knight.

"If you would like I can mend and wash your outfit as well."

The Knight looked down at himself, recovering now from emotions he did not understand, wanting to focus on something else. How many days had he spent in the hot leather? Blood crusted on the arm and on his collar, old sweat bound the cloth to him. He had always washed and mended his own clothing before now but he had been so swept away in being this black clad creature he had forgotten something existed beneath it.

"I think I should probably shower too…"

Batman followed him to the bathroom, he was almost afraid to turn around and face him, what did he think he was doing? He wanted to see more of the Bat, wanted to feel the life that always teetered on the edge of death, but he did not want to reveal himself. Being with the Bat like that now would leave so much more than his body naked.

"Toss me out your clothes." Batman stopped at the door, turning around politely even though the door was being shut behind him.

He stripped- his mask falling at last to the floor. The image in the mirror was strange and unfamiliar, from the tops of his cheek bones up his skin was a delicate white, below a mix of black and red. His green curls had faded, leaving golden blond with only a tinge of their former color. No. He did not want Batman to see him like this.

He opened the door only a crack, tossing out the cloths and shutting it quickly, he heard the other pause at the door, confused perhaps, but then move on. He stepped into the hot spray and watched the black paint and dried blood swirl down the drain, stain the water trailing over his body. Swirls of black and red made him smile, he felt better, clean, not only of grime but somehow of the world. He scrubbed at his face, feeling for the first time in ages water against his bared scars. He was so naked…so purely himself, part Joker, part Knight…and something without a name, something that belonged here…with Batman.

He stepped out of the spray, his body hot and pink, moist and human. He stepped in front of the mirror again; the green had faded even more but the scars….the scars were back, a delicate trace of white stretching up his cheeks, assuring that the Bat could never see him, not like this. A heavy fist knocked at the door, shaking him from his reprieve.

"There are towels inside and I can grab you a robe when you come out."

He opened the door a crack, only darkness lay beyond, Batman would not try to see him like this.

The Knight found the towels and wrapped one securely around his waist. He pushed the door open more; a cool draft from the cave brushed his flushed and naked cheeks. He stood with his back against the door, pushing until it jutted from the wall and something solid stopped it, the Bat.

Their hands met at the edge of the door, joining and twining, wanting to be together.

"I was so proud of you tonight." Batman's voice was warm and deep, the Knight closed his eyes and let the sound fill him. "I wish I could touch you…hold you. More than our masks will allow. I cannot help but wonder…if we were anyone else, if we lived in a perfect world, could we be together?"

"Close your eyes"

"What?"

"Keep them closed. No matter what." Batman's hand tightened around his own and he took a deep breath, he let go and took a step away from the door. He was unmasked in the middle of the Batcave. He took only a step forward and there he was. Batman, trusting and alone in the dark with his eyes closed.

He stepped forward, his hand raising to the others face, caressing it before he leaned in and kissed him.

Batman's hands traveled for the first time over moist, warm flesh, still hot from the shower. They traced over smooth unseen scars that made him ache because of the suffering they meant and at the same time burn- their scarred bodies were perfect for each other.

The Knight took in the sight before him, so venerable. His Bat who lived in darkness with a perpetual grimace truly open and trusting and it was only for him. His eyes were fluttered closed, lips parted in desire, in need. And here the Knight stood with him, bared and trusting, knowing that if Batman looked for even a second the entire world they had built together would crash around them. This was trust, this was desire, this was worth the sacrifice.

Batman shed his gloves and curled his fingers into the Knights hair, finding clean damp curls, a feeling he had yearned to know since he had first laid eyes on him. He groaned, pulling the Knight closer in pure need and green eyes watched as Batman felt him in the darkness. No barriers stood between them now, they were becoming part of each other. When Batman curled his fingers lovingly against him, holding him as precious as a lover he knew that he would do anything to stay here. Let the penguin live, he would never know the gift he had given them.