Gotham City – 7 p.m.

"Steve slow down! These heels are absurd" Diana muttered as she walked along side her boyfriend Steve Trevor.
Steve raised an eyebrow and grinned, "Then why on Earth are you wearing them?"

Diana glared at him, "Steve you know what secret security is don't you?"

Steve chuckled and nodded, "Yeah I know, it's just that I don't see how you're going to be doing much securing when you're wobbling all over the place"

Diana rolled her eyes, "It's just part of the disguise Steve" her gaze toughened, "That YOU organized"

Steve shrugged, "Everyone knows what you look like. You asked me to give you the best social camouflage and I did. You look good in a business outfit" Steve smiled wolfishly, "Or did you want an actual guerilla suit?"

Diana sighed and shook her head, "Hera, you're something else"

Steve bowed his head in acknowledgement. He then turned and surveyed the tall buildings surrounding them, "So your other friends are also hiding?"

Diana nodded while looking toward the press conference, "Yes, and stop rubber-necking. The public knows who you are"

Steve grimaced, "I still don't see why I couldn't wear a disguise"

Diana sighed, "Steve I know it's counter-productive. But you're part of the normal security for the city. It's smokescreen to hide us".

Steve's attention turned to the horde of reporters and news teams, "So the Bat is actually going to turn himself in." He shook his head in disbelief, "From what you told me about the guy, I wouldn't have thought he'd be the kind to"

Diana's face turned hot as she remembered everything she told Steve about Batman...and all the things she DIDN'T tell him. She coughed and spoke quickly, "Yeah...it's very unusual"

Steve didn't pick up on her flush of emotions; he was looking over at crowd of civilians and cops who were holding signs that were emblazed with, BATMAN IS A CRIMINAL. WE WANT THE BAT. OUTLAW VIGILANTE.

"Crazy huh?" he remarked

She solemnly nodded her head, her mind flashing through the recent events. "Yes it is"

"Diana" spoke a voice in Diana's ear.

Diana brushed a hair over her ear, and a carefully activated the nearly invisible ear-piece attached to her earlobe.

"Shayera" Diana whispered.

Shayera's impressed voice rang clearly through the small device, "Wow, these things work great"

Diana smiled slightly, "They are Batman's designs, what you expect?"

Steve turned around confused, "What did y-?"

Diana held up a hand nodded to her ear, Steve's eyes flickered over to her ear and nodded. He then returned to scoping the rest of the scene.

Diana held up a camera and began taking pictures of the room around her, simultaneously talking to Shayera. "What's the situation?"

"Everything is in place. Superman is among the throng of reporters, Flash is hiding as a skateboarder, J'onn is in his human form, and John is perched in a window of a building."

Diana nodded her head and looked around surreptitiously, "And you?"

Shayera's voice gained a glee, "On top of an adjacent building, where I have a clear picture of your boy-toy Bruce Wayne talking to Rachel" Shayera breathed out, "oh my god, he kissed her."

Diana snapped her head around, searching for Bruce Wayne; she finally spotted Bruce looking at Rachel very gingerly, his eyes tortured and his lips primed. Her hand was held up to his cheek, and she sadly shook her head as she lowered her cheek and walked away. Bruce stared after her, his focus broken by the appearance of his Butler.

"He kissed her! And she's Dent's girl! And he kissed you!" Shayera all but screamed in her ear.

Diana nearly crushed the ear-piece in frustration, she rapidly mashed a button on her shirt that was wired to the receiver "Shayera will you please stop screaming in my ear?"

Shayera's remarks died and she turned a bit serious, "Yes sorry, don't touch all those buttons, you'll turn on something that I don't know how to turn off" She then cackled with glee "...but wow. I mean, first he kisses you, and you're with Steve! Then he kisses Rachel, when she's with Dent!" Shayera sighed in amazement, "I guess he really is the playboy we all know"

Diana turned pink at the mention of their kiss, she hadn't told Steve yet, fearing he might react in the idiotic ways that most Men do in the face of competition.

Diana looked at Bruce who was holding a phone in his hands, his face was confused as he gazed on the screen, then without warning he looked up and his eyes fell directly on her. Diana froze as she looked directly at Bruce, does he see me? Diana thought worriedly. She saw Bruce's jaw clench and it looked like anger covered his face. Then in a split second, he cocked his head, and his eyes scrunched in thought, he then grinned and waved over to her. Diana felt a surge of dread run through her, Oh Hera this will be good.

She nudged to Steve and pointed in Bruce's direction, "The Famous Bruce Wayne would like to speak with us"

Steve turned to her, "You sure that it's a good idea"

Diana groaned, "I've met him before, and he noticed my disguise." She then raised an eyebrow at Steve, "Your best disguise couldn't even fool the idiotic Bruce Wayne"

Steve laughed, "He's a billionaire...obviously he's doing something right"

They walked over and Diana tried her best to convey to Bruce through her eyes THAT KISS NEVER HAPPENED. She had prayed that the playboy would understand.

"Diana...wait, what are you d-"Shayera began

"Not now Shayera" Diana said through gritted teeth.

Bruce looked at her with his dark brown eyes and smiled at her. Even then, Diana felt like the smile was strained. Something was...off.

"Diana...you look" Bruce eye's roamed over her and he racked his brain for the right words, "...different".

Diana smiled warmly, "Hello Bruce. And yes, I'm supposed to be in disguise for the hearing" She said pointing to her heels and business clothes.

Bruce raised his head, "Oh that would explain it." His attention turned to Steve, who was smiling brilliantly at him. "Mr. Steve Trevor" he said as he shook Steve's hand, "On security as well? Or accompanying the beautiful Princess?"

Steve continued grinning, "Yes, I'm on security." He looked fondly at Diana, "As well as accompanying the beautiful lady"

Bruce nodded his head and looked back at Diana, a deep focus in his eyes. Diana felt hot with Bruce's gaze on her, and she was determined to keep the conversation from the party, "Interesting day huh Bruce?"

Bruce shifted his gaze to the podium at the center of the stage and nodded, "Yes." He said with a sigh, "It will be."

Diana looked at Bruce and then at Alfred who was in the background chatting with a dark-skinned man. "I see Alfred, but no super-models Bruce." Diana remarked

Bruce turned his attention behind him at Alfred, and then looked back at her with a faint smile, "My female acquaintances had better things to do today"

Steve piqued his head at this, "No girlfriend Bruce?"

Bruce shook his head, "No Steve...not yet"

Diana remembered Rachel and she found herself highly curious onto what just was going on between the two...it had nothing to do with the fact that Bruce kissed her then Rachel, Diana did not identify the small amount of curiosity as jealousy.

"And of Rachel?" she asked innocuously

Bruce's eyes snapped back on Diana's and he stared back at her hard, Diana almost flinched by his reaction. He then cooled his gaze and smiled, "She's a friend and she's dating Harvey Dent...that is all"

"Harvey Dent has arrived" Shayera announced in her ear. Diana turned around and saw a massive throng of the horde suddenly rush forward, and in the midst of all the chaos, Diana could see golden hair passing through the crowd.

Diana nodded to the crowd, "Harvey Dent is here"

Steve looked to the crowd and nodded, "Well Bruce, it's been a pleasure" he said as he offered his hand. Bruce shook it and nodded, "Good to see you to Captain". Steve grinned as the mention of his military rank, and walked to the crowd. Bruce then turned to Diana. He raised her hand to his mouth and he softly kissed her knuckles, "It's been a pleasure Diana". Diana almost blushed and she nodded her head, "It was good to see you Bruce"

Bruce looked at her and moved forward to hug her, his mouth next to her ear. He whispered, "I'm sorry Princess" He moved back from her and looked at her sadly. Diana sighed, "Its ok Bruce. It was a mistake"

Bruce nodded solemnly and Diana turned to go. He called to her, "I hope you can forgive me...I hope you can understand."

Diana turned around an looked at Bruce confused, "I already did Bruce...you don't need to apologize further". Bruce breathed out and smile, yet the sad focus of his eyes remained. Diana waved to him, "See you Bruce", and walked away.

Bruce stood there, staring after her. His mind was heavy. He looked at Harvey Dent who stood up at the podium. Bruce turned to Alfred who was chatting with Lucius; he gave him a grave nod, and walked forward to the conference. To Gotham City's Bright Future Bruce thought as he watched Harvey begin.

"Thank you very much for coming ladies and gentleman" Harvey began, "I've called this press conference for two reasons, one to assure the public that all that can be done over the Joker killings...is being done" he cleared his throat, "Second, because the Batman has offered to turn himself in. But let's ask ourselves...should we give in to this terrorist's demands? Should we aba-"

Someone in the crowd stood up and proclaimed loudly, "You'd rather protect the life of an outlaw vigilante? Than the lives of citizens!?" Her argument was met with loud conviction and support from the crowd.

Harvey Dent spoke defiantly, "The Batman is an Outlaw...no one disputes that. But we're not demanding him to turn himself in because of Justice...we're doing it because we're scared. We've been happy to let the Batman clean up the streets for half a decade, and we cann-"

Another member of the crowd jumped up, "Things are worse than ever! We cannot go back to the Gotham of 5 years ago!" The entire crowd seemed to resonate with this, as they all cried out in agreement.

Harvey looked at the crowd unfazed, "Yes they are...but believe me. The night is darkest just before the Dawn...and I assure...the dawn is coming." Harvey's voice rang with security and poetic reassurance, "One day the Batman will have to answer to all the laws he's broken...but he'll answer to US...not to this terrorist...not to this madman". A heavy silence impregnated the room, as members of the crowd now looked at each other in a new light...inspired by Harvey's words.

Diana turned to Steve, "You think he's done it? Stopped the hunt for Batman?" Steve looked at her with uncertainty, "I don't know...even Harvey Dent is having trouble controlling this crowd" He looked around, "But it looks like he might have done it"

Diana looked back to Dent, "He's good man...let us hope".

Harvey looked around carefully, his face complacent with the new aura of the crowd, he managed to change it. His eyes fell on those of a teary-eyed women...who was clutching a 5-year old girl with one hand, she looked up and spoke shakily, "My husband is dead...and my Lily has no father..." her eyes turned raw with despair..."no more dead cops!"

This seemed to ignite the crowd as if it were a keg of gunpowder; dozens of voice erupted demanding the surrender of Batman. Diana caught the eyes of Clark Kent, who sat down, defeated. She smiled weakly at him and he shook his head. Even when Batman tried to correct a failure...it still came back to haunt him.

Harvey Dent looked at the crowd, and then at his hands, he sighed heavily. He looked at the crowd and nodded, "So be it. Take the Batman into Custody"

The entire room went quiet as they all looked to one another, searching for the person being arrested. Diana looked around as well, and her eyes fell on the one person who wasn't rubber-necking, who lay absolutely still. It was Bruce, she saw him blink a few times, he moved his body forward and he opened his mouth heavily.

"I am the Batman" came Harvey Dent's curt announcement.

Diana's eyes tore back to Dent, who stood defiant in the center of the stage, looking at the crowd. He raised his fists to a nearby police officer, who promptly cuffed the D.A. She looked at the stage shocked and amazed. She heard a guttural noise next to her and found Clark looking at the stage incredulously.

"No Harvey!" said a defiant voice behind her, it was Rachel Dawes. She ran up to Harvey and yelled, "What are you DOING!?" Harvey smiled weakly at her and shrugged, "Sorry I didn't have time to go over this with you" Rachel thumped him, "Harvey you can't do this, you're putting your life at stake"

Diana closely followed Harvey and Rachel as he was ushered out of the building, he calmly stated, "This is the Joker's opportunity, when he strikes The Batman will take him down". Cops began to clap vividly in Dent's honor as Harvey was escorted to a security van; the whole room began to clap.

In the midst of the applause, Rachel pleaded to Harvey, "Please Harvey this is too dangerous, you don't even know if Batman could get the Joker he's failed before"

Harvey walked up to the van, and smiled "How do you know what the Batman's thinking huh?"

Rachel raised her hands and pleaded, "Look I just do, plea-" Harvey bent over and kissed her. When he broke the kiss Rachel sighed deeply, "Harvey please, tell everyone the truth".

Harvey tossed her a coin, "Heads I go through with it?"

Rachel caught the coin , "Harvey you can't leave your life to chance!"

Before the Door closed, Rachel caught a look at Harvey Dent's face...it was smug. "I'm not" he stated.

Rachel turned over the coin in her hand and smiled, "You make your own luck" Rachel shook her head and she widened her eyes in anger. She whipped her head and muttered something so soft that only Diana picked up on it, "Oh Bruce you..." Rachel gripped the coin and walked angrily away back to the conference. Diana raised an eyebrow at this and began to discreetly follow Rachel through the crowd. She saw Rachel find Bruce's car, but no Bruce. Rachel spotted Alfred, who was walking heavily toward her. Diana hid by a nearby phone booth, and listened.

"Alfred!?" Rachel cried out.

"Yes Rachel?" Alfred spoke heavily

"Where is he?" she demanded.

Alfred stayed silent. Rachel let out a short breath, "right". Alfred nodded his head. Rachel shook her head.

"Why is he letting Harvey do this?" She asked angrily.

"He came down to the Conference" Alfred replied gently

Rachel scoffed, "Yeah I know...and he just STOOD by"

Alfred inhaled deeply, "Perhaps Bruce and Mr. Dent believe that they should stand for something more important...than the whims of a terrorist...that's a sacrifice he's making...he's not being a hero, he's being something more"

"Yes...you are absolutely right. Letting Harvey take the fall is not HEROIC at all"

Rachel shook her head, and reached into her purse, she withdrew a small letter and gave it to Alfred, "You know him better than anyone...will you give this to him, when the time is right?"

Alfred looked at her, "How will I know?"

Rachel inhaled deeply, "It says that I..." she closed her eyes, "...I'm going to marry Harvey...and when I told him I'd wait for him to finish...I meant it but..." Rachel wiped a small tear from her cheek and stood straight, "but now I'm not sure that he'll ever be finished...I love him as a friend...but I can't wait for him"

Alfred closed his eyes and nodded, his normal cheery and unwavering voice cracked, "I...unde-...I understand." He hugged her deeply, "Goodbye Rachel". He bowed to her, stepped into the car, and drove off.

Rachel nodded looked at the car drive away, a female officer came over to Rachel, "Ms. Dawes, I'm Detective Ramirez; I'm here to drive you to Police Headquarters for questioning on Harvey Dent's actions"

Rachel sighed, "Ramirez, look, Harvey really isn'-"

Ramirez nodded gravely, "I know Rachel...but its procedure"

Rachel held up her hands in defeat and walked away with her.

Diana stood at the phone booth at a loss for words. She tried to absorb this information as best she could. She started rapidly going over the events in her head. Bruce and Rachel. Harvey and Batman. Rachel and Dent. Bruce and Harvey. Bruce and Batman. Rachel and Batman.

Diana rubbed her head; she was nearing on some type of conspiracy or agreement between Gotham's most powerful individuals. Is Harvey planning with the Batman? How does Bruce fit in to all this? How does Rachel understand what Batman is thinking? Does Rachel know who Batman is? Does Harvey? Does Bruce?

Before Diana could follow through on her line of thinking, she felt a sharp prod at her shoulder. She turned around and was greeted by Steve's grim face; he was wearing his combat armor. She looked at him expectantly.

Steve pointed to a van that was surrounded by military officers, "That Van has the real Harvey Dent in it, and we switched him behind closed doors. We thought you guys might want to know"

Diana nodded and passed this information to Shayera and the other members. Almost immediately, Diana saw J'onn's human form in her line of sight, as well as four figures appear at the rooftops. She nodded as she looked around.

"Diana" Steve began, "I'm going to accompany the Driver of Dent's vehicle, I nee-"

Diana snapped back at him, "Absolutely not, I will not allow you to be put in th-"

Steve held her face in his hands, "I'll be fine, and we have an absurd amount of reinforcements." He kissed her gently, "Plus I have you watching over"

Diana breathed in and nodded, "Ok...just please be careful"

Steve nodded at her and began to check his weapon, "You be careful as well"

Diana walked into an alley and tossed of her business outfit, underneath it she had on her traditionally Amazonian armor. She flew up to the rooftop and greeted the League.

"Crazy day?" she remarked.

John flashed his eyebrows, "yeah"

Diana looked at the van, "Well it's about to get crazier..." she told them about Dent's plan, leaving out the conversation between Rachel and Alfred.

Everyone looked at her wide eyed; Flash then immediately walked over to Superman and snatched 3 bills that were hanging out of his coat.

Flash shook his head with wide eyes, "You can say that again" he looked to the van that was beginning to move, "You aren't getting those 15 back Supe"

Superman snorted behind him, "I'll admit, I immediately thought of that bet when Dent announced it aloud"

Diana smiled, "Well, we know Harvey and Batman's plan...what should we do?"

Superman closed his eyes and thought it over, "We'll stay in the shadows...Batman didn't turn himself in, so that means he still wants to save the city his way...which is without our aid"

Diana shook her head, "No we cann-"

John interrupted her, "Diana...if what you told us is true, we cannot interfere...we'll only be proving the Mob right; that the GCPD and Batman can't take down somebody like the Joker...they won't respect them anymore"

Diana stared at him hard, John was unperturbed, "The mob hired the Joker...we can't let them get their money's worth, and prove them right."

"So we'll stand by and watch innocents die?" Diana asked angrily

Superman shook his head, "If Batman can't handle the situation...we'll be as discreet as possible, but yes, we'll interfere"

Flash grimaced, "Yeah...because we all know how great it was the last time we sat around doing nothing while the Joker ran around wild"

Superman shook his head, "It doesn't matter Flash...even though everything is going to hell...we have to trust Batman."

Diana sighed in defeat and looked out in the sky, Dusk was over. The night had fully set in. She flew into the air and began to follow the Van. She looked around in silence, "when do you think Batman will show?"

Superman flew up next to her, while the other members began to similarly begin their pursuit of the van. He stared out into the night "I don't know...but I hope he knows what he's doing"

Flash came rushing under them and waved frantically, they lowered down.

"Guys" Flash spoke grimly, "You might want to see this"

They rushed after Flash and almost ran into him as he stopped suddenly at an intersection. Diana looked at him annoyingly, "Flash what giv-"

"Diana" Superman breathed. "Oh my..." he didn't finish. Diana looked at the image in front of her; there were dozens of bodies laid out on the street, touching from head to toe. They were lined up in a sort of road-block fashion, they had all been gagged by tape and they all were crying out in pain.

Diana and Clark rushed forward to remove the bodies from the road, but a gruff and dark voice stopped them. "it's a trap"

They all snapped their heads around; Batman emerged from the shadows, holding a black trigger in his hands.

Diana stared at him, "trap?"

Batman nodded, "It's the same explosives that the Police officers had in them...the Joker has implanted these people as well"

Diana looked at the group horrified, "What do we do? We just can't let them die"

Batman raised his trigger and pushed it, almost immediately all the people on the street screamed in agony. Superman glared at Batman, "what are you doing to them?!"

Batman replied bluntly, "Saving their lives". The screams began to fade out, and Diana turned to Batman, "What did you do?"

Batman put the trigger away, "I deactivated the remote transceiver in the detonators, unfortunately it sends a shock wave through the victims' bodies...but the explosives will not go off by detonator anymore"

Batman looked down the street and spotted the caravan of police coming down. He turned to the Diana and Superman, "You mustn't move the bodies, doing so can juggle the explosives inside and cause even more internal damage."

Diana looked at the throng of people on the floor, "So we just leave them there to be run over?"

Batman began to walk away, "The police will proceed down onto the Lower highway. The Joker will strike down there."

Superman called after him, "Batman you can use a life; these cars will be driving incredibly fast...how will you stop him?"

Batman disappeared in the shadows, but his voice rang out, "I brought my car."

Diana raised an eyebrow and looked at Superman, he shrugged, "We'll see"

Diana flew out to meet the approaching Van and flew next to the door. Steve rolled the window down, "What happened?"

Diana nodded ahead, "There are bodies strewn on the road ahead, they have explosives in them and we can't move them"

Steve stayed silent, "They're live explosives?"

Diana shook her head, "Deactivated."

Steve nodded his head, "Ok." He raised a mike to his lips, "Obstruction head. Proceed down onto Lower fifth" Steve breathed out, "We'll be like pigs on a roast down there"

Diana flew up to Superman, he beckoned her to follow. "We'll enter through the side." Diana nodded and they flew under the streets by the water that sat beside the highway.

"Shayera, John, and Flash?" Diana asked as they entered Lower fifth.

"Assisting the teams that are removing the explosives from the bo-"

A loud metallic boom resonated through the enclosed street, as Diana and Superman turned to the sight of 3 semi-truck's pushing 6 SWAT vehicles into the ocean. Simultaneously, three police vehicles exploded into bright balls of fire as three missiles came into contact. One semi-truck emerged in the front of the trucks and held beside the Security van that held Dent...its cargo hold opened, revealing the Joker dressed in purple and 5 other henchmen.

Diana stood there breathless...in one single, vicious stroke the Joker decimated the GCPD's security hold. Diana turned to Superman enraged, "We can't just stay here"

Superman grimaced, "Just hold on"

Diana looked at him in disbelief. "Clark we just let these people die!"

As if on cue, a loud roar shot through the street like a lion's charge. Diana and Superman turned to see a large black vehicle, rugged and mountainous racing toward the scene.

Superman looked at the tank-like car with wide-eyes, "I got to get me one of those"

Diana couldn't help but marvel at the hulking beast of a car either, she followed it's trajectory and it was racing dead on the path of a huge semi-truck...they were going to collide.

Diana turned to Superman, "He's going to crash"

Superman followed her eyes and nodded. "Yes he is...but I don't think..."

Diana turned back to the huge vehicle and clenched her fists at the collision, but instead of colliding into a mesh of steel and fire...the black vehicle crushed the huge semi, and sent it flying back.

Superman snorted, "Yeah...just his style"

They quickly flew up and raced to keep pace with the vehicles, who were reaching speeds of triple digits in a relatively closed space. The Joker began to fire at Dent's vehicle with small weapons and shotguns. Diana grimaced at this and raised a hand to her ear, "Steve are you ok?"

Steve's voice came confidently through her ear, "Yeah, he's going to need something a lot bigger to get through our walls so don't wor..." Steve drawled off and breathed out, "Oh god"

Diana looked at the Joker and saw him holding a rocket launcher in his hands, he laughed gleefully and fired.
Diana screamed out and shot for the Van, but she was too late. She heard a roaring sound and a loud explosion, but didn't see the explosion because of the bright flame that the launcher created.

She screamed out, "STEVE!" and held up her hand to cover her eyes. She flew faster but was pulled back by Superman.

"No Diana!" Superman cried out, holding onto her leg, "You'll be fried. I'll go, it won't hurt me"

Diana wanted to scream out at him, but could only look at the explosion. "Clark what have I done..."

Her eyes began to tear when she saw the Van and the Semi-truck shoot forward, undamaged by the explosion. She looked back to Clark with confusion and he stared at the scene with huge eyes. She turned and saw the massive black vehicle on fire; it was tumbling wildly through the air. It landed in a rough and manner, it's rear wheels blown to pieces. Diana quickly flew to the crash site. She descended upon the vehicle, and she saw the incredible damage to it. Its entire back section was missing. Diana looked at the car in horror and began to wildly tear the vehicle apart, screaming "BATMAN! Just HOLD ON!" She savagely used her strength to tear into the vehicle. Superman landed beside her and began to rip of the vehicles hood as well. Diana was shaking as she saw blood begin to drip from the vehicle. Her pace quickened and she nearly opened the car when a loud voice came through her ear. "Diana stop!" Batman commanded.

Diana stood frozen on top of the car and she raised a hand to her ear, "Batman?" she breathed out.

"I'm fine, just stop tearing up what's left of the Tumbler, I need it." Batman groaned.

Diana rose a shaky hand to her face, "Oh you idiotic, moron. You just had to-"

Superman touched her arm gently; she turned to him, "What Clark?"
Superman looked at the tumbler uneasily as it started to shake, "I think we better move"

Diana looked at the tumbler's erratic shaking and hopped off, "Batman" she said unsurely, "What is going on?"

The left-front wheel of the tumbler began to speed up violently, and two gun cannons emerged on either side of it. The Tumbler's front chassis began to peel back and narrow itself. Diana looked at the car and announced, "Um Batman...is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine." Batman calmly stated. "Would you two mind stepping 20 feet away?"

Superman and Diana traded a look and stepped back. They looked at each other and Diana shrugged. She looked at the Tumbler and asked, "Ok Batman. Was something suppose-"

A loud mechanic whistle cranked out of the vehicle as a computerized women's voice stated very clearly and quietly, "Good-bye"

The front wheels of the Tumbler shot out of it and latched onto each other in a bike-like form. A dark caped figure shot out along with it, and sped off into the Gotham night. The Tumbler erupted into a small explosion and tiny pieces of it rained down. Diana looked at Batman's exit out of the car in wonder. Superman let out a whistle and jumped into the air. "Just his style" and took off after Batman. Diana shook her head and quickly followed suit.

Batman roared through the streets of Gotham, destroying any obstructions ahead of him. Superman looked at his destruction with wide eyes, "Well. He certainly isn't one for the rules of the road". Diana looked at Batman ride with fascination. His cape billowed behind him in this epic way. It looked like he was gliding through the streets. She flew over the rooftops, keeping track of his progress. He finally dipped through an alley and turned on the wheel's axis. Effectively turning the bike in a 90 degree angle in a second. Diana breathed out, "Ok...now that's just really his style" Superman grinned and turned back to the scene,

The Bat-pod raced toward the Joker's semi-truck. Another head on collision.

Diana hesitated, "Clark...I don't doubt Batman, but I don't think he's going to come out on top with this one."

Superman looked at the two vehicles racing and began to descend, "I think you might be right." Batman's voice came through their earpieces, "I've got it"

Superman and Diana traded a look and held up their hands in defeat, they were going to let Batman do this on his own.

The Batpod raced down and fired two projectiles at the grill of the Semi. Diana held her breath as Batman extended the Batpod to lie flat on its wheels, and pass underneath it. She let out a sigh of relief as he emerged through the other side, and began to zigzag between light poles. She scrunched her eyes in confusion when all of a sudden the Semi stopped suddenly. A loud crack when through the Gotham night as light poles were uprooted and the Semi flipped on its front...and sailed through the air.

Diana swallowed as she saw the destruction in front of them; she turned to Superman who was also wide-eyed. Batman certainly was a match for the Joker.

Batman accelerated to the Semi, while the Joker emerged shakily out. The Joker began to shoot on-coming cars, paving a path for Batman that led straight to him. Diana could hear the Joker muttering insanely, "I want you to do it, come on do it. Come on"

The Joker stood still, his arms spread out in front of him; Batman was racing toward him on the Bat-pod. The Joker was screaming, "Come on HIT ME"

Diana tensed up, "You don't think..."

Superman was uneasy as well, "I don't know"

Batman descended on the last 100 meters, he was screaming. The Joker let out a blood-curling roar, "HIT ME"

Batman turned the Bat-pod at the last second, drifting it behind the Joker and smashing into the Semi. Batman's body fell back and lay still on the ground. A goon tried to unmask Batman but jolted back as soon as he touched the mask.

Diana shot to the scene, Clark grabbed her again, but she turned around with a murderous look "Clark if you don't let me go right now..."

Superman stared at her, "Diana we can't do-"

Diana screamed, "HE'LL DIE CLARK!"

Clark flinched at this and let her go; Diana grimaced and shot toward the scene. She looked at the Joker was sitting on top of Batman grinning with a knife. She was about to slam in the Joker when a dark figure in a shotgun stepped up behind the Joker and revealed himself. It was the officer that had died during the assault on the Mayor...Lt. James Gordon.

Diana veered off at the last minute, and crashed into a nearby fence. She dusted herself off and muttered darkly as she walked out to meet the scene of Batman being rescued by a police officer. Batman looked at the Joker and then at Gordon, they passed a tacit nod between them and Batman limped away. He looked at Diana, and then at his Bike. Diana nodded, "Quite a crash." Batman nodded, he was holding his right arm gingerly. He saw her noticing it and he muttered, "Out of its socket..." Batman raised his arm to the light and revealed the dark-red blood staining his gauntlets, "Gash in the suit"

Diana stepped forward, "do you want me to set it?"

Batman looked at her and grimaced as he tried to move his arm, he sighed and nodded, "Sure" he gasped.

Diana gingerly held his arm in her hands and nodded, "This is going to hurt Batman"

Batman nodded, "Yeah...do it."

Diana quickly applied pressure and she shifted the shoulder back into its socket. Batman let out a groan of pain and a pant of breath. He moved his arm slowly, it hurt and was still bleeding, but it was functional. Diana looked rubbed his blood between her fingers. "You need medical attention"

Batman walked to his bike and saddled it "Later" He looked back at her, "The JOKER?" he demanded

"Incarcerated" said a calm voice behind them. Diana almost jumped an looked back, but Batman kept manipulating the Pod's controls. Gordon looked at Batman's vehicle, "I like it"

Batman didn't look up, "Thanks for the assist...you're supposed to be dead"

Diana saw Gordon's lip slightly curve into a smile, "Best get out of here soon...reporters are coming." Gordon bowed to Diana, "Thank you for your aid Your Highness"

Diana smiled, "Please sir...it's Diana"
Gordon corrected himself, "Diana."

Gordon walked back to Dent and Steve, conveying orders into a cellphone.

Diana looked at him an then at Harvey in the back, he was walking aside Steve, rubbing his wrists. Diana turned back, "Looks like he saved you...that's a first for the Batman."

Batman looked at Gordon, then to the broken fence, and then back at her, "I can see he beat you to it."

Diana turned pink at the inwardly bent fence, she turned and shrugged at him, "You would have done the same for me..." She followed this line of thought and remembered Batman taking that rocket launcher instead of the van. She rubbed her head, "Thank you...for Steve" she said nodding over to Steve and Gordon.

Batman turned to Steve and Gordon, he looked at her and...maybe it was Diana's imagination, but his voice turned less...gruff. "You don't have to thank me..." he quietly replied.

He returned his gaze to the batpod and started it's engine. Diana felt a surge of curiosity surge through her, "Batman...wait" She began.

Batman looked at her from his the batpod. Diana breathed, "Do you know who Rachel Dawes and Bruce Wayne are?"

Diana didn't get any reaction out of him whatsoever. He just stood silent and emotionless. He finally opened his mouth, "They're powerful people in Gotham...but I don't know them personally"

Diana wasn't convinced, "And this plan with Dent?"

Batman again remained quiet. "Improvised" he stated.

Diana shook her head,"Were you really going to come forth?...Or did you lie to me again for the 'good cause'" She tried to keep the heat out of her voice, but she couldn't.

Batman stared at her, he heard her anger. He looked away from her, feeling a very faint twinge of shame "I didn't lie to you." he replied hoarsely.

She stood there glaring at him, but she heard the pain in his voice. She walked up to him, "Am I ever going to get to know the real you?" She gently touched his arm, "The man behind the suit"

Batman froze. He turned to his head and looked at her hand on his arm. He looked at her, into her eyes, "He died a long time ago" He composed himself, lay on the Batpod, and rode away.
Diana watched him leave with a sad look. Reporters had begun to arrive, evidenced by the while news cameras beginning to descend upon Dent. She looked at Steve who was laughing and smiling amongst the crowd. She looked back at Batman's elusive billowing cape. She knew who the true hero of the day was. Yet he didn't stay in the limelight. Steve, Harvey, and Gordon...they answered the question and were hailed as the heroes. She gazed at Batman's figure...he glided into the night. Either way, she was going over to Rachel and Bruce to ask them some questions.

Thanks for all the Reviews, they're very encouraging. I know I don't personally respond to that many of them, but I feel like you would rather have me writing the next chapter than a response. Do feel free to leave them though; they do help me out quite a bit. They're the reason why I'll write a chapter even if I don't feel like it.
Thanks again. And yes, I know this story is a very dark, very tragic tale...but that's why it's Batman.