Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. Rights belong to Marvel, DC, 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers.

Wolverine in Arkham

Chapter Ten: Wolverine vs. Batman

"This is insane," Logan said, as he looked over their work. "The only way Batman would fall for these was if he were dumb as a doornail and just as blind."

"Well…" Lars said, "The boss isn't use to working in a natural setting. I think the traps are pretty good for how quickly we…."

"Bub, these pits couldn't be more obvious if they were painted red."

"Well subtlety isn't Joker's thing. I'm pretty sure he's just doing these traps as fun distractions anyway."

"Yeah? Well I'm done having fun." Throwing down his shovel, Logan climbed out of the pit and picked up a beer, plopping down beside Flynn, who was sharpening pine branches into spikes. The other man's face was bandaged, but he'd put clown makeup on the side of his face still showing and wasn't complaining. "The boss won't be happy if we don't finish. The sun's almost set," he said, pausing in his work, to glare at Logan with his good eye.

"Screw him. How do you guys ever put up working for that clown?"

"What choice do we have?" Lars asked, "Anyway its not all bad. Joker's paying for my sister's collage and he paid my mom's hospital bills last year. And sometimes the heist payoffs can end up being pretty big."

Logan snorted dubiously.

"And of course there's the glamour," Flynn pointed out, "Joker's famous. People don't mess with you, once you've run with someone as hardcore as Joker. And you have to admit this is way more interesting than anything other bosses do. Heh, I'm even looking forward to finally seeing the Batman! I mean come on. Batman and Joker are the stuff'a legends."

Lars glared at Logan from down in the muddy pit. "If you don't like it Mutty, why you even here?" he demanded suspiciously.

"Joker broke me out. Guess you could say I owe him." Logan said, shrugging and chugging down some beer.

"Then stop complaining and follow orders," Lars snapped.

Finishing off his beer, Logan looked lazily down at Lars. "Make me."

Growling Lars raised his shovel, but before he could do anything more there was the slam of a screen door and Harley came out, stepping carefully through the bushes and leaves like they were snakes threatening to strike out and bite her.

"Aren't yeh boys finished yet?" she asked.

"Logan won't do anything!" accused Lars, "He's just sitting around and…"

"Well hurry and get this covered up," Harley interrupted, clearly not listening, "Sun's going down and Mr J's 'specting the Batman soon."

"Then tell Wolverine to get his ass mov…" began Lars, but Harley interrupted him again.

"Oh, yeah. The Joker want you to come inside," she said, looking at Logan, "He's got some instructions for you, for when The Batman comes."

Shrugging, Logan stood up. "Guess you boys will have to finish playing in the mud without me," he said crushing his empty beer can and tossing it into Lars' pit. "Don't forget to install the flaming pinecones. I'm sure they're so critical to the plan."

Logan could practically feel the heat of Lars' glare on the back of his neck, as he walked back to the main hall. He smirked and then gave the other minion a last wave, as he chivalrously opened the screen door for Harley.

"Wolvie old boy!" Joker greeted, as Logan and Harley walked up to the second floor. "Everything's in place. Hahahee!" He took Logan's arm and showed him about the dance hall.

Using brightly colored spray paint, Joker and Harley had thoroughly decorated the walls. Clown faces and the words "Ha Ha Ha!" dripped down the walls and wooden pillars. Harley had added a few hearts and the Joker some green arrows, which were painted on the floor and seemed to lead in random directions, contradicting each other at every turn. The lights had been replaced with green and purple bulbs, making the place both eerie and colorful.

"Batman's primary objective will be to shut down the detonator, which I've hidden in the left wing of the stage. Course I have the only control key, but knowing Bats he'll bring some tool or "bat-gadget", which will let him bypass security, SOoooo expect him to come directly here."

Logan looked around the old dance hall. It was a large space, with a high ceiling. Wooden rafters and dark shadows crisscrossed the space over their heads and to the left were some large windows and double doors, leading out to an unlit balcony.

"Couldn't you have hid you damn computer in a confined space?" Logan growled, "You know, a little room without hiding places, where I could pin the bastard down."

Joker put an arm over Logan's shoulder. "And where would be the fun in that!" he demanded and laughed, "We got to keep things interesting don't we?"

"You know Bub," Logan sighed, "I'm starting to get the feeling that you purposely set you traps in the Batman's favor."

"Wolvie, what do you think I am? Crazy? Hahahahaaa! I just like to watch the little rodent making his moves is all. Now!" he swung Logan around to face another direction, pointing toward the stairs. "Lars and Mo will be guarding the doors, but once Batzy gets past them, he's sure to come here and this is where you'll be waiting."

Logan shook off Joker's arm crossed his, "And where will you be?"

"Oh, Harley and I will be someplace safe, watching the whole thing." He waved a hand at the various security cameras set up in the rafters. "Now listen Wolvie," Joker lowered his voice and leaned closer, putting his arm around him again in a conspiring manner. "I don't doubt that you're just itching to stick your claws through the Batman's head and murder him dead, but Bats and I go way back."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm just saying that you need to leave the actual killing…. to me," Joker said, placing a white hand over his chest, "I'm sure you understand. You are, of course, more than welcome to mostly kill him, that is if you're able, but if you get carried away and lop Ol' Bats' head off, or carve out his stony heart, I'll be most disappointed."

Logan looked at the Joker and then scoffed, pushing the lunatic away, like he was an irritating dog, who jumped up too much. "Bub, you're a scrawny clown in a fucking purple suit. I'm really not…"

"Wolvie," Joker interrupted, grabbing Logan's hair and pulling his head over, so he could whisper in his ear. "I bet you're just dying to know who is really behind your little field trip to Gotham, hrm? Who the lovely Doctor Patel was working for and why they picked you in the first place?"

Logan's face fell serious and he jerked free, glaring at Joker.

"I read your file in Arkham, Wolverine, but I also read SOooo much more. Not to mention the information my many other sources provided. Heehee… You poor amnesic brute." Joker patted Logan's cheek and Logan swatted his hand away. "Personally, Wolvie, I rather enjoy not knowing my past. I mean if you got'a have a past, might as well keep it multiple choice! Hey? Heehee! But I know your sort, Wolvie. You just won't be satisfied until you know who the bastards are will you?" He clucked his tongue pityingly, "You just don't…"

Logan growled and suddenly slammed Joker against a wooden pillar. "Just tell me what you know Joker!"

"Oh, I will, Ol' Boy," Joker said, not sounding the least bit perturbed by the violence, "But not until we've dealt with Batman. Like I explained in Arkham, you do a little something for me and I'll…"

Logan shoved his fist under Joker's chin and extended the two outer claws. They barley brushed the clown's pale cheeks, as the rose up on either side of his face. "No more games Joker!"

Still looking completely unconcerned Joker smiled. "Killing me won't give you any answers, Wolverine." He grabbed Logan's arm and attempted to push it away, "I mean seriously, there's…."

A sudden alarm sounded, coming from somewhere behind the stage.

"Oh, sounds like we got company!" Joker exclaimed, "That, or some damned wild animal has triggered my perimeter again."

"Mista J, I think Batman's here! I saw his motorcycle come in…" Harley came running onto the stage, but the stopped with a squeak, when she saw Joker pinned against the pillar. "Puddin! What's…?"

"Oh, It's nothing Harle," Joker called, "Wolvie and I were just talking. Isn't that right?" he looked at Logan.

With a quick glance at Harley's worried face, Logan hesitated and then gave a reluctant growl, as he pulled his claws in and stepped away. "We'll be finishing this conversation later Joker."

"Yes, I'm sure we will, but now we got work to do. Harle tell the boys to get into place."

Harley scampered down the stairs and Joker started towards the stage, but suddenly grabbed Logan's arm and turned around to face him again. "And you… Don't forget what I said. In the end the Batman is mine."

Logan glared and shook off the Joker's arm. "I heard yeh the first time."

As the clown grinned and hurried off behind the stage, Logan looked at the glass windows overlooking the balcony. Outside, dusk had fallen and only a fait glow of light remained. He could see his own reflection in the glass, the flannel shirt and torn jeans that were too long for him. His scruffy face covered with the stupid white makeup, which had become smeared and dirty after the afternoon of digging pits. His scowl deepened at the sight of it and he raised his sleeve, wiping most of the paint away.

"I've had 'bout enough of these games," he growled to himself and then glanced about the room again before extending his claws and jumping up a pillar, climbing his way to the shadowy rafters.

Time passed and the timer on Joker's detonator steadily counted its way closer and closer to the deadline. One hour and twenty minutes, an hour, then there was just forty minutes left, then thirty. Outside it grew completely dark, save for the unfading glow of the distant city lights, reflecting off the clouds. Nothing stirred.

Logan began to wonder if Joker had overestimated the Batman. What if the vigilante never found the hideout?

Then he saw him.

Even with Logan's enhanced vision, he had trouble making out the black shape, which seemed to sail silently onto the balcony rail like a giant night owl. It perched there, just outside the window, shrouded in its black cape and remaining completely still. Only the malicious gleam of white eye-slits, seem to betray the creature's presence and intentions. With a shiver, Logan found himself holding his breath and gripping the beams of the rafters, his heart pounding in fear that the shade would see him. It was a starling realization. That freak was making him feel like pray!

Giving a slight snort, Logan shook off the feeling and gritted his teeth, extending his claws slightly in anticipation. "Come on Bub," he whispered, "I'm waiting."

Almost like a response, the Batman moved from the rail and walked toward the old doors, his cape falling around him. For a few moments, Logan couldn't see him, as The Batman knelt on the other side of the wooden double doors, but his ears picked up the fait sounds of clicks and scratches. The Batman was picking the lock. There was a creek, as the old doors opened and Batman slipped into the dance hall, like a cloud over the moon.

He didn't look up into the shadows of the rafters, where Logan was hiding and Logan held his breath, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. However, just before, he was about to leap, there was a sudden swish of cape and twin batarangs came whizzing toward him. It was completely unexpected and only Logan's instinctual reflexs saved his from getting hit. Swinging off the rafter, Logan landing on the floor his ten feet from the Batman, between him and the stage. The strange lights shone down on both of them, green turning Logan's ugly flannel shirt uglier and purple lining the Batman's black cape and cowl.

"What are you doing here?" demanded Batman in a deep even tone. His mask and voice betrayed nothing and he already had two more batarangs in his hand, as he faced the mutant.

Logan cracked his knuckles and then his neck. "Wait'n for you Bub," he answered, "You don't need to worry 'bout the bombs. I…"

"Get out of my way," Batman interrupted impatiently, not listening to Logan, "I'll deal with you after Joker is stopped." He made to stride right past Logan toward the stage, hardly even glancing at him.

Logan scowled and as Batman passed then struck out, keeping his claws sheathed but planning on putting his whole strength into a gut punch. To his frustration, the Batman dodged, jumping back with almost superhuman reflexes and taking a fighting stance just out of reach, a batarang still him his gloved hand.

"I warned you once to get out of my way, Logan," he said, "I don't give second chances." And with that Batman threw that batarang toward Logan's face with a whirr. It wasn't hard for Logan's to dodge, but it took his attention of Batman and in that half a second, in which he was concerned with the flying shard of steel aimed at his face, Batman stuck, from his flank, with a precisely aimed sidekick under his ribs and a karate chop on neck. At the same time, Batman grabbed Logan's his right arm in and attempt to twist him down to his knees into a firm hold.

Growling Logan broke the hold, before it was set and hooked his leg behind the Batman's ankles, kicking the Dark Knight's feet out from under and flipping him off his back. Turning around, Logan got in a blow to his opponent's back, which should have been enough to floor him, but Batman didn't even grunt in pain, just rolled nimbly out from under Logan's reach and back to his feet. Nonetheless, the Knight brought up a guard and seemed to survey Logan a little more seriously, as they both circled each other.

The last time he and Batman had faced each other one on one had been in the parking garage four months ago. Logan had been a raging animal, wild, out of his mind and out of control. Now he was calm, even relaxed, collected and completely alert. He could see that the difference had caught the Batman off guard. Even with the mask and the stony exterior, he could see gears turning in the Batman's head, gagging and reassessing Logan, as they quietly circled like a couple of deadly cats.

Logan smirked and Batman stuck out first. They were quick attacks, practiced and yet basic. The kind men would exchange in a sparing gym. He was testing Logan and Logan easily parried, replying with his own attacked, multiple strikes and a round kick. While they were fast, hard and vicious, they were also traditional combat moves. Batman parried but was forced to give ground, falling back toward the balcony. He frowned the firm line of his lips growing determined and attacked again, faster than before, using perfect timing and precision, with every punch and kick.

Logan was ready for him. He didn't even think about extending his claws. He recognized professional skill and for once the trill of true steely combat, with millennia of history, rules and honor behind it came upon him. It was samurai vs. samurai. Will against will. Training vs. training and knowledge against knowledge. Logan hadn't fought like this since he'd left Japan.

At first the Batman had him on the defensive, getting in almost all the hits and forcing Logan to give ground, but then the sense and rhythm of the art came back to Logan. He cleared his head and allowed his enhanced senses and reflexes to work for him, his will and energy to flow at a steady controlled rate through his body. The fight began to turn. He stopped relying on his healing factor and blindly throwing punches. He took fewer hits and took over control of the fight, dodging, parrying and attacking, with greater speed and confidence. Soon they were both covered in sweat and Logan could hear Batman's heart pounding faster and faster as he began to tire.

Growing steadily more desperate Batman became less conventional, trying to get around Logan, or get the space to pull some trick or another. Several times he reached for his belt, but Logan would strike and force him to abandon the endeavor to either dodge or parry.

Once Batman managed pulled out his grappling gun, but Logan kicked it from his gasp, then the knight took out some smoke bombs, but Logan knocked these aside as well, sending them flying into a corner of the room where they were able to do very little good.

Ten full minutes past and Batman was breathing hard, exhaustion was slowing his every move. Logan was just playing with him, forcing him to keep moving and refusing him a moment's break to catch his breath. Now just about every hit was his and it was lucky for The Batman, that Logan wasn't using his claws or even his full strength.

"You're good Bat's" Logan said, as once again Batman recovered from a sound blow to his ribs and came in with another serious of attacks. Logan parried in an almost casual manner now, and finally catching Batman's fist in an iron hard grip. "But you're never going to win, if you keep playing nice, like this. Anyone can see you purposely avoid serious harm." Logan twisted his arm, knocked aside a left-handed strike and then got in a solid spinning kick to Batman's solarplexs, sending the knight stumbling back, coughing for air. "Your goodie-good style just aint going to work with me, Bub, or haven't you heard?"

Batman was leaning on a pillar, shaking some, one hand on his chest as he fought to get his breath back. He was glaring at Logan though the eye slits, as the mutant came casually closer, ready to finally end the fight.

"Thanks for the advise," Batman said and he suddenly didn't look so completely exhausted and breathless anymore. Logan saw his hand slip under his cape to his belt and realized too late that he'd been duped into a false sense a victory.

There was a crack, as a suddenly flash of light blinded him and then a swish of black cape, which only added to his confusion. He let out a roar ready to slam the rodent soon as he tried to hit him, but rather than directly attack, the Batman jumped over him, using Logan's shoulders to flip over his head and across the room. As he passed, Logan felt something stick to the back of his neck. Turning, he saw the Batman crouched several feet away, a small detonator in his hand. Silently The Batman gave a grim little smile, which very effectively said "no more Mr. Nice Guy" without wasting breath and then pushed a button. There were a fast couple of beeps behind Logan's head.

"Shit," Logan reached back, but hardly had time rip the little bomb from his collar, before it blew up in his hand. His vision exploded into red pain and the room spun, as he was thrown off his feet. Heat ate his hand and one side of his face and the air was burned and beat out of his lungs. He barely managed to stay conscious. The smell of burned flesh filled his nostrils and Logan could hear his blood and fat sizzling. Struggling up, he could see that most of the flesh on his right hand was blow away and burns extended all the way up his arm. From the feel, he guessed his face probably resembled Two Face's at the moment.

Across the room, Batman was lowering his cape and peering at him. His mouth opened in slight surprise, at the sight of Logan sitting up, but then quickly hardened again to a determined line.

"Okay, Bub," Logan coughed and got shakily to his knees extending his claws, "Now I'm angry."

Batman looked at him for haft a moment more, before swiftly turning to run for the stage, his cape swishing behind him. With infuriated Logan charged after him, tearing floor with his claws as he ran.

Batman made it to the stage, but had hardly cleared the steps, when Logan lunged and grabbed his legs, tackling him down. Twisting, Batman tried to bring up his finned gauntlet to parry an attack, only to have Logan's claws cut through the armor like it was made of tin. Claws cut into flesh and Batman bit back a cry of pain, as he kicked Logan in the throat and slipped away, like water from a sift. Escaping down to the main floor Batman rolled to get some distance between them and then pulled his cape around himself, trying to hide his wounded arm and not betray the weakness.

"In ten minutes, the Joker's bombs will obliterate Gotham City." Batman said in the same stern even tone as before. "Let me pass. I have to…"

"I told you not to worry about the bombs," Logan growled, and leapt off the steps, claws out in attack.

Batman dodged, but kept his left arm close to his side and attempting a counter attack with his right, stabbing towards Logan with a batarang.

Logan caught the wrist in his hand, kicked Batman soundly in the stomach and slammed him back against the side of the stage. Thrusting his right claws forward, he stabbed through Batman's left side, cutting through flesh and striking wood paneling on the other side.

There was a soft moan and The Batman blanched, turning pale as pain and shock took the breath out of him. Logan was mostly healed from the bomb now and their faces were only a few inches away, as Logan kept him pinned. He could see through the slits in the mask to the brown eyes on the other side. There wasn't any fear there, but there was a lot of pain and a driving desperation, which refused to give in.

"Please. The Joker has to be stopped."

"I know, but…"

There was the sound of someone else running into the room and Logan looked up sniffing, a growl rising to his throat, as he recognized Joker's sent. However, the moment his took his eyes off the Batman, the Dark Knight slipped his right hand out of his hold and down to his belt.

This time Logan only had time to glance down and recognize another bomb stuck to the front of his shirt, before Batman kicked him viciously back across the floor and hit the detonator. There was a hasty beep-beep-beep and then a boom, as his chest exploded. For a few moments, Logan clung to consciousness. The room swam. The darkness and colors of melted into red all around him.

Blearily, he saw Joker standing over him and knew the clown was laughing, though he couldn't hear it. Joker took out his gun and aimed it down at his temple. The ringing in his ears subdued just enough, for him to hear the Joker say "….ahHahHAha! Wolvie… I'm going to shoot you now!" before there was another flash and the world went dark.

AN: I'd love to have some feedback on what y'all thought of the fight.