Epilogue

Gotham General Hospital

"We've just gotten reports that Jerome Valeska, now calling himself 'The Joker', has been apprehended by the police." Valerie Vale said on the GCN news station. "Police report that commissioner James Gordon was kidnapped by the psychotic serial killer and was brutally tortured until the Bat vigilante arrived and stopped him. I'm now speaking with police captain Harvey Bullock."

"Earlier tonight, that ginger kid broke into Jim's apartment, shot his wife, and then took Gordon to the Amusement Park." Bullock said into the microphone. "The sick freak tried to drive him insane, but the Bat showed up, and we were able to capture him. When we finally caught him, he looked like he had this face paint burned into him. Doctors at Arkham said that the paint and the green hair dye are permanently imprinted into his skin now."

"We were not able to get any comments from the vigilante, as he left before the police showed up." Valerie said. "This is Valerie Vale, of GCN." Lee shut off the television, stressed from the whole day. Just then, Gordon, Bruce, and Alfred entered the room.

"I'm sorry this happened." Gordon apologized. "He shot you to get to me."

"Don't blame yourself, Jim." Lee said. "You didn't mean for Jerome to come here."

"Well, after a talk with the doctors here, you'll be able to leave the hospital in about a week." Alfred stated. Nodding, Lee turned to Bruce.

"Thank you Bruce, for bringing Jim back." Lee said.

"Wait, you knew?" Jim asked.

"Yes, I told her tonight." Bruce said. "I need more help than just Selina at times."

"And I'll be able to treat Bruce's injuries in secret." Lee added. "He can't show up to a hospital every day."

"Thank you, Doctor Tompkins." Bruce said, as he and Alfred left the hospital to let Jim and Lee be alone.

Wayne Manor

Once Bruce and Alfred got back to the Manor, Alfred could tell that Bruce was feeling angered.

"Something wrong, Master Wayne?" Alfred asked.

"I don't get it." Bruce admitted. "I stopped Jerome. I rescued Gordon. Why does it feel like I lost?"

"I suppose you are feeling guilt for what happened to Doctor Tompkins?" Alfred asked.

"Yes." Bruce said.

"That was not your fault, Bruce." Alfred said. "You couldn't have known that bloody Jerome was going to go after Gordon." Suddenly, they heard footsteps in the kitchen. Quietly, Bruce and Alfred entered the room, and were about to knock out the intruder, when they heard a familiar voice.

"Is this how I'm always going to be welcomed here?" Selina Kyle asked.

"Well, if you had tried knocking, you wouldn't be." Alfred replied.

"What is it, Selina?" Bruce asked.

"Anyone who helped Jerome out is now locked up, including Barbara." Selina informed. Then seeing the surprise on Bruce's face, she said, "What, I wasn't going to just kill her."

"Is there anything else?" Bruce asked.

"Actually, yeah." Selina said. "Remember all that face paint and makeup 'The Joker' wore? Turns out he got hit with an unknown chemical, and it all got burned into his face. That look is gonna be permanent." Bruce then started to regret knocking Jerome into that wall earlier.

"I didn't mean…" Bruce began, but was stopped by Selina.

"Hey, what's done is done." Selina said. Just as Bruce was about to speak, they all heard a knock at the door. Alfred went to go see who was there, grabbing a gun in case it was a criminal.

"Lucius!" Alfred greeted.

"Hello, Alfred." Lucius said, entering the manor with a large briefcase. "I got something for Bruce." Bruce opened the briefcase and peered inside. In the case was a new suit, with bladed vambraces, a chest symbol shaped like a bat, and even a proper cape. But what caught Bruce's eye was the cowl. It was just like the one he had lost during the fight with Jerome, but had pointed ears on top.

"After all those times last year when the suit got beat up, I began working on a new one." Lucius explained. "The ears were a final touch after I heard that maniac had taken your previous cowl."

"Thanks Lucius." Bruce said, lifting up the suit.

"You're going to need a new name for this." Selina said.

"Miss Kyle is right, it's getting tiresome to just hear you being called 'the vigilante'." Alfred added. "Got any ideas?" Bruce grinned, thinking back to when Jerome called him a man who thinks he's a bat, and said the first name that came to mind.

"Batman."

The End