Disclaimer:I don't own any Batman Begins/Dark Knight characters. All other characters are mine.

I forgot to mention that we passed 1,000 reads already, that is so incredible! For my work to even reach that many people is still hard to believe but I am grateful that it is.

Please Review and Favourite if you are enjoying this story or interested to see how it plays out, I'm having so much fun writing this and any feedback is appreciated!

Stay amazing! XOXOXO -Improbable Dreamer

In her defense, the door was already unlocked when they arrived.

Joker had a few more names on his hit-list to deal with, Cat didn't ask for the details but agreed to tag along.

Killing Mark and his wife Janine was the most terrifying, thrilling, and liberating act that Caterina ever committed. The way he begged her for forgiveness as the light faded from his eyes and the blood stained the carpet, the way his wife never even knew that he was dead when she got home; it was all just fun.

"I think it's about time we talked." Cat said, pushing bodies into the washing machine.

Joker shook his head at her attempt and angrily rearranged the bodies, to stop the legs from sticking out.

"About what?"

"Well," She nervously removed the shoes and socks from the feet. "I want in."

"Hm?" Joker paid little attention to her comment, instead passing her the large bottle of chlorine-bleach.

"In. I want to join you officially. No more of this 'wait in the van' crap."

"Oh," He looked up sympathetically, the white bleach chugging over the bodies. "You're not underappreciated."

"I know that…"

"Then what's the problem?"

She was annoyed now, and the bleach splashed over her plastic apron as she dropped it on the laundry floor.

"The problem is that I am pathetically loyal with nothing to show for it."

"That's hilarious."

"I'm not joking."

He paused, the mould-killer and stain-remover clutched in his gloved hands. "I'll…I'll think about it."

"Really?" She beamed and pulled the dust mask over her face as Joker poured the chemicals into their little science experiment. It was disappointing that there wasn't any fizz or spark, or even a small tuft of toxic smoke. Joker fitted a mask onto his own face, as the deadly mixture worked its magic on the unconscious policemen.

"It would mean a lot to me." Her voice was muffled under the mask, drowned out by the distant sound of screaming resonating from the closed washing machine.

He ripped his gloves and mask off, dropping them carelessly on the floor, and took her hands in his.

"You'll need a change of clothes though, I'm kind of building an aesthetic."

"Whatever."

"And a haircut, your hair is so…" Joker twirled a lock of her brown hair between his fingers and sniffed it deeply, before making a face and dropping it. "Boring."

Cat was slightly insulted but shrugged her agreement anyway. The constant and earsplitting screaming was finally getting on her nerves so she kicked the machine angrily. "Can't you see we're having a conversation here?"

All three of them politely died.

"Thanks."

"And why don't we change your makeup while we're at it." Joker held out his arm for a shake, to seal the deal. Cat didn't have much need for her neat appearance anyway, in fact it was a bit of a hindrance that the thugs wouldn't take her seriously; maybe a new look would intimidate them into respecting her.

"Deal."

She grabbed his arm and shook, just as police sirens echoed in the distance and Joker's hand flew to his mouth in mock fear.

"That's our cue, sweetheart. Let's leave, this party's dead anyway."

Cat giggled and opened the front door in a flourish. "After you."

Gotham didn't take lightly to the death of Jim Gordon, he was the catalyst that threw the city into absolute chaos and fear. Harvey Dent, ever the hero, held an urgent press conference to address the new aggressive opinions against the Batman. The public found it just to blame all the murders upon him, accountability wasn't something society held well.

On the second Tuesday of March, Gotham Superior Court was full to capacity; a nervous crowd of reporters, cops, and the general public. Dent stood at the podium, anxiously adjusting the microphone, his gaze flitted over the many helpless faces and he smiled unsurely at Bruce Wayne, the only face he recognised among the mass.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming," The hum of conversation dropped and camera shutters fired at lightening speeds.

"I've called this press conference for two reasons. Firstly, to assure the citizens of Gotham that everything that can be done over the 'Joker killings' is being done. Secondly, because the Batman has recently offered to turn himself in- "

The entire room erupted with shouts of anguish and of appreciation. Bruce Wayne nodded to himself, trying to slow his beating heart. Eventually the commanding security guards controlled the rabble and attention was redirected to Dent again.

"But first. Let's consider the situation: should we give in to this terrorist's demands? Do we really think that- "

"-How can the police hope to contain him when they couldn't even save one kidnapped woman?" A reporter interjected angrily, the crowd threatened to rise again in anger.

"Look," Harvey motioned desperately for silence. "The investigation for Caterina Morgan is ongoing. We have not given up and we will not be giving up anytime soon. We need to focus on the issue at hand, it's people like the Batman who help us save kidnapped women and keep the streets safe."

Another reporter took the opposition, loudly. "You'd rather protect an outlaw vigilante than the lives of citizens?! People disappearing off the streets should be higher on your list than this 'Batman'."

The crowd exploded at this, debates and opinions thrown carelessly across the room. Harvey Dent wiped his brow hopelessly, until the guards once again shut everyone up with pure authority.

"The Batman is an outlaw," He looked out to the fidgeting crowd. "But that's not why we're demanding he turn himself in. We're doing it because we're scared. We've been happy to let Batman clean up our Streets for us until now-"

"-Things are worse than ever!"

Wayne glanced over at the heckler, an unmovable expression passing over his face. The crowd was again angry, as crowds in Gotham generally were. Dent hadn't given in, however, and leaned over the podium with an impassioned flair, making eye contact with each of the interrupting crowd members as he continued.

"Yes, they are. But the night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming."

Finally, the crowd hushed and was willing to let Harvey continue with no objection.

"One day, the Batman will have to answer for the laws he's broken- but not to us, not to this madman. We'll save a life by letting Batman run free, justice has never been so easy."

An obvious wave of inspiration passed over the reporters and aggressive objectors, a shift in opinion, the crowd was moved by Dent's words.

It wasn't long, however, before aggression and fear overruled commonsense. A cop brought his hands to his mouth and began to chant. "NO MORE DEAD COPS!"

Dent looked around in disappointment as the crowd blantly agreed to this and broke from his command, he had well and truly lost them.

"So be it."

He looked down at the podium, justifying his decision.

"Take the Batman into custody."

Hungry eyes scanned the room as the public tried to discern who Dent was accusing. Barely noticed in the middle row, Bruce slowly rose from his chair to accept his fate with dignity.

An immediate hush met the room when Harvey Dent offered his own wrists to the awaiting officers.

"I am the Batman."

The loud outcry was nothing to the hundred-or-so camera shutters and general scuffle that met the court in that moment. Bruce was staring, transfixed, as Dent was willingly arrested and dragged from the scene. Reporters were shoving their way to the door to catch a few spoken words from the vigilante, cops were booing loudly, a small handful of the public began to clap in appreciation.

Ultimately, Batman was no longer a hero that Gotham wanted.