Ann Folwer wiped the tears from her eyes and continued to pack her bags as the news report on the recent arrest of the Joker continued to be televised. She hated the Joker more than anything. He had tricked all of the Royal Flush into doing what he wanted and he had killed Brennan, the man she loved, right in front of her. Now, she had no money left, no man to hold her at night, and no reason left to live as Brennan's mother would probably die from lack of treatment soon. She packed her last bag and took the dollar and seventy-five cents from the chest drawer. Just as she turned off the T.V., she screamed loudly as she saw a dark figure resembling Batman outside her screen door.
"Get away!" she cried in fear as Batman entered the apartment and lowered his head.
"Be quiet." he said solemnly.
"What do you want? I don't have any of the money! I promise!" Ann said quietly, dropping her bag and covering her face.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you, Ms. Fowler." Batman replied.
Ann looked through her clasped hands and saw that the vigilante's face was heartfelt and understanding. He was holding a stack of money tightly wrapped and she eyed it for a second before staring in Batman's eyes.
"I know you were a part of the Royal Flush Crew, Ann." Batman said.
"And I also know your boyfriend, Brennan was also in it. And I'm sorry for your loss. I really am."
Ann didn't reply, only focused on the issue at hand.
"I've been studying you and him since the Joker's arrest and I can see why you resorted to bank robbery. The foreclosures, the non-paid tax returns, and his... his mother." Batman said, his voice getting quiet.
Ann looked up and a single tear fell from her eye.
"Now... I used to have this belief that all criminals were the same. All crime was equal because justice is supposed to be blind. But that's not how it goes. I forced myself into that belief because I wouldn't allow myself that type of possible prejudice when I was starting out in this career. But after handling the worst human being I've ever come across... I know what I used to believe in isn't true. All criminals and crime are not equal. Justice cannot turn a blind eye when the consequences are so dire. You and the Joker are not the same. You did this for what you thought was the right reason and I cannot be hypocritical of it. You robbed those banks to provide a better life for Brennan's mother and him. That's stupid but selfless. And I completely understand that." Batman said as he handed Ann the stack of money.
"I wouldn't be doing this but recently, I had an experience where I could have ended a life... destroyed it to not face the consequences rather than face the problem head-on and be the better man in the room. I'm trying to give you that opportunity too. I'm giving you this 50,000 dollars to help his mother and to let you move on. I know you won't be in that part of life again so I'm trusting you, Ms. Fowler. Can I trust you?" he continued.
"Yes. Yes you can." Ann said, wanting to give him a hug.
As she dipped her head and wiped her tears, she was about to say something before looking up and seeing that he had disappeared. She gave a smile and bowed on her knees in happiness and fulfillment.
Batman watched over the city from the top of the Wayne Enterprises building and enjoyed the cold night air before taking off. As he stood up, he suddenly heard his radio crackle. He tuned in and heard Alfred gasping on the other end.
"Alfred! Is everything okay?" Batman said, becoming tense.
"No, sir. You need to find a television."
"Why? What's going on?" Batman asked.
"There's a man claiming to be an alien over a broadcast. It's on every single network. Just listen to the radio!" Alfred said before switching the comm-link to Gotham's hit country station.
"This is General Zod. Your planet has been hiding one of my own. Kal-El. He acts like you and he looks like you. But he is not one of you."
As Batman listened, he realized that the world was about to change forever. And he could do nothing about it.
THE END. . .
*Okay! That's the end of DARK KNIGHT: OF MONSTERS AND MEN. The next story in the series is JUSTICE: BATMAN vs SUPERMAN. After that, the third DARK KNIGHT story follows from those events and continued onward. I'm really sorry on how long this story took but half the story got deleted over Christmas break so it took a long time to rewrite it but it helped me improve it greatly.
COMING SOON...
the third DARK KNIGHT adventure...
DARK KNIGHT: FROZEN ENIGMAS.
See you guys soon!
MS777
