(Rated I for Immature)
Kara and Kate entered an exclusive French restaurant on the top floor of a skyscraper. Kara was in a white dress wearing Martha Wayne's pearl necklace. Kate, in contrast, wore a black suit outfit to cover up her many tattoos.
"I have a reservation," Kara said to the head waiter.
"Of course, we've been expecting you," he replied and then brought them over to a table in the back. There, they met Mayor Michael Akins. Off to the side were two bodyguards hanging out. Kara and the mayor gave each other a greeting kiss as they met and then everyone sat down.
"Want some wine?" Mayor Akins asked Kara.
"Please, red," Kara requested.
"I'm good," Kate said as she awkwardly looked around at all the rich people present.
"I love French wine, just like the French language. French is my favorite language, fantastic language.," Mayor Akins complimented.
"Especially to curse with," Kara agreed.
"It's like wiping your ass with silk. I love it," Mayor Akins continued.
"So, you know why I'm here," Kara said wanting desperately to change the subject.
"I make it my business to know," Mayor Akins nodded. "The question is, do you know why you're here?"
"The garbage situation has gotten out of hand. You need to fix it," Kate interjected.
"Ah yes, it is true. But this is not a reason, this is not a why. Cleaning up the streets is merely a means, not an end. So, why are you here?" Mayor Akins dodged.
"You know the answer to that question," Kate said annoyed.
"But do you?" Mayor Akins quizzed. "You think you do but you do not. You see, there is only one constant, one universality, the only real truth: causality. Action, reaction, cause-and-effect."
"Everything begins with choice. You can choose to get off your ass and clean up these streets," Kate said forcefully.
"No, wrong, choice is an illusion created between those who have power, like myself, and those who do not, like yourself. This is the nature of the universe. We struggle against it. We fight to deny it. Beneath our poised appearance, the truth is, we are completely out of control. Causality, we are forever slaves to it. Our only choice is to simply understand the why," Mayor Akins said to her.
"Why is what separates us from them, you from me. Why is the only source of power. Without it, you are powerless and this is how you come to me without why, without power," Mayor Akins said disgustedly.
"But fear not, I will tell you what to do next. Go to the sanitation department and annoy them with your questions," Mayor Akins said dismissively.
"This isn't over," Kate narrowed her eyes at him.
"But it is. I was elected by people like her," Mayor Akins pointed to Kara as she enjoyed her wine. "Not the people down below tumbling in the trash. I see no reason to extend my hand to them, no reason at all," Mayor Akins said arrogantly.
Kara looked out the window and saw a clown running after several teenagers. "What the fuck?" she wondered. The clown chased down the teenagers into an alley and disappeared from view. "Kate, go down to the street level and check it out."
"With pleasure," Kate glared at Mayor Akins and walked out.
As Kate left, Kara turned to the mayor. "I have video evidence of you cheating on your wife again, so you're my bitch until your term is over."
The mayor eyed the incriminating video. "Causality: cause and effect," Kara smiled at him. "Now, you're going to clean up this mess you call a city," Kara ordered.
Kate exited the building and looked around seeing a clown on the ground and in pain. He had just been beaten up with his sign destroyed. He was crying and laughing at the same time. "Who did this to you?" Kate asked him.
"Why do you care?" the clown asked bitterly.
"I'll get you an ambulance," Kate offered taking out her phone.
"No, no, I don't have insurance. I'll be fine, thank you," the clown said sadly as he struggled to get to his feet.
Kate helped him to his feet. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"
He merely nodded and then limped off. Kate looked around but there was no sign of the teenage assailants.
Joker
Arthur Fleck, the clown, came by Kelly Olsen's office for his psychiatric appointment. He began the session laughing and crying at the same time. Kelly could tell that Arthur was in a great deal of mental and emotional pain that made him inappropriately laugh. After a few minutes of straight laughing, he seemed to calm down.
"You good?" Kelly asked finally.
Arthur chuckled a bit and then stopped. "Is it just me or is it getting crazier out there?" he asked softly.
"It's just you," Kelly assured him. "The economy has never been better, unemployment is low, businesses are thriving, and people are able to escape their discomforts in life with Obsidian lenses. You should give it a try. I can get you a free trial membership."
Arthur smiled sadly at her. "Have you been keeping up with your journal?" Kelly asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Arthur replied.
"Did you bring it with you?" Kelly asked catching him in an obvious lie. "Arthur, last time, I asked you to bring your journal with you for these appointments. So, hand it over."
"I got this. It's kind of a joke journal with funny thoughts," Arthur said awkwardly handing the notebook over to her. "I want to pursue a career in stand-up comedy."
"You really shouldn't," Kelly said as she looked over his pages.
"I really think I should," Arthur insisted.
"I just hope my death makes more sense than my life," Kelly read from one of the pages. "Arthur...this isn't funny. You're not funny." She then handed the notebook back to him. "How does it feel to have to come here?"
"Shitty. I should just get locked up again," Arthur said depressed.
"Maybe, huh?" Kelly said as she wrote some notes.
"I was wondering if you could give me more pills," Arthur requested.
"Arthur, you're on seven medications already...so why not one more," Kelly shrugged.
"Thanks. I'm sure that will do the trick," Arthur smiled.
A few days later, Kara and Kate came by the subway station as the GCPD officers were taping off a crime scene. Kara scanned the subway train with her X-ray vision and found two male bodies inside the train in addition to a third body lying on the stairs.
"What do you got?" Kara asked.
"Tripple homicide around midnight. Witnesses say they saw a man dressed as a clown run out of the subway station around the same time period," the officer said and then showed her an evidence bag with the clown cap.
"I know this. It's the same guy that got his ass kicked by those teens," Kate recalled.
"The weapon?" Kara asked.
"A .38 revolver," the officer told her.
Kara took out a phone and called Brainiac 5. "Hey, this is going to sound weird but I need all cross-references that have to do with a clown and a gun."
There was a momentary pause. "There was a scare at Gotham General concerning a clown dropping a gun in front of children," he answered.
"Do you have a name?" Kara asked.
"No, but I do have the clown's employer," Brainiac 5 replied. "Also, FYI, the three victims were all Wayne Industry employees."
"Well...shit," Kara frowned and hung up. She then turned to Kate. "You're going to investigate this clown. I have to schedule some TV interviews, visit the families, and act like I give a shit."
"Got it covered, boss," Kate nodded.
"Don't let this clown leave your sight no matter how pathetic he may seem. He killed these men. He'll kill you, too," Kara warned.
At the news station, Kara looked at her phone as she quickly read the bios of the three gunned-down employees. "And as our city tries to make sense of the brutal murder on the subway last night, we're joined by Kara...Wayne?" the interviewer questioned.
"Yeah, sure, let's go with that," Kara allowed.
"I know this must be a difficult time but all three of these men worked for you, right?" the interviewer asked.
"Yes, they all worked for Wayne Enterprises, good, decent, educated. Although I didn't know any of them personally, like all Wayne employees, they're family," Kara said with false sincerity.
"There appears to be a groundswell of anti-rich sentiment in Gotham. It's almost as if our less-fortunate residents are taking the side of the killer and not appreciating the fact that the rich provide us with everything we have," the interviewer said.
"It's a crying shame. It's one of the reasons why I am considering running for mayor myself. Gotham has lost its way," Kara said.
"What about the suspect being in a clown mask?" the interviewer asked.
"It makes total sense to me. What kind of coward would do something that cold-blooded? Someone who hides behind a mask, someone who is envious of those more fortunate than themselves if they're too scared to show their own face. Now, those who have made something of our lives need to be on guard at all times. Also, fuck clowns," Kara said seriously.
"Kara...Wayne, thank you for coming in this morning," the interviewer said as the program ended.
Kate came by Gotham General and spoke to the receptionist at the front desk. "A clown came by with a gun. Got a name?"
"And you are?" the receptionist wondered not seeing a badge.
"My boss is Kara Wayne. She owns this hospital," Kate said.
An administrator came by, called over by the receptionist. "We didn't get the clown's name, but he worked at "Ha-Has" he said.
"Thanks," Kate said appreciatively and walked out.
Kara and Brainiac 5 got out of their cars and walked over to a relatively large house in an affluent community. "Finally, the last one," Kara said relieved.
"Your eye drops," Brainiac 5 said helpfully.
Kara took the eye drops and put them in her eyes. "Let's get this over with."
The two knocked on the door and were welcomed by the grieving parents of one of the men that had been shot and killed by the clown. "I'm Kara Wayne, this is my assistant, Barney. I want you to know how sorry we are at Wayne Enterprises for the death of your son. I can't bring him back but I will avenge him," Kara promised.
After Kara was done with the last family, she got a call from Kate. "I have a lead. I'm going to check out the Ha-Has place."
"Yeah, you go do that," Kara said unconcernedly.
Kate made her way towards the more shady area of town on her motorcycle and came by Ha-Has. She noticed a number of clowns exit the building as she walked in. After giving them an odd look, Kate went inside and found the main office. "How can I help you?" Hoyt Vaughn asked her.
"I'm Kate Kane. I work for Wayne Enterprises," she introduced herself.
"You're the daughter of that Crow commander," Hoyt identified.
"The very same," Kate grimaced. "I heard you had a clown that brought a gun to Gotham General. I think he's the same clown that committed that triple homicide," Kate said.
"Jesus, that would be Arthur Fleck," Hoyt frowned. "I fired him last night. Maybe, it sent him over the edge."
"Don't beat yourself up. He sounds like a real nut case," Kate excused him. "Do you have his address, phone number, and picture?"
"Got it all here," Hoyt said helpfully. "When you find him, get him the help he needs."
"Sure thing," Kate said after she took a picture and contact info from him.
Oblivious to Kara and Kate getting closer to him, Arthur was having another shrink appointment with Kelly. "Arthur, I have some bad news for you," Kelly told him.
"You don't listen, do you?" Arthur realized. "I don't think you ever really hear me. You just ask the same questions every week. How's your job? Are you having any negative thoughts? All I have are negative thoughts but you don't listen anyway. I said, for my whole life, I didn't even know if I truly existed...but I do. The people are starting to notice."
Kelly gave Arthur a flustered look taking to heart his accusation but also realizing he was bat-shit insane. "I lost my grant. I'm closing my office next week. The city is cutting social services across the board. I got this really cushy job at Obsidian North as it is. This will be the last we will be meeting."
"Okay," Arthur said trying to absorb that in.
"I've spent years dealing with veterans with PTSD, but I'm moving on with my career. I figure turning everyone into tech-zombies will create a lot of social problems as people isolate themselves and are unable to form meaningful relationships with real people. I'm going to make a killing in the private sector," Kelly smiled at the thought of it.
"You...don't really give a shit about me, do you?" Arthur concluded. "Where am I supposed to get my medication now? Who do I talk to?"
"I'm sorry, Arthur," Kelly said having no answer for him.
That night, Batwoman entered the apartment of Arthur Fleck and found an old woman sleeping in front of the TV. Careful not to wake her, Batwoman looked around for Arthur ready for anything. After a search of the apartment, it was apparent he wasn't home.
"Find the gun," Kara ordered via radio.
"It's not here," Kate replied as she finished searching the place. She then noticed a handwritten letter to Bruce Wayne claiming that his father, Thomas Wayne, had fathered her child. This would make Arthur the half-brother of Bruce. She was beseeching him for money.
"No way," Kate gasped as she read the letter.
"Found something?" Kara asked.
"Yeah, a letter. You have to read it," Kate said and then took the letter with her.
At the Bat-cave, Kara read the letter and then promptly burned it with heat vision. "Wait, why did you do that?" Kate asked her.
"If Arthur really is the son of Thomas Wayne that would fuck up everything. He would be entitled to a large sum of money and it would be a scandal like no other," Kara said obviously.
"If it's true, he deserves that money," Kate said.
"It's not true. It can't be true. Thomas was a man of virtue, unlike his son. This woman is just crazy," Kara said.
"Why do you care so much? Your marriage to Bruce was just a sham," Kate asked her.
"I'm upholding my part of the deal. In return for all this wealth and all his toys, I keep the Wayne reputation safe. There is no connection between Bruce and this insane clown, period," Kara told her.
"Fine, what's our next move? He's gone," Kate asked.
"He'll show up again," Kara figured.
The next day, Kara got a call from Alfred. "Hey, Alfred, what's up?" Kara greeted.
"A crazy man came by Wayne Manor demanding to see Bruce. He claimed his father was Thomas Wayne. When I told him off, he tried to strangle me," Alfred said.
"Are you alright?" Kara asked concernedly.
"I'll be fine," Alfred assured her.
"Did Penny Fleck ever work at Wayne Manor?" Kara questioned.
There was a long pause on the other end. "Yes, but she was let go. It was many years ago. She was delusional," Alfred recalled.
"Do you have any idea how fucked we are if Thomas fathered this crazy clown?" Kara asked him.
"It can't be true. I knew Thomas well. He would never have an affair with the help," Alfred insisted.
"Thank you, Alfred. I'm going to attend to this, personally," Kara said.
"Very good, ma'am," he agreed and hung up.
Kara went over to Arthur's apartment wearing a brunette wig and black sunglasses. She kicked the door in, surprising Penny. Kara quickly scanned the apartment for Arthur, but he was still gone. "Where's the gun?" Kara demanded.
"What gun?" Penny asked confused.
Kara grabbed the old woman and slammed her against the wall. "I'm not going to ask again," she told her.
"I don't know of any gun," she said honestly.
Kara eyed her for any deception. "Where is Arthur?"
"I don't know," she said. "He went out."
"This idea you have in your head that you had a child with Thomas Wayne is bullshit. You know that, right?" Kara asked her.
"It's true," she sobbed.
"It's not. You need to stop this madness," Kara told her. "Arthur killed three men, men with talent, men with futures."
"He would never kill anyone," Penny denied.
Kara watched as Penny began to hyperventilate as she had a panic attack. Kara let go of the old woman, fearful she would have a heart attack right then and there. Penny wandered around the apartment aimlessly shouting and crying as she did. Kara merely watched in amazement. Penny then stumbled and hit her head hard on the floor. She then stopped moving.
"Holy shit," Kara realized. She quickly got her phone out. "Yeah, I got an emergency," she said as she called 911.
Kara, Kate, and Brainiac 5 met up in the Bat-cave later that night. "I talked with the guy. He seems harmless," Kate said.
"Everyone is harmless until they have a gun in their hand," Kara said peeved that Kate didn't apprehend him.
"What did you want me to do? Drag him off in front of a hospital full of surveillance cameras?" Kate asked. "I mean, what if he didn't do it?
"Some other clown killed those three men?" Kara asked incredulously.
"Yeah, I mean, there's this thing going on around town where people are suddenly wearing clown masks everywhere," Kate said.
"She's not wrong. I've been doing surveillance around the city. There's been a dramatic increase in clown appearances in the city. There's apparently some nostalgia from the last Joker during this garbage strike," Brainiac 5 noted.
Kara gave a haunted look recalling when she had fought the Joker as a teenager so many years ago. "This just came up," Brainiac 5 said and then turned the TV on showing Arthur doing his comedy routine in a club. The footage was being used on the Murray show to mock Arthur's poor attempt.
Kara and Kate stared at the screen. "Do you think he's watching?" Kate wondered.
"No doubt," Kara frowned.
The next day, Kara walked out of Wayne Hall and noticed a protest wave around the building shouting and chanting at her. There were various signs accusing Kara of being a fascist and what not. "Why are you here?" a reporter asked the crowd.
"Fuck the rich! Fuck Kara Wayne! Fuck the whole system!" a protester shouted.
Kara went over to a podium filled with microphones as she addressed the Gotham press. "Do you want to apologize for calling the Gotham poor clowns?" a reporter asked.
"I didn't say they were all clowns," Kara clarified. "But there's certainly something wrong with these people here. I'm here to help the poor. I'm going to lift them out of poverty. Help make their lives better. That is why I'm running for mayor. They may not realize it but I am their only hope."
That night, the protesters were still there being rowdy against the GCPD barricade. Arthur managed to slip through and enter the building. He then put on an usher uniform and saw the theater production of the Phantom of the Opera. He enjoyed the play for a moment and then spotted Kara and Brainiac 5 sitting together. After a long stare at her, Kara exited her box and went to the restroom. Arthur followed her inside and waited. Kara merely stared at herself in the mirror looking tired and worn out from stress. She then noticed Arthur staring at her.
"This is the women's restroom. Are you lost?" Kara asked him.
"I identify as a woman tonight," he replied.
"Fair enough. So...how can I help you?" Kara asked him as she walked towards him.
"I don't know what to say," Arthur admitted.
"Do you want an autograph?" Kara asked condescendingly.
"No, my name is Arthur. Penny Fleck is my mother. My mother told me everything and I had to talk to you. You're Bruce Wayne's wife. I have to meet him. We're...family," Arthur said to her.
"Thomas wasn't your father. I mean, what the fuck is wrong with you?" Kara asked impatiently.
"I think he is," Arthur insisted.
"That's impossible, Arthur. You were adopted. Your mother was committed to Arkham Assylum when you were a little boy. I mean, what do you want? You want money?" Kara asked condescendingly.
"No, I don't want your money. I don't need you to tell me lies. I know this sounds strange. I don't mean to make you uncomfortable. I don't know why everyone is so rude and I don't know why you are. All I want is a little warmth. Maybe a hug. How about a little fucking decency? What is it with you people? You say that stuff about my mother. Why?" Arthur said as he started to get upset.
Kara eyed him sympathetically. "Look, I was adopted, too. Like you, it seemed like everyone else was crazy and I was the only sane person. To me, everything in this world doesn't make any sense. We're the same and I can relate to you on some level. But your mother is bat-shit insane," Kara told him.
Arthur started laughing uncontrollably. "Yeah, I know. It's hilarious. I'm a really funny girl," Kara rolled her eyes as he kept laughing.
Kara then noticed that as Arthur was laughing his face was contorted in emotional pain. "Arthur, tell me what happened that night on the subway."
Arthur eventually stopped laughing and gave Kara a tearful look. "They attacked me, they beat me, they mocked me, and I defended myself. I feared for my life," he said to her.
Kara softened her expression and felt guilty for trying to take him down and how she interrogated his mentally ill mother. "Fine, just get out of here," she allowed him.
"Okay," Arthur said lamely and started laughing again as he exited.
Kara went back to the sink and mirror greatly conflicted. After the play was over, Kara walked with Brainiac 5 to her car. "You know, that Phantom guy reminds me of Mon a little," Kara said reflectively.
"If Mon could sing, act, dance, and form coherent sentences," Brainiac 5 allowed.
The two went into the car with Brainiac 5 acting as a chauffeur. Away from the public eye, Kara began to cry. "What's the problem?" Brainiac 5 asked her.
"I came to Gotham to make a positive difference. I killed...a shit-ton of people but things seem to be just getting worse. I feel like this city is corrupting me," Kara said tearfully.
"You've never had a problem beating up old ladies and the mentally ill before," Brainiac 5 noted.
"Why can't I be pure like my cousin? Why can't I be like snow, so innocent and perfect?" Kara asked herself.
"Who was it that saved the multiverse?" Brainiac 5 reminded her. "You do the things you do so the innocent can remain innocent even at the expense of yourself."
"I thought this subway case was so clear cut but now I only see shades of grey. I'm dropping the case," Kara told him.
"As you wish," Brainiac 5 replied.
At the Bat-cave, Kara eyed the Robin suit that had bullet holes and bloodstains on it. "Of all the people I faced, why do you haunt me the most?" Kara asked the costume. The first Joker had placed a device in his heart connected to a stolen nuke somewhere in Metropolis. He forced Kara to keep himself alive while he did heinous acts around the city. Kara was forced to act as a bodyguard for him knowing that if anyone actually killed the Joker the whole city would be destroyed.
Flashback
Joker and a teenage Kara stared at each other as his men tortured Robin. Occasionally, his screams would interrupt their card game. "What's the point of this?" Kara asked him.
"This is not just a test for Metropolis but also a test for yourself, Kara. I want to see what it will take to break you," Joker smiled.
"To kill you," Kara realized.
"That's right," Joker confirmed.
"I'm not human. Metropolis blowing up is like an ant colony lit on fire," Kara said coldly.
"You put up a good front, but you're lying," Joker sensed.
Kara said nothing to that. "Go fish," Joker said to her.
"Go fuck yourself," Kara sneered.
Joker laughed hysterically at her but was interrupted by Robin's tortured screams. "Can you just make it stop. It hurts my ears," Kara asked him.
"You have to say please," Joker said.
"Please," Kara rolled her eyes.
"Alright...alright," Joker agreed and then entered the torture room. Kara then heard multiple gunshots and then the screams stopped.
Joker came back and reloaded a magazine into his pistol. "It takes so much time and money to raise a child, but it's so cheap to kill one."
Kara simply stared at him. "You're thinking about all the ways you're going to torture and kill me. What shall it be? Burn me to death? Maybe break all my bones? I don't feel any physical pain so it's pointless," Joker reminded her.
"I'll have to put that to the test," Kara glared.
"We're not so different, you and I. We don't follow the rules we are given," Joker said to her.
"I protect people. What do you protect?" Kara asked.
"Attachment is the farthest thing from understanding," Joker told her.
End Flashback
Brainiac 5 casually strolled over to Kara as old newspaper articles were on the screen. "It isn't healthy to relive those events," he said to her.
"I've tried to think of how I could have saved Robin, save all those people he murdered while I did nothing to stop it," Kara said sadly.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. You didn't have me around," Brainiac 5 smiled warmly. "Any other person would have failed, causing the city to be destroyed. In war, there are always casualties on both sides."
"I know. So, what's on the agenda?" Kara asked softly.
"I booked you on the Murray show. Hopefully, it will help public perceptions of you," Brainiac 5 said.
"I am quite hilarious, aren't I?" Kara asked herself as she stared at her sad reflection in the computer screen.
At the Murray show, Kara sat down close to Murray's desk. Everything was going relatively smoothly as Kara used her natural charm to win over the audience. Murray was a fan of hers and was giving her softball questions. "I'll try it but I'm not sure my wife will let me do it. Maybe, my next wife," Murray joked. The crowd laughed with him.
"You got to see our next guest for yourself. Maybe you can help straighten his life out too," Murray said to Kara.
"What kind of problem are we talking about? The sexual kind?" Kara smiled.
"He looks like he has lots of problems. It's been a crazy few days here in Gotham, and I think maybe things are about to get crazy around here too. Don't go anywhere folks. We'll be right back," Murray said and then cut to commercial break.
Kara sighed. "You're doing great, kid. The people will love you. You know, Bruce was such a stiff. You could never get a laugh out of the guy," Murray said to her.
"I can make him laugh. That's why he married me," Kara smiled.
"So, when is he coming back? It's been several months," Murray asked curiously.
"The moment he does, we're getting divorced," Kara joked.
Murray laughed at that. "I can relate to that."
After the commercial break was over, Murray addressed the cameras. "Let's see that clip one more time," he ordered.
The audience then saw Arthur doing some really bad stand-up comedy making a total fool of himself unintentionally. "Before I bring out my next guest, I want to say that we're all heartbroken by what's going on in this city but this is how he wanted to come out and honestly we could all use a good laugh. So please welcome, Joker," Murray introduced.
Kara hid her shock at hearing that name and then seeing Arthur's appearance in clown make-up. She struggled to keep her composure as Arthur did a little dance for the crowd and then came up to meet Murray at his desk. His face was white, there were blue triangles above and blow his eyes, and his lips were bright red. Kara stood up as expected of her and watched as Arthur came closer to her. Dumbfounded by his appearance, she didn't move as Arthur gave her a passionate kiss on the lips. Even Murray was a little surprised.
"You alright, Kara?" Murray asked genuinely concerned.
Kara smiled and gave him a dismissive gesture as she sat down. "Well, that was quite the entrance. You okay?" Murray asked as Arthur stared ahead not even addressing Murray.
"Yeah, this is exactly as I imagined it," Arthur said honestly.
"Well, that makes one of us," Murray joked.
"So, could you tell us about this look? When we spoke earlier, you mentioned that this look is not a political statement. Is that right?" Murray asked for clarification.
"That's right, Murray. I'm not political. I just try to help people laugh," Arthur replied.
"And how's that going for you?" Murray asked condescendingly.
Arthur laughed hysterically along with the audience. "So, I know you're a comedian. Have you been working on any new material? You want to tell us a joke?" Murray asked.
"Yeah, okay," Arthur said pulling an item out of his jacket.
Kara tensed up slightly thinking it could be a gun. She couldn't scan his whole body without taking off her glasses. "So, you got a book. A book of jokes," Murray said condescendingly
Arthur stared at the page that had the quote, "I hope my death makes more sense than my life." Kara eyed the page as well but kept her cool.
"It's alright, we have all night," Murray joked as Arthur was stuck in his psychosis.
"Okay, okay, here's one: Knock, knock," Arthur said finally.
"And you had to look that up?" Murray mocked.
"I want to get it right: Knock, knock," Arthur said after the audience had mocked him thoroughly.
"Who's there?" Murray asked condescendingly.
"It's the police, ma'am. Your son's been hit by a drunk driver. He's dead," Arthur said inappropriately. The audience gasped.
Kara simply stared at Arthur feeling he was on the verge of violence but unable to do anything about it with all the cameras on her. "That's not funny, Arthur. That's not the humor we do on this show," Murray lectured him.
"Okay, I'm sorry. It's just been, you know, a rough few weeks, Murray. Ever since I killed those three Wal-street guys," Arthur admitted on live television.
Kara pretended to have a shocked outraged face but otherwise said nothing. "Okay...I'm waiting for the punchline," Murray said, disturbed by the confession.
"There is no punchline. It's not a joke," Arthur said flatly.
Kara waited for Arthur to get to his self-defense claim. "You're serious? You killed those three men on the subway? And why should we believe you?" Murray asked, going into detective mode.
"I got nothing else to lose. Nothing can hurt me anymore. My life is nothing but a comedy," Arthur smiled sadly.
"Let me get this straight. You think killing those guys was funny?" Murray asked disgustedly but also realizing this was ratings' gold if he kept going.
"I do and I'm tired of pretending that it's not. Comedy is subjective, Murray. Isn't that what they say? All of you, the system that knows so much, you decide what's right and what's wrong. The same way you decide what's funny or not," Arthur said to a hushed audience.
"Why did you kill my men? Was it self-defense?" Kara asked him attempting to give him an assist.
"Come on, Kara. Why are you so naive? I killed those guys because they were awful. Everybody is awful these days. It's enough to make anyone crazy," Arthur explained.
Kara slouched back on the couch feeling used and tricked. "So, that's it? You're just crazy? That's your defense for killing three young men?" Murray asked.
"No, they couldn't carry a tune to save their lives. Oh, why is everyone so upset about these guys. If it was me dying on the sidewalk, you would walk right over me. I pass you every day and you don't notice me, but these guys, because Kara Wayne cried about them on TV?" Arthur said to the booing audience.
Kara gave him a dirty look. "You have a problem with Kara Wayne?" Murray asked.
"Yes, I do. Have you seen what it's like out there, Murray? Do you ever actually leave the studio?" he asked Murray. He then turned to Kara who was looking very uncomfortable.
"Do you ever think about someone like me? To be someone but themselves? You don't. You think we'll just sit there and take it like good little boys. That we won't werewolf and go wild," Arthur said to her.
"I don't have to take this. I'm from Metropolis across the bay. I came here to Gotham to make this city a better place. I restored Wayne Enterprises, hired thousands of workers, broadened the tax base, and advocated reforms at city hall. I didn't have to do that. I could have just stayed in Metropolis and sat on my ass. But people like you do not appreciate the time, energy, risk, and intelligence it takes to run a business, a city," Kara shot back.
"Let me just say that not everyone is awful. You're just making excuses for killing those two men," Murray added.
"You're awful, Murray," Arthur sneered.
"Me? I'm awful? How am I awful?" Murray asked skeptically.
"Playing my video, inviting me on the show, you just wanted to make fun of me. You're just like the rest of them," Arthur accused.
"You don't know the first thing about me, son. Look what you did? You caused a riot out there. Two policemen are in critical condition. You're laughing. Someone was killed today cuz of what you did," Murray pointed out.
"I know. How about another joke, Murray?" Arthur asked.
"Nah, I think we've had enough of your jokes," Murray denied.
"What do you get when you cross a mentally ill loner with a system that abandons him and treats him like trash!" Arthur shouted
"Let's get the police in here," Murray said as Arthur became unhinged.
"I'll tell you what you get. You get what you fucking deserve!" Arthur said and then shot Murray to the side of the head, splattering blood on the wall behind him. Murray sank in his chair instantly dead. Blood splattered on Arthur's clown make-up.
The audience scrambled to get to the exit. Arthur smiled nervously feeling relieved and excited at the same time. He then started laughing, got up, and shot Murray's dead body to the chest for extra emphasis. Arthur did a little dance and then went over to the camera to address the public at large.
Kara frowned not knowing which cameras were still on. If she attacked him, she would expose herself. She could hear the police entering the building. Arthur had even placed his revolver on Murray's desk. Kara waited calmly as the police barged in and tackled Arthur to the floor.
"Are you alright, Mrs. Wayne?" an officer asked her.
"I'll be fine. Just a little shook-up," Kara said eyeing Murray's dead body. "Don't let him out of your sights," she said of Arthur as he was taken away.
"Yes, ma'am," the officer said taking off.
Soon thereafter, the cop car holding Arthur was t-boned by an ambulance, killing the cop instantly. A taxi cab then hit the disabled police car and skidded on its side until it flipped over. A clown then got out of the ambulance and assisted Arthur out of the police car. Arthur was bleeding from his head and was unconscious. The clowns rested Arthur on the hood of the ruined police car. Up and down the street, rioters looted stores and parked cars. Arthur eventually regained consciousness and spat out blood. He looked around at the cheering clowns He had inexplicably caused a revolution in Gotham against the rich and powerful. Arthur struggled to get to his feet but once he did he looked over the cheering crowd feeling happy and loved for the first time in his life. He then smeared the blood on his lips on his cheeks to make a big smile as he did a little dance. The crowd ate it up seeing him as a symbol of their resistance.
The Batmobile then moved up against the crowd. The defiant crowd fired their guns and threw debris at the Batmobile in vain. Kara sped towards the scene still in civilian clothes. The Batmobile dropped balls filled with tear-gas from the tire rims. The gas flooded the area causing the crowd to tear up and cough uncontrollably. Batwoman then leaped out of the Batmobile wearing a modified gas mask. Kara was about to clap her hands to send the hundred or so protesters to the ground when she stopped herself.
Kate extended her staff and began to beat down fools with extreme prejudice. The clowns struggled to defend themselves with the tear gas and lack of visibility. Kara watched Kate with her X-ray vision through the smoke. A clown took out a gun on Kate. Utilizing a Batarang, Kate disarmed him and then beat him to the pavement with her staff. She then threw a modified Batarang knocking out four people at once. She then fired a TASER dart at another man, dropping him. Taking out out her cable gun, she fired at a rioter forcing him to come towards her. She then kneed him to the gut hard. Opening her utility belt pouches, Kate threw out sonic grenades sending a few dozen rioters to the pavement from the intense sound. She then threw flash grenades stunning quite a few more. Taking out two pistols from her holsters, Kate fired rubber bullets to the rioters in the face at close range knocking them out. Dropping spent magazines, Kate quickly reloaded her pistols and kept going.
Brainiac 5 strolled over to Kara. "So, this is what happens when Bruce trains the most dysfunctional being for a week."
"So, it would seem," Kara smiled as Kate resorted to using only her staff as she ran out of ammunition. As the rioters swarmed her, she eventually lost her staff. She then resorted to her arm blades slicing into several rioters in non-lethal areas. Despite her best efforts, the rioters eventually overwhelmed her. She was shot several times, the bullets bouncing off her armor. Another rioter punched her gas mask off her mouth.
Kara and Brainiac 5 turned away from the fight and went down an alley. A clown went after them with a gun. "You get what you deserve!" the clown said as he shot Brainiac 5 to the chest.
Brainiac 5 casually took out a laser pistol and fired into the clown's chest, killing him instantly. "Can you keep these safe for me," Kara said, handing him Martha's pearl necklace.
"Of course," Brainiac 5 agreed, taking them.
Kara then got into her Supegirl uniform in a flash. She then walked out of the alley and eyed Kate still struggling against the rioters. At this point, dozens of rioters were on the ground from Batwoman's efforts. The rioters then took notice of Supergirl as her red boots slowly moved towards them. Kara blew the tear gas smoke out of the area so they could all see her. As soon as they got their bearings, the rioters in front of her lay prostrate on the pavement with their hands on their heads. Those in the back immediately fled the scene. Several rioters refused to stand down with weapons still in their hands.
"Oh, shit," Kate realized what was about to happen. She covered herself in her cape and activated the heat shield. Kara fired heat vision down the street giving any rioter still standing second-degree burns. Kara went up to Kate and helped her to her feet. She was bleeding from her lip and feeling sore from the beatings she had received from the rioters.
"Not bad. Not bad at all," Kara said pleased.
Kara and Kate then eyed a groaning Arthur. He was in pain from being in a car accident, gassed with tear-gas, and then burned by Kara's heat vision. Kara walked up to him and dragged his ass off the totaled police car he had used as a platform. Upon seeing her, he began to laugh hysterically.
"What's so funny?" Kara asked him.
"I know who you are...Kara Wayne," he said softly and then started laughing again.
"Your pain is finally at an end," Kara said sadly and then punched him through his sternum, heart, and out his spine. Arthur gave her a genuinely grateful smile and then died in her arms.
Kara carefully lowered Arthur's body to the pavement and then vaporized the blood off her hand and arm. Cops then flooded the area as they regained control of the streets. "Yes, your death did make more sense than your life," Kara shook her head sadly.
At her apartment, Kate nursed her bruises and wounds she received from the rioters. There was a knock on the door. Kate cautiously went to the door and saw that Kara was behind it. She opened the door for her and invited her in. "You okay?" Kara asked genuinely concerned.
"I'll heal. When I was out there, it was such a rush. I've never felt anything like it," Kate said.
"When you were out there, did it feel like you were fighting me?" Kara asked.
Kate gave her a guilty look. "A little," she admitted.
"Look, Kate, I've been hard on you above and beyond what a true mentor should be. I've mocked your family, your sexuality, your relationships, your appearance, your clothes, and basically every aspect of yourself. I've been a bully. I've been...cruel," Kara admitted.
"I'm not going to be shooting people on live television if that's what you're concerned about," Kate said dismissively.
"That's not it. It's not about risk assessment, it's about what is right. I've been abusive and have treated you like trash, and I shouldn't have," Kara said to her.
"You've brought back my sister to me. You've given me so much. You don't owe me anything," Kate assured her.
"Arthur's mother provided for him the best she could, I suppose. But she let her numerous boyfriends abuse and beat Arthur to the point of hospitalizations and traumatic brain injury. It's not enough to do good to others. It's not enough to provide for others. You have to stop hurting them too," Kara said.
Kate simply nodded. "So, that's all I had to say," Kara said awkwardly.
"Okay, boss," Kate allowed.
"See you at the office," Kara said and then left the apartment leaving Kate completely dumbfounded.
Author's Notes: No doubt Kara will continue to roast Kate in future episodes but she's beginning to realize how harmful it can be with this example. Kara confronted the Dark Knight "Joker" in my fic Midvale chapter 58-66 with the major fight happening in 66. Kara alludes to taking down the Suicide Squad "Joker" in chapter 92. The idea being is that each incarnation of the Joker is a different person inspired by the original. "Joker" also makes an appearance in Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 162 in IT Chapter 2, the same "Joker" from Midvale's "Joker." "Joker" also makes a cameo appearance in Adventures of Supergirl Chapter 17.