Tim Drake's perspective:
Tim was at the age where, as adults always predicted you would, You start getting interested in the opposite sex. Tim had had an eye on a member of his Reading/Writing class, Leianna Pippinski. When this day's class was over, Tim asked her, "Leianna, you doing anything on Friday night?"
"Yes," said Leianna, "But I'll gladly eat out with you on Saturday."
"Great," smiled Tim. "But what are you busy with on Friday?"
"My group meets on Fridays," said Leianna. "You want to know what it's about, meet me in the cafeteria. Maybe I can squeeze you in." She now had a mood swing and devilish smile. Had Tim steered wrong with her?
No, it's gotta be my imagination. She's not a bad girl.
"Let me think about this," said Tim.
Robin's perspective:
"Is there something wrong?" asked The Batman as he and Robin watched the Gotham City streets below from a rooftop.
"Why would anything be?" asked Robin.
"I've had to work with youngsters for three and a half years now," said Batman. "I've learned that this takes a lot of patience, especially with their lips. But you haven't said three words all night."
"There's this girl," said Robin.
"Distractions are dangerous," said Batman.
"Considering you sometimes sleep with an ex-thief..." seeing that Batman was not happy that Robin went there, he continued, "This girl suggests I go with her to this group she's a member of."
"And you accepted?" asked Batman.
"I don't know why I didn't," said Robin. "She had this sinister look on her face when she told me about her group. I was scared it was a gang or something."
"It might be," said Batman, much to Robin's surprise. "Teenagers sometimes get involved with the wrong crowd. I've sent many to juvenile hall in my time because of this. Not all of these groups are bad, but just in case, I'd go for the purpose of investigation."
Before Robin could say anything, Batman pointed at the ground beneath and said, "Trouble!" It was a woman being chased by a man. Batman took the hook out of his Batgrapple so they could quickly use it to descend to the ground and pursue.
Being by far the smaller of the two heroes, Robin caught up to the man first and tackled him. He rained two punches on the back of the chaser's head before Batman finished him off with a kick.
The female target of the male criminal had stopped running upon realizing that she had been rescued by Batman and Robin.
"Thanks," said the woman. "I don't how I can repay you. Name's Claire." She walked forward with an open hand.
"No trouble," said Robin as he moved in for a handshake.
"Something's wrong," said Batman cautiously.
"She's not one of the people who believe Falsootu's lies," Robin assured his partner. "She's grateful."
"I am grateful," said Claire. A small spray can of mace fell out of her right sleeve into an outstretched hand. She used it to stun Robin and tackled him. "Grateful for you being easier marks than advertised, that is."
"Don't," Claire threatened Batman. "He gets much more mace, he'll go blind. By the way, get ready to take a beating when my husband comes to. What a trooper! For now, Batman, it's the masks or his eyes."
"Why are you doing this?" asked Robin. "We saved you. At least we thought we did."
"Yeah, you're heroes," said Claire. "But you're heroes with prices on your heads and it's hard to get a house in this city. Plus, we have a baby at home. Who wants their child to grow up in those loud apartments full of bad people?"
But Claire's rambling on had distracted her enough for Batman to Batarang the mace out of her hand. She tried to get it back, but Batman cut her off.
"You wouldn't hit a lady, would you?" asked Claire with her hands up. A right cross knocked her out.
"Didn't think you were a gentleman," laughed Robin through the pain.
Batman wasted no time looking at his eyes. "Nothing serious, but your night is over."
On the way back to the Batcave, Batman said, "I hope you realize that appearances can be deceiving."
"Yeah," agreed Robin. "Looked like a crime and it was a trick. Good thing the dad wasn't that much of a man and didn't last long."
"I don't even want you pursuing that lead you told me about," said Batman.
"What?" asked Robin. He did not like this at all.
"No buts, Robin," insisted Batman. "Tonight has shown that you're not ready to go solo."
"So I messed up," said Robin. "I don't fully trust Leianna, so it won't happen again."
"Of course it won't," said Batman. "You're not going."
"Tim Drake's not your foster son," said Robin sternly. "He doesn't follow your orders. You have no right to tell me what to do with my free time."
Several beats passed before Batman admitted, "You're right. I don't. But learn the lessons of tonight. This time Robin won't have me or Batgirl to pull him out of the stove."
Robin had not fully absorbed that. He really had to avoid mistakes this time. "I understand."
Tim's perspective:
Friday came. Tim was waiting in the school cafeteria. He sensed Leianna behind him. Though Robin would bolt around, Tim was supposed to be a normal, if somewhat pampered (his father, Jack, was an upper middle class businessman), boy. So he let Leianna tap him on the shoulder before slowly turning around.
"Hi," Leianna smiled at him.
"That was quite a shock," feigned Tim.
"Just having fun," said Leianna, hugging him. This actually was surprising. He had not known Leianna to hug before even the first date. She grabbed Tim by the wrist and dragged him away.
Definitely not like her to come on this strong. Maybe this is just a side of her she only shows outside of school?
Tim was taken to the parking lot. "Who's taking us?" he asked, not seeing any adults waiting.
"Me," Leianna opened the passenger's side of a car for him.
"I don't have a license, Leianna," said Tim. After all, he was only fifteen.
"Who said you're driving?" asked Leianna. "I'm older than you, so I'm behind the wheel. Get in. And call me Leia."
But Tim was worried about something else: Leianna had not actually said that she had a license. Still, Tim found himself entering the car without asking if she did. Was he thinking with his impulses? Probably. He had a feeling that it was a good thing Poison Ivy had not targeted him with her pheromones during her recent attempt to take over Gotham.
Leianna hit the gas. She was thirteen miles over the speed limit. Not as fast as the Batmobile, but Tim had no doubt in Batman's driving skills. "L-Leia, do you have to drive so fast?"
"Not unless you want the boys to laugh that your new girlfriend was too rough on you," threatened Leianna.
Tim said nothing.
Leianna stroked his head. "Good boy."
Tim still hesitated to think that Leianna was with criminals. Being a little wild was a far cry from that.
At some point, Leianna said, "Timmy, you better harden up fast!"
"Why?" asked Tim.
"That would be telling," said a mischievous-sounding Leianna.
She finally parked near a small building. "This is the place," Leianna identified it. She led Tim to a door and guard.
"Life's a joke," said Leianna.
"You're OK," said the guard. Tim was guided by Leianna into the place and, eventually a large room full of children, aged ten to eighteen. Tim detected bad attitudes from them all.
"Get ready to meet the two coolest people in the world and my favorite couple of all time," said Leianna as she hugged Tim in excitement.
Tim looked in horror as the archcriminal known as Harley Quinn came through the door. "Kiddies," she called, "I present you our leader, The Clown Prince of Crime, the greatest guy in the universe, the one, the only, Joker!"
Into the room came The Joker in an academic robe like the one that Tim was told he would wear on graduation day. He could not believe that this was the man Leianna had chosen to follow. Batman had, as usual, been right. Why could he not be wrong this time?
"Greeting, keeds," said The Joker. "Your friends laughed at you for rejecting the so-called values of this screwed-up world. But now you are here because you have allowed me to tell you what you already knew: the best way to survive the madness of society is to embrace it. While others tell themselves that the world can ever be a better place, we will reduce the hypocrisy by maximizing the chaos. On that note, I present good news. We are now strong enough in numbers to put on shows that the boring party-poopers out there would rather die than watch! Frankly, wish granted. Enjoy yourselves tonight. Our path of destruction begins Monday night."
The Joker burst out laughing. Harley did as well. Kid after kid began laughing. Tim joined in only after he was signaled by Leianna's elbow that he was supposed to.
Festivities began. At one point, The Joker eyed Tim sharply and said, "What's your name?"
"Tim Drake," Tim identified himself.
"Have we met?" asked Joker.
"I'd be honored to think so," Tim tried to satisfy The Joker. For it seemed as though he was close to seeing that Tim Drake and Robin were the same boy.
"I never could forget such a face," said Joker as he walked away. Tim sighed in relief. His secret was safe. For now.
When the party ended, Leianna began driving Tim home. "You work for The Joker."
"We work for The Joker," said Leianna. "There's no turning back once you're in. Don't worry. It's so cool. Once you spend much time here, you wonder why you ever dreamed of living a normal life." Leianna seemed downright blissful. At least now Tim knew what had changed her. In fact, every other child or teenager at Joker's place seemed almost in a trance. Joker's charisma had manipulated these impressionable minds.
Tim came home very depressed. He knew what he had to do, but that meant turning against Leianna. And as much as Tim wanted to believe otherwise, he still liked her.
It was the next evening before Tim met with Bruce again. Bruce had been playing one of his golf games with other tycoons during the day.
"Before we get to business," said Tim, "There's something I've wanted to get off my chest for a long time."
"Go ahead," Bruce allowed.
"The golf games," began Tim. "Until Selina, the dates with girls you don't even know. The public drinking. The rumors you create that Lucius, not you, runs your company 'cause you can't do anything. Did I get them all?"
"No," said Bruce. "But I see how you might have a problem with that. These things are necessary to convince the press and its consumers that I'm just another wealthy nepotist. They must never suspect the truth about me."
"Never," realized Tim. "You were right about Leianna. She's one of the kids that The Joker has brainwashed."
"The Joker?" asked Bruce. "Children? This is very bad. I'll have to call Barbara and Selina about this."
"We're meeting again on Monday night," said Robin. "They're gonna create chaos."
"Not if we have anything to say about it," said Bruce.
Mayor Charles Falsootu's perspective:
The morning before The Joker's next caper began, Mayor Falsootu's Senior Adviser for Strategic Planning, Billy Hancock, stormed into his office.
"Brace yourself for a slow day, Mr. Mayor," said Hancock, "Franklyn's here."
"As in Patricia Franklyn?" asked Falsootu. "The District Attorney who's about to finish her first year on the job?"
"The same," explained Hancock. "She's demanding that the entire staff meet her in the lobby."
"I wouldn't want to be the exception," Falsootu nodded. "After all, she's the only person in town who can give the Mayor an order." They went to the lobby. Everyone in Falsootu's direct employ, even police Commissioner Ronald Studge, was there, facing Franklyn and four men standing behind her.
Franklyn was tense. "It's good that I have your attention because I want everyone to understand fully how serious this is. The Office of the District Attorney of Gotham City is probing this administration until further notice. The allegations are aiding and abetting a known terrorist, lawlessly misappropriating money, and abuse of power."
S-she found out about my deal with Poison Ivy?
"Don't tell me you believe that desperate lady's desperate attempt to curry favor with you," laughed Falsootu.
"She knows her only hope of release is to become sane, Mr. Mayor," said Franklyn. "You have more motivation to lie than her."
"If I didn't know better," Falsootu feigned outrage like the politician he was, "I'd think you were accusing the Mayor of Gotham City himself of serious crimes."
Ignoring Falsootu, Franklyn turned to her own four men and said, "Begin our investigation. Each evening, I want updates from you." Franklyn faced the Falsootu administration again. "No need to be afraid. You've done nothing wrong... right? Then the only way you can get in trouble is by hampering this probe."
Of course, Falsootu had done something wrong, even if ridding Gotham of the nutcases in masks had been worth it to him. And it was not as though he had known Ivy would betray him. But now, Falsootu's crusade threatened to be destroyed by a government employee with too much self-righteousness and too little resolve. He had to do something. That something was to take advantage of the fact that it was a woman on his case.
"Ms. Franklyn," smiled Falsootu cutely as he moved in close to Franklyn. "This has all been a misunderstanding. I'd be happy to discuss it over dinner?"
Franklyn paused. She seemed nervous. "This goes against my better judgement, but all right."
Upon returning to work in his office, Falsootu was confronted again by Senior Adviser Hancock. "Sir, I don't like what you're doing."
"What's not to like?" asked Falsootu. "I know women and how to appeal to them. True, Poison Ivy turned the tables on me and was the seductress that one time, but she's a metahuman. Franklyn is just an ordinary woman with ordinary genes. I can handle her. By morning she'll be loving the Charles Falsootu brand of meat and know that no more will be available until Batman, not me, is behind bars."
Tim's perspective:
"What's wrong?" Leianna asked Tim as she drove him back to The Joker's hideout.
"Just suspense," said Tim. It was true. He was to attend the meeting and inform Batman, Catwoman, and Batgirl of it. When they arrived, they would take out The Joker once again. Would he ever learn?
But it was not that simple this time. Tim really liked Leianna. After all, it was on a date that Leianna had taken Tim there. He really did not want to put her away with the scum who had recruited her.
"Leianna," tried Tim. "Are you sure about The Joker's philosophy?"
"Mm-hmm," said Leianna. "Coolest and most true thing ever. Hope you're not getting soft. It would break my heart, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do."
Tim sighed. He really had no other choice.
When The Joker and Harley unveiled a map of Gotham City on their wall with the whole gang in their hideout, Robin asked, "I need to use the bathroom."
"Make it snappy," said Joker.
Robin left the room and then got out of the building through a window before picking up his phone. "Bruce, get the trace."
"Already have," said Bruce. "Find a place to hide. We'll bring your suit."
Batman's perspective:
Bruce, Barbara, and Selina had already been suited up in preparation for Tim's call to save time. Upon getting it, a Bruce who had once again become Batman turned to the women and said, "It's time. I have traced the call."
"Then what are we waiting for?" asked Catwoman.
"Uh, the fact that he's got children working for him?" Batgirl pointed out.
"We'll be more diplomatic this time," said Batman. "But if they choose to follow Joker, we use nerve grips. Hopefully, that will subdue the kids without hurting them."
"I hope you're right," said Batgirl.
"Besides," said Catwoman. "Robin said that none of them are less than ten years old. They should know better than this by now."
Batman shook his head. While he knew that Catwoman had changed, it had hardly been to a true heroine. She remained a cynical person who was not above controversial tactics to succeed.
They drove to the spot that the tracing of Tim's phone call lead them to. When Batman saw Tim hiding behind a trash can, he stopped the Batmobile. Batgirl halted the Batcycle as well.
"Tim," said Batman, "Get in. Ladies, wait for us." With that, Batman drove Tim to an obviously deserted part of town where Tim could get his suit out of the trunk of the Batmobile without being seen. They returned to where Robin had been found.
"All right," said Batman resolutely. "It's time."
"I came out through that window," said Robin as he pointed at it. "Turn right and we should find laughing boy and his gang planning." Batman and Batgirl cast their Batgrapples into the open window. Robin held on to Batgirl and Catwoman to Batman as the Batgrapples retracted, pulling their holders up.
In the building, they saw a door to their right. So Batman charged it, knocking it down. The four vigilantes saw The Joker, Harley Quinn, and more than twenty young people, just like Robin said there would be.
"Well, if it isn't my old friend, Bats!" said Joker with glee.
"Sic 'em, boys an' girls," commanded Harley. Her young underlings advanced towards Batman, Robin, Batgirl, and Catwoman.
"Getting children to do your dirty work?" asked Batman. "This is low, even for you!"
"Works for you," chuckled Joker.
The children charged. While untrained and not fully grown, even these kinds of opponents were not easily defeated if you had to hold back. Nerve strikes enabled Batman, Batgirl, and Robin to take some out, but they ended up taking a lot of hits in the process. Catwoman, though, was fighting as usual. Therefore, she was having very little difficulty.
"Catwoman, they're just kids," shouted Batman.
"Bad kids," corrected Catwoman.
"Down," screamed Batgirl as she tackled Batman and Catwoman to save them from a spray of bullets. They rose to a squat to see The Joker and Harley grinning evilly at them.
"It's been real," The Joker spoke in an urban accent. "But ya gotta go now." He and Harley cackled as they opened fire.
Catwoman and Batgirl began cartwheeling to escape bullets. Batman was rolling to stay safe as well, but he had the presence of mind to set up his Mini-Batjet to fire at The Joker. When it was ready, Batman did just that. The Joker ducked.
"Missed me, missed me," taunted Joker.
Only on the first try.
Sure enough, the electronically controlled Mini-Batjet turned around and flew right back at The Joker, knocking him out from behind! "Puddin'," exclaimed a concerned Harley as she checked to see if her lover was alright. This was enough of a distraction for Catwoman to knock her out with a running jump kick.
"We win again," smiled Catwoman. But Batman was far from pleased with her.
"Before you kill each other," said Batgirl, "Where's Robin?"
"Oh, no," Batman realized that Robin must have run out of the place for some reason. "Hold the fort, ladies. I'll go looking for him."
Robin's perspective:
At some point, Leianna had realized that the battle was going the wrong way from the other kids being knocked out and had bailed. Robin had pursued her. He was not about to let her get in any more trouble. But now she seemed to have disappeared somewhere. No nearby manholes or other convenient hiding places. She did not seem to know how to rig a car. She must, therefore, have been in a nearby building.
"Whoever you are," said Robin, "Listen to reason. You've been manipulated by a serial killer. But if you don't give yourself up, you'll get in big trouble."
Suddenly Robin felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder that forced him to the ground. His body armor seemed to have reduced the impact to a flesh wound, though it still hurt as though he we never use that arm again.
He saw Leianna drop to the ground from a window. She pointed a silenced pistol at Robin's head as she advanced. No wonder I couldn't hear it.
"Guess who's wrong," grinned Leianna. "By the way, you look really cute in a Halloween costume, Timmy."
"What did you just say?" asked a surprised and defensive Robin.
"Come on," smirked Leianna. "We've been going out. I'd recognize that lower face and voice anywhere. So here's the deal. We're leaving this town and tearing up another. Your answer better be 'yes.'"
"Be mine or else?" asked Robin.
"'Fraid so," said Leianna. "1..."
Robin's belt was now covered by his cape, so he pulled a Batarang out.
"2..."
Just before he would have been shot dead, Robin threw a Batarang at the gun. Leianna managed to hold onto it, although this snapped her right arm to her upper right. Robin immediately threw another Batarang to Leianna's side. He only hoped she was distracted long enough to not notice the second one.
"Nice try, but Harley taught me how to shoot a gun," said Leianna as she took aim again. Upon hearing the Batarang hit the ground a distance behind her, the semi-psychotic Leianna turned around and shot several times at what she seemed to think was another assailant before her gun began clicking.
"Smart guy," admitted Leianna," dropping the gun and raising her hands. You got me."
Robin put her in Batcuffs and kissed her cheek. By this time, Batman had arrived.
"First time you were late for something that wasn't a date, huh, Batman?" grinned Robin.
Falsootu's perspective:
After a dinner with DA Franklyn, Mayor Falsootu felt confident that he had worn her down.
"Don't you realize that a great guy like me couldn't have done anything wrong, Patty?" Falsootu smiled.
"Probably," said Franklyn, returning Falsootu's smile with her own. "But only this investigation can prove that."
"How about I further demonstrate my innocence in a hotel out of town."
"I don't think the First Lady of Gotham would approve," said Franklyn.
"My wife knows I have to regularly meet with other mayors from the small towns for private and government business between our towns," explained Falsootu. "She'll never know the difference."
"OK," nodded Franklyn.
Good! A night with me and she won't prosecute even if they get her a tape of me plotting with Ivy.
Bruce's perspective:
Selina would have gone home, but Bruce, seeing that she was troubled, let her accompany him to his room.
"Look, I'm sorry," said Selina. "I was too rough on those kids. A few are in the hospital."
"I'm glad you realize that," said Bruce.
"I've come to a conclusion," said Selina sadly. "I can't be a heroine. I'll just keep making these mistakes. I'll just move away."
"Absolutely not," said Bruce.
"Why won't you let me do this?" asked Selina.
"I'll give you four reasons," began Bruce. "In the first place, I wouldn't be much of a boyfriend or leader if I let you throw away a chance for redemption over a mistake. In the second, I know you're happier than you ever were as a thief. Third, I can't have you unnecessarily causing trouble. Fourth, the fact is that not much harm's been done. You didn't accidentally kill or permanently disable any of those children."
"In other words," Selina argued, "I got lucky."
"And your realizing that is why I can't let you leave," said Bruce. "Not when you've clearly learned from this mistake. The question is if you have the courage to face up the mistake or not."
Selina smirked. "Courage. That's something I've never had. From the death of my father to my last heist, I ran away from everything. Maybe it's time I stopped running."
Bruce nodded.
Falsootu's perspective:
Falsootu woke up. Franklyn was not in bed beside him. Surprisingly, though, she was standing up on the floor, dressed.
"I had a great evening," said Falsootu.
"Likewise," smiled Franklyn. "Your penis is tasty. Hate having to waste it, but I've got a job to do."
"Last night meant nothing?" asked Falsootu, pretending to be distraught.
"Of course it meant something," said Franklyn. "Now if you interfere with my investigation in any way, I'll let everyone know just how faithful a husband you are, you arrogant son of a bitch! I didn't want to hear what that psychotic eco-terrorist said about you, but now that you've tried to get me to call of the dogs this way, I've little doubt. Can you tell I'm not one of your whores?" She stormed out of the hotel room.
Falsootu sighed. He was really in trouble. His plan to charm Franklyn out of investigating had backfired. He was reduced to hoping that she would never find the evidence. If she did, The Batman would win the war between himself and the Mayor.
"And don't call me Patty," called Franklyn's voice from outside.
Tim's perspective:
Leianna was in Juvenile Hall. Tim chose to visit her.
"Your secret is safe," said Leianna. "But why haven't you forgotten about me?"
"Because you're gonna get help," said Tim. "Look, we're kids. We're impressionable. God knows I'm not perfect. You'll turn your life around just in time for graduation and we can forget all this."
Leianna smiled. "Pity I didn't follow the guy you did. I can't help but think I might not be here in the first place."
"Don't ever doubt that," said Tim. They hugged.