The sun shining brightly down from high above on a hot summer day. A light breeze flowing through the air like a sweet relief to all those daring to adventure out into the heat. A sweet relief one young man welcomes with open arms due to the small amounts of sweat slowly dripping down from his forehead onto his lap as he looks out in the far distance with nothing but a cold drink in his hand from the safety of his spot in some shade on a nearby porch. A small paradise for him. Especially what he sees out in the distance. His salvation. There was no other way he knew how to describe her. Kara Kent,his girlfriend,his strength,his everything at work lifting up piles after piles of hay over her shoulder and float them over towards a nearby barn and deposit them with ease on the second floor of the structure. A woman that makes it look so easy and it was at least for her.
The girl of steel. That is what the citizens of Metropolis like to call her. He preferred gorgeous but to their friends she was known as Kara Kent. The cousin of Clark Kent and secretly Superman. Her older cousin due to a black hole during her travels. It was so very confusing but one thing didn't confuse him. A simple declaration. He belonged to her in every way imaginable. He belongs to her,mind,body and soul. Such a scary declaration to admit at their age but it was the truth.
She is his everything. His strength to get up in the morning. His light to vanquish the darkness of every single one of his nightmares each and every single night. Horrible nightmares of the most horrible moment in his life. A moment that he swears can still hear the damn clown's sinister laugh every single time he closes his eyes. A laugh which will forever haunt him. Has forever changed him into something he will never admit out loud to anyone. No longer was he the proud Robin,who wouldn't bat an eye at any villain foolish enough to challenge him to a fight. No,that side of him died slowly during those painful nights under the clown's loving care. Nights he will never forget. The same with that laugh. A twisted and sickening laugh he can remember so perfectly. Even now as slowly he can hear it faintly in the background as though someone is laughing in the distance. This sound making Jason's eyes dart around in alarm looking for the source,he knew deep down he would never be able to see. No,it's in his head. He knew this but it doesn't make things any easier. Doesn't make the laughing stop. This sickening laughter making his eyes go wider and wider by the second as the glass slips from his hand and comes crashing down to the wooden floor beneath at his feet shattering the glass into hundreds of pieces.
A laugh that gets louder by the second causing him to take long deep breaths one after another. Breaths with every passing second feel as though they are getting harder and harder to take as though someone is choking him. As though the air is being sucked out of his lungs causing his face to turn red as his hands come up to cover his ears while his eyes snap tightly shut,but it doesn't help. Despite how much he wants it to end,the laughing remains,and continues to get louder and louder as images start flooding into his mind. Images that he could remember perfectly. Remember the pain of every single blow that had been delivered across his body. Remember how cold the steel of the crowbar was when it tore open his flesh. Remember the agonizing pain as he felt his bones being broken one at a time with every single vicious blow. Memories that are just too much for him to take. Too much for him to withstand and despite his best efforts silent tears start to trickle down his cheeks before instantly Jason's breath hitches when he feels a pair of arms gently wrapping around him like a protective shield. Arms that he can't help but lean into not even bothering to put up any resistance. Not even bother to hide his tears as he feels a hand gently stroking his hair.
Keeping a gentle hold around the only man that she has ever loved laying a gentle kiss into his hair without releasing her hold slowly Kara rocks Jason back and forth as she feels his head coming down to rest against her exposed stomach.
" Shhh, I got you. I got you."
Metropolis General. A place,Kara never thought she would ever find herself in. Funny how things turn out sometimes. A super heroine never needing a check up from one of the well trained medical personal. Especially one as famous as her in these parts,but that's not important. No what is important right now is what is happening before her eyes right now. The determination she can see on Jason's face as he fights his way to walk towards her on wobbly legs. As he fights to make his way towards her with his head bowed down in clear agony from the way his eyes barely remain open. This look of pain which plays with her heart strings making every fiber in her being want to go over,and take him in her arms before calling this whole thing off. This look that she would always see across his face every single time they would come here. His rehab. His assigned rehab for the day. An rehab appointment that would take place every other day. Monday,Wednesday,and Friday. A schedule that she knew like the back of her hand but it didn't make it any easier for her. Any easier to see him in such pain. Pain that has been there for these past five months. Five long months of agonizing rehab with her always right here by his side no matter what the doctors ordered. Their cover story had worked out to perfection.
An accident. An awful motorcycle accident from a drunk driver,who decided to leave the scene of the accident. That is what she had told the doctors anyways upon arrival. This accident that was far from the truth. This was no accident. No, this had been a clear message. A message from the sick twisted clown to every single member of The Bat Family. A clear cut message of what is to come with any that associate themselves with Batman. She could only shutter to think just what might have happened to Jason if she had not found him in time. A truly sick and deranged clown,who has not been seen for these past five months,but she would find him. She would find him and do everything that he had done to her boyfriend. She promises him that. For every nightmare,Jason has had,she will make sure this so-called Joker relives his own personal hell over and over again in tenfold. For every scar inflicted upon her boyfriend's flesh,she will tear every limb off from the screaming clown's mangled and twisted body. Just like she knew,Jason would do the same for her.
Her love,her soulmate. Yes, she was sure of this now. A soulmate that needed her so much these past couple of months. A need that she would meet head on never leaving his side. Always being there to fight off the nightmares that would invade his mind. Be there to hold him when he would have a panic attack. Be there with him every step of the way with his rehab despite doctors orders and pleas. A long road ahead. That is what the doctors had told her. He had a long road ahead in his rehab needing every single support he could get due to these long term injuries that he had sustained. Injuries that were a mile long. Injuries that were far worse than she could have possibly imagined. He wasn't just beaten. He wasn't just battered and bloodied like originally thought. No, he had sustained so much worse. So many injures to keep track of from broken bones to deep gashes across his flesh. Injuries that felt like none of his body wasn't untouched,and it was true. No part of him wasn't untouched. He didn't just have his bones broken. He didn't just have massive blood loss. No, he had also sustained internal injures. Major injuries that she had waited almost all night sitting in a waiting room as he had been taken away for emergency surgery. A surgery that thankfully had been successful but the next sight that had met her would cause nothing but tears to trickle down her cheeks.
The sight of her boyfriend inside of a hospital room. A boyfriend sleeping soundly with numerous bandages all across his body. So many bandages that left nothing uncovered. Nothing except for his eyes. Eyes that she would watch flicker open and immediately rest upon her as though sensing her presence just like how they would always open every single day and night despite how quiet she may have been. A moment that she could remember perfectly. Remember how he had tried desperately to sit up from seeing her distress before she had quickly closed the distance between them laying a hand gently down on his cheek allowing the tears to free fall down her face not caring who or what saw them.
The very same tears which trickle down her cheeks now unaware to her knowledge as she relives the most painful night of her life before she looks back up to find Jason halfway to her clutching the railing for dear life as his head is bowed down with nothing but sweat dripping down his forehead. Such a grip that she could see his knuckles slowly turning white as his hands shake against the railing. As his arms slowly shake as though they are the only thing holding him upright as he makes his way towards her. As he makes his way across the small walkway towards her. Makes his way towards her with nothing but pain riddled across his face. Furiously wiping away the evidence of her tears releasing her hold of the railing kneeling down as she sees his head lift up slightly to meet her gaze seeing nothing but a pair of watery eyes staring back at her suppressing her own tears sending him an encouraging smile slowly Kara watches Jason take another pain filled step forward while gritting his teeth as though suppressing the urge to scream out in pain. This look she can only watch deepen with every painful step that he takes towards her. Small baby steps until to her horror she watches him lose his footing falling directly down to his knees holding the end of the railings in a vice grip before she is instantly on him bursting from her spot to kneel down next to him holding him up as all eyes come to focus on them. Concerned eyes as she holds him tight feeling his arms coming to wrap around her in a weak grip before the sound of silent footsteps coming from behind causes her to look up to find her boyfriend's instructor looking down towards them with concern riddled across her face.
" That's enough for today."
Instantly as she sees the instructor starting to shake her head sadly down towards her within a flash Kara's eyes widen slightly in nothing but shock. How dare she say no. Doesn't she realize just what he had been through? Doesn't she realize how much pain,he is in just to take a small step forward? So much anger building up inside of her. Anger,she doesn't hold back as Kara stares coldly up at the instructor while keeping her hold on Jason as gentle as can be.
" I'm sorry Miss Kent,but he needs to complete the exercise."
Without turning her gaze away from the instructor feeling Jason's grip around her tightening very gently Kara pulls him closer into her chest.
" I said that's enough for today."
Shaking her head once again right as she opens her mouth suddenly the instructor's eyes widen when she swears to see Kara's eyes glow bright blue for the briefest of moments giving her pause.
" You're not listening to me. I said that's enough for today. He's done everything else you have asked of him today. If you push him anymore, I promise you that we'll see just how much you know about your field once i'm done with you."
Hearing the cold tone in the young blonde's voice before her seeing how serious her face looks taking a few steps back without turning her gaze away slowly the instructor nods her head slightly.
" Very well,but to make things perfectly clear,he will never recover if you don't allow him to. You can chose to believe me or not. Starting next Monday,I'm assigning you a different instructor."
Without looking away suddenly as she sees the instructor making a hasty retreat feeling numerous eyes on her snapping her head to glance around sending every single person looking in their direction a cold look that just makes him turn their gaze anywhere but at her looking back down towards Jason leaning down gently Kara rests her head against his own.
Unable to meet anyone's gaze remaining perfectly still gripping the ends of his chair with his head bowed down slightly as he feels his wheelchair being slowly pushed forward past numerous patients and just arriving doctors and nurses hearing the sound of a pair of sliding doors moving to the side after a couple of seconds seeing the familiar scene of the handicapped ramp getting closer and closer suddenly as he feels the chair coming to a complete stop Jason closes his eyes tightly before he feels a hand gently coming down to rest on his shoulder.
" Jason?"
Hearing the gentle tone in her voice gulping his throat back slightly Jason shakes his head.
" I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Hearing the sound of what he guessed to be her shuffling around to kneel right before him unable to meet her gaze Jason keeps his eyes firmly closed. He could already picture the look she has on her face. This concerned look. This pleading look in her eyes for him to talk to her. To let everything out with the silent promise,despite whatever comes out,she'll love him. A look which only makes a sinking feeling emerge in his stomach causing his hands to start to shake in his lap before a pair of hands come to lay down on his hands freezing them in place.
" There is nothing to be sorry about. It's not your fault. None of this is."
" Yes it is. You deserve so much better than me. I mean look at me!"
Feeling her eyes on him opening his eyes finding his suspicions to be correct unable to meet Kara's gaze Jason quickly turns his eyes to look down towards his lap avoiding her eyes as much as possible. Avoiding which only lasts for a few precious seconds until suddenly a hand comes up to gently cup his chin and raise his head up finding her gaze locking on his own.
" You have nothing to be ashamed of. I don't think any less of you."
Unable to suppress the tear that trickles down his cheek gently Jason shakes his head in her hand causing nothing but a deep concerned look to come across Kara's face,but this doesn't stop her from reaching up to wipe away the tears with the back of her thumb.
" Yes,I do. I failed you. Just look at me! If,I just listened to you from the beginning none of this would have happened! We would be here living in the city happily,kicking ass,and taking names,instead now?"
Closing his eyes missing the look of anger in her eyes taking a long deep breath Jason turns his sights down to look at the ground below.
" Now,I can't even do that. I can't fight anymore. I can't even walk anymore. I'm confined to this damn wheelchair! Now when people look at me,they don't see me. No,they just look at me with pity and say "Oh that poor boy" like they know what i'm feeling! And you want to know,what really gets me angry? It's when,I see the devastated looks in your eyes. It tears me apart in side knowing you're in so much pain,and there isn't a damn thing,I can do about it!"
Hearing nothing but his silent sobs which makes her feel as though someone is stabbing her in the heart blinking away the tears that want to escape her watery eyes bringing her free hand up to gently cup his cheek leaning forward gently Kara leans her forehead against Jason's own not breaking away from his gaze for a single second.
" I don't care. You're still the same man that i fell in love with long ago,and i'm not leaving you. Not now and not ever again. I don't give a damn about your disabilities. All i care about is you."
Without waiting for a response leaning forward gently Kara presses her lips to Jason's own feeling her cheeks getting wet by his tears before she pulls back and opens her eyes to find a pair of watery eyes staring back towards her.
" I love you,I love you so much."
Feeling her own eyes getting watery gently rubbing his cheek with her thumb causing her to feel him leaning into her touch leaning back down once again Kara returns her forehead against his own.
" I know. I love you too."
Reaching up to wipe the bead of sweat that drips down her forehead with her forearm reaching out grabbing a hold of the rope attached to the large block of hay with a tug throwing the block on her shoulder with ease slowly as she makes her way into the large red barn house to find her favorite horse's eyes on her own feeling her lips curling up into a smile dropping the block of hay in its destinatinated spot making her way over reaching out gently Kara rubs the horse gently on the side of its head instantly earning her what she considered to be a horse's version of a content sigh.
Her favorite horse on the farm. A horse that she has raised ever since she was first born. Lucy she had named her. A peruvian paso breed. The fastest horse alive in her opinion. A horse that she has flown through the air side by side with as the horse would run free in the fields. Her most prized possession. Well almost anyways. That title belongs to another. The same man that has been suspiciously absent all day with the explanation from her aunt that he had gone into town with her uncle for the day. An explanation that was received with a raised eyebrow when she had seen the twinkle in the older woman's eyes before she had come out here to begin the work that needed to be done around the farm. Work that she had completed a few hours ago as she now patiently awaits for their return while sitting in the saddle petting a very content and eager Lucy with a small brush. A return she listens to closely be answered as she hears the sound of tires coming across the dirt path in the distance.
This sound that makes her leave the barn and make her way outside to find a familaur old pickup truck making its way down the dirt road and towards her from the distance. A truck that she can't help but smile at as she watches it come to a stop in its usual parking spot on the side of the house before without any delay Kara takes off into the air heading directly towards them with a wide smile,and lands down a few feet away from the passenger's side of the truck finding Jason just starting to opening up the passenger's door. A boyfriend,who sends her,his trademark grin making her return it with one of her own before she extends her hands out towards him earning a mock glare. A look which just makes her grin widen even further before as she hears a huff escape his lips reaching down gently Kara lifts him up from his seat holding him in her arms bridal style as she sees his arms instantly come up to cross over his chest. An action that makes her giggle as she sees her uncle unloading Jason's folded up wheelchair from the back of the pickup truck out of the corner of her eye and place the chair on the ground setting it up within seconds just before she leads Jason over to the wheelchair and gently plants him down in the awaiting seat.
" I am not a damsel in distress."
Rolling her eyes kneeling down until she is eye level with him reaching out gently Kara cups Jason's cheek with a knowing smirk coming across her face. He might not think so,but he will always be her damsel in distress. Even back in the days of Robin and Supergirl,he was always her damsel in distress. He just liked to not think so.
" Of course you're not. You're my big strong man."
Earning herself another mock glare grinning widely towards him leaning forward gently Kara pecks Jason on the lips allowing her lips to linger before she pulls back to see a smile forming across his face.
" That's better."
Opening his eyes as he sees Kara looking towards him with a bright smile returning the smile without taking his eyes away slowly Jason watches her make her way up to her feet and stretch out her upper body causing her lips to curl up into a grin. A sight that he would never get tired of seeing. An outfit that he would never get sick of seeing her wearing. The simplest of outfits. A pair of short jean shorts that were showing off her flawless long legs so perfectly. The short white shirt that has nothing but sweat dripping down her chest all the way to her exposed stomach showing she wasn't wearing a bra underneath. A gaze that lingers a little too long until before he knows it as he looks up to find a rather pleased smile across her face slowly Jason returns the smile.
" I need to take a bath."
Seeing Jason's smile only widening sending a grin his way turning on her heels moving around his wheelchair to grasp the handles slowly Kara pushes the chair forward towards the house.
" Don't worry. You need one too."
Feeling his tongue winning their battle for control of the kiss letting out a silent moan as she removes her hand from the water to reach back and bring his head closer to her own after a couple of seconds breaking off the kiss for some much needed air letting out a content sky turning her head back forward gently Kara leans back into Jason's chest feeling his hands coming to rest on her stomach underneath the almost full bathtub they currently find themselves in. A position neither of them wanted to leave anytime soon. Content on just laying back here in the warm water in each other's arms. Lay back in total silence as their discarded clothes are seen all across the bathroom that told a story itself. Told of a story of passion as their clothes lead up to the bathtub. A tub with small traces of water leaking out over the sides as sweat drips down their naked bodies. Feeling his arms to come gently wrapping around her waist from behind letting out a content sigh slowly Kara closes her eyes as she leans her head down to rest against his exposed shoulder.
" Hey gorgeous?"
" Hmmm?"
" You know that i love you right?"
" Umm hmm."
Cracking open her eye as she sees him looking at her nervously closing her eyes gently Kara shakes her head gently into his shoulder.
" I do but we're still not doing that. Honestly i don't understand why men want to do that so much. It's so….unnatural."
Hearing a silent chuckle coming from above slowly Kara's lips curl upward into a small smile.
" That's not where i was going with this but now that you mention it…."
Snapping her eyes open to send him a mock glare only to receive a grin in reply rolling her eyes slowly Kara closes her eyes once again.
" Okay,okay. You win…."
" Like i always do."
Seeing a grin coming across her face feeling his own coming across his face gently removing his right arm from around her waist quietly Jason lifts his arm out of the tub and reaches out towards his discarded jeans nearby.
" Well we're both winners in the end. I've got you."
Smiling brightly hearing a small click coming from in front of her just as she opens her eyes instantly Kara's eyes go as wide as saucers. A small black box opened up in front of her revealing a diamond ring in the center that shines over towards her. A ring that she can't help but stare at in silence as she feels her eyes getting watery before very slowly she turns her head to lock gazes with Jason.
" You are my best friend. My favorite person to wake up and see in the morning. The one that keeps my heart beating. My strength to overcome the darkness."
Seeing tears starting to trickle down her cheeks unwrapping his left arm from her waist reaching around her gently Jason wipes away at her tears with his thumb.
" You're my everything. Kara Kent will you marry me?"
Smiling brightly nodding her head quickly reaching out gently Kara wraps her arm around the back of Jason's neck pulling his head forward before her lips gently press to his own.
Mrs Kara Todd. It has a nice ring to it.
A thought that keeps invading her mind causing what seemed like a permanent smile to be plastered across her face. This smile that is contagious as she watches one form on the face of every single person that she comes across while here in this establishment.
The local library. A place,she would spent most of her time at whenever she wasn't at the farm or with Jason. A small sanctuary of sorts allowing her to sort out her thoughts. A place,she would sit back finding a nice quiet corner and get to work on her online classes with only the sound of music at a low volume being heard from her headphones. Music that seems so far away as her focus remains on her laptop screen on the latest assignment. A five thousand word essay which was to be due in the following week. A paper,she was more than halfway through completing causing her to finish the latest of paragraphs and lean back with a bright smile across her face.
I think,I've earned a little study break.
Taking a quick glance around finding nobody in sight turning her head back forward leaning forward in her seat scrolling over to her saved bookmarks instantly Kara clicks on the very first saved web page quickly followed by another bringing up two new tabs. Web pages,if anyone was to ever search would be her top search views. The web pages belonging to a few news stations in the Gotham City area,she deemed to be accurate and trust worthy. These pages that she would visit every day and scan like a predator hunting its prey looking for any clues that may lead her to another. The very monster,who had started it all. A monster that she has been searching so long for. A monster that has become her obsession. An obsession to ensure justice would be delivered. Not for the citizens of Gotham City. Not for the many victims,who had their lives forever changed with a simple encounter with this deranged clown. No, justice for him. Justice for her soon to be husband. A dangerous path,she knew. A path she had already traveled down once five long months ago remembering everything,she had done like it was yesterday. Remembering everything as though it was a dream. An almost nightmares of a dream. A dream filled with so much pain. A dream filled with so much carnage. So much blood,so much death. Only it hadn't been a dream. It had been reality.
And reality is she was responsible for the death of two individuals. Two woman. Two of the deadliest vixens that have ever appeared in Gotham City. Vixens that never stood a chance against her. Never stood a chance as she burned down their sanctuaries leaving them there to root. Never stood a chance as she slowly left their bodies battered and bloodied hanging by a post for anyone to find. Deaths that have haunted her on some nights in her dreams just remembering their faces. Haunted her in her dreams making her relive the moment over and over again. Moments she would never forget. Never forget how she had left Poison Ivy battered and bloodied screaming in the inferno in what used to be her greenhouse. How she would never forget the screams of Harley Quinn as she silenced her after she had gotten everything she needed from her leaving her body hanging by a old worn out post belonging to a broken down roller coaster as though she was a flag post.
But she couldn't think about them right now. He was still out there. This monster that haunts the dreams of the man that she loves. A monster,who still needs to be vanquished. A monster that needs to be finished off once and for all,the consequences be damned. This monster,she scans the first web page for any reference too. Any sort of story about the madman finding her search for not before she quickly exits out of the web page deleting it from her screen and turns her sights to the last page on her laptop's screen. A page that always proved to be fruitful.
The Gotham Gazette. The main source of news in Gotham City. A station that always broke every huge story in Gotham City. Always reported the latest news within the city. News that would often be headlined by the same context. Always be headlined with the name of a criminal being stopped in yet another scheme to take over the city by The Batman never leaving out a single detail of the encounter. Never leaving out how this heroic caped crusader brought justice to everyone within the city before tossing these criminals back behind the bars of Arkham Asylum once again. A scene that has repeated itself over and over again through the years like a broken record. A record she would make sure was not repeated with this mad man. Make sure he would not live to see the light of another day once she has found him. A web page that she scans as well only to have her eyes go wide as a headline comes flooding onto her screen on the bottom of the page. A news article that spoke volumes for itself at the headline.
The Joker Imprisoned For Life!
A headline which would have brought a smile to her face on any given day five months ago but now? Now it only disgusted her. This man shouldn't be allowed to live. That was her opinion on the matter anyways. This man,no this monster has destroyed the lives of so many. This animal needs to be put down. This animal that as she scrolls down the article to find his battered and bloodied face grinning up towards the camera as his picture is taken makes her blood boil. Makes her anger rise with every passing second as a glow is seen coming from her area like a candle. The glow of her eyes looking furiously at the laptop's screen. Looking furiously at his grinning face as her left hand clutches into a tight fist causing her nails to dig into the palm of her hand leaving a trail of blood to trickle down her closed fist and onto her lap.
Tracing her index finger gently across his bare chest staring directly at his face finding him in a peaceful slumber smiling slightly at his state leaning up making sure not to wake him very gently Kara lays a kiss on Jason's cheek. Never has she left his side like this. Never before has she left him during the night but tonight had to be different. Tonight the nightmare needed to end. It is the only way,they would be able to have closure. She just hated she had to leave him like this,even if it is for a short amount of time.
" I won't be long. I promise. There is something,I need to do."
Very slowly not to wake him quietly getting out of their shared bed reaching down to grab a pair of discarded jeans from her pile gently wiggling into them making her way over towards her closet with a flick of her wrist slowly Kara slides the closet door over and quietly goes through the articles of clothing hanging by the rack before quickly she comes across what she is looking for.
A hoodie. A lone black hoodie hanging up inside of the closet. Her favorite article of clothing. A hoodie,she has not worn out ever since that night. That painful night. A hoodie slowly she reaches out for and takes off the hanger before quietly she puts it on zipping it all the way up causing her red bra to be covered up and out of sight. The very hoodie which represents the bond,they share. A rather simple design and she couldn't be more happy to wear it proudly. His design. His Robin symbol in the dead center of her back. This symbol that would always bring a smile to her face upon sight.
But tonight. No,tonight there would be no smiles. Tonight wasn't about happiness. Wasn't about justice despite what she tells herself to get through this. No,tonight was about revenge. Vengeance which slowly brings her gaze to rest on an object pushed off into the corner. A black bag. A bag only she knew the contents that rested inside.
This bag without a moment of hesitation she reaches out to snag from the corner before her hand comes to a stop before she makes contact with the straps. Stopping as her hand clutches into a fist for a brief moment causing her to pay a glance over her shoulder back towards Jason finding him exactly the same as she had left him. A man,who silently gives her the encouragement she needs before with a surge of determination Kara snatches the bag up from the ground and throws the strap over her shoulder and quietly makes her way to open their closed bedroom door only to stop at the open doorway to glance one more time at Jason's sleeping form with a hint of a smile across her face.
" I'll be back before you wake. I promise."
Without any delay exiting out of their bedroom quietly closing the door behind her engulfing the room once again into total darkness and quietly moving through the house making sure to avoid waking up her uncle and aunt from their slumber the moment she steps outside instantly Kara takes off into the air and disappears into the distance at high speed.
This place. This hideous place. This place does nothing but disgust her. Arkham Asylum. One of the safest prisons on the entire planet. Yeah right. A statement,she has laughed at bitterly on so many occasions. It wasn't one of the safest. In fact if she had her way this place would be torn down brick by brick. This prison that would often see its inmates escaping,sometimes even controlling the entire asylum. This asylum,she knew like the back of her hand by now. Blue prints. Simple as that. Blue prints with enough digging could be easily accessible. Too easy showing how truly foolish it was to have this place be a prison. If you wanted to call it that. As for her? She thought of this place as a small getaway for the very inmates residing inside these walls. Inmates,who must have been delighted to once again be brought back here to their untouched cells,eagered to get away from The Batman.
But no matter. This didn't concern her. What concerned her was who was inside of this prison. A prison which was easy enough to make her way into without any resistance. Without any alarms being triggered. No defenses whatsoever from keeping any from breaking in. So much so that the guards didn't even notice her burst past them like a bullet until it was too late. Heck she even guessed the cameras didn't even pick her up. Like she cared. Like she cared if anybody would see her. See her stalking her way down the massive corridor with hundreds of cells surrounding her with numerous pairs of eyes watching her every move. The lesser of evils she would call them. Low life criminals,serving sentences for helping some of the bigger names in the city. Small time thugs mostly. No one to remember in her opinion.
As for the lower level of this facility? The level she walks on through with only the sound of her boots clanging against the cold ground giving away her position. That level was different. The worst of the worst. The high level inmates,who needed to be locked away in their cells for most of the day. The names of criminals,who strike fear into the hearts of many in this corrupt city. The Killer Crocs,The Scarecrows,The Two-Faces of the world. These villains and vixens,she can feel staring at her with interest as she passes by their cells paying them on mind. Paying them not even a small glance despite their best efforts to gain her attention. The cold breezes lurking from within a cell causing the small window to be covered with ice. The sounds of wood being carved in a unique way coming from the shadows within another. Sounds and feelings she brushes off like they are nothing as she continues on forward with a look of determination underneath her hood.
These were not the one,she is seeking. No the one,she is seeking lays further ahead in the lowest levels of this building. Inside of the basement where the extremely dangerous would be kept or what has been nicknamed Joker's Playpen. This level,she makes her way down towards without any hesitation descending down into the darkness abandoning the upper levels leaving the light behind. Descending down into the depths of hell met only with a small dim light at the very bottom.
A dim light,she passes under revealing her slightly covered figure before she disappears back into the darkness as she adventures on forward. Disappears until suddenly she comes to a stop when she hears a sound that makes her eyes widen slightly. The sound of footsteps. Footsteps coming from her right where a small hallway can be seen. Footsteps she listens closely to until they reveal a guard. A lone prison guard wielding his baton swinging it freely in his right hand whistling without a care in the world. Just another thing which proves why this place is nothing but a joke. To only have one guard stationed here on this level. The most dangerous level guarding,who could be considered the deadliest inmate in the entire asylum. This guard,she watches in complete silence make his way towards her with his eyes trained on the ceiling before just as his gaze comes down to look in her direction making a split second decision instantly Kara bursts from her spot and zips over towards him in a black blur to deliver a well placed punch into his gut causing him to hunch over gasping for breath as the baton in his hand comes crashing down onto the cold ground with a clang that echoes off the walls. Hearing the sound of him gasping for breath until his breathing becomes shallower very gently Kara lowers the guard to the ground as she looks down sadly at him.
" I am sorry but it is better this way. You will only get in the way with what needs to be done."
Snatching the key chain dangling off from his belt repositioning her black bag strap over her shoulder stepping over the downed guard taking a quick look around to see if this man had a partner on this night hearing nothing but silence looking up for a brief moment slowly Kara glides through the air and flies in the direction the guard had come from making sure to keep out of the light and into the shadows as much as she can. These lights that were like a trail leading her down a few corridors with no resistance in front of her. No more guards. No cameras,or even locked doors. A pitful sight she scowls at underneath her hood before suddenly she comes to a stop when she finds herself staring at a well lit hallway. A well lit hallway revealing a lone door at the far end of the room. A door with a simple number hanging over it. One thousand three hundred and seventy two. A number,she knew the meaning. Knew who exactly lurked behind this door. The number that had been assigned long ago to her greatest enemy. She had read all about him. Read everything that she could find about this madman. Yet nothing could prepare her for this. Could prepare her for this cold chill that she can feel in the air. This chill that would send a chill running up all those that dared linger here.
But not her. No,she wasn't afraid. Wasn't afraid of the man behind this locked off door. Wasn't afraid of that damn sinister smile of his. That damn smile that she can picture now causing her hands to clutch into tight fists drawing blood before slowly she stalks forward towards the door. Footsteps,she doesn't bother to mask as her facial features harden by the second. Especially when she hears a certain sound lingering inside of her mind. A sound which has haunted Jason so many nights. A sound she can hear so perfectly in his mind.
Laughter. The sound of this sick and deranged clown's laughter. A sound many of his victims have heard before meeting their demise. A sound,she will silence on this night. Will make sure is never heard again from his lips. This sound that makes Kara grit her teeth as she stalks forward with her eyes trained on the locked door while the sound of his laughter gets louder in her mind. Laughing,she tries to block out as she comes to a stop in front of the locked door when suddenly within a flash the keychain,she is holding comes crashing down onto the ground as images after images come flooding into her mind. Images of a battered and bloodied Jason hanging inside of the warehouse. Images of her holding his unconscious body as tears leaked down to his blood covered face. Images of staring down at his bandaged body holding his bandaged hand while he slept crying her eyes out in relief.
Images that make her see red as her eyes instantly start to glow a deadly blue underneath her hood. Eyes that stare a hole into the door knowing fully well just who is behind this door. The very man,who had done this to the man,she loves. Glancing down towards the key chain laying down on the ground by her feet not even bothering with the keys anymore discarding them furiously away with a sweep of her foot reaching out Kara grasps the handle of the cell door tightly in her hand before with a tug she rears back her arm causing a loud screech to echo through the hallway. A screech coming from inside of the cell. A screech from metal bending. Metal of the door as slowly it bends outward until suddenly it comes off its hedges and is discarded to the side into a nearby wall like it is made of cardboard causing light to flicker into the entrance of the cell.
A cell without any hesitation Kara makes her way inside and snaps her head to the far end of the room when the sound of a chuckle is heard echoing off the walls of the cell. A chuckle that she knew from anywhere. The chuckle of him. The monster of Gotham City. The Clown Prince of Crime. A truly sinister man,she watches slowly emerge from the darkness revealing his smiling face. That damn sinister smile of his from just underneath his bruised and battered face. A battered face which looked as though he had been put through a meat grinder and spit back out again. A sight that would deepen after she got done with him. If she decides to leave any of his face remaining intact. A man,she can only stare at in silence as slowly she drops the her bag down onto the ground causing his eyes to shift downward for a split moment. A break of eye contact she would make him regret as within a flash Kara closes the distance between them and wraps her hand around his throat in a vice grip lifting him up from his cell's bed high up into the air causing his eyes to snap up to meet her own as she tightens her grip around his throat. These eyes which look at her with silent amusement making her increase her grip around his throat before the sound of silent cracks are heard echoing off the walls. Cracks that were like music to her ears as she ignores every single strike he lands on her outstretched arm that were like mere bug bites to her. A nuisance,she ignores while just watching blood starting to trickle out of his closed lips and down his face to the cold ground below. A sight,she could watch all day. Could do all day but he didn't deserve it. No, it would be too easy. No,this man deserves something else. Doesn't deserve a quick death. No,he deserves something much worse. To be inflicted the very same pain,he has bestowed upon others.
This sudden thought making Kara grin causing The Joker's eyes to widen in confusion before with a flick of her wrist she sends him soaring through the air with ease into a nearby wall face first causing a sickening crunch to echo through the air as he body slowly slouches down the wall in a heap. A crunch that doesn't stop her march as she stalks her way over towards his body that just slides down the wall and onto the ground before rearing back Kara smashes her heel down hard into the middle of his back causing The Joker to let out a scream of pain. A scream that echoes through the cell and all the way down the hallway to be heard by all. Like she cared who hears. In the end everyone will be thankful for what she is doing. Will be thankful for what she is about to do on this night. Even if certain caped heroes inside of this city might think differently but she will deal with them in time. For now she will keep an ear out in case some unexpected company decides to pop their heads in to see what caused the disturbance. She could already picture them now. These unprepared facility guards making their way towards her. Guards untrained to handle a situation like this. Men and women,she could not allow to fall on this night. So much so that with this thought in mind snapping her head out over towards the open doorway instantly Kara sends a large blue laser beam across the ceiling walls outside of the cell causing the roof to cave in causing a cloud of smoke to erupt from the ground and a gust of wind to breeze through the air. Cause for the walls to shake as the hallway's lights flicker on and off before the shaking comes to an halt. As the smoke disappears revealing nothing but a dead end staring straight ahead. A sight,Kara can't help but look at quite pleased with herself before she turns her sights back towards The Joker and looks down with her smile only widening at seeing the look of pain across his face. This look of anger in his eyes as he grits his teeth causing her smile to widen even further as she digs her heel further into the middle of his back making his eyes shut tightly before after a couple of seconds she retracts her boot and takes a couple steps away turning her back on him.
" I've read all about you."
Coming to a stop slowly without bothering to look back towards him kneels down next to the black bag reaching out Kara grasps the zipper of the bag within her fingers and looks directly up towards the ceiling of the cell.
" I've read about all of your victims. About the games you played with them. Each and every single one of them."
Unzipping the bag reaching inside grasping the desired object retracting her hand slowly Kara looks towards the object with an emotionless look across her face while unaware of the shocked look across The Joker's face from behind her.
" I like playing games too."
Seeing the young woman turning back around to face him instantly as he sees a shine coming from a hammer firmly in her hand,The Joker's eyes widen in nothing but shock. Surely she isn't thinking what he's thinking? No,this couldn't be. Superheroes never get their hands dirty like this. No,they are too touchy,always hiding behind the wall of justice.
A hammer,he can only watch getting closer and closer by the second causing his eyes shift to look at her before suddenly he feels the end of her heel smashing into his ribs causing him to throw back his head and scream out in pain. A scream that echoes off the cell wall's until it is silenced when the end of the hammer comes back around and lands viciously across the side of his face causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood as a few teeth come flying out. Such a vicious blow leaving him dazed as he lands face first onto the ground before the end of a heel digging deep into his side causes him to flip over on his back with blood trickling down from his mouth to his orange prison uniform. So dazed he doesn't put up an resistance even as he feels his right wrist being snatched from the ground and his thumb being wedged between the end of the hammer causing cuts to instantly open up on the sides of his thumb.
" I'm sure that you are familiar with this game. This little piggy went to the market."
Instantly with a flick of her wrist as she hears a sickening snap echo through the air followed by his screams of pain ignoring the screams as she feels him trying to pull his arm away from her grasp with her eyes widening in anger putting the hammer silently down rearing back Kara smashes her fist down hard into The Joker's face causing his head to snap back and smash against the unforgiving floor causing him to stop his struggle. Causing for even more blood to trickle out of his mouth as a massive gash starts to open up on his forehead. A sight,she nods her head at in satisfaction before she picks the hammer up and forces his index finger into the end of the hammer.
" This little piggy stayed home."
In a sudden move with another flick of her wrist instantly another sickening snap is heard echoing through the cell causing another scream to escape The Joker's lips before she slowly moves to his middle finger.
" And this little piggie. This little piggy pissed off the wrong kryptonian."
Another sickening snap. A scene that quickly repeats itself over and over again for the next few minutes as finger one after another is broken leaving this fingers dangling from his hands badly broken. As The Joker screams in pain from the ground clutching his injured hands close to his chest with his back turned towards Kara as she looks down towards him with silent satisfaction. Maxwell Crawford. A name,which will never be remembered by the masses,but she remembers. The very same man,this deranged clown decided to play this childish game with. A man,whose fingers had been broken severely with nothing but a blood covered hammer laying next to his body once he was found. They might not remember him,but she will make sure this clown does. Discarding the hammer into the far end of the room bouncing it off the wall with a loud clang smiling down with a slightly pleased smile from seeing the sinister clown holding his badly shattered and broken hands to his chest protectively with his fingers dangling in awkward positions reaching up slowly Kara grasps the end of her hood as her eyes remain trained on the back of his head.
" Just so that we're on the same page here. I want you to see the face of the woman,who is going to end your life tonight."
Without turning her gaze away as she sees him turning his head to look at her with a flick of her wrist Kara throws back her hood revealing her face to The Joker causing his eyes to widen slightly in shock. This look that only stays on his face for a split moment before it turns sinister causing her to raise an eyebrow in question. As his lips curl upward before a sound escapes his lips making her blood boil. Laughter,the sound of his laughter. This sick sound making her hands clutch into tight fists by her sides before within a blink of an eye she closes the distance between them and grabs the back of his head,and drives her right knee right into his face shattering his nose upon impact. As blood trickles down his face all over causing his white makeup to turn crimson rapidly by the second. Blood that doesn't even bother him to her shock before Kara's eyes widen once again when she hears the faintest of a chuckle escape The Joker's lips once again.
" Shut up. Shut the fuck up."
Hearing nothing but his chuckles starting to increase snatching him up from the ground by his orange jumpsuit rearing back her right fist as she sees The Joker throw his head back and start to laugh instantly Kara's eyes turn bright blue. Not again. No,she won't allow this man the pleasure of laughing ever again. So much so with lightening fast speed instantly Kara drives her right fist viciously into The Joker's throat causing a sickening snap to echo through the air as his laughter instantly comes to an halt. A sudden impact making The Joker spit a mouthful of blood forward causing blood to land on Kara's hoodie with a few spots splattering across her cheek. Blood she wipes away with her right hand before she slams the back of his head down hard into the ground with tremendous force and grinds his face into the cold ground. Releasing her hold on him rising up to her feet furiously turning on her heels slowly making her way back to her black bag kneeling down without any delay reaching inside Kara pulls back her hand revealing a familiar looking object to the both of them.
An object gently she threads through her fingers as she stares down at the rusty ends. The ends belonging to a crowbar. A simple object that could do so much damage in the right hands. Has done so much damage. An object,she has kept in safe keeping for this night. The very same crowbar,this deranged clown had used all those nights. Had used to batter and bloody Jason. The very same crowbar,he had used to break so many bones. Had used to cripple her boyfriend beyond repair. A crowbar,she has been waiting to use for this moment. A moment,she has been thinking about for so long.
" You've caused so many others so much pain."
Without taking her eyes away from the crowbar slowly Kara gets up from the ground and makes her way up to her feet as she brings her free hand up to gently graze the crowbar with the end of her index finger.
" You've destroyed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians."
Turning around the face him with her facial features hardening Kara glares down towards The Joker finding his eyes barely cracked open from the ground below.
" You crippled,the man,I love."
Instantly as her eyes glow bright blue once again lighting up the cell in a blue light taking a step forward Kara hits the palm of her free hand with the crowbar and stares down at the amused looking Joker.
" And for that you've left me with no choice. I must now be your judge,your jury,and your executioner."
Stalking her way over towards him just as she sees him raise up his right arm in an attempt to defend himself rearing back Kara swings the crowbar in a baseball swing motion causing metal to meet bone. Causing a sickening crack to echo through the room as The Joker quickly pulls back his arm and clutches it protectively against his chest screaming in pain. A blow which is quickly followed by another as the end of the crowbar comes back down smashing back into his injured arm making him howl in pain. Blows after blows that keep being rained down upon him from above leaving nothing untouched. Leaving no ounce of skin battered and bruised. Leaving no major bone left unbroken or shattered beyond repair. A sickening sight as nothing but cracks are heard over and over again over another's screams of pain. As more and more the The Joker's blood pours across the ground. As blood splatters across the walls and trickles down to the ground below.
Until the blows suddenly come to a stop as a sweat and blood covered Kara looks at the crowbar in her hand with disgust from seeing the way it has bent from the sheer force she had applied to every blow she inflicted. A crowbar within seconds is tossed into the darkness with a clang and Kara looks down at The Joker's blood covered and barely breathing body with hints of a smile coming across her face. Now,he knew just how Jason must have felt during those nights. Every broken bone,every gasp for breath,every ounce of pain he must have been in. Now all that was left was to put the final touches. The final act before the curtain comes down permanently on reign of The Joker for good.
Kneeling down on one knee keeping her eyes trained on his blood covered face reaching back into her back pocket as she sees The Joker cracking open an eye to see what is going on instantly Kara watches The Joker's eye widen in shock. A weapon,he never thought he would ever see a hero use. Especially like this. Never like this. A switchblade. The smallest of knives so easily concealable. Can be so easily hidden away. A little knife which can do so much damage and he knew just what she was playing on doing with the knife.
" What's with the look doll face?"
Keeping her gaze locked on The Joker's shocked filled eye slowly as she brings the knife closer and closer to his face instantly the moment she forces the end of the blade into his mouth for the first time all night,Kara watches something else other than shock and amusement enter into his eyes. A look,she savors. This look of fear. This terrified look. The very look,each and every single one of his victims must have had when he did this to them. A mere thought making her dig the end of the blade hard in the right side of his mouth causing him to squeal in pain as he stares up at her in horror.
" I know. Let's put a smile on that face!"