Fight For Your Life, Chapter 1
Disclaimer – I didn't, don't, and never will own Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, or anything else!! They all belong to DC! Don't sue, I am just a poor kid that writes fanfics.
A/N – set in the continuity. I know the timeline is messed up, but in this story Dick and Babs are 25. Dick has already gone on his world tour and returned as Nightwing, Jason Todd has already been Robin and died, Tim Drake has been Robin for a few years, but Babs did NOT get shot by the Joker and she is still Batgirl. The events in Knightfall and Prodigal happened, with Batman's back being broken and Jean Paul Valley and Dick taking the mantle of the Bat. Only there was never an Oracle. Understand?? Good, now explain it to me.
A/N 2 - I do not know how far it is from Gotham to Blüdhaven, so if someone knows, please tell me.
*Barbara's POV
Batman was down. I couldn't believe it. He was down. Broken by Bane again. It was my night off as Batgirl, so when I got word it was too late. Arkham and Blackgate were down, and the whole city was in chaos. I was on my own. Tim was in Europe, and Nightwing has his own troubles in Blüdhaven, I think. But I don't need them. I can handle Gotham on my own.
It was only five o'clock. Still had a couple of hours before patrol. I flopped down onto my bed, causing a chain reaction that knocked a picture down on the stand next to my bed. I picked it up and looked at it. Big mistake. The memories started to flood back.
*Flashback *
It was the day for Wayne Tech's annual picnic, but this year, they were having a joint picnic with the GCPD instead. Which meant Barbara had to go. After all, she was the Commissioner's daughter. She was among the first to arrive, and after she gave the food she prepared to people who looked like they were in charge, and went to join the crowd.
She caught her foot on a root, and after removing it, stumbled again. But this time, strong arms caught her before she fell flat on her face. She looked up into the grinning face of her lifelong friend Dick Grayson. Of course he would be there too. Bruce Wayne's adopted son and his protégé.
"Hi," she said weakly. Dick helped her up. He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, and she could see his huge muscles. She stood and straightened up. "Thanks."
"Falling for me, Babs?" He asked playfully. Unbeknownst to him, she already had. Ever since her early high school years, she had had a HUGE crush on Dick Grayson. She was too afraid to tell him though. Instead, she grinned mischievously and said, "No, YOU'RE falling for ME" while sticking her leg behind him and sweeping his legs off the ground. Just then, his Robin instincts and he flipped using his hands, but Barbara tried to escape in the direction that Dick was flipping, and when he landed on her, she shrieked and tried to duck out before she hit the ground. They landed side by side, laughing, when a photographer said "Smile!" and took a picture.
The photographer had sent copies of all the pictures back to GCPD, and the Commissioner had given one copy to Barbara, and one to Dick.
*End Flashback *
Dick, I miss you…
*Dick's POV
I woke up with a start. I just had another dream about Barbara and me. This time it was about the Wayne Tech/GCPD picnic. I glanced at the alarm clock on my nightstand. 8:30 PM. Time for work. I quickly got dressed, brushed his teeth, washed up, and ate a quick meal before heading toward the local diner.
"Dick! Making a habit of being late, eh?" My boss said. Then, noticing my mock hurt expression, he laughed and added, "Don't worry about it, son! Come on, let's go!" I worked a short shift at the diner, from 8:00 to 11:00, which gave me time to patrol late at night, when most criminals come out.
I was a favorite at the diner, and many of the regulars greeted me when I stepped in. I got into talking with a particular attractive lady, and hardly noticed when a special report came on the TV until she pointed it out.
"This just in. Gotham's Arkham Asylum and Blackgate Prison are down and criminals may be roaming around in Gotham and it's surrounding area. The Gotham police are trying their best to recapture the criminals, but please keep a lookout for the Joker, Harley Quinn, and Two-Face. If one of them is spotted, report them to the police immediately. Now, back to local programming."
That was enough for me. I was outta there. I hurried to my apartment to don my Nightwing costume and to Gotham. While rushing to put it on, I knocked a picture down. I picked it up and remembered where it came from. The picnic. I shook myself out of it. You've got work to do, Grayson.
I ran, got my motorcycle, and sped off to Gotham City.
*Barbara's POV
I woke up from my pleasant dream. 9:30 PM. Time for patrol. Sleepily, I poured myself a cup of coffee, spilling a bit on the table, and drank it. I poured another cup. I was in for a long night. I slipped on my Batgirl disguise and headed out.
Before patrolling, I dropped by the Gotham Police Department. I had access to the computers there, and I logged on. I was horrified at what I saw. The Police had done a great job, keeping most of the criminals in track, but the streets were still highly dangerous. Adding to that, the Joker, Harley, Two-Face, and their gangs were all free and roaming Gotham. I was getting more and more absorbed in researching when there was a tap on my shoulder.
Startled, I swiveled around to face the person. It was Commissioner Gordon, also known as my dad. I logged off quickly and stood up abruptly. It was my first time here as Batgirl without Batman, so I was a bit nervous. Dad briefed me on the situation and I headed out.
*Dick's POV
It took an average person driving an average vehicle about an hour to get to Gotham from Blüdhaven. Luckily, I'm not an average person and my vehicle isn't average. Without any distractions, I could get there in half the time. That's on those days with no delay. Unfortunately, today was not one of those days.
I was kicked in the chest and the back at the same time. I didn't like it, so I hit back. I used one of the thugs as a springboard to smack the other one in the face with my shoes, then punched the first one twice in the chest. A third one came at me with a crowbar. When he swung I leapt out of the way and used my momentum to knock a fourth one out of action. I barely had time to react before the crowbar was swung again. I jumped up and roundhouse kicked him. I made sure the four were gift-wrapped for the police, and headed out. Or almost headed out. A loud "AHEM" made me stop and turned around.
There, standing in front of me, were the four thugs, untied. The people who untied him were standing behind them. There were ten of them, total, carrying knives, pipes, crowbars, and one of them toting a submachine gun. He started shooting. As I jumped and flipped away from the gunfire, the other thugs came at me.
Gotham, Babs, you'll have to wait a bit longer…
*Barbara's POV
There were a couple of thugs early on trying to loot an electronics store. I took care of them in less than five minutes. I took care of a few more amateurs before 10:00. Too easy. But I was on the trail of one of the big names. Probably the biggest. The Joker. Harley was probably with him. I could be the hero of Gotham, stopping two of the major criminals in one day. I'd seen one of Joker's men sneaking up an alley. Sure enough, there was the Joker. Harley wasn't there, but oh well.
"So, if it isn't Ratgirl!" The Joker said that huge maniacal grin on his face.
"Joker, still making those lame jokes?"
Joker's grin turned into a mock sad expression, then to a menacing look.
"Aww, now you've hurt me! Get her, boys!"
The Joker's men came at me, and after a few kicks, punches, leaps, and fancy moves, they were down. Then the fight came that I was looking forward to. The Joker and me. Or the Joker and I. I don't really know. My specialty is NOT grammar. Dick was pretty good at it, though…
*Dick's POV
I finally got to Gotham and ran into Two-Face immediately. Funny, from the time that I quit being Robin, either I got better or he got worse. Maybe both. He was as easy as a common street thug was nowadays, at least to me. He rushed straight at me, but I sidestepped and karate chopped him the back.
I tied him up and drove off.
One down, two to go…
I heard the laugh that haunted my dreams. The Joker. He was even more dangerous than before. Just recently he had appeared in Blüdhaven, and it had taken me a long time to beat him, and even then I had just barely done it. He had some new gadgets and gizmos. Better men. This was going to be a tough fight. Just then I heard fighting going on. Babs. She can't take the Joker without my help. I hurried over there.
*Barbara's POV
I was feeling cocky. I had taken down many a bad guy. I ran at the Joker, but he threw a small glass ball down, and gas started pouring down. I suddenly dropped down on my knees. What was this?! Oh, no. Laughing gas. I was laughing my head off, rolling on the floor. Tears were gushing down my eyes. I looked up, laughing and grinning like an idiot. The Joker stood triumphantly over me, holding a syringe. He grabbed me. I was helpless. While laughing, I couldn't even stand up, much less fight back.
He injected the syringe into my arm.
"Don't worry, sweetie, this will only take a minute or three!" Then he laughed that horrible laugh.
I hoped I could hold on for more than that, but it wasn't likely. You see, I was still giggling. That made me tired.
That, and the fact that everything else was starting to black out…
To Be Continued…