Disclaimer: I do not own any DC Characters including Batman, Superman or anyone else. They all belong to their respected authors. As for Haley Brown, He's my original Character.

Foreword from the Author: I don't know what it is but I can't help but want to write to my hearts content with this story. No matter what villain I throw into the mix I can see Haley fighting him in some grand match to the death or otherwise. I still want to personally thank the people who review, you've no idea how much it pushes writers to want to write more. My Hoody is off to you.

Hoody Boy: Elseworld Stories
The Adventures of Haley Brown
Part Five: Coming Clean

Haley sat on the roof with his feet dangling as usual. His glum look and overall demeanor wasn't happy. How could he be, his past followed him, his parents were divorcing as far as he could tell, and he was starting to want to be Hoody Boy again after quitting so long ago.

"God damnit…" Haley cursed aloud as he thought.

He reached into his pocket and removed a pair of Goggles. They were bulky and not very practical but for Haley it held sentimental value. He pulled the goggles around his head and let them rest on his forehead. A September breeze rolled across the roof top giving Haley a small shiver.

"Haley?"

Haley tensed up a second not expecting his name to be called. He quickly pulled the goggles off and stuffed them into his pocket as he turned around. It was Babs with a sandwich and a Cherry Coke.

"Look, I'm sorry for calling you squirt and all that…" She apologized.

"Its okay, I used to get those kinds of insults all the time. I'm accustom to it." Haley said waving it away.

"Mom wanted you to have something to eat, said it might make you feel better." She handed him the sandwich, "So what're you up to anyway?"

"Just sitting idle on edge, kind of like my mind at the moment." Haley answered taking the plate and biting into the sandwich; tuna.

"Sounds kind of lonely." She commented.

"Usually is for me, I like it though. It gives me time to actually clear my head and think without getting interrupted." Haley replied.

"I can understand why that'd be helpful. I'm sorry about your parents; my heart goes out to you." She said sympathetically.

"Save it, I'll get over it." Haley said taking another bite as he finished.

"Haley, quit being the macho teenager and actually show your true feelings." Babs countered.

Haley bit his lip, "My true feelings? You want to know my true feelings?" Babs nodded, "I'm feeling betrayed, like I wasn't even a factor and was tossed aside like some useless rag doll."

"Haley, there's nothing you could've done…" Babs sighed, "If two people can't get along then they leave each other. As blunt and mean sounding as that is, it's the truth."

"Yeah, but why me?" Haley asked, "Why do I suffer when others don't? What makes me so damn special that I must suffer untold pain while others lead a happy carefree life?"

"That is a question that only god will answer…" She answered, "I'll leave you to work it out for yourself."

Haley bit into his sandwich as he thought. That night, Haley lay in bed; his eyes were puffy yet again. He stared at the clock which slowly ticked away towards the next boring minute. Haley whipped his eyes dry another time and pulled out those goggles again. He put his head down on his arm and pressed the goggles against his forehead.

THUMP

Haley looked up from his arm. He pulled his goggles around his head and went out to the roof.

"The Mad Hatter might've gone underground but my sources say he somewhere on the eastside." It was Uncle Jim's voice, but who was he talking to?

"I'm on him Jim, the Joker is giving me more trouble then I thought though." The voice was dark and gruff.

Another thump signaled another arrival, "Did I miss anything?" Light spirited and high.

"No, we were just leaving…" Said Mr. Dark and Gruff.

Haley furrowed his brow; he heard the grinding of rooftop pebbles signaling movement. He rushed to a corner and pressed his back to the wall. Haley's black Hoody played perfect camouflage to the dark wall. He watched Uncle Jim climb down the ladder and make his way to the fire escape.

"Can I ask what you were doing on the roof or was that private business?" Haley said emerging from the shadow like a ghost.

Uncle James spun around pulling his revolver. Haley's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden quickness his old uncle had. He lowered his gun as he made Haley out of the darkness.

"Did you hear anything?" Uncle Jim asked forcefully.

"Yep, who was the gruff voice?" Haley asked.

"No one." Uncle Jim cut him off.

"If it was no one then you wouldn't be defending them." Haley sliced in, "Who was it Uncle James…"

"Haley, for your own safety drop the subject…" Uncle Jim answered.

"I can't and I won't till you tell me who he was." Haley persisted.

"Damnit Haley, quit pushing me. I'm not saying anything." Uncle James retorted.

"Uncle James, if its privacy, I'll tell you I won't tell a soul. I just want to know…" Haley pressed, "Nothing personal."

Uncle James sighed deeply, Haley had a point. The kid didn't have one friend, he never talked to anyone and he wasn't having a good stay as is.

"He's a vigilante…" Uncle Jim said softly, "I've been working with him for years now. He's helped me solve a lot of cases."

"Okay, so what the hell were you doing on the roof? Group meeting?" Haley questioned.

"You've read reports of the Mad Hatter and The Joker on the loose right?" Uncle Jim said looking down, "Well, he is assisting me in finding The Joker who's the top priority. But since the Mad Hatter has gone unchecked we've been sandwiched."

Haley crossed his arms, "He handles the big guns in other words, the bad ones that the police can't hold a breath to." Uncle Jim nodded in compliance, "Well I figure I'll come clean Uncle James, since you did with me."

Uncle James raised a surprised eyebrow, "I too am a vigilante." Haley said looking him in the eyes, "My alias is Hoody Boy. I worked in Evan City cleaning up thugs. I stopped 4 months ago because I knew I had to settle down. But something never sat well with me on that, I was asked to do justice in the world of crime. I broke a death wish of a close adult friend of mine just because I thought I couldn't cut it. I was selfish in that but now that I've looked at this city I keep feeling the tug of that promise to bring down justice to the criminals nagging my soul."

Uncle James's jaw was hanging in disbelief, "You're meaning to tell me you're a vigilante like him…"

"Well I don't know him," Haley said pointing back, "but I want to do something Uncle James. I know I can help you in some way, I've got a gut feeling that I can and I'm willing to prove it."

"No Haley," Uncle James forbid, "I couldn't live knowing you were out there every night risking your neck. Knowing you might run into Him…"

"Well then there's one thing I can do then," Haley said turning his back, "can I get a job as a detective on the G.C.P.D.?"

"What!" Uncle Jim said, "No way! You're not doing anything Haley, he and I can handle it."

"Then what do you expect me to do?" Haley asked, "Sit on my butt knowing somewhere in Gotham someone's suffering because no one will help them?"

"Damnit Haley, You don't understand. I couldn't live with myself knowing if you got hurt or wore killed!" Uncle James shouted.

Haley stood there with his arms crossed, "Do you believe I can't cut it? That somewhere I'll make a mistake and end up dead in an alley."

"Yes! Exactly." Uncle Jim exclaimed with relief knowing that Haley saw his point.

"Uncle James, I'm begging you. I need an outlet for all this stuff that's happened to me. I've almost lost my parents, I suffered betrayal from my closest friends, I lived through a stabbing that almost nicked my heart, I fought against unheard of hordes of Gangs, taken down a Mafia syndicate and lived long enough to be standing here facing you. Just let me try…"

James Gordon had seen and heard many things from a great many people, most of those things were lies, very little of them were sincere. From the look in Haley's eyes and the sound of his wanting to help in his voice, James Gordon couldn't help it.

He paused for what seemed like a decade, "Alright Haley… you can help. But only on one condition."

"Anything!" Haley said happily.

"Don't go looking for trouble, don't ask for it, and avoid him with all the ability you have. If you find The Mad Hatter, you've got permission to bring him in, I don't want anything more then a beating on him, are we clear?"

"Crystal." Haley answered with a smile.

"I'll pull the file on him tomorrow for you to study. Don't disappoint me Nephew." He said as he walked past.

Haley detected a slight hint of relief and happiness, but it was only slight…

Author Space: Well this ends Haley's homecoming to Hoody Boy. Now that all the horrible stuff is over, Haley can finally get down to the thing he's good at, kicking tail and saving people. With his mind focused can Haley shake off his 4 month hiatus and bring down the Mad Hatter? Time will tell.

Stay tuned to the next Story Arc: Hats and Hoodies…