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.

Hoody Boy: Elseworld Stories
The Adventures of Haley Brown
Arc Two, Part One: A Calm before the Storm

Haley sat on the roof, a radio hummed softly next to him. The stars twinkled above in the night sky and the lights turned on and off in Gotham city.

"Zzz, THis is your Gotham News at Nine. A Storm Front is moving towards the east coast from Canada. Our Meteorologists expect the front to hit Gotham City by tomorrow and hang for the next few days or so. It looks to be a soggy one here folks. Zzz In other news..."

Haley tuned it out, he only listened for the weather, he already knew the broadcast. The Joker was still on the loose after being out before he even came to Gotham Eleven Months ago. He sighed, the city looked bleak at the moment, devoid of all happiness and hope. It probably would've been happy to fall into the Harbor and just disappear if it could.

The crunch of gravel came from behind and he turned his head, "Hey Haley."

"Hi Alice." Haley said turning around.

She could feel Haley was in one of those brooding moods which meant he was either thinking about Amy, James or the both of them. Just shortly after James left, Amy decided to quit as well and James and her moved out to Boston to start up a business or something. As far as anyone knew they were making a living.

Haley held James' cross in his hand, it was a lone piece of comfort in this place. Alice put her hands on his shoulders and rubbed them.

"You want to talk?" Alice asked sitting next to him.

Haley gave off another sigh, "I'll take it as a yes. So what's eating you?"

"Some Uncle Jim said" Haley replied.

"What'd he say?" Alice queried.

Haley smiled, "He told me to be prepared for anything. I think he's starting to think I'm losing my edge or something."

Alice smiled, "No Haley, you took that wrong. He's worried about you. Just like I am."

"Why should you worry about me? I'm not going anywhere." Haley answered.

"Because..." Alice smiled shyly.

"Because... what?' Haley asked rolling his wrist around.

"Oh you always have to put the pressure on don't you!" Alice said lunging on him and pushing him to his back.

"Pressure what!" Haley said laughing

"That I love you! There I said it!" Alice answered.

Haley laughed and hugged her, "I already knew that Blondie."

"I told you not to call me Blondie..." Alice answered.

"Yeah and I'll keep calling you that anyway, what're you going to do to stop me." Haley taunted.

"Mr. Brown, I think its very possible to stop Hoody Boy." Alice said straddling him and keeping him pinned to the roof.

"Oh and how's that?" Haley asked smiling deviously.

Alice leaned over and kissed him. Haley rolled her over on her back and pulled back. She smiled back at him.

Haley woke up to the birds chirping outside. He looked out the window at the golden glow flowing onto the floor. An arm wrapped around his neck and pulled him back down. Alice looked over at him, her smile drifted lazily on her face.

"Mornin'." Alice said looking at him.

Haley rubbed his face, "What the hell happened?"

"I'll leave it for you to remember." Alice said rubbing his chest.

Haley groaned a moment, rolled over and hugged her.

Uncle Jim sat down at the table and unfolded the morning paper. He should've been at work but the whole week had sucked him dry and he figured the city could take care of itself for at least 45 minutes to an hour. He read the front pages and the headlines. He took a sip of coffee and stopped. The cup dropped and smashed against the floor splattering and shattering in hot liquid ans ceramics.

Uncle Jim jumped up from his chair and raced up the stairs. Panic and sweat were chasing after him. He opened the door and stopped again. Haley and Alice rose up from the bed, Alice covering her chest.

"Oh shit." Haley muttered.

"I'm not here for that! Haley we've a very big problem!" Uncle Jim shouted.

"Shirt..." Haley whispered to Alice.

Alice handed him his Hoody. Haley pulled it over his head and looked at him.

"What's wrong?"

After they got dressed Haley and Alice made their way down stairs. Uncle Jim clutched the newspaper like a death note. Uncle Jim handed Haley the paper and stopped a moment before letting it go. Haley opened it up and he lost his breath. Alice grabbed the wall and slid to the floor.

"Haley Brown, Murderer."

The title said it all, it ripped apart everything inside Haley and the hell at the pit of his stomach caught fire. Haley looked up at Uncle Jim.

"Did you know?" Haley asked.

The picture on the front headlines was him pulling the trigger and killing what looked like a Woman. He was smiling like he'd enjoyed it or something.

"Haley," Uncle Jim began, he didn't know what to think, "Did you?"

"NO! I never did, I never went out to kill and I will never kill a woman." Haley defended.

"I know, he was with me all night, he never left." Alice answered.

"Commissioner Gordon!" Boomed a voice from a loudspeaker, "You're harboring a Murder. Send him out the front door so we may put him into custody!"

Haley and Alice looked at the window, "You have to go." He said looking at Alice.

She slapped him in the face, "I'm not leaving you. We go together, no matter how bad it is."

"Alright, you two, get out of here, I'll stall them. Haley, I know you would never, I just had to ask." Uncle Jim said with a tear.

"Its okay Uncle Jim. I understand." Haley said patting him on the shoulder.

They both split out the back door and ran down the Alley. The clouds had begun to move in and the sun was blocked by the thick gray overcast. The two held hands as they darted down the alleys and the puddles till they were far enough away that they thought they were safe.

Uncle Jim sat in the chair, the paper on the floor. He rubbed his face and shook his head. He knew who'd done this, he knew the person responsible. He said he'd go as far as he had to and he did. He'd even told him that he should get Haley out of town, but it didn't matter now, he was a criminal, splattered on the front page. This was out of his hands now.

The door burst open and three police stomped into the kitchen, "Commissioner Gordon, what way did he go?" Uncle Jim looked up at them and they knew right then and there, that was when they understood, that getting any information on Haley Brown would not come from him.

Haley put his back to the wall and caught his breath, Alice did the same.

"You think I did it?" Haley asked.

"Of course not." Alice replied.

"Well forgive me if I say I'm having a few self doubts." Haley said through his breaths.

Alice looked over at him, "Never say that Haley, never. You're innocent, you know it and that is the one person you should always believe in."

Haley looked up at the clouds, "Then what about you?"

"You can trust me or not but I trust you and I love you, and come thick or thin I refuse to just let you sink into the darkness." Alice smiled.

Haley pulled her into a hug, "Then we've got to bury them, we've got to find a place to hide and read the reports and the pictures and get the information."

"Let's focus on one thing at a time." Alice said, "I know a place we can go."

Batman sat in the cave, his head in his hand staring at the article. It was the same, it was a brand new one. The title read, "Gotham's Hero Falls.". He finished up putting it together and saved it.

"I see that crazy kid finally got what he deserved." Robin answered from behind.

"Yes he did. I told you it was only a matter of time, " Batman said lying, "he finally snapped and now he goes to Jail."

"So are we going to go after him. I know the police aren't big fans but his Uncle is the Commissioner." Robin reminded.

"Yes, we'll go after him." Batman answered, "I hardly think he'll shoot a police man but when someone like him is backed into the corner, they tend to become far more dangerous."

"I just want to ask him a question." Robin said cracking his knuckles.

"And what's that?"

"Is that Hoody of his bullet proof?"