Who are you in the dark?

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Chapter 1: One bad day

Today was a day like any other. Murky clouds covered the sky and thin rays of sun peeked through onto the city below. It was a large, towering metropolis, the ports booming with industry, being a clear primary industry of the region. It had luscious parks, Pristine skyscrapers, a luxurious inner city, unregulated toxic industry, and miles of crime-infested streets coupled with some of the worst criminals and villains in American history.

This place was home to about 3 million people and more were coming here every day. But Gotham City wasn't exactly a place most people wanted to call home...at least not most people. It was a place where two groups of people thrived the most and attracted just those sorts of men and women the most. Criminals and the more immoral upper class.

These people found their luck in this city. The conditions were ideal here. Corrupt politicians and police, rampant organized and unorganized crime as well as access to tools and weapons for any job. It was America's Capital of crime.

It was not a hopeless place though. It was home to a Hero and his followers that risked their lives every night to protect the common people of Gotham. It was the Batman. And while he could not be in every place at once or solve all crimes, his presence mattered.

He struck fear into the criminal elements of Gotham and brought hope to the good. He proved the power and influence of an individual person and what they could accomplish. One could say he was inspiring. Ironic that Gotham, with all its issues, was a source to some of America's greatest doctors, researchers and engineers. The cost of education was still steep, but it was considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the nation.

Waynetech was one of the reasons for this as the company dedicated itself to many altruistic causes in the city, they were an international Tech giant after all, so they could certainly afford it. Sure they couldn't solve problems that were something that affected the entire nation, it didn't mean they didn't try.

So the city was not completely hopeless. It held opportunities for greatness, be they moral or not. And within this city lived someone who was set firmly on the path of good, but would soon be confronted with an unfortunate truth of this reality. That nothing was permanent and that one bad day...could change everything.

Our story begins in the Gotham cemetery located in Bristol County.

The cemetery is located in one of the northern bounds of the city which mainly held Mansions and grasslands. It held plots meant for, ironically, all members of society and was well preserved. Some considered it ironic that all denizens of Gotham, from the richest to the poorest would end up here. While it was well preserved, the dregs of crime didn't leave it in peace. It was commonplace for Mob deals and some vandalism occurred on occasion as well.

It was late afternoon, so the place didn't have many visitors, especially as it was a weekday.

On the stone walkways, a young woman could be seen walking with a bouquet of flowers in hand. She was a rather athletic girl with a modest figure and golden blonde hair. She was dressed in casual clothing and wore a pair of glasses. Her eyesight hadn't been that good for quite some time and had even been getting worse recently. It was something that actively worried her, but she wasn't sure if she could spare the money she would have to pay an Optometrist for a check-up.

For now all that mattered was getting by...and visiting two graves in this place.

Alexandria Ainsworth

I place the flowers before the two gravestones, a tight feeling welling up in my chest. Coming here was always painful. Mom and Dad were gone and... I was honestly having to force myself to come here each year.

After looking at the inscriptions on the gravestone, I pull out my phone to see the date. I let out a huff of exhaustion as I realize that it has been almost 4 years since they….fucking hell…

I still couldn't believe it. We were in one of the most crime-filled cities in the world and they died...died to them driving home drunk and taking a turn too early.

It was disgustingly ironic...But I'd rather not ponder that.

Sitting down on the grass, I begin talking in a low voice, "...Been a while hasn't it?... I didn't really find myself with time to visit that much...Classes are always there and I've been taking on more shifts at the…." My words cut off. I know they couldn't hear me from the dead, but it kind of defeated the purpose of coming here if I didn't take it seriously...And I strongly doubt they want to hear that...the heir to the "great" Ainsworth house is working as a waitress...the fact that it was a fancy restaurant where some of the guests recognized me on occasion really didn't help.

Before I get lost in those thoughts, I get back to what I came here for, "But yeah...I'm working a bit more at my job and I've been getting by...somewhat. I know it will take a while, but once I'm done with college I could maybe get a job at Waynetech or even Lexcorp...Money shouldn't be that big of a problem then….Hey, I might even be able to pay off the mortgage on the old house!" I add with a chuckle. Things may not be that great for a while, but my future was bright. I just needed to keep going and it would work out.

After getting off from the grass, I give the graves one last look and quickly say, "It was good seeing you again...don't worry about me ok? I'm gonna be ok...And mom? Don't worry about the other things you taught me...I may have been slacking off a bit in recent years, but I'm still using my free time here and there to keep up….I'm going to make you proud...and...yeah.

I love you both."

My eyes were watering, so I began making my way out of the cemetery. I need to walk a decent stretch until I reach my car. It wasn't anything like the old family Royce or any of the other cars we owned...but it got the job done and that was all that mattered.

I start the car and change into first gear as I give my phone one last look. I still had time. I wouldn't have to rush getting to Gordon's. The cemetery was in Bristol County and Barbara lived in an apartment located in the East End. It was right next to Gotham Proper where she could get to Gotham University without much issue. I on the other hand lived in Crest Hill...which was very much above my paygrade now. It was where the upper class lived after all…

The drive to Barbara's apartment takes about half an hour, but it still allowed me to arrive 10 minutes early. My family prided themselves on punctuality and these things were thoroughly ingrained in me.

I park my car in a lone spot I saw across the building and make my way to the entrance. I buzz Barbara's apartment before being let in. Her apartment is up on the 4th floor and it does take a bit for me to reach it. Making my way up the stairs, I focus on the sounds of the apartment block. I hear the soft breaths of all people in the building

It was a skill my mom noticed early on and was smart enough to nurture it. My sense of magical energy and mana had fused with my sense of hearing. It allowed me to "hear" magecraft while also boosting my normal hearing skills by a large margin. It was certainly disorienting at first, but with time, I could use it for quite a few interesting things. The sensory overload was unbearable but it was something I just had to take when it came around.

I slow my ascent as I focus on Barbara's apartment. I can somewhat distinguish the breathing of so many people in one place but rather focus on other things one wouldn't think of.

While I can sort of recognize the soft breathing of Barbara's fit body, I also hear more: The soft twitch of glasses rubbing against hair and skin, the sound of her hair grazing her back….and the metallic grinding of the wire scratching within her bra. It was a strange thing for me to be able to do.

It certainly helped in picking out people in crowds or finding anyone you've met before….

In this case, I was able to sense that there is another person in her apartment as well. I could hear the breathing of a smoker's lung, glasses twitching against older skin and hair and the sound of a complex metallic object hanging within leather and cloth. If I was right, then that meant the commissioner was home as well.

Ringing the door prompts it to be opened shortly after.

"Alex! You're early." The face of Barbara Gordon says as I'm ushered into the apartment.

"Not as if you expected anything else Babs" The old gruff voice of Commissioner Jim Gordon rings out towards us. He was sitting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in front of him as he was reading a newspaper.

I smiled a bit due to the fact that my prediction was right and also because I hadn't seen the man in quite some time. I raised my hand in a wave, "Good afternoon Gordon. Been a while since we met!"

Barbara and I walk towards him as he greets me with a smile, "Yeah. Not since the two of you graduated High School. I'm a bit ashamed to admit it, but I've been incredibly busy since."

I shrug as I give an understanding smile, "Well that's to be expected. Especially with what kind of city this is….But I take it that things are going better again?"

He answeres with a groan as he took a drink of the coffee in front of him, "Quite the opposite sadly…" he quickly grows silent. His face looks as if it had aged a few years in that single moment.

I look over to Barbara whose own expression wasn't that much better herself. "Barbara?" my questioning tone snaps her out of it.

"Uh….Joker...He escaped again...or we don't know actually." she answers.

I tilt my head in confusion, I knew this was bad, even if it has happened so often already, it isn't something to gloss over.

My thoughts are soon interrupted as I hear the newspaper being set down on the counter. "We found a body double in his cell after investigating a room filled with bodies. He had killed them 3 years ago apparently…" Gordon clears things up for me.

"So...he's been at large and you don't know what he's done so far?" I ask.

Barbara nods in return and I utter a small "Fuck" under my voice.

"Language" The voice of Gordon cuts in response.

I look at him with a guilty expression as he takes another sip and returns to reading the newspaper, "You know… I really hate this. Whenever we jail him, I pray, 'Please, God, just keep him there.' and then when he escapes, it's 'Please don't let him do something too awful this time.'...I hate it."

Barbara prepares some drinks for us and softly asks, "Dad, just once, could you leave your work at the office and relax?"

Gordon rubs his eyes and only groans, "Alex did ask about it..."

I nod in return, "Yeah….But..I know Joker is really terrible and...Well, I'm not the best at expressing this, but everyone here knows that Batman will take him down soon enough. While people joke about Joker escaping always being certain, no one can question that Batman will get him."

My comment does cause a chuckle in him, "Well, you are right about that at least. I also think it funny how the little Fangirl I knew still peeks through here and there."

The comment of my past…"Phase" does leave me a bit flustered before I quickly defend myself," L-Look. Childhood heroes aside, it doesn't change the facts. Batman has been a net positive on this city. And some people say Batman doesn't help crime but is rather forcing it to adapt, I frankly don't see that as a truth. You yourself have said that while he isn't active during the day he still sends anonymous tips and helps the law. He works with you guys so convictions stick and he accomplishes those things! The countless mob bosses and Villains locked away are proof of that…..And I'm not a fangirl dammit…" I mutter that last bit causing both of them to chuckle…

"Well, I can't deny that he has done well for this city. Petty criminals don't show their faces cause they simply don't think a simple purse or wallet is worth meeting "The Bat". The only ones with the guts to try something are the gangs with some firepower and that is mainly due to arrogance. Unorganised crime is down and Organised may have somewhat increased but those are easier to solve. Can't say that all is fine and well, I'm not that much of an optimist, but I like to think that things aren't too bad. The biggest issue with Batman was that he could only be in one place at one time….And I think he has solved that issue. Robin, Nightwing and now that Batgirl? The man is getting himself quite a merry band of helpers."

I nodded in response to what he was saying, but also thought it curious that Barbara's Heartbeat had suddenly spiked like that during the conversation. I knew for a fact that she was a huge Batman fan as well and was even making an effort into investigating him. That all died down a while ago though...Heck, maybe she knew something about that.

Speaking of which, she hands me a warm cup of...cocoa? Nice. "Sorry if I'm being annoying, but I would really prefer if we talked about something more normal for a change?"

Gordon himself looked a bit guilty as we had started the subject once again," Sorry Barb, won't happen again" I myself nod to her to indicate the same.

I blow on the beverage to cool it down as we are all alerted by a knock on the door. Barbara sets down her own cup," That must be Colleen. Just like you, she is apparently early"

I smile as I was tasting the warm beverage and focus on the doorway as Barbara approaches it.

And god, I wish I hadn't. Whoever was behind that Door, Wasnt Colleen. There were multiple men, wearing strange clothes and most importantly, They were armed.

I drop the mug as I begin to sprint towards her, "Barbara, don't open that Door!"

She turns around in confusion and as the mug shatters on the floor, voices can be heard from the door before it is promptly smashed open. I am just in time to tackle Barbara to the side as bullet tears through the air...and right into my shoulder.

"Aarghh!" I yell out in pain as I grab hold of my shoulder, I see the person who shot me. His face was white as snow, the stretched out lips red as blood and the hair a sickly green.

"Why the hell would someone ruin my fun like that. She was supposed to open the door and I would then press this little toy against her waist to make her spine go BOOM. who the hell do you thi-"

He jumps back towards the doorway as a gunshot came from behind. It was behind the couch, so I couldn't see who it was, but I imagined it to be Gordon doing it. "Well Gordon, my fun has already been ruined so I might as well...Improvise!" Devilish laughter echoes out from before the door frame as several smoke grenades are thrown in and a hail of bullets begin pouring into the apartment.

The grenades scared the shit out of me at first but my panic was somewhat hampered when smoke started spewing from them.

Barbara had run towards her father who was taking cover from the bullets. Before I could even call out for help, I saw an armed goon walk in front of me and bash me in the skull with the butt of his gun. The crushing pain knocked me out immediately.

Barbara Gordon (Batgirl)

Barbara acted fast as soon as she was pushed to the side. She couldn't grab Alex as she was out in the open. It was something she now dearly regretted. She didn't have any tools with her or her armour so she couldn't risk being shot by Joker. But once her dad shot back and Joker's goons started to shoot up the place. Reaching Alex was impossible now….

She pulled her dad to her bedroom and opened the window allowing them to leave by the fire escape. She felt so incredibly stupid. She didn't keep her suit in her apartment and didn't have time to take the batcommunicator she hid in it. She needed to use her dad's means of contacting Bruce and that could take too long.

Whatever happened, she only hoped that one of her closest friends would make it out of that madman's clutches alive. Her Dad had forgotten his phone as well. They needed to find a means to contact Batman as soon as possible.

Alexandria Ainsworth.

When I finally came too, I wished that I was unconscious again. The splitting headache was almost enough for me to blackout again. My eyes slowly open and I see an array of bright colours. My glasses are gone so I can barely make out my surroundings bit I can pick out a few things.

These kinds of colours and lights combined with a few shapes allow me to recognize that I was in a funhouse….I'm guessing I'm the old abandoned park in Amusement Mile. Joker was usually on point thematically so he often chose this place for his games….

And this time, I was here.

The realisation does cause a bit of panic in me. I try to move but quickly figure out that my arms and legs are bound in a heavy chair….I could also feel something heavy on my head...I thought it was a helmet at first, but it was also strapped to my head somehow.

My panic doesn't subside and I begin struggling in order to get out of this. My movement triggers some kind of little alarm and I hear a beeping begin next to me. It doesn't take me long to realise based on the sound and what little I can see of the display to realise that it was a heart rate monitor...

And I could sense that the heart rate being displayed was my own.

Suddenly, two double doors slam open as a lanky figure approaches," Well well. If it isn't our main party pooper of the day."

I didn't have to be a genius to know that it was Joker who was approaching me.

My breathing was barely under control and the cold air from the door was giving me a chill...wait…

I could feel the wind over my skin...I look down and see that I was only in my underwear.

"Ah yes. Sorry about that my dear, but we couldn't risk any "Foreign materials" interfering with the procedure." He ends with a sinister laugh.

My eyes widen in fear as I hear the sudden rumbling of a generator being turned on in the background. He walked back towards me with something heavy dragging behind me. Something is attached to the back of the chair and I realise that those were cables…

"W-W-What a-are you going to d-do to me?" I ask as tears begin to swell in my eyes.

He only chuckles in response as he comes forward and cups my face," I'm so glad you asked!"

He jumps back a bit with a cane in hand as he begins to pace around," You see, I had such a wonderful plan made just for my buddy Jimbo and his little girl! But then you were there to ruin the fun and both of them got away! Now I have all these toys and even a fun little ride prepared and I can't even use them!"

He turns back to me, smiling an inhuman grin. I could hear the skin stretching over his teeth and it was the most terrifying thing I had ever heard.

"But at least I have you, Miss Ainsworth. Sure you are no Gordon, but I'm sure Bats will be here soon enough to bring you down. Can't say I prepared something special for your "Bad day"..HihiHIhIhI."

He cackles once more as he pulls a large lever-like switch in front of me," So I had to improvise and I think I have something special just for you. It's an old classic and I'm certain you will have as much fun with it as I have in the past."

Lights suddenly shine into my face as I hear more people pour into the room. They were all wearing similar colours so I imagined they were his minions. I could sense their eyes on me and felt incredibly embarrassed and sick at the fact that I was undressed. I consider using my magic to escape...but I wasn't even sure if I could do that. I never thought of any practical applications for most spells that I knew and I hate to admit that I really hadn't been keeping up my lessons in that regard...and lastly...Mom always said that I could under no circumstances use my magic in a public setting...If joker saw me use this, then I doubt it would remain a secret...

"Well then "Little Alex", going through your purse and phone certainly has painted a lovely little picture of you hasn't it? A kind soul trying to find her place in Gotham, trying to get by in the hopes of her life one day improving...So how's that been going for you?" Joker says with a sarcastic tone as his entourage begins to laugh at me.

"Tell me something, dear - have you ever had a really bad day?"

Anger dwells in my stomach at all this bullshit he was putting me through and just as I was about to snap, he quickly stated," Nah-ah-ah! Behave yourself little Alex, or I will have to floss your brain with the good old electric chair!."

He cackles like a maniac once more before I eventually ask in a more...calm tone," And...what do you mean with a bad day?"

He starts walking around me as he continues to let out small giggles here and there," You know...there's nothing so CRUEL as MEMORY. The pointy, bitey little THUNDERBOLTS in your head. Unwanted party crashers, SCREAMERS through your synapses. Inescapable, unrelenting... not at all friendly.

You can't even escape into MADNESS! And then you meet someone who changes your life - And you feel that you don't even know who you are anymore. Isn't it funny how one little encounter can CLEAVE off little pieces of your past, DEFORM your memories and persona until you rethink your whole identity - and as you realize how foolish it all is - your LAUGHTER reverberates off the walls of your own emptiness." he stops to look at me with an expecting smile.

I myself had absolutely no idea what to say in return to that...I wasn't even sure if it was a mad rant or a deranged monologue…

"I...what are you getting at Joker...What do you want with me!" I cry out the last bit as tears flow from my eyes.

"Oh no no no no! Can't break down before the big finale Alex! Pull yourself together now or I will have to do something...drastic" He said while playing with the lever.

It got me to shut up really quickly.

"You know...you are probably wondering why fate would have something like this in store for you? Well, I was once thinking something similar!

I used to think of Fate as EVIL - predetermined - not by some higher power, but by the rules of human NATURE. But then…., that all changed. For me….and it can for you as well!"

I stare at him with fearful eyes as he apparently expects me to answer him.

"Well? Aren't you going to ask what happened?" he says with a crazy yet joyful expression as if he was a child telling his friend a great story.

"W-What changed?" I slowly ask, barely able to contain my sobbing.

He continues pacing around the room."Have you ever had the feeling that your entire life has been building towards this one moment?"

"I-I...I don't know…" I slowly utter under my breath.

"Well of course you don't. Not until the very moment comes of course! Because little Alex! all the BATTLES, the BAD DAYS, the BRUTALITIES we experienced - it was all the hand of Fate at work. It took me a while to figure out, but I eventually realized it. There are no chance encounters. It was meant to be. Everything leading up to the day I met who would shape me into the man that I am today!"

The knowledge circles around my head as I chose my next words," S-So y-you met someone then? Someone that….changed you?"

He smiles at me once more and got disturbingly close to my face this time. "Yes. And you might say it's changed EVERYTHING."

"W-What is that supposed to mean?"

Well, it means exactly what I said!. I mean, do you realize what a vile world we live in? How lonely it is to wade through all the wretch and filth on your own?

I certainly couldn't refute that...My life on my own has barely been going well...and…"Yeah...being on your own is...it's not the best."

"Of course. Of course! You understand! Even in a crowd of other screwballs, you're so alone that you can kick, claw, yell, scream at the top of your lungs - and no one cares. It's like you don't even exist. Sometimes I felt like I'm trapped on this path leading nowhere - into just emptiness. But now… Now that aimlessness is all I want Chaos every day, never knowing what comes next! It is something...exhilarating." he states in his crazy way.

Giving a slow nod in response, I then pondering something he had said. I swallow my nervousness and ask," S-S-So... may I ask - who was this person?"

His smile widens once more, "Someone very, very special, but whose real name I still don't know or ever want to! That would ruin our little game after all! Our little dance of chaos against order. He sends me to Arkham, I break out again...It's all so delicious."

It then finally clicks in my mind. With widened eyes I finally whisper," Batman?...He...He created you?" It didn't make sense….Batman was a Hero...How the hell could he have been responsible for it

"How...How is that possible?" I ask?

"Sorry dear, that would be boring and honestly not important. What is important is you, my dear! Time to see, far we can take your Bad Day!" With that, he flips the lever.

Pain shoots through my body and I cannot help but scream.

The electricity races through my body and the heart monitor is going off like crazy. I can hear the sizzling of my flesh and how my own vocal cords grow raw from my screams.

After what felt like minutes but was only a few seconds, the lever is flipped once more. The pain stops and I thought that perhaps I was being released or some more rest, it is flipped again.

Pain and pause. It goes on and on until I taste blood in my mouth. The heart monitor started glowing red and shortly after that, I blacked out again….

It was peaceful for a while...endless nothingness...but it was also terrifying. Unlike before, this felt...more real. Red colours shone through the ground and golden rays peered from the sky. Before I could even properly observe what was going on, I suddenly found myself in the chair once more, screaming in pain.

The lever is flipped again and actually stays down for a bit longer, " Oh my! I thought we lost you there Alex!" Joker takes a peek at a severed hand with a watch attached to it, he laughs out," Your heart stopped for almost 16 seconds! You might as well have been dead Darling!"

That drives the shock home for me...I nearly escaped death...and my chances weren't any greater. My flesh was burnt, my mouth was bloody and I had...relieved myself in the chair I was in…

No one was going to save me from this...You always hear about the people Batman saves when it comes to joker incidents while the casualties are listed with simple numbers. When it came to Joker, There were always casualties. And if things continued like this...then I would become just like them. I wasn't even sure if batman was coming and even if he was….He could very well be too late.

The only person that could save me now...was me. For the first time in a long while...My magic circuits flare to life. The pain of suddenly activating them was nothing compared to what I had just gone through. I didn't know what spells could help me at first, but under duress, I came up with a dumb but simple solution.

Reinforcement magic.

Not on myself but my restraints. I remembered a core issue with reinforcement. That if you overdid it with an item then it would essentially be destroyed. As the next barrage of electroshocks finally passes, I channel my energy into the restraints on my arms. They tear at the seams before ripping and burning apart as I free my arms.

Joker is rather stumped at the sudden development and doesn't think of flipping the switch again. I channel the energy into my arms and reinforce them to the best of my ability.

My arms burned due to my inexperienced usage of the spell, but I didn't care. I rip the bindings from my legs and jump up from the chair. Joker finally pulled the lever again, but it was no longer of use. So as the chair sparked behind me, I breath in relief.

Everything hurts, from my feet to my scalp, but it didn't matter. I WAS ALIVE.

I reinforce the rest of my burning body as I stumble forward. With a guttural scream, I begin to run forward towards my foes," You guys, ARE FUCKING DEAD!"

With Batman and Batgirl.

In a dimly lit alley, the sounds of a brawl were apparent. Two men, armed with a crowbar and knife were fighting the caped duo. While Batman quickly restrained his target, Batgirl was pummeling into hers without mercy. "Where is he!" she roared as one could hear the bones in his arm break from the impact.

He cradles his arm, as he begins to sob," I swear to god you crazy-... He hasn't been around ok!"

"Swear to me!" Batgirl said as she gripped his face. Her partner was watching with narrowed eyes, but wouldn't say anything for now.

"You! I swear to you!" The goon stammers out, " When he escapes, it ain't long till he comes around, recruiting, you know?... But not this time, Nobody's seen him!"

"Goddamit!" She screamed as she slammed his face against the ground, knocking him out.

"Batgirl, calm down!" Bruce ordered in a stern tone that snaps her from her out of her current mood.

She looks back to him," Calm down? How the hell should I calm down when my best friend was just kidnapped by THE JOKER!"

Batman's hand found itself on her shoulder," I know you are angry...but breaking some thug's bones more than necessary won't help anyone. We need to proceed as fast as possible, understood?"

She nods as she wipes away the tears forming in her eyes. As they make their way out of the alley, she asks," Bruce… what if this turns out as it did with Jason?"

He freezes in his tracks and looks back at her, "I promise you Barbara. It won't get that far."

Silence reigns after that and they begin their search through the city once more. They hit up various meeting points and gang hideouts of known members of old Joker gangs. No matter who they beat up and interrogate, it doesn't help them in the end.

Hours pass before the Bat-signal lights up for the first time this night. The duo rendezvous with Gordon who was standing on the GCPD rooftop along with detective Mullock.

He holds Batman an envelope, marked with the bat insignia. After checking it for any toxic contents, Bruce opens it to see an entry card to the Fair in amusement mile. A signed joker card was within it as well.

Barbara grows angry at her father, " You had this and decided to wait for us to open it! You should have called us and we could have headed there immediately rather than coming back for this Bullshi-"

"Batgirl!" Batman yells. "We don't have time to waste here." He says as his grapple gun fires towards a distant building. She is quick to follow and was rather thankful that that argument wasn't continued.

They hooked onto the batplane on the way which drastically shortened the travel time. When they reached the fairgrounds, they saw something very different to what they expected.

Many of what they recognised to be Joker's goons, were brutalised to a gruesome degree. Some had their bones visibly broken, others were missing flesh and teeth and all of them had nearly black bruises. They didn't seem to be dead, but most of them were in critical condition. Bloody footprints lead away from the scene towards the other fair buildings.

"Do you think someone beat us here?" Batgirl asks as she inspects the bodies.

"I can't be certain. This doesn't look like the work of a copycat...this is-" His words are cut off as they hear the cackling of a madman and the screaming of a young woman. The two break into a sprint as gunshot's ring out as well.

Alexandria Ainsworth

"Get back here you fucking clown!" I screamed as another of his circus freaks got into my way. It was one of the three midgets that I had seen when I first woke up. They had initially run away when I started beating the shit out of the others but now he thought he had a chance against me because he had a crowbar.

Big Mistake

Before he could even swing the weapon, my fist crashes into his mouth, causing teeth and blood to fly out. He is knocked to the side and I quickly grab the crowbar from his limp body as I continue chasing the clown.

You aren't getting away

As my eyes focus on the clown, I hear the telltale click of a gun's hammer being cocked and quickly jump to the side. The bullet chips my shoulder but doesn't hamper me too much.

I won't stop

I hide behind a few crates as I see the Joker loading the next round in his revolver," I've got to say little Alex! I wasn't expecting such a wild animal to emerge from you! To think that a little shock therap- Hey, that could have poked an eye out!" He yells in response to me throwing the crowbar at his head and missing as well.

You got lucky

He fired at me once more, but he didn't even graze me this time. I was behind cover and now found my opportunity to kick his ass.

I may have been running on pure adrenalin and aggression, but my mind wasn't gone. So I paid attention to him and especially his gun. And that is why I know that the bullet in the chamber right now didn't have any gun powder and had an internal mechanism of its own.

Fool

I doubt it was some special high-tech bullet but rather some sick joke he had prepared. And now that little joke, just like this entire bullshit evening was now coming to bite him. Just as expected, he shoots at me as soon as I began my direct sprint towards him. A small flag with "Bang" written on the side of it pops out of the gun rather than another bullet.

"Well... that's unfortunate" Joker mutters as I finally reach him.

I have you now

I punch his arm and hear a satisfying crunch as the gun flies from his hand. He tries to pull out a knife from his jacket, but a quick headbutt to the base of his nose stops him. His nose began to bleed right after that.

My own pain was finally catching up to me and I nearly blackout from feeling it all at once. I stumble backwards but still keep my focus on the pale bastard. I finally right my stance but also feel something touch my foot. Looking down, I see the very revolver with which Joker had just tried to shoot me himself. If I recall, it still had about 2 normal bullets in the drum.

I will finish this

"Well well WELL well well! How the tables have turned!" Joker begins to cackle as I pick up the gun and remove the trick bullet and flag from the barrel.

No more jokes

I pull the hammer back and sense how the bullet is loaded into the chamber. Stepping closer to Joker but not close enough for him to swat the gun out of my hand, I raise the weapon and aim for his grotesque face.

I steady my grip with my other hand and force myself to stay upright. I want to collapse to the floor but I know that I can't do that. I look at the clown and...I pause for a second. He wasn't smiling, but rather staring like a deer in headlights. It was as if what was happening in this very moment never even crossed his mind as a possibility. He reacted like this because he knew I was serious. I was going to pull the trigger.

Blow his rotten brains out.

"I have to say, it's a wonder why no one has tried to properly kill you before... but I do guess there has to be a first time for everything...I don't know what kind of person you were before you became...this, but I frankly do not care...You are a disgrace to yourself and all those you've killed."

Just as I want to pull the trigger and end this bastard's life, I could hear something flying through the air. I couldn't place the noise, but I didn't have to. A sharp piece of metal formed in the shape of a bat had sliced into the revolver's barrel. Shooting it now would only injure me rather than him.

Shooting the gun was the least of my concerns right now. When the clown saw what had happened to the gun, he started laughing again. He was back to his usual self once more. "Hoo boy, I really thought I was a goner for a moment. Boy am I glad I can always count on good old Batsie to have my back! Hihihahahaha!" The clown cackles.

My thoughts return to what he said earlier, about batman creating him, but I didn't want to dwell on it. The clown was alive and Batman is trying to stop me.Might as well try my luck in killing him then... He deserves it

I stumble towards the gun and tightly grip the broken gun in my hand. It took my finger away from the trigger so it wouldn't go off by accident.

"Oh? Still going to try something little Ale-" He was interrupted by the barrel of the revolver smashing into his jaw. Blood flew from his mouth and I don't let him rest as I quickly straddle his body to continue beating into him. Every punch was heavy and slow, my reinforcement was fading but I didn't let up.

Joker's face was bloody and bruised. I was certain a part of his skull was fractured. Just as I was about to give him another punch, I felt a tight rope of sorts coil around my body and I was promptly thrown backwards.

I coughed up blood and spit from the constant injuries. The adrenalin finally wore off as well and I can say, it hit me bad. I couldn't maintain my focus on reinforcement and I simply stopped moving. I Won't be giving any resistance to whoever had caught me.

Eventually, my would-be captor came into view. The night sky was illuminated by the moon and it made the dark cowl of Batman so much clearer to be seen. I simply stare at the man who I considered a hero just a few hours ago...but now.

He's a Fake

He gives me an unreadable stare before turning away and walking towards the Joker. I couldn't see him that well at first, but I soon found my back being propped up by someone else. The sensation of perky breast pushing against my back revealed the gender of the person rather Quickly

Batgirl?

"Alexa-... Miss Ainsworth. Are you…" Her breath hitches in her throat. I think she just noticed how bad my injuries really were. My skin was littered with burn lines from the electricity and bruises from the combat.

Her words don't matter to me though, what matters is the sight in front of me. Batman had rushed to the Joker's side and had set his arm which had been broken apparently...The clown was unconscious and now in handcuffs, but that was hardly what I now focus on.

I only see the false hero

The set of coughs from my lungs cause him to turn back towards me and even with my fading vision, I can still stare at the bastard," You...saved his life…" I strain my muscles against the rope. It hurts like hell and I feel as if my veins might pop, but I muster up the energy to scream," THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! WHY WOULD YOU SAVE HIS LIFE!"

Batgirl is startled by the sudden movement quickly grabs hold of me again, both to steady me but also to restrain me. I quickly stopped struggling due to the pain, but I wasn't any less angry. I was practically foaming from the mouth.

The Dark knight slung the unconscious form of the Joker onto his shoulder before approaching me," This wasn't self-defence Ainsworth, it was revenge. You were going to execute him… He deserves a court of law and to be locked away."

Excuses to hide his weakness

My words froze in my mouth. I just couldn't fathom this answer." S-so! He...He deserves to die! He is an animal that has to be put down... There is no saving him!... He is just going to break out again like the rest of those fucks in Arkham!... They should be killed!" My vision was fading with every second.

Batman stares me down in response," And where would it end? If we start killing, where will it end? Who are we to decide who gets to live or die? That is a line that once crossed, one can-"

His words don't reach me anymore and I could merely make out that his lips were still moving. My eyes closed shut and I promptly fell back into Batgirls arms.

I am embraced by cold darkness filled with muffled sounds and blurred lights of red and blue. A siren could be heard and later an annoying beeping.

When I woke up once more, I found myself in a hospital bed. An IV was in my in my arm and I was covered head to toe in bandages. My limbs hurt and I could barely move…

Turning my neck was still possible at the very least. Looking to the side window, I could see the first morning rays of this accursed city.

A sigh escapes my lips as my minds springs alight with memory.

What a shitty day.

Author's note. So this is something new I've been thinking of… A DC fic with Fate mixed in. It's not an SI or a Gamer for a change.

But yeah, I hope you enjoy it and don't worry, the other fics aren't cancelled. I will still finish the marvel arc currently planned and will see after that. If I am honest, while the Gamer genre is one of my favourites around, it is rather challenging to write without a proper system planned out from the start. The apostle system is fully fleshed out and works without issue, but the Marvel one is held together by patchwork and Tape.

So, for now, I will probably cap off the Marvel fic and likely announce a sequel.

PS: It is 6 AM and I have been up all night due to me eating the bad decision Bagel. So any mistakes will probably be fixed when I wake up. This might include lore shit as well actually but probably not. I'm rather ok with what I have here.

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