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: Endless Winter
The Adventures of Haley Brown
Part Three: Industrial Espionage

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Outside Gotham City, Wayne Manor
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The door opened revealing a white haired old man standing in the doorway. Haley smiled, Alfred smiled and shut the door in Haley's face. At the sound of the dead bolt being turned, Haley dropped the smile and rolled his eyes.

He knocked on the door, "C'mon open up."

Alfred looked through the window and motioned for him to leave, Haley shook his head. Alfred scowled at him and picked up a phone and started dialing 911. Haley waved his hands trying to tell him no; Alfred smiled devilishly and started talking. The police rolled up 20 minutes later, Haley was sitting on the steps.

"Hello."

"Brown!"

Haley looked around, "Yeah?"

"What the hell're you doing so far out here, and why're you bothering Bruce Wayne, you know the guy has enough money to bury you forever." The officer said plainly.

"He invited me." Haley said looking at her, "You see me looking Hostile? Evidently he didn't tell his Butler who's locked the door and has refused to talk with me."

The officer sighed and walked past him, she knocked on the door. Alfred looked out the glass and smiled. He turned the deadbolt back and opened the door.

"I hope the person has been removed from the premises." Alfred answered.

"No, he said that you locked the door on him and refused to open it. He said Bruce Wayne called him over." The officer answered.

Alfred glanced at Haley who nodded, he glared back at him, "I was unaware Master Wayne had a guest coming."

"Hey Alfred, who's at the door?"

"No one Master Grayson." Alfred replied.

"The Gotham City Police." The officer answered.

Alfred grimaced as he heard Dick stalking toward the Door, "Haley! It's about time. Come in."

Alfred looked at Dick who gave him the 'I'll explain when the police leave' look. Haley got up off the stoop and patted the Officer on the back, "I apologize for the trouble."

"Don't mention it." The officer replied, "Have a nice day."

When the squad car left and the door was shut and everyone was sitting down, Dick leaned across the coffee table.

"Alfred, Haley is going to help us find Bruce." Dick replied.

"That's preposterous! The only thing Brown has helped is the demolition of old buildings and undertakers."

"Uh Alfred, person in question sitting right across from you." Haley replied.

"And your point? It's common knowledge, you are not welcome in Gotham. The very fact that you're here in this house AGAIN is something I can barely stand let alone tolerate."

"Hey, I'll be in the Cave, you can get back to dusting, we won't see each other." Haley replied.

"I refuse to let you stay in this place, people like you don't belong here." Alfred shot back.

Haley crossed his arms, "You don't like it, fine, not my problem, but I'm here to help find Bruce and that's that, you liking it or not is not my problem. You can tell Dracula I said that too, he can come and beat my ass, but till then you'll have to stomach me."

Alfred gave him a smug look, "You're such a base individual, I'm amazed people consider you human."

Dick got up, "Alright, Haley let's go, Alfred, we'll be out of your hair, I promise, 'kay?"

"…" Alfred sighed; Haley and Dick took it as go away and started for the bookcase.

They descended into the Batcave, Haley sat down on the chair and started on the computer.

"Question, last time Alfred seemed okay with me. What sent him over the edge, was it the fact that he didn't know me or something else."

"I think it was the fact that you shot your own Mother, Alfred has a problem with that sort of thing."

"Not to be a broken record but I think country has problem with that sort of thing. The fact that I got off the hook because of the circumstances didn't change public opinion, you remember how I got egged after the trial?"

"Yeah, till I learned the facts of what really happened I think it was well deserved."

"Thanks…" Haley answered, "Alright, last time the Joker was seen was a Month Ago, he could be anywhere."

Dick turned around with a smile, "Well, you want to visit the shooter that tried taking a Pot shot at us last night?"

Haley smiled, "Can I rough him up? Uncle Jim's making me pay for the Window."

Dick shrugged, Haley shrugged back, "Alright, gimme a few to suit up."

"Hey, do you still where those Tinkerbelle shoes?"

"YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Dick cried out in frustration.

"Guess so."

Haley was sitting behind Robin as they raced through the sloping hills to Gotham City on a motorcycle. Haley was wearing his special goggles and holding on for dear life. He was crazy but only when it came to 4 wheels, 2 wheels was suicide. When they got there Haley had to take a minute to catch his breath and swore under it that he'd never ride a motorcycle again.

Haley walked through the front doors and into he station, "Hey Montoya."

"Go to hell Brown." She replied stiffly.

"Harvey what's happening?"

Bullock punched him in the shoulder and about knocked him over, Haley shook his head and made his way to the elevator. He went to the holding area.

"I'd like to talk with Chester Reynolds." Haley asked.

"You're not getting in there." She replied.

Haley rolled his eyes, "If I give you my Hoody and empty my pockets, then can I talk with him."

"Throw in 100 dollars and we have a deal." Haley grumbled as he dug through his wallet. He put the Hoody behind the desk along with his pocket knife, car keys, mints, a watch.

The door slowly creaked open; Chester looked up with hope, then felt his bladder get weak as Haley walked into the room.

"Hello person who tried shooting me." Haley smiled.

"Don't hurt me…"

Haley laughed; he pulled out a paper clip from his mouth and started undoing the screws in the ventilation grate. He removed it and Robin pulled his way out. He was covered in greenish poo-like dust.

"I'm going to have nightmares of that experience." Robin replied.

"You'll get over it." Haley remarked, "Alright Chad, is it alright if I call you that?"

Chad was shaking with sweat coming down his forehead, he was as pale as a ghost, "Puh-please, don't…"

Haley cut him off, "Hurt you? No, I just want to know some more stuff about the guy who paid you to take a shot. I want to know where you were and what he was wearing."

The interrogation went smooth, Chad wet his pants when Robin glared at him and Haley of course was polite asking every question without a hint of anger. The guy told them he was in the North end of Gotham, near a water front. He also said that the guy was laughing through out the conversation, and mentioned Bats a lot, jokingly.

"Well, with the information we got, this one is in the bag, he's somewhere in Amusement mile, probably an abandoned fun house or some crap like that. That is his MO."

"We can handle it from here on out Haley, Me and Batgirl will wrap this up."

"Whoa there." Haley said holding up a finger, "You brought me into this, and damnit, I going to see it through."

"Have you ever fought the Joker?"

"No, what's he like?"

"Mentally unbalanced and as ruthless as they come."

"You ever fought Deathstroke?" Haley replied.

"Yep, lost."

"Well, I won, so let's just see where this goes." Haley answered.

Robin shook his head, "I don't like this."

"Again, not my problem, I'm in it till the end. Now let's shut up and put up, if I know a deranged psycho, he's probably toying with Batman." Haley remarked.

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North Gotham City, Wacky Waldo's Museum of Freaks
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Batman was hanging by his wrists, his face was mashed up pretty good, parts of his cowl were hanging off by the seams. The Joker was cackling with laughter.

"You know Batsy, unlike some of the others in this city; I never really cared who you were underneath that mask. I had so much fun just angering you who cared who you were underneath? HAH! Come to think of it, I wonder where the Toy Wonder and the little girl are. They'd usually come here to stage a daring rescue by now."

"Brown…" Batman managed to utter.

"What was that Batsy?" The Joker said getting off his crate and walking to Batman's brusied and bloody body.

"Brown…" He repeated.

Joker reeled back, "Eeeewww… you have to be Joking! HAH! You finally got a sense of humor Batsy! I'm shocked; I guess I'll have to beat another good joke out of you." Joker replied picking up a comical sized mallet.

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Tri-corner, Gotham City
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Haley sat on the couch looking into the dying embers of the fire, "What're you still doing up Haley?"

"Just thinking Uncle Jim."

"About?"

"You know how I said I wouldn't get involved with hero work again, that I'd retired."

"Oh no…"

"Listen! I'm not coming back, I swear, Batman went missing and Robin and Batgirl asked me to help."

"Batgirl?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't know there was a Batgirl." Uncle Jim said with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, neither did I." Haley answered.

"Give me a sec, I'm going to check on Barbara."

"She's a grown girl Uncle Jim." Haley remarked.

"Me and her got into an argument earlier, she went to room." Uncle Jim replied, "I wanted to see if she was still awake."

"It's Midnight, I doubt it." Haley answered, "Anyway, let it wait till morning."

"I just want to take a look."

"Alright, suit yourself." Haley replied.

Uncle Jim went upstairs and opened the door to Barbara's room; the figure was curled over in bed with her back to the wall. Uncle Jim smiled and slowly closed the door. One of the pillows fell from the under the sheet and hit the floor. Uncle Jim came back downstairs and looked at Haley who was still there.

"Okay, still, you promised you wouldn't Haley."

"I know…" Haley whined, "I've felt guilty about it. But honestly, I was involved."

"Involved?"

"Yeah, you know that guy dropped off at the station with a gunshot wound?"

"Vaguely. Wait… you didn't."

"He took a shot at me and missed hitting the window. Robin was asking me if I knew where Batman was at the time." Haley paused, "How could I have been so stupid, they weren't aiming for me."

Uncle Jim looked at him perplexed, "There's a lot more to this…"

"What do you mean?"

"Someone took a shot at me and I shot him right?" Haley replied, "Uncle Jim, I think someone wants me to resume active status in Superhero work."

"What? Haley that's ridiculous, why would anyone want you to go back to Hero work?"

"I dunno, anyway, I need to get some sleep, I know where Batman is and when me and Robin go save his bacon, I tell him about it." Haley answered.

"Alright, good night Haley." Uncle Jim answered.

When he heard Haley's door close and shook his head, now that Haley had mentioned it, the thought that someone wanted him to go back to hero work, he knew for damn sure that this was going to be just as bad as when Haley first came to him. The kid was in such poor emotional shape, he'd suffered a lot, from what Haley had told him. His senior year his high school sweet heart stabbed him in the heart and the kid whose parents ran more than half the city closed in on him from all sides. Haley had to commit unspeakable acts to survive and end the fighting between him and the other one, and than he had to live with those acts. He'd seen cops have the same problem, usually after they shoot someone; they go cold for a while and then deal with it slowly. Haley's problem though similar was on a larger scale. He was getting off topic, he didn't know who'd want Haley back in active status but whom ever it was, they were willing to go far to stop him.

Haley sat up on his bed thinking about the revelation, "Why would that piece of crap lie to me…" Haley paused again, "God damnit."

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Police Headquarters, Gotham City
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"Where the hell is Reynolds?" Montoya answered, she put her hands on her hips and looked at the cell; dirt and mud were all over the floor and toilet/sink.

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North Gotham City, Wacky Waldo's Museum of Freaks
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The sun was slowly lighting the horizon with the orange tint. Robin was kneeling on the in metal roof of the Joker's hideout. He pressed his finger to his ear. The grunts from Bruce getting slugged around like a rag doll were pissing him off, but he had to wait. He needed Brown to get the Police since he couldn't just waltz into the police station himself, Batman would kill him.

Haley leaned over his Uncle's desk, "I need 4 Cars sent to 123rd Street."

"What?"

"Remember last night? 'He' went missing, we found him. Joker's involved, I need some back up." Haley answered.

"You expecting goons?"

"You know the Joker. We nip it in the bag and call it a day." Haley answered.

Uncle Jim pressed a button on the phone, "All units in the Area of 119th and 125th Street and Elwood and Berganza. Make your way over to the abandoned Museum on 123rd."

"On the way Comish." One radioed back.

"There's your back up. Now get going." Uncle Jim answered.

Haley raced through the office and ran across the sidewalk to his rental car. He hopped in, slam the door and started the engine. The car roared and shook from the engine. Haley shifted the gear and tore out of the parking space. The car raced through the streets weaving in between the lanes and through the alley ways. Haley made his way from the southern tip of Gotham toward the Northern waterfront in 13 minutes, a record. He twisted the wheel to the side and pulled a 180 and got out of the car. He jogged the next couple of blocks; he spied Robin on the roof giving him a thumb up.

Haley took a knee and started digging around in his pocket. He smiled and drew out the RPG launcher and set it down. Robin did a double take; Haley removed a round and stuck it in the front end of it. After he hoisted it over his should he pulled the sight and took aim. The round went off and struck the door. The wood chips and smoke were cast into the air. Haley started walking through the smoke, removing his pistol and pulling down his goggles. He saw the Joker and took aim. Joker was entirely focused on him.

"No…"

"OH YEAH!" He shouted.

The cops pulled up behind him and got out, the smoke drafted away. The Joker's look of total surprise was evident, Haley was smiling. Robin mean while, had decnded into the warehouse while Haley's entrance got their attention and unhooked Batman from the tank and got him off to the side.

Haley smiled, "Let the Bat go Smiley." Mentally he was just waiting, waiting till the Joker turned around and caught Batman with a balled fist.

The joker cackled and hit the button, just like clockwork, Haley thought. Batman tapped him on the shoulder and the fist made Haley flinch and the Joker dropped to the ground knocked out cold.

Haley started toward Batman, "This doesn't change anything." He said.

"Happy holidays to you too." Haley replied, "Hey wait a sec."

Batman stopped, turned around and poked Haley in the chest, "Brown, I don't have time for this, good bye."

With that Robin and him walked away to the Bat-mobile. Haley crossed his arms and shook his head.

"Shit."

The next couple of days went by without a hitch, a robbery, a car jacking, couple purse snatchers. Haley wasn't involved in any of it, for the first time he was actually enjoying the holidays like he should've been. Uncle Jim had gotten him a present and told Haley but he never told him about the contacts. Barbara had gotten used to Haley being in the house again, cracking jokes about his shortness and his scruffy hair. The two fought like brother and sister.

On Christmas Eve was when the good went sour. Haley went upstairs after talking with Uncle Jim and Aunt Sarah. He stepped into his room and turned on the light, and nearly his dinner. James was sitting in the chair in the far corner.

"Heya Haley."

"The hell're you doing here!" Haley whispered.

"Thought I'd come and see how you're doing." James answered.

"Uh huh, why are you here James."

"Alright, Haley we've got a problem."

"I know, he's in my room. Look, you retired, I retired, I don't want to go back to it, and last I remember neither did you." Haley answered.

James looked at the floor, "Alright, here me out, okay, than I'll show myself out." James answered.

Haley sat on his bed and crossed his arms, "Go."

James took a breath and collected his thoughts, "Amy's been kidnapped. They say it's her trying to get out and relax but you and me know Amy."

"Yeah, if she took a day off, it'd be because she was KO'd." Haley remarked, "So you're thinking that is probably some rival looking to nail Strauss Industries?"

"You bet your ass." James replied, "I don't quite have all the X-Factors but I've got a good lead."

"Who do you think?"

"Lex Luthor," James answered scornfully, "He's been after Amy's company for months, can't touch it though, considering they never seem to hack the security and they can hijack a shipment."

"Gee, I wonder why?" Haley answered sarcastically.

When he'd found out that Amy had started her own company, she needed people she could trust. Haley of course funded the project, and he designed the security systems, online and in the building. The Firewall was a 1600 Bit Cypher which to Haley's knowledge was uncrackable. The Walls and Floor were laced with sensors monitoring every detail, it had shoe size and weight in the database, anyone who wasn't supposed to be there, was hit with a silent alarm. All the glass on the build was double pane lexian glass, it could take a bullet and not shatter. On top of that was the alarms triggered at the slightest breach of it, if they chipped it off, another silent alarm would be triggered.

Haley could only guess as to why the shipments were never hijacked, possibly because James himself was on them, or because of the Strauss Industries Personal Air Transport which came capable with stealth technology, but to the fact that it was unseen not only from radar but all from the human eyes. James was to thank for that, Q Branch in MI6 owed him a favor for rescuing an agent.

"Hehe, I gotta admit, those guys are persistent, we had a break in, the guy held him self up in the general managers office for three hours. He surrendered after I came upstairs and took all the bullets he had in the chest and kept on walking. He told us it was Luthor then bit off his tongue."

"Sounds like Luthor runs a tight ship." Haley remarked, "All I know about him is the fact that if you waxed his head, he'd be the best surf board, oh and the fact that he and our beloved Bruce Wayne," Haley said in a joke feminine voice, "have been at each others throats since Bats entered the forefront of industry.

"Bruce has been kind enough to not buy us out but he's been an ass when it comes to trading and working together."

"James, you and me know Bruce as well, he's such a ass sometimes, I think he never realizes it." Haley remarked.

"Okay, anyway, so what're you going to do?" James asked.

"What do you mean?" Haley asked.

James rolled his eyes and sighed, "They call me forgetful..." James muttered, "What're we going to do about Amy, they probably want her to do a deal. If I knew any better, I'd probably call the FBI and tell them all about it but my guts telling me you got it still."

"Listen, you sound like you can handle this on your own. I mean, you're 500 years old, you fought against Napoleon, The Nazi's, The Confederates, I'm sure Lex Luthor couldn't stop you."

"I'm not worried about Lex, and you know my thoughts about self preservation. I just want some help, to make sure I'm not entirely crazy, just to find out exactly." James replied.

"Alright, I'll search the web banks and such, but I want you to do one thing."

"What's that."

"Have Christmas with us."

The Morning came all to suddenly, Haley woke up looking at the clock. He groaned and rolled over and fell out of his bed and hit the floor face first. He forgot, this bed was tiny little single bed, which meant rolling to either side was pain.

"Ow..." Haley muttered.

"Damn Brown, that looked like it hurt." James answered from the chair in the corner.

"I bit mah tongue." Haley said with his tongue pressed to his cheek.

"Sorry if I don't show sympathy." James remarked.

Haley pulled on his white shirt and tied his hoody around his waist. Him and James who was dressed in a white button up shirt with his sleeves rolled back. His hair was pulled back behind his ears and the old, tired, 500 year old face still flared with enthusiasm. The two went downstairs and met Barbara, Uncle Jim and Aunt Sara sitting on the couch with a mound of wrapping paper laying on the floor. They were watching A Wonderful Life. Uncle Jim looked over and smiled and motioned them to come and sit down.

"We didn't open your presents Haley." Aunt Sara answered.

Haley nodded and sat down in front of the tree, he pulled out the only presents still wrapped, three of them. He handed one to James who took it, set it down and started watching a wonderful life. Haley removed a small knife from his belt loop and sliced off the paper, he never liked ripping presents open, he wasn't destructive unless you gave him something explosive.

His first present was a box, he pulled off the top, set it down and looked inside. A note lay in the box, in good handwriting, cursive and loopy. Haley unfolded it and read it.

"Dear Brown,

I figured I'd write to you wishing you a merry Christmas, I visited DJ at Titans Tower a couple days ago. Him and Lyn are fine and that they hope you also have a merry Christmas as well. Anyway, hope you have a good day.

Alice."

Brown folded the note and set it down in the box and closed the lid. He brushed a tear away before anyone noticed and moved onto the next present. He red the tag which said, "To: Haley, From: Your Uncle"

He pulled off the top of the box and removed a satchel. The handle went over his shoulder and hung by his side. He'd have to line the thing with something in case, he couldn't be careless when it involved his stuff, he might be retired, doesn't mean people couldn't try shooting him, sides, if it wasn't armored, it could hold what he'd carry in it. He set the bag down next to him and looked at the last present, it was small, not even 8 by 8 inches. Haley cut off the paper and looked at what was inside. Another note, a picture fell out and landed on his lap. He looked down and flipped it over. Amy looked back at him, her mouth gagged, her eyes wide with fear, a gun pointed to her head. Haley felt his blood run cold, he grabbed the note and started reading.

"Haley Brown,

We have your friend Amy. We know James is in the house and we also know that you still have the real Hoody. If you co operate, I can guarantee the girls safety, if you don't comply, I'll kill her.

Don't be stupid Brown, 9:00 PM, Gotham Harbor, be there, we'll discuss after that."

Haley lowered the letter, his face was contorted in anger. Uncle Jim looked over at him.

"Haley, are you okay?"

James looked back and saw Haley clutching the note. He took it from Haley and the picture, he dropped in with gasps.

"Oh god." He uttered quietly.

"Will someone tell me what's going on?" Uncle Jim asked, everyone looked at Haley.

Haley brought the words to his mouth with all the difficulty of trying to keep down the primal rage he had, "Amy's being held Hostage."

"Oh my god." Barbara said in shock, she looked at the picture and grimaced.

Haley stood up, "Uncle Jim, I know I told you that I wasn't going to get into a fight but, they've got her and now I'm making it personal."

"You know I won't stop you Haley, this is your decision, I just don't want you to kill anyone."

"I'm not planning on it." Haley answered.

The night came slowly and the hours seemed to drag past with the seconds ticking down to 9:00 PM. Haley had loaded up, the satchel Uncle Jim gave him was full of clips and a spare hand gun if anything got nasty. James of course had to borrow a few guns; a Winchester and a Colt 1911. Haley had the rubber bullets loaded, they'd be enough to knock the guys out and not kill them. When the clock struck a Quarter to 9, Haley pulled his Hoody over his head, grabbed his Vesper and looked into the mirror.

"This is it, don't back down." Haley answered to himself, he smiled back at himself in the mirror, Hoody Boy walked away from the mirror and shut the door behind him.