To Ghost Spider: Thank you for your constructive criticism. Writing that fight scene was a bit of a struggle, I'll admit. As for Superman holding back...I believe he can canonically do that. Granted, I haven't read every comic book ever and so I don't know everything. But I am 99.9% certain that he's been able to shake hands with humans without crushing their hands into a billion pieces. He would certainly need to be able to hold back significant amounts of strength to co-exist with humans. I hope that clears it up; thank you for your reviews, I always appreciate them.

"I was as horrified as anyone to learn about what Mr. Luthor had done behind the scenes," said Dell Rusk, standing at the center of his penthouse.

A starless, cloudy sky was cast all over the outside world, clearly seen through the massive windows, accompanied by a half-visible Moon. Bruce Wayne looked around at what lit up the penthouse itself; namely, shining neon blue and red lights. He was in the front of the massive crowd, alongside Tony Stark. Dozens of men in fancy suits the middle class could never hope to afford, and woman in elegant and complexly-woven dresses. Bruce and Tony had a glass of water in his hand, being the only two non-alcoholic drinkers in the whole room. Bruce had his eyes set on CEO Rusk, who hung his head low.

"I had actually known Luthor for a very long time. We first met when he was a red haired stepchild; I had recently met his father. I know I didn't do much to make my presence known, but as Lex rose to prominence, I gave him the best advice I could to make LexCorp an industrial titan of business."

Rusk finally raised his head up, a frown glued to his face. "I was trying to help set up his election campaign when the news broke. It just goes to show that with some people, no matter how long you've known someone, you never truly knew them."

Rusk followed that up with the raising of his glass. "To L-Corp! To a better future, where L-Corp becomes the pillar of hope LexCorp should've been in the first place!"

Everyone else raised their glasses up, with Bruce rolling his eyes as they did so. After the speech, the penthouse was lit up by conversations about business trends and rumored sales, with some blackmailing transpiring in the corner of Bruce's eye. He looked at Stark, who downed his water.

"I'm six months sober today," Stark let out, tapping Bruce's shoulder. "Luthor actually tried to coax me back to the bottle a while back. So screw that hairless jackass."

Bruce gave an approving nod. He had never so much as touched alcohol, and to see a comrade overcome it was one of the few things that brought a true smile onto his face. "I'm glad for you, Tony. So, about Dell Rusk -"

"He didn't know Luthor as well as he did, he's lying to make himself look better, yadda yadda yaddaa."

Tony looked Bruce in the eye and chuckled. "You've gotten more predictable, Bruce."

Bruce's eyes nearly slid out of his sockets. "Well, in any case, we both know that Rusk isn't really going to make L-Corp a pillar of hope. By all accounts, the company was to go to Lena in the event that anything happened to Lex, per their father's wishes. So how did Rusk force his way in?"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen!" a voice cut in from behind.

Tony and Bruce looked over to see the L-Corp CEO himself, with two statuesque, glowing ladies by his side. He jolted his head up while a cackle escaped his throat. "To think that I've already scored more points with the ladies than Tony Stark!"

"Well, I have a daughter to take care of now," Tony began, taking a sip out of his water. "So my best womanizing days are behind me."

Rusk let out a smile that made his wrinkles even more visible. Bruce raised an eyebrow. The smile did not seem to reach his eyes. "It's wonderful that your family comes first, Mr. Stark," Rusk said, before turning his attention over to Bruce. "So, Bruce, what are your thoughts on the Dark Knight in your city?"

Rusk took a moment to adjust his glasses before continuing on with, "Well, let me be more specific. How do you feel about the recent death of the…Boy Wonder?"

When he said those words, Bruce's face sank. His heart sank, his stomach sank, everything sank, for the memories were forcing their way through. So, so many, racing and flowing through in one moment.

Jason Todd. Poor Jason Todd. Already, Bruce flashed to when he found the lad trying to steal a tire from the Batmobile. He saw that tattered, bruised, and lonely boy, without a home to go to or friends to turn to. Dick Grayson had already left him to become, 'Nightwing' and Bruce saw in this boy another chance to make someone's life better, to free them from the crime-ridden streets of Gotham.

He remembered Jason Todd as Robin. That red armored chest, with no sleeves and green pads on the shoulders. The green leather gloves and boots, and the utility belt colored yellow. Sometimes, Jason would bark at Batman and disobey his orders, but ultimately, they would battle the criminal underworld and Gotham's frightening array of rogues.

But then, one final image popped into his mind. An event that happened only six months after Jason took Grayson's place as the Boy Wonder. It was the beaten, lifeless corpse of Jason, blood still trickling out of his body. Himself, as Batman, cradling his dead sidekick in his arms, wincing and fighting with all his might to not tear up. Fire sizzled around them, and rubble laid all around. The night cast an unforgiving dark sky, and in this image, Bruce hung his head low. And then he heard it. That laughter. The insane, uncaring, heartless cackling of the one who had claimed Jason's life at such a young age. The green-and-purple rogue's face had bulging eyes and spit roaring out of his mouth, while Bruce could only hold his dead ward's body.

He was jolted back to reality when Tony spoke up for him. "It's a tragedy what happened to Robin. No one deserves to have their life cut short, let alone in such a brutal fashion."

Bruce finally worked up the nerve to look Rusk in the eye. "Yes. I agree with Stark." Then he rubbed his neck and looked around, thinking of a way to enact his 'playboy' persona. "I was in the middle of chatting up the socialites when we all at heard the news. It soured the rest of the night. It should never have happened."

Rusk and the ladies turned around, but the CEO looked over his shoulder. "If only the Batman would've snapped the Joker's neck already. Then his dear sidekick would still be alive."

And with that, Rusk walked away. The laughter and arguing was all drowned out. Bruce could barely hear a thing now. That is, except for the booming explosion and the hideous laughter of the Joker.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Later that night, Bruce was clad in his Batman outfit. But he was not out in the streets, combating street thugs or the likes of the Riddler or the Scarecrow. Instead, he stared at the glass case containing Jason's outfit. It was torn, with blood stains all over. Even the domino mask, which hung above the rest of the outfit, had a few cuts around it. And his mind was fixed on The Joker. He had not seen the Clown Prince of Crime since the incident. Not entirely unlike him. Sometimes, after a big stunt, the Joker would disappear for a while, trying to figure out a way to top himself.

Bruce had his hands clasped together. He heard footsteps approaching, and turned around to see Alfred Pennyworth. He looked at the Robin outfit, and frowned. "I miss him dearly, Master Bruce. He could be a pain in the arse, but no boy should suffer so tragically ."

Bruce squinted, rubbing his nose. "I shouldn't have allowed it to happen," he began, turning around to face Alfred. "After my parents died, I promised myself that I would never be helpless again. I would dedicate myself to protecting the innocents of Gotham. But after all the training, all the hell I put myself through, everything I've learned, I was helpless. I was helpless to save Jason."

Alfred placed his hand on Bruce's shoulder. "You cannot control the fates, Master Bruce. And no one can control death. Not even the gods and superpowered beings that stand by your side in the Vanguard."

Alfred's words rang true throughout Bruce's mind, and yet, he couldn't help but dismiss Alfred's words and go to Zatanna, Doctor Strange, anyone, to resurrect Jason Todd. To give him back the life he should have led. But Zatanna had told Bruce that most attempts to revive the dead would go, for lack of a better term, horribly and gruesomely wrong.

Instead Bruce looked his butler and surrogate father in the eye. "I cannot control fate, but I can bring justice for Jason."

Alfred nodded. "Indeed you can. And actually, Mr. Stark has just called. He wishes to discuss that very subject with you."

Bruce narrowed his eyes. "I know," he said, before looking over his shoulder. "You can stop hiding, Tony."

The metal clanking of Tony's Mark LXXXV suit emanated around the cave, as Tony emerged from behind the Batmobile, taking his helmet off. "You really do lie about not having superpowers, you know? Just admit you have super-hearing already, Bats."

Bruce rolled his eyes. Tony did have access to the Bat-Cave, as did the rest of the Vanguard, but it was one thing to have access and another to show up uninvited and unexpected. "Get to the point, Stark. What have you come here for?"

For once in his life, Tony was not quick to respond. Instead, he stared at the glass case that held Jason's Robin outfit. "He seemed like he had a good kid buried underneath that rough exterior. He really could've been something."

Tony then looked over to Bruce. "How's Grayson doing? Is he still with the Titans?"

Bruce nodded while grunting. "He is. I spoke with him last week. We're still on good terms. He regrets not getting to know Jason well enough, but he's doing fine overall."

Bruce shook his head, having enough of this. He followed that up with, "Don't change the subject. Why are you here?"

"Very well," Tony replied, walking up to Bruce and Alfred. Then he placed his metal-clad hand on Bruce's cavalier-covered shoulder. "The Joker needs to die."

Those words made Bruce's guts boil. The thought of him taking the Joker's neck and twisting it until that final crunch echoed through the air…no. He would not cross that line. No matter how many times people told him that it had to be done, he would not break his code.

"No," was all that Bruce said in response.

Tony shook his fists, with some veins thickening and making themselves visible around his neck. "Goddamnit, Bruce! Why?! Why do you allow him to live?!"

Then Tony pointed his finger directly into Bruce's face. "You know what? I'm sick of this. If you're not willing to do what needs to be done, then I will!"

"You will do no such thing!" Bruce exploded back, practically lunging towards his friend and teammate. "The Joker is not your responsibility, Tony. And I will never, ever take a life. Not even one as despicable, as horrendous as the Joker."

Then Bruce sported a downcast look, letting out a heavy sigh, while placing a hand on his forehead. "You don't understand, Tony. If I do kill him, that will set me down a path I don't think I can pull myself out from."

Tony's mouth went agape. And he groaned a groan of disgust. "Not my responsibility? So, so only you can fight the Joker?"

Tony began pacing around. He threw his arms up in the air, chuckling. "So let's say he decided to wreak some havoc in Coast City. Should I tell Hal and Carol, 'Hey guys, I know the Joker's killing a bunch of people, but you can't fight him. Batman said that only he's allowed to fight him.' Imagine that."

"That would never happen and you know it!" Bruce replied. Now he was the one pointing his finger. "The Joker is obsessed with me! He wants to fight only me! And don't you think I want to kill him?! After all the lives he's taken? After what he did to Jason?!"

"Then do it!"

"I can't!"

"You can and you must! Everyone wants him dead, Bruce! Do you see people clamoring for the head of the Penguin? Or the Riddler? Two-Face? Do you see petitions to have the Scarecrow or Mister Freeze executed? Do you even see people wanting Killer Croc dead?! Maybe a few, but they're fringe groups! For all of Gotham's rogues, there's only one that everyone in the world wants to see killed, and they have a very good reason to think so!"

Batman scoffed and jeered forward, having to resist the urge to knock Iron Man's teeth out. "They are all dangerous criminals themselves! You think any of their hands are clean? That they haven't committed atrocities themselves?! Don't make them out to be better than they really are!"

Iron Man clenched his fists and sneered. "But they don't revel in it the way the Joker does! He's not just some insane lunatic, he's a psychotic monster who consistently goes out of his way to reach new depths. And his body count still doubles that of the rest of Gotham's villains, combined! It's time to put an end to it!"

"KILLING IS STILL WRONG!" Bruce bellowed from the bottom of his heart. The volume and ferocity was enough to send Tony backing away several steps. Bruce took a few moments to catch his breath. He hung his head low, trying to figure out what to say next.

He jumped when a gentle but firm hand touched his shoulder. He had all but forgotten that Alfred was here. Alfred sighed. "Master Bruce, killing is always wrong. I am very proud of you for remembering this. Even in the face of the worst that humanity has to offer, your dedication to thwarting them without using lethal force is admirable."

Alfred looked away for just a moment, wincing. "But, my dear boy, please consider this. Killing may always be wrong, but that doesn't mean it is not sometimes necessary," he said. He then extended one of his hands, motioning over to Jason's outfit. "Please, Master Bruce."

Before Bruce could think of what to say to that, a loud ringing echoed across the walls of the Cave. It was coming from Tony's armor. Moments later, there was a hologram of Pepper Potts and Morgan Stark, the latter in rainbow footie pajamas.

"I know you're busy, Tony," Pepper stated, holding Morgan tightly. "But Morgan really wanted to say good-night. And she wants to tell you something."

Morgan giggled and laughed, with Tony smiling back at his daughter. "Night-night, Daddy!" she said, before holding up red play-dough with yellow lines across the top of it. "Spatti!"

That was her way of saying 'spaghetti'. Tony laughed. "I'm sure it's yummy, dear. Can't be worse than how Happy makes it."

Pepper rolled her eyes. "I'm sure he'll love to hear that. Hey, don't forget that you and I both have to go to that board meeting tomorrow."

Tony laughed along, saying good-night to his wife and daughter before hanging up. His smile disappeared the instant he locked eyes with Bruce.

"If the Joker, or someone like him, tried to do anything to my dear Morgan, I would hunt them down to the ends of the universe."

Then a beep rang through the Cave. Bruce looked over to see Alfred eying the Bat-Computer. "I do hate to interrupt this scintillating exchange of egos, but you have a call from Barbara Gordon."

Bruce's face contorted into his typical scowl, and he walked over to his main computer. It was as big as the Vanguard's monitor, only it was coated a solid, thick black to blend in with the rest of the murky Cave. He had not heard from Barbara in about a week; mainly due to the fact that she was studying abroad in Vienna, Austria. He heard Tony's metal boots clanking as the latter followed him. Batman lifted up his mask, and placed it over his head. It was courtesy for him to do so when talking to anyone on the Bat-Computer, even if the person knew who he was.

Barbara was donned in her Batgirl outfit; her cowl was identical to that of Batman's, except that hers allowed her vibrant, silky red hair to flow through. Her gloves, boots, utility belt, and bat logo were all colored a shining, golden shade of yellow. And her green eyes stared directly into the camera that she was using to communicate with Bruce. And next to her was 'Spider-Man'.. He wore the same red-and-blue onesie that he had from the beginning, with those black web-like lines stretched all across his costume. The only thing Spider-Man had changed was changing his Spider-Logo from a dark black to a glistening white, with some white on his gloved hands as well. Batgirl made Batman pay for the web-slinging superhero to travel to Europe to investigate Doc Ock disappearing there, yet Spidey was here now.

"What are you kids still doing up?" Tony asked as he stood by Bruce's side, staring at the Bat-Computer. "Didn't anyone tell you it was bedtime?"

Spidey chuckled. "I don't know if we could have heard them over the guys calling for you to go to that retirement home," he fired back.

"That's enough snark," Batman stated, leaning in and placing his hands firmly on the computer's keyboard. "What is this about?"

A frown forced itself on Batgirl's face. "Can you fly over to Vienna? By like, tomorrow?"

"Why?"

"The Joker's been sighted recently. He's here, somewhere, in Europe."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Batman wasted no time in travelling to Vienna in his Batjet, with Iron Man following close behind. Stark had accompanied him because…well, Batman wasn't completely sure why. Something about how tomorrow's board meeting had to do with business in Vienna. Tony hadn't given the full truth.

It was now nighttime in Vienna again, the trip there having taken about a day. The nightlife was swinging in full motion, lights radiating and laughs echoing through the air. But Batman was on a rooftop, as he always was back in Gotham. Iron Man was to his left. And opposite them were Batgirl and Spider-Man. The two groups had rendezvoused to compare their intel.

"So, do you have any idea how long the Joker has been in Europe?"

Spider-Man was the one to speak up first. "From what Babs and I have gathered, the Joker got here shortly after the death of Robin," he began. Then, through his wide google-eyes, he stared directly at Batman. "I am so sorry for your loss, by the way. It's awful, what happened to Robin."

Batman nodded. "I appreciate your words, Parker," he said, before switching his attention to Batgirl. "Where did you hear that the Joker has come to Europe?"

Batgirl stepped forward. "There are whispers all over the east side of Vienna. Claims that the Joker was spotted around there. They say some crying children grew silent in his wake. The media hasn't said anything about it, possibly to prevent a mass panic."

Batman cupped his chin as he listened. It didn't make sense. Why would the Joker leave Gotham? He had never left the city before. In fact, aside from one or two comments about an interest in stirring up trouble in Metropolis, the Joker had never mentioned wanting to wreak havoc somewhere else. But then again, due to the fact that he had killed Batman's sidekick, perhaps the Joker felt that the only way he could outdo himself involved going abroad.

Batgirl sighed. "I'm so sorry, Bruce. I know this isn't much to go off. But Peter and I went around town, overhearing several people with no connections to one another. They all discussed seeing 'the American terrorist clown'. Some of them were locking their doors at night."

"The only other thing we can tell you," Spidey added on, stepping forward to stand directly by Batgirl's side. "Is that a thug said something about how the Joker was gloating about going to Latveria, to see Doctor Doom directly."

Iron Man scoffed, throwing his hands up into the air. "Okay, that thug was just pulling shit out of his ass. Doctor Doom is not a saint, not by any means, but he would never sink so low as to ally himself with the Joker. Unless he's gone completely off the rails, that is."

Batman nodded. Iron Man was correct, Doom would never, in good faithm ally with the Joker. But then the Dark Knight recalled some recent intel he had seen. He remembered two other villains he knew that were in Latveria. They were just trying to live out normal lives, away from most of civilization. These two went to Latveria because most other countries would have had them arrested and imprisoned.

Batman looked over to Iron Man. "I know exactly who we need to find. We're going to have to go Latveria ourselves."

Harley Quinn was on his mind. She had cut off all ties with the Joker, going to Latveria with her friend-turned-lover Poison Ivy to start life anew. Batman had thought Harley was done with 'Mistah J' for good. But Batman pulled up a map of Latveria, eyeing the rural eastern half of the country. Now, it was time to confirm if Harley was done with the Joker once and for all.

I have no life, so I created a timeline for the Robins that nobody asked for lol:

Batman became active in 2010, a few years before the rest of the superheroes. Dick Grayson was adopted in 2012 at the age of 13. Then he became Robin in 2013, the same year most superheroes started popping up in this world (Cap was still found by the Vanguard two years later in 2015), and was Robin until 2017, when he left to become Nightwing. Jason Todd was found by Batman a few weeks later, and he became Robin in 2018, only serving in the role for a year before his death.

I like to create details and backstories like this, I can't help it.