BATMAN BELONGS TO DC COMICS
Rain fell on them. Batman was fine, but Joker's clothes were obviously not waterproof and were soaking him. It made him shake with cold, even if he tried not to. The raindrops were making his makeup run down his cheeks, so did the blood flowing out of his nose like a red cascade. The detective had most probably broken his nose with that last blow.
And he was smiling. In spite of the cold, the punches, he was still grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
None of them moved. The heavy rain didn't seem to matter at all. They continued to watch each other face to face without a care. The echoes of a siren indicated that Gordon had put his men to work and were approaching. Soon the Joker would be back to Arkham. For how long? Probably not much. But what had to be done that day was already done. Gotham's streets were safer, just for the moment.
Joker didn't try to escape, of use the strength he had left to keep fighting back. It was useless. It was all settled. There was nothing to do there but wait until the cops finished what Batman started.
The jester took a couple of wobbling steps forward, the best someone who had had his stomach wrecked could do. Batman moved just an inch, knowing that he was not a threat anymore but cautious, attentive, not taking his eyes off him. One never knew with that lunatic—that was the lesson everyone learned.
When Joker was barely a palm away from him, and without any resistance from the hero, he stuck his fingers in his mouth and formed a smile.
While he did so, a wide one grew on his own face, showing his teeth stained with nicotine.
Batman did not move, did not try to push him away and get those disgusting fingers out of his mouth, bite them even.
For the first time in he didn't remember when, the vigilante felt a shiver running down his spine.
THE END