Iron Mario: No, Harley didn't have anything to do with the casket
IMBADATNAMES: First up... who the hell is Zodiax? We have never had an alien like that.
And will you STOP IT with all of these 'give James this DC character!'. James is part of a TEAM
Guest chapter 38 Oct 26: Because it is a multi-parter
Skull Flame: Bane is NOT THE FAKE BATMAN! I TOLD YOU THAT LAST CHAPTER!
Zanotronxl: Helping recover and restore everything from the BatCave/Wayne Manor... Bruce had a LOT of stuff.
Shooting Star Dragon 3000: It wasn't. It was what was said afterwards just before it opened.
Here are some reviews answered by Ghost. Yeah, he's back!
Shooting Star Dragon 3000: That wasn't the password. It was a certain phrase that both James and Dinah spoke, not the fact they were screwing.
Zanotronxl: Oh really? Kinda, but it's more of the 90s Batman...the one with the razor spikes, not the BTAS version. They're busy working on the Batcave and trying to fix up the manor. Thanks very much.
Skull Flame: More adorable and innocent. Don't think too hard on the 'Is Bane the new Batman' thing.
IMBADATNAMES: Trust me...James wouldn't go with a Czarnian transformation if he could help it.
Co-Writter: GhostKaiser23
Artist: GhostKaiser23, he goes by Hangman12 on Deviantart. Either look him up, or go to my profile to see links to all of his official work for this story
Disclaimer: Cartoon Network owns Ben 10 or Teen Titans
AUTHORS NOTE
And here is the end of the Knightfall adaptation
I hope you all enjoy it as we had a LOT of fun working out how to do this storyline *nods*
I am sorry for the hour late chapter. Ghost, who also lives in thr UK, came down to visit and I forgot. Deeply sorry, I'm human. Fuck.
James' Harem 2
Chapter 37: KnightFall Part 3 The New Batman
We return to the ClockTower where Bruce was lying in his bed, still healing, while Alfred poured him a cup of tea
"How are you feeling, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked, having gotten out of bed.
"Physically? Less in pain." Bruce frowned, resting his chin on his folded hands
"And emotionally?" Alfred asked with a heavy heart.
"Frustrated and useless." Bruce admitted, punching the wall
"But you're alive and not crippled for life." Alfred tried to look on the positive side.
"And a murderer is using the symbol I created to his own ends." Bruce sighed
"The police are not ignorant, Master Bruce. They are sure to know that the REAL Batman did not do this." Alfred answered, having hope in them
"And the people of Gotham?" Bruce said, making his feelings clear
"...I have to be honest, Master Bruce. I don't know." Alfred admitted, not having the answer he wanted.
"It will be okay Bruce." Tim encouraged
"Tim. Where did you get too?" Bruce asked as he saw his adopted son and saw his outfit
"Master Timothy, where-?" Alfred asked in shock
"I-Er-made it?" Tim admitted
"I think... he looksh cute." Harley smiled with a slightly slurred tone.
"Harley? You okay?" Bruce asked
"Jusht a little shleepy." Harley answered before going to sleep.
"I think the morphine's kicked in." Ivy answered
"Probably." Bruce nodded as the others of the BatFamily entered the room
"Hi, Dad." Helena spoke nervously, seeing her father there.
"We failed." Dick admitted. The room was stunned, they didn't know what to say… Except for Pamela
"Did you fight?" She asked
"Yeah, we fought." Duela answered
"What happened to Bane?" She asked again
"Shot in the head." Dick answered, making Bruce scowl gently.
"Darn it." he hissed
"Now what?" Jason grumbled
"I have an idea." Tim said, rubbing his hands together
"What've you got, Tim?" Pamela asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Er... Barbara?" Tim asked "Can you do... Hologram stuff or something please?"
"Of course." Barbara nodded, wheeling herself to the centre of the room and activated a hologram of information of Gotham and its various villains.
"Okay. So what has this Bat's victims got in common?" Tim asked as he moved the holograms around
Duela looked at the pictures and saw... Two-Face. Flinching at the sight of her dead father. Sure, it had been years since she had seen him... but she didn't want him dead.
"They're all mentally ill. Or have been affected by Arkham." Barbara answered
"But Bane wasn't from Arkham, he came to the city to prove himself. He broke Arkham to dust and let the madmen run free to tire Bruce down." Pamela argued
"Hmm... They are all male?" Jason shrugged
"Yeah, I'm sure THAT'S the reason, Jason." Dick joked softly
"It might be." Jason huffed
"Bad guys?" Cassandra said shyly
"I do not believe it is that basic, Ms Cassandra." Alfred said softly
"No, you're missing the point." Tim shook his head while Bruce had been quiet
"Then what is it?" Duela asked
"He's working his way up." Bruce and Tim said at the same time, Bruce smiling proudly
"Working his way up?" Jason asked
"Okay. This is DarkBat's first victim." Tim said as he selected a single hologram and enlarged it
"Victor Zsasz. The schizophrenic serial killer." Barbara spoke as Tim brought up the file.
"Exactly, he was kind of low level in terms of Batman's villains. Next, Great White Shark." Tim explained
"... Who's is a Shark." Duela deadpanned/joked
"More like a man who was so ruthless he was AKIN to said fish...and was subject to a terrible case of frostbite." Tim answered "We move to his next target."
"The Ventriloquist, Arthur Wesker. A man with multiple personality disorder and a technical mob-boss with his puppet 'Scar-Face'." Barbara answered
"Mob boss...Meaning connections in the underworld." Dick added
"Correct, not as much as The Penguin, but a small amount which garnered attention." Tim agreed "And then Two-Face, an old foe of Batman's who everyone knows. Followed by Bane, the one who 'Broke the Bat'. He wants to show he's the best, that the new 'Batman' is better than the old one."
"Meaning there is only ONE person in Gotham who could be the next target." Bruce frowned
"The Joker." Bruce, Dick, Jason, Tim and Helena all said as once
Harley twitched in her sleep as she unconsciously heard the Clown Prince of Crime's name. Though she had left him for years now...the scars were still there. She started to roll a bit, clearly freaking out a bit about the situation as she started to get nightmares but no one noticed yet
"You expect us to defend that monster!?" Jason snapped
"No, but...We can't let this 'Batman' kill him." Bruce answered "If we don't stop him here... Then Gotham would be on this Batman's side."
"But it's The JOKER! The guy who crippled Barbara! The man who's murdered HUNDREDS!" Jason responded
"We aren't saving the Joker. We are just stopping a murderer." Barbara answered
Jason rubbed his head in frustration. "Argh! Damn it." but he couldn't deny their logic
"I know you're angry, Jason. But we can't let this happen." Bruce answered.
"I guess." The second Robin hissed
"And very good job, Tim." Bruce praised "You can go with Helena and Duela to some contacts of mine. We need information about that sword of his."
"Wha-?" Jason gasped as he looked at them...feeling dejected
"Really?" Tim asked
"Jason. We are going to busy. Please, look after Damian and keep him safe." Bruce urged
Jason was stunned. Bruce trusting him? To protect Bruce's son... his own brother. "I-I will. I won't let anything happen to him." He answered with determination. It did make him feel better
"Let's go." Helena said to Tim, patting his head
"Right!" Tim nodded
"Behave." Duela waved before the three left
VWOM!
And James and Black Canary teleported in, alongside the black casket
"Hey, guys." James waved, both he and Canary were fully clothed and cleaned up
"Huh?" Dick blinked as he saw the black casket... Which was closed again
"Care to explain this, Bruce?" Dinah asked as she picked up a black cube with a projector on it
"Where did you-?" Bruce gulped as he saw it.
"When were you going to tell him?" James added "We accidentally activated it." he added
"..." Bruce frowned "I didn't want to ever have to... But when Damian was a bit older or when I died."
"Tell who what?" Dick asked as he saw the box and casket.
"You're kinda making us worried, dude." Jason added
"Hmm." Alfred hummed, looking at Bruce out of the corner of his eye
"This." James said before he stated simply "You where awesome." making the projector start up and project a hologram of Bruce in his BatSuit minus his cowl
"Hello son, if you've found this then that means either I'm dead, or that I've hung up the cowl." The hologram began to speak "I hope this is the later, not the former. I do not want to ask this of you... But Gotham NEEDS a Batman. It NEEDS a hero. It NEEDS the symbol."
"Where is this going?" Dick frowned
"You... Dick. My son. You are the only person I trust with this." the holographic Bruce spoke. The blue bat of the casket glowed brightly, the casket slowly opening "I trust you... I ask you... To become what Gotham needs. The better hero than I could ever be. I am asking you... To become the Batman."
The casket opened revealing a grey BatSuit with a blue cape and cowl, blue gloves, blue boots, a yellow utility belt and a blue bat on the chest
Bruce remained silent as his hologram continued, exposing what he wanted to do.
Passing on the cowl.
"Good luck Dick... And do me proud, son." the hologram Bruce finished before it disappeared
Dick turned to Bruce, seeing the incapacitated man in his bed. "You? You had...a contingency? On yourself? For ME?"
"I've been preparing you for it since you first became Robin." Bruce admitted "I saw so much of myself in you. I knew... If something happened to me... It had to be you who took my place."
"Bruce I-I don't." Dick whispered, taken back by this offer "I don't... I don't think I can do this. I... how can I live up to you?"
"Dick. Welcome to MY world." James answered. "You've MET my dad. You know what I'VE got."
"Dick. You have made me proud before you even started the Teen Titans." Bruce explained "I know... That you are THE only person to take my place. Jason or Tim, one day maybe after enough training. But if something happens to me? Then you are The Batman."
"I... I don't know what to say." Dick admitted
"Take the cowl... to stop that madman." Bruce frowned "Until I have healed, until I am ready to come back."
"That-that might take a year." Dick answered.
"Six months at most, and I trust you." Bruce confirmed
"Can I think about it?" He asked
"Of course." Bruce sighed
"Thanks." Dick nodded sadly. "So...We need to stop this Batman."
*with Tim, Helena and Duela*
The trip was... Underground, heading towards a secret base "We're going underground." Duela hummed to herself
"Do you HAVE to sing that?" Helena asked
"Sorry, I'm getting nervous." Duela apologised.
"You've faced Lady Shiva and done a hell of a lot more than I have." Helena responded
"Exactly, Changeling's been rubbing off on me." Duela explained
"So... These Outsiders. We nearly at their base?" Tim asked
"Yeah, they're good fighters and we make an okay team." Helena answered as she walked ahead and they all heard a set of female grunts echo through the tunnel they were in
"Oh god!" Duela gulped in panic. "Who or what's that?"
"I think we're near their dojo?" Tim shrugged
"Don't worry, they're just training." Helena answered, hopefully as she readied her crossbow. Duela looked in worry, thinking she was going to shoot someone like last time and they neared a big door.
They walked in... and saw two women in hero suits making out and getting a bit 'heated'. The first was a Japanese woman with black hair, wearing a biker jacket with a samurai arm guard, a black bodysuit, red boots and shin guards.
The second was a blonde-haired woman with a dark purple cloak and black bodysuit with purple utility belts and pouches on her waist and legs. Next to the purple clad woman was a purple mask, the two kissing deeply.
The Japanese was holding the blonde and pulling her close, the blonde's legs wrapped around the waist of the one kissing her. They were rolling their hips together, teasing each other through their suits, while the Japanese woman massaged the blonde's breasts
"HEY!" Duela yelled as her hands instantly shot out to cover Tim's eyes
"Huh? Oh, company." The blonde woman stopped and got up.
"What've you two been doing?" Helena asked
"Training. And it got passionate." The Japanese girl said simply, sort of reminding the group of a grown up Cassandra
"Are girlfriends not allowed to make out?" the blonde huffed, grabbing her mask
"I'm not saying that." Helena rolled her eyes. "But we've got guests."
"Do you work with them?" Duela asked, removing her hands as the two girls untangled from each other
"Yes, they're my partners." Helena answered
"..." Tim blushed as he saw them
"I think we broke the kid here." The blonde-haired woman commented
"You're in a threeway?" Duela asked
Helena snapped and turned around, glaring at Duela. "I. Am. NOT!" She hissed
"Oh?" Duela blinked in confusion "But you said they were your partners?"
"My TEAM-Partners." Helena answered, rubbing her eyes.
"Why not say Team Mates?" Duela shrugged
"I wouldn't mind you joining in." the purple girl blinked
"Spoiler. Not now." Helena sighed. "Please? ...Robin; are you in there?" She shook Tim's head gently "Little brother? Hello?"
"Huh? Wha?" Tim asked as he came back to reality.
"So YOU are the little brother Huntress has told us about. Funny, she said you were a baby." The Japanese woman asked
"I'm-!" Time was about to respond in anger but then thought about it. "Sure you're talking about Damien."
"I have four brothers, Katana." Helena explained
"Nightwing, Robin 2, Damien and now Robin 3? Right?" Spoiler asked
"Right." Helena nodded
Tim did the maths in his head and thought it was right. "Okay. So, you're going to help us?" He asked Katana and Spoiler.
"We need answers about a sword." Helena said to Katana
"Of course." she nodded "What does it look like?"
"It's...A sword?" Duela asked
"That narrows it down to weapons dating back to pre-history." Katana rolled her eyes. "Any distinctive features? Jewels, a glow, any magic flowing through it?"
"Medieval, three feet long, six 'fins' near the guard, and a red tint to it." Helena answered
Katana pondered that for a minute. "That sounds familiar."
"Plus it turned on fire at will." Duela added
"I'm sorry, did you just say it 'turns on fire at will'?" Spoiler asked
"Yeah." Duela nodded
"...The Sword of Sin." Katana whispered gently as she heard that
"Beg pardon?" Tim asked
"The Sword of Sin." Katana repeated. "A magical blade that can cause the person to face their greatest sins all at once, all those atoned for and those they are guilty of."
"Sounds kinda...sketchy." Duela answered
"It belonged to a splintered faction of the Kights Templar. Of COURSE it's 'sketchy'." Katana answered
"Any ideas who the current wielder might be?" Helena asked
"Just a name. 'Azrael'." Katana answered. "But that doesn't give us much. The people who owned it before, 'The Order of St. Dumas', are VERY secretive."
"You sure? Nothing?" Duela asked
"Oh, I'm sorry. But I don't have the full archive on 'ancient swords and orders'!" Katana responded sarcastically before snapping.
"Okay, enough." Helena interrupted.
"..There IS something on the Order though. They seek to 'purify Gotham'." Katana sighed
...
"That sounds like this fake Batman." Duela admitted
"Meaning he's a member of this 'St. Dumas' then. How do we stop him?" Spoiler asked
"Break the sword for one." Katana quipped "Good luck with that. It's a sword like any other, but you need to be careful about the fire."
"Thanks Helena's girlfriend, have a good evening." Duela waved and dragged Tim out
"Bye." Tim waved at the two, dragged out by his cape.
"She's not-!" Helena blushed and groaned. She snarled, stomping her purple heeled boot almost childishly
"... Are you embarrassed by us, Helena?" Spoiler asked as she saw how she was reacting.
"No! I'm not embarrassed by you. I... I just." She grumbled as the couple held her gently
"Still haven't told them?" Katana asked
"No. I mean... How DO you tell someone that?" Helena asked as she looked at them
"With bravery." Katana responded simply. Katana and Spoiler kissed Helena's cheeks, leaving their lipstick marks
*with the others*
Back with Duela and Tim, the former was still dragging the new 'Boy Wonder' "Can you let go?" he asked innocently
"Not until we're away from the lesbians. Your brain can't handle it right now." Duela answered "You're too young."
"Um, okay." He answered. 'Note to self, look up lesbians when 16.'
Shortly after they had Helena catch up with them, with lipstick marks on her cheeks "Sorry about that." Helena apologised. "Let's go."
"...You've got lipstick on your cheeks." Tim pointed out.
"TOTALLY not in a threesome." Duela rolled her eyes
*time skip, clock tower*
James and Dick were out on the top of the clocktower. They needed time to themselves because of that casket "You okay?" James asked
"Honestly? I'm conflicted." Dick answered. "One the one hand...I'll be Batman. On the other, I'll be away from the team."
"Yeah. I get that. Like how my dad thinks I'll be a better hero than him." James sat next to him before he shook his head. No, this wasn't about him. This was about Dick
"Not helping, James." Dick deadpanned and laughed a bit
"Sorry." He apologised. He sat down and thought for about five minutes. "I think you should take it."
"Really?"
"It's only four months." James nodded
"I dunno. Cass and Duela would have to move here too." He answered. "I doubt they'd want to be away from me in all that time."
"Duela would be more than happy to move with you." James assured "Meanwhile Cass moves back and forth often, since Barbara has shared custody. So it wouldn't be much different for her. Heck she probably wouldn't mind staying here... Although then there is Bart."
"Yeah, and even WITH super-speed...Four-hour time difference." Dick sighed heavily and rubbed his neck.
"And they are used to seeing each other every day." James added "Separating them might strain their relationship."
"Argh...! What am I going to do?" Dick groaned.
"It's your choice." James shrugged "But as I said. I think you need to do it. That you should do it. It is only for four months."
"Okay. I need a minute alone. I'll be down." Dick answered
"No problem." James nodded and went down the special chute of the clocktower.
"Well?" Bruce asked as James landed
"He needs a minute. It's a lot to take in." James answered
"We don't have long until sunset." Alfred commented
"He will target Joker this evening. He's on transit from the GCPD do Black Gate." Barbara explained
"How do we stop him?" Ivy asked
"'We'?" Canary asked, turning to the injured woman.
"What? I'm part of this. He attacked my home and family." she frowned
"I didn't mean any offense, Pamela. But you ARE in a hospital bed." Canary answered
The plant woman rolled her eyes and stood tall, vines emerging from the ground and wrapping around the blondes body "And you, Canary, forget what my powers are."
"Hey!" Barbara turned around and looked at them. "No vine-hentai in the Clock-Tower!"
"Oh? You want vine Hentai, my Batgirl? Like those wild teenage years of yours?" Ivy smirked
"...You're tearing up the floor, Pamela." Barbara pointed at the ground with a 'motherly glare' while fighting back her massive blush
"Fine... But I guess Dicky-Boy isn't giving you what you want." Pamela teased
"Dick and I haven't been together since we were 15!" she snapped
"Do we need to be here for this?" James asked, pointing to himself and Canary.
"No. If you two could watch Gotham, keep the normal crime under control. The fake bat is our problem." Bruce signed
"Thanks, Bruce." Canary answered as she was released from the vines.
"We'll do our best. And maybe put some of those Arkham inmates in their cells again." James agreed
"... Come to think of it, I think I have a vampire alien which fits this city perfectly. I remember there being an extinct vampire race in the Anur system which Azmuth gained a sample of its DNA before he passed away and..." James was now rambling under his breath as he started to fidget with his Matrix
"I'm sorry, did you say 'Vampire alien'?" Pamela asked
"I didn't catch that last part." Canary added
"Here we go!" James grinned and slammed the Matrix down
In a flash of yellow light, James transformed into a new form.
WAKE UP!
James' body was now clad in a skintight black suit with silver metal and chains wrapped around his left shin and shoulders. He had some yellow tailcoats hanging from his hips, some red gloves and chest. And finally he had a mask with yellow bat-like decorations around his eyes "Well? What do you think?" He asked, his voice speaking darkly, but not intentionally.
... And he got thumbs up from the BatClan
*time skip*
Thugs down in Gotham were running around, causing havoc. The power vacuum left by Bane and the deaths of some of the other Batman villains was a huge mess in the city. A large truck was leaving the GCPD
The most important truck in Gotham right now
The Joker laughed in his cage, trapped in a strait jacket and a dozen other restraints. Being transported to Black Gate, and most likely going to his death. Some of the guards were looking at him in worry; though the others were keeping their eyes focused on the job "Don't get too close, rookie. He'll break your mind and then you." A veteran spoke seriously.
"Right." the rookie nodded
"Oh, come on, let the lad have a LITTLE fun." Joker quipped as he was stuck in his cage.
Surrounding the transport, running stop rooftops, where a large chunk of the BatFamily. Ivy, Shard, Huntress, Batwoman, HarleyQuinn and the third Robin
"You doing okay, Harley?" Helena asked, a little worried for her.
"I'm fine. Some scratches and busted ribs. I can handle it." she waved off
"How far ahead is the van?" Ivy asked
"We are two hundred meters behind it." Tim listed off, Ivy carrying him on her vines "From my calculations the other Batman should be attacking near Gotham Cathedral, in about three turns from now."
"It's scary how observant you are, Robin." HarleyQuinn commented
"He's ah Mini-B-Man and Ah'm so proud!" Shard grinned, her fake Brooklyn accent being exaggerated in her eagerness
"Mum...!" Tim blushed, a little embarrassed by this... It did felt weird to call her that, he had to admit
Harley was happy to hear that, but she DID know that Tim held his own mother in his heart.
BOOM!
"Here we go!" Dick called out from the com links but no one saw him
"Are you in position?" HarleyQuinn asked
"Yeah, and 'Fake-Bat' is going to appear around now." Dick answered
"Titans, Go." Dick said without thinking. And with that, they leapt down to the van, where they saw the unsubtle Batman.
The group jumped down, seeing the AzBat walking towards the overturned truck
"Hey, Ass-Bat!" Shard shouted, glaring at him and slammed into him, both feet first
"HNN! Shard? Why are YOU here?" AzBat glared and grunted after his back was kicked in.
"Because I'm not telling you ruin my husband's good name." she hissed, pulling out her weapons
"Husband?" AzBat blinked in confusion
"BWAH-HA-HA-HA!" Joker's terrifying laugh exited the toppled over van making Shard freeze
Huntress jumped forward, shooting a large barrage of arrows at AzBat "ARGH! Couldn't penetrate me before. Can't do it now!" AzBat answered, albeit with a single arrow in his armour where it was exposed. Cassandra jumped down and grabbed the arrow, using it to cut a large gash in the metal suit "ARGH, little-!" AzBat growled and lashed out at her, but she dodged out of the way.
"Not very good at this, are you?" Joker laughed as his cage had been shattered by the attack "Freedom!" Joker cheered, leaping out of the cage. The madman started dancing, rushing off
"WHAT?! DAMN IT!" Ivy snarled, using her vines against AzBat as he used his fire sword against them
"You fools! I warned you!" AzBat hissed
"NO!" Cassandra roared and gave a powerful flying kick, hitting his chest hard, before she grabbed the bat on his chest "NO! No Kill! Bat means no kill!" she ranted, jumping back and ripping the bat symbol from his chest "The Bat is a promise! Means no killing!"
"Foolish child!" AzBat growled and slashed at her.
"I'm going after Joker!" Dick called though as he still kept to the shadows, racing through the night
"Go get him!" HarleyQuinn called thought as she and the others took on AzBat.
*ClockTower*
"The Joker got away?!" Jason gasped
"Darn it." Barbara growled... and didn't notice Jason had left
*in Gotham*
The Joker laughed, having freed himself from every bond. He had shattered the window at a gun store, having stolen a few dozen guns "It's like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one. If I could remember it. BWAH-HA-HA-HA!" Joker laughed maniacally.
FWOOSH!
"Is that you Batsy?" Joker laughed
Eyes pierced through the darkness, glaring at the Joker. And threw a batarang at the mad clown. The Joker starred shooting his guns, blasting the bladed weapons. The figure dodged out of the way, ducking and diving away from bullets and used the shadows.
"Ooh, ducking and diving, Bats? Guess that busted back has made you like Ms Gordon." Joker laughed, firing into the shadows... And the figure dashed from the shadows, punching him across the jaw hard "AH! Oh. Not talking. Where's the fun in tha-OOF!" Joker asked before getting kicked in the gut.
The grey knee hit his gut, a blue fist colliding with his jaw, a blue cape wrapped around the Joker's face disorientate him and then a powerful throw sending the clown into a lamppost
CLANG!
"Ah. Ptoo." Joker grunted and groaned, spitting a tooth out. He pulled himself up, seeing the hero standing in the flickering light
Stepping into the dimly lit and flickering lamppost light. There was Batman. Standing tall and imposing as ever...but this wasn't Bruce. It was Dick, wearing the grey and blue Batsuit. HIS Batsuit
"Oh, putting on some new threads? Thought the dark grey and black was more your look." Joker quipped, subtly aiming a gun at him and a birdarang cut the gun from his hand "Hnn! Fine. Guess we'll do this mano-e-clowno." Joker grunted, getting back up to his feet as ROBIN landed besides Batman!
Dick's eyes widened under his mask, shocked to see Jason with him. "Robin!" he gasped
"... Batman." Jason smiled and nodded
"Oh. The dynamic duo. Oh boy, does this take me back! BWAHAHAHA! Well then... This is for taking MY girl!" Joker cooed and shot at them with a machine gun and the two ran in opposite directions, dodging the bullets
"She left you for someone better." Robin answered, throwing a birdarang at the clown. Batman bit his tongue, holding back the urge to quip, using the opening to rush Joker
"You lit-GNN!" Joker growled and was tackled by Batman. Batman gave a series of rapid and strong punches, his gloves coming to life with lightning "GZZCK! Shock. Gloves?" Joker grunted, punching Batman in the head "GAH! What is that MADE OF?!" he yelled, shaking his hand as a few broken bones in his hand creaked against each other
"Kevlar. Grit. And will." Batman answered, shocking Joker with his gauntlets. He and Robin began to work together, throwing a series of rapid and powerful blows. Robin jumping off and around the larger hero, Batman taking up most of the attention allowing Robin to get harsh surprise blows in
Joker was getting beaten down and brought to his knees, taken down by the Boy Wonder and the Bat "This... isn't... funny..." Joker groaned. Batman and Robin shared a look and nodded
POW!
Joker fell to the floor, unconscious with some of his teeth missing, after Batman and Robin had given him a double punch to the face
The Dynamic Duo stood there victorious, smiling proudly at each other
"I thought you quit." Dick quipped
"I want to make up for a mistake." Jason answered.
"You more than have made up for a small error in judgment." Dick assured, putting a hand on Jason's shoulder "You know... B-Dad wants me to take up the mantel of the Batman. T-Our little brother wants to be Robin. So... the position of Nightwing is open."
Jason looked up at Dick with wide eyes and his jaw dropped in shock. His head lowered and rested it on his chest, choking back tears as his brother had forgiven him. That his brother wanted HIM to continue his personal legacy. More than being Robin, Batman's sidekick. Being the second Nightwing, the hero identity that Dick had forged for himself!
"He is younger than either of us." Dick smiled softly "You and I, Batman and Nightwing. Training our successor side by side, little brother. I know you'll make me proud."
"I-I'm making the bird red." Jason sniffed and smiled
Dick laughed at that. "Of course."
As the two stood there and called the police...Joker was down, but he was FAIRLY conscious. Hearing about 'leaving a legacy'.
Back with AzBat the battle was still on. He was looking worse for wear, fighting one on one was one thing. But this? Fighting a woman that shot arrows, fighting Poison Ivy, a girl with a large mallet AND a woman that could predict his every move? It was getting too much.
Harley gave a powerful slash with a special blade she made by combining a few of her shard weapons. She was using it to counter the flaming sword, while Helena shot her arrows and at his armour and Cassandra was doing her a rapid barrage of blows to the openings the others gave her
Ivy was, ironically, the lease useful in this fight. However she was using spores from many plants to rust AzBat's armour and using her plants to block any attacks AzBat may use
"Why. Do you. Halt me?" AzBat growled as he tried to fight back, only to be slowed down.
"Because The Batman does not kill." Tim said simply, AzBat falling to the floor with a cracked helmet
"You've. Lost." Helena panted as she aimed her crossbow at his shoulder.
"MOVE!"
BANG!
Everyone froze, Jason having pushed Tim out of the way as a bullet ripped through his chest and into AzBat's head
Jason gasped, panting as he fell to his knees and then onto his face.
"ROBIN!" Helena called out and ran to him
Dick twisted his head wide eyed, seeing Joker lying on the floor. He was holding a smoking gun, laughing madly... and was suddenly grabbed by Cassandra. Cassandra had snapped, beating the Clown Prince with her fists.
Teeth.
Blood.
Spit.
Bone.
All of it was getting on her hands "KILLED! YOU KILLED! HIM! MONSTER! MONSTER!" Cassandra roared
"No! STOP!" Duela yelled as everyone saw the sight, racing towards them
Cass had a batarang in her fist, ready to slice Joker's throat...and stopped, just an inch before cutting his jugular vein. Cass' hand shook and dropped it, turning back to Jason and the group, seeing Joker almost drown in his own blood. She had... she had almost killed him
But she felt his eyes in her.
She got off the Joker and rushed to Jason's side, crying
Cass was inconsolable. Seeing her 'uncle' die. She didn't want to see family die.
"...ss." Jason whispered as he looked up at her.
"Jason..." she cried
"Bats... don't kill..." he whispered "... it's a promise. You're... a hero... Cass..."
Cass looked down at him, seeing him try and take his mask off as strength left his eyes. He looked up at her with his clear blue eyes and a smile on his face.
Cass' eyes shrunk back into her head; before, when a person died, they were terrified and begging for their lives, scared of what comes next and didn't want to go yet. Fear. Sadness. Terror. Guilt. All that was left in a dying person's body language.
But Jason? No. No sadness. No guilt or sin. No fear. No pain. Jason died with a smile on his lips and happiness in the arms of the ones he loved. She began to cry her eyes out, her heart pumping wildly as she took in this new information
Over by the lying near-corpse of the Joker, AzBat tried to crawl on the ground to end him. Mark him as the TRUE Batman, once and for all.
"Not so fast." Dick answered, treading on AzBat's back and pinned him down, handcuffing him in the process as his eyes slowly began to close, AzBat dying from the Joker's gunshot
This story was a... tragic, but over
*? ? ?*
We find ourselves in Gotham, a black-haired woman sits alone in a room, nursing a cup of luke-warm coffee that she had been staring at for the last hour and a half. The singe of the boiling liquid died down and left her hands numb to warmth...She felt like she was alone...No. She WAS alone.
The man she wanted to marry had died before they could say their vows. Before the altar...before he could see her in her dress. On her left ring finger was a small golden ring with a tiny diamond. Her last memento of him. The people who killed him got away, had escaped justice and broke her heart.
She was cold, alone
Those monsters... those monsters killed her family, ripped her life from her... and they wont be rightfully punished
"A real shame." A voice spoke from behind the woman, speaking in a mechanically distorted voice. "I heard it was a great affair."
Cassandra moved quickly, throwing her cup at at the figure as she broke the leg off a chair to use as a weapon as she turned around and looked at the figure
The figure stood there, not moving a muscle, hands in the air and with cold coffee dripping down him.
He didn't scream. Didn't flinch. Wearing a black reinforced jacket, military-grade black armoured trousers, and a dark brown open jacket.
Cassandra glared at the figure, reading his body language...and was surprised, he wasn't going to attack. Not even going to defend himself. he just stood there, near-defenceless and wanted to talk.
"Waste of coffee in my opinion." The man spoke calmly.
"Who are you?" she asked, looking at his face but his face was covered, by a bright. Red. Helmet.
"A friend. Someone like you. Someone who's lost people." The person answered calmly "Mind if I sit?"
She gritted her teeth, but nodded
"Isn't it unfair that everyone you love keeps dying, keeps being taken away from you, and the evil gets to live?" The red helmeted man asked "You are the second, or third, deadliest woman alive. But what good is the 'no kill rule' when all it does is allow these sickos free? These guys are murderers. Killers. They took away what you loved most and they get to laugh about it. At worst they get locked up again, and they break out in less than a month. And they will do this again to so many others. So many people will loose their Dick Grayson's, their Bart Allen's. Come now Cassie, you know better than that. I can help you."
"... Who are you...?" Cassandra asked as she cried
"Some call me Red Hood." The figure said, reaching for his mask "But you know me as..."
Cassandra gasped as she dropped her weapon, staring at his face "It can't be..."
"Hey Cassie. Been a while." a 24 year old, and alive, Jason Todd smirked at her