"You're not Batman!"

Those three words were screamed at the peak of Two-Face's lungs. He kept his hands on the imposter's wrist, trying to keep himself elevated slightly. His eyes fearfully stared at the razor-sharp talons on the freak's open arm. He knew that the thin, silver swords could slice through his like water.

At that moment, Mercer froze. He found himself in a tight spot to say the least. The claws forming on his arm hadn't been conscious. It was an innate action he had picked up back in Manhattan when ever an Infected had been in his clutches. And now here he was, Two-Face at his mercy. Thoughts ran through his head. He might have made a horrible mistake taking on the role of Gotham's Caped Crusader. Killing was part of his MO, but not Batman's. How could he just let the freaks and murderers basically walk away to ruin more lives another day? He was trying to forgive himself, not prove himself to anybody. He realized that being the Bat was far more complex than he had initially thought. He didn't do things the quick or easy way, he did everything the 'right way' as he called it. Mercer wasn't used to that. He would just slice, crush, or consume and call it a done deal.

Before anymore thoughts could flood into his head, he heard the shuttering of camera lens and several flashes of white light. He looked around and saw several reporters for whatever news channel they worked for. They got in a circle around him and the still suspended Two-Face. They call began asking him questions at the same time.

"Are you Batman or Zeus?"

"How did you get the claws?"

"Are you going to kill Two-Face?"

He couldn't take it anymore. He needed to think. He looked back up to Two-Face. The former DA had fear and terror written all over both his faces. Mercer didn't say a single word. Killing Two-Face wouldn't have been right. The cesspool of a city needed hope, real hope. Not a rampaging, mass-murdering vigilante. He had to have them think Batman had simply adapted a new apparel. He through Two-Face to the ground and began walking away. In the direction he was going, the circle of bystanders parted like he was Moses and they were the sea. None of them followed him. About twenty seconds after he started walking away, he heard the screeching of sirens make their way towards the armored truck and Two-Face.

When he was certain that nobody could see him, he tensed his legs and rocketed himself into the air. He landed on a snow-covered rooftop. He willed the armored suit he was wearing to melt back into him and be replaced by his usual hoodie and jeans.

He looked to the almost starless sky and took in a very deep breath. He slowly exhaled and relaxed his body slightly. This task he has chosen to take, becoming the new Batman, was not going to be a cakewalk. The didn't bother him much; he had overcome a true hell back in Manhattan. But on the other hand, the innocent people here had actual hope to survive. That hadn't been the case back where he had come from. Plus, he didn't exactly think he even deserved to be called a hero. Not after what he had done...

"That was quiet a show." The statement pulled Mercer back into reality. He looked behind him and saw that Nightwing was now on the roof as well. The mask his his facial expression. "I'm gonna get right to the point: why?"

"This city needs hope," Mercer said. "And they can't possibly get it from me. And since I'm the reason your friend is close to his last breath, this is my fault and my burden."

Before either of them could say another word, Mercer walked over to and stepped off the ledge. He fell four stories to an empty street in a slum part of town. He heard something land on the street right after him and saw Nightwing had somehow followed him without obtaining a scratch.

"Is there something you want?" Mercer asked. "Or are you just trying to irritate me?"

"Yes," Nightwing answered. "I want you to attack me."

"I'm sorry?" Mercer tried, and partially failed, to stifle a laugh.

"You heard me. Attack me."

Mercer couldn't help but smile slightly. He formed his whipfist on his right and and claws on the other. "If you insist. Any particular reason?"

"Training exercise," he answered with a shrug.

They stood there, looking at each other in silence. Mercer broke the moment by lashing out his whipfist upwards and bringing it down onto Nightwing, resulting in the street having a small trench. When the dust settled, Mercer was surprised that Nightwing wasn't crushed. He was standing next to the spiked than that was Mercer's arm with a smirk on his face. "Is that all you got?"

In response Mercer retracted his arm and lashed it out, this time in a horizontal arch. Right when it was about to slice him in half, Nightwing grabbed onto it and used momentum to hurl himself over it in a manuveur that resembled a cartwheel. He landed on his feet and the whip didn't harm him at all.

"I thought you were better at this," Nightwing said with a smug grin.

Mercer was now very much annoyed. He once again retracted his extended arm. When it was normal in length again, he made it slowly grow in size until his nearly unbreakable shield replaced it. He charged at Nightwing like an out-of-control locomotive. Just as he was about to be rammed, Nightwing also ran forward and jumped slightly. Just as they were about to make contact, he grabbed the top of Mercer's shield and again avoided the attack by hurling himself over Alex. Nightwing once again landed like a graceful cat. Mercer wound up having to skid to a screeching halt. He looked back at the condescending Nightwing with a furious scowl. He made the shield reform itself so that he now had both of his claws at the ready. He saw that an empty car was right next to him. He picked it up over his head as if it weighed no more than a feather. He threw it towards Nightwing who was already running towards him. As the vehicle flew at him, the acrobat dropped down so that he was lying on his back but sliding across the ground at the same time.

The car flew past him overhead. When the air was clear he somehow got back up into a running position and continued coming right at Mercer. The walking virus was ready for this. He lashed out his claws, but like all his other attacks, Nightwing maneuvered around it. He grabbed onto Mercer's arm, somehow managing to avoid piercing his fingers on the spikes. However this time he delivered an attack of his own. After flying over Mercer, he landers passing kick on the back of Alex's shoulder blades. Mercer stumbled forward a few steps, but ultimately managed to maintain his balance. He stood there, breathing heavily. He turned around and saw Nightwing casually standing there with that same damned smirk on his face. It was then that Mercer saw that for the first time since Bloodtox was first introduced to Manhattan, he was on the losing end of a fight. Nightwing was far too... agile and flexible. He was an acrobat, and Mercer essentially fought like a brute.

Mercer made his claws disappear and he put his hands up in defeat. "Fine. For the first time ever, I admit that I lose."

Nightwing, instead of gloating, walked right up to him and shook his hand in true sportsmanship. "This proves my point; you're too destructive to be Gotham's Batman. And it isn't your fault. But you don't know him, I bet half the Batmobiles that he's going to pull through."

"And you don't know Blacklight. I bet that only a Goddamn miracle can save him."

"The weird thing about this city..." Nightwing started. "Is that miracles are actually somewhat common."

"It also seems to be a place where nightmares have a habit of becoming reality." Mercer pointed out.

"Okay, you got me there." Nightwing chuckled. "They even each other out."

Mercer just looked at him skeptically. How could he maintain such an optimistic attitude in such a somber situation?

"You need a ride a ride back? I'm headed over to your place anyway." Nightwing said.

Mercer thought about it for a second, and then shrugged his shoulders. "Why not?"

XXXXXX

Poison Ivy stood by the front doors of the former Iceberg Lounge. Today was the day one of the Bat Family was due to collect their bargain; three huge crates of fresh produce for the starving people.

She heard the roaring of an engine and saw one of the Batman's vehicles pull up. From within it came Nightwing and, to her surprise, Alex.

"Is that it?" Nightwing asked, pointing to the crates.

"Indeed," Ivy said as Mercer walked up to her. She kissed him, and much to her satisfaction he returned it. They separated and turned so that both of them were looking at the acrobatic fighter.

"Great." He pulled out a small black remote and pressed a few buttons. Within moments, an engine could be heard overhead. All three of them looked up to see one of Batman's aerial vehicles levitating above them. From it came a giant metal claw which slowly lowered to the ground, grasped the crates, and lifted them back up into the air. When everything was secure, the aircraft turned around and flew off to the heart of the city.

"Well, thanks," Nightwing said looking back at the very peculiar couple. "See you around." He climbed back into the militaristic car and sped off.

As the two of them watched him slowly recede into the snowy night, Mercer slowly shook his head. "I am beginning to not like that guy."

"Why's that?" Ivy asked. She thought that Alex had a rather positive relationship with the Bat Family.

"In a weird, unorthodox way, he kicked my ass."

XXXXXX

Alex was in his lab/office, still trying to figure out a vaccine to the Joker's laughing gas. Suddenly, the TV he left on to provide him with white noise emitted something that caught his ear. He stopped doing his research and looked at what turned out to be a news channel. The reporter was half way done with the 'emergency announcement' but he still caught on enough that the government was giving up some of its support and hope for the quarantined major city. And that to save money, they would be forcing the city to experience rolling blackouts. As soon as that last part was said, the entire room went black.

"Well ain't this perfect," he said to himself. Having memorized the layout of the room, and the entire building itself, he easily made his way out to the main room, which was partially lit thanks to the rising sun outside. He heard the now familiar sound of plants growing at an impossibly fast rate and saw a vine drop Ivy off on the walkway.

"Alex, what's going?" She asked. There was concern in her voice. Mercer wasn't surprised. Without power, the building could operate its industrial heater and keep the place warm for the jungle that covered the entire ground-level floor.

"Oh, we're just going to be having a few random blackouts."

"What?! For how long?"

"Indefinitely." He looked down at the shrubbery and heard Iby frantically ask him what they were going to do. His thoughts drifted to the fact that he had billions in bank accounts thanks to the Penguin. Then he got an idea. An idea not to help just them, but a lot of people.

XXXXXX

Bruce Wayne sat in his bed, feeling like everything in his body was rejecting itself and him. He was watching several different news channels to see how the city was holding up without him. Suddenly, one had something every single other broadcast didn't: positive news.

"I am standing here next to one of the several sustaining power generators that has been donated to the city and its people. When the powers that be cut off our power, our warmth and light, someone stepped in to give a helping hand and provide comfort to thousands of people who were ready to give up. I am Jack Ryder, and I would like to personally thank the Mercer Foundation. For not only giving us light to help us see our city again, but for also helping us see the sliver lining."

Bruce shut off the screen and sat alone with his thoughts. This was an excellent break through for the city, but it had potential to be a horrible turn of events. It was obvious to the world's Greatest Detective that the Mercer Foundation was created and owned by his acquaintance, Alexander J. Mercer, and that he has given light and power back to Gotham, but now he could also threaten to take it away at his leisure. Bruce wasn't sure if Mercer would actually do this, but it was undoubtedly possible.