It had started raining again, but Batman didn't notice as he left Wayne Industries and walked out into the streets of Gotham. He didn't know where he was going, and wandered aimlessly, trying to think of something he could do, some way out of this situation. There was always a way out, he knew that, but he didn't even begin to know where to look for it. He didn't have any ideas this time. His one lead had proved disappointing, and he didn't know where else to turn. Except…
He could always go home. He could see his parents again, alive and real, or at least…real enough to be able to talk to him, to hold him, to tell him they were proud of him. Surely if he told them about Batman, that would be their reaction. Pride for all the good he had done for this city…
But what good had he done for this city? Looking around, Gotham seemed the same as it always was in his own reality. It had the same sense of expectancy that he always sensed on his patrols as Batman, the same sense of something waiting to happen, usually something bad. That hadn't changed. Yes, there was crime in Gotham without him. But there was crime in Gotham with him. Violent crimes on a huge scale, perpetrated because of him. To bait him.
Joker wouldn't even exist without him – he would be a nice man, a family man who truly loved Harley, not the murdering, abusive psychopath he actually was. Batman was responsible for his transformation. Batman hadn't been able to prevent Tetch mind-controlling Alice's fiance, but Alice seemed happy with Tetch now, so maybe that had been for the best. Maybe he shouldn't have interfered. It certainly prevented the creation of the Mad Hatter, without whom he wouldn't even be in this mess. Maybe Batman had to accept that he did do more harm than good. Maybe he should stop trying. Maybe…
"Bruce! Bruce Wayne!" shouted a voice. He looked up as a car pulled up next to him and the window was rolled down to reveal the face, just the one face, of Harvey Dent.
"Bruce, what are you doing out in the rain like this?" asked Harvey. "Where's Alfred?"
"He's at home. I just…felt like walking tonight," said Batman quietly, gazing at Harvey. Another man whose life Batman had ruined, by pushing him to eradicate crime as much as he had. He had led the way with his own obsession, he had pushed Harvey into his obsession of taking down Maroni…
Harvey studied him. "You ok?" he asked. "You shouldn't be wandering the streets like this, you know. This city's not safe, despite my best efforts. You want a lift home?"
Batman sighed. "Yeah, sure," he said.
He climbed into the backseat next to Harvey, who indicated that his chaffeur drive on. Harvey then turned back to look at him again. "Bruce, are you feeling all right? You look terrible."
"I'm just a little…down, Harvey," murmured Batman. "You ever get the feeling that your life has no meaning? That even though you tried your best at everything, you still failed? That maybe the world would be better off without you in it?"
"Oh yeah, all the time!" laughed Harvey. "I guess that's what being a public figure does to you – ironically it makes you feel smaller than usual! You question your every decision, you realize everyone is watching you and judging you, and you feel more insecure than ever, even though a lot more people love you than they ever would as a private citizen! Funny old world, really, isn't it, Bruce?"
"Yeah. But I don't feel much like laughing, Harvey," murmured Batman.
Harvey lay a hand on his shoulder. "Look, Bruce, I know it must be difficult for you, being the heir to a fortune, with no need to accomplish anything. You more than most other people probably feel like your life is a waste. But it isn't, you know. Sometimes life isn't about making big differences, but just little differences to the people who are important to you. The people who care about you. And you do that, Bruce. I really value our friendship. And I bet Selina doesn't think the world would be better off without you in it."
"But what if you realized that your life wasn't just a waste, but actually harmful to other people?" asked Batman quietly. "How would you even begin to accept that, Harvey?"
He shrugged. "I imagine my decisions have brought harm to some people somewhere. But if you spent all your time considering that, you'd never get anything done. You can't blame yourself for every little thing, Bruce. Everyone has harm done to them at some point, by something or someone. The only question is how you're going to respond to it. Do you give up, or do you keep fighting? And you're a fighter, Bruce. Don't stop being one now."
Batman nodded. "I just…" he began, but Harvey's phone rang at that moment. He glanced at the number and his face fell.
"Hang on, Bruce, I just need to take this," he muttered, answering it. "Hello? Yes. Yeah. What, now? Look, I really can't. I've got company. Bruce Wayne, if you must know. What do you mean bring him too? What does he have to do with…yes. Yes, fine. See you soon."
He hung up the phone. "Change of plan, Bruce, we just need to make a slight detour before we drop you off home," he muttered. He looked a mixture of angry and worried.
"Are you all right, Harvey?" asked Batman
"Yeah. Just need to…see some people. And they're fairly…dangerous people. I don't want you to get hurt, Bruce."
"Don't worry, Harvey, I can take care of myself," retorted Batman. "Who are they?"
"Just some…associates of mine. Criminals, actually, but I have to deal with people like that in my professional capacity, you understand."
"Of course," said Bruce, nodding. "You look worried though."
"I don't trust them," retorted Harvey, reaching into his jacket. "They're fairly unpredictable." He withdrew his gun. "Fortunately I travel armed."
The car pulled up at an abandoned warehouse and they got out. "Stay close, Bruce," murmured Harvey. "You're not used to dealing with criminals like I am, especially not these criminals."
"No," agreed Batman. He would have smiled if the situation had been different.
They entered the warehouse. It was pitch black, except for the moonlight that shone through the tall windows. "J!" called Harvey. "J, where the hell are you?"
"J?" repeated Batman, stunned. He was even more stunned when he was suddenly struck a blow to the head that knocked him to the ground. He looked up through blurred vision to see the face of the Joker, and yet not the Joker, smiling at him.
"Guess it's really me you recognize this time, huh, Bruce?" he chuckled.
"Yes," gasped Batman, in a mixture of surprise, and strangely, considering the situation, relief. "Yes, it is."