Well I guess I should update. That last chapter sort of let everything happen at once I know but that is for some reason my style of writing. What is going to happen today? Well I don't really know so let's just wait and see shall we.
Chapter 2
Bruce looked at the clock. It was the middle of the night. He went downstairs for a glass of water. As he climbed down the stairs half asleep he went into the kitchen and saw Alfred sitting at the table with a cup of coffee looking distraught. Bruce had a look of concern on his face. "Alfred," he asked his old friend. Alfred looked up half scared and smiled when he saw it was just Bruce. He greeted him warmly and asked what he was doing up. "Came down for some water. Is everything alright, you look distressed about something."
"Oh yes, master Bruce, everything is fine. Just have a lot on my mind."
"Do you need some time off?"
"No, no, of course not."
"Are you sure, you seem really distant, maybe you should get some sleep yourself."
"Yes, quite right, I will in a bit. Just need to think a few things over."
What Bruce didn't realize was what kept the poor old man awake. He couldn't stop thinking about his encounter with the old woman and what he discovered about poor Dick. He had to tell the boy but his grandmother was so bent on him not knowing. Bruce just smiled and nodded and went back to bed after having his water. Alfred went back to his thoughts. Nothing could ever prepare him for what he had to tell the others. Suddenly a fear over came him, what would happen if Bruce were to find this out…what were to happen if the Joker found this out? It plagued his mind, the different possibilities, and there was no way he would be able to sleep.
He feared Joker coming and claiming what he would believe was his. He feared Bruce out casting Dick because of whom he was. It was Bruce's house and he could choose who lived there and who didn't. Alfred shook his head. On the other hand Bruce may see the loyalty that Dick had given him and the boys heritage would make no difference and the Joker may want nothing to do with him other then remain a rival. He sighed in frustration, too much to worry about, too many secrets.
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Alfred had not slept for days and it was beginning to show. His frail skin was slightly sickish, his eyes had dark bags around them, his hair was messy in a way that made him look like an Arkham patient. He was a little nervous around Dick and very cautious around Bruce. It made the both of them wonder what was wrong with the poor butler.
"This all started after he came back from visiting family," said Batman to Robin while they were out patrolling where Alfred couldn't here them.
"Maybe he is loosing a family member," suggested Robin, "you know, someone really close to him."
"His sister Margaret had passed away, his daughter Barbara only writes on occasion," said Batman eliminating surviving members. "Who else do we know about?"
"His brother, what's-his-face," suggested Robin being bad with names (really its because I don't know his name).
"But he has been missing for some time, why would that be bothering him now?"
"Maybe he found out he was eaten by a tiger?" This just earned him a glare from his guardian. Robin gave him a defensive smile. "Come on it was a joke."
"It wasn't funny. What if that is actually what happened and he found out!?"
"Would he tell us?"
"I'm not sure, maybe it was a funeral he attended."
"Maybe," Robin said offhandedly. Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of an explosion. The two rushed to the scene to see it was Two Face breaking into a vault. Batman told Robin to stay where he was. Robin just nodded and waited for henchmen to get in the way.
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Joker had planned it out so perfectly, he had one of the crazies play sick. When he did so a guard who was a rooky went over to see if he was okay. It was non other then the Riddler who was the brilliant actor. They planned it out to escape together. When he came into the prison the Riddler grabbed the guards gun and stuck it to his head.
"Riddle me this," he said, "A fortress with no doors or windows and a fountain with gold n the middle."
"Um…I know this," stuttered the guard.
"Come on now," said Riddler, "my trigger finger is starting to itch."
"Um…I…I…"
"Nope," he said with a smile.
"No wait-"
"Then answer is (BOOM)…an egg," he laughed wicked, "splattered your head just like an egg!"
"Hey, jokes are my line," said the Joker defensively.
"Haha sorry Joker, couldn't resist," he said half hearteldy. He picked up the keys and let his partner in crime go. Riddler changed clothes with the dead guard and put hand cuffs on the Joker. He tilted the hat so no one would recognize him. He walked him right out of the front door saying he was taking the prisoner out for a ride and some fresh air. You can't keep people cooped up or they would go crazy!
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Batman and Robin came back to the batcave exhausted from a successful night. Alfred was there to great them but not with a smile, with a look of tired worry and concern. "Master Bruce, Master Dick, come watch the news. It's bad." He lead them from the cave to the living room after they were dressed in normal clothes. The news woman was standing behind Arkham Asylum.
"Not to long ago two criminally insane patients escaped killing a guard on his first night on the job and disguising themselves as a guard and a prisoner. It was not seen as suspicious until they found the so called Riddler dead in his cell. It was later concluded that the actually Riddler and the Joker were the escapees. Will Batman and Robin be able to put them back or will the police be able to put them away this time. He hat the scene we have Commissioner Gordon. Commissioner Gordon what are your opinions?"
"The Joker and Riddler are dangerous criminals. It doesn't matter if the police or Batman and Robin put them away as long as they are back in prison. All we can do is hope for the best and pray they don't hurt any innocents before we get to them."
"That was Commissioner Gordon on Gotham News Weekly. Back to you Hank and Patricia."
Bruce turned off the TV. There was nothing he could do about it. It was to early in the morning and the two of them needed sleep. He went upstairs thinking about where to start his search tonight. His work was never done. He often times felt like the underpaid nurse. He had just cleaned up one mess for Gotham and now needed to pickup again.
Robin and Alfred exchanged looks. "What do you think," asked Dick.
"I think Bruce might be over working himself."
"I think you are over working yourself as well," said Dick, "what is wrong with you lately?"
"Just a lot on my mind is all," he gave Dick a warm smile and sent him off to bed. This did not settle him at all. Later that morning when he thought that Alfred suspected him asleep he snuck downstairs. He apparently wasn't the only one thinking the same thing. Bruce had almost hit him with a door on the way out of his own room. The two whispered quietly to each other.
"What are you doing up Dick?"
"I could ask you the same thing Bruce."
"I just want to find out what is wrong with Alfred."
"Yea me to. It's obvious that he isn't going to tell us."
"Yea, any ideas where to start."
"Well, what was he doing before he left to see family?"
"Searching for someone on the computer."
"Let's see what he was looking for online then," said Dick, "then maybe we can find out what family he was looking for."
"Good idea, then we can track them down and ask what is going on," said Bruce. The two went down to the batcave where the main computer was. Bruce logged in and looked up the recent search sites Alfred had been on. There was a people search sight. When Bruce looked it up he couldn't find the name but he did find the address. It was an address outside of Gotham.
"I thought all of Al's family other then his brother and niece were in London," said Dick.
"Unless it wasn't his family he was looking for," said Bruce curiously. Dick gave him a confused look. "It wasn't until after he looked at your blood test that he had an interest to go see this family member."
"Think we should check it out," asked Dick.
"Tomorrow. Alfred will be down here any minute now and we really do need sleep before the sun comes up."
"Yea, okay, tomorrow when Al isn't around," said Dick nodding.
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Joker laughed hestarically as Riddler drove the car at extreme speeds down the highway. Neither had ever teamed up together before and they were having a blast. It was almost sunrise and already they had managed two banks. Oh how the world was going to flip when they see two banks robbed at the same time while they were all in their beds asleep. They didn't plan on sticking together for too long. Just until the bat and his birdie caught up with them.
"Oh take a left here," said Joker, "I need to pick someone up and let her know I'm still alive."
"Oh, a lady, what's her name and is she available?"
"Her name is Harley Quinn and no she's not," said Joker dangerously.
"Ooo, sorry, didn't know she was spoken for," said Riddler defensively not really wanting to upset his new friend. When they arrived at Jokers old hide out a few old henchmen showed up and the lovely girl in black and red with a pale face jumped and squealed in delight. Riddler covered his ears. "That's quite alright, I don't think I could take the squealing anyway."
"Puddin'," she said excitedly running to the Joker.
"Cupcake," he said holding his arms out to catch the acrobat. She jumped up and nearly knocked him out of the car. She smiled sheepishly up at him.
"Sorry puddin' didn't realize just how much I missed ya I guess."
"Quite alright cupcake, let me introduce to you my new friend, the Riddler. Riddler this is Harley Quinn."
"Pleasure to meet you miss," he said holding out a hand with a smile.
"Pleasure ta meet ya to mistah," she said excitedly taking his hand, "oh mistah J you wont believe how scared I was when they caught ya!"
"Never fear my darling, they can only hold me for so long before I find some brilliant way out," said Joker with a dramatic pose. She giggled a bit, she liked when he was dramatic about it that way, it was one of the things she loved about him.
"Brilliant? We dressed up like a guard and prisoner and said you were going for a ride," said Riddler raising a brow. Joker just glared at him and he just shrugged and smiled innocently.
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Let me know that you guys exist out their!! REVIEW PLEASE!! You make it so lonely. I think I'm going to actually switch this one over to the comic section. I only read a few comics but why not. I don't know yet so…yea…hope you enjoyed.