A/N: Hope you all enjoy my new chapter! This is my little tribute to one of my favorite movies of all time, the Dark Knight. Remember to leave a review or a favorite if you really liked it.
Jenecide24: I'm glad you're enjoying this story so much! I figured the bat signal might be a good touch.
Isaac Clark: Believe me, the constant updates aren't as hard as they seem. I actually have almost finished the next chapter!
Chapter Twelve: A Killing Joke
Officer Ben Johnson stood on the roof of the GCPD building, shivering from the cold winter air. He waited next to a couple two other officers, Officer James Bullock and Officer Kevin Doyle.
"I told you he ain't coming," Doyle complained after taking a drag from his cigar.
James nodded in agreement, "Yeah, how long we gonna wait out in the cold for this guy?"
"Shut it you two," Johnson barked, "He's coming, just you wait! He won't abandon us now."
Still shivering, Johnson stared hopefully up at the bat signal. They needed the Batman now more then ever.
Ten more minutes passed and there was still no sign of the Bat, and his other two partners were getting even more annoyed.
"I'm heading inside, this is a waste of our time," Bullock grumbled, pouring out his mug of coffee and walking back inside.
Kevin followed promptly, taking one last smoke and then throwing it over the edge of the building.
Johnson sighed and decided it might be best to turn in after all. Just as he was about to switch off the bat signal, he heard a rough voice ask, "What is the issue officer?"
Johnson spun around, a bit startled by the voice, and saw the Batman standing in front of him waiting for an answer.
Johnson grimaced and responded, "We have a really big problem."
Batman nodded, waiting for Johnson to continue his report.
"The Commissioner never made it home after we arrested the Joker, along with one of the hostages."
Batman's eyes went wide, it couldn't be. "What was the hostage's name?" Batman questioned, getting more unsettled by the second.
Johnson looked in the files he had made and answered, "Jimmy Oleson, the guy who runs the Daily Planet. Batman I don't know if you know this, but the Commissioner is one of the only good people with power in Gotham, if we lose her, we might as well stop fighting crime!"
Batman nodded, it was true. Commissioner Jenna Carmen was renowned throughout Gotham as a true defender of justice and a role model to all. Many people's spirits would break if the Joker managed to kill her.
"I need to speak with him," Batman growled, walking inside the police department with Johnson tailing close behind.
"We've set up an interrogation room, but we haven't been able to get anything out of him yet. I think he'll only talk to you."
As Batman walked through the hallways and cubicles of the building, many police stared in disbelief. It wasn't every day when they got to see two legends in the same building together.
Johnson showed Batman downstairs, where a full room was ready with multiple police in the observation room already.
"Just go through this door when you're ready," Johnson told him, walking over to stand with the other cops.
Batman didn't say a word, rather pulled the door open violently and slammed it behind him.
The Joker sat behind a single table, his hands un-cuffed and a huge grin plastered to his face. Seeing the madman so happy made Batman feel sick, and enraged.
Joker pointed to the seat across from him and invited Batman to join him. "Ahhh, there you are! I was beginning to worry you wouldn't show."
Batman sat down in the chair and looked the clown dead in his beady, unfeeling eyes. "What have you done with them?"
"Tsk, tsk Batman," Joker giggled, "it's too soon for those questions. I feel as if you should at least soften me up before I spill the beans."
Batman grabbed Joker's head and slammed it against the table, "That soft enough?"
"Hehehehehe, tell me Batman, is it frustrating trying to do so much good and being so under appreciated by the authorities?"
Batman glared angrily at him; of course the Joker knew he had an instable relation with the government.
"No answer? Well that's fine, pleasing the people in charge never was what it was about. You never were like the other idiots in tights."
"What do you mean?"
The Joker laughed, "C'mon Bats! Those idiots blindly follow those with power and money along with the rest of society. It's one of the biggest jokes of all! But you and I, we know the truth. We see what the others can't, only in a little differently."
"You and I are nothing alike," Batman snarled, standing from the chair, looming over the psychotic clown.
"That's not how they see it," the Joker chuckled, "to them we're just riots, civil unrest, and other disastrous things waiting to happen. They think we're crazy, but we see things more clearly then ever."
"You're a murdering psychopath who thinks death is funny. You are completely insane."
"HAHAHAHAHAA! You know what's funny? The fact that you've convinced yourself that you aren't just as crazy as I am! That everybody isn't as crazy as I am! No, I've seen you try and kid yourself, spending time with that lovely blonde in white and red."
Batman's glare intensified ten folds, giving the Joker all he needed to continue.
"Hoohoo, I'm right aren't I! You do have a thing for the woman of steel! Well let me tell you something, that's exactly why dear Jimmy is so important to my party, my party to show my love for you! I'm sure once everyone's there you can tell him about your little affair wi…"
At that moment, Batman lost it. Lunging across the table, he picked up the Joker and threw him across the room into the wall.
"He's losing control, someone get in there!" Johnson ordered the other cops
Before they could reach the door, Batman put his chair up against it, blocking their only entrance. He then turned back towards the Joker, seething with unmitigated fury.
The Joker sat up and stretched casually, "Ohohohoo, did I hit a raw nerve there?"
Batman grabbed him by the head and slammed it against the window, causing it to crack loudly, and then picked him up by his collar.
The Joker merely cackled maniacally, as if he didn't even feel the hit. "Hehehe, there it is! Your fiery temper that only I can bring out!"
"Where are they?!"
"I bet right when I came into the picture, nothing else mattered, everyone else was just an obstacle!"
"TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE!"
"You know I have to thank you," Joker laughed, totally ignoring the question, "If you hadn't come back I would have lost my purpose!"
Batman through the clown into the wall again, catching him by the neck before he could even hit the ground. Again, the Joker merely smiled and giggled off the pain. "The way I see it, we're not even human, rather two entities destine to do this dance forever! We're closer partners then you and the flying blonde!"
"There is NOTHING I hate more then you," Batman snarled
The Joker let loose another choked laugh, causing Batman slam him onto the table as hard as he could.
"This game won't go on a second longer!" Batman growled, bringing his fist down into the Joker's stomach.
"Oof," the Joker wheezed happily, "That'll take something we both know you have the balls to do!"
"I'm seriously considering it," Batman snarled as he brought Joker up to eyelevel.
"Hehe, then do it! You don't have much time though, Jimbo probably isn't doing to well right now, Hahahaha!"
The dark knight drove the clowns head in the window again, putting an even larger crack in it. The Joker fell to the floor near the wall, but Batman wasn't done. He began punching the Joker mercilessly, yelling, "WHAT DID YOU DO! WHERE ARE THEY!"
The Joker kept laughing, "You have NOTHING! You can beat me and kick me, but in the end you can't finish it!"
Batman's frustration grew as he picked Joker up, kneed him in the ribs and followed up with a powerful kick to the side of the clown's head. The Joker continued to just take the beating, laughing every hit off just to spite him.
"You have nothing to threaten me with! Nothing to do with all your strength!"
WHAP!
"Nothing!"
WHAP!
"Hehehehe…"
WHAP!
"HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAAHAAAHAAHA AAHAAAAA!"
Batman pulled his fist back, about to punch the Joker's teeth in, "WHERE ARE THEY?!"
"Hehehehe…"
His fist went flying towards the Joker's face when the clown suddenly said, "Alright, alright I'll talk! You've earned it."
Batman picked him up by the collar again and forced him against the wall, pressing the edges of his gauntlet against his throat. With a terrifying glare, Batman signaled the Joker to start talking. The Joker choked out another laugh, coughing up a bit of blood, and then answered.
"Jimmy's a real player in this party, along with your dear Commissioner, apple of the public's eye. They're both preparing for their roles for your party great Bat King. Now, unfortunately I'm down an invite, so you're going to have to choose which is allowed to attend your royal banquet. The lady is at 4355 Monument and the gentleman is at 6578 Marvin Avenue. Better hurry though, they're dying to get an answer HAHAHAAAHAAAAHAAHAAAHAAAHAAH AHAAHAAAHAHAAAA!"
Batman threw the Joker down and stormed out of the room, kicking the chair that blocked the door aside. What was he supposed to do? He had to put one in the hands of the police and save one himself. But whom would he save? He knew that whomever he went after, the other had a significantly smaller chance of survival. The Commissioner was arguably his best ally and the most reliable hope Gotham had of ridding itself of crime, but he had promised to save Jimmy. He couldn't break his promise to Kara.
"Which one are you going for," Johnson asked, running outside with Batman along with dozens of officers.
"Jimmy," Batman answered, clicking a button on his utility belt. The Batmobile swerved out of an ally, opening up the cockpit. Batman jumped in and slammed on the accelerator, shooting off into the streets.
"We're getting the Commissioner!" Johnson yelled to the other cops while he started up one of the police cars, "I want all on duty officers to get everyone they can off the road!"
0000000000000000000000000000 0
Batman weaved in between traffic, trying to get to Jimmy as fast as he could. He wasn't at all worried that the address was a fake, that wasn't how the Joker operated. For whatever reason, the Joker wanted him to get to Jimmy. It was most likely a trap, but he had no other choice.
As he sped across Gotham, he yelled into the intercom, "Eve, connect me to Kara immediately!"
"Of course Mr. Wayne,"
The sound of the phone beeping started up while he waited for Kara to pick up the phone. He was going to need her to get to Jimmy, seeing as she could get there faster then he could.
"Hello?" Kara answered, her voice told him that she was obviously still over what happened.
Batman immediately told her, "Kara this is Christian, I need you…"
"Christian, I don't think you should call anymore. I'm leaving for Metropolis tomorrow."
Batman gripped the steering wheel tightly in frustration, "Kara you have to listen!"
"No you listen," Kara yelled, "I'm tired of you being so cold and unfeeling! If you want to be a heartless bastard, that's fine, but I don't want anything to do with it!"
"Kara!"
Before he could get another word in, she hung up on him. Gritting his teeth, Batman amped up his speed. Streetlights and pedestrians became blurs as he sped past them, dodging traffic expertly. He knew even if Kara hated him, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself if he let Jimmy die.
"Mr. Wayne, you're coming up to your stop," Eve told him calmly
Batman arrived at the warehouse on Marvin and stopped the batmaboile to a screeching halt. Jumping out, he ran as fast as he could towards the enterance.
Using the blades on his gauntlets to break the lock, he kicked the door down and found Jimmy tied up next to dozens of barrels of petroleum and nitroglicerate.
When Jimmy saw the dark knight, his eyes went wide in fear, "No! No Batman you have to go!"
Ignoring him, Batman tore off Jimmy's restraints and picked him up. Jimmy struggled and yelled, trying to get back inside. As much as he struggled though, Batman was much too strong.
"Batman you have to leave me!"
The Joker had probably poisnoned him with something that's making him delirious, Batman thought, hauling him outside.
Right when the two were outside, the building erupted in flames. Batman used his cape to protect himself and Jimmy from the fire so they wouldn't get burned from the blow out.
After they got to a safe distance, Batman stood up and put his hand to his cowl. "Officer Johnson, have you gotten the commissioner?"
After a couple seconds, Johnson answered, "Yeah, we got her… Thank God."
"Good, I'll be bringing Oleson back to the…"
He was cut off by the sound of a horrible agonized scream. Whirling around, Batman saw Jimmy rolling around on the ground, griping in pain.
"AHHHH!" he screamed, as he curled up tightly
His heart beating a mile a minute, Batman stooped down over Jimmy and tried to see what was the matter. Fumbling for the medical kit, he called Eve up on his comm. link and asked "Oracle, what's happening? What type of poison is this?"
"I don't know, I've never seen anything like it before!" Eve answered, pulling up medical files as she watched the feed through the cowl.
Batman tried to turn Jimmy over to see his face, but his struggling was growing stronger. When he finally got a look at Jimmy's face, Batman saw his eyes were bright green.
"No…" Batman said, backing up as quickly as he could.
"Hello? Can you hear me bats?"
Batman's eyes narrowed as he heard the Joker's voice come from Jimmy's flailing body. The fact that Joker was able to send this message meant that he had escaped from police custody. Batman snarled in frustration, how could he have left the clown alone like that!
"Well, I'm just going to assume you can," Joker's voice continued, "You see Jimmy here wasn't quite ready so I gave him a makeover! I think you'll really like it, he's a new man…"
Jimmy's muscles began to bulge out of his suit as his screams slowly transformed into roars and other animal-like noises. Suddenly, bones began bursting from Jimmy's elbows, skull, and back. Jimmy's coat ripped as he continued to grow, his biceps becoming un naturally huge. The roars became louder and more angry as Jimmy began to stand, slowly but surely gaining his balance. Batman knew exactly what Joker had done; he had given Jimmy Titan.
"HAHAHAAAHAAHAHAAAAHAAAHAAA," cackled the Joker as the thing that was once Jimmy began to stand up and turn towards him.
"Jimmy, you have to control it!" Batman yelled readying himself for the fight.
When he saw Jimmy fully transformed, his heart dropped. There was a large scar going across his chest, from where the Joker's voice came from. "Sorry Bats, he's not home right now, but i'm sure you can leave a message…"
Jimmy roared with anger and charged towards Batman at full speed. Batman dived to the side and then jumped towards Jimmy, giving a powerful kick in the jaw.
Jimmy stumbled back, snarling and gnashing his teeth, but not even close to being down.
"Jimmy, you have to listen to me! Do it for Kara!"
The monster responded by swiping at the dark knight with his large claws. Batman back flipped out of his range, throwing a couple batarangs as he did. The small bat shaped projectiles merely bounced off Jimmy's rock hard skin as he charged towards him.
Batman slid under the titan's legs and shot his batclaw, catching him on the chin. Once he was behind Jimmy, he yanked as hard as he could, pulling him to the ground.
"Jimmy try and fight it!"
The monster got up and slammed the ground where Batman was. He kept dodging and landing hits, but no matter what Jimmy kept tanking.
Batman jumped up and landed three punches on the mutant, then kicked off its chest. Before Batman could land, though; Jimmy grabbed him by thee leg and pulled him towards him. Holding him by his torso now, Jimmy roared in anger as he began crushing the life out of Batman.
"Jimmy…" he managed to cough out as the air was squeezed out of him.
Jimmy still was still unable to break free from the fury of the Titan formula. He snarled and continued to tighten his grip. Batman could feel his ribs cracking as his vision became spotty.
"Jimmy… if you're still in there somewhere…"
Batman could barely feel his chest now as he struggled to break free.
"If you're in there somewhere… I'm sorry…"
Pulling out a large knife from his belt, he stabbed it into Jimmy's hand, causing him to loosen his grip. Batman shot a grapple line around his neck and swung behind the titan, finding footing on his shoulder.
Jimmy struggled and swung as Batman kept the line around the monster's neck as tight as he could. As he held on, Batman pulled out a strangely shaped batarang and through it on Jimmy.
A screeching sound started from the front of the burning warehouse, followed by the sound of breaking concrete. Batman took a deep breath to prepare himself for what was about to happen.
Suddenly, the batmobile burst from the flaming remains of the warehouse and shot straight towards them. Batman jumped off Jimmy's shoulders right before the car collided with him, driving him into the side of the nearest building.
Looking over his shoulder, he saw the thing that Jimmy had turned into wrapped around his bumper and unconscious.
"Woah, that was unexpected," the Joker giggled
"Joker, you've gone too far this time," Batman growled, holding his injured arm.
"Hehehe," the Joker laughed, "that wasn't me going too far. THIS is me going to far! HAHAHAAAAHAAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAA HAAHAA!"
A small beeping noise began to sound as the Joker finished laughing. Batman frantically looked around for the source. He then realized where the beeping was coming from. Eyes wide, Batman turned towards Jimmy and saw a flashing red light glowing from within his chest.
"NO!"
Batman was about to jump towards Jimmy, but he was too late. The explosive device went off from inside him, the sheer force knocking Batman several feet away.
"JIMMY!"
His heart racing, he ran over towards the crumbled building and began throwing away stones and scraps of metal, trying to save his already dead friend.
"Jimmy, Jimmy no! Jimmy please you can't be…"
After throwing away a especially large chunk of cement, Batman stared in disbelief at the blood and torn flesh that covered everything.
"No…"
Batman dropped to his knees in front of what remained of his friend. He had to hold off the urge to throw up, the scene was so grizzly. As he knelt silently, he squinted his eyes. Even though they ached from the stress, he continued to hold back tears. He wouldn't cry ever again. He had to stay strong.
"Batman, what happened?" Johnson called over the radio, "We've been trying to contact you, is everything all right?"
Batman gritted his teeth and responded, "We have one casualty. James Oleson is… is dead."
"We're coming over right now!"
"No, Joker might be loose down at the GCPD building. You have to get back there!"
Johnson took a heavy breath, "We already got the report; the clown got out of the box. His crazy bitch came back for him along with twelve other armed thugs; the men left at the building didn't stand a chance. That's not the worse part though; he stole a file with every cop's name and address. He knows where we all live!"
Batman punched the wall angrily, the Joker wanted to be caught! He knew exactly what to do, and knew that Jimmy was connected to him. The Joker didn't even know how close they were and still that mad clown murdered him. It was true, everything and everyone Batman touched died.
A golden gleam caught his eye as he took one last look at the rubble. When he picked it up and took a closer look, he saw it was a ring. Inside it was engraved, "to Kara, the love of my life"
Clenching it in his fist, Batman closed his eyes. The Joker was going to pay.
0000000000000000000000000000 000000000000000
Crowds of people stood outside the Gotham Cathedral, all coming to morn the loss of James Oleson. Dark clouds shrouded the skies, covering the sun from view. Superheroes and media giants all gathered together inside the church, dressed in black.
Kara sat next to Conner and M'gann, crying into her cousin's shoulder. Louis and Clark were behind them, holding each other tight. They had known Jimmy ever since he was a teenager taking pictures at Louis' side.
"I never thought this would happen," Clark lamented, "I always thought I'd be here to protect him. He was like a son to me…"
"We all cared for him Clark. I just can't believe he's gone," Louis said, leaning her head on Clark's chest.
"I shouldn't have brought him to Gotham," Kara cried, "I shouldn't have let him get sucked into this!"
"No, no it's alright Kara. This was the Joker's fault, and his alone," Conner reassured her, stroking her blonde hair.
M'gann began tearing up as well, "Kara I am so sorry for your loss. I know how much he meant to you."
Suddenly, the door closed loudly, causing everyone to turn their heads towards the noise. In walked Eve, dressed in black, holding a dark umbrella. Silently, she took her seat next to Louis, who was confused as to why all her family and friends were staring at her.
"Where is he," Kara asked her angrily through her tears
Eve merely took out a cloth and dabbed her eyes. Staying silent, she continued looking at her feet, ignoring the glares from the justice league and others close to the newly departed.
"You heard me Eve, where is he!" Kara pressed as Conner held her back.
"He does not handle loss well," Kara finally answered, then dropped back into silence.
"So he doesn't even have the nerve to show up at his friend's funeral!"
Eve shook her head and continued her silence. She wasn't here to fight; she was here to honor a friend whose life was taken from him at its prime.
"WHY?"
Clark finally intervened, putting a hand on Kara's shoulder and comforting her. "Kara, you have to calm down. Please, we should honor his memory…"
Kara began sobbing again, falling back into her seat. Eve again had to wipe away her tears, for both Jimmy and Christian.
The sermon began with some words from the people who knew Jimmy in his life. Louis Lane spoke first since she had known Jimmy the longest, other then his own family.
"Ever since I met James Oleson, I knew he was something special. He stuck with me through thick and thing, even if I was quite a handful. Jimmy was like a second son to me. I can't even express how sorry I am to see his fate. In life and in death, Jimmy was and will always be a precious friend and a valued member of my family."
As people continued to speak, Eve continued to worry. She remembered the horrible state Christian was in after that night.
-FLASHBACK-
Eve walked down to the batcave with a platter of food. It was the morning after Jimmy's death, and Christian had not spoken a single word. She found him sitting in his chair looking down at his cowl. As he held the cowl in the lap, it was as if he didn't notice anything else around him,
"Mr. Wayne…" Eve said, putting the food on a table next to him.
Christian didn't respond at all, rather just continued to stare at his cowl.
"Mr. Wayne, I have your breakfast," she tried again quietly
Again, Christian said nothing.
"I'll ask later," Eve told him, picking up the platter and turning away.
"Eve, what have I done?"
Eve turned back around and saw him looking at her with his broken and glassy eyes. "Sir?"
"Did I kill him?"
"No, no," Eve answered reassuringly, "Mr. Wayne this isn't your fault."
Christian almost let out a sob, "He was going to propose to her Eve. Did I ruin her only chance for happiness?"
"Christian, Gotham needs you. Gotham needs a Batman. I believe in your cause, Jimmy believed in your cause," Eve told him, pouring some water into one of the glasses she had set out for him.
"He did, and look what happened. I broke my promise to Kara. He was the only man she loved, and I let that murdering psychopath blow him to hell."
As she handed him the glass of water and took the cowl off his lap, Eve said, "Yes, and you lost him. So, for now, she will have to make due with you."
"But why him? Why Jimmy?"
"I don't know Mr. Wayne, but what I do know is that the night is darkest just before the dawn. There will come a day when Gotham no longer needs to hide in the shadows, but until that day comes, you're its only hope."
Christian sat in his chair and thought on what Eve had told him. One thing was for sure; Jimmy's death would not be in vain. He was going to find the clown break every bone he had with his bare hands. He would make the Joker beg for mercy, feel the fear he made others feel.
-AFTER THE FUNERAL-
Night had just come over Gotham as the city fell silent with fear. Everyone locked their doors, boarded their windows, and hoped that morning would come.
Kara stared out the window of her hotel, taking one last look at Gotham before she left. There was nothing left here for her but painful memories.
As she tucked herself in bed, she thought she heard something from outside. Kara was too upset to care though; nothing much mattered in fact. Only moments after closing her eyes, did she drift into a deep sleep.
Batman snuck in through the window once she had fallen asleep and stood next to her bed, looking down on her. He wanted to reach out and comfort her, but he knew she would never allow it. After not attending Jimmy's funeral and what had happened before between them, it was safe to see she never wanted to see him again.
Before he left, Batman pulled the small gold ring out of his pocket and put it on the nightstand next to her. He stared at it guiltily, it would have meant a new life for her.
Batman then turned towards her and watched her sleep. She looked like an angel frozen in time. Her eyes were still red from all her tears, the tears Batman knew he had caused.
"I'm sorry Kara," he told her silently, moving a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
With that, Batman walked quietly towards the window and jumped out, gliding away from Kara's room.
When Kara woke up the next morning, she saw the ring next to her bed. She read the engraving on the inside, and then began to cry once again. Nothing would ever be the same.
A/N: Classic Joker, F'ing everything up for everyone. I hope you all liked the chapter, remember to leave a review or a favorite if you really liked it!