Chapter 29 : Shielding the Innocence

Despite the stench of charred flesh, Selina fought against the thickening vile forming in her stomach. It was a sight that she could only remember seeing in a horror film; metal frames of emergency 911 vehicles melting in the consumption of flames, charred skeletons with fragments of uniforms tucked within their fleshless bones as people on the sidewalks were screamed out in distress. Their petrified gazes were obstructed by the flames created by the Joker with a few rounds of bullets and a book of matches.

"Sick bastard," she thought.

Sitting astride the Prowler, she positioned the canons at the blazing fire trucks blocking the GCPD's rout. She pressed the trigger and fired at the smoldering vehicles. The missiles blew apart the barricade, sending the pieces of torched metal and engine parts flying. She ducked to avoid being tagged by flaming shrapnel as billowing clouds of ash and dust obscured her view. Shards of glass rained down on either side of the street.

Selina lifted up her goggles and watched the line of SWAT vans drive through the cleared path. Her fingers hovered around the firing controls in case she needed to unleash another salvo. But when the smoke cleared and the police cars were flashing their lights, she noticed a small skeleton on the pavement. A child's body. Her heart sank deep into her gut as thoughts of Emily Gordon, and the other children that Vedette was planning to destroy, came to mind. She knew the witch had a few tricks up her sleeve; deadly poisons, potion that could turn Bruce into another form of animal or worse.

Selina pulled her goggles back down and revved the Prowler's engine. She knew that she had a city to protect and to aid the man she was in love with...because he couldn't face the two psychopaths alone. He needed backup. Adjusting her body on the saddle, she switched a few controls and then sped off in the direction of the water treatment plant.

Inside an open space at the treatment plant, Vedette held a vial up into the glow of light. "This will bring the game into our favor, Jack." she said. "All it takes is one drop to the flesh...and the masked billionaire will cease to exist. But first we'll pierce his heart, destroy his beloved Selina Kyle and when he cannot fight anymore. When he loses the will to live...you'll have the honor of ending his life."

She sauntered closer to the Joker, and placed the vial into her gloved hand. "One drop is all it takes to create your terror reign over Gotham; once the bodies of the children are washed away through the tears of the people of this horrid city."

The Joker glazed his tongue over his marred lips. "What does this delightful treat do to Bats?" His eyes were growing three shades darker as she leaned her head closer to his cheek and whispered in his ear.

"You'll be a butcher to him...and he will he cower in fear as the knife ravages his tortured pathetic body. Then you will end his suffering and send-"

"His remains gift wrapped to Gordon." He laughed. "That's why I love that imagination of yours, sweetness. It can be colder than half the minds in Arkham combined."

Commissioner Jim Gordon looked at his watch - ten to midnight - and then at the SWAT officers setting up rifle tripods on the balustrade of the rooftop they were occupying, which was directly across from their objective. The Gotham City Water Treatment Plant. He scanned the shadows of the area as Officer John Blake was stood behind him, looking down at the dark area with sharp eyes.

A voice, from the SWAT team leader, called his name from the three-way radio. "Lower Fifth obstruction has been cleared, sir."

Gordon released a sigh of relief, knowing that backup was coming to their aide during this time of unpredictable crisis. He looked across at the treatment plant. The building had been under construction after a massive intake of water crushed most of the internal structure. Pipes and construction equipment were exposed, making the area dangerous. The top of the main building was full of broken columns of cement, and wires hanging from the flirtation systems. Gordon could see that traps were waiting inside the main points of entry.

Several men, dressed in jackal masks and brandishing firearms, were standing near the doorways and broken windows. "The Joker knows that we'll be entering through those points of entry. I can't risk any of your lives..." He paused, shifting his attention to Blake. "We need to figure out how to take down his men before he makes his next make move."

"Why a water treatment plant?" Blake mused to Gordon.

"They plans to poison Gotham's water supply," Batman's voice rasped from the shadows.

"You made it," Gordon said.

Sergeant O'Neil, adjusting the scope of his rifle, spoke. "We have clear shots on the five mercenaries. Snipers will take them down." He pointed to a patrol helicopter flying above. "They will smash out the windows, a team rappels in, another team moves to the stairwells. Three or four casualties at the max Commissioner."

"Let's do it," Gordon said.

"It's not that simple," Batman growled. "With the Joker, it never is."

"Every minute we waste on anticipating the clown and his crazy girlfriend's next move is another second he becomes closer to releasing that toxin into the water; killing all the children of Gotham within twenty-four hours!" Gordon snapped.

"That won't happen," Batman assured, looking directly into his weary eyes. "I will stop them from depositing the toxin."

"Once my men have a clear shot of the clown and the woman, they'll be dead." Gordon replied, feeling his body starting to produce a cold sweat. "I'm not playing their games. My men are ordered to shoot when the targets are in range-"

"Not before I go in first." Batman retreated further into the shadows.

"No," Gordon shouted. "There is no time. We have clear shots. My men will shoot you down. You can't take that risk. I can't take that risk."

Batman leapt off the ledge of the building, and his formed into a rigid wing as he soared across the space between the two buildings.

Gordon turned to Blake. "Tell the men to hold their fire. We're giving him five."

Batman glided through the plant's window, smashing through the glass and grabbing a jackal and crashing the mercenary forcefully into the wall. Yanking the jackal mask off, he stared into the eyes of one of Vedette's thugs. "Where is Vedette?!" he snarled throwing the mask down and grabbing him by the collar. "Tell me!" He roared ferociously, throwing the man's body into the wall. The thug laughed and bit down into a capsule hidden in his mouth.

Batman dropped the body and stepped a few inches back, within moments the man was convulsing until his eyes turned white and foam spilled from between his lips. He was dead.

"Cyanide… Guess these boys came prepared for your famous Q & A techniques..."

Batman jerked his head up in the direction of the familiar voice. He spun around and glared at the slender shape in the doorway with furious eyes. "What are you doing here?! I told you to stay out of this, and y—"

"And I lied - shocker. You should know me better than to take orders, handsome. Not my style." Selina deadpanned. "There's too much at stake here for you to handle this alone."

"Which is why I asked you to stay out of this! I don't want you at stake with everything else!"

"Don't give me that bullshit! I've tackled and survived a lot worse before we ever met, so don't treat me like I'm made of glass and don't know what the hell I'm doing!" A tense silence followed as they both became locked in a silent tug-of-war.

Batman shrugged.

Selina shook her head at him. "I think we can both agree we don't have time to argue about this?"

Batman reluctantly nodded. "Whatever Vedette's plan is, the Joker has his own agenda. It more than likely concerns me. But we can't take any chances."

"So what do we do?"

"Vedette will still plan to spread her poison throughout the city. Stopping her is our first priority. Her men will be in the cistern room preparing to tap into the water mains."

"But not her?"

"She'll want to keep a central eye from a higher vantage point… I need you to break into the control room and shutdown them down. You're faster and quieter."

Selina nodded her understanding. Batman followed suit before turning and proceeding out of the room and down the dark hallway.

"What about you?" Selina called.

Batman kept walking as he spoke. "I'm going after Vedette and Joker."

Vedette Countess, wearing black and red, stood on the observation deck of the cistern room as she watched her Jackals go to work below her – preparing to tap into the city's water mains and pour her engineered toxin into it. Years of planning, and months of hard work and sacrifices had finally led to this.

She glanced down at her growing baby-bump, hidden beneath her black overcoat she used to conceal it. An unexpected outcome to her stay here in Gotham, an unwanted one…but perhaps in time could be seen as a reminder to a triumphant victory. A trophy… Or a legacy… The thought passed her mind fleetingly on occasion. She dared not dwell on it. Not now. Not when she had a mission to finish.

Glancing to her watch, she could see it was only a few minutes till midnight. It would soon be time; time to be done with this impure corrupt city, and her alliance with the clown. She pulled out her cellphone and dialed a number. "How much longer?"

"Two - maybe three minutes, Mistress."

Vedette glanced up at the security monitors and could see the Batman stalking the hallways, like a wraith, coming towards her location. "Are you in position?" She glanced down at a vial in her hands then backup at the screen. The Batman was no longer anywhere to be seen.

"Yes. We have breached the sewer tunnels."

"You must be ready to move in; not a moment later." Vedette spotted movement throughout the corner of her eye. A dark shadow enveloped the room. She turned expectantly to find the Batman in the doorway, glaring daggers at her. Vedette smiled into the phone, still staring at Batman. "My daughter's life depends on it…"

"Hang up. Now." Batman rasped.

Vedette impassively hung up her phone and stood tall and unflinchingly across from Batman who sized her up cautiously. She looked pasty and absent. She wore a red blouse, black jeans, high-heeled boots. Her overcoat hung open giving him a full view of her growing baby-bump. The dark circles formed beneath her eyes suggested a severe lack of sleep and the paleness of her skin could mean lack of nourishment…or illness.

Despite all of this, a coy smirk played across her lips. "Hello, Bruce. So good of you to drop in on my last night in Gotham. Come to witness the purification, first hand?" She gestured her hand over her shoulder to the cistern room below.

Batman scanned the room carefully before landing his eyes back on her. "Where is the Joker?"

Vedette scoffed. "Jack is the least of your concerns right now I would think? Or does your arrogance and self-righteousness make you believe you can simultaneously arrest the both of us, and stop what is about to happen?" Countess chuckled. "Did your time as a cat not teach you anything, Bruce? You cannot win this!"

Batman stalked into the room and brought himself up-close – face to face – with Vedette. He fumed at the nostrils as his hands seized her shoulders. "I will ask you one more time – where is the Joker?!"

"Where is your precious feline? At home licking her wounds? Tail tucked between her legs like a coward!" Vedette countered, oblivious that in the cistern room below them, her men were one by one being picked off by a furtive feline. "Or perhaps she is comforting Gordon's daughter on her last few hours on this earth?!"

Batman released Vedette's shoulders with a disdainful look. "How can you do something like this? A pregnant woman - a mother to-be - seeking to rob every family in Gotham of the very same thing you carry inside you?" Batman looked at her cynically while she silently fumed. "Or are you carrying that child as body-armor?" Vedette gave no response. "Against who? Me? GCPD?...Joker?"

"I did not desire this child, nor do I hide behind it!" Vedette barked.

"That's good, because regardless, you're going behind bars. And so will the Joker after you tell me where he is?! WHERE IS HE?!"

A static noise filled the room through the PA speakers. Batman stepped back from Vedette to look up at the monitors. The static slowly began to clear and a voice came through.

"I see you…Hahahaha! Looking for me, Bats? I've got to say, the view is quite nice from up here!"

"Joker…" Batman growled as the clown's face came through clearly on the screen. His face was briefly shadowed with no hint of his background surroundings.

"Look at you! Up and at it like you never came this close to being filleted after our last dance together. And now you're all worked up and bothered all over little old me!"

"Give it up, Joker! The entire building is surrounded. You and your girlfriend have no chance of making it out of here otherwise." Batman said pointedly.

"Hear that, sweetness! He wants us to come quietly and drop trou. Tsk tsk tsk, what happens if we don't, hmm? Gordon's little battalion of snipers will pluck us off one by one from their nests?"

Vedette glanced at the clock on the wall of the room with anticipation.

"Step outside without restraints, and you'll find out." Batman responded.

"Tsk tsk, can't have that. Tell you what I will do is…even the odds here a bit." The screens took up a live footage of the areas surrounding the treatment plant – the windows to the adjacent buildings and the catwalks where GCPD snipers were posted.

"No…" Batman whispered with realization.

"Say goodbye to Gotham's finest! Boom!"

"No!" Batman yelled.

He watched ten different GCPD snipers were blown to bits by concealed charges in a puff of flames and shrapnel. The Joker's insane laughter filled the intercoms. "What's black, blue and red all over...and in small pieces? HAHAHAHA!"

Vedette smiled at this turn of events. "Like I said, Dark Knight; you cannot win this. With your army of men in blue disposed of…you have no one to help yo—"

A red light began to flash in the cistern room followed by an alarm. Batman smirked. "I wouldn't be too sure of that."

"What is that?" Vedette spoke absently. She spun around and peered into the room below, shocked to see all of her men subdued and unconscious… A recorded protocol played on the intercoms. "Warning. Warning. Primary safety valves engaged. Water-main: offline."

"I think you may have spoken too soon there, sweetness… Seems we have a surprise visitor!"

"WHO IS IT?!" Vedette shrieked.

The security monitors showed footage of the cistern room with Selina standing over a number of unconscious Jackals. She began walking away from one before spying his exposed gold Rolex watch. Looking around herself to assure no one was watching, Selina shrugged her shoulders then yanked the watch off his wrist.

Batman rolled his eyes.

"Kitty-kat has come to play…" A twisted smile could be heard on Joker's face. "And she's not alone." Footage from the lower level of the plant revealed Commissioner Gordon and a small unit of his men making their way through the building.

Vedette lowered her head in defeat. Her olive eyes closing in dismay as she watched her entire operation fall apart in front of her.

"It's over, Vedette. You've lost. Surrender now, while you still can." Batman implored.

Countess raised her head; tearful streaks ran down her cheeks stained with her mascara. A consuming hatred reflected in her olive eyes as her hand reached into her coat and gripped the dagger inside. "I've underestimated you, Dark Knight. You and your feline lover… But you also mistake me… I hold no intention of being taken alive!"

Vedette spun around and slashed with a vengeful swing for Batman's throat but missed as he skillfully evaded the attack.

"Whoa there, sweetness! Don't have all the fun without me! And you do have a bun in the oven ya know," Joker's tone turned mockingly serious, "which you have much to explain about I might add…Eh, what the hell. Give em' your best shot!" He blared whimsically through the speakers.

Batman sidestepped another of Vedette's knife thrusts. This one nearly grazed his mouth. He met the women's eyes and could see nothing but determination and hatred in them. "Stop this, Vedette. You have a child!" Batman implored her urgently, carefully avoiding another thrust; however his patience was wearing thin.

"One that I will bathe in your blood!" Vedette hissed. Another swing, this one grazing the gauntlet of his suit. "I've come too far to leave with nothing." Vedette made another desperate swing for his face but felt a tightness in her belly. Batman skillfully blocked her again. By now she had grown agitated at his evasive maneuvers. "FIGHT ME, COWARD!"

"I won't…" He growled, capturing her fists and prying the knife out of her grasp. Vedette reached into her pocket and pulled out a spray-bottle filled with her toxin.

"How noble. Your dead parents must be so proud!" She spat, mockingly. "Prepare to join them!"

Her comment triggered the reaction she'd been reaching for. Batman grunted in a show of anger as he wrestled the toxin out of her hand and spun her back against his chest – carefully avoiding putting pressure on her belly.

"Enough!" He growled, locking his arms around neck and chin – forcing her into a sleeper hold. "That's enough…"

Vedette struggled at first, clawing at his arm then trying to reach backward for his face but Batman kept his hold firm and unrelenting. She could feel her consciousness fading and knew it would not be long until she was forced to slumber, only to wake in the backseat of a GCPD police cruiser; sentenced to live out the rest of her days... without freedom…without her child.

"N-No…" She rasped; her pale complexion now a ghostly white. There was only one way out for her now… In a last act of defiance, she pulled out the vial she's been holding and brought it up to her lips with shaky hands.

"What are you doing?" Batman reached for the vial, but it was too late. Vedette downed the entire substance in one swig.

"NO!" Batman at once seized her jaw and tried to force her mouth open to spit out the deadly substance she'd just consumed… it was no use. Vedette began to gasp and spasm in his arms until she spat up. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Batman cried, holding Vedette up in a dip-position as her legs began to fail her.

Vedette's glossy eyes were dazed until they landed on Batman who rested her gently on the floor, a look of distress on his face as one his hands came to rest on her growing belly. Vedette gagged and sputtered with a last intake of breath. "F-F-Freed…myself." Her olive eyes slowly closed and her breathing stilled...

She was gone – they were gone…

"No…" Batman whispered, dropping his head dismally. This was not what he wanted… This was something he should've prepared for…Something he should have been able to stopped...

"Sweetness? No, sweetness?! Oh no…no, no, no, no. Wake up! No, you can't lea-AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The Joker's laughter filled the room as he silently watched the entire event unfold that led to Vedette's suicide with rapt amusement. "Well I guess I won't have to ask and expect to pay child support now, hmm? HAHAHAHA!"

Batman rose to his feet and leveled an intense glare at the monitor.

"Oh, why so serious, Batsy? Didya think I forgot about you? Not a chance! There's still much more fun tonight to be had!"

The door to the observation deck opened and Selina burst in. Spotting Batman, she rushed over to him. "The water mains are down. The toxin, what little of it they managed to prep, they didn't get a chance to unload. Where's Vedette—" Selina paused as she took in the body laying motionless on the floor.

"But kitty is NOT welcome…" Joker continued with his thought.

Selina ignored him as she kneeled down over her once hated enemy and rival. She looked up at Batman questioningly. "Is she?"

Batman spared her a short glance and solemnly shook his head. Selina felt Vedette's pulse just to be sure… nothing. Her brown eyes traveled to the baby bump… she sighed despondently. Despite the bad blood and enmity she and Countess shared over the past few months… Selina would have preferred to have seen her in jail…and her kid in a safe haven.

"You crazy…evil bitch." Selina shrugged as she rose to her feet and faced Batman. "What now? One down?" She gazed up at the monitor where the Joker's face was moments ago… "One crazy nutjob to go?... Where is he?"

On cue, the doors to the observation deck burst open and a dozen armed men stormed in wearing clown masks, and being trailed by the Joker. They immediately began opening fire on Batman and Selina who quickly raced away and took cover along the deck.

"Let's get this show started!" The Joker cheered. He drew his pistol and joined in the onslaught.

Gordon rushed up the flight of stairs as his men scoured each room for any hostiles or hostages being held. After losing a good deal of his men, surrounding the building, to concealed charges, he'd had enough of tricks and waiting. He ordered bomb-squad to do a sweep of the entire building – interior and exterior – while he took the rest of the SWAT team inside with him.

So far no luck in finding Joker, the woman, nor Batman.

"Clear, sir!" One of his men shouted as he finished sweeping a room.

"We've got live ones in here, sir. They've been subdued." Blake called, showing Gordon a room full of unconscious Jackals with scratches and heel-piercings to the flesh. The attacks were carried out by a familiar feline, no doubt, which meant the odds may yet turn in their favor here tonight.

"Secure them until we've finished sweeping the building. I want you to head to the cistern room and see what you can find there." Gordon ordered him.

"Yes, sir."

"Commissioner!" Another detective, Daniels, called out. "Listen! Everyone quiet!"

Everyone stood still and listened intently. Through the grim and heavy silence could be heard distant gunfire. Gordon nodded. "Copy that, detective. All right men, gear up and be prepared to make contact. Blake – head to the cistern room and make sure it's secure!"

Gordon took his men and rushed into the elevator while Blake took a smaller force with himself in the opposite direction.

Batman grunted as he exchanged hard fists with a tall and bulky thug wearing a clown mask while Selina did her own fighting across the deck, knocking henchmen over the catwalks and down to the cistern room below. She'd taken down four of them so far, leaving them in an injured and broken mess on the floor below. As sure as Batman felt he and Selina were capable of diffusing this situation, he didn't trust the Joker to not have any more tricks up his sleeve.

Batman spotted the clown standing near a side entryway where he could make a desperate escape if need be. The Dark Knight was adamant about not letting him get away this time, but it seemed any closer he got to Joker, the further back Joker drifted to string him along… to where?

It wasn't long until Batman had enough and began to use his toys to shift the tide in this fight. He threw multiple batarangs at gunmen scrambling across catwalk, knocking their guns from their grip. With them disarmed, Selina moved in to take them down. Drawing a smoke bomb, Batman tossed it to the feet of the heavy thug in front of him then used the distraction to come up behind him and initiate a takedown off the railing, stringing him up by the grapple gun.

Through the midst of the chaos, no one noticed a second smoke bomb landing near the observation room where Vedette's body laid…

Joker watched the fighting with a whimsical smile. It turned sour the second he saw a horde of GCPD officers burst onto the deck and open fire on his boys. More of them entered through the cistern room below. It was time to move things to a head. Shifting across the deck, Joker set his sights on Selina who stood with her back to him. "Say 'goodnight', kitty cat."

"Selina, get out of the way!" Batman yelled in a horrific tone. He was forced to watch as the Joker's marred grin stretched as he whipped out a pistol and pulled the trigger...

Batman could hear the bullet explode from the barrel… and everything fell into slow motion.

He glanced at Selina who stood only inches away from him as she pushed an officer out of the line of fire, and watched the bullet enter into her abdomen.

Selina felt her body become numb. Her confused dark brown eyes widened as her hand touched the seeping hole in her stomach. Her jaw dropped as she lost her footing and tumbled to the ground.

"NO!" Batman screamed, feeling his lungs explode as he watched blood pouring out of her side.

Batman subdued the thug in front of him with a head-butt to the forehead.

He immediately raced to Selina. His legs gave out as he fell forward, his arms shook violently as they wrapped around her motionless body. "Selina…" His gloved hand pressed against her bullet wound as he tried to stop the blood flow. He pressed his lips hard to her forehead. "Selina-" His voice sounded strained and shattered.

Tears of anguish were starting to brim in his eyes as he felt lines of water stream down the graphite. He undid his cape, and placed it over her motionless body as he watched blood drain from her cheeks.

Batman wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently; his emotions were breaking into pieces as he held her close to his chest. His eyes narrowed to her seeping wound. He felt his heart bursting into shards in his chest as he cradled her face into his hands and removed her domino mask. He looked into her dimming gaze as she lifted her shaky hand and touched his cowl.

He could see how scared she was. He could see the paralyzing fear imbedded in her dark brown eyes while his own became blurry with warm tears. "You're going to be alright," he said, trying to assure her with believable words that he forced out from his throat. "You're going to make it," he choked out.

"Bruce," she said softly, coughing out a bit of blood. "I feel..."

"Shhh..." He soothed his teary hazel eyes bored into hers. "I'm here." He squeezed her hand. "I'm here... Selina."

Selina coughed out more blood. "You have to stop them Bruce... You have to save the children of Gotham," she winced, releasing a heaving gasp.

"I...can't leave you..."

"I'll be fine..." she said, "It's just a flesh wound...go give them one for me alright."

Batman felt a hand touch his shoulder. He turned his head and found himself staring into the concerned face of Jim Gordon. "She's been shot."

Gordon nodded and touched his radio. "I need EMTs in here now!" The commissioner crouched down next to Selina. "I'll watch over her." He gently dissuaded Batman's hands away so he could place of his own onto Selina's wound; applying pressure to stop the blood flow. "She'll be in good hands."

Batman turned his focus back on Selina. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers, not wanting to break away, but he had a mission to fulfill and lives to save. He pulled away and looked steadily into her eyes. They were dimming and her flesh was becoming pale and sickly.

The possible impending doom of the situation had yet to leave him and it wasn't until he heard the Joker's sordid taunting laughter amplifying from the shadows that the fear and despair fled in place of a bubbling rage. Adrenaline streamed through his body as he straightened off the ground

He slammed his eyes shut as he finally tore into two - both Batman and Bruce Wayne were preparing for this fight. After everything he endured...all the loved ones he had lost with suffering guilt and trauma from… he was finally being pushed over the edge.

He opened his eyes and stared down at Selina.

"Oh Batman - you should really come up here...and together... We'll watch your lovely kitty choke up her last laugh. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!"

Batman clenched his teeth hard until his gums became numb. He raced up the stairs, feeling his heart pound harder with every step he took. He saw his parents' faces in the alley… He saw Rachel's face and all the souls that the pale faced demon took away from families in Gotham with his devilish antics of chaos and blood-lust. He felt cursed with death...forsaken.

He didn't stop running until he found himself on the rooftop of the plant. He was at once assaulted by a harsh cold wind carrying the smell of death and smoke. Small fires crackled on scattered debris. Batman passively walked over them, his face a blank mask concealing the rage within him, his cape flapping in the wind. His unblinking eyes scanned and searched the area for his hated nemesis.

Not a glimpse or a laugh followed Joker's recent taunting. Undiscouraged, the Dark Knight knew he was merely a snake baiting his prey.

"Show yourself, Joker!" Batman yelled, the anger in his voice unveiled, his gloved hands clenched into tight fists.

On the streets below could be heard the sirens of an encroaching ambulance. Batman felt relief until… *BOOM*

Not soon after, the noise of the sirens was drowned out by a deadly explosion rocking the building. Batman staggered as the vibrations reached him. Outside the building could be heard screams and yells coming from the crowd of civilians and law enforcement amassed on the streets.

"No…" Realization dawned on Batman as he raced to the edge of the roof and peered down. A cloud of smoke and flames billowed from the main entrance of the plant. The entire waypoint was collapsed and blocked off, preventing the EMTs from entering the building – from reaching Selina…

A maniacal giggle erupted in the vicinity. "Oops, was that you're kitty's vet? Tsk tsk. Looks like she'll be pushing up daisies after all! But you…"

Batman was suddenly caught unaware, due to the distraction, as he felt a crashing weight descend upon his back. Joker had leapt off of an air-conditioning unit and onto Batman's back, tackling him to the ground. "…and I, are going to have a lot more fun tonight, Batsy!"

The Joker stood up with the Batman below him. In his hands he held a crowbar – his weapon of choice during his skirmishes with the Bat.

Before Batman could push himself back up to his feet, he felt the winding blow of steel colliding with the back of his shoulder. "Argh…" He fell to the ground and slammed his eyes shut, groaning before another swing impacted his ribs.

The Joker giggled. "Hee hehe. This is how it should be Bats – how it was meant to end! Me and you. No more dames or kittens to stand between our fun!" Joker kicked Batman's ribs to send him onto his back. "Just me…" He licked his lips as he stood above his vulnerable foe – crowbar in both hands, "…and you!"

Joker brought the crowbar down to Batman's chest, only to have it caught mid-air. Batman gripped the crowbar, one handed with a defiant glint in his hazel eyes. "No. This ends tonight!" He snarled. Sparing his opponent no quarter, Batman brought his leg up and struck the Joker between the legs.

Joker gasped and stumbled backward onto the ground, clutching his groin. "Ugghhh…" His strangled groan turned into a sordid laugh. "Gotya fighting dirty now… eh, Bats? Haha."

Batman slowly rose to his feet, his eyes never leaving the Joker across from him. The Clown Prince spied a loose pipe on the floor a few feet across from him.

"Wouldn't have anything to do with kitten taking a dirt-nap now, would it? HAHAHA!" Joker cackled. "It was never about the kiddies, ya know. Never cared about em'. I just wanted to push you to this point! To see what you'd do. And now look at you go!"

Batman clenched his teeth and aimed his fist downward. Joker rolled out of the way and seized his new weapon then swung, with all his might, across the back of Batman's knee. His repaired knee. Batman gasped at the sharp sting exploding from his leg and dropped down to one knee.

"HAHAHA! Old wounds never heal, do they?" Joker jumped to his feet, on wobbly legs, then raised and dropped the pipe across the back of Batman's shoulders again with a loud grunt. "Just like the scars…" Batman collapsed again onto his stomach while the Joker licked the inside of his teeth like a rabid animal tasting blood. "And I'll bet beneath that Kevlar is a masterpiece full of them!"

Another swing of the pipe struck Batman across the back as he made to rise. Joker shoved him over, with his foot, onto his back again, but this time straddled him and shoved the pipe-bar up against his throat, crushing his windpipe. Both foes met each other's eyes in another battle of wills. The clown drank up the turmoil and anger he could see within them like a sweet nectar giving life to his amusement and chaos.

"Is that fear in your eyes, Batsy?" The Joker feigned curiosity. His dark eyes shifted until they landed on red drums of gasoline a few feet away from them. A crazed smile stretched across his face. "Don't worry...you'll soon be with her… But not before you and I take the final bow…together."

Joker laughed viciously as he reached into his coat pocket and drew his pistol with one hand while the other still held the pipe against Batman's throat – holding him down. He gripped the pistol tightly in his gloved hand and lazily took aim towards the red barrels. Batman glanced up, grunting in defiance as he could see the Joker's intentions.

One shot and the final curtain would be drawn. Comedy and tragedy would be extinguished forever in the flames… Justice would die… Selina would die… The Joker would win…

The Joker's finger curled onto the trigger as he aimed at the barrels. "Wherever ol'Harvey is, even he must be laughing. HAHAHAHA!" His finger began to pull…

Roaring a cry of aggression, Batman shoved the pipe off his throat and up into the Joker's face, hitting his brow with a loud clank. The gun went off and the bullet struck a chimney. The Joker's eyes went wide as they spun in a daze. Blood spilled from a gash on the clown's head, staining his white-painted face. "Argghh..." The clown fell off his opponent, dropping the pipe and cradling his aching skull with his free-hand while the other still held his gun, before it too fell from his grip. "G-Good one, Bats…hehehehe… Still like starting with the head, hmm."

Batman pulled himself back up to his feet on a shaky leg, his eyes now vicious and locked. "I've had enough of your games, Joker."

Joker shook his head to regain his focus, his posture still a dizzy mess. "Okay then, enough with the foreplay…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out his switchblade. "Time for some penetration." He sucked his teeth while blood creased down the side of his face. "You want to be on the top or bottom?" He chuckled absently.

Unamused, Batman moved in to engage him. Joker reacted instantaneously and lunged at Batman, knife slashing for the face. Batman dodged and struck his foe with an elbow to the sternum. He followed up with a right-hook to the head, then a boot to the stomach, sending the Joker toppling backward to the floor.

Batman seethed as his eyes burned at his enemy. "You wanted to see me pushed over the edge…" He stalked the Joker's injured form, methodical and imposing. "You wanted the gloves to come off…" He towered over his foe with tight fists. "Well they're off!"

Batman struck the Joker again across the face, then reached down and lugged him up onto his feet. He gripped him by the lapels of his overcoat before shoving him up against the side of the air-conditioning unit, grunting. Joker merely laughed, still gripping his knife.

"Think ya got in you this time? Oh, I don't know, Bats. I'm not feeling it." A rare serious look formed on Joker's face. "Before we're done here – I will carve you up!" A mocking grin played on his lips. "Just like I did to pussycat not too long ago. Remember that?! Hahaha!"

Batman roared in anger as he pulled Joker off the unit then smashed him with a head-butt. Joker staggered backward, still on his feet and still laughing and taunting. "Was that the wind blowing – or was it just you? Hahahaha!"

Batman growled and swung again, a hard fist to Joker's face. The Joker spun in a 360 degree circle on his feet from the impact before throwing his weight into Batman, and jamming the knife into his side in a sudden move. Blood spilled from the grievous wound. Batman groaned in pain as Joker's laughter rose to new heights. "THAT'S RIGHT, BATSY! WEEP, SCREAM - LIKE SHE DID! SAY MY NAME! LET'S HEAR IT! HAHAHAHA!"

Joker held the knife in place, shoving it in deeper throughout his rant.

A swarm of images flooded Batman's mind of Selina, tied up and gagged while the Joker raked his instruments of torment across her body – laughing while she screamed. They were followed by the dozens of dead bodies that were victims of the Clown Prince and Vedette throughout this conflict; men, women… children… cats… The last image to surface was of Selina lying with a bullet-hole in her, in a pool of her own blood.

"Damn you…" Batman growled in determination. Grunting loudly, he used his free-hands to grip the Joker's head, then bashed his own against it. Joker stumbled backward on his feet, leaving the knife stuck in Batman's ribs. Baring his teeth, Batman pulled out the offending weapon and tossed it.

A surge of white-hot rage gushed through his veins, overriding the pain in his side as months – years – of restrained hatred and malice rose within him. He could see only red as he moved towards his enemy.

The Joker retrieved his gun after falling out of his overcoat. "Always got to spoil the fun, don't ya? Its become a bad joke. Time pull the curtains on it…" He took aim only to see two-Batmans in his dazed vision. He chuckled. "A Bat in the hand is worth two in the belfry."

Batman roared and swatted Joker's gun hand away. The gun goes off and strikes the barrels in the background, sparking a huge bright explosion. The blast shook and startled all the civilians and police on the ground floor below as pieces of the rooftop flew into the air. A portion of the roof caved in while Joker and Batman stood unharmed.

The explosion, if anything, was the equivalent of a powder-keg going off as Batman moved in and attacked. Joker aimed for another shot only to have Batman catch his arm and bring his elbow down onto it. A sickening snap echoed followed by the Joker's painful yelp.

A broken arm.

Batman bore his teeth with a snarl as he pulled and heard a second pop, and the Joker's startled gasp.

A dislocated shoulder.

"Scream like all your victims did!" Batman hissed. Despite his pain, the Joker looked astonishingly amused until a sharp fist landed in his gut, making him double-over, hanging by his right side. Joker began to snigger… it lasted no more than a second before a hard boot connected with the back of his leg.

A busted knee.

The clown fell helplessly down to his knees, hunched on his right side. Batman stood in front of him with an absent look in his eyes. Joker reached up and gripped his cape. Batman, not missing a beat, swung down ruthlessly across his face. The blow was precise and surgical as blood exploded from Joker's mouth along with a few teeth.

A broken jaw.

The clown cried in pain. The sight of his hated enemy so defeated and beaten was gratifying to Batman. The Joker began to laugh while sobbing all at the same time. He lifted his bloodied white face and met Batman's enraged eyes with delight. The unspoken words rang through Batman's ears.

"DO IT! FINISH ME OFF! BREAK-YOUR-ONE-RULE!"

Batman looked at the blood on his gloved hands… and closed his eyes. A wash of shame came over him… All those who counted on him… admired him… believed in him… loved him… Their faces all gathered collectively into his mind and like a soothing balm, they cooled the feverish storm within him.

So close. So close to giving in… So close to betrayal…

He lowered his head and his hands at the same time. His fists loosened while a single tear escaped his closed eyes. "No…"

In front of him, the Joker's strained laughter stopped. Opening his eyes, Batman could see a wet tear escaping the Joker's own eye. This tear was a realization of defeat. The Joker had failed…

Batman raised his chin high.

"I will never let you win, Joker. Ever."