The three rode on their bikes into the dark city. Batgirl was filled with rage, as was Red Hood, but Red Robin was only filled with remorse. He felt bad for going against the ways of the first Batman and for betraying a friend. However in his mind, just like his companions, the means justified the ends. Not even Jason, the most violent of the family, had wanted to fight Dick Grayson. Batgirl hated that she physically hurt her boyfriend, the only man she loved as much as her father but that was it. The death of her father threw her over the deep end just like the death of Jason's mother fed his vengeance as well. Jason knew that he'd never be able to kill Joker unless someone sided with him. He knew he needed someone to fall into the abyss with him and now he had two who were willing to travel there with him. Now they were on a path for vengeance and would not stop until The Joker was finally dead or until they all stopped breathing.
Alfred had given Dick some pain killers which were working swiftly. Dick's personal feelings for his friends had to wait because now he needed to save them from doing something they could never come back from. Jason might've killed before but he never knew of his acts of violence so they could not be stopped; however this one could. So long as he believed in their code he would do all he could to stop blood from being spilt. Alfred bandaged up his ribs and he hastily suited up once again. Damien was right beside him as he put on the cape and cowl.
"I'm surprised you didn't join them," Dick said.
"I'm not the same kid anymore, Grayson," he said clearly still trying to hate him. "As much as I hate to say you're as much a part why I'm happy here." Dick looked at him with his brows raised from shock. "Don't think this makes us friends okay!" he snapped quickly. "I'm just saying that I have some respect for you."
"Oh really," smirked Dick.
"Yeah," he replied seriously instead of snapping at him. "You've done my father's memory justice and for that I respect you. I know you loved him and in the end I did too." The smirk disappeared now as Damien's surprising words were actually genuine. "Thank you for respecting his ways," he locked eyes with this man he couldn't stand before, "Dick." Dick smiled but there was no tease behind it this time. He extended his hand out to him and Damien shook it respectfully. Batman and Robin jumped into the Batmobile. The engines roar echoed throughout the cave scaring the bats through the tunnel. The car sped off toward Gotham.
"Penny-one," Batman said into his communicator. "Do you have their location?"
"Yes sir," said Alfred on the other end. "They have appeared to have gone to Miss Gordon's home." Batman sighed as he pressed down harder onto the gas pedal.
"Why would they go to her house?" asked Robin.
"Joker made a crack about seeing Barbara when he killed Gordon," Batman said. The car was now in the streets of Gotham cutting off every other civilian driving. Majority of the time they treated the car as a police car, ambulance, or firetruck. Batman maneuvered the car when he needed to but majority of the time civilians moved out of the way.
"Do you really think they'll do it?" asked Robin.
"I'm more afraid of what Joker will do."
"Why?"
"Because he would never allow himself to kill Batman but he's never held back against the others. Without Batman, The Joker has no purpose in life and the worse part about this whole scenario is that he knows I'm not Bruce." Robin turned to him.
"He knew my father was Batman?"
"No but he found out that I wasn't the original one underneath the mask."
"What does this mean?"
"From what I heard at GCPD it means he intends to kill us. All of us."
Batgirl, Red Hood and Red Robin stood miles away from the house of the late James Gordon on another rooftop. No one was inside the house yet but Batgirl was sure that The Joker would make a stop at her house to finish what he started with her father. The three of them waited patiently for him to recreate the incident from when he shot Barbara in the spine. Batgirl grew more impatient as each minute passed by. She paced behind Hood and Red Robin until finally she had enough.
"I think we need bait," she said. Her two friends turned to her.
"You can't be serious?" asked Red Robin.
"I'm going to enter and wait for him. For all we know he's already here and just waiting for Barbara to show up so I'll show up. When he comes for me then you two get after him and if anything I can handle myself inside the house."
"Are you sure about this?" asked Red Hood. She nodded then dove off the building. Red Robin shook his head then turned back to scoping out the area, as did Hood. Red Robin turned to Hood as they were searching.
"Do you think this is right?" he asked.
"What?"
"Sending in Barbara as bait. What if something happens to her?"
"Nothing is going to happen to her."
"How are you so sure?"
"She can handle herself, Tim."
"If it comes down to saving her or letting Joker get away what're you going to pick?" Now Hood turned to him.
"I know all of you have it in your heads that all I care about is my revenge but it's not all I care about," he snapped. "I do actually care for you guys. If it comes down to you or him; I'm picking you. I'm not the monster you all make me out to be." He turned back to the house and Red Robin felt a bit of regret for thinking Jason might actually let them die.
"I'm sorry," he said. "All this is just making me a bit nervous."
"I know and its okay. We're going to get it done, don't worry."
Barbara was dressed back into her regular clothes with her suit thrown on the side of her house. She took a deep breath before turning the knob. She had hoped she wouldn't have to go inside her home until she was done with her mission but she needed to bring The Joker out. She walked inside already feeling her emotions get the best of her. She saw her dads chair then she saw the pictures of him everywhere. Barbara walked over and sat in her father's chair. The smell of her father's aftershave filled her nostrils and the tears began to slide down again. She longed to hug her father one last time.
Amidst her grief there was a sound in the kitchen behind her forcing her to quickly stand up. Now she locked her eyes to a pair of green ones. Instead of recreating one of his cruelest acts like she suspected he surprised her by breaking in through the back. The noise she heard was a duffel bag being dropped to the ground. He stared at her with a giant grin on his face.
"Why so jumpy?" he smiled.
"You son of a bitch," she replied. "You killed him."
"Jimbo? Yeah I know," he said sadly. "Sorry about that sweetie but I needed to send a message to the pretender," he grinned again.
"Pretender? What the hell are you talking about?" Now his smile faded.
"That terrible impersonator out there that's pretending to be my beloved dork knight! Do not tell me you've fallen for his act too?! Your father believed that sham out there was the real Batman!" he laughed. "Do you believe it? Your father mustn't have been too bright if he couldn't see that that isn't the real Batman."
"That was why you killed him? Because you think the real Batman really is dead?"
"No, my dear," he said politely once he stopped laughing. "I killed him because I want that fake Batman and all his little friends to know," a knife slid out from his sleeve, "that they are all going to die. You see what those kids never understood was that Batman and I were fine until they all came along," he said with such disdain. "Once that first one came along he got soft. He was no longer the Batman that I knew. He needed to be that tough brooding son of a gun who always stood in my way. Once the kids came then he was no longer the same. I tried teaching him a lesson with you and the boy blunder but he never cared. Now they've taken it too far. They think they're good enough to take his place?! No!"
"You're so insane it's not even funny," she said.
"Oh I think it's a little funny," he chuckled, "but I digress," he said putting on his smile again. "I know it hurts that your daddy is gone but 'ol Uncle Joker is here to make it all better," he said as he started to walk towards her. Barbara kicked the knife out of his hand then threw a fist in his face, knocking him against the wall. He merely laughed some more.
"Not this time, Joker," she said standing her ground.
"You prepared for this," he grinned. "This just got a lot more fun." She tackled him against the wall again then punched him repeatedly. Joker then grabbed the lamp beside him and smashed it on her forehead. Blood was slowly dripping from her head but she ignored it as Joker to his knife. Joker was pretty fast but Barbara was faster as she rammed her knee into his ribs, keeping him away from the blade. Joker coughed a bit and staggered back towards the stairs as she ran to him again. This time he ducked out of the way of her kick which crashed through the wooden step of the stairs. She pulled her foot out and turned around to see him with the knife again in his hand.
"You're dying tonight," she said as she put her fists up.
"Where'd you learn all these nifty tricks?" he giggled. He stabbed at her but it hit nothing but air. He tried again but she grabbed him by the wrist then straight kicked him in the chest. She held him up by the wrist and continued to hit him with her fists until he squeezed the flower on his suit, shooting out green liquid towards her. She let him go then moved out the way causing the liquid to hit the wall behind her, melting a hole through it. She turned back to him too late as his distraction allowed him to stab her beside her bullet scar. She yelled out in pain before kicking him to the floor. "Ooh I bet that hit a bit close to home," he chuckled as she pulled out the knife and held her wound. She ran to him again but he kicked her right in the wound. The pain was too much for her so she fell back to the floor. Joker ran to his duffel bag and pulled out the handgun he used on the police at GCPD.
Barbara was crawling on the floor towards the glass table in the middle of the living room while Joker slowly walked towards. She reached to the table for something heavy but he flipped her over onto her back. He stood above her smiling then fired a bullet into her shoulder.
"Something else to remember me by," he chuckled. Then a smile was brought onto her face. "Hold on a second did I miss the joke?"
"You just alerted my friends," she coughed.
"Friends?" Then Red Robin and Red Hood kicked down the door. "How do you get friends like those?" he laughed. Hood aimed his handgun to the clown but Joker quickly jumped to the side avoiding the bullets. Red Robin came to the aid of Barbara and brought her back on her feet. "This really puts a dent in my plans but luckily," he said while shooting at them and moving back to the kitchen, "I came prepared." Joker then pulled out another thing from his bag and ran out the backdoor. Hood ran to the kitchen but was stopped by the sound of beeping. He opened the bag to find an explosive already armed and ready to blow.
"We have to get out of here!" he yelled while he ran for the front door. Red Robin quickly helped out the front door just in time as the bomb exploded engulfing Gordon's home in flames. The three of them were pushed onto the street from the impact of the explosion. Red Robin held Barbara in his arms in the middle of the road. The two of them were then blinded by headlights until Red Hood pushed them out of the way. The car had hit Red Hood and continued to go making him roll over the entire car. Among the sounds of fire cracking the group could also hear The Joker's laugh as he drove away after hitting Red Hood. Hood struggled to get up after being hit with the car but he managed to throw one of their trackers onto the trunk of the car. Red Robin helped Barbara to the sidewalk then ran to the aid of his friend. He helped him to his feet then over to the sidewalk with Barbara.
"We have to go after him," said Barbara.
"Are you nuts?" said Red Robin. "You were just stabbed and shot while he was hit by a car.
"She's right," said Hood. "We have to finish this."
"You two are insane."
"Grab my suit," coughed Barbara. "It's on the side of the house."
"I got it," answered Hood as he jogged to grab the suit. Red Robin sighed as he helped Barbara to her feet.
"Barb we can't do this," he said trying to talk some sense into her. She grabbed him hard by his suit.
"We finish this, Tim," she whispered. "We do this or we die trying." He nodded then took her to one of the roofs nearby. Hood was already waiting with the suit in his hands. Red Robin handed her some bandages for the wounds on her body. She covered the wound then the two of them turned around as she undressed and slipped on the suit over it. The three of them returned to their bikes and drove off following the tracker on The Joker's car.
Batman and Robin arrived to the flaming building that was James Gordon's house. The car braked hard as the two of them watched policemen and firemen put out the fires of the building.
"Penny-one, are the bikes on the move again?" asked Batman.
"Yes sir," he responded. "All three of them are back in motion." Batman and Robin let out a sigh of relief.
"Where are they headed?"
"It appears they're headed for the old Ace Chemicals building, sir. Perhaps The Joker is leading them there."
"I'm sure he is."
"That's where my father first stopped him isn't it?" asked Robin.
"Yeah. Leave it to Joker to pick a place like that." He floored the gas pedal on his way to the building. "Only he could possibly think it's sentimental. That's probably where he's been hiding all this time."
"It's not operational anymore is it?"
"I'm not sure. Wayne Enterprises' electrical grid runs through all of Gotham so it might still have some juice in it." Batman pushed the car to its full speed to reach them in time. He pressed a button on the control panel then there was a ringing sound from the cars speakers.
"Hello?" said a woman's voice.
"Hey it's Dick. Look things have gotten pretty bad and I think I might need your help."
The car Joker had stolen was parked in front of Ace Chemicals. The building was old and falling apart which made it easy people to break in. Joker was inside already where the vats were kept. He strolled on the metal walkways above the vats with a grin on his face. He leaned over the old railing, which squeaked from the weight being applied, to look into the large cylinder where the green chemicals used to be held in.
"This is the one," he smiled. "This is where our lives changed forever." He ran into the control room and turned on the lights of the building. The name Ace Chemicals turned bright green with the lights on. The lights from inside the building turned on as well revealing the old rusted metals covered in cobwebs. There was a crash in the front and he immediately knew who it was. "Show time," he grinned before running out of the office.
Batgirl and the others broke down the front doors and ran through the building together looking for The Joker. Hood was growing anxious knowing that what he wanted was mere moments away. His anxiety helped him ignore the pain coming over his body. Batgirl however was still allowing her anger to fuel her but it wasn't enough. The pain from her abdomen and shoulder was slowing her down. The blood loss was making her sweat and tired. Red Robin was watching the two of them hoping that neither of them would collapse. They finally reached the room where the chemicals were kept and were surprised to find the vats full of liquid. The three of them walked up the metal stairs to go onto the walkway. The end of the walkway led to a large room where they would test the products with the chemicals. It was filled with large metal tables and dusty beakers. The Joker walked out from the shadows of this room grinning at the trio.
"How rude of you to keep me waiting," he laughed. The three of them ran to him and he slowly walked back into the shadows of the room. The trio stood back to back in the room until Joker stepped into the light and hit Red Robin in the face with a crowbar, knocking him down to the ground. The hit was hard enough to break the communicator in his ear and the night vision in his mask. "This bring back any memories, Jason?" he laughed then returned to the shadows. Red Hood switched on the night vision in his mask but then Joker surprised him by hitting him in the face with the crowbar like a baseball bat, sending the mask flying towards the wall.
"You son of a bitch!" yelled out Red Hood angrily. Red Robin struggled back to his feet then Batgirl received a hit to the side of the head with the crowbar, damaging her night vision as well. She fell to the ground and hit her head with the metal floor. "Damn it," said Hood as he struggled to look for a light switch. He finally found one but then his hand was hit with the metal weapon.
"No cheating," giggled Joker. Red Robin was then stabbed in the ankle. He grunted but stayed standing on his feet. Batgirl used whatever strength she could muster to run to the switch. She flicked it on just as Joker was going to hit Red Robin again. However Red Robin didn't react quickly enough and was hit upside the chin with the crowbar. Red Hood rushed to attack Joker but the clown took out his gun and shot him in the leg leaving him open for another swing from the crowbar. Red Robin stood back up and aimed his grappling gun at The Joker but then he swung around and kicked it out of his hands. Joker stabbed him with the sharp end of the crowbar in the chest then kicked him back, falling flat on his back onto the metal walkway. Hood ran to The Joker and tackled him to the ground. The two of them fell to the ground then The Joker stabbed Hood in the ribs forcing him off. Hood held his wound and struggled to get on one knee but then Joker swung his crowbar against his face. "With these lights on I can see your pretty face," he chuckled. "How about we ruin it!" he yelled as he hit him again with the weapon. Jason fell to the floor with blood oozing from his mouth then Joker hit him again on his back. "Ah this takes me back down memory lane," he laughed as he hit him again and again.
Batgirl stood up and shot out her batclaw towards Joker. It attached to his suit then she pulled him off of his feet onto the ground. Adrenaline shot through her body so she used it by straddling Joker and punching him repeatedly in the face. Blood was spat out from his mouth every time her fists connected with his face. All she could see was her father's body at GCPD. Joker noticed blood seeping through her suit near her abdomen so he pressed his thumb hard against her abdomen. She screamed out in pain but used it as fuel to hit him again except this time he caught her fist with his hands. Electricity was shot through her from his hand then she fell to the floor when it was done.
"That gag never gets old," laughed Joker as he got back to his feet. He punched her abdomen hard to which she screamed in pain again. "Looks like you have a little booboo there," he grinned. "That's a little odd. Didn't I just give someone a stab earlier?" He then pressed his thumb against her wound and pulled her mask back. "Little Barbara Gordon?! Now that is a surprise," he laughed. "This explains why you don't like me all that much."
"Who would ever like you," she spat.
"Now that's just hurtful. I can think of three right off the back but anyways back to your little reveal! It's no wonder you hardly smile anymore," he said pressing ever harder on her wound. "But don't worry, Uncle Joker can fix that." He pulled out his gleaming blade and caressed it gently on her cheek. "Now you'll always be smiling." The knife was about to enter her mouth until Joker was hit in the ribs with the crowbar. He was then quickly lifted up by Jason who hit him again on his leg. "Now Jason can't we talk about?" Jason's reply was another strike with the weapon to the clowns arm. Batgirl could feel the blood loss taking its toll. Her vision was becoming blurred and her body grew weaker. She looked over to see Jason fighting Joker then she turned to the other side to see Tim laying on the walkway.
"Robin," she called out weakly. "Robin!" Red Robin started to move a bit at the sounds of Barbara's voice. He sat up to see Barbara with her mask off and Jason fighting Joker with a crowbar.
Jason had Joker pinned against the wall as he swung the crowbar over and over. He recalled the night he was beaten to death by the clown and his anger fueled even more. He brought the crowbar up against the throat of The Joker and looked into his eyes.
"I've waited a long time for this," he said. The Joker laughed softly then coughed. "What's so funny?" Joker pulled out his handgun and shot Red Robin in the chest behind Jason. The gunshot threw Red Robin off balance so he grabbed the railing for leverage but it broke off. The railing was still attached to the wall but now Red Robin hung from it over the pool of hot green liquid of chemicals.
"You've come so far to kill me," Joker struggled to say. "Now you either do what you've wanted to for so long or you save your friend," he chuckled weakly. Jason looked back at Tim hanging from the railing then over to Batgirl who was too weak to get up and help him. Jason turned back to The Joker.
"No!" he shouted. "Barbara, get up!" he yelled as he turned back to her. She struggled to get to her feet but her wounds were too painful so she fell back to the ground.
"Jason," she said weakly, "I can't," she said sadly. Tim was holding onto the railing then it broke some more, dangling him even further into the pool. He could feel the blood from his chest and his ankle oozing out from the wounds. Blood from his ankle dripped into the pool of chemicals. The pool was boiling causing Tim to sweat profusely.
"What would Batman do?" teased The Joker. Jason kneed Joker in the groin then ran back to save Tim. The extra weight on the weak walkway was too much forcing the railing to detach from the wall but luckily Jason grabbed Tim's hand just in time.
"I got you," Jason said to him as he held him over the pool.
"For a second I thought you were going to let me fall," chuckled Tim.
"For a second there I was," Jason replied. Tim's eyes widened when he saw The Joker walk up behind Jason with the crowbar once again in his hand. Jason looked back then received a blow to his back from The Joker.
"That was your shot, Jason!" he laughed. "Now this is mine," he said before hitting him again. Jason grunted from the pain and tried to pull Tim up but he couldn't with Joker hitting him. Joker bent down with the gun pointed right on the back of Jason's head. "How about this time you stay dead?" A batarang hit Joker right in the face before he could fire. The crack of a whip was in the air as Jason was being helped hold Tim from the pool of chemicals. Joker stumbled back then opened his eyes to see Batman standing on the other end of the walkway and Robin and Catwoman on the beams of the ceilings, Catwoman's whip wrapped around Tim's hand as she helped Jason hold him.
"The pretender finally arrives!" shouted Joker before shooting the other weak railing. Batman zipped up to the beams before the walkway collapsed under him while Robin used his grappling gun to grab Jason before he fell into the pool. Jason looked over to Batman.
"Never thought I'd be so glad to see you," he smirked.
"Are you alright?" asked Dick.
"I'm okay and I'm sorry for what we did." Dick put his hand on Jason's shoulder then nodded.
"Get them out of here," said Batman to Catwoman and Robin. "I'm going for Batgirl." Damien grabbed Batman's arm.
"We're coming right back once we get them out of here," he said. Batman nodded then turned to Catwoman.
"Thank you," he said.
"Does this mean I get a pass on my next museum robbery?" she smiled. Batman smiled back.
"Not a chance." He turned back then glided over to the room while they took the others out of the building. Joker was holding Barbara up with his knife against her neck. There was a small puddle of blood by her feet. "Let her go."
"I don't think so, bats," he said. "Isn't it just adorable that Batgirl is actually Jimbos little girl?" he laughed.
"You said it yourself Joker. You want to kill the man who's pretending to be Batman. That's me so you have nothing to do with her. This is between you and me."
"You're right so why am I even holding her hostage?" he said. He pressed the knife up against her throat but then Barbara grabbed his arm and pulled it off of her. She spun around him then brought his own knife up against his neck. She was breathing heavily and her skin had turned pale from the blood loss but once again her anger came through.
"Barb!" yelled out Batman. "Don't do it!" She locked eyes with him.
"How can you still think this isn't okay?"
"Because it isn't, Barbara. It's not how we do things. It's how he does things." Joker started chuckling.
"Do it, Barb," he muttered. "You know you want to."
"No! You don't want to! Don't listen to him!"
"Come on, Barb," said The Joker seductively. "You're not even going to do it for your daddy?" She pressed the knife against his white skin drawing blood. "There you go! That's the spirit!"
"You piece of crap," she muttered to him.
"Barb," Batman pleaded. "You do not seek justice, you seek vengeance. They are not the same. If you truly have no regard for life then I must stop you." Barb stared at him and knew he meant these words. She turned back to The Joker.
"I'm sorry," she said as she was about to pressed the knife into his neck but then Batman threw a batarang into her forearm forcing her to drop the knife. She stumbled back as Batman ran to them. The Joker grabbed the knife on the floor then shoved it into Batman's abdomen. Batman grabbed him and flipped him onto the floor but The Joker held on and continued to stab him, drawing more blood. Joker then grabbed the crowbar off the floor and bashed it against the side of Batman's head. Barbara ran to him but then he hit her as well. He pulled out a detonator from one of his suit pockets.
"If you won't do it little Barb then I will," he laughed before pressing the button. Catwoman and Robin were running to the front door when it suddenly exploded. The back of the building exploded too then the sides after that. All the entrances were blocked by debris then the floor of Ace Chemicals exploded. The floor of the building was beginning to implode and fall through. The explosions created a large crater underneath the building allowing the ground of it to fall through into the earth. The vats of chemicals were spilling everywhere.
"You had explosives everywhere?!" shouted Batman.
"This is where it ends, pretender!" shouted back The Joker as the ground underneath them was shaking. Despite the shaking ground he walked over to Batman who was trying to get to his feet. "You're nothing but a cheap imitation!" he yelled violently as he hit him in the back with the crowbar. Batman reacted quickly and punched him in the stomach. Joker swung again but Batman dodged it to hit him with a knee in the ribs. Joker then stepped on the ground and a long knife switched out from his shoe. He swung the crowbar and Batman blocked it but he didn't see the kick which punctured his leg. Joker pulled the knife out then hit him over the head with the crowbar.
Batman fell to his knees then rammed his shoulder into The Joker's abdomen. Joker used the knife in his hand to stab Batman again in the ribs while Batman pummeled his face with his fists, ignoring the pain. Batman looked up and saw a glass window in the corner of the room where the vats of chemical were he pointed his grappling gun to it but The Joker quickly shoved his knife into Batman's forearm.
"No escape this time!" he shouted. Joker then used the sharp end of the crowbar to stab Batman in the shoulder. This brought him to the shaking floor where Joker took advantage by hitting him over and over again with the bar. He gave him one good shot to the head that caused some bleeding in the corner of his forehead. "You're no Batman!" he yelled. Barbara then speared him to the floor to save Batman. She beat him again repeatedly except this time she pinned his arms down with her knees.
"Barb," called out Batman but she didn't hear him, she continued to pummel the clowns face.
"That's it, Barb," laughed The Joker between hits. She grabbed him by his collar and held him up with her fist ready in the air. Tears fell from her eyes as she looked down at her father's murderer. The Joker was dazed from all the hits but waited for, what he believed to be, the final one. Amidst the chaos happening around her, she looked down at the clown but then saw her father; not how he was when he died but how he was when he was alive and happy. A man who believed in what Batman stood for no matter what others would say. Batman stood for a symbol for people to be better and those who believed in him also followed this belief. All of those who followed his example wanted to be what he was; a symbol. Now she saw The Joker and he was everything that was wrong with Gotham. Everything that they fought against in Gotham could be found in The Joker. Among all of his abilities was one that seemed to work on many and that was corruption. She felt herself being corrupted by the anger he gave her. He urged her to do to finish him because he knew it would scar her forever. The anger inside of her was subsiding as she remembered her father as he was. His fist was unclenched and she let go of Joker's collar.
"I won't do it," she said breathlessly. "You won't turn me into a monster." Dick stood up behind her and helped her to her feet.
"Are you okay?" he asked. She simply nodded then the loud noise of the building collapsing in on itself startled them. Barbara grabbed Tim's grappling gun from the floor.
"We have to get out of here," she said as she slowly walked over to the edge of the room. Dick picked up The Joker from the floor by his collar. The three of them were by the edge of the room where the entire floor of the chemical room had collapsed into the crater. Barbara aimed the gun toward the window but Joker snapped back awake and pushed them back before she could shoot.
"Where do you think you're going?!" he yelled. "No one leaves here until we're a part of the ground," he laughed.
"Joker we don't have time for this crap," said Dick. Joker then pulled out his gun again and shot Barbara in the leg bringing her down to one knee. He then shot Dick in the shoulder and again in the chest. The building was falling apart and all was falling into the crater. They're finally wasn't enough to keep the testing lab up so the floor started to fall in, starting with the edge of the room. Joker didn't see that the floor behind him was crumbling down into the whole.
"Joker!" Dick shouted as he ran to save him but Joker shot him again in the chest. The floor started to fall in like a set of dominoes knocking each other over. The ground beneath Joker's feet took him down into the dark crater he had created.
"I'm coming, Bats," he said softly as he laughed the entire way down to the crater. His laugh echoed through the building one last time before it faded away into the darkness. Dick and Barbara used the grappling gun to go through the window before the wall came crashing down but not before he could look down at the black hole The Joker fell into.
Ace Chemicals had completely fallen into the crater The Joker had created using dozens of explosives. There was a lot of debris to go through but they eventually found The Joker's body. They cremated him a few days after they found him. There was a large funeral for the men and women that were killed during Joker's killing spree at GCPD. The bat family attended and blamed their visible wounds and sores on the explosion at Gordon's house.
Barbara stood on the balcony of her room in short shorts and a tank stop, revealing her many injuries sustained after fighting Joker. She softly touched her bullet scar below her belly button then touched the sewed up cut beside it. There would be another scar from The Joker that she would have to feel from time to time but there were reminders. They reminded her that despite all that she endured she was still there to tell the tale. The sun was high in the sky and there was a soft breeze hitting Wayne Manor that she loved to feel on her bare skin.
Tim was in Damien's room playing videogames. He had apologized to Dick and Damien countless times but he never seemed to understand that they didn't care about the decision he made that night. Despite all the apologies Tim felt very bad for turning his back on Dick. Dick however always calmed his mind by simply telling him it's in the past. Damien felt more at home than ever. Although the fight with Joker had separated them all at first, in the end they were more connected than ever before. Now Damien wasn't ashamed to smile more or even speak to Dick, even though they still weren't long conversations. Now more than ever Damien felt like he had a real family.
Jason still didn't live in Wayne Manor but they all understood. He would visit every once in a while and after realizing what was really important he fully committed himself to living by Bruce's rules once again. Family was there for him that night and his thirst vengeance nearly got one of his friends killed so his priorities were finally in line.
Dick Grayson was in the kitchen talking to Selina Kyle on his cellphone with a bowl of cereal in his hands. He no longer struggled with his role as Batman. Now his family was stronger than ever after the tough battle they had just faced. The morals he was taught were questioned after becoming Batman and battling his toughest foe yet but he came out strong. He remembered his training and stuck to what his teacher had bestowed onto him. Barbara walked downstairs to find him in the kitchen on the phone. She stood by the doorway while he talked waiting for him to turn around.
"Thanks again, Selina," he said into the phone. "I'll see you around." He turned around to find his girlfriend standing there. "Oh hey."
"Are you and Selina a thing now?" she smirked. "Do I have to take out my claws too?"
"Bats don't have claws," he smirked back as he ate a scoop of his cereal.
"They have two on their wings, smart ass."
"Well what good are two claws against a whole paw full of em?" he chuckled. She walked up to him and he put his cereal on the counter.
"You real funny you know that?" she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist. He pulled her close to him.
"That's part of the reason why you liked me isn't it?"
"Yeah but now I'm starting to regret it. Maybe I should give Superboy a call."
"Don't you go there," he chuckled then she kissed his lips. They walked out onto the patio and looked out at the beautiful view of fields by Wayne Manor. "How are you healing up?"
"Pretty good. I just can't wait to take all these bandages off."
"Oh don't take them off. They make you look sexy," he grinned.
"I'm not keeping them on for you just like you're not keeping yours on," she laughed softly.
"You're still limping?"
"Yeah but it's healing up pretty fast. How are you doing?"
"I'm good," he smirked. "Everything is going pretty well. And how are you feeling?" She looked up at him.
"Pretty good too," she said looking into his eyes. "Thank you again for saving me."
"I always will."
"No more doubts?"
"None whatsoever." He leaned in and kissed her again. Dick always struggled with his place in life. He was discontent living in the shadow of Batman so he put away the Robin suit and became Nightwing in the hopes that he could pave his own way outside of Batman. Doubts swept over him once Batman was needed in Gotham once again for fear that he would lose himself and become Bruce Wayne instead of Richard Grayson. However now he fit more perfect than he could ever dream in a place where he didn't believe he could be happy. Dick Grayson knew his place in the world now and he couldn't be happier with the people he shared it with. Gotham needs her Batman and Dick Grayson is her Dark Knight.