To clear up any misunderstandings, Etta does not know that Bruce is Batman. All she knows is that Diana has a child. Remember this is Bruce, he'll drag his feet on almost anything. Bruce could only meet Diana halfway on this for now. Maybe in the future but I doubt it.
Making the Best of It
Chapter 23
Wayne Manor
A few weeks after Elissa's birthday, Bruce came into the kitchen weary from an eventful patrol. Bruises ached as he moved for some water. Suddenly, his weariness faded as his phone vibrated. He unlocked his phone to realize he had gotten a text message from Diana.
Are you home?
He rose a curious eyebrow as he replied.
Yes.
Unhurt?
He could hear the concern as he read the message. He swiftly answered back.
I'm fine.
Wanna have some fun?
His mind quickly stirred as he understood the implication. Her tantalizing voice in the words provoked an excitable reaction.
What kind of fun?
He played it as he had no idea what she meant.
His answer was an image next. An image that made the man's eyes widen. Weariness evaporated instantly as Diana sent some nudes his way.
And then another. And another. With increasing reactions from him as his eyes almost popped out of his skull as he was surprised by the naughty images she sent.
Until she sent one to him that made his investigative mind into action.
"Wait, that's both her hands. How is she…?"
Another text came.
Interested?
He responded, Very.
Don't forget the whipped cream and chocolate syrup. She sent to him conveying her eagerness.
He left his phone on the kitchen counter as he rummaged through the refrigerator searching for said items. Excited by the promise of some time with his girlfriend.
When he retrieved the items, he raced out of the kitchen with zeal, only to return and take his phone with him. No one should ever stumble upon those photos. He never expected Diana to be one to send nudes to her lover.
The next morning they woke up sticky and well sated that they went for a repeat performance until they had to attend to their respective duties.
Metropolis- Daily Planet
Mild mannered reporter Clark Kent typed away at his computer. Working on his latest story when his phone rang.
"Clark Kent, Daily Planet," he answered automatically.
"It's me," Bruce introduced.
"Good to hear from you," the dark-haired reporter responded pleasantly. "How are things?"
"Fine," the billionaire replied curtly. If Clark bristled by his tone, Bruce did not care. "Penguin has shipped weapons to Metropolis," Bruce began talking shop.
"So, I should expect a visit from you?" the reporter responded amusingly.
To his surprise, Bruce denied. "No. This is me giving you a heads up. Do what you want. Gotham's taken care of," he hung up leaving a concerned Clark on the end of the line. Following Bruce's departure from the Justice League, Batman's trips outside of Gotham had become scarce. He was not interested in leaving the city unless he had no other choice or unless a case required his immediate attention.
Wayne Manor
Christmas at Wayne Manor was a hollow holiday following the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne. When Bruce returned to Gotham and Batman started to patrol the streets, Christmas didn't change. New Year's Eve parties were thrown for cover regarding Bruce's party boy image.
Until Dick showed up, the holiday seemed to come to life a bit. And a little more and more as more of Bruce's extended family came into the fold.
Now with so many on the outs or merely gone, Bruce started to really give things a try. Give Elissa the childhood she deserved. And that meant give her a family and spend the holiday surrounded with family.
This would be Elissa's second Christmas. Her first one she slept through as she was just a month old at the time. Unable to understand what was happening. Now that she was older, they hoped she would get a sense of joy out of it all.
Diana was getting Elissa dressed after her nap. She dressed her in red dress and white tights, shoes were forgone because Elissa was finally starting to walk. It was a teasing match as Elissa would get up on two legs, coaxing her mother up in excitement as she pulled out her phone to record it. Only for Elissa to disappoint her as the one-year-old went back on all fours.
"No fussing today, young lady," Diana spoke to her baby. "You have been unruly lately and it's Christmas. Everyone should enjoy themselves, especially you," she stated. Elissa was fixated with Diana's necklace than her mother's words. The Amazon merely took the child's silence in stride and continued on her way to the kitchen.
When she entered, she witnessed Alfred finishing up with dinner, "Merry Christmas, Alfred!" she exclaimed.
"Merry Christmas, Miss Diana! And to you as well, Miss Elissa," the older man greeted with a smile.
Elissa smiled brightly at the sight of Alfred. She was always happy to see her grandfather.
Cassandra walked in still dressed in black, much to Alfred's chagrin. But it was the holidays, and she was comfortable in black. Bruce had invited her, he wanted to do more for her, treat her like the family that she was.
"Hello, Cassandra," the Amazon greeted pleasantly.
"Diana," she nodded cordially. She was always distant to people and Diana was no exception.
Tim was expected to return soon. He would be coming back from an Ivy League school.
Turning back to Elissa, "Guess who's coming?" the mother inquired happily. "Your Aunt Donna is coming," she said enthusiastically. The last time Elissa saw Donna was when Dick was shot. The Amazon froze when Diana asked her to babysit. Luckily, Elissa slept while Donna was watching her.
Diana bounced the little girl in her arms, smiling in joy by her mother.
The doorbell rang at that moment. Everyone alerted by the guests. Out of habit, Alfred removed his apron and went to answer the door before anyone else could move.
When he returned Donna was following him. "Merry Christmas!" she exclaimed, gifts in hand for her niece.
"Merry Christmas!" they returned with equal enthusiasm.
The younger Amazon walked up to her niece. "Hey, Elissa," she started softly. In response, Elissa reached for her. Donna took her into her arms, bouncing her that made both of them smile. Before Donna was paralyzed whenever she held Elissa, she was not used to holding children, especially babies.
"How's my favorite niece?" she said sweetly, kissing Elissa's chubby cheeks.
Soon Bruce and Tim arrived, and dinner was underway. Alfred cut the ham and soon everyone ate.
Elissa was captivated by the Christmas tree and all the lights. She reached for an ornament that hung low. It was a red bauble, round and decorated in glitter. She examined it carefully as she sucked away on her pacifier. Bruce only smiled as he watched his daughter experience her second Christmas. He swore to give her a similar Christmas every year.
When they opened gifts, she was completely at a loss on what to do. Thankfully, Diana helped her open her gifts. She played with her new toys, she spent time with her family.
She went to bed content that night as Bruce and Diana watched her sleep pleased by the fact that she had a great day.
Slowly, they retreated back to Diana's bedroom as they desired privacy for their exchange of gifts.
Wayne Manor
Two months later and things were not well. It was a cold February night as Batman followed the end of a trail that had lasted months.
It started on December thirty-first. With a riddle. At first Batman thought it was Riddler, but after a quick check in at Arkham, his theory was disproved.
Secondly, the riddle was far too personal. Nygma had no idea who Batman was. There would be no way for Riddler to have such knowledge nor be able to answer it.
As the answers to the riddles that followed were things that only Bruce had answers to. Not even Alfred had such information.
The riddle trail led him all over searching for the next riddle. The last one had led him to a place of innocence. A place of peace.
His daughter's nursery.
An enraged Batman burst into the room, concern for his daughter's wellbeing at the forefront of his mind. Within the nursery the moonlight trickled inside as the curtains were open, being the only source of light in the room.
As his sights set on the crib, his heart skipped a beat. As fear clutched at his heart when he saw a dark figure standing over the crib and his daughter sleeping in the uninvited guest's arms.
His eyes narrowed in anger replaced fear. "Put. Her. Down." He demanded with zeal. His voice muffled as he did not wish to wake her.
Because before him stood an aberration of evil that no amount of good could ever extinguish.
The Batman Who Laughs.
The spawn of the dark multiverse here on Earth Prime, having survived the fall of Barbatos and the Dark Knights.
Dressed in black leather and spikes, the Joker and Batman amalgamation shushed him. "Now, now, you don't want to wake the baby?" he chided.
Batman bared his teeth, seething in anger as he wanted nothing more than to destroy that… thing.
"You know, I had a child, too, once," the dark multiverse resident disclosed.
Immediately, Batman thought of Damian and what that monster turned him into.
"I traveled the dark multiverse and laid waste to other dying worlds' after I conquered mine. I was bored," he shrugged. "In one world I laughed Wonder Woman up. Laughed her up good," he said smugly. The innuendo was clear as he recalled all the fun he had and how he turned Diana into something like him. "And then she got pregnant," he revealed. His voice no longer had that twisted humor in his voice anymore. Now stood a… man that had lost someone.
The scene surprised Batman.
"But…" the leather clad man paused. "She died," he revealed grimly. "In childbirth. And our daughter stillborn. Joker toxin and pregnancy don't mix," he speculated.
A pregnant pause appeared as neither man made a move. Not a sound was heard. Not even the men's breathing.
Suddenly, Elissa stirred, jolting both men with bated breaths. Only to be relieved when she returned to sleep.
Swallowing, Batman took a step forward. "Give her to me," he demanded, arms outstretched.
Slowly, the other Bruce turned to him with an unreadable expression. "I just wanted to see what she looked like," he confessed. "Before I kill you and everyone else," he stated with sinister motivation. "Maybe she'll call me Papa, what do you think?"
Batman forced himself to keep back. He was already working out all the angles and scenarios on how this could play out.
Batman for all his hatred for this monster. He got a sense of… regret? Longing? From the dark multiverse resident.
No.
He dissuaded himself on such thoughts. The Batman Who Laughs lived for destruction and death. There was no way in hell he wanted a sense of family.
He killed his Justice League. His Wonder Woman. Everything he said was a lie—an illusion that had no merit.
All that mattered was getting Elissa out of his hands and into his.
The twisted sense of humor of the leather wearing man returned. "Oh, don't be so cross. We all have regrets," he comforted. Smiling, "I just wanted to see the little tyke before the fight started."
"Fight?"
"Well, thanks to you, Barbatos is gone. Even the other Dark Knights. And the only way for me to leave is to sever my connection to dark metal," he stated. "Which, I will remind you, will be incredibly difficult. I like it here. I'm planning on setting up shop here. Seeing as how you're busy playing daddy, Gotham needs a new Batman. A better Batman. A darker more ruthless Batman," he laughed, "we'll get back to this," he asserted.
Smiling, "Consider this the opening salvo," he tossed Elissa up into the air. Batman's eyes widened in panic as he raced for her.
He heard the bastard utter a farewell, "Toodles," and the smashing of glass as he jumped out the window.
Screaming, Elissa awoke, displeased by her sudden wakeup-call.
Legs carried him as he sprinted for his daughter. He felt tense as she got closer to the ground, he went into a slide. His legs crashed into the crib, boots reaching up to the ceiling as he clutched Elissa tightly to his chest. Relief filled him as Elissa was safely in his arms, lying on his back.
Slowly, he got up. Issuing assurances as she was safe, and he was sorry to wake her.
Suddenly, Diana came racing in, dressed for sleep, alerted by the sound of breaking glass.
"What's going on?" she demanded.
Scowling, Batman turned his head to her.
"Pack your things. You're leaving," he announced bristly.
Hall of Justice
In the infirmary of the structure several individuals stood within the medical facility. A lone Elissa was stripped down to her diaper as several pieces of advanced medical equipment analyzed her.
Cold, confused and surrounded by several people left Elissa in a disgruntled mood. Her mother struggled to kept her from squirming so much. She desired nothing more than to soothe her, but the examination needed to happen. They needed to be certain that monster didn't harm Elissa in any way or form.
She wanted to kill that thing for daring to come near her child.
Suddenly all the lights from the advanced equipment ceased.
"That's it," Mister Terrific announced. "No signs of any form of dangers. No chemical or nanotech agents found."
He looked over to Batman, who stood with Superman and Green Lantern John Stewart. All focusing on Elissa.
"I looked for everything you said I should, Batman. There's nothing. I could go deeper but I'm concerned about exposing her to such radiation," he advised against.
"It's fine, Terrific." The vigilante turned to his daughter as he witnessed Diana start to dress her.
"Thank you, Michael," the Amazon said gratefully as she was relieved to hear Elissa was safe.
"Of course," the man nodded.
"Give her a decontamination bath. Just to be safe," Batman told the mother of his child.
"Of course," she nodded in agreement.
Superman suddenly spoke up, "We checked the grounds and the cave. There wasn't anything that we could find. Nothing I nor John could find. We left the areas you specified alone. Should we check those?"
"No," Batman refused. "I will check them later. When it's over."
John Stewart began formulating a plan, "We'll start scouring Gotham. All areas where he would be comfortable. We should—"
"No," Batman abruptly interjected. "I will deal with the Batman Who Laughs," he asserted.
Frowning, John wanted to retort. Saying that the Batman Who Laughs was a planetary threat. And the longer he remained free the longer the world was in danger.
"I'll deal with it," was all Batman stated.
No one else responded. They knew better than to argue with him when he used that tone.
Batman turned his gaze to Diana. "Stay at the Hall until I call," he ordered.
Diana did not like being told to be under house arrest. When she tried to argue, Batman shut her down.
"Stay put!" he bellowed. His outburst revealed just how unsettled he was by the fact the dark multiverse resident got so close to Elissa.
He took a moment to collect himself before he responded more calmly. "The Hall is one of the most secure locations on the planet. Here Elissa has an army between her and that… thing."
Without another word Batman departed the infirmary regardless of Diana's acceptance or not.
He stomped throughout the Hall already formulating a plan.
He stopped when he heard someone following him.
With a sigh, "What do you want, Clark?"
"To help if I can," the red and blue clad man answered hopefully.
"You can by staying near the Hall," he grunted.
"You don't have to do this alone, Bruce," the dark-haired man assured.
"Yes, I do."
Exhaling, a melancholy Batman leaned against the wall. "I never beat him. I stopped his schemes. I saved a few lives here and there. Beat him into a body cast and threw him into Arkham. But at the end of the day, I never beat him."
It took the kryptonian a moment before he realized Batman was speaking about the Joker.
"And that… thing is me without any moral constraints. He will anything and everything in his power to accomplish his goal. Kill who ever he has to or wants to achieve it. I don't know what he wants other than to take my place here, but I do know that people are going to die before he's threw," he stated.
"There's something I need you to do," he told Clark.
"Sure," the man was eager to help.
"If I can't stop him, if he kills me. I need you to burn Gotham to the ground," he pleaded.
"Bruce…" a horrified Superman took a step back from his friend unable to believe he would make such a request.
"No! Listen to me! That thing will spread like a cancer all over the world until it is made to his twisted design. He is a planetary threat," he stated emphatically. "He has already killed his Justice League; you don't think he'll try again?"
"I… There has to be another way," Superman refuted.
Batman didn't know what else to say. "Just keep Elissa safe for me," he asked his friend.
"Of course," the man nodded vowing to do so.
Arkham Asylum
In the panopticon of the asylum, glass window cells contained some of Batman's most dangerous enemies. They started to get unruly as they felt something was wrong. Something was happening. And none liked the feeling very much. Suddenly within the room a single beam of light took center stage.
Batman cloaked in his cape stood grimly.
"We have a problem," he announced. Earning the contempt and attention of all.
Hall of Justice
While Bruce was dealing with his evil doppelganger, Diana had a child to tend to. It especially did not help that the Hall was open to the public.
It was painfully difficult to keep hidden the fact she had a daughter when there were civilians in the building. Thankfully, the cafeteria was closed and well hidden from the public for privacy.
Thankfully, Ferdinand, Diana's minotaur friend, was the chef for the League. And he was more than agreeable to cook up something for Elissa.
When the sunset it was unbearable. Elissa screamed her little lungs out as she detested sleeping in this foreign place. She preferred her bed in her own home not her mother's quarters at the Hall.
It took hours and Diana was already exhausted. Elissa was really putting her mother through the ringer as she tested her mother's patience.
It did not help the woman's mood that Bruce had yet to call with any sort of update.
Finally, it was in the middle of the night. Approaching four in the morning, Elissa had just finally gone to sleep in the portable crib that Flash delivered for her.
Diana had just entered sleep, feeling that sweet precipice one felt when they entered slumber. Only for it to be selfishly taken from her when her commlink went off, awaking her.
She fumbled for it on her nightstand, quickly before Elissa was disturbed by the noise.
"Yes?" she answered tiredly. She prayed it was Bruce and he damn well better be prepared to take Elissa if he woke her up. Lack of sleep made her not as conscientious as she usually was.
There was a silence before she heard Bruce's voice. "It's me. It's safe to come home," he sounded haggard. Of this she had no qualms
"Bruce," she whispered, "are you alright?" she asked worriedly.
Another pregnant pause before he answered again. "Just come home," he ended the call with that.
He left Diana staring at the commlink with concern.
Bruce, what happened?
Batcave
Bruce sat before the batcomputer having just ended his phone call with Diana. His cowl was off, his hair disheveled, his face bruised. His suit torn in several areas, but the most profound trophy of his long night was the fact that his suit was covered in blood that was not his own. Blood that indicated that whomever it belonged to was indeed dead.
Dead because of his actions.
This night forever marked as a testament to his failure.
He will never forgive himself for this. Never.
When Diana and Elissa returned, Bruce appeared a broken man. Or at least one that had lost something that night.
Diana, originally, pressed him on it. But all he told her was it was taken care of and that it was over. Elissa was safe that was all that mattered. Slowly, the Amazon began to take him at his word. Trusting him to divulge what transpired when he was ready.
A day later there was a report on the news about the destruction of ACE Chemicals that coincidently blew up the night Bruce went after his doppelganger.
Worriedly, she looked to him as he appeared ashamed as the report went on about discovering two similar charred bodies that could possibly be twins. And others.
The police investigated and discovered several other charred bodies in the wreckage.
Bane, Scarecrow, Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Killer Croc were all found dead. Somehow escaped Arkham Asylum and convened at ACE Chemicals.
The media and the public were in uproar demanding answers on the deaths of some of Batman's most dangerous enemies.
The Arkham staff were grilled mercilessly on how the inmates escaped. Only for them to respond with an "I don't know."
Gotham seemed to notice the sudden lack of appearances by Batman as time went by. A week, two weeks, a month passed without a single sighting of Gotham's Dark Knight.
To the surprise of all, Bruce had stayed away from the cave. Not once taking a single step near the study. The idea of going down there seemed to repulse him. Instead, he focused his energies to charities, his Gotham Rebuild Initiative and Wayne Enterprises to improve Gotham.
After a month, Gordon soon came to realize Batman was not coming anymore. No longer answering the signal. He got it in his head that Batman simply got tired of the fight. It didn't stop him from lighting it at least once a night for an hour. He was resigned to the fact he would be alone in the fight now.
In Batman's absence, his extended family took the reins as he isolated himself from them once again. His sins too great to ever be back in the suit.
While on his hiatus, Bruce spent every minute he had with Elissa. The little things he was good at. Like at breakfast when Elissa was seated at the kitchen table being feed by her mother. As he opened the refrigerator, he stumbled upon Elissa staring at him as she ate.
With a sly smile, he opened the door to the refrigerator and slowly closed it halfway before opening again. His daughter a warmhearted laugh as her father played peek-a-boo with her.
The nightmares were the worst of it.
The memories of that night tormented him.
"We have a problem," Batman announced to the inmates of Arkham. "The Batman Who Laughs is back. And he's no doubt planning something nefarious."
"Riddle me this: who cares?" The Riddler inquired leaning against the glass.
"Because he's a monster. He doesn't care for life in any shape or form. It appears he is here to kill me," Batman disclosed. "You all will help me," he commanded certainly.
"Why should we?" Killer Croc protested, scratching at the glass.
"Because he is a monster and he won't expect me to have all of you with me," the vigilante explained. "And if that doesn't entice any of you to obey than how about this. Do any of you believe he won't kill any of you to alleviate boredom for even a second?" he proposed.
That got all of them thinking. In the past, the Batman Who Laughs gave them power when Barbatos invaded, but it wasn't enough as they were soundly defeated. They knew the evil Batman was a monster capable of anything. He was a Batman with no code. Thriving for nothing but destruction. Gotham doubtlessly ground zero for the bastard's plans.
"Fine," to the surprise of the inmates, it was Bane whom agreed. He realized that there would be no Gotham if their Batman fell.
Batman awaited the agreement of the others before he decided to let them out. When he saw them all nod in agreement, he opened their cells and gave them their equipment. Each had a tranquilizer and taser built in for when they decided to betray their longtime enemy.
"Where do we go?" Scarecrow asked, already relishing the fear in Batman for coming to them for help. He would be the most obvious to betray Batman.
"Where it all started," Batman put cryptically. "ACE Chemicals."
With a scream, Bruce shot up from the bed, soaked in sweat, his heart racing as he was haunted by the affair. No matter how hard he tried he could not cast the bitter memories away. Forget them as none were worth remembering. Only his guilt kept the memories alive.
"Bruce?" Diana rested her hand against his back, surprising him. "Are you alright?" the Amazon was starting to get worried. And judging by his behavior Bruce was starting to lose it.
"Fine," he answered flatly. "Just… just a nightmare," he assured. "Go back to bed," he told her, lying back down.
"Bruce, talk to me," she persisted as her concern was overpowering. She had respected his refusal to talk about what happened, but it was starting to take a heavy toll on the man.
He was silent. Ignoring her, he turned over, away from her and shut his eyes, praying the nightmares left him.
The one thing that always persisted was the smell from that night. The odor of blood and smoke permeated his sense of smell. He could not get rid of it.
She scowled, but there was little she could do. Save getting the lasso but then he would be angry with her.
The Batman Who Laughs left a chemical trace on the last few riddles. All chemicals led back to ACE Chemicals. The place where it all began. Where the Joker was born after the man who would become the Joker faced Batman for the first time.
Batman believed his evil doppelganger desired to take a trip down memory lane. Relive the origin of the greatest rivalry in Gotham.
At that particular hour that night, the facility had a skeleton crew working making sure all hazardous materials never left the facility.
When Batman and the Arkham crew went inside, they were greeted to the sight of the bodies of the skeleton crew.
Anger surged through him as more bodies piled up at his feet. How many more would suffer? How much longer could he stick to his code before they went past the point of no return? How much longer could he put himself through this horror show?
They made it to a sparse processing chamber. Vats of chemicals sealed up, a walkway empty as chains hung from the railings and ceiling. Light fixtures flickered as the bulbs needed to be changed.
They were alert when they heard rhythmic clanking against the railing on the walkway.
"Well, well, well, if this isn't a desperate yet surprising alliance, I don't know what is?" the Batman Who Laughs humorously put, revealing his big sharp teeth.
"It's over, Laughs," Batman declared. "Give yourself up!"
"Would you?" the leather wearing man countered, head tilting to the side. "But here's my counter move," he revealed, hand in the air.
"You called for backup, so I decided to do the same," he revealed. "Oooooh, Grimmmm," he called eerily.
Batman was instantly alarmed when he heard heavy footsteps. From an adjacent walkway they saw another Batman, weapons strapped to his back.
"Well, Batman, I got a little lonely, you understand. So, I brought a friend. Meet the Grim Knight!" the Batman Who Laughs introduced.
Instead of words, the Grim Knight introduced himself by firing an RPG at the group.
"Move!" Batman shouted as they all darted out of the way. The explosion blasted all of them away from each other.
Off balance, Batman struggled to get to his feet, groaning.
The Grim Knight leapt off the walkway, his boots smashing onto the ground heavily. He fired a mini missile at Mr. Freeze destroying his ice gun, his suit slightly damaged. His helmet cracking provoking him to panic.
"Riddle me this," Riddler started, his trademark question mark shaped cane in hand, the handle sharp as a blade. "What's black, gray, and red all over?" he proposed with murderous glee. To his surprise, the Grim Knight pulled out a knife, and expertly deflected the cane with his empty hand, coming up from behind him and slit his throat so deeply it his head almost fell off.
With a guttural gurgle the green clad man fell to the floor lifeless.
"You talk too much," the murderous Batman grunted. Instantly, he reacted by diving to the side, narrowly evades the mighty jaws of Killer Croc.
"Eat you!" the cannibal bellowed, charging.
Scarecrow watched intently searching for his moment to strike. His desire to understand the fear of this Grim Knight delighted him.
"Ahhh!" Croc cried in pain, as the warmongering Batman threw his knife into the beast's eye.
Finally, regaining his bearings, Batman rose his head looking up towards the leather clad Batman, laughing at the show.
His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the Riddler's corpse. Guilt ate away at him for the casualty. But soldiered on as he fired his grapple to take the fight to the Batman Who Laughs.
As Batman landed onto the walkway with a clank, he charged. They immediately traded blows, each reaching a stalemate as they anticipated the other's next move.
"Here's an origin story for you, Bruce. The Grim Knight is the Batman that picked up Joe Chill's gun and shot him in that dirty alley with mommy and daddy," he shoved the story in the other man's face with glee. Knowing deep down they had similar thoughts once.
"Oh, you try to play the hero," Laughs continued talking just in time to block a left cross from Batman. "But you are just as crazy and just as monstrous as everyone else. All those kids we put in the firing line all for the sake of our crusade, where are they now, Bruce?"
Scowling, Batman delivered a side kick into Laughs side, a grunt escaping him, only for him to counter with an elbow into Batman's knee.
Pulling back stumbling as his leg ached from the well-placed blow.
Before Laughs could capitalize on the opening the walkway shock violently. Both men glanced downward to witness Bane, hopped up on Venom, trying to pull the walkway apart.
"Enough of this! I will kill both you and that abomination once and for all!" he declared as metal strained, and bolts were torn off.
Gravity took hold of both men as the walkway collapsed crashing into the ground with a loud metallic clank. Bane, unfortunately, was caught in the collapse, buried under metal.
Batman and Laughs used the chains hanging from the ceiling to slow their descent, sharing a gaze as they drifted down to the ground unharmed.
When they landed, they charged at each other once more.
Scarecrow picked up one of the Grim Knight's discarded automatic weapon. He fired wildly in the other Batman's direction, disregarding Croc being close by.
The scaly man grunted in pain as the bullets impacted painfully with his flesh, a couple of bullets embedding into his skin. Growling, he snarled at the sack wearing man in irritation.
Awkwardly, the thin man shrugged, undisturbed by his action.
The Grim Knight sprinted close to the sealed vats; chemical liquid spilled from it as Scarecrow sprayed following the dark multiverse resident.
Unfortunately, a spark formed from a bullet ricocheting off the vat setting the spilling chemical aflame. Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the facility, knocking all away.
To Scarecrow's dismay, he was caught up in the explosion, engulfed by flames that extinguished his malcontent life without an utterance.
Dazed, Batman struggled to get to his feet. A rebreather quickly installed to provide clean air. Unfortunately, Laughs had a similar device. Flames licking at them. Slowly, Batman stood to his feet just to see Laughs did the same.
Bane regained consciousness just in time as the metal burying him started to heat. With his drug addled arms, he knocked all the debris away. Just in time for the Grim Knight to fire an RPG at point blank range into the Santa Priscan's face.
The dark multiverse resident seemed unfazed by the recoil, witnessing a headless Bane collapse onto his back.
"Ugh!" Batman grunted as Laughs' roundhouse kick knocked the rebreather from his mouth. Falling onto his side before he rolled away to get to his feet.
From behind, Croc charged at Grim capturing him with his hands. His teeth dug into his shoulder, provoking a cry of pain. The first sound of pain to ever escape the killer since he appeared.
Suddenly, half of the ceiling gave way collapsing in on itself killing both men due to the falling debris.
"This is the end, Bruce!" Laughs declared; his twisted sense of humor gone. Now stood the merciless killer that wanted Batman dead. His hands the Prime universe's Batman's neck, choking him.
"You die and the world is mine to be my playground!" he stated, applying more pressure. Batman limbs were heavy as he was pinned against a pillar. No leverage possible as his posture was weak and unsteady.
The light in his eyes was fading as consciousness was dissipating. Elissa's smiling face flashed into his mind's eye. He wanted nothing more than to see her grow up. He knew he wasn't going to get the chance. His only hope was that this monster died here with him.
Suddenly, his eyes widened when he felt Laughs' grip loosen. He was stunned to see a machete sticking out of the twisted Batman's chest. Even Laughs was stunned. Blood pooling onto the ground, the splatter decorating Batman's chest.
Laughs coughed up blood as realization slowly crept up on him. Both men searched for the owner of the blade as saw Mr. Freeze, panting as his helmet was destroyed. The heat killing him, understanding he was running out of time he picked up Grim's discarded blade.
A forceful look in his eyes as the Batman Who Laughs was death personified. He must be destroyed. He pushed the blade further into the leather clad man, a grunted escaped the impaled man as the blade severed his spinal cord.
The blade pursued until the hilt connected with the man's back. The tip stopped just a centimeter from cutting into Batman.
Freeze's strength left his arms as he fell back as he died.
Realizing that this was the end, Laughs had this to say.
"Well, that's not funny," he said dryly. He collapsed dead to the floor.
Swiftly, Batman raced to the nearest window as the facility was about to blow. Ash and smoke permeated his senses making it difficult to breathe.
He leapt out the window just in time as thirty seconds later the place exploded, caving in on itself as smoke and fire littered the skyline.
Batman collapsed onto a rooftop, panting heavily as he took greedy gulps of air. He laid flat on his back as he slowly processed what had happened. All the deaths tonight were on his head. He brought the inmates with him as an element of surprise. He did not consider the Batman Who Laughs had the ability to bring other denizens from the Dark Multiverse here.
What had he done?
Three months flew by very quickly and not once did Bruce put on the cowl. He vaguely pondered just retiring.
There was even a news report declaring that Batman had abandoned Gotham.
Something that irked him originally, but he did nothing.
In those months, Elissa grew. Finally taking those steps, walking in front of her mother and father to the profound glee.
It was March when the reports came in.
Crime was on the rise. Gangs were using the deaths of several of Arkham alumni as an excuse to gain power and territory. Organized crime was becoming rampant, Penguin had declared war on these up-and-comers. War on the streets with the police struggling to make arrests and protect their own as civilian and police blood were shed.
Gotham's protectors were struggling as well as they were disorganized and with lower numbers than before. Signal was injured during daylight hours protecting a school bus of kids from getting caught in the crossfire.
Cassandra was exhausted as she was going without rest for days. Batgirl was experiencing problems with her spinal implant.
Batwoman had even returned but she alone was not enough.
The news reports plagued Bruce as he shut them off and tried to put it out of his mind. He diverted his attention to Elissa as he tended to her. Surprisingly, Alfred had not said a word about going out. It appeared he were relieved that Bruce had given up the cowl and walked away while he still could.
It rained heavily that night as the dark-haired man had just shut off the news about the gruesome killing of a family.
Flashbacks struck him as he recalled the night that had haunted him for decades. The memories came back fresh every time he relived them. It all came to a head.
From Elissa's bedroom he set her down in her crib, gently putting her blanket around her. Her trusting blue-eyes expressing love. A love that made his heart ache from being torn in two different directions.
He frozen when he saw the signal from Elissa bedroom, the city calling her guardian in her hour of need. The urge proved powerful as it attempted to shove him over the edge.
"You try and hold me back. But you are nothing but a weakling."
Bruce's eyes widened as he heard his voice in his head. His monster that he tried to use for a force for good.
"You chained me up and threw me in the dark. But you're nothing without me," it spat.
"You've been relying on me ever since that night. If you think you can have a family and a white picket fence, think again. You lost your chance at having any of that when you swore the oath."
Bruce knew the Bat's words were true. But… he didn't want to believe that anymore. He wanted to have a family like everyone else's. With Diana and Elissa. A little peace that most took for granted.
"The time has come," the Bat announced. "We must answer the call. We must always answer the call. Now go forth and battle evildoers, Batman!"
Bruce bitterly accepted. He took the oath and he had to answer the call. Gotham was not safe. Crime was not eradicated.
People are bleeding—dying in the streets. Families torn apart by violence.
Resigned to his fate, he looked down at Elissa, who looked at him with innocence. Regretfully, Bruce picked her up, staring into her eyes as she in turn did the same. Trustingly, Elissa's hands touched her father's face, curious by the sensation of Bruce's beard.
"I'm so sorry, Elissa," he started. His voice reflecting his reluctance and anguish. "You deserve so much better," he said softly.
He pressed a long-lasting kiss to her forehead, silently begging her for forgiveness. Gently, he pulled back and placed her back in her crib.
"I will see you in the morning," he promised her, adjusting her blanket.
Slowly, he shut the door and went to his bathroom. He stared into his reflection in the mirror with determination. With no more hesitation, he shaved his beard, wiping his face dry.
Resolute, he walked down to the one place he had not set foot in for three months.
Batcave
The man stood before the batsuit suspended within the glass case. It had been so long since he donned the suit. He was hesitant to put it on. Uncertain if he had what it took to defend Gotham. Had the fire burned out?
That had tormented him, could he still do the job as well as he did before? Had his guilt crippled him?
He cast his doubts out of his mind and donned the cowl once more.
GCPD Headquarters
With resigned sigh, Gordon pushed himself off the ledge of the roof. The cold rain chilling on that cold night. Wearily, he saw his own breath from the cold. His hands freezing even while within his pockets.
He looked behind him to the two officers standing near the alight signal. Both shared the same disappointed look.
"Turn it off," he ordered. "He's not coming." He started to walk towards the door, seeing one of the officers preparing to turn the signal off.
"Leave it on," a voice called out, causing the law enforcement members to freeze in place.
A voice Gordon had thought he would never hear again. They looked up and saw Batman standing atop the rooftop access door, cloaked in his cape.
Elated, Gordon laughed. "Where the hell have you been?"
Slowly, he answered. "I had to find myself. I was uncertain I had what it took to protect this city. But I'm back now," he confirmed. "That's all that matters."
He looked out towards the city skyline. The symbol of the bat hanging triumphantly over the city. Beneath its mighty wings, it offered protection and safety to all.
"Leave it on. Let them all know," Batman solemnly stated. "What do you have?" he inquired getting straight to business. He leapt from the roof to being in front of the police commissioner.
"Weapons on the street are getting out of hand. We got some chatter that a kidnapping is potentially happening to the interim mayor. We have security detail on him as we speak. I've already lost almost two dozen officers since this gang war started. We need a win tonight," Gordon answered, emphatically,
"I'll see what I can do," Batman nodded his head, leaping off the rooftop taking to the air.
His return had a reinvigorating effect on the police force. Finally, their trump card was back and better than ever.
Criminals beware, The Batman had returned!
NEXT: LOVE
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