Legal Bat 6 - (Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, Lawyer!SI)
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Publicity can be both good and bad.
In what was seen as a most chaotic PR campaign, I was both revered as a good attorney who had heart and emotions, but also one that was a 'bleeding heart for criminals'.
Gotham tended to act this way- one thing you are regarded as the hero of the day, the next hour you are the worst scum of the Earth. That being said, not all of that comes without some 'pushing' from the shadows.
What with the Mafia and the Court of Owls being quite active as far as I was aware of, the nexus of misinformation was a dangerous tool if left unchecked for long. Especially when some of those 'righteous vigilantes' may take it upon themselves to 'save the world'.
My police guards had arrested two guys trying to sneak some bombs in the flat beside mine just yesterday, forcing the GCPD to up my security list for the time being.
What a painful headache this one had to be to the good commissioner.
I didn't think much of it. I played by the law and nothing else- I wasn't Harvey Dent, nor I tried to make a case on this being possible. Not even as Twoface sent a letter out of Arkham demanding a 'match' of sort.
Fuck that, he already played games with his multiple personalities- no need for me to get pulled into that shitfest.
That being said... Karlo's trial had put him in the spotlight in a mostly good light. He couldn't give interviews, but that didn't stop documentaries and people from talking about him on the news- and the people had to admit that Basil Karlo was a tortured soul.
He may have been a monster, but he wasn't always like that. He had been put in a cornered, taunted into conforming with a society that loathed him not only for his success but his preferences too.
The fact that the state had dropped its nagging at me over my 'leniency' as they were now shown as the 'objective good guy' was proof they were going to treat this with velvet gloves and perhaps give more concessions to Karlo.
In an email, I even asked for the man to be examined frequently and for a certified doctor to be around to make sure he didn't 'lapse back' into becoming Clayface.
If I can stop a guy from becoming a baddy again, then I guess that would be the hugest win I could get out of this mess.
As I was planning to enjoy another few months of little cases, I was surprised when the case dropped another big folder on my desk. This time, it was Jim Gordon himself that had set the papers for me to dig into. A test? No, he just hoped I could untangle the mess that stumbled upon my lap.
Arthur Brown, Cluemaster. This criminal... didn't deserve any sympathy.
As much as I can be conceding to some details regarding 'ruined people', Arthur had the chance many times to pull back. He wasn't financially screwed, his family still tried to reach out to him, and he had many times found ways to 'leave' for some time.
His latest stint in Central City which involved the Young Justice, had pretty much set a big target on Cluemaster's back as several criminals wanted him dead.
Gordon wanted me to 'handle' this mess since I was the cleanest lawyer in his short list of people that could go head to head with Arthur, but I wasn't exactly planning to pull my punches.
I looked into the documentation Central City forced onto Gotham, and they had done their homework on how to set up the guy to end up anywhere but Gotham.
I felt mildly annoyed to find out that Gordon expected a degree of 'mercy', but I found myself unwilling to go through any length to save Arthur. Not when he was so deep and so criminally dangerous that prison was a must in my book.
That being said, I liked to pick thoughts from other people. Perhaps others that could give me a more 'compelling' argument on what to do. Sounds a bit shifty on a legal basis, but I think I deserve some leeway for finding myself such a big case not even a week after the Karlo one.
I called Harper and she helped me set up a meeting with the person in question.
And, of course, it meant going at Wayne Manor once more. This time, I was aware, I had to deal with some concerned 'family members'.
Life just doesn't get any easier.
Stephanie Brown was many things. All of which were good.
I had only heard passing remarks from Harper as her being the 'light in the darkness' when it comes to saving her ass from the few dates her little bro tried to pull her into.
I couldn't blame Harp from trying to give her lil bro some independence, but I could tell that she was exaggerating and she could take the hit a few times.
Now, ignoring this warm moment, the rest of the afternoon was somber.
Bruce wasn't around, but there were Tim, Alfred, Cassie, and Jason.
The cast was unusual to deal with, but they were all willing to let the girl talk as I kept my questions very vague at times to not bring up bad memories.
It was a task, one that I failed a few times, but it was mostly because I couldn't just erase the fact Stephanie was the one that brought her father in back in Central City not even a few days ago. But as I kept on asking and asking, noting down some details to keep in mind, I was hit with a question from Stephanie herself.
"What do you intend to do with... him?"
I leaned back on my chair, so many eyes on me as I found the usually warm living room rather cold.
Drawing a sigh, I prepared something honest but still well-mannered.
"I was told to 'try' and spare your father prison, Ms. Brown. I doubt that, with all I learned and all I am finding out about his many crimes and lack of remorse, I can give him any mercy."
"John," Harper quietly asked, sitting close to the blonde. "I know that-"
"I want to make this clear,Stephanie. I am not doing this because I am a cold unflinching lawyer," I spoke up, interrupting Harper with a glance. "I understand you have many dilemmas. You think that he could be spared, or that he shouldn't. That you have this inner turmoil that you can't yourself solve without help. So please listen to what I have to say in regard to what we lawyers do when we learn our ways in Gotham."
She raised her eyes to me and I took this as a 'go on'.
"One of the oddest questions I had to deal with was 'if my parents were involved in a crime, how would I handle such a case?'. The answer I remember giving myself was 'it all depends on the crime, or maybe the intensity, the guilt, and much more'. As I studied more and heard more people pointing out their experiences of either helping relatives or damning them to prison, I realized that... by the end of the day, despite how much love we have for some people, we need to abide by the law and we need to bear responsibility over what this entails to our lives and those of the people we care about," I paused, my eyes narrowing as a rather harrowing example came to mind. "Let me present you with a scenario. In fact, let me present this to all those in the room since it is not a funny example: let us say that a crisis is unfolding in Metropolis and at the Justice League's base. Let us think that Lex Luthor is launching an attack on their base while the Joker is doing something in Metropolis, he is planning a nuke to destroy the city."
"The Flash can do the Metropolis thing, while there are guys that can handle Luthor," Jason quipped and I smiled. "What?"
"That is if the Flash is around to help," I argued, and then sighed. "Ignoring the Flash, and thinking that the Justice League has to split to handle this matter, Superman is the best option to deal with the Joker, yes?"
They all nodded and I smirked. "Wrong."
"He is the most powerful hero, why wouldn't he be enough?"
"Because he is facing the Joker," I shot back to Harper, and I saw her roll her eyes. "So he may expect this. Suddenly, Doomsday emerge to his defense and fights Superman. A fight against the monster would decimate Metropolis so Superman is forced to bring Doomsday to outer space to clash but, as soon as he is done flying the beast up, he learns one thing... it's not Doomsday, but a pregnant woman."
There is a pause, and I saw the disgust and horror playing with the spectators' eyes.
"A horrible deed, one that would infuriate Superman a lot as he descends to stop the Joker for good. Batman is late because he is dealing with the bomb, and he arrives to find quite the scene. Superman is about to kill the Joker as he had his 'bad day', but he convinces him to stop."
My smile turn bitter. "Superman stops, and he listens to Batman that... today would be the last time."
Everyone tensed up at hearing this.
"The Joker speaks in the batmobile. He says that he will do it again, maybe using one of you or even Superman's loved ones to get the 'right effect'. At that point, Batman has a choice."
"He wouldn't kill him," Stephanie muttered but... she is the only one speaking up at this, she looks surprised as she eyes the others and notices some hesitation. "G-Guys."
"Batman would hesitate but-" Cassie argued, only for her to be interrupted.
"The scenario is messed up," Jason admitted with a snarl. "But... I can see it happen."
"And Batman has a limit," Alfred commented calmly, drawing some gazes before turning to me. "How do you think it would end?"
"I think he would drive up to the GCPD, revealing a Joker with a broken neck, and he would surrender to Jim Gordon."
...
"What's the point of... this?" Stephanie asked.
"It's a horrible scenario. A build-up to something so terrifying that we have to ask, had the Joker been stopped earlier from escalating to this point," I answered calmly. "The point is, your father is not improving. Arkham makes him worse, being out makes him even worse. And while this means a death sentence for him, he had burned a way out too many times. He is not crazy, he is not misunderstood, he just doesn't want to stop being a bad person and, while I appreciate the care you have for him, he will not get better."
...
"You want me to tell you that you are right," She guessed and I shook my head. "Then what?"
"I want you to know the very point I raised when we first talked. I am not doing this without some deep thinking. I am not taking this case as a 'he is a criminal, he had done many bad things, he doesn't deserve mercy'. Clayface was a monster, perhaps on a greater magnitude than your father, but he sure as hell had a strong reason to be like that and for now to be left alone."
...
The ride back home was somber.
Harper decided to stick behind as I left to home with the police cars on tow, ready to enjoy a cold night on my lonesome for now. I didn't blame her as Stephanie needed all the care she needed for this shitty situation.
Then the truck came from out of nowhere.
I barely stirred the wheel to move away, the car turning as it got flipped on the side a few times.
The concussion I got slowing down my reaction time, and not helping as I heard rapid footsteps approaching. As I tried to crawl out of the broken window, I was hit behind my back with something sturdy and I blacked out.
But not before hearing...
A rather sinister female laugh.
AN
Here comes the... Punchline!