The Man Behind the Mask

Your P.O.V
Your car screeched to a halt in the reserved parking lot for the elite audience members for the election.  You gained a few confused looks with your wild state but most were to busy talking to other elite members and the remaining candidates.  You looked around and spotted Commissioner Gordon talking to a candidate.  If your mind could recall correctly, the candidate was in the lead.  "Commissioner Gordon!" You called out, waving your arms.  He looked up and gave a soft smile.  "Hello Ms. Y/N.  Fancy meeting you here."  You gave a quick smile but dropped it back into a frown immediately.  Worry crossed the old commissioner's face.  "What's wrong?" He asked, placing his hand firmly in your shoulder.  "Sad you chickened out?"  The candidate said, grinning.  You looked at him, offended.  "Mr. Duxbury please." Gordon said.


Duxbury shrugged.  "Well not everyone is cut out for being mayor."  "Clearly..." You mumbled, looking at him.  Just then, an announcement went off over the crowd.  "ALL CANDIDATES PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE STAGE."  Duxbury saluted you.  "Well it was an honor working with you Ms. Dehai.  Shame you had to drop out so soon."  He walked away, hands in pockets.  Your glaring eyes followed him for a second or two more before you got back to the more pressing matter at hand.  "Commissioner we need to shut this thing down."  You said in a low but harsh voice.  He tilted his head.  "What?"  You nodding vigorously.  "There is a bomb somewhere here and the Joker plans on using it to kill all the candidates while on stage."  Gordon leaned in and whispered.  "Are you sure?"  You nodded.  "Please believe me Commissioner."  He stared into your eyes for a moment before sighing.  "Well as much as I would like to say such a threat is fake, the look in your eyes tells me something far different.  A grin covered your face and your shoulders relaxed slightly. 


"Oh thank god."  You mumbled as Gordon lifted up with Wilkie talkie.  "Alright men.  We just received plausible information about a bomb threat in the area.  Please evacuate everyone immediately."  The radio remained silent and you and Gordon gave it an odd look.  "I repeat.  Please evacuate the civilians immediately."  The radio gave only a  static reply.  Gordon threw it on the ground, frustrated.  "What do we do?"  You asked him.  He looked at you.  "Ms. Dehai please leave the area quickly.  I will stay and help evacuate the people."  You shook your head and swallowed nervously.  "The Joker wants me.  If I stay he might let the others go.  It's best we get as many people of here before that point.  There's no stopping it."  Gordon stared.  "Alright."  He finally agreed.  "But you stay by my side until we can get this sorted out ok?"  You nodded.  "Then follow me."  Gordon said as he made his way to the stage."


As you followed Gordon, you gained many strange stares from the candidates and the crowd.  However, most of the crowd was focused on the accounted for the evening.  "Good evening ladies and gentlemen."  He began.  "This election year has been quite an interesting one, with some of the greatest candidates Gotham had seen yet.  However, there can only be one winner."  Gordon leaned over and whispered something in one of the security guard's ears.  The guard glanced over at you for a moment as he relayed the information to the rest of the police via earpiece.


The police immediately took action, subtly moving through the crowd, beginning to escort them.  A murmur spread through the crowd as some began to realize what was going on.  "Please follow me."  The two guards on stage said to the other nominees.  "What's going on?"  Duxbury said to one of them as they grabbed his shoulder.  He caught eyes with you and laughed.  "What you believe this girl?"  You and Gordon frowned as he clutches his stomach laughing.  Then he abruptly stopped and glared at you.  "Kinda a sore loser aren't you?  Can't let anyone else beat you can you?"  He growled.  He marched forward towards you, fire in his eyes.  But before he could get to you, a large explosion knocked you off your feet.


The crowd broke into a wild state of panic as civilians ran like ants trying to escape a water hose.  They jumped over fences and each other, desperate to escape the flames.  You sat up slowly as rubbed the back of your head.  Looking around, you sighed in relief as you saw Gordon and Duxbury, the two remaining people on the stage sat up as well.  "We need to get out of here now!"  Gordon yelled over the screams.  Duxbury looked around dumbly.  "No....I was in the lead.  This was supposed to be my night."  He mumbled, looking out over the ruined stage.  Just then, a familiar laugh echoed across the space and your stomach dropped.


"Kaboom."  The Joker said, thumb pressing down on a button in his hands.  It took you only a second to realize what was happening.  "Get down!"  You yelled, jumping behind the fallen podium.  Gordon quickly shielded Duxbury with his body as another large explosion followed.  Your ears rung and everything was dull.  You heard the Joker's laugh grow close to you and you felt someone pick you up and throw you off the stage.


You hit the ground and cried out in pain, dullness clearing.  You watched as the green haired phyco made his way down the stage towards you.  You could see Gordon in the background.  He tried to pull out his gun but Harley, who suddenly appeared, kicked it away.  She waved his finger at him and he looked at you with worry.  Duxbury, beside him, stared in shock at the events playing out.  Joker pulled out a knife and played with it in his hands.  "Well well Y/N.  You ready to reconsider?"  You tried scooting backwards to get away from the creep.  Shards of glass sunk into your hand along with other debris from the explosions.  "There's still more bombs Y/N."  He said menacingly.


You opened your mouth but no noise came out.  The Joker leaned over and whispered in your ear.  "Wouldn't want you to end up like your sister now would we?"  Your eyes widened as you looked at him in confusion.  The Joker's eyes scanned over you for a moment before his eyes narrowed in realization.  "Your father never told you?"  The Joker laughed.  "Well I guess he wouldn't really tell you that I was the cause behind your dear little sister's death now would he?"  You stared in shock as you remembered the day you got the news.  You remembered the police showing pictures of the scene.  You remembered seeing your sister's body lowered into the ground. 


"W-what?"  Your voice cracked.  The Joker slid the knife under your throat, the cold metal lightly brushing your skin.  "Remember the scars on her face?  I'm sure the police couldn't figure out that.  But..."  He said,  waving the knife at you.  "It did help change you daddy's mind.  Anything to save his other precious daughter."  The Joker looked at you as you put your hand over your mouth.  "Now who do I have to kill to get you to give me those weapons?"  The Joker asked.  "Your mother?  Nah to cliche.  Your assistant?  Who cares about her?  Your nana?  Too boring.  Your lover?..."  The Joker stopped as you gave a small gasp.  "Oh well seems a little predictable but the way your reacting right now...Haha!  So that's how we'll do it!"  The Joker stood up and raised his knife in the air.


"No!"  You yelled.  Your mind refused to act according to logic.  You felt your bloody hand feel it's way around a concrete rock and you threw it with all your might.  The rock missed completely as the Joker leaned to the side.  "AHAhahahaaha And people say I do crazy things!"  The Joker said, clutching his side.  Then, swinging his arm, the Joker sliced the space in front of you, the tip of the blade digging into your arm.  You cried out and attempted to move farther away.  "Seems like you need to learn a few manners."  He said.  Your back hit the wall and the Joker raised the knife again, preparing to throw it.  "Don't worry."  He said, giggling.  "I'll make sure you live long enough to donate to my cause."  He threw the knife and you screamed.


However, before the knife could hit you, a large black figure left down from the roof above and caught the knife in his gloved hand.  "You!"  You cried out, looking at Batman.  "Y/N.  Get out of here."  The dark knight growled.  You nodded your head shakily.  "Here."  Another gloved hand moved into your vision of sight.  You looked up to see Nightwing holding out his hand to you.  Lifting your bloody hand into his, you let him help you up.  "Harley!"  Joker called out, looking for his partner.  "Way ahead of you Mr. J!"  She cried out, running at Nightwing.


She jumped at Nightwing who swooped you up and moved you out of the way.  Harley hit the wall and stumbled.  "I'm flattered."  He said to her.  "Not many women are willing to throw themselves at me."  Harley growled.  "Shut up dipslip.  No need to blow this out of proportion!"  She yanked a grenade out of her pocket and threw it in your direction.  "Oh boy."  Nightwing replied, leaping out of the way again.  Setting you down, he added.  "Best you get out of here."  You leaned against the wall but nodded. 


Nightwing smiled at you before rejoining the battle.  You watched him for a moment, going neck to neck against the former Dr. Quinzel as they exchanged blow after blow.  Nightwing swung at Harley who landed a punch to his face.  Unfortunately for her, he was able to kick her in the side at the same time. 


Nearby, Batman and Joker were fighting an even more intense battle.  You watched as the Joker, laughing, threw a gas bomb down by Batman's feet.  As it went off, Batman swung himself out of the cloud using a grappling hook.  "Run run Batsy!"  Joker yelled, throwing a few more bombs.   You gasped, feeling your body freeze up in fear.  You hated to admit it but respect for Batman grew every time you saw him fight.


Although you were set on watching the battle, a slight movement from the corner of your eye caught your attention.  Looking over to the stage, you saw Commissioner Gordon slowly helping up Mr. Duxbury from a pile of debris.  It looked like he needed help.  Glancing over nervously at the battles, you saw your chance and jogged over.  "We need to get out of here."  You said, holding out your hand to Duxbury.  He glared at you.  "This.  THIS IS YOUR FAULT!"  He yelled.  He swung he fist out at you and you yelped.  Reacting quickly on adrenaline, you ducked, making Duxbury loose his balance and fall down again.


Duxbury mumbled a string of curses before slumping over unconscious.  Gordon and you looked at one another and judging him silently.  However, the silence was soon broken by someone calling your name in a sing-song voice.  "Yyyyyy/Nnnnnn!"  You looked over your shoulder at the Joker.  He attention must of been drawn back over to you when Duxbury yelled.  "Joker!"  Batman yelled, trying to regain his attention.  Batman threw a punch at Joker but he ducked, running towards you with knife in hand.  "Get Duxbury and yourself out of here."  You said to Gordon.  "Ms. Dehai what exactly do you think you can do?"  The commissioner asked. 


You shook your head.  "Probably not much but enough to save you.  Please.  Let me do this."  Gordon paused a moment.  "Alright.  Batman will be able to protect you for a short amount of time.  Just don't do anything to rash."  You nodded.  "Fine."


You heard Gordon grunt as he picked up Duxbury and slowly faded into the background.  "Y/N!"  Batman yelled out in warning and you couldn't help noticing a familiarity about his voice.   You paused for a moment to think and that's when the Joker took his chance.  He ran around Batman and grabbed you by the front of your shirt.  "Boom."  He said as he pressed the center of the flower on his suit.  The building above burst into flames as a large explosion rocked the ground.


The Joker looked up laughing and you followed his gaze.  The large metal beams on the building above had been lodged loose and we're heading straight for you at the maniac.  "Well isn't this SMASHING!"  Joker said.  He laughed at his own pun.  The metal beams grew closer and all you could do was stare blankly at them as the Joker shook you around.


Suddenly, a muscular arm wrapped itself around your waist and ripped you from the Joker's grasp.  "Oh that's a no no."  The Joker said, grabbing Batman's ankle.  "Why leave the party! So! Soon!"  The Joker grunted and pulled Batman down with all his strength.  However, before he hit the ground, Batman yelled and threw you out of the way of the falling beams.


The beams crashed to the ground as you rolled across the debris a few feet away.  "Mr. J!"  Harley yelled, forgetting about her battle at hand.  "Out of my way Boy Blunder!"  She said, hitting Nightwing hard on the head.  He held his hands and slumped into the wall.  Still conscious but very disoriented.


Harley continued to yell Joker's name as she began to search the debris for the sign of her lover.  You watched her for a moment before you remembered your hero.  "Batman!"  You yelled, running over to the pile.  Your eyes scanned the beams until you spotted a figure lying over top of the metal.  Running over, you looked down at the unconscious knight.  Using all your strength, you placed your arms around his arms and pulled him out of the pile.  Batman let out a soft grunt of pain but his eyes didn't open.  Dragging him over to an open space, you set him down, panting heavily.
Leaning down beside the stranger, you reached out a hand and gingerly placed your hand on the side of his head.  When you took it off, it was covered with blood.  As quickly as you could with shaking hands, you tore off a piece of your pants/skirt.  "I have to take off your mask to stop the blood."  You said to him.  You didn't expect a response but it seemed wrong just to do it without justification. 


Slowly, you peeled the mask off his head.  Avoiding looking at his face, you lifted his head and wrapped the cloth around it, tight enough to stop the bleeding but not cause physical pain.  As you finally tied the knot, you glanced at your savior's face.  It was almost unrecognizable, covered in blood and bruises but you could still recognize who it was.  "B-Bruce!?!"  You yelled, falling back onto your butt.  Your breathing became hard and heavy as your heart pounded in your chest.  You placed your blood covered hand over your mouth and stared in silence.


"Y/N?"  You heard Nightwing limp over to your and place his hand on your shoulder.  "He-He's..."  You only managed to mumble a half formed response before your voice died.  The lump that was forming in your throat cut off all sound.  Tears welled up in your eyes and you looked up and Nightwing.  "Richard...  What is happening?"


A/N: Whoop!  Whoop!  This was a long chapter in my opinion.  Sorry I wasn't able to post last week.  I had a ton of homework and my keyboard broke.  I got a replacement yesterday and have been writing ever since.  Hope you guys can survive on this cliff-hanger for a bit.  I might post again this weekend but it depends.  Thank You for your patience and support!
~ <3 <3 ApocalypseRaccoon (should I watch stranger things?)

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