Chapter 37 - A bad joke

"Sunday, January 1st. New Year's Day. For about a week now, Joker has been locked behind bars but I doubt I have heard the last of him. Crime has dropped significantly but it is just waiting to strike back, to spike once again against the good people in the city. The actions of a madman obsessed with pure chaos will turn some heads and inspire people much like Stain did. Scum... criminals... psychopaths. The League of Villains will gain more of a cult following and the heroes will be outnumbered. I have to wonder to myself, the real me, if I am to blame for all of these deaths. These villains. I have to put a stop to the corruption and make this city a safe place once again. To do that though, I need to strike at its core. For too long, Black Mask and All for One have controlled from behind the scenes. Now, it is time to take back this city even if I have to do it one step at a time."


"Nobody takes them down or makes a move on them because nobody knows about their true motives. Criminals and villains run the streets while the dirty cops protect them. Gordon and Tsukauchi are the only clean ones out there. Black Mask is a slippery one, old school mobster. He has the right connections and ways of making things happen. Most people in power are either in his or All for One's pocket. Tonight's search gave nothing to go on but I can't stop. I will not stop until the element is gone. Until people can stop living in fear because of them. End of log for tonight."


Izuku sat in the Batcave that night pondering his next move. The Hero Association wanted him gone by order of Black Mask and All for One. Perhaps it was time for him to rattle some cages and see what shakes loose. He needed as much information as possible on either party. The League could be a good place to start but the problem was he had no idea where they had gone to lie low. Black Mask might be a little easier to track given that his drug labs and hired goons are practically all over the city but there is also the problem of time. The quicker this was resolved, the better for him and Musutafu. On the other hand, he could take out a few of the labs to cripple his operations. Just as he was about to go and suit up, the Batcomputer had an incoming audio call request. The ID was for Gordon so he answered but left the face cam off.


"Batman, it's Gordon. We got the Joker ready to talk but he only wants to talk to you." He said. Izuku became a bit confused.

"Why does he want to speak to me?" He replied, his voice in a calm, low tone.

"I'm not sure. Tsukauchi tried to ask him but the clown just laughed." Izuku thought carefully about a decision he was going to make and if he was sure he wanted to make it.

"I'm on my way." Batman replied, "Keep an eye on him and don't let anyone speak to him until I get there." He then ended the call and then got out of his seat and went up to the dorms.


Up in the dorms, Kyoka and the rest of the girls were discussing marriage between the punk rocker girl and the agent of vengeance. The boys however were trying to think of ideas for a bachelor party but something Izuku wouldn't suspect. The only problem being, he is Batman. Away in the kitchen near the girls was Eri who was eating some apples and reading up on some nerve striking techniques. She was very into it but she closed her book when she realised Izuku was stood behind her.

"Enjoying yourself Eri?" He asked, a warm smile on his face as he placed a hand on her shoulder. 

"Yes. I'm learning lots of important techniques from this book." She replied, her smile decimated his in terms of cuteness. All the girls saw her smile and instantly awed at the precious sight.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to go with me tonight."

"You mean a patrol?" Eri asked, her voice filled with excitement.

"Not exactly. I need to go to the police station first and talk to someone but if there's time after that, then maybe we can get you some more hands on experience in the city."

"Sure! I'll go get my suit."

"Alright, meet me in the cave in 5 minutes." He replied as she bolted up to her room to retrieve the Batgirl suit and gadgetry.


Izuku walked over to his fiancé and gave her a kiss in front of all the other girls making her heavily blush and all the other girls to smirk, become a little jealous and giggle. Just as they parted, she lightly smacked his chest in a playful way.

"Izu... not in front of the others." Kyoka said, not that she didn't love it but she knew how Mina and Toru were about lovey stuff.

"Do you want me to stop then?" Izuku asked, his voice lower and his lips now closer to hers again. Kyoka could feel herself giving in. She loved the feeling, the taste. She gave in.

"Oh god no! Don't you dare stop kissing me." She then grabbed him and pulled him into a passion fuelled make out which lasted longer than they thought. By the time they finished, the other girls were now sporting immense blushes, mouths agape and Eri was stood in her suit in the corner waiting with her arms crossed. She pretended like she didn't see her parents make out but in truth she nearly threw up watching it but didn't want to disturb them and their happiness. Izuku caught Eri's stare in the corner of his eye and noticed the impatience on her face.

"Are we rolling or not?" She asked. Izuku gave his lover one last kiss and hug goodbye before he went out to become the night.


About 30 minutes later:

Batman and Eri arrived at the police department in the Batmobile where he was met by Gordon and Tsukauchi. The two exited the car and walked towards the officers. Gordon and Tsukauchi looked at Eri and then back to Batman.

"Who's the kid and why are they dressed like you?" Gordon asked, pondering just why the hell mini-vengeance was there.

"Batgirl is with me. I trust that isn't a problem." Batman simply replied. Tsukauchi then spoke up.

"It isn't a problem but she will have to be kept away from him." This was said not as a request but a fact they all knew. Eri had only heard about Joker and saw what had happened on the news with him but she had never saw him in person.

"I'm not scared of some clown." She declared but was quickly shut down by Batman.

"It doesn't matter, he is extremely dangerous and unpredictable. They are right, you will not interact with him but you will be with these two while I step in to have a chat." Batman responded coldly as all four made their way into the police department.


As Gordon and Tsukauchi walked through the hallway, they were closely followed by Batman and Batgirl. As the four walked they got stares from officers who had their hands held on their gun holsters. Their stares and whispers towards the masked duo made Eri feel a little uncomfortable but Batman was used to it. When they reached the interrogation room holding Joker, one cop stepped forwards, hand on his weapon and another pressing against Batman's chest.

"Woah woah woah. The hell do you think you're doing here? Hands up now!" Batman simply looked at the officer who withdrew his outstretched hand and then aimed his gun at Batman's head. "I mean it! Hands up or that suit is going to get covered in blood!" The icy glare was shifted from he gun to the cop's face and he simply replied with a question.

"Mine or yours?" But before the situation escalated, Gordon stepped in. He's with me officer, clown asked to speak to him. The cop then looked to Tsukauchi who nodded and the cop then holstered his weapon to step aside. When Batman passed, he not so quietly said something to himself.

"Fucking masked freak."


In the interrogation room, Joker was sat handcuffed to a table bearing that sickeningly sinister smile on his face. From behind the one way glass, Gordon, Tsukauchi and Eri looked at the clown. Eri was studying him carefully and notice just how demented he was. Suddenly, the lights began to flicker on and off rapidly with Joker's grin becoming larger by the second unit the lights went out completely for a moment. When the lighting returned, out emerged the Bat behind the clown. Joker was confused for a moment but realised where he was when he felt a hand grab the back of his head and forcefully slam it against the table he was cuffed to. He held his face after it bounced off the steel table and then looked in front of him to see Batman glaring at him.

"Never start with the head, the victim gets all fuzzy. He can't feel the next-" He was cut off by a punch in the hand but like he said, he couldn't feel it and then waited a moment before replying. "See." Batman then took his seat opposite the deranged clown.

"You wanted me? Here I am."

"I wanted to see just how spectacular you are. Face to face. You're amazing."

"What do you want?"

"All these mob guys and villains want you gone so they can go back to how things used to be. But I know the truth, there's no going back. You've changed things. Like, forever."

"Then why do you want to kill me?" Joker just burst out into laughter.

"I don't- I don't wanna kill you. What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No, no. No, you... you complete me."

"You're garbage who kills for money. A deranged, pathetic psychopath."

"Don't talk like one of them, you're not." Joker said, making reference to the police. "Even if you'd like to be. You see, their moral code that they hold so high, gets dropped at the first sign of trouble. It's a bad joke. We're only as good as the world allows us to be. I'll show you, when the chips are down these uh, 'civilised' people will eat each other. When that happens, the jokes on you Batsy." At the sound of those words, Batman flashed back to when Twice was murdered and he found that blood written cypher which was decrypted and read 'Jokes on you Batsy'.

"What have you done?" Batman asked, becoming concerned and agitated.

"See I'm not a monster... I'm just ahead of the curve." Immediately, Joker was cut off when he was pulled violently across the table and out of his cuffs. Gordon , Tsukauchi and Eri became startled by the quick change in demeanour and attitude of Batman but Eri assured the two that Batman was fully in control of himself.

"What have you done?"

"You have all these rules and you think they'll save you." Joker was then slammed against the wall right next to the one way glass.

"I have one rule!"

"Oooh, then that's the rule you'll have to break to know the truth."

"Which is?!" Batman's temper and self control was really being tested at the moment.

"The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules and tonight you're going to break your one rule."

"I'm considering it!"

"You know there's only minutes left so you're going to have to play my little game if you want to save one of them."

"Them?"

"You know, for a moment I thought you were against going to kill All Might. The way you brutally destroyed him. And that blond blood sucker, you gave her so much false hope about starting a new life. Ahahahaha." Batman wasted no time in grabbing Joker and throwing him onto the table with ferocity. Eri looked into his eyes and saw the burning anger fuelling his movements and stoking his fury. She tried rushing to the door but Batman got there first and jammed it with a chair.

"Look at you go." Before he could move again, Batman grabbed his face and smashed it into the one way glass, leaving a huge crack.

"Where are they?!" He asked, fists clenched and ready to release his fury.

"Killing is making a choice." His face was then smashed by a fist connecting right on the cheek and nose.

"Where are they?!"

"You choose between one life or the other. The Number one hero and symbol of peace. Or some a scared little blood sprite. Hahaha-" Joker was met with another brutal punch straight in the face. "Ahahahahahahahahaha hahahahaha! You have nothing... nothing to threaten me with. Nothing to do with all your strength. Hahaha!" His throat was then grabbed by vengeance as he decided to relay some information. "Don't worry, I'll tell you where they are. He is at Daghoba Beach and she is at that little house she and the strange one lived in. Ahahaha." Batman threw him down and ran out of the room to go and rescue them. 


AN - Hey guys, hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'd like to apologise for how long it has taken to bring this new chapter out. I had hit a bit of a writing block and was being bombarded with work. Nevertheless, I will keep trying to bring updates as soon as possible. Stay safe out there everyone and I'll see you in the next one. 

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