CHAPTER SEVEN: RECKONING
UPON US

—🦇—

MEDICAL FACILITY — MORGUE

"B-Barbara, I have horrible news to share with you..." Batman spoke into his earpiece somberly.

Barbara is seated in her wheelchair and at her workstation while listening intently to Batman over the speakers.

"Yes, Batman? What's going on? Are you okay?" Barbara spoke worriedly.

"I-I'm so sorry—" Batman said and was instantly cut off.

Then a loud ear-piercing noise screeches out into the large speakers of Oracle's high-tech workstation and she then takes off her headphones hastily as the irritating noise interrupts the communication between Batman and Barbara Gordon.

"What the fuck?!" Barbara called out both annoyed and perplexed as she then saw static white noise across all of her holographic screens.

She tries to fix her setup and types onto the keyboard so that she can get back control of her equipment, but nothing seems to work as the high tech looks to be skillfully hacked from an outside source.

Back at the Morgue Batman is still mourning the deaths of Jim and Sarah Gordon as he's silently crying to himself.

"Oooh, Batman..." Scarecrow taunted once again and his dreadful shadow was lurking behind the Dark Knight.

Batman feels the goosebumps on his skin and quickly turns toward the looming danger. He sees at the far end of the hallway Scarecrow who is currently standing there menacingly while holding a sharp scythe and blocking the exit out of this hellish nightmare.

"Tell me, Batman. What is it that you're currently seeing right now? I bet it's something very unsettling and frightful." Scarecrow spoke reveling in Batman's fear.

Batman wipes his tears and gets up off the floor. He then scowls at the Master of Fear and speaks with animosity. "You're gonna pay for this, Crane."

"Ah, I see you still have some fight left in you, Batman. That's very good. I would hate for our little game to end so soon now." Scarecrow spoke in a mocking tone.

"This isn't a game, Crane! Good people died here today! And you're gonna regret ever taking their innocent lives when I'm through with you." Batman threatened.

Scarecrow taunted the Batman even further and motioned his syringe gloves hand towards himself. "Come then, Batman. Teach me a lesson that I'll never forget...HAHAHA!"

Scarecrow turned his back away from Batman with a sly grin and went through the two-way door exit of the Morgue. Batman sprints toward Scarecrow giving chase once again, but soon struggles with keeping up as his vision gets blurry and strained. Then a sudden bright white light flashed in the face of the Cape Crusader temporality blinding him as he ended up in a dirty, gritty, and dimly lit alleyway.

Bruce fell to his knees and groaned in pain feeling the wet stone brick pavement beneath his feet. He looked at his surroundings carefully while his eyesight regained composure and noticed that he was in Crime Alley once again. Heavy rain begins to pour from the heavens and onto the gritty alleyway as it wet his Kevlar Bat-suit. Then Bruce gets up off the floor and turns his back looking for an escape out of this madness, but to no success, and sees the two-way door that he had just walked into vanish without a trace.

Batman begins to walk forward through the alleyway and stay vigilant of his surroundings, but that quickly becomes quite tricky for our Dark Knight as he hears the soft calming voices of his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Wayne.

"That was an incredible movie Father! Can we see it again, please?" Young Bruce bellowed out in excitement.

A humorous laugh came from the older gentleman Thomas Wayne. "Of course son. Whatever you want."

A feminine voice giggled at her husband's response and spoke. "Oh, Thomas. You spoil him so."

"Oh, Martha. I can't help it. He's our one and only son after all." Thomas responded.

"Yes, our little Bruce," Martha said with utter affection.

Batman kept on walking through the long eerie alleyway as he felt quite uneasy by the strong hallucinations from Scarecrow's Fear Toxin.

"Thomas, where are you taking us?" Martha asked curiously while her heels clicked loudly against the wet pavement.

"We're just taking a quick shortcut through here. Alfred said that he'd be running a little late. So we'll meet him over there as it's just a little further up."

"But it's starting to rain and Bruce is very tired. Can't we just wait for Alfred here?" Martha protested while her son held onto her hand.

"Don't worry, Darling. We're almost there. Just a few more steps." Thomas reassured.

Martha nodded and smiled. "Oh, okay, Tom. You heard your father, Brucie. Alfred will be there waiting soon. Come on Chop chop."

"Coming Mother," Bruce responded.

"Hold it right there. This is a stickup. So we'll start with the pretty little pears around the lady's neck."

"Please there is no need for this. Don't hurt my family. I'll give you whatever you want just leave them—" Thomas said fearfully and was cut off.

Batman then heard a loud bang ringing out through Crime Alley followed by the cries of terror coming from his parents and himself.

"Oh, God! Thomas! Oh, God! No!"

"Mommy!"

Bruce ran urgently toward the source of his pain as he was distraught and shocked to see the horrific scene unfolding right in front of him. Instead of Bruce's parents dying at the hands of the mugger, it was rather Young Bruce dying at the hands of the mugger and his parents Thomas and Martha Wayne mourning over him.

"N-No, this isn't how it was supposed to happen," Bruce whispered and backed away startled.

Scarecrow rose out of the ground like a zombie out of a horror movie and creepily walked around Batman observing the dreadful scene.

"Quite tragic isn't it? Sometimes we wish that we would've died instead of our loved ones. Let's play around with fate and see how it will affect the world around us."

Scarecrow then blows a mysterious reddish-brown dust into Batman's face blinding him. He swung his fists toward Scarecrow blindly and hit nothing as the Master of Fear chuckled evilly in utter delight seeing that.

"Oh, my. The great Batman. Just look at how far you have fallen. Right into the deep dark abyss of fear. Can you pick yourself right back up? I don't think so...HAHAHA!"

Batman shook his head rapidly and rubbed his eyes trying to get his bearings together as he saw glimpses of a twisted reality.

The hallucinations show Thomas Wayne turning into a brooding, crime-fighting vigilante, known as Batman who uses guns as his main choice of weapon. The other hallucination shows Martha Wayne giggling uncontrollably while cradling her son's body and being driven insane by the death of her beloved son as she commits violent acts of atrocity. She unfortunately turns into the sick and twisted Joker. Bruce's body then fades away into nothing and leaves behind a chalk outline as two red roses from both of his precious parents are placed there.

Batman slowly backs away in disgust and fear as he speaks in denial. "No, this isn't real!"

"Oh, yes, Bruce. This is very real. Crime Alley. Whatever the outcome, you will always die there with your parents in body and spirit! You turned utterly insane and you couldn't cope so all your heroic crime fighting was nothing else but delusions from a madman!" Scarecrow exclaimed.

"No, they're real Damit. I know who I am.
I'm the goddamn Batman!" He exclaimed trying to fight back the hallucinations and take back control of his mind and body.

"Uh uh uh. It's not going to be that easy, Little Bat. I'm still in control here." Scarecrow said.

Batman's surroundings morph once again as he sees static like you would see on a broken TV and hears distorted laughter from the Joker echo out in his mind.  He was then transported into Arkham Asylum's processing corridor where he had turned the Joker over to the Arkham staff earlier in the night. Batman finds himself handcuffed and restrained from his hands to his feet as he is unarmed wearing no utility belt while also wearing a shock collar which he groans in protest from the pain.

Besides him is his partner Batwoman who is strapped under heavy restraints forcefully to a hand truck upright and wearing a muzzle as they're both being escorted over to their special padded cells.

"They don't look so big and scary now huh, Joker," Alexis commented.

"Harleen? Oh, no, Scarecrow got to you too..." Bruce spoke with sadness in his voice.

"Get me out of here! I'm not crazy!" Harleen exclaimed and struggled to break free from her restraints as she was zapped in her midsection for her troubles from a nearby Joker Henchman.

"That's what they all say, Ms. Quinzel. You know the protocols. No sudden movements or else." Alexis Kaye responded.

Batman and Batwoman both see Punchline dressed formally wearing a lab coat and glasses while the Joker, Officer Frank Boles, and some of Joker's Goons escort them.

"Thank you for capturing these lunatics again, Mr. J," Punchline spoke and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Aw, shucks, Punchy. Anything for you my dear. Gotham City is a safer place now with those two degenerates out of her streets and back behind bars again." Joker said.

"Joker, release us now! We don't belong here! It's the both of you who belong here instead!" Batman spoke with anger in his voice.

"Us? Now that's quite funny. Isn't it, Honey?" Punchline commented.

Joker laughed hysterically and spoke with glee. "Indeed, Doctor. You two aren't going anywhere anytime soon for we must save Gotham from the both of you once and for all."

"Mr. Wayne. Ms. Quinzel. I'm Dr. Alexis Kaye. Head Pychartist of Arkham. You two are suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and grand delusions of grandeur. But no worries. My team of doctors and I are going to take very good care of you. We promise." Punchline spoke.

"Wayne? How the hell do you know who I am, Joker?" Bruce asked bewildered.

"Everyone knows of the infamous couple Bruce Wayne and his lover Harleen Quinzel. You both sure have quite the quirky bat fetish." Joker answered.

Punchline then takes out her samurai sword and aims it at Harleen's midsection ready to end her life. While Joker took out his colorful revolver which only had one bullet and aimed it at Bruce's skull ready to kill him. Scarecrow then comes into the frame and creepily walks over toward them.

"Wait a minute now, Joker. Let me take a closer look at your prisoners. It's only standard procedure after all." Scarecrow said.

Joker groaned annoyed and spoke. "Ah, alright, Crane. But make it quick now. They aren't looking too good. Clocks ticking."

"You're right, Joker. They're not looking quite well today. We should feel sorry for dear old Bruce over here. He never fully got over his parent's deaths. And as for this one, Harleen never could quite get over her fear of turning back into her true self. She fought to keep that side of her in control for quite a while but she eventually slipped up and killed her loved ones. So very tragic." Scarecrow concluded and finished examining the prisoners.

"I wonder what's running through their little bat heads now, Crane." Punchline wondered out loud.

Scarecrow scoffed and answered. "Nothing meaningful of sorts. They're both very much insane. All that's left is just the twisted shells of their former selves. Alright, Joker. They're all yours..."

Batman's vision blurs once again as he is face to face with the Joker and has his colorful revolver pressed against his temple. "Excellent. I've been waiting a long time for this, Bats," Joker spoke up as his face and body morphed and turned into his beloved Harleen. "Now let's start this party with a bang...HAHAHA!" Harleen spoke with glee as she then shot Batman in the skull with her gun and giggled hysterically.

"P.S. I never did love you, Bruce. You're dead to me..." Harley muttered with venom in her voice.

Meanwhile, in real time, Batwoman was desperately searching for her partner Batman as she had lost his signal a while ago and was extremely worried about his safety. She pressed two fingers up to her cowl and spoke into the distorted communications device.

"O-Oracle, come in. B-Barbara, do you read me? We have a dire situation involving Scarecrow. Please pick it up, Babs. Bruce is in deep trouble. We've been compromised..." Batwoman said her panic rising with each dreadful moment spent in the creepy Asylum Morgue.

Batwoman hangs up the call with Barbara as Harleen's mind also begins to play mind games with her and she hears voices creepily whisper.

"Get out! Get out! Get out! You don't belong here!"

"Shut up! I'm not listening..." Harleen said and covered her ears while she kept running.

Harleen's vision began to blur and the corridor of the Morgue was distorted as cockroaches and other disgusting insects crawled all over the floor, ceiling, and walls.

"Ew! What the fuck is going on?" Harleen said panicking.

Batwoman continues to run after her husband when she sees a flash of bright light blind her temporarily and her surroundings change once again as the Morgue corridors begin to spin uncontrollably like a vortex tunnel and it affects her balance, but she eventually clenches her fists in anger and shakes it off showing willpower. She needed to be strong for them both as they couldn't afford for the both of them to be lost in the rabbit hole. It's a good thing she used to get high on this stuff back in the day. True story.

GOTHAM CLOCK TOWER

Back at the Gorham Clock Tower was Oracle typing on her keyboard as she heard faint voices coming through her speakers and was trying to desperately get back control of her high-tech systems. All she could see unfortunately for now was the blue screen of death plastered all over her holographic and LED computer screens.

"Harley? Is that you? What's going on? Where's Bruce? Both of your vitals are off the charts. Please answer me." Barbara spoke up with worry in her voice.

Oracle was then treated to a blank screen as everything was turned off then a playful tune began to play softly into her speakers followed by green question marks parading onto her holographic screens in a psychedelic way.

"Hey, diddle diddle. Time for a riddle." Riddler's voice echoed out.

"Nygma, what the hell have you done to my stuff?"

"Well, isn't it obvious, Ginger Snap? I took down your security systems and took over the precious Batcomputer. It was all so rather easy might I add."

"Where are Batman and Batwoman? What have you done to them?" Barbara asked.

"I've done no such thing to them."

"Bullshit, Edward. I know when you're lying."

"It's true, Kiddo. I don't like to get my hands dirty you know. You see right now I believe the Scarecrow has his syringe-clawed hands wrapped around their pretty little necks and is ready to turn them into dust. Leaving me as the true superior intellect of Gotham and the world!" Nygma explained amusingly.

"In your dreams, Ed. You'll always be playing second fiddle, Champ." Barbara smirked knowing that it caused him great annoyance and anger as that's what his abusive father used to call him when he was growing up.

Riddler groaned angrily and yelled. "Don't ever call me that again you hear."

"Or what, Ed?" Barbara challenged with a grin.

Suddenly on the holographic screens appears a live camera feed that shows the Riddler pacing around in his secret location while wearing his iconic purple and green suit with yellow question marks plastered on it. He had taken off his bowler hat and also waved his golden question mark cane around in anger

"Looks like I hit a nerve there, huh, Ed?" Barbara commented.

Edward regained his composure and fixed his extravagant tie then put back on his bowler hat. "Oh, please, Oracle. Your comment is beneath me. Rather childish in hindsight and I will not be further mocked or rattled by the likes of you."

"Mhm, Sure, Nygma. You do know that I can undo anything you ever try to throw at me, right?"

"Oh, I'm sure you can. And since I was expecting a challenge here tonight. I've decided to introduce my new show to you and it's called Riddle Me This!"

The Riddler spins around his golden question mark cane and points off-screen as the camera view pulls back for just enough space to show the title of his new show: Riddle Me This! Which was hanging up under the bright lights shining and was colored neon green to match the theme. Loud fake stock applauses and cheering from a supposed live crowd accompany the reveal of the Riddler's new show as he bowed grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

"Thank you everyone. Thank you. I don't deserve this. You're far too kind of an audience." Riddler said.

"Oh, brother..." Barbara muttered under her breath annoyed and rolled her eyes.

"Now the game rules are quite simple! I give you three riddles, only three. If you answer them all correctly, you'll gain back your computer system. Oh, and there's a time limit also a literal deadline if one would say. You see my superior intellect was able to trace back your IP address and as we speak, my men are currently on their way to your location." Edward explained all too eagerly.

Loud alarms blared out and echoed in Oracle's high-tech lair as she spun her wheelchair around and checked the feed.

"Security alert! Security alert! Clock Tower interface being breached by unknown authorization!"

On a nearby wall, the LED screen comes into view with surveillance footage of the Riddler's men trying to break into the Clock Tower.

"Shit!" Barbara exclaimed as she quickly got her phone from her purse and sent out an SOS text message to her boyfriend Jason Todd aka Robin.

"Ah ah ah. Not so fast, Oracle. You're on your own this time around." Nygma said and effortlessly hacked into Barbara's phone rendering it useless.

"Damn you, Ed..." Barbara muttered under her breath.

Nygma chuckled humorously while Barbara gritted her teeth on edge. Meanwhile, on the rainy rooftop of Wayne Enterprise was the II Robin perched on a nearby ledge and overlooking the gothic city skyline. He had just finished saying his goodbyes to Nightwimg the original Robin who now resided in Bludhaven and also said his goodbyes to another vigilante by the name of Huntress. They had helped Robin and assisted him with keeping the peace in Gotham City by breaking up riots, bank robberies, drug deals, and illegal arms deals from certain villainous foes like Two-Face, the Penguin, and Black Mask.

Jason had his domino mask off and was currently drinking an energy drink which was flavored cherry limeade. He was feeling quite tired from patrolling the streets and needed a quick pick-me-up as he then chugged down the contents of the beverage. Jason felt his smartphone vibrate inside his pants and took it out as he read the message out loud from Barbara his girlfriend.

S.O.S. Clock Tower compromised! Need help! — BABS 💛

Jason immediately was on high alert and stood right up as he then put back on his domino mask in a quick fashion. He looked out toward the Clock Tower which was just a few minutes away from where he currently was at and whispered to himself. "Hang on, Babe. Help is on the way."

Jason then ran at full speed and dived off the roof of the Wayne Enterprise building. He then uses his cape and glides toward the Clock Tower while also using his grapple gun to gain further momentum.

Back at the Clock Tower Riddler's men have finally made it to the top penthouse suite using the elevator shaft. The men wore dark green ski masks that covered their entire faces and black leather jackets that had Riddler's golden question marks on the back while accompanied by black jeans, fingerless black gloves, and scuffed black work boots. The henchmen then exit the elevator shaft while carrying their equipment which were submachine guns, a toolbox, and a large duffel bag. They then gather around the front door of Barbara's apartment room number 506. One of Riddler's goons begins to lockpick the door while the others keep a lookout.

"Security alert! Security alert? The front door is being breached! Activate defense measures!"

Barbara turns her chair back towards the Riddler's live feed as he's giving her a smug and dangerous smile.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. I'm in control of your systems remember. One wrong move and bang you're dead. The only way out of this is to play my game. Come on now, Oracle. I'll bet that you can't even beat me at this simple childish game."

Barbara sighed heavily and closed her eyes giving herself a small moment of a breather. "Fine, Nygma. I'll play your stupid little game. Challenge accepted..."

"Yes, excellent. This is going to be Legen...wait for it...Dary." Riddler spoke and began the quiz game.

"Riddle me this. What belongs to you, but is used by others? Type the right answer on your keyboard, and don't cheat." Riddler said.

Oracle smiled and instantly came up with an answer. "That's an easy one. The answer is my name."

Oracle types the answer on the computer keyboard as she pushes enter and submits her response to the riddle.

"Correctamundo! But that was only a warm-up. Question number two. Riddle me this. What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space, the beginning of every end, and the end of every race?" Riddler read out from his written notecards.

"Oh, on. I-I don't know this one..." Barbara confessed.

"What's the matter? Did the bat get your tongue?" Edward spoke in a teasing tone and chuckled.

Barbara sighed and whispered. "I wish you guys were here. I could truly use your guy's help right about now."

"HAHAHA...Oh, please. Neither Batman nor Batwoman can save you from your stupidity, Oracle."

BATMAN KNIGHTMARE

Bruce is seated upright in a padded cell and is strapped to a straight jacket while mumbling nonsense under his breath fearfully.

"Zur-En-Arrh..." Bruce muttered weakly as he rocked back and forth in his chair while sitting opposite across from Dr. Hugo Strange.

Hugo observed his patient further and began to write notes on his clipboard while Batman continued to fall further down the rabbit hole.

"Zur-En-Arrh..."

"Hmm, quite interesting. The patient shows no signs of regression. It seems like our little experiments have become quite the success in curing Mr. Wayne after all." Hugo concluded by speaking into his voice recorder and jotting down some more notes.

Bruce whimpered into a blubbering mess and looked at the cold tile floor unable to fight back the hallucinations that had plagued him while on his own.

"Bruce..."

"Zur-En-Arrh?"

"Bruce...Bruce..." Harleen's voice echoed throughout the padded cell.

"Get out of my head! You aren't real!" Bruce exclaimed wildly up at the ceiling like a crazy person.

"Yes...I am...Bruce...Please...Come back home to me," Harleen's voice echoed out louder in the padded cell.

"Who are you talking to, Mr. Wayne? Perhaps another voice inside your head?" Hugo asked curiously.

"N-No, I don't believe you. Harleen is dead. I saw her decapitated right in front of me." Bruce responded.

"Bruce...Bruce...Bruce...I need you," Harleen's voice rang out once again in his ear as her voice became clearer and softer soon he recognized that she was indeed telling the truth.

"Harley? Is that truly you?" Bruce asked.

"Yes, It's me, Bruce. Your wife. Look I don't know what's happening in your mind, but whatever it is that you're currently seeing right now and or hearing don't believe none of it, okay? It's all bullshit. So just keep on listening to my voice and fight whatever it is that's trying to keep you down. Please, Bruce, Gotham can't lose you...I can't lose you. We need you."

Bruce mulled over his lover's passionate words as he instantly gained back his composure and sense of reality. The Batman was back baby. He finally had control of his body and most importantly his brilliant mind.

Batman struggled to get out of his straight jacket and spoke up. "I'm doing it, Harley. I'm coming back to you and for them."

"Yes, Bruce. Come on don't give up. You're almost there." Harleen encouraged.

Hugo grimaced upon seeing that little display of defiance and spoke up annoyed. "Keep on struggling in your confinement and you'll suddenly go into permanent psychosis. Then they'll be no help for you and you'll be lost forever in the abyss with no way out."

"Lies! I'll be right here waiting for you. I promise. He's just trying to scare you into doing what he wants. But we know better don't we, Brucie?" Harley responded.

"I don't give a damn, Strange. None of this is real and I need to get back to my reality. This is just a twisted figment of Crane's Fear Toxin. Not even you are real. Harleen was right and I need to get back to her at once."

Hugo then blindsided Bruce and sucker-punched him across the face as he grabbed Bruce by the collar of his straight jacket.

"There is no Scarecrow! There is no fear toxin! And there is no Batman or Harleen Quinzel! You're just a weak man who couldn't cope with his parent's deaths and instead of facing reality got lost in his mind and invented all of this nonsense. You see madness as one would know is like gravity dear boy. All you need is a little push. And by god, you sure have taken quite the dreadful fall, huh, Bruce? This is your reality now!" Hugo snarled out and quickly replaced it with a Cheshire-like grin.

Bruce shakes his head in denial and speaks up. "No. No, it's not. I know the truth."

Hugo chuckles humorously and continues to monologue. "Madness is also a dreadful disease. It always has a pattern and a very distinct shape. Why? Because homo sapiens' natural traits are to see visual and auditory patterns in everything we ever do. Pattern recognition is very crucial for us humans to survive and is the key. That is why you can see certain objects in the clouds or Jesus's face in your cereal bowl as well as spot certain hazards and resources..."

"Bruce, what's going on? Are you okay? Whatever he or she is saying don't listen to it. Please hurry before time runs out for you." Harleen said.

Batman pushed Hugo off himself and got free of his shackles as he stared down Strange who looked irritated being rudely interrupted while dusting himself off. He began to walk around Bruce unfazed and began to talk once again.

"Where was I? Ah, yes. Pattern recognition which is the development of the neural networks in the outer layer of the brain has allowed us to survive all this time and It's also finally given me the answer to this problem that I've been struggling with. Like I said earlier madness is a disease. It has a certain pattern and unique shape to it. But now I've finally got a name for this disease and it's you, Bruce."

Batman is taken aback by his response and backs away just a bit. "Me? The disease? No, it can't be. I'm the good guy here. I'm the hero."

"Oh, but it is, Mr. Wayne. You, my dear boy, are the source and sole reason for all of this madness and suffering to occur in the once-great city of Gotham. And I will prove it to you once and for all. I will finally open your blinds as a bat's eyes and make you see the real truth. So quit your whining and stop struggling, Mr. Wayne. Let me help you." Hugo snarled and went to lobotomize Bruce by lunging at him with the sharp tool, but at the last second Harley Quinn appeared out of nowhere and stood in front of Bruce saving him.

"Ah. Ah. Ah. Not so fast, Baldie. This hunk of a man over here is the exclusive property of one Harley Quinn only. Now go and get yourself another person to obsess over and scram weirdo!" Harley exclaimed and beat up Hugo with her lucky baseball bat as she smashed him into dust.

Harley then turned to face her man and smiled warmly at him as she blew a strand of hair out of her face.

"Hiya, Brucie. Did you miss me?"

Bruce smiled back at her lovingly and quickly got back up to his feet as he then smashed his lips against hers giving Harley a passionate kiss. Harley smiled happily in between the warm passionate kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck as she deepened the loving kiss between them even more. For a moment everything was right in the world and they both got lost in each other's embrace as Bruce wrapped his strong arms around her petite slender waist and pulled her close to his chest.

The couple's surroundings soon changed back to reality as everything was morphed and blurred rather quickly before they realized what had happened. Back in the corridors of the morgue is Bruce who was seated upright against a wall injured and was currently cupping Harleen's cheek while planting a passionate wet kiss onto her red ruby lips. Harleen on the other hand was also there waiting for him as she had promised earlier and was on her knees also kissing Bruce back passionately. The couple pulled back from each other's embrace and took a few moments to catch each other breaths as they stared into each other's eyes while smiling lovingly at one another.

"Thank you, Harley," Bruce spoke up softly.

"For what, Brucie?" Harleen asked.

"For getting me out of that hellish Knightmare and saving me in the process. I wouldn't have done it without you there." Bruce thanked his lover and held her gloved hand in his.

Harleen nodded and he kissed her gloved red hand. "Aw, shucks, Brucie. You're making me blush over here."

Bruce smiled at his woman and spoke up. "Well, you deserve it, Harls. All my love I give to you and you only."

"Aw, that's so romantic of you to say, Bruce. Maybe you should take more of Scarecrow fear toxin so that you'll be able to compliment me more." Harleen teased lightly.

Bruce playfully rolled his eyes. "I compliment you all the time, Harls."

Harleen nodded in agreement and responded. "True but only as Bruce Wayne, Babe. You rarely compliment me at all sometimes or show affection when you go ahead and dawn the cowl as Batman."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Harley. I didn't realize that bothered you. It's just I don't want our enemies to know that we are a thing. Besides, I also don't like to flaunt my stuff like that around everyone as Batman even though I should do that more often considering I have a very smart and beautiful woman by my side at all times." Bruce explained with a sly grin which made Harleen blush a light shade of pink on her cheeks.

They shared another quick wet kiss on the lips and then Harleen sat beside her man as she laid her head upon his shoulder sighing content with this. Batman kissed her head and had his arm around her shoulder.

"Quick question, Harls."

"Yes, Bruce?"

"How were you able to get into my fear-induced hallucinating mind anyway?" Bruce asked curiously.

"Oh, yeah, that. Well, while you were off giving chase to Scarecrow somewhere else entirely in the morgue I on the other hand was busy at work trying to find a way to make an antidote for Crane's fear toxin." Harleen explained.

"So were you able to make an antidote for Scarecrow's fear toxin then?" Bruce asked.

"Well, you tell me, Brucie," Harleen said and then took out a few small vitals of a green liquid labeled antidote from her red metallic utility belt.

Bruce smiled upon seeing the cure and asked. "How much antidote were you able to produce, Harls?

"Around five vitals. I would have made more of this stuff but the lab where I had worked in earlier was pretty small and had very little to work with."

Bruce nodded his head in understanding. "That's alright. It will do for now. We'll be down with three vitals of the antidote. Since you and I both took one just now."

"Don't forget Jim too, Babe. He needs to take one as well when we eventually find him."

Bruce's demeanor instantly changed at the mention of Jim's name and he looked far off to the right side rather upset.

"Bruce? Are you okay? What's wrong?" Harleen asked gently.

Bruce didn't answer her and stayed silent as he avoided eye contact with Harley and didn't want to say it out loud because if he did then it would be all too real for him.

Harley took off her red gloved right hand and then grabbed his chiseled chin with her red nail-polished right hand as she gently turned him over so that he would face her baby blue eyes. She spoke up in a soft caring voice and stared into his icy blue eyes.

"Bruce, don't shut me out now. Come on, Baby. You know that you can tell me just about anything, right? So please talk to me." Harleen asked.

"Jim and Sarah are dead," Bruce responded.

"W-What? No! How did this happen?" Harleen asked while her emotions became slightly unstable due to the trauma of losing them.

Bruce nodded and spoke somberly. "I saw them being tortured by Scarecrow and I was too late to save them. I failed, Harley."

Harleen felt tears down her face sadly and comforted her man by hugging him tightly. "I can't believe this."

Bruce shook his head. "Me too, Harls. But I know what I saw. I tried to contact Barbara and tell her the news, but I couldn't get a hold of her. I'll let her know when all of this is dealt with."

"No, Bruce. You can't. Not like that. You have to tell her here and now. So muster up the courage and tell her before she feels even more betrayed."

Bruce nodded in agreement as he then raised his finger to his cowl and spoke bleakly. "Barbara..."

Bruce grimaced as all he heard was loud static in his ear followed by Barbara's voicemail.  "Hey, it's your favorite redhead, Babs here. Sorry, I couldn't answer your call right away. I'm a busy gal after all So leave me a message and I'll get back to you soon."

"She's not answering, Harley," Batman stated confused.

"That's strange. It's rare of her to not answer us." Harleen commented.

"Indeed, Harls. She's always been available at our disposal. Something up. I can feel it." Bruce responded.

Harleen nodded in agreement and hugged herself feeling quite uneasy as the couple walked through the Morgue which felt like an endless maze considering what they had just been through mentally.

Next, the vigilantes stumble upon a dead couple who are Arkham Guards and are lying upright against the bloody walls of the morgue corridors. It turned out that it wasn't Jim and Sarah after all who had died there. Bruce kneeled and lowered his head as Harleen laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Scarecrow's fear toxin was so strong and potent that it made me truly believe the Gordons had died there instead of them. I'm grateful that they're still alive, but we unfortunately lost another innocent couple here today."

"Crane will pay for this, Bruce. We'll make sure of it." Batwoman responded.

Then the intercoms in the Asylum chime once again which alerts the heroes of the looming danger and evil maniacal laughter is heard from Scarecrow.

"Aw, are you lost, Little Bat? Oh, I bet you're having quite some trouble figuring out what's real or just a figment of your twisted little mind. Well here is my expert advice just roll with it. Once you're in the abyss it gets much easier. Trust me it truly does." Scarecrow said.

"Crane! Quit hiding behind those toxins of yours like a fucking coward and fight us like a real man." Batwoman exclaimed angrily.

"Ah, I see you've reunited with your partner. No matter it won't do you any good from this point on." Scarecrow said.

"Where's Gordon, Crane?" Batman asked.

"Oh, you'll get to him soon enough, Little Bat. But first, the Joker has instructed me to give you one last present before you can save Gordon."

"And that is?" Batman spoke up.

"Honestly I have no idea. That clown sure does have a thing for the theatrics might I add. So Batman and Batwoman follow the bloody trail and you'll soon find what you're looking for."

Then a couple of Joker's goons burst into the hallway like flies while holding sharp weapons in their hands and began to attack wildly. Batman and Batwoman made quick work of the henchman and then saw a bloody trail on the tile floor which they followed as instructed by the Master of Fear.

"You two are going to love this next bit. It's quite the killer...HAHAHA!" Scarecrow responded.

EXPERIMENTAL CHAMBER

Batman and Batwoman entered the enclosure and scanned their surroundings with their detective vision to see if there were any signs of Gordon.

"He's not here," Batman stated.

"Over there. I see something." Batwoman said and pointed to a run-down glass chamber with steel frames and tubes connecting to the ceiling above as it was housing something very large

Batman nodded and spoke up. "It looks like a containment cell. This could be where Dr. Young used to do her experiments."

They carefully walked into the experimental chamber and got a closer look at the large mysterious figure who was covered by thick fog and hidden in the shadows.

"Alguien esta ahi?"

Batman and Batwoman glanced toward the direction of the sound and were in utter shock to see a weakly frail Latin man who was wearing oversized tactical gear, and a wrestling mask, and was also hanging from the ceiling like a spider with red tubes connected to him.

"Oh my god. It's Bane..." Batwoman spoke up.

"Cut me down please..." Bane pleaded.

"Who did this to you?" Batman asked.

"El Brujo...He drained the venom from my blood! I must stop him! Before he hurts Mi Amor too!" Bane answered weakly.

Scarecrow then appeared on the TV monitors and responded. "Sorry, Has-Bane. But the Joker has other special plans for your lover and you too. Now it's time for you to face your greatest rival once again. Gentlemen let's get ready to Rumble!"

Scarecrow then presses a big red button and loud beeping begins to blare throughout the speakers of the Experimental Chamber followed by the alarm systems flashing a bright red.

"Warning: Patient X destabilizing. Lock-down procedures activate."

The powerful toxic green venom rapidly pours down and along the sides where the tubes are located and into himself which causes Bane to convulse and shake violently. The Spanish brute grew far larger and more muscular than ever before which spooked  Batwoman as she backed away from the grueling scene anxious.

Bane gets so heavy in sheer mass that the support wires that were holding him up in the first place tear apart and a bit of the weak wall where he was dangling come off as well. The Spanish Brute instantly falls onto his knees seemingly wearing a venom-feeding apartaois on his back and has a dangerous grin plastered onto his face.

Batman stood in defiance while staring down Bane head-on as he then raised an arm out and shielded Batwoman from the danger.

"Fate brings us together once again, Amigo. Trust me this time when I say that I won't hesitate to end you once and for all." Bane spat with malicious in his voice.

"Listen, Bane. Far bigger things are happening here on Arkham Island that require my attention and you aren't one of them. So stand down now. I don't want to fight you." Batman responded while his cautious hand was on his utility belt.

"You don't have a choice in the matter, Batman. You will either fight me or else she dies first." Bane roared out angrily and pointed to Batwoman.

Batman glared daggers at his larger foe deep in thought and answered. "Fine. Since you love to fight so much you'll get what you want but only under my rules and conditions."

Batman then took off his utility belt which shocked Batwoman and even Bane himself. "No gadgets. No venom. Just a good old-fashioned brawl. Just like when we first met on Christmas Eve all those years ago."

"What?! Bruce are you crazy?!" Batwoman whispered getting upset.

"So what do you say, Bane? Are you man enough?"

Bane smirked amused and nodded his head in approval. "Very well. You have gained some of my respect. I accept your challenge, Bat."

Bane then pressed a button on his wrist which temporarily undid the process of his venom transformation and shrunk to a far more manageable size for the Batman. But even then the Spanish Brute was still a little more taller and muscular compared to Batman.

Batwoman clinged on his arm and Batman whispered to his wife. "Trust me, Harley. I know what I'm doing."

Batwoman nodded hesitantly as she let his arm go while Batman and Bane faced off one another.

"I have waited for this moment my entire life. With your death, I shall finally find peace. After that, I'll be coming after everyone that you've ever cared about including you Batwoman." Bane confessed while he cracked his neck and knuckles preparing for their epic battle.

Batman smiled confidently and motioned with his hands to bring it on while he stood in a defensive stance. Suddenly Batwoman stepped forward and stood side by side with her partner.

"I trust you, Bruce. But that doesn't mean I should just stay back and watch you do this alone. Not while I'm here." Harleen whispered.

Harleen had taken off her red utility belt too and had laced her hands with her husband.

"Ah, what's this I see? You can't handle me one on one, Batman?" Bane taunted

"By now you should have known that we're a package deal here and have you tried yoga by any chance? I hear it is very relaxing for the mind." Batwoman commented.

"You'll always be restless, Diego. Because the Batman and Batwoman will never die!" Batman responded.

"Heh. We'll see about that. Two against one? No matter I like these odds even better. Now then it's time to fight." Bane responded and roared angrily hyping himself up.

The Spanish Brute began to charge straight ahead at his targets while Batman and Batwoman did the same as they both let out huge war cries and charged head-on toward their deadly foe.

To Be Continued...