Absolute Batman Gets Beaten Up

Gotham was a city on edge the streets

were restless the air thick with unease

Batman rode through the city weaving

through alleys and shadows toward a

pre-arranged meeting with black mask

every movement was watched by those

lurking in the dark by criminals who

thrived in chaos and by Alfred who

observed silently from a distance the

party animals black masks most zealous

followers lingered in the shadows their

Mas f is barely visible in the dim

street lights Alfred's earpiece busted

his handlers informed him that they had

everything they needed and urge him to

leave Gotham while he still could but

Alfred hesitated his eyes stayed locked

on Bruce the man he had watched grow

from a grieving boy into something more

something Relentless something

Unstoppable with a quiet sigh he ignored

the command and remained where he was

across the city in a grand yet decaying

Halls of Gotham's government

Commissioner Gordon and Martha Wayne

stood together watching the news unfold

the broadcast confirmed what Gordon had

feared detective Harvey bulock had

publicly endorsed Hamilton Hill the

Betrayal cut deep Bullock had been a

friend a trusted Ally and now he had

thrown his support behind a man whose

policies would only tighten the grip of

crime on Gotham Gordon turned to Martha

the weight of failure visible in his

tired EXP expression he apologized for

dragging her into an Administration that

was collapsing around them but Martha

wouldn't accept that she reminded him

that the fight wasn't over she recalled

their first meeting when she was a

protester and he was the officer who

should have arrested her instead he had

let her go recognizing that her cause

was just you're one of the few good

people in Gotham Jim she told him Gordon

sighed and admitted another regret this

year they wouldn't be able to light the

memor morial light a beacon meant to

honor those lost in the tragic Zoo

shooting it was another loss in a war

where every Victory felt temporary he

asked her to pass on a message to Bruce

if nothing else he should know the wind

howled through the skyline as Bruce

stood face to face with black mask on a

rooftop below them the city was

teetering on the edge of Anarchy the

party animals and Alfred watched from a

distance waiting for the inevitable

confrontation black mask was confident

even smug he informed Bruce that the

money had already been transferred to

the account he provided but Bruce had

wasted no time he had already used it

across Gotham in the abandoned Zoo the

memorial light suddenly roared to life a

massive bat symbol meticulously crafted

from stacks of cash burned brightly in

the night Bruce activated it remotely

sending a message to the entire city

Gotham didn't belong to the criminals it

never hat C's face darkened then the

deal is off he growled the party animals

moved as one attacking bruise from all

sides but he was ready he fought with

brutal efficiency breaking through their

ranks snipers positioned on the

surrounding rooftops took aim not a

Batman but a black masks own Man without

hesitation Sionis ordered their

execution bullets rained down as Bruce

tried to Shield the wounded in the chaos

the the party animals trapped him and

snaring him in reinforced Nets CI

stepped forward and grabbed Batman by

the collar with a sickening pop he

dislocated Bruce's arm showing just how

little he feared him but Bruce had

planned for this he revealed that

everything every word every action was

being broadcast live to Gotham's media

the people were watching and then in one

final Act of defiance he set the cash of

flame letting the bat symbol burn

against the night sky you think of the

hero black mask scoffed the only hero

here is money there was no Grand moment

of Triumph no Victory only pain the

party animals descended upon Batman

beating him mercilessly they stabbed him

set his suit a blaze and then as if it

were a casual afterthought shoved him

off the rooftop Bruce's descent was

slowed by a small emergency parachute

but he still hit the ground with Bon un

rattling Force wounded and barely able

to stand he staggered forward then the

siren started the gcp had spotted him

their response was overwhelming tanks

helicopters everything at their disposal

Batman had been declared Public Enemy

Number One he ran his body screaming in

protest dodging search lights and

gunfire Barbara Gordon had been tracking

him the whole way she anticipated his

movements and cut him off inside a part

garage before he could react she slammed

her squad car into him sending him

sprawling across the concrete she

stepped out gun drawn stop she commanded

or I'll shoot Bruce didn't hesitate he

met her gaze his expression unreadable

beneath the cowl then do it Barbara

faltered seconds stretched into eternity

before she lowered the gun without

another word Bruce vanished into the

darkness of the underground tunnels she

exhaled sharply and lifted her radio I

lost him while Bruce disappeared into

the depths of Gotham black mask turned

to the hidden camera that had been

broadcasting the entire event now he had

the city's full attention he spoke

directly to the people the wealthy had

already destroyed the world he said

everyone else was just scrambling to

survive clinging to A system that

offered them nothing in return but there

was still a choice the rules didn't

matter anymore Society was a joke and

the only thing that made sense now was

taking what you wanted before it was too

late as his men scattered across the

city opening crates he made one final

announcement the money he had promised

Batman it was now up for grabs Gotham

was about to descend into madness inside

the Batcave Bruce worked in silence

sewing his own wounds with shaking hands

his body was broken but his mind was

still focused he had managed to plan a

tracker on black man mask before

everything had fallen apart there was

still time to stop him Alfred entered

his face grave he watched Bruce struggle

his movements stiff and pained then in a

quiet measured tone he spoke you have no

idea what you've done Bruce barely

looked up he asked Alfred to help set

his arm but Alfred didn't move I will

never help you again Bruce's fingers

clinched into fists Alfred turned away

whatever happens next is on your head he

walked out of the cave

leaving Bruce alone on the streets

Gordon and Martha watched as desperate

civilians Pride open the crates black

mask had left behind but when they

looked inside they didn't find money

they found weapons masks the choice had

already been made for them three men now

armed stepped forward their faces

unreadable behind their new disguises

they lifted their guns and Gotham braced

itself for what came next.