It started that summer

His Last Laugh Pt. 2

"B-Batman," the Joker stammered, his bravado slipping away. "Or do you prefer Bruce? Come on, we can work something out!" He raised his hands in a mock gesture of surrender. In that instant, I broke free and pulled Damian tightly against my chest, instinctively shielding him from a reality I had never imagined we'd face.

"You're not going back to jail," Dad said, his voice a low, chilling growl that filled the room. His jaw clenched tight, and I could see the muscle in his cheek twitching with barely restrained anger. "I warned you never to touch my family. No one lays a hand on my kids and walks away. This time, the joke is on you." He stepped closer, shoulders squared, his fists tightened, knuckles going white as he loomed over the Joker. I could see the tension, it was like a coiled spring ready to snap. His eyes, dark and fierce, were locked onto the Joker, burning with a dangerous intensity. The shadows under his eyes deepened, a reflection of the rage boiling beneath the surface. "You thought you could play with our lives," he continued, "But you're about to learn the hard way that I don't just protect what's mine—I destroy anything that threatens it."

Tears slipped down my face as I realized the lengths he was prepared to go. "Close your eyes," I whispered to Damian, my heart racing. I looked down at him, and his wide eyes were filled with shock, disbelief evident on his face. He seemed frozen, unable to comprehend the gravity of the moment. I pulled him tightly against me, shielding him from what was about to happen. "For me Dami," I urged, feeling his small frame tremble against mine. I wanted to protect him from the horror that was about to unfold, to keep that innocent spark alive just a little longer. The air was thick with tension, and I braced myself for the inevitable.

He closed his eyes.

A heavy silence descended.

A bullet popped off.

Blood splattered on me.

The Joker's body fell, lifeless.

Dad rushed over, lifting Jason into his arms. Jason turned his head slowly, shock etched on his face, tears streaming down his cheeks. "D-Did y-y-you r-really...?" His voice trembled, each word a fragile thread barely holding together the weight of his emotions.

"You can rest now, son," Dad said softly, his voice thick with unshed tears. "I'm sorry I didn't do it sooner." As he cradled Jason, the pain etched in Dad's features was unbearable. I could see the conflict raging inside him, the price of this moment weighing heavily on his heart.

I held Damian tightly, instinctively shielding him from the aftermath. "Come on, kiddo, you've seen enough for today," I murmured, my voice barely steady, but my heart remained anchored to the scene unfolding before me.

Dad quickly checked over me and Dami. "It's okay now Damain, I'm here." He promised running his hand over his back. 

"H-H-He's g-g-g-g-one?" Jason whimpered, his voice breaking under the weight of years spent waiting for this moment.

"He's gone. He can't hurt you anymore," Dad's grip tightened around Jason as if he could absorb all his pain and fear. "I'll always protect you." But even as he spoke, his eyes betrayed the torment he felt, a father's heart aching at the sight of his son in pain.

He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me closer as if to shield all of us from the darkness that lingered. "All of you," he cried, the anguish spilling over. He crossed a line he had vowed never to breach. A line we were all raised to stay behind. The weight of his actions hung heavy in the air, and he had sacrificed his principles for our safety.

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, and I knew Damian was fighting his own emotions. This was a pivotal moment for all of us—one that shattered the illusion of invulnerability we'd held onto for so long. Dad had become what he'd always fought against, and the realization echoed through the room. Damain looked up at Dad, "You . . . you did what you had to do, didn't you?" he murmured, searching for understanding in the midst of chaos.