𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭, 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞

𝟖: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫

Cassandra rushed into the MCU, her hair tied back, a bulletproof vest strapped on, and weapons secured at her hip. Noa was already there, but Cassandra had been at Bruce's and hadn't realized Gordon had been blowing up her phone. She arrived later than she wanted.

"And we wish him a speedy recovery, because God knows we need him now." Noa glanced at the television in the corner, tuned to a talk show.

"I'm sorry I'm late," Cassandra panted as she burst in, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Traffic," she added, catching her breath. Noa shot her a knowing look but said nothing.

"What matters is that you're here now," Gordon said, approaching her.

"Commissioner!" one of Gordon's men called out. "You're going to want to see this."

Cassandra and Gordon moved toward the TV. "Who is this?" the talk show host asked.

"I had a vision of a world without Batman."

Cassandra felt her skin crawl at the familiar, eerie voice.

"The Mob made a little profit, and the police tried to shut them down one block at a time. Boring. I've had a change of heart. I don't want Mr. Reese spoiling everything, but why should I have all the fun? If Coleman Reese isn't dead in sixty minutes, I'll blow up a hospital." The Joker's voice crackled through the screen.

"Holy shit," Noa muttered.

Gordon turned to his team. "Call in every officer! Tell them to head to their nearest hospital to evacuate and search. Contact the transit authority, school board, and prisons. Get every available bus to a hospital. Priority is Gotham General."

He turned to Cassandra and Noa. "You two are with me."

"Where are we going?" Noa asked.

"To get Coleman Reese." Gordon ran out of the MCU.

"No wonder the Joker was quiet—he was planning a terrorist attack," Noa quipped as she climbed into the passenger seat of Cassandra's car.

"You think we'll see Batman—or Bruce?" Noa asked as Cassandra started the engine.

"I doubt it, considering the police are looking for him." Cassandra replied.

"How's it feel dating a criminal?" Noa smirked.

"First of all, he's not a criminal; he's a vigilante," Cassandra corrected.

"Same thing," Noa shrugged.

"Secondly, I don't even know if we're dating," Cassandra said.

"What do you mean? You're together, aren't you?" Noa asked, confused.

"Yeah, but we never really talked about the details, you know?" Cassandra replied, following Gordon's Cadillac.

They soon pulled up to the studio and rushed inside to find Reese. Cassandra held her gun steady as they entered a filming room. Just then, two officers emerged, escorting Reese to safety.

Once outside the room, Gordon, the officers, Cassandra, and Noa sprinted to evacuate him, only to find a frenzied crowd outside. One citizen raised a gun, and Cassandra's instincts kicked in.

"Get down!" she shouted as he fired toward Reese. The officers tackled the shooter, while pedestrians scattered in panic.

"Get the cars around back!" Gordon ordered the officers. They dashed to the rear of the building, avoiding the chaos.

"Keep rolling, Sam," the talk show host shouted, trying to capture the unfolding drama for his show. Cassandra turned to him.

"Hey, buddy, you need to leave," she said firmly.