BATMAN: Fall Of The Dark Knight #Wattys2016

3: THE AFTERMATH PT. 2

Batman drove the Batmobile through the secret entrance to the Batcave as he had done countless times before. He parked the car and hopped out. He walked to the escalator that led to the top floor of Wayne Manor, his mind reeling from the horrible events of that night. When he got to the top floor, he stumbled out into the front room. He didn't even bother to turn on the light in the room. He turned to the mirror hanging on the wall. He ripped off his cowl and threw it down on the floor in disgust. He saw Bruce Wayne's face staring back at him. He could see the lines starting to form on his face and how his hair was beginning to turn gray on the sides. He started thinking he may have stayed in this vigilante game a little too long. He thought maybe if he had gotten out earlier, then Billy Piper—and Harley Quinn—would still be alive. He peered down and noticed the blood splatter on his Batsuit. It was both Billy's and Harvey's blood. All of a sudden he raised his fist and,with a loud yell, he punched out the mirror. Shards of broken glass shot out from the mirror and fell all over the floor. Seconds later Bruce's devoted butler Alfred Pennyworth appeared in the room.

"Master Bruce," he said, acting like he didn't notice the broken glass all around Bruce's feet since this wasn't the first time seeing Batman/Bruce lose it, "how did it go with The Joker? Did you get Master Billy back safely?"

Bruce didn't respond as he stepped past Alfred and slumped down in a chair, his head hung down.

"Master Bruce?"

"Billy's dead, Alfred," Bruce replied in a low voice. In fact, his voice was so low Alfred couldn't believe he heard him right.

"He what?" Alfred exclaimed.

"I said he's dead. The Joker killed him like he did Jason. He shot him in the back."

"My word!"

Bruce let out a long and heavy sigh. "I killed her, Alfred."

Alfred narrowed his gaze at him."Killed who, Master Bruce?" When he didn't respond right away, he added, "Master Bruce, who did you kill?"

With his head still hung down, he responded in that same low voice, "I killed her, Alfred. Joker's girlfriend, Harley Quinn. I murdered her in cold blood. I'm no better than The Joker."

Alfred offered his longtime employer—who was also someone he looked upon as his very own son—a look of sympathy. "Oh sir."

Bruce finally gazed up at Alfred with tears streaming down his face. "What am I going to do, Alfred? I've done the very thing I swore I would never do."

"Oh sir. I'm so sorry."

Alfred walked over to a sobbing Bruce and wrapped his arms around him, consoling him in a way he hadn't done since he was a child after he'd witnessed the brutal murder of his parents. Bruce returned his butler's—his friend's—embrace and held him for a long, long time just like he did when he was a kid who had come to the realization that he would no longer grow up with his parents . . .

I think it's only fair to warn everyone that the next part of this story starts off a little rough as it makes reference to the  controversial Batman graphic novel The Killing Joke. You've been warned!