Do My Scars Define Me?

11. Dead Man's Hand

The heroes gather in the room in front of the monitor, moving for Batman to get closer, but leaving

me and Robin in the back of the crowd. I turn to him and get his attention.

Do you happen to have an extra pair of contacts on you? I left mine in my suitcase.

Robin looks confused and signs to me.

So you knew that you needed glasses?

I nod.

Yeah, but it's not so bad as to need them all the time. 

He nods and pulls out a contact case, handing them to me. I go into the kitchen quickly and slide on the contacts, blinking before replacing my mask. I walk into the large room and crack my neck. The pop sends all attention to me as it echoes through the silent room. I pause and look around before mentally shaking myself and walking back to my spot. I'm about to ask Robin what happened when Batman's voice breaks the silence.

"Dove." I jerk my attention to him and he motions me forward. I walk to him and furrow my eyebrows lightly. He places a hand on my shoulder before stepping out of the way of the screen.

I feel the color drain from my face and my jaw drop slightly. I'm glad Batman has his hand on my shoulder because I'm about to pass out.

Playing on the screen is a video from Gotham's Crime Alley.

The Joker, doing a jig.

Over a blood spattered body.

The body of my father.

My lips go numb and I hear voices around me, but I can't tear my attention from the mutilated body of my father.

The grip on my shoulder tightens and I snap back into reality. I feel my face go blank, masking my racing emotions. I turn to Batman and sign firmly.

There is nothing we can do for him.

Batman looks concerned. Lowly he says, "Dove, we could at least get the body, have a service, something." I cut him off.

Leave it alone. I have to get some water. I'll be back.

I walk off in what I know is the wrong direction and hope he doesn't stop me. I slip into an empty room, what looks like another conference room, and lock the door behind me. I lean against the door heavily and sigh.

Okay, I think, I just saw the mutilated body of the man who helped raised me. I'm okay with that right? Well, okay, not okay with it, but this is what comes with being a hero right?

Before I can follow my thoughts any farther, a spine chilling cackle comes from the monitor in the other room. I walk back out and see Joker talking to the camera.

"Come find me Batsy! I'm bored and this guy didn't even put up a fight. Injured people are so bored. But I broke your rule so now you have to come find me, right?" He cackles again and I march over to the monitor and hit the sleep button, setting my jaw and grabbing Bats and Rob by their wrists and leading them to the tube. Batman types something on the nearby keyboard and leading us through the tube, the computer announcing our departure.

He may have had almost no contribution to my childhood except making it hell, but that doesn't mean he deserves that psychopath on him. Even if he did permanently handicap me, Mom wouldn't have wanted this for him. I'll get his body for her, if not for me.

We walk out to the Batcave and I quickly load my belt with every weapon I see, making sure that I have no shortage of anything before grabbing a katana and strapping it to my hip. I turn to see a shocked Robin and Batman staring at me. I stare at them and they snap out of it, loading their own belts before following me out of the Cave's main area to the vehicle area. I see two small-ish motorcycles in red and yellow and the Batmobile sitting there, waiting patiently to be driven. I swing my leg over one of them (the one without the huge "R" on it) and gesture vaguely for them to find a motor to ride. They slip into the Batmobile and the second the garage is open wide enough I throw on the full face helmet and whip out of the garage, leaving a trail of dust cloud behind me.

I've got a Joker to find.

I whip down the familiar Crime Alley to see Chio's mangled body lying there with a demented Joker and giggling Harley Quinn standing nearby, dancing and laughing like children at a party. Harley is still holding a camera, no doubt giving a live feed to the Watchtower. They turn toward me and howl in excitement.

"The Boy Blunder is here! Where's Daddy Bats? We want company!" The Batmobile skids in

behind me and, in near unison, I pull off my helmet as Batman and Robin jump out of the car. Joker cackles again and Harley gasps in surprise.

"A new Baby Bird! Hooray! Now which is the original? The new Birdie needs his branding!" I clench my jaw and Robin shoots out-

"Oh Joker, it's been too long since we've seen each other! I've missed you dearly!" The sarcasm in his voice is thick enough to cut, and any other time I would have smiled, or at least smirked, but right now I'm too busy trying to hear over the pounding of blood in my ears. Joker cackles and smacks his crowbar against the brick wall.

"Oh, Boy Blunder, I've missed you too! You know how boring Arkham gets? It's not easy to get through the months without your bright face to cheer me up, Baby Birdie. And now you've got a brother! How happy that makes me!" I see Batman moving closer to me.

Big mistake.

Now that Joker has seen that Batman is protective of me, he's on alert. Joker pulls a gun out of his pocket and aims it at me. Harley follows his movements with her camera.

"Ah, ah, ah, Batsy! Wouldn't want my trigger finger to get itchy, would you? It would be a shame for the baby Birdie to get shot on his first day!" Batman stops moving and Harley laughs behind the camera.

"You tell 'im Mista Jay! My puddin''ll end y'all then post da video ta the inta-webs. Ain't that right, Puddin'?" Joker rolls his eyes and shoots above Harley.

"What did I tell you about telling people my plans? If you do it again, I won't miss." His maniacal grin doesn't lessen once during the entire statement. I clench my jaw and reach for my belt, going for the grappling hook. Joker whips toward me and points the gun back at my chest.

"Watch it, Baby Bird. I'd hate to have to kill you before we got to play." I think for a second, calculating in my head before jerking the hook out of my belt, rolling toward the Joker and shooting up, missing each of the three bullets he shoots out at me. I fly above his head, kicking the gun from his hand and up into mine as I go. I stop on a nearby fire escape and have the strongest desire to laugh at their expressions. Joker is the first to break, his face morphing from that of shock to that of admiration and mirth.

"Good job, Birdie! Encore! Come down so I can shake your hand!" I smile at him and shake my head. I twirl the gun in my hand, hoping to freak out at the very least Harley, who does look uncomfortable with me holding a gun. Joker cackles again. "You know, you would be the first Bat to shoot me. Would you do the honors?" I think for a moment, before shaking my head and

throwing the gun up to the rooftop, so high up that we can't even hear the clatter as it hits the rooftop. Joker's smile drops away and now he looks peeved.

"Well you didn't have to ruin my fun." He throws his crowbar at just the right angle to send me forward to escape its grasp. He whips out a hidden gun and makes two shots at Batman and Robin before aiming for me again. I can't quite dodge this one and it hits my side, in just the right place so that I can still fight, but it hurts like hell. I flip back and see that Harley unintentionally has the camera focused on me. I smile and wave at the lens before diving back into the fight.

Of course, right when the Joker drops a bomb of green gas. I breathe it in by accident and feel giddiness sweep through my body before something crashes into the back of the head and darkness take over my body.