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English
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Part 3 of The Bat Clan has some feelings, and YES, they are violent feelings.
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Published:
2020-05-03
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2,238
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1/1
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Dead Man Clinging

Summary:

No, that was wrong. He did still have something. He might be dead on the inside, but he still had one last thing to cling to. The Alley for all its many, many imperfections never turned it’s back on one of its own. After all, who were they to judge? They were all just like him. Lost in their own way and, more than a little bit crazy.

 

“ Breaking news! A mysterious benefactor has donated a VERY generous sum of 1.5 million dollars to the Park Row school district! I’m being told by my producers I have to use the proper name on air, but to any would-be thugs watching this broadcast, please don't mug me next time I swing by Crime Alley for suspiciously cheap Chinese food. I swear I'm not a rich idiot!”

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

When Batman slit Jason's throat, he killed him for good. Not physically of course. His body was too hardened from years of abuse and training to give up after just that but-



“ This just in! Earlier today, Batman was reported fighting the Joker and Gotham’s latest Crime Lord Red Hood from the city rooftops. After a brief scuffle, the Joker was apprehended and returned back to Arkham. Looks like we’ll have to wait for the next rogue breakout to get some real action folks– So probably just next Tuesday.” 



He had nothing left now. Nothing in his life held value anymore. Well, looking at the mountains of drug money piled hazardously high all around his safe house he knew that wasn’t exactly true, but he stood by the fact that he had nothing of importance left. 

 

Batman had taken away the Joker. He had taken away Robin. He had even taken away his fathe-



“ Citizens are warned to still be on high alert today as the Red Hood, while reported to be severely injured, is still at large. Let's be real though, in this city? If you aren't already on high alert at all times you probably deserve to get mugged. Also, it's just Red Hood. If you're not a pimp, or a trafficker you'll be fine ! 

 

Uh- 

 

probably.”



No, that was wrong. He did still have something. He might be dead on the inside, but he still had one last thing to cling to. The Alley for all its many, many imperfections never turned its back on one of its own. After all, who were they to judge? They were all just like him. Lost in their own way and, more than a little bit crazy.



“ Breaking news! A mysterious benefactor has just donated a VERY generous sum of 1.5 million dollars to the Park Row private school districts! I’m being told by my producers I have to use the proper name on air, but to any would-be thugs watching this broadcast, please don't jump me next time I swing by Crime Alley for suspiciously cheap Chinese food. I swear I'm not a rich idiot!”



After his wounds healed he paid a surprise visit to all of his minions. Made sure that they were all following the rules and, for those that weren’t-



“ The Mysterious benefactor strikes again! This time they delivered an even more whopping sum of 2.3 million dollars to Crime Alley's local clinics and rehab centers. The anonymity of these donations have a lot of people puzzling over what the fu- *ahem* heck is going on! I mean come on , someone hasn't even claimed the added tax benefits or used this as a publicity stunt yet!”  



He completely stopped leaving Crime Alley, even while out on patrol. Sure the Bat and his flock were still after him but, this part of the city was his now. He had fully carved out this little piece of the world as his own. Regardless of if the people respected or feared him, they were all loyal to him, or else . His words were absolute.

 

However, It was the subtle changes in the way that people began to look at him that first made him start to suspect. Maybe, some of them had figured out what he was trying to do. Maybe, somewhere deep down some of them even started to hope-



“ Once again, Crime Alley’s Super Secret Sugar Daddy is making it rain! This time giving an insane sum of over 5 million dollars to local orphanages, homeless shelters, and community centers. As the money keeps growing, so does Gotham’s suspicion.”



He had put the smartest of his minions, a no nonsense woman named Natalia, in charge of keeping all the gangs in line and reporting to him if anyone needed to be taken care of. She was ruthlessly efficient at her job, and seemed to grow more loyal with each passing day, though for the life of him he couldn’t understand why. 

 

Really, the only reason he had even noticed her in the first place was because she had been the only one brave enough to speak out against him when he had still been a rampaging maniac. Which meant he was all the more blindsided when she and a couple of hundred others knelt down before him, kissed his hand, an-



“ What's that!? Is it a bird? A plane? Superman!? Don't be ridiculous, this is Gotham, of course it's just a homicidal Angel! Crime Alley's Saviors relief networks are now expanding towards domestic abuse and rehab centers, and rumors are running rampant all around the City. Most popular among them all is the rumors that the Alley’s newest benefactor is actually none other than the infamous Crime Lord Red Hood, himself.”  



“ At this time neither the Mayoral Office nor the Police Station have released a statement about these alleged claims but–

 

If I could just take a moment to state the obvious for a second? Have you been to Crime Alley recently? Seriously!These people think he’s the next coming of Jesus! There are shrines! Literal shrines!”



He had made a mistake. A foolish, and truly naive mistake. Somehow, somewhere along the line he had become a mafia boss. When the hell did that happen? Was it even possible to become a Mafia Boss by accident? The Crime Lord thing was just for intimidation purposes, he wasn't actually looking for the job! One moment he had been flying across rooftops beating up wannabe criminals and the next- 

 

Natalia dropped another stack of papers on his desk. When did he get a desk? All of the local gangs had dissolved and pledged allegiance to the Red Hood clan. 

 

His clan.

 

Because he had a clan now.

 

What the hell was he even supposed to do with them!? Due to this sudden change in employment status, he had to move out of his drafty little warehouse too. He was now the proud owner of a freshly renovated, and newly fortified Mafia Mansion. 

 

The only real benefit of any of this was that he could now stop looking over his shoulder every few seconds, expecting the random Bat to break down his window, and ship him off to Arkham. Wait- now that he took a second to consider it, that was actually a pretty great benefit.

 

Maybe this Crime Lord thing wasn't actually so bad? Plus, Natalia did most of the paper work anyway.



“Crime Alley’s small business and employment rates have all nearly doubled, some even tripled in the last few months and, most amazingly, Park Row has even started toeing the poverty line. 

 

Unlike the rest of the City, Gotham PD does not seem to be particularly overjoyed by this new development and have issued an arrest warrant for the new CEO of Red Capital, Jason Grace. A newly established business that seems to be the source of these mysterious donations. As a response, Crime Alley citizens have taken to the streets in front of the Police Headquarters to riot– honestly what did they think was going to happen?”

 

“Oh- what's this? Breaking news! 

 

Someone just sent a letter to the GCPD Station saying 'Try it, and the next head in a duffle bag will be yours' in blood…

 

Hmmmmmmm. Yep not touching that one– next!”



Jason was in awe and, a little bit freaked out if he was honest, but mostly in awe. The people of Crime Alley now looked at him in adoration both with and without the hood. Sure, the police kept trying to arrest him, but everything he had done on paper so far was completely legal, so he wasn't worried. 

 

Well, there was also all the stuff he did off the books… and the money laundering he did to get it on the books…but they couldn’t prove any of that anyways, so it would be fine!

 

The only major problem in his life right now was That Man kept sending invitations for the new hero of Crime Alley, Jason Grace to come to one of his Galas. It frustrated Jason to no end because he knew for a fact that That Man had already figured out his true identity. After all, he wasn't called the world's greatest detective for nothing and Jason himself had made no effort in trying to hide his true identity, with Grace being his mother’s maiden name. 

 

It just aggravated him that he couldn’t understand what That Man wanted from him now. Hadn’t he taken enough already?

 

He looked around at all the new people that surrounded him now. He knew that they all respected and would not hesitate to lay down their lives for him. Thought maybe, just maybe, this is what it felt like to finally feel saf-



“This just in: after nearly a full year of frightening, anxiety-inducing silence, the Joker has once again crawled out of the pits of Arkham to walk among us. Reports claim this vile creature is now leading a mass bombing campaign against the citizens of Crime Alley—”



“Wait! I'm getting a live update as we speak. The Red Hood has just arrived at the scene! And is now casually strolling up to the Joker-”



“The Batman has yet to be spotted at the scene -”



“-Oh My God”



.





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“ At 3:32 pm today Arthur Fletcher, better known by his public nickname That stupid Fu*beep*nm Clown, oops– sorry I mean ‘ The Joker’ was officially pronounced dead at Gotham General Hospital. ”



“I’m sure this comes as a surprise to absolutely no one as most of Gotham saw the live footage earlier today of the Red Hood mercilessly shooting the Joker in the head. After which he proceeded to empty 3 entire magazines into The Clown’s body until he presumably ran out of bullets, and then calmly walked away from the scene of the murder.”



“I think we all know that the real question here is not how he died, but how that god forsaken cockroach managed to stay alive long enough for him to be driven to the hospital. Thankfully, no one Gotham General seemed particularly inclined to help him because, and I'm being told this is a direct quote: ”



'He didn't have health insurance.:…’’



“….Dear Lord in Heaven. There really is no saving this country is there?”



“ Predictably people are currently flooding the streets and throwing parades to celebrate the demise of the newly deceased villain. Murals of the Red Hood have been graffitied across every inch of Crime Alley and everyone in the city seems to be have been given a day off to enjoy the festivities. Everyone except ME of course. I swear I don’t get paid enough for this sh*BEEP*.”



“Police who had previously been preparing for a surge in gang related criminal activity due to the new power vacuum in the City, received pleasant surprises in the aftermath today. It seems the Red Hood has already claimed all of the Joker's territory and declared a city wide truce between all gangs with his new authority as Gotham’s most powerful Crime Lord. Jesus! He might actually be Jesus.”

 

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“Good morning my fellow crooked Gothamites! 

 

I’m glad to see that you all could join me on this historic day. 

 

As of 3 weeks ago Crime Alley has for the first time since its inception– managed to surpass the poverty line! And to the surprise of literally everyone, they’ve actually managed to stay there too! Today Gotham’s very own mayor that I can’t be bothered to remember the name of because they’ll probably be assassinated next week, gave a riveting speech honoring Jason Grace! The cities’ newest savior, known for all of his charitable work in Crime Alley. 

 

Why don’t we just make him mayor instead, seeing as how he actually did all the things the mayor campaigned on?”



Jason knew it was inevitable of course. No one can run from The Bat forever, especially not in his own city. He did like to think he put up a good fight though, seeing as how today marked the one year anniversary of the day he slit his throat. 

 

If Jason was being honest with himself he could probably still postpone this encounter for a few more months if he wanted; but he didn’t. He was tired. Of all the rage and anticipation. Of all the fear and regrets. He was tired of playing this endless game of hide and seek.

 

If the hunch on his shoulders and the dark bags under his eyes were anything to go by, so was the gloomy figure currently sitting on Jason's living room couch. Having given all the security staff a vacation this week was a great idea he decided. 

 

Ironically enough, he had just come home after a meeting with Natalia about how terrible that exact same idea was, when he found him. Well, really he had just gone up the stairs seeing as he lived on the top floor of the Red Capital Inc. building but that's besides the point. That Man was sitting in full Batman regalia, with the Cowl off on his couch. 

 

They stared at each other for a long time until finally he spoke

 

“Jay-lad…” 

 

The older man’s voice trailed off. Jason had never seen him look so vulnerable before and Jason couldn't help but think his face must hold a similar expression.

 

“Hi dad.”

 

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“ This is Unprofessional News, signing off.”

Notes:

Edited: 1/16/2025