Chapter 27 - Ultimate Failure

Bruce Wayne sat at his desk in his large, spacious office of Wayne Tower, back in Gotham city. He had just returned to Japan, the Sports Festival having ended three days ago. The students at UA were given a week off to recuperate from the Sports Festival. Bruce hadn't heard from Izuku since his surgery. All attempts to contact Izuku were ignored. The boy was avoiding him. After the festival Bruce had to return to Gotham for his work, but Alfred had requested to remain behind to watch over Izuku and his recovery. He had taken his loss to the young Todoroki very hard, and it was taking its toll on him. He spent most of his time in the warehouse, training to near exhaustion. His mother had said that he was sneaking out at night, sometimes not returning home until almost morning. She was worried. Alfred was worried. Bruce was worried.

Midoriya was at war. Both internally and externally. He had followed his instincts during the match and goaded his opponent into using his full power, in the end costing him the match. This reality clashed constantly with another, kinder reality, that he had tried to help his friend in need, at his own expense. But both were overshadowed by the harshest reality of all: even at his best, he couldn't beat Todoroki at full strength.

Not without a quirk.

Bruce knew that despite his rapid progression, Midoriya would eventually hit a wall. But the boy was resilient and strong, and had accomplished so much, he didn't expect him to take it so hard.

Bruce's thought was interrupted as his watch began to beep. He was receiving a call from Alfred.

"Sorry to disturb you, sir," said Alfred, after picking up. "But I need you back here urgently. It's about Master Midoriya."

"What happened?" Asked Bruce, alarmed.

"He had come for another one of his training sessions at the Warehouse, but slipped away when my back was turned," said Alfred.

"He's free to come and go as he pleases, Alfred," said Bruce.

"Yes, sir, but there's more to it than that," said Alfred, a slight nervous look breaking across his usually placid face. "He has taken one of the cars."

"What?!" Said Bruce. What was the boy thinking? He wasn't old enough to drive. If he got caught, the fallout could cost him his spot at UA. Worse yet, he or someone else could get hurt. "I'll have the Watchtower send me there. What car is it?"

Alfred's voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "The car, sir."

The realization of his words passed over Bruce like a cold shadow.

Shit.

"We've been at this for an hour," Said Izuku. "My patience is running out."

He stood in the middle of a small office, overlooking what used to be a factory used by the cartel to ship drugs. Tables and workstations were tipped over, both cartel guards and workers beaten senseless. All the heavy machinery was broken, sparking and smoldering from the explosive blasts used by the intruder. Izuku had walked through them all, one by one, making his way to the Drug Lord's office. He was there for answers, and he was going to get them, one way or another.

"You're dead, you hear me?!" Shouted the Drug Lord. "You think you can just come in here and smash up the place?! Don't you know who -" his words replaced with a loud scream as Izuku used his explosive gauntlets on his exposed arm, which began to blister and bleed.

"Those are third-degree burns," Said Midoriya, his voice deep and distorted from the mask he wore. "Any more damage sustained and you'll be needing skin grafts." He leaned in closer as the Drug Lord stopped screaming. "I'll ask you again: where is the sludge villain?"

"I don't know!" Shouted the Drug Lord. "I never ran with the guy!"

"Liar!" Shouted Izuku, blasting his arm again. The shrieks rang throughout the warehouse. "He was here six months ago as your enforcer. You know where he is, and you're going to tell me, or I'm going to work on the other arm."

"Stop!" Shouted the Drug Lord. "We fell out after he stole from me. He took over three million yen's worth of dope and took off, I haven't seen him since!"

"Not good enough!" Shouted Midoriya, lifting his hand and blasting the wall behind him. "Where is he?!"

But the Drug Lord didn't answer. He stared behind Izuku, a look of sheer terror on his face. Izuku saw a large shadow drape over them, a heavy hand placed on his shoulder. He dropped the Drug Lord and kicked him hard in the face, knocking him out.

"What are you doing here," Said Izuku without turning.

"Joyriding is a crime," Said Batman, unamused. "What were you thinking? The Batmobile is not a toy!"

"I'm doing hero work," Said Izuku, finally looking his mentor in the face.

"You don't have a license for hero work," Said Batman.

"Neither do you!"

"Or to drive for that matter," Batman retorted. "Your anger is out of control."

"You said my anger is what made me strong," Said Izuku.

"Not like this!" Shouted Batman, gesturing to the destruction around them. "You're lashing out like a wounded animal."

"Spare me, Batman," Said Izuku. "I've seen you in action. This is no worse than what you've done."

"You're not me," Said Batman. "And I'm not training you so you can become like me either."

"Then why are you training me, then?!" Shouted Izuku angrily. "It's been over a year! I completed the training, I got into UA, I did what I set out to do, but Kacchan's killer is still out there!"

"Even if we knew where he was, you're not ready to face him," said Batman flatly.

"How can you say that?!" Said Izuku incredulously. "Everything I've done, everything I've worked for, is for the sole purpose of bringing that bastard down. After what he's done, he doesn't deserve to be free. He doesn't deserve to live!"

"Killing him won't make it any better," said Batman.

"Are you kidding me?!" Said Izuku. It's all I think about. Every single day. I can't rest, no, I won't rest until he's destroyed. It's exactly what you promised me."

"I promised you Justice," Said Batman. "Not revenge."

"They're the same thing!"

"No, they're not!" Said Batman angrily. "And until you learn that then you can never truly be a hero."

"SHUT UP!" Izuku screamed, punching the wall beside him. His gauntlet exploded as it hit the wall, causing the brick around it to crack and crumble. He stood there with his fist extended for ten seconds.

"I failed," Said Izuku. "I wasn't strong enough to beat the villains at the USJ, I couldn't beat Todoroki, and I couldn't save Kacchan."

"Failure is inevitable," Said Batman. "Even for heroes."

"Not for you," said Izuku. "I know the stories. You've beaten literal gods and monsters. You've overcome impossible odds and even stared death itself in the face. There's nothing you can't do."

Batman sighed deeply. "Wrong again," he said, walking towards the exit. "Get in the Batmobile. We're going back to the Warehouse. That's an order." He added before Izuku could protest.

Izuku knew he messed up.

He and Bruce sat in silence the whole ride back to the Warehouse. The adrenaline from his escapade had worn off, and the reality of what he had done was sinking in. All he could do was sit in shame and wonder if this would be the end of his training with Bruce.

Alfred had given him quite a scolding. "You had this old man worried sick, Master Midoriya," he said crossly. "And you have worried your poor mother to death as well. What do you have to say for yourself? No, forget it," He added before Izuku could speak. "I'm sure Master Bruce has ample punishment for you."

Bruce said nothing, walking past Alfred towards the batcomputer. He took out a small disk and placed it in the computer, and a video pulled up on the screen of a young, handsome man sitting in a chair.

"Master Bruce, no!" Said Alfred, horrified. "You can't be serious!"

"It's time he learned," said Bruce. "And he has a right to know."

The camera in the video zoomed in close, showing scars and cuts lining his handsome face. A large red brand in the shape of a "J" was engraved into his cheek. His left eye was nearly swollen shut, and his open one simply stared off into space. The sight horrified Izuku, but he continued to watch.

"Have you got something to tell the nice man, Jason?" A voice off camera said. It was high, taunting and sing-songy in nature, and it chilled Izuku to the bone.

"My name. . . is Jason Todd," The man said blankly.

"Who do you hate?" Said the voice.

"Batman," Jason replied.

"Excellent!" Said the Voice. The camera zoomed out. Jason was strapped to a chair, but he wasn't resisting against his restraints. He wore a torn red and green jumpsuit with a golden utility belt and arm bracers. A small golden "R" was embossed on the left breast of his uniform. Izuku could hardly believe his eyes. He was staring at Robin.

"Of course you do," the voice continued. A tall, lanky man stepped in front of the camera. He wore a purple pinstripe suit with a green vest and tie that matched his greasy green hair. His face was ghostly pale, with bright green eyes glowing from within their darkened, shallow sockets. His lips curled into a blood-red smile that stretched upward past his cheeks. Izuku felt his blood run cold.

The Joker.

"Did you get that, Bats?" Said the Joker. "Kid's not yours anymore. He's mine. Mine, mine, mine. To do with as I wish." He turned back to Jason. "Hey, I never asked. What's the big secret? Who is the big, bad bat? His name. Tell me!"

"Of course, sir," said Jason. "It's -"

Bang!

Izuku gasped in shock. In a flash the Joker had pulled a gun from his suit coat and shot Jason point blank, who fell out of the chair and to the ground in a crumpled heap. The Joker walked towards the camera and picked it up, showing the bleeding and lifeless corpse of Jason Todd.

"Never could stand a tattletale," said the Joker. "That's why I like to work alone. No one to spoil the punchline." Joker came back into view of the camera, but kept Jason in the shot. "You should try it sometime. After all, you see what happens when you drag your friends into this crazy little game of ours." The screen went blank. The video had ended, leaving Izuku at a loss for words. He had always seen the news reports, heard the stories, of the Joker's villainy. But to see it up close such as this was unimaginable.

"Failure is inevitable," Bruce said again, walking away.

Izuku was silent as Alfred poured him a cup of tea. He was still in shock over what he had just witnessed. "I'm sorry, Alfred," he said. "I'm sorry for how I've been acting."

"I'm sorry too, Master Midoriya," Said Alfred. "And I'm sorry you had to see that awful video. Master Bruce plays it. . . quite often for himself ever since it happened."

"When did it?"

"Three years ago," Alfred replied. "Not a day goes by I don't miss young Master Todd."

"What was he like?" Izuku asked.

"In many ways, like you," said Alfred. "Brash, headstrong. . . and gifted."

Izuku fell silent, drinking his tea. "Why?" Asked Izuku after a minute.

"Pardon?" Asked Alfred.

"Why does he keep it?" said Izuku. "The video. If it's his greatest failure, why does he keep reliving it?"

Alfred leaned back in his chair. "The Joker had escaped Arkham Asylum with the assistance of one of the Batman's oldest adversaries: Ra's Al Ghul, head of the League of Shadows."

"The League of Shadows?" Asked Izuku.

"A terrorist organization that dates back millenia," Alfred explained. "A group who claims to desire peace, but at the expense of murder and genocide. Ra's Al Ghul has tried unsuccessfully to pass his legacy down to Master Bruce, to inherit his throne as the leader of the League."

"I didn't know," said Izuku.

"You wouldn't," said Alfred. "They are living ghosts. They went completely dark after the incident. When they released the Joker, he was intended to be used as a distraction for Master Bruce and Jason while he carried out plans of his own. They were separated, and Master Todd disappeared, along with the Joker. Master Bruce spent over a year trying to find. When he received the tape, he redoubled his efforts into finding the Joker. And when he did finally find him," Alfred paused. "I was afraid that Master Bruce would finally have broken his one rule."

"Which is?" Asked Izuku.

"To never take a human life," said Alfred. "But I daresay that man is the farthest thing from human as one could possibly get." He added bitterly.

"Why didn't he?" Izuku asked. "Of all people, the Joker deserves to die! After everything he's done, why hasn't he killed him?"

"Because it wouldn't have brought Jason back," said a voice behind them. It was Bruce. He had been listening in to the conversation. "And it would have been exactly what the Joker wanted."

"What do you mean?" Asked Izuku. "If you had the chance to kill the Joker, or to kill the man who murdered your parents, you wouldn't take it?"

"No," Said Bruce. "Because monsters like Joe Chill, like the Joker, don't die. They're born again and again, every minute. With one death comes another, and then another. In the end, the amount of killers that remains in the world hasn't diminished at all, and you find you've gone down a path of death and destruction, leaving bodies in your wake. If you let yourself go down that path, a path of death and destruction, it's one that you can never come back from. I keep that tape as a reminder. A reminder of those I let down, and everything I have to live up to."

"This creature killed Kacchan, Bruce," said Izuku. "I don't know if I can let him live after that."

"When the time comes, I hope you can," said Bruce. "Not for his sake. For yours."