Chapter 49 - Clash of the Titans

The roaring engines of the Batmobile died to a still idol as it stopped outside the old Ace Chemicals building. Ace chemicals had been in Gotham for decades, and had long been associated with criminal ties, being a known hotspot for the trafficking of illegal and illicit materials. Bruce Wayne had petitioned to dismantle the company for years, and had even made attempts to purchase it, but was refused each time by their board of directors. The company was nothing if not resilient.

Batman used his grapple gun to enter the building through the access door on the roof. As he made his way down to the main factory, where they housed the large chemical vats, he was unwillingly filled with a sense of nostalgia. It had been years since he had been in this building, but he could still remember that fateful day: an APB over the police scanner about intruders. They were attempting to gain access to the playing card company that was next to it. Two well-known criminals, and one rookie in a red-domed helmet and tuxedo. The two criminals were gunned down by security, but they were the lucky ones. Despite his attempts to save him, the hooded criminal fell into the toxic vats below.

"Fun memories, eh Batsy?" Came a voice from above him.

Batman immediately drew a batarang from his belt, looking to the source of the voice. The Joker was on one of the platforms above him. Batman threw his batarang, but the Joker simply ducked beneath it as it crashed through the window behind him and flew off into the distance.

"Easy, Batman! I just got my hair cut," The Joker erupted in laughter.

"It's over, Joker," Said Batman. "Shield is making an antiserum to the Titan formula as we speak, and you're going back to Arkham."

"Blah, blah, blah!" Said Joker, forming a talking mouth with his hand and mimicking Batman's speech. "I swear Batsy, every time you get a new boy wonder, you spend less and less time with me! I mean, really, do I have to send another one to the farm before you'll finally get the picture that you shouldn't be keeping pets around?"

Batman used the grapple gun to launch himself upwards, colliding with the Joker and crashing out of the window. The Joker continued his maniacal laughter as he and Batman plummeted to the ground, hitting it hard. Batman stood, grabbing Joker by the shirt and landing blow after blow across his face. The Joker's laughter just grew with each hit.

"Why are you targeting Midoriya?!" Shouted Batman between blows.

"Because it's fun!" Said the Joker, spitting blood on the ground beneath him. Batman picked him up and threw the Joker into the wall of the building, punching him hard in the solar plexus, chest and face before throwing him back to the ground.

"That's it!" Said Joker, trying to crawl away. "Get mad! Get angry! Knock me off, put an end to this once and for all! Here, I'll give you this one for free!" He shakily rose to his feet and stuck his chin out invitingly. Batman heard a familiar sickening crack as his fist connected against the Joker's protruding chin, sending him down to the ground. The Joker's laughs continued, albeit weaker than they were before. Batman grabbed him by his throat and raised him up off his feet.

"Tell me where the Titan formula is! NOW!!" Shouted Batman.

"Better, yet, bats, I'll just give it to you," Choked the Joker. Faster than lightning, he jammed a syringe in Batman's outstretched arm. Batman roared with pain before dropping the Joker, pulling the syringe from his arm. Immediately Batman began to swoon, his vision doubling. He dropped to his knee, failing to keep himself upright.

"What's wrong?" Said Joker, kicking him hard in the face. "Looks like something's not agreeing with you!"

"You. . . won't win. . ." Said Batman. He felt as if his body was on fire. He could already feel a change come over him as his muscle fibers began to twitch and grow.

"I've already won, Bats!" Said Joker. "Without Davey-poo's device to stabilize the formula, and no antiserum to boot, I'm afraid you'll soon just be another pawn in Joker's Army. But, hey! It's not so bad! After all, you'll get to experience first hand the joys of leveling Gotham to a craterous ash pile. Won't that be fun? But make sure you save some innocent lives for your brothers and sisters."

The Joker protruded what looked to be a remote detonator, pressing a red button in the center. Explosions formed all around them, Batman watching in horror as several buildings began to crumble. An armored car drove up beside them as several armed thugs opened the back door and the Joker climbed in. "I'd love to stay and see what happens next, Batman," He said. "But you know what they say: 'places to go, people to kill!' Come on, boys! It's time for Operation Playtime!" His laughs echoed from the car, dying slowly as it drove away.

Batman shouted in pain as the serum worked its way throughout his system. "Alfred!" He shouted into the comlink.

"Sir, your readings are off the charts!" Said Alfred, alarmed. "What the devil is happening?"

"The Joker. . .Titan formula!" Said Batman between yells. "The antiserum! Hurry!"

Batman doubled over as his body grew, his voice deepening. He felt his humanity begin to drift away, replaced only with a sense of rage.

Rage and destruction.

Explosions echoed throughout the Batcave as Izuku worked through the training simulator. One by one, more and more Horde robots fell at the might of his quirk. He was angry, and the more robots he blasted, the angrier he got. Bruce had always believed in him, had trained him to be what he is today, and yet today he threatened to take that all away. How could he do this to him?

Izuku propelled himself in the air, launching a Howitzer Impact on his enemies below him, destroying twenty robots at once. He hit the ground, rolling forward to a kneeling stance, pausing to catch his breath. He looked at his hands, which hurt from the blasts. Kacchan's quirk was powerful, but it had never been this powerful. He remembered All For One said that he had tweaked it, using a few of his own quirks to amplify its power. He still couldn't believe that this quirk was now his. And if he was completely honest with himself, the exhilaration he felt when using his quirk was a rush that he had never experienced before.

"Izuku?" Came a voice behind him. Izuku turned to see Melissa approaching him. "I'm not bothering you, am I?"

"Not at all," Said Izuku, shutting down the simulator. He walked over to the bench and picked up a towel, wiping the sweat out of his eyes.

"How are you holding up?" Asked Melissa.

"I should be asking you the same question," Said Izuku, surprised. "You're the one who got kidnapped tonight."

"I'm fine," Said Melissa. "I was worried about you. You seemed pretty angry after Bruce left."

"I guess I was. . .am. . . pretty angry still," Said Izuku. "I don't know, maybe I'm more angry at myself."

"What do you mean?"

"I promised my mom that I wouldn't do any hero stuff on this trip," said Izuku. "That it was just for . . . recuperating." Izuku formed air quotes with his fingers. "I know I broke my promise to her tonight. But when you were taken, I just couldn't. . . I wasn't . ." Izuku paused, trying to formulate what he was trying to say. "I know how scary it can be to be kidnapped by a villain. I just didn't want the same thing to happen to you."

Melissa said nothing, sitting next to Izuku, placing her hand on his hand. Izuku blushed slightly at this forward gesture.

"You saved me Izuku," Said Melissa. "Papa and I will always be thankful to you for that. I'm sure that Bruce is proud of you as well."

"I don't know about that," Said Izuku.

"I do," Said Melissa. "Grown-ups are a lot like kids in many ways. The difference is they have to look like they have all the answers so we don't feel afraid. But I think they feel just as afraid as we do. I think that's why Bruce was so hard on you. He was afraid you would get hurt."

"You think so?" Said Izuku.

"I do," Melissa replied.

Izuku knew deep down she was right. The more he got to know her, the more he was amazed by her. She was so brave, smart and wise, stronger than Izuku would have ever guessed.

"Young Midoriya!"

Izuku immediately recognized All Might's deep voice. He was running frantically over towards them, a coughing fit overcoming him once he reached them. They waited patiently as his breathing steadied.

"Midoriya, something's happened!" Said All Might. "On the news, quick!"

Izuku watched in horror as the news report unfurled before him. A helicopter flew high above the city as dozens of the Titan monsters rampaged down below, destroying everything in their terrible wake. Buildings were knocked down, cars were destroyed, and people were killed left and right.

"My god," said David, horrified. "This is all my fault."

"What happened to Bruce?" Said Izuku.

"We lost contact with him," Said Alfred. "Before we lost connection, the biometric readings in the batsuit were unfathomable. It was as if he was. . ." Alfred paused. "Undergoing a metamorphosis."

"You don't think. . . ?" Said All Might, though he knew the answer already.

"It's a distinct possibility," Said Alfred.

"What about the antiserum?" Said Melissa.

"The first viable solution is ready," Said David. "But it will take more time to produce more."

"We have to take the antiserum to Bruce!" Said Izuku. "We have to save him!"

"I've already contacted Master Dick," Said Alfred. "But he is in Bludhaven, and it will take the Batwing time to get him here."

"We don't have that kind of time," Said Izuku. "I'll go."

"Young Midoriya!" Said All Might.

"Izuku, you will do no such thing!" Said Alfred. "Master Bruce specifically --"

"Bruce has been turned into a monster!" Said Izuku. "I don't care if it does get me expelled. Bruce took a chance on me and made me what I am today. Bruce is. . ." he paused, his voice choking, looking up pleadingly into Alfred's kind eyes. "He's more of a father to me than anyone has ever been. I have to save him. Please."

Alfred took a deep breath. "All Right," He said.

The Joker and his men drove the armored van through the chaotic streets of Gotham as the Titan monsters wreaked havoc around them. The Joker's laughs seemed to permeate even the deafening noise of the destruction.

"Go, my pretties!" He shouted to the beasts. "Destroy to your heart's content!"

Suddenly, something struck the side of the van, causing the driver to swerve slightly. "Boss!" Said the driver. "Someone's shooting at us!"

"Oh?" Said Joker, coming up to the front and looking out the passenger window. The man in the red hood from the toy factory was back, sideling up to them on his motorcycle, carrying a large grenade launcher in his free hand.

"It's the Red Hood!" Said the driver.

"Oh, for pete's sake, they'll give that name to anyone these days," Said the Joker, rolling his eyes. "Back in my day it was classy, more flashy Maitre D than Motorcycle Fetish, these kids today." He grabbed the driver hard by the ear, causing him to yell out. "Will you be a good little boy and run him off the goddamn road?!"

The driver complied, trying to ram the side of the van into the Red Hood, but their assailant decelerated his motorcycle, causing the van to glance off a pillar from the side of a damaged building.

"Do I have to do everything myself?!" Shouted the Joker, drawing a gun and shooting the driver in the head. As the car swerved, the Joker finagled the door open and kicked the dead driver onto the street, taking control of the out of control car. The Red Hood was upon them again, and the Joker fired his gun out the passenger window at him, causing him to duck and swerve out of the way. The Red Hood sped up, getting in front of the speeding van, firing the grenade launcher square beneath the bottom frame of the van, the resulting explosion upending the vehicle, causing it to capsize and come to a crashing stop.

The Red Hood stopped, walking towards the wrecked van. The Joker pulled himself out of the wreckage through the driver window, laughing softly to himself as he rolled onto his back once free. The Red Hood stood over him, grabbing him by the shirt and punching him hard, knocking him unconscious.

"Got you now, you son of a bitch," He said.

Izuku loomed over the side of the building overlooking Ace Chemicals, where Bruce's signal was transmitted last before it stopped. He could see the Batmobile, but Batman was nowhere to be found. The building looked as if it had been hit by multiple steamrollers, each travelling at high-speeds. He was surprised it was still standing. He looked down in horror at the devastation around him as the Titan monsters made short work of the city. He had to find Bruce fast. If he could just make sure he was okay, he would know what to do. He would set everything right. He's Batman after all.

The Ace Chemical building seemed to shake on its foundation as a large crashing sound stirred Izuku from his thoughts. The crashing was getting louder, more frequent. Suddenly, bursting from the side of the building came one of the Titan monsters. Izuku blanched in shock as he realized, to his horror, that the monster was still wearing a shredded but familiar black, pointed cowl.

"Bruce!" Izuku whispered.

The monster that was his mentor continued his destructive attack on the building. Izuku privately gave thanks to whatever gods were listening that the building was unoccupied. He clutched the pouch of his utility belt containing the serum. If he didn't hurry, the effects of the serum would tear Bruce's DNA apart. He had to get close enough to administer it, but he only had one shot of this. Any slip up, and he would be torn to pieces.

Izuku leapt down from the building above, using his quirk to propel him towards Bruce. If he could get close enough without alerting him, he could administer the antiserum and -

The monster reached behind him, grabbing onto Izuku with a large hand as if he was a wooden stick. The monster roared in his face and threw him back towards the building, causing Izuku to crash through the glass siding, hitting the ground hard inside an empty office. The wind was knocked out of him. He struggled to his feet just as the monster burst through the wall.

"Bruce!" Shouted Izuku, throwing batarangs at the monster. "You have to stop! Come back to us!"

Bruce charged Izuku again, who used his quirk to simultaneously dodge the charge and blast Bruce in the face, stunning him. Izuku used his quirk to correct himself in mid-air, landing on Bruce's large, misshapen back. He drew the syringe from his utility belt, but a monstrous hand swatted Izuku off, knocking him aloft and causing him to hit the ground hard. Izuku was dazed slightly, realizing that he dropped the vial. He had to find it quick before --

A giant foot tried to stomp on him, but Izuku rolled out of the way just in time. Izuku cupped his hands together, causing a blast of light from his hand, striking the monster Bruce square in the face.

"Stun grenade!" Shouted Izuku. This was one of Kacchan's signature moves. He'd seen him practice it all the time when they were kids. Bruce clutched his face, stumbling and grasping blindly. Izuku crawled along the floor, looking for the vial of antiserum. He used his cowl vision to scan the area around him. If it was destroyed, there'd be no way he could have another one ready in time.

His cowl vision alerted him that his target was within range. He found the Vial under one of the office desks a few feet away. He would reach it in seconds, hopefully Bruce was still --

Something grabbed him by the leg and was pulling him away from the vial. Bruce regained his composure and grabbed hold of him, hosting him upward. Izuku used his quirk and tried to blast Bruce in the face again, but this time he shielded his eyes and threw Izuku hard against the ground. Izuku lay motionless as the monster loomed over him. He didn't know how much more of this he could take, and Bruce seemed to be getting stronger, more vicious. His vision was blurry as he looked at the vial, still in its location underneath the desk. Izuku had no choice. It was time for his ace in the hole. He pressed a few buttons on his gauntlet computer and quickly rolled out of the way.

Bruce turned as a light from outside the building began to shine on him. The sound of a roarin engine drew closer as the Batmobile burst through the open wall and plowed right into Bruce, forcing him back several meters through several walls in the building. The Batmobile engines died, and Bruce struggled to get up. Izuku seized his chance, grabbing the vial and lunging onto Bruce's back, plunging the syringe into his exposed neck.

Bruce roared in pain, throwing Izuku off, but the vial had already been administered. Bruce's roars dwindled, and he stumbled as he struggled to stay upright. His misshapen muscles began to shrink, his voice slowly turning from the guttural growl back to normal. Soon, the monster Izuku fought was no more, and a restored Bruce Wayne lay motionless on the floor.

"Bruce," Said Izuku, rushing to his mentor's side, trying to wake him. "Bruce, can you hear me? Wake up!" After a minute, Bruce emitted a small groan, struggling to lift his head. Izuku rolled him over. Bruce's eyes opened slightly, eyeing his protege before him.

"Thought I told you. . . stay in the mansion," he said weakly.

"Yeah, well, you can expel me later," Said Izuku. "Alfred?" Izuku spoke into his comlink.

"Master Midoriya, thank God," Said Alfred. "Did you find Master Bruce?"

"He's safe," Said Izuku. "We're heading back now."

Izuku heard an explosion from the other end of the comlink. "Alfred?" He said, concerned. "Alfred, what's happening?"

"Good Lord!" Shouted Alfred, the comlink going dead.

Shit, Thought Izuku. I have to get back there now.

Alfred and All Might both sat tied to chairs in the Batcave, incapacitated. The explosion from the entrance to the batcave had startled them all, and their assailant was upon them in seconds. Now it was only David left, trying to shield Melissa from their attacker.

"You're the Red Hood," Said David, shocked.

"In the flesh," Said the Red Hood.

"Please, don't hurt us!" Said David. "Take me if you want, but don't hurt my daughter."

The Red Hood leapt forward and struck David across the face, knocking him to the ground. "I don't want her, you idiot," He said. "You're the cause of all this. Everything that has happened tonight is your fault. You're going to burn for this. One way or another."

"Jason, stop this!" Shouted Alfred.

"Listen to him, son!" Said All Might. "You don't want to do this."

"Shut up!" Shouted The Red Hood. "This is his doing! He was working with the Joker. People have died because of him! Now they're both going to pay for what they've --"

A large explosion erupted from beside him, sending the Red Hood careening towards the Batcomputer, smashing into it before hitting the ground hard. Melissa was standing over her father, the gauntlet on her hand smoking. "Don't come near him!" She shouted.

"Don't make me hurt you, little girl," Said the Red Hood, standing and walking towards them. "It would make all the effort I went through saving you a waste."

Melissa launched another blast, but the Red Hood was ready. Deftly sidestepping the blast, he grabbed Melissa's gauntleted hand and thrust the side of his hand hard onto her neck, knocking her unconscious.

"Melissa!" Shouted David.

"She'll be fine," Said the Red Hood. "I can't say the same for you.

"Jason, please!" Said Alfred. "This isn't like you! The Jason Todd I know would never have --"

"The Jason Todd you know is dead, Alfred!" Shouted the Red Hood. "As will all of Gotham's criminals soon enough." He threw down a flash-bang grenade, causing All Might and Alfred to avert their eyes. When the effects of the grenade had dissipated, both the Red Hood and David were gone.

"Alfred! All Might!" Bruce and Izuku came running down the broken stairs leading to the Batcave. They quickly untied them, and Izuku rushed to Melissa's side. Alfred approached her and placed his hand upon her neck, which glowed a faint blue. He kept it there for a moment before taking it away.

"She'll be all right," Said Alfred. "But we must get her out of here."

"What happened?" Said Bruce.

"It's Jason," Said All Might. "He took David."

"What?"

"It's true sir," Said Alfred, hanging his head in shame. "I'm sorry, I couldn't stop him."

"It's not your fault, Alfred." Said Bruce. "I should have known this would happen."

"What do we do?" Said Izuku.

Bruce eyed him curiously, and only then did Izuku realize that he had broken his promise to Bruce yet again. "Look," Izuku said nervously. "I know you said not to leave the house, but I -"

Bruce held up a hand, silencing him. "It's a hero's job to do what is right," He said. "Even if that means that some promises get broken in the process. The night isn't over. We still have to stop the Joker. . . and Jason."

"So. . . not fired?" Asked Izuku.

"Not fired," Said Bruce.