Death is Always Fair

Hope and Relief

Shit.

I did not want Barbara seeing Joker dead just yet. Perhaps someone else was supposed to report his death. I wonder...

I checked my notebook, but flipped to the second page.

Jack Oswald White (aka The Joker): C.O.D.- Blood Infection From Unknown Chemicals

Huh. That's how he died. I turned back and looked at Barbara.

She looked good. Still the fiery red hair that I've come to love, the green eyes that are more gorgeous than an emerald, and the little bit make-up that I'm still pretty sure that she doesn't need.

Then I saw the tears. I looked into her eyes, and saw the emotions that she was feeling, another power of mine, I suppose. I saw relief.

I smiled at her, even though she couldn't see me, then teleported back home.

I had a lot to learn about my abilities and responsibilities, so I better get started.

*Barbara's POV*

Thank God.

I'm glad that Joker's dead. He caused the deaths of so many people. Even...

No. I can't think of him anymore, it's too painful to think about.

I rushed into the alleyway near my place, and dialed Bruce's number.

"Wayne, what do you need Barbara?"

"Bruce, the Joker is dead."

"What? What happened?"

"Nothing. I went outside to see if a friend of mine was coming over, and I found Joker near my building. My dad is checking him out, and there is nothing. No trauma to the head, nothing."

"This is concerning."

"Could it be the chemicals and such in his blood?"

"Perhaps. I'll need to do further research."

"Alright, but Bruce?"

"Yes, Barbara?"

"Is it wrong to be glad that he's dead?"

He sighed into the phone. "I don't know. On one hand, I'm relieved that he is because he can never hurt anyone again. On the other, I'm upset that it happened before Jason died."

"Understood. Bye, Bruce."

He hang up without another word.

For some reason, I couldn't help but feel as if he had something to do with Joker's death. I smiled while looking at the sky, where the clouds are parting, and the sun is shining on Gotham City.

It's been so long since I've seen something like this. It's always cloudy, and the sun almost never completely shines on this city.

*One day later*

The news has spread all across America. The Joker is dead.

One of the nations worst terrorists is dead.

Even the Rogues have celebrated in their own ways.

Harley started to mourn, but then Ivy and Selina comforted her, telling her that it was nobody's fault but the Joker's.

Two-Face and Penguin made an alliance, and all their gang-members were in the Iceberg Lounge, drinking in happiness.

Nygma actually started going straight. He decided that instead of making riddles about his crimes, he'll write books on riddles for children. I was shocked, but it seems that since the Joker died, Edward made the proper calculations about who Batman's nemesis would be, and due to the amount of beatings he's seen Joker have thanks to Batman, he's going to be as smart as he's claimed to be. Smart move, Riddler.

The ones that were celebrating the most were the Bats. Tim was ecstatic that his predecessor's killer was dead. Alfred was happy that the monster that was responsible for the death's of hundreds, including his second grandson.

The newly adopted Cassandra Cain was confused about why we were happy that someone's dead, until we told her that the person's death we're celebrating was the killer of the baby brother she never met. She almost cried. I could tell that she was trying not to falter at the news that she was never going to meet her little brother thanks to a monster.

Bruce, however, was the happiest of all. The Joker, the thing that haunted Gotham City for far too long, the killer of his son, was dead. That was the nail in the coffin. He called Dick about the news, and I could hear Dick immediately start crying. Within 2 hours, I saw Bruce with one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen on his face.

The Joker's death gave this city what was taken from it for far too long. Something that I couldn't help but thank Jason for bringing back.

Hope.