He filled the door frame with his giant figure. Draped in darkness he knelt his head to enter the apartment. His eyes lit up as his vision was filled with a visual scan of the apartment.
Selena stepped from the nearby hallway having returned from the restroom. She was wearing her Catwoman costume, she tried stretching the material. It had been a while since she had needed to wear it. She had gained some weight that in reality only she would notice. Her movements felt a bit stiff in the suit, primarily in the shoulder region.
"Hey Bruce. Give me you batarangs."
He looked at her as he reached out with the weapon in hand, he paused as he was enraptured by her beauty. It had been months since they had seen each other. She was one of the few women who could break his momentum.
She snatched the batarang and used the sharp ends to tear an opening at both shoulders.
"Aaahhh, much better."
Bruce knelt to the floor and inspected the welcome mat. "If you need a fitted outfit, Alfred could have the bat computer produce one."
"Don't remind me," She scoffed. "You ruined shopping for me when you made that feature."
"Here." A single strand of a purple suit had fallen into the welcome mat. It matched the bat caves data base.
He stood up and switched on to a private line. "Oracle, any sign of Terry?"
"Cssht- None Batman."
"Anything new with Quinn?" The Bat and the Cat left the apartment and walked down the street.
"He has an idea to trace the Joker, but he hasn't reported back yet."
"As soon as he reports back, fill me in."
"Yessir."
The two stood before the homeless man who had given Selena the information.
"Hey! I gave you the information you wanted! I didn't do nothing!" He spat at her.
"Where did they go?" He glared down at the man.
"Who?"
His eyes narrowed, "The Joker and the boy."
"Oh! they headed into the sewers over there."
"Shit."
...
"It's gross down here Mr. can we go back up?"
"Oh no no Terry. We still have a bit to go till we make it to my place." The Joker waved his finger back and forth.
"But Mr-"
"NO!" Terry stepped back. Tears began to fill his eyes. "There there Terry."
The clown grabbed his wrist and pushed him in front. "Don't you want to meat my pet dogs?"
"Uh, I don't know? My mom might be worried if I'm not home."
"PLEASE Terry, it will only take a moment."
...
"I hate the sewers, can't believe Jones liked it down here." Selena shook off some dark green sludge off her boots. "If he wasn't so dirty, I think we really could have lasted."
"Selena."
"Sorry, you really need to date more people. But not Talia, jeez she is insane."
"You're very talkative."
"Ugh Fine! I trust you but I'm scared, okay. Terry isn't an adult, knowing the Joker I don't even want to imagine what is happening."
Bruce was about to speak before-
"Cssht- Batman! Nightwing found their location."
...
Nightwing kneeled on the roof, staring down through the skylight at the occupied warehouse.
Terry sat on a chair centered in the wide ware house surrounded by crates. Two large men wearing badly applied clown make up stood at either side of Terry. Terry was petting the two pet Hyenas, Bud and Lou.
"These aren't dogs Mr."
"Oh I'm sorry Terry, my brain is a little fuzzy with the funny block." He was digging into one of the large crates, looking at each of the strange items and observed thoughtfully each one.
"Funny Block?"
"Yes like Writers Block. It's when you can't think of ideas, and I can't think of anything really funny. Well besides finding you and having you help me out."
"Why me?"
"Why so many questions Terry?"
"I don't know."
"I could say the same thing."
The Joker picked up a small bottle of hot sauce, "Wait a minute!"
Terry and the hyenas jumped and observed the Joker as he darted towards them. Shoving the bottle in their faces they looked at him puzzlingly.
"Huh?"
"It's Brilliant Terry! I've done it! Bod! Lou! Come Here!" He hugged the Hyenas that laughed as he scratched their fur.
"What have you done?" Terry was lost.
"THINK! I make Joker themed hot sauce, and I make a restaurant titled Joker's Meats and we feed people Joker themed food!"
"Okay?"
"Okay? OKAY!?" The Joker stood up and stormed towards Terry. "IT IS MORE THAN OKAY, IT IS BRILLIANT!"
"I don't think it's funny."
"ha... ha...ha. ha hahahahahaHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHA!"
Crash
Three figures came crashing through the skylight.
Catwoman grabbed Terry and ran for the nearest exit. Nightwing started fighting the two henchmen while Batman went straight for the joker.
"Oof" The joker fell back as he was kicked in the stomach. "Batman! Why did you have to come and find me!?"
"I'm taking you back to Arkham."
"Okay." He put his hands up. "Idiots stop!"
The henchmen stopped and put their hands up.
Nightwing walked over to Batman, "This has to be a trap."
...
They cuffed the three of them and the police came a short while later. Nightwing and Batman stood on a nearby building watching as the three were taken into custody.
"It just doesn't make any sense?" Grayson was puzzled.
"Hmmmm" Bruce was silent. "How did you find the location?"
"Oh I realized Harley didn't have the Hyenas, so once I searched for the most probable places they could collect food for them and keep a low profile I had Alfred search in face recognition in those specific areas. We narrowed it down further once I was informed about Terry and the fact they were walking instead of catching a ride. Worked out better then I thought it would."
Bruce smiled, "Good job"
Nightwing's eyes went wide, "Wow."
"I'm going to go check on Selena."
"Oh," Nightwing put a hand on Batman's shoulder. "Goodluck."
...
Terry was wrapped in the arms of Selena, who was still in her outfit. He had fallen asleep, the two costumed individuals felt sorry for the boy. For whatever reason the Joker had found an interest in the boy.
Selena spoke in a low voice, "Thank you. This means a lot to me."
"I understand, losing family can be hard. I'm glad that didn't happen today."
"Yeah, me too." She looked down at the boy. "I really hope Sondra gets back soon."
"His mother's name is Sondra?"
"Yeah Sondra Fuller," He smiled and patted the kid's head. "So he must be Terry Fuller. I like the name Terry."
Selena smiled at Bruce, "Yeah it's a nice name, but he is actually adopted."
Bruce went quiet, "Oh... I'm glad he has someone."
"Me too, he is a good kid. Not sure when she will tell him he is adopted thought."
They were both silent for a moment.
"Cssht- Bruce, you will want to hear this."
"What is it?"
"Terry's mother is dead and the Joker did it."