I, The Joker's Fear

"Jason, Tim, Stephanie, the three of you will check all of Master's known locations one by one."

"Damian and I will infiltrate Wayne Tower to investigate."

Dick, with his seniority and abilities, was qualified to take on a leadership role.

In the multiverse, Dick had even succeeded Batman.

"Report, I haven't gotten in the car yet."

Allen, clad in the Bat-suit, naturally wanted to integrate into the team.

Dick pondered for a moment, then suggested, "Ask the Joker. Master went out last night to hunt him down."

"So, Batman eloped with the Joker."

Allen's face showed a look of sudden realization, and he clutched his chest, lamenting with feigned pain, "Bruce would rather choose the Joker than me. You've changed."

Damn, I'm getting goosebumps from the awkwardness of staying here for another second.

The Five Robins turned and went about their own business.

Seeing that all members of the Bat-Family had transportation provided by Master, Allen was so envious he felt like exploding on the spot.

Nightwing was driving a multi-functional armored vehicle, with Damian in the passenger seat.

Tim and Stephanie were sharing a Bat-motorcycle.

Jason also had a cool-looking dirt bike.

Watching the Five Robins drive out of the Batcave, Allen was left alone, disheveled in the wind.

"So envious, I want one so badly."

It seemed Bruce hadn't prepared any transportation for him.

Allen's gaze fell on Alfred, who was tidying up the table. He slyly sidled up to him, "Butler Batman, are there any more cars? You wouldn't want me to walk on my own two legs, would you?"

Alfred stopped what he was doing and said calmly, "Master has many cars. I'll open the warehouse for you."

Alfred simply pressed a button on the console, and a platform rose from the water beside them.

And on the platform, steel cables secured various vehicles.

"Wow, wow, wow..."

Allen touched the cool-looking Bat-vehicle, exclaiming excitedly, "Knight Rider!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..."

"Night Rider!"

This was the happiness of the rich, simple and unpretentious.

"Which car would you like to drive?" Alfred said meticulously, "I can electronically unlock it for you and install a bound sensing electronic component in your glove. You won't have to worry about it getting stolen when you go out."

Allen pointed to a light, foldable electric bicycle, "I want this one."

"..."

Alfred's expression faltered, and he asked in confusion, "Why?"

You didn't choose the Bat-vehicle or the motorcycle, so why were you shouting so excitedly?!

Allen was a little shy and hesitant, "I don't have a driver's license."

"..."

After a long pause, Alfred managed to blurt out, "You're truly law-abiding."

In a dark, abandoned tunnel.

The Joker, leading his gang, had captured the former kingpin of Gotham City's underworld.

"Joker, you're disrupting order, trying to make an enemy of everyone?" the bruised and battered mob boss threatened.

The Joker pointed a revolver at his temple and smiled menacingly, "I am order."

Bang!

The gunshot echoed through the tunnel.

The Joker put away his revolver and said coldly, "My order is chaos."

Just then, a white light was approaching from the end of the tunnel.

Beep, beep, beep...

Soon, the sound of a horn rang out.

The Joker's Gang members, who were on high alert, raised their firearms and looked at the approaching figure with disbelief.

Batman on an electric bike?

That's right, Allen had tracked them here.

Wandering around Gotham City, it wasn't easy to find the hidden Joker.

Bruce had a lead from Commissioner Gordon, but Allen had his own sources.

He spent a hefty five dollars, coaxing information about the Joker's Gang's territory from a homeless man.

Even though five dollars was his entire relief payment, it was all the money Allen had, and it pained him for a long time. This only strengthened his resolve to fight crime.

He mercilessly beat any Joker's Gang member he caught, and after assaulting hundreds of them, he finally found the exact location.

"Joker, you've failed this city."

Allen walked up to an electric bicycle, his tall, slender silhouette cast by the light shining from behind him.

The nightmare of criminals, Bat-Man, had arrived.

His dramatic entrance truly intimidated the Joker's Gang members, making him appear like the very embodiment of fear.

"Heh heh heh..."

The Joker's insane laughter echoed in response. He knew Batman was missing; this was just a fake, and he didn't take him seriously at all.

"Heh heh heh heh..."

Allen's laughter sounded even more chilling, more terrifying by comparison.

"What are you laughing at?" the Joker asked in a deep voice.

"You laugh, so I laugh."

Who said superheroes couldn't use villainous laughter? Allen just liked laughing like that.

"Allen?"

"It's me."

It turned out to be a fellow patient visiting. The Joker couldn't help but let his guard down and asked, "What's with the outfit? Are you sick?"

"Do you have medicine?"

"..."

The Joker took a deep breath, thinking the other person's condition was too severe to communicate normally.

He then raised his hand, signaling his subordinates to open fire.

Instantly, gunshots and muzzle flashes intertwined in the tunnel.

When the gunfire stopped, the Joker couldn't see Allen's figure. Meanwhile, his subordinates lay slumped and unconscious on the ground.

A cold touch grazed his neck, and a whisper echoed in his ear: "Do you have medicine?"

The Joker shivered in fear. In his peripheral vision, he saw Allen pressed against his cheek.

Batman was a normal person, so the Joker wasn't afraid. But the problem was that Allen was genuinely mentally ill, and he had no idea what the man might do.

"What exactly do you want? I can give you money," the Joker pleaded, sounding wronged.

"How much?"

"Pfft!" Allen suddenly became solemn, lowering his voice. "Don't even think about sullying the principles of my justice with money."

"Then what do you want from me?"

The Joker felt an urge to cry from frustration. He was genuinely afraid that the mentally ill man's sense of justice would explode and he'd get chopped up right then and there.

No matter how much he acted out in front of Batman, it was under the premise that Batman had a no-kill rule.

"Good question."

Allen snorted. "Where did you hide Batsy? You're not answering calls or texts. Running away won't solve anything."

"I don't know,"

the Joker denied outright. "I haven't seen him in a long time."

"Not talking, huh?"

Click.

At some point, Allen had taken out a lighter and flicked it in front of the Joker, licking his lips as he threatened, "I like your defiant attitude. I hope you keep it up. Heh heh heh..."

"What are you doing? No... no!"

As the flame drew closer, the Joker yelled frantically.

Unfortunately, Allen remained unmoved and continued his actions.

A scorched smell soon wafted into his nostrils. The Joker quickly shouted, "I'll talk, I'll talk."

If he didn't confess, his signature green hair would be completely burned off.

Allen stopped the torture of burning the top of his head and patiently awaited the answer.

"Not long ago, someone approached me and offered ten million to guide Batman to the space between the twelfth and thirteenth floors of the Klin Building."

Click.

As soon as the Joker stopped talking, Allen lit his lighter.

"Wait, wait, wait..."

The Joker continued, "My investigation revealed that person represents Gotham's wealthy elite, always doing their dirty work."

A short while later, Allen, satisfied, rode his electric bicycle out of the tunnel.

Meanwhile, the Joker, left behind in the tunnel, was weeping in despair. His iconic green hair was now just a layer of scorched scalp.

"I told you everything, why did you still burn my hair? Why..."