Title:  Gates of Horn and Ivory

Author:  Misha

Rating:  PG-13

Fandom:  Justice League

Spoilers:  “The Savage Time”.
Summary:  In a world enslaved by Vandal Savage, the Batman has his own special nightmare.
Length:  300 words

Disclaimer:  Batman and the Justice League belong to DC Comics.  I own only my ideas.
Author's Note:  For the Superhero Roulette challenge.  Thanks Livia and Bex!

Feedback:  Relished at mishamcm@livejournal.com

Copyright (c) August 2003 Misha

 

 

J’onn J’onzz:  You understand that if we do change the past, you – this version of you – will never have existed.

The Batman:  Nothing would make me happier.

            -- “The Savage Time”

 

 

            Fuhrer Vandal Savage’s face is everywhere you go.  Even at night he is everyone’s recurring nightmare.

            Except mine.

            I see another face, the face of the man who used to call himself the Red Hood, until Savage’s storm-troopers chased him into a toxic chemical bath, forever warping him, body and mind.

            “Hel-loooo, Batman!  Long time no see!”

            “Joker,” I reply, flatly.

            “Still fighting the good fight?  Are we liberated yet?”

            “What do you want?”

            “Joke-of-the-day time, Bats!  How many Waynes does it take to overthrow the Third Reich?”  The Joker holds up three fingers and trills, “Thrrrreeee?”  He twists his wrist and mimes a gun.  “Bang!”  Two fingers.  “Twoooo?  Bang!”  He holds a finger before his lips and puffs away imaginary smoke.  “Better hope the answer is one!”

            “If I could get my hands on you—“

            “Promises, promises!  There’d better be dinner and dancing first, Dark Blight.  And you know I have to be home by midnight.”

            “Or you’ll turn into a pumpkin?” I ask in staccato.

            “Or mummy will worry.  You know how mothers are, Scourge of the Underwear.  No, wait, you don’t.”

            I grit my teeth.

            “Oooh, almost forgot, Iron Maiden.  The Fuhrer’s secret weakness.  It’s—“

            And his face twists into a non-smiling death mask.  Then he’s gone.

            I look at the empty space his absence leaves.

            “You’re a lunatic, Joker.”  I turn to walk away.  “But you were my lunatic.  You used to be the man I loved.  And Savage will pay for doing this to you.”