Vs Arkham Knight Round 2, Joker interrupts the fight

The Arkham Knight was ahead of him.

He fired his grapple and grabbed the Knight’s legs, pulling them out from under him, dropping him to the rooftop. As the Knight fell, Batman was on top of him, pile-driving one fist after another into the Knight’s face and gut.

He had to keep the advantage.

The Knight thrust his knee into Batman’s solar plexus, knocking him back. He twisted, wrapped his legs around Batman’s neck, and squeezed.

“I don’t need to play any more games, Batman,” he growled. “I’m going to kill you and be done with it.”

Batman felt his anger rise. Without warning, it was growing out of control. He ripped off his right glove and stabbed his fingers through the eyepieces of the Knight’s mask.

“I’m not the one who’s going to die, killer,” he shouted. Yelping in pain, the Knight grabbed his face and fell back, releasing his hold. Then Batman was on him again. He smashed his elbow into the Knight’s throat, and the Knight gasped. He reached back to the mask and again stabbed his fingers through its holes, but this time to yank the mask off, to see the face of his enemy.

It came free, but the Knight rolled to his side and stabbed a knee up into Batman’s face. Blood shot from torn bone, but Batman held on. He laced his hands together and smashed down as hard as possible into the soft spot under the Knight’s ribcage.

“Let’s end this now. Let’s see who you are.”

“Yes. Yes. Hurt him. Cripple him. Break all your rules and slaughter him.” Batman didn’t have to turn to know the Joker was behind him, probably dancing with glee every time the Batman struck the Knight with his fists.

“What are you waiting for, Batman?” the lunatic cried. “Don’t you want to know who he is?”

Batman stared.

Where the full-face mask had been a moment before, the Joker was laughing up at him.

“Surprise!”

Glancing back, Batman saw the Joker standing behind him, still dancing with joy and convulsing with laughter.

“I bet you didn’t see that coming.”

Then a third Joker appeared to his side. This one reached for his own face and tore it off, exposing the Knight’s mask. “How can this possibly be? I’m dead. We’re all dead.

How can we be the Knight? Bet that’s a conundrum even the Riddler couldn’t solve.”

This fourth Joker leaned in close. “By the way, the Riddler? Really? Isn’t he just a second rate version of me? I’m your first nutcase from the dawn of time. He’s just a Jokey-Come-Lately.”

A fifth and sixth Joker appeared. They were surrounding him, laughing at him. He forced himself to his feet and lashed out, punching each figure even though his fists could never connect with his nightmares.

“Well, this isn’t getting either of us anywhere,” the first Joker said. “You’re fighting with figments of your own imagination, and we’re getting bored watching you make a fool of yourself. So sayonara, old friend. We’ll meet again when you rip off your own mask, and paint your pretty pink skin white. B’bye.”

The Jokers vanished, and Batman looked down to where the Arkham Knight had been. But he was gone.