Batman overcomes Joker trying to take over his mind and Scarecrow's fear toxin.

The machinery sounded louder now, like an elevator rising to his floor.

And then a voice.

His voice.

“You’re afraid of being ashes. You’re afraid of being forgotten. And you will be forgotten, Joker.” A door appeared where there hadn’t been one. It slid open. Batman was standing inside.

“Because of me,” he finished, and he stepped closer even as the Joker stumbled back.

“No. Get away.” Another step back. “Die, damn you.” Another step. “Stop. Stop. Stay away.”

But Batman wouldn’t stop.

“No. Just die,” the Joker begged.

Batman wouldn’t die.

“I am vengeance,” Batman said. “I am the night.”

His voice deepened. “I am Batman,” he growled.

His gloved fist lashed out and the Joker fell to the floor. Another fist slammed him along the corridor. Yet another sent him sprawling back, and back, and back. All the Joker could do was plead for his existence.

“Bats, please. Don’t do this.” Another fist pushed him back to the floor. “You’re making a mistake. C’mon, Bats, after everything we’ve been through.” He tried to stand but he was knocked down yet again. “I’ll be good. I’ll tell jokes. Nice ones. You don’t have to do this.”

He felt a wall behind him and he tried to use it to push himself back to his feet. The wall vanished and he fell again. “I know. I know what we can do. We can share your brain. I’ll take it on weekends. Listen, listen to me. I’ll leave Robin alone. I’ll be nice to him.”

A gloved fist smashed the Joker’s face, crushing bone. He was bleeding and he was in tears. “You’ll miss me. You know you will. No more dead parent gags, I swear. C’mon, Bats. You really want this to end?”

Another gloved fist knocked him backward. A heavy iron door slammed shut in front of him—he was in a cell. “No, Bruce. Don’t leave me. I need you.”

Batman pressed close to the bars. He was almost smiling.

“Goodbye, Joker,” he said as the cell pulled back and away.

====

- Do you understand, Gotham?” Scarecrow said. “You have no savior. No more hope.” He pointed to Bruce, who was thrashing on the cot, two of the cameras trained on him. “And no more Batman.”

He leaned in close to Bruce and whispered in his ear.

“I am your master now. I have won.”

But Bruce Wayne only smiled at him. “No, Crane. No, you haven’t. I’m not afraid. You failed. Again.”