Batman Under The Red Hood -

"You’re predictable," the Hood said, his voice a metallic snarl. "That’s your problem, old man. You save the wrong people."

Jason snarled and kicked him to the floor. "You made nothing. You’re a punchline. And tonight, the joke ends."

"You’re right," Batman finally said. His voice cracked. "I failed you. I should have been faster. Smarter. I should have… I should have killed him that night. But I didn’t. And I can’t go back. I can’t become what he is, Jason. If I cross that line—if I let you do this—then the Joker wins. Not because he lives. Because he would have finally proven that we are the same. That anyone can be broken into a killer." batman under the red hood

But time, as it does, pushed him forward. Tim Drake found him. Dick Grayson forgave him. And eventually, the empty case in the Batcave—the one with the "R" on it—became a monument rather than an open grave.

Batman’s hand went to his belt. "Put the gun down, Jason." "You’re predictable," the Hood said, his voice a

He pulled a pistol from his holster and pressed it to the Joker’s temple. The Joker began to giggle through the gag.

The fight was savage. The Hood knew Batman’s moves—not just the counters, but the rhythm. He anticipated the Batarang flick, the cape feint, the grapple trajectory. He fought dirty, with knives and pistols, but there was a grace to it. A training Batman recognized. "You made nothing

But some stains never come out.

"Or what? You’ll hit me? You’ll send me to Arkham? You won’t kill me, Bruce. That’s your whole problem. You have one rule, and it’s a suicide pact. You’d let the Joker murder a thousand people before you’d put a bullet in his head. That’s not justice. That’s cowardice."

Then the Red Hood appeared.