"Mister Gordon, I would like you to do the honours," Crane announces. This is cruel. One of the goons steps forward and cuts the ropes on Gordon's hands, freeing them.

"Never." Gordon resists. "I'm done taking orders from you." The Commissioner may have his faults, but he is truly brave. Crane nods at one of the militia who raises his gun and shoots Robin in the shoulder without a moment's hesitation.

Robin falls to the floor, gasping in pain. Gordon drops with him, shrugging off his jacket and using it to apply pressure to the wound. "You bastard!"

"Take off the mask, or the next shot will kill him." Crane's voice gives away no emotion.

We're too far away to hear the quiet exchange that goes on between Gordon and Batman, but eventually, Gordon walks over and carefully removes the cowl. The tension in the room reaches its peak and no one makes a sound as they all watch.

Scarecrow is the first to speak. "Wayne?" He says incredulously. "Bruce Wayne?" The rest of the militia start to mutter to each other, the name Bruce Wayne floating around the room.

Scarecrow steps forward, slowly, savouring his victory, but pauses halfway. "Don't think I have forgotten about you," He says loudly. I guess he means us. "You can watch the destruction of the Batman and know the same fate is waiting for you." He reaches Bruce and speaks loudly for the benefit of the camera. "Now the world can see you for what you truly are. A legend laid bare. Powerless. Human. Afraid." He leans forward and uses the syringes on his glove to inject fear toxin directly into Bruce's bloodstream.

Bruce's eyes roll back into his head. He twitches, hands clenched, like he's dreaming of fighting. He groans and tries to speak, but it's garbled. Scarecrow looks on, fascinated, noting every reaction. Bruce gets louder, starts jerking more against his restraints before stilling completely and opening his eyes.

"Do you know what happens now, Mister Wayne?" Scarecrow sneers. "I'm not going to kill you... I'm going to set you free... Free to see the city you swore to defend tear itself apart. Free to see everyone you love hunted down and killed. Every scream, every death, vengeance for all that Batman has done."

He's right, I realise. Now that the world knows who Batman is, everyone who's ever been associated with Bruce Wayne is in danger. This is how the criminals in Gotham will get back at the man responsible for their arrests. The realisation terrifies me.

But not as much as Bruce's response to Scarecrow. "Good." He says and I swear, he sounds amused.

"What?" Scarecrow takes a step back. "Don't you understand? It's over."

"Get ready for the encore," Bruce says, but it's not his voice. He sounds cruel and wrong. Then he starts to laugh. Great, unhinged peals of laughter.

"Why aren't you scared?" Scarecrow demands, injecting him with even more toxin.

Bruce doesn't stop laughing the entire time. As the toxin takes hold his eyes roll back into his head again and the laughter mercifully trails off. Even some of the militia look unnerved. Bruce flails against his restraints, muttering and laughing.

The sound sends chills down my spine, goosebumps appearing on my arm. That laughter terrifies me in a way I don't quite understand. Scarecrow has turned away from Bruce to address the camera.

"Do you understand, Gotham? You have no saviour. No more hope..." He turns back to Bruce, slowly advancing on him and then injecting him again with more toxin. "No more Batman! I've won." Bruce strains against his bonds, waking back up. He stares down Scarecrow from the gurney.

"I'm not afraid, Crane." He sounds back to normal. He's had three doses of fear toxin in the last ten minutes, and who knows how much he's been exposed to tonight. How is he still standing?

Apparently Scarecrow is wondering the same thing. "Impossible," He says, retreating a few steps. He grabs a militia goon's sidearm, pointing the gun directly at Bruce's head. "Without fear, life is meaningless."

A loud gunshot echoes and I cry out, thinking Scarecrow has shot Bruce. But then my brain catches up with what my eyes are seeing. Scarecrow's gun is lying on the ground. A second shot is fired, hitting the restraint on the gurney, freeing Bruce's arm.

I look up into the rafters above us to where the shot came from.

The Arkham Knight.

For a moment I'm terrified. He's saved Bruce from Scarecrow so he can kill him himself. To my surprise, the Knight nods at Bruce and jumps along the rafters before exiting through an air vent.

I turn back to the scene on the ground in time to see Bruce, now free of the gurney, holding Scarecrow by the throat and slowly forcing his own syringes towards him. They struggle, but Bruce is stronger by far. The syringes slip into Scarecrow's neck and he's injected with his own toxin.

Scarecrow's eyes widen, and he immediately starts batting at things no one else can see. He flinches and a scream starts to build. He turns to run only to receive a solid hit to the jaw by Gordon that sends him to the ground.

Without their leader, the rest of the militia turn tail and run. After what they just witnessed, I guess none of them are too keen on fighting the man who took down Scarecrow.

Gordon cuffs Crane while Bruce tends to Robin's injured shoulder.

"Are you coming down, or where you planning on spending the rest of the night up there?" Bruce calls. I jump up and hit the switch to send the elevator back down. Riddler still isn't conscious, so I leave him leaning against the wall and limp over to the others.

"I'm glad you're okay, but I have so many questions," I say when I reach them.

"You usually do," Bruce replies. He seems happy with Robin's injury for the moment. He stands up and walks over to where the video camera has been dropped, raises one foot and crushes it, effectively ending the broadcast.

"I'm a very curious person." I defend. "First question; how is Robin here? How did Crane get you?" Robin climbs to his feet, groaning.

"Funny story." He gives Bruce a side-eyed look. "I was in a cell at the movie studios when Crane found me. I don't know how he knew where I was, or how he got in there though."

"Oh, I can help with that part. Crane copied Gordon's voiceprint to get in. He knew about the base because the Knight-" I remember what I was racing to tell Bruce when I was taken. "Oh! The Knight! Bruce, I think I know who he was," I say excitedly.

"I know." He cuts me off. "We had an… altercation." The expression on Bruce's face tells me my theory was right. It was Jason Todd.

"Right. Why were you in a cell?" I turn back to Robin.

He and Bruce give me the whole story on the operation running at the movie studios. Gordon seems to know most of it already.

"That's what the fear toxin was doing to you? Slowly turning you into that maniac?" I exclaim. At least now I understand why Bruce's laughter earlier freaked me out so much. It sounded like Joker.

"Alright. One last question." I say. Bruce, Gordon and Robin look at me expectantly. "What does a broken rib feel like? Because I'm sure I've got one. And on a not totally unrelated note, Edward is over there, unconscious. Can someone give us a lift to the hospital?"

¿?

We don't end up at a hospital; we end up at the GCPD infirmary.

The hospitals aren't exactly operational tonight. They've been hit by looters, too many of the staff were evacuated, and the streets still aren't exactly safe. One of the doctors from Gotham General is working out of the police department tonight, so it's just as good.

"You're a bit of a frequent flyer tonight, aren't you?" Comments the EMT. She's the same one who stitched my arm earlier tonight, after the fight with Tetch.

"I've been a bit busy." I agree, glancing across the room to where Riddler is in a bed attached to an IV. He still hasn't woken up.

"He's fine." The EMT reassures me, noticing my distraction. "I checked him out myself. The antidote is doing its job, and he'll heal faster while asleep. Scarecrow's toxin seems to have attacked the nervous system before attacking his mind, so he does have some healing to do."

"Thank you." I mean it. I realise it's probably not easy for her to treat one of Gotham's most wanted villains.

"You'll be fine too." She tells me. "It doesn't look like you've broken a rib. Severe bruising would be my bet. You do have an orbital fracture though. I can give you antibiotics to prevent infection and some painkillers, but other than that all you can really do is wait for it to heal." She tells me. "I've restitched your arm. Try not to pull those out again." She looks at me disapprovingly. "The antibiotics should prevent that cut on your jaw from getting infected too. I've stitched it too, but it will still likely scar."

"I'm not really a beauty contest kind of girl, doc." I shrug, and then wince at the pain that shoots through my body at the movement. "It's not a problem."

She smiles. "Well, my recommendation is that you take a few weeks off. Let yourself heal." She insists. "I imagine I'll be seeing you again."

"Probably." I agree, smiling back. "Can I stay with him?" I ask, nodding at Riddler. She agrees so I settle myself in a chair next to his bed.

A toxin that attacked his nervous system. I'm glad Crane got a taste of his own medicine, even if it wasn't the same strain he gassed Riddler with. I peek at the notes the doctor wrote on the clipboard beside the bed.

I don't understand a lot of the medical jargon, but what I do understand takes my breath away.

Muscular paralysis. Respiratory paralysis. Brain inflammation. Seizures. Auditory and visual hallucinations.

I put my head in my hands, pushing my palms into my eyes, trying to keep the tears at bay. It's been a hard night.

"How is he?" Bruce's voice startles me. I look up at him, blinking.

"He's… still not awake. You're wearing the cowl again?" He's back in the full Batman uniform. "I'm pretty sure everyone saw the broadcast."

"They might know who I am, but they will always be at least somewhat scared of the Batman," Bruce says. He picks up the doctors notes and reads through them. "Crane really outdid himself with this toxin." He comments. "Attacking the body is a new move for him."

"Well, I wish he wasn't quite so creative," I grumble, looking over at Riddler's still form. "What are you still doing here? I thought you'd be in hiding by now."

"I have a few loose ends to clear up." He says. I stand up; ready to go help but he holds up a hand. "I can handle this. You stay here." Normally I would fight him on this, but tonight I am sore, tired, and worried about Riddler. I sink back down into the chair without comment.

Bruce heads back out to keep saving the city, even though his most protected secret is out. I lose track of time, sitting there. It's a while later when Robin walks in, his shoulder now properly bandaged and his arm in a sling.

"Hey," I greet. "Looks like we're both off duty for a while."

"Looks like it." He agrees. "You, uh…" He stammers, looking for the right words. "You did well tonight. You really held your own."

I'm speechless. Coming from Tim, this is a massive compliment. "Thanks. Sorry about your shoulder." I offer.

"Part of the job. How's… How's Nygma?" I appreciate that he's only asking to be kind.

"The doctor says he seems okay, but we won't really know until he wakes up."

"Come on." Tim holds out his hand, helping me to my feet. "Let me get you a cup of crappy police station coffee. You can come and listen to the cops gossiping about Batman's secret identity." I look down at Riddler. "He'll be okay. Just come stretch your legs."

I agree and follow him out to the police department break room. The worst of the night is over, so there are several officers milling around, debriefing after the mad night.

"So," A short, dark-haired officer glares at me and Tim as we pour coffee into mugs for ourselves. "I suppose you two knew it was Wayne under that mask all along."

"Suppose we did," Tim says evenly. "Would that be a problem?"

"No. Just makes us wonder who the rest of you really are. Wayne doesn't have any family, so…" The cop shrugs.

"We're his friends," I say. "No matter whether he's Batman or Bruce Wayne."

"Do you think he'll keep being Batman?" Asks a female officer. "Even though everyone knows who he is now?"

"I don't know." Tim shrugs. "But we will." He looks to me, and I nod.

"Yeah, I have a score to settle with Crane," I say. "Next time he gets out, I'll be waiting."

"I can't believe he has all that money, and this is what he does with it," Comments another cop. "It's selfless."

"It's stupid!" Another officer shouts. "He could be buying sports cars and dating models, but he wastes his money on crime-fighting? Ridiculous."

The room descends into everyone giving their opinions on Batman and Bruce Wayne and what they'd do if they had his money. Tim and I join some conversations but mostly just drink our coffee.

"Thanks for getting me out of the infirmary," I say to Tim as we walk back. "It did help to get out and walk around."

"Yeah. When Barb was hurt I was in her hospital room for hours at a time. Gordon used to make me go for a walk when I started getting too stir crazy."

"Does Gordon really not realise who you are?" I ask doubtfully. "He just never noticed that his daughter's boyfriend looks and sounds exactly like Robin?"

"I try to stay away from him as much as I can on the job. Less chance of blowing my cover. He thinks Barb and I met at college." He smiles when he talks about Barbara. It's sweet. We round the corner into the infirmary, and a welcome sight is waiting.

Riddler is sitting up in his bed, watching the tiny TV in the corner. The main story is about Batman being unmasked, of course.

"Edward! Are you okay?" I rush forward, looking for any sign of discomfort. "How do you feel?"

"He's been given a clean bill of health." The doctor tells me. "Some muscle stiffness in the left leg still, but that should clear up in a day or two. Luckily Crane makes antidotes as effective as his toxins." The doctor wanders off to check on the other patients in the room, leaving Riddler, Tim and I alone.

"How are you feeling?" I ask again. Riddler's eyes slide from the TV to me.

"I'm somewhat fuzzy on what happened with Crane. I remember throwing away the antidote. How am I here?" He asks. I fill him in on what happened, Crane and Harley's arrest and Batman's unmasking.

"So this is true?" He gestures to the TV. "The Dark Knight was Bruce Wayne all along?" He asks, incredulous.

I nod slowly, unsure how he's going to take the news. He's quiet for several moments.

"He was far down on the list of people I thought could be Batman." He admits finally. "But he was on the list. It's likely I would have figured it out eventually if Crane hadn't so inelegantly ruined the game."

"I'm sure you would have." I laugh.

"You could have just told me back in Arkham City, remember?" He says.

"I'm pretty sure you thought I was crazy," I say and he nods. "You would never have believed me. You could have just googled it in my world. He's a comic book character, everyone knows his secret identity."

"That did occur to me," Riddler admits. "But it seemed… unsporting. Where's the challenge in that?"

It's such a Riddler answer, it makes me laugh. I'm so happy he's awake I can't stop smiling. Tim quietly excuses himself and leaves us alone.

"You know, for a genius, you're a real idiot. Why did you try and destroy the antidote, you moron?" I smack him gently on the shoulder. He looks at me like I'm missing something obvious. "What?"

"At that stage, the toxin had reached my mind. It didn't feel like I was in that room anymore, it felt like… somewhere else. But I heard Crane's voice, asking what I feared losing. The answer was obvious." He shrugs.

I climb up on the bed and kiss him, not worrying about anyone else in the room. We survived. Against all odds, everyone I care about survived the night. It feels like a miracle. The infirmary bed is narrow and uncomfortable but we make it work. Squished up next to each other, we watch the news reports. Every station is talking about Bruce.

"So that's where you were living for those weeks?" Riddler asks. "Wayne Manor?"

I nod. "Yep. So I am used to a certain level of luxury now. I don't know if our apartment is going to cut it anymore." I joke. Riddler raises one eyebrow.

"Just say the word; I'm sure I can find us somewhere that meets your high standards."

"You are not committing real estate fraud." I laugh. "I like our apartment."

We lie in silence for a while, and I must fall asleep because suddenly, Bruce is in the infirmary.

"Mister Wayne." Riddler greets, sounding triumphant.

"Nygma." Bruce doesn't give away any hint that he's uncomfortable Riddler knows his identity. He looks to me. "I've just bought in Harvey Dent. He's the last of the Gotham Rogues on the loose. Almost the last." He says with a meaningful look at Riddler.

"Edward was super helpful tonight. Surely that gets him a free pass." I argue. Bruce doesn't disagree, but he also doesn't arrest Riddler, so that's a win.

"Gotham is safe for tonight. The evacuated citizens will start returning in a few hours. The city will be cleaned up and it will be like tonight never happened." He says, looking at me.

"But… tonight did happen. Gotham may go back to normal, but no one is going to forget you're Batman anytime soon." I say.

"No." Something flashes across his face, an emotion I can't name. "The Batman is done now. I'm going back to the Manor to make some arrangements."

"Okay." I'm a little confused about why he needed to come and give me an update.

"You did well tonight. I was right to place my trust in you. Between you, Oracle, Nightwing and Robin, Gotham will be safe." He says. I scramble off the bed and over to him.

"Bruce, you're being weirdly serious. Even for you." I cock my head. "Are you alright?"

"I just wanted to tell you how impressed I am." He replies. "And proud." He reaches out and puts his hand on my shoulder. "I'm proud of you. Stay safe, Belle."

"I'll be fine." I grin up at him, trying to diffuse the weird tension in the room. "I'll come and see you in the morning. It'll all be fine, you'll see." On instinct I reach out and grab his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Are you sure you're okay?" He squeezes my hand in return and nods. I watch him as he leaves, feeling unease.

"That was strange," I comment, climbing back into the narrow infirmary bed. "Did you think that was strange?"

Riddler hums noncommittally. We lapse back into silence, watching the news.

It's just before sunrise, but the stories about Bruce haven't stopped all night. We're watching Vicki Vale and about a hundred other reporters camped out in front of the Manor.

"This is Vicki Vale for GCN, reporting live outside Wayne Manor following the dramatic unmasking of billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne." For someone who must have been out chasing this story for hours by now, she still looks perfectly made up, not a hair out of place. She's interrupted by the BatWing flying low over the group of reporters, landing in front of the Manor and depositing Bruce.

"That's him! Are you still rolling?" Vicki shouts at the camera, pushing forwards through the crowd. Bruce pays them no attention. He walks up the front steps, still dressed in the Batsuit but minus the cowl. Alfred opens the door and lets him in.

Vicki faces the camera again as the door closes. "We just saw Bruce Wayne, now known to be the masked vigilante Batman, enter his home refusing to comment-"

A massive explosion throws the reporter and her cameraman off their feet. The crowd is stumbling and in shock as balls of fire burst out of the Manor's windows, the flame quickly engulfing the entire building.

No one could have survived that.

I stare at the footage of the burning manor, unable to move. I'm aware of Riddler next to me, carefully watching for my reaction.

Anyone would have had plenty of time to go up to the manor and plant a bomb. Bruce has scores of enemies, and without the anonymity of Batman, they knew exactly where to strike. They waited until he got home, and boom.

But Alfred was home, and he's not stupid. He would have been watching the news, would have seen Bruce had been unmasked. He would have been expecting an attack.

And that weird visit from Bruce earlier. Looking back on it, it could have been a goodbye message. I'm proud of you, stay safe. Like he knew we wouldn't be talking again after tonight.

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced. Bruce planned this. I look over to Riddler, eyebrows raised. He nods. Of course, he came to the same conclusion I did. He just got there much faster.
Bruce would have always had an exit plan, the man was too organised not to. This was it. I don't know if I'll see him again, or if he's going to start a new life in another country. But the knowledge that he didn't die in an explosion is enough for now.

"Belle," Riddler whispers warningly. Footsteps are coming closer, hurrying towards us. I put on a horrified expression just in time for Gordon to round the corner.

"Did you see?" He asks, his expression mirrors mine, but his is real.

"I did. Who could have done that?" A tear rolls down my cheek. I'm not that good of an actress, but the extreme stress of the evening is working in my favour.

"Any of them. We have most of the big ones in custody, Crane, Cobblepot, Dent… But they all have thugs who would do it for them." Gordon runs his hands over his pale face. "I've got fire and rescue crews on their way, but…" His eyes are drawn to the TV, which still shows the burning Manor. It's now almost completely covered in flame.

"I know." I keep my facial expressions in check. "Is Barbara here? I want to see how she is."

"At a desk in the main office. I just spoke to her. She's devastated." Gordon replies, eyes still on the TV.

"Let me know what the fire crews find?" I ask as I head towards the door. Gordon just nods, still watching the TV.

I make my way through GCPD, past the very full holding cells. Apparently the news about Wayne Manor has spread. The thugs are celebrating, whooping and cheering like they're at a party instead of in jail.

"Ding dong, the Bat is dead!"

"Na na na na Deadman!"

"Good riddance!"

I keep my head down and hurry through, but of course, someone spots me.

"Hey. Hey girl!" A tall thug with not enough teeth calls out to me. I turn to him and give him a 'what do you want' look. "Looks like you're unemployed now." He cackles.

"Or promoted!" Shouts another, sending them all into peals of laughter. I feign disinterest, even though their comments make my blood boil. These same men have already had their asses kicked by Batman. Let them have their fun now. I'll be the one kicking them back into jail before too long.

I find Barbara at a computer where Gordon said she would be. I walk past Cash, nodding at him. He's on the phone to someone, and shakes his head at me as if to say, 'I can't believe it either.'

"I guess you saw the news," I say as I approach Barbara. She looks up from her computer but doesn't turn to face me.

"Yeah." She replies, voice carefully even. "It's tragic." Her measured response is enough to make me suspicious. I move to her side so I can look her in the face.

"How tragic?" I ask lowly. There are no police near us but I really don't want to be overheard. "Somewhere in Gotham tragic or another country tragic?"

My question makes her smile. "Somewhere in between." She says. "Let's just say there's always hope to see an old friend."

I lean back against the desk, trying to smother the grin on my face, somewhat unsuccessfully. I have confirmation. Bruce is alive. There is a small chance I'll see him again someday.

"You knew the plan?" I ask.

"No. But it's just so… Bruce. Isn't it?" She smiles. I nod in agreement. "Robin and Nightwing will figure it out too, I'm sure. I haven't heard from either of them yet, so I guess they aren't panicking about it."

"That's a good sign." I stand up straight, pushing myself off the desk. "I should go. I have an injured Rogue to keep company."

"We'll still see you, right?" Barbara asks, brow furrowed. "Just because Bruce is gone doesn't mean you have to disappear too."

"I'll be around so often you'll be sick of me," I promise. "Besides, we'll have to coordinate when the boys are out of their depth and need back up." I wink, and she laughs.

¿?

It takes a day and a half before Riddler is moved from the GCPD infirmary to an actual hospital. In that time the evacuation buses roll back into Gotham, bringing its citizens home. Clean up begins almost immediately.

Business owners get to the task of replacing windows and fixing furniture that's been destroyed by looters and vandals. Apartments are cleaned up and insurance claims are filed. And all the while, they talk about Bruce.

I knew he was no good, some of them claim. Money corrupts.

So selfless, the last truly good man, others say.

Who will protect us now? They all want to know.

Dick, Tim and I keep our heads down. There isn't much crime for a while after that night. But this is Gotham, so slowly but surely, the criminals come out again.

The first big one is The Penguin, out to prove he's running Gotham now. Arms deals out in the open, like he isn't scared of anything anymore.

The three of us take him down. The Bat Kids, he calls us, thinking it's an insult. We like it.

Things in Gotham return to mostly normal. Commissioner Gordon is Mayor Gordon now, with the highest approval ratings anyone can remember.

The Botanical Gardens hold a ceremony dedicating an entire floor to the memory of Dr Pamela Isley, the words 'Nature Always Wins' engraved on a large plaque in the centre. Hundreds of people attended to show their respect. At least her last act was heroic.

Arkham Asylum is reopened, and Commissioner Cash oversees the installation of new security systems. They're pretty effective.

But not completely.

The first time I help arrest Riddler he's out in a week. He argues I should never have put him in there. I argue I wouldn't have if I didn't know he'd get out. The argument stops there.

It's months later, almost a year, when I get a postcard. A generic photo of the Gotham skyline is on the front, the kind of postcard you could get anywhere in the city. On the back is a hand-drawn bat symbol.

I would write it off as a joke from some weirdo, but Riddler and I move every few months, so no one could have our address.

I know who it's from. I tack it up on the wall in the bedroom, which annoys Riddler to no end. He's supposed to be dead and I still can't escape him is his usual complaint.

A year and a half after the city of fear I attend a wedding. I've never seen Tim as happy as when he saw Barb coming up the aisle, escorted by Gordon. Gordon shakes Tim's hand, winks at me and takes his seat. I hold Barb's bouquet as the rings are exchanged and then they're man and wife.

Of course, crime in Gotham stops for no one, so Dick and I have to exit discreetly during the reception to handle Two-Face. We're back as the couple cut the cake.

Time moves on in Gotham. Buildings, events and children are dedicated to and named for Batman all over the city. And the city moves on.

It's been a long time, years, since the Scarecrow's Fear Night. My life in Gotham now feels more real than my life back home. I know I'll go back one day. All it would take is my reflexes being too slow, or a stray bullet, and I'm dead and gone.

But for now, Gotham City is my home, and I'll protect it however I can.

A/N: Belle and Riddler's adventures first started all the way back in 2012. It has taken 8 years and about 130,000 words to get here, but it's finally reached the end.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to anyone and everyone who has taken time to read or leave a review. It means the world to me that other people cared enough about this story to follow along.