Batman Beyond: Two-Face II

Chapter 22: Batman vs Two-Face

By ShadowHawk and Lady Bern

Author's Notes: This is the last chapter, enjoy it.

Disclaimer: We don't own the characters used.

There was no light in the large and spacious office that had once belonged to crime boss Grissom; now revamped and decorated to suit the style and personalities that was Two-Face, the left half dark and foreboding, every edge of every corner was sharp and menacing looking like it wanted to reach out to cut and stab any who walked by. It looked like the sinister half wanted to drag any who dared to enter into its dark obscurity to swallow their souls. It was the very personification of the unstable malevolent half of the conflicted man.

The ever present glows of Gotham city poured in through the large clear reflective windows of the office, illuminating the brighter purer right half of the room, the white ivory and marble glowing from the luminosity reflecting off the bits of crystal tables lined with real gold.

Sitting down in the large black and white split styled leather chair Two-Face hunched over holding his pounding forehead in his hands trying the sooth the ever increasing pain.

"All my life, I tried to do good." The weary voice of Jeffery uttered into the air from behind the curtain made by his mismatched hanging bangs.

"Good boys don't do bad things." The deep timber of Two-Face nearly chuckled out in mockery of his better half.

The man's posture changed slightly but significantly enough for anyone to see if there were present when he was either the light or dark half. "All my life, I kept down the bad."

"Bad boys don't do good things!" Says his darker half.

"The bad stayed inside, small and ugly...but hidden. All my life...hidden. No more. Now I can't hide it." He moved his sweating and shaking right hand over the scarred half of his face. "Now I'm marked like a card" "Or a coin." his dark other spoke

"One simple rule, someone once said 'never mix business'-" His words trembled with his shuddering breath. "Business Melaine Walker, the job, the apartment, the city Business."

" 'With pleasure'." "Pleasure kill Batman, quit the job, burn the apartment down, destroy the city, Melaine pleasure." Hearing the echo of his darker half speak with a sort of tainted amusement made Jeffery's shoulders sink with an added weight. "Please." He begged of his other half feeling all the more weak and tired.

"Let me out." Two-Face the second growled.

His fingers rubbed harder into his temple wishing the pain killers would work for once, "You're already out." He pointed out jadedly.

"Show me the light." "You've seen the light." "Give me rein real, true rein, stop fighting me, join me I promise you'll like it. Deep inside you know you already do." Two-Face coaxed his deep confident voice egging him on. "I want to be heads." "We're both heads. We made our choice." "No choice." "Why won't you stop? Do you know how many people has died because of you because of us?"

"This is the reason why I buried you!" Two-Face shouted exasperate throwing his scarred hand heavenwards. "You're the one with the conscience, Jeff. You wanna go on a guilt-trip be my guest. But leave me out of it, I'm having too much fun tearing this town apart, and rebuilding it in my image."

"The town-? This isn't about Gotham!" Jeffery shouted, letting his voice raise in a rarely shown act of anger.

"Oh really, Dr. Freud, what is it about?" Two-Face questioned his voice condescending and arrogant. "You know damn well what it's about!" Jeffery hissed slamming his fist down upon the desk top, feeling the surface give beneath his anger. "Who it's about! But you haven't got the courage to face him so you're lashing out at random convenient targets!"

"Courage? I'm the one in this two-man freak show who's got all the courage, Jeff. You give new meaning to the word 'wimp"

"Then show me your courage!" His voice lowered and the once stiff and strong posture that held his body ridged once more slouched as though he had given in, "Please...we can't go on talking innocent lives!"

"You just don't get it do you? In this world, nobody's innocent, everybody pays, everybody's a casualty! After all didn't you think you were innocent once?"

That shut Jeffery up much to Two-Face's joy. He sat in the silence of the room, the harsh labored pants that huffed past his lips filled the charged air around him, for several moments he sat in wait feeling the better half of his conscious fade back into dormancy in the dark little place he had been born and incubated for all those years.

Batman was most pleased and lucky that the room in which the elevator opened out onto was empty, he did not hesitate in moving about the two styled room of dark and light, good and bad, ying and yang, the sound of oh so familiar voices farther back into the penthouse growing all the louder as he came closer and closer to his final destination.

"I think it's stopped." The voice of Buttons McBoomBoom stated.

"I hate it when he's like this." Harley's voice whined from the other side of the wall.

Although he was still hidden behind his well advanced camouflage Batman did not feel like taking a chance, peeking about the corner he spied the pair sitting in what he could easily see was the living room, Harl seated in a listless fashion in the curving sectional couch her fingers rubbing over the sling bracing her arm while Buttons stood behind the personal wet bar.

Both were somewhat out of their usual costumes, Buttons without his usual violet colored hat and jacket, leaving him to walk about with his board shoulders and large chest dressed only in a white wife-beaker, his outdated suspenders, and pants. Whereas Harl sat without her cap and wearing only a tight undershirt and her clown pants.

"Why?" Buttons asked taking a swig straight from a vodka bottle.

"I don't want that goody-goody half of him takin' over. What'll happen to Deucie if he does?" Harl asked moving from the couch to sit pouting at the bar opposite Buttons.

"That's not our main concern, we have to make sure that no one else knows about these 'episodes' the boss has, if they do they'll try to push him out."

Batman crouched down slightly wondering if Jeffery was at that moment in control or if it were Two-Face, for if what they said was true then there was some hope, Jeffery lived perhaps whatever method that saved Harvey Dent can be done again on his son.

"Yeah, I see. Anyhow whadda think 'bout what I said?"

"I don't think so Harl."

"Oh c'mon Boomy, ya'll love my mother." She said batting her eyes in an attempt to be charming. "I swear."

"It's not that I don't want to, it's just that-" He motioned to himself and his large grim visage that usually had weak hearted men running and most women avoiding him.

"I didn't get my love for machines from just my old man. Boomy, ya the ultimate accessory, she'd love ya and vice versa. Just one date."

"Alright. One." Buttons said with a defeated sigh.

Batman couldn't see from where he stood but he was sure the jester was grinning from ear to ear. "Two." Harl said practically bouncing on the stool as she held up her fingers.

"One!" Buttons barked back leaning away from the bar.

"Two!"

"Three!" It was as if things were moving in slow motion as they both turned with their weapon of choice bared and aimed directly in the direction where the invisible Batman stood. "Four!"

The shock barely had a chance to register on his face before he dodged out of the line of the gunfire that sprayed out from Button's custom made Tommy gun soon followed by Harl's toy gun. The cloaking of his suit dropped as he dodged behind the large curving sofa keeping low as bullets tore through the upholstery above his head.

Buttons held up his hand bringing their shooting to a halt, looking to her he motioned with his head gaining a wicked smirk from the woman as she quickly and semi-quietly moved to the left side of the room.

As the jester moved into her position Buttons opened fire once again.

Feeling that his choice of cover was quickly becoming useless as it was riddled with holes he moved to find a new place of shelter only to stop as Harl appeared in a spirited bounce into his line of vision. He sprung backwards just seconds before the toy gun fired with repeated loud cannon like booms sending him momentarily into the line of Button's never ceasing fire, springing back onto his feet Batman began to run hoping to waste their ammunition.

"Can't die quietly, can you Batman?" Buttons asked trailing after Batman with the rapid fire of his Tommy gun.

"Yeah," Harl fired. Bang! "Our boss," Bang! "Is tryin'," Bang! "To rest!" Bang! The shot missed the dodging Batman shooting through the once believed bullet proof window shattering the thick glass.

Springing into the air with a high handspring Batman grabbed two Batarangs from his ever handy belt and with a hard flick of his wrist sent the dark and deadly sharp projectiles towards the large gruesome gangster.

Cutting through the air with precise accuracy the first Batarang collided into his face making the bulky Buttons waver and drop his guard just enough for the second Batarang to embed its sharp end into the barrel of the gun knocking it from his massive grip.

Buttons moved to pick up his beloved gun only to stop short as the Batarang flashed before releasing a small explosion rending his gun useless trash.

"Harl, hold him!" Buttons shouted to his partner.

Batman looked up wondering where the femme fetale was having been so occupied with dodging Button's gunfire he had forgotten about her. That was until the full glass bottle of vodka slammed across his face with the baseball bat like swing from the woman standing behind him.

Catching himself before he fell he kicked outwards pitching the jester backwards only to have her spring onto one hand and back onto her feet, he wasn't expecting the retaliating kick so soon but was quick to catch her on coming cyclone kick but not the backhand swing of her hand still holding the vodka bottle.

Gathering his wits he punched towards the woman, trading blow for blow as best he could though his previous fight against the ghostly twins had worn him down somewhat and the current gauntlet he felt he was running kept him from doing his usual best.

Grabbing her hand armed with the bottle that was battering him pretty badly he gave her wrist as twist and a hard bend making the feisty woman scream in burning pain as she relinquished her hold of her weapon.

Jerking her hand back Harl flipped over his head grabbing her gun from its position tucked in her sling landing with the barrel pressed hard into his head.

"Come on, Batsy, you're gettin' ya ass kicked and I'm only using one hand." Harl laughed through her panting breaths pressing the barrel of her toy gun harder into his head.

"Oh well, nighty night, knight." She stated pulling the trigger click "Oh give me a break! I knew I should have went for the Uzi." Harl screamed at her empty gun before tossing the useless weapon behind her.

Never one to miss a chance Batman kicked out his leg knocking the jester onto her backside.

"Ah! Boomy, are ya ready?"

Looking up Buttons stared darkly in the direction of Batman as he raised his machine guns. He gave no warning before he opened fire once more. The brawling couple pushed away from one another flipping backwards to safety.

Once more taking cover Batman thought about how close yet how far he was from Two-Face, but with the two constantly shooting at him with what seemed like an unlimited supply of ammunition or at least to actually kill him before running out.

"Bruce, do you have any bright ideas?" He asked flinching when one shot flew by his ear.

"Check the belt there's an EMP device, it should help you with Buttons McBoomBoom. Jest you've handled before."

Yeah, that seemed like a good idea, good, no it was a brilliant idea, better than what he was trying to think out though the bases were the same... take out Buttons McBoomBoom first since he was the one with the rapid fire, then handle Jest.

Attaching the tiny device no bigger than a nickel onto a batarang Batman silently hoped and prayed that his aim wouldn't falter as he once more put himself into the line of fire before throwing the EMP.

There was nothing Buttons could do, he barely noticed the dark object flying towards him until it had embedded itself into the open cavity of his chest. "What's the-" His words came out a loud repeating stammer stuck on the last syllable he grumbled as the device flashed sending currents of electric pulses through his large body.

"Boomy?" Harl questioned from her place standing among the broken furniture before the large broken window.

One by one his limbs locked as his mechanical half began to lock down. His feet would not move, his fingers wouldn't release the triggers of his gun, he could even feel his mind shutting down from the painful shocks the EMPs were sending through him via the connect between his mind and the mechanical parts of his body.

Although the electronic pulses were short circuiting the mechanical parts of his Cybernetic body Buttons continued to shoot sending the bat dressed man running, his bullets following after him.

Around the large room Batman ran ahead of the twitching man's fire coming around once more to the large wall consisting of shattered fragments of glass of what once was a floor to ceiling window and the shaky jester standing before it. He crossed behind her for only a moment dodging out of the way while she stood in a sort of stupor.

Harl was quick to see the peril she was in, "Boomy stop!" Harl cried out realizing what Batman was doing exactly a few moments too late.

The gunfire rained upon her forcing her to shield herself helplessly as fear and force tossed her backwards, backwards through the shattered window into empty air. With a scream the red and black dressed woman vanished over the edge.

Buttons released a scream that might have been the name of the fallen woman, though Batman could not be sure as finally Buttons could take no more of the electric shock going through both his real and mechanical halves knocking him unconscious.

Not bothering to look behind him as the chaos and damage played out on the once beautiful and stylish room Batman huffed catching his breath as he approached the door in which the now vanquished pair was so fiercely guarding.

Opening the door he walked into a world contrasting forever of love and hate, love and lust, light and dark, good and evil. The large leather chair the color of black tar on one half and pure white snow on the other slowly turned as a dark chuckle filled the air.

"Tired Batman?" Two-Face asked looking the somewhat exhausted hero over, his stare cold and full of undeserved arrogance. "I hope you didn't really think you could get to me so easily much less beat me."

Ignoring his boastful comments he stood tall, his body ridged as he prepared to battle one last time, "This ends now, Jeffery!"

"For once Batfreak," Two-Face spoke as he moved with confidence from his place from behind his desk, "I agree."

Neither was exactly sure just who made the first move, one moment they were standing in the defense sizing one another up waiting for one to falter in the slightest before making their move. Two-Face made the slightest move, a small twitch that seemed to be a starting gun to their fight. Moving in Batman came into the offensive with a quick right fist towards Two-Face's jaw. Only to be quickly and efficiently blocked by the fuchsia red and tiger stripped sleeve of Two-Face's left arm. Frowning he swung again and again left right left right, over and over again only to have his efforts blocked or dodged with a sort of graceful ease.

Two-Face ducked as Batman kicked out his leg in a swift arch, "You're over extending with your attacks, Batman." Standing with a swift right upper cut into Batman's chest striking just below the crest he followed his actions with a back hand to his temple. "Your attacks are so predictable, even though this is a fight think twice about what you do." He remarked looking down upon the staggering figure of the dark knight.

"Keep that up and you won't be able to land a hand on me." He mocked watching as Batman got ready once again.

Shaking off the dizzying effect of the blow to his head Batman stared at Two-Face analyzing him and his past fights with the man. "You've managed to enhance yourself since our last fight."

"Ah yes, I'm surprised that you noticed." He placed his hand into his pocket before pulling out a small pill. "Something I invented. A little like steroids and the venom that made Bane but without the harsh side effects. Ready to try again?"

The words had barely passed his lips when Batman was up and at it again throwing punches and delivering kicks as he had done long before to many of his adversaries, only Two-Face was efficiently blocking every advance with his forearms and palms.

It was as if he was merely toying with him, making him waste his time and energy, wearing him down even more-so.

"All of that fancy moving about, you're wasting energy." Grinning Two-Face grabbed a hold of Batman's wrist as it once again flew by him, pulling him towards him he brought his elbow upwards to Batman's face snapping his head backwards before tangling his left leg with his right before pulling him down by the back of his neck flipping the dark knight over and onto his back.

Before Batman had a chance to get onto his feet once more Two-Face brought his foot down onto his stomach stomping him in the hallow just below his ribcage. Gasping Batman was amazed that even with the protective suit on he felt the damaging impact on his body.

Grinning with a sadistic gleam upon hearing the dry heave ripe from Batman's winded mouth Two-Face watched as he tried to roll and cover his vulnerable belly. "Come on, get up." He commanded drawing his foot back to deliver yet another kick practically rolling him over with the force. "I said 'get up'. Don't make me repeat myself you little freak."

On hands and knees Batman strives not to let the bile rising in his throat to go any farther. A brisk movement from the corner of his eyes made him block just in time as yet another kick came to his side. Blocking with his hand he used the force of the blow to help raise him up as he jumped back onto his feet. Though what good it did him when a fist came flying towards him sending him tumbling backwards into the hard surface of the two colored desk designed to suit the needs of Two-Face.

He pushed himself back slamming his fist into Two-Face's scarred cheek only to be punched back pinning him between the wrath of Two-Face and his fists of fury and the hard desk. Two-Face took a hold of Batman's shoulder bringing Batman towards him only to punch him back again and again. "Do you see?" He asked as a right sent Batman staggering towards his left and a hard knee to the gut brought him down. "Do you see, Batman?" He asked again roundhouse kicking Batman down onto the floor of the dark half of the spacious office, nicking him lightly with the sharp edges of an end table that looked to be made of scrap metal.

"Do you see now? All of your technology, your enhanced suit, your little gizmos and tricks are worthless against my natural skill and strength." He all but laughed as his hair fell about his face in a muddled fashion, making the madness blazing in his eyes stand out all the more.

Moving slowly towards the fallen knight he combed his hair back with his fingers. "Deep down when you take off that suit you are nothing, all of your strength, nearly everything that you are is gone when you take that off leaving you nothing but another insect crawling on your belly in this desolate hellhole. You, like the rest, relay on your precious technology to get you by. Ha, you are truly weak, that is why I will grant you release of your weakness." He chortled in his throat as he removed his gun from the hidden innards of his jacket. "Just as I will for the rest of the roaches that inhabits this forsaken hedonistic city."

Coughing Batman could taste the metallic evidence that told him that he was bleeding somewhere. Never in all of the battles did he have with this man did he have to struggle as he did. He was sure that he would have been able to fight Two-Face using the tactics he had always been able to do. He was somewhat hoping that he wouldn't have to resort to the little last resort Bruce had given him just before he left to save Gordon.

"I hope you're right Wayne." He muttered beneath his breath as he discreetly laid his hand down upon his belt. "So you're just going to shoot me? That's a big decision to be making without your coin. And I thought you were two minds about everything."

Pulling the gun back Two-Face couldn't help but grin as he reached into his jacket removing his infamous two headed coin, his thumb rubbing over the jagged X seared into the face. "Emotion is so often the enemy of justice, thank you, Bats." He flipped the coin into the air unseeing as Batman's hand moved removing something from his belt.

"And you called me weak." He huffed before tossing the fistful of coins into the air. Just as the coin was but a hair from his finger tips a multitude of coins identical to his own flew into his sight mingling with his own soon causing it disappear in the chaos of raining silver.

"NO W-what have you done?" He demanded looking about as he looked down frantically at the many coins laying on the carpet around him. "My coin where is it? Where? Where is it? I can't decide without- oh no it's gotta be here, it's GOTTA!" He commanded looking far more insane than usual as he manically looked about him with the gun in his hand. "I HAVE TO HAVE IT!" "What have you done? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" He yelled pointing the gun towards Batman, repeating his demand over and over again though never squeezing the trigger.

Standing shakily onto his feet Batman stared at the crazed looking Two-Face, he was tired, worn and most likely suffering an concussion but that didn't compare to the anger that was now wielding up within him. Knocking the gun from his scarred hand he struck the shaken man in the face venting his anger.

With each strike his mentally screamed his fury. How dare this man feel justified in damaging and destroying lives as he did, all the pain he cause, all the lives taken and lost due to his chaotic psychopathic ideals. And the terror he struck in the lives of the people living in the already destitute crime ridden city.

Over and over he stuck his anger releasing with each blow. He did not care at the pitiful attempts Two-Face made to stop him. He didn't really care when the door of the office was kicked in and the brave men and women of Gotham's police force rushed in with guns raised among them Commissioner Gordon.

Lowering her gun Barbara Gordon rushed towards the battling masked man to pull him away from the surprisingly frail looked Two-Face, she only had to look down upon the many silver coins scattered about the floor around them to know what had happened to him.

"Kid, you might want to get out of her. Even if you saved this city or not I'd have to arrest you for vigilantism and interfering with police work." Barbara said in a low voice so that none of the others presents was aware just how well she knew the new dark knight.

Heaving a heavy breath he released his hold on the shocked looking man before him to do as Gordon commanded, turning on his camouflage he vanished before their eyes quickly making his escape.

Casting eyes to the man that she once held as a child she withheld the urge to bend down and comfort him once more when he use to run into her arms. But now things were far different now, "Cuff him." She commanded looking back to the group who were backing her.

The street was crowded with people trying to look and go beyond the barricade created by the police officers striving to keep the mob of people at bay. No one wanted to believe it but the news had spread like wildfire when a large number of twins noted for being a part of the Two Timin' gang ran out onto the street moving quickly to get away from what they all knew was about to happen The fall of Two-Face's grand yet terrifying empire.

"There he is!" Someone shouted causing all heads to turn to the door.

All eyes befell the man they all feared being lead out of the building with his hands bound behind his back. Upon seeing him the shouts and curses of the various people began causing a great uproar that nearly made the blonde woman pushing herself through deaf.

"Jeffery! Jeffery!" She shouted over and over again using the unbelievable strength and agility of her small body to push her way through and out past the guarding policemen to rush towards the captured man.

Throwing herself to him Melanie Walker sobbed as she wrapped her arms around Two-Face's neck, pressing the side of her face into his as she embraced him. "It's over now, baby." She cried to him while placing a tender kiss over his smooth cheek. "It's over." She whispered as they began to weep together uncaring of the chaotic shouts going on around them.

It was as if everyone within the city of Gotham was either glued before their television sets awaiting the long anticipated news of the Two-Face II trail or that they were all crowded outside of the barricaded courthouse shouting their protest and hate while waving signs either in the defense of the two sided man for what good he did do or to curse him for his heinous crimes.

"He helped my family! He paid for my daughter's operation when we didn't have a penny." A frail looking woman wept to the reporters, her tearful story nearly lost in the clamor of shouting people.

"I hope they kill him, twice!"

"He and his damn goons robbed us!"

"Two-Face is an angel. Grissom was always harassing me and my family for money we didn't have. He saved us from that pig!"

Within the walls of the nearly empty courtroom Bruce Wayne sat on the hard bench, to his left sat the mournful looking Melanie, he knew not when it had happened but his hand held hers trying to tell her that things would be okay. And to his right were the Dents. Harvey sat stone still his arms wrapped around a silently sobbing Grace giving her a slight sense of comfort. He had wanted to be Jeffery's defense attorney, but the half of him who was Two-Face II refused strongly and somewhat heatedly from his cell. Maybe because he knew regardless he was going to be sentenced to quite sometime in prison, perhaps life

After weeks of deliberation, debates, cross-examining witnesses, after seeing people he did not know, and begin snitched on by various twins who once made up his dreaded Two-Timin' Gang (in exchange for lowered sentences or their complete freedom) it would all come to an end today.

"Will the defense rise?" The judge awaited and watched as the handcuffed Jeffery Dent dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit stood along with his attorney, "The city of Gotham finds Jeffery Dent guilty of-" The long list of crimes against the city and people of Gotham was drowned out by the sad wail of Grace.

"In light of the evidence brought before the court I am fully aware of the delicacy of this situation. Gotham has been a victim of this sort of circumstances before. It is difficult to find just blame in such psychological cases, therefore I hereby sentence you to Arkham Asylum for the criminally insane for treatment until you are deemed cured and suitable for release." The judge declared before banging down his gravel, "Adjourned."

Without any cues the officers present in the room quickly moved to remove the bound man from the room, taking him out through a different door, setting him on his way to Arkham via a passage away from the angry mob outside the courthouse.

Bruce sat still torn between feeling sadness for his godson's fate of imprisonment well at the same moment pleased with the judge's decision to hold him in Arkham for treatment rather than placing him into some maximum security penitentiary.

Mel had left his side to comfort Grace along side Harvey, the older woman's sobs were heart wrenching shrieks of pain as she, uncaring of the mess of tears running down her cheeks down onto the shoulders of her husband and her practically daughter in law. "My baby! They're going to lock up my baby boy." She wailed hysterically.

"Shh shh, honey. Jeff's going to be okay, they can help him there. They helped me, remember?" Harvey questioned in a soothing tone as he rubbed comforting circles into her back.

Feeling Mel's hand land on her shoulder Grace threw herself into Mel's open arms, "But he's going to be in their forever, I just know it. My little boy is going to rot in that place."

Hushing the woman with wordless coos of comfort Melanie hugged Grace tightly to her, "No he won't, I know he won't."

The ride from the courthouse to Arkham was uneventful, just two guards hiding behind safety of a re-enforced assault proof glass that kept the front of the van safely protected from those in the back. Not that he was really paying that much attention, Two-Face II and the half of him that was Jeffery for once wasn't fighting, it was as if through their imprisonment they had silently and simultaneously come to some sort of truce. The half that was Jeffery Dent sat in silence dreading the idea of being locked away in the now impenetrable Arkham Asylum where as Two-Face silently seethed as he vowed vengeance against those who dared to double-cross him and pondered what would become of his once beautiful underground empire of crime. Once he was freed he would have to start all over again. Never before did he have a personal vendetta against Batman except when he insisted upon interfering with his work, but now he wanted the Bat's head more than ever.

Their thoughts were brought to a halt as the van came to a stop and the backdoors were forcibly pulled open. The new guards were large the burly type of men who might have intimidated him had he not commanded men twice as big and muscular and women far more intimidating.

"Welcome to Arkham, Maggot! You're going to be here for a long time." One teased with a cruel chuckle as they guided him out of the van and into the secure walls of that made up Arkham.

"We doubt it boys. We have too much to do to stay here."

Two Months Later...

"Two-Face, your double life is over. From now on you'll lead only one existence as Jeffery Dent, prisoner." Those had been the confident words Batman had dared to speak onto him during one late night visit to ensure that he was safely secured in his prison cell, checking and double checking making sure that there was no possible way for him to escape.

Two-Face grinned in memory at his reply, "That's only your side of the story. But there are always two sides to a story. I'll escape Batman and I'll bet you on that, double or nothing."

The end?