The night air was cool as the pair walked hand in hand idly along the foggy streets of the quiet Gotham neighbourhood. The semester was coming to a close and while the dorms were likely filled with partying college kids, Barbara thankfully lived further from campus, renting an apartment shared with a graduate student.

Taking their time, Barbara looked up at Dick, studying his face as her near-perfect memory recalled not the handsome young man beside her, but the cheeky young boy she first met. His baby blues were hidden behind a domino mask and a tousled mess of black hair.

Babs suddenly stifled a giggle that brought Dick’s attention and prying gaze towards the shorter redhead.

“What’s got you all giddy all of a sudden?” He asked, raising a brow as Barbara’s emerald eyes looked up towards Dick, locking with his own before she spoke.

“I still remember the first time I saw you.” She started, pausing momentarily as she looked around as if mockingly checking the empty streets for someone watching them, “Do you still have the tights?”

“If I did,” Dick began, holding up a finger on his free hand, “And I’m not saying that I do, I don’t know that they would still fit.”

“Puh-lease,” Babs retorted, “We both know Bruce had you in that outfit far longer than you ever should have been. It wasn’t just Gotham’s underbelly that were packing.”

“Oh, so you were checking me out?”

“Get over yourself, Grayson,” Babs spun around, jumping on top of the nearby pony wall as she walked backwards in front of him. “No one started checking you out until you stopped wearing the cape and uncovered your best asset.” She paused, tapping a finger to her chin before excitedly pointing at Dick again.

“Remember when you thought you’d be cooler as a freshman if everyone started calling you ‘Ric’?”

“What is this, the roast of Dick Grayson?” Dick asked, throwing his hands up as he feigned offense. Still despite his best efforts, Barbara noticed he couldn’t stop smiling. Her cheeks suddenly felt quite warm.

“Hey, stay out of the kitchen if you can’t handle the hea-” The wall had unexpectedly ended, causing Barbara to misstep. A firm hand suddenly appeared between her shoulder blades as another helped her back onto the sidewalk.

“Graceful as ever, Gordon,” She muttered to herself before looking up at the former Boy Wonder again, “I mean ‘Hello Megan’!” She pointed towards her hair, “This girl comes with a warning, you can’t be shocked when things get hot.”

“Pretty sure I just saved you.”

“I had it under control.” Barbara stated, crossing her arms defiantly as the pair came to a stop outside of a small brick covered townhouse. It was in an older part of Gotham, Edwardian architecture still covered in the original brick. Ivy had grown attached to the house, finding its way into every crevice and crack between the mortar and brick. But it had a distinct charm, Barbara and her roommate had both enjoyed the house over the past couple of years.

“So this is you?” Dick asked, full well knowing the answer. It was hardly his first time coming to the house. Though, Barbara did have to admit this might be his first time using the front door.

“This is me,” Babs replied, a small smirk appearing in the corners of her mouth as she unlocked the door before turning around and facing Dick again. As he leaned in for a kiss, Barbara held her lips just out of reach of his. The charged air seemed to radiate between them before the redhead pulled back. Her lips curled into a coy smile as she reached behind her and opened the door.

“Not tonight, Boy Wonder.” She teased, winking before blowing a kiss and scurrying inside with a giggle. Opening his mouth to protest, Dick didn’t have a chance to get a word out before the door shut.

Leaning on the other side, Barbara giggled to herself again before realizing how dark the house was. She was sure her roommate had said she was staying in tonight.

“Harls?” Babs called, “You can put the ice cream away, he was both a gentleman and a scholar.”

There was no response as Barbara bent down to remove her boots before tiptoeing further into the townhouse in case Harleen was asleep.

Maybe she did go out?

Before she could take a step further away from the door, there was a knock. Rolling her eyes, Barbara called back towards the aperture.

“Dick, please tell me you haven’t been standing out there this whole time?”

Turning around, Barbara opened the door. An audible gasp erupted from her mouth as she stumbled backwards.

“Dick? That’s a little rude given we barely know one another heehahahaHAHAHAheehahaHA!”

That haunting laugh was the last thing Barbara heard before the gunshot.

"Barbara! MOVE!"

Barbara barely registered that the gunshot came from behind her. Reflex and instinct took over as she shielded her eyes from the exploding splinters coming from the door frame where the shot impacted. The ice in her veins suddenly began to pump again as Barbara scrambled away from the door and down the hallway towards the door frame hiding Harleen.

Behind her, the door slammed open, nearly sheared from its hinges. Bone-chilling laughter echoed through the narrow corridor causing every hair on Barbara’s body to stand on end. Her eardrums felt like they were going to explode whilst the Joker responded to Harlen by firing several shots into the air. Amused hoots came from the twisted mouth, the scared visage curling up into the Joker’s signature grin, his teeth appearing even more yellowed under the diffused hallway lighting. Continuing forward, he danced through the shower of dust and debris, obviously toying with the pair of young women.

In all her time as Batgirl, Barbara had never faced the Joker. She had never seen him in person. Bruce had countless files, and the GCPD had enough mugshots to fill a yearbook, but being in front of the Pale Man of Gotham was an entirely new experience. The infamous Clown Prince of Crime truly deserved his reputation.

Ducking around the door frame, Barbara looked at Harleen. The older grad student had been completing her residency at Arkham. She had often spoken in length about the face-to-face time she had with some of the asylum’s more dangerous inmates. Her thesis had taken a particular interest in the Joker.

Apparently, the feeling was mutual.

Harleen was barely holding it together. The gun grasped between her hands was shaking as the Joker pranced down the hallway toward where the two girls were hidden. Poking her head around the corner, Harleen raised the gun again. The deafening sound of a shot rang out, followed by the clattering of metal along the antique hardwood flooring. Laughter briefly filled the space before the Joker called out through the din.

“Careful with that thing, you’ll shoot your eye out!”

A shriek came from Harleen as Barbara realized that the Joker had disarmed the other woman with a single expertly placed shot. The two girls locked eyes for a brief second before Barbara motioned silently with her eyes behind them towards the stairs. A single word was shared telepathically between them.

Run.

Clambering up the stairs, the two women tried to put as much space as possible between them and the madman downstairs. Barbara moved to open her room before she was suddenly pulled by Harleen into hers.

No, Harls. What have you done?

Trying to formulate a new plan, Barbara fought against the panic bubbling up inside of her, watching as Harleen pulled a bat from her closet.

Just how many weapons did she have stashed in here?

"Where's my little harlequin?" The Joker’s voice echoed down the small hallway. It went quiet for a second before gunshots rang out, the walls and door of Harleen’s room exploding. The girls dropped to the floor and felt the bullets fly over their heads. Poking the gun into the entrance of Harleen’s room, the Joker seemingly hesitated for a moment, turning back into the hallway.

“Where, oh where, can Harley be?”

"Right here!” Harleen suddenly jumped from their cover, smashing the bat down on the Joker’s wrist as she disarmed him.

“Puddin'!" She added tauntingly, swinging the baseball bat around and straight into the Joker’s abdomen. The blow barely winded the Joker as he continued to laugh, taking a hold of the bat and tossing Harleen aside like a ragdoll.

The Joker was a dangerous opponent, he could trade blows with the likes of Bruce and Dick. But Barbara at least had the element of surprise on her hands as she landed a swift kick to the Joker’s jaw. Blood ran from the madman’s lip as his bloodshot eyes suddenly swivelled away from Harleen and onto Barbara.


What was once malicious laughter suddenly turned to a chilling chuckle.

The first blow nearly sent Barbara to the floor. Even with blocking it, she was caught off guard by its force of it. The next was so fast she barely had time to raise her other arm. The onslaught continued rapidly wearing down her defenses. Barbara could practically hear her body bruising.

A loud bang followed by a splatter of blood suddenly caused the Joker to falter in his assault. Barbara stumbled backwards, gasping for breath as she realized the blood wasn’t hers but instead had come from the Joker’s shoulder. Behind the clown was Harley, the Joker’s own gun in hand, still smoking. She stood there, trembling like a leaf, helpless to prevent what happened next.

The Joker spun around, snatching the gun from her hands and pulling the blonde-haired woman into his arms, seemingly unphased by the open wound. Squeezing her tightly, the Joker looked almost adoringly upon her. A single tear rolled down Harley’s face as he eyes widened, her mouth opening, but no words came out.

“There, there, it’s over now, Harley. I forgive you.”

"Harls-"

"Shut up!" The gunshot was deafening. Searing pain suddenly shot through Barbara, only air came out of her mouth.

"Can't you see we're having a moment? You have yourself one rude roommate, Harley." The Joker's sneer echoed in Barbara's ears as though he was a world away. Her vision slowly faded to black as she helplessly watched the Joker disappear with Harleen. Her knees buckled beneath her as she fell to the wooden floor, slumping over to her side, hands clutched futilely attempting to stop the flow of blood as a warm pool formed around her.

BARBARA NORRIS:

HEIMDALL: Thor's dearest friend and longest ally. Though fated to die during the events of Ragnarok, Loki broke the cycle thus allowing both himself and Heimdall to live. Charged by Odin with protecting the reborn Thor, Heimdall brought Thor to Midgard and watched over him from a distance while the boy grew. Now he serves alongside the new King of Asgard.

CARTER HALL: A newcomer to Marville, the older man seems to know who Blake is but neither Blake nor Thor have any recollection of the man. Only time will tell if Carter Hall is a friend of foe.

LOKI LAUFEYSON:

ÚRNDALLR THE MAUL:

ERIK & MARCY DONALDSON: Erik and Marcy Donaldson are the parents of Blake Donaldson, Thor's reborn self. Erik had studied to be an architect before the early death of his father resulted in him taking over the family farm in Marville Oklahoma. Marcy, on the other hand, was a pediatrician with her own private practice. The life on the farm, however, never truly suited her and had it not been for the arrival of Blake, the couple likely would have separated long ago.

SSA JULIA PERRY:

SHERIFF DAN LAMB:

MAYOR ROY THOMAS:

LADY ELAINE MARSHE-MORTON:

MICHAEL COLLINS:

ODIN BORSON: The Allfather of Asgard, son of Bor, father to Thor, Loki, and Baldur. Odin was the ruler of Asgard until its demise during Ragnarok. Like the rest of the surviving Asgardians, he was left to wander the galaxy in search of refuge. Confident in his remaining son's ability to lead and knowing one day Thor would be reborn, Odin charged Heimdall with delivering the infant Thor to Midgard, hiding him in Marville, Oklahoma until the time was right. Ultimately Odin gave his life to save Thor's allowing him to pass into Valhalla to be with his beloved Frigga.

TYR BORSON: Odin's younger brother and Uncle to Thor, Baldur and Loki.

BALDUR ODINSON: Baldur is the youngest of Odin's children and half-brother to Thor. It was Baldur's death which set Ragnarok into motion after he died to the treachery of his eldest brother. Baldur is believed to belong to the Goddess of Death, Hela, now.

LADY SIF: The former wife of the late Thor, Lady Sif is one of Asgard's mightiest warriors and was foretold to bear the children of Thor who would go on to inherit the mighty Mjölnir. However, Sif miscarried during Ragnarok, leading to the loss of her unborn child. With Thor's death, no other heir could be produced for Mjölnir. She is presumed dead along with countless others in the aftermath of Ragnarok.

KEVIN DONALDSON: The biological son of Erik and Marcy Donaldson, Kevin was a stillborn child. Delivered only hours before Thor was placed on the porch of the Donaldson farmhouse, the grieving pair were immediately smitten with Thor primarily due to the loss of Kevin.

ERIC KOENIG: An Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. who works at the Triskelion in Washington. Agent Koenig is the direct grandson of an SSR Agent of the same name who was part of the team that recovered Járnbjörn. Agent Koenig is also Agent Perry's direct supervisor.

THE WARRIORS THREE: Comprised of Fandral the Dashing, Hogun the Grim and Volstagg the Valiant, the Warriors Three are among Thor's closest friends and companions. If ever Thor was on a quest, there was no question that the Warriors Three were right behind him. Sadly all three perished during the events of Ragnarok.

EITRI THE DWARF: A master craftsman and creator of both Járnbjörn and Mjölnir, Eitri is a close friend of the Throne of Asgard and has created weapons for the Kings of Asgard since before the days of Bor.

LORELEI, IDUNN THE MAIDEN: Sister to Amora, Lorelei had her sister framed in order to gain a position of favour with Karnilla, Queen of the Norns. This allowed Lorelei to become the next Maiden Goddess and keeper of the Garden of Idunn.

CARL 'CRUSHER' CREEL: A childhood rival to Blake Donaldson, Creel lost his football scholarship when Blake exposed him for using steroids. Ever since, Creel has held a grudge against Blake which was exploited by the Trickster God, Loki. In exchange for Blake's death, Loki promised Creel powers beyond his wildest belief. In the end, Blake, as Thor defeated Creel and Creel was forced to pay in his own blood for Loki's gifts.

JUNE MOON: A lover of the strange and bizarre, June Moon was an aspiring artist and paranormal blogger living in a destitute Star City neighborhood until a mysterious package was delivered to her door. Inside was a necklace unlike any she had ever seen before, curiosity got the better of her though and she put the necklace on, reading a note aloud that had come with it. Possessed by the Asgardian Amora, June was used as a pawn in Amora's revenge against Odin and his kin. Though Thor prevailed and destroyed the necklace, June was still possessed by Amora and escaped.