[center][img]https://static0.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/santa-claus-dc-covers.jpg?w=1200&h=675&fit=crop[/img][/center]
[hr]
[b][color=28b0f3]Gotham City[/color][/b]
[color=darkgray]December 20th[/color]

Klaus Weber walked through the dark and cold streets of downtown Gotham. The holidays were always a sad time in the city. Crime was always more rampant this time of the year, reminding the citizens just how much poor and desperate most of the citizens were compared to the one percent who had everything. Klaus was someone who had lost everything over a year ago when he became a victim of the Joker's venom. He survived the attack, but he wished that he hadn't. His medical bills put him in so much debt and made him fall so behind in his bills. He lost his home and his sanity followed shortly after. As he lived on the streets he couldn't stop hearing voices and seeing what felt like memories, but weren't his own.

He turned to drinking to drown out the constant noise, but after a while even that stopped working. Tonight he was at his wit's end. He drank the last dregs of his Olde English and grunted in annoyance. [color=red]"Worthless piece of shit."[/color] He muttered to himself, unsure if he was talking about the liquor or himself. The sound of a bell's chime caught his attention. He looked up to see a Salvation Army Santa ringing that stupid bell. It felt louder in his head than it actually was. [color=red]"Hey,"[/color] he said. [color=red]"Stop that incessant ringing."[/color] He was ignored and this angered him even more. He was about to yell at him to stop when he felt another attack coming on. He saw another memory. This one was the most disturbing one yet. He saw an innocent child having that innocence snatched from them. Why was he seeing this? The memory skipped forward as if responding to his own thoughts and revealed a man looking in a bathroom mirror as he washed his hands. He recognized that face... The memory faded and Klaus was able to focus again. He looked at the fake Santa in front of him. [color=red]"You..."[/color]

Klaus ran up to him and smashed his Olde English bottle over his head. [color=red]"You filthy bastard."[/color] He cursed as he spat on him and pulled into the alley he just passed.

[hr]
[color=darkgray]Christmas Eve[/color]

For the past four days bodies have been dropping all around downtown Gotham with the word, [i]"Naughty"[/i] carved into their chests with a knife. Witnesses reported seeing a man dressed in a Santa suit fleeing from the bodies. Because of this news outlets began calling him Killer Santa. Batman had been investigating the murders trying to find a connection between the victims, but there was none. They were all strangers, but then he found out one victim was an ex-convict who served time for second-degree murder and was recently released. That couldn't have been a coincidence so he decided to dive deeper into the other victims. The first victim was volunteering with the Salvation Army when he was killed but after hacking into his computer Thomas found some disturbing things. But how did the killer know about this? Everything that he investigated about the murder showed that it was an unplanned crime of opportunity.

He thought about the uptick of people with powers in Gotham lately and came up with a theory. The killer could be a mutant with the power to read people's minds and see the crimes they committed. That was a dangerous power to have in downtown Gotham and use as a vigilante of justice. If this Killer Santa continued down this path even the reformed or those who made a terrible mistake that they regret and changed from wouldn't make it under his watchful eye. Had he not killed someone who served his time and was on a path of bettering himself Thomas might have left him alone, but he couldn't sit back while the city was living in fear and kids were losing hope in good.

Batman and Robin were patrolling in the Batmobile when they noticed man in a Santa suit walking like he was on a mission. On closer inspection they noticed the white of his suit was stained with blood.

[center][img]https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/3/36/Santa_Klaus_01.png[/img][/center]

[color=28b0f3]"Batman! It's him."[/color] Robin called out just before the Batmobile came to an abrupt stop. The roof of the car opened and pulled back allowing the Dynamic Duo to jump out and confront Santa.

[color=darkgray][b]"Hey, friend."[/b][/color] Batman said calmly as they approached.

Klaus turned and smiled when he noticed the two heroes. [color=red]"Oh wow. I never imagined I'd get to team-up with [i]the[/i] Batman and Robin. You two like my work? I've been cleaning the streets of all these naughty and filthy people."[/color]

Batman paused. Was this what he was inspiring? Until now he never questioned his methods. He had even forsaken his oath as a doctor. He knew he was getting rid of the worst of the worst, but was what he doing actually making Gotham better? Now wasn't the time to have a crisis of conscience. [color=darkgray][b]"I'm sorry, but that's not what we're here for. We're here to put an end to your killing spree."[/b][/color]

Klaus was confused. [color=red]"But... we're doing the same thing."[/color]

[color=darkgray][b]"We're not."[/b][/color] Batman retorted. [color=darkgray][b]"You killed a man who had already served his time and was working to be better. I kill those who the justice system doesn't hold accountable. Those who control the city with money and power. Those who destroy lives with no thought of remorse or change. Your crusade started righteously, but now you're just killing everyone you deem to be guilty."[/b][/color]

[color=red]"But... I see them. I see the things that they hide from the world. Their dark sins. I see you too, Batman. Thomas Wayne. I see you, your wife, and your boy in that alley. I see the moment you started down your dark path. You saved me, Batman. I would have died if it wasn't for you. Now I save others by erasing the evil of this city."[/color]

Batman realized he was right about his powers. He was a telepath and it unnerved him that he was able to peer into his mind like that. But what struck him more was that he saved him. He looked closer at his face underneath the lamplight. He recognized his face. He was a victim of the Joker. He got him to a hospital before her venom killed him. He felt responsible for him. He didn't want to kill him. He meant well, but it was clear that the venom broke him. He wondered if it even triggered his powers, but that wasn't important right now.

[color=darkgray][b]"I'm glad I could save you. That's all I want to do. To save the people of this city, but you need help, Klaus. You're not well. Put down the knife and let me help you."[/b][/color]

[color=red]"You--- you know my name?"[/color] Klaus had almost forgotten his name this past year. He was just a wandering soul lost in this big city. His mind was drowning in liquor and in the memories of others that it was hard to remember which ones were his. Klaus looked down at the knife and then at Batman. [color=red]"No. You don't want to help me. You want to lock me up."[/color] He charged forward with his knife aiming to slash the Batman's throat.

Batman was unphased and didn't move. He didn't need to. Robin noticed earlier how Klaus's focus was entirely on Batman and used the opportunity to sneak around and behind him. The moment that Klaus moved to attack Robin knocked him out with a double hammer fist to the back of his head. [color=28b0f3]"Are you okay?"[/color] Robin asked Batman.

[color=darkgray][b]"I'm... I'm not sure, Robin. Help me get him into the car."[/b][/color]