His massive pectorals flexed and their heads were pistoned together, makingan almost comical colliding-coconut 'clunk.' Both slumped to the damppavement, unconsciousness."Now," he said, narrowing his eyes as they shifted to Rico, who stood withopen-mouthed astonishment. "I believe you were about to teach me a lesson.""I, uh, I give up man, don't hurt me," said Rico, dropping his knife andtaking a step backwards."Pick it up," hissed the angry shadow, hunching his shoulders into his capeand raising his fists."I gave up! I know my rights, you can't touch me, man," said Rico, lookingdesperately over his shoulder, judging the distance to the mouth of the alleythey stood in."I'm not the police, Rico. I'm still waiting for my lesson."The cold, raw fury in his voice terrified Rico. In desperation, Rico madea lunge for his dropped knife, and felt a boot catch him under his chin,snapping his head back and tumbling him backwards."Get up," he growled at Rico, who lay sprawled on the pavement.Rico leaped to his feet, taking a wild swing at his tormentor's head with abig ham fist. The punch never connected, forced aside by a strong forearm.Three jabs in rapid succession made a shattered mess of Rico's rotting teethand flattened his nose across his cheek. Rico fell over, a fine spray ofblood from his face arcing through the air."Please, please, no more," blubbered Rico through torn and bleeding lips,unmanned entirely, curled in a protective ball on the ground. Rico gave astrangled 'urk' as a powerful hand lifted him bodily to his feet. A cowledface drew even with Rico's, so close Rico could feel the man's hot breath."This city is mine, Rico," he hissed through his teeth. "When you get outof jail, remember that I'll be waiting for you. I'm everywhere, Rico. I amthe night. I am Gotham. I... am... Batman."One of the Batman's gloved fists drew back, then snapped forward like a trip-hammer. Rico felt a brief instant of pain; there was a flash of somethinglike lightning across his vision, and then there was only merciful blackness.Batman released Rico's shirt, letting him collapse forward into the grimeof the alley. He rubbed the knuckles of his fist. He had felt that eventhrough the knuckle guards under his glove, but he knew he had heard Rico'sjaw shatter nicely. Rico would be doing his eating through a straw for agood, long while.The old man was staring at Batman with a look of horror on his face. TheBatman sighed. "Are you alright, sir?""Don't hurt me," said the old man, more frightened of the Dark Knight thanhe had been of the muggers. He had heard of this Batman, the man who had forunknown reasons made himself the avenging angel of Gotham City. He was theterror of criminals, a vigilante who haunted the alleys and rooftops, a manwho could not be broken and knew no fear. In his grey, skintight battle
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