502 C502 Moral Divide

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The rooftop fell into an eerie silence as everyone, including the Joker, stared in shock at Harley's lifeless body. Her death had come swiftly, and even the notorious clown prince of crime was caught off guard. For a moment, it seemed as if the world had frozen in time.

Joker's initial reaction, however, was not what one might expect. He burst into hysterical laughter, cackling as if he had just witnessed the grandest of jokes. His voice echoed off the nearby buildings, filling the city with madness. It was a peculiar reaction, one that left everyone puzzled. Was this laughter of amusement, or was it mourning for his beloved Harley?

Peter couldn't be bothered to ponder the Joker's emotional state. In his mind, the Clown Prince was nothing more than a remorseless psychopath, devoid of any redeeming qualities. He had seen the Joker's handiwork in countless comic, movies, and shows, and his loss brought no tears to Peter's eyes.

Meanwhile, Batman's gaze remained fixed on Harley's lifeless form, a deep frown etched across his face. He had always adhered to a strict no-kill policy, believing in the possibility of redemption, even for the likes of Harley Quinn.

After all, she had once been Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychologist at Arkham Asylum, before the Joker's twisted influence had turned her into his loyal accomplice. Batman had always seen a glimmer of humanity in her, a chance for rehabilitation.

In the chaos that followed Harley's death, Peter turned to Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern. He cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence that hung over the rooftop.

"This universe is... odd in many ways," Peter began, choosing his words carefully. "But in some aspects, it's not so different from ours. We have our own league of superheroes, similar to your Justice League. The difference is, we don't shy away from taking down the really bad villains."

A collective murmur of uncertainty and reflection filled the air as Peter's words sunk in. They began to question the righteousness of their own methods.

Tony stepped up beside Peter. "In more blunt terms, we aren't a bunch of spandex wearing pussies, who are too afraid to kill a few bad eggs." He added, his voice dripping with ridicule.

"Are you calling us cowardly…?" Wonder Woman raised a questioning brow, offended by Tony's words.

Peter nodded, unapologetic. "Well, isn't it a bit cowardly to keep letting the same villains escape only to come back again and again, killing and robbing innocent people?"

Wonder Woman couldn't deny the logic in Peter's words, and her gaze became more intense, resolute in her own convictions. She believed in the necessity of eliminating threats to protect innocent lives.

Peter pressed on with his explanation, eager to make his point clear. Drawing from his own experiences, he began, "Let me explain with a story from my world… I once met a woman named Jessica Jones, who I tried to recruit into our version of the Justice League. But when I met her, she was too afraid to show her face to the public as a hero. You see, Jessica was in hiding form a terrible man."

"This man had the power to control minds," Peter explained, "and he used it to turn Jessica into his puppet, forcing her to commit unspeakable acts. He enslaved her, r*ped her, abused her, and made her kill for his amusement. When I found him, I didn't hesitate and neither did she. After all, with him gone, she could live her life without fear of being found and turned into a mindless slave again."

The heroes listened in somber silence, their faces showing a mix of emotions, including anger, sympathy, and self-doubt. Wonder Woman's eyes burned with indignation, particularly sensitive to the suffering of women.

Peter's voice was unwavering as he addressed Batman, his gaze locked onto the Dark Knight. "So, Bruce, should I have let Kilgrave live? Should I have let him escape whatever prison the system put him in and continue to torment others? Would that have made me a better man, like you?"

Batman's gloved fists clenched, his inner turmoil evident, but he replied firmly, "We aren't executioners. We can't play judge and jury."

Despite his stance, Batman couldn't shake the doubt that had begun to fester within him. The lines between right and wrong had blurred, and he was left grappling with the unsettling notion that perhaps he wasn't always on the right side of justice.

Peter's voice grew more resolute as he continued, emphasizing a crucial point. "It's important to understand that not every bad guy deserves death," he insisted, eyeing Superman carefully. After all, he took it a bit to far in the Injustice Movie.

As he spoke, he couldn't help but recall the times he had successfully rehabilitated some of his world's former adversaries. "Hell, I've been able to rehabilitate a monster that we called the Abomination, who's now one of our strongest ally's, so not everyone has to die."

Yet, Peter remained unwavering in his belief that there were exceptions. "But make no mistake," he added, staring straight into Batman's eyes as he spoke. "There are those like the Joker who don't deserve the right to live and enjoy life. He threw that away as soon as he repeatedly deprived others of that same right."

The tension in the air was palpable as Peter gestured toward the Joker. "People like him will never change. They thrive on chaos and death. Why let them continue to exploit your leniency, putting countless lives at risk? Shouldn't protecting the innocent be the ultimate goal?"

Peter's words left the heroes divided. Wonder Woman, her anger unrelenting, believed in taking action to prevent further suffering. Superman was torn, conflicted between his innate sense of justice and the brutal reality of the world. The rest of the heroes stood with Batman, defending their longstanding principles.

Batman's final words were a resolute declaration of their moral code. "We're not killers."

The tension on the rooftop was thick, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air. Peter's logic and reasoning had shaken the DC heroes to their core, and he raised his gun, taking aim at the Joker's head. Pausing for a moment, he turned to Superman. "Would you rather take care of him yourselves? Or should I do it for you?" He had offered a chance for Superman to take the final decision. After all, it was his life that the Joker just tried to ruin.

"I…" Superman stood frozen, torn between the desire for retribution and his responsibilities. He had Lois in his arms, her safety his top priority, but at the same then, the Joker had to go. Lois and his child's safety depended on it.

Before a decision could be reached, Batman acted swiftly, pulling a batarang from his utility belt and hurling it toward Peter's gun. It sliced through the air with precision before Peter reached out with his free hand, catching the oddly shaped blade.

Batman turned to Flash, who stood nearby, and ordered, "Take Joker and run!"

Without hesitation, the Flash sprang into action, an electrifying burst of speed that took the Joker with him. The maniacal laughter echoed through the night as the two vanished, leaving the heroes to grapple with their unresolved choices.

Peter watched as the Joker and Flash disappeared into the distance. Sighing to himself, he eyed the batarang in his grasp for a moment before stashing it away in his suit. 'I'll add this for my collection…'

"Should we go after him?" Wonder Woman asked.

Superman, torn between pursuit and safeguarding Lois, watched the Joker's escape, his frustration growing. He looked down at Lois, her peaceful slumber a stark contrast to the turmoil around her, and made his decision.

"We'll find the Joker later," he said, his voice tinged with determination, "but for now, Lois's safety comes first."

As Superman came to this conclusion, Batman had already engaged Peter in a furious confrontation. Batman attacked with calculated precision, but Peter's mastery of combat and superhuman abilities gave him an overwhelming advantage. He deftly blocked and deflected Batman's strikes without moving a single step.

"Alright, this is enough…" With a casual backhand, Peter sent Batman hurtling through the air, and the Dark Knight crashed into a conveniently placed cushioned chair conjured by Green Lantern.

As Green Lantern prepared to join the fray, Superman appeared between the combatants, his presence commanding attention. He spoke with authority, putting an end to the clash.

"Stop this," Superman urged, his voice resonating with a sense of urgency and responsibility. "We have much to discuss. Meet me at the Watchtower. There are decisions to be made about the future of the Justice league."

Peter, a smirk playing on his lips, knew he had set them on a path of reflection. Hopefully, they would be able to find the sweet spot between benevolent heroes, and bad guy murderers.

"Good luck with that," Peter said as he began to walk away, his steps carrying an air of confidence.

Tony followed, "are we leaving already?" He groaned.

Before they could depart, Superman called out, "Wait! Can you come to the Watchtower? We could use your insight on all of this…"

"!" Batman didn't like where this was going. "Clark, I don't think that's a good idea…"

Ignoring Batman, Peter shrugged and agreed, his stomach rumbling audibly. "Fine, but we need to grab some food. We haven't eaten since we arrived in this universe."

Tony, perking up at the idea of staying a while longer, added, "Yeah, I could go for a burger right about now..."

A/N: 1605 words :)

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