Unexpected
by Blood Red Rose
Disclaimer: None of this belongs to me (don't I wish)!
A/N: So far this story is rated T or so, but later on it'll go up to M for slashy goodness! Remember, reviews are amazing!
Joker stared at his reflection in the mirror, touching up his makeup. His hands were shaking so badly, like a junkie needing a fix, that he missed most of his scars and looked more unkempt than usual.
"Fuck!" He swore, throwing the lipstick in the sink and punching the mirror. It spiderwebbed and he relished the feeling of the glass in his knuckles, so he punched it again and again. He braced his hands on the edges of the sink and hung his head. His lips were moving, but no sounds coming out. Joker looked back into the mirror, distorted reflection staring back at him, eyes unfocused.
"A year." He muttered, "He's been gone a year. HOW COULD HE LEAVE ME?!" He bellowed.
Joker's sensitive ears caught a bunch of scuffling down in the warehouse. His Hench-clowns must have heard him yell and they had decided that it was better for them to be scarce. Joker took a breath and went to the bathroom door. He flung it open and stepped out into the upper office.
The office was a mess, tipped over furniture, papers strewn everywhere. It looked like a tornado had blown through. Joker let out a humorless chuckle, going over to the desk and looking through some of the newer papers. He picked up a stack and started reading. He grunted and threw the paper behind him. Sooner than he would have liked, his hands were empty. He growled into the empty room. Joker could hear footsteps starting up the stairs towards him. Joker stared at the door, waiting. A timid knock followed by one of his goons sticking his head in.
"H-hey, Boss. I know you said not to disturb you, but t-there's something on the TV y-you should-" His words cut off as a knife was thrown into his skull. The body dropped with a thump.
"I said not to disturb me!" He growled at the dead goon. Joker walked over to the door and threw it open so hard plaster rained down on him. As he went through the door, after kicking the body for good measure, he grabbed his good knife out of the goon's forehead. Joker stomped down the stairs and threw open the door to the appointed TV room. Seven guys sat around watching the TV. All seven heads swiveled towards the door. A couple faces drained of color at the livid look on Joker's face.
"What did I, ah, say about disturbing me?!" He asked the men.
"N-not to disturb you, Boss." One of the braver-or stupider-men replied.
"Exactly!" Joker said, taking out his knife and scraping under his nails with it, "So why was I disturbed?" He growled.
Not one of the men was stupid enough to answer, one just pointed at the TV. It was paused on a news station. A different guy picked up the remote-Mickey, the Joker thought-and pressed play. The blonde reporter started talking.
"And now, in other news. An apparent sighting of the Batman." She paused, looking dramatically at the camera, "Two lesser known criminals were seen at an attempted breaking and entering. A few minutes later, a surveillance camera caught them fleeing away from the docks, chased by the Batman." She paused again, and Joker nearly threw his knife through the TV, "If anyone has any information about either Batman or the two criminals, please call the GCPD right away. Steve?" She turned to the man next to her.
"Well, Brenda, that's quite the-" He was cut off as Mickey paused the TV again.
"Well, well, well." The Joker tapped his lip with the tip of his knife, "This certainly needs some investigating."
The Hench-clowns were silent as the Joker contemplated what to do. A couple shifted nervously, as Joker's tapping started again. None of them dared to ask if the Joker needed help.
"Aha!" He started laughing manically, "You boys, grab a few others. Take down a bank on the opposite side of town. Take as long as you can. If the police are out there, I want them distracted."
"I-is that it, Boss?" Another guy, Ernie, asked, "You don't want us to try and lure the Bat and see if he's out there?"
"No!" Joker growled, "Leave the Bat to me!" He looked over the Hench-clowns, "Why are you still here?!" The Joker grinned as the men scrambled up and out of the room before he killed one of them. The Joker's laugh followed them out of the warehouse.
The Joker ended up in the Narrows, down at the docks, looking for some clues. He frowned in thought. Was this sighting of the Bat real or just another imposter? He shook his head, thinking of all the other imposters he had killed over the last year. He grinned maliciously, served them right for getting his hopes up.
Joker looked down at the wet ground searching for something, anything. There! A glint of metal caught his eye about 100 feet away. He sprinted over to it and bent down to look closer. Joker smiled-a real smile- and picked up the object reverently. He ran his gloved fingers over the sharp edges and when the sensation wasn't enough, Joker pulled his glove off. He ran the object over his palm and sighed when the sharp edge tore open his skin. He watched as the blood welled up and a drop ran down his wrist. Joker put the batarang in the pocket of his trademark purple coat and pulled his glove back on.
Joker grinned manically and laughed. Batsy had left him a clue!