Disclaimer: I don't own any Batman characters. They belong to Dc Comics, Bob Kane. And in some case, Chris Nolan.
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Bruce stretched out on his freshly made bed, he sighed and looked at the side table. On the polished wooden table was a picture frame that held a beautiful picture. It was taken only a half a year ago. The setting was a snowy area in front of Wayne Manor. Taken on Christmas day, the two figures cuddling on the snowy ground. Two snowmen made in the background. Both figures men, the slimmer one with horrific scars on his face. Making it so he always appeared to be smiling.
Jack and Bruce, Joker and Batman. It didn't matter who they were to the public, Jack knew the man behind the mask, and Bruce knew the man behind the make-up.
Bruce picked up the picture and looked at it for a long time. Tears forming in his eyes. "My harlequin love...why did you leave me?" Bruce asked the empty room. Bruce then smiled at the picture, it reminded him of better days, peaceful mornings and steamy, sensual nights. But ever since the day a few weeks ago, that perfect schedule was no more.
Jack had been blamed for a murder he didn't commit(for once), a big murder. The mayor of Gotham was shot in his house, with lipstick giving him a apparent Glasgow smile. But it was a copycat, Jack had pointed out that in his homicidal days he had actually cut the corps' face into a smile, and he didn't use lipstick, he used his own blood to make the lips red. He had even shown Bruce the old cut marks on his arms and legs, also various other places.
After, the police were very set out on catching him(especially James Gordon), Jack had packed up and left. Not telling anyone were he was going, not even Bruce. Bruce had cried for days on end during that first week of Jack's disappearance.
Bruce set the frame back on the table, and sighed again. He closed his eyes, picturing that day. It had been snowing for about three hours, when Jack had convinced Bruce to make snowmen with him, Bruce also remembers thinking how childish Jack could be at times. Just wanting it to be a normal holiday, but really, normal? Ha! Not with Bruce, normal was not even in his vocabulary anymore.
The two men ended up making two snowmen. One dressed up as a bat, the other as a clown. Alfred had snuck a picture of the two cuddling in the snow. Bruce felt tears well up in his brown eyes, again. He turned over and set the picture back on the table, tear drops falling on his pillow.
Then, an idea flickered in his head. He snapped his eyes open. "Crane." Bruce said to himself. Crane would shirley oblige to helping Bruce find Jack. Ever since Crane had poisoned the Narrows, Bruce had visited him regularly. After the Narrows incident, Bruce was forced to visit Arkham Asylum and check up on the patients. He had taken a weird liking to Dr. Jonathan Crane, though Batman despised him, knowing Crane only as Scarecrow.
Bruce grabbed his jacket and slipped on some shoes. Before he knew it, Bruce was flooring it to Arkham Asylum. When the horrible building came into view, he cursed himself for letting people live in that monstrosity of a place. He grabbed the first parking space he could, not caring if it was reserved for some Dr. Harleen Quinzel.
It was easy getting access to Jonathan's room, Bruce payed off a couple guards, but having to now get past the orderlies. "Hello, how may I help you?" The orderly with the name tag Cindy Brook, asked. "Hi, Cindy, I'm Bruce. I was wondering if you could give me access to Dr. Jonathan Crane's room?" He asked, putting on that charming playboy smile. She frowned. "I'm sorry, Mr. uh...Bruce, but people are only aloud to see patients at visiting hours." She gave him a glare. Bruce never dropping his smile. "No, no, you don't understand, I'm Bruce Wayne. And, I have an appointment with Dr. Crane." Cindy gave him another glare, but took out the card to Crane's cell.
She slid the card in the slot. "Ten minutes, Mr. Wayne." She warned him, closing the door behind him. Crane looked up at him, from a book he was reading. He smiled. "Bruce, this is a pleasant surprise. What brings you my, uh, humble abode, this fine evening?" He asked, then let out a insane laugh. Crane still did have some hysteria from when Batman poisoned him with his own drug. Bruce still felt guilty.
Crane stopped laughing when he saw Bruce was serious, and in pain. Crane patted the bed next to him, motioning for Bruce to sit. Crane slung an arm around Bruce. Finally not in that horrid straitjacket anymore "What has my best friend so troubled?" Crane asked. Bruce let out a soft breath. "It's Joker. I need to find Joker." Bruce said, trying to hold back tears. "How can I help?" Crane asked, putting his other hand on Bruce's cheek, in a comforting way. "Jonathan, I need you help me find him." Bruce stated.
"Well, thats all fine and dandy, but it you didn't noticed, I'm sorta' locked up." Crane said, his breath tickling Bruce's ear. Bruce turned to face Crane, their faces inches apart. "I'm breaking you out." I stated, matter-of-factly. Crane laughed, not in hysteria, in amusement. "How you plan on that, hmmm?" Crane asked.
"They didn't even search me." Bruce said, pulling out a tool from his pocket, one of the many from Batman's belt. A heat generated laser, it burn's anything it comes into contact with. Bruce walked over the the window, barricaded with jail bars, and seared it right of the cill. He turned to face a wide eyed Crane. "Ready?" He asked. Crane just nodded. Bruce held onto Crane's waist, as they jumped from the two story window. Bruce knew if he landed wrong, he could get hurt, but he made it.
He and Crane ran to Bruce's sports car. And that's were their journey began.