p class="MsoNormal"Batman tried the door to the old storage unit. It was locked but it wouldn't be hard for him to break it, it was ancient and already crumbling./p
p class="MsoNormal"He gave it a hard hit with his elbow, and it fell to the floor./p
p class="MsoNormal"The metal garage-like door squeaked and squealed as he pulled it open, it sounded as if it hadn't been opened in years, but he knew it had, he knew Joker was in there./p
p class="MsoNormal"He stepped through into the large space, looking around through the junk and mess./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker was here, Bruce knew he was. The last time they'd seen each other he'd planted a tracker on him./p
p class="MsoNormal"He walked further into the room, his fists clenched./p
p class="MsoNormal"Then he saw him, in the corner of the room. His jaw dropped at the sight of him, he was unconscious, covered in blood both fresh and old, a large gash in his lower gut./p
p class="MsoNormal"He rushed to Joker's side, checking his pulse. It was there but… faint./p
p class="MsoNormal""Joker?" he said softly, his voice filled with concern. "…What happened to you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"There was no blood anywhere else in the room, this had happened here./p
p class="MsoNormal"He glanced down, searching for whatever might have caused the injuries./p
p class="MsoNormal"There was a large shard of broken glass at Joker's feet. That must have been the weapon./p
p class="MsoNormal"Who had done this? There was no sign of a struggle./p
p class="MsoNormal"Had he done it to himself?/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman swallowed hard and scooped him up. "I'll get you home," he said quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Slowly he took the Joker towards the Batmobile, careful not to shift him or cause him any more pain./p
p class="MsoNormal"He tipped the passenger seat back, laying Joker down, looking at the wound briefly under the light of the batmobile./p
p class="MsoNormal"It didn't look good./p
p class="MsoNormal""Alfred," he said, lifting his finger to his ear./p
p class="MsoNormal""Do you have him sir?" Alfred asked./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman nodded, "Yes, he's injured, I'm bringing him to the batcave."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred let out a deep sigh, "Again, sir? I'll make preparations."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thankyou," Batman said as he jumped into the batmobile. He started at full speed towards the cave, putting the car on autopilot and turning to inspect the wound a little closer, perhaps there was something he could do here./p
p class="MsoNormal"It seemed to be infected. He wasn't sure how long Joker had been laying there. Maybe a day or two./p
p class="MsoNormal"This could be fatal./p
p class="MsoNormal"There was nothing he could do without proper medical equipment./p
p class="MsoNormal""Shit," he growled to himself. He leant over to feel Joker's forehead, giving him a soft pat to see if he would stir./p
p class="MsoNormal"He did, barely, taking a deep breath in./p
p class="MsoNormal""What happened?" Batman asked quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker looked at him from behind fluttering eyelids. He opened his mouth to speak, the action obviously taking a lot of effort from him. "Is it gone..?" he croaked out./p
p class="MsoNormal""Is what gone?" Batman asked, he shook his head, "Joker what did you do?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"He didn't seem to have the effort to say anything else./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman had no idea what he meant. What could he have been trying to get rid of?/p
p class="MsoNormal"He shook his head, sitting back in his chair, swearing to himself again, wishing the car would go faster./p
p class="MsoNormal"He outstretched his hand to hold Joker's, giving it a soft squeeze, meant to comfort him. Their eyes met and Batman's stomach twisted painfully./p
p class="MsoNormal"He'd never seen him look scared before. Not just scared, terrified./p
p class="MsoNormal"Who could have done this to him?/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker tried to squeeze Batman's hand./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't try to move, Joker," Batman instructed./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker blinked slowly and deliberately, tears in his eyes which slowly dripped down his face./p
p class="MsoNormal""You're going to be ok," Batman said slowly./p
p class="MsoNormal"He'd never seen Joker like this. He couldn't help feeling panicked. This was uncharted territory./p
p class="MsoNormal"They pulled into the cave, as soon as the cat came to a stop Batman jumped out, lifting Joker slowly. The man let out a soft groan of pain as Batman lifted him, the sound sending a sympathetic pain through Batman's gut./p
p class="MsoNormal""Batman," Alfred said from the other side of the cave, making his way towards them./p
p class="MsoNormal""Something's wrong," Batman said, his voice strained. He began to walk towards the medical centre./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred looked down at Joker as they met, walking alongside Bruce as they reached the medical bay. "Have you assessed the injury, sir?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman swallowed hard, laying Joker carefully on the table. "Someone's stabbed him with a shard of glass. Several times in the same spot by the looks of it. It's infected. I don't know what's happened."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's a messy wound…" Alfred said quietly as he began to inspect it, cutting away at the material around it, beginning to get to work. He looked down at Joker for a moment, his face dropping slightly at the look on his face. "We'll have you fixed up in no time, mister Joker. There's no need to worry."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred injected him with a painkiller, turning back to the stab wound, beginning to clean it up./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker squeaked and twitched at the feeling, letting out a groan which Bruce could only assume was meant to be a laugh. He wished there was something he could do to help./p
p class="MsoNormal"He took Joker's hand again, "It's ok," he said again, "I promise Joker, whoever did this, I'll find them and they'll pay for this."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker's mouth curled into a grim smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""Sir," Alfred said, frowning, "I believe these were self inflicted." He glanced up at Bruce, "Joker is right handed, correct?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes," Batman said dryly. He looked down at Joker again, frowning as Joker's smile grew wider. Why on earth would Joker do that to himself?/p
p class="MsoNormal""Was this a suicide attempt?" he asked, his eyes turning back to Alfred./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred huffed, "It's a piss poor one if it was." He shook his head, "No… I don't think this was a suicide attempt. I…" he shook his head, "I don't know what this was. Who's to say what goes on inside that head of his."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman nodded uneasily, he bit his lip, his eyes flitting between Joker and the wound in his gut. He seemed to have calmed down a little, the painkiller must have kicked in, he seemed to be falling asleep./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred shook his head again, "Silly man…" he said quietly to himself. He sewed up Joker's wound, turning to get another syringe, injecting him with something else. "There we are. He'll probably wake up in a couple of hours, then I expect you'll give him a stern talking to."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman gave a small grunt in answer, lifting a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I just can't understand why he'd do this."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sure he'll happily tell you all of the details," there was a slight growl to Alfred's voice. Batman knew they weren't on the best of terms, and with good reason. He hated how easy Bruce went on him and how he always took advantage of that./p
p class="MsoNormal""…I'm sure there was a good reason," Batman said quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred sighed, "You're too soft on him, master Bruce. He doesn't deserve the kindness you show him."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman felt his teeth grit, "I don't want to hear it, Alfred. If you're done here, and you don't want to be here, then you can leave."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred shook his head, "No, sir, as much as I may not like the man I won't take risks with his health."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thankyou," Batman said, letting out a deflated sigh, "I'm sorry," he said quietly, "…I've never seen him like this, he'd never heart himself like this. Something must be wrong."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I can tell that much," Alfred said quietly. He shook his head again, seeming a little sadder this time. "I'm going to make some tea while we wait."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman nodded, watching him walk away. He moved back to Joker's side, lowering a hand to brush Joker's hair out of his face, letting out a soft sigh. Joker's face was covered in sweat, blood, and general muck. He hadn't been taking care of himself, Batman already knew that from the last time they'd talked, it was one of the reasons he'd decided to put a tracker on him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why would you do this to yourself?" he said quietly. He sat on the seat next to the table, watching Joker's chest rise and fall./p
p class="MsoNormal"After a moment Alfred returned, taking the seat next to Bruce and handing him a cup of tea./p
p class="MsoNormal""Where did you find him?" Alfred asked, taking a sip of his own tea./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman took a mouthful of his drink, straightening up in his chair, "He was in an old storage unit."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred cocked his head slightly, "The seems rather humble for him."/p
p class="MsoNormal"That wasn't strictly true, although Joker did usually hide out in nicer places than that he had a habit of picking places he thought Batman wouldn't search, no matter how awful they were./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman sighed, "This whole night has been very confusing."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I can only imagine," Alfred said with a huff. "Hopefully he'll wake up soon and you can get your answers."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Slowly they finished their tea, and Alfred began to clean and sort away the medical equipment. Batman didn't want to leave Joker's side, checking him over every 15 minutes or so, he needed to find out what had happened to him, what had driven him to stab himself./p
p class="MsoNormal"After a while, Bruce wasn't sure how long it was, Joker's eyes began to open, a long groan leaving him./p
p class="MsoNormal"He tried to lift his head, seeming upset and panicked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Joker," Batman said softly, reaching out a hand to stop him trying to get up. "Stay still, you're hurt."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker's eyes fixed on him, soft pants leaving him, terror back in his eyes. "Is it gone?" he said, desperation in his voice./p
p class="MsoNormal""Is what gone?" Batman asked, "What are you talking about? Why did you stab yourself, Joker?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker stilled, lifting a shaking hand to his face, he held his hand over his face, digging his nails into his skin. He let out a weak whine, "No… No, I want it em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"gone/em," he slammed his fist back on the table./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman stared at him, confused, "What are you talking about. Joker, calm down, please."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker let out a deep breath. Bruce wasn't sure what was wrong with him, he'd never seen him like this./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker shifted slightly, looking over at Batman. "I don't want to tell you," he said quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why not?" Batman said, demandingly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker closed his eyes. "Fuck. I… I'm em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"pregnant/em, Batman," he spat./p
p class="MsoNormal""You're…" Batman felt himself still, "Pregnant…" He shook his head, speaking in a monotone, "That's not possible."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker grit his teeth, "I wouldn't fucking lie about it," he growled. "Get it out of me," he ordered./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman inhaled slowly, "How… did em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"you,/em a man, get pregnant?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker closed his eyes again, a weak and strained chuckle leaving him, "Y-you moron, Batman. You em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"know/em that I'm trans."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman nodded stiffly, "Yes, but you're… you can't get pregnant on hormones. You told me you can't."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker shook his head again, "I guess I forgot to take them for a few months or something. I have a hectic life, Batman, shit happens."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Shit happens?" Batman repeated, slight anger in his voice. "Why didn't you take precautions?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker scoffed, rolling his eyes, "I don't have to explain myself," he growled. "Just get this em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"thing/em out of me. Get it em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"out/em."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman nodded, his eyes closing for a moment. "I'll do what I can. You rest," he said softly. He got to his feet and walked over to Alfred./p
p class="MsoNormal""He's awake," Alfred smiled, "Did you get your answers?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""He's pregnant," he stated./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred turned to him, his mouth hanging open, "What?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""He needs an abortion," Batman said quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred forced his mouth closed, giving a small nod. "Do you know, uh…" he shifted on his feet, "Is it yours?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman shook his head, "It doesn't matter," he said sternly. "He needs an abortion," he stated again. "Can you do it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred's face went blank, turning pale. "I-I…" he shook his head, "It'll depend on how far along he is."/p
p class="MsoNormal""If he's too far along for you to do it?" Batman asked./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred shook his head, "Then he'll have to go to Arkham I suppose. Or carry the baby to term."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman closed his eyes, a grim expression on his face, "He won't do that. He'd kill himself before that."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred swallowed hard, "Maybe if it were yours he'd be a little more willing to try."/p
p class="MsoNormal""He was willing to kill himself to get rid of it. I don't think it matters who the other father is."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred sighed softly, giving a small nod. "Ok, sir. After he's had some rest I'll talk to him about his options, run some tests, see what we can do."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Thankyou, Alfred." He glanced back towards Joker, "I'm going to stay down here with him tonight. I don't want him trying to hurt himself again."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred nodded, "Very good sir. I'll finish clearing up and then leave you to it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He gave it a hard hit with his elbow, and it fell to the floor./p
p class="MsoNormal"The metal garage-like door squeaked and squealed as he pulled it open, it sounded as if it hadn't been opened in years, but he knew it had, he knew Joker was in there./p
p class="MsoNormal"He stepped through into the large space, looking around through the junk and mess./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker was here, Bruce knew he was. The last time they'd seen each other he'd planted a tracker on him./p
p class="MsoNormal"He walked further into the room, his fists clenched./p
p class="MsoNormal"Then he saw him, in the corner of the room. His jaw dropped at the sight of him, he was unconscious, covered in blood both fresh and old, a large gash in his lower gut./p
p class="MsoNormal"He rushed to Joker's side, checking his pulse. It was there but… faint./p
p class="MsoNormal""Joker?" he said softly, his voice filled with concern. "…What happened to you?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"There was no blood anywhere else in the room, this had happened here./p
p class="MsoNormal"He glanced down, searching for whatever might have caused the injuries./p
p class="MsoNormal"There was a large shard of broken glass at Joker's feet. That must have been the weapon./p
p class="MsoNormal"Who had done this? There was no sign of a struggle./p
p class="MsoNormal"Had he done it to himself?/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman swallowed hard and scooped him up. "I'll get you home," he said quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Slowly he took the Joker towards the Batmobile, careful not to shift him or cause him any more pain./p
p class="MsoNormal"He tipped the passenger seat back, laying Joker down, looking at the wound briefly under the light of the batmobile./p
p class="MsoNormal"It didn't look good./p
p class="MsoNormal""Alfred," he said, lifting his finger to his ear./p
p class="MsoNormal""Do you have him sir?" Alfred asked./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman nodded, "Yes, he's injured, I'm bringing him to the batcave."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred let out a deep sigh, "Again, sir? I'll make preparations."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thankyou," Batman said as he jumped into the batmobile. He started at full speed towards the cave, putting the car on autopilot and turning to inspect the wound a little closer, perhaps there was something he could do here./p
p class="MsoNormal"It seemed to be infected. He wasn't sure how long Joker had been laying there. Maybe a day or two./p
p class="MsoNormal"This could be fatal./p
p class="MsoNormal"There was nothing he could do without proper medical equipment./p
p class="MsoNormal""Shit," he growled to himself. He leant over to feel Joker's forehead, giving him a soft pat to see if he would stir./p
p class="MsoNormal"He did, barely, taking a deep breath in./p
p class="MsoNormal""What happened?" Batman asked quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker looked at him from behind fluttering eyelids. He opened his mouth to speak, the action obviously taking a lot of effort from him. "Is it gone..?" he croaked out./p
p class="MsoNormal""Is what gone?" Batman asked, he shook his head, "Joker what did you do?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"He didn't seem to have the effort to say anything else./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman had no idea what he meant. What could he have been trying to get rid of?/p
p class="MsoNormal"He shook his head, sitting back in his chair, swearing to himself again, wishing the car would go faster./p
p class="MsoNormal"He outstretched his hand to hold Joker's, giving it a soft squeeze, meant to comfort him. Their eyes met and Batman's stomach twisted painfully./p
p class="MsoNormal"He'd never seen him look scared before. Not just scared, terrified./p
p class="MsoNormal"Who could have done this to him?/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker tried to squeeze Batman's hand./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't try to move, Joker," Batman instructed./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker blinked slowly and deliberately, tears in his eyes which slowly dripped down his face./p
p class="MsoNormal""You're going to be ok," Batman said slowly./p
p class="MsoNormal"He'd never seen Joker like this. He couldn't help feeling panicked. This was uncharted territory./p
p class="MsoNormal"They pulled into the cave, as soon as the cat came to a stop Batman jumped out, lifting Joker slowly. The man let out a soft groan of pain as Batman lifted him, the sound sending a sympathetic pain through Batman's gut./p
p class="MsoNormal""Batman," Alfred said from the other side of the cave, making his way towards them./p
p class="MsoNormal""Something's wrong," Batman said, his voice strained. He began to walk towards the medical centre./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred looked down at Joker as they met, walking alongside Bruce as they reached the medical bay. "Have you assessed the injury, sir?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman swallowed hard, laying Joker carefully on the table. "Someone's stabbed him with a shard of glass. Several times in the same spot by the looks of it. It's infected. I don't know what's happened."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That's a messy wound…" Alfred said quietly as he began to inspect it, cutting away at the material around it, beginning to get to work. He looked down at Joker for a moment, his face dropping slightly at the look on his face. "We'll have you fixed up in no time, mister Joker. There's no need to worry."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred injected him with a painkiller, turning back to the stab wound, beginning to clean it up./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker squeaked and twitched at the feeling, letting out a groan which Bruce could only assume was meant to be a laugh. He wished there was something he could do to help./p
p class="MsoNormal"He took Joker's hand again, "It's ok," he said again, "I promise Joker, whoever did this, I'll find them and they'll pay for this."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker's mouth curled into a grim smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""Sir," Alfred said, frowning, "I believe these were self inflicted." He glanced up at Bruce, "Joker is right handed, correct?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes," Batman said dryly. He looked down at Joker again, frowning as Joker's smile grew wider. Why on earth would Joker do that to himself?/p
p class="MsoNormal""Was this a suicide attempt?" he asked, his eyes turning back to Alfred./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred huffed, "It's a piss poor one if it was." He shook his head, "No… I don't think this was a suicide attempt. I…" he shook his head, "I don't know what this was. Who's to say what goes on inside that head of his."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman nodded uneasily, he bit his lip, his eyes flitting between Joker and the wound in his gut. He seemed to have calmed down a little, the painkiller must have kicked in, he seemed to be falling asleep./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred shook his head again, "Silly man…" he said quietly to himself. He sewed up Joker's wound, turning to get another syringe, injecting him with something else. "There we are. He'll probably wake up in a couple of hours, then I expect you'll give him a stern talking to."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman gave a small grunt in answer, lifting a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I just can't understand why he'd do this."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sure he'll happily tell you all of the details," there was a slight growl to Alfred's voice. Batman knew they weren't on the best of terms, and with good reason. He hated how easy Bruce went on him and how he always took advantage of that./p
p class="MsoNormal""…I'm sure there was a good reason," Batman said quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred sighed, "You're too soft on him, master Bruce. He doesn't deserve the kindness you show him."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman felt his teeth grit, "I don't want to hear it, Alfred. If you're done here, and you don't want to be here, then you can leave."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred shook his head, "No, sir, as much as I may not like the man I won't take risks with his health."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Thankyou," Batman said, letting out a deflated sigh, "I'm sorry," he said quietly, "…I've never seen him like this, he'd never heart himself like this. Something must be wrong."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I can tell that much," Alfred said quietly. He shook his head again, seeming a little sadder this time. "I'm going to make some tea while we wait."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman nodded, watching him walk away. He moved back to Joker's side, lowering a hand to brush Joker's hair out of his face, letting out a soft sigh. Joker's face was covered in sweat, blood, and general muck. He hadn't been taking care of himself, Batman already knew that from the last time they'd talked, it was one of the reasons he'd decided to put a tracker on him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why would you do this to yourself?" he said quietly. He sat on the seat next to the table, watching Joker's chest rise and fall./p
p class="MsoNormal"After a moment Alfred returned, taking the seat next to Bruce and handing him a cup of tea./p
p class="MsoNormal""Where did you find him?" Alfred asked, taking a sip of his own tea./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman took a mouthful of his drink, straightening up in his chair, "He was in an old storage unit."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred cocked his head slightly, "The seems rather humble for him."/p
p class="MsoNormal"That wasn't strictly true, although Joker did usually hide out in nicer places than that he had a habit of picking places he thought Batman wouldn't search, no matter how awful they were./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman sighed, "This whole night has been very confusing."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I can only imagine," Alfred said with a huff. "Hopefully he'll wake up soon and you can get your answers."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Slowly they finished their tea, and Alfred began to clean and sort away the medical equipment. Batman didn't want to leave Joker's side, checking him over every 15 minutes or so, he needed to find out what had happened to him, what had driven him to stab himself./p
p class="MsoNormal"After a while, Bruce wasn't sure how long it was, Joker's eyes began to open, a long groan leaving him./p
p class="MsoNormal"He tried to lift his head, seeming upset and panicked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Joker," Batman said softly, reaching out a hand to stop him trying to get up. "Stay still, you're hurt."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker's eyes fixed on him, soft pants leaving him, terror back in his eyes. "Is it gone?" he said, desperation in his voice./p
p class="MsoNormal""Is what gone?" Batman asked, "What are you talking about? Why did you stab yourself, Joker?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker stilled, lifting a shaking hand to his face, he held his hand over his face, digging his nails into his skin. He let out a weak whine, "No… No, I want it em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"gone/em," he slammed his fist back on the table./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman stared at him, confused, "What are you talking about. Joker, calm down, please."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker let out a deep breath. Bruce wasn't sure what was wrong with him, he'd never seen him like this./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker shifted slightly, looking over at Batman. "I don't want to tell you," he said quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal""Why not?" Batman said, demandingly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker closed his eyes. "Fuck. I… I'm em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"pregnant/em, Batman," he spat./p
p class="MsoNormal""You're…" Batman felt himself still, "Pregnant…" He shook his head, speaking in a monotone, "That's not possible."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker grit his teeth, "I wouldn't fucking lie about it," he growled. "Get it out of me," he ordered./p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman inhaled slowly, "How… did em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"you,/em a man, get pregnant?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker closed his eyes again, a weak and strained chuckle leaving him, "Y-you moron, Batman. You em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"know/em that I'm trans."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman nodded stiffly, "Yes, but you're… you can't get pregnant on hormones. You told me you can't."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker shook his head again, "I guess I forgot to take them for a few months or something. I have a hectic life, Batman, shit happens."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Shit happens?" Batman repeated, slight anger in his voice. "Why didn't you take precautions?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Joker scoffed, rolling his eyes, "I don't have to explain myself," he growled. "Just get this em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"thing/em out of me. Get it em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"out/em."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman nodded, his eyes closing for a moment. "I'll do what I can. You rest," he said softly. He got to his feet and walked over to Alfred./p
p class="MsoNormal""He's awake," Alfred smiled, "Did you get your answers?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""He's pregnant," he stated./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred turned to him, his mouth hanging open, "What?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""He needs an abortion," Batman said quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred forced his mouth closed, giving a small nod. "Do you know, uh…" he shifted on his feet, "Is it yours?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman shook his head, "It doesn't matter," he said sternly. "He needs an abortion," he stated again. "Can you do it."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred's face went blank, turning pale. "I-I…" he shook his head, "It'll depend on how far along he is."/p
p class="MsoNormal""If he's too far along for you to do it?" Batman asked./p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred shook his head, "Then he'll have to go to Arkham I suppose. Or carry the baby to term."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Batman closed his eyes, a grim expression on his face, "He won't do that. He'd kill himself before that."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred swallowed hard, "Maybe if it were yours he'd be a little more willing to try."/p
p class="MsoNormal""He was willing to kill himself to get rid of it. I don't think it matters who the other father is."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred sighed softly, giving a small nod. "Ok, sir. After he's had some rest I'll talk to him about his options, run some tests, see what we can do."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Thankyou, Alfred." He glanced back towards Joker, "I'm going to stay down here with him tonight. I don't want him trying to hurt himself again."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alfred nodded, "Very good sir. I'll finish clearing up and then leave you to it."/p