A/N: Alrighty, this story will probably only be a couple of chapters. It's pre-Joker and is my interpretation of some of the things Jack did before he became the Joker. This is the exact same Jack/Joker from my "No Stranger" and "Unknown Origin" stories, just after he left Samantha. It's something I've been toying around with for a while, I always wondered what kind of horrific things he got into before he donned the suit and make-up.

Business as usual

"Richard, wait up," Deborah called out. "What have I told you about running out of my sight?"

Her son stopped, albeit reluctantly. "Sorry mom."

"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, struggling to dig her apartment keys out of her purse while holding three bags of groceries. "Here, grab one of these bags."

Richard took one, almost dropping it as soon as she handed it over. Deborah sighed and held her tongue. He was only a child, his father had left them a month ago. Just left one day and never came back. In a way it hadn't surprised her, Aaron had been a terrible husband, a gambling addict and all-around piece of shit. But it had still hurt her. He'd abandoned his own son. How could someone do that? She could only hope it wouldn't leave a lasting scar on him.

The key dropped from her fingers, landing on the concrete porch with a musical cling!

"Ah shit," she swore.

"Got it Mom." Richard handed it to her, looking exasperated.

"Thanks." She grinned at him and he grinned back. There was still sadness in his eyes, but she thought it had lessened in the past week or so.

He'll be fine. Kids are resilient. Isn't that what they always say? God, I hope it's true.

Deborah unlocked the door and pushed it open with her hip. She always felt a sense of comfort when entering her home, that feeling of another day over with and now she could relax.

But now......

Something wasn't right, as soon as she stepped into the kitchen she knew it. The light above the sink burned, just as she'd left it this morning. The rooms beyond were gloomy, as they always were when she came home in the evenings.

But there was something wrong. The air in the house was wrong, oppressive, tinted with an odor of gasoline and smoke.

"Hey," Richard complained from behind her. "I'm about to drop this bag if you don't move."

The door slammed shut behind them and she jumped. Richard sensed her tension immediately.

"Mom? Mom what's........"

"Shh," she hissed. "Just be quiet and stay behind me. You be ready to go out the door when I say, okay? Be ready to..........."

The words died in her mouth when the figure stepped into view. He had been waiting for them in the darkness of the living room, she could see that now.

"Hello there." He moved closer to them and Deborah fought back a scream of terror.

Don't scare Richard. Don't do it. Don't.

The man was dressed in ill-fitting dark slacks and button-up shirt. He was tall and slender, almost elegant. And his face........

His mouth was horribly scarred, gashes ran from the corners of his mouth to halfway through his cheeks, giving him the impression of a hideous smile. The wounds were healed but still fairly new.

Richard gasped, the sound breaking her trance. She moved to block the child from view and drew herself up.

"Get the hell out of here. NOW." She was impressed by the ferocity in her voice, ferocity she definitely did not feel.

The man uttered a short laugh. "Now that's not a very nice welcome. Hey, could I ask you a big favor? Don't move, don't let the kid move. If you do......well something, uh, unpleasant could happen. Got it?"

"I suggest you leave before I call the police."

He cocked his head and those mangled lips twisted into a grin. "Um, did you not hear what I just said? Hm?"

She didn't answer him, instead staring at him in horrified desperation. Her mind raced, trying to find a way out of this.

I don't see a gun. No weapons. But he's dangerous, that much I can tell. Just see what he wants and keep him away from Richard.

"Oh come on," his tone was mild, almost shy. "Talk to me."

"What do you want?" She managed to say.

"Well, that's a good question Deborah. I'm here for your husband," he narrowed his eyes and leaned towards her. "Know where I might find him? 'Cause if you do I'll let you and the kid go on about your way. But if you don't......" His tongue darted out, slithering over the scars on his lower lip. "Well, then we might have a tiny problem."

His eyes were utterly blank, like a doll's. Deborah looked into them and knew this wouldn't end well. She had no idea where Aaron was at, and she instinctively knew if she lied to this man he would see it.

No, this wouldn't end well at all.