A/N: Hi there, this one struck me on the train to work the other day and I couldn't get it out of my head! I'm not sure whether to continue or not. Please let me know if you would like to hear more. Thanks!
I do not own anything. Also warning for hinting at slash, although I guess it's how you read into it.
Batman had spent the last forty minutes chasing The Joker through winding alleys and dangerous backstreets. Finally, after almost catching him many times, Batman had The Joker cornered on a roof top.
Both were panting slightly, although the Clown Prince of Crime seemed to be out of sheer anticipation.
Arms open in display the man in purple grinned. "Ya got me, Bats".
Bruce, taking a moment to catch his breath, replied "I always do".
The Joker smirked, putting his arms by his sides, his body hunched awkwardly as usual. "Such a faithful little puppy".
Bruce saw red "No games, Joker. How'd you break out of Arkham?"
"Questions, questions. Aren't you just glad to see me? It's been aggggeeeesss". He swept a tongue over his painted lips and smiled innocently, although it didn't quite reach his eyes. He was ready for a fight.
"I'm taking you back to Arkham" Batman growled, black cape rippling in the soft breeze.
The Joker pouted playfully which was offset by his tight hold on the weapon in his hand and completed by his defensive stance.
"Aww, come on Bat Man, don't break if off. We're . Just . Getting . Started" he called menacingly starting to move towards the man in front of him.
Batman braced himself but they both stopped when something in the shadows to the right of Bruce moved. Making sure The Joker was staying where he was, Bruce looked again and called "Who's there?"
No response came but he could see now the outline of a man.
"I can see you" he continued, taking out a Bat-a-rang.
"A friend, Bats?" The Joker questioned, venom in his voice. He didn't like this. What if this visitor was here to hurt The Bat Man? Only he could damage his Bats.
"Show yourself" Bruce called once more as a final warning. Convinced he saw a flash of a weapon in the darkness, the Bat-a-rang was thrown. Quickly it was deflected by a protected arm. The armour covering it must be very strong by the angle it flew off at, Bruce determined.
"Wait. Listen" whoever was there finally reasoned. His voice was a harsh rasp, not unlike Batman's. It was aged, well worn. Bruce frowned, the tone seemed somewhat familiar...
Making sure his other foe was still in place, he took out another Bat-a-rang and went to throw it, when it was suddenly knocked out of his hand. The other man had obviously thrown something before he could. Both objects fell in front of his heavy boots.
Bruce took a step back in shock, two Bat-a-rangs flashed up at him, reflecting the moonlight.
His head snapped up at the man who was still mostly in shadow. The Joker continued to look on taking everything in with great interest. He couldn't hear what was being said as they were both keeping their voices down but he could hear the tone. He wanted that tone to be directed at him.
"Who are you?" Bruce asked, his voice a little softer than usual. The man stepped mostly out of the shadow now.
"I need you to stay calm" Bruce took another step back in shock. The man was wearing the full Bat-suit, only it look more advanced and it was a little larger to fit this man slightly more filled out frame. He looked to be in his 50's or 60's, Bruce couldn't tell exactly from this distance.
"Who are you?" Bruce repeated, he was starting to think...but that couldn't be...
Still The Joker watched intently from the distance, waiting for his chance. He chewed on his bottom lip out of habit.
"Please hear me out. This will be hard to believe, but it's true. I have come back 25 years to your present to help you prevent a horrible outcome". There was silence in which not even the clown broke.
"You're...me?" Bruce asked with as much disbelief as his Batman voice would allow. "That can't be true. Prove it". Batman didn't have super powers like time travel, he just had a host of gadgets and the will to rid the earth of scum, Bruce reasoned with himself.
At this the man walked forward so he was face to face with Bruce.
The Joker made a small growl in his throat and pulled out his switchblade, which he had put away, just in case this new comer tried to damage his plaything. Suddenly he heard a noise to his left coming somewhere from the darkness. He gave his full attention to it, gripping the weapon tighter. Squinting into the darkness he saw nothing but he snarled towards it all the same.
In the meantime the others were whispering away to each other. The Joker hovered on the spot, wondering whether he should attack yet or not. They were leaving him out!
"You are Bruce Wayne. Your parents were murdered by Joe Chill. You trained with the league of shadows. Your greatest fear is bats. And...you never forgot Rachel".
Bruce just stood there wide eyed. It wasn't so much what this man said, but more that he spoke in Bruce Wayne's voice. Studying his face he noticed things only he could have, the placement of his teeth, the same inflections in his eyes. This man was him, only older.
A look of understanding passed between the two men which was broken with a call from the other side of the roof.
"Hate to, uh, break this up, Boys. But aren't you forgetting something, Bats?" the man in purple stood there arms wide, subtlety waving the knife. He was clearly frustrated that he had been totally forgotten about.
From where he was standing he had heard none of their talk and couldn't see the new man's armour properly. This was very frustrating to him.
"Attention seeking Prima Donna" the man from the future cursed under his breath. Bruce raised his eyebrows in surprise under the cowl.
The man then quietly explained to Bruce "I'd forgotten how annoying this guy was..." he then began to walk back to where he was standing before, but this time not in shadow.
Bruce's eyes went wide and he turned himself to face the man. Remembering to use Batman's voice he called out "...was? Hey, what do you mean-".
The man from the future turned to the clown. "Joker" he spoke with authority. The addressed man frowned and then squinted. Taking a step forward and cocking his head to the side
"Bats?" he whispered looking wildly between the two men. He'd know that voice anywhere.
"Yes, Joker. I am. I've come from 25 years in the future to prevent an outcome that-" he was cut off as the other man started whooping with loud laughter, doubling over. Bruce looked over to the future him, thinking he might be annoyed with this display. He was surprised to see that the other man was patiently waiting. He must have been expecting this reaction.
After a little while The Joker calmed down. Wiping his eyes and smudging the black further into the white greasepaint on his face, he said in an amused voice
"Ohhhhhh, Bats. This...this is priceless. A Future-Bat!". He beamed at both the men, tongue travelling on its well worn path once again.
"Hey" he called more seriously now, taping his foot absently "can you tell me the winning lotto numbers for the next 25 years? Actually, better yet" he straightened up to the best of his ability "tell me all about me!"
There was silence again. Both men from the present looked towards their unexpected guest who kept his gaze towards the area The Joker was in.
"Come on, Bat Man. Share!" he begged a little more impatiently.
Bruce had a strange feeling be didn't want to identify swirling in his stomach. The older him had said "I'd forgotten how annoying he was...". Did that mean that this man had died at some point over the last 25 years?
"Oh, come on, come on, come on. You're just like this guy". He then continued in amusement "Do I have to come over there and pull on your little earsies? Blow up a hospital?"
Suddenly laughter burst from the darkness to the left of the Joker. Chilling and familiar to all men standing there. Stepping from the shadows the laughing one casually made his way over to his younger self.
"Ah-hoo, ah-ha, ah-hee" he continued until the men were a step away from each other.
"Ohhhhhh...now that one's getting a little, uh, old..."
The suit had changed a little, the design more befitting of an older man. The hair had receded further but was still green, although the roots were now salt and pepper coloured. The scars never healed any further and the war paint now also covered wrinkles and a few new scars. All in all though, it seemed that not much had changed.
All of a sudden the two men embraced like brothers. Only the Joker could believe and accept that his older self, sent from the future, was standing in front of him in the space of about ten seconds, Bruce thought scathingly. The two men broke apart.
"So Bats still enjoys our fine company then?" the younger Joker questioned. He had a look particular look on his face. Bruce realised it was the closest thing to respect he had ever seen on that painted man. The older one glanced at him with a cheeky grin.
"Oh, oh you have no idea" he chuckled and winked when the older Batman growled
"Joker! I warned you". The addressed man took a small step back smirking.
"Keep your bra on, Batsy" he suggested wryly.
'Batsy?' Younger Bruce thought with disgust while a look of pure delight burst onto the younger Joker's face.
"Batsy..." he murmured "Batsy! I love it. Hey Batsy!" he called, waving a purple gloved hand wildly at the younger Batman. Older Joker laughed while Bruce looked at his feet groaning.
"You'll get used to it" the older Batman assured him quietly. Bruce looked up at the man, he seemed to be giving the clown a lot of leeway and when he spoke to him it was as if they were...old friends or something.
Close by a police siren rent the air.
"Gentlemen" the older Batman addressed the group, taking charge "we should move. Is there anywhere we can talk privately? We have a few things we need to discuss".
The men moved closer together so they couldn't be easily overheard. Bruce thought about a suitable place, he couldn't take them back to the mansion or the Bat-cave...
"Junior, still have that place overlooking the Memorial park?" the senior clown asked his past self, white grease paint glowing in the moonlight.
"Uh, yeah. Way of wreaking a perfectly good hiding place, Pops" he said looking sourly at Bruce.
The older man just chuckled. "He finds it soon enough anyway".
The present Joker looks at his shoes, scuffing them like a scolded child. "Yeah, ok. But I really liked that one".
They all started walking off towards the exit. The older purple clad man put an arm around the younger's shoulders with a sense of a crazy uncle giving advice to his nephew. Shaking a pointed finger for emphasis he explained "Doesn't mean you have to lose it-"
"Joker!" the future Batman growled. Bruce was surprised at how quickly The Joker backed down. This was strange.
"I know, I know. 'Don't endanger the future by giving them information'. Got it" he swept a tongue over his lips. They heard the siren again, only closer this time. After a pause, the man went on obviously enjoying himself. "Sure you won't let us stay, Bats? I'd love to say hi to Gordy"
Bruce could have sworn there was almost a smirk on his older self's lips, but it was quickly replaced with the usually emotionless mask. "I'm sure the Commissioner has better things to be doing than talking to you".
"That's all he ever wanted to do". He looked down at his younger version "Excellent man, fan-tas-tic moustache". The two Jokers grinned at each other. Bruce swallowed. They had reached the fire escape.
"Just get down there" he commanded. To his surprise both men responded immediately without a word.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed that. As I said I'm not sure if I wil continue this or not, let me know what you think!
