Gotham City Grave Yard…
Barbara had grown old in the years that had passed she often considered herself fortunate she made a point to visit Tabitha's grave often. She felt no she held herself responsible for what happened to her she heard a rumor Tabitha had given up on revenge and found love with someone else Penguin and Riddler had at the time been working together again and Riddler tortured her for information he said he just needed her to confirm something.
He broke her and Barbara told him what she heard and some time later she heard Tabitha whilst pregnant was killed and her corpse desecrated. Her new lover was then killed after being forced to watch. Barbara often hated herself for breaking so easily and then in the rebuilding of Gotham she ran into Jim something had happened to him he remembered bits and pieces of what had happened over the years.
However, she never lied or deceived him she was happy for the first in a while and the two of them had two kids and yet she always felt something was off with Jim. Despite not having a body to bury Barbara gave Tabitha a headstone next to Theo. Barbara always came alone and the grave's were located in a place few knew about.
As Barbara walked through the graveyard she got sight of a strange man in purple. She thought it was odd how he looked like a clown. That was when she realized who he was the bastard that paralyzed her daughter the one everyone called Joker. Yet he seemed familiar to her. She reached for a gun in her purse.
"You really don't want to do that my dear." Joker spoke with a surprisingly sad tone.
"What are you doing here?" Barbara asked, "You really think I'm not going to shoot you for what you did to my daughter?" Barbara's voice was filled with anger thinking about how he shot her daughter.
Joker paused as if trying to remember something he casually forgot about "Oh. Yes, that unfortunate business was well it's not that I was after her personally you should really blame her father, for not knowing who she hangs out with. Children can get in such trouble if they have troubled friends who expose them to dangerous things." Joker turned around and a chill went down her spine he looked familiar some how up close she felt like they had met somewhere before but couldn't be any older than Bruce and Selina at this point. Joker continued to surprise Barbara he didn't show glee or sadism as he stood before Tabitha's grave rather he seemed sad then he said the strangest thing "You've gotten old all of you have gotten old it's bizarre. I remember you though. After all there are people that humans care for. Even if we end up hating them. These people still mean so much to us that just thinking of them is enough to make humans feel at ease. For a while you were that for me."
Barbara could hardly control her anger "What the hell is this some sort of mind game?"
Joker didn't say anything he just turned to look at the city again he seemed to be sad and in deep thought "I'm glad you chose to give up the demon's head. You would have hated immortality. For some I imagine it's akin to being a ghost among the living personally though I'm not immortal my situation does make me sympathetic. I feel not like a ghost but well I do in some respects. How can I explain? I feel as though I am a phantom drifting among the dead. After all what else can I be right? Does your kid know about your past?"
Barbara continued to be mortified by his words "How do you know any of this? Wasn't that before you time?" Barbara was disturbed by how much he knew not many people from the old days were left Barbara hadn't even seen Selina in years not since they had a small funeral for Tabitha. In that moment something occurred to Barbara who had been tending to the graves of the Galavans over the years?
She knew it wasn't her and it certainly wasn't Selina was it some how Joker? Was he some how the man Tabitha fell in love with? Did he some how survive if so why did he still look so young?
"Tell me how do you sleep at night Joker? I mean I know I'm no saint, but I have nothing on you."
Joker took a deep breath tilting his head back "Honestly to be completely truthful I'm just as surprised as anyone that I became this way. You'd be shocked if you knew who I was. God, knows I didn't plan to wake up in that Hugo Strange wannabe's lab years after dying."
"Excuse me?'
Joker let out another sigh before walking toward her he lifted up Barbara's chin and spoke with slight irritation in his voice "Let me alleviate your concerns and give you answers. Yes we do know each other and yes it's from way back in the good old days. Would you believe there are times I miss you? Even back then there were times I could barely contain myself around you. I woke up after I was supposed to die and found out another man who I suspect was that wannabe's other project had been living my life and to my despair after killing that upstart I discovered this city had not changed but that's not the real question you want to answered is it?"
"What do you mean?" Barbara became nervous and afraid for her life.
"You want to know why. Why do I kill? Why am I like this? Why did I become this? I know because I asked that question myself to those I saw go down the dark path. I swear this city it's not sick it's cursed." Joker began to smile taking joy in taunting her.
"What did you just say?" Barbara stepped back his last few words reminded her of something.
"Oh." Joker peeked up his head amused "Finally catching on huh? That's good. People really don't get me not like you do or well did. It's funny I mean it really is funny how things work out such bitter irony don't you agree? I mean Bats he thinks nobody matters to me but you know that's not true and the look on your face says it all you know exactly who I am so tell me Barbara who am I and tell me why in my eyes nobody matters."
Barbara's blood ran cold "How is it you?"
"Oh, come now did I not mention the knock off Hugo Strange wannabe? Now tell me why nobody matters to me? I know the answer and I know you know the answer, but I want to hear you say it Barbara. Go on say it."
Gotham City Road A Few Hours Later…
Oswald was hesitant to go to Joker. The man was a lunatic and untrustworthy, but the Batman had been a serious problem and now Penguin had nothing left it wasn't like the good old days before Batman when he could just rebuild his empire and be back on top in no time at all. No he was no longer the man he once was and regrettably neither was Ed.
Since the coming of Batman and yes even Joker, Penguin and Riddler had been reduced to jokes. Now the once king of Gotham was reduced to a mediator and middle man for many of Gotham's crooks. The reason being was no matter who claimed the throne to Gotham, Joker with his vicious and sadistic acts of madness was considered the true king of Gotham's underworld and no one dared challenged him.
It all started a few years after Penguin finally killed Tabitha. He finally finished his revenge against her in the cruelest manner possible. He was so proud of himself over it and was celebrating his anniversary of killing Tabitha when Joker robbed the Iceberg Lounge. It wasn't just Penguin's favorite anniversary Joker ruined, Penguin was hoping to get restablishing his empire and status as king of Gotham when Joker and came out of a cake and shot everyone.
Joker killed everyone and made Oswald serve him as a bartender they spent the night talking and when Oswald traumatized from the ordeal and covered in blood asked the freaky clown why he did it, Joker just shrugged and asked why he needed a reason and then the most disturbing thing of all happened Joker declared Oswald his best friend.
What followed over the years was abductions and forced "vacations" which was what Joker called the crime sprees he'd force Oswald to join him on. Most of the time Oswald would end up beaten to a pulp Joker would laugh and they'd be in straightjackets waiting to be shipped back to Arkham. Penguin tried cutting ties with the clown, but Joker did not take rejection well. Yes the sad fact was Penguin had been reduced to a be class criminal in Gotham over the years. It made him long for the good old times back when Jim still was Jim.
That was another thing that changed after the first No Man's Land incident Jim took a bullet the head and resurfaced with some level of amnesia he didn't remember much of the years prior and perhaps that was how the snake Barbara Kean got him back.
Still Penguin always felt odd about that because of course Penguin was the one who shot Jim in the head. Jim had fallen for Tabitha Galavan of all people and got her pregnant. Penguin and Riddler found out well Riddler found out never said how. Ed suggested the idea of finally taking out Jim and Tabitha and Penguin was on happy to get on board.
They killed Tabitha and knowing Jim's fear of clowns dressed her corpse up like one. Now that Penguin thought about it, it was odd how similar Joker's "coloring" was to the make up he and Ed used. They even dressed Tabitha in a purple wedding dress.
The more Penguin thought about Joker this mysterious man who dawned the Red Hood persona, fell into a vat of chemicals, and came out insane when he saw his reflection the more Penguin felt concerned. Joker was a greater mystery than Batman could ever be. Batman at least Oswald could make a few lucky guesses over but Joker it was impossible to figure him out.
Oswald looked out the car and noticed they were approaching the shore or beach he noticed Joker had begun slowing down "What's going on?"
"Oh, Ossie I just thought you might want to take a little tour down memory lane before you left Gotham for good." Joker mused "I mean as your friend I owe you a proper send off."
"Oh yes how thoughtful of you Joker. This city is full of bad memories for me. I think you are fortunate sometimes old friend to not be burdened by your past."
"Who says I'm not burdened by my past?" Joker said while stopping at the beach.
Penguin took a moment to think then he realized where he was "This is where I killed well where Jim and I killed Theo Galavan."
"Yeah I had to really squeeze some fine fellows to find it." Joker boasted.
"I thought Jim and I were the only ones who knew about this place." Penguin muttered in disbelief.
"Well the two of you and anyone who was involved in working the crime scene and anyone who read the paper back then. I imagine more people than you think know where this place is." Joker said as he and Oswald stared out into the night it was then Joker said something else that made Oswald feel weird "Shame it's going to be a beautiful sunrise."
"What did you say?" Oswald asked alarmed that was after all one of the last few things Theo said before his first death.
"Oh, I was just thinking we are never going to enjoy any quality time together like this once your gone." Joker mused.
"I see. May I ask you a question Joker?"
"Of course."
"Do I know you? I mean do we know each other?" Penguin asked showing his suspicion.
Joker didn't say anything to him though for a moment then with a cheerful tone he looked over and said "Oh you know Gotham. Everybody knows everybody. Not to change the subject but do you think Harley is okay? I worry I rough her up a bit too much at times."
"Well she's a resilient little minx. You know sometimes I feel like she reminds me of someone I used to know. Someone I have not seen in years." Penguin said as he looked out at the view. He was blatantly referencing Barbara Kean.
"Well that's because she does." Joker let out a light chuckle "Sorry inside joke. Do you know why I chose to start out as the Red Hood?"
"I couldn't begin to guess." Penguin answered not really interested.
"It was to honor someone very dear to my heart. Yet fate…" Joker paused looking at himself in the car mirror and continued "fate I guess you could say gave me a more befitting course. I am not a fan of quick deaths Oswald but you know that. Did you ever wonder why you have never been able to get the drop on me?"
"Because your smart like Ed but much crazier."
"I'm actually offended you compare him and me. Okay next question how do you think I've made the Joker virus and toxin? I'll just give this one to you it's thanks to our dear friend Jervis's sister I was exposed to her blood I got cured blah blah, I got brought back by an upstart trying to rip off Hugo Strange now to be clear I am just as normal as the next guy but the chemicals I was exposed to made awakened and altered the Tetch so that anyone who gets my blood also gets a little bit of me in them. I have been trying to work out the kinks but all I have managed is laughing gas and a curable version I gave to the Leaguers."
"To what end?" Penguin started to feel immense dread he started to suspect he knew Jim's identity.
"The virus, my Joker Virus while a mutation of the Tetch Virus is capable of healing and restoring damaged cells. However, I cannot get it to full fill its full potential. All my concoctions I've learned by studying the work of the man who brought me back to this wretched hell hole. However, and it kills me to say this I'm not a doctor my experiments take me only so far but I also need something before I can finally get what I want Penguin."
"What do you want?"
Joker turned his head his usual cheerful demeanor now gone and the temperature felt like it dropped twenty degrees "Tell me where Tabitha Galavan is buried and for your sake you better hope I like your answer."
Penguin smirked "Please you think I'm afraid to die?"
"Oh, who said anything about dying Ossie?" Joker then stabbed Penguin in his bad leg. He screamed in pain.
"Yeah it's still sore even after all these years Fish did a real number on you huh? I know you are not afraid to die Oswald, but I know how to make you afraid to live. Oh!" Joker reached into his suit and pulled out a syringe "Just in case you try anything old friend."
"No!" Oswald yelled helplessly "What are you doing Joker?"
"Just some insurance Penguin the Bat is looking for you, the police are looking for you so it's in your best interest to not fuck around. Also it's a five hour walk back to civilization. My new batch of Joker venom or virus that's semantics really. Anyway it will drive you mad within eight hours. Which leaves you just three to find Tabitha's remains and contact me. Don't worry it's not fatal it will just make you unstable." Joker then burst into laughter "He opened up the car door and shoved out an injured Oswald."
"Your insane Joker!"
Joker just gave him a strange look and before shutting his door and driving off said "Uh… yeah."