Gotham City had always demanded a sort of balance to be able to keep itself stable. A balance between chaos and justice that ran as deep into the very concrete roots of this city. Without it, well, everything would fall apart at the seams. Upsetting the natural order of the world wouldn't be beneficial to anyone involved. That simple balance that took on the form of two opposing forces that never had any intention of breaking until the other one broke first. In short, it left a game to be desired and pursued to its rightful conclusion. Only one could survive in the end. A Bat King who ruled the darkness this city had to offer versus a Clown Prince who could bring as much merriment and a laughing death punchline to all its audience in spades.
A game of cat and mouse that would leave a trail of bodies in its wake until the next show would start the whole cycle all over again. Never ending until the stitch that forever bonded the Bat and the Clown was cut with a single slice of a knife.
Codependency was allowed to fester in the cracks of their fights against each other. A slow poison that crept under the surface undetected until it was far too late for the infected to notice in time to do anything about it. A sick joke that was absolutely hilarious as it was damning to the very core of one's essence. Giving meaning in a world that had none to offer up on a silver platter. All the cards stacked in one's favor if they paid enough attention to use the winning hand. Where a Bat would live in self-ingrained denial of the connection, but the Clown would embrace the embers that would grow into a raging inferno threatening to swallow him whole. One day, all the pieces would fall in their proper places and the biggest punchline would make Gotham City laugh itself into enteral silence.
Laughter echoed through the room for all to hear. If only all, but one person was still alive to notice it. It really didn't matter if no one joined in the laughter, their smiles were enough proof to the clown that they enjoyed the joke. The rain pattered against the window as thunder cracked the skies above. Bad weather was as essential as the balance was for Gotham City.
Boredom was another slow killer that wasn't pleasant to stand in the least. It sucked all the fun out of a game meant for two. A certain change of pace was needed to be added to spice the relationship up. Couldn't allow everything to become stale after all. Boredom wasn't always awful. It left Joker in a state of mind to have inspiration for new wonderful games to play. An invitation to set up a new dance for his playmate. Which unfortunately these days seeing the Bat was growing slimmer and slimmer.
He couldn't have that. Gotham would never allow it, but it was happening all the same. Batman's attention was being divided in so many directions that Joker had to set up more and more elaborate schemes to even be graced with the others presence. It really shouldn't be getting this tedious just to get his Bats love taps. The lack of attention infuriated him. Regardless, he couldn't hold his Bat fully responsible, no matter how much he wanted to.
See, the status-quo that kept everything in place had been shattered. Distorting the reality that Joker held so firmly in place. A disease that was festering in this playground of theirs and that needed to be eradicated. As soon as possible, preferably; if he had a say in the matter. Which of course; he did. There was only one problem. Not an unfixable issue, but was taxing at best. Where Joker understood what course of action needed to be implemented with dealing with a nuisance of pests. His playmate, however, wouldn't do what was necessary to stop it. The Bat's pesky moral code he held onto for his own self-denials of how alike they truly were stood in the way of turning everything back to normal. It was almost infuriating to maddening degrees, if the Joker didn't easily forgive his only friend for his flaws.
New laws and protocols had been enacted in Gotham to prevent more grand ol' times to be had. If truth be told, it made Gotham City more of a hazard zone for ones well-being than it was previously. The non-existing puppets had acted out against their original purpose for the only two people who existed amusement. Causing a sort of havoc that even Joker didn't find very funny. Sure, the Bat didn't abide by laws if his vigilante hero status was anything to go by. HA, now that was good joke! Batman held a brutality- a darkness- in him that Joker had seen over and over again which only made the clown fall deeper in love for his other half even more each time he got the pleasure to see it.
So, no. He couldn't stay pissed at his playmate. Joker was sure the Dark Knight was doing everything in his power to continue their games; the best he could, anyways. Bless that little black heart of his Bat. The vigilante really does try so hard. Joker could count on him to come out of his cave and play. He needed to believe that. Doubting that very concept would break apart his heart. Destroy everything inside him. If the Bat recoiled from him now of all times, well, he wasn't sure he could handle that situation at all. Or, more importantly, how he would react according to a situation like that taking place.
Best not to think of those impossibilities. Stressing over trivial nonsense couldn't be good for his complexion. Needed to stay looking his best for his deviously handsome dance partner. He couldn't afford any frown lines. That would just be unsightly and Joker was quite pleased with his appearance; thank you very much! How could he not be? He was one dashing homicidal maniac. Well, now, he was getting off track; wasn't he?
Point being, certain factors had now spiced everything up in their playground and not for the better.
When it came down to it, desperation called for other means to achieve a goal.
For a Joker card to be thrown down on the table and change the entire outcome of an almost winnable hand.
A fact that was downright hilarious in the worse possible way. Didn't matter, he'd laugh at the joke of his life no matter how growingly morbid it was becoming. Perhaps, even mister doom and gloom would get a chuckle at the events that were no doubt to come.
Who was he kidding? Getting so much as a smirk from the Bat was nearly impossible on his best day.
The Bat-Signal had stopped shinning in the sky seven months ago. That's when everything changed. When the whole balance was thrown for a twisted loop. It wouldn't have caught the eye of the average Joe in Gotham, but Joker had seen the red flags before everything went to shit. Seen all of it from his cell in Arkham when the quacks who called themselves experts of the mind -HA- thought he wasn't observant enough to pay much attention. It was effortless to read their intentions. To see the growing murderous excitement in their gazes when they watched the patients scuffle about. No one else noticed the change of standard routine, but the Joker. Figures that everything that could go wrong would start at Arkham Asylum first. Not that Joker decided to stick around for it to happen. He had more important matters to attend to than watching the dominos fall. He had seen enough- experienced to much- to know what was coming next. News, regardless, travel fast and disappearances that most would assume were the norm of escapes from the revolving door that was his home away from home; hid the despicable truth.
Joker wondered if even the great detective that the Bat was had figured out what was really going on.
The game -possibly- forever changed and the need to adapt was becoming more crystal clear. He was sure this wouldn't last; hoped it wouldn't, but he might as well enjoy himself while he could. It made dealing with the now reality of his life easier to handle. Laughing away the creeping memories that kept wanting to resurface and drag the clown down into suffocating despair. A frown wouldn't look good on him after all. Better to smile and laugh at the lunacy of this sick joke than let everything get him down.
Not that it didn't change the hot boiling rage whenever he thought back on the one particular month when things changed. Didn't curb the ache in his heart when his playmate was almost lost to him forever. How seeing a broken Bat who was near the brink of death and not caused by his hand was just downright unfathomable that Joker would have killed someone just for thinking of that possibility and, yet, he had witnessed it with his own eyes. It left a permanent impression on him that he never wanted to experience it again.
It made his Bat-King, no, his Bat-God, almost seem utterly and completely... human.
Almost.
Joker would never delude himself into that mindset.
However, it was the closest he had ever come in the years since his rebirth in the acid of Ace Chemicals to pondering such a fallacy to that regard.
In a small way that terrified him, more than he could ever thought possible. Shook him to his very core. It was overwhelming and crippling that he was positive Scary would have had a field day if that tidbit of information got out. Not that it ever would. Joker would rather die; preferably by Batman, than ever let that condemning intel slip out to the masses.
That was unacceptable and retribution was in order.
Joker would make sure of it and no one would be able to prevent him from seeking bloodshed for a slight so significant against his entire world view.
The Clown Prince was convinced even the unmovable object that was the almighty Bat King couldn't hold any weight against the unstoppable force he was about to unleash on all that allowed the unthinkable to happen.
He would have been disappointed in his Bat, if he gave it to much thought.
It was just so uncharacteristically asinine that Batman even succumbed to a thing like that happening.
His playmate always had a plan. Always prevailed and survived no matter what this putrid city threw at him. Joker should know better than anyone as he himself never went easy in their games. When they played together, Joker always gave it his all. He couldn't disappoint his friend. Wouldn't even dream of it. Still, he trusted the Bat to always survive. Because, that's what, Batsy never failed to do. Joker loved that about him. Embraced everything that his Bat was capable of becoming if only the Dark Knight would laugh away all his restraint.
Now that would be a day worth dying for and he had the full intention of that being the case.
When he found his best friend in his dire state, left out like a piece of disposable trash, when instead all of Gotham City should regard him as the Bat King that he is, something snapped within the Clown Prince of Crime. That short three week's that followed where he kept his playmate safe, until, he was positive that he could allow the Bat to fly from the nest should have been the best time of his life. It hadn't been. Well, not a hundred percent true. Spending that much time with his best friend was wonderful, even if Bat would lie to himself and disagree. It really had been a nice bonding experience after rarely seeing his other half for a long while. Joker would even go out on a limb and say it was very much needed for their relationship to progress. Sadly, he couldn't keep the Bat with him for long. At the same time, Joker hated to admit that he didn't want to.
At least not in those circumstances.
Not when the raging emotions he was trying to keep under the surface kept simmering in his mind.
Many times he lost his temper with his weakened playmate and, well, let's just say, luckily for them both Bats were incredibly durable creatures.
In the end the Bat had to leave and Joker let him. Not that he was exactly there at the time to stop him, but it's the thought that counts. Joker told himself.
The Bat King needed to rule over his dark kingdom and the Court Jester needed to respect that.
A Court Jester also needed to bring about both good news and bad in the most effective way possible. To brighten up the day of his Bat King and bring color into that gloomy world of his friends own making. For one day a smile would replace that eternal frown. A glare in the enticing blue orbs of the Bat, that would one day hold such radiating murderous intensity the whole kingdom would crumble under the Batman's feet.
In whatever means necessary to achieve that, Joker would do it with a smile on his face.
It became the final deciding factor for the new role that the Joker had to take on to ensue that their dance could continue unperturbed. Without distractions or interference ever again. If his playmate wouldn't take the necessary steps then Joker would be generous enough to help. He would doing anything for his Bat. Absolutely anything, if he was asked nicely enough.
Psht, not like his only friend ever knew how to have a decent conversation that didn't end with beautiful violence.
Not that Joker was complaining about a silly fun thing like that.
Joker stood in the spacious room as his laughter slowly died down until burst of snickers only remained. Lessening as time passed at a snail's pace. His ruby colored lips splitting into a wide grin as acidic green orbs took in his gift for the Bat. Joker always had a certain knack for flare when it came down to his present giving skills for a certain special brooding Bat King. A role he took very seriously even if the thought of him taking anything serious at all was amusing to him. Most would just assume that the Clown Prince of Crime didn't have much care in the world. Which was a falsehood. He cared about a great many things. A good joke, cotton candy, comedy, killing, oh how he loved murder like a fine wine, but the most important thing in his life was Batman.
Everything he ever did was for Batman's best interest and that resonated even more so now with the current wave of circumstances.
"Heh, if only you knew how much I would do for you, darling, if you just accepted how much I care about you and this little game of ours." Joker muttered to himself and the dead silence around him.
His purple suit was drenched crimson. Green bangs sticking to his chalk white skin. Where once there was bright color of his attire was now a glimmer of its former self. The suit would need to be discarded once he got back to his hideout. It would be way too much of a hassle attempting to clean off all the blood on him. A tiny part was saddened about that as he loved this suit, regardless, sacrifices needed to be made for his best pal in the whole wide world. Honestly, he out did himself with this display of love for his Bat, if he said so himself. Not that he believed for a second that his other half would appreciate it. Stubborn to the very end it would seem. Well, not if Joker had his way. Which he knew he would. After all, this only made his Bats job easier and even the sourpuss could appreciate a little breather now and again. Can't make that a regular occurrence, he reminded himself. Wouldn't want, Batsy to get lazy on him. That just wouldn't be fun in the least. Now, all he had to make sure of was that his darling, would find his way here. Not that it was hard to accomplish. If Joker called then the Batman would always show, literally, in this case. He'd make a phone call. It wasn't exactly his usual routine with getting the necessary attention of a certain vigilante with an annoying hero complex, but sometimes the simplest solution to a problem was the best one.
Joker snickered as he pulled out his phone from his coat pocket, grimacing only slightly when the screen was coated in the red slippery substance by the precious life supply stuck to his purple gloves. Now this was something, he'd have no choice, but to clean.
Oh well, what can you do?
This wouldn't be the first time that he wished he had his playmates phone number and unconvinced that it would be the last. Honestly, it was a bit grating on his nerves how resistant Batman always was when the clown would ask for his number for they could keep in better contact with each other. A simple no would have sufficed instead of the place of the broken bones he always received for his inquiry. Either way as roundabout method he had to take it held a certain appeal to it. A source of amusement he never passed up. No matter how much the other man he was calling tried to prevent it; that never stopped the clown from having his fun. Joker would have preferred a different way of doing things. Something more flashy and with a big boom, now just wasn't the time for that when subtlety was the better approach. This was only for the Bat after all, he couldn't go showcasing this gift to all of Gotham. Suppressing a chuckle that wanted to escape him, he tapped the contact name and put the phone to his ear and waited.
Gotham City Police Department had bleed into so much corruption that for the fifth time that night Jim Gordon had contemplated quitting being Commissioner all together. Throwing in the towel; perhaps, even leave this vile city once and for all. Once he could solemnly trust the other men who worked along side him to bring Gotham to a better state of peace. Where Gothamites would no longer need to fear for their lives whenever they adventured out of their homes. Now, not so much. He wasn't naive enough to think that there wasn't always the corrupted few that worked under the pretense of making this city safe. There had always been officers who would much rather make a quick buck for the mob than actually do their jobs. A battle that he had been fighting for years now to weed out the good officers from the bad. Gordon knew changing the GCPD for the better was a necessity before he could even pondered retiring.
When Batman had come into the picture and brought a surge of hope, Gordon held on to it like a life line when the doubt of if he was honestly accomplishing anything good in this city. For years the city did improve for the better. Of course, it wasn't perfect; far from it. Criminals still appeared like ants and innocent lives were lost, but even he could see the improvements that took shape against all the filth. However, even a resemblance of peace could never last here. Gotham brought out the worse in people as if it was a drug that no rehabilitation could fix. Hope became a fleeting thought and left an inner turmoil inside him.
Taking out another cigarette from the pack in his brown coat, he lit it up and took a deep inhale. As unhealthy as the habit was it calmed his nerves and made it easier for him to focus. Which was extraordinarily difficult in this day and age. His tired eyes glanced at the broken Bat signal that once shone brightly for all of Gotham to see and for criminals to fear. Despair crept around his heart as the icy chill of the rain pelted down on him. Gordon had protested the Bat signal's destruction, but was only met with threats of termination with his job. In the end the signal was destroyed and with it came the surge of crime all throughout the city. His hand rested on the insignia of the Bat and nostalgia fired inside his mind. What he wouldn't give to turn on the signal once more and almost have a heart attack when the Batman would appear behind him to answer its beacon.
Those days were over now and Jim knew the safest place for the Dark Knight was as far away from the rooftops of GCPD as possible. Not that for an instant Batman didn't risk his life in his fight against crime, however, this was different. Where once officers would welcome the vigilante's presence now, most, would aim to kill for a reward money that would just bring out absolute mayhem in its wake. If Batman would ever perish, God help this City for no one could do what the Dark Knight did. Which wasn't that the exact reason Batman appeared in the first place? To battle a war that no regular man could ever win. In the earlier days even Gordon himself didn't realize how beneficial Batman was for Gotham's survival. Countless times he tried to bring the man in by the book because laws needed to be followed. Justice shouldn't be delivered by one person and he held onto that belief for the first few years. It took a while for the Dark Knight to earn his trust, earn his respect and when that happened a never breakable comradely was formed; washing away the distrust to the way side. A partnership built on mutual respect and a lifelong friendship that he held dearly to his heart.
Removing his hand from the signal and taking more inhale's of his cigarette he looked over the skyline at Gotham below. Wondering if Batman was out there this very night; risking his life just to make sure someone wouldn't succumb to a deadly fate. No matter how things may have changed, he wouldn't doubt for a second that Batman was doing what he had always done. Being the hero this city desperately needed. The sound of his phone ringing startled him out of his musing. Sighing, he dropped his smoke and stomped it out with his shoe. When he answered the phone and the voice that haunted his every nightmare purred on the other line, his heart almost stopped beating.
"Heya, Jimbo! It's been awhile! Have you missed me? I missed you and that wonderful mustache on that mug of yours, hehe. I need to warn you. Never shave it, you'd look downright awful without it. Just a bit of advice from Uncle J to his good friend the commish." Joker giggled on the other line.
"Joker," the name left his lips and felt like arsenic on his tongue.
Everything wrong with the world could be described by that name alone. Every nasty and despicable thing imaginable was tied to that name.
"How's that sweet little daughter of yours? I've been meaning to come visit her. Bring her some pretty flowers. Who knows? Maybe, she'll be so thrilled to receive them that it might help her gain the strength to walk again. HA!" Joker burst into a fit of uncountable laughter, taking a few moments to calm down, before continuing, "What kind does she like, anyways? I'm torn between roses and sunflowers at the moment."
Gordon saw red. His hand clenched the phone even tighter. Wanting to just hurl the damn thing to the street to shatter and with it no longer dealing with murderer as well. It wouldn't help. Regardless, how tempting. Joker's words were like a punch in the gut. Knocking the breath right out of him. All he could feel was deep rooted rage boiling in his veins. Flashes of horrible memories that were ingrained forever in his mind. He could still see the pictures of his exposed bleeding daughter. Could still hear the laughter around him whenever he looked at Barbara. His biggest failure to protect her from the psychopath an everyday reminder in his life. Many times before he wanted to exact the same torment that the maniac did to his family upon the Joker. Even now that dark urge never left the corners of his mind. If anyone deserved to suffer in this city than Joker was at the top of that list.
"Don't you dare talk about my daughter! If you even think about going near her, God help me, I'll-" Gordon was cut off from his threat that probably would never come to fruition by the Joker interrupting him.
"Oh! Relax. Relax. Relax. Just lighten up! Get that stick out of your ass. Are you relaxed yet?" A grumble was his only response. "Huh. Guess not. Don'tcha, fret, Jimbo, that gag has already ran its course. Hehe. What's the point of repeating the same joke when it wouldn't be as funny a second time around? Hmmm. I'd have to get new material before I even waste my time or comedy talent on that daughter of yours again."
"Just get to the point. What do you want?" Gordon replied. He wanted the Joker as far away from any thought regarding his daughter as possible.
It seemed to work by the glint of amusement in the murderers tone.
"So nice of you to ask. There's quite a lot I want. A whole list in fact. Are you going to be jolly ol' Santa and bring me all the delightful goodies for being a good little clown?" There was an under-layer of danger in the cheery tone. It was effortless to tell that Joker wanted something in particular from him. Not that Gordon was very inclined to do anything for the madman that didn't involve locking him away and throwing the key away. For good.
Gordon scoffed. He had dealt with so much of Joker's shit over the years and he wasn't in the mood to handle it tonight. Not ever. Especially with how much has changed in Gotham the past several months. The last thing he needed was the Joker playing his sick games. This city was already reaching the breaking point. Figures, the maniac would resurface again at the worst possible time.
"I don't have time for this," his annoyance was clear in his tone which only caused Joker to fall back into his infamous laughter.
Joker seemed to only want to get under his skin. Which the maniac had no difficulty doing. Gordon could barely keep his temper in check each time that the Joker was involved. Each chance the clown got, he tried to push Gordon farther and farther off the edge.
"I'm hanging up." said Gordon.
"Don't." All pretense of pleasantry was dropped with that one word. Joker wasn't playing around anymore and that became painfully obvious. It was unsettling how quickly the clown's personality could change on a drop of a hat.
"Then stop wasting both our times. I'm too busy to deal with you and frankly I don't want to. So either spit it out or I'm hanging up. Enough with the games." Gordon replied; sternly. Even if it wouldn't have much effect on the psychopath.
Silence befell them for a short moment. For a second Gordon almost thought that the Joker had hung up on him. If he couldn't hear the slight breathing on the other line to tell him otherwise. He wished the clown had, but Joker would never grant him that luxury.
"Ya know, Jimbo, you're adorable, in a way too serious kinda way," Gordon grimaced at the fondness in the Joker's voice. Making his stomach twist in knots. He didn't get a chance to speak before the Joker continued, "makes sense that you would be, I suppose. Bat did create you after all. Heh. Hell, knows I wouldn't have. You're to much of a stick in the mud for my taste, but you do provide some amusing games. Wanna know a secret? I betcha do. You're quality for hilarious entertainment is the only reason I've let my Bat keep you for so long. Honestly, I probably would have disposed of you years ago, otherwise."
Gordon didn't grace that comment with a response. Joker was by far too insane to ever realize the absurdity that came out his mouth. All he knew was he'd be needing another smoke once this phone call was over. Seemed like kicking the habit was not in the foreseeable future.
Silence never perturbed the Joker into ending his ramblings. He was pretty sure the clown could carry one-sided conversations for hours on end if he wanted to. However, the next sentence the maniac said made his skin crawl.
"Speaking of adorable things, have you kept in contact with, Batsy?" There was desperation in the clown's voice that Gordon never heard before.
It shouldn't have come as much of a surprise for him as it did that this conversation would turn to the topic of the protector of Gotham City. Everyone who had the unfortunate opportunity to meet the Clown Prince of Crime learned very quickly how obsessed with the Batman the Joker was. Years of bloodshed and lives lost were a testament to that fact. He and his own daughter had suffered because of that deranged obsession. When Batman was the topic of interest that's when the Joker was at his most dangerous. Regardless, with the state of Gotham recently, he couldn't help, but wonder how much the Joker actually knew. Most of the citizens of this city wasn't even aware of what was going on behind the scenes, regarding Batman. Yet, Gordon felt positive if anyone did know it would be the Joker. Still it was better to tread things carefully.
"Does it really matter if I've spoken to him or not?" Gordon said; cautiously. A growl on the other line confirmed that, yes, it did in fact matter a great deal. At least to the Joker.
"Yes or No? Don't play coy with me. I'm not in the mood. I know that little signal of the Bats hasn't been on for months, so answer the question!" the ire in the clown's tone sent a shiver down Gordon's spine.
"...Yes," Gordon answered and instantly regretted the slight relief he felt when the tension dissipated with a low chuckle on the other line.
Fuck, he really needed another smoke.
"Thought so," Joker sighed, "I knew I could count on you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" He really didn't want an answer to that question.
"I need ya to do a little tiny favor for me, buddy ol' pal." Joker replied; smugness evident in his voice.
A beat.
"You're out of your fucking mind if you think for one instant I would help you out with anything." Gordon said; clear disbelief showing through his words.
Joker tsked, the sound chipping away more at Gordon's thinning patience's.
"No, see, that's where you're gravely mistaken, old friend. Because we both know that you'll do what I ask." Joker chided him as if he was speaking to a child.
"You're delusional. The only thing I'd ever help you with is seeing you behind bars. I'm done with this conversation." Gordon almost hung up, but was stopped by Joker's words, yet again.
"Really? Is that so? Well, go ahead then, hang up. See what happens if you want to test me," Joker waited for the click, but it never came. "Thatta, boy. Look at you go! You're actually learning. We both know the extents I will go to prove a point; don't we? Heh, speaking of, have you decided to take my wonderful life advice and walk through the emergency exit, yet? I mean, your life can't be all that great with everything that's going on these days. Might do you some good to dabble with that sweet, sweet insanity."
Gordon kept quiet and ignored him, which finally brought Joker to the real reason why he called in the first place.
"Anyways, all I need ya to do is make a call to my darling, little, Bat. It's really quite simple. No hassle at all. Think you can accomplish that much, pal?" Joker purred out the word Bat in an affectionate way.
That caught Gordon's attention. It was such an odd request that it left him aghast. He wasn't even sure he heard the Joker right the first time.
"What?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.
"Are ya going deaf in your old age? Ugh. Fine. I'll say it one more time. I want you to give, Batsy a call for me." Joker's tone was laced with impatience.
Apparently, the Joker was being serious. Which only brought many more unanswered questions to the forefront of his mind.
"Why do you even need my help with that? You haven't had difficulty in the past getting Batman's attention." Gordon spoke more to himself than the madman.
Joker let out a deep laugh at that. Sounding much to bitter than what he was used to hearing. Seems like he had struck a nerve with the maniac. One he didn't even know was there. Joker hadn't been seen for months since his escape from Arkham Asylum and Gordon was starting to question if there was more to the story than he would ever know. The few times he was able to go unnoticed and speak with Batman, the other seemed to distance himself from the topic of the Joker all together. His instincts told him that there was pieces to the puzzle that he was missing, but he knew neither the Bat nor the Clown would offer up the revelation; willingly. At the same time as curious as he was, he wouldn't press the issues. The farther he stayed away from it the better it was for his own sanity. Batman could handle the Joker, he always did.
"Well, I could get dear batty boys attention in my usual way, but I think you wouldn't approve of that one bit. Jimbo, you might as well make your life easier this one chance you have to do so." Joker persuaded.
Gordon did not feel comfortable giving in to the Joker's request. It went against everything he stood for. Still, he trusted Batman to be able to handle himself. If anyone could take the Joker down it was the Dark Knight. It was more preferable than having innocent people get caught in the cross fire between those two men. He didn't know what the Joker was planning. Regardless, whatever it was, Batman would be there to stop him. Some things never change.
"Fine, I'll do it. Only because it will be satisfying to see you off the streets and locked up where you belong." Gordon responded as he took another cigarette from his coat pocket. Knowing tonight, he wouldn't get any restful sleep.
"Heh, Good, now listen up. I won't be repeating myself and if you mess this up, what can I say other than just don't mess this up."
If anyone walking the streets of Gotham City decided to look up that night then they may have caught a glimpse of their protector going from roof top to roof top. Despite, this fact, everyone just continued with their nightly activities. Oblivious to anything that didn't concern them directly. Ignorance was truly bliss at times. Bruce, however, wasn't so fortunate. His city had changed all around him in such a short amount of time. In fact everything he thought he knew was turned on it's head and thrown threw an insane loop it was hard to keep anything straight. Everything happened so quick like a gun firing in an alleyway. The worse part was this time that bullet had been aimed at him. Hitting its mark and he was sometimes unconvinced that he had managed to survive. That he was still alive and breathing. Able to continue his crusade for Justice.
By all accounts, Batman should be dead. The cards had been stacked against him and by the time he even noticed he had the loosing hand, it was far to late. Or should have been. Every deck of cards had a wild card. One that's unpredictability could change the whole game.
The Joker card.
Which apparently, had been on his side when all hope seemed lost.
An irony that wasn't lost on him in the worse possible way.
Bruce should have died six months ago. It was a thought that wouldn't leave his mind in the months that followed. There was no fathomable reason for him not to be. It didn't make sense. Batman fell into a trap that he didn't predict, one that he didn't have a way out of. Bruce would have perished in that alleyway. Bleeding out just like his parents had. It would have been almost poetic irony if he thought long and hard on it.
He hadn't died, in fact, he had been saved. By the worse man that Gotham has ever seen and will probably ever experience again. If anyone had foretold him that one day the Joker of all people who have saved his life then he was positive he would have needed to have that persons sanity evaluated. It just wasn't in the realm of possibilities and regardless, that's exactly what had happened.
How was he still breathing?
Why wasn't Batman rotting in the ground by now?
Why did Joker do what he did?
For three full weeks the Joker had attended to his wounds in the abandoned comedy club hide-out of his. Bruce couldn't recall when the clown had found him. All he remembered was waking up to that infamous grin looking down on him. Seeing those poisonous acidic green orbs he knew so well. Pupils that only ever expanded when they gazed at the Dark Knight. He wouldn't state it out loud, but in that moment it was the most terrified he had ever been in his life. Alone and vulnerable at the Joker of all people's mercy. A murderer who treated death as a punchline. Where no shred of empathy would ever be found. Despite, this, Batman had received Joker's only form of mercy that could ever be offered from the likes of him. The oxygen that filled his lungs even now was a testament to that fact.
The experience wasn't exactly any less volatile than usual. Joker was prone to mood swings and constantly lashed out at the injured Batman when pushed a little too far. Regardless, Bruce knew the clown held back. Noticed, how the unrelenting murderer would avert his gaze each time that he acted out in anger. Neither at the time trusted the other to not result to violence when it came to each other. It was their routine that had been established for years now. A familiarity they clung to when everything else was changing for the both of them. Near the end, before Batman escaped -if he could even call it that as Joker did nothing to prevent him from leaving- in fact it seemed that the clown wanted him gone, a peculiar shift came over them. Hardly, even noticeable, but more significant than anything else could ever be. Batman and the Joker had started to get along with each other's company.
Which was a terrifying new concept that Bruce wasn't sure he could accept, just yet. Self-denial felt far more like a security measure than accepting a new reality between them.
If he allowed himself for one second to think that anything could change than hope would start to fester in his heart. Which, Bruce had learned all too well that anything positive would just be blown out like a candle when it came to the Joker.
It's been months now since that time stamp on his life and memories happened. Distractions from dwelling on the madman were made easily available to Batman. A new threat in his city that had to be dealt with. Which, sadly he wasn't even close to accomplishing. A specific danger that was only posed towards himself and the major criminals this city produced. The majority of the populace in his city was mildly aware of what was taking place. Their only real signs to any sort of accumulating knowledge would be that his signal no longer appeared in the sky. Batman, however, had been made painfully made aware of everything. A new protocol had been issued throughout the city.
Kill the Batman and kill all of Gotham's major criminals.
A special task force -more militia- simply called Midnight (the name wasn't subtle with its meaning, Bats were nocturnal after all, what better time to hunt him down than when night fell?), was put into effect by the new mayor Quincy Sharp and unknown correspondents. Which they were more than adept at carrying out their orders to nerve wracking degrees. Most of the villains that Batman faced went into hiding when the new group made their presence known. Others, weren't so lucky. Even the GCPD was no longer a safe haven when the few that had tried to seek protection there. The reports being falsified that criminals were either sent to Blackgate or Arkham Asylum when the truth was far grimmer. Everything was being kept in the dark and it wasn't until he dealt with this new group himself that he learned what was really going on.
Again, Batman should have been dead.
Selina Kyle, was one of the fist causalities that Batman had been made aware of. Knowledge that the Joker gleefully informed him which resulted in a broken nose for the grinning clown. She had been shot down in her apartment and the crime scene left to look like a burglary gone wrong. It was a sick joke -Joker's words- and a mockery for the life that Catwoman lived. The pain of her loss had never subsided even to this very night within him. Bruce could never forgive himself for not being there to protect her. Angry at himself for not saving her. For not figuring out about the threat in time to prevent it. All he could do was make sure that her death wasn't in vain and that she'd get the justice that was owed to her.
The list of names of people who were lost had continued to grow over the long months. Each name pushing the Dark Knight deeper and deeper off the edge. If this continued; he wasn't even sure if he could stop himself from seeking vengeance over justice.
No one in Gotham City had been prepared.
Well, except one person.
Joker on the other hand, seemed to know when all this started if those three weeks spent listening to him were any indication. The clown didn't really discuss it all in great detail; much to Batman's aggravation. All that was really said was that the clown knew when it was time to split before his own life was offered on a silver platter. If anyone would survive when this was all over, Bruce would gamble his entire fortune that it would be the Joker.
Joker was nothing, but, resilient and Bruce truly believed if the maniac was ever going to die it would be only because he broke his one rule. Something he had no intention of ever doing. So, Joker would continue to live and thrive, no matter what this city had to say about the matter. The clown would simply laugh in its face and carry on like he always did.
For the time being that's exactly what Batman was allowing the Joker to do.
There were more important concerns to focus his attention on than one psychopath; no matter how dangerous that said psychopath was to everyone.
Not that the Joker even showed himself and was more off the radar to everyone right now; including Batman.
Now, a-days he spent all his time trying to gather as much information as he could to bring this Midnight militia group and the mayor to justice for their crimes. So, far it all had been futile, but one thing could be said about the Dark Knight, he was more than just determined. Alfred had been adamantly against him going out each night after the distress call Bruce made when he left the Joker's hideout. He couldn't blame his father's figure concerns, but as long as people, no matter how awful, were being executed in cold blood, Bruce couldn't stand idle and do nothing. It went against every instinct he had developed over the years. People were counting on him to keep them safe. No one else would bother to risk their life night after night to save even the worse that Gotham had to offer.
There were plenty of close calls that he narrowly escaped the past few months. This time, though, Batman had been ready for them. He even had taken down a few of their hidden bases of operation. Batman didn't allow room for error, because if he did, Joker might not be there this time to prevent his death. It was unsettling how he could even have that train of thought. Joker being related anything to safety should never even be considered. Like always, he allowed self-denial to kick in and keep his mind as far away from the glimmering hope as possible.
Until, Gordon called him an hours ago that is.
That's when everything relating to the Joker came back at full force and hit him like a train wreck. Feeling as if a knife went straight into his heart. Bringing back all the uncertainty that he tried to keep away as much as possible or else it would overcome him. As blue eyes gazed over the familiar comedy club that plagued his existence for three weeks; he felt like a coward. Every impulse told him to run as far away from the building as possible. To avoid the Joker all together. He didn't even know if the maniac was in the comedy club, but he didn't want to find out. All the self-denial that had been keeping him afloat was being pulled away from him. Leaving him exposed and vulnerable to the one thing he didn't want to feel. Hope. Deep down inside he was foolishly gripping onto the idea that things between him and the Joker had actually changed. That their games with each other that only left bodies that could line all of Gotham's streets might finally come to an end. Perhaps, they didn't need to have everything end with one of them dying.
Joker seemed to have other set of priorities than quitting their games for their own sake. It would be so easy to just grapple away and ignore whatever Joker had planned for him. Batman didn't have time to deal with the clown and the worse part even if he did; he wasn't even sure what to do with him afterwards. However, ignoring the Joker was never a good idea; especially for Batman. The rare instances that he tried to do so only enraged the lunatic and almost cost him his life. Not counting how many innocents had suffered for Batman's neglect for the Joker's need for attention. Bruce couldn't have a repeat of those times ever again. Joker would no doubt prove more dangerous for Gotham than the militia group could ever hope to be if he recoiled from the madman now.
Closing his eyes; he tried to steady himself. He needed to be prepared if the Joker was continuing their dance.
Bruce knew he was stalling for time. Trying to find any reason he could not to enter the building. There were plenty, but weren't worth the consequences that would surely follow that course of action.
Regardless, he hesitated, as he had been doing so for close to twenty minutes now.
Being proven right didn't feel worth it. There would be no satisfaction to be found if he was. Batman didn't want to be right this time. He wanted to be able to hold on to hope when everything was falling apart.
Desperately wanting not to go back to a cycle that was destroying him little by little each time it repeated. Pushing him further to his breaking point every single time.
With a heavy heart and locking away any shimmering desires to be optimistic in his mind; he made his decision. Not that he would ever have a choice when the Joker was involved. The clown would always come first in Batman's life. One way or another. Blue eyes opened and he glided down to enter the building that had been his safe place for three weeks when he needed it to regain his strength. A place where he had been the closest to the Joker than he had ever been before. Where he was allowed to get glimpses of something better. An abandon comedy club that offered signs of a future that he knew would never come to be.
Figures, when the Joker blew out the candle that the manic would choose to do it here.
Symbolism that even Batman had to acknowledge was tragic.
The sight of Batman's gift -as Gordon explained that the Joker had declared this to be for Batman coming here in the first place- that greeted him was as disturbing as he had come to expect from the maniac. Regardless, it didn't quench the nausea from creeping in on him. Batman had received many presents from the Joker over the years. All of them deranged. Each one meant to get under his skin and push him towards the clown's goal of having Batman break his one rule. This time although similar; felt entirely different. Where there was carnage to be found; there was also something else. Both infuriating and paralyzing dreadful. No one else would have been able to interpret the meaning behind this and even if he couldn't clarify with a hundred percent certainty; deep down he knew what this was about. A realization that turned his heart to ice.
On one of the purple colored walls (Bruce was certain Joker had them repainted to his liking) was severed heads all grinning widely in death at him and other various body parts all nailed to the wall in the formation of a Bat. A horrific taunt, but also a deadly promise. One that Bruce didn't want to be kept. Joker was far from finished with their games, but the rules had changed. Nothing could stay the same or last forever. These weren't innocent victims that the Joker killed to mock the Bats ideology. This wasn't an invitation for a night of games; even if it could turn into just that. If they had been then Bruce wouldn't be feeling the trepidation eating away at him by the second. Wouldn't feel the temptation to run back to his cave and not resurface as Batman ever again.
No.
They each were members of the militia group terrorizing their city. Newbies, which had nearly done the impossible and almost killed the Batman if it wasn't for the prevention of the Joker. A common enemy to them both. But one, Joker wouldn't show an ounce of mercy to. Gotham City would burn before the clown was finished seeking his revenge. Nothing would get in the Joker's way. The unstoppable force that was out for blood. Only one man could do anything about this and all the warnings were there from the clown that Batman shouldn't get involved. Joker was offering him an easy way out. A single chance to avoid what was the inevitable. It wasn't an everyday occurrence in Bruce's life and an offer he would have to refuse. Joker wouldn't be too pleased if Batman continued his crusade to bring the militia group down. For the psychopath had now made that his goal. Regardless, he also knew that the clown would welcome him with a grin to this game as well. A contradiction that was exactly like the Joker.
In the end the Joker would always be his responsibility and his alone. There were too many variables that could go wrong if the madman was allowed to run wild with his plans. One such outcome almost sent the Dark Knight spiraling down a train of thought he couldn't bear to contemplate. Refused to. Yet, once he did; there was no going back. Bruce wasn't afraid of innocent lives being killed this time. Hell, he hardly even gave a single concern to the militia group members own survival. Joker could probably slaughter them all and Bruce would barely lose an ounce of sleep over it. Even if he loathed to admit it.
Only one life that could be snuffed out crossed his mind.
Joker could die.
Batman almost did.
He shouldn't even still be alive.
Every logical part of his mindset told him that it would be the most likely outcome if he didn't do everything in his power to find the Joker and fast. When earlier he wanted to prevent seeing the clown again; now all he wanted was the Joker in his sights. Where he knew he was safe. Where finding his body in some alleyway wouldn't ever become a reality. Bruce may have spent three full weeks in Joker's company, but right then and there he felt he knew how the madman felt better than that entire time. How what could be interpreted as violent mood swings, suddenly, held more weight in their meaning. Joker had found Batman; nearly dead and with that something was changing inside the maniac. A desire to prevent that from happening ever again. Because in that moment, Bruce knew that same dread. How all overwhelmingly consuming it could feel to acknowledge how everything the two of them knew could dissipate in a single instant.
Batman did not want the Joker to die.
With that realization it just opened the flood gates to everything that he never wanted to grace with a description. Self-imposed denial couldn't protect him this time. His chest felt tight and he could barely even breathe. Fist clenched at his sides as he tried to remember all the hide outs over the years that Joker had taken residence in. The clock was ticking down and he cursed the clown for not giving him more of a lead to finding him. Gotham City was a huge place and the Joker was only ever found when he wanted to be. A constant fact that the only reason he ever apprehended the clown the times that he did was because Joker wanted to play with him. He couldn't rely on that this time. Couldn't trust that Joker would make his whereabouts known to him before it was too late.
Batman had been too late to save so many lives these last seven months. He couldn't allow himself to fail again. Not this time. Not when the stakes were this high. Not when the Joker's life was on the very line.
He didn't have a winning hand this go around.
No, Joker card to change the game in his favor.
Bruce was on his own.
It wouldn't make him throw in the towel and let events unfold to their natural outcome. Wouldn't let himself be discouraged from finding the Joker. He knew this city as well as the clown did. Joker referred to Gotham City as the Batman's dark kingdom so many times. Batman was the unmovable object and he wouldn't stray from his two main mission, now. Finding the Joker and taking down the militia. With a set plan in place the anxiety was pushed away to the back of his mind.
He allowed himself a few minutes of self-indulgence; to just stand there. To remanence of the time that he had spent in this place with the Joker. Even if he wanted to state he hated every single second being stuck around his greatest enemy; he knew he would only be lying to himself. There were small fleeting moments where the maniac had almost gotten a laugh out of him. Card tricks that weren't turned into deadly weapons, but used for showmanship and to impress Batman. Joker's acidic green eyes beaming with pride when the Dark Knight admitted that the clown had skill. Even down to a ridiculous chess match between the two of them where he wasn't surprised to be denied the black pieces. The clown had told him that as long as he was under his roof then the Bat wouldn't be allowed anything dark and gloomy. A small smirk formed on his lips at the thought of the sheer absurdity those three weeks had been.
Another part of him was resentful that Joker would taint those times of contentment that they rarely had with each other by this sick display. Bruce wanted the familiarity of breaking the clown's bones for the sick joke that this place held any real meaning between them. Which is most likely the exact reason Joker chose his gift and message to be here instead of anywhere else in Gotham. Life was a joke to the maniac. A depressing reality that needed to be laughed away at; in the clown's mind. Joker always said how there was no real meaning in the world; even if his actions regarding Batman proved otherwise. Sentimentality wasn't a concept the Joker was familiar with. He didn't hold much things in high regard and anything that he did was only because it brought him amusement.
Joker had to have seen the grinds turning in Bruce's mind those last few days. The start of a glimmer of hope. If anyone could read the Dark Knight, it would have been the clown. In Joker-like fashion he needed to destroy it. To bring the Batman farther down on his level. Joker hated change. It was one of the few things that the madman had been sincerely honest about with Batman during their time together. The murderer may have thrived with chaos, but he couldn't handle his reality changing or crumbling apart at the seams. He was a creature of impulse and habit. When the world had shifted on them both, it disturbed the Joker more than he had liked to admit. Yet, Bruce had observed just that. Had seen the desperation in those green orbs to keep the Bat with him, but also the conflicting emotions that would come forth if he did. That would have ruined their dance. Something, Joker would never allow to happen.
So, Joker did what he always had done; he avoided the issue all together -something Bruce begrudgingly admitted that they had in common- and left for hours on the last day of the Bats stay. It was the nicest way the clown could basically say get the fuck out. Right now, he wondered what would have happened if he didn't take that chance to escape and actually stayed. How would the Joker have reacted? Probably, not well. At the same time leaving then now felt like a mistake. If he stayed then there might have been a small chance that everything would be different now. That the game could have had a different ending then the one it's set on course for. A realization that Bruce was now more determined to rectify the next time he found the Joker. Perhaps, there might still be time to fix everything.
Bruce took one last glance around the room. His blue gaze stopping at the disturbing scene on the wall.
Written in blood within the Bat symbol, was three words that's meaning only the two of them could understand. A single reminder of the past where Batman had only saved the Joker's life at the last possible second. A foreshadowing for everything to come.
Justice. Just Us