Just before the dawn…
This occurs after the Dark Knight so obviously there will be spoilers. I don't own anything, sadly enough. If slash-ish material offends you…why did you click on my story? The rating…well it is what it is. Nothing very racy happens just yet.
But it will…
I haven't written in years and what I did write back then was absolute garbage. I hope this is better. If not…sorry, review anyway and help me out!
On with the show…
Bruce sat in his favorite chair, staring sightlessly out the window of the penthouse. Today had been unimaginably miserable. Gordon had called to deliver the delightful news that the Joker had broken out of Arkham only weeks after his capture, thanks to the help of a female psychologist who was apparently quite taken with the scarred clown.
The caped crusader rubbed his temples, absolutely flummoxed as to what to do next. It would be hard to chase a criminal who handled his murderous affairs so publicly without being caught himself. Maybe they would cut him a break, just this once, knowing that Joker was someone they couldn't handle alone.
"Sorry to disturb you Master Wayne, this just arrived for you."
The billionaire turned his head slowly, ignoring the screaming protests of his battered muscles as he did so.
"Yes?"
The butler handed over a bright green package.
He stood and slowly opened the box, extremely wary of the most likely volatile nature of the contents. It held another green box, this one smaller with a handle on the side.
"A jack in the box sir, it appears our fiendish friend has wasted no time getting back to work"
Bruce leaned back and cranked the handle, making sure to keep his face out of range of anything that might pop out. All that came out at the end of the song was a clown doll with a scrap of paper gripped in its menacing teeth.
MISS YOU BATS!! MEET ME TONIGHT AT THE DOCKS. YOU KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPEPN OTHERWISE…
Bruce flung the box and cursed loudly.
"Alfred, how flimsy is security at Arkham? I almost died trying to catch this monster, Rachel and Harvey both lost their lives on the road to his capture and they just let him walk out!"
"Sir from what I hear Dr. Quinzell was very helpful in bringing this about. He wouldn't have been able to do it without all of her keys and codes."
He began trudging towards the door, grabbing the keys to the warehouse on the way.
"Don't wait up, Alfred"
Batman stood on the highest loading platform overlooking the docks, hoping not to be surprised by the Joker's entrance.
He was surprised anyway when he saw the man walking towards him in an incredibly straight-forward way, no goons, no visible weapons.
"Why'd ya have to go all the way up there? That's a very long climb and I've had a very long day. Wouldn't you rather be down here…with me?" The last words poured out of the red lips like thick honey. Shivers shot like lightening down Bruce's spine, shivers he didn't like at all.
The Bat glided down from his perch, landing at the feet of the purple suited man
"That's so much better. So how've you been lately sweetheart? Lonely without the happy couple? I must admit I expected Dent to wreak a little more havoc before you brought him down. Gave him too much credit I guess."
The lunatic smiled to see the face underneath the mask begin to harden with anger.
"Oh Brucey, hit a nerve have I?"
"What did you call me?"
"Oops, cats out of the bag then! Yes mister Wayne, I've known, the entire time I was biding my time in Arkham. Your friend the D.A. let it slide that he had his suspicions about the man behind the mask." He licked his scarred lips slowly, eyes boring deeply into those of his enemy.
"I must say I've seen you about town and I'd love to know why you hide such a pretty face behind a mask. You have no scars, no disfigurement, nothing but young, supple, flawless flesh…"
"Thanks for the complements but I have my reasons. Did you have a reason for this meeting or did you just want to hear yourself talk?"
"That right there. That is what I love so very much about you. That spirit, that spark…that shining beam of incorruptibility, just begging for me to test its limits. It's why a guy like me gets up in the morning. You give me a purpose no one else ever could."
Bruce was silent, knowing there was no possible response to this twisted flattery.
"You made me Bruce. You created what I am, almost as if you reached out into the darkness you fought so fiercely and asked for something more, a foe worth your time. Finally, a worthy adversary. And here I am, in the flesh. And since we've decided that neither of us is going to kill the other, we may as well enjoy our time together since neither of us is going anywhere."
"Enjoy my time with the criminal who murdered my friends?"
"Why not? Have you got anything better to do?"
He began to circle the batman, getting closer with every step, eyeing him lecherously.
"You humor me and I won't tell anyone who you are and I won't kill anyone."
"How can you mean that?"
"You have my word as a professional; no one will die as long as you play my little game."
This made Bruce extremely nervous. Putting himself in some kind of sick danger to save the lives of everyone in Gotham…that was nothing. But the look in those black eyes and the husky timbre of his voice had the Dark Knight more afraid than he'd been in a long time.
"What exactly does that entail?"
"Oh I can't tell you now Brucey, it's all part of my little game. You'll just have to wonder until I'm ready to come for you."
He smiled; wide enough that it seemed the scars would burst open.
A noise in the distance caused Batman to take his eyes from the Joker who quickly grabbed him by the neck and drew his face next to his own. He ran his thumb from the edge of Bruce's mouth all the way up his cheek bone. As the Bat jerked away he noticed the painted man close his eyes and inhale.
He ran his hand through is green hair and whispered "Until we meet again!" as he disappeared into the shadows.
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