Disclaimer: I do not own Batman. Or his movie!
"I found him, he's here." Bruce growled quietly into his walkie-talkie.
He knew Alfred could see what he was seeing through his eyes right now, literally. The glowing eyes on his Batman mask were the only visible sign of his current location, to the naked eye, in the pitch blackness of the surrounding shadows engulfing him.
He watched from behind an unmarked building, as the little eight year old 'Joker' pulled his jacket tighter around his chest in a feeble attempt to better shelter himself from the cold air as he sat on the steps to what Bruce could only assume was his parents apartment. But Bruce didn't know who he was currently living with, nor did he care much, he just needs the Joker.
If he call him anything else.
And of course at this age the boy is too young to become the Joker just yet. Not that Bruce is going to let that happen, but he didn't and still doesn't even know his real name. He's not even sure if the kid has one. It wouldn't surprise him if he didn't. He has no records on anything, just like in the old days when he was the mass murdering clown who terrorized Gotham and took Rachel's life.
His Rachel.
Bruce tried his best not to think of her right now and focus on what he came here for.
The Joker.
It was pure luck that Bruce had found him, but he figured the kid would be living somewhere in the dumps considering his past reputation. Or future. Bruce has to remember that he's almost thirty years in the past right now, but it's also another dimension within the thirty year time laps itself , so technically any little thing he says or does could possibly alter Gotham's future greatly.
And that's exactly what he plans on doing.
"Look at him." Alfred's voice pulled Bruce back to reality. "Look at his face."
He focused back on the kid Joker, who now had a grey beanie pulled over his head and was staring intently at something in his hands. It looked to be paper, maybe a picture of sorts, Bruce wasn't sure, but he knew what Alfred was taking about immediately. It was the whole reason why Bruce knew he had found the young Joker to begin with.
His scars. Red and slightly puffed on his face as if they were still fresh. Bruce felt a quick pang of sympathy shoot through his heart to see the young boy already with those morbid deformities splitting across his features. He never knew how the Joker got his scars, but even today he's sure he doesn't want to know, nor he does want to feel sympathy for the Joker, ever. No matter his age.
The young Joker hopped up from his spot on the steps and sauntered over to a metal trash can where he disposed of whatever it was that he was holding earlier. Bruce watched with detached interest as he then proceeded to fish a lighter out of his jacket pocket and light the trash on fire. After he was satisfied it caught flame, he held his bare hands over the burning garbage to warm them up.
Typical Joker move, setting things on fire. Bruce almost smirked at the recognition..almost.
"It's now or never, Master Wayne." Alfred warned.
Bruce knew he was right. It's time to get this over with. He, as quietly as only Batman could, made his way over to where the Joker was standing, but also made a conscious effort to keep himself to the shadows at best. He didn't want to have to chase the kid down if he decided to bolt on him at the last second.
But of course the Joker, once again, caught Bruce by surprise when he suddenly turned his attention fully on him. Bruce paused for a second, unsure if it was surprise that the Joker had spotted him so quickly, or the look in the kid's eyes, that made him do so. Bruce took notice of the little bits of blonde hair peaking out from under his beanie, the dark contrast making his hair and skin look paler than they actually were, but what really caught Bruce's attention was sparkle in his eyes.
It wasn't the typical naive happy sparkle of child-like innocence, no, it was the kind of sparkle that raised the hair on the back of your neck, that kind of look that makes you want to hide a gun under your pillow just so you can sleep at night, it was that same look of laughter in the Joker's eyes that Bruce had seen too many times over in his days when the Joker thought he knew something that he didn't already.
He had enough of this.
The kid Joker watched with cat-like interest, but made no move to run or stop him, as Bruce quickly grabbed a hold of him and sprayed him in the face with a small dosage of standard knockout gas. The boy fell limp and Bruce hoisted his unconscious body over his shoulder, and just as quickly as before, retreated back into the shadows.
Bruce also had to keep in mind that Batman didn't exist in these days, so it's not like he can go around and leave traces of chemicals and equipment that have yet to be invented. A quick and stealthy in and out job is all that was required of him.
It felt weird to think that he's technically a kidnapper now, but this isn't just any kid. It's the Joker. So it was a necessary evil, and not only will Bruce be bettering Gotham's future entirely, he will also be accomplishing the one most important thing that is to him.
Saving Rachel Dawes's life.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
And there goes chapter one!
This is actually my first Batman fic, but I hope you guys found it interesting enough to, oh I don't know..
Drop a review? Two? Just one? Three!
Chapter 2 will be up as soon as I can get to finishing it, just know that I AM (InAMoment) working on it!
Review? :D I'll tell you how I got my scars...