Rated M for romance in later chapters :)

Who Wants To Live Forever?

{prologue}

"You know, some-urh-someday, Batman, you're gonna to have to give this all up." He ducked the next punch, but it caught him on the forehead anyway. Laughing at the pain, – whoopsie daisy! – he continued undeterred, "What's a man like you still DOING here, anyway? How old are you? You should be fighting girls, not fighting me-" With the angered growl from his attacker came another whack to the head.

"I did have someone; you killed her."

"Speaking now again are we? Well that makes a change between the fists. You failed psychology, didn't you?" Seeing the Bat raise his arm again he quickly scooted backwards, raising his hands in submission, "Woah, Bats. I just wanna talk." He patted the dusty ground beside him. "Come sit down, you'll strain yourself."

The Bat didn't move from his standing position, glaring down at the Joker as if all the anger in his gaze could stop up that never-ending mouth.

The man on the floor shrugged, "Fine. You're unbelievably stubborn, you know. But you wanna know what's happening…? I think it's getting to you."

"What?"

"Oh, you know – all this!" he twirled his hands in the air, and Bruce was surprised to see his hands covered in a thick layer of plaster residue. "Fighting crime, saving the world, it's gotta get a little tiring, hm? That's why I've got a- a deal for you."

Bruce snorted, he couldn't help it.

"Now what's so funny? You haven't even heard what I'm gonna say, yet. At least give it a chance." The Joker smiled for a moment, and then wiped all the humour off his face. The transition was startling in the shadows of the night - though the moon was shining into the empty shell of a building it accented all his scars.

"No, I've found out crime's biggest secret." He leaned forward, resting his arms on his upturned knees, "Immortality. And it's going to be mine."

Taking advantage of his nemesis' temporary vulnerability, the Batman lunged forward and hauled him against the short wall. As the Joker's head hit the concrete he fell into unconsciousness, causing large white flakes of plaster to cascade to the already powdered floor. Seeing this, the Bat loosened his grip, and watched the Joker sink to the ground with a sort of weary satisfaction. "There's no such thing," he said tiredly, "and you're a fool to believe it."

Author's note:

Ehehehe. I have good plans for this one. Hope you like it! As always, I'd love it if you gave me your thoughts. :)
~Eli