Sorry, I didn't do this last time. I was just eager to post. I own Serena, and nothing else. Not even the Joker. If I did...*ahem* Anyway, here's more to tickle your fancy! Be prepared, this one's a little long.
The night was never quiet in Gotham City. Somewhere, in some dark alley, there were always screams, whispers, shadows. In some of those shadows, the Dark Knight lurked, waiting for the city to cry out to him.
High above the city shined his symbol - the Bat symbol - reflecting off the clouds and smog. The floodlight sat atop the MCU, where inside, Detective Anna Ramirez chuckled at the TV.
"Mister Mayor," said Mike Engel, the reporter. "You were elected on a campaign to clean up the city. When are you gonna start?"
"Well, Mike I believe I already hav-" the mayor began.
Engel cut him off. "Like this so-called Batman figure. People say he's doing good, that criminals are running scared, but I say no!"
"Well, I'm told our men in the Major Crimes Unit are close to an arrest."
Ramirez walked into Wuertz's side of the bullpen. "Hey Wuertz, the mayor says you're closin' in on the Batman."
The man rolled his eyes. "The investigation is ongoing." He crumpled up a paper and threw it with little force at a corkboard with leads as to who the Batman was. The pictures were of Abraham Lincoln, Elvis, and Bigfoot.
Anna went to a flight of stairs leading to the roof, where Jim Gordon stood by the floodlight. She handed him a cup of coffee.
"Ever intending to see your wife again, Lieutenant?" she asked him.
He took a sip. "I thought you had to look after your mother, Detective."
"Checked her back into the hospital."
"I'm sorry," said Gordon.
Ramirez noted the floodlight. "So, he hasn't shown up?"
"He often doesn't," he replied. "But I like reminding everyone that he's out there."
"Why wouldn't he come?"
He turned to her. "Hopefully...because he's busy."
Serena up to the sky as she walked home, staring at the Bat symbol as it shined. At first, she had mistaken it for the moon. But the bat cut-out was enough to prove her wrong. She wondered about Batman. Why does he think he's above the law? At least the cops don't pretend every day is Halloween. The thought of costumes brought her back to the bank. Come now, Serena. Enough of that. That incident had wasted half of her day, being that she'd had to give her "side of the story" as to what had happened. Honestly, Serena just wanted to go home.
She rounded the corner and ran straight into a man. But he wasn't just a man; he was a man holding a gun. Spectacular. He pushed her back into an alleyway, where he was joined by two other thugs.
"Where you goin', baby?" one of them said.
She looked at him boredly. "Home," she said flatly and tried to turn.
The second thug without the gun grabbed her arm. "Don't you dare scream."
"I wasn't planning on it," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Bet you weren't, either."
Before the man could question, she twisted her arm out of his grip and punched him in the stomach. The gunman aimed at her but she kicked the gun high up into the air. It landed halfway across the alley. With a punch to the face, she knocked him down to the cold cement. Both her arms were seized by the two standing thugs, but she pushed herself up and kicked both of them in the chest. She landed on her feet, delivering a chop to one's neck, then a right-cross to the other's temple. Then, seeing they were trying to peel themselves from the concrete, she picked up her purse and strolled out of the alleyway. She glanced up at the sky again.
Where the hell were you?
Serena reached her apartment, and threw her bag on the table. "God damn I hate punks like them," she growled as she examined her reddened hands. Her thoughts went back to the bank. Now THAT had been a fascinating experience. It had been professional, clever, a little silly because of the masks, but interesting nonetheless. Sure, it had been a crime - a robbery, but who cares? It was fun. I bet it would be even more fun to be one of the robbers. One of the clowns... The clowns. She still couldn't forget that one: the Joker. Was he evil? "Most likely," she said aloud, answering her mind. Was he attractive? "Not really." True, he had a certain something, but he wasn't exactly a heartthrob. Dangerous? "Of course," she grinned. Serena liked bad boys. Gone forever? She sighed. That was a definite yes. Although he had seemed interested, there was no way that -
She stopped mid-thought. Something still wasn't right, she could feel it. She walked quickly but quietly to her bedroom and slipped her dragon-dagger into her pocket, then went to the kitchen. That was her favorite knife. It had a steel sheath with blue glass in between the decorations, and the handle was shaped like a dragon. She stood at the counter, pouring herself a martini. That's when she heard it. Trying to be quiet, are you? Holding up her glass, she examined the reflection inconspicuously and could not believe what she saw. He was there, in her house. The Joker.
"You must be the Joker," she said, turning around. "Care for a drink?"
He made his way toward her. "That depends, sweetie," he said in a playful voice. "Whaddya got?"
She stared into his eyes, unable to think of what to say.
"What's the matter, cat got your tounge?" Serena kept staring at him. He sighed. "I'll have what you're havin'."
She turned and grabbed another glass, making sure her hands remained steady. Her mind raced with questions, and she wasn't sure where to begin. She began mixing the drink, but could feel his eyes on her.
He watched her, motionless. His eyes wandered up and down her slender body, enjoying the definition her jeans gave her. He hardly noticed when she paused.
"Why are you here?" she said, turning to him. She held out his drink, and he drank it down in two gulps, then set it on the table. Serena had yet to take her first sip.
The Joker moved in closer. "Hmm you like to get right down it business, don't you?"
"Just curious," she replied, and took a sip. "After all, wouldn't you wonder why someone would sneak into your house?"
He shrugged. "No. I'd just kill 'em." The Joker watched for her reaction. She just nodded, and he wondered if she had understood him.
"You didn't answer my question, Joker," Serena said, stepping forward. "What are you doing here?"
She was not sure if that step she had taken was a good idea. The Joker began circling her at close range, then stopped behind her and said near her ear, "You...intrigue me, Ms. Turner." He moved to the other side. "Do I not frighten you?"
Serena broke into a laugh that sounded like shattering glass bells. "You didn't do your homework, did you?" she said, turning to him. Her actions obviously shocked him, as he was speechless. "I don't feel fear. I don't feel quite a few emotions."
Well that explains it! he thought, she's psycho! The very thought of this desirable creature having a psychological abnormalitly was delightful. The Joker smiled.
"Really?" he inquired. "Or maybe nothing has terrified you the right way yet."
Serena scoffed. "My father tried to kill me and my mother when I was 7, and managed to succeed with one of us. If that's not enough to terrify someone, I don't know what is."
The Joker inched closer. "Oooh, Daddy issues too? I'd love to get inside your head."
She rolled her eyes. "So you broke in for a social visit, is that it?"
"Pricisely. And I saw what happened on the street there. You know, you're pretty good. In fact you're really good. Where did you learn to fight like that?"
"Foster care is a bitch. Now, do you have a point?" she said, turning from him and opening the fridge. Might as well eat...
He leaned against the counter. "My point is... how would you like to join my little team?"
Serena turned, closing the refrigerator. That had caught her attention, so he continued.
"There's one or two slots avalible, and that uh, performance with those thugs was quite an audition."
He makes it sound like a show, she thought. "Do you mind if I think it over?"
Frowning slightly, he pushed himself away from the counter. "I'd hoped you would answer now."
Serena sighed. Yes, he was inviting her to live a life of crime; yes, there were risks. But she rather liked this Joker character, and it was better than the life she lived now. That was where her life was headed anyway. So, she said, "Sure, why not?"
Joker smiled. "I knew you'd warm up to me!" Serena shook her head, then noticed he was heading towards the door. It was strange, but she felt a little bit of sadness inside. Really? This guy is bringing out what little of that I have left? But she couldn't ignore it. She realized she did not want him to leave.
C'mon, Serena. He's got places to be, people to kill. "I know."
She didn't realize she had spoken until he turned around. "Hmmm?"
"Nothing, just talking to myself."
He smiled slightly, then turned to the door. "Oh and Serena?"
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Be careful," he said. "There just might be a callback. Toodle-Oo!"
There you have it! That was the first action/fight sequence I ever wrote, so I'm sorry if it kinda sucked. Please oh please review for me! But, no flames. I may be a pyromaniac but I like making my own fires, I don't need yours.
