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Chapter 2: Have we met?
As the police car sped towards the hospital, Layla couldn't help but notice how nervous the other officers were. Each had a pained expression that seemed to mirror the feelings that pride never allowed to her to show. The least obvious expression belonged to the officer from earlier, Maria. She had been the only one who seemed to share Layla's pride. Her anxiety would have gone undetected had it not been for her continuous foot taping.
"I wish she'd stop that…" Layla thought to herself.
Within a few more moments the car halted to a stop. The other two units had arrived first and an effort of getting all the people evacuated from the hospital had already commenced. Layla looked around expecting to see a chaotic mesh of people around her.
Surprisingly, the effort took place in a very organized matter. Paramedics and hospital staff seemed to have a system of getting patients out in groups. Aside from the screaming people and news cars trying to film in the hospital parking lot, it wasn't such a mess.
"Right this way mam."
"C'mon! Move it move it!"
The fire department was here too. There had to be at least 400 people outside the hospital now.
"Detective Pierrot! Are you just gonna stand there? Help get these people out of here!"
Layla turned around, her beige jacket swirling around her and saw Gordon accompanied by a dark figure she detested.
"Oh God, what's he doing here?"
"Nice to see you too Layla." He smirked.
Layla couldn't stand Batman. Call it rivalry or an epic clash of egos, but it just seemed that every time she came close to nabbing The Joker, Batman came and ruined everything. Not to mention she felt him take pleasure in "rescuing" her…just as he rescues everyone else. She wasn't some average defenseless shmuck on the street. She had some fight training. Hell, growing up in downtown Gotham saw to that. It was condescending the way he always made a point to try and protect her. Actually…it was too familiar for her, but from the wrong person…
"Look, just stay out of my way this time all right? Go help the others. It's really windy out and I'm sure the intensive care patients need more assistance in being transported."
Batman, slightly agitated, spoke up. "And what exactly is it that you'll be doing?"
Layla turned her back on him, her hair flowing in the wind. She shouted back to him.
"I'm going to go find the Joker and put an end to this bomb threat!"
Gordon took a deep sigh and waved his hand over to Batman. "I know she's a hard ass. Trust me. Just...just go follow her."
But when Gordon looked up, he found that batman had already gone ahead and was now sprinting side-by-side with Layla.
"What are you doing? I told you I don't need your help!" Layla spat in between pants of breath.
Batman simply ignored her. Causing Layla to click her tongue in annoyance. They made their way into the hospital and decided to take the stairs due to the impending bomb threat. Layla definitely did not want to be stuck in an elevator with the condescending crusader.
After a few awkward minutes climbing the stairs, Batman spoke up.
"Any particular reason as to why you are heading for the top floor?" Batman questioned, all the while keeping up with Layla's fast pace with great ease. Layla was already panting and the lack of strain from Batman further annoyed her.
"Any reason why you're following me?" Layla shot back.
He had enough. Batman grabbed her by the coat and slammed her against the wall. Layla's eyes grew wide in shock.
"Get the fuck off me!" She tried to claw at his hands.
"What kind of detective are you? Are you too selfish to realize that people will die today unless you and I work together? Is that what you want? Blood on your hands? Why can't you just trust me?"
He eased off her, his voice changing to concern rather than frustration. At a loss of words, Layla took off her coat and threw it to the floor. She looked down, her side bang falling over one of her big brown eyes.
Too busy to be bothered by her temper tantrum, Batman regarded this silence as a truce and divulged his logic.
"I have a thermo-sensor attached to this belt and it's been giving off signals from you and I this whole time. Right now though, it's only sensing one person on the second to top floor. I'm not going off on a whim detective.
Layla refused to speak and simply nodded her head. Despite her embarrassment, she knew she had to try and cooperate with Batman.
Further annoyed Batman spoke out. "If I had known you'd hold this much of a grudge with me, I wouldn't have bothered saving your life."
Layla felt defeated, but he was right. Sure, she was the one to go into hand-to-hand combat with the joker and live, but had it not been for Batman …
"Laylaaaaaaaa. Lovely! I'm not gonna kill ya sweetheart. Come on! I just wanna talk." The Joker hummed.
He refrained from seriously wounding her during their whole fight. Layla couldn't understand why he wouldn't immediately try and kill her. Was he going to capture her? Torture her? Maybe, let her go?
No.
She read his file. She knew what he was capable of. Still…why was he taking it so easy on her?
"Layla! I know what you're thinking. Look, I promise I won't hurt you...much.
The Joker started cackling at the end of his own joke. After letting all the chuckles out, he spoke again.
All I want is you to come with me…
Layla sought refuge behind a cargo box in the warehouse after feeling exhausted from the earlier encounter. It had been a momentary hide away, only now his foot steps sounded like they were getting closer. Too close.
and my tie back."
Layla had managed to yank off his tie in their scuffle. Though, it seemed as if he was just letting her get licks on him while he pushed her around. It was his negligence that allowed her to scurry away from him and hide behind the of the giant boxes while her lungs started to feel heavy.
The warehouse's fumes of gasoline were starting to get to her.
Weak lungs.
They always acted up in the worst of times. She tried to suppress her asthmatic coughs but the burning in her chest over powered her.
"COUGH"
"There you are!"
Layla was almost knocked out from the fumes and couldn't fight or even open her eyes. She felt sturdy hands pick her up and then nothing. She thought she would wake up in some kind of torture chamber the Joker constructed, but she was in Gordon's office.
Thanks to Batman.
Snapped back from her thoughts she nodded her head to Batman and finally spoke up.
"Lets go."
Layla left her coat and they continued on in silence, but it was different this time. The tension between the two seemed to fade, at least from Layla's side. Could it be gratitude she was feeling?
Once they reached the floor radiating body heat, Batman signaled for Layla to take out her gun and be ready. The sensor showed that another human body was right around the corner. In a small whisper Batman said "now!"
She turned the corner.
"Hold it!" Layla bellowed, but to her and Batman's disappointment, it was only a nurse.
Her back was faced to them. From what Layla could make out, she had red hair and a broad, tall figure. She giggled…a deep unsettling sound. At once Layla knew it was no nurse. Batman motioned to move forward but Layla placed her hand on his arm and gave him a pleading look not to go. Batman immediately understood.
"Joker." He called out in his hoarse voice.
The nurse slowly turned around revealing the clown prince himself. The Joker flashed them a pure white smile and said. "Will you ever lay off the smokes there bat? You sound awful!"
Batman ignored his insult and yelled. "The bomb! Where is it?"
The Joker laughed, holding his stomach and then pointed to Layla.
"Bomb? What bomb? You mean that gorgeous bombshell behind you?" He smirked.
Layla was silent. Trying to study his mannerisms. Trying to see past the white cakey make-up on his face. There was something there she noticed in pictures. Something she tried to make out that night at the warehouse, but the adrenaline pumping through her body blocked her ability to see then...
The Joker seemed to notice Layla studying him.
"You know Layla, sometimes I wonder whose side you're really on."
Layla looked confused and slightly lowered her gun.
Batman shouted. "Enough! Where is the bomb Joker?"
Layla snapped back into reality and held her gun up tight.
He dug in his pocket and rolled his eyes. After a bit of exaggerated fidgeting he pulled out a small device.
"Is this what you want?" He shook it in the air, in a teasing motion.
"I'll give it to you for a trade!"
"None of your games Joker!"
"No! No! I promise. All I want is my tie back."
Layla finally broker her silence.
"Are you serious? You'll stop all of this for the tie?" Before he could respond, she tore it off her shirt and threw it at him.
Batman was in shock that she bended so easily. The Joker had his eyes set on Layla.
"Thank you lovely. You know, I was disappointed with you leaving so soon last time. I really wanted to talk. Old friends should catch up once in a while. After that night together, I'd say we're real pals!"
He rolled the detonator for the bomb over to Batman.
"See you soon." The Joker winked and began to turn his back to the pair.
Batman lunged out. " Wait!"
But as soon as he grasped his hands on the joker's collar, the ground trembled beneath his feet.
Layla tried to grasp her footing "Batman a bomb went off!"
"Oops! Guess I forgot a few more detonators down stairs!
Layla remembered Batman's words "Blood on your hands?"
"Batman leave him! We have to save the others!"
Although conflicted, Batman let go of the Joker and set out with Layla to get whoever else they possibly could out of the building in time. Layla got out two groups of people and was going in for a final check.
"Layla! Get out of there!" Batman rushed in after her but the entrance caved in before he could reach her in time.
Layla knew she was trapped in, but tried calling out for help.
"Hello? (Cough) Hello? (Cough)
The dust from the crumbling building was starting to fill her lungs. Her eyes were getting teary and she needed to get out of there fast.
"Hello?!"
On the verge of consciousness, she found herself staring into the same demented orbs from her dreams.
"Hello there doll face."