Chapter 1: Clay to Mold
"No no no no! You're doing it all wrong Junior. Give me the knife! Watch Uncle J. You stab and stab and stab. Then you twist and repeat! It's quite simple HAHA!" Months have passed since Joker's illegitimate adoption of poor Junior. The training is brutal even by Joker's standards. He teaches the boy about how to kill in various ways. In addition, he educates the boy on proper bomb construction. "Get it now?" demanded Joker.
"Yes Uncle J. I get it now." Replied the boy.
"Wond-"
"Supper is ready boys!" Interrupts Harley.
"God Damn it Harley! What did I say about interrupting me?!"
"Oh, you said, 'If you ever interrupt me again then I'll kill you' Sorry Mistah J."
"It's fine…" grunted the Joker "What's for dinner babe. I'm starved. Training a protégé isn't as easy as Batman makes it seem! HAHA!"
"Just some burgers." Replied Harley
The dinner table was something out of a comedy act. At the table sat two clownish looking individuals eating dinner with their "son", who would eventually take over the family business. The boy just sat there eating his meal, not saying a word. He was no longer the same boy Joker had rescued in the alleyway. He was someone else; he was something else. The boy's mind was gone, wiped away by horror and an intense training routine.
"I'm gonna go to sleep now Uncle J." said Junior
"Oh really? But it's only midnight! Ugh fine. Go sleep party pooper. Tomorrow morning we'll get you some new threads! Nothing resembling mine! No one likes a copycat HAHAHA!"
Junior entered his makeshift room and lay on the bed. His mattress appeared to be one of those beg bud infested ones you find on the streets. He could feel something alive crawling inside of it. His room was littered with balloons, chattering teeth, jack in the boxes, and other comical objects. The only "toys" he had was his switchblade, laughing gas pellets and a tiny revolver handgun. The switchblade was dark blue and had "Junior" crudely carved on the side.
When Junior finally fell asleep, he was greeted by horrific nightmares. He would envision a woman being beaten to death, a man striking him, and finally the last thing Junior would see before waking up was a demonic smile. Every morning his body would jolt him awake at 7:44 A.M. on the dot. He would be covered in sweat and tears, but neither Harley nor Joker would come to help him.
The morning after the clownish dinner was not like a usual morning for Junior. A grinning Harley and Joker, who held a box behind their backs, greeted Junior. "Morning champ! We got you a little something while you tossed and turned in your bed. Quick open it up!" spoke Joker. Inside the colorfully wrapped box was a suit perfectly tailored to Junior's body. The suit jacket, pants and tie were an extremely dull green. The shirt was black with bronze buttons and the dress shoes were freshly polished.
"Thank you. I love it." Replied Junior
"No problem my boy! Now go put it on!" Responded Joker
Junior emerged from the bathroom and brought sadistic smiles to the faces of Joker and Harley. The suit fit him perfectly and finally solidified his membership in the Clown Prince of Crime Empire. "Wait!" interrupted Joker "Something is missing… your hair! It does not go with this look at all. Tisk tisk tisk. Hold on I thinks I have an idea." The Joker ran to a cabinet inside the bathroom and began to rummage through it. A few minutes passed and finally Joker found what he was looking for. "Eureka! HAHA!" declared Joker.
"What is it?" asked Junior
"Close your eyes. It's a surprise… HEHE" responded Joker
Junior closed his eyes and was greeted by a nasty glob of gel to his hair. The aroma it gave off drove Junior crazy and made him extremely ill, but he held himself together. The Joker then proceeded to painfully slick Junior's hair back. "Ah! Now you look perfect." Announced the Joker. Harley Quinn just nodded in the background, keeping quiet to avoid anymore verbal abuse from the Joker.
Junior was finally molded into what Joker wanted him to be. His mind is broken, battered, manipulated, and emptied out of all childhood desires. His body is now transformed into what Joker desired, a copy of his own. Silence fell upon the group as Junior admired himself in the mirror. His face transitioned from a sullen look to a terrifying grin. Then all of a sudden, faint laughter came from Junior's lips. It grew louder and creepier with each passing second, until both Joker and Harley burst out into laughter.
"You're a chip off the old block aren't you kiddo?!" said Joker as he patted Junior's shoulder. "Come on Junior, we got more training to do! And one FINAL thing to add to the look… HAHAHA!"