Okay, here it is chapter 3! Woot woot! I hope y'all enjoy it. Took me forever to write, but I got it done. Now go read and be merry.

Oh, and this chapter is dedicated to my friend, Danielle, who inspired most of the dialog.

Chapter 3: The Basement

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"Fuck!" Jack shouted as he knocked a pile of books off his desk. "Damnit, how the fuck did this happen?!" He flung himself onto his bed, his hands over his face, trying to call himself down. 'I can't be in love with her! She's fucking 'BD', Plio Wayne, my worst fucking enemy! It's not right!……then again, since when have I cared about what's right? No! She may be my friend, but she's still my enemy. And I definitely don't want to be with my enemy………right?' "ERR! WHY DOES EVEYTHING HAVE TO BE SO DAMN COMPLICATED?!"

"Because life's fucked up!" his mother yelled back to his rhetorical question from somewhere else in their "house."

"Yeah, that's for damn sure." he muttered to himself—with a smirk—looking out the window. From his room you could see the front half of Gotham High and all the students in attendance. He remembered how he used to watch the kids enter and leave the school, wishing he could be one of them. And now, he began to realize, he was getting a chance to somewhat be exactly what he so desperately desired, even if it was a bit unethical. But Jack never really cared for ethics. He would get to be in school—so to speak—with students, not really as one of them, but at least as one of their peers. And he could honestly say that there was no one on God's green earth that he'd rather go with then his best friend. Now he just needed to figure out what to wear; he leapt off his bed and ran through the door, "MOM!"

xXx

"You asked who to the dance?"

Plio Wayne sat in utter silence, tapping her pencil on her notebook, avoiding eye contact with her mother. She had made the mistake of just coming right out with who she had asked to the upcoming dance.

"Well?"

"I said I asked Jack," she murmured.

"Do you fucking know what's going to happen when your father finds out?" Selena stressed as she leaned across the kitchen bar.

"That's why dad's not gonna find out." Plio stressed back, also leaning across the bar.

"Find out about what?" Selena, wide-eyed, turned her attention to the kitchen door to see her husband standing there; Plio kept her eyes locked on the countertop.

"Huh?

"Find out about what?" Bruce asked again.

"I…um…we…uh—" cutting her mother off, Plio whipped around in her char, a crooked smile on her face,

"That I successfully learned how to use a tampon." Bruce's face turned a pale color.

"……Well…keep up the good work." He was gone in the blink of an eye, pale as a ghost. Selena, who was still facing the door, turned slowly back around, her mouth slightly ajar. She stared at her daughter—who had her head on the table, laughing hysterically—with complete disbelief.

"Oh…my God. I cannot believe you just said that."

"It just," :snort: "came out." :snort:

"That wasn't funny." She tried to say with a stern, serious voice, but found it difficult.

"Yeah it was, and it got him to go away," Plio argued, still laughing.

"Yes, well, getting back to business; are you sure you know what you're doing?"

" 'Bout what?" she asked, her laughter suddenly stopping.

"About asking Jack to the dance."

"Yes…I guess…I dunno. I know he really wants to go."

"He told you that?"

"No, but he's always wanted to go to school, and this is the closest he'll ever get to actually going."

Well now, that was news to her. Jack, the son of the Joker, wanting to go to school? 'Funny, I never really took him to be the type to want to learn.' Selena thought to herself.

"He's really smart; he's been learning on his own for years."

"Really? How's he been doing that?"

"The internet…"

"Ah, yes, the internet."

"…And textbooks he's been stealing from the school."

"He's been stealing text books? Don't you need those?"

"Like high schoolers actually use their text books." Selena didn't laugh along with her daughter; she was far too deep in thought. There was no way Plio was talking about the Jackendaboks she knew. The annoying punk that was always causing trouble, never danger, just trouble. However, thinking back over the years, she realized that every act of crime he committed, every plan he made was well thought, extremely intelligent, and damn near flawless.

"So," she finally said, "Jackendaboks really wants to go to school?"

"Yeah, but unfortunately he'll never get to, you know, 'cause I seriously doubt his parents will be okay with it—well at least not the Joker—and I seriously doubt the school will welcome him with open arms. It's a shame too."

"Why?"

"It'd be his senior year."

"Thatis a shame…" Selena thought long and hard about what she had just learnt. Knowledge was such a terrible thing to waste, and if Jack really wanted to learn than he should be able to. "Plio, how about you and I start dress shopping tomorrow? Right now I've got a couple of phone calls to make."

"Aw, can't we make my dress? That way it'd be really original."

"Fine, now go on."

" 'Kay, but who you calling?"

"Oh, just some old friends that owe me some favors." Slowly a smile began to appear on Plio's face, her eyes becoming wide with excitement, as she figured out what her mother was planning to do.

"Are you going to—"

"Try. I'm not making any promises." Plio lunged from her seat and ran to her mother, embracing her in a tight hug.

"You're so frickin' AWESOME!"

"I know." She said, patting her daughter head. "But do not tell him. Like I said, I'm not making any promises."

"Yeah, but you still rock."

"Yes, now go finish your homework. I've got work to do."

"Alright." She let go of her mother, gathered her things, and head for the door. "Oh," she stopped and glanced back, "and don't call him Jackendaboks. You know he hates it."

xXx

"Really?...Really?...Seriously?...You are the best!...Alright, see you later." Harleen Quinzel hung up the phone with a smile, oh how she wanted nothing more than to tell her son the great news, but, as difficult as it was, she knew she had to keep it a secret.

"What was that about?" Jack asked as he walked past his mother.

"You and I are going somewhere tomorrow." He stopped, eyeing her with curiosity.

"W-where?"

"To a friend's house, to start the process of turning you into a normal kid. We can rebuild you. We have the technology. We can make you better, faster stronger."

"You are insane, aren't cha mom?"

"Just a little. I did marry you're father, did I?" Jack smirked, 'Yeah, only you didn't officially marry him.' Harleen placed a plate of sausage, eggs, and toast in front of her son with a warm, motherly smile, "Eat up. We don't want you getting weak." He picked up his fork and began stuffing his face. His mother wasn't the best cook, but she wasn't too shabby.

"You think this whole dance thing is a good idea?" He asked with a mouth full of food.

"Of course it is. You deserve it."

"But it's with…" he stopped and looked around then mouthed, "you know who."

"So."

"I do want to go, I mean, this 'pre-prom'" he said with sarcasm, "dance actually sounds kinda cool."

"What?" They froze, the icy, evil voice sending chills down their spines. "What did you say, son?" Jack arose from his seat, turning to face his so-called father, and looked him directly in his face. Oh, how he hated that man. "I asked you a ques—"

"I was talking about a movie, and a character named Brom. He looks pretty cool." They glared at on another—one with burning hatred, the other with disappointment. Jacks sperm donor—as he referred to his father—grinned, showing those hideous yellow teeth.

"Of course you were." He alleged in such a way that Jack felt his heart skip a beat out of fear. "Harley, is that food ready yet?" He asked, coldly. She did not answer. "Harley?!" he demanded, taking a step toward her, but was stopped. Jack, instantly and instinctively, moved in front of his father, a scowl upon his face.

"It'll be ready when she's done." He said through gritted teeth. The Joker grinned once more before returning to his 'solitary confinement.'

Jack closed his eyes and breathed deep, filling his lungs with air. His entire body was tense, like it always was whenever he and that asshole confronted each other. When he was big enough to take his father on in a fight, he swore he'd never let him lay another hand on his mother—she might have been a psychotic moron, but she at least acted like a good parent…to some degree—and in five years, Harley Quinn hadn't received a single bruise from her 'lover.'

Jack turned back to his mother, loath and detest still burning in his gaze. "Don't get so angry, sweetie, you know it's not good for you."

"Like how he's not good for you…" he muttered, glaring intently at the countertop.

"Don't say that."

"It's true!" he shouted, his head snapping up.

"Shhh. Keep your voice down." She whispered while glancing down the hall. "And, no, it's not true."

"Yes it is, and you know it is. In all honesty, mom, why'd you marry him?" Harleen, not wanting to look her son in the eyes, turned her attention back to the food on the stove.

"Because, I love him and he loves me. And we're a happy family."

"You're not gonna burst into song are you?" A giggle was her only reply. Jack watched his mom in awe. How could she be so damn stupid? It was painfully obvious even to a blind man that the Joker didn't love her. He never understood why any woman would stay with an abusive man. His mother was strong, he'd seen her in fights plenty of times, so why didn't she ever stand up for herself when her husband beat her?

Needing some serious fresh air and time to himself, Jack quietly walked out of the room uttering only three words, "I'm going out."

xXx

The clown prince took a seat on a rooftop of one of Gotham's many buildings, his eyes fixed on the sunset before him. He listened to the moans and groans of the thugs and punks beneath him with insane glee, feeling much better. It seemed a little weird, taking out his fellow criminal, but if he expected to go to this dance, he had to stay on Plio's good side…for this week, at least.

'Plio…' Her image popped into his mind. How he needed her right then. Needed to talk to her, to hear his sweet voice. He thought of that outrageous pink and black hair and the matching outfit; he thought of her deep blue, sapphire eyes. Perhaps loving someone like her wouldn't be so bad…that is…if she loved him back.

Just then something caught his eye, down below him, through a window of an old warehouse, he saw a trap door. It was just standing up, as if begging him to check it out. And how could he say no when it was 'begging?' That would be mean, and like he told himself earlier, he couldn't be mean. With a mischievous smirk, he climbed down from the building he had been perched upon, chuckling at the still moaning thugs, and moseyed on over to the warehouse.

Grabbing the doorknob, he tried to turn it, but the damn thing was locked. He reached into one of the pockets of his pants, pulled out a lock pick set, and got to work. Click 'Yes!' he thought to himself when it became unlocked. He went to open the door when he suddenly stopped. Without taking his eyes off the door, he smirked and called out, "So now it's you doing the following?" BD stepped out from the darkness of the shadows, a little annoyed at being caught.

"I wasn't following you, I was just watching…you…"

"So you're stalking?"

"Man, shut up! Now what the hell are you doing?"

"I was just checking out this abandoned warehouse." He answered, his smile still in place.

"If it was locked then you're trespassing." Jack held out his hands as if he were wearing handcuffs.

"Arrest me then." His sarcasm earned him a deadly glare. She pushed him out of the way and opened the door, walking in.

"What could be so fucking coo—oh look, a trap door." She stared at the large opening in the floor, not sure what to make of it.

"Huh, imagine that. I had no idea that was there, let's go check it out." He began to move forward but she grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Whoa, you ain't actually going in there, are you?"

"Well duh, why wouldn't I?"

"Because, it's really dark and creepy…and dark…" Jacked gawked at her in pure disbelief.

"You live in a fucking cave."

"I don't live in the cave. I hardly go in there."

"What about the city? You practically live in the dark."

"No, ah-uh, no matter where you go in the city, there is ALWAYS light. I'm talking about pitch black darkness. You know, when it's so dark you can't even see your face in front of your hand……I mean your hand in front of your face. SEE?! I'm so freaked out I can't even talk straight!" Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Fine, I won't go."

"Really?" she asked, loosening her hold on his arm.

"Yeah right." He yanked himself out of her grip and jumped down the hole. "You can wait up there if you want. I'll try not to be too long." he called back up. BD gaped around the old, creaky, abandoned, ominous building and gulped.

"Hell no, I ain't staying up here by myself! I hate warehouses, too." She dropped down through the black hole of terror and quickly caught up to Jack. She placed a hand on each on his shoulders and kept her face close to his back. "Now just go." Again, he rolled his eyes and shook his head. 'Big baby.'

They walked on, going deeper and deeper into the underground tunnel. With every creek, bump, scratch, and rustle Jack felt BD's grip on his shoulders tighten. At one point Jack kicked something like a soda can which made a semi-loud noise scaring the hell out of BD; she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face into his back. "You know, you didn't have to come."

"You shut up!"

"I didn't tell you to shut up!"

"I don't know!" 'Oh my God,' he thought, 'girl is psychotic when she's scared shitless.' "How can you even see where you're going?"

"My eyes automatically adjust to the darkness. I can see everything as plain as daylight."

"Really?"

"Yeah. How else do you think I maneuver those dark allies?" They walked a little ways farther and then came to a sudden stop. BD lifted her head just enough to see what had stopped them from moving.

"Wow," was all she managed to say. They stood at the entrance of an enormous room filled with books, chairs, chalkboards, tables, and a large podium. BD, much to Jack's disappointment, let go of him, slowly, and began to wander around the room. There was a strange symbol on just about everything. "I've never seen this monogram before. Have you?"

"No, and it doesn't look like any gang sign I've ever seen."

"Then what do you think it is or means?"

"Dunno, a cult perhaps…but for what?" He looked down just in time to prevent himself from tripping over a rather thick book. He picked it up and read the title, immediately getting his answer: Gotham's Greatest Villains. He opened the cover with caution and instantly felt his blood boil with white hot rage. 'Number one, the Joker. What a bunch of fuckers.' He slammed the book shut and threw it back onto the ground in a fury. "Let's go, there's no point in us being here. These people are obviously fucking retarded." BD moved over to him, picked up the book, and opened it.

"Uh…well…um…technically he kinda, uh, was, but I totally get where you're coming from. They're retarded, absolutely." She saw his fist clench tightly and she thought he was about to explode. However, instead he stood holding out his hand for her to take.

"You comin'?" He smiled and so did she. Dropping the book BD took his hand and they headed out of the room and back down the tunnel.

When they got back to the opening Jack helped BD up and out onto the floor above before doing the same himself. "There, that wasn't so bad, now was it?" he asked as she dusted herself off.

"Eh…" she uttered and looked up at him with a smile. Jack cupped the side of her face, wiping away some dirt on her cheek with his thumb. The feel of her soft skin made his body tingle and her eyes mesmerized him. He knew he shouldn't have, he knew it went against everything he was taught, but she was so beautiful and he loved her so damn much.

His red lips took her pink ones. BD, a little taken at first, closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss. Her lips were so soft, he could hardly stand the ecstasy he was feeling. Jack prayed that the moment would never 'end; unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.

::SCREEEECH::

"AHHHH! THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" Jack yelped as he hit the floor.

"Holy crap, it was just a bat." BD held up her arm and the flying rodent landed on her wrist.

"GET THAT FUCKING THING OFF OF YOU!"

"Why?"

"IT'LL FUCKING EAT YOU!" BD look at the bat and the bat looked at her. Then they both looked back at the young clown cowering on the floor.

"Are you ever going to get over that fear?"

"Hell no!" he shouted and bolted for the door. "I'll see you later! Gotta get home!" BD watched him run off and laughed.

"Haha…ha…ha…" she looked around and realized she was absolutely alone in the old, creepy, abandoned, ominous warehouse. "Yeah, I gotta go too." She, as well, bolted out of the building and back to her home.

xXx

Jack laid on his bed, his pillow over his face. Why had he done it? Okay, he knew why, but he also knew it was wrong, even for him. How was he going to face her now? Maybe if he stayed away from her this week, she'd forget about it, and the dance won't be so awkward, that is, if he still got to go. Little did he know, he'd be spending every day for the next week at the house of Wayne.

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Oooooo, I wonder what's gonna happen…hehe. I'll have chapter 4 up ASAP so y'all can find out. Please R&R! And thanks to all who did take time out of their day to review. It means a lot. LUV YA!

Dyno