UPDATED CHAPTER! UPDATED CHAPTER!
UPDATE 2013: This chapter has been edited after my long hiatus. After re-familiarizing myself with the plot, new ideas popped into the mind and decided to explore. The essence of the story is THE SAME, but scenes have been re-imaged and dialogue improved to make this a more cohesive story. Hope you like the changes.
Author's note: It is funny that what started as a kind of dare has turned into a story. This is how Joker's Playmate started and I can't shake my surprise for the acceptance it has received. Like I said before...this is a brand new genre for me. I never imagined it would be this much fun at the same time it is a lot of work. More than usual. Thanks to all you those that have left review...it is encouraging to hear from you, and all criticism is welcome...I want to grow to be a better writer. Those that have the story in their alerts...it's an honor. Hope I can continue to deliver an entertaining story for you all!
This Chapter had a beta once: Thanks LADY EVIL
Disclaimer 1: Batman and all related characters belong to DC COMICS
Disclaimer 2: Some scenes WILL contain MATURE THEMES and SITUATIONS. Reader discretion adviced.
Reviews: Always welcomed.
CHAPTER 3: Devastating news
Commissioner Gordon took a drag of his pipe while looking over the report from the raid at the Castle hotel construction site. It was the second time he had the rundown in the hopes that he could find an answer to the multitude of questions in his head. Alongside him was Robin, the Boy wonder sitting on the back of the large chair by the window overlooking the city streets and glum lights of Gotham City. Detective Renee Montoya stood in attention in front of the Gordon's desk waiting for a reaction to the report.
"I still do not understand how we could have lost Joker last night, Montoya." Gordon finally said, letting some smoke escape by the side of his mouth. "Your men had the construction site surrounded, and over two dozen men raided the hotel just to find it empty? How do you explain that?"
"I…don't have an explanation for that, Commissioner. The reports said that the Joker WAS in the hotel but there was no way anybody could have had escaped the tight ring around the building. Maybe Joker had abandoned the place before we got there."
"The Joker WAS there, detective," spat Robin down annoyed at the insinuation that he and Batman had given false information. "We had followed the Clown and some of his men since yesterday in Camp Kawani, and the trace ended right in that construction site."
"But did you see him?" Gordon asked.
"I didn't…but Batman did. That's the reason he got into the Hotel, he saw the Joker enter the building."
"But the building was empty," said Montoya trying to justify her point.
"And the army of Joker's men that kept you at bay for forty five minutes?" Gordon inquired in an effort to stop a confrontation between Montoya and the Boy Wonder.
"Not exactly Joker's, Commissioner. They were paid five thousand dollars each to use anything at hand to keep us away with the promise of ten times more. They could not name their employer since the money was just…wired to them with exact instructions."
"How convenient." Robin muttered from his seat. Montoya frowned.
"How many were they, Detective?"
The detective opened her mouth but did not utter a sound.
"Only four," Robin contributed to the discussion. "Very well equipped, and loaded with enough ammo and explosives for an army." Gordon massaged his moustache absentmindedly while looking at the two people in front of him. This discussion was getting nowhere.
"Only four people," The commissioner repeated while closing the report. Montoya glared at the young crime fighter. The least she needed now was to have her division looking like idiots.
"And Batman disappeared, without a trace after he entered." Robin was fuming now. "That's why you found your building empty."
"But that doesn't mean…" Montoya started.
"ENOUGH!" Gordon commanded from his desk. Both Montoya and the Boy Wonder looked in attention to the middle aged Commisioner. "That was last night. Joker has the upper hand with twelve innocent children with him and the possibility that he had something to do with Batman's disappearance. We need to move forward." Everybody remained in silence and attention. "Robin, is there a way of tracking Batman? Maybe his utility belt, or some sort of tracking device?"
"We tried sir, but I have not been able to track any signal yet and that's what worries me. Not even a bleep in since last night." Robin said despondently. Having lost his mentor at the hands of a maniac was not something he was not ready to deal with. If Batman was indeed the Joker's prisoner, what type of horrors could he be enduring at the hands of that Clown?
"Did forensics find out how he could have escaped the hotel? Escaping while dragging twelve children and the Batman is not exactly an easy task."
"None Commissioner." Montoya said sadly, "If they were there they could only have gone in a puff of smoke, because we had them surrounded."
"Renee, I want the architectural and engineering diagrams of that building. I want to find out basement plans, secret passages, anything through were the Joker and his gang was able to leave the building. Joker has a slight advantage and I plan on switching the board on that clown." Detective Montoya nodded at the Commissioner's instructions and left the office hastily. Gordon rose from his chair and walked over to Robin who was still sitting on the back rest of the chair and looking absentmindedly out the window. "Son, I know how you feel. We are going to find him."
"I know…it's just that it bothers me to think he might be in the Joker's claws."
"Maybe he isn't." The Commissioner put a reassuring hand over the young ward's shoulder. Robin looked at him with a confused look on his face. "Joker killed the adult in charge of the troop; maybe Batman is just following the maniac to make sure the children are fine."
"He would have let me know…" Robin said somberly.
"Maybe he even allowed himself to be captured so he could be close to the children. Batman is a hero, son, and he knows how to take care of himself." Robin nodded and showed a small hint of a smile. "Go on, go and use the equipment in your cave to track him down, and update me with anything, OK?"
"Will do Commissioner," Robin said leaping off the chair and heading out the office. "And thanks. I know how much it means to you …he's your friend too."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o
Batman had finally woken up, but still felt like he was floating on a cloud. The world around him seemed so unreal, so distant, that for the Crusader focusing on anything was a lost cause at the moment. When he opened his eyes again after the Joker gassed him again with Crane's formula, he had been moved to a darker room and the chains that before held him to the floor now were pulling his arms towards each side. He was forced to stand and he couldn't feel a wall behind him. The Knight turned his head back and saw the wall, probably five feet behind him, some metal rings where attached to the wall, old and rusted. He tried moved his legs around he noticed that there were chains attached to his ankles that will not allow him to do much, less gaining momentum to attack somebody. The armor of his costume was completely peeled off, leaving only the thin undercoat fabric that fit him tightly over the chest and abdomen.
He was tired. He had lost track of time because of the long unconscious episodes but he had estimated that he had to have been captive now for: twenty four or thirty six hours tops. Nobody had offered him water or food, and the deprivation was probably a factor to account for his current disoriented state. Robin must have started to look for him, but Joker had his utility belt disappear, and must have destroy any circuitry of the tracking device on his armor while he peeled it off. His only salvation might be to try and open a channel through the communicator in his cowl, but right now that was going to be a very difficult task.
Batman heard voices coming from outside the room and soon enough the Joker entered followed by the troop of Kiwanis giggling and fooling around. The Clown signaled his henchmen to organize the kids and keep them safe at the farthest end of the room. From there, they still had full view of the bound superhero at the same time Joker will have a lot of space for himself. The Jester walked closer to the Batman, who noted the harlequin had something in his mouth…
"Hi there Batsy, you wanna lick my lollipop?"Joker said nonchalantly while taking the confection out of his mouth. He giggled maliciously at the Detective. "It's hard and kind of wet now, you'll like it. I promise."
Batman remained silent, his eyes fixed on the figure of the Jester. He hated the pretentions of this clown to twist anything that was good and innocent into something evil and depraved. Joker shook the candy stick on his hand closer to the Detective obtaining just a repulsive look from the hero.
"I'll pass." Batman said under his breath.
"OK, whatever. I even brought one for you…cherry flavored. The kids insisted." The Clown said with a wild smile as he produced a lolly from his pocket. "Delicious. It's seems I'll end up licking YOUR lollipop in a little while," he said with a devilish grin. "Oh I almost forgot! Thought you might be hungry so I brought you something." Joker put a hand on his right pocket and pulled a handful of nuts. Cashews, walnuts, and pecans started sifting through his gloved hand. "You want a nut?"
"You think this is funny, don't you?" The Detective protested.
"You don't want my nuts either?" Joker squealed taking offense on the open refusal of the food. The Clown tossed the nuts angrily over his shoulder making a mess behind him. "I really thought you will be craving my nuts by now…oh, well…you are going to be harder to break than I thought, but you're dealing with a bigger, tougher nut now." Joker cackled dangerously.
"What are you going to do with the kids, Joker?"
"Whatever you want me to do with them," the Clown answered with a wide smile as he pranced happily behind the detective, his white hands making contact with the vigilante's shoulders and pectorals. The feeling of hands massaging his body even through the fabric, sent tingles to the base of his brain, but the Batman brushed the thought away, feeling like this was wrong. The Clown kept talking. "I can gas them, or shoot them, of hang them all from a tree, boil their little bodies until the meat falls off their bones! Whatever you want, handsome." Joker smiled sweetly.
"Why don't you just let them go? They don't have to see…this." Batman replied, sounding almost desperate. The Joker caught this. A blooming interest rose within the Harlequin of Hate.
"What? You afraid they will see your secret, 'tender' side?" The white skinned man started to caress the lower back, and the abdominal muscles, his hand slowly sliding further down to more sensitive areas.
"Joker…what you're doing is sick." Batman spat out, the delicate fingers felt like hot stings against his skin.
"If being in love is sick, Batsy call an ambulance, because I am in critical condition. You don't seem to understand how I feel for you. How much I yearn to have you by my side, having you hold me in your strong, powerful arms…" The Clown, still behind the darkly costumed figure, brushed his face affectionately against the powerful arms and threw his arms tenderly around him in an embrace. The Dark Knight's tolerance horribly tested at a crescendo.
"Get away from me, you piece of…!" The Detective shook in his restrains loosening the Jester's grip. Joker dropped his hands down angrily, frustration war burning in his forest green eyes as he turned around the Dark Knight to face him eye to eye.
"Piece of what? Come on…say it." The Jester said close to Batman's face and his voice on top of his lungs. "Filth…depraved filth…queer? Is that what you want to call me? Is that what I am to you?"
Batman looked over the Joker's shoulder towards the kids, now looking at them with wide curious eyes. He said calmly: "Your children are watching…"
"My child-!" Joker choked on his voice. "I'm talking about you…and me. Is that what I am to you?"
"I insist that there is something fused in your brain. You're imagining feelings that don't exist."
"Oh I wouldn't bet on that. I know what I feel. I have not felt like this in ages for anyone before. Well, maybe for one other person, but she's dead now so I don't think that counts." Joker let out a low sinister cackle and came really close to the Detective running his hands tenderly over his chest, spreading the fabric against his solid musculature. "But you…you're just too stiff…loosen up, Bats…let me show you where those nonexistent feelings are hidden, because I can feel them, pounding on your chest,asking for release. You're one…lonely…bat, my friend…but you don't have to be that lonely." Joker whispered hotly. It became more and more difficult for the Bat to breathe because the sweat on his forehead made the cowl sticky with heat.
Batman felt the long bony fingers against the soft fabric over his chest, running down like claws, scraping the skin underneath, feeling the thick muscle underneath. Those same fingers found his nipples, put pressure on them and then released. The crusader felt a chill down his spine. I was a strange yet remotely familiar feeling…how could this man…this crazy clown make him feel like this …feel this…this good? The hands continued down his abdominal muscles, teasing, tickling and the nerve endings were waking up asking for more.
The Detective felt the Clown hands' go up again to his chest, now starting to delineate the muscles as they inserted in his arms. Joker pulled himself closer to the chained hero. Batman could hear the Clown's breathing by his face, those ruby lips millimeters from his…so inviting, so tempting. The hands have now moved to the back, moving along the trapezius, and along his lower arm. The clown's nails playing through the thin fabric, touching, releasing, like raindrops…never falling in the same place twice, but running down his back turning on sensations like he had not felt in a long time. How could he be feeling this way now when there was so much at stake?
Batman shuddered and felt something between his legs. He turned to the Clown how sported a malicious smile on his face, and giggled childishly as if this was a game. Batman looked down and saw the Jester's right thigh against his groin, pressing hard on his manhood, rubbing his nether regions slowly and tenderly with his leg. The Jester pushed his leg farther up, and Batman couldn't help to gasp. What was happening to him? How could he be losing control so easily? It had to be the lack of food and water. Could that had weakened his mind? He had to find a way to control his body, his physical self obeyed his mind and his brain knew these feelings were wrong, but why did he want these feelings to continue when he really wanted them to stop?
"Joker…"
"Shh, lover boy…" Joker whispered by the Batman's ear. "Don't spoil the moment...you'll like this. It's the best part."
"The children…" Batman started when he felt Joker's lips brush against his and the Clown's knee resumed his work on his groin, this time with more pressure...and a faster rhythm.
"The children are enjoying this too, Batsy, haven't you notice how quiet they've become?" The Clown chuckled before pulling suddenly away and starting to laugh. The Detective just looked at the Clown, not understanding the sudden change in the Jester's mood. "Sorry, Bats. For a moment there almost ate all the candy at once, gotta leave some for later you know? Ooh…what a rush!" The Clown laughed loudly. "Now tell me how did that feel, good for someone who doesn't feel a thing, huh?" Joker smiled deliciously.
"You're disgusting, Joker."
"I beg to differ." The Jester said turning to face his young audience. "Do you think I'm disgusting, kids? Come on, be sincere." One little girl lifted her hand high and the Clown walked over to her. "Yes. Becky, right?"
"My mommy say that you are a bad man Mr. Joker."
"Really?" The Jester responded with a slight frown as he combed his wild green mane of hair with a pale hand. "Did your mommy say why, Becky?"
"You make people hurt." The little girl replied as she played with her pigtail nervously.
"You mean to say because I hurt people." Becky nodded. "Well your mommy is mistaken, darling. I don't hurt people. I try to brighten their day, make them laugh. That is my mission in this world: Bringing joy to the masses, especially to this man-beast. If people decide to die while I make them laugh, well, honey, that's not my fault." Another hand lifted high on the back. "Yes….and you are-."
"Mike."
"What is it, Mike?" The Clown answered back almost paternally.
"My dad says you are not funny."
Punch coughed violently and Joker laughed loudly while giving his muscle man a look that could pierce through lead. "Mike, sorry to tell you this but your father is a nincompoop. He doesn't know what funny is. You were laughing at my jokes yesterday. You thought I was funny, didn't you?"
"Y-yes." Mike responded shyly.
"I rest my case then." The Jester started to giggle. "And if you want, I will be delighted to meet your dad and show him how funny I really am. Just tell Punch over there where you live…" Joker's last words sounded more like a growl.
"Mr. Joker," Mike said timidly raising his hand again. The Jester acknowledged the boy. "What's a ninco…poo."
"Nincompoop. What do I look like, boy? A walking Merriam-Webster? PUNCH, hand Mike here a dictionary, would you?" The Joker said angrily as he started to move around the children. "But the original question was if I was a disgusting person? The Batman here says that I am disgusting…can I see by a show of hands how many of you think I'm disgusting?"
No kid lifted his hand. Joker smiled and looked at the Dark Detective who was just staring back at the Clown. Joker shrugged. "And I have done nothing but be myself, and they have been watching how we are interacting…you and me." The Jester said busting into laughter. "See how these kids can see beyond appearances and see the Clown for what he is?"
"They have not seen you kill anyone yet, have they?" Batman said.
"No need to see that, they are too young and tender." The Clown started to walk up to the bound Detective with hands firmly clasped behind his back.
"Did you tell them what you did to Mrs. Rosenthal?"
"Small omission. Where is the harm in that?" Joker shrugged.
"You want them to accept you for what you are…why you don't tell them what you did to her?" The Knight said darkly.
"I don't want their acceptance. I actually don't need them, but having them around makes this…a lot more fun, don't you think?"
"You're a liar, Joker. You say only what suits you best, and whatever you say, has probably been adulterated in that sick, perverted, insane mind of yours. Nothing you say is ever true."
"I. am. not. A. LIAR!" Joker said slapping Batman forcefully as he emphasized each syllable with a tone.
"You're lying even right now." Batman saw Joker frown, and that was something he did not see often. It was scary. "I dare you…tell them the truth."
Joker's face softened and he started to giggle. "And what do I get if I do…a kiss?"
"You can't do it. You've never been capable of saying the truth."
"Is that a dare?"
"It's an undeniable fact." Batman snapped back.
"OK, I accept the dare, but understand this. You could not see the truth even if it nipped you on the butt, because your vision is biased by your misplaced sense of righteousness. For you, the world is black and white, while ignoring all the shades of grey in between…now tell me I am wrong. "
"Facts Joker, you are either good or evil...sane or crazy. A witness to truth or a pathological liar. There are no intermediate states."
"Really? Then you're blinder than a bat and there is no worst blind than those that refuse to see." Joker said jovially walking towards the group of kids who quickly gathered around the Clown. "Hey guys, I got news for you and I'm afraid they are not good. You remember Mrs. Rosenthal, right?" All the kids nodded. Joker forced his smiling face into a sad grin without much success. "Well Mrs. Rosenthal is not coming back any more, she's kind of…I don't know how to say this…dead."
"Dead…"the small brunette girl with the pink glasses said. The other children mumbled something. All sounded disconcerted and some even started to sob.
"Yes, dead as a doorknob, I'm afraid. But she died happily. Actually, she died laughing." Joker placed a thin finger below his chin as if he was thinking hard.
"How do you know, Mr. Joker?" A slim black eight-year old asked from the back of the group.
"Because I killed her." Joker said prideful, like he had gotten the right answer for science.
All the children remained silent and looking attentively at the Clown with the sinister smile that all of a sudden had widened up to split his face like a wound.
"But…why, Mr. Joker?" Becky pleaded very sad. Her eyes sparkled as they started to fill with tears.
"Oh, darling, don't put that face. Things happen, you know?" The Clown extended an embrace around Becky trying to comfort her. "You'll see, she stopped seeing the joke, didn't want to play along with me…and if you don't play with me…well…you don't play at all."
Becky pushed Joker away angrily; her little brown sparkly eyes narrowed with resentment. "My mommy was right…you are a bad man…" she said while she scrubbed her tears.
"Becky," Joker said softly as he knelt down beside her, "Mrs. Rosenthal was too old…too feeble. There was no way she will be able to keep up with us. We are young, full of energy…we want to have fun, and besides, it's not like I shot her or anything, she just laughed her head off until she stopped breathing." The Clown brushed a white hand over his chest and wiped a tear from his right eye. "That's what happened. Honest to God."
A short stubby kid came forward timidly. His eyes distorted behind the thick glasses. "People don't die laughing."
"Yes they do. What's your name kid?" The Jester responded frowning.
"P-p-paul."
"Well, P-p-paul, people can die laughing. That's why people die around me all the time. I make them laugh so hard, that they can't take it and KA-PLUNK!" Joker gestured with his hand upside-down and made a raspberry. "They drop dead."
"Why make them laugh if you know they will die?" Mike questioned.
"Because that's what they want…they want to die happy."
"But I don't want to die…"
"I know P-p-paul." Joker chuckled. "That's why I reserve my special laughter for only the right occasions. It is not something you can do all the time, you know, very dangerous this gift of mine is. What you think I am…a deranged psychopath who likes killing people? I told you. I'm a comedian. I deal with humor. I deliver humor."
"B-but…"
"Well the Q&A session is over," Joker chirped, lifting both hands to the air, forcing a loud cackle and walking towards the large henchman by the door. "Punch! Take the kiddies to the game room, please."
"Game room?" The thug asked with a confused look on his face.
"Do you have a game room, Mr. Joker?" Few of the kids asked.
"Yes, though I have to admit, it's more of a video game room, with all the computer screens, electronic equipment, and stuff," Joker smiled while looking at Punch with great intensity and the henchman nodded. "That's where my friend Punch is gonna be taking you now so you guys can have some fun while I tend to a few grownup things. Does that sound like a lot of fun or what?"
All the kids agreed at unison with expressions of joy, some of them dancing around the Clown Prince. Punch did his best with the help of other two thugs to guide the kids out of the room. Joker in the meantime walked defiantly towards the bound Detective with a large toothy smile, and once within reach, made his white hand walk over the Batman's arm, defiantly.
"You are deranged." The Knight said simply.
"No, I'm crazy. But I said the truth didn't I?" Joker counteracted, closing their distance.
"Your twisted version of the truth. That is the same as lying."
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the truth is not what you say but what you want to hear." The Jester giggled childishly while he ran a long white hand through his hair, the curls in his green mane springing back happily. "Still, I told them I killed the hag and got away with it because I meant every word I said to those kids. Children know when you are saying the truth, you know?"
"You really think you are doing comedy when you kill people?" The Dark Knight responded bitterly.
"Of course! Why not? Life is a big joke and death is the greatest punch line! I just deliver it sooner and in the funniest way." Joker ran a hand along the Detective's jaw line. "And you and me handsome, are gonna continue this little chat when I get back."
"What are you going to do, Joker?"
"Though you have my full attention, you're not my only audience. Have a show to do. I will leave instructions to Punch for your care. Bye now, Bats." The Jester walked away flouncing joyfully while whistling a tune and waving a happy hand at the Detective. Batman fought slightly against the binds, but it was useless. He was too weak and tired to try anything at all. He needed to rest, and replenish energies, but the Joker was making very sure, he was as helpless as he could be. He just wondered how long the Clown was going to keep him alive, before finally disposing of him.