The sun glared off the hot sand as the convoy continued down the road. Valarie ignored the discomfort of the heavy vest meant to protect her. Under her uniform she was sweating so bad she felt like she was swimming. The driver seemed nervous, he was young maybe 18 or 19. First time out on his own and now he was in the middle of a war zone. "Relax Sanders. You're gonna go home." she assured the kid, "Roger Staff Sergeant." he said his voice shaky. "Where are you from?" she asked looking out the window searching for anything that could kill them. "Illinois sergeant." he answered. She saw a dog in the distance. She immediately grabbed the radio, "Spartan 1, to Eagle Main. Over." she said into the phone like device, "Eagle Main, to Spartan 1, what's you're message? Over." Lieutenant Richards answered quickly, "Spartan 1, to Eagle Main, there is an animal on you three o'clock. Over" she informed. "Roger. Out." only seconds passed before a round was fired and the dog was down. Sanders looked over briefly looking sympathetic. "Don't worry about a dog soldier. It could have been a person with a bomb strapped to it." she said. "Roger." he said.
Out of nowhere a blast could be heard and seen as a humvee exploded and flipped over. Immediately the convoy stopped and soldiers got out and got low to the ground pulling security like they were trained to do. Valarie tried to get out but her seat belt got caught on her vest. She struggled to get free but couldn't get the blasted thing free. She looked out her window only to see a rocket headed towards her. She covered Sanders with her body as the vehicle was blown over. They were sitting ducks. "Are you alright?" she asked the soldier. He groaned in response. She prepared to fall before freeing herself. She hit the roof hard and heavy. Disoriented she succeeded opening the latch. She helped Sander's get free, "Grab your weapon, I'll go first and help you out." she said as she pulled herself up and out. Staying low she took Sander's weapon and he handed her her own. He got out and she pulled him off and threw him on the ground giving him his weapon. "Pull security Sander's. Crawled back to the vehicle and reached in to grab the radio, "Eagle Main, this is Spartan 1, vehicle A31 is down. Both Soldiers are okay. Over." she said. They only replied with a roger and Valarie pulled security until directed to do something else.
"Valarie." the shrink called Valarie out of her trance, "Valarie are you still there?" she asked. Valarie blinked back tears and nodded. "Did he make it home?" she asked fixing her glasses. "Who?" she asked. "The soldier. Sanders." "Oh, um, yeah he did, but he, uh, committed suicide shortly after coming home." she said. "It was my soldier down range. I should've-" she rubbed her forehead. "You can't hold yourself accountable for what he did on his own." she said sympathetic. "Have you found a job yet?" she asked changing the topic. "I have one lined up. But I decided to take a break. Get myself right before I transition to be a civilian again." she explained, "I'll be working at Wayne Enterprises as a communications expert." she explained. "What about making friends? Have you met anyone new?" Valarie thought of the Joker, it had been almost a week since their last interaction. The mark he made started to sting. "No, doc, I live in the city. People aren't exactly friendly. But I mean I have Claire and she is great. Very supportive and pulls me out of the house to socialize." she spoke the truth. Claire always had a knack for getting Valarie out and about. The shrink looked down at her watch, "Well that's all we have time for today. I'll see you next week. And I'm gonna write you a new prescription for your sleep. Okay?" she smiled.
When she got home she took her medication and laid down in her bed. She laid on her back with her shirt lifted. She looked down at the newest addition of her collection of scars, Property of the Joker. The letters read plain as day, he cut them deep enough to leave a permanent scar. Her medicine was starting to hit her, with a yawn she curled in the fetal position. Through her curtains she watched a streetlight flicker. Once here, twice there, sometimes turning off for a few seconds. Her eyelids got heavy as she blinked until finally she did not have the energy to open them once more.
Wake up. Valarie urged herself as she pressure on her chest. Her heart pounded loudly against her rib cage. She flinched trying to bring herself out of her dreams. Wake up. She tossed and turned. Wake up. She sat up abruptly her breathing fast and uneven. The sense of dread lingered in her heart as she kicked off her blankets from her sweaty body. She brought up her knees to her chest with her face in her hands shaking her head. "Why me?" she asked herself. She shot her head up to see Joker sitting on a chair in the corner. Without saying anything she stood and walked out of the room. In the kitchen she poured herself a glass of straight whiskey. She left it on the counter watching it waiting for her shaky hands to calm. She heard his footsteps coming to join her, "What do you want this time?" she asked her voice scratchy as if she had been screaming. Her breathing rocked her body as she looked at him sideways, "I can't deal with you right now." she told him. He clicked his tongue on his teeth with both hands on a cane in front of his body. She couldn't help but notice...no Valarie, get yourself together. He approached her and took her glass from in front of her, "Drinking is bad for you." he said placing behind him. "Yeah well, so is being in the same room as a murderer. Now give that back." she reached for he but he grabbed more gently than usual, "Look, okay, it's better than those shitty meds the doctor gives me so give it back." she reached one more time and he slammed her body on the counter.
Valarie did not move after that. "God, I hate you Joker." she told him and he brought her back down with her face close to his. The distinct odor of gun powder and blood lingered around his like some cheap cologne. It was intoxicating. "Please, let me go." she asked sincerely. A flash of amusement came to his light colored eyes and he slowly relented until her feet were firmly planted on the ground, "Thank you." she added as her glass was placed back in her hands. She took a swig and made her own way to her living room, "So, I take it you're from Gotham?" she inquired with an eyebrow raised. She sat on the arm of the couch as she watched move effortlessly to join her in the living room. He ignored her question and began to pilfer through drawers and shelves. "Okay, that's fine I just figured since you insisted on being apart of my life we should..." he shot her a sideways glance. "We should what, Val? Get to know each other?" he shot back her and laughed as if she had something with an underlying joke. He grabbed a photo album and started to flip through the pages. "I do love a woman in uniform." he said taking a picture from the album, "Hey!" she stood going towards. He stopped her and flashed the picture. It was her wearing her army greens and full gear holding her rifle along with two other females, all smiling cheerfully. She remembered going to the range to qualify as a private. "You seem so," he paused moving about theatrically, "Happy in this picture. Hard to believe really." he said coming back into her personal space. "Tell me, what killed that happy little girl in the picture?" he asked his lips brushing her neck making Valarie shiver. Shaking her head she replied, "I won't answer any of your questions until you answer some of mine." she took him taking her chance to take the picture back. She put it behind her back before he could react to it.
He groaned like a child not getting his way, "Yes, I was born and raised in the Narrows." he said answering her question, "Now your turn." she smiled and turned away from him and slid the picture back into it's place. She sighed, "You don't come back from war the same person. After watching my brothers and sisters die, not being able to help. Being shot yourself. Sometimes, you just snap. It's why I couldn't reenlist. They said I was mentally unstable." she explained and chuckled to herself, "I mean you point a gun at someone for dropping something in a public place, and suddenly your mentally ill, or you have PTSD." she said taking another gulp of whiskey. He listened to her and oddly enough she felt better for being able to laugh at herself for doing something so recklessly dangerous. Then again, look at who she was talking to. "What happened to you?" she asked him approaching him invading his space for once, "What made you turn into the Joker?" she asked. "Don't ask questions if you aren't ready for the answers Doll." he told her.
She heard a beep and jumped nearly dropping her heavy drinking glass. It was only his watch. She exhaled mentally berating herself for her actions. He looked at the time, "Well it seems this session is over Dollface." he said to her moving hair from her face and coming in close as if to kiss her but he didn't. Tease. "You're starting to sound like my therapist." she told him. He made his way towards the front door and stopped clicking his tongue, "Ah, yes. I almost forgot. We have a casual get together tomorrow night to go to." he waved his hands in the air and left her alone. She frowned as she went to the door to lock it. A casual meeting? Why don't I like the sound of that? She asked herself as she finished her drink and brought it to the living room. The clock on the stove read 3:14. She needed to go back to bed...hopefully this was just a bad dream.
Hey everyone! I hope you're liking the story so far. I know this chapter is really short compared to my other short chapters but the next one will be pretty lengthy. Since there wasn't many scenes with the Joker and his habits I'm getting inspiration from the all of them. The Joker from Suicide Squad will be coming out more during the next chapter. Please leave any comments or reviews.