I know... Where the hell have I been??? Short answer: severe case of writers block and having a lot of life's BS thrown my way. But I'm back. Thanks to everyone who likes and follows this story. You guys are the only reason I just can't give up on this story. Anyway... Chapter 3!!!

Chapter 3

(This takes place right after Jack walks Cristina home in Chapter 1. The purpose of this chapter is to help you understand who Jack is and what he does. So if you got the impression that he was cute and cuddly in the first two chapters...sorry but he's not. In my opinion I think Jack was already kind of jokerish even before he became the Joker.)

Jack sat hidden in the corner of Gotham's most well known gay club, SecretAlley, patiently watching his target who was sitting at the bar trying, and failing, to talk up some young guy. His target was a skinny man in his fifties, Philip Makser, a man who was supposed to be home with his wife and kid, but instead, he was here, indulging in his little secret guilty pleasure. Jack smiled at the connection between the name of the club and Makser's forbidden pleasures that took place here.

Jack didn't usually visit places like this but...duty calls. He was glad that his placement in the dark corner brought him minimal attention. He knew he'd find Makser here on a Friday night. Jack made it his business to know his 'client's' routine so they'd be easy to find, if need be.

He watched the man for almost an hour as he was trying to get some action but failing each time. The guys that hung around here were usually all young and not the kind to do favours for older men when there were younger and more attractive guys to indulge in.

This, however, played in Jack's favour as a plan formed in his head. His target was desperate...

He knew he couldn't approach the man outright, he'd be recognized, so instead he took a pen out of his pocket and scribbled something down on a napkin. He called over a waiter and gave him instructions for what to do, slipping him a few bills. The waiter nodded and walked off. Jack watched the waiter as he went to the bar to fetch the specified drink and take it over to Makser. He also handed him the written-on napkin and pointed to the corner where Jack was. He knew the corner was dark enough so that his face would not be recognizable.

He watched as Makser read the note, " Wanna have some fun? Meet me in the alley behind the club and bring cash."

Jack saw Makser smile and look in his direction. Makser downed his drink and headed for the back exit to the alley.

Jack waited till he was out of site and then followed.

Makser stood outside, waiting, when he heard the door behind him open and close. He smiled and started fiddling with his belt.

"So, young man, you ready to..." He turned slowly only to see Jack smirking at him.

"Oh shit!" The man muttered upon realizing who had led him to a fenced off alley where the club's loud music would drown out any attempt to get help. The only escape was getting passed Jack to the other end of the alley.

"Ready to what, huh Phil?" Jack said evilly as he slowly approached the now frightened man. Jack knew he was both bigger and faster than the older man, so escape was highly unlikely.

"Jack, I ugh... Jack come on. Give a guy a break, huh..." The old man muttered.

"Now, you know it doesn't work that way..." Jack stated calmly.

"Come on, man. What do you want?"

"Are you already suffering from dementia, old man. I already told you what I want. I want..." he pulled a knife from his pocket and flipped it open "...to have some fun and... I want my money." Jack said, now looking quite angry.

"I don't have the money..."

Jack sighed," Well, you know the rules...you pay in money...or in blood. Your choice... "

"Okay, okay...I can get the money..."

"Yeah, yeah, I haven't heard that one before...come on try again." Jack interrupted now growing irritated by the man's cliché excuses.

"No, I really can get it. It's all in my house in a locked safe."

"See, there's the problem. I'm not going to your house where you can call the cops or pull a gun on me...I'm not stupid!" Jack was really starting to get annoyed with this guy. He took a deep breath to sooth himself.

"Look, we gave you six months, six!...to pay us back...interest included...and you knew what would happen if you didn't pay up. If I were you I'd count myself lucky. If the boss had sent anyone else to collect the money...it would be your wife and little girl at the end of a blade right now, not you."

"Please, Jack...not my family..." The man stated in a pained manner.

"Not you're family? Well, desperate times call for desperate measures..." Jack dug in his pocket again and rushed over to the man, with caused him to throw his hands up and back up till his back hit the fence.

"Please, please, no!" He begged. This only caused Jack to growl in irritation.

"Would you shut the fuck up!" Jack roared. He roughly grabbed the man and spun him around.

"Get your fucking hands down!" He ordered. He then, not to gently, tightened a zip tie around the man's hands, restraining him.

"Now, we're going to get in your car and drive to your house...and your going to give me everything that's in that safe...and you better not be lying about the money being there..." He warned.

"I'm not, I swear!" The older man quivered.

"Mmm..." Jack hummed, "...because if you are..." He pocketed the knife only to pull a gun from his waistband, "...I am willing and able to deal out some real damage..." He stated just above a whisper.

He forcefully guided the man to his car, checking his surroundings every so often.

"Keys?" He asked rather loudly causing the man to flinch.

"My right pocket..." He answered as quickly as he could, fearing that he would anger the already pissed off Jack further.

Jack quickly dug them out and then led the man to the rear of the car and opened the trunk.

"Get in." He shoved the man in before he could respond.

" Now be good and quiet, and I'll consider leaving you with your fingers attached to your body." Jack flashed a fake smile and slammed the trunk shut.

Jack drove straight to the man's house, of course knowing exactly where it was. When he got there, he made sure to park the car on the curb, a few meters away from his home. He got out and went over to the trunk, opening it.

"Now here's how this is going to work... We go in...quietly...and you take me straight to your safe. If anyone wakes up... they get a bullet in between the eyes...got it?" Jack explained in a rushed voice. He'd rather just kill this guy and get it over with but his boss appreciated money more than blood.

The older man nodded as Jack yanked him out of the trunk.

"Now, remember...I have something you don't..." Jack roughly pressed the barrel of his gun into the man's back.

"Now lead the way...quietly" he whispered the last word.

Makser did as he was told. He led Jack to the kitchen door, knowing it was the safest way not to wake is wife and daughter, and showed him the key hidden under the welcome mat there. Jack unlocked the door as silently as he could and slowly closed it behind them. He jabbed the gun into Maksers back again to signal him to walk. Makser led him to a small office. Once there, Makser showed him in which cabinet the safe was hidden. Jack then took another zip tie from his pocket and forced Makser to sit on a chair and tied his hands to the leg of it.

"Stay..." Jack pointed to him as if he were talking to a dog. Jack open the cabinet, looking rather surprised to actually find a safe there.

Makser just stared at him defeated.

"What's the code?" He asked pointing his gun at Makser.

"...five, five, six, two..." He said emotionlessly.

Jack typed it in and the safe buzzed open. Inside there was indeed a few stacks of bills. Jack pulled them out, placed them on the desk and slowly began counting out the amount he owed, finding a whole five grand extra. He placed the owed money in a bag he dug out of one of the desk draws and pocketed the other five grand. Makser gave him a pained look.

"Compensation for all the trouble you put me through..." Jack explained. He didn't actually care about the money, he just wanted to get under Makser's skin.

He went over to the old man and cut him lose from the chair leg but kept his hands restrained.

"Now walk me out, will you?" Jack said in a pleased tone.

Makser didn't answer him, he only did as he was told. They walked back outside, Jack leading him away from the house.

"Where're we going?" The old man asked confused and growing worried.

"Just somewhere we can talk privately..." Jack answered calmly. He led him to a secluded woodland area near the old man's neighborhood. Jack stopped when he was sure they were far enough.

"Now, just to make a few things clear...I know where you live and work...I know where your wife works...I know where your daughter goes to school... And most importantly... I know your little dirty secret...so keep your mouth shut, understand?" Jack said threateningly.

"I understand." The man said defeated.

"Good!" Jack smiled.

"Oh, and one more thing..." Jack said cocking his gun and pressing it to the mans calve. Makser's eyes widened, then the gun went off in a muffled bang.

"Let that be a lesson..." Jack said smiling, satisfied that he too could indulge in his own little guilty pleasure tonight, as the other man lay squirming and crying while clutching his bleeding leg.

"This all could've been avoided if you'd just upheld your end of the deal... " Jack said as he cut the man's hands lose. He knew the the bullet only penetrated flesh and that the man would be able to crawl to help before he bled out. If not, Jack didn't really care.

He walked back to the main road and called one of his 'coworkers' to pick him up.

Tonight was a fulfilling night for Jack. He got his job done and was able to cause a little mayhem as well.

He dropped the cash off at his bosses office and got a ride home.

As he walked up the stairs to his apartment, he suddenly remembered the girl from earlier. He didn't even know her name, but she somehow knew his. He knew his neighbor was a young woman but he never really paid any attention to the people in his building.

Tonight was the first time he really got a good look at her.

She was a pretty little thing. Long dark, almost black, brown hair...perfectly formed green-blue eyes...and the cutest little mouth. He also saw that she had dimples when she smiled. And she was quite short too, at least compared to him.

He was a little annoyed with her at first because he had to waste time he could be working to walk her home. But he was also a little surprised that she walked so closely to him and actually thought of him as a protective figure.

When he reached his floor he saw that light was pouring from under her door. He was in a good mood and thought 'screw it' he might as well say hi. He tried her doorknob and was pleasantly surprised when he found it unlocked...

Notes:

So there you go...chapter 3. In case you didn't realize, Jack works for a loanshark. The last name Makser is just something I thought up and I'd like to give credit to my best friend who helped me think up a name for the gay club.( It was quite a funny exchange trying to think of something that suits the story ). Also I have nothing against any sexuality out there, if this chapter came off as offensive. Thanks for reading!