It was entirely possible that I was mad - that this interest in my studies of the Joker had been taken to the next level now that I had him in my grip. The thought crossed my mind repetitively, bashing away at my insides until I came to terms with it, and decided on one thing. If I was going to go crazy, I mind as well get some information doing it.
"Well?" I prodded, looking him in the eyes.
"I'm not crazy, I'm… not. Everyone seems to think so, but… really." He muttered, keeping his makeup swathed eyes on me every second. I nodded slowly, agreeing - if there was one thing an attorney would come to learn over the years, its that the sane say they're crazy and the insane will vehemently deny it. I was no psychiatrist, but he'd proved my mental diagnosis right.
"Can I have my cards?"
I looked up, surprised. At first, I wasn't quite sure what he was talking about. Cards? And then, my brain laid them on the table, realizing he meant his playing cards - he wanted to do tricks or something, whatever else that stupid clown was going to do. I smirked and crossed my arms tightly, leaning against my chest.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I boring you?"
"No, I just wanted to amuse… you."
I arched a brow. "Oh? Going to do some card tricks, huh? Make the attorney forget her purpose? Well, no, I don't think so. Besides, Gordon isn't too fond of giving possessions back to criminals. Especially slippery little bastards like yourself."
The Joker stared for a split second, and then leaned forward as manic laughter spilled out his lacerated lips. Gently, like a child, he bounced up and down as he giggled, releasing all the amused energy that seemed to invariably radiate inside him.
In between laughs, he said, "Why… don't you ask Gordon… if I can have them?"
I gave him a strange look, ground my teeth and clenched my fists until they ached. Finally, after a few moments, I kicked the chair back forcefully. If he wanted me to ask Gordon I would and he'd get the answer I knew he---
I turned around and stopped dead in my tracks. Both my physical and mental process ceased abruptly.
I wasn't in the interrogation room, I wasn't anywhere near Gordon. I wasn't even close to anyone I knew. Nobody knew where I was - and the last thing I was going to do is ask Gordon if The Joker could have his god damn cards back. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Just like I should have expected, he had tampered with my mind, knowing that I was more excited than I played off.
At first, I was too embarrassed to turn around and face him and instead, just stood there, back turned to him and fumed like a rabid dog. The anger continued to build up, bubbling and roiling inside my chest until it felt as though a large, searing hole had burned right through my skin.
What a fool. I had sat there, thinking and thinking about how I had waited for this day for years, and what I was going to ask him, leaving him to catch me off guard and make myself look like a complete jackass. Beautiful. Letting out a scream of exasperation then, I spun on my heels, dashed around the table and threw my fist into the Joker's jaw with as much force as I could possibly muster up.
"Very funny." I hissed through my teeth, watching as he laughed and shook off the pain. Through bemused eyes, he looked up at me, smiling widely as though I was missing a joke. Once more, I cracked my knuckles against his jaw and waited for him to stop his laughter.
"Are you going to answer my questions? Since you're in my world and I'm in yours - let's get to know each other, huh?"
I realized then that my tone had the brazen, sardonic tone it held whenever I was interrogating someone. Along with that, came the confidence I had built up over the years. This was it - he was going to get it
"Ooh, look at you - sudden, change, hah? I like it."
I rolled my eyes and snarled, shaking my head. There was no room for flattery, not even from the one man who could do it and make me stutter in excitement. I didn't care about him in the way some of the others did - most didn't care at all. But those who did seemed more interested in his looks than his criminal mind.
I could see where he could have been attractive, at one point, before his face was sliced in half by whatever story was actually correct. In his normal state, as the man he was before, he probably was a good looking guy. Sympathy boiled up, but I swallowed it down, ignoring the feeling.
"So, tell me. What makes you so dangerous, huh?"
"Explosions and all the… threatening business you mean?" He asked innocently.
"Aside from the obvious - we're both intelligent here, Joker. Let's not play games." I replied, still standing beside him. He watched me, never took his eyes off me. Slowly but surely, it started to creep me out.
"But… games are fuuun."
To say that I hadn't spent hours at the gym just preparing for this day would be a lie. I had worked and worked until I was sure I was nearly as strong as any modern day guy. Maybe not Batman with his toned perfectly featured physique - but I sure as hell had enough muscle to do this.
With both hands, I pushed his chair backwards, the legs skidding against the dirty cement floor. He crashed into the wall, by the corner where I had previously sat and I followed closely in front of him, placing my black (now dirty) high-heeled shoe on the chair in between his legs.
"Okay, you're right. Games are fun. We can play a game."
He arched an eyebrow and wet his scarred lips. "That's the second time you've… agreed with me tonight."
Like before, the mean attorney that everyone in Gotham knew came out, and the ferocious beast inside of me boiled up. Narrowing my eyes, I slapped my hand over his mouth, and pressed down hard, leaning my face a mere inch away from his. "I'm sorry, did I say you could talk?"
He raised his eyebrows, contorting his face into a perfectly innocent expression; one that I had no intentions of falling for. I could still see the amused interior of his emotions, probably from goading such an unsafe, uninhibited reaction from me. As I stared, he held his hands up in defense, and I finally let go and backed off, keeping my foot on the chair.
"Let's play Simon Says." I swallowed, catching my breath. "Simon Says, answer my questions."
The Joker looked at me for a moment, gnawing on his scars. He pointed a gloved finger towards me and arched an eyebrow. "Are you Simon? Because… I don't think Simon would be too happy if he knew you were using his name against me."
I stared, keeping my guard up. I had to admit though, he was funny. Still, despite that and me wanting to, I had to fight off the smile and keep my hard exterior. Two could play at that game though - and if this how this twisted interrogation was going to be, I would play along as though was no tomorrow.
"Simon and I are great friends." I retorted, smirking.
The look that I gave him, and the one that he returned made my entire frame shiver like a leaf in a hurricane - this was it. The day I had been waiting for since Gordon told the Batman about his little 'calling card'. The day I had studied up for like a little, ditzy, nerdy teenager in high school that was painfully excited about an exam coming up - this freak had consumed me, and nearly all of my social life and now… here he was, staring up at me, ready - I hoped, at least - to answer a few tiny, itty-bitty little questions.
Taking a deep breath in, I looked down at my hand and turned it upwards, facing the ceiling. Across my palm, a faint, crooked red smile tainted the skin there - and sent an electric shock throughout my system.
"So, tell me Joker - what are you thinking about, right now?"
This was a short chapter; sorry about that everyone! But, on a lighter, more pleased note - thank you!! Thanks to everyone who's added me and my stories to their favorites and watch lists - makes lil' ol' Michelle feeel wonderful! Now, a lot of people have given me some reviews - and now, I'm going to do a little personal thanking. (Some of these are from previous chapters, sorry for confusion. I'll keep up on 'em now!)
rikkukirst: Thank-you, thank-you! I won't discontinue it - I had no idea that so many people were enjoying it. Glad to have you addicted!
BeckoningDistaster: Thanks, and yeah - I realized that. I have a feeling I know exactly which sentences you're talking about and those were mostly just an awkward, Michelle thought. But thank you!! Help is always equally as wonderful!
godoflight: Hehe - glad you like it. Thank you so much. I love you even more for saying 'chappie'! xD
Selene: Hahaha! Thank you so much, I'm glad you think its a good portrayal of him; I tried to keep the Joker to the Joker and not have him become the sex icon he is. Hah - and as for your question... well, you'll just have to wait and see-hah? There's.... there's no fun in revealing the plotline beforehand.