I don't own Batman or any related characters.
Sorry it's been a little while. Graduating and the end of school will keep you busy. Hope this can compensate.
Read. Review. Enjoy.
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He had the screen split as he worked on finding Alfred. The news on one side, a map of Gotham on the other. If Alfred had truly dressed as his alter ego complete with utility belt, he would be able to find and track him to the madhouse.
The news had been on all night, warping the story to fit the needs of their viewers. The reporters were interviewing the partygoers, each story more twisted than the one before. Everyone too terrified to even present a plausible story. Had it been a normal night, he would have switched it off to completely focus on his work, however, he had not been present when the events of the party had transpired. He needed the feed for information, if he could only sift through the exaggerations.
A caller ID picture appeared in the top corner of the screen. It was the eighth time it had appeared that night. Bruce hit the accept button only to end the interruption.
"Bruce, where have you been all night? What is going on down there?"
Dick Grayson's face appeared on the map side of the screen. Bruce stared him down before tuning back into the news broadcast.
"Bruce, what happened?"
"Nothing," he said sternly hoping his surrogate son would get the hint.
Apparently he didn't. "The news doesn't come knocking down your front door for nothing."
Again silence filled the space between them. Dick had been around Bruce long enough to know that he would never admit to weakness or to a fault of his own. The man was too stubborn and prideful for that. Getting anything from him would be like pulling teeth.
"Bruce what is going on?"
The man sat back in his chair seeming to ignore his ward once again. The tapping of keys filled the silence followed by the thunderous pound of the "Enter" key. On Dick's side of the screen, he could see police images of the inside of Wayne Manor. The handiwork was immediately recognized.
"Joker?! How did he get in? What did he do? What happened?"
"I don't know, the bachelor replied quietly.
"What?"
"I don't know," he said louder and more stern this time.
"What do you mean you don't know? Weren't you there?! Why won't you just tell me what is going on?!"
Bruce smashed his fist into the keyboard and stood out his chair. "I don't know!"
He turned from Dick, taking in some deep breaths before he returned to his seat.
Bruce had always been a level-headed guy. Though stubborn as an ox, he was never one to show emotion, even anger. Sometimes Dick forgot he had any. But to see this iron curtain of a man become so angry, so exposed, something truly drastic must have happened. The fact that he was completely unaware of what had transpired must have been tearing away at him from the inside, and Dick knew his "interrogation" wasn't helping. He remained silent, deciding to let Bruce tell him in his own time.
A pause filled the room before Bruce began again.
"From what I've gathered, Joker infiltrated the party and neutralized the police. Someone called the police for help, but not before Batman arrived."
"What happened? Did he knock you out? Joker doesn't usually give you too many problems man to man."
"I wasn't there. I was called out earlier with a Two-Face ransom."
"Then how did Batman show up?" Dick's look of confusion soon turned to horrified realization. "Tell me he didn't."
"Joker escaped with the stolen items as the police arrived."
"And Batman?" Dick asked anxiously.
The silence in the room was enough answer for the young man.
"Darn it, Alfred. Why would he do something like that?"
Bruce had proceeded to ignore him again as he worked even more urgently on his search for his missing butler. A scowl began to creep its features on his face.
"Bruce I know that you're angry, but you can't let that cloud your judgement. Joker's crazy. You can't allow yourself to stoop to his level."
"I don't need a punk kid telling me how to do my job."
"I'm not trying to tell you how to do it. I'm bringing up lessons you taught me. Anger is just gonna get you or Alfred killed. And if you stoop to Joker's level and kill him, what have you really gained? Just promise me, you won't do anything you'll regret."
He nodded recognizing the words Veronica had mentioned to him earlier. He hung up not wanting to discuss it any further.
Suddenly the computer beeped. A red blip signified where the utility belt was. Where Alfred was.
He quickly changed and zoomed off, his anger riding in the passenger seat.
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His head was spinning as he awoke. His stomach feeling as though it had been turned inside out. It seemed as if the bleeding had stopped, but without proper treatment like stitches, he was bound to get an infection. The first thing he noticed was that he was unable to move his limbs, meaning he was tied down to something. He craned his neck so he could gain a better visual only to jerk back at the pain it caused him. As he cast his eyes up, he saw the man who had brought him here, if he could even call him a man. He was watching as the vandalized portrait of his former employers was hung in front of him. It seemed just the thought of him caused him to turn around.
"Wakey-wakey Geeves. Comfortable?"
Alfred opened his mouth to answer, but instead of words all that emerged was his laughter.
"No? Good." The Joker turned the circus wheel the butler was attached to so that he would be right side up.
"You know Geeves, you couldn't have come at a better time. It seems my resident genius cut his visit short."
The butler's eyes widened in shock, laughter dying down.
"No, I didn't kill him. But if he shows his face around these parts…" Joker squirted his acid rose, the contents dripping in sweating distance of Alfred's head.
"You get the picture. Anyway, with him out of the picture now, it makes it a little more difficult for me to complete one of my biggest schemes to date. But here's a crazy thought! What if Batman helped me? Hear me out. With his brain and my genius, we could do anything. Before he had no incentive to join with me, but now I have you. I can't help but feel that you know him, the real him. I mean why else would you have such an authentic costume? And if he still refuses I have this."
Joker pulled out a syringe.
"A little extra dose of what you got earlier tonight. Only this time it will make your condition worse twenty-fold, guarantee. Developed by my missing technician. And the best part, with every laugh, you are gifted with even more pain. It's a win-win."
He stuck the concoction in the cut that had been formed by the bullet on the butler's arm. Alfred cried out in pain before the forced fit of laughter continued.
"I knew you'd like it."
Harley, seeming to materialise from thin air came and stood next her demented boyfriend.
"What do we do now?" she asked.
They were interrupted by a loud crash behind them.
"Be careful with those. We don't rob a famous millionaire everyday. Now put that up and go get the rest of it."
"That is all of it Boss."
"Excuse me? I do believe there were a few key technology items I sent you in there for specifically. Now unless you're some kind of magician and can make them appear out of thin air, I don't see them. Now where are THEY?" Joker ground out.
They hesitated before one of them spoke. "We tried. We… we followed the instructions to the place, but we couldn't find no parts. Then when we's found them, they were guarded real tight. But we promise Boss. We won't have no more mess ups."
Joker closed in on the henchman that began speaking. When he got close enough, he glared down on him. He raised his hand as if be was going to slap him, but retracted it, seeming to change his mind. He turned to leave taking a few steps before turning back, shooting the goon in the head as he did.
"You boys don't understand the schedule I'm on. Anymore mess ups and well you've seen what. Kapich?"
Vigorously, they shook their heads.
"Now out!"
They quickly exited.
Alfred began his fit of laughter once more.
"Imbeciles."
"We should play a game puddin' and get your mind off of it."
"Sure Harls," he said, exasperated.
"Why don't we guess Batman's identity. If we get it wrong a shock to his system. I'll go first. Commissioner Gordon."
Alfred laughed out in pain.
"No, it has to be someone with the money to make all the gadgets. Mayor Hill."
Another shock coursed through his body.
"Oooh oooh. Bruce Wayne."
The butler began sweating hoping he wouldn't tip them off. He was soon reassured by yet another shock in his body.
"It can't be Wayne. That coward. He would've stopped us at the party if it was him. That's enough of this game. If we guess his identity we bring an immortal being to a mere man. And where's the fun in killing an ordinary man. We'll save the reveal for after his sweet defeat. But this has been fun."
He began to walk away when he was struck with another idea.
"Harley," he said lovingly, "You've had quite a successful day. Why don't you spend a night on the town. And while you're at it, take a date with you. My treat." Joker smiled sinisterly.
"Sure Puddin'. Whatever you say," she said with an equally sinister smile. She unchained the struggling prisoner from the spinning circus wheel, blindfolding him before taking him out.
Joker sat in the newly empty, silent room.
"Where is Batman? It's rude to keep me waiting like this," he said to no one in particular. He was interrupted in his thoughts as he heard shuffling behind him. He turned to see his henchman moving their corpse of a companion to who knows where.
"Idiots," he said to himself. "WHERE IS BATMAN?"
The glass shattered as Batman crashed onto one of the henchmen, knocking him unconscious in the process. He quickly took on the other, taking him down swiftly.
He moved into Joker knocking him into the wall as he grabbed his neck.
"You must enjoy picking glass from your shorts."
Batman pressed harder on his throat. "Where is the butler?" His voice darker and more menacing than usual.
"I can in all honesty say I don't know. Harley took him on a date and you know how kids are." Batman reeled his arm back, shaking from the anger, to release his fury on the clown in his hand when he was grabbed from the back, the shock causing him to release Joker.
The henchman that grabbed Batman was soon joined again by his fellow goons. They overpowered the Caped Crusader, pushing him to his knees, forcing him to listen to Joker's monologue.
"Batman, how nice of you to join us. I knew that brain of yours would bring you down to visit little ol' me. It has for many years been the most stable, constant thing in this relationship. In fact, it's probably my biggest accomplice." He smiled slyly to himself as these last words danced in the air, lingering long enough to infuriate the Dark Knight.
Batman began to rage out against the guards, almost breaking free, but was again subdued by a well placed nerve attack from the hired help.
"Bats, no need to get so upset. You know that this a game of cat and mouse. Tom and Jerry. My handsome genius that brings laughs and fun and your mind that brings its self-righteous justice and heroism. We spawn some of the greatest gladiator matches throughout all of history. But the game grows tiresome Batsy, unless something or someone changes. You see if we put our brilliance together, well we could be unstoppable. So I have a little proposal for you Bats. We work together, put our differences aside for the sake of the merriment of all men."
The hero stared Joker in the face, white eyes narrowing to slits, a scowl forming across his features.
"Of course if you say no there are other ways to make you say yes." Harley Quinn walked in as if on cue.
"Darling. How was your night with Geeves?"
"Oh it was alright. We hit it hard until he passed right out. Guess I was too much for him to handle."
"Or maybe it was the shot he had before he left. It was a nasty little booger. Shut down all his organs in about…" Joker looked down at an invisible watch, "not very much time at all. But look at it this way Bats, he'll go out with a smile just like mine."
The hysterical laugh began. With each high pitched shriek, Batman's anger grew. His hands began shaking again. He maneuvered his way from the guards taking each down with a force enough to shatter bones. He quickly made his way to Harley, constricting so she was unable to move, grabbing her head and neck, ready to snap it.
"WHERE'S THE BUTLER?"
"Bats, no need to get irrational."
"I'll break her," he said darkly, twisting the sidekick's head to prep her for the fatal movement. A small squeal escaped her lips.
"Well that does sound a little dark for even you. But go ahead. I think you're bluffing anyway. But in case you aren't I have this."
The madman held up his hand, in his grasp a controller like object. His thumb was mashed against the button holding it down.
"This is remote access to the catalyst in the butler's body. If I release my thumb, his life expectancy percentage decreases dramatically. But if you want his blood on your hands and hers for that matter, be my guest."
Joker shook the controller tauntingly in front of Batman. The hero knew he had no choice. He was becoming the very thing he had dedicated himself to fighting all these years. Dick's words rang in his head. Just promise me, you won't do anything you'll regret.
He dropped Harley on the floor.
"I knew you'd come to your senses. Now as far as my proposition goes…" He pretended to lift his thumb from the controller. Batman quickly reacted, raising his arm, Batarang at the ready.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. I can still splatter his insides with a release of the button, unless of course you accept my proposition."
He didn't want to, the Joker was bound to betray him. Joker was crazy, but he was crafty. He would do anything to get a laugh, but Alfred's life was in the balance. He weighed the decision, his moral value, or the life of his greatest friend.
Though it went against everything he stood for, every ounce of his being, he dropped his arm, a death glare on the maniac the whole time.
"I knew you'd see reason."
Focusing all his attention on the psychopath, he neglected to focus on his surroundings, anger clouding his judgement. Harley picked herself up off the ground, unable to believe that Batman had been ready to end her life or that Joker was willing to allow it to happen. She wanted revenge, instant gratification. With no weapons around, she grabbed the first thing she could use as a weapon and charged, catching the detective off guard.
As the needle wedged itself into his shoulder, he immediately grabbed the source of the irritant, throwing Harley across the room. He erratically reached for the intruder in his body. The syringe shattered in his hand. As he looked up, he saw the controller lying on the floor in front of him. Realization hit him, turning his vision red.
Joker picked Harley off of him as he scrambled to his feet.
"Where's the-" he began as a Batarang found refuge against his eye. Quickly shrinking back to coddle his swollen eye, Joker was blindsided by the Caped Crusader.
"Now Batman, let's be reasonable."
"Where is he?" Batman's voice was a low growl, sending a chill down the maniac's spine.
"I wouldn't worry about Geeves. He is still alive, he might not last as long as you would've hoped, but alive nonetheless." Joker could feel the grip on his clothing slipping signalling Batman was losing consciousness.
"But perhaps we should talk about this in the morning when you're well rested."
The purple gloved hand slammed his into the hero's face. Another sent him to the ground, followed immediately by a kick to the stomach.
Batman tried with all his effort to fight back, but the previous adrenaline had vanished and a feeling of lethargy was claiming his body and emptiness his mind. He tried a final attack, but all his strength had fleeted. He gave in to unconsciousness as he passed out on the floor.
Joker straightened his bowtie. "Boys, take to some secluded alley. Our work tonight is finished."
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He woke up groggy and in the dark. The rancid stench filled his nostrils. He tried to stand, using the wall as a steadier. At this point, he had deduced he was outside, enough information to determine his next course of action. He pressed the remote in his utility belt to summon the Batmobile. Within seconds, his ride had arrived. It seemed like ages as he worked himself in the car and set it to take him home, the fogginess in his head making it much more difficult to perform simple actions.
He eventually made it home. Without Alfred there to help him, Bruce passed out once again in the vehicle.
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The clock read 10 AM when he blundered from sleep. The lingering feeling of the drug was still in his system. He analyzed his surroundings realizing he was still in his uniform. He stumbled out of the car knowing he needed to get dressed and out the door soon. He was late for work.
It was 11:01 as he entered Wayne Enterprises. He took the elevator straight to his office talking to as little of his employees as he could manage. Unlocking the door, he let out a sigh of relief. He closed the door only for it to be reopened, Lucius Fox stepping in.
"Someone is taking a lazy day. I can't believe Alfred let you leave this late. I mean, you look like you're recovering from a late night party."
Bruce gave him an irritated look, not even attempting to hide his mood.
"Wrong side of the bed?"
"Crime scene at the Social last night. Joker arrived and Alfred was kidnapped," Bruce said shortly, a small grin creeping on his face.
"What? How did that happen?"
"I don't know. I was out dealing with another issue." He stifled several chuckles as he spit the words out.
"I'm in the process of hiring private investigators to… to… find him." his stifled chuckles quickly changed into full laughter.
"You seem to be taking this really well Bruce. Not very broken up at all." Lucius stated, clearly confused by the signals he was receiving.
The fit turned into all out hysteria. Bruce didn't know what had come over him. He took a deep breath to collect himself.
"I'm sorry Lucious. I can't… can't…" he started, unable to finish do to the laughing. He bust through the door to his office, pushing past the man in front of him. He rushed to the bathroom knocking over several people, only increasing his fit. By the time he had made it to the bathroom mirror, he was sure everyone thought he was crazy, and he couldn't blame them.
He splashed water on his face to calm himself down.
"Testing, testing, testing. Does this thing work?"
Bruce instantly recognized the pestering voice.
"Joker!" he ground out.
"Batman, it's good to know your awake. I thought I just try our new communication system out. Think of it as a Bat signal in your head. A neuro-transmitter used to convey my thoughts to you."
"How is he doing this," he thought.
"You're probably wondering how I can do this. Well the shot Harley gave you wasn't just a sedative. I think you're smart enough to figure out the rest."
"If you kill him Joker, it's your head."
"Oh and one more thing Bats. This is just a one way conversation. I can't here you, so you probably look insane in whatever day job you have. Well now I know how to reach you, be ready. I'm a busy man with a schedule to keep. Toodles Bats."
Some of his employees had congregated behind him. He could here them whispering.
"That party last night must've sent him off his rocker."
"The pressure finally got to him."
"Why is he still in charge? I mean look at him, he's talking to himself now."
Bruce straightened himself up before walking out the bathroom. He knew he had to stop Joker soon. But he had to play the game on his terms. More and more, he was regretting his decision of making a deal
