Author Note: Thanks for all the reviews. I'm sorry it's been a while but I installed windows 10 on my computer which kinda broke it and its taken me this long to get my monitor to work again. Sorry again but I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 7: The Meeting
The rest of the night was strange, they sat together still in costume. She felt like she was waiting for something to happen but it never came. Around midnight she yawned and The Joker looked at her strangely as though he too was waiting for something, waiting for her to do something maybe.
"I need to go to bed" she muttered and he simply nodded turning his head back to whatever was on the TV.
"Do you want to go to sleep?" she asked trying to gauge if he wanted her to offer him her bed, or if he would sleep on the sofa.
"No," he said simply not even looking to her.
She stood from the sofa and felt his arm brush against her side, she looked down to where he was fingering the material of her waistcoat again. She stood still for a moment unsure of how to respond. Finally, he looked up at her and ran his hand along her arm to her hand, he held it in front of his face for a second before he planted a kiss on the back of it like he had done before.
"Goodnight, Jester," he said softly looking up at her, but before she could reply or even respond, his head had turned back to the TV and his hand had left hers. She headed to bed and left her bedroom door open, she washed the clown make-up from her face and got herself ready for bed she peered down the hallway towards the living room, he still sat his back to her as he watched the TV.
She crawled into bed and for a long time, she lay staring at the ceiling listening to the muffled sounds of the TV down the hall. Eventually, sleep consumed her and she drifted off into a fitful state worrying, what tomorrow would bring.
It was around 3 am, he woke from his place on her sofa the TV was still on and he looked around. For a second he forgot she had gone to bed hours ago, he stood stretching his back and wiping the drool from his chin. He made his way to the bathroom, as he was about to enter he peered into what he knew to be Scarlett's bedroom opposite the bathroom. He walked over and looked inside, she lay tangled in her sheets with one leg over the mound of the duvet and the other under it. Her hair was even more dishevelled than before, and her long legs were bare apart from the pair of pyjama shorts she was wearing. Something deep inside of him growled, but he saw no need to act on his urges just yet. She was his now, he had time. He returned to the bathroom.
When morning came Scarlett stretched out the painful kinks in her back and stood from her bed. She peered around half expecting him to be in the bed with her, the TV was still on and so she made her way towards the sound.
He sat on the end of the corner sofa, watching the TV. His make-up looked fresh, and she was sure looking at his fingers that he had only just applied it. She wondered if he ever slept.
"Morning," she said sleepily and he looked up to her grinning wildly.
"Coffee?" she asked turning on the machine but he simply shook his head.
Forget sleep, did this man ever eat or drink anything!
She set her cup under the coffee maker and began to put some cat food down for Puddin who was currently licking the paint off of ThJokers'rs hand.
"Joker," she said warily realising suddenly this was the first time she had ever addressed him.
He looked up at her from his seat again.
"Where are we going today?" she asked her nerves of the day ahead, beginning to settle in.
"We are going to a meeting the mob are having. I have a little proposition for them, we are meeting some of my boys there," he said simply and she nodded her head nervously.
"Don't look so worried Jester, I'm gonna look after you. Plus you'll have your own gun" he said and she only nodded again.
"Have you ever used a gun?" he asked standing up from his seat and looking curiously at her.
"Yeah lots, my dad taught me when I was little, that and how to fight," she said and The Joker grinned.
"Good old daddy oh" he chimed and she only laughed.
When 11oClock rolled around she decided to get her 'costume' on. She was nervous, though strangely she had no fear of having to kill someone, she had done that before. It was more about how to act around The Joker's 'boys'. She decided confidence was the best way forward. She smiled at herself in the mirror as she applied the last touches to her makeup and pulled her hair up into a messy bun onto the top of her head. Allowing it to fall unevenly as she pulled on her hat.
As she entered the living room, fully ready, the Joker looked her up and down, wolf whistling loudly. She was glad they were going in the middle of the day that way very few of her neighbours would see her dressed this way.
"Ready," he said standing and pulling on his purple jacket, she simply nodded. He led her out to a grey van with blacked out windows and she climbed into the passenger seat as he started the engine. His driving reminded her of a boy racer who had finally passed his test it was erratic and fast, but it was strangely funny as she was nearly thrown out of her seat as he suddenly made a left turn.
The Joker's boys consisted of a group of two wanted felons and one previous Arkham patient. They picked them up at a meeting place under the overpass. Jerry the Arkham patient was a slim black man with corn rounds and he whispered to himself as he sat in the back, but he seemed in awe of The Joker and became deadly silent when 'the boss' spoke.
"Boys, this is Jester, she is the second in command now, after me, do what she says, or well you know the deal," said The Joker as the other two, Dean and Kyle climbed into the back of the van and shut the door behind them. No one seemed to argue with the change in the hierarchy and nobody spoke much after that. It didn't take long to be where they wanted and The Joker pulled the van over, hitting the curb slightly and stopping so forcefully Scarlett nearly fell into the dashboard.
"Right, I'm gonna go in, Jester you keep watch by that door and I'll go in via the back, as for the rest of you keep an eye. If Jester calls you come in guns blazing, if not have the engine running" said The Joker before he handed Jester an automatic gun and quickly jumped out of the van and Dean moved to take the driver seat. Jester jumped out and looked at where the Joker had just disappeared. She hurried off towards the door he had told her to go to. Inside she could see what appeared to be some kind of industrial kitchen. Just a little way inside the room was a set of double doors, as quietly as she could, she pulled open the first set and propped them open with a steel pipe she found on the floor, before peering into the window of the next set of doors.
Inside was a long grey table along both sides sat an array of well known Gotham gangsters, including the only one she recognized Salvatore Maroni. He sat his boys standing behind him warily, none appeared to be armed. Thought it was just past midday the room had no windows and so held a strange coldness to it, lit only with harsh fluorescent tube lighting.
At the end of the long table, a TV was being placed and it was quickly turned on. She spotted a glimpse of purple at the other end of the room hidden in the darkness, she knew he was waiting for the right moment.
"What the hell is this?!" said the mobster next to Maroni as he motioned to the TV with a loose hand.
But the TV was already on and an Asian man's face appeared on the screen looking at them all.
"As you are all aware one of our deposits was stolen a relatively small amount, 68 million" the Asian man on the TV began.
"Who's Stupid enough to steal from us," said a man with a strong Russian accent.
"Two-bit whack job, wears a cheap purple suit and make-up, He's not the problem, he's a nobody," said Maroni and Jester felt an anger like no other rise up within her and her hand clenched more tightly around the gun in her pocket.
There was a noise behind Jester and it brought her quickly out of her rage. She watched in horror as a man pushed open the door from the other end of the kitchen, quickly she hid behind the door she had propped open as her heart began to beat harder, he had not seen her as she continued his patrol down the corridor. She pulled out the knife she had stashed earlier and tried to clear her mind as her dad had taught her years ago. He may have been a murdering scum bag and deserved to burn, but he had taught her well.
As the man pasted she slunk her arms around his neck and in one swift motion slit his throat. The gurgling noise was louder than she thought it would be and she watched as the man fell to the floor, his blood beginning to pool around him. She resisted the urge to giggle and headed back to the window in the door, ignoring the man behind her clutching hopelessly at his throat. She wasn't as bothered about taking yet another life as she thought she would be, in fact, she found it somewhat exhilarating as she flicked the blood from her hand, as it seeped into the pours of her gloves.
She peered back into the window, making sure she wasn't going to be seen.
"Where then?" asked a huge black man sitting opposite the Russian, he looked outraged as he looked at the TV.
"No one can know but me if the police were to gain leverage over one of you everyone's money would be at stake," said the TV man, and the room erupted into angry roars.
The muttering was soon stopped the Russian "what to stop them getting to you?" and with that there was silence.
"I go to Hong Kong, far from Dent's jurisdiction and the Chinese will not extradite one of their own," said the TV man.
"How soon can you move the money?" Maroni asked
"I already have, for obvious reasons I couldn't wait for your permission. Rest assured your money is safe". The Asian replied quickly.
And finally 'The Boss' made his move, his sarcastic dry laugh rung out through the room like a beacon and Jester couldn't help the grin that came to her face and her heart began to race in a whole new way.
As he walked into the room so they all could see him he glanced quickly at the doors and a smile pulled at his lips as she spotted his new favourite person.
"And I thought my jokes were bad," he said as he stood there looking around at them all.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't have my boy here pull your head off," said the black gangster who looked more outraged than the others that the Joker was here. His 'boy' stood quickly from his chair and headed towards the Joker, who seemed completely unfazed by the situation.
"How about a magic trick," said Joker a childish grin spreading across his face, he opened his jacket and pulled out a pencil and slammed it into the table so it stood upright. "I'm gonna make this pencil disappear"
The gangsters 'boy' began his attack but the Joker moved in one fluid motion and soon the man lay dead on the floor a pencil embedded in his skull.
"Dada! It's ah it's gone" said the Joker pulling up a seat looking around at them all as though expecting applause.
"Oh and by the way the suit it wasn't cheap, you outta know you bought it," The Joker said readjusting his suit slightly.
The black man's face contorted in a mixture of disgust and outrage and he stood to confront the clown, but before a word left his lips, the Russian spoke.
"Sit, I want to hear proposition," he said motioning to the Joker and sitting back in his chair slightly more.
The Joker looked to the black gangster and waved his hand slightly at the Russian, and so reluctantly the gangster sat back down.
"Let's wind the clocks back a year. These cops and lawyers wouldn't dare cross any of you. I mean what happened, did your ball drop off hmmm" the Joker began staring around at them all, as though actually expecting an answer.
"You see a guy like me," he said motioning to himself slightly.
"Freak" the word rang out from the gangster's lips like a gunshot in the night and Jester once again had to control the rage that flared up, it was mad how emotionally attached she had become to that clown, but she couldn't deny it now, she was in deep.
"A guy like me" The Joker repeated and then he paused for second clearly changing his mind.
"Look listen. I know why you chose to have your little ahem ... Group therapy sessions in broad daylight. I know why you're afraid to go out at night. The Batman" he said the name slowly as though making sure that everyone understood.
"See Batman has shown Gotham your true colours, unfortunately. Dent. he's just the beginning. And as for the televisions so-called plan," he said waving his hand in the direction of the TV where the Asian was still watching from.
"Batman has no jurisdiction he'll find him and make him squeal. I know the squealers when I see them... and" he said pointing to the Asian directly who had covered the screen for a second before he was gone replaced by snow.
"What do you propose," said the Russian looking to The Joker.
"It's simply we... uh ... kill the Batman" said the Joker pushing some of his hair out of his face slightly, before the room erupted into laughter.
"If it's so simple, why haven't you done it already," asked Maroni, a smirk on his face.
"If your good at something, never do it for free," said the Joker simply.
"How much you want?" asked The Russian his accent stronger than ever.
"Uhh...Half" said the Joker moving closer to the table.
"You're crazy," said the black gangster and the Joker's eyes went dark and his mood completely changed to something much more dangerous.
"No, I'm Not... No, I'm Not" he said looking at the black gangster and licking his back teeth slightly.
"If we don't deal with this now... soon ... little uh Gambol here won't be able to get a nickel for his grandma" Joker said looking to the black gangster and motioning his hand somewhat.
"ENOUGH from the Clown!" shouted Gambol standing again, but The Joker was on his feet just as quick.
"ah-ta-ta-ta-ta" The Joker sang slightly as he pulled open his jacket, his thumb attached to a cord that held on it the pins of around half a dozen grenades. He tugged at the sting lightly and Jester took a breath to calm herself.
"Let's not blow... this out of proportion," said Joker looking to Gambol.
"You think you can steal from us and just walk away?" said Gambol.
"Yeah," said the Joker simply backing up, towards the door Jester was watching through.
"I'm putting the word out five hundred grand for this clown dead. A million alive, so I can teach him some manners first." Said Gambol angrily but the Joker did not look scared but rather a little confused.
"All right. So listen, why don't you give me a call when you wanna take things a little more seriously..." said the Joker reaching into his pocket with his free hand.
"Here's my card," he said placing a Joker card on the table still tugging lightly at the sting on his thumb. He seemed to be humming to himself as he back out the room, kicking the door open with his foot, Jester jumped out the way as she watched him approach. He looked at her and laughed wildly.
"Did you do that?" he asked pointing to the man on the floor and he pulled her by the arm past the dead body. Jester nodded slightly and The Joker laughed again as he and Jester tumbled into the back of the van and took off again.
"You brilliant girl," he said grinning again, Jester took a breath this was the best high she would ever have, she was not only allowed to show her true self but the exhilaration of it all was intoxicating. Jester was unsure if she would ever be able to go without again, the death she had just caused completely slipping her mind as soon as he smiled to her.
"So Jester wanna be a permanent member of our team," he asked after they had dropped off the boys. Jester felt like she was dreaming.
"I'd love to," she said grinning and he mirrored her.
"What about my job?" she asked and he seemed to be thinking for a second.
"Keep it, just get some time off," he said after a while and Jester only nodded before she pulled her phone out of her back pocket and began to dial, her eyes beginning to well up as her act took over.
"Hi its Scarlett, I need some personal time off as my aunt has just died, so I need to go back to England for a little while," Jester said her eyes welling up.
She nodded a few times, though she didn't know why, before she hung up and a smiled filled her face as she looked at him.
"I have a month off," she said and The Joker cackled with happiness.
After that phone call, Scarlett's life would never be the same again, though she didn't know it at the time. Her true hidden madness would begin to dig deeper into her soul and Jester would become so much more than just an alter ego.
