Thanks for the reviews guys! I wasn't going to update till Monday but I had so many great reviews I think I'll go ahead and update now. The Joker plays a huge part in this chapter. Oh I got asked if Gordon knows that Bruce is Batman . . . In my fic he does know. So yeah Gordon knows Bruce is Batman. Well ENJOY!
Laurenmlbc - Thanks so much for your reviews! I'm fine, Flash Burn hurts it's lake a really bad sun burn. And in my case I had it in my eyes, so it sucked! I'm fine now though :). I'm happy that your really enjoying my story! I know poor Bruce is kind of out of the loop.
Candysweets - The Joker will appear in pretty much, all the chapters from here on out. So you wont be able to miss him lol :) thanks for the review!
Taladarkiejj - I'm not sure if in the movie, Gordon know's Bruce is batman... I thought he did but I dunno... however in my fic he DOES know. Thanks for the reviews!
To everyone else that had left me a review thank you lots and lots!
Own the plot... and this little dude Mark, that appears in this chap... sooo chill and don't sue!
Chapter 7
Why Are You Here?
"Should've had a V8." Said a hunting voice to her left followed by a laugh. She looked over and saw the Joker step out of the shadows of her living room. "You know, how they say the camera takes off ten pounds?" he stood there, his cold eyes looking right through her. "More like . . . uh . . . five." He gave a cruel laugh and stepped closer.
"What are you doing here?" she asked getting from her chair and backing away from him.
"I saw your performance on TV and wanted to congratulate you in person." He said clapping his hands. "Great job. Bravo. Could I have an autograph?" Rachel tried to stay away from him, they were now circling the table like two lions ready to fight. Not one of them taking their eyes off the other. "You know. I wanted to thank you."
"For what?" she asked in a shaky voice.
"For, bringing the Bat back." said the Joker. "I mean I've been so bored these past few days. I needed a challenge, and I'm kind of rusty so thanks to you I can warm up my game."
"Are you insane?" she asked, he gave her a 'duh' look. "Stupid question I know but, you have a death wish, don't you?"
"Doesn't everyone at some point of their lives?" he asked. "I mean . . . You've been living a. . . . uh death wish . . . Since you've been drawn to my . . . animal magnetism." He gave her a wink. "Besides, it's all part of the plan . . . the game plan."
"This isn't a game, not to anyone here and NOT to Batman." said Rachel. "He's going to find you and when he does he's going to kill you." Her stomach twisted in disgust as he just laughed at her, 'laughing at his own death, a funny topic!' she thought to herself.
"Ahhh, sudden death hmmm? I love it!" growled the Joker. "Ha! Put me in coach. I'm ready for the second half." He jumped up and down then laughed loudly.
"Your nuts." said Rachel.
"What about them?" He asked raising a brow. Rachel just shook her head and rolled her eyes. The Joker let out a laugh and stared her down across the table. "You forgot about something." He said in sing-song.
"What?" asked Rachel, watching him closely as he put his hands in the pockets of his purple coat.
"Batman's one rule." said the Joker. "He's not going to kill me! Besides if he does then, who cares! I still win! Either way I'll win . . . " he licked his lips and went on. "See if Batman doesn't kill me then I can go on doing this forever. Bouncing back and forth ya know . . . kind of like Pong. He has a chance to kill me, but wont. I have a chance to kill him, but wont. See? It's going to go on forever and ever and ever! ... and if the Batman DOES kill me, then I got to him. Like no one else before me HAS . . . I'd have him broke down to where he broke his ONE rule." He tilted his head and smiled at her. "The game is really called, I win." He gave a shrug and licked his lips with a smile.
"So that's it?" asked Rachel. "You just want Batman to break his rule? Are you out of you're messed up twisted mind?"
"No! Really?" he asked smartly rolling his eyes. "Gee I thought you were one of those smart types?" he laughed. "You went to law school right . . . hmmm? I mean . . . really . . . put two and two together sweetheart." He paused and gnawed on his cheek. "Besides, Batman owes me."
"For what?" asked Rachel.
"Because if it wasn't for me, Gotham wouldn't want him back." The Joker smiled. "See I turned this city against him, now I'm turning them back to him." He walked to the window and pointed out at the city. "You see this . . . city. Is so fun! You can just mold everyone's minds! Something I'm good at by the way . . . I mean, think about it." In a high-pitched voice he said. "We love Batman! He's so amazing, how he fights all the crime and solves our problems." He spoke more deep. "We hate Batman because he's a murderer and blah blah!" he paused and licked his lips. "This city is . . . almost as insane as I am . . . Almost . . . So think about it, he owes me. Of course you had some help in that too. You opened that pretty mouth of yours on live television…. You want to thank me too?" he raised his eye brows at her and licked his lips. "Or would you like me to . . . thank you? Hmmm."
"Get out of my house." snapped Rachel pointing to the door.
"It's not a house. It's an a-part-ment." said the Joker in sing-song.
"Whatever! Get out!" yelled Rachel.
"Awww, why so serious?" he asked with a fake pout. "Is that the way you treat your guests?" he asked putting his hands on his hips.
"Only the ones I hate." said Rachel, she pointed to the door again.
"Alright alright." He said holding up his hands making his way to the door way. Rachel stood by the counter watching him closely, he spun around and looked at her. "Aren't you going to show me out?" Rachel raised a brow at him. "Be a good hostess."
"Are you kidding?" she asked.
"For once . . . no." He said, he licked his lips and gave her a big smile. She grabbed a rolling pin from the drawer behind her. "Instead of packing heat your packing a rolling pin . . . I LOVE IT!" he growled at her. "You're full of so many surprises."
"GO!" she said with a tight grip on the handle. He just laughed at her and turned, Rachel turned on the lights to the living room so they could see where they were going. She didn't take her eyes off the Joker once as she followed him to the front door.
"You know, I think were at the point of our relationship where you can trust me." said the Joker turning around. "I mean, have I ever done anything to you? …. Within the past 24 hours?"
"You broke into my apartment." She said reaching past him opening the door.
"That doesn't count." said the Joker. "The door was wide open."
"No, it wasn't." she said.
"It was after I picked the lock." he replied with a smug look.
"Get out." she growled.
"Fine fine fine." said the Joker. "If that's what you want . . . " he stood for a moment. "What? No goodbye kiss?"
"In your dreams." she said.
"And yours to I'm sure." He said with a laugh and big smile. Rachel just looked at his painted face, she got a sick feeling in her stomach. "What?" he looked behind him, to see what she was looking at then realize it was he. "I see, is there something Miss. Dawes would like to explain to the class? Hmmm." He stepped closer to her.
Rachel could feel his body heat. He was that close to her. She looked up into his face. He still had a smirk on his lips. She looked at his eyes, and they were like daggers stabbing into her soul. She felt like he was looking right through her. She felt so transparent around him, and it scared her. She never felt this way around anyone. She was brought back to Earth when she realized how close he was and his gloved hand touched her face. Remembering who was in front of her, her reflects kicked in. She jabbed the rolling pin into his gut. He gave a cough and stepped back grabbing his belly. His breathless laughter filled her ears.
"You're a feisty one." said the Joker pointing at her, he took a breath and stood up straight. "I like that." His voice was husky and she didn't like it.
"Want me to do it again?" she asked.
"Please do." said the Joker stepping closer. "I love this little spunky side of yours . . . me-ow!"
'What is wrong with this guy?' Rachel asked herself. He was NOT all there in the head. "Have you ever had a cat scan?" she asked.
"Wanna give me one?" he asked. "Or how about a full body check up hmmm?" he stepped closer to her.
"God! I really hate you!" she growled at him.
"Rachel! The man created life! Give him a break!" he faked a shocked expression, and laughed at the look she gave him.
"Shut up!" she snapped. "Get out of my apartment! NOW! I mean it! If you don't want this rolling pin to be surgically removed from your body you better leave!"
"Why would I want to leave when I'm receiving this amazing affection?" asked the Joker. "Blind hatred, I love it." He licked his lips and gave her a wink.
"Rachel are you ok?" asked a voice behind them. Rachel looked past the Joker and saw Mark, her neighbor. She watched the color from his face drain when he saw the Joker. He was in shock and loss of words. "You're the . . . the . . . the Joker!" he spat out in fear.
"Seems that . . . that . . . that way doesn't it, go bot?" mocked the Joker with a growl. "Now if you don't mind, special Ed?" The Joker kicked the door shut locking it with a flash and turned to Rachel.
Rachel screamed when the Joker bolted for her, almost grabbing her arm. She ran through the living and to the kitchen. She grabbed a knife off the counter and faced the Joker. He strolled in the room and gave a chuckle and a skip in his step.
"Get the fuck away from me!" she screamed, nothing but the table separated them. "I mean it I'll cut your nuts off!"
"See if you don't quit saying things like that . . . I'm NEVER going to leave." said the Joker.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"Who said I wanted anything?" he asked staring her down.
"Then leave!" she yelled. "Please just leave!"
"No, you see I can't do that." said the Joker.
"Why?" she asked. Fear was pulsing through her body, she was shaking and her heart was beating fast.
"Because Rachel . . . I love games . . . and your sooo much fun." said the Joker. "See this is all just a game." He faked that he was going to run around the left side of the table making her jump back to the right side closer to him and he dove over after her. Rachel screamed and lashed out at the Joker. She felt the back of the Joker's hand connect with the side of her face. She was hit with such force that she swore she saw stars and she fell to the ground.
"Ow." He said, pulling up his sleeve, Rachel left him a good sized cut on his forearm. "You know that stung . . . but I love it!" he squeezed his arm and blood poured out of the cut and down his arm. "Now it's my turn." His voice was filled with excitement as he quickly pulled her to her feet and pinned her against the counter. He pulled out his knife, and pressed the cool blade to the side of her mouth. "Hmmm, this scene is slightly familiar . . . "
Rachel felt the cold blade press against her mouth. A cold sweat ran over her body, and her heart was pounding in her ears. She was afraid to breathe, incase any movement caused him to slice her face open. His left hand gripped the back of her head, while the other traced the blade around her lips. His body was pressed against hers. His chest rose against hers with every breath. Rachel felt a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She looked up into his eyes, and they were laughing at her. She felt a burning in her eyes as tears filled them.
"You look nervous." said the Joker. "Is it my scars again? Wanna a recap on how I got them?" He looked in her fear filled eyes and smirked. He was drawn away from her eyes and to the window when he heard sirens. "Hmmm, Gotham's finest police force . . . Took them what? Ten minutes to get here? You could be dead by now . . . " he ran the blade along the side of her face. "You know Rachel. You are so beautiful." He ran the blade along her neck. "So, so beautiful." He brushed the side of her face that was now starting to puff up due to his hand connecting with it a few minutes before. "Sorry about that . . . I've never been a fan of hitting . . . women. Its amazing isn't it . . . What you pick up on when you're a little kid hmmm?" he licked his lips.
He stepped closer to her. She didn't think it was possible for him to get any closer. He proved her wrong when he leaned into her. She felt his warm breath on her neck, her stomach twisted in knots. She felt his scarred lips on her flesh below her ear. He growled into her ear when her body tensed up. He bit her ear slightly, making her teeth grind together. He pulled back and looked into her eyes, closely. There was a bang on the door, making Rachel jump. The Joker never took his eyes off hers, not even when the voices of the police were outside her door. There was another knock, and a firm voice on the other side.
"Police!" yelled the voice.
Rachel just looked up at the Joker, he simply rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. He put his knife away with one hand and kept hold of her neck with the other. He looked around and shoved her passed him toward the window. He glanced down. There were three police cars sitting next to the curb. Their red and blue lights flashing down the street. He growled when the cops knocked on the door again.
"In panic?" she asked, finally finding her voice.
"Nope! Love a challenge." he said with a laugh. "Now you play nice!" he hissed at her shoving her back through her apartment toward the door. There was another knock. He looked through the peep hole seeing three cops. He turned to Rachel. "Alright sweetheart . . . Were going to play a game of Joker Says. Joker says speak, BUT don't say something STUPID." He had a tight grip on the back of her hair making sure she didn't go anywhere.
"H-hello?" she asked.
"Miss. Dawes, are you ok?" asked cop through the door.
"I'm fine," she said. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We had a call, saying something about the Joker being here." said the cop. "Can we come in?"
"Hang on." she said. "You guys woke me up!" she felt the Joker pull on her hair, she yelped stumbling backwards. The Joker motioned for her to be quiet and stood behind the door. Rachel slowly unlocked the door and opened it. She looked up at the policemen and laughed. "What's this about the Joker?"
"Someone said that he was here in your apartment." said a cop.
"What? Are you crazy? If the Joker was in my apartment, wouldn't I be the one calling you guys?" she raised a brow to them. "He's not here. Thank God! Crazy clown." She opened the door as far as she could, the Joker was pressed between the door and the wall. She had her hand on the door knob still and she felt his hand on hers. Making sure she didn't do anything stupid she guessed, he made sure she knew he was still there. "You can scan I guess, but I just got home about an hour ago. Fell asleep on the couch and then you guys came pounding on my door." One of the cops stepped in and looked around the living room.
"Are you sure?" one of the Cops asked putting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you SURE he wasn't here?"
"Yes, I'm sure." she said. "Don't worry you guys. If I see that clown I'll call you ok? Are you done? I have to wake up early."
"I guess everything is fine." The cops walked out of her apartment, after a lecture she shut the door. Only to be grabbed by the throat and forced backwards. The Joker's grip tightened around her throat making her gag. He had an expression that laughed at her as he forced her backwards through her living room.
"Good girl." said the Joker. "Very good." He shoved her down on the couch. She gasped when his body weight collided on hers. "You did sooo well! I'm proud." He let go of her throat with one hand and ran his fingers down the side of her face. "I wish I could repay you."
"That's ok!" she gasped. "This one was on the house." The expressions in his eyes were unreadable. She couldn't tell if they were amused or angry . . . or something else. She felt his hot breath on her neck again, her stomach tied in knots. She felt a feeling in her gut that she hasn't felt in a long time, not since Bruce. Harvey didn't even really make her feel this sensation of thrill colliding with passion. Accept with the Joker she felt fear tugging at her mixed with this passion and it scared her. Scared her so much that she tried to shove him away. 'The Joker can't have this effect on you! Dork!' yelled her inner voice. The Joker laughed at her as she tried to shove him away. She was thankful when he stopped, got up and gave a stretch.
"Your so damn fun! I hate to break up this little . . . play date were having." He pulled out his pocket watch, checked the time and put it back in his pocket. "But I have to go. Don't cry. I'll see you again!" he went to the door and looked up and down the halls quickly. Then turned toward Rachel, "Sleep tight!" With that he vanished into the hallway. Rachel caught her breath and sat in panic and confusion. 'What the hell just happened?
I'm actually proud of this chapter lol, it was fun to write so I hope you guys enjoyed it! Can't wait to read your reviews! Thanks and enjoy!