A/N: this is the last backstory chapter. after this we are ALL caught up :)
~I see nothing in your eyes
and the more I see the less I like~
~Breaking Benjamin~
Joker could feel the excitement start to spread through his limbs. A night of chaos would be a good warm up to the big show later. The girl sat next to him, looking calm and collected. She had finally grown tired of torturing the nameless goon across from her. Joker loved how she followed his orders, somewhat. She had no idea what they would be doing tonight, but she had been more than eager to get in on the fun.
He smiled, there were five groups and each had their own orders. All to take place at the same time. Group one was going to the opera house. They would break in and hold the place up. Joker told them to have fun, as long as it caused a lot of trouble.
Group two was heading to the court house, they had their instructions to wire up the place and take it down in the largest explosion they could rig. That one would be magnificent.
Group three were headed to the Gotham City Zoo. They would be breaking in and releasing as many of the animals they could get to before they were caught. Joker didn't have a particular reason why, but figured it couldn't hurt.
Group four would be driving around, causing random troubles for the night time citizens. Murder and mayhem. The Gotham special. He smiled at that thought.
The last group was his group and they had the most important job. They were breaking into the Gotham City Museum. They would destroy whatever they came across and pick up an item that was currently being housed there.
The girl's voice broke his train of thought. "Are we close?"
"Almost there. Now when we arrive, you will use your bat and just have fun." he instructed, lightly flicking the end of her nose.
"What's the point?" she asked.
"No point , just letting off steam before the big job." he said smiling.
"Okay, what do I do if the cops show up?" she asked. Her eyes held no fear, just curiosity.
"Go home." he said. The question reminded him, he had a gift for her. He reached into his pocket. "I got you this." he said holding up the necklace. It dangled in front of the painted up girl.
"What for?" she asked reaching for it.
"No reason." he said putting the necklace on her. There was a small peach charm he had seen at the damned pawn shop. He had also added a key.
"It's pretty," she said smiling, then grabbed the key. "What's this for?"
"That, Peach, is the key to the apartment. Only you and I have a key." He told her.
She looked up to his neck and frowned at the absence of a necklace. "Where's yours?"
He chuckled as he pulled the edge of his shirt out of his pants and lifted it high enough for her to see the still fresh wound. He hissed when she prodded the tender flesh with her small fingers. She outlined the slightly raised spot, then moved them along the tight stitches. Her face serious as she studied it.
The soft touches tinged with pain confused his mind. He shoved her hand away roughly. "Enough." he growled.
"Did that hurt?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"So why did you do it?" she asked, staring at her with her bewitching eyes. He looked into her face, She was genuinely curious.
"Harder to lose this way." he said patting his side.
She laughed, the higher pitched laughter was beautiful. Joker watched as she laughed at him. The van stopped and cut off the giddy display. The girl jumped up to look out of the window.
"This place looks busy, I don't think this is a good idea." she said looking worried.
" That is just the first time jitters talking." He said. He watched as the other three men left the van. The girl was looking at him. "What if I lose you?" she said the panicked look on her face pleased and worried him.
"Then you head home. Simple as that. All bad scenarios lead to you going home." He said leaning close to her face.
"Okay." she said. Then she did something so unexpected. She moved her face forward and kissed him. It was an inexperienced, young teenage kiss. Her painted lips pressed to his and he froze. She pushed a bit harder and then moved away and out of the van.
Joker had not been expecting that. He was already worried about his strange attachment to the brat. Now he was worried about her budding affection for him. He pushed the thought aside for now and got out of the van.
They hurried into the back entrance and started to make their way towards the small gala being held at the museum. Joker smiled, glad he'd chosen tonight to do this. It would be a lot more fun.
Guns fired, people screamed, it was beautiful all around. He encouraged Peach to tear it all up, destroy without prejudice. She did so, perfectly. Joker took his blade to any artwork he could find. He even cut a few people as well. The security had been disposed of by goon 1 and goon 2 while Ace took care of his part of the job.
They had round everyone still alive up into a large group in the main area of the museum. The boys had started to use zip ties and hook everyone to two different people by the wrists. By the end of it, they looked like a chain of paper dolls. Joker chuckled at the mental image.
He watched the people all lined up. Some cried, most stood still, hoping to not draw attention. Neither of those types called to him. He liked the fighters. He enjoyed that spark of life still fighting to stay alive. They were the mose fun. They were the most unpredictable.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for being here to, uh, participate in the evenings festivities." The wailing began again.
Joker looked over to Peach. She was watching two people very intently. As if she felt him staring at her, she turned and locked eyes with him. Joker nodded once and she took it as her cue to have fun. He enjoyed the smile she flashed him, knowing she could do whatever was on her strange little mind. He watched as she skipped up to the line of hostages.
"This is my lovely assistant, play nice." he said.
He left her there to gave fun with the other two guys as he moved to look for Ace. It was easy to find him, he was exactly where he was supposed to be. Good man.
"Did you get it?" Joker asked.
"It's already out in the van." he said.
"Good get it back to the warehouse and wait there. We will be along after we finish up here."
Ace nodded and left Joker standing there in the smaller wing of the museum. He was looking around, enjoying the echoing screams of the hostages, when the scream suddenly changed. That screaming was coming from the girl. He'd heard it before. He cracked his neck loudly and moved to see what was happening now.
The sight he found was not what he had expected to see. The chain of people dipped in the center where three of them were on the floor. Dead or unconscious, that didn't bother him at all. What had caught his full attention was the Batman was there, He had the girl locked in his arms. She was fighting with everything she had in her tiny body. He was impressed, Batman seemed to have a bloody nose, so she got one good hit in at least. He watched as the bat tried to get ahold of her. Tried to keep from hurting her. Joker felt the burn of annoyance. How dare the bat touch his girl. Peach was his and only his.
Joker hunched his shoulder slightly and moved to the open area. He saw his two goons knocked out and tied together. Morons. He walked up to the line of people and grabbed one random lady, holding a knife to her throat.
"Let the kid go Batsy. Its time for the grown ups to play." he said.
The bat turned to him and he saw the anger on the girls face. She hated being helpless.
"Joker, let the woman go."
"Ah, Ah, you are in no position to bargain. You drop the kid and then we will see what happens." he said, pressing the blade harder into the woman's neck.
"Fine, don't hurt her." the bat said as he lowered Peach to the ground.
As soon as her feet touched the floor she began fighting. She braced her feet bending her knees slightly and then slammed her head back into the bat's nose. The blood poured fresh. Joker burst into laughter. He couldn't have been more proud. She pulled her small gun from her pocket and shot the bat in the chest. It didn't hurt him, but it took Batsy's breath for a minute.
The girl locked eyes with him, reached for her necklace, and then grabbed her baseball bat and ran. Joker smiled. Good girl.
Once she had cleared the area, Joker looked back to the Bat. He was watching the girl run too. That was not good, he had to stay and play. The Bat was not allowed near her. Deciding to get the figurative spotlight back, he pressed the blade down and sliced the poor woman's throat.
"You said you'd let her go." Batman roared as the woman bled out.
"I don't remember ever agreeing to that." he said as he let the woman's body fall into the mess of blood on the floor.
"Joker, this is over, let the rest go. The GCPD should be here any second."
"You sure about that? The city has been a bit, uh, crazy tonight." he said chuckling.
Batman watched as Joker moved down the line of hostages, tapping each on the shoulder, like a strange version of duck, duck, goose. Joker loved having Batman's attention, but there were too many witnesses around to talk freely with him. Joker had reputation to uphold.
Joker figured the girl had enough of a head start to get to a safe place. She was smart. He reached down and grabbed the hands of the two people in front of him and cut the zip-tie. They both pulled free and fell away from the other. Joker stepped through the line and started to walk nearer to the Bat. Now it was time for a bit of fun. Joker lunged forward, his knife finding a weak spot and drawing blood from Batman. Joker jumped back just as quick, avoiding the gloved hands of the Bat.
"You almost got me there Batsy." he smiled. "Don't give up now." he taunted.
"Joker, you know how this is going to go, I will take you to Arkham. Lets avoid anymore bloodshed."
He laughed. "I love the bloodshed. It's one of the few things I live for." He watched for any reactions. Nothing. Joker frowned.
Batman looked at him then asked. "Who's the kid?"
"No one you need to worry about." Joker deflected.
"Is she yours?" Batman asked.
Joker froze, his hand falling to his side. "Mine?" he laughed, "Mine? Oh Batsy, you are funny. I guess she is technically mine, but probably not the way you mean, I'm sure. I have raised her, for a while. Taught her everything that I know." he lowered his voice. "Everything." he said again.
Batman lunged forward and tackled the Joker. The grappled on the floor for several minutes, before Batman finally had him subdued. Joker wasn't too worried. He had escaped Arkham before, he could do it again. The batman pulled him to his feet and moved him out of the building and into a tank of a vehicle. He shoved Joker inside and put on a seat belt.
Joker laughed at the gesture. The batman had just been pummeling him and he's now worried about a seatbelt. He stopped laughing when Batman got inside. The machine purred to life and they were moving quick.
"So, Batsy, you know the city hates you, right?" Joker tried to start a conversation.
"Shut it." Batman replied.
"The kid got you good huh? Your nose may be broken. You look way more terrifying dressed as a bat with all the blood on your face. Can't believe she shot you. Kids these days huh?" Joker continued.
"I will knock you out."
"What do you want to talk about? It's an awfully long drive to the loony bin." he said.
"I have nothing to say to you." Batman said, still not even looking at him.
"Fine."
It was several minutes later when Batman broke the silence. "Why keep a kid around? Doesn't seem like your style."
Joker was elated, Batman wanted to have girl talk. He held the bubbling happiness inside and just smiled. "You want the truth?" he asked.
Batman looked at him through the mask, "Are you capable of telling the truth?"
"When I feel like it, and I'm in a generous mood."
"Fine, yes, I want the truth."
Joker leaned his head back into the seat and closed his eyes. "I don't know why." he said.
Batman looked over at the clown next to him. "Tell me where she went and I will help her."
Joker laughed. "She would destroy you." Joker said with pride.
"She'd a child." Batman argued.
"No, no, no. She's so much more than that. She is a teenage force of destruction. She is smart and ruthless."
"You care about her?" batman asked, sounding surprised.
"I hate her." he frowned, that wasn't completely true. "I love her, I will more than likely kill her one day. But until that day, she is mine."
Batman took a deep breath, "You can't own her, she is a person."
"She's my person, I saved her life, it's mine to own. She's not my prisoner, she likes me." he said without any malice. Like it was a simple fact of life.
Batman was silent the rest of the way. He didn't like this side of the Joker. It made him seem more and less human all at once.
They arrived at the gates of the asylum and the Batman was buzzed through. He parked the small tank and pulled Joker from the passenger seat. The security from the inside surrounded them, all pointing their guns at Joker. They all looked terrified and Joker loved it. They walked him right into the front door. Last time it had been through a loading doc type room. This was nicer. Joker didn't fight, he allowed the Bat to lead him into the medical wing of the hospital. This would be fun. Last time they had pumped him full of anti psychotics. They had little to no effect on him.
The nurses looked scared, they were shaking like leaves. Joker saw one headed towards him with an IV line, Her hands shaking so badly. He started feeling a bit nervous.
"Listen toots, you can put in the IV, I won't fight you, just get it right the first time." she looked at him and swallowed audibly.
"Ok, Mr. Joker." she said trying to calm her nerves.
He laughed, "Mr. Joker, I like that."
The nurse smiled shakily and began the IV line with no issues.
Joker was glad, he didn't like being a pin cushion. The other nurses worked but never made eye contact or spoke to him. They had a tray full of all kinds of vials and empty syringes. This wouldn't be good.
His doc from before came in, he was an older guy. Joker couldn't remember his name but he never forgot a face. They had laid him back on a bed and began to strap him down. The doc came up and began talking to the nurses and Joker tried to listen in. He heard the names of a few different medicines. Olanzapine, Diazepam, Haldol, Joker had been on all of these at one point during his last stay, but never at the same time. He had a very high resistance to medicines.
The cold of the IV bag was traveling up his arm, he watched as the doc started to pick up the syringes the nurse had laid down. The were all now full. The burn of the medicine moved through his IV and up his arm. Some had been given directly in his thigh. The groggy feeling took over and he was out like a light.
