Anna pulled out Gordon's chair opposite the Joker and sat down, 'Where..' glancing at his free hands drumming against the table, '...is he?'
'This is their plan?' The Joker looked at her sceptically and shook his head, 'No, no no no... this can't be their plan...'
'Why's that?'
'They sent you to.. to what?' He raised his arms in question, 'What are you gonna do?' He slapped his arms down to his thighs and leant back in his chair with a sigh, 'Police and their 'plans'...'
'So you know where he is?'
'You just want to control everything, with your 'plans'..' He waved his hand at her question, 'What fun is control?'
'When things are in control, people don't get hurt.' Anna cleared her throat, 'Not everyone is a fan of chaos.'
The Joker violently shook his head, 'No no no, look how it's worked for you.. You thought you had it all 'under control'. But Dent, now he's missing... And because of 'your people'....'
'You know where he is though.'
'They..' He nodded out the door, 'They just grasp and they grasp... And the world still slides through their fingers to do what it wants...' He leant in closer to the table, 'Control, it's useless. It just, it doesn't work.'
The Joker moved closer towards her, 'They don't understand, that the key..' He moved his hands in a flowing movement, '..is to slide with it.'
Anna narrowed her eyes, 'So that's what Harvey Dent is supposed to do? Slide with it? With whatever you're putting him though now?'
The Joker looked disappointed she wasn't amazed by his explanation, he looked at her, studying her. He crossed his arms then uncrossed them, finally putting them on the table and looking Anna straight in the face, 'Yes.'
Anna let out a frustrated cry, 'Then you do know where he is!'
The Joker looked momentarily confused, 'No now I just said that's what he should do.. In whatever situation he may or may not be in..'
'They- we know you're behind this.'
'Do they?
'I was with you in that truck.' Anna gritted her teeth, loosing patience, 'You've no way out of this. It is crystal clear what your motive was, to kill Harvey Dent. So stop pretending you have nothing to do with this. You have everything to do with this. I heard you say it, confess it! I can testify against you!'
The Joker scratched the back of his head and clicked his tongue as if weighing out his options, he leant in closer to Anna, 'But will they believe you..?'
She tried to remain calm on the surface, he knows they're suspicious of her or else why would he presume they wouldn't believe her. But he must be thrown by the fact she's a 'detective'? She cleared her throat, looking up at the camera and giving it a nod, 'Okay..' There was no more she could do, she just hoped it was enough to convince them of her innocence in the matter, '..I'm done here.'
'So soon? Did I say something to..' He gave her an discomforting wink, '..throw you off?'
'I just..' She shook her head, '..can't seem to get through to you.'
'Mmmm..' The Joker gave her a mock understanding look.
'But maybe there's someone else that can.'
The lights flickered on, lighting up the dark room, and even though Gordon had told her that if it came to it, he'd be there... he still gave her a fright. The Jokers head slammed down on the table and Anna jumped, staring at Batman up close for the first time ever. 'Oww..' The Joker groaned, his hand at his forehead, 'Never start with the head, the victim gets all... fuzzy... Can't feel the next-'
The Batman slammed a fist against the Jokers other hand and all he got as a reaction was a shake of the head and a few blinks, 'See?'
Anna took this as a que to leave, she stood up, pulling the chair out. She felt as though something should be said, like a goodbye to the Joker, or a thanks to the Batman.. But this was just such a weird situation, she could find no words.. so she just turned her back.
'Hey heyyy...' The Joker addressed her back, 'Where.. now no no...'
Anna turned, 'I'm not staying here with..' He looked at Batman, '...with him without a bit of support.'
'Support?' She looked at him sceptically, as if she would give him any support.
'Listen.. ah no offense..' He waved a hand at Batman, 'But I know my rights.. And I'd like a.. ah..non-judgemental...eh middleman here in case things get out of hand.'
'For your sake..' Anna glared at him, '...I hope they get as far out of hand as possible. As much as I'd like to see this..' She glanced at Batman and back to the Joker, 'I'd rather walk out of here right know and never have to see your face again.' She gave him one last glare, 'I hope you rot in Blackgate.'
'Mmm maybe I'll see you there...'
'Or Arkham.' She ignored him and turned on her heel, 'That's where you belong.'
'A ta ta ta taa..' The Joker said slowly and despite herself Anna looked back, 'I wouldn't leave if I were you.'
'Why not?'
The Joker gestured for Batman to take a seat, 'Because, I can.. I can promise you.. Batman here.. He won't be getting any answers. Not if you're not here. That's the deal.'
'I don't think you're in any position to be making any deals.' Anna replied.
'If you want to know the whereabouts of your precocious Harvey Dent, I'd stay.'
Anna took a deep breath, looking at Batman who merely stared at her, to the door. She sighed, walking back to the table and standing at the side, in between Batman, who had sat down, and the Joker, 'Fine.'
'You wanted me.' The Batman spoke for the fist time and the Joker and Anna turned towards him, 'Here I am.'
'I wanted to see what you'd do, and you didn't disappoint.' The Joker replied casually, 'You let five people die. Then you let Dent take your place. We...' He nodded to Anna, 'We were trying to kill him because of that, because we thought he was you! Even to a guy like me that's cold.'
Batman thankfully ignored him, 'Where's Dent.'
'Those mob fools want you gone so they could get back to the way things were. They had a plan didn't they Dectective?' The Joker ignored him back and glanced at Anna, 'To kill the Batman.' He looked back at Batman, 'But I know the truth. There's no going back. You've changed things. Forever.'
'Then why do you wanna kill me.'
The Joker burst into giggles, jumping in his chair with glee, 'I- I don't wanna kill you!' Anna looked at him in confusion, was that not exactly what he wanted to do? 'What would I do without you! Go back to ripping off mob dealers?'
'No no no no...' He changed to a more serious tone, 'You complete me.'
'You're garbage that kills for money.
'Don't talk like one of them.' The Joker snapped, 'You're not.'
'You either.' He looked at Anna, 'Even if you'd like to be. Both of you, pretending to work on their side, pretending to be like them. You're not.'
'To them..' He readjusted his waistcoat, '...you're just a freak. Like me. They need you right now. When they don't they'll cast you out, like a leper. '
He watched the two of them for a reaction, 'See their morals, their code, it's a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you, when the chips are down these, ah, these civilized people, they'll eat each other.'
Anna wished she could disregard his opinion, but he was right the last time. Gambols men fought to the death, but they were criminals, surely civilised people wouldn't do the same?
'See I'm not a monster.' The Joker looked at Batman as if the he'd just settled an argument, 'I'm just ahead of the curve.'
Anna gasped and jumped back as Batman grabbed the Joker by the collar and dragged him over the table, 'Oh crap.' she muttered.
'You have all these rules and you think they'll save you.' The Joker said matter-of-factly.
'I have one rule.' Batman slammed the Joker against the wall beside Anna and she took a step away, 'Ohh, then that's the rule you'll have to break to know the truth...'
'Which is?' Finally! An answer!
'The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules.' Anna shook her head, he just would not give a damn straight answer, 'And tonight you're gonna break you're one rule.'
'I'm considering it.'
'Well there's only minutes left so you're gonna have to play my little game if you wanna save one of them.'
Both Anna and Batman stood still, 'Both.'
'You know for a while there I thought you really were Dent the way you threw yourself after her...'
'Dawes.' Anna muttered to herself and Batman suddenly flung the Joker onto the interrogation table with a massive clang. He grabbed the chair and lodged it under the handle of the door, 'Ooh, woo, ha ha ha!' The Joker laughed on the table, 'Look at you go! Does Harvey know about you and his little boney?!'
Batman shoved him against the glass of one of the walls, 'Jesus...' Anna backed away. 'Where are they?!'
'Killing me isn't making a choice.' The Joker lay on the ground now. 'It was between one life or the other. Your friend the District Attorney or his blushing bride to be?' He started to laugh as Batman hit a blow to his face, making him laugh harder, 'Woo, woo, ha ha ha ha ha ha! You have nothing! Nothing to threaten me with! Nothing to do with all your strength!'
Batman pulled his up again by the collar in pure frustration and anger.
'Don't worry, I'm going to tell you where they are!' The Joker licked his lips, 'Both of em! And that's the point! You'll have to choose! He's at 25052nd Street... and she's on Evan Wax at Seciro.'
Batman discarded the Joker in a flurry and was out the door in a few seconds after hearing the locations. Anna stood perplexed, her arm not in a cast at her mouth in shock. The Joker rolled on the ground breathlessly and sunk into a sitting position against the opposite wall, 'Ahhh...'
'Both of them.' Anna shook her head, 'How long do they have?'
'Hah?' The Joker looked at Anna as if he'd forgotten she was there, 'Ohhhh... we'll see...'
'Innocent people...'
'Mmmm...' The Joker murmured without interest.
'They were just innocent, good people..'
The Joker looked down at his fingernails.
Anna clenched her jaw in furry and grabbed the lamp on the table and flung it at the Joker, 'You. Are. Such. An. Asshole.'
'Wohaaaaayy!' The Joker rubbed his head where the lamp hit him square, 'What has gotten into you?!' He gave her a mock sympathetic look, 'Sudden case of PMS?'
'Ugh! Y-'
The door opened and a police officer walked in, 'Anna, it's okay. It's over. You can leave now.'
'I..' Anna stamped her foot against the floor, 'Am not leaving, not until I get to see this... this man... escorted to Blackgate prison. For good.'
'I'm going to take over.' The man shook his head, 'I'll stay here with him, he won't get anywhere...'
The Joker gave a scoff.
'I promise.' The man gave the Joker a disgusted look, 'I'll take care of this. You can leave.'
Anna shook her head, 'I'm staying, I'm not leaving now. Not now.'
The officer shook his head and sighed, 'Are you sure?'
'I'm not leaving.'
'Fine.' He clicked the door shut behind him.
