"Sorry for taking so long to upload! Chapter 8 is finally here and I hope you enjoy it! Happy reading!" –Katmeroo


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Eight

No Soul

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"Which one of you did it?! SPEAK!" The Joker held his gun towards both Frank and Panne. The rest of the gang took out their guns too, even if they didn't know what was taking place.

"Woa! Boss, what's going on?" Frank looked confused as he yet hadn't realized Panne had just tricked him.

Joker let out and angry scream as he took a few more steps closer to them. "You led them to us! They know we are here now!" The gun pointed back and forth between them both "Which one of you was it?!"

Then Frank's face squirmed in anger as he solved the puzzle and turned towards Panne and pushed her, pointing at her afterwards.

"You! This little bitch! She did it! She tricked me!"

Joker's gun pointed at her now. Panne had to think fast, she had to come up with something before it got out of hand. She had her hands slightly raised since the gun was on her now and she didn't want to make any sudden movements.

"Wh-what?! You Asshole! I didn't do anything! I don't know what you are talking about!" She yelled back at Frank who just got more pissed. He took out his gun and pointed at her head.

"You are the fucking snitch! Kill her boss, or I'll do it!"

"No you won't, Frank!" Frost yelled as he pointed his gun at Frank.

Then Panne had an idea; she remembered seeing a business card on Frank's room one night the boys and her were playing cards. Frank hid it in his pocket thinking nobody else had seen it, but she already had. So she just hoped it worked.

"Why don't you tell the Boss what you told me, huh?!" Panne pressed herself defiantly against Frank's gun. He cocked his head to the side, confused. "Yeah, you know what I'm talking about! How the cops reached you, how they offered you money in exchange of information! I bet you won't say that! You told me you'd kill me if I told anyone."

Frank's eyes widened as his mouth slightly opened. He could not believe everything she was saying. How was it possible that she knew about his deal with the cops? The police did approach him but he had made sure not to divulge any compromised information. The Joker was now pointing at Frank.

"Is that true, Titan? IS IT?!"

"She's lying, sir! This little cunt is lying! SHE'S LYIN-"

BANG.

Panne's eyes screw shut at the sound of the gunshot. When she opened them, she saw how Frank, in what seemed to be slow motion, fell on his back. A bullet hole on his forehead. She held her breath as she began to shake uncontrollably. Turning her face towards Joker who was walking towards her furiously. He landed a backhand slap across her face, making her stumble to the floor. He then yanked her upwards so she would stand, not letting go of her arm.

"Do I look like an idiot to you? DO I?!" He shouted, being beyond furious. Panne shook her head as she cupped her slapped cheek with her other hand. Joker gave her a bloody smile as he looked into her eyes "I told you, you were a terrible liar. Do you think you could fool me? ME?!"

"I-I don't know what you are talking about…!" She stuttered as she avoided looking at his eyes. He let out an irritated groan as he dragged her forcefully towards the others.

"Hold her tight and bring her in" He pushed her towards Clayton and Cooper. They both held her, one in each side.

"We are sorry, lassie." Cooper whispered to her.

"Jonny can't help you now, girlie" Clayton also said as he noticed she was looking at Frost's direction, who tried his best to stay indifferent.

The Joker went towards his car and opened the trunk and took out a crowbar. He went into the warehouse and motioned them to follow him.

"Hello dear friend!" Joker made a dramatic entrance as he went in with his arms spread wide "I brought you a rusty friend" He said as he twirled the crowbar around effortlessly. Robin looked up and his eyes trembled in horror as he saw the clown approach him. He noticed how two tall men held the girl that had just tried to help him, but said nothing.

"Please J don't-"

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Joker yelled at Panne "I'm not done with you…" He said before turning to Robin, facing him with a smile. He took out a knife and with a swift move he cut the ropes from Robin's wrists. Quickly grabbing him by the hair and throwing him to the ground; his feet still bound together.

"Give me your best shot…" The boy said weakly as he tried to look tough, causing the Joker to laugh as he brought his crowbar up.

"Oh I will, boy."

Panne shut her eyes as she heard Robin grunting and yelling in pain each time the Joker landed a blow on him with the crowbar, over and over again. She felt hot tears build up in her eyes, threatening to fall. She opened her eyes when the sounds stopped and saw how Robin's face was all battered and covered in his own blood. He looked completely broken, as he lay on his side, slightly looking at her direction. The Joker kicked him in the stomach to make him lay on his back, causing Robin to gasp in pain. He crouched down and grabbed the boy's face, smiling pleasantly as he admired his work.

"You are just missing a little something…" He stood up and went towards the tool table. He went through the drawers and took out what seem to be a spray can. Joker walked over to Panne as he gave the twins a nod so they would let her go. Panne rubbed her eyes, getting rid of the tears quickly, causing her to smudge her makeup.

"Why don't you do the honors of leaving our dear Bats a message on his bird friend?" He placed the can on her hands and pushed her forwards. She stopped in front of Robin who had ragged breathing due to his broken bones and ribs.

"I'm so sorry…" She whispered the words so only he could hear them. She could feel her stomach knot when the boy gave her a weak smile. The Joker came up behind her as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I want you to write exactly what I tell you right HERE!" He suddenly stomped on Robin's chest making him gasp loudly as his breath left him followed by a loud cry. Panne winced at the unexpected action, biting her lower lip so that it would held her from saying anything.

"HA HA Joke's on you Batman!" He slowly waved his hand to the horizon as if he displayed his words on the air. "That's what I want you to write on him." He looked at Panne who looked back at him slightly horrified. He brought up his crowbar and slammed it against Robin's knee cap, making him swear out loud. "Well, what are you waiting for?!"

"Okay Okay! Just stop please!" Panne spoke out as she got in between him and Robin, preventing Joker from hitting him anymore. She then turned around and stood right above the boy as she shook the insides of the spray can before removing the cap.

"Please don't move…" She whispered to Robin who just lay there in pain. Panne proceeded to write the words in a yellow mist. The boy began to cough at the strong smell of the paint and he cried as it hurt him to do so. When she finished she stood back and looked at Joker wondering what he will do next. Suddenly Eyeball opened the warehouse doors as he came in catching everyone's attention.

"Boss! I've detected movement in the van radio, we don't have much time!"

The Joker grabbed Robin and pinned him against the chair again, ignoring his screams.

"How much time?!" He yelled at Eyeball.

"Thirty minutes, forty tops!"

Shit.

"Everybody in the van NOW!" Joker shouted as he grabbed duct tape from the tool table and wrapped Robin's chest against the chair and then each of his wrists against the arm's rest. He then leaned down to be eye level with him and gave him his best smile.

"You see this, kid? It'll be the last thing you'll see, so I hope you take a good look to my handsome features, HAHAHAHA!" He patted Robin's cheek, only to get spat on the face. He growled as he cleaned himself with the back of his hand and then gave Robin a full force punch that sent some teeth flying. Robin hung his head low and made no more sound, as blood dripped from his mouth onto his lap.


Jonny grabbed Panne's arm stopping her from getting into the van.

"Can you care to explain what in the world you just did?!"

Panne broke free from his grip and took a deep breath before speaking "I was trying to do what was right, Jonny! He is a lot younger than I am, there was no need to-" Jonny interrupted her.

"No no no, you don't understand. We are not working for Maroni or Penguin, okay? We are working for The Joker! Do I have to remind you what he did to Falcone and his family? YOU were there, you know what he does, what he is capable of."

"And that is precisely why I wanted to help Robin! I didn't want this to be his fate!"

"You are gonna get yourself killed you know that?! You need to set your priorities straight. I'm trying to help you here, Panne!" Jonny placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her a little as to put some sense into her. "I can't lose you…You are all I got left…"

Then the Joker came out of the warehouse and walked towards Jonny and Panne. He quickly separated them and grabbed Panne's hands and duct taped them together.

"Boss?" Jonny asked him, worried about what would happen to his friend. The Joker looked at him dead in the eye.

"Why are you still here?" His voice irritated as then Eyeball yelled from inside the van that they only had 20 minutes before the police arrived with Batman. Jonny nodded at the Joker and gave Panne a last reassuring look before he went in the van and closed the back doors.

The Joker dragged Panne with him as the van sped off. He opened the passenger door of his vehicle and pushed her inside and closed her door; he then ran to the other side and got in quickly turning it on.

He then took out the bomb's trigger Eyeball handed to him and placed it between Panne's tied hands. As he began to drive he pulled out his gun and placed it on her head.

"Push the button." He demanded as he took off the safety from his gun. Panne looked at him and then looked at the rearview mirror to see the warehouse. Robin was still in there and this surely triggered the bomb. She felt a lump on her throat as she realized she had to make a decision.

"…No no…I can't don't make me please" She begged the Joker but this only infuriated him. He shot at the car's roof, making Panne cry out at the sudden deafening sound. He then pressed the gun harder against her head.

"Press the fucking button now!" He yelled as he stopped in the street, so he could give her his undivided attention. "You thought you could just call the cops and not have consequences for it?"

"Then why you killed Frank instead of me? If you knew it was me all along, why kill him?" She could no longer hold back her tears as they burned her cheeks. The Joker's mouth slightly opened as he try to think of an answer as to why didn't he kill her in the first place. But the answer was simple, he just didn't want to get rid of her just yet.

"Because sweetheart…" She felt the bitterness of his words "That would've been too easy for you and I already knew about Titan's involvement with the pigs. But right now my patience is running on empty and I won't think twice before pulling this trigger if you don't do as I SAY!" He started to fidget as he clearly didn't want to wait any longer; Panne was stalling and Batman would get here any minute now.

"God Damn it Panne! Fucking DO IT!" He yelled as loud as he could to get her to press it, but she didn't. She just squeezed her eyes shut as she sniffled back the tears and did silent sobs, already preparing for what seem to be her death.

"You need to set your priorities straight. I'm trying to help you here, Panne! ...I can't lose you…You are all I got left…"

She heard Jonny's last words repeat inside her head over and over again. Jonny had always tried to be there for her ever since she was there for him in grade school. As soon as he found out that she needed to escape Midway city due to her unintended crime he quickly talked to his contacts so they would give her a spot at the underground fighting pits of Gotham. Like he said before, she was all he had left in this world. She wouldn't forgive herself if she were to leave him now. She had to be strong, she had to be strong for her friend. Decisions had to be made, no matter how difficult they were.

Panne could hear the Joker's voice running in the background as if he were very far from her. She focused on the trigger that was in between her palms. She hovered her thumb over the red button and took a very deep breath before holding it.

The Joker halted his shouting as he noticed she was about to press the trigger, and a smile crept the corner of his lips.


The Batman raced through the streets in his customized motorcycle as he saw the warehouse come to sight. A band of police vehicles not far behind were following as well.

"I'm almost there, Robin."

Just as he stopped slightly distanced from the warehouse, the building suddenly exploded making the Batman fall back.

"JASON!" he shouted as he saw in horror how the building got consumed by flames.


"Hasta la vista, baked bird! Hahahahahahaha!" The Joker laughed as he sped off far away from the explosion. Panne leaned against the window as she saw the building crumble down in the rear view mirror. Dried tears smudged on her face.

The Joker gave Panne a small glance before placing his right hand on her knee and gave her a light squeeze as he kept driving.

"I thought I was going to ruin the inside of my car tonight when I blew your brains out. I'm glad that didn't happen! Hah! Cleaning it was going to be a nightmare…" and he was probably going to miss her too, even if he'd never admit it.

Panne stayed silent.

"Aw come on, cheer up!" He grabbed her face and turned it towards him, placing his palm over her mouth so that she would look like she was smiling with the smile tattoo on the back of his hand.

"There that's better!"

She muttered something against his palm that he couldn't quite understand. He pulled away and cupped his ear as if it would help him hear better.

"Wha?"

"You have no soul…"

The Joker looked at her and scoffed.

"Oh please, tell me something I don't know."

She knew what to tell him but she bit her lower lip. She hated him. She loved him. She hated that she loved him. How was something like that even possible? How could she love someone she hated so much? She only wanted for him to be at least a little bit normal. Less cryptic, less crazy. But that was expecting way too much. It was the Joker for fuck's sake. He wouldn't change for her, he wasn't going to change for anybody. She was stupid to think she had any kind of chance with him.

"…Why are you like this?"

He gave her a look as he raised a nonexistent eyebrow and let out a groan.

"Now why with the boring questions? Eh? Didn't I already tell you it only took one really bad day for me?" as he looked irritated, his face suddenly lit up as an idea struck his brilliant mind. Panne's brows furrowed as she wondered what the prince of crime was scheming now.

"One really bad day." Joker grinned from ear to ear. A smile that sent shivers down her spine.

"What are you talking about?"

"You have the boring disorder, Panda! You still have morality and ethics and all that boring crap…You need some fixing!" He placed his hand on his chin as he thought. "And I know just exactly how…"

Okay, now he is being silly, Panne thought.

"I'll fix ya, baby doll. Wait 'till we get home. Like I told you before, it only takes one really bad day after all…and it seems you are halfway yours" And then he burst in a loud malevolent cackle, one that tore Panne's insides apart.

"Will you love me then?"

The Joker's laugh died down as he looked at the road in utter silence. Love? Is she really thinking about love? There's no such thing as love. Not for him. But there was something close, very close. Desire.

He did not say a word for the rest of the ride, and neither did she. He did not speak up until they had finally arrived to the secret penthouse. He went in the garage and turned off the car.

Panne did not move, she seem to be in some sort of shock state. The Joker turned to look at her and reached out to her face and pulled it closer to his.

"Love becomes Desire. Desire becomes surrender. Surrender becomes power." He brushed his lips against hers as he breathed hard, taking in her scent. "Do you want it? Do you really want it?" He smiled on her lips.

Panne stayed silent for a moment as she barely whispered "…I do."

"Then Panne Yuen-Da will be no more. There will only be Panda, and I'll make sure of that."

Whatever that was going to happen to her, she will no longer be the same ever again.


"Thank you for reading this awaited chapter! I'm sorry it wasn't very long but I'm currently in finals and it's been taking a lot of my time. I'll be free soon and hopefully I'll upload a little bit faster as long as I'm not plagued with writer's block. Anyways please leave a REVIEW and tell me what you think! Makes me very happy and motivates me to continue writing and uploading faster!

For those awaiting Harley I promise she'll come by very very soon! I just needed more depth in Joker and Panne's relationship before Harley made an appearance.

Thank you and have a good day!" –Katmeroo