Chapter 8

The rest of the night was surprisingly quiet. I took it as the joker was more or less amused that he knew my secret. I couldn't help but be worried though. Edward Nigma was one thing but the Joker knowing who I was is even worse. The uneasiness of the day that group therapy was today didn't make me feel any better at all. The guards took the clown out of our cell earlier in the morning for some treatment. It at least gave me time to myself to get some sleep. Since I have been here I haven't gotten any.

"Hey Batsy… Bats… wake up pumpkin" I heard a familiar voice.

I shifted uncomfortably not really wanting to wake fully from my slumber. I didn't know how long I have been out but I didn't really care. A sudden pain to my check made me jump from my sleep. Much to my annoyance as my eyes started to take in my surroundings was that familiar grin of the clown. I shot up quickly. His laughter filled the room.

"You know bat-babe you really are cute when you sleep."

I scoffed. This only made him grin more.

"What do you want?" I grumbled frowning.

"Hehahahoohee… I just want to spend time with my darling bat." He sat close next to me on the bed. I shot him a glare shifting away from him.

"You're crazy you know that." I didn't hide my annoyance at him from my voice.

"That's why you love me sweetheart" he puckered his lips in a mocking way.

"No I don't!" I couldn't help but hitting him hard in the face causing him to fall off the bed.

Laughter erupted hysterically from him.

"Hehehe oh want to play rough. You always know how to show a girl a good time." He licked his now bleeding lip that I managed to reopen his previous wound.

I just frowned.

He looked up.

"Shhhh Bats." His voice dead serious.

"What?" I couldn't help asking in surprise.

Almost as quick as lighting he was leaning over me and put his hand over my mouth. My eyes widen in shock. Before I could protest, his words stopped me.

"They're coming to play." Was all he said. It hit me as clear as day as what he meant. The guards were coming. How long was I asleep for?

Creek.

Clack.

I heard the cell door open. Before the guards came in the Joker was now standing grinning at them. That didn't surprise me. No. Not that. But I could see it. In those strange green eyes of his. The eyes that looked like they could glow in the dark. They always seemed inhuman to me. Though I never saw the clown prince of crime as anything just human. His insanity and mood swings were always a dangerous combination. It always made him my most dangerous foe. One day he could be a harmless prankster. The next he could be a homicidal maniac killing anyone he saw fit. His mood swings changed so rapidly it was never clear what exactly was running through the mad man's head. I still could see it though. Most people would miss it. But there was a look of pure homicidal amusement in his eyes right now. I couldn't help but be on edge. As much as I hated the corruption of Arkham as well had a plan to put an end to it once I was out of here. I still couldn't let the clown get away with any more murders if I could prevent it.

"Hello Gentleman" The Joker spoke to them. His voice hinting sudden warning to them.

"Shut up clown!" one of the younger guards retorted.

"Hehehe. Now when have I ever been known to just shut up." He laughed amused.

"Careful or we will make you shut up clown!" One of the guards stepped closer to the clown only to be pulled back by another. Laughter filled the room.

"Now that sounds like a fun game to play. Though I should warn you boys it's my turn." He took a step towards them. Murderous intent in his eyes. I stood up quickly shooting the mad man a glare.

"Now, Now" The elder guard spoke. "We aren't here for you Joker, we are here for you ."

Rage flashed through the clowns eyes. It faded as quickly as it came and next thing I knew the joker gripped on to me and gave a childish pout towards them.

"But I'm still playing with my friend!" He whined. It was hard to tell if he was seriously whinnying or mocking them. It really could be any.

God he could be such a child sometime.

Before anyone could speak a doctor came up to the cell door and spoke sternly to all of us.

"It's time for group therapy. This little meeting will have to be delayed."

He was a young man. Early 30's if I had to guess. My eyes took a glance at the young man's name tag on his white coat. Dr. Nicolas Poe was his name. I didn't take much thought of it. He must have been new since I hadn't seen him here before.

The sudden feeling of pain from my back hitting the floor took me in complete shock. The clown had pushed me down hard. He smiled childishly at me.

"Race you there Brucie!" he bolted to all of our surprise past the guards. Laughing down the halls of the Asylum.

"Hey Get Back Here!" The guards yelled after him as they took off after him down the halls.

I sighed as I got up and looked at the young doctor whose dumbfounded look showed heavily on his face. He quickly shook it off his face becoming stoic again as he looked at me.

"Well shall we be going?" he stated as more of me not having a choice.

Much to me not wanting to I nodded. I was more concerned on the clown taking off like that.

Once we got to the room for group therapy, much to my surprise Joker was already there sitting next to Harley. His mood looked much more annoyed until he glanced up to me. His smile returning.

"Looks like you lose Brucie. You will be sure to have to make it up to me latter." He giggled as I glared at him. He had an arm wrapped around Harley as she was resting her head against his chest. I looked around the room and took my seat as far as I could from the clown prince of crime. He seemed to pout like a child at this. He shoved Harley away from him as she yipped in startled surprise. His glance at me told me he did this out of me sitting away from him.

The man of riddles entered the room and he sat much more to my annoyance right next to me. All the chairs were in a circular formation as Dr. Nicolas was sitting in front of us, clip board in hand.

Harvey Dent entered the room as he flipped that coin of his, obviously deciding where to sit. He ended up taking a seat next to me. Guilt hitting me hard as it always did when it came to him but I did my best to hide it. Laughter erupted from the clown. He apparently had taken notice of it when no one else did. No one questioned him on what he was laughing at which I suppose for me was good news even if it did make my temper rise.

"Shall we begin?" Dr. Nicolas spoke up.

"I don't know doc, we should have Harvs over here flip for it." The clown prince of crime laughed hysterically.

"I'll flip on it to see if you live tonight clown!" Harvey spat out angrily. As he flipped the coin. It landing on the good side, he grumbled in annoyance as both Harley and Joker giggled at him.

"Maybe next time Harvs" The clown respond smug and mocking.

"Gentleman let's just start." The Doctor said sternly.

"Now who wants to go first?"
The joker raised his hand and waved it around frantically as if he was a child in a classroom.

"Okay Jac-"

He was cut off short by a murderous glare grin from the mad man.

"Joker go ahead." He corrected himself.

The clown grinned happily, leaning back in his chair relaxing.

"I just want to make the world laugh. To bring a smile to the good people of Gotham's faces." He sounded sincere which only made me glare at him.

"So you think murder makes people laugh?" The doctor responded in obvious disbelief.

"Death is the ultimate punch line." He stated matter of fact.

I clenched my fist. The glance the clown gave me made it clear he wanted to see a reaction from me especially. Yet I also knew the joker truly believed in what he said.

"I see. Let's go to the next person. How about you Mr. Wayne? You are new here after all." The doctor gave a somewhat friendly smile towards me.

I frowned and saw the smirk on the man of riddles face.

"I'm not crazy. I was framed and I would be out of here soon enough." I simply responded. Straight to the point. I really didn't want to talk about it.

"What about your parent's death Mr. Wayne? Sure they have caused you a lot of psychological problems?" He persisted.

Laughter erupted from the joker and a slight chuckle escaped the man of riddles. My blood was boiling now. I had to stay calm I just had to.

"We all have one bad day doc." The Joker giggled out the words.

"Enough Joker." Harvey spoke out.

Joker just laughed even more. He pointed at the man of riddles that was calming down from his burst of chuckling.

"See Harvs laughter is contagious, you should try it some time. Of course I could always just make you laugh, I am a master of comedy after all." He was refereeing to his joker venom. We all knew that.

"Try it and see what happens!" Harvey was standing up now.

"Enough of this!" The doctor yelled.

"Let's just all calm down. Now Harvey. Let's talk about that coin of yours." The doctor focused all his attention on Harvey. I was just relived it wasn't on myself any more. The glance the clown gave me looked like he was disappointed but it quickly shifted to a big grin.

Two Face flipped the coin landing on the bad side. "The coin says no Doctor."

Dr. Nicolas sighed in heavily. It clearly showed on his face this wasn't going as he planned it.

"Fine. Edward it's your turn." He looked towards the red haired man.

Before the man of riddles could speak the mad man stood up pointing a finger to the now startled Riddler.

"I have your diagnosis for him doc. He's a cheat." The clown spat out angrily. His mood swings were starting to give me a head ache.

"This again? Really Joker it's not my fault my intellect is by far more superior to your own." The man of riddles smirked amused and waved a hand dismissively.

The clown erupted in laughter. As he wiped the tears from the side of his eyes from how hard he was laughing. He gave a big smile towards the man of Riddles.

"There was something I forgot to mention that the cards also told me Eddy." He spoke as if he knew something we all didn't. Despite cards talking to the joker sounded absorbed it still caught the major flaw of the man of riddles. It was his curiosity. I could see that even the mad man knew that.

"What would that be?" He asked trying to hide his curiosity in his voice.

With pure excitement the clown put his finger his lip.

"Shhh It's a secret Eddy boy." He giggled like a little child.

This just caught the Riddler's attention even more.

"Spill it clown." He did obviously not like secrets.

The clown grinned moving quickly to the man of riddles and much to my dismay closer to me. He leaned in close to Nigma.

After a long moment of silence the clown spoke calmly and matter of fact fashion.

"They told me to kill you." He grinned pulling away and laughing.

The man of riddles eyes went wide. We all knew when the joker made a threat like that he always followed through.

Dr. Nicolas stood up quickly.

"Enough!" He said sternly.

"Harley let's go with you now." He looked at her, she smiled up at him very energetic like usual. This only caused the clown to watch the doctor a bigger grin forming on his lips as he made his way back to his seat past the doctor.

"Now Harleen." He spoke only to be cut off by her.

"I go by Harley." She spoke.

"Yes, well Harley. Let discuss your relationship with…" he shifted uncomfortably for a moment by the jokers eyes watching him intently.

"The Joker." He finished.

She laughed softly. As she hugged the clown in her seat.

"What's there to discuss? Mistah J and I have a wonderful relationship." She smiled blissfully.

"What about the abuse." The doctor cocked his head. I could tell he was treading in dangerous territory.

"Tough love." The joker responded for her. As he shrugged as if it didn't even matter.

"Yes. Well, Harley what about his neglect for you and your well-being, for his endeavors with Batman." He spoke sterner this time, his face stoic.

I couldn't help feel uncomfortable. The man of riddles chuckled lightly to himself. It really didn't make things better.

The joker shifted his green eyes to me for a short second then back at the doctor as he smiled.
"My Puddin just wants to get rid of B-man for we can have a happy life together." Harley stated as if it were true. Everyone else in the room knew it wasn't.

"Is that it?" The doctor said more sarcastically. He turned his attention to the clown prince of crime.

"You have an obsession with the Batman."

"I just want to bring a big smile to my bats." He stated.

"He doesn't seem so happy with all that you do as he always brings you back here." The doctor retorted.

"He is in denial." He said sounding bored.

"Is that so?" Dr. Nicolas couldn't hide his disbelief in the mad man's words.

"What can I say? My Batsy loves me." He laughed loudly.

I shot him a glare, as Riddler couldn't hold in his chuckles either.

Harley seemed to ignore the comments as she was obvious used to them.

"See Harley, he will always care more for the Batman than he will ever care for you. I recommend leaving him." The doctor nodded as he was stating truth.

The joker stood up then and grinned even more. A chuckle escaping from him.

"Doc you really should take a vacation. It must be stressful being stuck with all of us loonies. You could play a game of cards." He laughed and in a quick motion that only I noticed he slid out one of his Joker cards and tossed it with perfect accuracy at the doctor. In a blink of the eye, the card sliced through the doctor's mouth giving him a black dahlia smile. Dr. Nicolas cried out in pain. Another second latter as I stood up out of pure anger, another card from the jokers sleeve was flung and sliced the doctors neck open. He fell to the floor, gurgling sound coming from his throat. The card between his now split open mouth gave him a permanent smile. Cuts from mouth to ear on both sides.

The clown laughed as stood over the body. "See much better, it doesn't even show that you were stressed out to begin with." He laughed and as I was about to lunge at him. My blood boiling over with pure rage. The man of riddles put a hand on my shoulder. As I glanced at him with a glare he shook his head. I realized now, he didn't want anyone else to know who I was. It was a pride in his intelligence over anyone here. Little did he know that the mad man already did. Once the guards came in and started to pull the clown out of the room he stopped next to me. I glared at him, my anger coming back as he just smiled at me. He pulled from the guards and leaned into me, his mouth close to my ear. Very silently he spoke to where I barely heard him but his words were clear to me and I almost lost it then.

"Should of sat next to me Batsy.."