AN: Yay! Longer chapter just like I promised! haha. Enjoy guys! Oh, and please take the time to review quick....just makes my day when you do :)
It was about 7 a.m. when I got up and started getting dressed. I was being as quiet as possible because I didn't want to disturb The Joker. I also didn't want him to question where I was going because I honestly hadn't thought up a convincing lie. That left me with the plan of leaving before he knew I was gone to avoid questioning.
I crept out to the kitchen and poured a bowl of cereal as quietly as I could. I ate as quickly as I could, constantly glancing up to see if he was going to find me. I dumped my dishes into the sink and raced back to my room to brush my teeth quick.
As I headed back out to leave, I grabbed my jacket and put it on. And then the voice I didn't want to hear now rang out behind me. "Seems like you're in a hurry, where are you going?"
I turned around, keeping my right hand on the doorknob, and looked into The Joker's dark eyes. I knew I looked guilty as I swallowed hard trying to think of something to say. "Uh, yeah, I just gotta run a couple errands."
"This early?"
"Uh, y-yes, sooner it gets done, the better," I laughed nervously. Then I opened the door and rushed out. I did call over my shoulder though, "I'll be back around lunchtime I suppose."
As I walked down the street rather quickly, I could feel his eyes on me. I knew he was watching me, probably wondering about my odd behavior. I didn't really care though. I was on a mission, even if it meant I had to associate with Batman. Hopefully, I would have my answer soon enough.
I arrived at Bruce's mansion (he rebuilt it after I destroyed it over a year ago) just before 8:00. I really hoped I wouldn't be waking him as I rang the doorbell. Alfred greeted me shortly after I rang the bell. It was almost like I was expected.
"Good morning, Alfred," I said pleasantly.
"Good morning, Miss Staples. Come in, come in," he said, moving aside to allow me to enter.
"Is Bruce here? Or even up yet?" I asked as I walked into the huge foyer.
"Yes, he is. Master Wayne has always been quite the early bird," Alfred said with a smile.
"Really?" I asked, surprised. "Even with his nightly expeditions?"
Alfred chuckled, "Oh yes." Then he went off to find Bruce for me. I stood in the foyer looking around at the beauty and magnificence of this place. I had been here before and I knew Bruce was very rich, but the grandeur of the place would never cease to amaze me.
That's when I noticed movement on the stairs out of the corner of my eye. I turned to watch Bruce Wayne descend the marble staircase, smiling at me. He walked over and gave me a hug. "So what brings you here this early?"
"I was actually wondering if you could help me with something."
"Something for yourself or for him?"
"Myself, but it's about him."
"Ahh," Bruce said understandingly. "Why don't we go to a more suitable location for this discussion?"
"Oh, uh, alright," I said awkwardly.
He smiled gently as he motioned me to follow him. I smiled back and followed, still looking in every direction as we walked through the halls.
Finally, we entered the study (although it could have been a study) and I stared in wonder at the hundreds of books lining the walls. I wandered over to take a seat. Bruce gently grabbed my elbow, "No, no, not here. Over here," he said, motioning to the opened bookcase that revealed a lift.
"Ohh," I said, realizing where he was taking me. We climbed into the lift and descended into darkness.
When the lift reached the bottom, Bruce guided me out into the dark. Except that as soon as we stepped into the dark, lights came on illuminating a large cavern, the Batcave. "Wow," I said breathlessly. "How did you ever find this place?"
"Well, part of it was used in the Underground Railroad and I rediscovered that when I was playing in the yard as a kid. I fell in and got attacked by bats. After my parents died and I came back, I went searching and found this," he explained, waving his arm to encompass the whole area.
"Wow," I said again. I couldn't think of another word.
"Of course, the technology stuff has been added since. It's kind of my hideout and research headquarters for everything dealing with Batman," Bruce said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, right," I said, still in half awe as I took in the scene. "So why bats?"
"I figured I would train my fear of them and then use it to create fear in others who play on fear to gain the upper hand."
"Makes sense," I said. Bruce just smiled.
"How many people know?"
"About me?"
"Yeah."
"Alfred and Mr. Fox. Rachel knew. And now you," Bruce replied.
"That's it?"
"The fewer people who know, the safer everyone is."
"You forgot, The Joker knows."
"No, Joker doesn't know. He suspects. There's a difference. He suspects Bruce Wayne to be the bat, but he doesn't know for sure. You didn't come here to relay information to him, did you?" Bruce asked as he eyed me suspiciously.
"No! And I'm not going to tell him either!"
"Good. He just has a theory like so many others. He's just happens to be right unlike most. I think Commissioner Gordon suspects me too."
"And you don't tell him?" I asked sounding skeptical.
"He's had two traitors in his unit already. You never know who else might be listening. It's best to just let him draw his own conclusions."
"Right, the fewer people who know, the safer everyone is," I repeated his words.
"Yes," he replied with a smile. "Now, enough about me. I thought you came for something else?"
"Oh, right. Since you are Batman, I was wondering how much you know about The Joker's past."
"In what context? Or what specifically are you looking for? Because I suspect that you know more about his history than anyone else," Bruce said with a sly smirk.
"I want to know his real name. The name he was given before he decided to call himself The Joker," I said, cutting to the chase.
Bruce looked puzzled. "Let me get this straight, you're asking me what The Joker's real name is when you are the one who got him to tell you how he really got those scars and whatever else he revealed to you."
"Well, yeah. I mean I asked him and he told me he didn't remember. And then he said it didn't matter because that boy is dead."
"And you don't believe him?"
"Hell no I don't believe him!" I exclaimed, becoming agitated.
"Calm down," Bruce said sweetly. "Why don't you believe him? He's proven that he's mad. He's mad, but smart. So who's to say he's not telling the truth?"
"I say he's not telling the truth! Because he's not. I can tell. He thinks it's funny and the matter is not one to laugh at."
"The Joker thinks everything is funny," Bruce reminded me.
"Look, I don't know how I know, but I do know that he's lying. And I will find out what his real name is. Are you gonna help me or not?"
"I would love to help you, but I don't know what his real name is," Bruce said with a sadden look is his eyes.
I sighed, "Figures."
"But I do have an idea of where you could go to find out," he said.
"Really? Where?"
"Arkham."
"What? He was in there as The Joker. There's no way they got his real name out of him."
"Actually, that's where you're wrong," Bruce said.
"Oh, well then please enlighten me," I said sarcastically.
"He was in Arkham before I ever put him there."
"No way!" I exclaimed.
"Will you please not interrupt me? Let me finish, alright?" Bruce asked, halfway serious.
"Oh, yeah, sorry," I said.
Bruce just smiled and then continued, "Dr. Crane freed a bunch of inmates when he escaped. Eventually we caught Crane, but half the inmates he freed weren't recaptured by the police. The Joker was one of those. He started with his theatrics and leaving his calling card which is when he truly became The Joker and I took on the task of hunting him down. Now, I captured him twice…it was those two times in Arkham that he was Joker. But the first time, who knows what he was called."
"So you're saying he might have been in there the first time under his real name?"
"Yes, and they keep all of that on record. You could go down there and find out for yourself."
"Excellent! Thanks so much, Bruce!" I said, jumping up and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
He smiled and waved after me as I took off to see what I could find.
I heard him call after me, "Just be careful, Melanie! It is dangerous out there!"
I turned back and nodded with a wink. Then I was gone.
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"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA," I laughed eerily as I watched the man I was approaching inch backward. He tripped over a chair which had me doubling over with laughter then.
I had him backed into a corner. He had nowhere to go. I got within six inches of his face and asked, "How ya holdin' up, Doc?" Then I began laughing again.
"What do you want?" he asked, trying to be confident but I could tell by the look on his face that he was scared for his life. Which is exactly how I like it, I thought.
"I just thought I'd pay ya a visit, old buddy, old friend, old pal," I said innocently as I put one arm around Mr. Staples shoulder.
He shrugged my arm off and moved away from me. He continued to stand tall though as he stared me down. I grinned. He had some fight in him, just like his daughter and I liked that.
"Where is Melanie?" he asked.
"Oh, Mels, well, to tell you the truth, I don't know where she is right now!" I said with a grin and a small chuckle.
"Tell me where my daughter is! If you came here to visit me, I would expect you to have brought her with. You can't convince me that she wouldn't have wanted to come," he spat angrily.
"Ok, now an attitude like that is not going to get you anywhere with me. And to be honest, she doesn't know I'm here."
"Well then where is she? What did you do to her? If you so much as laid one of your filthy gloved hands on her in an inappropriate way, I will make you pay!"
I laughed at his threat. It was so hollow. There was nothing he could possibly do to me. "That's a good one. You gonna hurt me if she wanted it?" I mocked.
"You bastard!" he cried, making a lunged for me. I easily moved out of the way as he toppled to the floor. I began laughing uncontrollably.
"What did you do to her? I want to know!!" he screamed, standing up again. He shot me a look of pure anger and hatred as if he would love nothing more than to rip me to shreds. Not that he could do that, but he would definitely try.
"I didn't do anything to her. Cross my heart," I said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice, but the situation was rather funny which made it difficult for me to sound convincing between the laughs.
His eyes narrowed as he continued to watch me as he waited for a better explanation. "Mel is doing great! She's madly in love with me and quite a wonderful woman," I smiled. "I'm not sure how much more you really expect me to tell you."
"You little –" he began, but was interrupted by the appearance of another lovely face.
"What's going on here?" Bruce Wayne asked.
"We're just talking," I said. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask the very same thing of you," Bruce replied calmly.
"Yeah, well I asked first which means you have to answer me first," I said, sounding very much like a five-year-old.
"I came here to check on Mr. Staples like I do every day just as I promised Melanie since her dad does have a concussion. Now what are you doing here, Joker?"
I was pissed. "I just came to say hello," I lied. Mr. Staples rolled his eyes and Bruce just stood there staring me down as calm as could be.
I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. I wanted to hit something, but I didn't. My blood was beginning to boil though. I stormed out of the house, determined that I would find Mel and when I did she had some serious explaining to do. As I left, I cackled, "Well, it was great to see ya Pops!" just to get under his skin. I slammed the door as hard as I could and got in my car and peeled out of the driveway.