It felt like someone had injected cocaine right into her heart, it was slamming into the breastbone. No amount of calm breathing could bring it to rest. The blood crawled down her arm, trekking to the table. Smirking, the Clown let her loose, but not after squeezing both her arms enough to leave a set of matching bruises. Taking back her limbs, Eva kept her eyes trained on her client while she rubbed the feeling back into her arms "So, what brings you here, sweetness?"
Keeping her eyes down and off of Marni, she muttered "Night on the town."
He nodded, "Mmm, a girls night out."
Taking in the club he chuckled, the hint of manic laughter enough to force the hairs on the back Eva's neck to upstart. Being in this guy's company was unnerving, especially here. Rogues weren't given a second glance, this was their safe haven and though Penguin claimed to be reformed, everyone in Gotham knew that he was still doing illegal shit "You are just full of surprises Evie."
At this, he snatched up her abandoned drink and took a swig. Smacking his lips, he nodded to her hand, noting the few scratches and the light bruising curtesy of the scum bag at the bar "Now that, that was just… hehe, a doozy!"
Holding up a finger, he set down the glass and gestured for one of his goons to come over. The goon pulled out a paper sack and handed it to Joker, who in turn, tossed it to Eva "Consider this the down payment for your work."
It was wet at the bottom, lukewarm. Though she couldn't distinguish the color in this light. Cautiously, Eva opened the bag and gagged back the urge to vomit. Inside was a tongue, a human tongue. Still holding the bag, Eva stared at Joker's smiling face "Never like to leave threats empty, and your creativity is so inspiring, I—Oh, I just couldn't resist!"
Giggling, he got up and gestured for her to follow. Eva didn't move, she had a horrible feeling about what was to come. She remembered that threat, and it didn't involve killing that scum outright. Joker, not being one to wait, grabbed her and practically forced her out of her seat "Common, we're gonna have some fun tonight, just us."
He pulled her to him as they walked, as if they were long-time friends in a comedy film. Eva was still holding the bag, her knuckles stark white and the blood gone from her face. Joker had face planted her into the lapel of his jacket, he smelled rank. Like gasoline, sweat, and the rusted tang of blood. It took every bit of Eva's will power, to not collapse where she stood. They were walking down an empty hallway now, taking a left resulted in going through a door that led into an alley. Eva heard the guy before she saw him, his pathetic whimpers echoed in the hollows of her ears. The back of her throat burned with the promise of sick, and goosebumps rose to attention on her arms, triggered by a combination of cold and horror.
Eva was surprised that she had been able to recognize him. His entire front, from the lower half of the jaw and down, was soaked in blood. He was rocking back and forth. It looked like the blood had time to dry a little, it was then that she noticed the embers dying out in his mouth and the smell of burnt flesh. "Couldn't have him dying on us…"
Christ, they had cauterized the left over part of his tongue! Eva started to back away, only to have Joker take her waist and pull her close "Ah-ta-ta."
She began to shake her head "No, no, no, no."
His grip tightened and dug into her skin "Now, I went through all this trouble for your gift—"
He turned and snarled at her "It would be rude not to take it."
Eva attempted to pull away "No, no, you said this was a down payment!"
She managed to break free and dropped the bag "Consider my work a gift! You don't need to pay me."
"Oh…" He wagged a finger at her "I insist."
Joker picked up the bag and grabbed Eva and pushed her towards the man on the ground. He came to stand next to her, leaning in, he hissed in her ear "This revolting pile wasn't gonna show you any mercy, so why should you?"
He pressed the bag into her hands "Besides, I already did the hard part. This is easy, like riding a bike."
The man was sobbing and shaking his head. "Pssh, peessh, ooh!
Eva shook her head, tears streaming from her eyes "I can't, I can't…."
Snarling, Joker stood. It was then Eva felt something cold press against the back of her head. "This gift isn't refundable sweetheart. When people don't accept my generosity, I get upset."