Happy Christmas, Merry New Year and… well yeah! A little present from me to you and to top it off my next chapter will be and running but tomorrow! A little gift in the Christmas/New Year spirit, from me to you.

Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews; I hope this new chapter will be better than the last.

I Hope you guys got lots of presents, tons of duck/chicken/lamb and potato salad to eat and I hope the fireworks was a lot better than ours!

I hope you enjoy!

Promise

Winds fluttered through the streets of Gotham, they seemed slightly distant upon this night, their power seeming to falter through the heavy traffic and streets. Storm winds were being taken second to the soft breeze, and the bustling humans of the city didn't seem to mind in the least.

They watched as the breeze filtered through soft fabrics, caressed the milky skin of children on playgrounds and rustled through the few remaining plants within this metallic jungle. But though they were grateful for the soft breeze, the people never showed it, they always took the breezes and small mercies for granted, going about their busy life in the endless cycle of the city.

The two figures hid behind the alley, their bodies hidden by shadows and long black coats. One with a bowler hat seemed to be smoking a short pipe, the other, his face hidden by a ragged scarf and an old cowboy hat seemed to be looking out for something among the bustling citizens.

"Does he know?" the pipe smoker asked as he puffed a perfect ring into the night air.

"Know what?"

"Who you are!" he barked angrily, his eyes flashing underneath the bowler hat.

The second man remained silent for a long moment; his focus still on the people just beyond the alley, their business seemed to fascinate him beyond desire. He stared at them almost longingly.

"No," he answered firmly in a rather high pitched voice, finally deciding to look at the smoker. "And so it shall stay,"

"Why are you doing this?" the smoker suddenly asked, "It's not like you owe him or them, for that matter, anything!"

He stayed silent once more, turning back to the bustling streets, the world was calming now as the night started to sweep the city into darkness. Few people remained outside when the lights decided to go out, when the sun goes to sleep, it's not safe.

"Because I can," he stated simply still eyeing the people scurrying into their homes as the darkness enveloped Gotham City.

The winds carried softly onward, cooling the people of Gotham almost lovingly, but never kindly. These winds still had a reputation to uphold after all. They proceeded past the heavy metal earth, moving onwards reaching for the green life just beyond the city and entering the brisk forests. They shot through them a little quicker, picking up the pace and pushing onwards, rustling the leaves with soft cooling fingers of winds and air. The winds crashed into another element; water. The soft breeze battled and broke through the waterfall and just barely licked into the cave.

They filtered and dances through the cave, almost carefully and a little grateful it would seem. Their power almost diminished they came upon the scene, the two men in heated discussion seemed oblivious to them and deciding to fly a little further, the winds fluttered in-between them and disappeared into the shadows.

The Batman glared at the Joker, his eyes weary, his demeanor ready to murder. The clown seemed casual as always; he was happily snooping around the batcave, his forever grin painted and plastered onto his white features. Batman had half a mind to give the clown a good thump on the head, but decided against it, Joker was no use to him unconscious.

"Let's try this again;" The batman growled more than said. His gaze burned into the Joker's who was currently standing in the middle of the batcave, seeming far more interested in his surroundings than in the Batman.

"Where were you being kept?" he asked with as much self control as he could spare at the moment.

Joker gazed at the roof of the cave, which was blanketed in the many bats which had claimed it as home. The gadgets and mechanics have never reached the roof and this gave the bats as much privacy as they could ask for in this cave. Joker found this intriguing it seemed he was quite fascinated by the little things.

"Joker!" Batman snapped, finally loosing patience.

The clown shrugged, "I don't remember batsy… oh! Lookey here!" The clown danced, rather painfully to a white bat suit, the exact one The Dark Knight had used against Mr. Freeze. The Joker's eyes sparkled with interest, his grin practically tearing his face in two,

"It really doesn't have the same pizzazz without you in there!" He was speaking in what seemed to be a British accent. "I should give it a two out of ten, the terror seems to have died from what we are use to seeing Batman. Tut tut tut"

"Just tell me where you came from!"

The Joker smiled sweetly at the Batman, grabbing an odd hanging cable he pulled himself airborne, batted his eyes and said with a smile, "Blame my parents, batsy!"

Batman glared at the clown and Joker quickly got the message;

"I already told you;" he stated simply "I don't know sweetie!"

"Then why did you come to me?" the Batman growled, he knew he promised to help the Joker, but despite his promise he still couldn't help but feel the nagging little voice in the back of his head which told him to watch out. Joker was unpredictable, crazy and the best of the best schemers.

The Joker pulled his legs over his head and hung them over the cable, now hanging upside down he grinned happily at the batman, who was fighting to keep his anger intact. Joker was hurting, badly, but he was still seemed to be enjoying these antics.

"Merely because I knew you could help me Batman," he stated simply, shrugging his shoulders, "All I remember was jumping into what seemed to be salty water, with a lot of rocks."

Batman resisted pinching the bridge of his nose, this was not going to be easy, "You jumped into the sea?"

"Exactly!" Joker cried excitedly, "See I knew you were the right one to come to Bats-!"

Joker squealed as the cable suddenly gave way, the clown crashed to the ground, head first. Joker grunted in pain, but it was soon replaced with loud laughter, it tore from him in what seemed to be spasms, his eyes shut tight he laughed until tears trickled from his eyes, until he could barely breath.

Batman stormed forwards, his patience wearing thin, he was trying to help this him, but no matter how hard he tried the blasted clown would no cooperate. He grabbed Joker by the hem of his shirt and pulled him from the ground, earning him a sudden yelp from the Jester.

He held the Joker at arm's length and then carefully he let go. Joker watched in what seemed to be held in laughter as Batman pulled his arm away, the clown swayed dangerously, but he held himself up nonetheless. Bruce was starting develop a nasty headache, why couldn't this clown just for once, make things easy?

He sighed inwardly, he wouldn't give up though, he had promised and no matter what it takes he would get to the bottom of this.

"Joker," Batman started once more, "You told me that the others; Penguin, Mr. Freeze and Riddler are locked away and are in the same condition as you," Batman was desperately fighting the primal instinct to just beat the information out of the clown, but he knew that wouldn't work and besides he didn't need to further the clown's already precarious condition.

At least not for now, that is.

He needed to keep his head… for as long as possible.

"Try to remember," he was not pleading, but he was perhaps a little desperate at this stage.

Joker stared at him, surprisingly silent this time, his red eyes burned with… something, something Batman had never seen before in the clown, but for some reason couldn't place the emotion. The clown's eyes drifted downwards… and then silence.

"Joker?" Batman questioned.

No reply.

"Joker!" This time he snapped, but still the clown remained silent.

Batman sighed angrily; this was not going according to plan, not at bloody all. He stood from his position and turned away from the clown, he had had enough, and perhaps later the clown would be more cooperative.

He swept away in a swift motion the soft breeze catching the cape with weakened hands, their power within these cave walls were dying and fast.

"…I promised…"

Batman suddenly stopped, he was already halfway across the room, but with his sonar ears he heard every word. Slowly he turned around to look at the clown, Joker still hadn't lifted his gaze, but there was something different about the lanky man. He seemed so… defeated, completely and utterly defeated and perhaps a little broken. Bruce took a few steps closer, to make sure the clown new he had his attention.

"Promised?" The batman questioned the sudden silent clown.

"Them" Joker answered softly, his gaze finally left the ground and gazed at the masked marauder. And inside batman froze dead, Joker's gaze tore through him, stripping him bare, there was far too much emotion in that single gaze and to his amazement it terrified him. One part wanted to turn and run, the other wanted to hold the Joker and promise him it would be alright, but he never had the chance to do either.

Joker's eyes suddenly widened, his mouth opened, perhaps to scream, but instead of screaming or yelling blood poured from his ruby lips, spilling onto the floor and himself, the clown collapsed onto his knees, his one arm clutching at his stomach, the other his head. It happened so suddenly that it took a full moment for Batman to realize that the Joker was in trouble. He leapt into action and quickly kneeled next to the Joker who was coughing and wheezing like crazy.

"Where does it hurt?" Batman asked.

"Everywhere!" the clown choked as more blood squirted from his mouth, his muscles seeming to go into spasms. For the first time in his life, Batman did not know what to do, he watched helplessly as Joker silently screeched inside, his body not allowing a sound apart from a few whimpers to escape.

Then just as suddenly it stopped, the clown went limp, his eyes fluttered shut and then all was quiet. A few bats flapped above, their beating winds creating soft currents, but the Joker did not move further. Batman felt terror engulf him, for some unknown reason he couldn't bring himself to move. The clown was so quiet so… dead…

Please, don't be...

His fingers trembled slightly as he pressed them against the pale neck.

A pulse.

Bruce released a breath he didn't even know he was holding.

Without a word he lifted the clown and replaced him onto the now bloody mattress. A sorrowful gaze could be found within the eyes of the Knight, but something else, a sense of duty shimmered through as well, as if he was mentally making a promise, inside his heart he knew that this bond would not be broken.

That was a promise.

*

"Riddler!"

Eddie felt a lot stronger than ever, with renewed strength and the sudden fighter's spirit breaking through his soul he felt the need to do something.

"Get down, now!"

And that something was escape.

The thin man ran as fast as his legs would allow him, if Joker had done it then so could he. He saw his destination; the small window at the end of the hallway. His head snapped back, the marauders were charging full speed at him. Blood rushed to his head when he realized they were catching up, taking a deep breath he ran faster and faster, so close.

He could smell the salt air, freedom was but a few steps away, he smiled internally, feeling the sudden joy engulf him, he was free, he only needed to open the-

Strong arms encircled him, Enigma felt his eyes widened, the sudden dread creeping into his heart, "No!" he screeched, the salt air brushing his lips, freedom was in his grasp. Every muscle in his body fought against these arms, battling them for all he was worth. He would take his freedom by force.

"Mr. Enigma" the soft voice spoke from the shadows.

The Rilddler turned his head slightly to the man who spoke; Pen dragon. That bastard! He fought harder until finally a second 'orderly' came to help, he was caught between the two now.

A rock and a hard place, it would seem. He growled internally.

The man smiled sadistically, his eyes burning with what seemed to be victory, his face contorted into smugness. This was not happening! The bastard was moving closer this time, his steps deliberate and a certain victorious swagger in his movements. Every ounce in his body told him to kill the idiot there and then, but he could not move.

The black haired weasel leaned in closer, their lips a hair breath apart, Enigma felt disgust pour into his stomach, but restrained himself from throwing up… just barely.

"Nice try," the man said with a grin.

Enigma promptly spat in his eye. He smiled at the surprised expression on Pen Dragon's face and mentally ticked a victory point up for him on the board. Pen dragon stepped back and wiped the spit from his left eye with a forced calmness.

"I think and early session is in order," Pen dragon droned and gave Enigma another smile, this one brought dread and fear, but enigma did not falter, his glare intensified and just for good measure he spat again, this time hitting the idiot on his forehead.

Edward knew he was in trouble, but he couldn't wipe the smile from his face, he couldn't stop the chuckle slip through his grasp and this only angered Pen Dragon more, which in turn absolutely made Eddie's day.

*

Mr. Freeze looked up from his brooding as the scream echoed through the building. He knew them well, but these were not painful they were complete terror. Inwardly he felt a small prayer come from within, he wasn't soft, but he wished for Edward to come out there alive.

The screams continued long into the night and Mr. Freeze felt a sudden fear enter his heart, but the prayer escaped his lips.

"Joker, please hurry…"

The screams continued until the voice broke, until he could scream no more and then the mechanical machines continued to drone until the sun skimmed across the horizon, until their food was brought for breakfast and then finally the machines stopped.

I watched the dark knight and I seemed to have found a slight fancy towards Gordon… don't ask, the guy's just so… sweet, honest, loyal, determined, good natured and so cute!

Ahem.

Anyway I might be posting another story in due time about our little boy in blue, /sigh/ he's just to die for! In a fatherly sort of way… not – not in a, well you know… um…. With the candles and the… well um… /blushes/

Just review!