Thanks again for the reviews, they're really encouraging! This is really short, but there's a much longer one coming up soon that's already half written! Coming to sort of a turning point in the story, let me know what you think!

Chapter 10

I stood with the onlookers in the large street, half-listening to the Mayor's speech over the sounds of bagpipes. Disguised, the Joker's men directed me to the crowd of people and told me to stay put, watching nearby with hidden weaponry. The Joker himself I hadn't seen since I got out of the car. He'd tormented me the whole ride here, giggling in my ear and roughly playing with my hair. When my patience ran out, which was more than a few times, I shoved him. That resulted in my face pressed up against the cold car window, my black lipstick leaving smudges on the glass as his goons laughed.

So I stood here like an idiot. With black makeup, heels and a petticoat skirt, I was quite noticeable. People shot me looks and I rolled my eyes, which probably looked just as ridiculous as when the Joker did it. Creeping to the side of a building, I bathed in the shadows. I felt more comfortable. No one was looking over here.

I sat there for over an hour, picking at my cuticles and clicking the toes of my heels together as boredom overcame me. I ached to leave, but all his goons were keeping close tabs. Every now and then a few would pass by me, checking to make sure I was still there. Just to unnerve them, I winked and flashed them a black-lipped smirk. Most scuttled away farther, but a couple actually smirked back, which made me laugh aloud.

Finally, the officers were called to attention. I stood and surveyed the elaborate formation, taking in the normalcy before everything broke into chaos. When the fuck that was supposed to happen, I didn't know. He wouldn't tell me. Hell, I don't even think he knows for sure.

When one shot was blasted out of order, everyone panicked. Hollering and pushing ensued. The shot had gone for the Mayor, but knocked down a man who'd blocked him instead. There were randomized gunshots echoing throughout the entire street. Coyly looking around, I noticed the goons were gone.

Yes.

I kicked off my platform heels and pushed past shrieking citizens. Running close to the podium, I hauled myself over to sit astride a vacated horse. Its prior officer lay on the concrete, blood spilling out of his head. Digging my bare heels into the animal's sides, I pushed it into a full gallop, happiness singing in my veins as I came to the realization that I was actually getting away.

I turned the reins and headed in the direction of home. Dodging screaming citizens and even running some down, the stolen horse and I cantered past the podium. But, just as we were about to round the corner, the great animal's legs buckled. I screamed as my horse suddenly collapsed beneath me. Falling off, I landed beside an unmoving officer and stared to the side in shock. Someone had shot my mount multiple times in the flank and neck. Scrambling to get up, I was met squarely with a familiar face. Chocking, I realized the face belonged to a body, which was dead. And it was Gordon.

Sadness should have taken over, but I was glad shock overcame me instead. Getting up and balancing on my bare feet, I bolted along the asphalt through the crowds of people, barely feeling the sharp rocks digging into my soles. A hand roughly closed around my waist and pulled backwards until my back was leaning against the broad chest of a man that smelled of gasoline and aftershave.

The Joker's clean face stared back at me when I was spun around to look at him. Forgetting whatever I was about to do, my face went slack. Wait. His face was clean. He had no make-up on. None. The jagged scars weren't really that bad. Sure, they plastered a gruesome smile on his face. But they made you look at everything else. His brown eyes stood out since there was no black gook cloaking them. His chiseled features caught the shadows as the light started to fade from the sky. I could hardly believe that I was struck by my captor's terrifyingly handsome face.

Drifting back to reality, I yelped when he grabbed my hair and lifted me off the ground, his face constricted with anger.

"Don't. Ever. Do. That."

He kept his tight grip on my dark locks as he pulled me with him into a waiting car, shoving me against the window of the backseat. Again.

As we pulled away, I locked gazes with Harvey, whose eyes widened for a split second before the doors to his vehicle closed shut behind him. He was with a strange man, one of the men that the Joker coaxed into helping out this time.

I think Harvey had recognized me.

"What are you looking at?" The Joker wasn't holding onto my wavy hair anymore, but kept grabbing at my sides to unsettle me.

"Nothing," I muttered as he started to reapply his clown makeup.

The Joker sat in the leathery seat of the car, repeatedly biting the insides of his cheeks. Every time, Laurel moved, he'd shove her up against the window again. The Mayor shooting had gone terribly wrong, but at least Gordon was dead.

As he usually did, he had decided his next move on a whim. Not knowing even what he himself was going to do next was always thrilling. One of the main reasons he kept Laurel around was because she was similar. She never planned anything. Not the horse. Not her pathetic attempt to escape. He growled as respect grew in the pit of his stomach. Despite that respect, he still had to let her know he was her superior.

"Boss," the Joker was jolted from his thoughts.

The man repeated himself. "Boss?"

The Joker calmly took out his handgun and pressed it to the man's temple. "I was thinking."

The driver went silent and kept going.

They eventually made it to the warehouse, where the Joker decided to keep up his annoying behavior. He swept Laurel off her feet, delighted as she wriggled and scowled, ignoring her repeated orders of, "Put me down!"

"You're heavy," he lied as they reached the upstairs hallway, dropping her to the floor as he stood over her.

She gathered herself quickly and directed a burning glare in his direction, looking all the world like a warrior princess straight out of the circus. It made him want to do unspeakable things. Shaking his dirty green-tinted waves in a frenzy, he stopped her with a manic grin as she tried entering her familiar storage room.

"You'll be uh here tonight," he announced, leaning against the wall next to his door.

"Like hell I am."

"Shall I uh repeat it again princess?" He pulled out a gun and motioned with it.

Rolling her eyes, which he realized she came to do quite often, Laurel stepped through the doorway and into the Joker's room.

He smiled. She's so easily provoked. This would be fun!