Chapter 9

Cackling madly, Joker tore into a blood packet, rearing his head back and sloshing the red stuff down his throat. Blood dribbled down his chin as he gulped it down, flicking his tongue around his lips to lick up the rest.

The girls watched him patiently, then glanced around the new warehouse digs. They'd ditched the car a half hour back, then hightailed it off to one of his other hideouts after a quick stop at the blood bank. The girls had made use of a few bags, collecting as many vials and packets as they could carry.

Yawning, Chels waited until his mouth wasn't full, then tilted her head.

"So what now? What happened that you turned vampire?"

Wiping his mouth off, he eyed them, his gaze suddenly turning to steel. They froze, staring at him.

"I could ask you the same thing, daughters," he growled, moving closer.

Yvonne bit her lip, both girls backing up. "What?"

Joker glared at them, clawed hands balling into fists. "Don't play games with me, you know what I mean."

Quiet, the two glanced at each other, then back at the clown.

"Well…" Chels meeped, not liking the expression on his face. "It's kinda hard to explain."

"Try me…"

Sighing deeply, Yvonne hopped up onto a crate, looking at him. "Um…okay, so a couple years ago, this guy started showing up in our dreams. He wanted to kill us. He needs fear in order to have power to kill, so after a while we just started ignoring him. He kept trying for a while, then I guess he gave up. But…"

Joker narrowed his eyes at them, fangs poking out from over his lip. "But what."

Chels rubbed at her arm nervously, biting her lip. "That's why we kept moving. He kept following us around. And when he bit you…"

The clown blinked at them in disbelief. "That's what had a hold of me? Some sort of…demon?"

The girls nodded at him.

A few seconds of silence passed before Joker burst out laughing, giggling wildly as he held onto a crate for balance.

"That's the silliest thing I've ever heard!"

Snorting, Vonny crossed her arms. "Well, it's true." Chels nodded, watching him.

He collected himself a few moments later, wiping away a tear, then looked at them. "You're serious?" They gave him another nod and he lapsed into silence, not sure what to think of this new mess.

Mulling the situation over in his mind, he finally shrugged. "Just sounds like Johnny boy on a power trip." He paused, glancing at the girls. "What?"

They were glaring back at him, arms crossed.

"Who was that guy?"

Smiling, he shrugged. "Johnny Crane, aka the Scarecrow. He's no threat, his head's too full of straw." Giggling, he doubled over.

"…he really had us freaking out," Yvonne whined, watching him.

She blinked as he suddenly appeared in her face.

"Well, that's what he does, kid! You gonna survive with me, you gotta learn the ropes of the other…er, inmates."

Chels watched him curiously. "Others? How many are there?"

The clown gave them a shrug, uncaring. "Lots. Not that any of them can match me. "

Nodding in understanding, the girls smirked.

"So…how do we pass the morning?"

Sated for the moment, Joker felt his belly settle. He peered at them thoughtfully, then turned, heading over to the living area of the warehouse. They followed him, yawning sleepily. Running around all night for your life took a lot out of you.

Stopping in front of a couch, he looked at the girls, motioning to it, pitching his voice again; he'd noticed it made them giggle time to time and it made him smile inside.

"So…kids sleep here for the day. I, on the other hand…" He giggled madly, making his way over to an open room, moving through the doorway. The girls glanced in as he bounced down onto a slightly dusty bed, the mattress squeaking.

"Whoa, what! You get a REAL bed?" Vonny shrilled, staring at him.

He lifted his head to look at them, then growled loudly. "Am I gonna have to come out there?"

Sighing, the girls looked at each other, then at the ceiling. "No…we'll stay out here…"

Smirking, Joker flopped back down, shifting to get comfy.

Slightly annoyed, the girls sat down on the lumpy cushions, stretching out, trying to get comfy.

"This sucks," Chels muttered, punching at a pillow to get it just right.

Vonny snorted, glancing towards the room. "Psycho clown gets the comfy bed and we're stuck with a crappy couch…"

After much whining and complaining, the girls finally fell into a fitful sleep, as comfy as could be on the lumpy couch.

I I I

Darkness pulled strings on the clown's mind, drawing him into the red. He imagined he could smell and taste blood, red pooling down the walls of his mind, across the floor. Everything was…bliss. He was in heaven as he slurped and lapped up the precious nectar, moving through the tide, splashing and kicking. He felt something solid and bit down.

It took him a couple moments to realize he was in a waking dream, chewing on something very wet and stringy. Snorting, he slowly opened his eyes, wanting to stay in that wonderful red dream.

It took him another second to realize he was not alone. At some point during their day sleep, the girls had joined him in the bedroom, curling up under his arms for warmth.

And he was chewing on Vonny's hair.

He quickly spat it out, annoyed, then looked them over. Chels was on his right side, curled up tight against his chest, her cheek just above his armpit. Vonny was clinging to his left arm like a security blanket, making sure it stayed wrapped around her. His hand rested on her belly.

Confusion, anger and something else swirled in his mind as he watched them sleep. As much as he wanted to scream, to throw them off, anything to scare the bejeezus out of them…he just couldn't. They looked so cute curled up against him like that. Not like Harley either. Harley was always clinging, always demanding love and attention. Sure, he loved Harley in her own little way, but the girls… They just wanted to be with him. Plain and simple.

His stomach let out a loud gurgle, making the girls shift against him restlessly.

THROW THEM! his mind screamed. RIP THEM APART AND DRINK THEIR BLOOD! GUT THEM, SKIN THEM ALIVE, BEHEAD THEM AND DANCE IN THEIR BLOOD.

He blinked as his mind went to war. The voices in his mind argued over what to do: the blood-thirsty part of him wanted nothing more than to torture them slowly, but the fun-loving part of him still wanted to have fun with the girls. They were just too different from Harley.

Good, bad? he thought. Why am I feeling this way? I shouldn't be feeling like this!

He tried desperately to quiet the voices in his mind, annoyed for once that they wouldn't shut up. It was giving him a headache and all he wanted was to sleep.

So that we can have more fun tonight.

Instead of doing either, he carefully moved his right hand, grabbing a vial and uncorking it with his thumb. As he tipped the vial to drain the blood into his mouth, a few drops dripped down onto the side of Chels' face.

He froze as she mumbled, moving against him, her nose wrinkling up.

Eyeing her, suddenly feeling very playful, he lifted his head far enough to reach her face…

And licked her right across the side of the cheek, licking up the drops.

The girl flinched, kicking him violently in the side and he grunted. But then she went still and he heard the faintest purr come from her, even though she was human.

Joker should've been furious. He should've been pissed off, explosively so, that she didn't wake up from the waves of anger that poured off him. He should've grabbed her by the throat to choke the life from her. Maybe make her friend watch…

But he wasn't and didn't. When he heard that soft noise come from her, he settled down immediately, somehow knowing that things would be okay if they stuck with him.

Curious, he glanced at Vonny, poking her once in the side. She groaned, rolling ever so slightly, then clung to his arm again.

Joker stared at the ceiling, not sure what to think.

This wasn't…his insanity. Not his normalcy.

He was pissed off about it, yet he wasn't. Any other time when he got confused about his feelings, he'd go on a rampage, wreak havoc across Gotham, put a smile on the city's face.

But for now, he just wanted to lay here and enjoy his time with the girls.

Only a matter of time before Batsy truly does try to take them from me. But in the meantime…

He yawned widely, tightening his grip on the girls before nodding off again.

I I I

"Hey, wake up!"

"Wake up, wake up!"

Voices rang in his ears, making him wince. Joker cracked open an eye, blearily focusing on the girls bouncing in front of him. They were grinning widely.

"It's night time."

Blinking, he opened his other eye, sitting up and yawning, stretching out his limbs.

"What're we doing tonight?" Yvonne hopped up and down in front of him, eager.

"Yeah, last night was fun!" Chels bubbled beside her, eyes bright.

Taking his time in stretching out every finger and toe, Joker glanced at them before turning to look at the clock on the wall. It was just reaching midnight.

"Well, he squealed, making the girls giggle, "We could always take another spin around the city. But something tells me Gotham PD will be on the lookout for us now after last night's fun. "

The girls giggled, bouncing again. "Lay low then?"

Smirking, watching them, he gave them a half-shrug. "They'll certainly be on the lookout for us. No doubt keeping an eye on the blood bank too. Luckily we already made a stop there."

Chels paused, tilting her head. "But what about when the vials and packets run out?"

Vonny quieted, watching him as he frowned suddenly.

"Huh. Didn't occur to me. We grabbed quite a bit, but we'll have to go back again sometime…" He trailed off, staring out through the doorway, deep in thought.

"We could share with you until we got some more," Vonny said, looking at him. "If you'll need it by the time we run out of vials."

Look at them. So trusting, so caring. After last night's little show, things should be more interesting… Little birdy and wolf power in my hands. Hm. Maybe it's soon time to make ourselves known to the city.

"Maybe," he murmured, still thinking things over. Gotham PD would be on their tails for a few days, searching for signs of him or his "captives".

He knew of another carnival opening up in two days to the public, but until then, it was best to keep a low profile. Then they could really have some fun…

Looking around the room curiously, Chels turned her attention back to the clown. "If we're lying low…do you have Twister?"

Vonny gave a yell beside her, giggling. "I love that game!"

Joker glanced at the girls, then gave a grin. "Indeed I do." He pointed a finger out into the warehouse. "First closet on your left."

The girls tore out of the room in a split second, making him giggle insanely. Fire and board games. Both keys to a happy little clown family. He hopped to his feet, leaning back so his spine stretched and popped, then followed them out.

He found the colorful sheet already spread out on the ground, the spinner sitting within arm's reach of it. The girls stood by the side, ready, grinning at him. Moving to the other side, he grinned back at them, glancing once at Chels.

She gave the spinner a kick, smirking as the arrow spun to a stop. "Right hand green."

I I I

Ten games later, all three clowns found themselves tangled among one another, giggling madly. Chels was sprawled awkwardly over Joker's belly as she struggled to put her left hand on a yellow dot; Vonny was nearly doing a headstand just trying to keep her balance. As precarious as their positions were, Joker was in a human spider web, legs and arms every which way.

The harlequin twisted his back so that he could maneuver his toes as Yvonne gave the game piece another spin. Right foot red. He grinned widely. The red dot was waaaay on the other side of the sheet.

"Ow," Chels bit her lip as he stretched out under her, nearly buckling her elbow as he bumped it. Vonny's arms were starting to tremble from holding her weight.

As Joker moved, he realized that the bottom half of Chels' straightjacket was dangling away from her stomach, giving him a view of a patch of skin. Grinning devilishly, he leaned up towards her.

"Joker? What're you doi—AHH NO, STOP!" she laughed, desperately trying to get him away as he slurped her over the belly. It tickled madly as he did it a second time, her arms starting to shake.

Laughing, watching them, Vonny's arms gave way and she toppled to the floor, crashing into Joker. He slid on the slick sheet, taking both girls down with him, all landing in a giggling, snorting heap.

Chels sat up, wiping the spit off her belly, grinning as Joker peered at her from the floor, showing off every tooth.

Yvonne snickered, watching them, then looked at Joker. "Playful vampire clown."

He flashed them another grin, then rolled to his feet, grabbing a blood packet off a nearby crate and puncturing it.

"Of course! What do you expect from the best comedian in the city?" he giggled, sucking the contents of the packet dry.

They watched him, then stood, brushing themselves off as they made their way over to him.

"Funniest one we know," Chels nodded, looking at him.

He bared his fangs at them in another grin, even wider, making them giggle; blood stained his teeth, dripping off.

"So how do we pass a whole night without going out?" Vonny asked, hopping up onto the crate and sitting down.

Joker looked at them, deep in thought, then tilted his head.

"Could always train you girls some more. Your instincts are phenomenal, but they could be better. Especially when going up against Batsy. He has his little toys too."

They nodded, watching him.

"If there's one important thing though," he growled suddenly, eyeing them. "It's the comedy timing. The best punch line is the one you don't see coming."

Yvonne yelped as something slammed into her gut out of nowhere, knocking her flat on her back. Chels stared, eyes wide, as the punching glove retracted back to Joker's hand. Laughing, he moved closer to the fallen girl, grabbing her by the collar and pulling her up.

"See?"

He dropped the toy to the floor, then skipped off over to a table littered with papers and books. They followed him, watching as he pulled out a small chemical set from the space underneath, setting it down on the desk.

"Now…" he smirked, glancing at them before turning his attention to a green orb. "Wanna help make more gas bombs?"

The girls' eyes sparkled as they stared at the sphere, watching the contents swirl around inside.

"Yes!"

"Sorry," he shook his head, moving the gas bomb back out of reach. "You got a little studying to do."

They paused, staring at him. "Studyi—what?"

He laughed, nodding, handing them each a book. "Don't wanna blow yourselves sky-high, do you? You gotta know what you're doing. Wolfy, there." He pointed to a crate. "You, there." He pointed over to the couch.

Frowning, the girls looked at each other, then headed over to their designated studying areas.

I I I

Joker moved into the crates, hearing soft noises ahead. While the girls studied, he'd taken time to prowl about the block, making sure no one was getting close to finding them. So far the coast was clear.

As he moved around a stack of boxes, he found both girls slumped over on the couch, out cold. Vonny's book dangled from her hands, the majority of the pages between her fingers; Chels' book lay on the floor, closed.

Curiosity took over as he moved closer, nudging the book open. A small bookmark was stuck between the last five pages. He grinned.

So they really did read then.

He had half a heart to wake them, but he could feel his energy draining. The sun had just started rising when he returned to the warehouse.

Such sweet, little girls. Even Harley couldn't stand to read up on chemistry. Ah well, they have a great little arsenal on them, either it's human or other.

Yawning, he turned, heading into the bedroom, leaving the door open. He wouldn't be surprised if the girls woke up at some point and joined him again. He hadn't kicked them out the first time; they hadn't even said a word to him about it.

Glancing back at the girls as he flopped down on the mattress, he couldn't help but wonder what really would happen to them when (if, his mind muttered) Batsy ever caught them. Would they stay at Arkham with him? Maybe even in his own cell? Or would they get shipped elsewhere, far away from him?

Not liking the idea, he grabbed a pillow and gnawed at the corner, calming the thoughts in his mind. Again, he could feel that weird feeling stir in him. He squelched it down as he hugged the pillow tightly, refusing to think on such thoughts while trying to sleep.

Snorting in annoyance, he grumbled quietly to himself, closing his eyes. He'd worry about that weird feeling later. Right now he wanted to sleep.

As he drifted off, he couldn't help but feel a small pang of worry. Worry that Batsy would try to take his daughters away from him.