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The sight as she turned into the dining room actually surprised her. The spread was elegant. The lights were dimmed. Candles burning. Cloth napkins. Expensive china. None of it had been paid for, most likely. She glared at the masked man as he forced her towards the table. "I don't need a chaperon, thank you." She spat at him, taking a seat. "I can sit down all by my little self without any help from you."

He left them and continued into the kitchen. "Charming guy." Maddie said with an eye roll.

Joker couldn't help staring. When she stood in the doorway, he thought his heart would stop. She looked even more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. "Dress seems to fit. Nice and snug." He managed to muster. "It suits you."

"What did you break into my apartment? Find out my size, what I like?" Maddie questioned.

Joker shrugged his shoulders, hoping she'd think he really did. Even though he hadn't. He took great pleasure in toying with this woman. "Would that make you nervous?"

She laughed, cocking her head to the side. "Why would it? I already assumed you knew where I lived. Isn't exactly hard to find an address."

He kept forgetting how clever she was. Not as clever as himself, mind you, but clever nonetheless. "Touche."

A man placed a platter of Fettucini Alfredo in the middle of the table. There was no need opening her mouth about the fact that he also knew her favorite dish. What a bastard. He was playing a game with her. She slumped back in her seat, determined to start one of her own.

"Allow me." Joker said, walking to Maddie's side of the table. He reached for the platter and forked the pasta onto her plate. He felt her chair scoot away from his body, and he happily yanked it right back, which got an exasperated grunt out of her. When he was done, he leaned over her shoulder, taking the rare opportunity to be close to her.

Neither of them moved. After a few moments, Joker caressed her cheek and buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent. Strawberries and cream. Was it perfume? Maddie was frozen. She wanted to move, but couldn't bring herself to do it. Didn't want to. The feeling of him was in every part of her body. Then, he was on his feet again, back in his seat.

She stared at him quizzically, beyond confused by whatever just occurred between them. But all he did was eat nervously, avoiding eye contact.

"Still too hot?" He asked her.

She shook her head, twisting the pasta with her fork. "No, I'm just not eating it. For all I know it's poisoned."

Joker choked on his mouthful of food, nearly falling out of his chair. Was she serious? "Angel Face, if I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already. And I still just might, but not tonight, and not at the table. It's new. Wouldn't want to mess it up." He motioned to her with his hand. "Slide it over, come on."

She does. As he took a long bite from the plate, he grabbed at his throat, pretending to choke. The theatrics went on for almost thirty seconds, and ended with Joker's head slamming onto the table. He glanced back at her with a devilish grin. "Seems fine to me." He said, sliding it back.

"You're not as funny as you think you are." Maddie responded, trying to sound as truthful as humanly possible. "I'd rather starve than eat anything you or your little minions give me."

"Suit yourself. Guess you'll just have to sit there and watch me enjoy my unpoisoned, savory meal."

"How long is my visit here going to last?" She couldn't resist asking the question again. Even if she didn't get a straight or sane answer. It was all she had been thinking about for the past twenty-four hours.

He slammed his fork down like a child and rocked back and forth in the seat. "See, I knew you were going to say that. Don't get predictible on me. Your visit will last as long as it has to, precious." He laughed at her frustrated expression. He was getting to her. Excellent. "Aw, why so serious? As long as you're with me, I get to do as I please. Chaos can take it's rightful place in Gotham with no interruptions from Gordon, Dent, or the Batman. These... civilized people. One little rich mare goes missing and they all lose their minds."

He tossed a newspaper over to her. Her kidnapping made the front page. "Dent and your woman friend are searching high and low, pulling all of the strings they can, but it won't do any good. Quite the boring pair, aren't they? Not the brightest lights on the tree either." Joker sighed, doing his best impression of a sad face. "I could say the same for your brother. Strange that he hasn't even made a public plea for your safe release, don't you think? Does it depress you, Angel Face? That your only breathing relative doesn't care enough?"

He would not get to her. He would not. Her eyes stayed on the paper, until he slammed his palms down, causing everything to shake. He was stronger than he looked. "I'll make you a promise, something I never do, but in your case, I'll make an exception."

"Why?" She shouted. None of this made any sense to her. He made no sense to her. "You could have left me tied up last night. Sent all of this up to my room and left it there for me. But instead you want me to move freely, and make a big deal out of this dinner. Make me get dressed up for you. You know what kind of food I like, what I wear..."

"Is it that hard to imagine that I might want you all to myself?" He poked his head under the table. She quickly made sure both legs were tightly closed. "You're nice to look at."

"You're disgusting." Maddie shot back. She threw the newspaper across the room.

"Sticks and stones." Joker continued. "As I way saying, the promise I'll make to you is... While you're here with me, you won't be harmed by anyone but myself, and only because my hand was forced."

Maddie stared back at him in shock. "That's your promise? You won't hurt me unless you're forced to? Is that supposed to make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside?"

"Oh, I hope not." Joker made a face. "Never cared much for those."

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