Hey guys! Hope you all are well! I don't really have much to say so I'll jump right into the chapter! Hope you enjoy :)

BumbleBee- I'm glad you are enjoying them! And thank you as always :)

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-Aurelyce

-kazekrystal

Disclaimer- I do not own the Joker or the Riddler, but I do own my OCs, Riley and Maria.


February 2008:

Daniel Noakes. A man of many talents. A man with a wife, a kid, well, teenager, and a steady job. Or so people thought.

He was anything but steady with his job. The past couple months had been hectic.

Daniel came in late to work, slept a lot at work and couldn't remember what to do for the life of him.

It was to the point that Mr. Wayne considered talking to him himself. But little did everyone know that Daniel was struggling. Struggling to keep up his job, his house, his family, himself. Everything.

And it was until this day Mr. Wayne realized Daniel needed to go. Daniel had no clue either.

A tall brown haired man, with light brown eyes in a two piece suit speed walked down the sidewalk.

Hundreds of people made their way down the streets as they all rushed to work.

This man was Daniel Noakes. He was rushing to work for the billionth time.

He was late a lot. And a lot is an understatement, almost everyday was more like it. Daniel stayed up late all of the time because of insomnia.

His wife and daughter didn't know that either. But really, what did they know?

Daniel has gotten in trouble many times too. If he was late one more time, that was it for him.

His job was important to him, he needed it. He needed it to help his family, keep them sheltered and out of poverty.

But little did he know, he was about to loose this precious job of his. The only thing he had going for him and his family.

It was almost nine in the morning. Daniel tried again and again to hail a cab but none of them would stop.

Wayne Tower was five blocks down. It was way too far to get to in time. He would just have to be late again.

By the time he got there it was around 9:15. The woman at the front desk shook her head jokingly at him, but waved and smiled as always. Other than Mr. Fox, she was really the only nice one in this building.

As Daniel walked into his small office, Mr. Wayne sat in his comfortable black chair, facing the windows.

"Such a nice morning, isn't it Mr. Noakes?", he asked.

Daniel stood there, fidgeting with his thumbs. He knew there was something wrong.

"You're late, again Mr. Noakes", Mr. Wayne said with a firm tone.

His voice, like always, sounded condescending.

"Look, Mr. Wayne, I'm sorry for being late. It won't-"

"It won't happen again Mr. Noakes? Because every time you say that, it happens yet again."

Daniel sighed, feeling defeated.

"You're fired, Mr. Noakes", he stated.

Daniel couldn't believe it. He couldn't be fired, could he?

Well, he could. Daniel knew this was to come soon but not right now, not when he just got here.

He thought that he might have had a chance to fight for his job, but this was Mr. Wayne. And there would be no getting through to him.

Time to find a new job.


POV- Riley Monroe

When I walked in through the apartment door, it was dead quiet. Maria must still be sleeping.

The next hour or two I did nothing. Before I had gotten in I had taken a walk around the city, to try to clear my head.

I could've sworn I'd seen Edward too. Of course I went the complete opposite direction. At a time like this, I didn't feel like talking to him. I already had enough negativity in my life.

As of now, I stare at the computer screen, a frown on my face and my brows furrowed in concentration.

The lady at the desk had left me wondering. Wondering why my dad was fired, why he had lied, why in general.

I didn't know where to start. My dad was a liar. I couldn't believe it.

No, I could, but it was hard to imagine how long he kept the lie for. A couple months before he died. Months.

Why didn't he say something? As far as I know, my mom didn't have any idea either. She would tell me. Right?

Well, who knows now. My father was a liar and I don't know what my mother did before she died.

And if my father was fired, how were we getting money after that? Was he an under cover agent? Did he go work for the mob? That was common in Gotham. As surprising as that may be.

I snorted at my thought.

Lifting the hot laptop off of me, I set it down on the coffee table. Maybe Maria could give me advice.

She somehow always new what to say or do. I needed to tell somebody all of this anyways.

Getting up I walk down the bright hall, setting my laptop on my bed. The red numbers on the clock glowed. It was noon already.

I knocked on the door softly and waited a moment.

"Come in!", she chirped.

Maria was cleaning up her room and was making her bed, for the millionth time this week. She could be a bit OCD, even if she didn't like to admit it.

I smiled at her and walked in.

"Want some lunch?"

"Sure!"

"Okay."

I turned around and was about to walk through the door when Maria spoke again.

"Aren't you going to tell me what's wrong first?", she asked.

Turning around I see she has an eyebrow raised, waiting for me to answer.

Sighing, I walked into the small living room, knowing she would follow me. We both sat with our legs crossed, facing each other. This was how we always sat together.

"So, tell me what's wrong. And don't just say you're fine, I know you're not", she told me with a warning tone.

"Okay, okay. I went into Wayne Tower and talked to the lady at the front desk", I started.

Maria nodded, letting me continue.

"...And I found out my dad was fired months before he died", I blurted.

Maria was lost for words.

"How-"

"I don't know how or why he did. I had no idea", I said feeling a bit upset.

"Did you or your mom know?", she asked, trying to make sense of it all.

"No. Well, I don't know what my mom knew. I've been so focused on what my dad did."

Maria sighed and looked around.

"It doesn't make any sense. Why did he even get fired in the first place?"

"I don't know. It always seemed like he left to get to work on time and it seemed like he was doing good", I told her.

"Maybe you can get more information out of the lady at the desk?"

"Yeah. Would you come with me tomorrow?"

"Didn't you want me to go back to your mom's work?", she asked.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot."

She patted my leg and got up to order food.

My mind still raced with possibilities. My dad could've done anything, maybe nothing horrible to get fired.

But how did he pay for everything those last few months? Did he get a new job? Did my mom know anything? Something was up, and I needed to find out.


The Joker sat at a beat up desk, a tiny fluorescent lightbulb lighting up only his desk area. Other then that, it was dark in the small room.

His shoulders were hunched over, purple jacket hanging on the back of the chair.

The Joker mumbled to himself, thinking hard. His mind was racing, thoughts jumbled as always.

He stared at the papers splayed out. Photographs of Emily and her friend Maria were in the corner, various plans in front of him and maps hung on the walls.

The rest of the abandoned warehouse was quiet. His goons new when to be silent. Some of them were out, following and observing. And some stayed.

As of now the Joker figures out what to do with the woman at the front desk in Wayne Tower.

She was a threat to him. He found out she was telling dear Emily things about her scum father.

It can't be too easy for Emily, could it?

The Joker chuckled to himself, the laugh emanating deep in his throat.


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