And now the action picks up.
Across the room another light flared to life. Several people gasped and Dick wrapped a protective arm around Artemis.
"Evening… I expected everyone to be a little crazy by now." The man was lounging in a chair with his legs crossed, his foot bobbing to the now halted music. Shadows still shrouded his face.
"I don't recall seeing your name on the guest list." Dick said loudly and defiantly.
"Of course you wouldn't. I wasn't on it." Slowly he leaned forward. A demented red smile spread from ear to ear. "But then, things don't always go according to plan, do they?"
The Joker? He's the psycho behind all of this?
Everyone in Gotham is a psycho Zee. It was just a matter of figuring out which one. They could all tell Wally's eyes were narrowed by the sound of his voice.
"You seemed surprised." The Joker said standing. The people closest to him backed away. "I would have thought The Batman was a better teacher." With each word he took another step closer to the pair.
"Very funny. Do I look like the type to hang out with vigilantes?" Dick's voice was defensive, but played off with fear laced humor.
A few more steps and he was close enough to touch them. "Lovely girl. Will you be trading her in for next year's model soon?" a strand of Artemis' hair slipped through his fingers until she slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me." Artemis hissed. Wally's grip on M'Gann tightened.
"Picked a feisty one this time." The Joker stepped back and licked his lips. "A fighter for a fighter."
"You're out of your mind." Dick replied with narrowed eyes.
"Am I?" Joker chuckled and grinned. "I do not pretend to be anything less than I am. Parading around as something else… now that would be crazy."
"What are you getting at?"
Joker laughed again and turned in a circle with his arms spread wide. "I know who you really are. And you're going to tell all these lovely people." He put his arms down. "And you're going to tell us the answer to the question all of Gotham has been asking: Who is The Batman?"
I'm appreciating the feedback on my other stories as well. It's encouraging.
