"How do you think I came to be this way, Mr. Fox?" Joker asked as he propped his feet up in the guest chair while his men stood around bored.

"I have no clue." Lucius replied, trying his best to not hurt his cut lip.

He wasn't surprised the Joker had hurt him but he was shocked by the amount of enjoyment the clown found out it. In the brief two minutes, he had spit in his face, punched him twice, and screamed about the woman who left him to die. He had thought that was his reasoning for his sanity-lapse but now, it was confusing. The Joker had asked Lucius how he thought he came to be. What did that mean?

"I lied about the whole wife thing. I was actually kidnapped as a child. I was raped and tortured in the filth of that man's basement. That horrible year changed me. He gave me these scars but that Batman opened my eyes. With acid and mind-altering chemicals no less, but still... an eye-opener. I never smiled when I was little. I suppose that's why my mother made the scars." Joker said, sounding serious and sound.

"I thought you said a man did that?" Lucius asked.

"Hm..." Joker chuckled.

"Right."

Bruce pulled the keys out of the sport car quickly and walked quickly to the front door of Wayne Enterprises, struggling to keep up the fake limp with the cane. The secretary greeted him with a smile and he slammed his hands against the desk, trying his best to act weak and terrified.

"Hello, Mr. Wayne. What can I do for you tod-?"

"I need you to call the police in exactly one minute and ten seconds. Tell them that Lucius Fox had been placed hostage by the Joker and at least five of his men. I'm heading up there to negotiate but do not wait a second longer. Mr. Fox will die if you don't act." Bruce said quickly as he leaned over the counter.

"Oh- okay." the secretary said, her hand already on the phone.

"One minute, okay?" Bruce said loudly, running to the elevator and slamming the up button.

"Has it been ten minutes yet, Scott?" Joker asked.

"Eleven, Joker. He's late." Scott the Clown replied.

"Oh, it's okay. The playboy deserves a little more time, right, Mr. Fox? But this isn't his first attempting at stopping me... is it?" the Joker said, looking at Lucius.

"What?" Lucius asked, suddenly looking up.

"Oh! That brought you to life, didn't it? Bruce Wayne is the Batman. It's obvious. Billionaire, gone for four years, comes back with a limp, and acts like everyone else even though his entire life should make him as insane as me. But then again... the man does dress up as a bat." Joker replied.

"I can assure you. Bruce Wayne is not that Batman. He has a leg injury. I saw the files. You conspiracy theorists." Lucius said with a shake of his head.

"Ooo. You're a good liar. Then again, you're a businessman, so what did I expect." Joker laughed, anxiously staring at the elevator.

Lucius began breathing uneasy and tried clearing his throat as the elevator dinged. The Joker and his men steadied their positions and Bruce was huddled against one corner of the cab, slowly coming out as the Clowns raised their guns. Two Clowns ran up to Bruce and he screamed briefly, the men grabbing his arms hard and tossing him into the floor of Lucius' office. The Joker stood up and flipped the guns out from his sleeves. Bruce looked around and eyed Lucius, sending a mental message of ease. Lucius lifted his chin and sighed, having faith that Bruce would handle the situation.

"So... I'm glad we can finally meet, Bruce. At least in your disguise." Joker said, holding Bruce's shoulders as he stood up and shook in fear.

"Wha-? What?" Bruce stuttered.

"Don't play dumb, Bruce. I know you're Bats." Joker replied with a brief laugh.

"I'm bats? What are you talking about?" Bruce said, wincing at the Joker's strong breath.

"C'mon. You can stop the act now. Me and Lucius were just talking about it. I know it's you. I can see the Batman in your eyes. You have anger and hate behind you. You cover it up with this pathetic yet believable playboy act and I commend you for it. You should in an award. But listen, Batman... you don't have to hide the truth from me. I know who you are and you know what I'm capable of. Just admit it... and I don't shoot Mr. Fox in his little black head." Joker said, circling around Bruce like a lion stalking a zebra in the Serengeti.

"I'm scared, Joker. Okay? Just tell us what you want? How much? I have billions. Take as much as you need." Bruce said as Joker led him to the chair and slammed him down.

"Oh, God! Just stop! Break my hand! Do it! Put me in a body cast or drop a hospital on me! I know who you are beyond the mask! I know what masks are, Bruce. I hid behind one most of my life. I was living in a shack outside of Star City and one day... a group of bigshots beat me within an inch of my life. They were drunk and used a beer bottle to cause the handiwork on my face. I lived for years with this shame and disgusting scar! I know what a mask is, Bruce!" the Joker continued.

Lucius rose an eyebrow as Joker continued to rant and he was confused. Bruce gave him a quick glance and he was in the same boat as him. Joker was unstable beyond all comprehension. He had told the GCPD a version of his beginnings and at least two more to Lucius. What was the Joker's ultimate goal? Did he really have a plan?

"Sir. Joker. I don't even think there is a Batman. Please don't hurt me. I can make you rich!" Bruce said.

"That's really getting old, Mr. Wayne. Just admit. Fox here knows the truth. Say you're the Batman or I kill him right now. Three. Two. One." Joker said quickly, pressing his finger against the trigger.

"Fine! I'm- I'm the Batman!" Bruce yelled loudly, putting his hands up and stomping his feet.

Joker growled loudly and looked inside Bruce's eyes deeply while shaking his head. He let out a wolf-like howl and laughed loudly, tossing Bruce's chair backwards with him in it, slamming the ground hard. Bruce ignored the bullet wound and crawled away before the Clowns grabbed him hard and shoved him into the bookcase on the left. Joker ran towards him and put the muzzles of both pistols against Bruce's head. He cleared his throat and closed his eyes, groaning as the Joker continued to beat him down.

"You think you're smart, huh? Do you even know what I've accomplished here? I've terrorized this city. They're afraid of me and I can feel it! You may think being a force for good will last and give this city hope but that tactic is useless and if it works... it takes too long. Fear is the best and only option in this day and age. People hate each other, sue each other, and will kill each other over the littlest of things. With fear, the men and women of the world will stop moving and listen intently for every word you say. Don't you see that? Fear is the answer. Hope is useless, Bruce!" Joker said while pressing the guns into his head.

"Do you honestly believe that?" Bruce said, his attitude changing for one moment before the lights to the company shut off completely and the windows' security measures took place.

Lucius watched with a smile as three large metal slides were pulled down mechanically over the glass windows and the entire office went dark. Bruce acted quickly. He kicked the Joker's knee from behind to imitate the action that someone from behind had attacked him and slipped from his grasp. He ripped off his shirt and flung out his cape, one of the Clowns firing a bullet and showcasing the cape in a bright orange glow. The office went dark again and every Clown was brutally attacked by the Batman. Bruce flipped his pants off and pulled the cowl hood over his head. He slipped the gloves from his sleeves and punched a Clown in the face, ripping his mask off and kicking his chest, sending him flying through the office front window. Glass shattered and the Clown flew into the elevator. The Joker fired four times, seeing the Batman running past all of them. He could also hear Bruce's pathetic screams as he was probably crawling to Lucius.

"Don't hurt me!" Batman said, throwing his voice over in Lucius' direction as he kneed a Clown in the face, knocking him out.

He took the man's pistol and slid the magazine out, tossing it at the Joker's head. He spotted him as a Clown fired another orange blast into the office. He jumped on Joker and grabbed him by his collar and punching him once.

"Wayne called the cops. I got the call!" he growled loudly, throwing the Joker into his goons.