Chapter 42: Chance Encounter
That night, Batman was on the rooftop of a random building, scanning the streets of Gotham City, looking for crime to stop. But so far, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. That is, until a familiar looking man walked down the street in a trench coat.
Batman jumped from building to building, following the strange man. He had a strong build and was tall. Upon looking closer, he could see that the man was concealing a weapon from within his coat.
He jumped down behind the said man and attacked him, ripping the coat's hood off. He almost gasped when he saw who it was.
"Jack? Jack Ryder?"
"B-Batman!? Listen! I didn't mean what I said on T.V. I'm sorry for calling you crazy! Please don't hurt me!"
"I'm not going to hurt you, at least, not if you tell me what you're doing out here this late at night, alone, and in a trench coat with a gun in your pocket."
"I-I-" Jack sighed, defeated. "I was hoping to find the Joker and maybe even Dr. Quinzell. No one's really doing anything about this case! I-I just couldn't stand by just waiting around, letting her get hurt!"
"So you really do know her then?"
"Yes. I use to go to high school with her. We met when we were young, though. We were friends for a while before we drifted apart. She was so nice to me. And I fell in love with her. But I never really did get to see her again after graduation. And now she's gone. Kidnapped by the Joker. And probably dead."
"Don't say that. She's alive. I can feel it."
"Can you really? Because honestly. I really don't think you're helping this city as much as you're hurting it. Can't you just go away and leave Gotham alone! You created these criminals! Why don't you just kill them and be done with it!"
"I don't kill."
"Well you should! They can't be cured! Especially not him!"
"You need to calm down and hand me the gun. Then you need to go home, Ryder."
"No. This is the top news story and I'm going to get exclusive footage, not to mention save Harleen. The city will love me for it! And... s-so will she. Besides, rumor has it in Gotham's underworld that Joker's going to rob the Gotham Bank tonight. If she's not with him there, then I can follow him back to his hideout and save her!"
"No. You are not authorized to do this."
"You're one to talk! Neither are you! I don't see you in a police uniform with a badge and a gun. So get lost. You don't belong here!"
Batman scowled and reached for the gun but Jack stepped back, avoiding him.
"Don't! Just leave me alone!"
He ran down the street causing Batman to follow. Who knew what Ryder would do with that gun.
He finally caught up with Ryder, who ran up onto the Gotham Bank's steps. He cautiously walked up, Bat-o-rang in hand, waiting to see if Jack was going to attack him. He didn't. So he continued to step forward, stopping just in front of Ryder's form.
"Stop this now, Ryder."
"Just leave me alone! I need to do this!"
He shoved Batman causing the Dark Knight to shove him back.
"You want to fight me? Do you really want to go to jail? It'll ruin your career."
Jack thought about that for a moment then shook his head. "... You're right. I-I just wanted to help."
"I know. But this isn't the way to help. You've done this many times. You've had your close calls with the criminals. You can't just put yourself in danger like this over and over again. Even if you do want to get exclusive footage of Gotham's most famous rogues. They'll kill you. You know that. They don't need a reason. They'll do it for fun."
"I know. But-"
"No. Do you remember when you followed Penguin to his hideout to get that footage you wanted. How he caught you and had his birds attack you?"
Jack nodded. "I still have the scars on my back..."
"And do you remember when you tried to film the Mad Hatter. How he mind controlled you. Almost making you his permanent tea party guest along with his other victims?"
"Yes... I-I remember."
"See. It's dangerous. You can't just-"
"I'm not a child, Batman. You don't need to lecture me. I know It's dangerous. But-"
"But you don't care. Do you? Do you have a death wish?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"It's my job to be a good news reporter, Batman! Besides. I won't let that Vale-Bitch steal my show! I'm the better reporter! I'll always be! She's never been able to get shots like mine. And this is why!"
"Ryder you-"
"HEH-HA-HA-HA-HA!"
Their eyes widened.
Joker.
"Listen to the man, Batman! He's a big boy now! HA-HA!"
Ryder instantly tensed but grabbed his camera from his other coat pocket, scanning the street, looking for any sign of the homicidal maniac.
Batman growled, also looking around. "Show yourself, Joker!"
"Hmm... Let me think... eh, no. I think I'm perfectly fine right where I am, away from your fists. Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!"
Batman growled again, remembering Harleen. "Where is she, Joker!?"
"Who?"
"The doctor!"
"What doctor?"
Jack scowled, screaming. "Doctor Harleen Quinzell! That doctor! What are you stupid!? Where is she, you freak!?"
Batman grabbed Jack's shoulders, yanking him back as he shook his head. "Don't insult him. You'll only make it worse."
Joker laughed, but it was darker somehow, angry. "You better listen to him, news guy! I'm not a, uh, very forgiving person..."
Batman pushed Jack behind him. Still scanning his surroundings. "If you see him, Ryder. Tell me."
He nodded. "Will do."
"So what is my favorite Dark Knight Defective doing here?! Gasp! Have you snapped? Did you finally go rogue!? Oh, this is so exciting!" His voice suddenly dropped to a dangerous low. "Sorry to disappoint you, Bats. But this is my heist, so beat it!"
"I've told you once. And I'll tell you again. This isn't a game, Joker. Where is she?!"
There was a loud sigh before the silence was again interrupted. "Oh, I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about..."
"Stop lying!"
He faked a gasp. "Lying!? You think I'm lying!? That hurts, Batsy. It really hurts! To think that my bestest friend didn't trust me!? Oh! That's just..." He cackled evilly, voice a dangerous low again. "Heartbreaking..."
"Tell me something, Joker."
"Anything, Batsy!" Joker said, voice merry again.
"Is she dead? Did you kill her?"
"Who?"
He clenched his fists. "Harleen! That's who! Did you kill her!?"
"HA-HA-HA-HA!"
"Stop laughing and answer the damn question!"
He stopped. And there was a long awkward silence before his low but nasally voice spoke again. "...Yes."
Batman clenched his fists tighter as Jack gasped and growled. He even had to stop the foolish man from loading his gun.
"Don't. I know how you're feeling, Ryder. But don't."
Joker continued. "Oh, yes. I killed Harleen. The good ole doctor. The sweet innocent little woman who kindly tried to help me..."
Batman noticed the way he was saying some words. Like he was hinting at something... "You're lying, Joker. Again."
"Oh, I assure you, Batsy. I'm not. I killed her. Forever. Sweet little Harleen is Zip! Nada! Zero! Uh-Gone!"
Batman shook his head. "But why? She never did anything to you!"
"Oh contrare, my dear old friend. She did."
"And what would that be?"
"She's a thief." He said matter-of-factly.
Jack gasped. "A thief!? She is not you lying little-"
Batman hurriedly cupped his gloved hand over Jack's mouth. "Shut up."
"She's a thief." Joker continued. "Snuck right up to me under my nose and stole my most precious possession. Something I treasured and yet didn't even know I had..."
"How can you treasure something you didn't know you had?" Batman questioned, slightly confused.
"Oh, that's easy, Batsy! It's something I know I use to have but never realized I still did. Something very special. Something I thought I had killed along with all my other ethics, morals, and victims..."
Batman went over some of Riddler's riddles in his head. Matching up bits and pieces that were similar to what Joker was currently saying. He jumbled up the words, fit them together, and then it dawned on him.
His words. Harleen's gentle approach to Joker. Her care for him. The way he didn't want her to get hurt. The way he relished in her attention. Basked in her glow. How he didn't want her to leave him that night he'd had his breakdown. How he kidnapped her and then finally, how he kissed her when he had left.
Joker interrupted his train of thought. "Have you any idea what it was she stole from me, Bats!? Something that can never be replaced. Something I can never take back no matter how hard I try."
Batman nodded. He would have never thought this possible but there was no other answer he could think of. "Your heart."
"Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!"
Jack jerked away from Batman's hand. "Heart!? What heart!? You have no heart, you evil bastard! What ever's beating in there, keeping you alive, has shriveled up and dried out by now. You have no heart, no feelings or emotions. You're a damn liar! You're just toying with us!"
Again, Batman clamped his hand over Ryder's mouth. "Shut up, Ryder."
"Yes...Do shut up, Ryder. You're grating on my last nerve..."
Batman continued talking. Still contemplating on what Joker had said. "If she stole your heart, if you truly cared for her... Then why kill her?"
"Oh! But here's the thing! I didn't say how I killed her!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh... nothing."
Batman suddenly caught a flash of purple and green and instantly threw a Bat-o-rang. He could hear Joker cry out and fall to the ground. He took what little time he had before Joker got up. and rushed over, slamming the clown's head into the ground. Joker's last words came out in a loud desperate gasp.
"Damn it! You... can't... take her... from me..."
And then he was out. Jack rushed over and stared at the Bat and the Joker. "H-How did you find out where he was?"
"Guess I'm not as 'blind as a bat' after all."
