A/N: eek... Here we go...
~I feel fine when we're high,
I'm gonna light you on fire,
I laugh so hard, you make me cry,
Let's light everything on fire~
~Third Eye Blind~
Today was the big day. Joker was busy getting all his hostages wired up and ready. He had figured out after the first one to drug them before he pulled out the explosive vests they would be locked into. After all 6 were rigged up and in the vans, he turned to his men.
"Boys, I will need 6 volunteers to, uh, play hostage." He looked around the room. No one except Red seemed to be eager to do this. "Not you Red, I have a special job for you."
Joker frowned, then offered the incentive he knew would work. "Extra pay and I'll let you sit the next one out with no consequences." He watched the men look around.
Perfect, the six he needed stepped forward. "Grab a vest and get it put on." They looked scared. "They are dummy vests, you won't splat everywhere." he lied.
The men started to get equipped and he moved to Red. "Follow me."
Joker pulled Red to the side and started to explain. "You will head out here soon to set up on the Insurance building keeping watch for any flying rodents."
"What?" the confusion was obvious on the ginger's face.
"Oh, I forget you don't know, Batman isn't dead, I have been trying to lure him out. I need you to keep your eyes open and signal me if he is lurking around while I am busy."
Red looked skeptical but nodded his understanding. Joker clapped him on the sides of his arms and handed him a duffel bag.
He watched Red leave.
When he moved back to the big area, the men were all dressed for the party. They looked nervous, that was a good thing, made them look more like hostages. "Split up between the vans with the others."
Ace came through the side door. "I think we are all ready to go boss."
Joker looked at his watch and smiled. Red would need a few minutes to get in place. "Good, I need to make a call and then we will head that way."
Joker moved over to the side of the room and pulled his phone. He dialed his wife.
"Yes?" she answered.
"You at home?"
"Yea." She answered. "Why?"
"Good, stay home, I might come by later, if not don't worry."
"Is it happening tonight?"
Joker frowned. "Yea, keep the TV on, you might see me."
"Be careful, I love you."
"I know." Joker hung up and moved to his desk. He put the phone down. Couldn't have that with him. He grabbed his burner phone and tucked it away.
He headed back over to Ace "Let's roll."
They all moved to the vans. Joker jumped into the van and gave them directions. Not that you could miss it. They were going to downtown Gotham. The large city park was hard to miss. Being New Year's Eve, they would have a bit of set up time before anyone would realize what they were doing.
Joker checked his pockets. He had his knives, a hand grenade, a flash grenade, his hand gun and his master detonater for all of the vests. His burner phone in his pants pocket rang. He pulled it out and answered.
"I'm all set up. What is the signal?" Red asked.
"Good man, in the bag is a roman candle. Just light it up and shoot it towards the park."
Joker could hear the bag rustle. The fireworks were a fun little flare and sold everywhere in the city for the night's festivities. "Got it."
Joker hung up and put the phone in his pocket. It was going to be so fun. The drive was bumpy, and a bit tense for everyone. Joker was too deep in thought to worry. When they finally pulled up to the park, he hopped out and started barking orders.
Most of the men knew what they had to do. Once all of the 'hostages' were out and placed in position, Joker armed the vests, handing each person the dead man's trigger, explaining to keep the button pressed or…KABOOM.
He moved to Ace, "Make the call and head out."
"Got it boss." He said grabbing his phone from the pocket of his coat.
Joker moved around, watching the crying people lined up around the park. He took his time painting each person's face. Not like his, but white, each one with a different smile or frown. He was really just passing the time, waiting for the show to start.
By the time he heard the sirens and was the news vans, everyone was ready. He smiled. The police were trying to keep everyone back, but the reporter and cameraman made their way down within six feet of the Joker. He had to admire the leggy brunette, she didn't seem too scared of him.
He watched as the cameraman cued the reporter when to begin. Joker cut his eyes over to the GCPD who were setting up barricades to keep the growing crowd back. He was honestly a bit surprised at the crowd that was starting to gather.
The reporter's voice pulled him back to the present ordeal.
"If you have small children watching, we advise you to remove them from the room. This is a live feed at the hostage situation currently taking place at the Harvey Dent Memorial Park. Behind me you can see what looks like 12 hostages being held by The Joker." She turned.
"Mister Joker, what is it you want to accomplish this evening?"
Joker chuckled. "No Mister, just Joker." He said.
"I apologize, Joker."
He smiled, "I want to talk to one person, and one person only." He held up a finger.
At his silence, she asked, "Who?"
"I want the Batman."
"The Batman has been presumed dead for over a year."
"NO," he shouted. The reported tensed. "I apologize, The Batman did not die, he has just been hiding. Living amongst all of you."
"Are you saying you know the identity of Batman?"
He shrugged. He watched the police move closer hands on their weapons. He turned to them. "Ah, ah, ah." He said waving his detonator at them. "Come too close or try to help them, and, well, we all blow."
The men froze. Joker smiled. He turned back to the reporter, who finally had a look of fear in her eyes.
"Where were we?" he asked.
"Are these your men painted up behind you?" she asked.
Joker shook his head softly, "No." As if on cue a lady behind him let out a large sob.
Peach was sick with worry as she watched the news. They had a live feed going and she now watched her husband, hamming it up for the camera. The sky was getting dark, causing the faces of the hostages to look like they were glowing.
Peach really hoped Batman wouldn't show. This was way too much attention, the camera having spanned across to see the plethora of cop cars and even civilians waiting up top. She watched as the reporter spoke to her husband.
"Will you be letting us know who the Batman is?"
Peach didn't like the look of ambition on the woman's face. How this lady spoke to him like they were friends. She wanted to cut her tongue out then feed it to her.
"Where's the fun in that? I am just using you as a calling card to get to the Batman. As you see there are 12 people behind me, and he had the chance to save them. The chance to send them home to their families. All he has to do is come say 'hi'"
He wiggled his fingers at the camera and then let out a laugh that scared and aroused Peach. She frowned at the entire situation. She wished Batman would have just stayed dead.
"What makes you sure he is watching?" the woman asked.
Joker looked at the camera, "Oh, he's watching." Joker looked at his watch, "He better hurry, before the hostages hands get tired of holding their detonators." Joker moved his device up for the camera and flipped a switch. The vest behind him all had a light flash red three times then stay lit.
Peach sighed. This was going to be a long night.
"All it would take is a slip of a finger, and we will have our own fireworks show."
The reporter turned back to the camera, "You heard it here first. Batman, Gotham City needs you. These people need you."
Peach smiled, looking over at the dogs curled up at her feet on the couch. "Daddy thinks he's so clever, doesn't he?" Judy didn't open her eyes, but Punch was looking at her, wagging his tail with excitement.
Bruce had been having an enjoyable evening. He was actually starting to enjoy the crowd at this dinner party. He had eaten a big meal. It was a duck dish, not his favorite but it tasted good. He was now in a parlor, having a drink with a few old acquaintances. A small shout and many gasps pulled the rooms attention.
They headed into the other room, looking up at the television. Bruce nearly lost the meal he'd eaten earlier. The food churned in his belly as he listened to the Joker. He saw the faces of the hostages painted up and thought of the three murders already committed in his name.
He stood there watching the people in the room looking resigned at the deaths of 12 random people. Could he live with those on his conscience? Could he really stand by as Joker murdered these people?
Bruce used the confusion of the group to sneak away. He moved to his vehicle and started to drive to a place he didn't think he'd ever return to in this life. He sped the entire way, hoping he would be able to get to the park before Joker had killed anyone.
Joker paced back and forth along the path between the hostages and the police. They watched him walk, their hands on their weapons. It tickled him that they were not allowed to draw them. He smiled. Joker started to weave through the hostages, whispering to them about hand cramps and explosions.
Joker looked up at the sound of the helicopters that now circled the park. He was impressed at the show of force. Two helicopter for little ole him? He looked around, there were even more people gathered at the wooden barricade. He was loving this, the city was ripe for the chaos he offered. The crowd was loving it.
Maybe he had been going about this all wrong. After he got Batman out in the open again, he needed to reevaluate his mission.
Peach pulled the plug on her bath. She wasn't allowed to have her water as hot as she liked while pregnant, but she still enjoyed a good soak. She stood from the deep tub and pulled her towel around her hair, twisting it up onto her head. She used the other to dry off. She took her time rubbing moisturizer into her skin, not wanting to get any stretchmarks.
She dressed in a camisole and her usual small sleep shorts. Wrapping her robe around her still small frame. She pulled the towel from her head and combed through her hair. She pulled it all into a braid, and moved to the living room again. She had almost hoped she would have missed the big confrontation.
Unfortunately, she was there in time to see him skipping through the hostages. She hadn't seen him this free and happy since the big return to Amusement Mile. She smiled at the memories and watched the screen. She had a bad feeling about this.
...uh oh... see you next week :)