Disclaimer: I do not own or take credit for anything other than my OC's.
Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews and love! Keep the reviews coming, I love hearing what you guys think! Don't worry – Jester, Joker, Jonathan, and Scarecrow will figure everything out. Everything I do is for a reason, and a good story involves some conflict and drama. Things can't be sunshine and rainbows all the time. ;)
**Also, you may recognize some of the Rogues' lines/taunts. I get a lot of inspiration from the Arkham games, the Gotham series, the Telltales games, and the animated series. All credit goes to the respective authors/writers. If you're curious, take a look at my profile page to see which character portrayals I chose for my Rogues. (Suicide Squad movie, Gotham series, Arkhamverse, Animated Series, Telltales, etc.)**
- xxx -
Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – Main Corridor:
"We got company!"
Tommy sighed in relief as Deadshot's voice came through the radio. "About god damn time," he muttered, pressing the button on the side as he spoke.
Johnny chuckled, shaking his head at Tommy. "You're relieved? Kid, the Bat's here and we're first in line for an ass-kicking."
"You can't fool me, Johnny boy," Tommy mused. "You're just as excited as I am."
"It's been a few days since we've had some action," Johnny winked at Tommy and slinked off to the right as Tommy moved to the left, both of them aiming for blitz attacks on the Bat – if he could get through the front door, that is. They knew Riddler was locking the joint down and disallowing the Bat and his little cronies access.
"How many vermin?"
Tommy smirked at the sound of Bane's booming voice.
"One big ass rat in spandex."
Tommy burst out laughing at Deadshot's response, ignoring the scolding look Johnny shot him. "My bad, man. Can't help it."
"We've been locked up too long," Johnny muttered, shaking his head. He motioned for the rest of their guys to spread out behind himself and Tommy in the corridors. They did as he bade, lining up against the walls with their weapons out and ready.
"That's going to be a problem since Joker is on the warpath."
"What the fuck do you mean, Riddler?"
"I mean, Your Majesty, that your beau is currently black-eyed and unhinged, slaughtering his way through the prison on a rampage."
"May I ask why?"
Johnny and Tommy exchanged concerned looks as Scarecrow's growl joined the conversation between Riddler and Jester. Both men listened carefully as the three Rogues continued.
"Interesting that you should ask, Scarecrow. Joker spied on a few conversations that ruffled his feathers."
"Shit... my conversation in the fucking Infirmary?!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. That's when he threw a chair and went berserk. I'll do what I can to deter him and the Bat, but the rest of you will need to put in an effort as well. As amazing as I am, I can't control that raving lunatic."
"Jester..."
"Not here, Scarecrow."
The radio went silent and Tommy furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What the fuck are they talking about?"
"Best we stay out of it, kid. Looks like anyone involved is on J's shit list."
Tommy sighed and nodded, giving Johnny an exasperated look. "Not a moment's peace, huh?"
"Nah, not for us. Never for us."
- xxx -
Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – The Morgue:
"Talk to me, Jester."
Scarecrow leaned over the medical table, eyeing the new set of filled hypodermic needles as Jester hesitated on the other end of the call.
"There's nothing to talk about, Scarecrow. You walked out on me."
"Darling, you know why I walked out of that office. If you recall, I'm not the one that ended the conversation. You didn't give me much choice."
"I can't do this right now, okay? Batsy is here and I gotta get out there."
He inhaled sharply as her voice broke and he could tell she was crying.
"Don't you dare push me away again. Tell me what happened – what did you say in the Infirmary that caused Joker to go wild? You told me you trust me, Jester, so talk to me."
"Please, just leave it alone. There is way too much shit going on right now and I need to focus."
"Fine Jester, but don't tell me there's nothing to talk about, and don't accuse me of walking out. I tried, my love. Just... don't get hurt. Jonathan and I would be devastated if anything happened to you."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
He barely heard her before she hung up. Her voice broke and she was so quiet, it was as if she didn't want him to hear the words.
"Unacceptable," he growled, collecting the needles and carefully slipping them into his briefcase. Satisfied with his careful packing, he closed the briefcase, locked it, and walked out of the Morgue, careful to duck so he'd fit through the doorway.
He didn't give a damn anymore about staying in his station. He refused to allow Jester to square off with the Batman when she was this upset and dysregulated. No, he wouldn't allow her to put herself in danger. If she faced the Batman as upset and distracted as she was, she may as well buy herself a one-way ticket back to Arkham. He'd be damned before he sat back and allowed the Bat to beat her senseless, break her bones, and cart her off to the nuthouse. Not on his watch.
He stormed through the corridors, using his free hand to incinerate all inmates that got in his way, not in the mood to hang around and make them suffer. He had no time for torture – he needed to get to the love of his life, and he needed to get to her fast.
- xxx -
Joker's Funhouse – The Haunted Roller-Coaster:
Commissioner Gordon slowly cracked his eyes open, hissing as the pain from the wound on the back of his head shot through his skull. He cupped the back of his head gingerly, scowling when he pulled it away to see blood coating his fingertips. "Son of a bitch," he rasped.
He blinked repeatedly, trying to rid the dizziness from his vision and adjust to the bright flashing neon lights. He slowly sat up, ignoring the pain in his head and slight nausea he felt as he tried to piece together where he was. His socks and shoes were gone, leaving him barefoot in this cold room. There was a rather large pool of dried up blood on the floor beneath him and he noticed some scrapes and scuffles as if something heavy had been dragged from the area. His wallet, phone, radio, keys, gun, taser, and flashlight were gone. He carefully got to his feet once his vision cleared and looked around at the creepy abandoned indoor roller coaster.
"What the fuck is this?"
He jumped when he heard a scream rip through the air and snapped his eyes up to the source of it. A large TV screen had turned on overhead across from the roller coaster and he was horrified at what he saw. His daughter Barbara was strapped to an oak chair in the same spot he was currently standing in, crying and screaming as she writhed. There were nails embedded in her hands, pinning them to the arms of the chair, and her face was marred with bruises and small lacerations. His horror quickly dissolved into rage when he saw Jester, the very woman he came here to find and arrest, slinking her way towards the camera from behind the large chair. He took a moment to look around him as she stared wickedly into the screen and saw nothing and no one. The chilling realization that the blood under his bare feet belonged to his daughter sent him reeling. He stumbled back, panting and wide-eyed and gasped.
"Good morning, Commissioner Gordon. Welcome to the Funhouse."
Jester's voice snagged his attention and he glared hatefully at the screen, trying to keep his composure long enough to find out what she wanted and where his daughter was.
"I bet you're wondering why you're standing barefoot in a dried-up pool of your daughter's blood." Jester grinned maliciously, a small chuckle escaping her as she cocked her head at the screen. "You see, Jimmy, I snagged a copy of that interrogation tape. You know, the one with you and my cousin?" She wagged a finger in scolding at the screen and shook her head. "I thought you were supposed to be one of the good guys? All that talk about you cleaning up the GCPD and doing away with crooked cops... tsk, tsk. Good cops don't manhandle inmates and try to force confessions from them. They certainly don't douse them in hot coffee, either."
She backed away from the camera slowly, giving him a full view of his sobbing, gagged and bleeding daughter behind her. Commissioner Gordon felt his blood boil as he watched fat tears stream from his daughter's terrified wide eyes.
"You must not know too much about me," Jester continued calmly, making a show of toying with a cigar cutter she picked up from a surgical tray beside the chair. "I don't take kindly to people touching the people I love, let alone threatening them. You brought Mike up in Tommy's interview – think, Commissioner, and think really hard. Why do you think Mike was mutilated the way he was? If you recall, he had all five fingers on his right hand severed..."
She winked at the screen and grinned as she brought the cigar cutter to Barbara's right hand, opening it and slipping it up her pinky finger. "Well, now you know who did it!" Jester cackled as she snipped it off in one clean cut, her wicked laughter drowning out Barbara's screams of agony.
"BARBARA!" Commissioner Gordon screamed, crumpling to his knees and weeping. He couldn't force himself to look back up at the screen, not wanting to see the fear in his daughter's eyes. The sounds of her screams were more than enough to break his heart. He shuddered violently as the screams and laughter continued, pounding his fists into the bloody floor and screaming at the top of his lungs as the madwoman on the screen mutilated his baby girl.
"Shut up, Babs!" Jester's voice snapped on the screen above him. "I'm working, here! You'll have your chance to talk later."
Several muffled screams, sobs, and shrieks later the video went eerily quiet. Commissioner Gordon forced himself to look back up and a chill ran down his spine when he was met with Jester's face. Her eyes were nearly black, her mouth stretched in a tight line, and she was sporting a look of controlled rage on her face that rivaled even Joker's.
"No worries, Jimmy. Babs is just taking a little nap. Torture isn't just exhausting for the person inflicting it, ya know. Now, if you turn around you'll see a pretty sketchy looking roller coaster ride behind you. There are several dilapidated looking cars on it. Pick one, any one, and buckle up tight! You're going for a ride. If you want to find your little Babsy, you'll follow my instructions and behave yourself. I'd hate for you to die before you found her."
Her wicked laughter was the last thing he heard as he turned his back on the video and eyed the roller coaster in question. The video behind him turned off and he took a deep, shuddering breath as he inspected the cars. He made sure they were safe, that no one was hiding in them waiting to blitz attack him, and he got in the middle one. He carefully buckled himself in and looked curiously around the room, wondering how the hell the ride would move and who would be controlling it.
His silent questions were answered as the ride violently jerked forward with a harsh, sharp squeal and he saw a glimpse of a tall, muscular, dark man in clown makeup poking his head out of the control room and staring at him. Commissioner Gordon glared at the man and refused to show him any fear, locking eyes with him until the ride rounded the corner into the pitch-black depths of the building it was housed in. He tried his best to keep his wits about him, focusing on finding his daughter and apprehending Jester and whoever else was here. If he lost his temper now, he'd never find his little girl. He hated it, but he knew he had to play by the insane woman's rules if he wanted to see his daughter again. With no way to communicate Officer Santos, Officer Deckard, the rest of the department or the Batman, he was stuck facing these psychos alone.
The thought of Officers Deckard and Santos sparked something in his mind and he growled in frustration. Looking back at it, they had known the way to the Funhouse and were too happy to split up with him in the Midway. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, realizing they had set him up. In his haste and determination to find his daughter, he hadn't been paying attention and didn't notice the many red flags.
"Bastards!" He spat, clutching the rusty bar of his cart in a white-knuckled grip. "I'll get them too. Mark my words, they are all going down!"
The ride continued, lurching along twists and turns and creaking dangerously through several loops, sending Commissioner Gordon's stomach into his throat several times. It took all of his effort not to vomit, already nauseous from the concussion he was quite certain he had. Everything was pitch black, leaving him to wonder where the hell he was and where this ride would end up. He had no idea who or what to be prepared for once it stopped.
- xxx -
Blackgate Prison – Blackgate Isle – Control Room:
Riddler's attention was shifted away from Joker as he rampaged through the prison when alarms went off about a security breach in the Maximum Security wing. He giggled gleefully, clapping his hands together excitedly as he spotted the Dark Knight himself.
"Well, well, well... if it isn't the King Thug himself!"
Riddler smirked as he watched Batman crawl through the vent and knock out the grate covering it. He popped out of the vent into the men's shower block, quickly getting to his feet and brushing off his silly costume. Riddler was thrilled, this was his time to shine and to begin breaking the Bat's mind in his never-ending bid to prove the Batman's intellect was inferior to his own. Tonight, he would break Batman's mind.
"Crawling around in vents like a common rat. How expected..."
He tutted as Batman stalked out of the shower block and into the corridor, throttling the inmates that charged at him and attempted to subdue him. He locked down that block, cells and all, disallowing anyone to get in or out of Maximum Security and Death Row. His part of the plan was not only hacking the Blackgate security system, the Gotham Radio towers, and drawing Batman to the prison. He was also there to taunt, confuse, distract, and trap the entire Bat-Family, keeping them from reaching certain sections of the prison until the others were ready and to weaken and disorient them before they'd reach the other Rogues. It would be easier for Jester, Copperhead, and Harley to separate them and lure them if their paths were controlled and obstacles were placed properly.
"Riddler here. I have detained the Dark Knight in the Maximum Security wing. He won't be busy for too long."
He released the button on his radio and patiently awaited a reply as he watched Batman attempt to hack into the system to get the door to the stairs open. "Oh no you don't," he snapped. "You don't go anywhere until I want you to."
"You know, if you had asked nicely, I would have opened it for you."
He set to work hacking into Batman's communication system, laughing at how easy it was. He was just about to continue taunting the raging caped crusader when a response finally came over the radio.
"Send him to us."
Jester sounded much better than she had mere minutes before. She sounded determined, focused and... was that anger? Riddler furrowed his brows, tapping his finger on the radio as he held it in his hand and tried to piece together a response. He wasn't one for empathy, sympathy, or kindness, but he liked the feisty and clever Clown Queen of Crime. She had kept her word, hadn't she? He looked at his bracelet and chuckled, nodding to himself as he settled on what he thought would be an appropriate response.
"Of course, Your Majesty. Shall I wear him down for you first?"
"Make him work for it, Riddler."
He grinned, nodding to himself and set to work.
"Can you hear me, Dork Knight? I know you can. Yes, it is I, The Riddler – your intellectual superior."
His ego swelled as he watched Batman scowl down at his forearm, clearly irritated that Riddler had hacked into his little system.
"My genius has allowed me to easily hack into your primitive communications. Now, time for a riddle – after all, it would be rude of me not to give you a proper challenge."
- xxx -
Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – Library:
Copperhead caught Harley's and Jester's eyes from her hiding spot behind a few bookcases away just before disappearing in a cloud of black smoke.
Harley and Jester gave each other a nod, slowly lifting themselves off of their bellies on the two ledges they had climbed up on in their haste to escape the raging Dark Knight and perching carefully on the edges.
He had smashed his way into the main corridor through a grate down the hall from the Infirmary, catching the girls off-guard and forcing them to take off running as he hunted them down like animals. He was on a mission tonight, more serious and determined than usual, and Jester couldn't help but wonder if it had anything to do with Gordon's disappearance. They had led him into the library, knowing it was the best place to hide out and get the jump on him. Harley and Jester had immediately gone for higher ground while Copperhead slipped through the room in wisps of black smoke, keeping to the shadows so her movements wouldn't be seen.
"Copperhead."
Batman's gruff voice drew their attention and they looked towards the far corner of the library where Copperhead was currently squaring off with the caped crusader. She was crouched on the floor, coiled like a snake waiting to strike. In a flash of movement, she was sliding between his legs and slithering up his spine, wrapping her thighs tight around his neck as he tried to throw her off and choking him. She released his throat and kicked him hard in the face, dazing him for a moment, and quickly moved away.
Jester and Harley were shocked – she was good. She moved so quickly it was hard to even see her, she was like lightning.
She struck again, using Batman's surprise to her advantage. She coiled around him quickly, slithering up his back in one quick move just before biting him harshly in the face.
"What did you do to me?" Batman demanded, swiping at his face and examining the blood on his gloves.
"I killed you. Your body just hasn't realized it yet. The more strength you use, Batman, the faster you will die."
She chuckled wickedly, slithering up a bookshelf until she was perched on the top of it. She shot Jester and Harley a wink and grinned down at Batman as he stumbled a little, the venom already taking effect on his body.
"You don't look so good, B-Man," Harley jeered, crouched on the edge of her ledge. "What's the matter? You got the flu or somethin'?"
"Quinn!" He growled and made to lunge for her but he stumbled again, dizzying himself and crumbling to his knees.
"Yikes," Jester quipped, giggling with Harley. "I don't know, Harls. He looks like he's dying."
"Are you feelin' it now, Mr. Krabs?" Harley imitated Spongebob's voice perfectly and Jester burst out in such delirious laughter she nearly fell off her perch.
"Oh, fuck me. I wish I recorded that!"
"Let's go," Copperhead cut in, stifling her laughter. "He'll be calling his boy toys."
"Tell 'em we said hi!" Harley shouted, waving at Batman just before launching herself off of her ledge.
"You won't get away!" Batman snarled, glaring up at Jester as she teetered on the edge of her own.
"Oh I will, Batsy – but you won't." Jester laughed, following Harley and Copperhead as they raced out of the library and towards the main corridor, leaving the struggling, delusional Bat to suffer.
- xxx -
Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – Main Corridor:
"You."
Joker's snarl caught Scarecrow's attention as he reached the Main Corridor. He tilted his head and raked his glowing eyes over the blood-soaked, black-eyed, unhinged Clown. He was crouched over a bloodied, mangled corpse with his gold butterfly knife clutched in his right hand. Scarecrow noticed the blade was dripping with fresh blood from the corpse beneath him.
Scarecrow said nothing, simply grinning at Joker as he rose to his full height and glowered up at him.
"You're trying to take her away from me!" Joker lunged at Scarecrow, jamming his blade into Scarecrow's chest an inch away from his heart. The blade barely did any damage but it did cause him a little bit of pain.
Scarecrow chuckled, prying the furious man off of him with one hand wrapped around his throat and holding him just a few inches away so they were face-to-face. "I've done nothing of the sort," Scarecrow countered. "It isn't my fault you continue to destroy your relationship with her."
"It is your fault! This is all your fault! She wants to have a child with you, you demon bastard!" Joker flailed violently in Scarecrow's grip, slamming his blade into the demon's arm when he refused to release him. "You wanna know why she won't?" He narrowed his black eyes at Scarecrow and his tone was deceptively calm. "She's scared that I'll hurt her to try and kill it."
"I wouldn't let you," Scarecrow snapped. "I would destroy you."
"Oh, is that so? Make my day, you ugly mutant!" Joker grinned at him and laughed, relaxing in Scarecrows' grip. "I dare ya!"
Harley's voice came in loud and clear over both of their radios and caught their attention.
"Harley Quinn here, lettin' all of ya know that B-Man is stumblin' around like a punch-drunk bum in spandex. Looks like he ain't so tough when he's pumped full of venom. Anyway, we left him draggin' his ass in the Library."
"I do not have time for this," Scarecrow hissed, releasing Joker and ignoring the man's cackling as he crashed to the floor. "I need to find her before Batman calls his brood here."
"Not if I find her first," Joker singsonged, grinning up at Scarecrow. "Why don't you go back to your creepy little Morgue and play with your chemistry set?"
"Must everything be a competition with you, Clown?" Scarecrow groaned, moving to walk away and snarling in annoyance when Joker grabbed his leg to stop him.
"She is mine!"
"She is ours, Joker. Yours, mine, and Jonathan's. She is upset and angry right now, and the last thing she needs is either of us causing her more stress while she's running around with a target on her back. You can either help me find her or stay out of my way. I refuse to let any harm come to her at the hands of the Bat Brats."
Joker sprang up from the floor and dusted himself off, glaring at Scarecrow as he closed his knife and slipped it into the strap of his shoulder holster. He lit himself a smoke, offered Scarecrow one – which he gladly took – and nodded. "You've got a point. Fine demon, we'll uh... work together; but the birdbrain is mine. You got that?"
"Fine by me, Clown," Scarecrow drawled. "I'd prefer to mangle the mind of the Batman anyway."
"Finally, somethin' we can agree on. Let's roll," Joker quickly made his way through the corridor, most of the inmates knowing better than to get in his way as he walked and making it easier for the two Rogues to get through.
- xxx -
The Mansion Safe House – The Kitchen:
"Alright, Doc. You ready for your first lesson?" Catwoman smirked at Doctor Mills as she leaned across the kitchen island and drummed her claws along the surface.
Doctor Mills looked up from his healthy turkey sandwich, salad, and fruit smoothie and sighed. "As ready as I'll ever be," he muttered.
"You'll be fine!" Doctor Davis pat him on the back to show her support. "Trust me, I've been living with these guys for a long, long time. They know what they're doing, and Jester wouldn't allow anyone to hurt you too badly."
"I'll remind you that I'm not laying a single claw on you today. Crawl before you walk, remember?" Catwoman grinned at him and held her hand out, beckoning for him to follow her.
Doctor Mills wiped his mouth with his napkin and carefully set it down, giving Catwoman an apologetic look as he stood up. "I'd like to clean up first if you don't mind Selina."
Catwoman chuckled. "Have Officer Dickard over there handle it since he didn't bother to ask before ransacking our cabinets." She shot a glare over at Officer Deckard where he sat at the kitchen table.
Officer Deckard rolled his eyes but bit his tongue, knowing better than to talk back to Catwoman. The last thing he needed was to end up on the wrong side of those razor-sharp claws of hers. "Yeah, I got it," he bit out, glowering at Doctor Mills.
"What's up, guys?"
Victor Zsasz's unmistakable voice caused Doctor Mills, Doctor Davis and Detective Deckard all to jump.
"Who the hell let you out?" Doctor Mills stepped protectively in front of Doctor Davis, trying to put some of his Arkham training to use. "You're supposed to be locked up downstairs!"
Zsasz saw right through the man's false bravado and chuckled, gripping Doctor Mills gently by his upper arms and patting them reassuringly. "I assume you're the famous Doctor Mills. Nice to meet you! Victor Zsasz, though I'm sure you already knew that." Zsasz held out his hand for Doctor Mills to shake and chuckled again when the man refused to take it, opting to give him a skeptical look instead.
"Anyway, if you must know, the Queen Bee agreed to me coming in on the Blackgate plan to serve as a distraction and collateral." He clapped gleefully. "So I get to go play with the big kids!"
"It's true," Officer Santos appeared behind Zsasz and gave Catwoman an exasperated look. "Apparently things are a little rough over there."
"What happened?" Catwoman's amused expression faded into a serious one. "Is she alright?"
"The Bat showed up. Copperhead took him down for now but they know the rest of the Bat-Family will be coming soon. Joker is out of control, Jester is having issues with both him and Scarecrow, and she prefers vato loco here to be away from the children." Officer Santos looked conflicted as he spoke, which Catwoman didn't miss.
"Should I suit up and go? I don't feel right staying here while they're all stuck there. Besides, I can serve as a better distraction and deterrent for Batman than the others. We have... history."
Zsasz snorted a laugh at that and covered his mouth with a gloved hand. "Sorry, couldn't help it. I forgot you used to date the Dark Knight."
Catwoman gave him a scathing look and he simply shrugged at her, a smirk playing on his lips.
"She wants us here," Officer Santos answered. "I want to go, but she wants us here to protect the children."
"No one is going to find this house," Doctor Davis countered, raising an eyebrow at Officer Santos. "It sounds like you'd all be better off going over there and helping. Doctor Mills and I are more than capable of handling the children – besides, we have the beasts here!" She motioned to the ceiling, indicating the dogs that were currently in the nursery guarding the napping babies.
"If I know anything about Jester, she doesn't like to be disobeyed," Officer Santos sighed and plopped down into a chair at the kitchen table.
"I'm going," Catwoman insisted, waving her hand in dismissal when Officer Santos made to stop her. "I need to be there. I can do much more there than I can here."
"You are pregnant, Selina," Doctor Davis reminded her. "You need to be safe. You're in a very, very fragile stage of your pregnancy. One fall, one kick to the stomach, one wrong move and you can lose the baby."
"Dammit!" Catwoman hissed, slamming her hands down on the kitchen island.
"She won't need you," Zsasz said confidently. "I'll have my capable ladies with me and one hell of an arsenal. Joker isn't the only one with an impressive toy collection, you know." With that, he winked at everyone and made his way to the garage. "Toodles!" He waved over his shoulder just before the door closed behind him, intent on getting to Blackgate as soon as possible. He had some errands to run before he could go to the prison and wanted to get on the road.
"What a fucking nut," Officer Deckard chimed in, shaking his head in the direction of the door to the garage.
"I'll be back," Officer Santos groaned. "I've gotta play chauffeur for this guy. Daryl, stay here and watch the house."
Officer Deckard nodded and got up, setting to work cleaning up the kitchen and the dishes.
"Be safe," Catwoman said seriously, eyeing the door to the garage. "I don't trust him."
"None of us do," Doctor Mills said vehemently, settling back down into his seat at the kitchen island. "He's a monster."
"That's what this is for," Officer Santos pulled his gun from its holster and waved it at them. "I have no problem putting him down if he steps out of pocket."
"I can hear you, you know," Zsasz popped his head inside the kitchen and whistled, beckoning Officer Santos to him with a crook of his finger. "Lots to do and very little time to do it, Officer. Tick, tock!"
Doctor Mills shuddered at the bright grin and wink Zsasz shot him as Officer Santos made his way over to the lunatic.
They heard the sound of car doors slamming, an engine revving, and once they knew both men were gone they all let out a collective sigh.
"Well I, for one, am glad he's gone," Doctor Mills announced, rubbing his arms where Zsasz had touched him. "That man gives me the heebie-jeebies."
Catwoman chuckled and shook her head. "Coming from the guy who so boldly challenged the Joker."
"Are you sure you don't want to hear the heartbeat yet, Selina?" Doctor Davis placed her hand lightly on top of Catwoman's and gave her an earnest look. "I don't mind."
"Thanks, Doc, but I'd rather wait until Tommy's home to do that. It wouldn't be right to have my first exam done and to hear the heartbeat without him."
"You better hope he survives the breakout, then," Officer Deckard muttered from the sink. His back was to the rest of them so he didn't expect nor prepare for the harsh slap to the back of his head that Catwoman gave him.
"Don't ever say anything like that again," she growled, piercing his skull with the tips of her claws threateningly.
"Shit!" He hissed, gritting his teeth and clutching at the edge of the counter. "Yeah, yeah, you got it. Won't say it again."
"Good boy," she purred, releasing him. "Come on, Doc. I'm taking you to the weight room to get your training started."
"Weight room? Do you think I need it?" Doctor Mills motioned to his arms and flexed his muscles for emphasis.
"When's the last time you worked out, Doc? I can't imagine you did much of it living like a recluse in the Funhouse."
"Fair point," Doctor Mills conceded, motioning with his arm for Catwoman to precede him into the hall. "After you, sensei."
Catwoman laughed airily and the pair of them made their way out of the kitchen as Officer Deckard continued to wash the dishes and Doctor Davis prepared two bottles for the babies once they woke up from their nap. Neither of them spoke, both well aware of the fact that they had nothing in common and Officer Deckard painfully aware that Doctor Davis didn't like him.
- xxx -
Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – Rooftop:
"Heads up, y'all. Victor Zsasz – yes, you heard me correctly – is coming to join the fray. Do not – I repeat, DO NOT – shoot him on sight! He is to be considered and treated as an ally. Send him to me if you see him."
"I must be trippin'," Deadshot raised his eyebrows as he stared at his radio. "I thought I heard Jester say Victor god damn Zsasz is on his way here. That fool is dead. I was there – I watched her put his ass down."
"You heard correctly," Double-Tap called from across the rooftop. "He's back from the dead. Hugo Strange is still on his bullshit."
Deadshot turned to look at Double-Tap and gave him an incredulous look. "You're tellin' me that Hugo Strange brought that wingnut back to life, like on some Frankenstein shit?"
"Something like that, I guess. I don't know the specifics." Double-Tap shrugged.
Deadshot shook his head and pressed the button on his radio. "Yo Jester, you think that's a good idea? How do we know this dude ain't gonna light you up like a Christmas tree as soon as he sees you?"
"I don't recall asking for your opinion, Floyd."
Deadshot recoiled at her sharp, cold tone and set his radio back down next to his gun. "Aight then," he muttered, feeling a little bit like a kicked puppy. "Guess she's still pissed at me."
"Oh yeah," Double-Tap confirmed. "Woman sure knows how to hold a grudge."
"No shit," Deadshot agreed, giving a low whistle. "Gonna be a rough homecoming."
- xxx -
Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – The Jungle:
"Zsasz? Has she lost her mind?"
Hammer turned around and looked up at Poison Ivy through the forest of massive venus fly traps. He gave a slight shrug when her gorgeous green eyes fell on him. "Dunno."
"Oh, that's right," Poison Ivy sighed and leaned back in her makeshift throne. "You don't know. Jester murdered Victor Zsasz in cold blood when she revealed her true identity to the Rogues. The same night Joker killed Black Mask."
Hammer's eyebrows knit together in his confusion. "With all due respect, Ivy... if the Queen killed the guy, then how's he gonna come here?"
"Tell me, Mister Hammer, have you ever heard of Doctor Hugo Strange?" Poison Ivy smirked down at him and slowly began descending from her tower. Her vines carried her down, supporting and suspending her mere inches away from the beastly man.
"Don't sound familiar," Hammer admitted, giving Poison Ivy his full attention.
"Take a seat, my dear," she motioned towards a closed Venus flytrap behind him. "No worries, they will only harm those I command them to."
Hammer carefully sat down, slightly nervous about perching himself on a living, breathing, carnivorous plant.
"Now, how about I tell you a story while we wait?"
Hammer grinned at the beautiful woman and nodded. "Of course, Ivy," he chirped.
Poison Ivy had been kind enough not to use her pheromones or her other tricks on Hammer, reining herself in so he could think clearly and not fall victim to her charms. She had considered filling him with spores, kissing him or even touching him to zombify him but she knew Jester was fond of the henchman and decided against it out of respect for her friend. She had to admit she liked the man. Despite his earlier insult, he was very kind and funny and wasn't a bad conversationalist. He even took several hard lashings from her vines with dignity, waiting until she was done punishing him to explain that his 'crazy plant lady' comment was meant as a joke and not an insult. After that, he had been very careful and selective with his words and she greatly appreciated it.
Ivy told him as much as she could about Doctor Hugo Strange, including his time at Arkham as a Doctor and the abuse he inflicted upon many, many patients. Hammer listened intently the entire time, keeping his eyes locked on hers out of respect and politely excusing himself to check the entrance and perimeter now and then to make sure they were still alone.
- xxx -
Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – Maximum Security:
Two-Face was playing cards with his men in the guard post at the beginning of the Maximum Security corridor, a cigarette in one side of his mouth and a Havana honey in the other. He was losing his patience waiting for the Batman to be delivered to them and one of his men suggested a card game to pass the time. He indulged them, never one to turn down an opportunity to make some extra money, no matter how little or how much. They had invited Bane to join but the giant Luchador declined, opting instead to pace the Solitary room like a wild animal.
Two-Face certainly didn't understand it, but he didn't argue the point. Besides, the giant man wouldn't fit inside the guard post anyway. He barely fit down the corridor as it was. The entrance to Solitary would forever be destroyed – it was now a Bane-shaped hole in the wall with no door.
"Zsasz?" Two-Face looked up as Jester's message came through the radio and both his expressions were surprised. "Victor Zsasz? She killed the fuckin' guy the night the Clown killed that jagoff Black Mask. What a nutty broad."
"He's alive," one of his henchmen said, looking up from his hand.
"What?"
"He's alive, boss," the man repeated seriously. "I heard it from my pals on the outside. They saw him rollin' around with Don Maroni."
"Don Maroni?" Two-Face scoffed, setting his cards on the table face-down. "You're tellin' me that Victor Zsasz was seen with Don Maroni – recently?"
"Yeah," the henchman confirmed. "Saw 'em at Giggles, too."
"Giggles? Joker's joint? How interesting..." Two-Face scratched his chin and puffed on his smokes, blowing a huge cloud of smoke into the air and creating an even thicker haze in the guard post. "Wonder what that was about."
"Rumor has it Joker had rights to the Iceberg Lounge. Rumor also has it that the broad – you know, the one with the purple hair – is taking it over from him." The henchman shrugged, also setting his hand face-down on the table. "Streets are sayin' Maroni wanted to swindle it from her. He also ain't been seen since that night."
"So she killed Maroni?" Two-Face threw his head back and laughed wickedly. "That broad don't follow the laws! She just kills and kills!"
"Well, street law says that a guy like Maroni ain't supposed to be showin' up in another man's territory like that without invitation – especially to harass his missus while he's incarcerated." Another henchman shrugged slightly at Two-Face and pursed his lips. "Ain't right, ya know?"
Two-Face nodded, mulling it over. "So this happened while the Clown was in here?"
"Yeah, boss," the first henchman answered. "So, street law says she had the right."
"Not guilty," Two-Face chuckled, picking his hand back up. "Case dismissed."
- xxx -
Blackgate Isle – Blackgate Prison – Main Corridor:
"Hello, everyone!" Victor Zsasz grinned like the Cheshire Cat as he burst through the main doors of the prison with his 'Zsaszettes' in tow. They were all heavily armed with semi-automatic weapons, grenades, blades of all shapes and sizes, and some of them even sported RPG's strapped to their backs.
He ignored the many, many guns aimed at him and continued, stretching his arms out wide to show he meant no harm. "Now, some of you may know me, and some of you may not. I'm Victor Zsasz. I'm here at the behest of the Queen Bee, so if you know where she is I'd appreciate it if you'd point my friends and me in the right direction."
"... Zsasz?" Johnny kept his gun aimed at the madman and inched closer, giving the bald, well-dressed and jovial man a skeptical once-over. "There's no way, man. We threw your body in the river."
"Yes, yes, I know. Jester shot me, spit on me, and had you goons throw me in the river. It's really me, Johnny boy. You can thank Doctor Strange for my rebirth." He rolled his eyes and tapped his foot impatiently. "You really know how to ruin a dramatic entrance, Frost! Now, where's the Queen?"
"Wait a minute," Tommy was flabbergasted, lowering his gun and approaching Victor Zsasz. He looked the guy over, taking in his bald head, lack of eyebrows, pale skin, tailored Armani suit, leather gloves, and black snakeskin boots. "My cousin killed you?"
"Ah, you must be Tommy!" Zsasz clapped Tommy on the shoulder and smiled brightly at him. "You're going home, kiddo! Queen's orders."
"What the fuck?" Tommy looked over at Johnny and Johnny shrugged.
"I've been with you the whole time, I don't know shit."
Zsasz huffed and crossed his arms in annoyance. "Well if you don't believe me, ask her yourself! You'll get your confirmation and you can skedaddle, and I can find out where she is."
"I don't believe this... any of it." Tommy narrowed his eyes at Zsasz and aimed his gun right at his heart as he picked up his cell phone. He quickly scrolled through his recent calls and selected Jester's name, calling her and putting it on speakerphone.
"What?" She sounded incredibly irritated and Tommy flinched.
"Yeah, uh, this dude Zsasz is here telling me to go home and asking us where you are." Tommy kept his eyes on Zsasz as Jester groaned on the other end of the call.
"Yeah, go home Razor. Give him your radio and send him to me. I'm back in the Infirmary with Copperhead and Harley."
"Go home? What the fuck are you talking about, Jester? Why would I go home?" Tommy furrowed his eyebrows and glared down at his phone, ignoring the amused look on Zsasz's face.
"Just do as I say. Give Zsasz your radio and go home. Zsasz should've cleared the way for you. He came in through the main doors, right?"
"Sure did," Zsasz chirped. "Hello, Your Highness. The front yard, bridge, and guard posts are clear. Tommy's good to go. Luis is waiting for him on the other end of the bridge."
"Get moving, Tommy. Luis is a sitting duck out there."
"I'm not going anywhere! I'm as much a part of this as the rest of you! Why the fuck are you sending me home?" Tommy was livid, feeling emasculated and embarrassed by his cousin replacing him and demanding that he go home.
"Tommy, I'm doing all of this for you. When you get home, you'll understand why. Listen to me and GO HOME. It's more important for you to be at home than to be here."
Tommy flinched at her icy tone and sighed. "Fine, cuz, but I better find out what's going on as soon as I get home."
"You will," her tone softened only slightly. "Give Zsasz your radio and send him to me, please."
Tommy ended the call without another word and glared at Zsasz as he handed over his radio. "I don't know what you and my cousin are up to, but I don't like it."
Johnny cleared his throat to get Tommy's attention and gave him a small but reassuring smile. "You know your cousin, Razor. If she's sending you home, it's for a reason. Just do what she wants – besides, be thankful you don't have to risk an ass whooping from the Bat. I'm telling you, kid, they ain't a walk in the park."
Tommy nodded, shaking Johnny's hand and tucking his gun back into his pocket. "Good luck, man. Keep in contact, alright? I wanna know what's goin' on."
Johnny chuckled and pushed him towards the door. "Go on home, kid. Don't worry about us. We got this."
"Let's skedaddle, Razor," Zsasz made a shooing motion with his hands. "I can't go anywhere until I've escorted you to the bridge."
"I do not need your help," Tommy spat cruelly, glaring at Zsasz.
"Oh, but you do," Zsasz insisted, opening one of the main doors and raising an absent eyebrow at Tommy as he motioned at the mutilated corpses littering the grass. "Unless you want to be jumped by drooling, zombified prison guards."
"Jesus Christ," Tommy muttered, raking a hand through his messy brown hair. "Fine, man. Let's go."
Zsasz clapped excitedly and practically pranced out the door, gleefully gunning down every single guard that came their way. After watching Tommy cross the bridge and get into Luis' car, he turned around to regard his henchwomen. "You kept count, didn't you?"
"Seven," one of the women drawled, waiting patiently as Zsasz rolled up his sleeve and carved 7 tallies into his arm with a boxcutter he always kept handy.
"And that makes 32," he chirped, rolling his sleeve back down and hurrying back inside the prison. "Hurry, hurry! We're burning daylight, ladies!"