The hours were ticking by torturously slow... Sitting on the small bed with his legs stretched out in front of him, the Clown Prince stared at the wall. It had already been three days since they transferred him over from the prison after inciting a riot, leaving five guards and ten inmates dead. That didn't include the ones on his little excursions during the night...

The urge to get up and do something was overwhelming, not one for sitting around this long. His arms were still pinned to his sides by the straight jacket the guards had so graciously left on him. It wasn't a big deal... Aside from the purple coat he typically wore, this kind of jacket was something he'd gotten use to a long time ago.

It was, however, still quite annoying nonetheless. He knew how these things went in here, even if it had been a while since his last stay. The building was still ugly and garish as ever, just how he liked. Even if they upgraded the door and cameras, it just wouldn't be Arkham without that sense of foreboding people would mention. The clown didn't know what they were talking about. To him, it felt like a home away from home...or whatever that it.

During the night is when things would become more lively. Most of the 'residents' were people of the night, stalking the dark streets of Gotham and doing what they do best, him included. The dingy lights in the hallways never went completely off, the guards knew better than to dim them in a place like this. They were always dirty, giving off a grayish hue, but it was more than enough to see. The flashlights would get pulled out from the belts around their waist if they needed them, or just wanted to shine it on an irritating prisoner when they walked by.

If they were smart, they would leave them as they were, but even the guards would get bored. Most of them did their jobs the way they were suppose to, but a handful of them were spiteful and cruel at times.

Joker could remember how one guard would constantly bang his nightstick along the bars of the cells with his flashlight shining brightly during all hours of his night shift. That didn't last long... After a few nights of doing that, the clown decided to let him know how much he appreciated all the racket.

Looking toward the glass door, he scrutinized the new guard that was walking up and down the halls. Just from a single glance, it was apparent that this man was new at the job. Tall and dark, his head moved back and forth, peering into each cell as he passed by. Each time he went by, the clown gave him a toothy smirk, making him look away quickly.

'He's so on edge, haha... Just wait until it gets dark.'

His dark eyes looked across the hall to the cell opposite from his. The woman was lying on the bed on her stomach, book in hand as she moved her feet back and forth.

'Bitch...acting like she's right at home...'

The woman who laughed at him the other day... When the guards weren't escorting her to who knows where, all she did was lay around reading without a care in the world. It was obnoxious and boring to watch.

As soon as this straight jacket comes off, he'd sneak over to her cell in the middle of the night and break that skinny little pale neck of hers...

Taking a look at her, it was clear that the asylum was picking favorites. Unlike the jumpsuit he had on, her looked nice and clean...brighter than a lot of the ones the other patients wore. There were a handful of books on the floor beside the bed, most of them medical books from the titles along the spines. Her covered hands lazily turned each page, green eyes glancing back and forth as she read and the neatly made bed.

She just seemed too clean and organized... It was irritating. The urge to ruffle her feathers and tear the cell apart was itching at him. It was too much order in a chaotic place that he use to enjoy. If he was going to have to stay here until all the pieces were in place, then he'd make sure to ruin the little order this woman had around her.

Sitting up and shifting to the edge of the bed, he planted his feet on the floor and got up. Knowing most of the other patients in the asylum, he couldn't understand what was with this person. Everything about her screamed of a university brat who was a bookworm and wouldn't do anything to get into trouble. Too much order, too stagnant...

Nothing about her seemed to fit in place here. Reading people was something he felt very confident about. After all, everything he did revolved around doing what he wanted and knowing how the people involved would react to it.

It wasn't lost on him that looks could be deceiving...but the way she spoke to the guards so politely, the way they didn't hassle her, how she didn't rock around or mutter to herself like a lot of the others did... She was more difficult to read.

No matter what he said through the small holes in the glass door, he wasn't getting a reaction. Pretending not to hear or see him... As if that would last. Even when the guards hit against the glass and yelled at him, she didn't even flinch. It was only when one would go to her cell door that she would look up and smile sweetly at them.

That disgustingly sweet smile made him want to punch her straight in the mouth... Take that calm look right off her face. He wanted to see a different expression painted across that pale face. Anger, fear, surprise...just something else other than that carefully measured look she always had.

Walking towards the glass, he leaned in towards one of the spaces, looking across the hall.

"Hey dollfaceee... Whatcha reading there?" Dark eyes carefully watched for any hint of a change in her expression. Nothing.

"You have quite a collection there... Guess the guards like ya quite a bit, huh? You know, it gets pretty boring around here. How bout you slide one of them books over, hm? Come onnnn... Don't be stingy!"

The pinkette looked up at him suddenly, making a grin spread across his scarred mouth. That was the first time since the other day that she even glanced at him.

Raising a thin eyebrow, she held up the book in her hand, waving it back and forth. It was like asking if he wanted that one. He didn't care, he just wanted to see what she would do.

Shaking her head, she opened the book back up and started reading again. He cocked his head to the side, wondering what was going on in that little head of hers.

"Even if I DID slide it over to you, what can you do all tied up like that?" A sweet laugh left her lips as she turned the page, not bothering to look back up at him.

Joker grit his teeth, feeling agitated as her chuckle assaulted his ears. Once again, she was laughing at his expense...laughing at him. No one did that who lived to tell about it.

"Want to find out?" A malicious grin spread across his face. Did she really think he couldn't do anything just because of a straight jacket? Didn't she know who she was talking to?

'She doesn't...otherwise she wouldn't be so calm. Stupid woman...'

This was fine though...at least he got a reaction. Every word and action people gave off would tell more about them than they realized. The more she talked, the easier it would be to break her down. When he did, she was going to suffer...

The woman put the book down on the bed as she looked back up to him, her green eyes roaming around him, taking everything in. He cocked an eyebrow, wondering what she was doing now. This was the most interaction he'd been able to draw out in the last few days...

Emerald eyes lit up as that obnoxious smile spread across her face as she watched him.

"I'll have to thank Dr. Arkham for sending a clown to entertain me... It has been getting pretty boring as of late...HAHAHAHA!"

Joker clenched his jaw as his eyes widened in rage. This fucking woman was making fun of him again! So she does know who he is...and laughed!

The pinkette let out a a shaky breath as her chuckle died down, picking the book up and going back to reading. Not even looking backup as he smashed his forehead against the glass door.

"You little bitch!"

"How do you think Jerry's going to hold up?" The dark haired guard mused as he took another swig from his coffee cup.

"He'll be fine, Harold. We all had to learn somehow... Can't be a pansy in this place. He'll learn the ropes quickly, but he's too nervous around the patients. They'll see it as a sign of weakness and eat him up." Taking a drag from a cigarette, the red haired man leaned against the cement wall in the courtyard meant for employees to relax during their breaks.

It was going to be another long day dealing with the insanity caught between these walls. Everyday it the same old shit in a different package. Having to take patients to and from their cells for sessions with the psychiatrists, having to escort them to and from the bathrooms, even having to stand there when they were allowed to take a shower. You always had to be on the alert and watch for even the smallest bit of movement, because you never knew when one of them would snap or try to strangle someone.

"Yeah... I guess that's true. I'm just surprised they are having him watch D-block today... I really don't think that was a smart idea. Those lunatics are going to smell fresh meat and go wild." Harold sighed as he pulled out a pack of smokes from his pocket, needing something to help him relax. It didn't feel right letting a newbie do their job.

"If he's smart, which I hope for all of our sakes that he is...he won't talk to any of them. All it takes is letting your guard down one time and next thing you know, one of them is grabbing at you through the door. I had a little pep talk with him this morning."

"I guess I wouldn't be as nervous if that clown was in that block, but that's where we need to keep him. I can't count the number of times that bastard has messed with the staff's heads. Always pulling some shit... I've been waiting the last few days for something to happen, but so far so good... I guess." The dark haired man put a cigarette between his lips, lifting the lighter up towards his mouth.

"Don't get comfy. It's when you think he's behaving that he's at his worst. Like I said before, I've been working here a for a long time. This guy isn't someone we can understand or predict. We need to be cautious at every step. As soon as you think he's starting to get with the program...BAM! That's when he pulls his shit." Waving his hand in the air with a cigarette between his finger, Derek frowned thinking about all the past stunts the clown had pulled.

"Like what?"

"Wandering the halls at night and no one knows how he got out of his cell, letting out other patients randomly, leaving little gifts in the doctors offices, maiming or killing some of the guards... No one understood why he would get out of his cell and not try to escape. He would just walk through the halls like a creepy ass ghost. Check out the CCTV footage...weird shit. It's when he does decide to leave that things get out of control... No one still knows how he got a shitload of fertilizer into the facility..and don't get me started on that horrible laugh..." Derek ran a hand over his face, watching as his friend's eyes widened.

"Christ... I'm glad I wasn't here for that... I just don't understand why that Batman just doesn't kill him already. It would be a lot easier than what they've been doing. All that happens is that he gets locked up and escapes eventually. I don't know how many news articles I've read about it. What are they thinking?..." Harold tapped his smoke, letting the ash fall to the ground.

"I'd like to ask you guys what you're thinking?" The two men looked up as another guard approached, a stern look on his young face.

"Goddammit, John. What do you want now?" The dark haired man scoffed seeing the blonde standing there, his arms crossed. Always being a prissy pain in the ass.

"Why haven't you two taken that straight jacket off the patient in cell 0801?" The man's blue eyes didn't waver as the other guards looked at each other in disbelief.

"You mean the clown? Why the hell should we? That psycho is nothing but trouble as soon as he can move around." Derek scoffed, taking another drag of his cigarette.

"He's a patient at our facility and there are rules of conduct we are expected to follow. As long as he hasn't posed a threat to himself or anyone else, he is suppose to have it taken off after the first days observation. Derek, you have worked here longer than I have, I'm trust you know the rules and regulations by now?"

"Tch..." The redhead glared at the man standing in front of them. Neither of them could stand this guy. Always doing everything by the book and leaving no room for argument. It wouldn't be long before he filed another report with the head of the asylum, making their lives harder than it needed to be.

"Whatever. I'll take it off that piece of shit. If anything happens, you can take responsibility, got it?"

"As long as we have an understanding... And please don't wait until it's dark out to do it. I'm sure it's very uncomfortable to be confined by one of those things for days on end. You wouldn't like it, would you Harold?" The dark haired guard flicked his cigarette onto the ground, crushing it with his shoe as he eyed the blonde talking to him.

"Wouldn't know, would I? John...you really need to lighten up. Maybe have a few drink, get a girlfriend? I think this place is starting to drive you mad. You're acting like this is a hotel or something and we need to make sure those animals are comfortable. Once you start seeing that clown as a human being, that's when you'll be sorry!"

John narrowed his eyes at the two men as he turned away. "I don't need you telling me about the Joker..."

The Clown Prince sat on the cold floor, his head pressed up against the glass. Watching the new guard walking by from the corner of his vision, he paid him no mind as he glared across the hall.

That irritating woman... As soon as he got the chance, he was going to kill her. Even with all the muttering and screaming the other patients did throughout the day and night, her silence was attitude was far more annoying. It was when she spoke though, that his rage could barely be contained.

It wouldn't take long. He always got out, one way or another. The guards who have been here for a long time knew from his previous stunts what to look out for, but the newer ones were a different story. It wouldn't matter anyway, he always thought of new creative things to do and people were easy to manipulate. He already had a good idea of how things would go before stepping a foot outside of the police truck that brought him here.

"Alright asshole, stand up and back away from the door." A gruff voice yelled out as foot steps came closer to his cell door. A grin spread across his face, knowing that at least something was going to happen. It was better than sitting here for the last three days with barely anything to do.

The two guards who escorted him to his cell the other day and usually walked the halls, stood outside of the glass door with their usual disgusted expressions.

"Ahhh... Harold and Derekkk... What a pleasant surprise! To what do I owe this honor?" A snicker left left his mangled lips seeing the agitated looks on the men's faces.

"Shut it clown and do what I told you. Get your ass up and stand away from the door. You want that jacket off, right?" The dark haired man glared at him, obviously not happy about the situation.

"Already? Oh, dear! I thought you'd never ask!" Standing up and backing away from the door, the clown sneered at the men, enjoying their discomfort. The guards knew by now how dangerous it was going into the lions den and taking off its chains. They weren't complete fools...

'About damn time, hahaha!'

The dark haired guard shook his head as the other pulled out his nightstick. As soon as the keycard came out and started getting close to the control pad, the clown couldn't stop the malicious grin spreading across his scarred mouth.

"Harold..." A soft voice from across the hall made them all freeze. The guard stopped in his track, turning his head towards the woman's voice.

"Yeah? Is something wrong, Sakura?" The guard turned around, looking at the glass door opposite of the one he was standing in front of.

Joker's dark eyes moved over as well, raising an eyebrow. What was she doing? Annoyance edged his way back into his mind, not liking the disturbance...not at all. He was just seconds away from getting this damn itchy thing off of him.

'So...that's her name... I'll remember that when I break her neck.'

The pink haired woman put her book down as she looked up at the guard. Remembering the way he was staring at her the other day, made him question quite a few things about what was going on.

"Don't..." Her voice was quite and gentle, no hint of anger or any negative feelings. It grated on the clowns ear almost as much as her laughter. "Leave it be. He said he was going to strangle me in my sleep as soon as it comes off."

Harold looked from the woman lying across the bed back to the Clown Prince, a smirk playing on his lips.

Joker froze as soon as he heard the words coming from her mouth. His dark eyes widened in anger, feeling his blood vessels about to pop from the pressure. This bitch! He hadn't said a word about what he wanted to do to her...and yet.

"Is that so... Well, I guess we'll just have to let John know that he does pose a threat to other patients after all. Just as I thought, haha! Looks like you're gonna have more time to get comfy in what you're wearing buddy!" The guard laughed as he put the keycard back into the breast pocket of his uniform.

The guards jumped back as the clown smashed his forehead up against the glass, seething with bloodlust. The woman smiled at him sweetly as she went back to her book.

If only he could get his hands on her, he could wipe that arrogant look off of her face. She was going to be sorry...more than ever.

"Back away from the door, asshole!" Harold shoved his nightstick through one of the holes, slamming the end of it into the clown's gut, trying to push him back. He didn't even flinch as he glared at the woman who acted like nothing had just happened.

"Do yourself a favor and stop fucking around! You're only making this harder on yourself. Just keep your mouth closed and don't mess with the other patients." Derek sighed, trying to calm down the irate man through the glass.

The Clown Prince shot a glare at the two imbeciles standing outside of his cell, as he tried to shut down the anger inside of him. He needed to think straight, couldn't allow his limited emotions get the best of him. This wasn't like him, he was the one to make others lose their shit while sitting there and laughing at them.

"Fucking bitch..." He muttered under his breath, looking back over to the grinning woman.

'She's smarter than I thought... I'm going to enjoy killing this one.'