A/N: Thanks everyone for the views, PM's, and reviews! I enjoy it and it lights a fire under my ass to write more. Not like I have much else to do these days, but can't complain. I enjoy it, after all. The next chapter will be longer, I just wanted to get this out before working on the next update for "Tsūyaku". That was originally my favorite story to work on, but now it's a tie between that and this one.
I'm trying this new thing called rereading my stuff before posting it haha for the last five chapters of both stories. It really helps to have more time on my hands. One of these days I'll go back and edit all the previous chapters. When I look at some of them, I feel like strangling myself seeing some of the careless mistakes I've made in a rush. It really drives me mad, so I figured if I do it in the first place, it'll be easier on me and you guys. Nothing throws off a rhythm quite like sloppy editing.
It's killing me because I have two more stories I would like to start up, but I just don't have it in me to do it without at least finishing one up first. Problem is...is that I can't find it in me to end any of them, always coming up with more ideas and don't want to finsh it up just to have a great addition to add, but can't. The one story idea I have is taking a good amount of research on my part to do it right and I don't have the time or energy to fully commit to it yet. There are still three other stories I havent worked on in forever, but I just don't feel very inspired to do what needs to be done. I'm all TDK right now.
VeronicaLee00: Oh, you know it on both accounts. He was definitely beside himself, that's for sure!
TeenageCrisis: Thank you, I'm glad you like it. That makes me happy! Yeah, I've read a million+ fanfics with Sakura and they always portray her the same way. Oblivious, easy to manipulate, and needing the lead male to hold and protect her. I wanted to do something different instead of leaving her as a doormat for whatever Tom, Dick, and Harry that shows up. For this story, I wanted a Sakura that the Joker has respect for and wants to keep her all for himself becuase she impresses him so much. I can't really see him wanting to keep around a snivelling brat.
TniLuv1289: Not going to lie, their deaths kind of happened on a whim. i did plan on doing more with them, but it just felt right... Something random and violent is right up the Joker's alley. Since Sakura was gone, he's acting up without having his little bunny to keep him company anymore o.
Tashio: I can't agree with you more! Out of all the versions of the Joker, TDK is hands down my favoirte. The other one's just don't do it for me the way Heath Ledger's does. He's far more cunning and realistic when you compare them and the only one I could imagine Sakura actually being interested in. I wanted to make a level playing field between them instead of having her chase after another Sasuke or just acting like a fangirl. Someone the Joker would respect and take seriously, unlike Harleen. He can't toy with Sakura or disrespect her the way he can with the doctor. Harley always ends up becoming deluded with the Joker and chases him to the ends of the Earth hoping he will develope feeling for her and it never happens. I wanted to make Sakura a woman he is willing to chase after in a similar yet different fashion. it's like Sakura- Joker- Harleen essentially. Thanks for your review, I always enjoy your take on things and opinion!
Kihoko-san: I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope your well and safe in these troubled times...at least my stories can bring joy to someone out there who needs it. Writing is probably what's keeping me partially sane, haha. You're right...Sakura doesn't need Joker essentially. She's a strong woman who's been alone for years in a way and only has herself to rely on. Part of her is drawn to and wants the Joker. Now whether it's out of lonliness or genuine desire for him is another question completely, one he'd like an answer to soon.
C-Block...
"Heh." That seemed like a good place to start.
Joker just found it funny, couldn't help himself. Not really...
It really was surprising how lax the security had become in the passed few years, ever since good ol' Amy went bonkers and the entire asylum went under. If there was ever a time the clown would have wanted to be in Arkham, it was definitely then... To see Amadeus completely lose his shit. The man had been barely hanging on a rusty hinge as it was, anyone who wasn't completely doped up or comatose could see that. How or why the doctors and staff let it go that far was anyone's guess.
'Bunch of pansies...' They were scared of the old man, of how unbalanced he'd become and what might have happened if they said anything.
If the clown had been there when the riot had broken out, he would have found Amadeus and strapped him to a gurney. Give him a taste of the electrodes he'd become too fond of... Believing the only way to "cure" his patients was to strip them of their memories and personalities, trying to leave them as a blank slate to mold into a "proper" human being...a process it seemed his nephew was also a fan of.
'Soon as I get the chance, Jerry is gonna get a niceee helping...'
Seeing the security camera on the wall, his lips curled up, giving it a large toothy grin as he waved. No one would see it anyway...not until it was too late and they realized how foolish they really are.
"Hahaha..." Striding down the halls of C-Block, it was just as dark and quiet as he remembered. It wasn't until you hit D or J, that things really became lively. The inmates were placed in different blocks depending on their crimes, mental stability, or behavior.
The asylum used to be separated by gender, but that went out the door with Amadeus' corpse. F-H were still not habitable after Poison Ivy released toxic spores throughout the halls after the woman's ward had broken out. One of the guards she was trying to seduce had stupidly brought her in a seemingly harmless gift, not realizing he might as well have just handed her a gun. That section was completely blocked off from the rest of the building after workers dropped dead trying to clean the area. Apparently even the hazmat team that went in came out quickly after the spores started eating at their suits.
The guards in A-C would do hourly rounds during the nights, unless there was some sort of commotion. By the clown's calculation, there should be another 35 minutes until they left their stations. That was more than enough time to make his own rounds.
Pulling out the retractable keycard from Harold's breast pocket, he hummed a little tune, twirling the night stick around in his hand that the guards had so generously left in his cell. Not that they had a choice, but that didn't matter. Might as well complete the ensemble, right? Had to go through D-Block to get to C anyway on the way back from his rendezvous with a certain mad witch.
It was a good night. Maybe the best since coming in to this goddamn place.
Harold and Jerry were on a permanent leave of absence, he was raring to cause a little trouble for the other guards, and Christmas was right around the corner. One of his favorite holidays, but it seems like his present came a bit early. A sweet little pink bunny for him to keep, even if pets weren't allowed in the asylum. He'd never really been one to follow the rules to begin with anyways...
Turning a sharp corner, Joker reared back noticing a figure standing in the hall. A guard... Shifting his jaw, he leaned up against the wall, waiting a moment to see what happened. The man should have been at the station and if there had been a problem that called for security, there would have been more than one and they sure as hell wouldn't be standing there. By the lax stance, no weapon visible, and fingers deftly fixing the collar on the uniform, it was clear something else was going on. Entirely...
'That would be making this a social visit...'
Perking his ears up, voices filtered down the hall. It wouldn't take much at all to take the guard out, but then his cover would be blown if whoever was in the cell saw him. That wouldn't make this as fun...not for what he had in mind for now.
"You're always such a dear, Sean. What would a girl do without ya?!" A shrill feminine chuckle made him wince, knowing that laugh anywhere. It was almost as obnoxious as his own.
"Shh! You're always so loud..."
"Dick! Never minded before...Whatever... Doesn't matter anyway, I guess." That woman was still up to the same shit as always in lock up. Always finding some sucker to seduce to get her fix.
'Magpie... Can't believe no one cut that damn voice box out yet.'
"Just...put that away. I gotta go back, don't want anyone to notice I was gone too long...See you later." The male voice sounded awkward, uncomfortable. It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened. Magpie had been in Arkham one of the many times the clown was here and he always had a knack for seeing and hearing far more than he should.
"Bye, hot stuff! Come again soon, hehe. Always good doin' business with ya!" The woman had a consuming obsession with shiny objects. Before getting arrested, she was known for stealing jewels named after birds and replacing them with a replica...one that had plenty of surprises in store for those who never expected it.
Joker could appreciate a good surprise, especially a cleverly placed one made from a craftsman's own hands. The woman was a bit on the loose side, but he had to admit...she did have flare. Just to get her fix on shiny objects while incarcerated, there were always guards or cops willing to trade seemingly mundane objects in exchange for sex with the crazy redhead.
Peeking around the corner, the guard was quickly trailing down the hall with his head down, fixing his belt. The urge to laugh was itching it's way up... The clown knew that walk. Head down, back of the neck beet red, shoulders hunched, the awkward positioning of the legs and feet... It was the walk of shame.
'Heheh... Don't do it if ya can't keep your head up, buddy!'
The Clown Prince would remember that face, commit the name to memory. Any and all bit of information was useful, especially in a place like this. You never know when you might need a favor called in or might need a trump card when having problems with the unruly guards.
As soon as the man was out of sight, Joker rounded the corner, knowing exactly where he needed to go. On the way up to D-Block during the transfer, he made a mental note of who was where, just in case. His part wasn't much...not tonight. After all, what he did best was getting other people to do the work for him and dig their own graves. It wasn't the right time to what he really wanted... Not that there was something more to look forward to now...
This was all a game, after all. Just to test the waters out and cause a panic among the staff. To show them how ill-equipped at their jobs they were. That and to get under Jerry's skin, to disrupt the perfect control he believed he had over the asylum. Nothing would drive the old man to the brink like watching his set-up slowly falling apart. Men like him couldn't handle things not going according to plan, would lose their shit when seeing their perfectly manicured system not working like they believed.
"Hahaha!" If only he could be able to see that prick's face when he finds out... That would be a hoot and a half.
Shuffling down the empty hall, the lighting was nice and dim as always. That made this all the more perfect. Snaking his tongue out to prod the cracked skin alongside his mouth, the clown ran his fingers through the dirty blonde waves on his head, trying to slick them back the best he could. Not that he ever really cared, his hair always seemed to have a mind of it's own. No amount of fretting or product would change that. Just like his personality...
Most of the inmates were fast asleep. It was at least two in the morning by now and the guards always like to wake everyone nice and early. If they couldn't sleep in, why should anyone else?
Peering passed the glass into the cells as he walked by, he straightened his posture, pushing his shoulders back where they originated belonged. One thing he was always good at, was playing the part when the situation called for it.
'0628...'
A grin pulled the corners of his mouth up to match the permanent one he'd been given years ago. This was the right person to get this going. Dumb and gullible enough to believe whatever he said. Listened enough to at least get the next two steps taken care of until someone more capable took over.
The extremely large man was sleeping soundly in the small bed that looked like it was close to collapsing from the significant weight pushing it down. The metal legs themselves looked like they wanted to cry out, threatening to give way if they weren't given any mercy from the abuse they were taking from the morbidly obese lump.
'Christ... I think he's gotten bigger since the last time I saw him. What the hell are they feeding this guy? Other inmates?'
Taking the keycard between his fingers, he yanked it forward to press on the control pad, listening for the beep as it opened. Dark eyes flickered both ways, making sure none of the other patients were near their glass doors as he stepped in. Didn't need anyone who might recognize him getting involved. That would take the fun out of everything. Aside from the scars, most probably wouldn't realize who he was without the greasepaint and green hair anyway...but the facial marks really were a dead giveaway.
Striding over towards the bed, the clown's brows furrowed seeing the objects on the floor beside the bed and lying on top of the covers. Dolls... Some still together, most in parts, and others rearranged in odd ways. The parts were strewn all over the bed around the sleeping giant, like he'd fallen asleep part way through his work.
'Hmm... Somethings really don't change, do they?'
Humphry Dumpler, or Humpty Dumpty, was a strange man... One with an uncontrollable urge to "fix" things by taking them apart or putting objects back together that had been broken.
Unlike many of the inmates, Humpty was someone who behaved and didn't cause too much trouble... Had a childlike mentality and the mannerisms of a polite man. Easy to manipulate and outwit, one of the many reasons Jerry liked to try using him to gain information or help him out without the lump ever realizing it. The oddly proportioned man just assumed the luxuries he was afforded were from him "being a good boy".
Aside from being dim-witted, he had an enormous body and unbelievable strength. If only he had a brain in that big head of his, he might've actually have been quite a threat. Most of the crimes that were committed had only been done in his effort to fix things, not out of malicious intent like what everyone else in the asylum did.
'Well, maybe not his sweet old granny...hahaha!' Humpty had literally taken apart his abusive grandmother, dismembering the old woman in an attempt to "fix" her. The police had found her body reassembled in a grotesque position, laced together with shoestring. The funny part was that they had lived in an old cobble shop, repairing shoes.
"Heh." Joker heard the story before, it didn't take much for ol' Humpty to tell it. The old lady used to beat him with a stick, making him learn how to fix shoes for years, only for her grandson to try "repairing" her... Stringing her up like one of the pairs he'd been forced to work on.
'Gotta love the irony...I always live for a good joke.'
Stepping over and on the array of parts and dolls over the cold floor, the clown had the night stick out and ready, just in case the big guy decided he needed to be fixed as well.
"Get ya stinkin' foot off a me, damn clown!" Joker's brows furrowed, looking down towards the voice coming from beneath his foot. "Aye, asshole! Who ya think ya steppin' on!"
"Ha. Ha. Ha. What ya doin' down there? Looks like Humpty here, ah, did a number on you. Hmm? Scabface?" Laughing manically, he took his foot off of the dummy on the floor. Eyes lit up seeing the bad shape the doll was in from the lumps ministrations, enjoying how one of the big drug lords of Gotham was reduced to plaything for fun.
"Shaddup! It's Scarface! Scar-face! Who ya think yer talkin' to?"
Crouching down, Joker cocked his head to the side looking down at The Ventriloquist's puppet with a wide grin.
"Isn't Arny lookin' for you? It be such a shame if your head went missing...maybe accidentally fell into the trash. The one that goes out in the morning, hmm? Even Junkyard Dog wouldn't have enough time to dig ya out..." Pumping his eyebrows up and down, he stuck his tongue out over him bottom lip, swiping over the cracked skin that was starting to get dry.
"Tch."
Letting out a chuckle, the clown stood up not hearing anything more from the doll lying on floor. Everyone knew the Joker didn't make idle threats and he'd have no problem executing them. Occasionally, people needed to be reminded of that fact when they became reckless. Being locked away can do that to someone if they're not careful.
Stepping over the silent doll, the clown walked towards the bed that was on its last legs. Taking the night stick into the palm of his hand, he reached forward to prod the side of the morbidly obese man snoring loudly.
"Come on, big guy. Get your fat ass up."
Not getting even a movement or slight reaction from the lump, irritation was starting to well up as the vein in his forehead pulsed. It was always these guys who had to be heavy sleepers...
'Heh.'
Pulling his arm back, he smashed the stick against the side of Humpty's head without holding back. The bald man bolted upright in bed, staring around wildly as he put a meaty paw against the spot where he'd been hit.
"Wha-What's going on?" Beady eyes looked the clown up and down, jaw dropping as soon as they landed on the uniform. A smile spread wide seeing his reaction. "Oh, snips and snails and puppy dog tails! What have I done, I haven't tried to run. Why is a cop knocking me on the top?"
"Hahaha!" One thing the Joker could appreciate about this dimwit was his knack for talking in rhymes.
"Has Dr. Arkham sent you? Even after all we've been through... I guess this is nothing new." Rubbing his head, Humpty looked away to pick up some of the pieces lying on the covers around him, getting ready to continue where he left off.
'Christ... I guess he can't make out the scars in the dark lighting. Just like I hoped...'
"That's right, Mr. Dumpler. We have a job for you. Need you to fix something for us." Seeing the way the man's eyes lit up, this as going to be easy as predicted. Such a sucker for anything that might need to be worked on.
"Who are you? I don't recognize you from the block. You come in here and don't even knock."
"Can't you read? I mean, of course you wouldn't recognize me. I'm Harold, one of the guards who usually works in D-Block... Dr. Arkham sent me to give you a job, because he trusts you to do it. You're such a...model patient, after all. Said he has a bunch of little things he wants you to put back together if you listen to his instructions and do what you're told." Moving his hands around and talking animatedly, he knew he had the man's full attention now, despite the drowsiness. One quick smack to the head and a mention of what drove his OCD, then they're off to the races.
Looking down and snatching the keycard, Joker took it off the retractible cord that attached it to the uniform and tossed it onto the covers in front of the man.
"A guard is giving Humphry a card? Oh, I have been good, just like I told them I would!" Pudgy fingers picked up the plastic key that unlocks the cells, lifting it up with a smile on his face.
"That's right...but you have to do as your told. Otherwise, you won't get anymore things to 'fix', ya got it?" Humpty shook his head feverishly, practically frothing at the mouth at the idea of being given more trinkets to work on.
"Gooood. Now... After I leave, you need to use that card to get your, ah, buddy Shark out next door. Okay? Make sure you do it right away. After that, let out the two patients in the cells beside him. That's allll ya need to do. When you're done that, just do whatever Shark tell ya. You guys are great friends, right?" The clown nodded along with the bald man, hoping he was able to at least retain the first two steps. As long as he got White out, things would take care of themselves.
"Understood, sir. I'll do what you said I should. The mark is Shark, my good buddy ol' pal. He's my friend. For him, my hand I'll lend." Rubbing the card between his hands, there was a look of excitement on his face. Anyone who paid attention to the comings and going of the asylum would know that Warren White, "The Great White Shark" was practically the lump's boss among the inmates and would do whatever he told him to do.
Just another reason Jerry tried to dig his claws into him, especially after the head of Arkham lost his 401k to White's fraudulent activities as a businessman that landed him in the asylum in the first place. Instead of going to Blackgate and serving time, the billionaire had paid off anyone he could to prove him "insane" and have him sent to a mental health, thinking it would bring him more luxuries and less time...that he would be out quickly.
The judge was furious, knowing it was all a shame and had him committed indefinitely at Arkham. Within a new months, a perfectly sane business tycoon was reduced to the level of madness that effected the other prisoners. After being tortured and tormented endlessly, Warren White became "The Great White Shark", a shadow of his former self with several facial deformities.
'Seem to go around a lot, like the flu.'
"Great. You're such a wonderful patient, Mr. Dumpler. I bet Shark can't wait to see you. Don't make him wait! I'll be leaving now. Don't forget our deal if ya want more toys."
"Yes, Mr. Harold sir."
WIth a grin, he patted Humpty on the shoulder before turning away. Stepping over the parts on the floor instead of on this time since the big guy was up, there was no need to make him freak out and forget his instructions if he saw some of the pieces get crushed. Not being able to put everything back together would make the lump break down and that would just not do...for now.
Leaving the cell and walking briskly down the hall, there was still a few more things that needed to be done before he could relax and watch the shit-show unfold. Glancing back, a malicious grin curled his lips seeing the bumbling figure stepping out from behind the glass with the keycard in hand and heading over to the next cell.
Yes, this was fine for now. The best part of it all was that Harold's name was all tied up in it. Even after death, that scum wouldn't get a reprieve. He deserved it for all the shit he's done and taking advantage of his position.
Beating and trying to humiliate him, throwing his food out, allowing the inmates to be abused for shits and giggles, using the witch needing a shower as a way to get his rocks off, and just being an asshole over all. Joker never really needed a reason to get rid of someone, but having one made it all the more enjoyable...
Now to head back to D-Block...
"Hey, check out this new app. You can literally flip through chick's pics just by swiping one way or the other." Waving the cell phone in the air to show the man sitting at the desk, Doug narrowed his eyes not getting a response.
"You're a dick, Jay. All you do is doodle on the time sheets. You're gonna get yelled at by Cash again..."
"Like I care... All that guy does is bitch. He's getting old. Don't know how someone can be a guard with a hook for a hand. Can't even grab an inmate properly." Dragging teeth over his bottom lip, the blonde added a finishing touch to his new piece. A crude drawing of the head of security running from an exaggerated image of Croc who had an arm between his jaws.
"Hahah! Whatcha think?" Holding up the paper to the brunette standing there with his phone, he chuckled seeing the horrified look on his face.
"Are you crazy?! You better throw that out! If Cash sees that, he might really kill you..." Clicking out of the apps, Doug quickly slid his phone in his pocket, taking a seat next to the other guard. "No wonder you're always on his bad side.. Especially with shit like this."
"Tch. It's harmless. Just a drawing, it's not like I'm the one who did it. It's just a little fun, right? Not like there's much else to do at night. Everyone's knocked out and we only have rounds every so often. This is why I hate night shift..." Nodding to himself, he bit the tip of his pen, looking up toward the clock. There was still 15 minutes until the next round. It felt pointless since nothing much really goes on in this block. Not like in D or J... At least up there it would be a little more exciting.
"Yeah, yeah... All just a big joke, right? Doubt Cash would see it that way.." Doug sighed, kicking his boots up on top of the desk, leaning back in the chair.
"We like jokes, Doug. How about you tell us one?"
Both men froze hearing the deep voice behind them, followed by a chuckle. They knew that voice...Heard it every day it work. Shark...
Spinning around in his chair, the brunette's eyes widened as a large arm wrapped around his coworker's neck, yanking him up in to the air.
"S-Shit! How...What are you doing out of your cells?!" Before Doug could even grab the taser on his side, a large fist knocked him out of his chair and onto the floor.
'Dammit!'
Shark...Humpty Dumpty...Tally Man. How could they have gotten out?
A hand grabbed the back of the his head, yanking it up roughly to make the brunette look at the wide grin of the man hovering above him.
"We're here to repay our debts...and to collect some as well..."
It was quiet...too quiet.
'It doesn't seem right...'
Jeremiah rolled over on his bed, finding it difficult to fall asleep. That wasn't different from any other night. Usually the reason he couldn't sleep was the constant calls from the staff, alerting him to another problem going on in the asylum.
Day after day, night after night... It was taxing on the mind and body to take on the task of rehabilitating the sick and deranged. Some would never leave, that's what people always said. That there were patients that had no hope of being cured.
They were wrong.
With the right amount of medication and therapy, anyone could be helped. It was up to the doctor to show enough resolve to undertake such a challenge. That was the problem with the system, no one had the passion they should have to right the wrongs in this world. They just didn't have what it takes to really make a difference.
But he did.
It might be touch and go, but there were ways of reaching the patients that needed to be explored. Sometimes...you need to get rid of the bad parts for the good ones to shine through.
"Ugh..." Flipping the pillow over to lay his head down against the cool side, the doctor just couldn't find a comfortable enough position to allow him to drift off. The fact that his phone hadn't rung once in the last few hours was setting his nerves on edge.
'Perhaps... I'm just being paranoid. Things have been going well as of late, according to the guards. Maybe I just need to have a little more faith. If something had happened, they would cal right away..'
Running a hand over his face, Jeremiah rolled over onto his back, opting to stare at the ceiling instead. It didn't seem like sleep was coming anytime soon. The one night when no one bothered him and he couldn't even get a wink of sleep. How ironic...
"Sir, Croc drug the new guy into his cell with him. We can't get his jaws apart!"
"I swear The Riddler was right there, doing his work detail...I turned away for one second and now he's gone!"
"Doodlebug stole the condiments from the cafeteria again, sir... His entire cell is covered in mustard and ketchup. We tried cleaning it up, but there's something staining the walls that he mixed in. This is why we should just do meals like in D and J-Block. These animals can't control themselves."
"Oh my God! The Joker got into the cleaning supplies cabinet! He's going to kill us all!"
Everyday it was the same thing, but always different. Another issue, another problem. If things were going to change, maybe he needed to take a different stance on how the asylum should be run. Bring new people in, change things up.
Groaning, the older man sat up in bed, reaching out to grab his glasses from the nightstand. No, this didn't feel right... Something was off, he just knew it.
Turning the lamp on, the doctor grabbed his phone. Taking a deep breath, he glanced over at the clock, debating if he was just overreacting or not. Did he think the asylum would fall to pieces when he wasn't there? Perhaps.
Shaking his head, the tired head of Arkham looked down as he dialed the number, no longer hesitating. If everything was fine, he could lay down and try to get some rest with a clear mind. That way there wouldn't be anything to worry about if he had jumped the gun. It was better to just be a little paranoid than to have everything fall apart now of all times.
Putting the phone to his ear, it rang and rang as his fingers gripped it tightly. There should have been someone right there to answer it. Hanging up, he tried again. If one of the staff had left the station unattended to go to the bathroom or some other trivial matter, everyone would hear it.
Pursing his lips together tightly, he pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose as it started to slide down. No, he couldn't panic now. Times like these were when calm and collectiveness were essential. If something had happened, he needed to keep himself together to handle the situation properly.
Taking another deep breath, he tried dialing the number again.
Nothing.
Standing up quickly, the doctor slipped his feet into the shoes beside the bed that were lying neatly on the floor. If no one was going to answer, he would just have to go to there himself and see what was going on.
First things first, he needed to call Cash.
"What did I do?...Is this place starting to get to me?"
Sakura kicked around under the sheet the clown had tossed over her before he left, feeling more confused than she had in years.
'What the hell possessed me to kiss him?' It hadn't been planned...at least on her end.
There was no doubt in her mind that the Joker was going to seek her out, that was a fact. Obviously it wouldn't have been the first night, that just wasn't going to happen. That would have been far too reckless, even for him, especially not knowing what state of mind she was in. Giving her time to cool off was his best bet from his stand point.
'Well... In this world, they do say that you're suppose to wait two days to call back, otherwise you look desperate...'
The pinkette had predicted that he would come within the first couple of nights. It was only a matter of time after the guards had removed her from D-Block, leaving him with nothing but his thoughts. Someone who enjoys others suffering and seeing the results of their plans wouldn't be able to sit still, not knowing what kind of effect his actions had caused to the "victim".
It wasn't just that and she knew it. The clown had actually missed her...even if he was reluctant to admit it. He enjoyed the company of someone he could talk to on a level playing field, another soul who could understand his incessant ramblings and ideals. There wasn't any need for him to put on that stupid mask he wore with the others, like Harleen. There was no manipulating the pinkette, so they could just speak more straightforward for the most part...aside from the snide comments and games they played. Even with the theatrics, there was still an understanding and somewhat mutual respect for each other's craft and ability.
With Harleen, the clown was just leading her along, always having the upper hand while the blonde followed behind him. Even if she hadn't realized it yet. Sakura had seen it on the few occasions when the doctor came to check-up on her favorite patient, while paying her no mind...despite the fact that she's also her patient. No matter what the foolish woman did, she would never really gain the Joker's respect because he was just seeing her as another toy that he would break after she was of no further use.
Part of the pinkette would have felt sorry for Harleen...maybe a few years ago. Those kinds of emotions just seemed useless anymore, especially when the person didn't seem to care that they were digging their own hole. There was no way she couldn't see the tricks and games the clown was playing... Just watching it was enough to make anyone barf.
'And that's why he came to me...'
Unlike the blonde, Sakura wasn't a fool. Wouldn't fall for some cheesy lines or lame nicknames. Joker understood well now that she wasn't someone to trifle with, couldn't be manipulated or bullied into doing anything she didn't want. She was able to counter and surprise him at every turn, do things he didn't expect. That's what made this interesting.
'I do things that surprise even myself...'
The Clown Prince seems to believe in himself so thoroughly that he was capable of having some pull over her. That he could control her for his own whims and dig his claws in deep. All because it was easier to convince himself that he wanted to manipulate and use her for some master scheme instead of just wanting company. It was almost funny how stubborn a man could be...
Joker kissed her back...not that it was shocking. Sakura knew he would as soon as she did it. Well, as soon as he got over himself. This wasn't something that happened...like ever. Not even with Sasuke.
Touching other people aside from hitting or healing them just hadn't been anything that felt comfortable for years now. Of course in the asylum it was inevitable to be touched by either the guards or nurses, that just came with the territory. It seemed the only willing contact that had happened in the last three years had to be the damn clown.
'Of course...' Furrowing her brows as she stared up at the dark ceiling, Sakura knew she was playing a dangerous game. Then again, it was entertaining... At the very least, it would just be best to see how things played out.
It was a shame Harold had been killed, he was quite useful. He was one of the few guards that would give her the privacy she needed in the shower room, without being threatened. Not only that, but he would bring her things to keep her busy, like books and newspapers. Going without those things weren't a big deal in the least, but now she would have to find other things to preoccupy the endless amount of time that seemed ahead of her.
'Back to square one on that note...'
There was no doubt in her mind that Joker would kill him, especially after all the things he'd done. If it had been her on the receiving end, the guard would have been beaten to death a long time ago. It just seemed a little surprising that it happened earlier on than expected, the clown just wasn't patient at times.
"What?" Turning her head to the side, she sucked in her bottom lip, looking from one direction to the other.
Something was feeling...off. The usual murderous intent that she usually felt seemed different. More...rampant. Chaotic...
'What's going on out there?'
It was spreading and increasing at a fast rate, like a fog spreading throughout the air. The pinkette's senses were keen when it came to that, knowing it could be the difference between life and death in a place like this.
Was it too much of a coincidence that Joker had come seen her and in less than a half of an hour, the place is crawling with bloodlust more than usual? No way...he had to have done something, but it wasn't coming from him. She knew the clown's deadly aura from anywhere, especially after having felt it consistently for the last few weeks. It was coming from other inmates, maybe even some of the guards as well.
'There's no way he had nothing to do with this, especially since he has multiple key cards now... What did he do, hand them out?'
A scream from down the hallway drew her green eyes towards the door. Whatever was going on had trailed all the way to J-Block... People were dying, she could feel it as different auras spiked and then disappeared.
Focusing hard as she closed her eyes, Sakura could feel what was going on outside. Two of the guards at the station around the corner had been killed and quickly. Whoever was out there was fast, stopping at a different cell on its path down the hall.
'Someone else was let out... Who is it? Ahh.. I know.'
A bang from right in front of her cell made the pinkette open her eyes. The person that had just been released was outside of her door...
'They want to play, huh?'
Sakura's arms were restrained with a straight jacket and the gloves disrupting her chakra were still on...not to mention she was tired. None of that still mattered. If someone wanted to come and interrupt her private time musing about the night, then whatever happened to them was their own damn fault.
Hearing the beep from the control pad outside, she sat up with a groan. Tonight, she really didn't feel like dealing with this shit and just wanted to enjoy the little victory from earlier. Like always, someone just has to come and ruin everything.
'I'm gonna kill that clown next time I get my hands on him.'
