A/N: Y'all, this story is getting out of hand lol We are at chapter 29 right now and still nowhere near the end... oh well... I will keep writing until I get it all out...however long it takes...
~One of these days the ground will drop out from beneath your feet
One of these days your heart will stop and play its final beat
One of these days the clocks will stop and time won't mean a thing
One of these days their bombs will drop and silence everything~
~Foo Fighters~
It was June 2nd, and Joker was ready to start the city's revolution. The day would busy and he was wide awake. His people were ready and it would all happen around 3:30. Just before the midday traffic would start up. He looked at his watch, he had a few hours to kill.
He had gotten a solid four and a half hours of sleep after getting a text from his contact at the GCPD. They had finally arrested Bruce. Even with the crying baby, he fell well rested. He had decided to move the bassinet into their room. Peach was exhausted from getting up to go to the nursery every few hours.
She and the kid slept better in the same room. At some point in the night, Peach had just moved the baby into the bed, laying it between them. He was lying on the bed looking at the two sleeping bodies. Peach was looking a bit frazzled, and it had only been one full day. Maybe he would get her a nanny.
He was getting ahead of himself. Today was the day to worry about Gotham. He had work to do today. He got out of the bed and moved into the large bathroom. He took a quick shower and was drying himself off. The burner phone had been silent, that was good. No messages meant no issues. Things were going as planned.
He was standing in the bathroom, in his infamous purple pants, the suspenders he wore down at the sides. He would put his shirt and jackets on last, after he painted his face. He was rummaging through the drawer to get his war paint ready. The shrill cry of the baby made its way through the closed door.
He turned to listen to see if his wife was getting up. The crying continued. He frowned and moved back into the bedroom. Peach was on her side, facing the red faced, screaming baby. She hadn't moved, the sound of her snores drowned out by the crying.
Joker moved to the bed and lifted the baby. The crying softened, replaced by whimpers. He walked to the nursery, moving straight to the changing table. Luckily it was just wet. He changed the diaper and re-wrapped the squirming bundle.
He went back to the bedroom and stood there at the side of the bed. It was time for the baby to eat, but Peach really needed to sleep. He slid softly onto the bed and laid the bundled baby by his wife. He reached for the camisole she always slept in and gently pulled the top down. Once freed, he moved the baby up to Peach's breast and watched as it latched on like a pro. He grabbed his pillow and laid it behind the baby to help her stay in the right position to eat.
Parenting was easy so far. It was like having a pet. He moved back into the bathroom and applied his face for the day. He was proud of himself. He had easily solved the baby and Peach's problem. Once his face was painted just right, He wiped his hands as clean as they could get before going back into the bedroom. The baby was still eating and Peach was still asleep. Perfect.
He left the room to go into his office. Peach hadn't messed with anything in here. He was surprised, she tended to do whatever she wanted, regardless of his wants. But the room was untouched. He sat at the desk and pulled out his cell phone and called Ace.
"Morning Boss."
"Everything good at the Funhouse?"
"Going as planned."
"Good, we start prepping at noon, big show starting around 3:30."
"Noon, 3:30. Got it."
"I'm keeping Red here with Peach and the baby. I will be there in a few hours."
Joker hung up without waiting for a reply. He put the phone in his pocket and looked back at his watch. It was almost 9:30, Oh how time was flying by.
He peeked back into the room before going downstairs. The baby had let go of its hold on her boob, now Peach was laying there half out of her shirt. Joker smiled and left the doorway to go downstairs. With Bruce locked up and the city getting what it deserved, he was in a great mood.
He decided to make Peach breakfast before he left. He had plenty of time. Joker scrambled eggs and found microwave sausages. He made her some toast with the gross apricot jelly she liked so much. He wasn't sure what she would want to drink. He poured a glass of milk and a glass of orange juice. He'd drink whichever she didn't want.
He put it all on the tray she used often and walked back upstairs. He set the tray on the dresser and gently moved the baby back into the bassinet, then reached to pull his wife's top back over her boob. They were definitely a distraction he didn't need.
"Wake up, I made breakfast."
She groaned, but didn't even crack open an eye. That wouldn't do. He moved over her, leaning down to thoroughly kiss his wife. His mouth on hers was harsh at first, then she started to wake up and kiss him back. He allowed himself to enjoy it for a bit longer. He finally pulled away, enjoying the paint smeared along her mouth.
Her eyes were open and on him now. "I said, I made you breakfast." He repeated.
She smiled, then her face looked panicked. "The baby?"
"Has been changed and, uh, partially fed. He pointed at her left breast, while his eyes were locked on the right one. It had leaked causing the damn camisole to look almost completely see through. He found the sight strangely erotic. He looked away quickly. She had told him earlier six weeks.
He moved away from her to get the tray. When he turned back she had pulled herself to sit up. He set the tray across her lap.
"You used me to feed the baby?" her voice laced with confusion.
"Well, I couldn't do it."
She frowned and he laughed.
"You didn't wake up when it was screaming, I changed its diaper and then decided you needed the sleep. The food was there." He pointed back at her boob. "You can feed it the other one after you eat." He said.
"She is sleeping."
"Mhm and you should be eating."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't want juice." She was practically pouting.
Joker smiled, picked up the glass of OJ and drank it in one big drink. He leaned forward "I'm about to leave for a while, Red is staying here in case you need anything. The fun starts this afternoon."
"Okay, be careful."
He kissed her quickly and turned to leave. He stopped at the bassinet and reached down touching the soft curls on the baby's sleeping head, then left.
He went out to the guest house to talk to Red for a minute. He was pleasantly surprised to see him just outside of the door. When he got closer, he could see Red was smoking, and watching the dogs jump into the pool. Joker walked up to him. He smiled, when Red offered him a cigarette without Joker having to ask. Joker took it and Red moved to light it.
Joker took a long drag off of it, enjoying the burn. He looked over at Red.
"You will hang out here with Peach and the baby today."
He nodded. "No problem. It's quiet out here."
"Yea, whatever she needs, help her."
"You got it boss."
"Good, I am heading to the funhouse, Call if there is a problem you can't fix."
Red nodded. Joker turned back to the house, snuffing the cigarette out against the brick, putting the butt in his pocket. He moved into the garage and headed to work. The city wouldn't know what hit them.
"Bruce this is what is best for you right now."
Bruce looked at his lawyer in disbelief, she could not be serious. The entire thing was ridiculous.
"How, exactly, is this the best?" he asked trying to hold back the anger he felt bubbling inside.
"You can get the help you need. If you can complete the treatment program. You won't have to serve actual jail time."
He laughed, the sound was bitter, even to his own ears.
"I'm not crazy." He said for what felt like the 100th time.
"Bruce, they are certain you are either Batman, or you at least think you are."
He hung his head low. He had to clear his head for a minute. The police had found the cave. That was a problem, though he knew they wouldn't be able to get into his system. Unfortunately, he knew enough incriminating evidence to get him sent to trial. If they could 'prove' he was Batman, they could charge him with Harvey's death.
He took a deep breath, then looked back up at his lawyer. She was staring at him, eyes wide, waiting for his answer. He did not want to take the bargain, but what choice did he really have?
He nodded his head, "Fine, I will take the deal."
She let out a rush of air, "Good, I will get the paperwork drawn up. You will have to give a statement, and issue an apology to Mr. and Mrs. Napier."
He winced at that. He knew Joker had somehow done this. He just had to prove it. He couldn't do that from prison. He would do the treatment and hopefully live to fight another day.
"Once that is done, they will transfer you to Arkham Asylum. The rehabilitation program there has proven to be highly successful. If you work with them, you will get better.
"Fine, just get it done, I will sign whatever you want." He said.
He watched as she pulled all of her papers together and stood to leave. Within seconds of her leaving, the guards were moving him back to his little cell. He sat there on the small cot, staring at the wall. He wondered how far Joker's reach was.
Joker was sure he had people in the police force. How else would they have let this go so far? He wasn't sure what he could do about any of this. He wasn't sure where he had gone wrong. He still had no doubt that Lyra was Joker's wife. Bruce was certain that Joker had used his real name when he came to visit him.
Now he was supposed to apologize to Joker and his wife. He wanted to bang his head against the wall, but he was sure that would just reinforce the thought that he was crazy. What caused him to get here? Joker had taunted him, since he came back to Gotham. The man had pushed him to desperation.
The New Year's Eve fiasco had broken him. Bruce was broken, he knew that now. He could see that, but he still didn't know how Joker got the upper hand.
What seemed to hurt the worst was now he was being committed. He knew he had acted rashly. He could have handled the situation with Lyra better, but he was trying to save the girl and the city from a lunatic.
He was brought lunch, a bologna sandwich, an orange and a carton of 1% milk. He laughed, this was absurd.
His lawyer brought the papers in and he signed them through the door without even reading them. It didn't matter, nothing did right now. He sat back and ate his sandwich. Waiting for the transfer to his future.
By 2:00 pm he was in cuffs and walking into the off white walls of Arkham. The nurses and orderlies looking at him with sad eyes when they thought he wasn't looking. He changed into the Arkham issued scrubs and given a short physical check up by the doctor on duty.
It was amazing to him how quickly a citizen could be folded away into the system here and forgotten so easily. He was sitting in the 6' X 9' cell, in a mental institute, and not one person gave a shit that he was trying to save the entire city.
A small woman spoke to him before she left. "You will be meeting with your doctor tomorrow. Until you have been assessed you will have to stay in your room. "
He didn't respond. She closed the door and he heard the lock engage. He looked around, this 'room' was nicer than his cell at the GCPD. He laid down on the bed, on top of the scratchy blanket and stared at the ceiling.
He was sure if he just kept his head down and attended his sessions, he would be at home in no time. Then he would take down the Joker and Lyra for good.