Prologue: He Who Laughs Last

"So, what's the over/under on this fuck getting out Arkham in less than a week, huh Castle?" Asked a navy-blue clad officer, as he thumbed in the direction of the freshly apprehended villain.

Frank Castle merely made a noncommittal noise at his fellow officer as he eyeballed the suspect.

The Joker.

The pale-skinned, green-haired, certifiably insane, self-proclaimed Crowned Prince of Crime sits on a nearby curb, hands cuffed behind his back. He's only dressed in his ridiculous purple dress pants. As precaution he's been stripped of his shoes and shirt, and his face and body are marred with scars, old and fresh ones (presumably from this most recent scuffle with the caped crusader). He's fidgeting every few seconds ago, futilely trying to find some weakness in the cuffs. "I'll take that action!" The villain exclaims loudly. "What's the buy in on that action if you don't mind my asking, officer?"

"Oh, I don't know," says the officer, mockingly, "I'd say about a million."

"A million you say. Well, the Bat and you fine officers of Gotham's finest have right cleaned me out for the time being. You lot have even took my socks, leaving my poor dogs to pound the pavement like some animal! I haven't a thing buy in with."

It's better than what you deserve, thinks Frank.

"Say… What you say we abandon that little wager. Would you happen to have a key to these cuffs, officer? They're pretty tight, and I'd consider it an even trade for the million." says The Joker, his voice taking on an acidic tone. "And be sure to tell me where you live, so I can deliver your winnings."

"Oh, I don't know Mr. J?" Responds the officer, he walks right in front of the villain and takes a knee in front of him. He fishes the keys to the cuffs out his pocket, holding them in front the Joker, dangling them mockingly. "These keys for million bucks, huh?"

"It's up to you officer, opportunity of a lifetime."

The officer tosses the keys in the air and snatches them out of mid-air before they can land in his hand.

"Nah! How stupid do you think I am shitbird!?"

"Considering you just gave away a million dollars, it's you." He lunges forward, Joker's forehead landing square on the antagonistic officer's nose.

"Sun of a bitch!"

The officer falls back at the impact.

"There's only one who can call me Mr. J," said The Joker, grinning.

"That piece of shit! He broke my nose!" Screamed the officer, holding his nose, as it leaks crimson.

The commotion has brought the attention of the other officers and emergency workers on the scene.

Frank helps him back-up, handing him off to a nearby paramedic.

"Take care of him," he practically growled at an EMT.

Though ultimately inconsequential, it's another bit of pain that this…

The officer laughs bitterly.

He nearly thought of this thing, this creature as human.

"Is something funny?" Asks the apprehended villain.

"The fact that you're still walking around."

He cracks another smile, "Oh, stealing my thing, are you?" Says Joker before he lets out a loud laugh.

The gruff, unshaven face of Frank Castle remains impassive. His steel-blue eyes trained to the ne'er-do-well before him.

He fortifies his resolve for what he's about to do, what he's planned to do.

He steels himself, preparing for what could possibly happen.

An arrest.

Criminal prosecution.

Shot to death by his fellow officers.

He sighs deeply.

"A few years back, you attacked the Gotham Civic Center during an auto show. I was supposed to meet my wife, my son and my daughter. But I was answering a 10-33; an older gentleman was choking on his meal in a dinner, and not one patron or staff member knew CPR. I was the closest first responder, made it to that scene and managed to save that man's life. I stayed with him until the ambulance arrived. It wasn't until the EMTs took care of that gentleman, that all hell broke loose. There was so much chatter on my radio I can barely tell what was going on. But one phrase rang through, 'chemical attack on civic center, possibly Joker Venom.'"

"What? Now you're going to tell me your family were victims in the whole thing?" Said the Joker sarcastically. "One of the vendors for that show sold me a few lemons. What good is a get-away-vehicle that doesn't get away?" His face then takes on a dark veneer, smile widening seemingly unnaturally. "I did to him what I do to anyone who rips me off, I brought the joy of laughter into his life. Hell, I even decided the whole show needed the joy of laughter in their lives. Every man and woman, girl and boy!"

"So that's it, huh? You caught yourself on the b side of business deal. That's why my family had to die!?"

"Count yourself among the lucky, officer. People have died around me for much smaller offenses."

Officer Castle reaches for his gun.

Frank un-claps the release-snap on his service weapon's holster.

"Just what do you think you're doing? Do you not realize there's rules to this game?"

Frank pulls the weapon, a standard issued Glock 19. He cocks it, pulling the cocking handle back, chambering a round.

He aims it at The Joker.

"Offic-"

BANG

The Joker falls over, a round in the side of his chest. The wound bleeds considerably. He's coughing, groaning and moaning, struggling to breath.

"Shots fired! Shots fired!"

"Locate the shooter!"

"Fuck its Castle! He's shooting The Joker!"

Those and other assorted cries of police officers and other emergency personnel can be heard.

"Someone, stop him!" Yells Commissioner Gordon.

BANG

Another round to the chest.

BANG

The throat.

BANG

The side of the head.

Frank Castle is tackled to the ground by a few of his fellow officers before he can empty his entire clip into The Joker.

There's a tussle in a pile of navy blue as the officers try to place him into submission.

His weapon is knocked away from him in the ensuing melee.

He doesn't fight any of them, and his compatriots quickly realize it. As a result, the dogpile disperses, no one involved worse for wear.

One of the officers that tackled him cuffs him and Miranda's him, as it'll definitely be a charge here today.

Batman and the commissioner make their way over to Frank.

"Jesus, Frank! What the fuck did you do! The shits gonna roll because of this. Goddamnit! What the fuck are you thinking!?" Yells Gordon, as the bat stared on impassively. "Was it revenge? Come on Frank talk to me!"

Frank stares at the bleeding, perforated corpse of The Joker, a permanent pained look on the villain's face, "Not revenge, Jimmy. No, it's simpler than that. It's punishment."

A/N: This story mostly will contains characters and elements form the DC animated universe (The Bruce Tim shows) and the Teen Titans animated series.