Joker wasn't sure why he hadn't tried to pull his knife on Batman. Perhaps he'd been too preoccupied with thoughts of his long lost lover. And then the damn dark knight had waved information in front of him that had his blood boiling.
He'd play nice, for Ma'at's sake. He'd rather not accidentally wipe out anymore Alpha's and Omega's from existence. Beta's however, to him, were expendable. Their crimes just kept piling up. He saw no end to them and frowned at his feet as the Batmobile made its way to the Bat-cave.
His fingers twitched near the pocket he kept his trusty switchblade in.
Blinked as the car came to a sudden stop. Glanced up through the windshield. "A bit dark, don't you think?"
"The lights are off." He heard a click and a second louder one. The doors to the Batmobile opened as light lit up the dark.
He whistled, "What a big cave." He glanced up and chuckled, "There's even real bats!"
Batman shook his head as he undid his belt and got out of the car.
Unbuckling himself he hopped out and followed after him. Careful where he stepped as it looked like there were parts of the cave that dipped down into a deep cavern. Falling would certainly break several bones.
When Batman walked up to a large computer screen, he turned around, frowning, "Remember what I said. Do not leave the cave."
Lifting his arms up he asked, "Why would I?"
He noticed Batman's head turn just a little before turning toward the screen.
Shifting on his feet he turned and grinned at the dark corner with the dimmest lighting. Noticed that there appeared to be a couple of steps.
Not wanting him to notice he wiped the grin from his face – as much as he could realistically do so, and turned to gaze at the screen. "Compensating for something?"
The question was met with silence before he answered, "No."
Batman sat down and started typing on the keyboard.
Leaning against the wall of the cave he asked, "What are you looking for, Batman?"
"Information on the next vaccinations that are due to hold the long acting suppressing agent. If I can get a sample of it, I may know someone able to extract the ingredients and compare it to what ingredients the vaccine is supposed to have in it. Anything extra..." he trailed off.
"Is the recipe for the suppressant itself," he growled, hands curling till his blunt nails dug into his palms.
"There's got to be a counter agent for it."
"You mean an antidote?"
"Yes. No one should have to hide what they are. Not unless they want to."
The click-clack of the keyboard ceased.
"Find something?"
Batman turned around in his chair. "I believe so." He pressed one button and papers started printing out. "You stay here," he got up and walked back to the Batmobile.
"Why don't I go with you?"
"You draw too much attention, Joker." He closed the car door and sped off.
"Not like you don't, Batsy," he grumbled. Blinked and turned toward one dimly lit corner with a widening grin. "While the bats away the joker will play," he cackled and ran for the steps.
Hurried up the winding path to the dim light ahead. The flicker of a torchlight inside glass on one side at the end.
Lifted his hands to search for whatever might open the way for him. There had to be a secret passage opening.
His hand pressed into something. He stepped back. A door opened and he stepped out into a large room with couches, chairs, other typical furniture and turned to take stock of where to return. Blinked when he closed it. The door to the Bat-cave was an old grandfather clock. Easy to remember!
Turning around he glanced around again. There above the mantle was a large portrait. He tilted his head, whispered to himself as it dawned on him, "Wayne Manor. That means Bruce Wayne is..." he smirked, stifled his laughter in case that butler heard. He was pretty sure Wayne had a butler.
Walking around the room, he looked at items. There weren't many. Everything was in its proper place. There was definitely a butler because Bruce Wayne and Batman together wouldn't have time to do their own housekeeping.
Standing in front of the shelves of books, he read the titles. Yawned. Reached up and plucked one that appeared to be a high school yearbook. Opened its pages and looked for familiar faces.
There were a couple in there he recognized. Some might even have been in Arkham.
Flipping the pages, his entire body stiffened, his mouth parting on a gasp. One hand moved, finger shaking to brush against a single photo. The name Bruce Wayne beneath it, taken during his senior year. "Ma'at..." he whispered.
Bruce Wayne looked just like him in the photo. Not now, but then Ma'at hadn't lived long enough or trained his body like the billionaire had to have all those rippling muscles.
There were no pictures of the long-gone prince and very little information about the history of his kingdom.
Ripping the picture from the album he placed the book back and the photo in his pocket.
If only he was Prince Ma'at Yarğanat Batlar. That would mean Batman belonged to him. He tossed his head back and laughed.
"Who's there!?" Called out an extinguished voice. Had to be the Butler.
Turning on the television he moved to the clock. Tried to get it to open. Turned the hands of the clock until it did and hurried back down the steps as the man upstairs grumbled about televisions being left on when they shouldn't be.
Just as he sat down in the computer chair the Batmobile returned.
He stood up when he saw Batman get out of the car carrying something. "What is that?"
"Samples."
"I didn't take you for a thief."
He could feel the cold glare.
"I'm not. I asked a friend."
"Catwoman?" His brows furrowed. "I thought you and she split."
"We did. She's seeing someone. But after she learned the reason behind it, and because we're still friends, she helped me." He told him as he walked over to the computer and set the samples down.
Feeling a yawn coming on, he covered his mouth. "I think we should both get some sleep, don't you?"
"I can't. Not until I..."
"Sleep. Everyone does their best work after they've had a good rest. Even if its a bat nap."
From the stairs footsteps echoed.
"Sir, I've brought dinner. Your favorite soup and cookies." His gaze flicked to Joker, "enough to split with your...," he paused, and proceeded to clear his throat, "guest."
"Thank you, Alfred."
"Will, that be all?"
"Yes. You should retire for the night."
"As should you, but I've got something to analyze."
"Of course, sir." He bowed and turned back to the stairs.
Once the footsteps had stopped echoing, he turned to glance at Batman. "Let's eat then. I don't know what kind of soup you've got, but even I need to eat."
Batman grunted and offered him the soup while keeping the cookies.
"Not having any?"
"There's only one bowl. And I'm not sharing the cookies."
"Had no idea you had a sweet tooth," he took a spoonful of the soup as Batman bit into one of the sweets.
Halfway through they were both trying to keep from falling asleep.
Batman grumbled, "Alfred..."
"If only I hadn't asked you to share," his eyes drifted closed and sent his consciousness reeling back to that long-ago time when Ma'at had still drawn breath.
Batman tried to keep his eyes open. Didn't want The Joker to be given the opportunity to remove his mask, or to think he could do whatever he wanted in the cave, with the computer, or go looking upstairs.
It was a losing battle and he was getting tired of Alfred using food he loved to slip sleeping powder into so that he'd actually sleep. Even if sometimes he needed it and Alfred knew him better than anyone having raised him after the tragedy.
Eyes closed, he floated. Adrift as if on an endless sea, until he once again found himself looking through the eyes of Prince Ma'at Yarğanat Batlar.
He really wished it wouldn't happen again, but it was. Which meant, perhaps, that this was history. His history. And that reincarnation truly did exist. In some form or another.
With an inward sigh, he resigned himself to watching what happened, even if it was all so very strange to him. Especially having witnessed Ma'at give himself to Isfet Khaba Joktar and though he hadn't felt anything physical himself, he had felt the long gone prince's emotions. Not something he was looking forward to repeating.
A/N: Thank you for reading. I'd love to hear what others think of this story thus far and what they hope to see from it in future.
