Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and am making no money on this story.

Joker emerged from the shadows of his men. Batman could smell a strong scent of cologne on the Joker, which seemed oddly familiar to him. Joker kept peering at Batman through half closed eyes. He was sizing the vigilante up and down pulling his cape apart and tapping his foot, biting his lip, and exclaiming, "I think if we just take this in a bit here and tuck it in there, then it will be a perfect fit." The alley was silent.

"Kidding!" shouts the Joker bursting into an evil laugh.

"I was just thinking …I was a tailor get it?" He started slapping his knee and chuckling.

"I swear I just kill myself sometimes…or in my case…others…" Batman said nothing.

"What do you want?" Batman rasped. Joker came up to Batman and began to dust the creases on Batman's suit.

"Nothing right now, my dear friend. I just want to scare you a bit. You know you can't kill off your competition. " He smiled.

Sirens could be heard in the distance.

"Hey J. P. let's go."

Joker looked over at the lackey and grinned back to Batman.

"Sorry to cut this short. Enjoy the game," he left with a grin.

Batman looked up as the men vanished. He hated himself and his weakness. Weakness was what took his parents away from him. Weakness for another was what made him give up Batman in the first place. Weakness was also what made him lose Barbara as well. He closed his eyes while entering the tumbler. He couldn't think about her now. It was too much anguish for one man to deal with.

When Alfred found Bruce, he was staring deeply into the computer console. He was without his mask for the first time in a long time in the cave. Alfred got closer. Since they were still not on speaking terms, he wasn't sure what he should say, if anything, but found himself compelled to try and start a conversation with his young charge.

"I say, sir, who is that?"

Bruce kept his hazel eyes steady on the screen rubbing his hand over the stubble on his chin.

"I believe it is Joker."

Alfred turned to look at the screen. This man looked so average. He was about 6"4 a bit taller than Bruce, but dressed in a beautiful suit that probably cost a good fraction of Alfred's salary. Alfred kept his gaze steady on the screen waiting for Bruce to finish.

"I saw him tonight. The things he said and the way he was acting…I knew that there was more to him than what I was seeing. I should have done this sooner," Bruce gestured toward the computer.

"Well, that was usually Madame Barbara's field, sir."

At the mention of her name, Bruce stiffened. Alfred realized that he shouldn't have said that.

Eyes cast downward; Bruce went on, "Anyway, I found out his name. : Jared Prentz., the Prentz of Gotham'"

"Hmm…why does that name sound so familiar," Alfred mused.

"It should. He is head of Prentz Manufacturing Company. "

Bruce paused. "He is Bruce Wayne's competition."