Sorry for the lack of updates everyone. I've started a new fulltime job (yay!) but I haven't forgotten about this story. I shall admit this one is definetely a rated R scenario and will be a tip of the hat to Jason Todd...

Well... You can see why when you read it.

I hope you all enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing!

- TFS

He coughed and spat up blood, all the while he was laughing and cursing his name.

That was the sight that the new Dark Knight was facing. It was the laughing, raving lunatic known simply as the Joker. He punched and kicked him, but no matter how many times he struck him he kept up standing back up, laughing in that chilling way of his.

"Oh what's wrong Batsy?" he wheezed in a taunt. "Am I getting to you now? Am I rattling your cage? Ahahahahhaha!"

He bit back a snarl and struck again this time with a hard right cross that broke the Joker's nose with a sickening crunch.

"Don't let him get to you Jon," he heard Bruce's voice in his ear, "We need to know where he took the Chief's daughter."

It was supposed to be a simple rescue operation. Bruce intercepted a call saying the Police Chief's daughter was taken from her school, and a ransom was to be paid. Jon was tasked in finding the goons. It was easy to do, they were sloppy in their tracks. Jon's training with the suit's technology made the job so easy, and beating them to a pulp even easier. Jon wasn't expecting the Joker and from the sudden silence from Bruce he wasn't expecting his arrival either. Jon had enough though and clenched his fists as he stared down at his mentor's foe.

"I'll beat it out of him," he snarled back.

"Jon—"

He turned off his communicator and swung out with his right leg. The Joker surprised him, sliding to his feet and swiping along his midsection. It wasn't until he released his breath did he realize that he was cut by him. Where did he get the knife? He checked him, Jon knew he checked him. This paste faced maniac was rattling him, annoying him now.

"Ah-ah-ah… You think I'll let you check all of my hiding places?"

He tossed the knife between each hand and with a flourish it was gone, tossed up one of his sleeves more then likely. The Joker then kicked as well, high and aiming at his shoulder. He blocked the blow, but felt a biting sensation. He looked over, seeing the glint of steel emerging from the toe of his shoe. He checked there too! Sloppy, he was getting sloppy.

"Made you bleed twice now… three times and you're dead!"

For some reason when the Joker said that he felt an unwanted pit of fear in his stomach, and when the Joker laughed it sounded louder then usual. Jon shook his head, scowling as he brought up his arm again. He saw the Joker lunge in, his block was sloppy and the blow across his chin knocked him to the side. The clown was still laughing at him, even as he felt the boot knife dig into his back with another sharp kick.

"Ah three times bloody… hope you don't mind the extra doses of the good stuff Crane got me? Ahahahahaha!"

Crane? Scarecrow. Damn, the toxin was already in his veins, burning, warping his vision. When he turned to fight the Joker again he saw him surrounded by the faces of the men, women and other children he killed under rule. They were all staring at him with blank expressions, but their eyes burned in a dark orange flame. He saw their faces rotting and the Joker lunged again, sweeping low. Jon had the sense to dodge the first kick but couldn't think of blocking the next. The Joker's knife stabbed into his stomach and he felt the steel twist, sending agony from head to toe.

"I'm making a Bat bleed… ahahahha!"

He slammed his elbow into the Joker's jaw, cutting off the laughter for a moment. He pulled the knife from his stomach. It was covered in blood right to the hilt. A part of him knew he wasn't going to make it. The communication with Bruce was cut off. He swallowed his fear down, along with blood, and charged forward. He was swiping and jabbing out, striking the purple clad man every time. Yet it wasn't enough. Some of his blows were being blocked, or dodged. The toxin was burning away at his mind making him sluggish and sloppy.

"Oh come now, you're just making this too easy!"

He didn't know where the damn crowbar came from, but it struck him hard across the face. There was a fiery pain and then a dull ache. He knew his cheek, lip and chin were split open and who knows what sort of concussion he had now. He was staring up at the mad eyes of Bruce's foe as the crowbar came up and the scarred smile on his lips grew even more.

"Wow… That looked like it hurt. Ha!"

The crowbar swung down, cracking across his knee. He howled in agony, shuddering as he clutched at the no doubt ruined bone.

"Forehand?"

It came back around, this time getting him in the ribs and raking along the armor, mesh and flesh beneath it. He spat up a bit of blood.

"Or backhand?"

The sharp end of the crowbar jabbed down, digging into his thigh and twisted making him scream.

"One?"

The curved end came down now, twisting into his hip and tearing flesh and bone alike. Jon's mind was blanking out. How could Bruce handle this madness? This agony day in and out? He was a soldier, yes, but this sort of torture on both body and mind along with the Scarecrow's toxin… Jon was at his breaking point.

"Or two?"

The crowbar's side struck him in the nose. A sick crunch came with the broken bone. Jon's vision was blurring and his breath came out in short, labored wheezes.

"Oh… wait, that looked like it hurt more."

He tossed the crowbar aside and he crouched down. Jon could barely make out his face, pale and twisted as it was. Jon tried to saw something but it came out in a short wheeze.

"What was that, boy blunder? I think the broken rib would impede the…auditory thing."

He spat a glob of blood on his face and the Joker's face twisted in a scowl. His hand struck out. Jon saw white for a moment.

"Now that was just rude! The first birdie he had at least used manners!"

He pulled out an orange rag and wiped the blood off. No make up came with it. Lord was that was his actual face? A new wave of panic settled in Jon's core as he tried to sit up.

"You think you're the first one to try and step in the big man's shadow? You may be the first to try on the new suit… but you're not the Batman, not the one that dances with me, knows me like I know him!"

The Joker kneeled down again, grasping the crowbar once more.

"Now when he gets here… oh I know he'll come for his little shadow… tell him I say hello. Ahahahahha… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!"

The crowbar swung down again, hooked end going beneath his chin and Jon felt nothing, not even enough pain to cry out.