Shattered Identities

by Kittryn

The Joker finally decides to crash one of Bruces parties and no one knows as well as Batman how to catch the madmans attention. Bruce just never thought he'd use it without the mask to save lives. Unfortunately for him once you've got the Clown's attention you never lose it and the last thing Batman needs is a madman whispering in his ear while a new villain is trying to out him.

12. Chapter 12 - What We Are

*Takes deep Breath * AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! Holy shit I'm not dead?!

I'm not sure I like this chapter, butt fuck it. It's as good as it's going to get without me losing my mind. Oh wait. So it's been awhile. Merry Christmas. Rofl. College is a bitch, especially when you have to write so many fucking essays. Fortunately the hardest thing I have this semester is Japanese. I also haven't had much inspiration. I have to go to youtube and watch the Joker's cut scenes from Arkham Origins to even feel like it. RIP. I left a treat for you guys though. Ready for the real reason this is at least an M? Later it will definitely be more E, but eh for now. In addition. I have about 77 pages of Harry Potter porn with plot written… Because Severus. Yo. Shits hot. I won't be posting it until I'm done though.

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Chapter 12: What We Are

Recap: Bruce and the Joker just escaped the fiery clutches of Harley's explosions. Leaving behind the henchman. Batman decides it's time to pay her a visit and the Joker couldn't agree more.

"Good. Let's go pay your girlfriend a visit." Batman stated, turning his head to look at the flaming destruction behind them.

"Ex." The Joker muttered and Bruce's lips tugged up a little in sympathy. He knew the feeling. Selina was a wild card on her good days.

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Batman turned his attention back to the maniac as the heat from the fire washed over them. The stifling flames eating up the oxygen in their vicinity, making it hard to breathe. The hot air licking their exposed skin. Ashes ascended from the sky, replacing the familiar snow with grey flecks. One landed on the madman's cheek and Batman knew it would leave a dark smear across his ivory skin. Bruce took a deep breath. The madman's heat suddenly piercing even his Kevlar armor, overpowering the more obvious heat source behind them. It seemed as though Bruce's senses were more in tune with the lithe man pressed beneath him than the fire blazing behind.

Bruce gazed down at the man, his hand still curled around the maniac's throat. The maniac's lips parted, letting out a huff of hot air that mingled with his own. His hand shifted from the madman's neck. The back of his gloved fingers smudging the ash across the madman's pale cheek. Just to see the contrast. It was in that second, as the grey smeared across pale skin, a purple bruise already blooming across the man's smooth cheek bone, that the vigilante realized the maniac could be cold... dead... instead of the heated presence beneath him. If that blank had been real... if the fucking madman had been crazy enough... that stupid grin currently beaming up at him would have been gone. Erased from the world with all the twisted cruelty it entailed.

Those green eyes danced with delight as the leather drew across his skin, watching the vigilante stare down at him. The Dark Knight lost in thought, it seemed, for a brief moment. The madman was entirely comfortable staying exactly where he was, but the police cars must have turned a corner. The Joker's eyes reflected their blue and red strobes. The sudden illumination pulling Bruce out of his thoughts, but it didn't change his realization.

Batman jerked his head up, tearing his eyes away from the man beneath him to gauge the time they had before the emergency dispatch arrived. Bruce frowned at his deduction, and let his hand fall from where it rested against the madman's jawline, leaving a lighter trail of ashe behind as it fell across the man's neckline. Bruce took a deep breath, quickly deciding on his next course of action. His hand left the madman entirely, mirroring his other, pressed against the roof near the madman's head. The vigilante's arm muscles flexed as he pushed away from the maniac, putting some distance between them. The madman's heat leaving his upper body cold in its absence. The Joker frowned at the new space between them.

Bruce sat up all the way, twisting his body to take in the raging flames behind him. He rested back against the heels of his feet, judging the thugs chances of survival. His right hand came up to rub the back of his left shoulder as he ran through the possibilities. He would probably have a new bruise on top of the previous ones. Thanks to that brute throwing him into the shipping containers. He wasn't looking forward to seeing that one. His other palm tightened into a fist when he finally decided there was no chance those men made it out. His left arm rested on his thigh, his knuckles barely touching the madman's torso. The maniac's breaths raising his spandex covered torso to brush against his gloved hand.

The Joker's abs vibrated suddenly as he suppressed a giggle, trailing off into a subdued cough in an attempt to cover it up. Bruce's eyes snapped back to the madman. It appeared he had reached the capacity of his inner mirth. Despite how serious the maniac tried to be, he could never truly get rid of that smile.

Bruce's memories easily dredging up the first moment he had heard that stifled laughter. It was the first time they had met. Batman meets Joker. He hadn't realized it at the time, but the sound was simply the psychopath attempting to suppress his mad laughter. The madman had tried so hard to play the role of Sionis, tried so hard to be serious for more than just a moment of his life. Just like then, however, the maniac always peaked through with those little snickers that slipped past his mask, quite literally at the time.

It seemed the madman finally broke letting a few giggles leave his lips and grinned up at him, almost apologetically, letting the charade that he wasn't extremely excited to pay Harley a visit fall away. He didn't, however, bust into insane laughter like Bruce knew he wanted to. The Joker knew it would piss Batman off. The maniac had never been an idiot.

Hell... he was... Brilliant. He had brought Gotham to its knees in a single night, had broken out of prison not even three hours after Bruce had put him there. Had walked around maximum security like it was his own personal fucking penthouse. The epitome of the Prince of Anarchy, Chaos, and Crime. Bruce was just grateful he had gotten to the maniac before he could blow up half of Gotham just for shits and giggles.

Right now the Joker knew Bruce was not happy with him, and his manic giggles would not lift his mood. The madman's attempts at stifling them didn't go as unnoticed as they had the first time they met. Just the knowledge that the madman wanted to cackle in sadistic vindictiveness was irritating, and made Bruce grit his teeth in annoyance.

The madman huffed irritatedly at the frown marring the vigilante's lips. He rolled his eyes, his hands sliding up Batman's armored thighs. "Always so serious!" The madman sighed tilting his head back and closing his eyes for a moment. Then turned his gaze back onto the vigilante. "I tried right?" The Joker insisted with a crooked smile and a small shrug, his eyes bright and insistent. Batman's eyes narrowed as the touch moved further up his thighs, suddenly realizing his questionable position on top of the madman. "That has to count for something doesn't it?" The Joker asked, lifting himself off the ground a little.

Bruce took in the sight of the man beneath him. He had a split lip, bruised face, mused hair. His body clad in Robin's tight black under armor. Batman could practically see the muscles sliding under the fabric. Bruce's hands twitched, and his jaw flexed.

All he had to do was lean down and pin the maniac. Cage him. And he would be at Batman's mercy. Just where the psychopath belonged. Batman clenched his hands as he fought that urge, his arm muscles flexing with the effort.

"No?" The madman pouted when Bruce didn't reply, his hands already dangerously close to were the maniac wanted them to be. Batman suddenly scoffed at the Joker, the man's audacity was legendary, as was his own demons. He snatched up the madman's hands with his own tossing them away from his thighs with an air of finality. He finally stood up as the maniac's hands slapped lazily against the pavement above his head, letting his body follow them.

The Joker pouted in disappointment for a moment, before his features morphed into a lazy smile as he took in the new view of Batman towering over him. Bruce glared down at the maniac's suddenly smug face, watching the madman settle into his new position. The epitome of open, inviting... enticing. Those lithe muscles discernibly accentuated by the under armour. The police lighting him from above. Rotating between red and blue. While the fire lit him from below, creating a rather surreal image. Batman glared down at him. The Joker's lips parted and his eyes glazed over a little as he stared back.

Batman had the same lighting as the madman, the alternating blue and red accentuating his suits shape. The orange glow behind him, washing out the shadowed areas of his relaxed form, creating the image that he was not entirely real. As if he were made from the darkness, trapped for that brief moment in the glow of the flames, and flash of the lights. Batman suddenly shook his head in disbelief, turning away from the madman, shattering the image.

The Joker seemed to have a ridiculous amount of trust in Bruce's ability to reign in his temper. A part of the vigilante had wanted to kick the man one more time just to change his views on the matter, but he had refrained. They had all night together and he didn't want to hear the whiny complaints of bruised ribs. God knew they both had enough injuries to last them for the next year and a half.

Bruce turned towards the raging fire, taking a step away from the madman. Batman didn't deserve that trust. He had let this man die twice already. Bruce tried to ignore the sudden, twisting, gut wrenched feeling he had as he remembered the madman's suicide charade. It wasn't the fact that he felt it that was the problem. It was because it... wasn't a new feeling, wasn't because of the reasons he fed himself. He had felt the same way in Arkham City when the madman had collapsed. Just suddenly... stopped. No witty remarks or morbid jokes. Just the lifeless, mutated body.

It was almost impossible to ignore the rather stark difference between the two deaths that night. The way they made him feel. Bruce however, was managing fine so far, even if his mind like to remind him otherwise at times, like now.

When Talia had died... he had felt... angry injustice. The need to avenge her, but when that vial had shattered... Bruce had felt the air, the ground, the lighting around him, shatter with it. The world condensed into a glass jar. He couldn't breathe. Had watched the madman scrape up pieces of glass and antidote in a vain attempt to save his own life. One he had thrown away so carelessly. It had been an accident. That's all that Bruce remembered thinking, over and over. He hadn't meant to... neither of them had meant to.

It was one true moment. When the Joker's shoulders slumped as the situation sunk in. Those green eyes rising slowly to meet his one last time, almost accusing him, but they both knew it was an accident. His body gave out beneath him, his eyes never closed. The moment when Bruce knew the Joker feared death like the rest of them. In that singular moment Batman knew the madman truly didn't want to die... and Bruce didn't want him to... it had been an accident. The vigilante walked away from the madman behind him, heading towards the raging flames, shaking away those phantoms.

"And there he goes, walking away," the maniac sighed airily, propping his elbows, "You are going. The wrong. Way!" The Joker called after him from his relaxed position on the rooftop just as Batman neared the edge of the building. The madman rolled his eyes, finally sitting up to watch the vigilante. "Hey!" The Joker called to him, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. "Where exactly... do you think you are going? Rebirth from flames is just a myth you know! You're not Fall Out Boy! This isn't Pheonix!" The madman called to him skeptically. "Harry Potter isn't real!"

Bruce suddenly wondered what they let him do in Arkham, because the man sure as hell didn't have time to read books or listen to music while he was plotting Gotham's demise. Batman chose to ignore his own irritation at the maniacs references, stopping on the edge of the building to gaze down into the ruins. The Joker finally pushed himself up from the ground with a dramatic groan, "Ah come on! The cops are coming! You know they just. Love. My beautiful mug right?" The Joker asked gripping his own jaw and giving his face a shake. "The love is so great it fucking hurts!" He burst into laughter that died down when Batman didn't respond. "Literally. It hurts," The Joker tacked on in a dead panned tone. He took a dramatically deep breath when the vigilante continued to ignore him, too engrossed in searching the area to pay him much mind. That and Bruce was pissed at him, but he was trying to ignore that issue. "Seriously. You know those kids!" The Joker insisted, walking towards the Dark Knight. "With the shiny toys – " he brought his hands into the air like he was holding something, "and the trigger fingers of a cocaine addicted whore?!" The Joker suggested shooting invisible guns into the air with a twirl, missing his jacket for a brief moment as he leisurely made his way towards the vigilante. "Real twitchy. Especially around me." The madman grinned, approaching Bruce.

Batman finally spotted something and he turned his attention back to the criminal mastermind behind him. He pivoted on the edge of the building, the tip of his cape barely grazing the surface of the madman's face, forcing the maniac to turn his head away for a brief moment, not that he noticed or cared. "Come on! Let's blow this fry fest." The Joker grinned finally reaching the vigilante. Batman was getting tired of how familiar the madman was getting with him. So he stood on the very edge of a building, waiting.

The madman casually reached a hand out, aiming to grab Batman's bracer encased wrist. Bruce couldn't keep himself from sending the madman a superior quirk of his lips as he took a decisive step backwards. Time seemed to slow down as that hand came closer, but Bruce' stayed just out of his reach. The man's fingertips barely brushing his Kevlar, and suddenly Batman was gone, falling backward into the fiery hell below. His billowing cape flowing around him. Bruce enjoyed how the smile on the madman's face slowly fell as he plummeted. The Joker's heart fell with the vigilante disappearing out of sight.

Silence reigned for several long seconds, the madman's hand tightened on that nothingness, his nails digging into his skin at the message Bruce just sent him. "I deserved that," The madman quietly admitted to himself cracking his neck while drawing back a clenched fist. Batman. Always out of his reach. The Joker chuckled at Bruce's irony, moving forward to peer over the edge. "Good one Bats!" The maniac called down to him and Batman ignored the man once again, focusing on keeping his cape raised, blocking the flickering flames, their heat slapping against him. The Joker huffed a sigh of annoyance, throwing his legs over the edge, his hair floating wildly in the waves of hot air. He rested his elbows on his thighs, placing his chin on one hand. "You know Bats," The madman shouted down to him, the light from the fire flickering across his features, contorting his body, "every dance had an end." Bruce paused in his trek turning his head towards the criminal, he gazed up at the man for a full ten seconds. The Joker raised an eyebrow in return, curious why the vigilante was simply looking at him with such a blank face.

"Do... you even know what that means?" Batman countered watching the maniac's reaction closely. The Joker's brows furrowed for a long moment, before breaking eye contact. He sucked in his bottom lip, teeth pressuring the ruby skin for several seconds. Until finally he turned his attention towards the approaching police cars, and Bruce smirked, turning back to the wreckage. It was simple really, they didn't know when the dance would end, but they did know how. One of them would be dead, and even then... Bruce wasn't sure it would be over.

Batman ignored that thought as he reached his destination. A few shipping containers had blasted from the building, but this one was the farthest away, lodged firmly into the side of the building he had just dropped from. Batman stalked over to it, ripping the door open... only to find nothing. The vigilante gritted his teeth, moving to the next crate. His glove steamed as he grabbed the handle and he hissed at the pain while he tore it open as well. Still nothing. If the containers were this hot. Bruce bowed his head, his jaw flexing, his grip bending the heated metal handle.

Batman slammed the door shut, Harley would pay. There was no way those men had survived. No way he could have saved them. The Joker's lips parted as he took in Batman's tense shoulders, he knew that stance well.

"You can't save everyone Bats." The Joker softly called down to him, his voice barely heard over the raging fire. The Dark Knight pivoted, unlatching his grappling gun from his utility belt. He was on the roof in seconds, walking purposefully past the madman, his cape billowing behind him. The Joker turned, scrambling to follow him. Bruce stalked towards those flashing lights, ignoring the gray smudges across his Kevlar, and the sweat beading on his exposed face, his skin feeling sticky under his suit. The insulation could only do so much near those flames.

"Barbara." Bruce stated, opening his communication line.

"Finally! I was worried, but I heard you... um talking. So..." The girl answered immediately, sounding decidedly better than before, even a little excited, before she trailed off awkwardly. Bruce glossed over that detail, getting to the point instead.

"Tell the fire trucks to start on the south side. There's a crate of men inside, if they hurry – ."

"Bruce." Barbara interrupted him pity in her voice. Batman gritted his teeth, he knew that tone. He wasn't going to like this.

"Dispatch didn't send any fire trucks. It's in Arkham City remains, they didn't want to waste the manpower. They're razing the place anyway." She informed him, her excitement from before completely dissipated. Bruce closed his eyes, wishing there was a wall somewhere near him he could pound.

"Thanks Barbara." Batman muttered back, turning to stare at the blaze behind him. The Joker stood silently beside him.

"Do you want me to – ." She started, but Bruce cut her off.

"No. It's too late." The vigilante hissed, ending the call.

"Oh ho ho. I know what that look is." The madman whispered, shrinking away from the Dark Knight. Batman ignored him, zeroing in on the flashing lights below.

"Stay here." Batman growled out, prowling to the edge of the building he took in the two police cars parking on the street. Four cops leisurely got out of their cars, one giving the punch line to the end of a joke, while the others laughed. Bruce gritted his teeth and dropped down, landing directly behind one of the cops. The other three gasped in fear, scambling to get their guns out of the holsters on their hips. Batman ignored them, flipping the closest one around and pressing him against the edge of the car, Bruce's forearm against his firmly against his esophagus.

"Why didn't they send the GCFD?" The Dark Knight demanded darkly, increasing the pressure a little.

"Let him go man!" The cop's partner asked, his gun a little unsteady, his eye wide, skin pale, Bruce glared.

"It's cool, Jordan." The cop insisted his Adam's apple moving against Bruce's forearm as he swallowed, "Half this place is going to be torn down anyway, the city didn't want to waste the resources."

"And if there were people inside?" Batman snarled angrily, but still loosened his hold a little.

"That's what we're here for. We were already nearby, thought we'd check it out instead of letting it just burn." The cop explained as Bruce backed away from him.

"There were men inside." Batman growled out, and one of the men ducked into the car, already calling for the fire department before Bruce could tell them it was too late. It was good to see his work with the GCPD wasn't for nothing. Every year there seemed to be less corruption in their ranks.

"Then we'll handle it." The cop stated looking like he dismissed Batman, Bruce bit back a growl of irritation.

"What's your name?" Batman asked, leveling the man with a hard gaze.

"Leo, Leo Cal – ." Started to answer only to be cut off.

"Can we leave now butter-cup?! I'm going batty up here!" The Joker's voice suddenly fell over them followed by his manical laughter. Bruce resisted the urge to flinch. All the guns in the area immediately trained their sights on the most wanted man in Gotham. Batman thought the maniac was only suicidal once a night. Shows what he knew, or maybe what he hoped. He didn't want to deal with this crap.

"Is that the Joker?" The cop asked, he seemed to be the leader of the group. He was tall, black male, fit, intelligent eyes, pressed against a car. Bruce would have to look him up later, keep tabs on him. Seemed like a solid man. Batman turned his head to take in the madman who sat on the edge of the building again, his feet dangling over the edge, green boots joyfully tapping against the wall. His lean figure easily discernable in the tight black and gray under armor, his grin however was the same despite the lack of makeup. Leo scoffed and opened his mouth, "I almost didn't recognize you withou – ." Bruce swiftly jerked the man forward and slammed him back against the car, forcing the air out of his lungs in a painful cough.

"Don't." Batman suggested, releasing the cop who fell into a small coughing fit rubbing his chest.

"I'm sorry, what was that doll face?" The Joker called down to the man, his voice edged with venom. Leo sent him an equally dark glare. Cops, Bruce scoffed in his head, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Suicides abound.

"Let me know when the precinct can actually handle him." The Dark Knight pointed out in his usual monotone growl, turning away from the men. Now. They were dismissed.

"Oh, we can handle him." The man assured him, apparently having recovered enough to send the Joker a challenging look. It was almost comforting to know the Joker wasn't the only one with suicidal tendencies, or maybe it was just recklessness.

"I doubt that." Batman replied blandly, glancing up at the maniac. They needed to get going, there wasn't much moonlight left, and the firefighters would be there soon.

"Or we could just kill him right now." A cop from the other car retorted, and the Dark Knight froze mid step. The Joker catcalled, slapping his thigh.

"Oh ho! You hear that Batsy? He does have a point, now doesn't he? They could just kill me!" The Joker exclaimed throwing his arms out, "Right here! Right now! Sounds like a solid plan to me." Then he paused for a moment, leaning forward to rest his head on a closed fist, leveling Bruce with a quirked eyebrow, "What do ya say love? Sound like a to. Die. For plan?"

"No." Batman scowled, stealthily unhooking his grappling gun as the men started to get twitchy.

"Awww he does care." The madman giggled rocking backwards before lifting his hands to slick back his hair, blowing Bruce a kiss. Then he dropped his hands to the roof behind him, leaning leisurely back on them.

"How many bullets do you think it would take?" The bald man's partner asked curiously.

"Does it matter?" The lead cop's partner tacked on. Bruce's shoulders tensed as he turned around to watch the policemen carefully. He wouldn't be able to get to the madman in time if one of them decided to shoot. Thankfully something shifted in the fire, a large crash echoing down the street. The men jerked their heads toward the sound and Batman took the opportunity to zip up the building. He caught the madman around the waist hauling him away from the edge and out of sight in one smooth graceful motion.

"There you are beautiful!" The Joker cackled as he was manhandled out of sight. Bruce growled at the noise, he hated when people knew where he disappeared to. It was always so satisfying when –

"Where'd they go?!" One of the men shouted in confusion.

"How does he do that? It wasn't even a second." Another one chimed in, maybe he would get the shocked satisfaction of his disappearing skills after all.

"Magic boys," The lead cop chuckled, "What's the ETA on that firetruck?" Bruce activated the Batwing, chucking a giggling Joker over his shoulder, afraid if he let him go again he would run back over to taunt the cops some more. The maniac simply hummed a tune, swishing his legs like a child, his boots tapping Batman's armored thighs.

"Does it matter? Anything in there is fried food." The men laughed and Batman shushed the madman hanging over his shoulder with an impatient little bounce, knocking some air out of the man. The Joker giggled, slapping a hand over his mouth to muffle the giddy laughter.

"Yeah, why don't you just suck his dick next time." The men laughed again and the maniac quieting down a little so he could listen in as well. Erratic giggles breaking through every once in awhile, his abs vibrating with the action, tensing over Bruce's shoulder.

"I wasn't the one who jumped on the radio like a good little soldier. Seriously though. Batman isn't someone you want to fuck with." Leo barked at them following the sound of a car door slamming.

"Why? He's just some dude in a suit." Someone said, and the Joker giggled at their naivety, muttering something about showing them a suit.

"Yeah? With some high tech gear, and anger issues. Where's your bullet proof armor?" Leo scoffed and suddenly the rest of the cops shouted out in surprise. A thick silence fell.

"Hey man! Watch where you're pointing that thing!" The previous cop exclaimed.

"Just making a point." Leo insisted, but it seemed he put the gun away, since no one insisted otherwise.

"Is this what you do?" The Joker whispered to Batman, who opted to ignore him.

"If I had money I'd have a bulletproof suit too." The cop grumbled defiantly.

"I'll have to tell my me – ." Shut up, Bruce thought, tossing the Joker up again. The maniac's stomach hit Batman's shoulder knocking some of the air out of the him before he could finish his sentence.

"One, you don't, and – ." Leo replied to the idiot.

"Rude." The Joker coughed and Batman narrowed his eyes in irritation, he had heard enough already, and his little tag along was already getting antsy. He raised his grappling gun and waited a few seconds for the little light to flash on his gauntlet.

" – two, what fighting techniques are you tra – ." The Dark knight pulled the trigger, and seconds later the pair were airborne, zipping away from the scene. The Joker shouted in glee after a few seconds, obviously knowing it was going to happen at some point and they both knew the maniac wasn't actually afraid of heights. The madman had plummetted to his could be death plenty of times. Bruce pulled the trigger on his grappling gun, forcing them to go faster. They shot above the Batwing, the roof of the vehicle sliding open as they neared. The snow floated around them for a moment as gravity kicked in, inertia switching directions. Batman released the Joker a few feet above the cockpit as they arched over it, letting him fall haphazardly into his chair. The vigilante easily snagged the edge of the cockpit as he continued to fall, releasing the grappling hook. It zipped back to him and he placed it back into his belt, the wind whipping around him. The Joker scrambled around trying to get himself situated before Bruce cut his leg off closing the cockpit. Batman vaulted gracefully into his own seat, hitting several buttons as he leaned back. The top started to close while the vehicle was rerouted to their new destination.

"Always so flashy!" The Joker snickered jerking his hand back into the aircraft just before the compartment could crush it, "And you call me dramatic." The madman muttered to himself pressing some more buttons like something could have possibly changed from the last time they had been here. "You knoooow," The Joker huffed, running his hands through his hair, getting it out of his face, "It would be nice if you warned a man. I'd like to know when to bring a comb, and hold on for dear life! As it were." The maniac chuckled, giving up on flattening his green curls. Bruce resisted rolling his eyes as his lips thinned, like the madman actually gave a shit about his hair. It was green. Fucking green.

"When I see one I'll let him know." The vigilante replied almost robotically, quickly scanning the reports that had come into the station while he was taking care of the Joker problem. The real Joker rolled his eyes dramatically leaving his seat to draping himself over the back of Bruce's own.

"Isn't that getting a little old?" The madman asked. Irritated, Bruce brought a hand up to push the maniac's face out of his personal bubble and back into his seat. To no avail, however, but that didn't stop Batman from trying.

"Just sit down and shut up." Batman growled, there had been two robberies while he was cleaning up this mess. Three civilians and a cop were in the hospital. If he hadn't of been stuck with this insane lunatic he would of been in and out of there in time to help them. The maniac ignored his plight and simply spoke into the gloved hand, completely ignoring Batman's irritation at him.

"You've used it before." Came the madman's muffled reply. Bruce finally got his space when the maniac decided breathing was kind of essential and twisted his face away from Batman's palm. The vigilante retracted his hand and the Joker sat back to impatiently kick his chair a few times, humming a little tune that Batman was sure he had heard somewhere. Bruce resisted the urge to grind his teeth, why did the Joker need so much fucking attention?

"Stop. Kicking. My chair." Batman growled out, reaching the point where he felt like ejecting the madman from the flying vehicle. Which he'd never do in reality, but it helped to imagine.

"See. That. That is getting old too. You need something new, something fresh! Let's try this again." The Joker insisted, leaning over Batman's chair again. Bruce turned his head away from the madman instead of taking the bait, attempting to pull up entirely too old schematics of the convent. Bruce closed them just as quickly as he had opened them, weren't going to be of much use.

"How about, you shut up, and sit down?" The Dark Knight asked with feigned politeness, his anger at the useless information and his inability to stop all the crime in the city seeping through.

"Seriously. It's like a broken record! Ooooold! We need new Bats, new! It's not a hard concept." The madman pressed in exasperation, leaning even further over Bruce's seat. Bruce glanced up at and could see the maniac staring at him in the windshield's reflection.

"I'm old. Get over it." Bruce shot back locking eyes with the man. The Joker took a sharp breath of devastation, as if he had just spoken sacrilege. There was a long and, on Batman's side, pleasant pause that didn't last nearly long enough for his taste. Then the madman let out a small scoff, his hands shifting on the chair, followed by a deep reverberating chuckle of amusement. Bruce's annoyance immediately spiked, how did the man find everything so fucking funny? Especially how old they were getting.

The Joker leaned further forward. One hand suddenly sliding, firmly, down the vigilante's chest plate. Slipping slowly, sensually, over his armor. His jagged yet silky skin gliding gracefully against Batman's jawline. Bruce's skin seared with heat as the maniac's skin pressed lovingly against him. Batman's lips parted unconsciously at the unexpected sensation. His eyes immediately drawn to their reflection in the windshield, and he gritted his teeth at the sight. The Joker's amused attention solely on him, his pale skin contrast beautifully against his dark suit, red lips parting, half lidded lashes dark against his skin.

"You don't look old." The madman whispered letting his cheek slide against Bruce's own as he turned his head, those ruby lips finally brushing against Batman's skin. Bruce swallowed tearing his eyes away from the reflection to snatch that searing hand away from his chest. The still touch lingered under his suit, despite the effort. The Dark Knight took in a deep breath, narrowing his eyes at the man's reflection. Bruce slowly turned to face the maniac and paused, lips inches away from the madman's. Those green eyes danced with the light from the console. Their breath mingling for a long moment, and the vigilante could practically feel the anticipation coming off the man.

"If you do that again, I'll break your hand." Batman whispered harshly to him, but the Joker simply gave him a cheshire grin, moving forward to close the distance between them. Bruce instantly snapped his head around, denying the madman another stolen kiss. "And your face." He tacked on in irritation as the maniac huffed in disappointment, but it only took a moment before his grin returned. The Joker bit his bottom lip temptingly, and Batman turned his attention back to the console ready to actually make good on ignoring the man. The madman wouldn't accept that, and he leaned back in. His lips brushing the cowl where Bruce's ear would be. He remained there for a long moment, long enough that Bruce felt like he could feel the man's hot breath against his skin despite the layer of protection, before the maniac finally spoke.

"Then do it." He whispered quietly, forcing Batman to strain to hear him, despite the man being so close. "break me..." The Joker tilted his head nudging his nose against the cowl. "Please." The Joker barely exhaled, slowly creeping closer over the chair. Batman swallowed hard and gritted his teeth, his hands clenching in an attempt to stop his body's reaction to those words, trying hard to lock down his body's desire to give the Joker just what he asked for. How had it gotten so easy for the maniac to fuck with his thoughts? Hell, his body? Bruce knew his suit was temperature regulated, yet the madman's touch still heated his skin. It didn't make sense. It was fucking annoying. Batman needed to get this little visit over with and get some time alone, away from the man. He needed to reset, needed recharge his defenses, fortify his mental walls. He needed to not do this, whatever this was. Not think about it. Any of it. He needed to just, not listen, feel... smell. Batman turned his head away from the man.

The Joker let those words sink in, then started chuckling as he took in all the minor changes in the man's demeanor. The madman sat back in his chair, letting his laughter take over. When Bruce finally had a come back it was too late, it had taken him too long to process. The laughter trailed off, and for half a minute there was silence. It was the longest silence Batman had heard from the creep. "You knooow. It was for the best, right? Necessary. A necessary evil as it were. For the greater good. If you'd prefer some Harry Potter references. You've read it right?" The Joker sighed when Bruce didn't answer... because Batman was extremely confused what they were talking about. "Stop being mad at me Bats." The Joker pleaded placing his chin on Bruce's chair, and biting his lip. "Normal people can't live like I do, can't be me. One look in this brain and woo, where's that rabbit going? I mean, look at Harley. She used to be normal. Smart. Now she's a fucking mess with homicidal tendencies." The madman insisted with a giggle, running his hands along the edges of Batman's seat.

"Because you're a monster." The Dark Knight scowled, they were only four minutes away. Just four more minutes before something else could occupy the man's attention. The Joker huffed out a laugh, one hand coming up to trail longingly down Bruce's bicep.

"I could be your monster." The Joker suggested lightly, and Bruce resisted the urge to elbow the maniac in the face.

"I have enough monsters in my life. I definitely don't need you." Batman barked back, watching the time on the virtual screen tick down. Three minutes and forty seven seconds. The Joker sighed, tilting his head on the seat, and retracting his hand, Bruce watched a scowl grace his features through the reflection of the Batwing's windshield.

"He was a monster too you know." The Joker's vivid green eyes snapped up to meet his in the reflection, "He wasn't born that way, Bats. He was already breaking. Cracking at the seams like so many do in the face of madness. He wasn't like us!" The madman stressed, lifting his head off the seat, but never breaking eye contact. "It would have slowly devoured him from the inside out. One humane chunk at a time." There was a lengthy pause, and Bruce already knew what was going to fall next from those lips.

He knew because he could see his thoughts mirrored in the madman's eyes. "You know. You know what that feels like." The Joker whispered, and Bruce broke eye contact. "The way it claws and tears at your chest,"

Bruce had never been crazy like this madman.

"burns from the inside, like your veins are on fire. Consuming your every waking thought,"

Had never lost his way. Never succumbed to that darkness.

"the way it forces your breath from you, fills you with the need, the desire, to do something." The Joker paused and closed his eyes for a moment, reminiscing. "Anything. About it,"

But the madman was describing exactly how he had felt.

"That insatiable need to fill the void, to scratch that ever. Insistent. Itch."

Before he had decided to become Batman.

"Because we need to know, we need to know what it feels like Bats, what it... What it tastes like, smells like, we need to hear the sounds. See the bl –"

"Shut up." Bruce, muttered, two more minutes, fucking two more fucking minutes. Just ignore his voice, his words, ignore how it all makes sense, because it can't make sense. Insanity doesn't make sense.

"No. No. No. need to feel alive, Bats." Bruce hadn't noticed how close the madman had gotten, until he realized how quiet the maniac was actually speaking. "Because nothing else works." The madman stated, and Batman stared hard at those ticking numbers, ignoring how his heart was beating faster than before. He could feel the shadows, the gentle whispers, of that old consuming need. The one that was only satisfied when he had started breaking bones and knocking out criminals. Only satisfied when he had become Batman. Become Justice. Become something more than human. The Joker tilted his head.

"Do you feel alive, Bruce?" The Joker asked suddenly, sincerely, and Batman turned to look at him, their faces inches away. Yes... but only in the suit, Bruce thought, tearing his eyes from the man's own drowning green ones.

"Why do you never shut up?" The vigilante asked after a few seconds, locking it down, shoving it, all of it away. Just as he had trained to do all those years ago. He was getting rusty, then again, he was never very good at it. The Joker pursed his lips in annoyance as he was shut out. "We could have saved him. I could have saved him... What's the best way into the underground hideout?" Batman asked, rather blatantly changing the subject, they only had thirty seconds until they made it to their destination. The Joker leaned back a little, biting his bottom lip, and staring silently at Bruce.

"Progress." The Joker muttered quietly, falling back into his chair. "There are a lot of entrances and exits, it's why I chose the place. Best way in is through the front, but not the front. If you know what I mean."

"The front?" Batman asked, needing clarification, the front could be anywhere on the building.

"Is there a parrot in here or do you just like hearing me talk?" The Joker asked sweetly leaning forward and resting his elbow on the back of Bruce's chair, his chin in his hand. The Batwing came to a sudden stop above the convent, the building a simple dot below them. The madman's elbow slipped off the seat and he fumbled to stop his face from smashing into the leather. Batman smirked, zooming in on the building below them. The convent appeared to have some pretty high walls around it, the largest building on the property was a rectangle with a courtyard in the center, a large steepled building at one end. Bruce assumed that was were they convened for mass or whatever nuns did these days. He was never one for religion. The madman scowled when he finally recovered leaning further over his seat to stare at the virtual screen.

"How do we get in?" Batman asked again, surprisingly patient for this time of night, and this kind of company. Bruce could see the madman's jaw tense in the windshield.

"Okay, Tarzan. Let me spell it out for you." The Joker said unnecessarily slow. "The convent. And all it's surreptitiously naughty nuns. Don't actually know we're there. How fancy is that? A secret hide out that's... Wait for it... A secret." The Joker gestured towards the horizon like there was actually something awe inspiring to see. He took a deep breath turning back to Batman with an annoyed expression, his voice a little dark. "This was supposed to be a safe house. Not a fucking base of operations. It's supposed to stay hidden, because it is hidden!" The madman snarled, then took a deep calming breath. "So much for that jack in the box." The Joker hissed, angrily throwing himself back into his chair. The maniac pouted for a moment before finally continuing and Bruce gritted his teeth, he didn't ask for a novel. "It quite literally has zippo security in the convent. But most of the other entrances do. So the best solution is probably the hidden entrance in the chapel. It's under the seat in one of the confessionals. I'm not really sure which one, but who cares, really? We'll figure it out eventually." The madman finally finished, tugging at a lock of his hair as he stared out the window as if they had just decided where they would go eat for the night.

"And why should I trust you?" Bruce asked skeptically watching the maniac raise an eyebrow through the windshield. The Joker broke out into a venomous chuckle.

"Because Bats," the Joker leaned forward again, resting his chin on his chair, "We both know," The madman sent him a little smile, "I'm a vindictive little bitch." Surprisingly that was good enough for Batman. Harley had shot him. He still had no idea how specifically it went down but it had happened, and the Joker always made sure people knew exactly who and what he is, but mostly, why they shouldn't fuck with him. Bruce had learned that the hard way and he's kept Tim as far away from the madman as possible. With that acceptance Batman placed his hand over the ejection button.

"Want to count down?" Bruce asked, knowing the maniac would be delighted to. The Joker nodded excitedly his eyes wide, and he sat back in his chair.

"Five!" The Joker shouted enthusiastically, "four, thr – ." Bruce hit the ejection button with a smirk. He ignored the maniac's indignant shout that was easily lost to the howling wind. Batman used the upward momentum of the chair's little ejection to hop into the air. The Joker clutched his seat with white knuckles, his mouth moving rapidly. Probably spewing complaints, but his words were lost to the wind. Batman landed on the edges of the cockpit as Joker's chair lifted in front of him. He threw himself forward and sideways, slapping a hand across the madman's mouth, while snaking an arm around his waist, taking the maniac with him as he fell out of the cockpit, plummeting to the ground. The madman's back was pressed against his chest. His hands in a death grip over Bruce's own. They were heading face first to the ground. Snow whipped swiftly past them, pushing them off course, the wind howling around them.

Bruce removed his right hand from the man's mouth and slipped it down, getting a firm grip on the maniac's left wrist. Batman slowly eased his hold on the maniac letting cold wind rush between them and then he let go. Let the air rip the madman away from him, the Joker flipped around his other hand immediately gripping Bruce's gloved hold on his wrist. Now that they were separated they evened out, spiraling through the air, but no longer out of control, the Joker holding on to Bruce's hand for dear life. Batman offered out his other hand to the Joker, his muscles tense, keeping the madman in front of him. With a welcoming smile across his normally stern lips and the madman simply stared at him with awe.

Batman was actually enjoying this. He was actually having fun right now... and Bruce was. He was having fun. Dick nor Tim would dive out of the Batwing with him. Hell they were reluctant to fly. Ever. Glide sure, somersault over buildings? Why not? But free fall thousands of feet? Not their prefered method of travel. The Joker finally grinned back at him, snatching the offered hand out of the air, tightening his grip on Batman's own wrist. For a brief second only holding on with one hand. Bruce watched the maniac throw his head back and laugh, simply enjoying the wind falling past him and Batman couldn't help but laugh as well.

This was one thing they had in common. The adrenaline. They were both junkies for the spike in blood pressure, heart rate, that chemical reaction. The Joker shifted his body weight and sent them into a rapid spiral, Batman easily losing track of the ground as they were ripped around. The wind suddenly thrusting them wildly through the sky. It was chaos and Bruce laughed as the snow sliced into what little skin he had exposed. Leave it to the Joker to make this more dangerous than it already was.

Bruce knew they were nearing the city line, he had placed them ridiculously high for a reason and it was coming to an end. Batman yanked the madman in against his chest and the Joker's arms curled around his neck, pulling his feet forward to wrap around Batman's legs. The Dark Knight released his hold on the madman to slowly release his cape, until he could level them out again. He released the entirety of his cape and they slowed down considerably, gliding smoothly through the air instead of falling. Batman angled them back towards the convent, while the Joker was still laughing. Bruce had to shush the Joker as they got closer, stifling his own chuckles, and the maniac shifted to stifle giggles. The vigilante landed gracefully on the shingled roof of the convent, gently placing the madman on the roof as the low level electricity left his cape, loosening the fabric.

"We," The Joker laughed breathlessly, "Should do that again sometime." He stated, his arms still around Bruce's neck. Batman smirked down at him, his arm still around his waist from the landing.

"Yeah? You like that?" The Dark Knight asked his voice deeper than it had been so far, when he wasn't playing Batman that is, watching the Joker's eyes sparkle with the excitement.

"Oh yeah." The Joker replied sensually leaning into him. Batman suddenly jerked back from the maniac, the smile immediately dropping from his face. The realization of who and where he was catching up with him. The Joker stumbled a little on the slanted roof from the sudden change in support, and Bruce jumped forward again to steady him. He had a lot more experience with slippery sloped roofs then the maniac did. "Bats c – ." Batman slapped a hand over the madman's mouth, effectively silencing him.

"Shut up." Bruce insisted, turning away from the man to slide silently down the roof, he stopped his descent with a single boot on the drain gutter, knowing exactly what angle to place it so the thing didn't snap off. He took in the area below them, the frozen water fountain, dead shrubs and snow covered walkways. The skeletal trees barely surviving under winter's onslaught made for little cover in the middle of the courtyard. The Joker slid silently down the roof as well. Bruce immediately shooting a hand out to stop him just before he reached the gutter, one hand flat against his abdomen, knowing the idiot would send them both crashing off the roof. The gutter creaked ominously but didn't give in. Batman sent the madman a heavy glare slowly removing his hand from the man. Once Bruce was sure the maniac wouldn't slip to his death he activated his detective vision, ensuring there were no nuns hiding out in the shadows to scream bloody murder.

When he was certain no one was outside he dropped down, quietly landing on the ground below. Batman took one more look around before beckoning up the madman down to him. The Joker precariously made his way a few steps closer to the edge, and gave no warning before hopping carelessly off. The Dark Knight jerked forward and easily caught him in his arms. Bruce glared down at the man before swinging him gracefully onto the ground in one fluid motion. The Joker landed steadily and was walking away the next second. Presumably heading to wherever the entrance was. Batman followed him into the darkness of the covered walkways, sticking to the shadows out of habit. The madman had just gotten out of his reach when he caught a flash of orange, as the door ahead of them cracked open.

Bruce lunged forward snagging the madman around the waist and easily hauling them both into the shroud of darkness. He pressed the madman tight against his chest, his back hitting the wall as he flipped his cape around them. Hiding the pale maniac from an elderly woman who slowly stepped through the equally old doors. The Joker grinned and pressed closer to him, resting his head against his chest to tuck under Bruce's chin. The old nun seemed to have trouble pushing the large wooden door closed, and she stopped for a moment after it clicked shut to catch her breath. Bruce could feel the maniac's own warm breath across his chin. Soft skin suddenly glided across his own, until a cold nose was placed underneath his jaw, Bruce narrowed his eyes. Despite his annoyance, Batman pulled the madman even closer as the woman decided to start walking down the pathway. Bruce knew he shouldn't feel the warmth from the maniac but he could. It seeped slowly through his kevlar like poison. He kept the man covered in his cape with one arm, knowing his snowy skin would shine like a beacon in the darkness. Which was ironic, considering how chaotic and evil he was, and made Bruce wonder how he did it while in his usual garb. The Joker's arms suddenly slid up his back to clutch onto his shoulders while still keeping his hands under the cape. Batman moved them farther into the darkness, and out of her immediate path, his back pressed tight against the wall. The Joker moved his arms to accommodate the new position down his sides, but didn't relinquish his hold.

Then they waited in silence as the old woman took an eternity to hobble past them. Bruce sat scowling as she moved slower than a tortoise and the Joker just seemed to just pushed closer against him as the seconds ticked by. His skin scorching by the time the woman passed. He didn't move when the old nun passed them, instead waiting for her to slowly open the next door and make her way back inside. Once the door closed he released the Joker, who really didn't go far once he was free.

"I'm shocked you could shut up for so long." The Dark Knight muttered after he was sure the old woman was out of hearing, brushing past the madman, who scoffed at his remark, his hand trailing down Batman's arm as he slipped away. At the last second the Joker's hand closed around Bruce's and he let the vigilante tug him along, because the Dark Knight sure as hell wasn't stopping for him. Batman quietly made his way to the door the nun had just exited, the direction the Joker had originally intended, tugging the Joker along behind him. At least like this he knew the maniac wouldn't slip off into the darkness.

"Do you know the kind of patience it takes waiting for you to show up to one of my 'surprises'?" The madman asked quietly his free hand making quotations in the air, slipping just as silently behind the vigilante.

"If by patience, you mean killing people off while you wait, then yeah, I guess you're the epitome of a saint." Batman huffed back, raising a hand for silence one he reached the door. He could practically see the Joker's eyes narrow at his comment, but in the dark with the detective vision he really couldn't see anything. The madman had taken to glaring at the vigilante, but there was no real heat behind it. Then he shrugged his shoulders.

"Eh, guess you're right." The Joker muttered and Bruce jerked around, taken back.

"What?" He asked turning his attention from the door he was ready to crack open, just so he could stare at the orange human shape that was the Joker.

"I said. I guess you're right. Would you like me to say it louder?" The Joker asked sarcastically, and Bruce had to actually think about it for a moment. It wasn't often that people admitted they were wrong, let alone the homicidal maniac that could bring Gotham to its knees with a few balloon animals and some manic laughter. Okay maybe he was giving the Joker a little too much credit, but he was painfully resourceful.

"No. I'm good." Bruce finally replied turning back to the task at hand. He quietly slipped the door open, silently sliding between the smallest crack he could make that could fit his rather impressive size. He made sure to stay in the shadows, creeping out of the faint light cast against the wall and back into the darkness. There was movement farther in the room and Batman paused for a moment. Then he turned off his night vision. Then turned it back on as a shushed giggle echoed through the worship hall. Shaking his head he turned it back off, he didn't need to see that. Batman stuck his hand into what little light the city cast through the storm and into the room, beckoning the Joker to him. The madman slipped into the room like the graceful predator that he was, slinking over to Batman's side as silently as possible. Another muffled girlish giggle echoed through the room and the Joker slapped a hand to his mouth to silence his mirth as he crept towards him.

"Shhh, Sister Alden, she could come back." Someone whispered rather obnoxiously loud in such a sound friendly room, and Batman took that as an opportunity to stealthily creep toward the chatty women, their voices still echoing through the hall.

"You know she takes forever during her rounds, we have plenty of time." Another female voice answered as Batman crouched down running across a row of seats to the other side of the worship hall.

"You know this isn't right? Maybe we should – ." One of them chimed reluctantly, but was cut off.

"Don't. We've talked about this, besides," There was a sudden moan and Bruce had to stop at the end of the pew, his eyes flickering towards the woman, "you know you like it." Another moan followed and Batman shook his head. Nuns of all people. Stalking over he pressed himself up against one of the confessionals. But which one had the entrance? He shot a questioning look towards his counterpart who simply shrugged his shoulders in amusement. Bruce glared, he was no help. Batman took a deep breath, slipping past the first confessional door which was rather occupied at the moment, if the erotic moans were anything to go by, and into the next one. The thin mesh screen window separating the two sections of the confessional was fortunately closed at the moment.

Joker suddenly slipped in behind him, barely a second later, and Bruce realized he didn't know where exactly in the confessional this supposed secret entrance might be. Instead of searching around like an idiot, and getting them caught by wasting time, he took the madman by the hips and gracefully swapped their positions, squeezing past the maniac, their bodies pressed together for a brief moment. Poking his head out of the the door he scanned the room one more time, ignoring how the Joker grinned at him. The Joker smirking at the brief contact, getting the gist of what Batman wanted him to do, which unfortunately wasn't what he wanted to do at the moment. The maniac pouted, giving the man one last sultry leer, not willing to antagonize the vigilante just yet. He dutifully knelt down near the confessional's seat, feeling around for a moment. Batman continued to scan the room, hoping that this was the one they needed. If it wasn't... he needed to do something to get the girls out of the other confessional. The Joker stood up after a full minute and shrugged his shoulders.

Bruce wanted to groan in irritation, he couldn't think of anything that wouldn't blatantly point to him being there, besides a fire, that would get those two out of the confessional, and possibly burn the building down. He was pretty sure scaring them in any way would just make them remain in the cramped space. Making a run for an exit would be a foolish choice versus hiding, unless he bore down on them from above. Which would leave them screaming out of the room and across the convent in seconds. Not only would that alert the convent, but could possible alert Harley Quinn as well.

The Joker sat there watching the hard thinking face of the Bat for a long minute before he decided to put the man out of his misery. The madman tapped Batman on the shoulder, then almost shoved him out of his way as he squeezed past. Doing the squeezing as slowly as he could, enjoying the way Bruce glared down at him knowingly, the way the wall of hard muscle remained unmoving. The madman just placed his hands on the vigilante's chest, biting his lip as he slipped past.

Batman scowled at him as the maniac pretended it was harder than it looked, taking his sweet ass time. Bruce barely noticed the lack of disgust at the man's touch as he finally slipped by. The maniac waltzed over to the door leading into the interior of the worship hall. Once there the madman rolled his eyes, beckoning him over. Then mimed taking a gun off his waist and shooting it up at the ceiling. Batman followed his imaginary trajectory and realize he was pointing to the beams above them. The Dark Knight looked skeptical for a brief second before giving in and trudging over to the madman, who simply grinned at him in the thin veils of moonlight. The little light easily brightening his skin, his grin rather ominous in its beams.

Once Batman reached him, he took out his grappling hook and pointed it at the beam. He wanted to be prepared for any crazy shit the madman did. The Joker simply took his time, stretching his arms and back, making a show of cracking his neck. Batman gritted his teeth at the dramatics, his grip tightening on the grappling gun. Then The Joker opened his mouth and the vigilante wasn't sure if he should stop him or see where this was going.

"Sister Alden!" The Joker called out in a rather girly voice, but not so shrill it was absolutely fake, the upward lilt at the end sealing the deal, "I know you're in here. You two little whores. God will punish you. Oh he will punish you. But I'm not going to wait for his wrath on you sinners! I'm going to get mother superior you filth!" The madman finished, the girls having gone instantly silent. The Joker slapped a hand against his mouth to keep from giggling, his eyes dancing with mirth. After a split second, he turned around opened the door behind him and slammed it shut. The Dark Knight jumped instantly into motion, grabbing the Joker's hand and tugging him closer in one fluid pull. Once the madman was flush against him he shot out his grappling hook. The maniac biting the corner of his lip to keep quiet, pressing against the vigilante, as the projectile silently wrapped around the beam above.

A second later they were zipping quietly up to the rafters as one of the girls opened the door of the confessional. The rather disheveled looking nun glanced around the room before they both spilled out. The two girls rushing across the worship hall, dashing towards the back of the building. Bruce presumed to get into their beds before anyone could say they were actually out of them. He dropped them down quickly, shoving the Joker into the box as he slipped inside behind him. A second after landing Batman picked up footsteps from outside the main entrance. It was rather cramped as he shut the door, but it didn't seem to bother either of them. The door to the hall creaked open painfully loud.

"I swear. If you two are at it again." A voice muttered, carrying across the room. Batman turned a demanding look to the madman who immediately slipped down. Bruce had to place both arms on either side of the box to keep himself from falling out of the closed door, as the madman's ass hit his thighs. It wasn't the first time Bruce was glad he wore a cup. When the Joker bumped into him, he looked away, switching detective vision back on to ignore the way the man brushed against him.

The madman made quick work in his search as the footsteps neared their booth. There was a quiet click that seemed to echo ominously through the entire hall. "Lauren, if you two are in there I will," The Joker lifted the seat, revealing a rather small entrance in the floor, "Tell mother superior, and you can be sure she will not allow such," The Joker quickly slipped into the small opening, and Batman squeezed in behind him, his shoulders scrapping on the edges. The vigilante turned around swiftly and was pulling the seat back down when the confessional door started to open. Bruce barely caught a glimpse of the nun through a thin slice or space as the seat finally clicked shut, "disgraceful union under the house of..." The nun trailed off, her voice muffled from the other side. There was a click and footsteps echoed away, followed by muttering. Batman turned around to get them moving before the madman could break their cover with his obnoxious opinions. Bruce found the Joker staring around them at nothing, completely unconcerned that he was practically blind. Batman slipped forward placing a gloved hand on his lower back. The Joker's spine shifted beneath his palm as he gently guided him forward a few steps. The madman walked forward without a word, only glancing back to see if he could catch sight of the vigilante. His eyes a bright orange in the detective vision. The Dark Knight stopped the Joker rather abruptly, and he leaned in, his lips brushing the madman's hair as he got close enough to whisper.

"There are stairs in front of you. Go slow." He whispered as quietly as possible. The Joker nodded his head and Bruce didn't lean away, instead allowing the madman to leave his personal space. The Joker's hair brushing across his lips as the maniac took the first step down the stairs. Batman grabbed one of the madman's upper arms, making sure to keep a firm grip. Just in case the maniac slipped. They walked on in silence for a few long minutes, their progress rather slow in the beginning. Once they were far enough away from the entrance surprisingly Bruce was the one to break the silence. "Nice job." The vigilante muttered and the madman stopped mid step. He spun around rather abruptly, his hand accidentally slapping against Batman's shoulder. The vigilante closer than the madman had expected, then he comically trailed his hand up to his face, slapping the kevlar until his hand landed on Bruce's forehead.

"Are you sick? Should we call this off. I think you're ill. We should turn around." The Joker muttered sarcastically, pressing the back of his hand against batman's cowled forehead. Bruce smacked his hand away with a scowl, grabbing the man's waist the vigilante roughly forced the maniac around. "Woah! Oookay!" The Joker exclaimed in surprise as he was suddenly manhandled in the complete darkness. The Joker's foot slipped off a step as he fumbled to follow the sudden movement and he teetered forward. The only thing keeping him from tumbling to his death was the Dark Knight's almost bruising grip latched around his waist. Bruce quickly tugged him back, the madman falling into him instead dying in a heap of broken bones. One of Batman's arms sliding around his abdomen, ensuring he didn't slip away or fall back forward. There was silence for a few moments, then the Joker giggled, "Now that. Would be a way to go!" The madman laughed, finally getting his balance situated. He straightened up but Bruce didn't really let him go, his hands sliding back to hold his waist instead. "I can just see the headlines." The madman snickered, "Joker, Terror of the City, death by stairs? They'd be so confused." The Joker giggled, taking a step down, "God, you're so sensitive! You know that? Just one comment that your not feeling like yourself and your all puffed up." The Joker chuckled in amusement obviously not seeing that as a fault.

"You're delusional." Batman muttered putting a little pressure on the man's waist, urging him to keep moving forward. The madman took the hint, starting down the stairs again.

"Really? I'm delusional?" The Joker asked blandly, "You're broody and menacing. All the time. You most certainly have some anger issues. And so emotional for someone who pretends to be a stone gargoyle as a part time job. Which, I have to say, the patience you have sometimes. Really amazing. I mean you've sat on those things for like a full hour while my men stumble around looking for you!" The madman exclaimed in quiet amazement.

"You're loud, extremely showy, and half your jokes aren't amusing. The other half are okay." Bruce muttered back sarcastically and the Joker snapped his head around at the sudden change in topic.

"What?" He asked in confusion, and Batman smirked.

"What? I thought we were listing each other's faults." The Dark Knight stated, pressing him forward again. The man's muscles shifted beneath his hands as the man turned forward again.

"I did compliment you!" The Joker complained as he continued down the stairs, a pout hidden in the dark.

"So did I." Bruce claimed in amusement, staring down the almost endless stairway, trying to find the bottom. His hands sliding farther up into a more comfortable position, on either side of the man's ribs.

"No you didn't. Unless loud and showy is a good thing." The madman muttered, one hand going out to trail along the wall.

"I said half your jokes aren't bad. Isn't that a compliment?" Batman replied with a smirk, his attention turning to the small action, watching the man's orange hand slide across the cold stone.

"Wow. No wonder you're a billionaire with no girlfriend." The Joker laughed, letting his other hand trail along the other wall.

"You don't know what I am." Batman snapped back, trying to deny the Joker's description of his alter ego in case anyone could be listening. The Joker just laughed at his cautiousness and picked up his speed with confidence. Which Bruce just realized was pretty talented, considering the man couldn't see anything. Finally, The Dark Knight spotted a wooden door marking the end of this ridiculously long staircase. Once they reached the last step Bruce stopped the madman from reaching the landing, knowing he'd fall flat on his face if he tried to keep walking down non-existent stairs. He leaned in quickly, before the madman could protest and whispered in his ear again. "We're at the bottom," He informed him, letting the maniac make one last step. Bruce swiftly slipped past him, moving to the door. He stared at it. Then flipping through his various vision settings, but he couldn't see anything. Nothing at all, and that made him nervous. There should be at least something, a rat. Anything really. Old heated pipes, cold spots. But there was just... nothing. The room was completely dark.

Batman glanced back at his... prisoner? He moved back towards the man who had the decency to stay quiet so far. The Dark Knight picked him up off the ground setting him higher up on the steps. The Joker's heat signature spiked as he manhandled him up the stairs. Bruce set him down, backing away, watching it return to normal with some fascination. The Joker just sat on the stairs probably grinning into the darkness as he waited almost patiently. Curiously Bruce placed a hand on the madman's shoulders his thumbs near the man's collarbone and his temperature rose again. The madman tilted his head up a little, exposing his neck invitingly and Bruce backed away. "Stay here." He muttered, letting his hands fall off the man. This time the Joker's temperature didn't go down quite as fast, but Batman didn't stay around to see how long it would take. Instead he turned back to the task at hand, leaving the curiosity behind.

Batman crouched near the door and placing a hand on it he slowly cracked it open. A small dim sliver of light slipped into the passage illuminating the landing. Bruce glanced up, making sure that light didn't land on the madman. Fortunately, he couldn't even see the madman's shoes. The Dark Knight pushed it a little farther, taking a peek out. He was met with stone walls, and nothing more. Frowning he pushed it open a further, slipping out as quickly as possible he rushed towards the first pool of shadows and pressed himself against the wall. He turned to survey the room... which was suddenly filled with orange hulking figures. There was a click and he turned his head away shielding his eyes as light flooded the room. He switched his vision back to normal, but the damage had been done. The vigilante blinking rapidly to regain his vision.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here. If it isn't the little bat." A man spoke, from behind the light, "Guess the boss was right." There was several distinctive clicks and Bruce's stomach dropped a little. Damn, he thought, as guns he couldn't see where leveled onto him. Rough hands grabbed him and he was dragged out of the spotlight, he counted fourteen armed men. All armed, all aimed at him. He wasn't going anywhere soon. He was roughly shoved to the ground, his face smacking stone as his hands were zip tied behind his back. Once finished he was jerked violently up again. Then he was dragged past the group of men, out of the bare stone room he had entered, and into a makeshift living room. A group of men in flanking him on all sides. Bruce spotted a television in the corner that flickered in and out with the news, Bruce Wayne's face still plastered all over it. Did the Joker set him up? Batman wondered hollowly with a sinking feeling, he shouldn't have trusted him. Shouldn't have listened. He deserved to die if the madman had betrayed him because he was stupid enough to listen. The maniac was a prisoner after all. Nothing more than that. Nothing that warranted Bruce's trust, wonder, or curiosity. The men opened a door and streamed in, an indignant voice meeting their intrusion.

"What are you doing?!" A Joke-esque voice screeched from inside, but Bruce could easily tell the differences now. It was missing that dangerous undertone. The sultry notes. The danger. Batman was roughly thrown to the ground, Batman twisting to ensure his shoulder took most of the hit. The men shuffled apart to reveal a suited up Prince of Crime. His purple jacket impeccable. His hair slicked back. Harley sitting joyfully on his lap. Her thighs exposed as the man's hand slid up one. Bruce resisted a smirk, he was sure it was her dream come true. The real Joker only had one obsession. The fake Joker he stared at Batman with poorly hidden shock and panic. "What are you doing?! I told you to kill him on sight!" The fake exclaimed, shoving Harley out of his lap. She fell the floor with an indignant yelp. The men around them shuffled uncomfortably, as if they didn't know quite what to do with themselves, or Batman.

"But boss." The man who had spoken earlier started to speak again, but was cut off by the false madman.

"There are no buts. Kill him and get it over with! You don't leave your enemies alive! This is why the city is falling apart!" The poser exclaimed as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. The men just shifted around him, looking towards one another in fear and confusion. Batman could practically see their thoughts. They weren't sure if this was a test or trick of some kind. How many times had the real Joker killed someone for really injuring Batman? How many times had be stated the Bat was to be brought in alive? The fake maniac huffed angrily, snatching a slick pistol from beside his throne like chair. "Fine! I'll do it. If you want something done right you have to do it yourself." The copy muttered, placing the pistol against Bruce's forehead, and he started to pull the trigger. Bruce met his dark green eyes, with his own steel blue. This couldn't be it.

"Wait, puddin' don't you wanna, I don't know. Rub it in his face or somethin'?" Harley asked from her kneeling position on their chair, his hands sliding over the fake madman's back. She batted her large fake lashes at the equally fake maniac, and the man glared. The false Joker moved behind Batman, throwing his head back dramatically and rolling his eyes.

"I'm surrounded..." He muttered to himself, pressing the pistol painfully against the back of Batman's cowl, forcing his head to tilt forward instead.

"Now then." The poser smirked, his finger tightening on the trigger again. Bruce closed his eyes... he had so much left to do... but nothing happened.

The fake suddenly sighed in irritation, kneeling down beside him. The gun slipping beneath Bruce's chin, as the false madman leaned in close. Batman gritted his jaw as the cold metal pressed into his skin, his head tilting up. Harley giddily slipped off the chair to sit in front of the vigilante, kneeling in front of the man like an innocent child. Bruce's defiant eyes snapped away, as the fake Joker pressed the gun harder into his soft underjaw. "You know, what could it hurt? How does it feel to finally lose Batman?" The false maniac asked, tilting his head with a satisfied grin. There was a inconspicuous click, that didn't come from the man beside him. Bruce's adrenaline spiked on instinct as a single quiet chuckle was heard over the shuffling of henchmen.

The world slowed down, a heavy breath falling from Batman's parted lips as another quiet click echoed through the room. Something disrupted the air, shattering the calm. Bruce's eyes shifted to the right just in time to see blood erupted from the side of a grunt's head. Batman immediately jerked backwards at the first sign of chaos. His back slamming hard into the ground, mere seconds before the fake Joker pulled the trigger in panic. The sound of the pistol's single shot drowned out by the rain of bullets. Bruce shut his eyes as blood spattered across the room in a horrific display of human mortality. Bodies jerked violently around him as they were shredded apart one hole at a time. It lasted a full twenty seconds before the gun clicked empty. The sound echoing through the now silent room as whoever held the gun pulled the empty trigger three more times. The clicks echoing through the room.

Batman opened his eyes as the useless machine gun was tossed to the floor, its metal body clattering against the stones. Someone choked on their own blood beside Bruce and he ripped his sight away from the dying man. The fake Joker snarled viciously, raising his gun towards the entrance with determination as he stood up. Bruce jerked forward to slam his shoulder into the man, his stomach muscles greatly protesting the sudden movement. Batman hit the fake Joker in the abdomen sending the bullet wild to join the rest of the holes in the wall. The fake maniac stumbled and Bruce fell to the floor. His side taking the full force of the hit, his hands still tied behind him.

There was another click of a gun's safety being removed and the imposter froze, his hands gradually raising in reluctant surrender. Bruce let out a breath of relief and rolled to his back, taking in the sight that was behind him. The real Joker stood in the doorway, with a casual smile on his scarred face. The Prince of Crime's eyes dancing with the promise of death and the exhilaration from the miniature masacre, a different machine gun, slick with it's owners blood, pointed steadily at his double. Batman shifted his weight, slipping his hands behind his ass and pulling his leg through, his wrists complaining as he twisted them in the zip tie to avoid dislocating his shoulders with the maneuver.

"Drop it." The Joker demanded in amusement, shooting a single bullet into the cement in between the fake man's legs. The false maniac yelped, dropping the gun on principle. "Oops." The real joker laughed and the look on the imposter's face informed them that dropping the gun had not been his intention. Batman easily kicked the gun away for good measure. Then slipped a knife out of his belt, skillfully slicing through the zip tie as the true madman stepped over the dead minions. "Hey there... Buttercup. Long time. No. See." The madman growled venomously, grabbing a handful of the fake's blood matted hair. He painfully lifted him up off the ground, the copy cat's hands gripping the Joker's wrists in an effort to alleviate the pressure. The Joker tossed his gun aside carelessly to slam a fist into the man's face instead. The madman let the fake crash to the floor, the imposter's face smashing into the pooling blood and bodily fluids slowly seeping across the ground. Bruce's body shook as he stood up, staring in shock at the carnage around him. His adrenaline ebbing away to unearth the true horror of the scene, glassy eyes seemed to stare at him from every direction. The Joker scowled at how pathetic the false villain was. Harley simply sat in terror as she stared in shock at the two men, unsure of what to do with herself when the real Joker grinned.

"Puh... puddin?" She stuttered weakly, as the real Joker gracefully swooped down, sliding a large blade out a sheath on a dead body beside him. After all, it wasn't like the man was going to be needing it. The Joker's sharp green eyes snapped to her.

"Shut up." The Joker whinned scowling at the girl, before leveling her with a cold empty stare, "I'll be dealing with you in a moment, sweetheart." The Joker muttered darkly, the last endearment burning the girl with it's acidity. The girls pathetic whimpers jerked Bruce out of his stupor. The Dark Knight turning towards the pair, his boots squelching disgustingly in the blood and bodily fluids.

"What have you done?" Batman asked, his suit covered in more blood than he had ever encountered before.

"Aw, Bats. Baby." The Joker cooed endearingly, dragging the fake madman up by the hair again, just as he recovered from the slam to the head. The fake man made a valiant attempt to scramble desperately for a gun, but the Joker simply crushed the man's hand with his boots, laughing as the fake crime lord cried out in agony. The Joker ground his boot down harder while tearing the man's head back, exposing his neck to the world with a sadistic grin.

"No!" Batman shouted desperately, launching himself forward... but it was too late. The Joker didn't even hesitate. He easily sliced the man's throat ear to ear, the pressure on the man's neck ripping the wound open like a second mouth. Blood poured from the opening as the man sputtered, his body instantly going into shock. Bruce, still in motion, tripped over a body at the sight, haphazardly crashing into the bloody mess, barely keeping his head from dropping into it the pool. The Joker tossed the dying man away like a piece of useless trash. The lifeless head thumping loudly against the ground, splashing a bit of blood near Bruce. Glassy dark green eyes stared sightlessly out at Batman, as the madman gracefully stepped over the body. Harley took the chance to squeal in horror as the Joker advanced towards her. Batman's heart sank further and he scrambled to get up, his hand slipping in the blood, almost sending him back down again. Once close enough Bruce's hand shot out latching onto the Joker's wrist, the vigilante still kneeling on the floor.

"That's enough." Batman growled almost pleadingly and the Joker turned confused eyes to him, stopping dead in his tracks. His face so lost he looked like a child, that couldn't eat ice cream anymore, or couldn't go to the park and play with the other kids.

"Why?" The Joker questioned willfully, turning slowly towards him, "What is so wrong with this?" The madman asked throwing his arms out indicate the room. "With death?" The Joker frowned, letting his hands drop. "They're slime, Batsy." The Joker laughed gesturing again, but not so extravagantly this time, before squaring his shoulders. "I only hire the lowest of the low. And now. They're gone." The Joker stated, gazing down at the vigilante. "And you know what?" The Joker asked quietly, kneeling down in front of him, leveling him with a clear gaze. "They'll be more. Like cockroaches. They'll crawl back." The Joker stood up with a grin throwing his arms open. "A never ending supply of scumbags! Just for me." The Joker laughed darkly before sobering up instantaneously, "Because that's how the world works, Bats. When one tree falls another takes it place. It's nature. Evolution. Ecology. It's how we came to be." Bruce just stared at him, hopelessly, and the madman leaned forward gently brushing Batman's lips with his own. Harley gasped in horror and Bruce jerked his head away when the man barely touched him.

"That's enough." Batman scowled dangerously, getting up off the blood soaked floor. He released the madman, making his way over to the girl. She immediately scrambled back from him, but didn't make it very far, her back up against the wall, leaving bloody handprints across the splattered and shredded wall. "Come on Harley, it's over." Batman growled, holding out a pair of handcuffs from his belt. The girl stared up at him in desperation and fear, but it didn't take her long to give in. She shakily stood up from the floor and turned around, allowing Bruce to handcuff her. He walked her out of the room, refusing to look down as he stepped over the dead bodies. He sat her gently down on the couch and she finally broke down crying. Her makeup smearing down her face, sobbing complete nonsense. He turned around to find the Joker where he had left him. The criminal standing among the broken bodies looking a little irritated, confused, and guilty, but mostly just lost.

"Let's go, you got what you came for" Batman growled at the man, then turned back to the girl. "Stay." He demanded, turning turning away from both of them. The girl nodded her head, as the Dark Knight stormed away, making his way up the stairs off the side, not even bothering to see if the maniac was following him. It took a moment and Bruce was already half way up the steps before the Joker chased after him, jogging to catch up. Batman tried to take a deep breath, and suddenly felt claustrophobic. The world around his caving in, the walls rushing towards him. His hand shot out as he leaned against the wall for a moment, the world spinning. Taking shallow breaths he rushing up the rest of the steps, bursting out into a side alley a few streets down from the convent. He took in a deep breath of gasoline soaked streets mixed with city smog and almost regretted it. For a moment he had forgotten what Gotham smelled like. Thankfully he didn't feel like the walls were caving in on him anymore. He moved from the doorway, his gloved hand running along the wall as he took in their new location.

"Wait up." The Joker called after him, finally reaching the top of the stairs. The Joker burst from the doorway, a smile on his face. Bruce glanced at him, and all he could do was stare as his emotions consumed him. He had forgotten, he had fucking forgotten. How could he have possibly forgotten how insane this man was? How homicidal, psychotic, unbalanced, brilliantly beau – Fuck this night. Batman let out yell of frustration, slamming his fist into the side of the building.

"Soooo, I got a little carried away." The Joker muttered, " You're still alive right? Besides we've been over this. The man would have gone crazy anyways, he would've been put down sooner or later. I swear next time – ." The Joker insisted leaning up against the wall inspecting his blood stained nails.

"Shut the fuck up!" Bruce shouted, slamming his fist into the wall again, letting the pain center him. "Next time? Just shut up. Do you even... can you even... Fuck!" Batman snarled and turned away from the man to stare down at his blood covered hands. He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't function. Think. Breath. "Leave." Bruce finally whispered after a long moment of watching the light glint off his crimson slicked gloves. His hands tightening into fists at the decision, hiding the evidence of death. It was madness. It was fucking stupid. But Arkham wasn't fit to hold the maniac, and neither was his bases of operation, not yet, and Bruce couldn't handle this anymore. Couldn't take another second of this tension. He felt like he was falling in a pool of darkness and the further he fell the more he couldn't find. The more of himself he lost... wasn't sure... about anything. Every time he felt like he had a hold again, felt like he had control, the Joker was there. To give him another push into the abyss. Right there. His laughter following along beside him until... until what? What was at the bottom? What was the end of this fucked up escapade? Bruce didn't want to know. There was a long silence between them and Batman almost wasn't sure if the man had actually listened to him or not.

"What?" The Joker finally asked with quiet desolation, taking a step towards the vigilante. Bruce swallowed hard at the tone. This was going to be a fight. Of course it was.

"I said leave." He stated with resolution, only tilting his head towards the maniac, but still unable to look at the man, his back to him.

"You..." The Joker laughed nervously with a hint of fear, "Are you... are you insane? You want me to what? Just walk away?" The madman asked in indignation, taking another step towards the vigilante. There was another pause between them and when Bruce still hadn't replied the Joker ran his hands across the vigilante's shoulders. Batman immediately tensed under his touch, resisting the urge to punch the man until he stopped breathing. "After I... just... massacred an entire group of men you want me to just leave?! That doesn't even make sense!" The Joker insisted his hands falling, but the vigilante didn't turn back to him, didn't seem to care. "... I can't do that." The Joker finally muttered steadily, darkly, and Bruce gritted his teeth. Why? The Joker couldn't just leave? The madman couldn't just walk away like Batman had offered? Why? Why the fuck not? Bruce spun around, gather a handful of the man's under armour and slamming the man into the brick wall. One arm pressed roughly over his windpipe, the other fisting the collar of his black under armour.

"Why?! Why the fuck not?! I'm setting you free! Just fucking go!" Batman shouted into his face and the Joker simply stared at him with wide eyes, watching the anger flare through Bruce's steely blue orbs. Then the madman's brows furrowed, a bitter smile creeping over his features.

"Free?" The Joker giggled harshly, staring up at the vigilante with pity. "Free? Bats, I... Madness... It can't be slapped into handcuffs. It's not a neat little box you can shove away. You can't keep it in a bottle. Lock it in a cell. Suppress it with those fucking chemicals. I've always been free." The Joker whispered in venomous amusement, and Bruce leaned away with a scowl of disgust and they stared at eachother for another long period. Batman's eyes bouncing between the Joker's own brilliant green ones. Then suddenly Bruce's deep bitter laugh broke the silence, slowly shaking his head.

"But... you're not." He hissed knowingly, pressing the Joker harder into the brick wall. The Joker's jaw flexed at Batman's suggestion, his hand coming up to grip Bruce's wrist, but Batman wasn't done. "It's just a stupid fucking game you play because you're bored. Poor fucking Jack, with nothing to do but slaughter people. No." Bruce chuckled again, "No, you're not insane, you know exactly what you're doing and what the consequences are. But you..." Batman licked his lips, "You are a sociopath. So." The previous amusement instantly gone from the Dark Knights demeanor to make way for his grim steely resolve. "What do you want from me?" Bruce asked quietly, because it was true, this entire ordeal was only because the Joker wanted to play along. He could have escaped at any time.

The madman didn't say anything, they simply sat there glaring at eachother for a ridiculously long time. Until finally the Joker let his gently hand fall from Bruce's wrist. Of all the times for the maniac to finally shut up, it was now. Batman's grip tightened, his lips curling further exposing teeth. "What do you want from me?!" He demanded more forcefully, pressing the Joker harder against the wall, but the madman still didn't say anything. Instead he simply sighed, closing his eyes, letting his head fall gently back against the brick wall. In a rather obvious sign of relaxation. His head tilted invitingly to the side, exposing a long line of bruised neck.

Bruce's lips parted as he suddenly realized. Suddenly understood why the Joker did that, and that it wasn't just to piss him off. No. The Joker did it all the time. He plotted, laughed, they fought and then the madman would give up, but he wasn't giving up... he was submitting. To Batman. Bruce couldn't resist the sudden realization and took the invitation, slipping a hand around the man's throat. He tightened his grip and took a step back, letting his other hand fall away from the Joker's chest. The maniac simply let it happen, if anything the pulse beneath his fingers speeding up. The vigilante held him at arm's length, pressed firmly against the brick. The Joker's heart racing under his pale heated skin.

Batman barked out a laughed at the audacity, the ridiculousness of it all, before gritting his teeth as it became a reality. He knew what the madman wanted, why he wouldn't leave. Would it be that simple, Bruce suddenly wondered, staring at the quiet male breathing beneath his grip. How easy would it be to just squeeze? Would it be so easy to end all this? Would he want to? Batman took a moment to admire the crimson smeared across his pale skin from his glove, his thumb sliding over the man's pulse. The Joker's lips parted, his body relaxed, like he was enjoying himself. Bruce stepped back in, his breath suddenly ghosting over the man's cheek.

"No. I know what you want." Bruce breathed quietly against his skin, the Joker's eyes cracked open at the tone. "Because that's all you care about isn't it? Getting what you want? What you need? " Batman chuckled darkly, tightening his grip. "Fine... fine. You can fucking have it." Batman ground out, pulling back just far enough to see the utter confusion in the man's eyes. Bruce growled in irritation before crushing his lips painfully against the Joker's own. The madman grunted as his head slammed into the brick as the vigilante pressed against him. Batman's kevlar encased body sliding forward to pin the maniac against the wall. His hard muscles easily pressing him painfully into the bricks. It took the Joker a moment to react, and to Bruce's surprise he didn't reciprocate the kiss. Instead his hands rose to claw at the Dark Knight's grip on his throat, but Bruce was too angry to care, pressing hard into the man the more he struggled against him. The pressure between them making the kiss painful, their teeth pinching the sensitive skin. The Joker finally achieved some space with a gasp, he twisted his head away, ignoring how great Bruce's lips felt trailing over his scars. How the man's breath ghosted over the sensitive skin.

"Wait, Bats. This isn't – ." The Joker gritted his teeth as Batman scoffed, roughly grabbing his already hard cock through the skin tight underarmor, his mind going blank for a blissful moment as fire coursed through his veins. A gasp escaped his lips, his back arching a bit as Batman squeezed a little too tightly, making him shiver with the pain. Bruce chuckled darkly at the reaction, that was one way he could shut the maniac up. "Wait." The Joker stuttered though the sensation, trying to push through the overwhelming need building inside him, his hands coming up to grab at Bruce's wrists, "Bats." Batman ignored him, trailing a ghosted breath down the expanse of neck that the maniac unwittingly revealed during his gasped. Bruce started to stroked him through the thin clothing, a little amazed at how quickly the madman had hardened beneath his hands. The Joker's breathing instantly picked up, his body shivering beneath him.

"I thought this was what you wanted?" Bruce replied degradingly moving back up the man's cheek, secretly admiring how soft the skin was as he went. He paused for a second to watch the Joker's pupils expand as the madman lost his controlled breathing, as his thoughts slipped away. The madman's hands shifted to desperately clutch the vigilante's biceps as Batman's hand worked him. The madman bodily shivered as Batman ran his bottom lip along the pitted scars on his cheek, a sinful moan leaving his swollen lips. The maniac's grip suddenly tightened, eyes widening while snapping to Bruce as Batman's hand skillfully slipped into the under armour.

The Joker gasped again, letting out a long pleading whimper as Batman wrapped a gloved hand around his throbbing cock. The feel of his gloves against such sensitive skin sending Joker over the edge of coherent thought, and liquid pleasure through his body. Bruce pressed his thumb into base of his dick, into the main vein along the underside. He slowly made the first stroke up the heated member, forcing the blood along the shaft. The Joker cried out his back arching, his body shivering at the touch. The madman's knees instantly gave way as pleasure ripped through him. His head jerking back to hit the wall painfully. Batman's knee immediately shifted between his legs to keep the madman from collapsing onto the grime covered asphalt, a smirk of amusement on his lips.

The pain of the maniac hitting his head doing nothing to remove the blissful haze in his green orbs. The Dark Knight shifted his lips to hover over the Joker's own, catching the madman's every whimper and moan between his lips, but doing absolutely nothing to stifle them. Simply enjoying the raw need in his every pant, whimper, moan, and plead. Bruce has had countless sexual partners over his lifetime, some just as vocal as the Joker was right now, but none as authentic. As raw and heady, the Joker's desire obvious in the way his body shook, his breath hitched. Fuck, Bruce loved it. Loved the control he had. Batman slid his thumb over the slit of the maniac's heated cock, and the Joker's head snapped forward against his chest almost slamming their faces together with a silent scream, Bruce jerking to the side just in time. Batman laughed, licking his lips as the Joker huffed out another cry of pleasure.

"Is this what you wanted?" Batman asked, intending for his voice to sound angry, like this was a punishment, but it wasn't. It was deep and rich and betrayed how much he enjoyed this. The Joker somehow found the will power to lift his head, lust filled green eyes meeting Bruce's own dark steel ones. The look on his scarred face was one Bruce couldn't even describe. It held a need so deep it looked painful, a yearning, like Bruce was his lifeline, his oxygen, but it also held anger, stubbornness and defiance. Hate. It was complex just like the man, like their life. Like Bruce felt. He didn't like how the look made his heart pound. Batman twisted his hand sharply over the head of the Joker's weeping cock and the look instantly dissolved as the man moaned loudly falling back against the wall, his back arching. Bruce leaned forward once more, his lips brushing the man's ear. Batman parted his lips to speak, but the words caught in his throat.

"Bats. Please." The Joker gasped beautifully as Bruce slid his thumb up the vein again and suddenly Batman didn't care. Bruce chuckled at the sound, a thrill coursing through him as he ran his thumb over the slit, smearing precum over the head.

"I bet I know how to make you scream." Batman whispered almost breathlessly, and the Joker's own breath hitched, his body wracked with a shiver as the vigilante's deep voice slid down his spine. Bruce waited a few more strokes, watching the Joker pant beneath him, his usual manipulative gaze warped into mindless pleasure. Batman took pity and ran his lips along the man's neck until he felt the Joker's pulse racing beneath them. Then the Dark Knight kept his promise and the Joker cried out loudly, back arching violently, his body shaking beneath Bruce's hands as he bit down hard on the man's pulse. The Joker started thrusting wildly, his hands tearing at Batman's armor as he spilled across Bruce's gloved hand. His scream turning silent as Batman milked the last of his orgasm, the man's body tense and shaking. Bruce watched the man's eyes blur as the lids open, seeing nothing at all as the post orgasm endorphines coursed through him. His body and mind blind with pleasure still dancing across his nerve endings. Batman licked his lips, pulling his hand out of the man's pants. He stared down at the mess for a long moment before mechanically wiping the cum off onto the madman's already stained clothing. Bruce stepped stiffly away from him, and the Joker crumbled to the ground with a shocked gasp. One hand barely flying out in time to catch him. Batman took in his disheveled state and felt a little nauseous. Taking a deep breath he turned around walking away from the madman.

"Bats." The Joker called to him still breathless, fear creeping into his voice. Bruce turned just enough to look at the man from over his shoulder, his eyes cold.

"You got what you wanted." Batman replied darkly after a long moment of silence. He turned back and continued down the alleyway, pressing the button on his gauntlet to summon the Batwing.

"Wait! Bats! No." The Joker called after him, trying to scramble to him feet, but his legs didn't seem to be listening to him. "Batsy! This isn't! Fuck. Wait!" The madman cried desperately as Batman ignored him. He shot his grappling hook into the air, disappearing out of sight without turning back to the maniac. The madman called after him again. Bruce didn't go all the way to the Batwing, however. Instead, he fell back down to the roof nearby, creeping over the ledge to gaze down at the man. His curiosity and confusion getting the better of him. It took the Joker a few more moments to actually move, clawing at the wall to prop himself up. The Joker stared furiously at the spot Batman had just disappeared. Then the maniac pressed his forehead into the bricks. After a long moment he slammed his forehead harshly into the wall, and Bruce flinched at the resounding crack that echoed down the alleyway.

"Fuck!" The Joker shouted in frustration. The madman stilled for a moment before his fist slammed into the wall, then a boot. Then the maniac was slamming against it with everything he had, another tortured yell falling from his lips. The madman stilled suddenly and after a few moments he stepped away, the palm of his hand still pressed against the wall holding his weight. The Joker finally took a deep breath, lifting his head up, blood streaming down his face. He smiled, raising his hands to smooth his hair back, his anger falling away to a cold calculating gaze that Batman only saw in glimpses. The Joker cracked his neck, mischievously eyeing the door down the to hideout. After a long moment the madman turned instead, making his way quietly out of the alleyway, slipping off into the heart of Gotham. Batman watched him go.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Bruce wasn't sure how long he had been sitting there, before the hurricane known as his thoughts were jarringly interrupted.

"Batman?" Came the sudden and blaring questioning voice over the coms.

"Yeah?" Bruce answered a little reluctantly, suddenly realizing where he was, and that still he hadn't called the precinct to pickup Harley yet.

"You haven't check in for awhile. I just wanted to make sure you're okay." Oracle stated, sounding a lot more lively than she had earlier that night. Bruce would be scared too if someone had trailed Bane around through his house without a leash. Not that he would ever be afraid of Bane, but the simply fact that he couldn't do anything about it would have caused some problems. Bruce knew Oracle wasn't actually afraid of the Joker, but it was hard to cope when the reason you're in a wheelchair was walking around nonchalantly and there was nothing you could do about it.

"Yeah I'm fine." Batman replied, feeling guilty for yet another thing that night. He stood up from his crouched position, his leg protesting at the movement. Now that he had taken a chance to rest it was aching painfully.

"And the Joker?" The girl asked halfheartedly, and Bruce flinched.

"He's... alive." Batman answered vaguely, staring off into the darkness of the alleyway. Suddenly the consequences of his actions came crashing down on him. He had just let a maniac loose on the city like it was nothing. He didn't even fucking put a tracker on him. He didn't even think about it. Fuck. What was he doing?

"Well that's... good I guess. Hey we've found something on the doctor, I'm sending you the info, I think we should leak it to the press. They'll put an A.P.B. out on her, and we could probably get a raid going on Arkham. Find out what they were really doing down there. The police should have the resources now that you've taken down the Jokers." Barbra informed him, the tapping on her keyboard the only sound in the background. Bruce shook his head, even though he knew she couldn't see it.

"Not all of them." He muttered, pulling up the information she just sent him.

"Batman. I'm sure it can wait until tomorrow. Whoever they are, they're just sitting in some apartment building, not blowing anything up. You need your rest." She insisted, but Bruce ignored her.

"This should be enough to get a warrant on Arkham. Send it out. Keep me updated." Batman stated, pulling up the location of the last tacker. Barbara sighed over the line.

"As usual. Hey where is the Joker I ha – ?" Oracle asked curiously and Bruce hung up the line. Batman took a deep breath. Even if he wanted to get the Joker back under his custody he'd have no way of finding him. When the madman decided to disappear he was gone until he felt like it. Sure Bruce could parade around in the streets until the maniac came to him, but he had better things to do. And to be honest. Bruce still needed some space. Batman could still smell the man, and it wasn't entirely unpleasant.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

It didn't take him long to get to the building. It was a pretty high class apartment complex in downtown Gotham. Bruce used a gadget to pick the lock to let himself in through the roof. He locked the door behind him. Last thing he needed was some suicidal idiot to find that door open. Then he'd have another death on his hands. Batman made his way down the hall and was surprised that he didn't need to go down a floor. A penthouse suite. Bruce slowed down as he neared his target, the door to the apartment already slightly ajar.

Batman cautiously crept towards the door, pressing himself against the wall to peer into the room. It was rather dark. The only light illuminating the area a was blue and purple from the club sign across the street that continuously flickered on and off. The Dark Knight switched on his detective vision peering around the apartment. One lone figure sat in the far room facing away from the door. Bruce kept an eye on him as he pushed the door open further, sliding silently into the room. He switched the night vision off, briefly taking in the area. He had entered a living room, the furniture covered in plastic. The artwork removed from the walls and hidden in sheets. Whoever lived in this apartment was either moving out or dead.

The Dark Knight continued through the room, through the spotless kitchen, boxes sitting taped up on the counter. Batman passed them as well, walking down another hallway. A bathroom and study on one side. He stopped at the last door that was on the left, a side table covered in plastic still pushed against the wall near the room. The door was open and Batman slipped in, reactivating his vision before hand to ensure the man hadn't moved. He hadn't. The male sat slouched in a straight backed chair facing the large balcony that was thrown open. The sound of Gotham's city life from below lofting through the air. Bruce slipped quietly into the room sliding through the shadows until he could catch a glimpse of the man in the chair. Batman froze in the darkness, coming face to face with himself. The man shifted after a long moment, raising a glass of wine to his sharp lips. Bruce's sharp lips.

"You know." The man muttered after a while, letting his hand fall back to it's slacked position, some wine sloshing over the side and onto the expensive carpet. "I've always wanted to be handsome."