Bloodlines.

There weren't many things that surprised Jester anymore, she doubted there was anything that would really surprise any of the citizens of Gotham either.

But when she heard the tell tale footsteps of one Edward Nigma, she was pleasantly surprised.

"Never took you for midnight strolls, Eddie," the girl giggled as she leaned her head against the wall looking up at him with a smirk.

Edward paused before leaning his cain on his shoulder. "This is a special occasion."

"Did you find beneath your pride a smidgin of sympathy for me?"

Edward scoffed. "No one is that lucky my dear."

"I guess not," Jester laughed before she got to her feet. "My second guess would be Enigma heckled you to come and get me."

"In that sense you are correct," Edward smirked. "She seems to care for you."

"Well no doubt you'll get that out of her system so she can survive here," the girl laughed as she pocketed her hands and leaned against the wall, smirking at him.

"You know me so well."

"I know you better then anyone," she paused. "Actually, I reckon Mist know's you better. Good old Doc' Terry."

"She is no Doctor."

"Why's that? she fall in love with a patient?" she giggled wiggling her eyebrows suggestively at Edward.

He rolled his eyes in return of her childish gesture. "Don't be ridiculous. She was never a Doctor to begin with."

"Oh?" Jester raised an eyebrow. "What was she then?"

"An investigative reporter with a degree in psychology. She has good connections and they were able to cover her tracks and falsify documents. Quite clever the supposed Doctor who passed her, 'Ian Moon', it's an anagram for 'I am no one'. I was rather proud."

Jester rolled her eyes. "Enigma's your daughter Eddie, not Mist."

"Oh, I know that. Still, I rather like to think she did it in memory of me."

"And she knows you're a rogue now too, doesn't she."

"Yes I left her clues so she could work it out."

"And she's worked it out correct."

"Yes."

"And how that work out for ya'?"

Edward paused before he shuffled with a disgruntled look on his face. "Not well."

Jester laughed. "Why is that not surprising?"

Edward folded his arms. "Are you done taking the micky out of me?"

"No, not done yet, I'm pretty sure I can still pick at that injury, but for another time."

"Good. Now lets leave, I hate being out in the open like this, makes me feel exposed."

Jester smirked before she filled after him as they walked out of the train station towards the subway entrance.

"Doesn't this open up into Penguin's territory?"

"Yes, it does."

"Ya' sure it's wise ta' bring me Eddie? I'mma perfect example of all things Ozzy hates."

"I thought he would put a pass on you."

"Uh huh and you figured this how?"

"You're a jester, not a clown," Edward grinned at her making Jester giggle.

"Being smart will only get ya into trouble in Ozzy's book."

"Oh that pompous bird doesn't bother me."

"It ain't you he wants to chop up into little bits."

Edward shook his head. "He wouldn't do that. Too messy. Oswald hates mess, complains about that fact it ruins all the fabric in that precious nightclub of his."

"So what would he do instead?"

Edward paused and tapped his chin in thought. He'd worked with Cobblepot quite a view times. What would he do?

"Probably kneecap you."

Jester grimaced. "Yes, you may not realise this, Eddie but, I'm rather found of my kneecaps, I've grown quite attached to them you might say."

Edward laughed. "Yes, I thought you might say something like that, now; what is the matter Jester?"

"Matter, Eddie?"

"Don't play stupid with me, Jester. It doesn't suit you."

"Oh so you think I'm smart do ya' Edward I-don't-think-anyone's-smart- Nigma?" Jester giggled as she ran a hand through her choppy hair.

"Jester," Edward warned, his arms crossed and a cold look graced his features as he stared the girl down.

Even Jester, who had seen many dangerous in the short time of being a rogue, did not want to be caught under that stare.

"I learnt that Strange is a nutter," she shrugged but Edward wasn't having it and Jester huffed, folding her arms and pouting like a child.

Edward shook his head. "You keep dodging the question and it's making me feel like we're back to square one."

"Maybe we are Eddie, maybe we never got past that square or maybe we were never on the bored to begin with."

"Stop playing games with me girl. You've changed. More calculated, not as crazy."

"I only had a mental break. I'm still a fully sane citizen."

"Who just beat up, maimed and possibly killed a group of thugs."

Jester shrugged. "No loss in reality then."

"Jester what happened? What did Strange tell you?"

"Ya know it was my birthday a few weeks ago? Meant it was my sisters too. Kinda sad really when you think about it. I'm 15 now and locked in some psycho's prison. Sad really."

Edward narrowed his eyes. "Did you see Calendar Man?"

He noted that the girl tensed at the mere mention of the man's name and she shuffled were she was standing, wrapping her arms around her to protect herself.

"If you must know Eddie I did. But… that's not the thing that's bothering me the most."

"Care to tell me what is bothering you then?" Edward questioned.

Jester looked towards him with a sigh she looked back to the floor. "I know who my dad is."

Edward blinked. Not what he was expecting, he will admit that. "Who is he?"

"Ya' mean you don't know?"

"No, of course I don't."

"Huh, that's surprising."

"Believe it or not, Jester but I had more important things to do in my spare time then look up your family ties while you were out enjoying your merry life while I was stuck in that sorry excuse for a mental help clinic," Edward bit out as he gave the child's head a glare that would make flowers wilt.

Jester gave a breathy laugh. "I guess you're right."

"I am right like I am always right," Edward snarled before he walked round to stand in front of her. "Now, who is your father?"

Jester sighed heavily before she pocketed her hands and smirked up at him. "You ain't gonna believe this."

"Try me, I dare you."

She grinned at his frown, which made him all the more angry with her. "My Pop is Black Mask, ya know the guy who kinda made me the crazy clown I am today, the one, as you put it, gave me an all in one bleach job?"

Edward stared at her in shock. "Roman Sionis? The Black Mask? He's your father?"

Jester giggled nodding at him.

Edward frowned before he ran a hand down his face and gave an irritated growl. "Oh that's just wonderful, not only are you the protégé to perhaps the most insane and crazed rogue in Gotham, you're the daughter of the head crime lord in Gotham! You haven't told anyone else of this have you?"

Jester frowned and shook her head. "No, of course I haven't. I've been too busy laughing at myself at the irony of it all."

"Of course," Edward bit out. "Because that's what any sane person would be doing."

"Give me a brake, Eddie I've had a rough night."

"I think I preferred you when you were 14, you've started to gain a little bit of lip on you."

"Eh, I always had it, just kept it hidden from view," Jester giggled. "But now I don't care. The jokes on me as it where and it can't get any worse now can it?"

"Don't ever say that."

"Why not?"

"Because whenever anyone ever says that it gets worse."

Jester giggled before she laughed hysterically. "Okay, fair point. But maybe I want it worse."

"Maybe you need to stop talking and start examining the facts you've recently gathered with logic and not insanity."

Jester giggled. "Maybe you're right."

"There is not maybe for that. I am right," Edward snarled pointing his finger at her. "You need to start looking at the information you've just been given and consider what could come out of it if anyone found out about this, understand?"

Jester nodded her head and giggled. "Okay time to get everything thought out. Try to think logically what's going on," Jester paused and thought for a bit before frowning and grabbing her head. "Woah, that hurt! Okay we'll come back to that."

Edward blinked. "You can't think logically?"

"I'm crazy do you honestly think I can think logically?"

"I honestly don't know what I think anymore. This world has gotten crazy, even for me," Edward sighed shaking his head as he paced slightly in front of Jester, his cane held behind his back with his hands running along it as he went.

"You're the daughter of Black Mask. The head of crime when it comes to mob bosses. If anyone found out about this, it could tear this world apart, destroy everything Black Mask has built because it would give him something he hasn't had in a long time."

Jester raised an eyebrow, amazed at how quickly Edward's mind ticked and fitted every piece of one giant puzzle together to make perfect logical sense out of something which lacked it entirely.

"What's that?"

"Strings," Edward stated as he stopped in his pacing. "If anyone found out that you and Sorrow were his daughters it would give him strings which could either help or trip him up. In other words it could build his empire or bring it crashing down around him."

Jester sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Which could do the exact same thing that Strange wants to happen with the situation that's concerning Boss J man right?"

Edward nodded. "Maybe that's why he told you. Maybe he was hoping that you would spread the word and he hoped that others who would want to take Black Mask's place would use you and your sister to trip him up which would leave the place empty and create a war between all the 'normal' criminals."

"But if there was upset in both the order for the super criminals and the mob bosses surely that would cause mass panic and crisis in the criminal underworld?"

"Yes it would. Every single person with a record to their name would try to get top place in either all or one of the top places, we'd kill each other off."

"Then Strange wouldn't have to worry about the mob bosses either, he would just sit in his pretty tower of his and laugh and then when we've taken each other out he'd strike and take those of us left out. Eddie, that's it isn't it? That's his plan!"

Edward smiled slightly at the girl. "I must admit, I am impressed that you were able to figure that all out in that time."

"I can work things out when it is required," Jester smirked.

Edward chuckled lightly. "Maybe we should humour him."

"What?" Jester questioned with a frown. "Have you lost what ever was left of your mind Eddie? We can't do that!"

"We can," Edward grinned. "If you go around announcing yourself to be the daughter of Black Mask but he form alliances in the back ground then we can beat Strange at his own game. I can talk to Mist and she can get me all the information she has on Strange and in return I can give her the story of a life time."

"There may be a problem with that Eddie," Jester muttered.

"Whatever is it?"

"Strange told me he was bringing Doc Terry here, he was gonna lock her up in Arkham City. Said he might use her for some experiments first and then let her out onto the streets so any thugs could have their way with her and he would be rid of her, it would just look like an accident that she got killed, he was gonna forge documents and everything about her being part of the church team and bomb the real members of the church group so no one could say otherwise."

"Bombing? What bombing?" Edward questioned.

Jester shrugged. "He didn't say. He just said that in the bombing he was gonna cut all ties and then places like Arkham City were gonna spread. Ya see, there's one thing I've learnt about crazy criminals, they all like to boast about their plans because they're so egotistical!"

"I'm actually shocked you even knew that word existed."

"My point exactly," Jester giggled.

Edward frowned before he smirked. "Very funny. Did he say when he was bringing Mist here?"

The black and white clown shook her head in dismay. "Nah, he didn't mention that. But I think it was soon."

Edward nodded his head and thought for a moment. "I think we need to speak with Penguin."

"Wha-? Are ya' trying ta get me killed? Don't answer that, but seriously, Eddie!" Jester cried as he walked towards the steps that led above ground.

"Don't worry, Oswald won't risk it yet, he hasn't got enough men to stop Joker's forces and there is no one to stop them from getting here. He won't risk it."

"Harvey is gonna join in the war ya know."

"Harvey?" Edward questioned with a confused look.

"Yeah, ya know, Two Face."

"I know of which Harvey you mean Jester, I'm simply surprised that- actually what the hell am I talking about it's Two Face," he sighed and cleaned his glasses. "That binary loving imbecile will simply jump on an opportunity to take down Cobblepot. Since Penguin was able to doge the court rooms while Harvey was district attorney and he hates the clown with a passion like everyone else apart from that blond haired bimbo that's in love with him."

Jester giggled. "You have a way with words, Eddie."

"It's a gift, Jester. Mist always used to say I had a silver tongue," he smirked slightly in the little light the station produced his teeth and eyes flashed with something unrecognisable as he placed his glasses back on his face. "I was rather proud when she said it."

"I bet you were, simply screams 'Riddler' does silver tongue."

"It does doesn't it?" Edward admitted with a hint of pride as he straightened his bowler hat and his tie.

Jester and Edward walked up the steps, both of them shivered a little from the cold as they walked towards the Iceberg Lounge, both noticing the hint of snow in the air; causing Jester to grin and Edward to grimace.

Snow, for Jester meant fun and snowball fights, snow for Edward on the other hand meant cold nights working on dangerous death traps with numb fingers that could possibly kill him.

It was safe to say their view on snow was very different.

"Eddie, how should I introduce myself? Jessica Turner or Jester."

"Niether."

"Huh? Ya won't me to hide in the rafters or something?"

Edward sighed and looked down at the girl with a scrutinising look. "I want you to introduce yourself as Jessica Sionis."

"What? Why?"

"Because the name Sionis commands respect and fear because they know who it's from. I need you to announce it so it will take Penguin of his game a little."

"Ya nervous about Cobblepot?" Jester teased.

Edward scowled and shook his head. "Don't be stupid. I've simply been on the wrong side of that man before and I'd prefer to be ahead of him this time."

"Ya kidding? The Penguin got the drop on ya?" Jester giggled.

"Not in the slightest."

"Sounds like he did."

"Well, I'm not the one he probably wants to knee cap so I suggest that you be nice tom me or else I might not notice him grab his umbrella."

"Alright Eddie I get the picture," Jester chuckled. "I wonder what it's like to kill someone with an umbrella."

"I can not say I've tried it."

Jester smirked at him before shaking her head. "Of course you haven't. Not really your style."

"No it's not," Edward agreed as they reached the Iceberg and wondered inside.

"I'm surprised he hasn't got any guards."

"He doesn't need them at the moment."

"Can't be too careful, Eddie."

"Because you're the very essence of careful."

"On my good day, I can be, it just so happens that every day is a bad day."

Edward chose not to comment instead he rolled his eyes and smacked the back of Jester's head gaining a yelp from the girl as they entered the main room of the Lounge with Cobblepot sitting at the head of the table with a group of men around it.

The table was full of rich food and Penguin was stuffing himself with it as he looked straight at them and frowned.

His men all drew their weapons apart from one who appeared to be new and carried non, but Jester did have to grimace at the scar that ran across his nose.

She wondered what had happened for him to get such a scar, would be one heck of a story she'd image.

She noticed that he in perticular eyed them as they came over.

"Edward," Oswald greeted with a nod.

"Oswald."

"To what do I owe this… visit?"

"Matters concerning this place and events that have not happened but most likely will if we do not act."

Oswald sighed and took a bite of fish. "If this is one of yer ruddy games I'm not in the mood."

Edward shook his head. "No games. Hard core facts. Strange is up to something."

"Ha! I coulda told you that," Oswald laughed as he chucked another fish into his mouth chewing onto it and whipping some of the juice that came out of the flesh from his mouth. "So, what's got your feathers so ruffled that you felt the need ta come an' see me?"

"Something that will effect all of us. But first, I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine," Edward said as he gestured to Jester who stood next to him. "This is-."

"I know who she is, Nigma! I just don't know why you brought her 'ere! Little brat works for the damn clown and if you think I will help anyone with the Joker you seriously need your 'ead looking at!" Penguin barked.

Jester grimaced slightly but Edward kept his cool. "I would reconsider that statement if I were you. It would be in your best interests to help her out. Help us both out."

"Ha!" Oswald spat. "And why the 'ell would if be in my… 'best interests'?"

"Bloodlines are a powerful thing, you of all people should know that Oswald," Edward stated with a smirk.

"Bloodlines? what the 'ell are you going on about?"

"Tell them your name," Edward ordered Jester who blinked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"I already know 'er name!" Oswald snapped.

"No you don't."

"My name… my real name is Jessica Sionis."

The room fell silent and Oswald stared at her in disbelieve. It could't possibly be true, Roman had no children, he was certain of it!

"Like I said," Edward grinned in the silence. "Bloodlines, are powerful things."

Oswald merely stared at the girl before shaking his head. "Impossible, Black Mask doesn't have any children!"

"Oh but he does, I didn't notice it before, but I can see it now. The resemblance," Edward laughed as he looked back at Jester's face. "It's uncanny how much she does actually look like her father. You can see it too can't you?"

Oswald looked back at the girl and noticed she had the same shape of eyes that Roman had. Ones that if used properly could bring men down on their knees in fear.

He sighed and rubbed his head. "Alright, Nigma. You've made your point. Now what the 'ell is this about?"

Edward smirked. "I told you, bloodlines. Could you image the up-roar this news would make in Roman's circle of business and it would certainly wake up his competion to make a move."

"Your point?"

"Chaos, Oswald. Something Joker would thrive in, but a business men like yourself and a genius like me would collapse and I know you well enough to know… you don't want that to happen, not when you're at your prime."

"Where are ya going with this?"

"Strange," Edward stated smirking brightly as he adjusted his hat and pulled a chair out to sit down. "As in Hugo Strange."

"What about the psycho?"

"Ah, so you agree his head's not in the right place too? Good."

"Are you kidding me?" Oswald growled as he slammed his drink down on the table. "You only have to look at this place to know that fact Nigma! It doesn't take a genius to connect the dots and achieve the same answer. Hugo Strange is as crazy as they come!"

The Riddler nodded in agreement and acknowledgement before he leaned back in his seat and placed his hands in a steeple, he reminded Jester of Sherlock Homes. She hand't seen many films but her mother used to watch the old detective programs and for a time she'd dreamed of becoming a detective and fighting bad guys.

Oh how that dream went out the window.

"Strange wants our rein over Gotham's underworld to come to an end," Edward stated as he closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of his chair. "It's why he told Jester of her birth father and it's why he won't give Joker the treatment he needs. He wants to destroy us."

Oswald frowned at him for a long time. "What 'ell do you mean?"

"Oswald, you may not be as smart as me, well lets be honest no one is, but you are not a fool. Surely you must realise that if top spot is open for grabs how many hands will get chopped off in an attempt to grab such places of power."

"You're talking about a war," Oswald stated.

"I am aren't I? A gang war is something we need to avoid at all costs."

Oswald laughed bitterly before he picked up a cigar and lit it. Taking in a big gulp before he blew it all out, the smoke obscured Jester's vision of him and a few of his men waved the smoke away coughing.

Oswald leaned forward in his seat, fixing Edward with a hard stare. "Try tell that to the clown. You and I have worked alongside Joker long enough to know he won't care."

"True, but the others will. Even Harley."

"Harley?" Oswald held a bemused expression before shaking his head. "Edward, Harley won't list to you, hell Harley doesn't listen to herself! She only listens to the clown, she won't abandon him!"

"She won't need to," Edward sighed as he took his hat off and sat it on the table.

He leaned his elbow on the table and looked across it at Oswald. "When the Joker dies, which is obviously going to happen, Harley will be in charge of his gang."

"Yeah, so what? She'll be so filled with grief that she won't listen to anyone! She'll simply have one plan in mind which is to kill the bat and avenge her… 'puddin'. She will be useless!"

"Not if we talk to her first."

"And what makes you think she'll listen to you?" Oswald leaned back in his seat and took a quick puff of smoke before he crammed another fish in his mouth. "You've made it quite clear you don't like Joker and Harley knows that too. Why the 'ell would she listen to you?"

"She may not listen to me, but that is were my little sister comes in," Edward explained gesturing to Jester once more.

Oswald looked over at Jester doubtfully and he looked back at his food.

The room filled with silence and the air was thick with tension as the riddle and the bird glared at each other over the table of rich food in silence.

Jester looked between the two of them and she fidgeted a little as the staring contest continued.

Finally Oswald sighed and turned away. "Alright Nigma. I'm in, you've convinced me. But if this goes wrong-."

"Then I can say goodbye to my kneecaps, I know," Edward huffed with a role of his eyes.

Oswald smirked. "As long as we understand each other."

Edward nodded and placed his hat back on, before he straightened his tie.

"Attention inmates of Arkham City. A knew inmate has been placed inside this prison. You may recognise her as Doctor Mist Terry. I'm afraid to tell you her job was terminated and she is in need of help. I hope and expect the inmates to treat her with the welcome she deserves"

Jester paled and Edward swore his heart had stopped.

But then he was out of the Iceberg before Jester could even speak.

"You'd better go with 'im love," Penguin spoke.

Jester gave a raised eyebrow in reply.

Oswald smirked. "When Edward gets like that he becomes reckless. Not good if you're trying to save someone really is it?"

Jester gave a sarcastic smile before she raced out of the Iceberg after Eddie.

He was running extremely fast and Jester found it slightly hard to keep up with him, but as they through the streets towards the entrance to Arkham City, Jester prayed in her head that they wouldn't be too late and she knew Edward was doing same.

T.B.C:

Note: And as special treat you guys get an extra chapter! Don't worry, we'll get more fun bits soon and Jester will get back into her crazy self, don't you worry! :) The fun starts as soon as Mister J steps into the picture as well as the return of Vendetta. :)