Alright, I'm back and here is chapter two! Things certainly heat up here as I give my account of how the Joker got his scars. This idea stemmed from the story Mr. J tells Rachel Dawes in TDK. If you haven't seen the film, I don't want to spoil it for you so this is my heads up! Otherwise please enjoy and enthuse or give criticism via a review! It would me much appreciated!
Disclaimer: Just to make sure you really get it: I don't own anybody!! Except my twist on the Joker's wife… lucky lady! ;)
I Used To Hate Mondays…
Harleen looked at him, her face completely unmasked as she gaped at the Joker.
"Everything I write down is read by my superiors. I wouldn't want them to know something that may be a sensitive issue for you. What you tell me I consider valuable and I want you to understand that." Her voice was full of conviction and the Joker felt a strange twinge deep in his chest, something he hadn't felt in so long…
"We got married when we were both eighteen," he began "Stupid, ignorant and broke, yet we didn't seem to care. You know that feeling you get when you're in love Doc? The one that makes you do the stupidest shit in the world but you just don't care?"
Harleen shook her head in the negative and the Joker sighed his eyes closing as if he were in pain and if perhaps he wishes hard enough it will go away. He slowly opens his eyes revealing chocolate brown orbs that make her heart skip a beat and her face flush. Glancing down Doctor Quinzel whispers "Eighteen is so young."
"Trust me Doc," he says, eyes burning into hers as she lifts her head to meet his gaze. "I know. Anywho, we got hitched and moved into some crummy little hole in the wall 'cause we couldn't afford anything else, and basically ate Spaghetti O's and Fruit Loops until we could get good jobs. Needless to say our parents weren't thrilled, especially her Pops. He was the head of a gang operation that jacked pricey guns and other WMD's and sold them to a variety of street thugs. Anyway, he didn't like his only daughter running off with some nobody like me…"
He breaks into laughter startling and causing Harleen to jump at the sound of his maniacal giggling. Calming himself he runs his tongue across his scars, which she has noted is quite a common habit, and resumes his story.
"So something strange, and I'm talking bizarre Doc, happened. My blushing bride's Daddy O gives me a job offer. Weird, because he hates me right? So I accept, because maybe if I work for him he will understand what his sweet little baby sees in me. And so one night he asks me to meet him at one of his warehouse where he stocks a large amount of specialty knives that he sells to muggers and collectors alike. 'Real beauties' he says 'But do you know why these knives are so popular with my customers'"
He closes his eyes again as if he is watching the events unfold on his own personal movie screen, his eyelids showcasing the memories in high definition. Except this time they don't open…
"I said 'No sir, I don't know why they are so popular.' And he looks at me and smiles saying 'Because when you really want to savor the moment and get to know someone you use a knife. Human nature really comes out. I asked you to come here so I could get to know my new son in law.' And he pulls out some hot steel and puts it to inside my mouth and leans close to my ear and says 'I just want to know you better. And maybe when my daughter knows you like I'm about to she'll change her mind and come back to daddy. I've got a sneaking suspicion that you are a freak.'
The Joker opens his eyes slowly to find Doctor Quinzel leaning forward in her chair, her mouth in a wide O shape. He continues slowly…
"Needless to say Doc, we got to know each other real well that night. So when I finally staggered home, because he didn't want to kill me he wanted her to see me, I found her asleep on the bed. So, I went into the bathroom and stitched up my mouth with her sewing needle and some thread and tucked myself into bed next to her. The next morning I woke up to her screaming at me, cursing me, telling me what a sick freak I am, how I ruin everything. You know why she was so upset? Because I didn't look good enough anymore. I was a real freak of nature and she couldn't handle it. It was alright if we were poor, but she would be damned before she was married to something like me. She was shallow and I loved her. And you know what Harl? She couldn't stand the sight of me!! She left!!"
It was only now that he realizes there are hot tears streaming down his face that he can't wipe away because his arms are locked by the straight jacket. Instead he finds Harley at his side on the couch her cool hands brushing away the salty tears that are dripping down his face. He bites his lip in frustration at his weakness so hard that it bleeds; wanting to scream until the world melts away into darkness and the only thing he can feel is the red hot burning of his throat.
Harleen cups his face in her hands and touches her nose to his and whispers repeatedly, "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so, so, so, sorry." And she holds his face until he can manage to find his voice:
"So Harley, now I'm not just an ugly freak. I'm an ugly, pathetic freak." He growls his words so saturated with bitterness that it pierces Harleen's heart.
"Quit saying that!" she yells, pulling back her hands and surprising the Joker as much as he can be surprised. "I told you that you are not ugly! And I don't believe you are pathetic or a freak either!" Harleen feels her blood pumping hot and fast through her veins, and it dawns on her that she has just spoken her true feelings. Since Saturday she had been trying desperately to pretend that what she felt was nothing, but in this moment she knew otherwise. He is staring at her with a gaze that completely unstitches her, and in return she let's her finger trace the smile that is carved onto his lips.
He closes his eyes and feels that strange twinge again, except now it is stronger than before and he knows that she causes it. He quits trying to shake the feeling and instead embraces it, opening his eyes to find her inches from him. He leans close to her until the distance has closed and brushes his lips against hers. She closes her eyes and leans in and they both make a mental note that therapy has just gotten a whole lot better.
The guards that escort the Joker to and from his cell arrive at 10:00 am sharp to find that the patient is far more cooperative than usual. Ignoring the clown the guards make small talk all the way to the maximum security hall to dispose of their ward, saying one to another: "You know, Mondays have got to be the worst day of the week."
The Joker lets out a short laugh and merrily replies in his standard sing song, "Oh, I beg to differ gentlemennn… See, I used to hate Monday, but now it's my favorite day of the week!" he cackles and the guards lay him down in his cell, locking the doors , and attempting to shake the goose bumps that had just spread across their bodies.
End Note: Okay, so I realize that was a bit cheesy, but the Joker crying bit was inspired by a comment I believe was made by Paul Dini. He said that everyone has seen the Joker laugh, but only Harley has seen him cry… Anyway that was my spin, so please review and tell me what you think!! : )
