It was him. But how? It couldn't be, he was in Arkham Asylum. He had been kept under high security and any attempt to escape should have been in vain. But no, it must have been him, it was the same place. First there was the smoke; he could see it rising high above that area of Gotham. Then the firefighters started gathering and news reporters too - they would kill for anything out of the ordinary regardless of the place and time. It was like they expected the Batman to come at any time.

But he did not. It was Bruce Wayne who was seeing this, not the Dark Knight himself. Batman disappeared for good soon after the Joker was locked up, only present for one or two more crimes - and none as severe as the mad man's.

But desperate times called for desperate measures and if it really was the Joker - and hell if this man was going to wait for anyone to get killed to find out if it was - then the Dark Night would rise once again.

Harley nodded a little, shifting some in her seat. She had wanted to ask, hinted at it so many times... But she didn't want him to think she was like the others.. Obsessed with the raised and ruined skin accenting an otherwise nicely shaped face. She smiled slightly at that thought, but as the corners of her mouth stretched, so did his.

"I was six..." he started, a tongue slipping out to lick his old wounds. "My mother.. She played piano before she died. I missed the sound of it so much that I tried to play.." his fingers moved slowly through the air, as if he was pressing the keys. "Dad thought it was pretty amusing.. Cute.."

Harley winced a little, knowing that it couldn't possibly end well.

Joke moved closer to her, his body turning so his emerald eyes were staring at her blue ones.

"Until I got a bit too... harsh... And broke a string. My father had quite a temper.. " He remembered it well. The yelling, the drinking, the beatings... Really, it was his fault his mother had gotten so sick and passed away. He remembered it well.

"The drinking didn't help.." he laughed harshly, the giggy but gruff sound echoeing through the cement room. "Breaking mother's prized possession was something an ex-military man couldn't stand for. First he just slapped me around.. kicking me a few times after he got me off the piano bench."

Harley's shoulders tensed.

She'd heard many stories about abusive parents in her career, but something about Joker's eyes.. as if he was living it for the first time, gave her chills.

"I couldn't keep from crying, and daddy didn't like that.. So he tore the string out of the piano.. Slicing his own fingers pretty good...'Shut up, Junior!..' He laughed, making sure I felt his boot again..

Then he rolled me over and held me down," he smiled, teeth showing as he took a breath. "It's all a joke.. don't get so upset! ' " he barked, imitating the man's harsh voice.

"'Why so serious?'.. Over and over.. 'Why so serious?' .. the strings sliced away at the sides of my lips until I was choking on my own blood.. " By this time, Harely was shaking. He was nose to nose with her, unblinking, breathing harshly. What could she say to that? She could barely even hear him over her own heart, despite the fact he was yelling.

"Please, Batman..." Gordon called into the night, standing vigilantly alone. He looked for the caped hero. He had to know. Surely Batman hadn't abandoned the city he'd sacrificed so much to protect.

Then, just as he thought the effort was lost, a black shadow overtook his own. Gordon spun around.

"It's him," the Bat said gruffly.

He was losing control now. It was just a story at first but he wasn't like others, no; and for him it all became too real. Those things he told people brought up memories and feelings that should not be - they hadn't happened, yet he felt as if they did. He reacted accordingly, too.

Harley was scared. But he kept shouting, telling her that horrible, horrible story and his hands were shaking just as much as the girl's whole body; a part of him still had control and was preventing him from breaking her neck right there and then. But he suddenly stopped and his breathing was back to normal and his hands felt weak for a moment. And he blinked and asked with an almost childlike expression, a complete opposite from only fractions of second before. "Why so serious?"

She was still in some sort of shock when his whole attitude changed literally in the blink of an eye. But then it was like the world came crashing down on her and she felt the tears at the corners of her eyes and soon she was burying her face in his chest crying like it was her fault or like it was her own memories he had been telling. She had pictured it so clearly and it was agonizing... It only made her want to help him more and more.

When he regained control over his actions he was "attacked" by Harley. But oh, what's this - she was crying. It was such a gratifying feeling, really and he could not help but to grin. And to think that only moments ago he could have killed her just like that.

"We know." Gordon sighed, looking at his trusted ally with a most worried yet hopeful look on his face. Batman had not abandoned them. There was still hope, hope that the Joker would not win in whatever he might be planning. "We got a call from Arkham not long ago. We already sent men out to search for him but-"

"It won't be of any use." Batman interrupted matter-of-factly in his deep voice.

"But we have to try. We can't- I can't let anyone else die because of him." And his family. He was worried about what that criminal could do to them, not to him. "Please, Batman... If only you can stop him then please do it. For the people of Gotham."

He giggled as he felt her shaking against him, her quiet little sobs racking her body. It was quite a different sensation than he usually felt.

Of course, they were always afraid of him... And rightfully so. He always felt justified when he killed them afterwards, after all.. they had been

expecting nothing less from the Joker.

But Harley, she wasn't afraid for her life, really. She was .. sympathetic. Sympathy? For him? Well that just proved that he had cracked her pretty nicely.

He had made her mad as well. He entertained the idea of having her along for more than just this one instance... she might be more useful as a pet than just a tool to lure Bats out this one time.

He grinned at thought and looked at the door, almost expecting the Dark Knight to be there watching. Soon.

Gordon had looked away for a second, trying to gauge the firefighters' success, and the Batman was already gone.

He looked back to the warehouse with a sigh. Damage wouldn't be expensive in the desolate part of town.

No accidental deaths in the uninhabited buildings.

It was just the Joker having his way again, getting what he wanted from Gotham. And being sure Batman understood the sentiment.

The winged vigilante made his way across the city, looking for a clue left by his nemesis.

A body. An obscene sign... Anything.

But as he searched the area, he didn't find much more than tire tracks. One thing was certain, though. Joker hadn't orchestrated his escape from Arkham alone.

For a moment Batman had to wonder if this was all a part of his schemes - but no, it sounded all too perfect. And no one would have helped him escape after hearing of what he did to his "accomplices" - or so he thought.

The streets were literally deserted but he wasn't by any means scared. It was nearly impossible to live in this area and it was a wonder how it hadn't been demolished yet, replaced by tall apartment buildings and life. Life- he looked down again and frowned underneath the mask. Some of these marks were very recent and there was still smell of burnt fuel lingering in the area. A car wouldn't drive itself around, someone had been here!

He started walking in the direction some of those marks seemed to follow and while sometimes he would mix them up and end up having to go back on his way, he eventually found it. It was the only car that hadn't been reduced to pieces scattered around. He was closer now - or so he hoped as he went into one of the buildings, then another, then another... The Joker must be in this area somewhere. Waiting for him.

Harley kept on crying for what may or may not have been a good half an hour until the sobs stopped. She did not pull away from the man however, instead leaning closer like it was her duty to keep him out of harm's way. She was quiet; unable to process anything half decent to tell him, but it didn't matter. He hadn't pushed her away yet, so perhaps it was all good that way.

But no, no, it was perfect! And it would be divine once Bats got here so they could finally start their next game. Speaking of which, where was the bat? Joker couldn't help but to pout a bit; he should be here by now, his clues weren't that hard to figure out, not to the almighty Dark Knight.

Crash.

Harley's head shot up. "What- What was that?"

Joker chuckled but there was something to his tone... Some sort of excitement, hysteria. "I think our guest of honor is arriving."

Oh this would be glorious... But there was no way it could end so soon. He had so many .. plans. He couldn't see his new pet just yet, no way. It would ruin it.

"Go out the back way..." He said, jumping up and taking her with him. He shoved her along toward the hallway. "Wait in the car." He said, his voice shaking with excitement.

Harley blinked a few times, but did as she was told, dashing through the hallway and toward another set of stairs on the other side of the building.

These led up, but not out. It was a sort of.. tunnel system of sorts.Eventually though, she saw a door in the ceiling much like the one they came in. She had to push hard, as some rubble had

fallen over it, but she eventually wrenched it open.

And she saw tires. Her tires. And she smiled.

He really was quite clever.

Joker sat back down, crossing his legs on the sofa in a relaxed pose just as the Dark Knight was breaking into his little hideaway.

"Most people just knock, Batsy," he said with a stretched grin as the figure stood in his doorway. His heart was pounding.. This is what it was about.

His.. other part. His Yang.

His own personal puzzle to break. The Batman.

"Couldn't find any make-up in Arkham, Joker?" he asked, voice as dark as always, as he stayed where he was. This man was mad, and he had been waiting for him to arrive. There was no telling what strange traps he had set up. Though he did appear to be alone.

Joker giggled and stood up, clasping his hands together. "...A clever retort, Batman," he said sarcastically. "I've taken off my mask... When will you take off yours?" he asked with a taunting sneer.

Batman grunted, clearly in no mood for his games.

"You're going back to Arkham, Joker..." he said.

"..I don't think so. They didn't give me a day pass... I don't need to go back," he giggled and looked at the wall. "Besides. You wouldn't want me to..." He commented, looking a little bit bored with the drawling conversation.

"You see, Bats... You neeeeed me," he grinned, staring at the eyeholes in the mask and cracking another smile.

He hated these games.. That grin.

Joker was beating around the bush, even though it was obvious the sick bastard was bored with just talking. And he hated those nicknames..But the madman liked to tease him...Batman didn't want to play the game, but he did want to get the other man back in a cell.

"Nobody needs you. Me least of all."

"How humble," Joke remarked.

"But completely false.. Arkham isn't exactly as secure a facility as you seem to think it is..." He burst into a fit of laughter. "Obviously!" He added.

He took a few steps closer to the Bat and paused, his hand almost twitching.

What a rush.

"You see, I've been hearing a lot of things. 'Where's Batman?' 'Batman's left town..'" He said, throwing his hands up. He saw the masked hero, still as stone, prepared to strike at any show of offense.

"Without me... What are you?..." He didn't wait for an answer. "You're nothing, Batman. Without someone to fight, the big, bad, Bat is dormant and useless.. and.. A Joke."

Instead of reply, he got a punch in the mouth, which sent him reeling back. Strong hands gripped his olive green vest and kept him from going far.

Batman watched the madman lick his lips, spreading the blood around like paint as he laughed. It wasn't just the pain; the feeling of being truely alive again, that Joke was laughing at.

He had broken Batman.. So easily, too.

It hadn't taken much and the Dark Knight was already throwing punches!

"See? Who else could make you do that?" He cackled.

He knew he was no match for the kevlar-coated hero... But, he was cleverer than his foe. And he knew Batman would never sacrifice innocent lives to put him behind Arkham's walls

Another punch and he could only laugh as the blood poured down his face. The only thing it took was to push the right buttons... And the Dark Knight would release his rage like any other mad man.

His laugher had become insufferable. He had become insufferable. He made his words seem so true but did he expect Batman to believe him like he had done to others? To the Mob, to the thugs he'd find off the streets, to Dent, to-

To whoever helped him.

"Where are your henchmen?" He clearly had no intention to deepen the previous subject. The Joker would simply go on and on about it, trying to make him snap - and he simply couldn't. He wouldn't kill this man and prove him right - he was incorruptible.

But the other man just kept laughing like this whole thing had nothing to do with him, like the pain didn't get to him - he had no limit, he could take all the pain in the world like a simple paper cut.

"What, what are you saying? You want names?" He moved his head closer, licking his lips. He was feigning curiosity. "My friends' names?"

"You don't have friends." Batman growled, shaking him violently for a second. But he just laughed even louder.

"Well you see, that's where you're wrong, Bats!" He licked his lips again. He didn't have much time before the hero of Gotham decided to take him back to Arkham by force. "I have lots and lots of friends. And they're, they're waiting for me right now. But of course if I'm not there on time..." He paused dramatically, but he was shaken violently again. A chuckle. "They might drive each other off the edge. Quite literally." He grinned almost pleasantly. If only it were true.

"You didn't." Batman did not believe him. Or rather, he did not want to believe him.

"Oh come on Bats, don't tell me you've lost faith in me already!" He gasped. So dramatic. "I had to keep myself busy all these months."

That was it.

"Where. Are. They." He would not tolerate any more of those jokes.

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't tell you unless you let me off on my merry way."

"Never."

"So you're willing to sacrifice them? Like you did with that lovely oh, what's her name... Rachel?"

This was the strongest hit of all and it ended with the Joker being thrown across the room, his face in a bloody mess. Oh yes, Batman was losing control of the situation and it couldn't be any better.

"WHERE ARE THEY?" And it was the most demanding and it was just what Joker had been expecting.

He stood up, stepping back towards the dark hallway, laughing as he did it. "Oh, yes... Axis chemical factory. You should hurry!" And as his nemesis left the building, ready to save all those lives apparently more worthy than his, he let himself drop on the floor, completely forgetting Harley for the time being. This was turning out better than he had planned.

Batman dashed away back up the way he came, heading for exactly where the madman had directed him. It was probably a trap. It was always a trap. But he didn't care. He wouldn't let what happened to Rachel happen again.