Thanks to michelle1203, Phantom-Roses, Salamara, all-good-girls-go-to-heaven, and Ahsoka 1234 for the reviews!
I couldn't wait to get back to Gotham and start stirring up trouble again. My hands were shaking in excitement the entire way back. It was like I was going through withdrawal symptoms. It was like I was an heroin addict, forced into rehab, who couldn't wait to relapse.
I laid low the first night back. That next day, I was going to kidnap and torture the mayor in my new Batsuit. Getting to the mayor, would prove tricky. His office building is more protected than a mafia don's virgin daughter. Of course, I never have plans, so this meant I was standing outside the office building, in the Batsuit, trying to figure out a way in. I'm sure I looked like a retard staring at a shiny object.
"Hey it's Batman! Will you sign my field trip permission slip!?" A pipsqueak kid asked. I looked and saw about five kids were staring at me like I was Jesus and Willy Wonka rolled into one.
I thought for a few seconds. Being kid friendly could also tarnish Batman's image! I was gonna make such an austere guy, a kid friendly pansy ass! This was going to be funner than I thought!
"Sure kid." I said, using my Batman voice that made me wanna laugh.
After about a dozen autographs for kids, single hot chicks that practically screamed "I have an STD!", and old grannies, I glanced up, and I saw my life. I saw Genesis.
She was getting out of her black and shiny car that she just had to have. She looked so beautiful. Right at that moment, I started miss her. My eyes followed her as she walked into a nearby building and I realized how close we were to her publishers.
When she vanished inside the skyscraper, I returned to signing autographs and then started to mime for no apparent reason. When she emerged from the building, I tried to ignore her as I tried to escape from an imaginary box.
"Slow day, Batman?" She asked as she walked by.
The intoxicating smell of her perfume nearly knocked me off my feet. I couldn't say anything or she'd know it was me, so I just shrugged.
Later that night, I blew off the idea of kid napping the mayor and settled for arson. I set the fire station on fire. I made sure I was seen by the surveillance cameras.
"We didn't kill enough people!" I exclaimed to my cronies as I paced back and forth at the hideout. "Only two were killed last night! Batman has to kill more than that!"
"I got an idea." One brainless idiot said. "There'll be a ton of people at a bookstore tonight. Let's set that one fire!"
"Why do I think I'll regret this?" I asked. I shrugged. "Whatever let's do it." I said as I made my way to the door.
"We can't do it now." Another idiot said.
"Well why the hell not?!"
"'Cause it's a midnight release party."
"Fine. Let's set the river on fire and destroy something valuable!"
'Something valuable' meant priceless paintings and statues. After the Gotham art gallery closed for the night, we barged in with paint, sledge hammers, and Marilyn Manson blaring on boom boxes. Afterwards, we made our way to the bookstore.
"Set fire to all entrances and exits. Make sure no one gets out." I ordered.
Unfortunately, people did get out and so did word that an author was still inside.
"Genesis Napier is still in there!" One teenaged girl screamed and started crying.
"Oh…fuck." I muttered to myself. I had just made the biggest mistake of my life. I immediately tore off my cape (because, unlike the real Batman's, mine is entirely flammable) and ran to one of the entrances. I saw that fire was blocking me and then I realized why I used to run track. I backed up, charged at the fire and cleared it in one jump. I opened the door and began searching the burning building for Genesis.
I finally found her, laying unconscious amongst her burning books and a sign that once had her name on it.
"Wow…how poetic." I said and quickly scooped her up in my arms and carried her to the safety of the nearby park.
She started to wake up in my arms, "Gen.." I said, trying to coax her awake.
She opened her eyes and I took off my mask. She gasped and slapped me.
"Ow! Gen!? What the hell was that for!?"
"For faking you death you bastard!" She yelled, pulling herself from my arms.
"I had to!" I said in my defense.
"Why?" she asked incredulously, folding her arms over her chest.
"So I couldn't be blamed for what I've done. I'm quite impressed with myself actually. I had a bullet proof vest and blood pack. Didn't miss a single thing!"
"Why did you burn down the bookstore when I was in it!?" She asked, on the verge of tears.
"Ok, now, that wasn't my fault. Those idiots who I sent to set the fire didn't tell me about your engagement. They'll be killed, obviously. Oh yeah, it was me who took your money and memorized you PIN number without asking." I replied.
"I'm done Jack." Genesis said.
"Done with what?" I asked.
"Done with you!" She exclaimed with tears flooding down her cheeks. "I will not stand for this anymore!" She paused to catch her breath. "It's me," she said pointing to herself, "or the anarchy! Take your pick because you can't have both!"
My mind exploded. I was just given the easiest question in the entire world to answer, but the hardest to follow through with. I had no doubt in my crazy mind that I would choose my wife over the anarchy, but could I give it all up? I had too, I had no choice.
"Look at yourself Jack! You have scars up and down your entire body. How much more do you think you can take? I know I can't manage to sit through another one of your funerals. If you won't do it for me or yourself" She said taking my hand and placing it on her abdomen. "do it for our child."
"Then…I choose you." I said quietly. I looked Genesis in the eyes, swallowed and solemnly said, "I can't be perfect, Gen." That's who she deserves.
She put her hands on my scarred cheeks and said, "Don't you understand, Jack? I don't want you to be perfect! I just want you to be you. Jack Napier, not the Joker!"
"I'll need help. And not from Arkham."
"Definitely not. There's a place in the next city that specializes in aggressive forms of schizophrenia. I think we should start there."
"I'm willing to get help."
"Thank you."
I pulled her back into my arms and kissed her. After we pulled away, she said, "Jack. This is where you proposed to me!"
I smiled and laughed. "It is!" I said and licked my lips.
"Jack, if you don't stop doing that, I'm going to pull you're tongue out." Gen said.
I put on a mock hurt expression. "But then you wouldn't have as much fun as I do when we play doctor."
She laughed, slapped my shoulder and said, "Oh God Jack, you're a pervert."
"Only when it comes to you." I said and kissed her again.
When we got home, I was greeted by my replacement. A basset hound named Mundungus.
"I was replaced by a dog!? Are you serious?!" I exclaimed in annoyance.
"Would you have rather been replaced by a ferret?" Gen asked as a matter-of-factly.
"Actually, I think an ostrich would suffice." I said as a matter-of-factly as well.
I didn't go to the asylum as soon as I got home, I had been gone too long to do that. I stayed home a few days with Gen. While I was home, I observed Mundungus. He tries to drink out of the dry bath tub because he knows that water is in there, or I'll go into the kitchen and I'll be alone, then I'll turn around and there he is staring at me with pathetic eyes and drooping eyelids. He also watches me in the shower. After all of that, I was almost glad to leave for the loony bin!
We had to use an assumed name to get me in, Joseph Kerr. That and Rebecka checked me in. I wish I had chosen my name better. I would have chosen something like Penn E. Wize.
I stayed in treatment the full year I was required and I took my meds daily. I was temporarily released to see the birth of my son, Jeremy and I was only allowed to stay two hours after he was born and I couldn't hold him. After my treatment ended, I was declared no longer a threat to himself or others and I returned home. A few weeks later, I became a chemical engineer.
Me and Gen's relationship is as strong as it's ever been. I can't apologize to her enough for what I've done to her. To her, and my parents. I can't believe that I actually thought that I killed them or that they abused me.
Everybody tells me that I've changed, but I'm still the same in a way. When I was the Joker, I was still myself, just…extreme. An example would be of an argument that I had with Rebecka recently over the smell of her perfume. She thinks it smells good, I don't think so.
"I don't care if it smells like Jesus!" I say, pulling that out of nowhere. " It smells like something crawled into my nose with a bunch of his buddies and had a death party were everybody died!" That something I would say as myself, or as the Joker.
There's one drawback of not being insane anymore. I have fears and I register pain normally now. Rebecka still thinks I should go on Fear Factor, though.
I know more than anyone it is entirely possible that I will resurrect the Joker. Again, I'm an addict and he is my heroin and all it takes is one shitty day.