To say that Bruce Wayne was apprehensive was like saying The Joker occasionally enjoyed the odd chuckle.
Bruce had been woken in the early hours of the morning -which was pretty early seeing as he had seemingly just gone to bed after patrolling for hours as Batman- by a strange and rather ominous phone call by a person representing someone called Simon Falcone. Bruce had absolutely no idea who that was but with a surname like that, it was almost certainty not good.
The man had stated that if Bruce wanted his 'little secret' to be kept quiet, he should meet at the newly re-opened nightclub called 'Dawn' at eight o'clock that night.
If Bruce hadn't have been so worried about what the phone call suggested, he would have rolled his eyes. How clichéd, was that all they could come up with? Clearly the man on the other end of the phone wasn't the brains of the operation.
Bruce hoped to God that this was just one of those silly stories about a supposed sordid affair he was accused of having or an other such nonsensical rumours that followed his Bruce Wayne; billionaire playboy image around just like any other wealthy person in the spot light.
Unfortunately, the name Falcone implied something much more sinister and Bruce dreaded what that could be. Worse case scenario; this Falcone character has found out his alter ego and planed to blackmail him or…threaten him into doing something that only the Batman could do. That was a pretty bad scenario.
Bruce would be completely forced to comply with these demands, rather than face the wrath of the Gotham City police, who had been chomping at the bit to arrest the Batman from the very start (all except a few, Commissioner Gordon especially) but even more so of late after he took the rap for the Dent murders.
Exposure of his identity would surly lead to imprisonment, most likely in Arkham Asylum and spending his days rotting in there was defiantly not what Bruce had planned for his retirement.
Not only that but if Batman was forced to do anything against his principles, all the work he had done for Gotham would be ruined. Bruce supposed that his work for Gotham had been ruined the moment the news of the murders he had been forced to confessed to had broken, but still a part of him thought that there were people out the who still believed that he was going good every night and if he really did something to tarnish his reputation, everyone would loose hope.
It was clear that he had to go that night and face it head on. He also was fairly confident in his charming tactics he used as Bruce Wayne to captivate women and the odd stubborn matradee to get him the best table in a fully booked restaurant, would help persuade the men tonight that there was no way he was The Batman or if that failed, that they could come to some financial arrangement.
He pulled up at the 'Dawn' nightclub at five to eight that evening, in full Bruce Wayne attire. Being an apparent spoiled socialite himself, he seemed to fit right in to this scene, which was one thing he didn't have to worry about that evening.
He had decided not to tell Alfred about this meeting as he would only worry and Bruce wasn't even sure that it was serious yet. And also, he just didn't want to hear the man who was like a father to him say 'I told you so'-again.
Even so, he missed the old mans comforting words and advice and couldn't help feel slightly alone as he entered the pounding club.
The club seemed like just any other nightclub in this end of Gotham; deafeningly loud bass music thumped through the room, dark lighting pierced with strobe lights, illuminating the club for only a scene at a time. Pretty, young rich things cavorting about, paying for over priced drinks and flirting shamelessly with each other.
Bruce fought his way through the crowd, nodding pleasantly at the occasional vague face he knew, and made his way to the bar to shout over the music to the bartender.
"I think Mr Falcone is expecting me."
The pounding music swallowed the words to anyone but the barman and he nodded. He motioned to a bulky looking man standing nearby and he lumbered over to Bruce and indicated him to follow him.
He led Bruce to a door just off the main room of the club that had two similar looking men guarding the door. They gave Bruce a glance then pushed the doors open and Bruce was ushered in and the doors closed behind him.
He had a brief glimpse of bright red décor before something had crashed into him almost knocking him over. He gave a little gasp before his rigorously acquired reflexes kicked in and he struggled to push the thing off him.
"Oh Brucey, to finally meet you without that silly little mask is absolutely thrilling!" a hurried whisper was happily breathed into his ear, as thin yet powerful arms struggled to keep their hold of the wriggling man.
"Although, I probably would have picked a better, ah, scenario for us to meet. But no matter, you here now and we can finally have a proper conversation with out all that drama" The arms gave a particularly excited squeeze, "if he doesn't spoil the fun, that it."
Bruce forcefully pushed back the grabby person affixed to his person and stared in horror at The Joker standing twitching before him. A broad smile present on his make-up clad face and a look of adoration and exhilaration spread across his features.
"What- what are you talking about?" Bruce stammered, desperately trying to keep the excited clown at arms length as it tried to jump back in his arms.
The Joker stilled for a moment and gave him a 'are you serious?' look.
"Cut the crap, Bruce. I know how you've acquired a taste for spend your nights dancing on rooftops." He growled in appreciation, giving a little giggle.
"Not that that's a bad thing, I'm quite partial to that myself." He gave a sly smile and now turned his effort to trying to grab at Bruce's hands gripping his upper arms that held him in place.
Bruce's mind had temporarily gone blank. How could this have happened? He had assumed that these people threatening him were working alone, and surely they wouldn't have been stupid enough to rope the Joker in on this!
Also, The Joker had always insisted that he didn't care about Batman's identity so Bruce didn't think he would have intentionally sought out the information himself.
This was getting serious now, Bruce could feel his heart rate excel rapidly and forced himself to remain calm and stick to the slick Bruce Wayne persona.
"What- how- you can't be serious." Bruce snorted and tried to give his best 100-dollar smile but The Joker just gave him another look and a slight snigger.
The fact that the clown seemed so completely overjoyed by this predicament filled Bruce with even more dread.
"Ah Mr Joker," a pleasant yet stern voice said from behind the clown, "I think maybe I should introduce myself to my guest."
The Joker gave Bruce an exasperated look and whispered "You're gunna hate this guy. A right, ah, sick in the mud." He growled out the last part with a lot more venom than was necessary.
He whipped around and grinned at the men that had appeared behind him.
"I was just about to suggest the very same thing, great minds and all that jazz!"
Bruce looked behind the clown and finally got a look at the room he was in.
It was fairly large room that was obviously used for VIPs or rich socialites private parties. The general decor was of mauves and reds, the furnishings were either black or deep crimson. The lighting was surprisingly bright for a club and it was obvious that this room had been cleared out especially for Bruce and these men to have a quiet meeting.
A small group of men had just emerged out of a side door of the room and the man in front appeared to be the one who had just spoken. He was a fairly young man, Bruce noted, yet seemed to be the one in charge by the way all the other men looked to him, even though most of them were twice his size.
Bruce hoped to God that they hadn't heard what the Joker had just revealed, but perhaps, Bruce thought with dread, they had been the ones to reveal it in the first place. Bruce heart rate increased tenfold.
He hurriedly stepped around the Joker, dropping his hands off him, eager to get as far away from him and his accusations as possible, and gave the men a bright, false smile.
"Mr Falcone, I presume. Do you care to elaborate on why there is a madman in your club to greet me?" He said with a fake laugh, extending his hand and walking over to the men.
The Joker followed behind with a slight pout on his face from Bruce's rejection yet swiping at Bruce free hand, trying to hold on to it in his own.
Bruce glared back at him and pulled his hand away, desperate not to show any ties with the man in front of the other men, before reaching the group of men and shaking Falcone's hand.
There was a flash of contempt on Falcone's face as his and Bruce's hands met, but it was quickly concealed by an oily smile.
"A pleasure Mr Wayne, please sit down and I'll explain." he gestured to one of the rooms booths which Bruce slid into and The Joker quickly followed, sitting as close to Bruce as you could possibly get. "And please do call me Simon, I do want us to get off on the right foot, especially in this, ah, delicate situation."
Bruce returned Simon's sickly smile trying to ignore The Joker who was sitting bolt up right in his seat, staring intently at him.
"I think we might have already gotten off on the wrong foot with that absurd phone call last night and the welcoming party." Bruce grinned, although it was pretty clear he was only half joking.
"Ah yes well, I think to explain the, ahem, Joker situation, I need to explain a little bit before that."
"Hey, erm, Sy, Aren't you going to offer us a drink?" The Joker interrupted, slouching forward in his seat to lean over the table and finally shifting his gaze off Bruce and onto the young man opposite.
Simon turned a cool gaze onto The Joker. It was obvious that this really wasn't one of those meeting where you all shared a drink together and sorted out you're differences.
"I have been informed that you have already had three whiskeys while waiting for Mr Wayne to arrive," Bruce practically rolled his eyes at this. Anyone that would freely allow The Joker to drink clearly didn't know what they were dealing with.
"I would have thought you would have had enough." He spoke to the Joker like you would to a child or someone who had learning disabilities; Bruce felt a surge of dislike for the man.
"I wasn't asking for a lecture, Sy, I was asking for a Goddamn drink! Poor Brucey here must be parched!" He slid an arm around Bruce's shoulders, which he quickly shrugged off.
"I'm fine, thank you." Bruce muttered.
"Manners and looks? Aren't you just the perfect package?" The Joker cackled, leaning closer to Bruce and nuzzling his head into Bruce's shoulder. Bruce gave a look of disgust and pushed him away from him.
The Joker just giggled and motioned to one of the hulking men hovering near them.
"You wanna grab me a bottle of whiskey, sweetie?"
The man looked startled and turned to his employer for instructions.
"Very well! Just get him a drink" Simon snapped, clearly flustered at the interruption. It was obvious that he was used to things going his own way but controlling The Joker was not something anyone could do.
Bruce felt a flutter of amusement at the Joker's antics, he had a particular way for getting under someone skin that Bruce had to admire even in a situation like this.
The man who had gone to fetch the drink set a bottle of whiskey down in front of the Joker, pointedly forgetting a glass, before slouching off to stand with the rest of the henchmen.
The Joker pulled the bottle towards him and took a swig out of it, smacking his lips, before offering it to Bruce, who declined it with a slight smirk. The Joker merely shrugged and took another draught.
Simon glared at The Joker before turning his attention back to Bruce.
"As I was saying," He sat up straighter in his seat, as though bracing himself for good news and slicked back his hair off his face. "I am in no doubt that you can guess why you are here."
"I can safely say I have no idea, Simon." Bruce said slickly.
Simon gave a slight laugh.
"Well, I shall enlighten you then. It has come to my attention, after some ah, digging, that you are in fact the vigilante going under the name of The Batman."
Bruce felt himself go cold. He clenched his hands together under the table, his knuckles going bone white but he forced himself to not show any other reaction. He wasn't really surprised by the accusation but the fact that it had now been confirmed that they knew still struck him with horror.
He was half glad The Joker had revealed he knew his identity before hand so he could have some time to compose himself. 'A Small mercy' is how Alfred would probably have put it.
He gave a false bark of laughter.
"That's a rather obscure joke, Simon. But now do you want to tell me why I'm really here?"
Simon kept a pleasant smile on his face.
"Oh I assure you, I am not joking, Mr Wayne."
The Joker cleared his throat.
"Er You got something wrong back there, Sy."
Simon turned his head stiffly to The Joker, smiling slipping from his face.
"What?" He muttered through clenched teeth.
The Joker sat forward in his chair, his eyes turning impassioned as the conversation had turned to his favourite subject and he had the floor.
"The Batman's not just a vigilante, he's not doing this for the attention or glory, he's doing it because he has to. It's apart of him, just like me. To do what he does is essential for him, he breathes for it. He couldn't exist with out it. No 'vigilante' is as pure as that!"
He slumped back in his chair, taking another swing of whiskey.
"And do you really think I'd waste my time with some vigilante? No, The Batman is something new, something special, something I can appreciate."
Bruce stared at him, he had felt before the creeping sensation that The Joker understood him and he had been told on numerous occasions by the man himself that he did, but to hear it so clearly and so definitely from the man was a bit unnerving.
The Joker's eyes slowly travel around to meet Bruce's again. Bruce allowed them to stare into each other for a moment before breaking the connection and looking away.
"Was that really necessary?" Simon growled.
The Joker shrugged, turning to him. "It needed to be said. Someone should fight Batsy's corner."
Bruce sat up a little straighter; he felt like new life had been breathed into him at the Joker's words and he was ready to 'fight his corner'.
"Do you have any evidence to back this ludicrous claim?"
"Well, we have the word from a man called Coleman Reese claiming that you are the Batman. But I understand that one man's word does not hold up to much, so I did a bit more research and guess what I found?" Simon smiled, clearly more comfortable now that he was in control and in the familiar zone of proving how clever he was.
"I found out that a lot of Wayne Industries property just seems to vanish over night. Millions of dollars in equipment gone just like that and yet no one questions it. That in itself is a little odd don't you think? But then you see items that are very similar to those stolen being used by the Batman, the car he drives around in for example, is shockingly like the one that was in residence in Wayne Industries till a few years ago." At this, Simon withdrew some files from his jacket and tossed them onto the table. The files were of all the equipment that had gone missing in Wayne Industries and photos of Batman equipment that Bruce had dropped or lost during a fight and had found its way into police custody. They skidded to a halt in front of Bruce, who just looked down at them hopelessly.
"But then you have to wonder why no one questions it, because surely an impressive company such as that would monitor that kind of thing. Then one must come to the conclusion that it must be a very influential person in the company who is taking it, which brings me right back around to you, Mr Wayne. Only you seem to have the power and influence to be able to do something like that."
He stared at Bruce who was sitting stony face, listening to the man.
"There are also these photos I had taken of the Batman driving into an entrance just outside Wayne Manor."
He threw the pictures on the table as well and they slid next to the other files.
"When my men went to go investigate the entrance however, it seemed impossible to enter, which is why I had to find that other set of evidence to back up my claim."
Simon gave a sickeningly smug smile when he had finished and regarded Bruce, waiting for him to react. He also seemed rather relieved that the Joker hadn't interrupted his little speech with another irrelevant story or request.
Bruce looked down at the files and photos and felt a little sick. This was pretty much damning evidence, the only thing that would be worse was if he actually had been able to access the batcave, which Bruce was incredibly relieved that they couldn't.
He couldn't see a way for him to argue himself out of this. He turned to the Joker in a last attempt to find an answer but he was just staring intently down at the evidence with a slight frown creasing his brow.
He turned to look back at Falcone, having no answers. He felt lost, he felt like he did all those years ago, waiting in the alley for the police to turn up to take him away from the bodies of his parents.
"While you mull all that over, I'll explain to you why I bothered to find out who the Batman was in the first place. You see, I really dislike all these masked criminals creating havoc around Gotham, they give criminals a bad name. They make a mockery of the whole process of criminality. Not only that, but they've run almost all the normal criminals out of this town and made it a laughing stock.
But you can't totally blame these freaks for being here as they are just following the lead of the biggest freak of all, the one that started the whole thing." Simon spoke with a bitter anger to his voice that made him seem like a child throwing a temper tantrum.
"The Batman is the reason they are here. If he, or rather, you Mr Wayne, weren't here all the little freaks would have no one to rebel against and they would just retreat back into the cracks in the earth from where they came from and I would be able to take up my mantle as the head criminal of this town." A greedy smile had crept onto Simon's face as he said this.
Bruce scowled; of course this was about power and money.
"But now I found myself in the predicament of how to get rid of you, many had tried in the past by force and that had failed miserably, so I used the power at my disposable to find out who you were, then I contacted the Joker. The rift you two have is almost legendary and I knew he would jump at the chance to be involved with anything to do with you. Telling him your identity was another way of enforcing that you would leave this city as now that you're enemy knows who you are, you can't possibly continue donning the mask and cape every night.
And obviously, if you continue to do so, which would be extremely stupid, I will tell Gotham police who you are and you will be arrested and locked up in Arkham along with the other freaks."
There was a pregnant silence once Simon had finish. Bruce tried to register everything he had just heard. He had basically just been told he had to leave the city he was sworn to protect and given his life to, other wise he would be thrown in the Asylum.
It didn't feel real. He had somehow just thought that Falcone would just want money or an ethically challenged job for him to do, never give it up completely. Bruce wasn't even sure if he could.
The Joker spoke up for the first time since Simon spoken.
"You got an other thing wrong there, Sy."
"What? What on Earth could I have gotten wrong?" Simon demanded, peeved at the correction.
"Well you see, you said that you told me who Batsy was, which was sort of correct, and that if I knew, Batsy couldn't do what Batsy does best any more."
"Yes, so?"
"Sorry to burst you bubble Sy, but I already knew who Bats was and that hasn't stopped me playing with him yet."
"What?" Bruce gasped, turning to The Joker.
"Come on, Brucey, you're hardy subtle. This guy thinks he's some kind of genius for figuring it out but it was pretty obvious." He pointed at Simon who just glowered at him.
"Who in Gotham is rich enough to have all the shit Batman does? And who out of those people are young and fit enough to not bust a hip while punching the bad guys? Brucey, you were the only option. Although, saying that, I am probably the only person who thinks about you enough to work it out." He grinned, staring a Bruce and fluttering his eye lashed at him.
"But why didn't you do anything about it?" Bruce asked, giving up all pretence that he wasn't Batman as it seemed pointless now.
"What fun would that be?" The Joker said, with an astonished look on his face as though Bruce should never have doubted him.
"But you see, I can let that mistake go, I mean, you couldn't read my mind right?" He had turned his attention back to Simon, serious again.
"But what I can't let go is the whole threatening thing. Us, er what did you call us? 'Freaks'? Well, us freaks have gotten pretty comfortable in Gotham and this city is the perfect landscape for a bit of chaos and I need my Batsy by my side when I create my special brand of anarchy. We create the most beautiful sparks together and we are kind of a two-part deal, you can't have one without the other. And I know that Basty won't be Basty anywhere but in Gotham. So if you're threatening my bat's livelihood, your threatening me, and I really don't like being told what to do, you see."
The room had filled with tension and the henchmen around the room seemed to draw closer to the booth, hands tightening in jackets, clutching onto guns and knives.
"So listen, we've heard what you've got to say, and to be honest, it's bull shit, so just going to head off now."
He clutched at Bruce's sleeve to imply that they were going. Bruce stared down at the gloved hand on his arm and wondered when they had become 'we'.
Simon looked incredulously at the clown.
"I don't think you understand, this isn't an option. You have to leave."
"Er, no we don't, I think we have another option." The Joker stated.
"And what's that?" Simon scoffed.
A grin spread across the Joker's face and he let go of Bruce sleeve.
"Do you want to see a magic trick?"
Oh no, Bruce groaned to himself.
In a blur of impossibly fast movement that Bruce had grown used to in their nightly fights, The Joker smashed the whiskey bottle on the table and had slit the throat of the nearest goon hovering near him.
There was a loud commotion where the other men jolted into movement but were too slow for the vicious clown who had already acquired the gun out of the pocket of the dead man and shot the rest of the men.
Bruce had lunged up to try and disable the Joker, with a cry of 'No!' but he had already danced out of reach and the men were dead.
Simon sat rooted to the booth, his eyes wide with shock and horror as the Joker turned to him, his arm drenched with whiskey and blood.
"If you kill me, I have precautions set up that every news station in Gotham will have information connecting Bruce Wayne to Batman." He blurted out backing away from the Joker, as he stepped towards him.
He paused and regarded Simon for a moment.
"That's enough. Joker!" Bruce growled warningly.
The Joker turned to Bruce in surprise as though he had forgotten he was there.
"Oh Batsy," He said with an affectionate yet exasperated note to his voice. "I should have known you still would have all your pesky little morals as Bruce Wayne and even for this little shit." He gestured to Simon.
He dropped the gun onto one of the bodies of the men and turned back to Bruce.
"I think now we've made our message pretty clear." He said, with a snigger. "Anyway, guns aren't really my style."
Bruce slipped out of the booth, trying to avoid the body of the man nearest him. He felt regret for the senseless killings of these men just like he would for anyone else, but he couldn't shake that small feeling of satisfaction he got from the look on Falcone's face. And the even smaller feeling of pride, that the Joker had done that to protect him. He didn't think the Joker needed much of a reason to kill people but the things he had said before had affected Bruce and he felt as though he should be worried about that.
"I think you should probably, ah, reconsider threatening us again Sy." The Joker said, leaning over the table to loom over Simon. "Brucey here may not be there next time to stop me bleeding you dry. I have plenty of other magic tricks I'm just gagging to try out."
The Joker pushed himself off the table and walked over to the bar in the corner, fished out another bottle of whiskey then joined Bruce over by door and they slipped out together.
A/N: Oh my, that was so long but I couldn't find a convenient place to stop it at. I have been working on this chapter for a ridiculously long time that probably doesn't show with the quality but I couldn't get the first meeting right. :/ Anyway, please review and give your thoughts good or bad :)