Immediate continuation...

Meanwhile...

The dense smoke hanging in the air could have been easily been mistaken for fog rolling off the bay. Except for the fact that it left a suffocating thickness in the lungs and a sting in the eye.

Gordon's nose curled slightly.

The smell of the smoldering wood was no match for the stench of death that lingered in the night's air. The heat from the fire only seem to intensify the rotting bodies putrid scent.

He lit a cigarette, leaving it between his lips to help mask the scent.

The fire department was still in the process of making sure the forensic team could safely enter the house to start collecting evidence and identifying bodies.

Detective Bullock was talking with the young fire fighter who had had the misfortune of being the first to enter the home. Believing it to be a simple house fire, the shock of finding a burning house full of multiple dead bodies had the lad on edge.

Gordon was still staring at the house. Upon first arriving, he was part of the team that did the initial walk through of the house to ensure no one was left alive in the home. His time in Gotham had given way to him seeing some pretty gruesome crimes. And this, this was going to be right up there with some of the worse.

"A rookie ought not have to start his career off seeing something like that." Bullock casually commented as he walked up.

"No one should have to see something like that." Gordon replied sternly, not taking his eyes off the house.

Bullock nodded, agreeing with Gordon before adding, "Christ sake, it looks like he was living in the house as he collected the bodies. Just when you thought...I mean, how can someone stand to live around all that death?"

"To someone like the Joker, it's no different than collecting rocks. Just another day. Just another sick joke." Batman's voice rang out of the darkness.

Both cops looked around, trying to locate which direction the sound of his voice came from.

Stepping out of the house , "Gordon. Bullock." Batman acknowledge both men.

"So you've already seen it, then?" Gordon asked.

"Yes."

"And?" Gordon asked.

"I don't have any answers yet, Jim."

This was a rare occurrence for The Bat.

"I have something." Gordon continued, "The Pollews lived here. Recognize the name? Pollew senior has ties to the Crime Boss Edward Barlowe."

Batman knew the name. He also knew that Barlowe and The Joker had maintained a rivalry over the years.

"We can't say for certain but looks like Pollew and his wife are among the dead." Bullock tried to be helpful.

"They are. I'm certain of it." Batman sounded confident.

"After the Christmas fiasco, I thought for sure he'd go into hiding, take a break, so to speak." Gordon sounded defeated.

There was silence for a moment.

"Joker's got something up his sleeve, Jim." Batman narrowed his eyes,and "This started out as a message to Barlowe, I'm sure of it and then turned into something...else. Why go to the trouble of collecting all those bodies and then burn the house?"

"Fire's a good way to cover your tracks. Only the whole house didn't go up into flames." Bullock chuckled, "Too bad for him."

"Knowing Joker the way I do, this was exactly what he wanted. He burned just enough of the house. The part he didn't want us to see, leaving the rest untouched and on display." The Bat turned and looked out over the burnt house, "Something nasty is brewing, that's for sure."

Then suddenly he was gone.

Bullock and Gordon looked at each other, both men were unsettled by the Bats comment.


Meanwhile...back in the hotel room...

You dosed off for maybe an hour, certainly no longer. Your eyes shot open with all the fury, all the rage, all the disappointment completely your body and mind needed the recharge of a good nap because as you stood there, on the other side of the locked bathroom door, you saw things clearly.

"It's curious what one chooses to simply over look when they want to."

"Hush."

You shuffled to your feet.

A quick peep into the mirror revealed that you'd sustained nothing more than a mild busted lip, this time. You couldn't help but snicker to yourself as the notion occurred to you: you'd been victim of a perpetual busted lip since falling into the hands of your "enduring clown."

"Enduring Clown?

"Oh well, could be worse."

As soon as the thought formed, you scolded yourself.

"Jesus, do you hear yourself?"

"Yeah. But as least nothing else is hurt. No cuts. No broken ribs. No visible bruises. Which means he held back. He didn't want to actually hurt me."

"You are fucking losing it. Certifiably going batshit."

"Blame it on love."

"Blame it on shit for brains. And that homicidal maniac in the next room."

"Oh hush it. He's not that bad, you just don't know him the way I do."

"No. You don't know him the way I do. You see things obscure when it comes to him."

"I said hush!"

"Fine. I'm sick of having this same same discussion about the clown over and over."

You gave your reflection a lifted brow, "So Miss Shit For Brains, just how do you plan on getting us out of here?"

"Let me think."

It was quiet for a moment.

"Wait? Had you actually been talking to yourself?"

"Well? Are you still think about a way out?"

"I said let ME THINK!"

The back and forth going on in your head was becoming more and more frequent; It was as if your last little bit of healthy, reasonable subconscious was trying to pull you out the quicksand you were stuck in. But instead of being still and listening to reason you were wiggling and trying to dig yourself deeper. As obvious as it was, that this man was detrimental, not only for you but anyone he came into contact with, you chose to over look it.

Finally, it really was quiet in your head now. You could think. Your brain was firing on all pistons, unclouded by the intoxicating presents of your Joker and the emotional fogginess you seem to always find yourself in around him. Yes, you had simply just been to frantic and distracted to see it earlier; your way out.

The door hinges. This would be a piece of cake with the right tool of course. You tugged on the door handle just one more time, you had to check. Maybe Joker had unlocked it as a cruel joke but no. It was still locked and pulling on it with all your weight didn't magically force it open. So you scanned the small bathroom for something useful. You made do with the towel rod; ripping it from the wall and began using it to force the pins right out of the hinges' knuckles.

You heard the tv go mute. A smile crossed yourself knowing you'd gotten his attention. And truly, in the end that's what you craved: just his attention.

The first pin hit the floor and you immediately started to evict the second pin out of it's snug hole until...there you stood; ten minutes later. The door was barely hanging on by the it's last remaining hinge. With a vicious kick, you finished the job, breaking the last hinge. You manhandled the door from it's frame and out of your way.

Stepping out to a smugly grinning Clown was your reward. There he was, stretched out comfortably on the bed; arms behind his head, elbows bent, legs crossed with one foot resting on top of the other.

"And what took you so long?" Joker taunted as he stretched his long lanky body, curling his toes at the same time.

His complacent expression turned into a huge grin. Those brightly painted red lips pulled taut over two rows of pearly white teeth as his eyes scanned over the, now useless, bathroom door. Proud of himself for forcing you just one more step closer to your nature violent state.

You gave him a look of mild annoyance as he gloated. Which in return only made the gloating worse.

The bottle of liquor resting on the bedside table causally caught your eye. In all your time with him, you'd never known Joker to drink. The instant dread of him possibly being even more unpredictable than normal hit you like a ton of bricks. Proceeding forward with caution would be prudent.

You quickly returned your attention back to him. He saw the apperhetion on your face. And whether or not he cared was a question you didn't have to ask.

He lifted his head up; smashing his chin into his collarbone, creating the tiniest little double chin while retaining his smug grin. "Whatcha been doing in there for sooo long? Girlie stuff?"

"You can be a real jerk sometimes, you know that?" You snapped back, almost cringing as you heard yourself blurt it out.

Joker raised his brows, wrinkled his chin and bottom lip as if to insinuate he was mildly impressed. "Touchè."

He topped it off with a charming wink. After all this time his winks could still make you blush.

His mood seemed rather stable; perhaps the alcohol wouldn't influence him negatively. However, you reminded yourself again that caution would need to be enforced.

He looked ridiculous; ridiculously enticing. Only Joker could be so fetching while relaxing in those silly Batman boxers; so sexy still wearing his black dress shirt, unbuttoned exposing the white cotton singlet under it, along with a pair of brightly striped socks and of course, donning his purple gloves.

"Goddamn, he's so adorable" crossed your mind.

"Move." He lifted his leg and wiggled his foot at you, gesturing for you to scoot out of the way, "I'm watching the film."

You immediately took a step to the side, giving him an unobstructed view of the television.

As his attention focused on the old black and white film, unmuting the sound. You simply stood there. Truth be told, you were not aware of the face you were making and you didn't notice him looking back at you until you heard his voice.

His eyes narrowed, studying you momentarily.

Then he smiled, "Oh, sugar-dumpling. Why the long face, you're still not angry with me."

You were anything but upset still.

He slowly lifted one of those green, unruly eyebrows playfully and motioned with a nod, "Come're."

He lowered an arm from behind his head and patted the spot beside him on the bed, "Come snuggle in...Right here, Cupcake...heh-heh-he...Right beside Daddy."

He shifted, scooting himself further up onto the pillows, making himself a little comfortable while keeping his arm stretched out for you to take your place beside him, he smiled.

You absolutely wanted to but for some reason, found yourself hesitating.

With his infamous 'you're starting to piss me off' voice, he spoke. "Now listen Pet, don't make me ask twice."

Immediatly, he turned his snarl into a charming grinned.

He's voice turned cheerful, "You might not like how I do it."

A nervous smirk filled your face, you were already moving toward the side of the bed he was offering to you.

Sitting down, the bed squeaked and a long airy *phhhhhhrt* echoed in the room.

Laughter erupted from the madman, causing him to kick his legs up as he began to roll, back and forth, from side to side.

"Aha-ha-ha-hahaha." You could feel the bed oscillating from his whole-body laughter.

You sat on the edge of the bed, head hung down in a comically defeated fashion. You were laughing but slightly vexed. Getting up, you tossed the covers back and picked up the whoopee cushion that Joker has so precisely planted.

You blew it back up and threw the thing at at him.

Immediatly, his hands clapped together expelling the air out of the toy causing his laughter to erupted yet again.

"Ooooh Pigeon, tis nothing quite like the shear delight of a prank..." He rolled the 'R' off his tongue.

"...playing out so flawlessly." He was like a giddy child as he rolled to his side, bracing his head with his elbow on the bed and beamed up at you.

You bounced back down on bed, still chuckling and started to kick off your shoes. Suddenly, you felt him snake his arm around your waist, giving you a hug.

"I love that you can take a joke." He swiftly mumbled out between his laughing, giving you an extra squeeze before ending the hug and rolling back over.

You felt your heart swelled.

Your shoe hit the floor, followed by the other one. His laughter was winding down, simply chuckles and small giggles. Suddenly, his hand brushed down the middle your back; following your spine down all the way down until it was rested on the bed.

He hooked his fingers over the waistline of your pants and tugged, "You could get completely comfortable if you'd like. And by completely comfortable, I mean you could take off more than just your shoes."

He gave you a charming but goofy smirk as you eyeballed him from over your shoulder.

Snicking, "Are you trying to get into my pants?"

He tugged them again, only harder, "My dear, tis true. I am trying to persuade you out of them. Heh."

He was being flirtatious and very good-natured about it.

You swung yourself around, throwing your legs onto the bed while remaining upright; not offering to indulge his advancements.

"I see how it is..." He was being coy, "...just simply refuse a gentleman's polite offer and break a Clown's heart..."

He frowned, "...in the process."

The faux frown was enduring when he did it. There was always that gleam of a grin lingering in his eye when he did it, making it less convincing and simply suspicious. You couldn't help but give him a big full grin. Something you didn't do a lot, not anymore and were unaware of yourself.

"There she is..." Joker cooed, "My pigeon." He reached up and pitched your cheek.

Joker suddenly moved and placed his head in your lap. His cheeks where slightly blushed from the alcohol and everytime he grinned at you, he looked goofier than the last time. You'd never quite seen him like this before.

"I think you're drunk." You teased.

"Meeee?" He purposely put a long drawl on the word.

"Nay, I merely feel tipsy. Hmm-hee-hee-hee-haha." He snuggled his head against your leg, turning to watch to tv.

"I needed to unwind..." His voice trailed off.

Glancing toward the bottle and gauging how much he'd actually how to drink, you thought "he is certainly feeling it."

You looked him over, stretched out across the bed on his back, feet hanging off the side, his arms relaxed at his sides with his hands folded and rested across his abs. His hair all tousled about, covering your thigh.

Your hand almost immediately disappeared into his lush green mane. Your finger tips gently rubbing against his scalp.

It produced a moan from him as he closed his eyes out of enjoyment. You slowly ran your finger through his hair until they we're completely free, then drove right back in, repeating the same action over and over.

These times were rare and few between. When Joker allowed you to be the one to show actually affection towards him. Whenever there was any thing remotely mistakable for tenderness it was almost, always controlled by him and always seemed to swiftly lead to some kind of twisted manipulation on his part.

Regardless, none of that concerned you. You were starry-eyed and giddy, consumed with the moment. Gazing at this cruel yet charming man you watched him giggling at the old black and white film on the television.

You suddenly found yourself cupping his cheek with one hand while you continued to fondle his hair with the other. Cradling his head, you brushed his cheek with your fingers, getting his attention. Joker lift his brow at you in the most innnocence manner, almost as if he was surprised by your lavish affection.

Without any warning, he scrambled up to his knees, cupped your face and coaxed you down onto your back; pinning you down.

Tugging at either side of his open dress shirt, you pulled him closer and closer. He allowed himself to follow, until he was completely laying on top of you. Your body tingled with excitement, feeling his weight on top of you.

There was bo pausing to think it through. It happen naturally with both of you utterly giving into it; never once holding back.

A kiss. A tender yet needy kiss. A long consuming kiss, where each you exchanged control. A soft back and forth, that would have fooled anyone who looked on into believing their was something there...between the two of you.

His kisses we're still few and far. And my god, could he kiss. Your mind flashed back to the way it made you feel the first time he'd given you a proper kiss. The one you asked for as payment before willingly giving yourself to him. That was the same night you and he had consensual sex for the first time. Sex with him always full of passion but disguise with very violent tendencies. Not that it mattered, you loved every second of it. Never once had sex been anything but mere pleasure for him and just another way to control and manipulate you.

But this, right now, this was alarmingly different. You could feel how different it was by the way he moved, the way he smiled, the way he kissed...

His kiss was passionate but kind. Not vicious. You could taste the sweetness of the liquor on his lips. And remembered...Was this him or the drink? Maybe both? A reflection of his kinder side? Couldn't be? You were stunned and more than willing to see it through.

You hands slipped around the back of his neck and into his hair as he lowered his lips to your neck. Kiss by kiss he traveled downward until reaching the top button on your shirt. He bit at it playfully before looking up at you with a mischievous smirk. Using his thumb and finger, he slowly pushed the button free.

Button by button he moved down your body until finally he pushed open your shirt exposing your bra and bare skin. His hands gasped the side of your abdominal region and kneaded gently at your sides. Then suddenly he kissed the J that scarred your belly.

You savored his every touch, noticing that his gloves had been removed. Moaning quietly as he started his way back up, teasing your body with his lips.

You gasped. He gently bit at your nipple through your lace bra then quickly pushed the bra cup aside, he wrapped his lips around your exposed nipple. Joker sucked with a viciousness that you hadn't been prepared for but enjoyed; the mixture of pain and pleasure caused you to moan his name.

"Joker." It was a needy moan.

Hearing his name made him chuckle with your nipple still in his mouth, "Hmm-heh-heh."

It tickled as he did it.

Quickly, he released your nipple, and all at once he was pushing your shirt over and off your shoulders. You finished the rest by arching your back and wiggling out of it. In tandem with you, while you finished the removal of your shirt he started unbuckling your belt and pants. Once done he popped up to his knees, hooked the waist of your pants with his long elegant fingers and began pulling. You automatically lifted your hips just enough to allow him easy access while slipping them off.

He didn't rush it. Pulling them off slowly then tossing them to the floor beside the bed. Remaining perched on is knees, he took all of you in. You laid before him in matching bra and underwear. The lingering trace of his lip stick left a trail, mapping out his advances on your body.

Joker felt his dick twitch at the sight of it on you covered in his shade of red. It never failed to excite, seeing his mark of ownership decorating his things.

"Wait here!" He announced with excitement.

Quickly off the bed, into his purple long tail and back onto the bed; he hurried with his lip stick tube in hand.

You pushed yourself up, using your elbows to brace your body. Crawling on top of you and straddling your legs, he uncapped the lip stick and twisted the base of the tube.

"Like this." He slightly puckered up his lips, wanting you to mimic him.

Holding your jawline he colored your lips red, accentuating your natural smile by extending the curve of the lipstick far pass your actually lips. Your eyes were closed as he worked. Having him use his own war paint on you was damn near euphoric.

Joker froze as he studied his work. He had given you your own Joker grin. And. It. Was. Glorious. It was like looking into a mirror (sorta) His ego was at full statute as well as his dick.

Joker was astonished.

Before you could open your eyes, Joker had you pinned down against the bed once again. With your face cupped tightly in his hands, he connected with you lips out of pure urgency. For a moment you through you were going to pass out from an oxygen deficiency. You had to quickly gasp for a breath before he could plant another long consuming lip lock on you. As it natural ended he lingered for a moment, staring down proudly at his work. giving you a doting Eskimo kiss before ending it with quick peck on your lips.

Joker continued to canoodle you with nudges and giggles. Reaching his hand up and tangling his fingers into your hair, he tilted your head toward the side and whispered into your ear.

"I know I have your unwavering obedience, completely loyalty...but I'm afraid something's missing. Hmm-heh-heh." He was clearly teasing you while also feeding his ego, very much enjoying himself.

"I need to hear certain things, you know. Tell me you adore me."

You were quick to answer, "You know I do."

"Yes." He sighed. "I know. I know." He almost sounded dismissive.

"I suppose what I truly need is to not only hear it, but I need to experience it..." For the first time you felt him grind his swelling erection against you.

"HEH-heh. You know, calm a skeptical..." He gave your earlobe a tender bite. "...body and disprove a suspicious mind... hmm-hm-heh...if you will."

You hooked one leg around the back of his lower thigh. Gladly, urging him on with your body rutting against him.

"So...go on, tell me..." He paused bitting your earlobe again, "Tell me, you desire me."

His hand tightening more and more in your hair as you whispered, "I desire you, Joker."

The use of his name instantly made his touch becoming more demanding. Moving his hand from your hair to your throat, keeping your head tilted as he prompted you.

He was panting slightly, "Tell me..."

He dragged his teeth over his bottom lip, "Tell me, I'm essential to your happiness."

He quickly continued before you could cater to his request, "Tell me, that you...worship me."

His erection was remarkable large at this point, as he rutted against your body trying to find friction.

Cupping your chin with his one hand, he feverishly kissed you before demanded, "Say it..."

You whispered it, almost moaning it, "I worship...you." Your body tighten around him, emphasizing 'you'.

"Your talent." You seductively cooed to him "Your genius, your unmatched parallel..."

He grinned, nodding in agreement with you.

Your hands were urgently slipping down his body, trying to worm their way into his boxers. His erection was pushing against your body, begging to be touched...worshipped even.

Your attempt to touch his dick prompted him to grab your arms. With a grin he push them above your head, pinning them down against a pillow.

"Tsk, tsk... nothing for you in there, my dear." He teased, "heh-hehe, Not yet."

Your snicker was muted as he lavished another kiss onto you. Lifting of your head, you pushed into the kiss. Wanting more. Joker teasingly pulling away from you, making you chase after his lips before he finally passionately kissed you again.

Playing by his rules, this time you pulled away; letting your head fall back into the pillow. With a smirk he followed after your lips. This playful give and take game went on, always ending in wild, passionate kissing.

Enough was enough. You needed him.

"Take me." You begged.

"Always make'em beg." He through smuggly.

He slowly moved a hand down your body, while leaving the other one where it was, holding your arms.

With one fluent motion his hand was pushing your underwear aside. The friction of his fingers sliding over your clit caused your hips to involuntary push toward his fingers. He slowly alternated from circling your clit to rubbing back and forth. Teasing you with the promise of more, he allowed his finger tips to dip down, barely penetrating you. Denying you of what you wanted as soon as he felt your hips buck toward them, before always returning his focus back to your clit.

You were a mess, both physically and mentally. Mentally, you were a mess of lust, secretly confessing in your mind how much love you felt. Physically, he had you dipping wet, ready to welcome any part of his body he wanted to fuck you with.

He'd teased you long enough.

"Hmmm-hm-heehehe." He giggled into your ear as his fingers slowly entered you.

A sigh of relief mixed with a moan of pleasure accompanied the roll of your hips as you moved against his fingers.

"Heh-he." He kept his hand still, letting you do the work.

Bitting your bottom lip and rolling your hips you fucked yourself on his fingers.

The nibbling and sucking on your earlobe added to your delight, making you move faster.

He whispered urging you on, "That's it, my pet."

"Now. Daddy wants you to move...slower." He cooed.

He was enjoying this immensely; literally deriving just as much pleasure from it as you were, "Excellent."

He rewarded your obedience with the friction of his thumb circling your clit while you continue to move on his fingers, exactly as he commanded. He lifted himself up just enough to watch you using his fingers, chewing on his smirking lip the whole while.

You wanted more, craved him. Giggling you suddenly shooed his hand away and got up onto your knees.

"And just what are you up to?" He lifted his brow out of curiosity, sitting up with you.

Joker grinned. Welcoming you as you straddled his lap and started removing his already opened dress shirt. Next it was his under shirt. Tugging it over his head, and freeing his arms, he immediately reached for you.

You raised up on your knees, making you the taller one for once. Tilting his head back as you ran your fingers threw his hair, he gazed at you with excitement. A viciously passionate kissed exploded between the two of you once more.

His hands caressed down your back, unhooking your bra, slipping it off with ease. Immediatly, his hands continued over the curves of your body before coming to a rest in the dip where your hip and pelvis meet. He kneaded at your skin, as if he just needed to make sure you were real. It sent a thrill through you.

Suddenly, you felt cold steal brush against your skin. Before you could look down, a quick flick of his wrist and Joker had sliced your underwear completely off. With a laugh he stretched his long arm out and planted the knife, blade first into the bedside table.

The look on your face said, where the hell did that come from.

The grin on his face said, I'll never tell.

Giving you the ole brow wiggle, he playfully slung what was left of your undies around finger for a moment before chunking them aside.

You cupped his face as he continued to smile at you, giving your butt a good squeeze. With a few quick adjustments, you found yourself being guided down, by Joker, onto his throbbing erection. Widening your thighs a little more, you mounted him, taking him hilt deep into your warm welcoming body.

Joker announced abruptly, "Holy Christ!"

As his trembling hands squeezed your ass cheeks again, coaxing you to move up and then down.

"That's the best...damn..." He voice trailed off as he buried his face in the curve of your neck.

Tiny moans and groans, gasps and whimpers we're pouring out of him like music, made everything seem like a daydream.

You slowly rolled your hips, grinding on his cock. His teeth bit down on your collar bone, using it as an outlet for the intense pleasure he was experiencing. Of course, this encouraged you, causing you to add more speed and aggression to your rhythm.

A hand quickly traveled up your spine and grabbed the back of your neck. The nails digging into your skin excited you.

Suddenly he mumbled, "Pull my hair, rough me up, doll."

Your fingers immediatly tangled in the back of his hair, giving it a good vicious pull. Enough that he tilted his head back as he moaned.

This was becoming the sex you were accustomed to. You knew what he was craving, the line of pain and pleasure was intertwined for him. Your hands slipped down his neck, dragging your nails down incredibly hard. Mixing the two was a necessity that you knew all too well. Something you yourself had started to unwisely enjoy also.

You braced your elbows on his shoulders for more leverage, pulling his hair harder in the process as you rode him harder. His hand grasped your waist, helping your body lift up and down on his erection with more aggression.

"Hmmmm, Pigeon." He buried his face on your shoulder as the moment started to reach it's peek, "This why you're my favorite."

Your emotions were running high.

And it slipped out, "I love...you."

Abruptly, Joker jerked his head upright.

His eyes widened and his mouth gaped open. It appeared to be out of shock. It was as if all pleasure and air had been sucked right out of the room. You froze for a moment knowing you had screwed up.

Trying to salvage the situation you slowly rolled your hips once, then twice, tighten your grip on his hair.

But it was too late, you could see the change in his face as his opened mouth slowly started to snarl; bareing his teeth and lowing his brow out of angry.

He growled loudly, "Why you-You-YOU stupid girl."

Somewhere between you trying to scrambling off of him and him shoving you, tears were already forming.

Before you could get away from him, he was roughly manhandling over and down onto the bed. Your struggling to break free didn't seem to faze him. He merely held you down, pinning you against the mattress and a pile of pillows at the head of the bed.

Laying his body on top of your, he was pawing are your head... trying to... calm you down?

"Stop. Stop. Shhh, there-there." You couldn't help but get a good whiff of the alcohol on his breath.

"See," he grinned innocently. "I'm not angry, not anymore."

He started literally petting your head and hair, "Heh-he-haha, see, all better."

He brushed his cheek against your own cheek, while adjusting his position on top of you; rutting his way between your thighs. He was still excited, rock hard but didn't try to penetrate you.

"There, comfy now? Yes?" He nuzzled his face into the your hair and snuggled your whole body.

It caught you off guard, you were sure by his outburst that this was about to go terribly awry. But something else entirely was occurring. He was being affectionate, in his own way of course.

"I must admit."

He snuggled his head and body against you the whole time he spoke into your ear, "There for a second or two my initial reaction was going to be...well, let's just say not good. Heh."

You were starting to relax. Letting yourself calm down and again started to enjoy the canoodling he was trying to instigate. He clearly wasn't himself right not or maybe he was. The truth was you'd never actually know if this was him or the alcohol or a little bit of both.

"But then in the mist of seeing red, an realization instantaneously occurred to me..." He nuzzled against your neck again and this time you nuzzled back.

A smirk crossed his face as he lifted his head.

"I said to myself, Joker..." He kissed you. This time a little longer, a little more involved.

"This stupid, darling girl." He began to adjust his position again while mildly groping your body.

"After all the atrocious, deprived..." You gasped pleasurably, feeling him slowly push his erection into your body.

He continued right on.

"... things you've done to her over the pass year. Heh-he." He continued to snuggle you while slowly fucking you, grinding into you with tenderness. "Some, of which, were truly horrendous and repulsive. She still dared to love you, YOU of all people."

Grabbing you under your chin, he made sure you were looking right at him as he gave an extra deep thrust with his hips. He wanted to see you reaction, see the pleasure on your face. Your whole body rolled against him in return, making him grin.

"So, you do. Don't you? Love me?" He asked with anticipation.

"I do, you know I do. Joker."

"Most curious." He adjusted your leg, shifting his body as he tucked one of his arms completely underneath you.

"Why someone as insufferable as me, though?" He gazed at you with wide eyes, like he really wanted to know.

You cupped his face in your hands, "Because I see pass it all." Pulling his lips to yours, "Because... I get to experience the moments like this."

He gave you a passionate, almost vicious kiss; his hands moved over your thighs, gripping and kneading your legs as he continued his almost romantic endeavor of making "love" to you.

"But you know exactly what I am..." He spoke inbetween short kisses, "A monster..."

Kiss.

"A monster who's going to kill you the second you're no longer convenient."

"It's worth it." You quickly replied.

Joker snickered and then kissed you yet again. Everytime the two of you kissed, the sex became more and more involved.

"And, of course, you have to know that i'll never actually love you in return."

"It doesn't matter." Again you replied quickly.

"Oh, really." He lifted an eyebrow. His hand suddenly found your hand and he threaded his fingers together with yours, squeezing hard.

"Well, in that case, I'll definitely hurt you, over and over." He kissed you aggressively, fucking harder.

"Beat you. Call you names, belittle you..." He hooked his arm under your knee and lifted it higher, "Degrade, humiliate, diminish you..."

He kissed you again before finsihing, "...every chance I get."

You answered very arrogantly, "I can handle it."

"Heh-hee-hahaha." Joker was amused, loving every second of this twisted, odd, romantic, connection happening.

"And you know, I'll never put you first. Or buy you nice things. It's always going to be about little ol' moi."

"And so it will be." You answered with a snicker.

Joke sighed very theatrical, then grinned. Every attempt to discourage you, had fail. Not that he actually wanted to see any of it work. So he went a slightly different route.

"Will nothing persuade you I'm not worth it?" He smuggly grinned, knowing the answer.

He rested his forehead against yours, "In case you didn't realize...But I'm a white skinned, green haired freak."

"You're gorgeous to me." Your words were breathy, you were panting heavily from the building pleasure between your legs.

Almost whispering, as if he had a secret to keep, "I'm old enough to be your father."

"I prefer older men." You cooed right back at him with a giggle.

"Why you..." He growled playfully and that was it.

He held your chin in one hand, as he pitched your cheeks together causing your lips to pucker up he kissed you in the most demanding way. He stayed right on top of you but used his knees to get more leverage to make longer, more involved strokes in and out of you. The extra friction felt amazing, causing the two of you to focus momentarily on nothing but the sex.

Everything was done out of instinct, the groping, the rutting, the kneading, the kissing, the biting, the sucking...you felt a familiar building and didn't fight.

Suddenly, warmth explosed and pleasure rippled through your body. Toes curled, hands gripped hair as your orgasm washed over you like a wave, making your whole body tense up for a brief moment.

A devilish smirk crossed Joker's face with the lift of his brow, "did you just...no fair."

Then he pounced, using everything he had to chase his on pleasure; desperately seeking it until you could feel his cock pump and twitch inside you as he climaxed hard. His eyes closed tightly and his bottom lip clasped between his teeth. He was panting loudly by the time he was done.

Finally, he gave an exhausted sigh and collapsed on top of you with a giggle. He let his weight pin you for a moment before he shift slightly to the side, pulling out of you and letting the bed support most of his weight.

"Well." He cheerfully chirped.

"That was...something." He snickered.

"Hmm-heh-heh-hahaha." He lifted his head to glance at you with a cheesy grin before snuggling against you.

In the end you were pretty much speechless...


"Pull yourself together, old boy. How did you permit this to happen? Mixing work with pleasure, pleasure with work. You know the drill. Never mix the two...under any condition...no matter the circumstances. Tsk, tsk, tsk...that's just simple work place 101."

Joker remained completely still; nothing but the faint sound of cartoons playing in the background.

He'd pulled a chair up to the foot of the bed, where he sat, watched you sleep. In one hand, he held a knife. In the other, his nearly finished bottle of liquor. For two hours he hadn't moved more than an arm muscle, periodically lifting the bottle to his mouth.

"True, true. I must admit she's become a distraction. I mean, holy Christ, man! Just look at her. Have you ever seen anything so...so...so...Tempting? Just think of all the delightfully diverting deeds you could persuade her into performing."

Joker's brow slightly arched from the idea. Then his tongue scratched the corner of his mouth before he took a sip of booze; never once taken his focus off of you.

"Hypothetically speaking, what if one did derive pleasure from having a companion, which you don't. One might want to keep that said companion around, which you don't. It wouldn't be unheard of... It is conceivable, after all, that you might actually want Pigeon. I mean look at yourself. She is the reason you're sitting in the dark, half naked, all liquored up, holding a knife, debating with yourself. But hey, who's judging. Haha."

Joker's top lip twitched then he quietly snarled.

"No-no-no-no. I digress!"

"Just because she's been one of the smarter pets, certainly the most tolerable one, you've had the opportunity of creating...doesn't mean you couldn't make 50 more just like her."

"She's all ready getting in the way. That business today with burning the house to cover her trail. That wasn't the plan. Plus, she's losing it. Ha, she's looney as you, old bird. Don't pretend you didn't heard ever bit of that conversation she had with herself earlier this evening..."

"And yet you didn't hesitate, not for a moment, to go right to bed with her. Curious, isn't it? The crazy one do make the better lovers, don't they?"

A spiteful look crossed his face causing his nose to wrinkle and his brow to lower.

"You know the precise steps needed in order to render a solution. So, just do it."

His eyes shifted off of you, to the knife, then back to you.

"One quick cut across the jugular and it'll all be over, problem soved. It would be painless, she at least deserves that. Quick. You did tell her you'd kill her one day. Hahehehhhh-hmmmeeeeh."

His arm slowly raised the the bottle to his lips and he chugged what remained of the whiskey.

"Or perhaps...you really don't want it to be over."

"She is useful...so put her to use...make her prove her worth..."

With a deep breath and a long sigh, he wiped off the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He immediately stood, suddenly knowing exactly what had to be done.


Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Denial.

Anger.

Bargaining.

Depression.

Acceptance.

Right now, there was angry.

They said, there are five stages to grief. The first being denial.

Well, your denial only lasted as long as it took you to wake up, look around, panic, and read the note he'd left for you.

Pigeon Dearest.

My dumpling.

My pumpkin-pie.

Today, I'm afraid that our paths must part. Fret not! For we shall meet again, my cupcake.

Daddy's simply got work to do. The time has come that certain implements are needed in order to continue my future plans.

Safe keep & well stay! Or is it the other way around? Ha Ha.

After all, I will be ensuring you with certain responsibilities. Until then, ta-ta.

XXOO

J

A lousy note, a broken bathroom door, half of the bed, including your covered in lipstick and cartoons playing on the TV was the only evidence that he'd ever been there. You were fuming, irate, confused and most importantly, heartbroken. However, you were pretty sure that the tears rolling down your face was your body's effort to expel some of your anger.

Suddenly, you darted cross the room. Fumbling around in the pile of your clothes, you quickly pulled out your cell phone and called him.

As your thumb pressed his name in your contact list there was a wave of anxiety that made you nauseated. The through crossed your mind that he's exactly the kind of person who would have changed his number already.

"Please ring. Please ring. Please. Please." You chanted as you put the phone to your ear.

*Ring*

Relief washed over you for a brief moment until you started, "Please pick up. Please pick up. Pick up. Please. Please."

It rang ten times before his voicemail took your call.

You almost hung up, but you wanted to here his voice. You waited to hear that silly opening line, "Boy did you get a wrong number."

But, instead you heard...

"Hello my pet, I see you got the note. Goodie, goodie gun-drops!"

His voice was charming and cheerful.

"You see, I was thinking and said to myself: Self, when Pigeon realizes that you've picked up and vacated, she's going to call and when she calls, wouldn't it be lovely for her to hear your plans right out of the horse's mouth...so to speak. Heh-he-haha! So dear, here's the rub. I need you to dust off the ole thieving know how and rob a bank for me. But which bank, you ask? Any bank, I don't care. Money is money, after all. So you do that and Daddy will welcome you home with open arms. Home being the place where you keep your goodies ."

Immediatly, you knew he was talking about the warehouse.

Then his voice went dark and threatening, "But hear me and hear me well, my sweets...Step one foot near the hideout without having completed the task at hand and you'll be sorry. Capiche?!"

Then he went right back to cooing at you, "K? Yes?Good, Delightful then! Oh and, Pigeon...last night was *mawh* (it sounded like he'd kiss the end of fingers expressing just how excellent it had been). Haheh. Now, do hurry back. Heeeheheh-heh-heh-AAH-hzzHahahahaha!"

*Click*

You called the number right back, to back, to back. Each time the number was 'no longer in service'. How does he do it, you wonder as the angry started building again.

"Fucking clown!" Tossing the phone as hard as you could against the wall. It felt satisfying to see it break.

Finally, you collapse. Throwing yourself down onto the bed. There was so much turmoil brewing in your mind. With only one thing being certain: you missed him already. And the next time you saw that damn clown, you'd beat the ever-loving-shit out of him...after giving him a hug...no, maybe a kiss...