Chapter 3: Haunting Memories

10 Years Ago:

At 9 years old, Parker was already making a reputation for herself.

"Hey, pip-squeak! get over here! We have a job for you!" Parker rolled her eyes, before excusing herself from the tea party.

"Sorry Mrs Dolly," she said to her doll, "I have to go, but enjoy the rest of the tea party with out me." Dusting off her dress, she skipped over to where the big kids were sitting. Climbing up on seat, she wrinkled her nose at the funny smelling stuff that the new boy was smoking.

The smoking boy, really a young man, looked her over once, before turning to Axel, the nice big boy who gave her jobs so she could buy her pretty new dresses.

"You mean that she is our ticket in? You really think that this little girl will help us with this job?" He blew out an extra large puff of smoke, before crossing his arms in front of his chest. "If this is your 'secret weapon' I want out."

Axel leaned over and placed his forearms on the table.

"She is every bit as good as I said she was." Parker watched Axel, her whole body tense, waiting for the signal she knew was about to come. She silently slipped off her pretty pink boots, making sure she wouldn't ruin them.

"Prove it." The smoking boy challenged.

"Hmm, Little Ace, what do you think?" Axel turned to Parker, she in turn gave him a big toothy grin.

In one fluid motion, Parker pulled herself into a crouch on the seat, jumped forward and placed her hands on the table as her feet flipped over her head and straight into the smoking boys face. He was knocked backwards of his seat, and she used his face as a launching pad to flip onto her feet. Parker stood in a defensive crouch, waiting for him to stand up. he slowly clambered to his feet, and as soon as she saw that he was stable, she launched herself back at him.

She fought quickly, kicking and punching, darting under the punches he attempted to hit her with. The fight didn't last long, soon he was bloody and bruised, almost unconscious at the feet of a little girl in a pretty pink dress.

Axel walked over and stood behind Parker, his hand gently resting on her head.

"Thanks Little Ace for that demonstration," He said before walking around to squat next to the boy's head.

"So, do you want us on the job or not?"

Present Day:

Joker and Mayhem had returned 'home'. It was just a warehouse that was losing the 'ware' and becoming a 'house' for a week or so, or whenever Joker is taken back to Arkham, Mayhem thought grimly as she glided through the door.

Excusing herself from the Joker as soon as she could, Mayhem went to her only peaceful place, her room. Collapsing onto the bed, Mayhem's conversation with the Bats wad playing in a constant loop in her head.

'We can help you'. Robin's words echoed in her head.

Great, Mayhem though, now I'm hearing more than just my voice in my head. I really am crazy. As Mayhem's pacing began, she caught sight of herself in the mirror hurriedly propped up in the corner. I actually look like a maniac.

Long hair was pulled up into two messy pigtails, one dyed light purple, the other dyed light green. A black, strapless, corset top was met at the waist with high-waisted pair of light green shorts. On one arm sat a light purple glove, the other; light green - each on opposite sides to her coloured pigtails. A black utility belt sat on her waist, filled with knives, explosives and her other gadgets. Her boots came up to her thigh, one was light purple, the other light green, and they were flat (heels killed her ankles, Parker always said). Strapped just above her boots, on her thigh was a sheath for her two favourite fighting knives.

Mayhem's face may not be as white as Jokers, but she wore enough makeup to hide everything - including her freckles. Matte red lipstick topped of her Jokerish look.

Mayhem reached into her draw and pulled out her hair brush. Tugging the hair ties out of her hair, she began to brush the colour out of her hair, slowly transforming herself back into Parker.

"Parker, you were a good girl, a nice girl. You just got in the wrong crowd. We can help you get out of this, you know?"

"No, I don't know what you have been through, but we can help."

"I've used every single part of my dark personality to help me get further in life."

"Parker, listen to me, please. Think about it. We can help you. You don't want to become the Joker, Do you?"

That was the problem. Parker didn't want to become the Joker. Parker's eyes flicked to her face in the mirror, realising she had been brushing her hair with a scowl on her face. She looked into the mirror, seeing her long hair back to its original colour; a dark brown with little flickers of red in it, and she felt a whole lot better, she was becoming Parker again. She rushed into the bathroom, scattering bottles and makeup on the floor as she searched for her makeup remover. Suddenly, she was feeling suffocated behind the makeup. Her breathing shallowed. The clothes were constricting. It felt like they were shrinking. She had to get out of them. She ran to her bed and reached under it, pulling out a worn suitcase.

Parker's fingers fumbled as she tried to open the case. Once it was open, she all but ripped off her clothes, gloves and boots. But in her moment of panic, she remembered that she was still wearing her makeup.

She sprinted to the bathroom in just her underwear, before scrubbing her face frantically. She was flustered, and hyperventilating.

I'm scared, she thought to herself in surprise.

Once her makeup was gone, she sprinted back to the suitcase. Pulling out a pair of worn denim jeans, she hurriedly pulled them on. She then continued to dig through the suitcase until she found what she was looking for, An old, faded red hoodie. Parker sat cross legged on the floor, holding the hoodie tight.

Gale Simpson, read the tag. Scrawled in permanent marker on one of the sleeves was Gale & Emily, love never fades. Slipping the beloved hoodie over her head, before slipping into a pair of worn sneakers, Parker stood and walked to the mirror.

I look like a normal girl, she thought. Parker walked to the door and went to walk out. I need to get away, she thought to herself. On instinct she grabbed her utility belt and hid it under her large hoodie, before walking out the door.

Slipping around the guards, Parker carefully made her way out onto the street, and into freedom.

Parker wondered aimlessly for a while, thinking on her feet was what she did best. Did she want to ditch the only thing she knew how do to in the hopes of gaining a new life, or did she want to become Joker version II? Parker wandered aimlessly, but she looked up and realized that her feet had lead her to place she remembered well. A small park was in front of her, full of dead grass and just some monkey bars.

This was where she trained Jason, her little surrogate brother. He was to be her replacement as Ace when she left to join Jokers crew; and as such, she spent several weeks training him at this very park.

Jumping, Parker grabbed onto the end of the monkey bars, and swung herself into a handstand on top. Arching her back, she placed her feet on another set of bars, performing an effortless backbend. She then pushed herself off with her arms, coming to a standing position on the top. She then sat down on the side bar, just dangling her legs, pretending she didn't have a care in the world.

"Fancy seeing you here." So absorbed in her thoughts, Parker almost fell off the monkey bars at the sudden voice. She turned to see a boy, maybe 15 years old, with black hair and blue eyes. He wore ripped jeans and a worn leather jacket. She raised and eyebrow at him.

"And you are...?" She asked, glaring at him when he chuckled at her instead of answering. He simply walked up to the monkey bars and climbed up the same way she did.

"C'mon Parker, surely you remember me?" And he did seem familiar, that cheeky smile was something she remembered. He rolled his eyes.

"Maybe I need to jog your memory." He stood up and flipped lightly off the monkey bars. He turned and motioned at Parker to come down too.

Not even bothering to stand up, Parker simply hooked her legs around the bars and fell forward, her legs around the bars the only thing stopping her from falling head first into the ground. She hung upside down for a moment, before flipping her body forward and flipping once through the air, landing silently on her feet. Parker straightened her arms in the aid like she was a gymnast.

"Ta Da!" The boy in front of her just laughed at her. Parker walked forward and stood in front of him, placing her hands on her hips and tilting her head to the side to watch him.

Suddenly a fist was flying at her face. She blocked it with her fore arm. Another one was coming from the other side, and she ducked easily under it. His leg then flew towards her stomach but she flipped out of its path. He was already running at her so she dived at his head. he balanced himself and grabbed her waist to flip her over his head, but she grabbed his wrists and used her momentum to flip him instead. He landed on his back but rolled out of the way almost immediately. Parker let him stand, but remained in a defensive stance. But the boy didn't make any move to attack.

Those moves, and that grin Parker thought, could it be...?

"How'd I do?" He asked, all exited. Parker's hand flew to her mouth.

"JASON!" She squealed and running up to him, she pulled him into a hug. She laughed and stood back, her hands still on his shoulders. Jason smiled smugly up at her.

"Look how big you're getting!" She gushed, and pinched his cheeks affectionately, "And you're becoming a very handsome boy, I'm sure all the girls are chasing you!" she continued, pretending not to notice him squirm.

"And where exactly have you been mister? I haven't heard anything about a young Jason Todd. Whether that's good or bad, I can't tell." He laughed at her and pulled away.

"Ok, first of all, don't pinch my cheeks again or I'll kick your butt into next week kay?" Parker poked my tongue out at him, "Second of all, I'm not going to talk about my love life, or lack of it, to you," she pouted and folded my arms. "Thirdly, I've been adopted!"

Parker's jaw dropped.

"My little Jason got adopted. Man, those people are either really dumb, or you've just tricked them all." He frowned.

"Don't talk bad about my family; I have a dad who loves me and a big brother who annoys me. But I like it." Parker's face softened. Jason was arguing for his family, it was written on his face how much he looked up to them.

"I'm sorry Jason, I didn't mean it to sound like that, I was just a bit surprised, that's all." Parker said softly. "But I'm happy for you, you deserve a family." She smiled weakly at him. He came up and hugged my waist.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. Parker ruffled his hair.

"What for mate?" she asked confused. He looked up at her, one eyebrow raised.

"I made you sad, didn't I?" Parker smiled at him and shook her head.

"You could never make me sad, Jace." She said as she ruffled his hair again. He suddenly pushed her hands away from his hair.

"Stop doing that!" he protested. Parker laughed; the Jason she knew was back.

"So, who adopted you?" Parker asked, walking back to the monkey bars. She gently pulled myself up on top of them again. Jason jumped up to join her.

"You're not going to believe me" he said. Parker rolled her eyes.

"Try me; I've heard a lot of impossible things that are possible."

"Well, I was adopted by Bruce Wayne" he said in a rush. She blinked at him.

"Say what?" Maybe she heard wrong.

"I was adopted by Bruce Wayne." He said, clearer this time. Laughing, Parker shoved him off the bars, knowing that he would land on his feet. He looked up at her from the ground.

"It's true!" he said.

"That's so cool! You said you have a brother too?" She said, jumping down to join him. He nodded, his eyes lighting up.

"Yeah, Dick is awesome! Hey! You wanna meet him?" he said jumping up. Parker quickly shook her head.

"No thanks, Jace. Your old life and new life shouldn't mix." Parker said, feeling bad as his face fell. She quickly turned away from his big eyes, knowing that if she looked in them, my resolve would crumble. He cackled. She looked up curiously.

"Well, you don't have a choice, he's here." He pointed over her shoulder. Parker sighed as she looked over her shoulder.

Man alive, he's hot. Was her first thought, her second was maybe I should have put on some makeup. She stood up and brushed the dirt off her jeans, and then shoved her hands in the pockets of her hoodie, feeling the familiarity of her knife that was in the pocket. Dick smiled at her as he walked up.

"Hi, I'm Dick. You must be Parker. Jay talks about you a lot." Damn, even his voice is hot. She glared over her shoulder at Jason.

"Seriously, you talk about me? I'm honoured." Parker said, her voice heavy with sarcasm, she even rolled her eyes for effect. Jason just laughed at her. Parker turned back to Dick.

"Umm, hi?" Parker tried. He just smirked at her. Dick smiled down at Jason, who was now at his side.

"You didn't tell me she has a way with words." He said, ruffling his hair. He let Dick do that! And he called him Jay, he never let me call him that, he thought it was 'girly'.

Parker felt her stomach drop, her way of life as the Joker's little partner had taken everything from her without realising it. Joker's taken everything from me, my family, life, freedom. I want it all back. Guess I'm about to throw my life into the Bats hands, hope they know what they're doing.

Parker smiled at the two brothers.

"I guess I'll see you guys later," she waved and turned around to walk back to the 'house'.

"Wait!" I turned and was almost knocked over by Jason. She hugged him back tightly, as if her life depended on it.

"When will I see you again?" he asked, looking up at her, reminding her of the little boy she left behind. Parker blinked rapidly to stop herself from crying.

"Maybe soon, maybe later, maybe never," She said, her voice nothing but a whisper for the last two words; "Chin up," She kissed his forehead again and walked away. But she didn't look back, she couldn't bear the heartbreak again.

5 years ago:

"You'll make a great Ace Jason, trust me." Parker blinked rapidly to stop the tears from falling.

"When will you be back?" Leaning forward, Parker kissed his forehead one last time.

"Maybe soon, maybe later, maybe never," Parker took a deep breath, and gave her last bit of advice to the new Ace; "Chin up."

Parker climbed into the back seat of the waiting car.

"Why hello my new little apprentice!"

Present:

Dick and Jason walked away from the park.

"Do you think she will do it?" Jason asked his older brother. Dick smiled at the hope echoed in his voice.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know." He answered frankly. "You realise that we still have to tell Him," Dick said, emphasising 'Him'. Jason's eyes widened. He smiled up at Dick.

"You're his favourite, you tell him" Jason tried to convince his brother. Dick laughed.

"We both know he doesn't have favourites, and plus, you're the one who came up with the idea." Dick retorted. Jason rolled his eyes.

"Please? He's less likely to kill you than me." Jason begged. Dick chuckled as the two brothers climbed in the waiting car.

"Where too? Master Dick?" Asked Alfred, the butler, driver, cook, and just about everything else in the Wayne manor.

"Home please, Alfred." Dick replied before turning back to his little brother.

"But if it's any comfort, I'll dress up as the Grim Reaper for your funeral." Dick said, smirking. Jason's punch to his arm showed he wasn't impressed.

"Fine, I'll do it." Jason sighed, but brightened as he had a thought. "But you're coming with me!"

"Deal," Dick answered as he ruffled Jason's hair.

"What is it with people doing that!?" Jason rhetorically asked, knocking his brother's hand away, and scowled as Dick laughed.

Neither of the boys saw Alfred's shoulders shake as he quietly laughed, watching the two brothers in the rear view mirror.

AN - Reading through this, i realised that there is a lot of Aussie spelling so i apologise! Y'all probs be fluent in aussie by the end of the story! Hope you enjoyed! we will be getting to more exciting parts in the next chapter. and i hoped you enjoyed the little bits of Parker's past, I'll probably keep doing them, I really enjoyed writing a little Parker!

Thanks for reading and/or reviewing!

Missy (that's me)