I felt like fleshing out my interpretation of Joker, so I added this beginning piece as an extra in this chapter, and hopefully it will explain the relationship between James and Joker. It'll also explain why Joker is interested in Jade. The beginning part takes place about three years before the story starts. So enjoy and review!
Oh yeah! I would like to thank the following wonderful people for reviewing: thefriendlyguy63, TheShadowCat008, and ImaliAndImFabulous0218! I was itching to update this two days ago, but I didn't have access to my computer and school wouldn't let me have any free time. I have a little more, but I'm not sure when the next time I'll be able to update will be. Anyway, you can read now.
Joker laid sprawled across the lumpy old mattress in his current hideout, his favorite black knife in his hands. One of his older guys that had been working a few jobs here and there for the Joker hadn't been around lately. What was his name? Oh, yes— Jamie-boy. His government name was technically James, but the boy didn't seem to mind the nickname— not like he'd say anything if he did.
Jamie-boy normally came around every couple of weeks for the Joker to give him a few jobs; his field of expertise lay in computers, whereas the Joker was the strategist. When Joker couldn't get certain things he needed through blunt force, Jamie-boy seemed to know how to get them through his computers. He was a sort of consultant for Joker, and over the years, they'd gotten a sort of routine put in place.
Now, why was any of this important?
It had been a little over two months or so since Joker had heard from Jamie-boy, and he was interested in the change. Is he still alive?
His mind made up, Joker bounced up from the bed and strode into the other room where his goons lazed around. He clapped his hands once to get their attention, "Hey fellas! We have a, uh, job to do." He said with a dramatic grin.
The henchmen looked at each other in unease, not sure what this particular task will be like. Joker strode to the door, throwing it open and pointing to two men randomly to follow him before he walked out. The two men hesitantly got up and followed after their boss.
A small grey Grand Am pulled up to a certain apartment complex and cut its engine, the ones inside of it waiting. After a beat of heavy silence, one of the men spoke up, "Isn't this where that tech guy lives?"
Joker grunted in response, his eyes glued to the door of the building, so the man just took it as a yes. More silence.
"Well, what are we doing here?" the same one asked stupidly.
Joker cut his eyes in the man's direction, giving him a silent warning. The man closed his mouth.
After a few more minutes of silence, the man was about to open his mouth again but closed it again as the door to the apartment opened. James stepped outside, looking back over his shoulder. Just as the Joker was about to step out of the car, another person stepped out of the apartment after James, running a bit to catch up to him. Joker sat back, intently watching the pair.
The girl had chin-length curly red hair and light caramel skin. Her wide, almond-shaped eyes were a light brown, maybe hazel, and seemed almost unreal on her small, heart-shaped face. Their dullness stood out most to Joker.
James handed the girl a large bag, which she shouldered with little difficulty. She waved as she turned around the corner. James kept straight, watching her for a while before he crossed the street and continued on.
"Go back to the warehouse." Joker turned sharply in his seat, chewing on the inside of his scarred cheeks as he thought.
The ride back was oddly silent, neither the Joker nor the henchmen saying a word. They pulled up the warehouse and got out of the car; Joker walked around it to the door and stopped. He turned to the Henchman that had drove, the one who'd wisely not said a word throughout the whole trip, "You. I want you to, ah, figure out where that girl lives. Find out why she's with Jamie-boy. Keep tabs on her for me." He said and turned to go inside.
"What about me, boss?" the other one piped up.
The Joker paused, turning back around to face them. He gestured for the other one to go inside, his hand resting under his chin as if contemplating what to do. The first man hurried inside, leaving Joker alone with the other henchman. Joker gestured for the man to come closer, looking over his shoulder as if checking to see if they were alone. The henchman stepped closer, leaning in slightly. Joker pulled his blade from his pocket and drove it deep into the man's gut, holding him still as the blood gurgled from his mouth. "My job for you," Joker whispered, "Is to be quiet." With the last word, he harshly tugged his blade out of the man's abdomen.
Blood sprayed over the Joker and the door behind him. He looked at it, annoyance pinching his eyebrows, and went inside.
"You."
Joker pointed to one of the other henchmen lounging about. "Go clean up that mess outside."
I continued on with my life for the next few weeks, avoiding James. I didn't know how attached I was to him until then; it was hard not talking to him. But the moment I'd almost cave and pick up the phone, a little voice in the back of my head whispered, He's keeping secrets from you. Don't cave until he's honest with you! I'd sigh and drop the phone again and get back to whatever I had been doing. Strangely, I haven't heard from the Joker either, except for the one time he sent some random guy to get the blueprints he'd asked for. To keep my mind off of both him and James, I'd started training myself more, climbing buildings around my neighborhood and working my way closer to downtown Gotham. It was stress-relieving, and it was hard remembering why I'd stopped.
Now, though, I was walking down the streets downtown, looking for a specific café. I was supposed to be meeting a client there, and I was a bit behind schedule. Once I found it, I entered and picked a booth in the back— out of view from the window— and went up to the counter to order something while I waited.
"Hi." I said to the cashier and smiled, "May I get a small black coffee and a chocolate crepe, berries on the side?" I refrained from squinting as I looked at the menu as I ordered.
"Yes, ma'am. That'll be $11.15."
I also refrained from wincing at the big price as I fished out my wallet. Yes, I had more than enough to buy crepes for the rest of this year, but I preferred to spend my money wisely. And paying six dollars for a crepe was not wise.
Before I could take out the proper bills from my wallet, a voice behind me said, "Could you add another coffee to that? Cream and sugar added, please." A hand behind me reached and gave the cashier a twenty, and I turned to see whom it belonged to.
My eyebrows shot up into my hairline, and I stumbled over a response. "Oh, um, you don't have to do that, Mr. Wayne, I—"
"No, really. It was no problem." Bruce Wayne smiled, showing off his pearly whites.
He took the tray the cashier offered and turned, silently asking which table I'd like to sit at. I blinked slowly, wondering why this randomly was happening to me. I hesitantly led him to the booth I'd picked out when I'd first came in, setting my bag down behind me.
"So, what's your name?" Bruce asked as he set the tray on the table and slid in on the other side of it.
"Alex." I said. "Alex Peyton."
"Nice to meet you, Alex." Bruce said and smiled again.
I smiled back, picking up my coffee as I asked, "So what made you pay for my things?"
I blew into the hole on the lid before taking a sip, my eyes watching the stranger across the table.
"Well, you seemed like a nice person to talk to. Better to eat with company, right?" he laughed lightly, and I smiled again.
I chose a blueberry from the small bowl of colorful fruit, popping it into my mouth. "I suppose so, Mr. Wayne." I said once I had swallowed it.
"Bruce." He corrected me.
"Bruce." I nodded.
"So, what line of work are you in?" he asked.
I nearly froze, but kept chewing the piece of crepe in my mouth before I swallowed. "Computer science. I kind of freelance, build websites, you know… boring stuff." I said with a shrug, carefully watching his response. What made him ask such a question? Did he know anything? Is that why he paid for my stuff—?
My eyes wandered to the window and widened a tiny fraction. "Alex?" Bruce said, bringing my attention back towards him. "Are you all right?"
"Sorry." I laughed shortly, "I'm fine. Would you excuse me for a moment? I have to use the restroom."
He nodded, looking a bit confused, but didn't say anything. I grabbed my purse and scooted out of the booth, walking across the floor to the bathroom. Once inside, I hurriedly pulled out my cell and dialed my client. "Is something the matter?" he asked as soon as he picked up.
"I'm kind of tied up right now. Order something and meet me down the street at that little convenience store. Bruce Wayne is sitting in over in the corner, and I don't want this to get sticky."
"But—" he tried to protest.
"Just do it!" I snapped and hung up, walking over to the sink and staring at myself in the mirror over it. It was times like these that made me not like my "job". I sighed and splashed my face with water, patting it dry with a towel, and washing my hands.
"Sorry I took so long." I told Bruce once I sat back down at the booth.
"I was starting to think you'd climbed out the bathroom window." He joked.
I laughed, sipping my now lukewarm coffee. "Of course not. You're not that bad of company." I joked back.
We talked for another minute or so while I finished my crepe and fruit before I checked my watch.
"Oh!" I said, feigning surprise as I "noticed" the time. "I have to go; I have an appointment with a client soon."
"No problem." He responded, getting up from the table.
I grabbed my bag and my purse, throwing them over my shoulders in a rush. "It was nice meeting you, Bruce." I said, walking to the door.
"Same to you." He said. "Maybe we could meet up again sometime?"
I paused in the doorway, turning to look at him. "Maybe." I said politely.
'I don't think so, buddy.' I thought to myself. I nearly groaned in exasperation when he stopped me again.
"Here." He said, giving me a small card. "Call me when you have time."
I smiled and nodded before turning and walking down the street. Entering the small convenience store I'd directed my client to, I spotted him in the back near a row of refrigerators, studying two different types of liquor. I walked down one of the rows and stepped up beside him. I opened the door next to him and picked out a bottle of wine. "I've got your info." I said, handing him a skinny envelope.
He chuckled. "Took you long enough, kid. Got lost on the way here?"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, ha ha, Ronald. Very funny." I said sarcastically. "But no, I had to get rid of Wayne first."
He raised his eyebrows. "What were you doing with a guy like that?"
"I dunno myself, Ronald. He just paid for my stuff while I was waiting for you and sat with me. I couldn't tell the guy to go away."
Ronald snorted. "Sounds like he was flirting with you kid. Be careful with his kind, if you catch my drift."
"I quirked my eyebrow. "Aren't you one of 'his kind'?" I asked.
He laughed. "Touché, smartass. Nice doing business with you kid." He said and walked up to the counter.
"Same to ya." I grinned as I got in line behind him.
After I left the convenience store I, headed back home. Thankfully, nothing too exciting happened on the way there.
Alrighty, guys. That's a bit longer than I thought it'd be. It's the longest chapter yet, too! *happy dance* I might not be able to update in a while, but I'll try! Review and stuff! See y'all later!