Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the DC Universe.
Chapter 25
Four weeks later …
"YAY! Whoopee!!! " I cried happily waving paper in the air.
Ace laughed at me and clapped " So Miss. McKinley what's it like to be a free woman?"
I grinned and said "Feels great. But why don't you tell me? Georgina Sparrow. No more cops. No more criminal record. FREEDOM!"
I jumped onto Bruce's sofa and leapt up and down waving my arms.
"I can't believe they declared you sane. Oh well least now where free eh Jinxy? Oh I mean Ava " Ace grinned
I stopped jumping and sat cross legged; Ace sat along side me flicking the news on.
"Yep. Were official free woman to the public in about-"
I checked the watch on my wrist and continued "five minutes"
A smile spread across Ace's face as she picked up the remote and flicked on the news.
A male reporter appeared on the screen looking very annoyed. He looked strangely familiar...thinking hard about where and why his face seemed familiar.
Ace suddenly spoke up, pointing franticly at the TV screen.
" Ava! Ava! Look it's him! It's Jack Ryder. The Creeper!"
My eyes widened in shock.
Upon a closer look, it seemed she was right, his face seem now normal though and his hair was black again. Assuming it was makeup and listened intently as another reporter appeared next to him.
"Hello Gotham. Tonight we have an important news bulletin. It will be reported on by Jack Ryder. Who has made a full recovery after his ....erm...his slight mishaps" she announced.
Myself and Ace burst out laughing.
" Yeah right. Little mishaps...The guy went nuts and the red feather bower so wasn't his colour" I mocked.
"Ssssh it's starting" Ace said still giggling slightly.
We fell silent, smiles stuck on our faces. My scars were covered up well by makeup and for the first time in a long time, I felt normal.
It was a strange feeling, a feeling I wasn't used to. But I know that in time I would learn to accept this feeling of normality, sanity and well human bliss.
" Hello this is Jack Ryder reporting. Earlier today the infamous two criminals known as Jinx and Ace, who it was confirmed as partners in crime with the mass murder, The Joker were deemed sane and cleared of all their charges. Why you ask? well the reason for this...profanity, is because a few nights ago, Jinx was stabbed by the Joker and taken to a hospital by the Batman.
After many tests and discussions, it was revealed that Jinx was being forced to work with the Joker against her will. The same applies for the criminal Ace.
Bruce Wayne had this to say-"
Bruce appeared on the screen and stated " I know Ava McKinley better than anyone and I know she would never do anything like that, not willingly anyway. Ava and her friend Georgia are innocent, more fool anyone who believes otherwise. I will stand by them all the way.
Rest assured Gotham, justice will be served, but not to two innocents, no, to the person who is really to blame here, The Joker"
Bruce disappeared and Jack Ryder appeared back on the screen,
"You heard it here first folks. Two innocent young women who were caught in the grasp of an evil madman, then there free and we ask of you all not to judge them but to comfort them because they have been through a harsh time. Fate has been unkind to them and we wouldn't wish it on anyone else" he stopped reading off his script and looked it, his eyes shone with anger-
"and would you like to know what I think of this ladies and gentlemen? I think its a load of bullshi-"
The TV screen cut off onto another new story about Gothams economy. I laughed hard, stilling here Jack Ryder's furious yells over the current reporter.
"Oh yeah and were crazy" Ace said
Both of us rolled around laughing, mimicking Jack Ryder.
The door opened and in walked Bruce, a small smile on his face as he watched the two of us laughing and pointing at the television.
"I see the two of you saw the news then" He spoke taking off his coat and sitting beside us. I nodded and Ace mocked childishly "Mr. Ryder said a naughty word. And to think all because of us. Sane and sweet little girls"
We both batted our eyelashes, grinning innocently.
Bruce laughed and stood up suddenly looking serious "Ok just for now ladies. Don't leave the penthouse; I have to go back to work. Just came back to check on the two of you. Anyways I'll see you both later"
"Ok.........Bye then" I raised an eyebrow
Ace waved smiling sweetly; she had a mischievous glint in her eye. Bruce left quickly and soon after Alfred entered the room.
"Good evening Ladies. May I get you anything?" he asked politely.
"Yeah. Get us four large pepperoni pizza's, loads of fries and two litres of cola please Alfred" Ace said grinning happily.
Alfred smiled and nodded before leaving the room to get the two of our food.
"Hey Ace. Now that were well...not criminals. Should I call you Georgia?" I inquired.
She shrugged "Nah, Georgia sounds weird. Let's stick with Ace. So you know when the Joker gets back are you planning on going back and working for him?"
I was silent for a few moments. My stomach dropped.
Truth was, I didn't know.
"I don't know. I mean, maybe I want other things from life now. A career, friends, a family. What about you?" I replied
"Me too. I don't know either. I don't really think us. Or more you have a choice Ava. Seeing as you are the Joker's love interest" Ace spoke
I gave her a confused look "What do you mean?"
"Don't act stupid Ava. You and me both know there is something between you and him. He isn't going to let you go, just like that" Ace said
"Ace seriously. Can you really… and I mean really. Imagine the Joker having a girlfriend, wife, kids, being married?" I asked
Suddenly I felt guilty and fell silent.
He did have those things...once.
A wife and an unborn child.
Ace gave me a concerned look, "are you alright?" she asked.
I nodded "I'm fine.....Look foods here!" I cried changing the subject as Alfred walked into the room carrying all the food.
Ace took them from him and put all the food onto the small table that was next to the sofa.
"Thanks Alfred. How much?" She asked
"Your welcome. Oh it's on Master Bruce. Have a good night ladies" he spoke kindly.
"Thanks Alfred, you two!" we both called.
Myself and Ace tucked into the pizza's and fries.
Throw a mouthful of pizza, Ace asked "what do you see in The Joker?"
"You mean beside the craziness, makeup and knives?" I spoke.
Ace nodded gulping down some cola. Thinking for a moment, I replied " I guess, something no one else does"
She nodded in understanding before stuffing another slice of pizza into her mouth.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door; I got up, a slice of pizza hanging out of my mouth. Opening the door, the pizza slice fell to the floor and my eyes widened.
"Matt?"
------
Harley's point of view:
"CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES?!?" Mista J screamed kicking the TV over.
"Maybe its better without her and that other one Puddin" I said hopefully.
"No! She aint getting out that easy. What is she thinking! Oh I supposed that fucking pretty rich boy Bruce Wayne has been putting thoughts into her head! Making her....normal… and just un-amusing...I won't have it! He isn't getting his hands on her. Not now. Not ever"
I remained silent; tears stung my eyes, why did he care so much about her anyway? He was never like that with me!
"And do you want to know why Harley!" he yelled
"What's too special about her anyway?" I screamed through tears,
I received a punch to my stomach.
The Joker paced and then stopped and angrily spat "I asked you a question!"
" Go on then" I muttered
He suddenly slapped me hard across the face. "She belongs to me! Jinxy and Ace can't quit just like that. No one backs out on The Joker. You're either in or you get killed, simple" The Joker ranted
Mime was seated on the sofa filling her nails, she looked up and smirked.
"I thought you were a man without rules?" she sneered
The Joker lunged at her and picked her up by her throat, snarling "I thought Mimes weren't supposed to speak and it isn't a rule it's a fact of life-"
I watched as he punched her to the floor and kicked her in the back. Pulling out a gun Mista J shot a nearby henchman, his lifeless body fell to the floor with an echoing thud.
" And death" he hissed
I gulped nervously; terrified he would turn on me again. But no, he didn't, only storm off to a different room. I tried to help Mime up; she shoved me off and stood up, her back cracking painfully. Slumping back down onto the sofa she spat out blood and snapped "It will all be worth it once we get that bitch out of his life for good"
"Your right. Jinx has been ruining things for far too long. Its time to end it. If Mista J won't see sense then we will make him. I'm sure in time he will learn that were doing it out of love" I said reassuringly.
Mime nodded in agreement.
"Maybe not at first but in time Joker will come to understand. Our love is far stronger than anything that freak will ever feel. Jinx's time on stage is coming to a close. Its over for her"