"Sweetheart"

Sorry this has taken ages, sorry if it isn't up to scratch - had to get back in the mood for writing again:') Was in a slight rush when I wrote this chapter, but read it over a couple times so it should be alright….. let me know what you thought to this chapter, was dark knight inspired like chapter 1, didn't know if you guys would like that? thanks (again) for reading:) x

Leila concluded she must've fell asleep again, because when she opened her eyes for the third time, her kidnapper wasn't there. She blinked a little and slowly sat up, supporting herself with one elbow. After her eyes had adjusted to the strong morning light, she wasn't panicked. 'Why? Most girls would be screaming for help by now…'

"Ah my cute little girly hostage is awake!"

'So my bed buddy is still here after all.'

"For a second there I thought you'd forgotten about me," she mumbled. Her voice was tired and feeble still - the Joker smiled to himself. Once again it looked like he was going to be the dominant one.

"You've been a lazy girl, doll. I let you off for being a tad drowsy earlier on, but now… well, it's like babysitting a hormonal teenager." He smacked his lips. "Now that's something I don't like."

The Joker sauntered over to the bed, hands in the pockets of his huge trench coat. Leila wondered just how heavy it would be if it was draped over her tiny frame.

He peered down at her. She squinted, adjusting her eyes to the sudden close object she had to focus on. Would he punish her for sleeping in?

"Aw, you look all cute and panicky again…" he cooed. "I do love making you look like that. But no, no. We've got veeeerry important business to be taking care for this morning, doll. Oh yes. And guess who's going to be daddy's little helper..?"

His little hostage rolled her eyes. There was that word again; 'daddy'.

"Whoops, did I say 'daddy'? I forgot my cute little girly hostage isn't okay with that."

Leila interrupted him. "So what's this business you've got to take care of?"

"Ooh, you'll have to wait and see!" Her kidnapper giggled delightedly. He loved surprises himself. Especially the kind that involved Batman dangling outside his bedroom window… Not that that had happened. 'Yet.'

He continued excitedly - almost as if the surprise was for himself: "you've had no surprises yet, toots. I've had surprises." His voice lowered to a stiff growl. "Like when you sneaked out of your room last night. And now, you see, you've uh, 'tipped the scale'. It's unfair for me and Harls to have all the fun, right? So you're just gonna have to truuuust me and come and see what's in store, okay?"

Leila nodded, shutting her eyes again. She was still exhausted from last nights escapades. She'd almost forgotten about Harley until he reminded her. But she did remember her threat: "out by morning". She had 24 hours to persuade her kidnapper to let her out. But at the moment, all she could do was hope that her surprise would be pleasant.

"And don't worry," the Joker added, slipping his leather gloves onto his hands and grinning, "the green eyed monster won't be joining us."

—

A man with clown makeup and a young woman in a matching purple outfit sat in a taxi cab with blacked-out windows. Whilst he drove, she sat in the passenger seat, anxious to see where the journey would end. He giggled occasionally when he saw anything corrupt: someone being mugged, a passer by robbing a shop - anything that showed imperfection meant delight. His passenger just watched, disgusted. Despite being the city girl, the farthest she'd seen from perfect was drunks on the street corner. And she'd done the complete opposite of 'delight' at them.

They pulled up outside what looked to be an abandoned building. There were several other vehicles already parked up outside, the majority with tinted windows. People like the Joker? Leila didn't know. Nor did she really want to.

"Alright, doll. Stick with me, okay? This is a reeeaallyy nice surprise 'n all, but my fellow criminal masterminds might not be as pleasant as me, got it?"

Leila had to clamp her lips together to stop her from laughing. 'Pleasant'.

The Joker left the vehicle first, walking round to the passenger side and opening the car door for his cute little girly hostage. She liked this courtesy. She almost took back nearly laughing at him.

After stepping outside onto the cool gravel, the Joker took her hand. It wasn't rough like he had the night before. It was… tender, almost. It was if he didn't want to hurt her. This was something she'd never imagined him thinking, but she was right. He didn't want to hurt her. Right now, he just wanted to keep her safe. He knew that types of men in that building and he certainly didn't want his little doll in any danger. She was his prize, and would remained unspoilt. 'Until I want her to be otherwise…'

When they arrived inside, the Joker made Leila pause outside one of the room. She heard many voices. All male, all with a murderous pang to their voices. Her kidnapper put a finger to his lips: they were eavesdropping now.

However hard she listened, Leila couldn't quite catch what her fellow guests were saying. She caught the insults quite clearly, though. "He wears a cheap purple suit and makeup…"

The Joker frowned, clenching his fist. The suit wasn't cheap. He hated it when people insulted something he valued.

The voices continued. Leila recognised a Chinese accent… one proposing a plan to move all deposits to one location. None of the men were to know about it except the one talking. The conversation ended with; "rest assured. Your money is safe."

The Joker leant into his hostage's ear and whispered: "That's our cue, toots."

He entered silently. The only sound he was making was a low and malevolent chuckle. Nobody saw, but he held one hand behind his back and pulled his forefinger in a 'come-hither' motion. Leila followed obediently.

"And I thought, my jokes were bad." The Joker only said this when he came into everyone's view. They all glared back at him, but their expressions softened when they saw the petit young lady follow him in. Their eyes filled with lust… Similar to how the Joker's eyes darkened when he saw Leila for the first time, back at the bank robbery.

"Who's your friend?" A black man, someone Leila had heard of as a mob boss called 'Gambol', snarled. His voice was deep and husky. It was something Leila could've listened to all day. She was half tempted to beg him to take her from the Joker. His voice was faaar richer than his nasally drawl.

"Oh this?" The Joker glanced back at his doll. "She's mine. Don't you get any ideas, uh, Gambol?" Gambol frowned, almost baring his teeth back at the clown.

He sat down at the head of the table and adjusted his suit. He continued. "… I know how sexually deprived you all are. And as for the suit… it wasn't cheap. You oughta know, you bought it -"

Gambol stood, immediately. He'd never liked the clown. He was just someone he had to get along with to stay alive.

"Sit." Leila recognised him as the Chechen. His voice too, was appealing. "I want to hear proposition."

The Joker looked up at Gambol, then gestured towards the Chechen. Reluctantly, he sat, not once taking his eyes off the clown.

"You too, toots. Why don't ya take a seat?"

Leila didn't see any chairs… Awkwardly, she began to kneel down to sit on the floor. The Joker wasn't having that.

"Atata…" He scooped her up (from a seated position) and sat her down - side on - on his lap. In his arms again, Leila was still amazed at his strength. With his coat on, he didn't seem to be as strong as he was, but without, she was sure he would have a muscular build.

"Now." The Joker leant back in his chair, calm. Leila went back with him, nestled into his chest. Even when she was sat on his knee, her head only just reached his shoulder. He continued slowly: "let's wind the clocks back a year… These… cops and lawyers wouldn't dare cross any of you. I mean… what happened? Did your balls drop off? Hm? You see, a guy, like mee…"

"A freak."

The Joker merely glanced at Gambol and his little correction before continuing. He wasn't going to provoke him, it'd only put his cute little girly hostage at risk. He started again: "a guy like me - look, listen. I know why you choose to have your, little," he coughed, "'group therapy sessions' in broad daylight. I know why you're afraid to go out at night."

When he leaned forward onto the table, Leila nearly tumbled off his lap. She squeaked as she rocked forward, but he quickly wrapped his arm around her. He did it without thinking. This shocked him. If it'd been Harley, he would've just let her fall. He paused to think about this. Then he snapped back to reality.

"The Batman."

The Chechen piped up again. "What do you propose?"

"It's simple, we, uh, kill the Batman."

Several men laughed. Another man, Sal Maroni, just smirked. "If it's so simple, why haven't you done it already?"

"If you're good at something never do it for free." The Joker leaned back in his chair, absentmindedly running his gloved fingers through his hostage's hair. She closed her eyes and enjoyed it. She could smell the gunpowder on every one of them, but now she realised it was only the Joker she felt safe with.

The Chechen relaxed also. "How much you want?"

"Uh, half."

"I've got a better proposition," Gambol murmured. "The girl."

"Ugh, Gambol we've already been through this. The girl is mine, and you've gotta learn to deal with it. Maybe we can arrange more therapy sessions for you, eh?"

"Enough from the clown!" Gambol rose up again, so did some of his henchmen.

The Joker rose also, taking Leila with him, he held her protectively under his right arm, pulling her to him. The stench of gunpowder was stronger then ever, but still she snuggled her face into his trench coat. It was surprisingly soft… Surprisingly comforting.

Gambol approached the pair menacingly, the Joker backing away at an equal pace.

"Give me the girl, and I kill Batman. No strings that way, clown."

"Uh, no." The Joker's tone was sarcastic. Gambol didn't like that.

He lunged at Leila, grabbing for her arm. He tore her sleeve from the purple outfit but didn't manage to snatch her from her kidnapper's powerful arms.

The man holding her whispered down to her gently: "are you alright, sweetheart?" He felt her nod into his chest. Despite his little bundle's safety, he made a mental note to 'come back for' Gambol.

"Alright, so, why don't you gimme a call when you wanna start taking things a little more seriously? Here's. My. Card." He placed down a Joker card from a classic deck of playing cards. Again, he marvelled at his creativity and laughed a little inside.

As the pair backed out, Gambol slammed his fist against the table. The clown always got away.

Sorry this one's late! I'm very busy at the moment. More should be coming around same time next week or a little before… anything you wanna see in the next few chapters leave in the reviews, thanks for reading:') x