Yesterday Got Away

by Germany11

Bruce knows that Jack used to be the Joker, Jack has no memory of it. Not wanting the Joker to resurface again, Bruce starts spending more time with Jack to prevent it. Jack is slowing losing his mind day by day with hallucinations of the Joker. Can either of them prevent what seems to be inevitable? Batman/Joker *Batman #48 based

2. Chapter 2

The cave was dim. The only light that could be seen was illuminated by a few lights that gave an ominous yellow glow. Lighting the passage that was calling Jack forward like a beacon. If he focused hard enough he could swear he could smell the stagnate smell of musty dirt. He couldn't remember how he got here, all he knew was that he had to keep pressing forward. His body in a trance to follow the passageway of more light. The darkness behind him becoming more eerie the more he moved away from it. Each step pulling him closer to where his mind was telling him to go. Humming resonated the vast space of his environment. The sound made his body tense as it was a distinct voice he was becoming way too much accustomed to. His instincts told him that he should go back, but when Jack glanced over his shoulder and was startled to find the way he had come was no longer visible in sight. Leaving no other alternatives available to him he had to continue going forward into the unknown.

Lights behind him went out as he got closer to his destination. Green eyes took in a hole in the cave and the sounds of movements were up further ahead. He knew he'd have to go in the hole to figure out the reason why he was even here in the first place. As he stood in front of the opening he could see a faint dim light at the end. Leaning in he was startled as a loud screech and fluttering of black wings flew at his face. Falling backwards with a yelp he glanced up and saw a bat with red glowing eyes now clinging to the ceiling of the cave. A soft chuckle escaped his throat at how ludicrous it was to have been terrified of the flying mammal. He lived in Gotham City for crying out loud! Every citizen was protected by a man in a Bat costume. Only criminals should fear Bats not innocent people like Jack. Standing to his feet his hands brushing the back of his slacks to remove any traces of dirt he made his way into the entrance and stepped through. Leaving behind any fear of cave dwelling Bats that meant him no harm. The passageway got narrower and Jack wondered if he could even squeeze through it or if he'd get stuck and no one would ever find his body. His white suit was covered in dirt the more he shimmed his body to get in was a disheartening thought on his mind. Surviving his situation should be on the top of his mind but all he could really concern himself with was the state of his appearance. Perhaps that's how Jack was dealing with the stress of not knowing why or how he was here in the first place. Thinking of trivial things was better than letting his mind to wander into dismay.

A sight beheld him as he finally made it to where he now knew was his destination all along left him aghast. This section of the cave seemed never ending no matter where he looked. Chirping sounds of bats from above, he paid no mind to as his green eyes were glued to the dinner table set up in the center of the cave. Chairs set up on each side of the wooden table and one chair at the head of the table that was different from the rest looked more like a trap waiting for whoever chose to take that seat. Jack hoped that seat wasn't for him as the thought of it made him shudder.

Not realizing he had even moved forward until his white gloves were now touching the table's surface. This place seemed to have given him a recollection of something he just couldn't grasp. Jack felt like he had been here before but the knowledge of why escaped him. He was just an average person wasn't he? It wasn't like he spent his weekends going into caves and setting up bizarre dinner tables was something he did. Then why? Why did this place make his heart ache? Frowning, he recoiled his touch from the wood as if it had burned him to his core. Whatever this place was only gave him aversion to it. Awareness of his darkening mood told him that something unfavorable happened here. Something he wanted to avoid ever happening again. Illogical as it probably was to feel that way he couldn't help it. Jack just wanted to leave here and never return. Avoid any association with such a place that only brought on pain and desolation he couldn't understand.

The sound of clatter on the table surface made him break out in goosebumps as he had forgotten the humming sound that signaled he wasn't alone. In his dreadful state, he didn't notice the other man in the room. As his eyes moved up from the table he could see the silhouette of a blue jumpsuit. The face was hidden by the shadows that his logical mind told him shouldn't be possible with how well-lit this part of the cave was. Even in the darkness he could see acidic green eyes and the white teeth smiled looking directly at him. Hairs on the back of his neck stood up as he knew just exactly who the man was before he even spoke. His feelings on his environment only became worsened as he was staring at the one person who had thought had finally left him alone for over three days now was back again in his life.

"So good to see you finally showed up," Joker placed his hands on the headrest of one of the chairs and Jack was just glad that a dinner table was giving the illusion of a safe distance. "You're early but that's okay. Heh, that's just fine."

"What is this place? Why am I here?" All he wanted was answers and even if he hated talking to Joker at all only the man could give him the answers he seeks. "Did you bring me here?"

"Hush, now," Jack felt Joker's arm wrap around his shoulder and his body jumped as he couldn't process how it was possible for the murderer to now be right next to him. "Why don't you take a seat? The party will be starting soon and you don't want to miss the guest of honor do you? Of course, you don't. Who would want to miss this?" Joker's voice was soft like he was talking to a child.

"I don't like this place." mumbled Jack.

Joker just smirked as he pushed Jack forward to a chair that was closest to the head of the table. Pulling the chair out for Jack, his hands gripped Jack shoulders and forced him to sit against his will. Jack tried to stand back up and protest, but the tightening grip of the murderer's brown gloves made him wince and oblige the threat he knew was just under the surface. Looking up at the Joker, he still couldn't see his face, just those disturbing acidic green eyes with pupils that would never expand for him. Jack didn't understand why the Joker seemed to be so insistent on him being here and it only concerned him more as Joker removed his hands and hopped up to sit on the edge of the table to get a better look at him.

Giving an awkward cough before he spoke and trying to give a feigned small smile he asked again, "Why am I here?" hoping that if he seemed somewhat enthusiastic that Joker might be willing to give him answers.

Tilting his head to glance at Jack's direction, Joker just gave a small bemused sneer and his fingers tapped the wooden table as he hummed softly to himself ignoring, Jack's question all together. Jack rarely felt indignation towards others and opted out for a more amiable approach but with the psychopath mocking nature with lack of concern for Jack's predicament it was harder for him to do so. With Jokers personality it was easy to comprehend how much ire Batman must felt dealing with the clown on a more nightly bases. For if Jack was in Batman's position he probably would punch the shit out of the clown as well. That thought brought on the relation that perhaps Jack just wasn't asking the right questions to the madman. Jack wasn't exactly in a position of dominance here as Joker was and if he wanted answers he'd have to play by the clowns rules and that meant finding out who this guest of honor was.

"Who is this dinner table set up for?" He asked a little too quietly as he felt like he had a lump in his throat at what the answer would be.

Joker stopped humming as acidic green eyes gleamed and Jack knew that he had made the right decision in playing along with what the Joker wanted. If he wanted to leave this cave alive that had always been the only option available to him.

Waving his hand in the air nonchalantly as Joker answered with a dry unamused voice, "A few worthless pests that have out lived their purpose and have become more of dead weight are on the guest lists but," his smile grew wider as he twined his fingers together, turning his head to look fondly at the chair at the head of the table, "The one who really matters of course and who I have prepared all of this for with love is my dear Bat King." His voice was honey sweet.

"Do you really assume Batman will even like all of this?" Jack didn't even know why he asked the question. There really was no need to ask something like that. "Do you think this will even make Batman happy?" Nonetheless, he continued with his questions. His mode turning embittered when he did. A dinner table set up for Batman just left a bile taste in his mouth. Uncharted emotions he didn't really experience was becoming familiar in this place.

Joker's pleasant demeanor changed instantaneously as his head snapped back in Jack's direction. Brown gloves now gripping the edge of the table. It was an unavoidable fact that Jack had just gravely misspoken. His tone of voice earlier now felt like a nail in the coffin of his not long life. Despite this, he didn't regret what he said. Everything about this didn't sit right on his mind and again wanting to recoil from the whole scene was ever palpable within him. An unexplained urge to have Joker not go through with this was resonating in his conscious. Feeling that doing so would prevent something detrimental from taking place.

"Batsy, will understand why I'm doing this for him," Joker seemed unsure himself like he was feeling the same way Jack was feeling in that moment. "He needs this. It's what will bring out everything that's perfect about him again." His voice was barely audible and they both went silent for a minute. Both he and the Clown Prince of Crime lost in their foreboding thoughts.

Fluttering wings of bats from above seemed to bring the Joker out of his darkness mood as he jumped up from his sitting spot on the table, bringing back Jack's attention to the psychopath as well. Placing his hands on Jack's knees Joker leaned in close, his face still hidden by darkness expect for piercing green eyes now inches from his face. A grin that only seemed to get larger as he looked upon the man in his seat who had no escape in sight. Wanting to avoid glancing into the murderer's imposing gaze, green eyes glanced down and noticed the name tag on the blue jumpsuit that Joker was wearing that simply read Joe. The clown's alias Joe Kerr popped into his head and despite the uncomfortable proximity the psychopath was to him the simple thought amused him.

"That reminds me, Jacky ol' boy," Joker's raspy voice made his eyes glance back up at him. "You aren't appropriately dressed for the occasion with our dear Bat King… hehe." a dangerous undertone in his voice made Jack want to bolt as fast as he could, and when Joker stood straight again, to his horror, he found that his body would not move no matter how much he will it to do so.

"What do you mean?" He really didn't want to find out.

Joker didn't answer and turned his head to what had made the clattering sound that informed Jack to Joker's presence in the first place. A metal dinner tray sat in the middle of the table and he couldn't believe that he had not even paid it any mind this whole time. Joker's fingers tapped the handle of the tray and Jack was sure he didn't want to know what contents a psychopathic mass murder had put inside. Though, the clowns comment about his attire and now his attention to the dinner tray didn't seem to correspond together in a logical way. As much as he knew he would regret it, he couldn't stop the question that left his lips before he had a chance to stop himself.

"What is under the lid?"

"I'm so delighted you asked!" Joker patted Jack's head as his other hand grabbed onto the handle. "You'll just love what I have for you!" with that he lifted the lid and set it to the side, watching for Jacks reaction, sadist glee beaming in his acidic green eyes.

Jack's eyes widen and his mouth went agape at the repulsive sight before him. Never in his life could he had ever thought he would seem something as grotesque as what he was looking at now. His stomach would dispel any contents within if he could. For what was under that lid was the stuff of nightmares. A chalk white rotting face with stabled on straps is what laid on the tray. His body trembled and when he tried to stand and get as far away from the sickening thing he found that his hands and legs were now strapped into his seat. Malicious snickering could be heard from the fervent clown. Jack watched as brown gloves picked up the face and held it in front of his own. When his green eyes looked back at Joker he was even more repulsed. For where darkness that hid away Joker's face was now replaced with the sight of nerves being visible. Chalk white skin now red flesh where skin used to be. His face was cut off and now Joker was holding that damn putrid thing as a mask.

Joker began humming again as he made his way behind Jack's chair. Alarm bells went off like firecrackers in his head as he had the faint thundering anxiety of what Joker had planned to do with his flesh mask made of his own face. Struggling in his chair, Jack was becoming hysterical as "pleases" and "don'ts" tumbled out faster than he could think. His breathing was becoming sporadic and his heart pacing even quicker. When he saw the thing In front of his face he tried to turn his head away only to have his brown hair tugged back hard. He couldn't escape this and as the rotting skin was put over his face and he felt the straps being tied behind his head, his body dry heaved and he could feel tears burning his eyes. Why was this happening? This shouldn't be happening?

"Get it off! Get it off me! Please!" Jack cried out in his panic.

Joker tsked as he walked back in front of the bound terrified man. Grinning from ear to ear as he took in the sight of his own cut off face now being worn by Jack against his will. Joker gave off the impression that he was very pleased with himself for coming up with such a disturbing idea. Of course Joker would be, he was infamous for his caliber of cruelty unlike no other Gotham has ever seen.

"Look at you! Now you are presentable for Batsy. Just look at yourself, Jack. Don't you look perfect this way? I think this is an improvement, if you ask me. I wouldn't do you a disservice after all I mean haven't you seen my keen eye on fashion? hehe." Joker grabbed a mirror on the table and held it up to Jack for he could see the cruelty the clown had just committed upon him.

His own reflection was a nightmare to Jack. Red rimmed eyes looked upon himself in upmost horror. Not even able to focus on Joker's words of mockery at his predicament as he was just too disgusted to focus on anything else. The smell of he focused on it long enough was repugnant. This isn't real! Don't let this be real! His mind tried to comfort itself. He wasn't wearing Joker's face! He just couldn't be! God, he felt sick. Jack wanted to pleas more to have this thing removed, but he knew it would only fall on deaf ears. Joker was enjoying tormenting him and there was nothing he could do to stop him. He closed his eyes, not able to bear looking at himself in this situation anymore, he tried to imagine himself at the bench. His safe place. The lake that held the fishes he liked to feed. Waiting for his the acquaintance in his life to show up.

Jack.

He could almost hear Bruce's voice calling to him. Jack's mind latched on to that sound as an escape route to all of this horror.

Jack.

The voice sounded even closer to him now and he wanted to call out to it. Beg that voice to save him. Help him escape Joker. Help him get out of this cave where he knew there was no exit to be found for someone like him. Joker just wouldn't allow Jack the peace of an escape, he knew that. Maybe just maybe, Bruce was all he needed to escape.

Wake up, Jack.

Yes, he just needed to wake up and Joker would be gone and he'd be sitting on the bench or in the cafe with Bruce as his company. His one friend even if he wasn't sure he could call a man he only spoken to three times in his life that. For he knew the billionaire who chose to have coffee with a butcher no body like Jack is someone he wanted to get to know better in his life. Perhaps have more conversations with that just didn't involve a bench that only the two of them in Gotham seemed to be drawn to. That would make all of his nightmares go away. If only he could just wake up.

Jack!

The voice that yelled at him broke through his dreaming mind. He felt a hand shaking his shoulder hard. Green eyes shot open as Jack sat upright. His vision blurry as it took in his surroundings. Jack's heart pounded heavily in his chest and he could feel his attire drenched in sweat from his nightmare. He wasn't at the bench as he wished he was upon waking. No, he hadn't even gone to the bench by the lake in over three days he remembered. After his freak out in the cafe and hallucination of stabbing a homeless man to death he just didn't have the courage of being able to face Bruce again. There just wasn't a passable excuse he could give to the man who he now desperately missed that could be well received. It's not like he could just tell billionaire Bruce Wayne that he heard voices in his head and saw the Joker almost every day now. That would just completely give off a horrible impression when all he craved was some sort of friendship with the man. Today, he was willing to try again and go to the bench in hopes of seeing Bruce, Joker hadn't surfaced in his mind since his last hallucination in the alley and he foolishly believed until this terrifying nightmare that the good days were coming back.

"Good, you're finally awake." A voice from above him spoke and Jack remembered where he was and as he glanced up he pulled his body without hesitation away from the hand on his shoulder. Joker back in his purple suit with his face back as well was smiling at him knowingly.

"No… Stay back..." he whispered, too panicked to yell when he wanted to, green eyes darting at the exit to the room as his legs were ready to run for it. He thought he had escaped from the psychopath. Why must the man from his nightmares invade his awake state as well? Hadn't Joker done enough to torment him for one day?

"What the fuck has gotten into you, Napier?" Joker spoke but his voice didn't sound like the clown at all.

Rubbing his eyes of the last sleepy residence, Jack looked at the man again and where Joker had been was replaced with his boss, Ron Stephenson. Hazel eyes watched his every mood as the older bulkier man glared at him. Jack realized then how he must have looked. Like a deer in headlights when in actuality he wasn't in danger at all. Well, he wasn't entirely sure if that was the correct assessment to make at the moment.

Shit. I feel asleep in the break room.

"First, you ask me to give you more overtime which I allowed because of your good work ethic when you first started despite the fact it's been slipping lately and now you're sleeping on the job," his boss grumbled and Jack looked down in embarrassment. "Jack, do you even want to work here anymore? Because from where I'm standing you aren't taking this job seriously at all. I can't waste money paying someone who doesn't give a fuck about their job."

Jack put his hands out and waved them in an attempt to sate his aggravated boss. He could not lose this job. His rent was already late and he didn't know how much longer he could afford to get leniency from his landlady. Getting fired would be the fastest way to poverty and his life going more downhill than it was after Joker's attack on Gotham that caused his memory loss in the first place. Jack had wanted to die during that time and if it wasn't for finding the one place in Gotham where a gun should never be fired he wouldn't be here now. No, he needed to get his life back under control before everything was lost to him.

"I'm sorry, sir. I've just been having a hard time, but I promise this won't happen again. I need this job and I love working here. I appreciate you giving me a chance and I'll do better. I swear it. Please don't give up on me." He pleaded with the older man. Watching the wrinkles soften just a tiny bit as hazel eyes that still held so much distrust, his boss gave a stiff nod.

"This is your last chance, Napier. Get yourself together."

"I will, Mr. Stephenson. Thank you, sir, you won't regret it." His voice shined through with how sincere he felt. Jack needed his boss to believe that he could do better even if Jack wasn't sure of that himself.

"Get back to work! We have a huge order to fill before the days out." His boss remarked as he left the room and Jack breathed in a sigh of relief.

Luck was on his side this time, but he wasn't blinded to the truth that this was his last and only chance. His boss could be a forgiving man but that only went too far and Jack had been pressing the older man's patience with him for weeks now. No matter how much effort he was trying to put forth with his work it was becoming a futile attempt. It was hard enough having to deal with his depleting mental state, there was just no possible way he could handle any more stress thrust upon him. Trying to calm himself down from the nightmare and the prospect that his job was almost lost to him he took deep breaths.

If only he had awoken at the bench like he had wanted then all of this would be easier on him. If only it wasn't his boss but Bruce instead that pulled him out of that horrifying attack on his dreams. Oh, what he would trade for that to be his reality instead. In a way though at least in a figurative since it did feel like Bruce had saved him from the cave. Jack had imagined that it was the billionaire's voice calling out to him after all. It was a pleasant thought that brought a calming effect over himself. Sure, he could see it was pathetic to feel the way he did but when it came down to Bruce he didn't care. When everything he thought he knew was falling apart around him he cared about the smaller things in life. Like the bench and most importantly short conversations with the man who looked once just as lost as he felt now. He still had Bruce's number and the urge to contact him was overwhelming. Not wanting to rethink on the urge that was most likely not the best idea with everything going on with him right now he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone. Green eyes lit up once they looked at the screen and his smile only grew more so.

"You're really pining after tall, rich and handsome aren't you?" the all too familiar voice spoke to him and despite Jack's nightmare he wouldn't let Joker get under his skin this time. No, not this time. For what was on the screen was a text about an hour ago from the same man he had been craving to converse with again.

"It's not like that." Jack commented but really didn't care about this conversation in the least as he tapped away his response to Bruce Wayne.

"Yeah, that's exactly what people who don't even look that deeply into mine and Bat's relationship would say, doesn't make it fact, Jack." Joker teased and Jack knew Joker was looking over his shoulder to read what he was texting Bruce.

There was truth in Joker's words. Yeah, he couldn't deny it to himself that he was missing the one person who brought him any form of friendship in his life even if they weren't at that stage yet. Since, Bruce had sent him a message first though it became conceivable for Jack to see a friendship actually form between the two of them. A desperate hope that he needed when he was being constantly harassed by hallucinations of a psychopathic clown.

"What you have with Batman isn't even comparable." Jack remarked as he hit send and put his phone back in his pocket as he knew he couldn't text more until after work. The small smile he had on his face quickly became a thin line when Joker spoke to him next.

"It's more comparable than you think." There was a hint to something that didn't seem possible in that statement. Turning his attention back to the Joker against his better judgement he had no choice but to question the clown's words.

"What do you mean by that?"

"What do you think I mean?" Joker's smirk was just as condescending as from his nightmare which easily was seeping away at the confidence Jack had gotten from just one text. Uncertainty was growing within him and nothing in his life was making any sense.

"I don't understand what you mean! I don't understand what that dream meant! I don't know what's going on anymore! Why are you doing this to me? Why won't you answer any of my questions?" Jack was getting desperate and grabbed onto the lapels of Joker's purple suit. Acidic green eyes narrowed at him when he did so and in that moment Jack realized that putting his hands on Joker even if it was just a hallucination like the logical side of his mind told him it was, wasn't the best idea. Slowly, he removed his hands and took a step back from Joker as acidic green eyes never looked away from.

Joker placed his hands on Jack's white lapel over coat and pulled him forward. Sadistic grin plastered on his chalk white face. "You don't want to ruin the surprise just yet, do you, Jack? It's a good one, trust me." With that Joker vanished leaving a very disturbed Jack in his departure.

Glancing around the break room to make sure the clown actually left, he breathed in heavily. Nothing Joker said ever made any sense as he always spoke cryptically to him. All he wanted was answers, which was something he was realizing he just wouldn't get. At least not until Joker wanted to give it to him. Which if the clown was the one who had them then what hope did he have left? What surprise was the murderer even talking about? Whatever it was it would be naive to think that it didn't bode well for him. Jack decided then and there that he couldn't avoid going to the bench anymore, he needed to see Bruce again. The text had given him the illusion of security. He needed at least one anchor to hold on to even if only he would receive is pointless conversations with the billionaire. That was better than nothing. It had to be, for if it wasn't then Jack didn't know what he could do anymore. Joker was pulling him farther down into insanity and even sleep was no longer an escape. Perhaps spending time with the billionaire could be his solace.

xxx

Bruce sat at his seat at the head of his family's company Wayne Enterprise during the board meeting. Discussions of Gotham City improvements and the labs the company owned work on finding a cure to help the last remnants of citizens still stricken with Joker's toxin during his last attack. Even if the ones infected weren't contagious they had to be quarantined to protect themselves and others. Gotham City had faced one of its hardest years yet with dealing with both the Joker poisoning almost the entire populace into wanting to kill their loved ones and Mister Blooms attack. Through the dark times, Wayne Enterprise would always be there to pick up and restore this city to its glory-or as close to glory as this city could ever be. The meeting was an important one that Bruce Wayne couldn't pass up on as he did others and leave the slack to Lucious Fox. When it came down to any discussions related to the infamous Clown Prince of Crime, Bruce would always be present. For he knew that any chaos the man committed would always be directly responsible for Bruce or more so his alter ego Batman. Last time it had nearly cost him his life with Joker's attempt to sever his ties to Gotham's Dark Knight.

That only made this meeting even harder to sit through as all he could think about was an amnesiac Joker who he now knew as Jack Napier. A man who had walked into his life at a prevalent time as Joker had done so many years ago. Plaguing his mind obsessively as that was so like Joker had always done. Occupying his thought process over strategies he knew he would have to put into motion. Jack wasn't Joker at least not the murderous clown he used to be and that was only making Bruce dwell on him even more. When his attention should be on business proposals and helping innocent people instead it was anxious over his last encounter in a small cafe in the early morning. There was a deeper meaning to their exchange just like it had been when Bruce first met the man who had lost his memories. Just like before, he was at a loss of what he should do about it.

Staring at his phone next to his business papers Bruce was fortunate enough that his lack of his attention on the meeting was so accustomed to everyone else in the room due to his persona. He was able to take things seriously of course, hell he was always serious about work but being able to not have to concern himself with what the board might think as his mind drifted was a blessing in many ways. Bruce had been going to the bench for the past three nights waiting to catch a glimpse of the man in the white suit, even pushing aside time where he could be out on the streets as Batman to do so, yet Jack never came. Pestering concerns were festering on his mind for the reasons why Jack hadn't shown when he had every day for weeks now. It was a change in routine and after Jack's quick departure with their short coffee get together it just made the ordeal agonizing to worry about. His city was not in a place right now to handle Joker resurfacing so soon and this time it could be even more of a catastrophe. When it came down to the Joker, he had full reasons to be paranoid.

A part of him wanted to hope that Jack hadn't become Joker again. As naive as it was to hope that was the most preferable option. Bruce couldn't put much trust in that option. It went against his nature to put in trust in a person that he knew was the most unpredictable man he'd ever met. If he could just get clarification that Jack hadn't reverted back to the person he was then that would ease his anxiety. It wasn't very practical and wouldn't offer any guarantees but that didn't perturb him from reaching for his phone and going through his contacts to Jack Napier's number. His brain froze as he just couldn't think of what he should even text the man in question. Hey, I was just wondering if you were still you and not the Joker, wasn't exactly the correct type of approach even if that was what he wanted to know. Debating with himself for over a minute then settling on a more vague form of conversation he simply texted away, 'Hey, I haven't seen you at our usual spot, hope you're alright since you seemed bothered last time we spoke.' Even that text seemed like a foolish approach but it didn't stop him from hitting send and putting his phone back down as he hoped a reply would come soon.

A reply didn't come for another hour which during that time the business meeting had ended and during that time, Bruce had been nervously waiting for a response. The whole discussion on Joker's past victims had proved for naught as there was still no cure for what ailed them. A fact that even sending, Jack a text or focusing much of his attention on was making him feel guilt ridden. It didn't help that at the exact moment, Jack had texted back at the exact moment in time he had the son of one of Joker's cruelest attempts to break Bruce in his office. Joker had wanted to reenact the moment Batman was born in Crime alley with Duke's family luckily he had not succeeded but the damage to their minds has already been done. Duke Thomas had taken up one of the mantels as Robin to help fight crime and proved himself fitted for the name. Duke was as an essential alley to Batman as the previous

Robins for him and already a member of the Bat-Family. The teenager certainty had earned his respect.

Taking a quick look at his phone he was put at ease if ever slightly but knew he would still need to see Jack in person at some point to make sure. 'Hello, Bruce, I'm sorry again for running out on you last time. Maybe, if you'd let me, I can make it up to you sometime?' It was a simple response but one he would have to settle for right now as he couldn't let Jack take his attention away when one of his partners deserved it even more so.

"You feelin' alright?"

Blue eyes looked into brown as he put his phone back into his pocket despite himself regretfully, he knew he couldn't confide in Duke who he had been conversing with as the youth would not be able to understand. Lying to Alfred was hard enough already but as he looked upon the teen he felt even worse for keeping such a detrimental secret.

Jack's not Joker right now, he reminded himself. It's just a text, it's not like we're friends. That last thought brought back a memory that had been lost to him and he felt like he had just been stabbed in the heart for even thinking it.

I'm just going to rest here a little while with my friend.

Yes, he had said that. Told Julia who at the time he had a relationship with whose father had suffered at the hands of the psychopath who hurt others just to break off his years of fighting Batman. The same man who raised Bruce ever since he saw his parent's gun down and he had the audacity to even refer to Joker as a friend. Despite how abhorrent it was that's exactly how he felt at the time. Joker and Batman had a complicated dynamic that no one could even understand and he sure the two of them hadn't fully grasped it themselves. The psychopath had claimed his love for Batman and celebrated everything he felt Batman had been until Bruce had fought back even harder than before against that philosophy. Bruce couldn't change the outcome that became of the decision and he wouldn't have. Joker had gone too far when he attacked the people Bruce was close to and went even farther to prove to

Batman he no longer needed him. Here they were now though, Bruce was back to the way things were feeling guilty for even talking to the man who no longer was the same.

"It's just," Bruce paused as he felt the need to inform Duke what was going on but couldn't. "There's been no progress on finding a cure for your parents and the others still inflected with Joker's toxin. I know I have promised that I'll find a way to bring them back to you and I still intend to but I'm sorry for how long it's taking."

Watching, Dukes reaction he could tell the teen had been training himself to keep a level head no matter how distressing the situation was. It was a skill that he wished the teen didn't have to learn in his young youth.

"Bruce, I know this ain't easy on you but I know you'll save them. That's what you do. You save people." Duke gave a small comforting smile that Bruce felt he did not deserve with everything he was hiding from the young man.

"I won't ever give up on them, you have my word."

"I know you won't," Duke glanced to the side before looking back at him and Bruce knew then that Duke was about to get more serious. "Has there been any news on Joker's whereabouts? I know you have been looking into it."

Before, Bruce had fully decided to keep the information he had on Jack to himself he had dedicated his time to finding the missing clown. Knowing that Joker could never stay gone from long and if he had survived then it was a mountainous probability that Joker had survived as well. Joker had always survived whatever near death experience he encountered. It's what he always had done. His speculation had proven with positive results but just not in the way he ever imagined. However this wasn't a conversation he wanted to have and especially not with someone that every time he looked at him he felt a pang in his heart. So lies upon lies he would have to tell if it would mean that it would keep the Joker from resurfacing.

"Nothing affirmative as of late. I doubt that will be the case forever but I won't allow what happened last time to happen again. Once I find him, I'll make sure he won't get out again." It was a remark that was just as much of a bad joke as what Joker had found funny. If Bruce could prevent Jack from returning to his past, then perhaps he could turn such an absurd statement built on lies into truth. That's what he was counting on anyways.

Duke seemed to not be able to keep eye contact with Bruce then and all he wanted to do was comfort the teen but there was just nothing he could say to make what had happened to the boy's family right. It was his fault. Everything, Joker had ever done would always be his fault.

"I ain't gonna lie to you, Bruce. Sometimes I imagine myself being the one to find him for I could make him pay for what he did to me and my parents. I know you say that vengeance wouldn't change anythin' but I feel that in Joker's case that might be the only solution."

When the words left Dukes mouth, Bruce felt like he had years ago when his second son and Robin, Jason Todd had returned to him from the grave. That same loathing towards Batman's decision to time and time again save the murderers life. Knowing full well that in doing so that would allow Joker to take more victims. Bruce couldn't blame Jason for his rage over the clown for it was his fault he didn't save him. Now he could see that Duke felt a similar hostility and again that was all of a result of Bruce's action. Unlike, Jason, he was more trusting that Duke wouldn't cross that line. They both were right in their way of thinking even if Bruce had his own reasons for keeping Joker alive. Like always, no matter how wrong others had thought he was protecting the Joker. This time was different though as Jack wasn't truly the Joker and his reasoning's for protecting him had changed.

Placing a hand on Dukes shoulder, he only responded when the teen looked back up at him. "It won't need to come to that. Joker's my responsibility and I'll be the one to handle him." Duke gave an untrusting nod to that and it was all he could expect of the teen. Asking for more given what he had lost wouldn't be fair for Bruce to expect more.

"Is Mr. Fox in? I need him to work on some new equipment for me." Duke changed the subject. Which Bruce was thankful for, removing his hand he gave a pleasant smile.

"Of course, I'll join you, I have to talk to him about upgrades for my suit anyways and after we can grab a bite to eat if you want?"

"I'd like that, Bruce."

xxx

The rest of the afternoon went by fairly well. After Duke and Bruce discussed the upgrades and equipment they needed for their nightly activities, Bruce had treated the teen to a nice Italian lunch. There they had discussed how Dukes schooling had been going and what Bruce's board meeting had been about. It was pleasant and laid back which he had needed greatly with all his conflicting emotions regarding his situation with Jack. It all ended much too soon for his liking when Duke had to leave for his last two classes for the evening. With having more time in his evening before he would have to head back home to prepare for the night to come as Batman, Bruce had decided to go to the bench by the lake. There he sat and waited for the possibility that Jack might have shown. Doing as he had seen the man do himself, he gave the fish in the lake some of his breadsticks and watched them as they ate away at it hungrily. Jack seemed right in his assertion that it seemed the fish were starving down there and it reminded Bruce of his promise to the man to try and keep this place from being infected again. Making a mental note that would be the next project he would work on with his influences.

Waiting had become a fruitless endeavor as Jack never showed for another evening in a row which brought back the troubling thoughts his peaceful evening had given him a break from. Holding his phone he had been staring at the last message, Jack had sent him earlier that day that he still hadn't responded to for about five minutes. It shouldn't have been this hard for him to think of a response to just a simple text. Bruce needed to see Jack in person, he knew that but going about it gave him an irking that if he did then everything would fall apart again. Joker may have already been back and if he still had memory of who Batman's identity was then he could be walking right into the Joker's hand if he didn't play things smart. It was all too easy for him to remember how Joker under the disguise of Eric Bolder had fooled him right into his hands. Much to the clown's disappointment, Bruce had been none the wiser of his deception until the rug was pulled beneath him. A mistake of that degree couldn't be made again.

Bruce wanted to forsake his operation but his instincts wouldn't allow him the freedom necessary to do so. Like everything in his life avoiding precarious situations just wasn't in his forte. Knowing the only way to get information that needed to be accessible to him, he had no other choice but to keep in contact with the most dangerous person Gotham had ever created. First he just had to find the right words to send a text back or he could just call the man. Just like last time with the text his body was reacting before he even could debate with himself further and found himself holding the phone up to his hear while it rang away for the one person he never pictured himself actually calling.

"Hello, Bruce?" Jack's unsteady voice answered way to soon before he could get his bearings on what he was even going to say to him in the first place. Hesitating, he took a few seconds to answer.

"Hey, Jack."

"Oh, it is actually you," Jack let out a small chuckle on the other line. "I have to admit I was surprised you texted me today and when I saw your name on the caller ID I just couldn't actually believe you were calling me. Not that I'm not happy you called, it's just I wasn't expecting it. Not after, well never mind that, how are you?" Jack rambled which was a quality that was surely left over from him time as the Joker.

"I'm fine, I've been more concerned about you." Subtle, Bruce, very subtle. He chided himself for his slip of tone. Normally he planned things way farther ahead and this time he was improving on the spot.

A pause.

"Concerned?" His voice became distant and for a split second, Bruce worried that he had completely just messed up this whole conversation.

"Yeah, the last time we spoke you seemed like something was really bothering you. I just wanted to make sure you're all right and nothing serious is going on," That wasn't much better and trying to save face and lighten the mood he continued. "Couldn't let someone who went out of their way to buy me coffee be in any sort of trouble." he knew he should have done a better job at it but that was the best he could do at the moment. It was awkward enough that he had called the man without much reasoning going into it than his own paranoia.

The pause was even longer this time and it seemed like Jack wouldn't respond.

"Jack?"

"I'm here, everything's fine, Bruce. Just my boss being on my case and I couldn't afford to let him get any more upset with me," The way, Jack's voice shook it sounded like he was lying but Bruce couldn't give off the impression that he felt that way. "I hope you're not upset, I could always buy you more coffee to make it up to you."

"Well in that case, I'm not upset, I can never say no to a nice cup of coffee, however, I think this time it could be on me." His voice was lighthearted as he tried to change the mood of the conversation.

A beat.

"You'd really want to get coffee with me again?" Jack sounded more enthusiastic than he had sounded in their whole short phone call up to this point and Bruce let out a sigh of relief.

"Only if you promise not to run off like the world is about to end this time."

Another long silence followed that comment and again after feeling a brief relief, he wondered if he had said the wrong thing all over again. Pressing the phone to his ear even more so he could swear that he could hear incoherent muttering as if Jack was talking to someone that was with him. Did he call at a inconvenient time? Was the reason why Jack hadn't been coming to the bench as regularly as he used to because he was too occupied with other thing? He just wasn't sure.

"What do you say?" He pressed on a little harder when he wasn't sure if Jack even remembered he was on the phone with him anymore.

"I can promise you that." Jack finally spoke.

"Then we'll plan a day sometime this week?"

"Any day before my work shift is perfectly fine with me."

"Oh and before I go, I wanted to inform you that tomorrow, I plan on seeing what I could do about the lake."

"I'm so very appreciative of you taking the time out of your schedule for doing this, thank you, Bruce." Jack sounded more like his usual self and in his voice was the same sincerity as their last conversation at this spot had ended which allowed Bruce the opportunity to accept the man's coffee invitation when under different circumstances he would have turned it down.

"Have a good night, Jack."

"You too."

Hanging up the phone, he leaned back on the seat of the bench. Positive that was probably the worse conversational skills moment in his entire life just had taken place and he had many moments to choose from. It was true that Jack had sounded like nothing had changed and that gave him new direction to work with but a gnawing feeling was eating away at him when he had heard Jack muttering to someone. Not knowing who he had been talking to was bothersome as his mind went to darker assumptions. There just was no way to be a hundred percent positive of anything regarding the other man until he saw him again in person. One thing did come out of his impulsive decision to call Jack though it gave him an excuse to do just that. Figuring he wouldn't run into him sooner if he stayed at the bench he decided to head back home for now and focus on more pressing matters and that was Gotham's safety.

xxx

Alfred was in the kitchen when, Bruce made it back home around six in the evening, there was still plenty of time before Batman had to make his presence in the streets of Gotham known for the night, so he allowed himself to for once actually have a snack before heading to the cave which he could have sworn was about to give his elderly guardian a heart attack.

"Who are you and what have you done with Master Bruce?" Alfred spoke in his dry humor as he sat across from Bruce at dining room table.

"Funny, Alfred." He rolled his eyes as he took a bite out of his sandwich.

"Living with you sir, one of us has to try and have some humor in their day to day lives," Alfred stirred his tea as he watched his the man who was like his own son intently. "How was your day?"

"Discussed renovations for the city, going to put more funding in restoring homes and apartments that had been destroyed as well as more income in housing programs for the citizens who have nowhere to go after they lost their homes."

"I'm sure that will go accordingly and be very beneficial for everyone."

Sighing as Bruce dreaded speaking of what else was discussed at the meeting and what he had the heartbreaking task of telling Duke. "Still no progress has been made of finding a cure for the remaining Joker victims, it seems that recreating the dinoesium that helped cure everyone else is becoming almost an impossible task for my company's lab department. When I saw Duke today I had to inform him that none of my efforts has helped in restoring his parent's minds."

"He knows you're doing everything in your power to help them, Master Bruce. You can't be too hard on yourself. This isn't your fault, the only one that can be blamed for their predicament is that monster."

"Is it not my fault?" Blue eyes snapped up to look at Alfred catching the elderly man off guard.

"Sir-"

"It would be an easy out to blame everything on the Joker, I've even tried to do so an unfathomable amount of times. Regardless of the fact that Joker was the one who poisoned the majority of the populace, is it really not my fault?"

"You can't-"

"Joker's insanity makes him unstable and therefore he can't fully control his actions. I none the less can."

"Master Bruce-"

"I knew what he was capable of. More so than anyone and because of my lack of figuring out who he was disguising himself as right under my nose. Hell, I even had conversations with his alias and didn't even comprehend for one second that it was the Joker who I was talking to, allowed him to have the time to implement his plans and people suffered for it and are still suffering for my failure. People I care for got hurt. You got hurt. If only I had picked up on his mannerism sooner, I could have prevented all of this from ever happening in the first place. We can say all we want how it was not my fault but in the end Joker has and always will be my responsibility and any grievous act he commits is because I didn't do more to be one step ahead of him."

The resonating sound of Alfred slamming his hands on the table as he stood over Bruce's sitting form stopped any other self-loathing words from coming out of his mouth. Blue eyes looked up at the frown on Alfred's face and he regretted even opening the flood gates to his inner turmoil in the first place. Bruce knew where he could place where all the emotions were coming from and it all came back around to Jack. Here he had been making calling the man and making plans to buy him coffee instead when Jack as his past persona had inflected more harm on Bruce and the people around him than anyone else. When he first came up with his course of action to prevent the Joker from resurfacing he had thought it would be an easier task but the closer he got to Jack the worse he felt for doing so. As if he was betraying the people around him and the symbol he fought so hard to become. He had hardly even spoken to Jack that many times and already it was like he was fighting the Joker all over again.

"Master Bruce, I don't want to hear you talking like that about yourself. Do you hear me? All your life you have been shouldering more burdens than any man is capable of handling and now you're blaming yourself for actions that weren't your own. I may not always approve of your nightly activities but I have always stood by your side. I have seen you tackle situations that would break a lesser man and you have always stayed true to your code and I respect that about you sir. However, you need to learn that not every burden is yours to bear and what Joker has done is not your fault. He's a vile human being and because of you he has been stopped time and time again from spreading the disease that he is through all of Gotham. You're a good man and you need to see that."

Alfred eyes never once left Bruce and the intensity of his stare had their desired effect on him. Even if he couldn't distance himself with how he was feeling he knew there was sound reason in the words that were spoken to him. He wasn't sure if Alfred knew what he had been hiding would change how he felt with what he just said. As much as Bruce hated to admit it to himself he didn't want to reveal the truth that would make his father figure disappointed in him. Having to see that look in his eyes would be unbearable and the thought alone was enough for him to keep his secret for the time being. That just wasn't something he could even handle right now with his set goal of keeping Jack from becoming the Joker again. Despite this, he had to acknowledge that his self-loathing would only damage his strategy and make him less affective in what he had set out to accomplish and if Alfred hadn't brought that to his attention then he was sure he would have failed if he didn't take check of his contradicting emotions.

"I'm sorry, Alfred. I know you're right. I just desperately want to set right everything that has happened. I need to be able to save Joker's victims, they didn't deserve any of this. Duke didn't deserve to go through any of this."

His father figure eyes softened as his hand clasped on top of Bruce's and gave a warm smile that made life seem easier to handle than what it really was.

"A cure will be found. You will return Dukes parents to him. I have the upmost faith in you, Master Bruce."

Alfred had always had a way to comfort him when he needed it most. Never needing to say more than what was needed and Bruce would be entirely great-full that when he lost his parents, Alfred had been there to raise him. If it wasn't for that man who took on more than he ever should have than Bruce didn't know where he would be in his life. Without, his guardian and closest friend he was sure that he would have succumb to the darker sides he kept lock away deep down inside him. If it wasn't for his guardian he would have fallen off his path years ago that he knew was for sure. Batman may have been a symbol to Gotham but Alfred was the symbol that Bruce needed In his life. Bruce only hoped one day he could be just half as good as the man who had raised him.

xxx

The rest of Jack's day went by fairly decent. No more hallucinations plagued him at his work and he was able to earn back a slight amount of his bosses respect. No question in his mind that he was still on thin ice with the older man. One misstep and he would be plunging into the icy water below of poverty. Not screwing anything else up had allowed him to get the over time he had desperately requested. Musing over his nightmare or his predicament wouldn't allow him to keep his job so he kept those at bay. With Joker not showing up he had been successful and became more confident that possibly he would be able to handle things on his own. It wasn't until he had left work and gotten home when a phone call from the man he wanted nothing more than to converse with did that confidence sweep away when maniacal laughter returned.

Jack had been eccentric when he had first picked up the phone and found out his mind hadn't played tricks on him and it was really Bruce Wayne on the other line. Feeling ecstatic that the person he had been missing all day had even thought about his existence. Having rambled on the beginning his mood became sour the moment Bruce said he had been concerned about his behavior. Not that he was being bitter towards the billionaire, he didn't think he could ever be cross with him but the mocking jester next to him was making it difficult to focus on anything but the clown. Joker had been taunting him through most of the phone call, putting doubts into his head that Bruce wouldn't be bothering with him if Jack showed his true self. Disheartening as Joker's words had been when Bruce had invited him for coffee all Jack could feel was a deep seated happiness. When the phone call ended, Joker would not leave him alone.

Joker's constant overburdening prescience had gotten so awful that when eleven at night rolled around all Jack could even think of doing was leaving for the bench. It was the one place where Joker seemed to avoid him all together and when he informed the clown that's where he was heading, he took a small victory at the way that the overconfident demeanor shifted into ire. Was it that tactical of a move to irritate an infamous murderer? Definitely not. But when Joker complained during the long walk to the bench it was worth it. A power play was going on between the two as Joker wanted nothing more than to avoid the bench and lake all together, like Gotham itself had banned him from ever stepping foot there and Jack for once since the hallucinations first started felt like he was now the more dominate of the two which was an achievement in itself.

"You really think being out at night in Gotham is that intelligent of an Idea?" Joker persisted with his attempts to keep the upper hand. "Kiddo, ya know nothing about this city like I do, you won't last long out here with all the weirdos that come out when the Bats signal shines high in the sky, listen to good ol' Uncle J and you'll actually get somewhere."

"The only place I want to be is as far away from you as possible." Jack kept walking with his head down to avoid odd looks from strangers. Most people didn't venture out at night in this putrid city unless they absolutely had no choice.

Joker gasped over dramatically as he walked backwards in front of Jack, never once losing his footing as he did so, he remarked, "You can't possibly mean that? What would you be if it wasn't for me? Hmm?" His voice deepened.

"Mentally healthy." Jack replied dryly.

Acidic green eyes rolled at that comment.

"Was that your attempt at a joke? You should leave the jokes to the professional's kid," he grinned, "Want to hear one?" His voice took on a childish glee.

"Not particularly."

Joker shook his head, as he spun in his spot to be facing the direction Jack was walking as he slowed his stride to be next to Jack as he hooked his arm with his as he did several days before.

"Don't be a sourpuss, it's a good one, stop me if you heard this one. How do you save a man from drowning?" A pause. "Remove your foot from their head."

"That's not exactly amusing, you may need to work on your material." Green eyes glanced at the chalk white face and he could see the acidic green darken in interest.

"You just don't seem to get that the joke is about you and I, well more speaking about you that is. I've never been a fan of having to explain a joke but just for you pal I shall break my rule," Joker waited expectantly for Jack to thank him for what he considered generosity but when there was no response he huffed and continued his train of thought. "You see, Jack. You're the one drowning in the pools of insanity, desperately wanting to be saved from succumbing to suffocating in all that madness, but here's the kicker I'm the one with my foot on your head keeping you from gasping air of that sweet, sweet, sanity and well, I'll let you in on a little secret," his lips brushed against Jack's ear as he leaned in, "No matter how many times you visit that little safe place of yours, I have no intention of removing my foot." He pulled away and laughed in his sadistic amusement.

Jack felt a cold shiver down his spine as he processed the deeper meaning behind the Joker's sick outlook of his situation. His body tenses at the implications of what the murderer had in store for him. His pacing in his walk slowed as he contemplated turning around and just giving up his chance at peace tonight. If he hadn't already bought a few slices of bread for the fish then he might have done just that. Jack imagined the fish in the lake starving for what they hoped would come and just like Joker's viewpoint of Jack's fate he felt the same as they did. If, Joker wanted to drive Jack mad with insanity like his own then he was already winning. Any victory that he could make leeway would only be torn down the second that Joker had him away from the bench. Opposing such a chaotic force that was the Clown Prince of Crime was an improbability for someone like Jack.

Joker whistled a merry tune as they turned their way into one of the city's many alleyways. The clowns mood changing from the irritated from Jack's small victory to gleeful in his own. It was obvious to Jack that Joker knew that he had the cards in his favor and any hand Jack dealt would be trumped in the end. Having no clear cut strategy on keeping his own sanity, his shoulders slumped as his green eyes stayed on the ground. If he had been more observant of his environment and not so much on his distressed musing than he would have heard the three footsteps closing in on him from behind before it was too late to react. Unfortunately for Jack, that's exactly what happened.

Gotham City was a crime ridden city, a fact that like the guaranteed awful weather, the citizens living there accepted it. A city in such disarray that it needed a man dressed as a Bat to protect the streets after dark. Where going out at night was like signing a death certificate or a waver for bodily harm to befall ones person. Like, Jack despite all of this people still expected to never be put in peril. Gotham's citizens had to be optimistic that they could go on a stroll in an alleyway and not expect to be mugged. Pessimism should have been at the fore thought of everyone's mind instead at least then this city's citizens would become realists themselves. So when Jack's, back hit the hard cement wall of the alley before he knew what hit him he had walked into the same mindset trap that every Gotham citizen before and would be after him did.

Green eyes widened as he was now trapped between three bulkier than him men. One on his left, another on his right and the one he was most concerned about holding a knife to his throat. Chestnut eyes shined as they gazed into the fearful eyes of his prey and Jack cursed himself for letting Joker distract him. If he hadn't allowed his mind to wander so much then he wouldn't be in the predicament that he was now in. Darting his eyes to the left and right of him he took in that one of the men was holding a crowbar and the other had a nine millimeter hand gun tucked in his waist band. His heart pounded in his chest as his flight or fight instincts for survival were kicking in. The feel of the blade against his jugular was a constant reminder that any ill-timed move would end with his neck in a Glasgow split. There weren't many options presented to him and his eyes looked around for the

Joker in a foolish attempt to have the murderer help him.

When he spotted his hallucination behind the man in front of him the sight of Joker's purple suit having changed color into black was a painful reminder that Joker was just a figment of his mental instability. If the Clown Prince of Crime was actually present then these punks wouldn't have even thought to choose Jack as an easy target. Which grievous as it was, they had chosen well. Jack was thin and not in any way to his knowledge a fighter so for the three men he was an easy pickings for what they had sought to gain with their criminal activity. He couldn't believe how effortless it was to fool himself that the Joker was real and as alive as he was and even in that moment his mind rejected the fact as his green eyes pleaded with acidic green to save him. How absolutely pathetic he felt when all he had received was an amused sneer in return and his attention went back to the man who was moving the blade away from his throat to speak with him.

"Don't try any funny business and you won't get hurt. Right boys?" The leader of the small group addressed his cohorts. Jack knew better than to trust any promises from the other man.

Joker laughed a raspy laugh and it was hard for Jack not to revert his gaze back to the hallucination of the infamous clown. "No, Funny business he says? That's a riot! Doesn't he realize who he's dealing with?" Joker spoke with bemusement ever present in his voice.

"Right, hand over all your money and we won't need to get rough with ya." The one on his left responded.

"Oh, rough this bozo over here says. Sounds like he's flirting, doesn't he? Wonder if he'd like it if I were rough with him? What do you say, Jack?" Joker purred as he draped his arm on the mugger in front of Jack's shoulders and when the man gave no reaction to Joker's presence, Jack shook his head in disbelief.

"No? Is this fucker actually saying no to us?" The one on his right spoke up and delivered a hard punch into Jack's side which had Jack gasping for air as he leaned forward only to be pushed back even harder into the wall.

"Guys got guts, tell ya that. Wonder if he realizes how much of an idiotic shit he is?" The hoarse laughter from the criminal was more grating on Jack's ears than Joker's laugh ever was.

Breathing, heavily, green eyes pleaded with Joker again to do anything that might be of use to him no matter how pointless it was. His sanity leaving him more and more with the terror of his situation becoming more prevalent.

"Please." He choked out and even though he was talking to the Joker the other men just mocked him more so.

"Not so tough are ya? Begging already and all it took was one punch. Such a sorry excuse as I have ever seen one." The ring leader spoke as he yanked Jack's brown hair tightly, snapping his head up and still all Jack could look at was the Joker. Red stained lips grinned at the pleas for his help and acidic green eyes looked directly into Jack's own hinting that he wouldn't like the cost of having that said help he was asking for.

"Aww, dontcha worry, Jackey these punks here don't look so tough," Joker snickered. "I've had tougher men pouring me my morning cereal without any complaints, hehe," Peeking around at all three men before continuing, "I have to say I'm disappointed in them though, after all can they be more bland." The clown scoffed. "I mean who resorts to mugging anymore? Only the uncreative. Shouldn't these fine gents be robbing a bank? Shooting some rich kids parents? Poisoning postal stamps?" Joker grin became impossibly large. "That reminds me, have I ever told you the story of how, Batsy saved little ol' me from the electric chair because I got framed by a more clever person than these three fellows? Well it all started with these poisoned stamps as I was saying-"

"You're prattling is not helping." Jack interrupted Joker to the confusion of the three muggers.

"What was that?!" The man in front of him snarled.

"You don't need to be rude and interrupt me. It was a fun story." Joker pouted.

Jack just could wrap his head around at the absurdity of the Joker. Of all the times to pull this type of shit the clown just had to do it now. Momentarily losing focus on the situation at hand his green eyes shot daggers in the Joker's direction. His glare having none of the intended affect that he desired.

"Telling me a story isn't going to help me get out of this." He fired back.

"Since you so rudely interrupted you will never know now won't you?" Joker retorted.

"This isn't exactly the time for that." Jack stated the obvious.

"Great we got a real loon who talks to himself." The one on his left muttered.

"Might as well leave him as dinner for the rats, we'd be doing this city a favor. To many nut jobs running around it as there is. Search the crazy boys." The ring leader's voice held dangerous irritation.

Jack's attention caught back to the sentence of where these men intended to murder him and desperately any venom he had for the Clown Prince of Crime went away instantly. As fingers dug into his suits pockets his body tried to squirm free to no prevail. When they found the few slices of bread for the fish he only wanted to help and threw it to the dirty concrete like trash as the ring leader crushed the bread under his boot and mocked him for having such a thing in his pockets in the first place, which was the last straw for Jack. How dare they taint the one good deed he always tried to accomplish. Helping the fish in the lake was precious to him. One of the only things he wanted to protect and went out of his way the first time he talked to Bruce to do just that. Opening up to someone who could have recoiled from him at any moment but had decided not to. Which had resulted in a promise from the billionaire to a no body like Jack that the one good place in Gotham would be protected. The starving fish whose lives that he could relate to. These street punks had opened the flood gates to darker impulses hidden deep away from the surface and in doing so made the Joker more in control of Jack's mental state.

"Well, look at this! They pushed you just a little too far, haven't they? Such a shame for them. Time to have some real fun. Hehe" Joker's voice was lovingly sweet.

Joker disappeared from view as Jack allowed the psychopath the win in their power play for the situation. Blinking, acidic green eyes narrowed on the three men's ring leader. A chuckle escaped his throat and slowly turned into full blown laughter. With more force than Jack had expected his body to do so his knee went straight into the man's stomach. Surprising him as his expression blanched and gave Jack enough time to grab the man by the chain of his nose piercing and pull down hard, ripping the skin as he pulled out. A curling scream filled the alley as blood gushed out of the new wound on the ring leader's face and Jack could only smirk as his chest vibrated in maniacal laughter. The other two men were stunned but quickly responded by grabbing Jack's arms and holding him back. Squirming to get free and cause more damage on his assailants, he couldn't help but be having the time of his life.

"You insane son of a bitch!" The incensed man yelled, "You'll fucking pay for that!"

"Hehe, Have to say you look better like that, much better than that hideous mug of yours that you had before, but you know what they say, there's always room for improvement." Jack spoke but it wasn't his voice coming from his lips but the Joker's. He hardly felt the knife sinking into his stomach like cutting through butter as the punk stabbed him multiple times. When he pulled the blade out of Jack's stomach a fourth time and was about to stab the knife into his throat another scream came forth from the ring leader.

Time seemed to slow down for all involved in that moment. Curses from the man were the only sound that was even barely registered to anyone. All eyes looked at the hand that once held a knife and what had been torn clean through the middle of the ring leaders hand was a now blood soaked batarang. Four heads snapped upwards as the silhouette of the Bat of Gotham swooped down upon them. When three looked on in aghast, green eyes looked up in nothing but admiration.

"It's the Bat!"

Jack didn't know who out of the men had shouted but he was shoved roughly to the hard concrete floor below in the muggers attempt to flee from a very irate Batman. The impact and the shock of Batman's appearance on the scene gave Jack back his control. He couldn't remember why he was now laying on his stomach on the dirty concrete as his abdomen was seeping out his life supply. His forehead pressed against the floor as he listened to the chaotic sounds around him. Someone had come to save him and that's all that mattered.

Batman did not expect for his night to turn out the way it did. Him even stumbling across the situation that Jack had found himself in was merely a coincidence as he was investigating a weapons deal regarding the Penguin that was informed after integrating a henchman was not too far from here. A scream of pain had caught his attention and by the time he made it to the rooftop of the alley way did he realize what was happening and just to who it was happening to. Bruce did not even expect that of all the people he would encounter tonight it would be Jack that needed his help. The Dark Knight would have come and investigated regardless of who was in trouble but see that it was Jack just irked at his mind and something in him snapped in that instance releasing all his bent up rage that he kept under lock and key.

Jack used to be the Joker. He knew that and with that knowledge with seeing three goons that could never even hold up a candle to the infamous Clown Prince of Crime, getting the better of him was to disturbing for Batman's mind to handle. Joker was always known to be able to handle himself no matter how much odds were stacked against him. Only, Batman being to the only person to ever be able to get a handle on him. Joker wasn't a person he knew to be defenseless and was as dangerous as a human being could get. When the crimson coated blade that had been plunged into Jack's stomach shined as evidence to the contrary, the Dark Knight just couldn't control the way that made him react.

As the cowards tried to scurry from him all he wanted to feel was their bones break beneath his knuckles. A deep darkening impulsive reaction that he had only ever felt in long battles with his greatest enemy. The three men had chosen the wrong person to make look vulnerable in front of the Dark Knight and when his fist connected with the man who had done so face he was sure they had realized the grave mistake they had made. Grabbing the man by the back of the neck he slammed his forehead into the metal fire escape, knocking him out cold in the process. Dropping, his body to the ground, it still didn't sate the bubbling ire within. Turning his attention the man holding the crowbar, he took a threatening step towards him.

"Hey, man. No need for that," His shakes voice panicked as he threw the crowbar to the ground in attempt to avoid being hurt like his friend. "See, I'm unharmed!" When that didn't stop Batman's approach he took off running.

"No get away!"

He could have let the man who surrendered escape. Hell, if he had been in any other mood and had Penguin still to deal with he might have. This time was different. Penguin's weapons deal was the farthest thing from his mind as all he could think about was seeing that crimson blade shine in a mockery of all that he knew about the Joker. It was an insult to what Bruce remembered and it was a feeling he wanted to distance himself from. The only way that seemed possible was making those who had done this to them both to pay. Pulling out the Bat-claw he took aim and fired. It tore through the man's shirt and into his shoulder and a curse was yelled as Batman hit the retract button, which knocked the man off his feet as he was being dragged on his back towards him.

Jack felt his chin be tapped upwards by a black dress shoe and green eyes looked up at the Joker. Acidic green eyes looked down at him and tilted his head as he pointed behind him where Batman was preoccupied too much with one of the men he had been dealing with to notice the one he hadn't dealt with yet who had the gun pulling out his weapon from his waistband.

"I know your busy bleeding all over the floor, Jack, but be a friend and help my darling little playmate out won't you?" Joker's voice held an underlining threat, if he didn't.

"How?" Jack asked and when Joker pointed at the discarded crowbar with a smirk, which was the only answer he needed.

Reaching for the crowbar, he stood up, his wounds forgotten about as he spotted the man start to aim his gun at Batman with a shaky hand and was trying to steady his aim to get the one chance shot that he had. If the punk missed then the Bat would be on him in a second and there would be no second shots. Jack moved in quickly and as he raised the crowbar his body froze as he just didn't have the ability to purposely hurt someone himself.

"Let me help you." Joker purred behind him and Jack felt his gloved hand clasped over his. The swing the came down was with more the clowns force than Jack's and it hit its mark. A gun shot went off as the metal hit the man's hand, breaking the bones but it through off his aim and the shot fired downwards and away from Batman.

"Hit him again." Joker encouraged and when the man turned to look at the one who broke his hand, Jack's arm with Joker still holding it, swung the crowbar into the man's jaw shattering the bones and forcing the injured man on his knees.

"Do It, Jack, He tried to shoot, Batsy, if anyone deserves to be beat with a crowbar it's him." Joker spat out with venom and dark amusement as Jack complied and hit the man for a third time on the back and knocking him to ground beneath.

Raising the crowbar again he took another swing, shattering the man's ribs, as he curled in on himself to protect his body from each blow that Jack delivered. Blood was seeping underneath the writhing body and as Jack raised the crowbar again he stopped. For lying there he didn't see the man who had tried to shoot the Bat, no, what he saw was a bleeding young boy in a green, red and yellow costume. Black hair drenched in blood as swelling made the child's face almost unrecognizable. One side of him had childish glee radiating all over such an image and that frightened Jack to no end. For what kind of sick monster must someone be to get their kicks at brutalizing a young boy to near death? This wasn't Jack. He could barely even say an unkind word to a rude landlady. How could he ever want to beat someone with a crowbar let alone a defenseless child? That kind of stuff was what the Joker would find pleasure in and his influence was poisoning the very core of who he was. Dropping the crowbar to the ground he stumbled back into the wall and slid down it into a sitting position. When he blinked the boy was replaced with a man groaning in pain and his green eyes went to the side to see Joker sitting next to him his acidic eyes focused intensely off to the side.

"What did you do?" A deep voice caught his attention and his head moved slowly to look at the approaching Batman. Blood dripped from the Bats black gloved knuckles and even if the sight would be intimidating to anyone else, Jack was mesmerized by it. He couldn't take his eyes off each crimson drop that hit the concrete. It was just so captivating to him and if he were to die tonight just seeing Batman in this way would have been enough for him to die happily. He wondered if the reason for thinking so was more because of Batman or more because of Joker's influence ever present in his mind.

"Batsy, looks the best when he allows himself to loosen up and doesn't hold himself back from the Bat King that he has always meant to be. I always love seeing him like this. It's like the best Christmas present that a clown can get." Joker's voice held a warmth that Jack had never heard before and yet he couldn't stop himself from feeling the same way. Batman just looked how he imagined the protector of Gotham to be. It was just disappointing that he didn't look his best for such a meeting.

Realizing he had been asked a question he mumbled his reply as the blood loss was starting to take its toll on his body. "He tried to shoot you, I couldn't let him do that." It was quick and to the point something he thought the Bat would appreciate given his stoic demeanor.

Batman's blue eyes hidden under the white slit in his cowl narrowed at the crimson staining Jack's white suit. He had faintly recalled hearing the sound of a gunshot but in his incensed state of mind he hardly paid it any mind. Bruce wasn't proud of himself with how he had reacted so violently to see the man he used to know as Joker being in such a predicament and it was a lack of control that would haunt him for the upcoming nights. That's how it always seemed to be when it came down to anything regarding the Clown Prince of Crime for him. Every encounter was chipping away at his restraints and even when technically the Joker as he knew him wasn't here being replaced by the bleeding man before him it all had the same effect. A toxin that once infected would never leave its presence behind no matter how much time had passed.

When he had finally gotten better control over his impulses he was just relieved that he hadn't crossed his one line. The irony if he had done given the circumstances he was sure Joker would die from laughter like his victims at the very thought. However seeing the aftermath that had unfolded with his knowledge behind him stirred even more unpleasant memories. A blood stained crowbar laying next to a beaten and broken body made his stomach drop. It almost sent him over the edge all over again when he approached Jack and this time he wasn't sure if he'd be able to stop himself. His mind calmed when he had heard the explanation for Jack's actions and now it left him with a whole new dilemma he had to deal with. Jack was bleeding profusely and would need treatment soon.

Bending down on one knee to get a better vantage point to inspect how badly the injury was, he spoke with a tension in his voice. "Let me see the wound." It came off as a request but they both knew it was a demand. Jack didn't protest as Batman, pulled up his grey dress-shirt. Each laceration was deep enough that Jack would need stitches if he wasn't going to bleed out in this alleyway.

"So, what's the diagnosis, Batman? Will I have to call off work tomorrow? Heh" Jack's voice was barely audible with his shallow breathing.

This left Batman in a conflicting impasse and he wasn't sure which direction to take. On one hand, this man used to be the most dangerous man in Gotham who last time he was around caused the majority of this city's people to suffer. If Bruce saves him now there was no guarantee that his plan to keep Joker from resurfacing again would even be a success. As it stood he had just witnessed Jack sharing the same brutality that had killed his second son and partner Robin. He may have not murdered the man by beating him with a crowbar and that might have count for something if were anyone else he was dealing with. As savage as the action was, Jack's reasoning for it played a factor. The man had been trying to protect Batman, still there had been times where Joker had done the very same with that not changing the fact that he was still a mass murderer who would always kill again. It wouldn't be hard at all to just grapple away and deal with Penguins weapons deal and leave Jack to his fate. The Dark Knight wouldn't reproach anyone for making that decision. From the start his decision had already been made for him. The same outcome that would always happen. Despite who Joker was Batman had always went out of his way to save him no matter what cruelty the man committed. That's what separated the Dark Knight from the rest of Gotham.

With the responsibility of saving Jack's life over leaving him to die he now had to make an even harder choice. The man needed to be stitched up and the question was where to take him to do so. A hospital sounded like the appropriate choice and again that's exactly what would have been done if it were any other person. As the alternative location was as impractical as could possibly get that was seeming like the only conclusion he could come to. If Jack went to the hospital he couldn't be reassured that someone wouldn't find out who the bleeding man used to be. Not looking like the Joker didn't change the fact that if any tests were done to find out Jack's identity that it wouldn't turn out to be conclusive that he was in fact the infamous murderer. That just wasn't a risk, Batman could take. An event like that could set back any progress that could ever be made into an impossibility. So as grudging and downright foolish as it was, he had no choice but to take Jack to the cave and take care of the man himself.

"You'll need stitches to stop the bleeding but first I have to bandage you up for you won't bleed out before I can take you somewhere to do so." He informed him.

"I'm sure I'm in capable hands." Jack gave a ghost of a smile as his eyes closed shut. His skin was becoming paler by the passing minutes. The exertion of beating a man with a crowbar had made the damage worse on his body. Giving, Bruce less time than he would have to help him.

With a course of action set, using a device to have his Bat-mobile come to his location as well as sending out a message to the GCPD to deal with the men he took down, he opened one of the holders in his utility belt where he kept very basic first aid equipment that were needed in case of frequent situations he found himself or other in, he pulled out some bandages and gauge to wrap them to slow the bleeding for now.

"Hold your shirt up and lean forward."

"Anything you say, Batman." Jack mumbled as he did as he was told to do so.

Bruce has had enough experience with this very thing that it didn't take him much time at all to have the lacerations bandage up. Jack seemed more out of it but when green eyes looked up at him as Batman stood, he could see a familiar appreciation that just made his heart ache. It was the same look he had received when he had promised to save the bench. The same look that even Joker had given him countless times during the years that he had known him. A look that had Batman saving the man's life time and time again. He had called the man Jack used to be friend once and when he saw the appreciation and admiration in those green orbs despite all the chaos that usually followed he could understand why he had done so in that moment. It was a bitter sweet pill to swallow and the only way he could deal with it was focusing on the task at hand.

"Can you stand?"

Bruce helped him to his feet but that wasn't effective as just with a couple of steps, Jack stumbled and if Batman hadn't been there to keep him steady he would have fallen right back down to the ground.

"Sorry." He gasped out.

"It's alright. I'll carry you."

The sound of the Batmobile made itself known and he lifted up, Jack into his arms, his right arm supporting his back and his other arm under his legs. Always he was amazed at how light the lean body he had felt when he did this. This wasn't the first time he had to carry him and he doubted it would be his last but each time he did so it concerned him of how little Joker must have actually eaten. A healthy lifestyle was never the forte of the clown he knew and it really shouldn't surprise him but as Jack leaned his head on Batman's chest those same concerns came back at full force. It was an odd thought that such a light weight form could be so dangerous. Joker was always a contradiction and underestimating him for his appearance was always a deadly mistake. With Jack pressed against his chest as he carried him, Bruce found himself doing just that. It was almost unfathomable that this same man who fed fish at a lake no one but the two of them cared about was able to almost beat a man to death. Feeling out of character for the light hearted man he was acquaintance with as Bruce Wayne but knew in a whole different light as the Dark Knight. The two sides that he had witnessed resonating recollection of his experience with the Joker. He wasn't the Joker at least right now he wasn't and that fact changed how Batman would handle him.

"Keep a hand over the bandage and apply pressure to slow the bleeding."

Jack gave a hum of acknowledgement as his blood stained white gloves did just that. Once he had gotten Jack to the passenger side of the Batmobile he almost regretted having to put him down to get him in the car. A groan of discomfort had him handling the man even more delicately. It was an odd sensation how much care he was taking in not hurting the man who would before he would seek him out to infect as much pain as Joker deserved. With, Jack though it was different, he felt he had no choice in trying and taking the opposite approach as he normally did with the clown. When he was completely positive that Jack was strapped in and had a blindfold on him for he wouldn't memorize their destination, he closed the door and contacted Alfred through the interlink in his cowl to inform him to have the medical supplies ready in the Bat-cave as well to stay inside the manor until he had come back inside himself. Alfred hadn't questioned his reasons but he was sure that inquire of questions would come regardless. Getting into the car himself he made his way to the one location where he knew latter he would chastise himself for doing so.

xxx

High pitched squeaking sounds from above felt eerily familiar to Jack as his consciousness was returning to him. How long had he been out for anyways? When did he go home and fall asleep? Wasn't he headed to the one place of comfort he had in this world? His bare skin on his back felt cold and he couldn't comprehend why that was the case. Slowly he opened his heavy green eyes and had to close them immediately as a bright light hit them. Is it day time already? He wondered. Giving it a second try he opened them more slowly this time. Squinting against the light he could make out shapes in the darkness. It took him about a minute to realize he was in a cave and that sent a wave of consternation through him as he tried to pull away to escape as fast as possible. When he did so, strong hands held him down and he shook his head frantically in terror.

"Let me go! I don't want to wear that disgusting thing! Let me go!" He begged the Joker as he was positive that was the one restraining him. His nightmare ever prevalent in his mind.

"Calm down. If you move to quickly you'll reopen your stitches. You have to calm down."

That voice. Just like how when he was asleep earlier a voice had awoken him from the insanity and brought him back to reality. At the time in his half-conscious mind he had thought it was Bruce calling out to him. This time he was wide awake and could tell that it wasn't. Being certain of anything these days was becoming a daunting task for him. Hesitantly, Jack decided to trust the voice telling him to relax and he ceased his violent struggling. When those hands were sure that he was relaxing enough to move away from him they did so. He could hear the sound of the lamp above him being moved and the light was no longer blinding. Turning his head he focused of the outline of the Bat until his vision was no longer blurry.

"Batman?" He asked still unsure if what he was seeing was real or just another illusion.

"You're not in danger. I was able to get you here in time. You've been out for about an hour. Do you remember anything?"

Jack didn't respond right away as his green eyes just watched as Batman rose from his seat and started to put away the medical supplies. He was laying on a gurney which explained to him why he had been cold upon waking.

"You can sit up, if you'd like," Batman added as gave a sideways glance to Jack. "Just be careful, you lost a lot of blood so you'll most likely be dizzy." There was a distance in his deep voice that made Jack frown.

The light from the lamp made the Bat-suit more visible to him as Jack slowly sat up. The first thing that caught his attention the most was a small detail that he doubted most would pay attention to. He didn't know why but he felt like it was a complete change to the suit that he didn't think he had ever seen before. No, this was the first time he had met Batman wasn't it? Then why did this one little thing intrigue him so much. Purple, the whole inside of his cape was purple. It was dark in color but the inside of his cape was without a thread of doubt purple. His smile became huge as the realization made his heart skip a beat. Not caring why such a revelation as minuscular as a simple choice of color for the inside of Batman's cape made him so euphoric feeling he simply embraced it. Green eyes stayed glued to the inside of Batman's cape as he slowly made his way into a sitting position, wincing at the searing pain that the action caused on his wounds.

"I think he chose the color because he missed me," Joker commented next to him and Jack only gave him a sideways glance seeing that Joker was no longer in his black suit but back to his normal purple one. "It's about time, Bat added some color to his attire. My influence must be rubbing off on him." Jack noticed the same thing he had first came to a conclusion to when he watch Joker's pupils in the cafe with Bruce. They expanded for Batman but even more so than they ever did when it was around the billionaire. A mental note he would have to make for latter.

Jack remember everything that took place before he had passed out. The men who had mugged him, threatening his life. Joker's taunts when he desperately needed help only to be asked for his assistance once Batman had come on the scene. Beating the man with the crowbar that now made him feel nauseous. Yes, he could remember it all. The way how Batman had bandaged him up when he was fighting to stay conscious, to the gentle way the Bat held him in his arms as he carried him to the car. He hadn't been left there to die and the Bat hadn't left him for the police when he had violently assaulted a man in front of the vigilante. Looking around the cave he could see that he had been brought to Gotham's Dark Knights base of operations. The last thing he could recall was being blindfolded and now that made even more sense why that was. His green eyes returned when Batman handed him a black shirt that was not his own.

"It's a little large but your clothing is ruined and I guessed that you would like something to wear. The cave can get low in temperature at night and it's better to be safe."

"Thank you." Jack smiled as he took the shirt and with much attentiveness to his wounds he put the oversized shirt on.

Batman gave a stiff nod and seemed even more out of place despite the fact that this was his home where the Bat should be most comfortable in. It seemed he wanted to say something and was having trouble doing so as well as the same time wanting to leave the cave as fast as he could. Jack's eyes went back in the Joker's direction as the clown was striding around this area of the cave giving amused laughs here and there. Joker looked over his shoulder like he knew when Jack was watching him and grinned.

"Have to say, Jackey. We should move in here. So much better than that place you call an abode," Joker skipped back towards them and leaned his arm against Batman's shoulder. "Besides we could spend more time with Batsy and I know how much he must miss our dance. Do you miss him yet?" He glanced at Jack.

How could I miss someone I just met?

Thinking on it though, he could see how effortless it would become to miss never seeing the Dark Knight in all his glory again. Batman gave off a presence that one couldn't turn their eyes from. He remember how that intimidating prescience went towards him, with blood dripping from his gloved knuckles and how he felt in that moment. Like his whole life was becoming something new. He wanted to be able to see him in action again this time preferably not laying on dirty concrete as he almost bleed to death. Batman was like a shadow to him one that could be seen but never truly there to reach out to and the thought made him frown. Jack knew after tonight he'd probably only ever get glimpses of the Bat from newspapers or on the news and that would be as far as he could get. Seeing, how even more distant the Bat was becoming he spoke up before he could even stop himself.

"Batman, can I ask you something?" That got his avoidance he was radiating with to snap to attention and he nodded. Jack debated with himself if even asking the questions that have been plaguing his mind would actually be a good idea or not. True, Batman had just saved his life and even went to all the trouble to bring him here but how would he react if he mentioned that he had hallucinations of the Joker every day.

"Don't tell him," Joker was by his side in a minute his acidic green eyes narrowed with malice at him. "You'll spoil all the fun if you tell him now. Let him be the detective that he likes to play, don't ruin the game for him." Joker hissed out and it kept Jack rethinking what he should ask him instead. Deciding to only give a tiny bit of information away in the hopes of at least getting one of his many questions answered. Joker was right in his own way, Jack didn't want to be the reason for whatever mood the Bat would become if he opened up to him.

"After, Joker's attack was everyone cured or are there still people showing side effects?" The darkening look in Joker's eyes made him realize he gave away too much information already.

Up to this point, Bruce had been doing his best to get a grip on this oddity of a situation. When Jack had been unconscious it was easier on his mind to focus on the task at hand. He hadn't expected that when the man did regain consciousness that he would be in such a panic that he had to hold him down. That moment and the words that were too incoherent for him to decipher had thrown his demeanor for a loop. Batman just did not know how to deal with this and was going by the way he normally handled things he didn't process by distancing himself as much as possible. He took each moment in stride and only focused on one task at a time. Cleaning up the medical supplies gave him some breathing room and that only lasted a short while. He made sure Jack was alright with sitting up like he should do. The cave was close to freezing at night and so he did the practical thing and gave the man under his care one of his shirts.

Now he felt at a loss of how else to proceed and he knew the longer Jack was in the cave the worse it would get. When the question was asked of him that changed everything. Before he couldn't wait long enough for Jack to leave but now he wanted to investigate any information he could get out of him no matter how long that took. Only he couldn't really follow through with the urge as he was walking on a razors edge. If, Jack had no memories of being Joker then there was only so much he could actually tell him to avoid bringing those dangerous reminiscences back to the forefront of Jack's mind and possibly allowing Joker back into the world in the process. This was complicated and he would take the situation with cautiousness.

"Yes, some people are still infected. Why do ask? Are there any side effects you're dealing with?"

Jack glanced away from him and his finger slowly traced the yellow outline of his Bat symbol on his chest absentmindedly and Batman allowed him to do so. When green eyes looked back up at him he still continued the movement with his finger as he spoke. "I was just wondering. I lost my memory in the attack is all and I was wondering if that happened to anyone else." There wasn't much to go off in that statement and Bruce doubted by the way Jack was withdrawing inwards the he would be able to get more out of him.

"There have been cases of amnesia," he commented. "However if it's permeant remains to be seen." God he hoped, Jack's amnesia was permeant unlike Bruce's had been. This seemed the only way that the Joker could be rehabilitated and that would be the best outcome for all of Gotham.

"I see. Well, regardless, I'm just thankful I survived," he chuckled then. "Got to look at the smaller things in life, right Batman?"

Bruce would die before he admitted it but a small fraction of him missed the Joker's pet names for him. Being called just by his alias by someone he knew for years to do the exact opposite at any given opportunity felt like there was a void he could escape from. Like without hearing them he was missing a part of himself and as asinine as the fact was he could only deny it so much. Deny it he shall to his dying day as opening that Pandora's Box would bring with it emotions he did not want to comprehend for a single day in his life. However, keeping his city safe was more important than a nostalgic feeling that he should not even be having in the first place. It didn't change how Jack was just a man with no memories of his past that still needed his help. Gotham City would have to wait as always the Joker was his responsibility to handle when no one else could and for now that applied to Jack's health.

"It's up to you what happens now. You can get some more rest here and I can monitor for the remainder of the night to make sure that nothing happens or I can either drive you to the hospital to be monitored there." Ignoring, Jack's comment on smaller things as he remembered his proposal to protecting the bench and lake he had to deal with in the morning. Looking at the smaller things in life may have been a nice thought but obligations always pulled him away from doing so.

Batman didn't want Jack to take the second option as much as he didn't want the man to take the first. He had been feeling enough guilt as it was for even spending time with the former Joker as Bruce. However there just wasn't much choices he could make. There was still risks of complications with how much blood Jack did lose and he did need to be monitored for his health. If Jack chose here, then he was sure to be interrogated by Alfred even more so than he was already expecting. Let alone of all the risks of having the man who used to be the Joker in the cave at all. Still, he had brought Jack here in the first place instead of the hospital to avoid a situation that he might not be able to prevent. Not wanting to keep the man against his will as he was technically innocent of any wrong doing other than over use of force in defense he let the cards fall where they would and would act accordingly. Bruce allowed himself a moment of relaxation to calm his turmoil filled mind and guilt that had been eating away at him for days. Jack stayed silent as he mulled his options over, his finger still tracing the Bat-symbol and then he spoke and sealed the deal.

"I'll stay here for the night. I trust you to watch over me."