James: Chapter 16

"Nigma for the final time, I do not have time for your damn puzzles!"

Edward Nigma smirked, "Oh but Ser, what good would a mind be if it were not tested on occasion?"

James was growing tired of his unwelcomed guest's games. "I have a damn crusader of the night, a cat burglar, and now the bloody Hand of the King in my city! I am tested well enough without your little riddles. Don't you have a man dressed as a bat to worry over?"

"Ahh yes the Batman, he is a most elusive puzzle, but come now Ser, my riddle is not terribly difficult in its nature. The man that built it does not want it. The man that bought it does not need it. The man that needs it does not know it. What is it? It truly is so simplistic a babe could deduce it Ser Gordon."

Enough of your mocking tone you orange-haired fool. If I could arrest a man for speaking you would have been in chains your second day here. "I do not know Nigma, now leave me be and go on with your investigation into Batman. Do let me know how it turns out."

"A grave, Ser Gordon. The man that built it is building it for another. The one who buys it does not need it, yet. The man who does need it does not know of course for he is dead! My word Ser Gordon, I am beginning to think you are no smarter than those you hunt," he replied with a wry smirk and a light chuckle.

"Nigma, if you do not leave these chambers within the next breath I will arrest you myself." Gordon tilted his head up from his desk to meet the stranger's mocking green eyes in a glare. This man was smart to be sure, but his incessant need to mock those he thought dumber than himself was growing tiresome. He's a summer boy, never seen war or death, probably doesn't even know how to wield a blade. He's as green as his dressings.

James looked over Edward's dark green doublet and trousers, trimmed with black and perfectly neat and clean. James then looked down to his own garments; a dirtied and stained tunic with a faded leather belt at his waist and dark brown trousers with scuffed knees and a tear in the left leg. The difference between a dog of Tywin Lannister and a dog of Gotham City.

Nigma laughed, "Very well Ser, I shall make my leave. Thank you for sharing with me the information you gathered from your meeting with Lord Wayne on the day past. It was most, enlightening."

The queer man left with a slight bounce in his step as James returned to his work. He sifted through the pieces of parchment on his desk hoping something would jump out at him and forgo its hiding place. He had read over these sheets for hours since they were placed on his desk a few nights ago, and it only made his eyes burn the longer he looked at them. They were the shipping manifests for the week the Winding Serpent had been in port, the same ship that the Joker had ransacked. Batman had paid him a visit a few nights ago telling him of a secret crate that was on board at the time of Joker's raid. Since then the crate had been labeled misplaced. Neither Batman nor the captain knew what was on the ship, only that the smugglers had been paid a great deal of gold to assure its safe passage from Slaver's Bay.

Whatever was in that crate, if Joker has it in his hands, may the Mother watch over us all. After what had felt like hours of looking over the parchments, he heard light footsteps stop behind outside of the door to his solar. Without turning to face Edward he growled, "Nigma leave me be or I'll hang you from the rafters by your ankles until your face is as red as your lord's breastplate."

He was replied with an offended gasp and a smooth, soothing voice, "Well Ser Gordon, if this is how you treat women then you're as cold and unforgiving as the Wall. Also to mention, my lord of Highgarden prefers a fair green to Lannister's bloody crimson."

Sarah walked over and sat on his desk's corner as she looked into his eyes with a look of playful mocking. "Sarah, I uhh apologize for my tone. I-"

She laughed and swatted her hand, "It is fine James. The prideful little fool irritates us all to no end. Why, I heard your esteemed Harvey Bullock telling the men that at the first chance he gets, he'll send Nigma off in a little fisherman's boat nude as his birth and with no supplies. So I imagine your hanging him by his feet would be a rather gracious kindness. Have you been thinking over our visit with your, shall we say, noble, lord yesterday?"

James had spent a great deal of time thinking over his words with Lord Wayne, but was still as confused as he had been before. He remembered how nonchalant and comfortable the lord looked with an exotic beauty on his arm and glass of wine in his other hand that must cost more than what James earned in a month. He certainly played the part, but he could also be throwing us off his trail. He did know we were there to see if he and Batman were the same.

She waved her hand in front of his face to bring him back from his thoughts. He loved how white and delicate her fingers looked. "You were doing it again," she said with a beautiful smile that thinned her lips into a small pink half-moon.

"Sorry Sarah, I don't know what to make of our visit with Lord Wayne. He certainly played a convincing drunkard whore-monger. He was aware of our intentions from the beginning surprisingly. He is a…complex man to be sure."

Sarah smirked, "Complex is one word for it. Arrogant, drunkard ass is another. Do you think a man would go that far just to protect his identity? Condemn his life beyond the cowl to a cane and within the walls of that castle up on that hill? Perhaps Batman doesn't even take a normal life. Perhaps he only stops being Batman to sleep in a cave with his clawed feet clinging to its roof." She laughed at her own jape, as she always did. Her sense of humor is as wicked as her skills with a blade. James smirked as he remembered their last sparring two days past, she had nearly won.

"I've seen men go farther and do worse things to protect a secret. I know not an ounce of this puzzle, and I wonder if I ever will."

"Well you are tasked with apprehending the Batman, Ser, and with the Lord Hand in your city I would wonder if you should not try a bit harder," she teased.

"It's my duty to arrest him should we catch him, but no one has ever caught him. Some men are still convinced he's only a myth. I will not waste my time or my men hunting a shadow. Should Nigma figure out the face behind the mask and deliver him to me on the steps with a bow, then I will gladly arrest him. Ugh, first Batman, then the Graysons' deaths, Catwoman, the Half-Mask, Joker, Lord Tywin, now Lord Eddard Stark? I fear I can't take too many more surprises in this city."

Sarah smiled and leaned closer. "Well see it this way James, at least you don't have to worry about dragons flying over us and reducing Gotham to smoldering ash."

James chuckled, "Yes, I suppose I should be grateful for that much in the least."

Bruce: Chapter 20

"So who knows of your secret?"

Bruce looked up from his plate to Lord Eddard sitting across from him. They were in the study, breaking their fast on eggs, bread and pork sausages. It was early morning, Lord Eddard had requested for his daughters to eat with Dick in the guest dining hall while they sat at the table in the center of Thomas Wayne's study.

"You, Alfred, Lucius, Prince Oberyn Martell-"

Eddard choked on his drink and replied sternly as milk dripped down his short beard, "The Red Viper knows? How?"

"He pieced it together just as you did. He is very aware of the feeling of having loved ones ripped from you, and the dark corners a man will seek out in the name of vengeance. He says his knowledge of warriors and ability to size a man up on the spot told him Batman and I were one in the same. Deathstroke was there the night his sister and niece were murdered by the Mountain. He wished me to serve Wilson up on a silver platter to him so he could have his revenge. The Joker had other plans as it were. He assures me he has no intention of ousting my secret."

Eddard wiped his chin with a cloth and thought over what he had heard. "Very well, who else? Does the boy?"

Bruce gave a nod. Eddard's face suddenly sharpened in anger, "That boy does not belong in your crusade. By him knowing you not only condemn yourself but him as well should this war of yours fail. I cannot stop you from this path of self-destruction but I will not allow you t-"

Now Bruce was the one to interrupt, "He chose this Ned. He was the same as I was that day you spoke with me at my parents' funeral. He was scared, angry, hurting, I did not force this life on him. He found the cave of his own free will. Dick saw what I was doing, what I was striving to achieve, and wanted a part in it. I am training him, he will only join me in the city when I deem him ready to. I knew if I did not allow him to study under me, that he would follow my footsteps down that dark path I took as a boy without parents. You must trust me Ned, I know what I am doing."

Ned took a few more bites of his meal before replying, "I have had too many men in my lifetime tell me that they knew what they were doing. I have seen too many men die with those words echoing in my head. If I were the boy's father I-"

Bruce cut the Lord Hand off once more, "You are not, and neither am I. If I were the boy's father I'd tell him to find a wife, start a family, just as my father would have. To live into my old years watching my sons and their sons grow and take over my duties and live in peace. That choice was open to the boy, but he chose to remain here. Just as I have told Alfred, I cannot be swayed in my resolve, and neither can Dick."

His guest remained quiet for a time, choosing to continue eating and drinking as he worked out his words in his head. He is an incredible man, even breaking his fast his mere presence makes the hair on a man's neck stand in uneasiness. His presence is felt before it is seen.

As Ned finished his breakfast he looked up to Bruce, "Are there any others who know?"

"No, but there are a few that suspect. Ser James Gordon of the City Watch, he was here yesterday just before dusk to question me. I had just seen him out when I entered the feasting hall to learn of your arrival. There is a whore in the city, Selina, she suspects me as well I believe. Then there is Lord Tywin's little hound, Edward Nigma. Gordon tells me he is here to find Batman's true face, and that despite the man's ability to irritate, he does seem intelligent."

"I will visit the City Watch tomorrow. I have need to speak with Ser Gordon over some matters as well. But there is something I need to speak with you about that is not related to your city or personal war."

"It has to do with you fearing for King Robert's life," Bruce stated plainly. "It was why you agreed to being Hand, so you could watch over your friend."

Ned nodded, "Yes. I fear the king is in danger, but from whom I do not know. As I wrote you, the capital is a den of spiders and liars. People that can do more harm with a single muttering of a phrase than Jaime Lannister could do with a sword. Lord Peter Baelish is as devious in nature as he is small in stature. Lord Varys has eyes and ears in every brick of the castle it would seem. And the queen…Cersei…"

"What of her?" Bruce had heard the queen was a beautiful sight to behold, but he had run into a fair enough share of beautiful dangers in his lifetime that he knew even without a cock women could be deadly.

"The only person I could see wanting Jon Arryn dead would be her. Catelyn however blames the Imp. She believes Tyrion tried to have my son killed with a hired knife."

"What of the knife? And what do you believe then?"

Ned sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration, "I do not know. The dagger was finely made, a rarity. I cannot see Tyrion Lannister, a man who prides himself on his wits, giving a common thug a blade with a dragon bone hilt to kill my son knowing it would lead directly back to him. No, he's far to cunning for that. I believe someone is trying to frame Tyrion, but I know not of who. If the Lannisters are involved, I would stake my life that Cersei is a part of it. I just don't know how it all relates. Why push my son from a tower window? Why kill Jon Arryn?"

Bruce stood from his seat, "I'm afraid I do not know Ned, but you have my word I will aid you in any way I can to shed light on the matter. So does this mean rather than coming to apprehend the Batman, you are requesting his assistance?"

Now Lord Eddard was the one to stand, "I was not here to apprehend you, merely see for myself how dangerous of a threat you are."

Bruce smiled, "And I think King Robert can sleep soundly at night, well at least without worry of me. I am no danger to him."

Ned looked sternly at Bruce with his cold, Northern eyes. "I never said he was the one you were a danger to Bruce."

Joker: Chapter 7

"No! No! No! NO! I did not invite any wolves to this party! Why are their wolves at my party!?" Joker glared down on the poor soul that had dared bring him this news. Joker's chest was heaving from the shouting and the pale, frightened man before him was visibly shaking. Joker righted his frown into a wide smile and walked over to where the quivering coward stood in wait.

"Now, now my boy, don't fret! I know it is not your fault the Starks are here, and that you didn't want to deliver this news to me anymore than the next man would have."

The man's quivering lip strengthened into a small smile, "Truly, ser?"

"Of course!" Joker cheered as he patted the man on the back. A moment later he drove a knife into the man's neck as blood spurted out and coated the end of Joker's sleeve. He let the man's body fall to the ground with a loud thud as Joker's smile faded back into a disappointed frown. "Mol, clean this mess up. Pilo, I want to know how long our unexpected guests plan on staying in our lovely city and what brings them here. GO!"

Joker sunk back into his chair and rubbed his temple. Ugh, why do the bloody Starks need to be here? I cannot go ahead with my plans with the crown's bloody Hand in my city! It'll attract far too much attention.

His second inner voice spoke up. Why don't we make use of them instead?

Joker raised an eyebrow in curiosity and slowly bounced his head from left to right as he thought over the proposal. What do you have in mind?

Hehehe why don't we kill the Hand? Show the rest of Westoros to fear us?

Joker frowned, No you bloody fool! Killing Stark would be the only thing that could remove Robert's fat ass from the Iron Throne and he'd be at our gates with an army in a fortnight…calling for our head…

He put a hand to his neck and rubbed it to make sure it was still there. My face is far too pleasing to the eye to be mounted on a spike…

Now Joker's third inner voice spoke, the voice sounded like the Stranger's himself amongst the dark corners of his mind. Killing Eddard Stark would be a grave mistake. If we are to best achieve our ends than we must not attract the attention of the whole of Westoros.

Joker blinked in surprised. You agree with sparing him!? The one that wants to kill to solve everything!? And my apologies if I rain on your party, but I think we are already in the crown's sights after slaying all of those Lannister soldiers under Tywin.

No. Killing those Lannister soldiers simply showed that even the most powerful of lords should not meddle in Gotham's affairs. Robert would not allow Tywin to invade Gotham simply to reclaim his honor. If we kill the wolf however, the king would be so enraged he would be willing to burn the city to the ground in search of us.

Now the second inner voice chimed in, but we want Gotham to burn! Who cares who lights the first torch, so long as the city burns and we can laugh!

Joker took a sip of wine from the flask on the table in front of him. I agree with the dark, brooding one. We must be the ones to burn Gotham to the ground and only when we are ready! The chest gave us the first piece, but we still have far too much left to accomplish to spark the crown's curiosity now.

Joker stood as the matter was laid to rest. Damn nobles, always ruining my fun.

He strolled out into the large hall of their new living quarters. His men lined the walls in packs, gambling with dice and coins, drinking ale and singing cheerful songs, telling each other of past crimes or places they had been to.

Aces and Ajax were throwing knives at a wooden target when he came upon them. Three knives pierced into the center ring of the target while another three scattered around its middle and outer rings. "Aces you are just an artist with those knives of yours!"

Aces turned to face Joker and gave a fearful but sincere smile, "Thank you, ser. Trained every day for eight years in the circus I did."

Joker laughed and laid an arm around each of their shoulders, "Lads, you both have been very faithful in your service to my cause. Never questioning when I order a killing, never doubting when others simply call me mad, it is appreciated boys."

The two shot each other a frightened, apprehensive look before nodding and forcing a smile. "Th-thank you Joker, ser," Ajax said as sweat began spotting his brow.

Joker released them and strolled off towards the stairway to the tower at the northern end of the hall. He jumped up the steps with the giddiness of a boy. He burst through the wooden door to his chambers with a loud shove and moved to his bed. He laid himself flat on the ground and reached a hand underneath the feather mattress. The sound of wood scraping along stone echoed through the room as he slowly pulled the chest out from its hiding place. Joker stood and set the fair sized chest down upon the bed. Then he kneeled and unlocked the iron lock shaped like a dragon biting its tail. He placed a hand on each side and opened the chest. Mmmm it's right before my eyes, I'm so close I can taste it!

The white-faced murderer smiled in absolute delight. Mother always was right. She always said 'Joker, damn the banks and keep what matters to you most underneath where you lay your head to bed each night. There one's treasure is always safe from the greedy eyes of man.' Hmmm I wonder if her skull's still under there somewhere. No matter….

Joker reached into the chest and held up what he had grasped into the torchlight. It was a piece of silk faded and torn from years of aging. It was outlined in crimson with a white center and black figures sewn into it. There was an image of a sleeping dragon, a tall tower, a large boulder, and an image of a lion, wolf, stag, and dragon at a different end of the oddly shaped figure sewn into the cloth. A corner was missing with only torn and frayed ends of thread remaining.

So closeee…. Joker was interrupted as a pounding came at his door. "Uhh Joker, ser, we have a problem."

Imbeciles, can they not see that I'm basking in the light of my own grand invention?

Joker tucked the silk back away in the chest and returned it to its place beneath his bed. He stomped to the door and opened it with a frown upon his lips. Aces and Ajax stood with a small boy between them, each clutching one of his shoulders. The boy was young. Messied, black hair shrouded the entirety of his face above the nose. Joker knelt and brushed it aside to see dark blue eyes glaring back at him. A boy, glaring at me? Hooo someone isn't afraid to die.

"Who are you boy?"

The boy replied by snorting and spitting on Joker's face. Joker stayed where he was, ever-smiling, and wiped the unwelcomed wetness from his face. Ajax and Aces looked shocked, a mere boy spitting upon the infamous Joker as if he were a king looking down on a peasant.

"Hee Heee you're a little charmer aren't you. How old are you lad?"

Before the boy could spit again Joker put a purple-gloved hand over his mouth and leaned closer. "Do that again boy, and I shall stab a fork through your tongue and rip it out for my supper," he whispered into the fearless little fool's ear.

When he pulled back the boy's eyes had only widened slightly, and he slowly nodded in agreement. "Gooood lad. Now, name, age, and what you were doing here."

As Joker removed his hand from the boy's mouth, Ajax spoke up. "He was stealing from our food reserves in that abandoned old vault. He snuck in through a crack in the wall it looke-"

Joker interrupted, "Pray, tell me Ajax. Did you grow smaller and sprout a shock of black hair while you were at it?"

The brown haired thug looked up to his hair and back down to his leader confusedly. "I uhh, ser?"

"I asked for the boy to answer. Are you him?"

Ajax mindlessly shook his head. "No, you are not. Now keep quiet or I'll have your tongue as well. Now speak, boy."

"Name's Jason Todd. I'm one-and-ten. I was hungry so I found the hole in the wall and helped myself to the food I found."

"Do you know who I am lad?"

"You're the Joker, the one that killed all those Lannister men."

"Aye, and yet you don't seem afraid. Do you not fear death, boy? I could kill you without a second thought. Fall asleep with a nice, big smile on my face."

"If you aimed to kill me you would have done it already. Plus I could take you, you're much scrawnier than the stories say," he replied without an inch of terror visible on his face.

He's either brave beyond reason, or foolish beyond it. Either way, moxxy is always a pleasant sight to see.

"HAHA! Well done lad. Good show, while I have yet to kill a child in this city I would kill you with great pleasure were you not touched with a stone of manhood. You've got a bigger pair than those two behind you if you get my meaning, Hehe. Ajax, let him go. Give him a sack of bread and cheese to see him on his way."

"Uh…ser?"

"Did I stutter you mumbling fool!?"

"No Joker ser, our apologies!" Aces cried turning pale white. Ajax's lip was quivering, his eyes growing wider. The young Jason stood as still as stone, defiantly making it a point to keep eye contact with Joker. Ha, interesting lad, Joker thought as the three of them turned and returned back down the stairwell. He's lucky he caught me in such a chipper mood.