"You, uh, expecting someone?" Joker asked in a low growl, sliding his pants on over his hips as he watched her slip on a sports bra and a pair of shorts. How could he have let his guard down like this. Of COURSE she called the cops. He should have known it was only a matter of time. No rest for the wicked and all that jazz. Joker was brought out of his angry musings when another loud knock sounded, this time accompanied by muffled shouts. He raised his eyebrows when Makayla slipped a knife into her hands, flicking it open with expert ease.

"I'm never expecting company." she answered, her voice soft but focused, eyes cutting to the door as scraping sounds came. Joker almost couldn't believe his ears. Were they picking the lock?

"Police officers don't pick locks." he muttered, pausing long enough in his incredulity to hear her scoff and see her roll her beautiful eyes.

"Really?" she asked, hiding behind the corner as she heard the lock disengage. She gave him a pointed look as they attempted to get past the door chain now. "Stay here. From the sounds of things, there's only the one this time, and I can handle it. Don't distract me." Joker would have laughed if he wasn't suddenly distracted once again by the sound of the door opening. Makayla, without even flinching, turned the corner and tossed a knife. He heard a man cuss and then heard Makayla speak in the darkest voice he had ever heard her use.

"You got balls, Don. Or at least, you used to." Don? Joker wracked his brain. Why the hell did that name sound familiar?

"Yeah, they're still there. You got my thigh, girlie. Not my balls." A deep voice with a nasty rasping breath attached to it answered her, a pained laugh escaping the man as he spoke. "Gonna come quietly this time?"

"Going to actually die this time?" she quipped back, and Joker couldn't help but peek around the corner. There was Makayla, squared off next to a man with dark hair and darker eyes, who was sprawled out on the floor. To the other man's-what had she called him, Don?-credit, he did kick the door shut before he struggled to his feet, blood running harshly down his leg. Joker couldn't help but feel a pang of pride. She didn't throw knives at him when they first met.

"I don't die. I do the killing." He answered with a smirk. Joker examined his face for a moment. Yeah, the dick face looked familiar too. Who the fuck was this?

"Whatever you say. Kill all you fucking want. But it'll be a cold day in hell before I go back to him." Makayla spoke firmly, moving into a defensive position. Joker would have commented about how it seemed to be a bit early for that kind of reaction but before he could even think of a proper retort Don lunged, his fist catching the side of her head. Crazy little girl recovered quickly though, and kicked out at his injured leg as she went down. He fell, but fell forward onto Makayla, and they began wrestling on the floor. Joker moved out to lean in the door jam, watching the two roll about and attempt to get the upper hand. Don landed several more hits during the wrestling match. But what amazed him most was the fact that she landed several hits of her own. And they were hard enough that both her knuckles and Don's face were bleeding. Bet his boss will be pissed, Joker thought. Suddenly he let out a laugh that startled the two fighters into stillness. Don's look was one of incredible shock. Makayla's was of incredible irritation.

"Ha ha ha, oh. Mm, I'm sorry, doll. I know you said not to, uh, interrupt. But I finally remembered where I've seen old Donnie boy here." Joker wiped the tears of mirth out of his eyes, stepping forward and squatting down by the two. Don was straddled across Makayla, his weight pinning her down, one hand around her throat, the other supporting himself. Makayla was laid back and looked completely at ease, but that may have been because of the shock of his interruption. Joker reached out suddenly with a sharp glance, trailing his fingers through the blood that was running down her face from a gash across her face, presumably from the ring Don was wearing. Makayla winced and Joker's eyes hardened.

"Who the fuck is this, Kay?" Don asked, clearly his shock had worn off. Makayla gave an exasperated sigh, shooting a glare at Don. Joker raised his eyebrows.

"Is he for real, sugar?"

"He does not joke." Makayla said flatly, cutting her eyes between the two of them. "Ever." Joker laughed again, grabbing Don by his throat and tossing him off of Makayla, who took a deep breath and winced at the sudden removal of his weight. Joker noticed and stopped laughing just as suddenly as he started. He gave her an analytical stare, running a fingertip over her cheek as Don coughed and gasped on the floor where he had landed.

"Did he hurt you, Makayla?" The Joker's voice was a dark drawl that sent a shiver along Makayla's spine. Still, she saw this as an opportunity to maybe send a message that she wasn't coming back to the mafia. So she looked at him with wide eyes that she hoped portrayed fear.

"Only a little…" she said in a small voice, batting her eyelashes at him. Joker smirked at her, tapping her cheek with his finger as he did. He knew she was jerking his chain, but it got his blood going all the same, watching her pant softly and not because of HIM. He gave her a brief but mocking sympathetic look, nodding his head.

"I see. Don't you worry, doll. Mr. J will handle it." Joker slunk over to Don, who was struggling to sit up. Joker knelt by Don, grabbing his shirt and slamming him into the wall.

"Don. Don, Don, Don. Donnie boy." Joker leaned in, as though he were sharing a secret. "Now, I normally would look the other way and all, seeing as how I AM in your boss' territory. But, uh, ya see, the girl. Is. MINE. And I, do not enjoy sharing." Don began to shake, his wide eyes darting between Joker and Makayla.

"I didn't know, man. I didn't know."

"Shh shh shh. Of COURSE you didn't." Joker shushed him, stroking his hair in mock comfort. "But ya know, you still damaged what belongs to me. And I just want to know one thing: why?" Don gave him a sneer.

"I don't ask questions of the boss." He said smoothly. "I just follow orders."

"Ah, I love mindlessness. But there's a problem with it." Joker clenched his shoulder, making Don cry out in pain. "Someone. Has. To. Take. The. Fall." Joker pulled out a knife, running it gently along the side of Don's face, knicking the skin in the process. "And right now, that would be you, Donnie boy."

"Please." Don had the good sense to beg now. "Please, I could get you information. Insider stuff. I've worked as the boss' right hand for years. I know shit." Joker shot a glance at Makayla, who's dark eyes glared daggers at Don.

"He telling the truth?" he asked her in a much softer tone than he used with Don. The man in question moved his pleading stare to her, but she didn't even bother glancing back in his direction.

"Another thing about him. He doesn't lie. And his loyalty lies with the highest bidder." She shot a whithering glare Don's way. "So if dick for brains here says he will gather intel for you, he means it. But be warned, if anyone else ever comes along that he thinks can offer you more, he'll turn on you."

"She's lying!" he hissed, glaring her down. Joker let out a small giggle at her use of the phrase dick for brains, and couldn't quite stop the tingle of admiration as the small woman didn't even flinch at Don's harsh glare. Joker quieted his giggles and glanced at Don.

"She is, huh? Well. I'll give you a chance to prove yourself, Donnie. You, uh, ever turn on me, though, and I'll make whatever you've seen your boss do to someone look like going down the slide at the fucking park. We clear?"

"Yeah, boss. We're real clear." Don said, breathing a slight sigh of relief. Joker grinned.

"Good." he said simply before plunging the knife in Don's shoulder. The man cried out in pain, staring up at Joker with a horrified stare.

"But I said I would help you!"

"Oh, I know." Joker agreed. "I'm just helping you out with your story. Go tell your boss you lost Makayla. Tell him you got jumped. Blame a rival gang, I don't care what you tell him really. But go. And be ready for me when I call you." To Don's credit he didn't ask how Joker would get ahold of him. Simply muttered "Yes, boss." and headed out the door, limping only slightly. Joker grinned after him. Makayla shook her head, arms crossed.

"I give him a month before you skin him alive." she said simply. Joker let out a whoop of laughter, shaking his head as he came to stand next to her.

"You are just full of surprises, doll." he told her, squeezing her shoulder. "You know, one of these days, you'll have to tell me how you got mixed up in, uh, THAT crowd."

"You wanna know?" Makayla asked, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "Sure. Sit down. I'll tell you the whole stupid story." So Joker shrugged, crossed the room, collapsed on the couch, and listened.

A/N: So, I've been gone for a while. But here's chapter 5! Maybe I can get another chapter in sooner. Hope you guys like it!

Lizzie Shadows