24. A Threat on Tremont Street
Disclaimer: An enormous, over the top, HUMONGOUS thank you to ALL of my reviewers!! I love you all!! Ana—I like that song a lot—I may take you up on that and use it in a future chapter! Jacklin Sparrow—thank you for all your reviews! CarlyJo, HeartoftheJoker, HatefulShinobi, Snuffles-sweetie, BlackBaccaraRose, Heartsong's Fanfiction, iloveme5895, GreyScale27, gerardlover123--and just everyone else(im sorry I got too lazy to write out everyone!!)—so many to name hahaha—thank you all so much. I really appreciate your reviews and I really do love you all!! And now…for the story!
"Mr. Wayne, any news from Boston?" Alfred asked Bruce. Bruce continued looking out the window of his pent house over the vast city of Gotham. Slowly, he turned and shook his head.
"No—not yet," he said with a small sigh and turned back to the window.
"Well fear not, Mr. Wayne—the Joker can only be there for so long before they realize who he is. They'll get him," Alfred responded with an encouraging smile.
"Yes—I have no doubt. But when they catch him, what of Giada? They're probably going to arrest her for being affiliated with the Joker and then what? She'll never trust me again—she'll know we put a warrant out for the Joker in Boston," Bruce stated.
"She'll know Batman put a warrant out for the Joker—and rightfully so, Mr. Wayne. But to her, you'll always be Bruce Wayne—not Batman," Alfred explained.
"Yes, but despite what she thinks of me—her portrayal of Batman will be tainted forever. It probably already is, after having sent her back to Boston—and who knows what the psychopath has been telling her. It'll only be a matter of time before he corrupts her entirely. No doubt he's found her by now, Alfred—and then what? Does Batman go after her to try and save her from the Joker? If by some slight chance they both make it back to Gotham—should Batman go after her?" Bruce asked in rhetoric.
"Well Mr. Wayne—that's up for Batman to decide. Giada is, after all, a valuable mind to have on your side, but no doubt the Joker wants her for his own selfish purposes," Alfred discussed.
"It's insane, Alfred—the way he is with her. I saw him with her and he's just—obsessed about her. It really wouldn't surprise me if she's sided with him by now—because from the looks of things, the Boston Police still have no been able to locate him," Bruce stated.
"In time, Mr. Wayne; in time. Batman will figure things out, and I think he knows better than I, the workings of this town and the minds behind it," Alfred said with a smile as he turned to leave.
"Thank you Alfred," Bruce said finally.
"You're welcome, Mr. Wayne," Alfred said as he left the room. Bruce kept his gaze out to Gotham, blinking sparsely.
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I shoved clothes and books and all of my personal belongings into a couple of duffle bags as the Joker handed me random things to put in the bags as well.
"Let's hurry, Giada—Gotham awaits," the Joker stated finally.
"I know, I know! I've just got a lot of things here that I would like to bring back with me," I responded as I zipped up one of the duffle bags.
"Here—wear this for our travels," the Joker suggested as he handed me my black and red Jokers Wild costume. I just looked up at him in disbelief.
"Um, what?" I asked as I dropped the costume onto the duffle bag.
"If we're going to be a…Joker team—if you will…then you'll have to look the part, Giada my dear," he explained.
"Look, Joker, I have no problem dressing up at night when I'm dancing at the club, but to ask me to dress up like some harlequin by day is a little much," I responded.
"That's exactly it! You'll be my little harlequin!" he giggled. I shook my head in dismay at his enthusiasm for my costume.
"No can do, sorry," I replied as I packed the costume away. He put his gloved hand over mine suddenly as he knelt down beside me. Looking into my eyes, all humor was gone from his.
"Just for today—until we get out of New England, put the costume on. We'll look less suspicious. No doubt the…Batman…has a watch out for us in this town," he said as he cleared his throat and licked his lips.
He was right. Batman knew he was no longer in Gotham and since he had been looking for me, there would be no reason for Batman to let the Joker just come to Boston, pick me up and waltz on out. Batman definitely had to have notified the Boston Police Department of the Joker and his potential arrival to Boston. It could be a matter of days or hours until he was found. I agreed with him. I unzipped the bag and removed the costume. It would be a lot less suspicious if we looked as though we both worked at the Jokers Wild. I changed into my costume, painted my face and went to grab my bags. The Joker stopped me once more.
"You can't leave without this," he said as he pulled the peeler out from his jacket and handed it to me.
"You're really giving this to me?" I asked, flattered that he'd even consider giving me his most notorious weapon.
"You can't be teamed up with me without a weapon…can you?" he asked as he licked his lips and raised an eyebrow. I just smiled at him and wrapped my arms about him in a tight embrace.
"Thank you," I said finally as I pulled away from him.
"No Giada…thank you," he smirked. I couldn't tell if it was an all-knowing smirk, or if it was a genuine, 'thank you for what you've made me feel inside' smirk—like a 'I know something you don't know' smirk. I guess I'd have to wait it out.
In no time, we were out of my apartment and on the streets of Boston. The Joker carried one duffle bag and I carried the other. It looked like we were heading to rehearsal at the Jokers Wild, which was perfect. At least it seemed perfect…until a cop car drove past us and slowed down considerably. The cop inside looked terribly suspicious and pulled over to the side of the road. We just kept walking as though nothing were any different and we didn't even notice him being suspicious of us.
"You there—both of you!" the cop called after us as we walked. We just kept on walking, pretending like he wasn't calling to us.
"You two—in he clown suits!" he called finally. I glanced over at the Joker and he exchanged a knowing glance and smile over at me. I was shitting my pants nervous—he just looks deviously happy. His big feet went to a halt. I followed his every move. He slowly turned around to face the approaching officer. I turned with him.
"Where are you two heading?" the officer asked as he approached us.
"Just to the Jokers Wild for a rehearsal," I replied anxiously.
"I can see that young miss—but who's your friend here? Does he have a name?" the cop asked me. I bit my lip before answering.
"Well of course he does—we call him the Joker," I responded with a laugh. The Joker laughed with me.
"Very funny—but we have a search warrant out for the Gotham criminal, the Joker, and I have reason to suspect that this mean here is that Gotham criminal," the officer stated as he pulled out his handcuffs.
"Excuse me, officer, we have a rehearsal to get to. This is most certainly not the Joker from Gotham you're looking for. I'm pretty sure I saw another man who fit that description back there over on Boylston," I stated.
"Well, sir, if you are indeed innocent, then you won't mind coming back with me to the station for some questioning," the cop replied.
The Joker just shrugged and raised his eyebrows.
"What's the matter? The clown here can't speak?" the officer asked, irritated.
"He can speak just fine," I stated.
"Then let's hear it from the clown, shall we? What brings you to Boston, huh? What's in your head, boy?" the officer asked, taking a small jab at the Joker. The Joker just licked his lips and raised his eyebrows. He took in a deep sigh and rolled his eyes over to me and then a smile stretched across his face.
"Well—officer, I came to Boston for this lovely lady here," he said as he gestured to me, "but as for what's in my head—well, that is something not even I can tell you," he finally replied.
"Oh really now? Well I believe it's about time I take you both down to the station for some questioning," the officer replied haughtily. The Joker chuckled as he placed his gloved hand onto the officer's shoulder and leaned in close to him.
"And I believe that what doesn't kill you, only makes you…stranger," the Joker replied with a grin. The officer's face was sullen; no doubt a pit forming in his stomach.
"What's the matter, officer? Why so serious?" the Joker asked as he pulled away from the cop and licked his lips. Terrified, for some reason, the officer just stood in place, not moving. I think he was stunned by the Joker's remark, or by the fact that he had actually found the infamous Gotham City Joker.
The Joker stood there, waiting for the cop's reply, "No? Nothing? Alrighty—well, let's put a smile on that face," the Joker said as he grabbed on to the cop and held his knife up to his neck. He motioned for me with his head. I took out the peeler blade and went to hand it to him. The Joker shook his head.
"It's your turn—dearest," he remarked with a wide grin. My heart sank. I had to cut this cop's face! What would I do? Could I do it? Could I really put a smile on his face? Part of me was full of adrenaline—a bitter excitement tainted with violence. But I was thrilled at the same time to finally work beside the man I loved. He trusted me enough with his most prized weapon—and I had to deliver. The Joker stood behind the cop, holding the knife at his throat. The Joker's eyes lured me closer as he grinned. A similar smirk formed at my lips as I walked closer, holding up the peeler. Wedging the cop between the two of us, I held the peeler up to his face and place it into his mouth.
"Let's put a smile on that face," I stated finally. The Joker's grin widened and mine did as well, so to match his.