'You finally answered.' Bruce growled.
He'd been trying to reach Richard for an hour; Damien'd been driving him crazy about going patrolling.
'Yeah.'
That, yeah, doesn't sound right.
'What have you done?'
'Don't be so suspicious.' He said quickly.
'Just tell me.'
'Tell you what?'
'What you've done.'
'Nothing, I've done nothing.'
'The same nothing you said when you crashed my Porsche.'
'I didn't cause property damage!' He said weakly. 'I just, Well.'
'Well?'
'Well, Barbara.'
'You told her?!'
'Don't freak out.'
'Do you realize what you've done?!'
'Yes.'
Oh, no.
'What is it now?'
'She wants to tell the others.'
'What?'
'She wants to tell Tim, Damien, and her father.'
'I see.'
'That's the same thing you said when I crashed the Porsche. You're mad.'
'Goodbye, Richard.'
"Josie, Josie," Joker scooped the small child by her shoulders, his fingers digging into her soft skin. "Are you hungry?"
Josie instinctively turned her head away, her eyes flickering to the ground as a shiver of discomfort coursed through her. She felt his fingers digging into her right shoulder, the
pressure becoming increasingly unbearable and possessive. Every heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears, a rapid reminder of her growing unease as she fought to remain composed in the tense silence between them.
The air around her seemed thick with unspoken words, amplifying the distress swirling within her.
"What do you want to eat?" he pressed, his tone insistent.
Josie didn't want to engage with him; the very thought of looking into his wild eyes filled her with dread.
"Josephine." He growled sharply, frustration seeping into his voice as his grip became painfully tight. "Answer me."
"I'm... you're hurting me," she stammered, struggling to break free from his grasp.
For someone so skinny, he possessed an unsettling strength.
"Answer me," he urged again, his eyes narrowing.
"Ouch!" Josie winced, a fresh wave of panic coursing through her.
"Answer me."
"You're hurting me," she repeated, her voice trembling.
"Answer me, girl, or I break it," he threatened, a malicious
grin spreading across his face.
Tears welled in Josie's eyes, spilling down her cheeks as her tiny frame trembled. "Please don't hurt me," she begged, desperation coloring her voice.
"Are. You. Still. Mad?" he persisted, eyes boring into hers.
"Joker—"
"Stay out of this, Gabrielle," he dismissed her plea harshly.
Josie's sobs escaped her, raw and unfiltered as Joker suddenly released her.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you," he commanded, his voice laced with impatience.
With reluctance, Josie glanced up at him. His expression was a mix of irritation and something almost manic, his face twitching slightly as if he were barely holding it together.
"No," she murmured defiantly, shaking her head.
"You're lying," he countered, narrowing his gaze.
"You hurt me!" she sobbed, the defiance of her words rising above the fear.
"You hurt me first," he shot back, a twisted sense of logic
underlying his words.
"No, you hurt me first!" she cried, her voice cutting through the tension.
"Bird boy nearly cut you in half a few weeks ago, and you're mad because I stabbed you with a tiny needle?!" he retorted incredulouly, as if her anger was unjustified.
"I'm still mad at him!" Josie choked out, feeling anger mix with her distress.
Joker's grin widened, a sense of amusement flickering across his features. Josie felt the warmth creep into her cheeks, an unwelcome flush of emotion.
"I don't appreciate that!" she insisted, looking away.
"Are you hungry?" he asked again, his tone shifting to something less aggressive.
"Maybe..." she replied hesitantly, unsure of where this conversation would lead.
"I know a great 24-hour diner. Amazing food, and they can get you some ice for that shoulder," he said, his voice tinged with excitement as he tried to sound persuasive.
"But you're in hiding!" she protested, concern etching her brow.
He rolled his eyes, amusement dancing in them. "It's down in the Bowery," he chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "Everyone there minds their own business!"
"But what if Batman shows up?!" her voice raised, fear creeping in once more.
"Then I'll introduce you. Don't you want to meet him?!" he exclaimed, the smile on his face almost boyish.
"Won't you end up arrested?!" Josie asked, an anxious knot forming in her stomach.
"Probably," he admitted with a carefree laugh.
"No!" she cried, panic rising as she backed away.
"Ugh!" He groaned in exasperation. He reached out, grabbing her hand tightly but not painfully. "Fine..."
The child couldn't understand it!
How does a family up and disappear, and no one knows what happened?
The thought has kept Grace Jones awake for the past two months. The last she heard, her BFFF, Josie, was in a car accident in that Goth city.
After that, nothing!
She's been spending all her computer time surfing the web and reading Gotham's news articles.
The Gotham Times, but they keep talking about some guy who broke out of someplace called Arkham.
Maybe the man who broke out of Arkham was the driver.
Grace Jones read the article and found a photo; the man had phantom green hair, ghost-white skin, and blood-red lips.
He looked downright ghoulish, but that's not what caught Grace's eye.
No, it's not his appearance, well, not entirely.
Grace couldn't shake the feeling that she knew this man.
How?
How did Grace know this man?
Her father did business in Gotham; maybe she met him then.
But she always stayed in hotels watching TV.
Something about his eyes, she knew those eyes...!
What was this man's name?
The Joker.
He looked like a crazy clown!
Josie liked clowns.
"Did your grandparents die on the way to the circus?" Joker asked, his tone direct and unyielding.
Josie liked clowns.
"Yes."
"That's funny."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is."
"No, it's not."
"Everything in life is funny, Kitten. Even death." His laughter rang out confidently as she pouted. He pointed to her untouched burger. "Are you going to eat that?" Without hesitation, she pushed it towards him. "Thanks."
"I thought I was Kitten!" Gabrielle shot back, her eyes
narrowing.
"You sound jealous, Kitten," he said, his grin unwavering.
"I'm not." Her cheeks flushed, but she held her ground. "Kid, you don't eat much. Are you sick?"
"No, I just don't want to get fat."
"What do you mean?" Joker demanded, his voice gaining intensity. "Who told you that you were fat?"
"No one. Miss Peu says it's best if a dancer doesn't gain weight." She watched him finish the burger in record time. "I've never seen anyone eat so much."
"It's one of the side effects of my medication."
"What are the other side effects?" Her curiosity now had a razor-like edge.
"Insomnia."
"Insomnia?" she pressed, challenging him.
"Trouble sleeping," Gabrielle clarified.
"Okay. I can't sleep either. When I finally do, I can't stay asleep. What are the others?" she demanded, clearly invested.
"Mood swings."
"Is that why you snapped at me earlier?"
No.
"Yes."
"More," he insisted, not backing down.
"Do you want to—"
"Yes!"
He let out an exasperated sigh. "Hunger. Muscle spasms. Anxiety. Akathisia—"
"Akathisia?" both Gabrielle and Josie repeated, their intrigue sharpening.
"Restlessness. I'm always moving. Can we change the subject?" He made it clear he was ready to shift gears.
"What are you drinking?" Josie asked, her tone sharp.
"Absinthe," he stated matter-of-factly.
"Can I have some?" she asked, her curiosity matching her boldness.
"Too strong for you," he replied firmly.
"Are you saying that I am weak?"
"Well—"
"No, I'm not!" she shot back, her confidence evident.
"It's liquor. Alcohol," he added, unwavering in his stance.
"You drink alcohol?" she challenged.
"Yes."
"That's bad for you; did you know that?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you doing it?"
"Didn't Pop-Pop and Grammy teach you not to question adults?"
"Joker," Gabrielle interjected, her tone serious as she locked eyes with him.
"What?"
She motioned toward Josie, who was eyeing her milkshake.
"Oh," he said, redirecting his focus. "How are you feeling, Baby Doll?"
"I don't know," Josie said, contemplatively. "At first, I was sad, but now I feel..."
"Numb? Heavy?" he interjected, determined to get to the heart of her feelings.
"A little bit of both. Before the rainstorm, I was sad. And I'm... kinda sad," she admitted, not shying away from the truth.
"Are you kinda happy?"
"No!" she exclaimed, her voice rising with conviction. "I know I should be crying, but—"
"I could buy you a shot of bourbon—"
"No, you will not booze her up!" Gabrielle snapped decisively.
"Sheesh! Don't have a cow, Mom!" he retorted, refusing to back down.
"She's only eight; she doesn't need to start drinking for breakfast," Gabrielle asserted, her tone unyielding.
"I still have some Vicodin; I can give her that or some of my clozapine—"
"What's that?" Josie inquired, her expression attentive.
"My antipsychotic medicine." Gabrielle rubbed her head, concern apparent. "What's wrong, Baby Doll?"
"My head hurts sometimes," Josie replied, her vulnerability coming through.
"Why?"
"Uh, maybe because of the accident or—"
"Or?!"
"When Robin slammed my head on the ground."
Ivy may have mentioned that.
"Oh. Is that why you were out in the rain? Because you were running from Robin?"
"No, I was looking for you."
Was she looking for me? he thought, the question challenging his comfort.
"We need to go."
"Go?" she said, uncertainty creeping in. "But—"
"It's late," he stated firmly as he glanced at his Rolex. "I need to get you back."
"Uh, okay," she said, ready to accept his authority.
He scanned the street through the window. "We can't take my car. I think I saw a cape."
"A cape?" Josie repeated, curiosity piqued.
"One of the birds," he clarified, asserting his point.
"A bird?" Gabrielle echoed, her interest now evident.
"Oooooh, I love birds!" Josie chimed in, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "My grandma used to take me to her bird-watching clubs. What kind was it? Was it a Northern Mockingbird? Or a Hermit Thrush?"
"An American Robin," Joker replied confidently, amused by her enthusiastic response.
'Aren't you going to answer that?' Colin asked as Robin ignored the beeping noise from his belt.
'No.' Was his stoic response. 'I already know who it is.'
'Who is it?'
'Three guesses who.'
'Why don't you want to talk to him?'
'He'll only try to talk me out of it.'
'What did he say when you mentioned Gagsworth?'
'Jason Todd.'
'Who's that?'
'Someone who can find Gagsworth.' Robin turned in the ginger boy. 'They grew up together.'
'Do you think he's got, Josie?
'No.'
'Then why should we waste-'
'He's dead.'
Colin raised an eyebrow as they stood behind an apartment, watching an abandoned clinic.
An hour ago, the silent alarm was triggered, and a man was creeping.
Initially, Robin wrote it off as addicts looking for a fix.
The clinic was a mile away from where he had encountered her.
They needed to find the girl; Robin felt obliged to expose her!
'Robin, we've been here for 30 minutes.' Colin said, annoyed, 'We've seen nothing.'
'What do you want to do?! Give up and home?'
'Well, actually,' he said, turning red, 'I was going to suggest grabbing something from the diner down the street.'
Robin looked at him, annoyed. 'What?'
'Maybe if we had something to eat, we could come up with a plan to get your brother-'
'He's not my brother.'
'To help us. I mean, your brother is her friend.'
'Meaning?'
'Friends tell each other things that they'll never anymore else.' Colin offered. 'I tell you stuff that I'll never tell anyone else.'
'We're not friends, Wilkes.' Robin said dismissively.
Colin was surprised that the remark stung him.
He glanced at Robin as he pushed himself off the wall. 'But you are right; we need a plan.'
Colin looked at the clinic, wondering why on earth Josie would be there.
'Colin!' Robin's voice hissed as he grabbed and quickly covered his mouth. 'Don't move!'
Robin pointed to a man dressed in a purple suit; his skin was ghostly white, and his hair was bright green.
The two boys exchanged glances, then turned to watch the man scurry over the purple Cadillac.
'Is that who I think it is?' Colin whispered.
'Yes.' Robin looked at him. 'If I catch him, it would prove I am the true successor!'
'What about Josephine?' Colin demanded quietly. 'We have to find her-'
'Then you find her!' Robin took a dagger from his belt. 'I'm going after the clown.'
"Do you think the Joker will be alright?" Josie asked, walking purposefully through the alleys with Gabby.
Joker suggested they split up and meet at a designated spot.
"Will Robin hurt him?" Josie pressed.
"No, I'm more concerned about the boy," Gabby replied firmly.
"Why?"
That question lingered in the air. Why would anyone worry about him?
"I know what he's capable of."
"What is he capable of?" Josie demanded.
"Why didn't you tell me you're Joker's kid?" Gabby turned to face her directly.
"I wasn't sure if he remembered my mom," Josie replied. "My father is Joseph Kerr, known as the Joker. I just accepted it." She locked eyes with Gabby. "So, what exactly is he capable of?"
"I sell products for him," Gabrielle said in a steady tone. "He can be ruthless if you cross him."
Josie's mind flickered to her shoulder; that was why she
avoided him.
"Are you a prostitute?"
"No, I'm not, you cheeky brat!"
"If you are, it's okay—"
"I'm not! Did Ivy tell you that?!"
"No, she thinks you're just a young woman with daddy issues." Gabby crossed her arms, refusing to back down. "What did you sell?"
"Things like Chicle, Big Rush, Cotton—"
"That sounds boring."
"I'd give anything for it to be boring," Gabrielle sighed, clearly unimpressed.
"Are you his girlfriend?"
"We're friends with benefits."
"What does that mean?"
"It means we engage in girlfriend-boyfriend activities, but we remain just friends."
"I don't get it."
"You'll understand when you start to like boys!"
A hot blush crept onto her cheeks. "Boys are the enemy!"
"Josephine Kerr?"
Josie and Gabby turned sharply to find a ginger boy standing in the alleyway. He wore a long-sleeved red and black hoodie, blue jeans, and black sneakers.
Recognition hit Josie like a ton of bricks.
"Colin?!"
Robin had been aching to face the clown since he arrived in Gotham.
Catching and defeating his father's greatest adversary would prove he's worthy of the cowl.
More so than Drake!
His father would trust him now.
Maybe.
There's no telling with Bruce.
Knowing him, he'd probably scold him for running off alone!
He shook away thought and stalked after the clown.
The man had no kind of self-preservation!
How did everyone in Gotham have such a hard time with him?
The clown crept into the clinic; Robin slipped in behind him.
'Why would the clown break in a place like this? ' He wondered aloud.
Was he hiding here?
The place looked like one strong wind from destruction.
Maybe there's something here he's trying-
'So, you're the new Robin?'
The voice caught him by surprise!
'My, my, aren't you out late?'
He just barely dodged a right hook.
'YOU!' He said as he regained his footing.
'And on a school night, I know Batsy raised you better than that!'
'I'm taking you back to Arkham!'
'You and what army?' He said with a grin.
He resisted the urge to shiver.
'I don't need an army to defeat you.'
He laughed; Robin felt a chill run down his spine. 'Funny, Jim Gordon once thought the same thing.'
There was a flash of pain in the back of his head; then Robin fell into darkness.
Robin was dumb!
He should've called Batman or the cops!
Any adult with a gun!
Colin's heart raced as he set out on his mission: first, he would locate Josephine Kerr, and after that, he would ensure Robin's safety. In his mind, Josephine's significance outweighed the Joker's threatening presence and any bruised pride Robin might experience.
As he stealthily navigated the dimly lit alley behind an aging apartment building, a murmur of voices caused him to halt.
"What does that mean?" a young girl's voice inquired, its tone laced with curiosity.
He felt a tingling sensation—could that be Josephine's voice?
"Well, we do girlfriend-boyfriend stuff with each other, but we're just friends," replied a softer, distinctly feminine voice.
That voice was undeniably an adult's.
"Oh," came the girl's simple response, filled with a mixture of confusion and consideration.
Intrigued, Colin edged closer, straining to catch a glimpse of the source of the chatter. As he peered around the corner, he spotted two figures: a young woman and a little girl. They seemed to be waiting for someone, their expressions a blend of anticipation and impatience.
The young woman had dark hair piled messily into a bun, with loose strands framing her face. Dressed in a fitted black leather jacket, black jeans, and scuffed black boots, she exuded an edgy vibe that reminded him of the fantasy characters from that overhyped vampire show watched by the girls at the orphanage.
"You'll understand when you start liking boys!" she said, chuckling lightly, as if recalling a shared moment.
The little girl beside her had a vibrant personality radiating through her outfit. Her long, blonde hair was tied into two bushy pigtails, with bangs cascading over her forehead and obscuring her eyes.
She wore a bright pink long-sleeve shirt adorned with a cheerful yellow duck, paired with ripped jeans—fashionably distressed, perhaps—and old white sneakers that had clearly seen better days.
"Boys are the enemy!" she declared fiercely, her little hands on her hips, conveying an unexpected intensity for someone so young.
In that moment, Colin decided to take the plunge.
"Josephine Kerr?" he called out tentatively, his voice trembling with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.
Both turned towards him, and the girl brushed her bangs aside, revealing striking features that didn't quite match the description he had heard.
The girls at the orphanage had dubbed Josie funny-looking, but seeing her now, Colin could only marvel at how undeniably beautiful she was.
"Colin?" she asked, her eyes wide with recognition.
Does she really know me? he wondered, heart pounding in his chest.
"Colin?" echoed the woman, her voice laced with intrigue. "Who's Colin?"
"A kid from the orphanage," Josephine explained to the girl, her voice softening slightly.
"Are you Josephine Kerr?" Colin pressed, eager to bridge the distance between them.
With a slow, measured nod, Josephine replied, "What are you doing here?"
Her curiosity piqued, Colin could feel the electric tension in the air, a sense that this encounter was just the prologue to something far more significant.
'What are you doing here?!' he barked, his voice a low growl packed with urgency.
'Nothing,' she replied, her tone almost dismissive.
'Everyone's been looking for you.' His brow furrowed with concern.
'They have?!' Her eyes widened, a flicker of surprise breaking through her indifference.
'A lot of kids are disappearing,' he pressed on, urgency clinging to his every word.
'I know,' she croaked, her voice barely a whisper, yet seemingly unfazed by the alarming news.
'I thought Zsasz got you,' he said, the gravity of the situation hanging between them.
'He almost did,' she admitted, her expression distant.
He almost did.
'When?' he demanded as he touched her shoulders, his heart racing at the thought of her peril.
She winced and jerked awaynfrom him. 'On the night I ran away,' she said, her gaze drifting as if lost in the shadows of a memory.
Probably mere seconds after her fateful run-in with Robin, Colin thought as he watched Josie rubbed her shoulde.
'How did you escape?' he pressed, his concern deepening.
'There was a lady named Ivy; she saved me,' she replied, a hint of reverence in her voice.
'Poison Ivy?!' he exclaimed, the name lingering in the air like a foreboding omen.
'Poison Ivy?' she echoed, confusion etched on her face.
'Okay,' Gabby interjected, her grip tightening around Josie's hand, 'we need to go. It's not safe here.'
'Wait a minute!' Colin insisted, stepping directly in front of them, desperation fueling his resolve. 'You can't just leave!'
'Why not?' Josie's brow arched defiantly.
'There's danger! A lunatic is on the loose!' he warned, his voice edged with alarm.
'I know; he attacked me!' she shot back, her defiance palpable.
She thinks Zsasz is the scariest person in Gotham.
'Listen, Batman's—'
'Not going to save you,'
Colin felt his heart as fingers ruffled through his hair, followed by the cold pressure of a gun pressed against his back.
'Don't be scared,' Colin said, striving for a calm that felt increasingly out of reach.
'I'm not.' She said as she rushed them but stopped short. 'Is he dead?'
Is he dead? Is who dead?
'No, but he knows that he's lost the fight.'
'His head is bleeding.' Said the woman.
Colin turned to see Robin lying on the ground; the woman checked his pulse.
It took everything in Colin not to transform.
'He's still alive.'
'How did you get him?' Josie asked as she swatted down.
'Dr. Strange.'
Josie stuck out her tongue at him. 'Big doo head.'
'Now,' Colin felt the gun jab him in the back, 'who the hell are you?'
'He's from the orphanage.' Josie said as she grabbed him. 'He's been looking for me.'
'Hmm.' he turned Colin around to face him. 'Why are you looking for my Little J?'
My Little J? Colin wondered.
'He was worried about me!' She said.
'He's with Robin.' Joker put the gun under his chin. 'I should kill him.'
'No!' Howled Josie. 'Please don't.'
'He'll tell!'
'But I thought you wanted me to meet Batman.'
Joker raised an eyebrow. 'And how will killing him prevent that?'
'If you kill him, I'll tell Ivy.'
Joker laughed maniacally as Colin mentally groaned.
'That's your plan?! Tattle on me to Mama Ivy?'
Mama?
'Well, Mama Ivy,' she repeated firmly, 'will see you as cuckoo-'
'She already does!'
'And it will make her nervous. What if she decides you're too
cuckoo or dangerous to be around?'
'What are you getting at?'
'What if she tattles to the Batman?' Josie said.
'And what if I don't give a damn?'
'Yes, but what if Batman gets so mad that he kills-'
'He ain't got balls!' Joker laughed again. 'If I can kill a Robin and get off scot-free, then I sincerely doubt wasting this ginger-'
'What if Batman gets mad that he decides not to meet me, just to spite you?'
'You know, he is that petty. I honestly wouldn't put it past him to do that.'
'Please,' she said, giving him puppy dog eyes, 'don't kill him.'
His eyes widened, and his cheeks reddened as he looked away, making Colin wonder about their relationship.
Were they together?
They couldn't be!
Joker's usually with that Harley woman.
But she's been a ghost since he first got busted.
And the clown, despite being a monster, was a man, and even monsters have needs.
The thought made Colin want to spit up.
'This will come back and bite me in the ass.' He muttered as he shook his head.
'No, it won't.'
'If it does,' he turned to Josie, 'you're going to get it! And you,' he grabbed Colin by his shirt, 'watch the company you keep.'
The butt of the gun on his head caught him off guard; the last thought before he faded into unconsciousness was Josie's screams.