13 An Ugly Plot

Joker was not happy. He was so not happy. The Bat already ruined his plans by saving those children while the Flash defused the bombs. The carnival he had planned failed. And now there were rumors. Rumors that the wretched man had returned. 

He was nervous yet he cackled like a maniac. This was not a good spot that he was in. Yet he was going to enjoy it. The more dangerous the game is... the more fun it is to play. And the Joker loves playing dangerous games. 

He was not certain if those rumors were true but no matter what… he was going to enjoy it. He lost against the Bat, he lost against the Void, but he managed to make both of them lose something precious. 

He remembers the day when he killed those children six years ago in front of the Bat and the Void. And despite being almost killed by Void, he had never been more pleased than that day. Seeing the pure rage and agony of the two, he felt the greatest pleasure.

He shuddered thinking about the defeated faces of the two strongest men. His ribs and his limbs were broken by the Void. He even tore the flesh of his arms but the Joker rejoiced that day. He was the only man that ever defeated the Bat and the Void. 

And he was going to do that again!

"What are you thinking about, Mistah J?" 

Joker's smile grin grew wider as he heard the voice of his little sidekick. Harley was a God-given gift sent to him, a batshit crazy woman that he created. No… he freed her. She was a lunatic encased in the body of a doctor. He freed her. And now she was his. A woman who was just as crazy as him.

"Oh don't worry about it, Harley-girl. I just heard some great news." He said with his iconic grin. "A friend of mine has returned after years… but I am not certain if the rumors about his return are true." 

Harley seemed confused. "A friend?" Harley had never heard about this friend before. This was quite a surprise to her. 

*Cackle* *Cackle*

"Yes, Pumpkin Pie… a friend. Someone as close as the Bat." This made Harley pause.

She knew what her Puddin meant. The man he was talking about was not a friend, but instead an enemy. Someone on par with the B-man. This didn't sit well with Harley.

"Is it safe?" She asked. "Will he harm you?" 

Joker could see the anger in her eyes. The anger that promised pain to the man that would harm her Puddin, but she didn't know that his 'friend' was not someone that she could even leave a scratch on… forget about harming.

"Do not worry about it. I have plans for him. He is quite soft around children you see." He smiled. But it wasn't a normal happy smile. Harley knew that smile very well. The last time he had this smile, he flayed a pregnant woman alive. 

She shuddered remembering the cries of mercy. The woman pleaded but he didn't listen. The child couldn't see the light, he died inside his mother's womb… who was skinned alive by her Puddin.

His next words made her frown.

"And I don't want you to involve yourself in this game." He stopped smiling. "This game is mine to play."

She was going to argue but seeing him stop smiling, she knew better than to argue. She loved her Puddin, but he can be very… rough at times. His sadistic tendencies were something that was difficult for even her to handle at times. 

She knew from experience that you don't argue with a joker that doesn't smile.

But to her relief, it didn't take long for him to regain his smile. "Till then, Pooh. I want you to investigate if these rumors are true."

Harley nodded. "What is your friend's name, Mistah J." She asked with her usual enthusiasm. She wanted to meet this person as well. The person who her Mistah J placed equal to The Big B.

"His name… is Void."

…

…

[Tin Roof Club, Gotham]

[[Blake Hardy]]

*Yawn*

"Again?" Selina asked with a little amusement and worry. "You will ruin your health if you don't sleep well."

"I know. I left right after you did but ended up meeting an old friend." I replied yawning. 

"Old friend?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. 

"Yeah." I picked up a bottle of juice from the shelf. "Pamela."

Selina looked at me with a little worry and… jealousy? 

"How… did it go?" 

Selina was one of the few that was there when everything happened with Pamela. But neither of us could do anything. We were too late.

"Rough." I didn't lie. "But still better than expected." 

Selina leaned closer to me. "It was not your fault. I was there but you were facing the Joker back then." 

I flinched at the mention of Joker. But instantly calmed down as she placed her head on my shoulder. 

"I was there but even I couldn't do anything. She was madly in love with him. She never listened to anything that either of us told her. For her, his words were absolute." She stared into my eyes. "She broke your heart."

I remained silent. What she said was true. But maybe… maybe I could have saved her back then. Maybe this wouldn't have ever happened. If… if that Joker was not there.

Dark thoughts engulfed me but I was brought back to reality by Selina's tightening grip. She held onto my arm. 

"Blake." Her voice was like a whisper. "Stop blaming yourself. We cannot change the past. And she had already chosen her path. Please… forget about it. Forget about the past… for me."

She was a strong woman. One of the strongest. Yet now here she was… with tears threatening to fall from her eyes. 

I forced a smile as I rubbed the tear off her eyes. "I will try." 

I didn't lie. I was already trying… but it was not easy. It was not going to be easy either… forgetting the past.

Neither of us moved. We stayed in the same position, enjoying the warmth of each other.

Selina has been with me since the beginning. She and Waylon had been my pillars for all these years. And it feels good to have them back.

*Cough* *Cough*

Both of us nearly jumped at the sudden entry. Waylon stood near the doorway with a massive grin plastered across his reptilian face.

"Am I intruding?" He asked. "I can leave if you wan-" 

He barely dodged the glass that Selina threw. "Oi! Don't throw those! I bought them on your birthday." He said as an angry Selina kept scowling at him.

*Chuckle* 

"Good morning, Waylon," I said removing my arm from Selina. "Hope you didn't break anyone's door last night."

Waylon had broken a lot of doors in the past… thinking them to be his house and breaking the neighbor's doors in that process. We had to specially make custom doors for him.

He frowned. "That was in the past. I have way better control over my strength now."

I laughed looking at his face. He joined us for breakfast as we planned last night. I am glad I have these two. Two people that I can call friends. 

But I knew… this peace would not last for very long.

______________________________________________________

[A/N: Why did I post this chapter... Idk. Should have waited 24 hours. Meh, it's fine.

And please review. They keep me motivated.]

[All hail the Almighty Lasagna God for the edits.]