Chapter 18: Tonight's Entertainment

Disclaimer: read chapter 1

"Friends," Fox stood behind the podium, facing the group of people on the rooftop. He took note of the specific people who failed to return. Nonetheless, he resumed doing what he had been ordered by his superior.

"We are gathered today for one lovely lady... Jennifer Knightly. You all may not know Jennifer Knightly, very well" his eyes cast across to the enlarged photo of the eighteen-year-old, "neither do I. But I heard so many - many good things about her... What happened to her is unjust." Most nodded in agreement. Some women cleaned out their tears by tissue. Men shook their heads, completely distraught about the entire thing. "Many people might ask... why. Why? How could this happen? How could someone, so cruel and so evil, take a precious soul like Miss Knightly? Before we dig any deeper and hear many statements from good friends and family, I would like to have a moment of silence."

All bowed their heads and eyes closed, embracing the calming winds and the smell of roses.

Until they heard it.

SLAM!

"We made it!"

BANG!

The guests were spooked at the noise. They gasped and jumped at the painted monster with a gun in his purple gloved grip. His men also armed, scattered to frighten the innocent, while he approached straight forward. Everybody backed away as if he carried a disease. He didn't mind. At least, he didn't have to say 'excuse me'.

The guests who were undercover didn't hesitate to draw their weapons and screamed at the clowns to freeze.

Again, the clown wasn't bothered.

"Good evening, ladies and gentle-men!" Joker greeted the guests. "The entertainment has finally arrived!" He snatched a wine glass from a woman's hand, dousing the liquid down his throat in a single swallow. "So sorry we're late, folks. Traffic. Though, we couldn't have made it without Detective Warts help!"

A masked clown shoved the overweight cop to the center of the room. Wuertz fell onto his knees the umpteenth time, probably cracked a bone. His eyes averted to the tiled deck, avoiding the disappointing eyes of his comrades. "Let's give the old man a big, round of applause, shall we?!" He started clapping, motioning the defenseless guests to do the same. He even slapped a man's cheeks with his own hands, puckering his lips and knocking his specs.

The cops continued to threaten the clown, claiming that they had the freaks surrounded. Fox's eyes raised to the skies, trying to find the police helicopters and a certain bat. Joker released the guest's hands, hurried his way towards the podium where Fox stood behind. The CEO's cringed at the scars, refusing to show fear though the glistening eyes told the opposite story.

Joker's eyes shifted to the girl's smiling picture. His features broadened at the pearly whites. Though, he couldn't help but add some finishing touches on his own. He reached into his pocket for a tube of red lipstick. Fox was forced to watch in horror as the Joker traced the stick over Jenny's lips, extending the smile.

"There we go," Joker cooed, before placing a wet kiss on her printed cheek. "Viola! Now that's what I call a work of art!"

"Mr. Joker," Fox gathered enough courage to address the clown personally with the profession while trying not to push the clown off the roof and get himself killed in the process. Didn't Joker know that they were guns pointing at him?

Joker's eyebrows raised at Fox's greeting. Mr. Joker? How formal. How boring.

"I believe we both know what this event is all about."

Joker pursed his lips, "Do we?"

Fox nodded, "Yes, and I really think you should do what the officers say before there's bloodshed."

Joker nodded as if he was taking Fox's words into consideration, "You're right. You're - uh - right. We both know what this event is all about..."

Fox inhaled sharply, forcing to slowly exhale without fail.

"It's sad, really. You all come in here, black and..." his nose wrinkled at the burning scented candle in disgust, "roses and..." he gestured the cops, "handguns?! What is this? A shotgun wedding? With no bride and no cake-ah?! This is an outrage!" He growled, almost appalled that there was no cake for this party. He took a shot at a random cop before he could utter another warning. Before anyone could finish a scream or take a shot at the clown, he opened his coat, revealing c4 taped around his waist. Everyone was spooked.

Fox secretly pushed the button on his Bluetooth explaining the situation to Bruce but still act like he was talking to Joker. "You have a bomb?"

The Joker's smile extended with satisfaction, "You might want to think twice about shooting." More gasps escaped at the sight of the detonator in the monster's hand. "We don't want to blow the candles too early."

The good people didn't know what upset them more - the bomb or the fact that Joker planned all of this ahead of time. How else could he risk coming here, knowing the dangers at hand? Was he crazy enough to blow himself up? A golden opportunity with a major personal cost.

"Drop your weapons and put your hands up!" A goon commanded.

Knowing there was no choice, each cop dropped their weapons onto the deck, lowering their knees and raising their hands in the air.

"You know," Joker rested his arms on the podium, addressing Fox as if they were buddies at a sports bar, "It's a good thing I crashed this party when I did. Where will this party be without me?" He licked his lips and snatched the bible from the stand, flipping pages and murmuring the highlighted words out loud.

"And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen," Joker looked up at Fox with a questioning look before tossing the Book over the rail. Some gasped at the horrific act against God. One man crossed himself in Catholic fashion.

"Now," Joker kicked the podium, making Fox and the others jump. He let out a laugh, "Now that I have your attention, I only have one question... who's ready to party?!" Joker shoved Fox who stumbled backward, nearly tripping his feet. "Hm?" Joker rolled his eyes at a random mustache man trembling under his gaze and avoiding eye contact.

Joker straightened his back, slowly moving in the middle of the 'dance floor', "No, wait I lied. I only have two questions... Where is Doctor Knightly?!" He scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of the petite.

He patted a random guy's cheek, "You know where Kitty is?" He moved on to the next woman, who refused to look or touch him, not with a bomb on him, "You know who she is?" He cupped the next guy's face, leaning in close, "You know where I can find Doctor Kat? I need to talk to her about something. Just something little, hm?" He pushed the guy, rolling his eyes, "Nope."

As he was interrogating every guest and making bomb jokes, one of his men took over the music player and started playing a song that was from 1989, Partyman by Prince.

"Ladies and gents! Let's broaden our minds!" Joker screamed over the music while laughing.

"All hail, the new king in town..."

~000~000~000~

After the first gunshot, Rachel and Harvey hurried to the elevator, up to the last floor. A familiar voice echoed up the stairs, the Joker's voice.

"Oh my God," Harvey breathed out.

"What do we do?" Rachel asked quietly. "Why aren't the police handcuffing him, yet?"

"He wanted me," Harvey declared, stepping towards the steps. "I'll give him what he wants-"

Rachel tugged the man's arm back towards her, not happy by that response, "Are you crazy? You can't go up there!"

"Rachel, there are innocent people up there. They'll die if I don't go up there."

"But you'll die if you go up there!"

Harvey hushed the woman by covering her ruby mouth, fearing the clown might hear. He checked the stairs to make sure no armed man was near. Unfortunately, he didn't check from behind.

"Hands up!"

Rachel gasped and grabbed Harvey's arm in a tighter grip. Harvey didn't hesitate to push Rachel behind him, becoming her shield. They were facing, not the Joker, but one of his armed henchmen with a pantyhose over his head. Markers colored the eyes and mouth blue, his cheeks blushed red, and black to make the nose and eyebrows. To think, clowns usually draw their noses like Rudolph.

"Listen, man-"

"Hands up!" the masked goon repeated, jolting his gun in an aggressive manner.

"Okay," Harvey calmly breathed out, raising his hands up while motioning Rachel to do the same. "No problem, man. No problem at all." The pair were relieved to see someone else on this floor out of the shooter's sight, quickly but quietly approaching the danger.

"The boss is going to be happy to meet you," the shooter declared proudly.

Harvey nodded in agreement, "I'm sure, he will be... but - uh..." He clenched his teeth almost hesitant to say something. "Can I - um... Before we go up there, can I ask you a personal question?"

"What?"

Harvey tilted his head in mock confusion, "Why the pantyhose, man?"

Before the clown goon could respond, the hero disarmed the rifle gun and knocked him out with it. Harvey blinked, completely taken back by Bruce Wayne's quick thinking and reflexes. Rachel continued to hold Harvey while narrowing her eyes at the unconscious thug.

"You alright?" Bruce asked.

"Yeah, we're fine," Harvey replied, almost smiling. "How did you do that?"

Bruce wanted to be glad that he was spared from answering the question, but wasn't in this case. Music echoed upstairs.

"Partyman, Partyman
Rock a party like nobody can
Rules and regulations, no place in this nation
Partyman, Partyman"

"Bruce, please tell me that Kathy invited Prince to come and sing," Harvey pleaded.

"Joker knows about the plan," Bruce explained.

"What? How?" Rachel demanded.

"It doesn't matter now. A bomb is strapped around him-"

"What?!"

"And now the police are gunned down. There's nothing they can do without the roof going off."

"He's right," Harvey agreed. "We need to neutralize Joker to save these people."

"And how do we do that?" Rachel hissed. "Gordon is with Loeb, and the police, up there, are no help! Where's Batman?"

"On the way," Bruce declared. "What you two need to do is to get out of here and warn the people downstairs. Kathy is locked in the bathroom on the floor below us. Go down there, first. Here's the key." Bruce handed Rachel the company key to every door and elevator.

"Locked? You locked her in a bathroom, Bruce?" Harvey asked.

"Harvey, just go."

"No, these people need my help! I'm the reason the Joker is here. You go to the bathroom."

"Harvey, Bruce," Rachel stepped in between the men. "Now's not the time to argue." She placed her hands on Harvey's chest with a pleading look in her eyes. Harvey huffed, knowing that look. "Harvey, let's go! Bruce!"

She turned to see the billionaire had disappeared. "Harvey, we..." she trailed off to see the district attorney gone as well, perking at the door slamming shut. "Oh, you got to be kidding me," she cursed.

~000~000~000~

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" Joker taunted as he approached a bald, older guest, "Don't you want to come out and play with me? If you don't come out, I'll have to settle with your loved ones..." He paused in deep thought, reconsidering his choice of words, "strike that - another one of your loved ones!" He giggled amongst himself.

"Party people - say it now: yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!"

"We're not intimidated by thugs," the older man declared with authority.

"Somebody holler if you wanna party"

Joker narrowed his eyes at the man, slightly bend his knees, eye leveling the man, "You know..." He tossed his shotgun on the pile of weapons, not leaving the eye contact of the bold man. "You remind me of my father..." He nodded slightly, before yanking the man's collar towards him, placing his pocket knife against the man's cheek. "I hated my father!" he growled.

"Ladies and gentlemen, no pictures, please! Get it up, oh yeah!"

The man's eyes grew wide, officially terrified of the clown. Joker giggled at the man's face, then quickly sliced the man's cheek, causing everyone even the man to gasp and cry. Joker shoved the older man back in the crowd. The man tumbled onto the table, grabbing a napkin and placing it on this cheek.

"Partyman, partyman! Get it up, get it up!"

Joker skipped back to the middle of the dance floor, raising his arms in the air, and spinning around, "Where are you, Doc! I know you're hiding! If you don't come out on the count of three, my boys will start shooting, until this room turns into a bloody swimming pool!"

The guests were clinging onto each other, crying.

"I rock the party, I rock the house. I rock the whole world, north, east and south, in the west - 17 horns blowin'."

"Ready? One... Two..."

"Partyman, partyman (Lose me now boy). Get it up. All hail the new king-"

Right before he got to three, the song was cut short. Joker whirled around to look at his DJ with narrowed eyes, "What was that, Lawrence?! The song's not over!"

The goon raised his hands up defensively, "Sorry, boss! I don't know what happened. It wasn't me!"

"Party's over, Joker!"

Joker furrowed his brows, he and the crowd turned, following the sound of the voice. Who would dare interrupt Joker's fun? The voice came from the district attorney, holding the plug to the music player. His voice was stone cold that matched his face. Nobody can see how this dude wouldn't be afraid or have the courage to say the clown's name out loud. What was Harvey going to do? Offer him a plea deal?

Joker's mouth opened, mocking surprise, "Well, hello, handsome." He fixed his greenish-blonde wave, licking his lips. "If it isn't Gotham's white knight himself, coming to save the day! Hmmm." His eyes scanned the details of the boy's suit, mumbling the review more to himself than to Harvey, "My suit is better."

Harvey put his hands on his hips, puffing up with the pride, refusing to be intimidated by the strapped bomb. This wasn't how the plan was supposed to go. How could've had gone so wrong? He clenched his jaw at the dead cop lying on the deck and a woman attending her grandfather or her sugar daddy's injury.

"I have to say... I thought you would be - uh - taller," Joker and Harvey were standing face-to-face. The clown was accurate with the height, only an inch apart. The Joker would've been higher if it wasn't for the slouch in his posture. Although, it's not the size that counts, it's how you use it. Harvey had been wrestling and boxing throughout high school. The sucker punch in the courtroom proved that he still had the training to kick the clown's ass. Joker showed off his 'award-winning' grin, "Where is the little princess? Powdering her nose?"

"I am here, Joker," Harvey whispered, clawing into his suit, hating how Joker was talking about his girlfriend - or fiance if Rachel had said 'yes'. "What do you want with me?"

The clown blinked, tilting his head in confusion, "With you? You?" He bit his lower lip, giggling amongst himself. "You think - he-he-he!" Every giggle fumed the attorney's rage.

"What's so funny?" Harvey challenged.

"You think I am here for you? Kid, you are famous and all, but tonight's not about you!"

"My DNA is on one of your cards, right? I'm obviously a target for a reason."

"No," Joker shook his head. "Sorry, Mr. Dent. You have to wait your turn to get killed, just like everyone else," he waved the bloody knife in the air, gesturing the crowd around them. "But I applaud you for having the balls to face me. Way better than the doctor. Where is she by the way?" He stepped towards the attorney, nose nearly touching his, growling the question with menace.

Harvey cleared his throat and whipped his head to the side, not by fear but by the strong smell of greasepaint. Once he gained the second to catch his breath, Harvey spoke with the clown again.

"She left," Dent declared. "Tied up at the moment. You won't be seeing her tonight."

Joker blinked in disbelief, "Is that right?"

"Yeah. If you have something to say to the doctor, I can pass along the message," Harvey offered. The clown pressed his lips together in silence, almost debating his next move. "She and Bruce Wayne are a couple. Do you want his money? Is that what kidnapping Jenny is all about? Was Dr. Knightly your original target? She wasn't home at the time so Jenny was the next best thing, wasn't she? A teenage girl?"

The clown's scars twitched upward, before letting out a giggle, then a laugh that turned psychotic. What was so funny? Harvey asked the question in gritted teeth.

"For a brief second, I thought I was talking to the hunky, spoiled prince, but don't worry, you are handsome, too," Joker wiggled his brows in a suggestive manner, before giggling once more.

"Isn't that why you robbed all five banks from the mob?" Harvey challenged, controlling the rage within. "For money?"

Joker pressed his lips together but his set of giggles heard. "No. No. No," he shook his head. "That's another business in another time. This..." he gestured the scenery around him, "is a personal issue."

"Then take me and let Jenny go. She has nothing to do with this."

"What I want... what I need-ah..." Joker licked his lips, "is to speak to the Doc-ah."

"Turn yourself into Arkham, and maybe the doctors can tighten the screws to your crazy mind."

The goons oohed and the guests gasped in shock of the brutal comeback. All couldn't believe the district attorney had the nerve to speak to the clown like that. Didn't Harvey know that Joker was wearing a bomb in his coat? Looking into Joker's eyes, he didn't seem to happy with it, either. Harvey slightly regretted snapping like that. His words could've easily swayed the maniac to push the button to blow everyone up.

"Oh, you think you're funny, huh?" Joker challenged, waving the knife across Harvey's view. "Well, here's a joke, I don't mind sharing with you. The story of how I got my scars," he grasped the knot of Harvey's tie, pulling him towards the knife. "I was going to save it for the Doc, but you have become... an ex-cep-tion."

Harvey didn't protest or flinch. He remained still, hoping to buy time for the bat to show. He couldn't help but trained his eyes above to find Batman.

"Look at me," Joker commanded, tapping the knife at Harvey's nose until he received full eye-contact, just the way he liked it.

"See I had a brother," the clown began his tale, "ambitious, bright, and very handsome - like you... You see... He was the provider of the family, the golden boy, my own knight and shining armor. Pressured to study really hard to join the Ivy League, dreamt of being the best damn lawyer he could be. No matter the obstacles in place. Full scholarship, no rooming fee, close to home. A real dream come true. I was cheering him on, my good brother. He deserved it, you know?" He cupped the man's cheeks, still keeping the knife close to Harvey's mouth. Harvey's eyes squeezed shut at the cold contact, trying to lean away, but Joker wouldn't allow it.

"Hey," he whispered, warning the district attorney to stay still and listen. "Little did I know or anyone else is that my brother got hooked on Amphetamines - started from high school, all the way to junior year of college. He was in too deep. He couldn't stop speeding, not with finals around the corner. So much to lose, if he failed, so he did what he did without consequence... or so he thought... One Saturday night out - typical brother cricket bonding - his little druggies jumped us, demanding my big brother to pay in full of the pills he stole from their stash. All he had in his pockets was a train pass and seventy-two cents, no more. The boys... no, they had to get him back. They have to show my brother who's the boss... So, they pinned me down and offered my brother a choice - his face or mine..."

Much to Harvey's relief, Joker pulled the knife from his face, but the worst wasn't over. The Joker's eyes darkened, completely in rage.

"I think you know his choice. You think a scratch in the face is bad?" Joker challenged, not ending the tale yet. "You wouldn't believe my brother after my special treatment." He tightened his grip around the knife, growled the chilling words, "I - Will Not - Be - Ignored-ah. So you see? Now I see the funny side. Now I am always smiling," he extended his smile to prove a point, waving the knife in the air once more. When the pointy weapon was away from his face, Harvey grabbed the collar of the clown's jacket, yanking forward to slam his face against Harvey's own skull. Joker let out an oof, masking it with a painful laugh. Harvey quickly reached inside the clown's pockets for the remote detonator. Unfortunately, he didn't have a chance for two goons grabbed both his arms. There was a struggle, but Harvey was forced to submit on his knees from the sudden sharp pain to his abdomen.

~000~000~000~

Kathy struggled to pry the vent open. She was standing on the toilet, prickling sweat down her face. This was a nightmare. She didn't want to face Joker. Nobody even her own sister wanted to see him. However, this vigil was her idea - the ploy to lure Joker here so the GCPD can arrest the bastard once and for all. She wanted to be there when they drag him out. Bruce was taking too long to show. She understood that he wanted her out of harm's way...

She dropped her arms back to her sides with a revelation in mind. Bruce was against her involvement in the case from day one. He didn't want her to be his partner. He was the man who acted alone.

It was him. Bruce Wayne was the one who locked her in here. He was the one who knew where she was going. He had full access to Wayne Enterprises - his company - including locking a room by key.

"That son of a-"

"Kathy?"

The doctor stopped herself from finishing the sentence. Her mouth dropped from the familiar female voice pounding outside the bathroom.

"Rachel?" Kathy called, stepping down the toilet seat. "Is that you?"

"Yes, I'm here."

Kathy rushed to the door, the second she heard the click and puff of air. She couldn't but hug her savior.

"Are you okay?" Rachel asked.

Kathy nodded, "Fine, just pissed off. I heard gunshots, I should be asking you the same thing. Did the Joker show?"

"I'm okay, but we need to go!" Rachel grasped the doctor's, pulling her out of the bathroom.

"Go where? What's happened? Where's Bruce?! Is he here?" The name alone made her blood boil. Bruce was ruining the plan. The fact that she had yet to receive a phone call about Joker's arrest confirmed it. What was going on upstairs? Maybe it's best if Kathy didn't know the details.

"We need to leave! We have to go!" Rachel explained with haste. "Joker is wearing a bomb!"

"Bomb?! What the fuck!?" Kathy extended her arm for the elevator button only to get dragged by Rachel. "Kathy, we can't take the elevator. We have to take the stairs!" Kathy's hand didn't drop fully down, colliding her joint with a corner marble wall. "Sugar!" She cringed at the sudden pain throughout her hand, shaking the throbbing joints. Rachel shoved the door open to the stairs. Kathy felt uneasy about this, not just the bomb threat, but having to take many flights of stairs. They weren't going to make it if Joker decided to set off the bomb, right now. The girls' ears were ringing by the adrenaline, oblivious to Kathy's phone until she felt the buzz. A call from Lacey.

There was no time to see what their blonde friend wanted. Lives were at stake. Kathy denied the call to dial 911.

~000~000~000~

Everything was a blur in Gordon's eyes. His specs cracked and dangled from his face. He was oblivious to the gash on his forehead and chin, blood oozing down. He couldn't process the bodies in the front seat, the split flip phone on lying on the broken glass ground, and the commissioner missing. He picked up the smell, however - gasoline, smoke, and blood.

Gordon reached for his seatbelt, unbuckling it. There was no fall for the weight tipped in his favor. He ignored the stinging glass, crawling towards the trunk, jiggling the handle to open the door, it's been child-locked. Therefore, the captain smashed the window to crawl through by the sleeve of his arm.

His ears picked up voices, forcing him to remain low for the time building. In his blurred vision, he counted six men - one kneeling, five standing. There was one man stand whose head matched the surrender - black.

"They say that crime doesn't pay," the middle man in white paced. "Someone should check the commissioner's pockets - because they're lined with filthy money."

The will to stay awake boosted Gordon. He knew that voice anywhere. The man who wouldn't shut up - Roman Sionis - the one who vanished during the big arrest.

"And what have I got to show for it?" Sionis hunched over to Loeb's current height, showing the former commissioner who held all the cards.

Gordon hurried through his pockets to feel no phone, assuming it got lost in the crash, "Damn it." He did find his gun in his holster, six bullets ready. He pulled it out and aimed, ready for the worst. The captain didn't need to hear Loeb's voice to know he was the one groveling for the scum.

"Roman, please, I-" Loeb whipped his head to the side, stumbling on his hands and knees by the striking gun across his face. Another blow to his remaining dignity.

"Please?" Sionis challenged. "Please, what, Loeb? Please, kiss my ass so you can turn on me with an Italian bum?"

"Sionis, after our time together," Loeb's voice croaked from the emotion burning his throat, the first time Gordon had heard from him, "haven't I always gone through for you? You and your men? Who else warned you about the GCPD arresting the gangs? Huh?! I did! Me! I skipped my call for my family to keep you out of jail!"

"And yet, here you are, Loeb," Sionis gestured the bridge, the path to the outside world of Gotham. "Ready to turn on all of your friends. You, commissioner - you fucked us up with your shit! Letting some spoiled princess ride your ass like that?" He clicked his tongue, shaking his head in dismay.

Loeb was rambling excuses and pleas, just like any other thug who couldn't pay the big dogs. Sionis heard them all - predictable disappointment. Therefore Commissioner Loeb wasn't different. He's weak. He had to go before the entire operation blows bigger than anticipated.

Gordon had enough. He crouched behind the van, pointing the gun directly at Sionis, "GCPD! Drop your weapons!"

Sionis straightened his posture, lowering his own weapon. His men laughed in the background, didn't bother to lower their guns.

"Well, look who's finally up," the masked boss muttered to himself.

"I'm not going to ask again!" Gordon cried, ignoring the metallic taste between his lips and the smell of sewer. His blurred vision wasn't going to stop him from doing his duty, with one exception. He didn't notice a presence behind him until he heard the growl behind him, nearly stopped his pounding heart. Gordon hadn't heard that noise, since the kids' trip to the zoo. Whatever was behind him wasn't human. He should've known by the smell. Gordon turned to shoot, but his wrist got caught in a lock, shooting at the open sky. The larger beast in pants and wife beaters pried the gun from Gordon's hand, tossing it overseas. Gordon threw a punch at the chest only to have both his wrists trapped in large tightening grip, lifting him up slightly. His feet barely touching the bridge.

"Bring him in, KC," Sionis motioned both to come by his gun.

The beast laughed, dragging the captain closer - a front-row seat for the show. There was a struggle but nothing that Killer Croc couldn't handle before.

"Now that we're all here," Sionis returned his attention to loading his gun. "We can finally get the ball rolling."

"We snap captain's neck?" the massive creature uttered deeply, squeezing the captain's joints, lifting him up higher to the point that Gordon was kicking. The officer held his breath, repulsed by the creature's breath - the smell of raw fish and piss.

Sionis laughed, waving his gun in their direction, "As tempting as that is, KC, we can't. We're supposed to let the promoted captain squirm a bit, give him a taste of the worst until he begs us to have him for lunch."

No matter how much Gordon begged for Loeb's life in exchange for his own, it wouldn't sway the boss otherwise. He knew it, and Commissioner Loeb knew it as well.

"You know the old bastard's saying..." Sionis loaded the gun, aiming it directly at Loeb's head. "Pay the piper or get your head spiked in a pike." He pulled the safety back, "You, Gillian Loeb, are just one of those examples. Any last words?"

Even though Gordon couldn't see Loeb's face, there were signs of movement from the commissioner's head. It looked like Loeb was facing something or someone.

"Beware of the court."

The shot was fired, creating a bang, overpowering the thud from the falling body. The monsters abandoned the captain to grieve. Gordon called for help by another dead officer's phone. Oblivious to him, his own phone received messages and calls from Nygma - all with the same message.

The Joker card on Douglas's body matched Janet Surrillo's fingerprint!

~000~000~000~

Harvey grunted in distress, pressing the bloody wound that stained his dress shirt. He ignored a gun jabbing the back of his head, a warning not to move. Harvey refused to look at the traumatized guests, just the Joker with full of hate before casting down at the surprise weapon from the bloody tip of his loafer shoe - a knife peeking out by a single stomp. It seemed like they were even in a physical sense. Harvey hit him, then Joker surprise attacked him back. The clown had a lot of tricks up his sleeve and shoe, making it difficult to beat him. Harvey couldn't help but smile at the blood dripping from the clown's nose. The glistening wetness in the charcoal eyes showed that despite the laughing grin, The Joker was feeling the pain and dizzy effects.

"That is going to leave a mark," Harvey wheezed, clawing the stain on his shirt to press the wound harder. He refused to back down, not when the people of Gotham were depending on him and Batman to take down the mob and clown.

Joker let out a laugh, holding back the whimpers by biting his lip, shaking the knife at Harvey's direction.

"Bravo. A little fight in you," Joker nodded with approval, "I like that."

"Then you're going to love me," another malice voice echoed. All the guests and goons held their breath, realizing the unexpected guest was standing close by Joker, except for Fox, he was glad that his boss showed up at all. His thin lips stretched at the sight of man-bat knocking down the clown on his back before fighting the armed goons.

Harvey may be down but it wasn't a disadvantage. While the goons were paying attention to shooting the bat, the district attorney let out a grunt, swinging his leg to the back of a henchman's knee, tripping him. He tried to warn Batman to watch the Joker's secret weapon until it was too late. Luckily, the stab wound didn't fully penetrate his armed suit, just caught the Batman by surprise. Cops picked up their guns to restrain the henchmen. Fox lent a hand by hitting a masked clown's head by a candle glass jar.

Meanwhile, the little boy who sneaked upstairs made it in time for the action. He was hiding behind the table, using a periscope to get a glimpse of the action. He saw many cowering civilians, evil clowns, a wounded attorney who's still fighting, and the Batman. He smiled at the sight of his hero. He knew Batman would come to save the day. He knew it. Nathan ducked under the table, purposely spilling a container of marbles for more men to trip. The boy quietly cheered in victory. The kids at the orphanage won't believe tonight's birthday extravaganza.

When legs were struggling to get up, Nathan spotted a handmade walkie-talkie. Nathan grabbed it, examining the details until he realized that it was anything but a talking device. There were wires, extended antenna, keys taped to the side, and a mini circuit board. From the boy's widened perceptive, it was too shady to be remote control or walkie-talkie. He learned from his late mother that if you don't know anything or its doing, don't touch it - Daddy's happy powder applied to that rule. Maybe the Batman knows what the device does. Nathan stuffed it in his backpack, holding the control for the time being.

Nathan peered over the table with his periscope. Many goons were restrained, the guests hugged and cried, Batman shielding the bleeding attorney. What happened to the clown? He scanned around to find no Joker or a purple suit. Little did he know that the clown was a lot closer than Nathan wanted.

"Peek-a-boo!" Joker popped up in front of the table, taking over Nathan's periscopic view. The boy screamed and shuffled back too slow. The clown picked Nathan up around the waist by one hand while holding a handgun with the other.

Batman elbowed a goon's neck, knocking the panty-hose clown out before he took a shot at Harvey. "Leave!" He yelled at the guests who didn't hesitate to follow orders, except for some. Fox stayed behind to help the wounded attorney who refused to leave. Harvey couldn't help but laugh in hisses.

"Why?" he asked. "Because of my scratch? I tried to warn you about the bastard's foot."

Fox consoled Harvey into thinking about Rachel, that was enough to pause the rage until they all heard it.

"Oh, boys! May I have your attention, please-ah?" The Joker fired one shot in the air for everyone's eyes on him. All guns trained on Joker but didn't have a clean shot because of the boy in his arms - another hostage for Joker to take. "Don't mind us. Me and the kid are just sight-seeing."

"Help me, Batman!" Nathan cried, pinching his captor's arm for release.

"Nathan!" Harvey stepped forward to go after him, only to lean over without will. The bleeding wound wasn't helping his situation at all. He couldn't help but curse as Fox assisted the pressure.

"Drop the gun!" Batman commanded.

Joker giggled, "Oh, sure. You just take off your little mask and show the whole world who you really are. Hm?" Batman didn't respond or oblige.

The Joker laughed, shifting his frame towards the edge of the building. The boy's breath hitched, kicking his legs and holding the Joker's arm tight, no longer seeing the ground but the endless fall below him.

"Help me!" Nathan repeated, this time tears drizzled down his face.

"Let him go, Joker!" Harvey screamed out. Joker mockingly asked for a repeat. Many people joined in, begging for Joker to let the boy go, especially Nathan. Batman growled the same demand.

Joker looked at all of them with furrowed brows, "You want me to let him go?" He shrugged, "Okay!" Joker released the boy in a giggle. Everyone gasped and screamed in horror. Batman didn't hesitate to jump after the boy.

...

"Nathan?!" Lacey called his name for the umpteenth time but no response. Officer Charlie didn't seem concern, assuring her that the kid couldn't get passed the men. If they saw Nathan, they would've alerted him.

Lacey received a call from Allan. She picked up the call, making herself clear of her priorities, "Al, not a good-"

"Vicki Vale is dead, Lacey!"

The woman froze, blinking a couple of times. The blonde heard a lot of crazy things from guys over the phone - harassment, breakups, and excuses to leave their shift early. This was unexpected, something that Lacey - one time - dreamt about but didn't want it to really happen.

"Lacey?! Did you hear me? Vicki is dead!"

"Excuse me?" The woman didn't know what to say. Was she dreaming? How did it happen? Did God smite Vicki with lightning? Did the devil swallow the reporter whole in his own pit of hell?

"Why isn't Harvey answering his phone?"

"I don't - I don't know! Wayne Tower is supposed to have a vigil for Jenny-"

"It's not a vigil, Lace."

Lacey furrowed her brows in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"It's a trap for Joker. Harvey and Rachel were in on it. Didn't you get the messages?!"

"What?!" The blonde screeched, shoved to the side by some patrons who were hurrying away from the building. "The fuck, Allan! I'm near the building right now! I'm with-"

"Christ, Lacey! Get the fuck away from there! You hear me?! Go home!"

Lacey asked Allan to repeat that, but the hearing was difficult due to the chaos around her. Half of the guests, who took the elevator, ran out of the building, screaming about bombs and hostage. Lacey's mouth was agape, nearly dropping the phone. To make matters worse, a squad car arrived at the scene, parting the crowd. The second the citizens spotted the b-word on the vehicle, most retreated but the blonde remained still. Everything was a fuzz, but it didn't take long to figure out the situation and who was responsible for the terror inside. What happened with Rachel, Harvey, and Kathy? Why wasn't Kathy answering her phone? More importantly, where was Nathan?

She got her answer when a patrol car crashed nearby. Batman landed roughly on his back, breaking the front window and denting the roof. He was holding someone close - someone small - to keep him from touching the glass or meet sudden death.

Lacey dropped the phone and shoved Officer Charlie out of her way once she had identified Nathan. She didn't bother to say 'excuse me' to the officials going inside. Her main objective was to get to the boy, calling out his name. She didn't care if she got arrested for police interference.

"Nathan!"

The boy craned his neck when he heard his name, smiling with relief to hear her voice, "Lacey!" He slid down the hood with Batman's assistance. He didn't have time to walk for he was already in the woman's arms. He nearly choked at the tightness of her grip and cringed at the loud muffled sobs near his ear.

"Oh my God, Nathan!" Lacey pulled away, tears streaking down her face, checking to find a scratch on him. "What the hell happened? Where did you go?! Why did you run off like that?! Do you have any idea what you did to me?! I thought you were taken by pedophiles! For God's sake! What happened!" She expected the boy to express the same trauma, she felt, but the boy was the opposite, the teardrops have dried. He let out a breath, finally able to relax, knowing that he wasn't in danger anymore. He had so much to tell her but wanted to ease the woman's mind by one statement.

"Batman saved me, Lacey," Nathan whispered, getting louder by each word. "I knew he would come! This is the best birthday ever!"

Lacey closed her eyes, leaning her head against the boy's shoulder. She wanted to snap some sense into Nathan, the same way her mother would do to her, and tell him to never run off like that again. Instead, she held him close, refusing to let him out of her sight. Nathan looked over his shoulder to express gratitude to his hero, who was already gone to save the day.

...

With all the chaos in Midtown, the streets downtown near West Chelsea Hill were quiet - more so than before. Janet Surrillo wanted to enjoy the peace while it lasts. Throughout the day, she had received many phone calls - judges and attorneys expressing either gratitude or a lecture. Some say she was a hero for taking on 500 criminals while others called her crazy. Fortunately for her, Dana Worthington offered any assistance to the case if it becomes necessary.

Surrillo was on her rocking chair, watching Jeopardy on TV until two officers came to her doorstep. They explained in vague how her life was in danger and that she needed to get out of town for the time being. There was resistance then persistence until the judge finally caved. What's the point of having the trial of the century if she was dead? Changing back into her pantsuit and grabbing her purse, not having time to say goodbye to Whiskers the cat, Gerard Stephans handed Surrillo an envelope. His partner explained to follow the directions to the safe house. Nobody even the two officers will know where she's going.

Surrillo ducked inside her white Mercedes-Benz, starting the engine. With an exhausted sigh, she opened the envelope. Inside was a piece of paper was her direction but only one word.

The judge scrunched her brows in confusion as she read it.

UP

The second her eyes raised, it cued a bomb that everyone waited anxiously for at Midtown. Even at the quiet streets of West Chelsea Hills, even when the Joker wasn't present to see, the chaos ensued.

A/N: Alright, so there is so much going on and a lot of changes. Nathan thought he was rescued by Batman, but he's oblivious to the fact that he saved a lot of people tonight including Joker's. How would the officials and Lacey react to the boy carrying an explosive device? Can Kathy and Rachel make down the stairs alive? We all know that Wayne Enterprises has a lot of floors, but it's better than chancing the elevator. Right? If so, how would Kathy interact with Bruce when she points the finger at him for locking her in the bathroom? Will Rachel accept Harvey's proposal? Sorry that Jenny wasn't in this chapter, only mentioned, but fear not, she will make her appearance in the next chapter.

Off-topic, I wanted to express my love for the upcoming Batman movie so far. I was jumping for joy to hear that Robert Pattinson is going to be the next Batman. Thank God! Perfect choice! He deserved a major role, way better and more enjoyable than Twilight! So happy! Also more villains are going to make their appearance in the movie such as the Penguin and the Riddler! It has been a long time since those two were in a feature movie (I'm not counting the TV series and games) and it was sad to hear that Christopher Nolan had cut them out of the dark knight trilogy. Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth is an interesting casting choice. He did an amazing job in the Marvel-verse, I can't wait to see what he does in the DC-verse. The Joker hasn't been confirmed to make an appearance in the movie, but in my opinion, it's okay. Here's why, Jared who played the Joker in Suicide Squad will be staring in Morbius. I saw the trailer and I was blown away. The best part is that it's coming out this summer! I found it very funny that Batman was Edward Cullen and the Joker became a vampire. Oh, how the tables have turned!

Back to the book, thank you all for expressing support and ideas to the story. It feels good knowing that some are still reading despite the choice to remake the story.