Joker was having a good day.

Two schools filled with Joker Venom, five hospitals in ruin, and a few random buildings were set on fire. Wait, make that four and a half hospitals. In one of them, only half of the explosives went off. Apparently, a set of his newly developed bombs had a glitch that disabled it from doing it's job. Stupid technology.

A large crowd of people ran straight out of the smoking structure, men pushing each other out of their paths, and women holding their children close to them. Screams and curses were exchanged, the cluster of noise nearly drowning out the sound of insane laughter.

Joker chuckled, randomly firing bullets into the gathered crowd. With each gunshot, the people grew more and more desperate in their escape attempts. The only man brave enough to stand up to him was an old geezer, his stance obviously belonging to someone ex military. The man attempted to tackle him to the ground, only to be shot in the gut. Joker pushed the body away from him, gave him a mock salute, then skipped around the body. "I loved this little bonding session, didn't you?" He paused, tilting his head. "Hey, I'm not sure if anyone told you this yet, but...I think you might be a little dead! Ha!"

He burst into a crescendo of laughter, wiping an invisible tear from his eye. Gosh, he was just too funny! As he pranced around the pool of crimson liquid, a new sound pierced the air.

A baby was crying.

Joker tsked, irritated at the unknown child. How would anyone hear him over that screeching banshee? His jokes weren't that bad. In fact, he could call himself a real joker. Ha, joker. Man, he was hilarious...

Ahem.

The Prince of Chaos grinned to himself as he searched the surrounding area for the brat, planning on getting rid of it in the most painful way possible. No one cried at his jokes and got away with it! It didn't take long to locate him, what with the kid bawling his eyes out and all. The sight that the Joker found was...surprising. A boy, only about a year old, was tucked into a small pocket of rubble. It was only due to sheer luck that the top wall didn't collapse onto the small raven haired child. Joker knelt down in front of the opening and prodded at the concrete surrounding the child, smirking when the it shuddered in protest. Oh yeah, that kid wasn't going to last very long.

Joker decided to leave the lad to his new fate, just as a new sound startled him- a baby laughing. Joker turned back around and squinted at the kid suspiciously. The boy simply giggled at the villain, holding his arms out to be picked up. Surprisingly, Joker complied, holding the thing a few inches away from his body. "What are you laughing at? Did you finally get the joke?" He asked with a raised brow. The boy seemed to enjoy the sound of the clown's voice and continued to giggle. "Well, what do you know? Looks like I have a fan!"

The baby gurgled at him happily, drool falling from his face and onto the man's purple suit. Joker rolled his eyes and used the back of his sleeve to wipe the saliva off of his face. "Now, now, kiddo, you can't just drool all over me! My appearance has to be on point!"

Instead of crying at the scolding, the baby burst into another fit of giggles, saying something like, "Gghu ashgll."

"Exactly." Joker patted his head enthusiastically. "You know, most kids are completely terrified of me! Tell me, are you as completely insane as I am? Is that it?" Most adults brainwashed their children into being wimps at an early age. This one, however, there was something different about him.

Something...Fun.

"Gnnaya!"

"Oh, goody! I like you. It's a shame that you were completely abandoned here." He looked around, noticing for the first time that the hospital was completely deserted. Was the child alone? "You must have great parents! What are you, an orphan?"

"Nyaga!"

"I'll take that as a yes, my fellow lunatic." That simply wouldn't do. Insanity means family, and family means no one gets left alone in the asylum. Or hospital. Same thing, really. "Say, what's your name? I'm the Joker, obviously."

"Shinigy?"

"No, I asked what your name is. You know, the thing that people call you?" The baby owlishly blinked at him, and Joker sighed dramatically. "You haven't got a name?! Heavens, your parents were awful people. Here, we'll come up with something while we go to my hideout." The clown held the baby closer to him and started to walk towards the Diamond District.

"Alright, what do you have so far?"

"Wushiii!" The child said excitedly.

"Not too bad, but I think you can do better. Try again."

"Gniwthgin!"

"Not really feeling that one either. Neeext!"

"Nibor!"

"Lame! Try coming up with something clever. Take my name, for example. Did you know that before I let myself fall to madness, I was a failed comedian? I know, I know, who would've thought? But now, I'm so hilarious that only the name 'Joker' seemed to fit. Now, you try."

"Jower?"

Joker beamed at the sound of his name, but didn't know why it made him...happy. "Yeah, that's me." He pointed to himself with his free hand. "Joker." He pointed to the kid. "And you are?"

The child giggled joyfully. "Jower!" He shouted, taking the man's hand and gnawing on the pointing finger.

Joker tilted his head. "I'm not a snack." He said, but didn't seem too bothered by it. "And I know that my name is unbelievably clever, but you have to come up with your own!"

"Jower!"

"Unless..." A brilliant idea struck him like lightning, but without the excruciating pain. Joker grinned widely, throwing the kid up into the air and catching him swiftly, their bursts of laughter matching the other's. "You are a lot like me, in the mental department anyways. How do you feel about joining my jolly old family? I'm sure that Harley would adore you to pieces! Not literally, I think."

The baby gurgled again, drooling all over the Joker's hand. Joker simply pried himself away from the kid and wiped the spit off on his pants. "If this is going to work, you're going to have to stop drooling on me. You're cramping my style!" He ruffled the boy's hair as he stopped in front of a dusty apartment complex. Joker balanced the boy in one of his arms while he used the other to throw the front door open, shouting, "Honey, I'm home!"

Harley looked up from a television set in the living room, smiling at her boyfriend lovingly as she stood up to greet him. "Welcome back Mister J!" Her expression remained the same when she noticed the grinning child in the man's arms. "Who's this? I thought we weren't holding any hostages this time."

Joker snorted. "Hostages are too predictable, too boring." He rose the child into the air. "I found this little madman in the hospital wreckage. We're adopting him."

Harley didn't argue against it. In fact, her eyes lit up at the idea. "We are? That's wonderful news Mister J! Can I hold him?"

Joker looked down at the boy. "Will you let Harley hold you?"

"Agayn!"

Joker glanced at Harley in false seriousness. "He said no."

The woman pouted. "Please? I won't drop you, I promise!"

"Shyben!"

"Tough luck Harls."

He didn't admit it, but he just didn't want the kid to give Harley his hard earned attention. Was this how parents felt? Possessive?

"Aww." She poked the kid's nose. "Don't worry, you'll warm up to me. I'm not as funny as Mister J, but I do my best!" She beamed when the boy giggled at her. "See? You're already halfway there!" She looked at Joker curiously. "So, what's the cutie's name?"

"Joker Junior of course! I've been thinking, there's going to be a time when we're both dead and gone, leaving no one to bring chaos into this city. This boy shall be the next madman of Gotham!"

"Gah!" The boy cried in agreement. Joker grinned at him and placed him onto his shoulders, not even flinching when his hair was yanked.

"Joker Junior? How about we call him Junior, or JJ?"

"Hmm..I was thinking 'Jay.' Junior and JJ are common. Jay isn't as normal." He tapped his chin. "We're getting ahead of ourselves! He won't be able to take my name until he can prove that he's worthy of the title!"

"How is he gonna do that?"

"Simple. Put on something nice Harls, we're going out!"

Harley clapped her hands together excitedly, the boy copying her with a giggle. "Oh goody, I just stole a new thing of lipstick too! Where are we headed Mister J?"

"An old chemical plant." Joker said with a twisted grin. "I have three tests for our newest addition!"

xXx Ace Chemicals xXx

"I thought they tore this place down ages ago!" Batman heard Harley exclaim as he silently moved on the rafters.

"All but one!" Joker grinned. "And this is where our family tradition will begin. What do you say, kiddo? Ready to start the first test?"

"Jower!"

Batman's blood went cold at the childish accent. Joker kidnapped and brought a baby here? But why? He wouldn't bring a kid all the way out here just to murder him. Not unless their was another motive behind it.

Batman opened the small computer installed in the arm of his suit and quickly scanned the child. 'Fingerprints belong to Richard Grayson. His parents just put out a missing report for him an hour ago. The police believe that he was killed during one of Joker's explosions. Joker must have found him and brought him here, for whatever reason. This can't be good. I better step in now, before it's too late.'

Batman stuck to the shadows as he crept through the rafters until he was directly above the three. Neither villain seemed to notice him just yet, as they were busy putting some sort of outfit on the lad. "No no no. The shirt's backwards!"

"Sorry Mister J." Harley corrected the shirt before stepping back, beaming at the two of them. "Looks good!"

Batman narrowed his eyes as he recognized the outfit as a mini Joker suit. However, this version was black instead of purple. 'What is he up to...'

Joker held the child away from him and gave him a quick once over. "Oh, yes! You're looking sharp, kiddo!"

"Nyhha! Jower! Miac!"

Joker gasped and looked around wildly. "Is that right? Well now, we can't have that! Well spotted!" He ruffled Richard's hair, who laughed and grabbed onto the hand, holding it in place. Batman stiffened and readied himself to intervene but was surprised when the Joker showed no sign of being angry. In fact, he looked amused.

"What did he say, Mister J?"

Joker lowered his voice, though his words still echoed around the dark room. "Junior says that he saw a bat flying around!"

Batman scowled. Out of every villain that he's ever faced, only the Joker had the ability to pick him out of his hiding spots so easily. How the clown did it would always remain a mystery. Since there was no point in remaining where he was, Batman jumped down from the rafters and landed in front of the villains. "Let the kid go Joker."

Joker beamed at the vigilante. "Hello, Bats! Long time no see!" He poked the kid's side, earning another giggle. "Say hi to our nocturnal friend!"

"Be-ah?"

"Close enough." Joker ruffled the boy's hair. "Where have you been Bats? You missed the party I threw earlier! Everyone else was there, even this little rugrat."

Batman scowled. "I was helping people treat the children that you infected with Joker Venom." He narrowed his eyes at the giggling child. "Did you infect Richard as well?"

"Richard? Is that his name? Boooring! I like the one I picked out more."

"I do too, Mister J!"

"Let him go." Batman repeated, slowly bringing his hand to his belt.

"I will, but when the time is right." The clown grinned wickedly, stepping closer to the pit of green liquid. "Timing is everything, my dear Batty."

Batman growled and made a desperate lunge for them, but was halted when several strands of rope were suddenly wrapped around his torso and legs, successfully sending him onto the ground. He was then pulled up into a sitting position by Harley, who knelt down and swiftly pulled his belt off. "Be a good guest, will you? You don't see us interrupting your family outings!"

Joker snorted. "As if Broody Bat here has a family. Just look at him! His entire outfit screams 'lonely!'"

Batman grit his teeth, trying not to let it show how much that comment affected him. "Leave the boy out of this, or I swear that I'll break every bone in your body."

"Been there, done that. You really need to work on your threats. They're not very original." He turned to Harley. "Now, present the helmet!"

Harley nodded seriously and picked up a small red helmet from the ground. Batman's eyes widened at the sight of it. That was a child sized Red Hood helmet! Just what was Joker planning?

Joker carefully swapped items with his girlfriend, him now holding the helmet while Harley had the kid. The clown lifted the helmet up and held it just above the boy's head. "Do you, Joker Junior, swear to have fun, even in the darkest of times?"

Batman froze. Joker...Junior?

The baby giggled and reached for the Joker, waving his arms madly. "Gah!"

Joker seemed pleased at this response. "And do you swear to bring total chaos to Gotham City, bringing death to those who are boring or who gets in your way?"

"Nyaga!"

Both villains beamed, but Batman found that his heartbeat was quickening. "No. Joker, don't do this."

He was ignored. "Finally, do you swear to remain in the life of a villain forever, annoying Batman and any other hero that you may face?"

The boy gurgled again, making a few unintelligible noises. Joker grinned at him in response. "Then by the chaos vested in me, I declare you to be the newest Red Hood!" The helmet was lowered onto the boy, who simply giggled and threw himself into the Joker's arms. Joker returned the laugh before addressing Harley, "Go to the end of the ride, will you?"

"Yes sir!" Harley replied, skipping away from the three. Minutes later, the sound of a door slamming was heard.

"Joker." Batman hissed. "What is the meaning of this? You know damn well that you don't have what it takes to care for a child! He'll be dead by tomorrow!"

"Like you can take care of a child?"

"That's not the point."

"I suppose not." Joker hugged the child close to him, who giggled happily. "But did you see that Bats? He likes me! I'm pretty fond of him as well. Can't you just let us be a happy little family?"

"No. Being raised by two insane psychopaths is not what a child needs. Let. Him. Go."

"You're such a party pooper, Bats!"

Suddenly, Harley's voice came from somewhere outside. "I'm here Mister Jay!"

"Perfect." Joker leaned against the rail that separated him from the pit of chemicals, holding the boy a few inches inches away from him, above the green liquid. He seemed to tear up a bit. "Look at you, about to take your very first test. Kids grow up so fast..."

Batman struggled against the thick ropes with all of his might. "Don't do it! Just let him go!"

Joker chuckles darkly, turning his head to grin at Batman. "Oh Bats, when will you ever learn? You have a bad habit of using the wrong choice of words."

The child fell into the chemicals.

"NO!"

"Hahaha!" Joker hopped next to Batman and dragged him closer to the pit, allowing him to see that the child was no where in sight. "It shouldn't be too long now. I chose the shortest slide, you see. Jay won't be old enough for the bigger ones for quite a while, and I'm unbelievably impatient!"

"You...sick..."

"Choose your next words carefully, Batsy. We have a child in our proximity, remember?"

A child's wail pierced the air. Batman mentally flinched at the sound. Part of him was hoping that Richard would have drowned so that he wouldn't have to suffer through the affects of the chemicals. Maybe, just maybe, the chemicals wouldn't have an affect on him...

Harley soon walked in carrying the drenched and screaming child with her. The woman tried yet failed to calm the child, who randomly lashed out with his arms and legs while crying hysterically. "Shh, Jay. Remember, you swore on laughter, not tears!"

Joker's smile faded away, replaced by a rare scowl. "Watch your tongue, Harley. Going through what he did isn't an easy accomplishment."

"Sorry Mister J..."

"You're forgiven, this time. Hand him over." Harley gave the sobbing child to the clown, who patted his head in a fatherly way. "There there, Jay."

Batman growled lowly, twisting one of his arms lose. Only the Joker had the ability to trap him for more than a few minutes. "You just scarred a child for life. When I get my hands on you..."

Joker waved a dismissive hand at him, immune to bat-threats. Richard, however, stared at the vigilante from under his helmet, finally calming down. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Joker set the boy down, who wobbled on unsteady feet and had to latch onto Joker's leg to stay standing. "Now, wanna have fun?"

"Uyn?"

"Yes, that's right!" He made a faint gesture to Harley, who dragged a full body mirror to the two of them. "It's time to see if you truly passed the first test!" Joker put both of his hands onto the helmet and swiftly yanked it off.

Batman felt his stomach lurch uncomfortably.

The boy was now a splitting image of the Joker. What was once black hair was now a sickly shade of green, while the child's ocean blue eyes transformed into a dark emerald color. The white skin of the boy's face became even paler, his now ruby red lips standing out against boy had tear streaks on his face, but seemed to have gotten over his near death experience.

Richard stared at the mirror, giggling at the two similar people that he saw. After that, he paused, and then slowly lifted a hand up. When his reflection copied him, Richard's laughter grew louder. Joker mimicked him, throwing his head back as he did so. Finally, Harley joined in on the insane giggling.

The three of them looked like one twisted little family.

Batman finally got his arm free, and used it to throw the rope off. Seconds later, he was on his feet and threw a powerful punch at Harley's side, hearing a satisfying CRUNCH afterwards. Joker quickly scooped up Richard and inched away from the vigilante. "Well, this was fun, but we really should be going. Right Jay?"

"Ggh!"

Batman surged forward and yanked the green haired boy away from the clown, using his foot to send the Joker flying. He held the disturbing child close to him, speaking in a hushed tone. "You're safe now."

Richard stared at him with wide eyes, then looked towards Harley, and then Joker. When his gaze returned to the vigilante, it was filled with fear. "Mon! Mon!"

The hero misunderstood him. "We'll bring you to your mother soon. I'm sure she's worried."

The boy suddenly screamed loudly, thrashing in Batman's arms. "Mon! Jower? Mon!"

The Joker finally stood, sneering at the dark knight. "Here that, Bats? He thinks that you're a monster. He hates you. But, guess what, he's calling for me right now and you're keeping him away! Who's the one scarring children now?"

Batman remained silent, keeping a tight grip on the struggling child, faintly wondering how Joker managed to translate the child's babbling perfectly. Richard squirmed in his tight grasp, whining, "Nu! Jower!"

Joker walked towards them. "Now just hand him over, Bats."

"No." Batman said firmly, tensed and ready to spring away from the clown at moment's notice.

"I thought you might say that...Harley!"

Something then collided with the back of Batman's head, sending him forward. Before he could reach the ground, Richard was snatched out of his arms. As soon as he hit the cold concrete, a needle was plunged into his neck.

He sat up, but the world was now disoriented.

"Well, that was fun." Joker said with a wide smile, face morphing to look more demonic. "Thank you so much for showing up tonight. You were my second test, you see. If Jay liked you, well..." He looked at Harley. "Time for the final test!"

"Okay hun. I'll be right back!" The woman smiled wickedly and she waved as she left, her image becoming distorted.

"What...did you do...to me?" Batman gasped, unsuccessfully trying to push himself off of the blisteringly hot ground.

"Like it? Ol' Scarecrow let me test it out. It's injectable fear gas! I myself have been working on a liquid version of Joker Venom..."

Harley came back in, dragging a bound Alfred along with her. Batman froze, staring at him in horror. "Here you are, Mister J!"

The butler groaned and looked around in fear. When his eyeless sockets landed on the vigilante, it froze. "Bruce? Please, you must help me!"

Batman only grunted, kneeling on shaking knees. He had to save him...but how?

"Shut it, gramps." Joker said, kicking the man in the gut. The Joker danced around Batman's fatherly figure while swinging Richard around, who was laughing like a hyena. "Ready for the last test?"

"Ngya!" The boy's teeth were shark-like, and his eyes were a bloody red. His appearance flickered, however. One minute, he saw an evil miniature Joker. The next, he saw the innocent face of Richard Grayson, fear showing in his teary eyes. He didn't know which image he hated more.

"Very good. Here." The clown pulled a gun out of his front pocket and handed it to the child. Richard gripped the weapon and swung it around carelessly, giggling. Joker chuckled at the boy's antics and wrapped his own hands around the child's, guiding his fingers to the proper positions and holding it steady. The gun was then pointed at the butler, who looked at Batman desperately.

"Please!"

"Alright Jay, this is your final test. If you can kill this man, you're in. If you can't...Well, let's not ponder over that right now." A grin. "Pull the trigger whenever you're ready!"

Silence.

"I know it's difficult, but I'm sure you can figure it out!"

Richard stared at the gun in confusion, unsure of what to do with it. "Jower?" He tightened his grip on the weapon, his finger pulling on the trigger slightly.

"That's it, there you go!"

"You can do it Jay!" Harley said cheerfully.

Richard seemed to understand what he was being cheered for, and finally pulled back on the trigger with just enough force-

BANG!

Batman snarled and tried yet again to get himself back onto his feet, but paused when he saw the man. A pool of blood circled around the corpse's body, but it wasn't Alfred anymore.

It was Thomas Wayne.

Bruce was back in Crime Alley, his parents's blog gathering at his feet. He fell back onto his knees as he gazed at the smiling faces of his dead parents, their pale skin and red mouths looking out of place in the dark environment.

"See you later Batsy." His father said with a chuckle as the two of them dissolved into the pavement below them. Three sets of laughter rang in Bruce's ears as he unsuccessfully tried to rescue his parents from death.

Everything soon went black.

xXx Later xXx

When Batman came to, the villains were gone, along with Richard. They did leave the dead body, though, a man named Gustav Hudson. Batman quickly went into detective mode, skimming through any records for information on Hudson while also looking for clues on the whereabouts of the Joker family. The villains and the kid left behind no traces, but Batman was able to find out who Gustav was. The man left a good life behind him; he was happily married with three kids, and another one on the way.

Batman tried to not think about them.

He brought a hand up to the communicator in his ear as he exited the building. "Alfred."

"Sir? I've been trying to make contact with you for almost a half hour. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? Your voice..."

"I just watched Joker adopt a son. He made him kill someone, Alfred."

"Oh dear. Did you save the boy?"

"No. They knocked me out with a strong dose of fear toxin. When I came to, they were gone." Batman used his grappling hook to pull himself up to a far away building. "That's not all. Joker threw the boy into the same chemicals that made him go insane...Even if I save him, the physical and mental affects are permanent."

"That's quite unfortunate." Alfred sounded concerned. "You must rescue him anyway. I fear what the Joker will do to him while he is in his mercy."

Batman paused. He didn't know whether or not he should've mentioned that the Joker was almost...fatherly, towards the boy. It was disturbing, to say in the least. "I think it's too late, Alfred. If the Joker doesn't want to be found, even I can't find him."

Alfred sighed. "Very well. Will you be returning now?"

"No. I have to talk to Commissioner Gordon." He landed on the rooftop of the GCPD. "Also, I think that the Graysons should be informed about this."

"It was Richard that the Joker kidnapped?" The elderly man seemed saddened. The two of them spoke with the Graysons shortly after their son's disappearance. "Oh, they will be just heartbroken...They don't deserve to lose their son."

Batman ended the call after that, silently agreeing with the last statement. Losing a son has to be just as bad as losing your parents. The Bruce side of Batman became depressed about the loss of Richard Grayson. He was positive that the boy would be dead soon, and couldn't help but think about the life that the poor kid had ahead of him. He could've done great things. He might've been an artist, a musician, an athlete, a trapeze artist, a police officer...

Hell, he could've been a hero!

Batman threw himself into an open window and silently crept through the police department until he was just outside the door.

"Any news on Richard?"

"Sorry Mrs. Grayson. There isn't a lead on your son yet."

Batman hesitated. If the Graysons were there, then he could kill two birds with one stone. But, that also meant that he had to be extra careful with what he said. Making up his mind, he silently pulled the door open and walked straight up to Gordon's desk. "Commissioner."

Gordon didn't look surprised. "Batman." He looked at the tear streaked faces of the Graysons. "Sorry, but could you give us a moment?"

"Actually, I think it's best that they stay. I have information concerning both the Joker and the missing Richard Grayson."

The male Grayson, John, took his wife's hand. "Where is he? Where's our son?"

Batman found that he couldn't keep eye contact. "I'm sorry, but-"

"No!" Mary suddenly sobbed, fat tears running down her face. "He can't be dead, he can't be!" She choked on her sobs, nearly hyperventilating. "H-his birthday's tomorrow. We lost aunt Cathy, and now..." Cathy must have been the person that the Graysons were visiting in the hospital.

Batman nearly corrected her about her son being dead but decided against it. It would be better if the two parents assumed that he was only killed. To know that your child was going through psychological trauma would be too much to handle. "I was too late to stop him. I'm sorry."

John nodded at him gravely. "You did your best. That's all we can ask..."

Gordon cleared his throat. "It was the Joker that did it?"

"Yes." His mind quickly came up with a plausible story. "Gordon, there's something else you need to know. Joker and Harley, they...reproduced."

The Commissioner seemed to choke on air itself. "They what?"

Batman nodded. "They have a son. His name is Joker Junior, or Jay. He's about a year old." He glanced away. "They made Junior kill both Grayson and a man named Gustav Hudson."

Mary looked horrified. "They forced a child to kill?"

"Yes. I'm not sure if Junior is their biological son or not." Batman lied easily. "If he is, it's a miracle that he survived this long."

Gordon swallowed. "Okay. We'll keep an eye out for the kid. Where are Grayson and Hudson's bodies?"

"Hudson is in the chemical plant near Pioneer Bridge. Grayson, however." He sighed. "I don't know where his body is." That wasn't a lie.

"My poor baby..." Mary whispered, leaning against John for comfort.

Batman slipped out at that moment, deciding that he did everything he could.

What he didn't know was that that wouldn't be the last time he'd see a Grayson.

xXx

AN: So, yeah, I rewrote this chapter. I reread what it was before, and didn't really like it. It was sloppy. Here, I fixed some mistakes, added a couple of things, and hopefully clarified what was going through Joker's mind in the first part of the chapter.

This is a Young Justice fic. The Team will make their appearances in later chapters. For now, this story is going to focus on Jay and his childhood. I can't wait to post the next chapter!

By the way, I mentioned that both Scarecrow and Joker were only beginning to put their respective drugs into a liquid form. I decided to mention that just so that the story had a past-y tone to it. Also, my timeline may or may not be a little bit off, but keep it in mind that this is simply a fanfiction.

Thanks for reading!