He cupped my face in his hands, his eyes were sad even though his scars stretched upward in a permanent smile. His father had carved them in a few years ago, but he wasn't like his father, I could see the difference in his eyes. Our lips brushed together, I could taste the makeup his parents forced him to wear. Thunder rumbled in the distance and rain poured onto our heads, like we had angered the universe. It wasn't supposed to be this way, we shouldn't have to hide. Even though my tears were lost in the rain, he wiped my cheeks with his soft thumbs.

"Sh-sh-sh, don't cry, not now," He cooed, his velvety voice making me want to melt against him.

I nodded and he pulled me into a tight hug, lacing a hand through my wet hair. I hung onto him, afraid, I've never felt so afraid, to lose him.

I jerked awake to find a silhouette leaning against my open doorframe.

"Being extra creepy today, Dick?" I said groggily, rubbing my eyes.

The silhouette flicked on the lights, I groaned and shielded my eyes. I glanced at the clock before sitting up, and discovering that the figure didn't belong to Dick at all.

"Has Dick been bothering you again?" he walked in and sat on the edge of my bed.

"No, Dad," I responded automatically.

He held up his hands and chuckled, "Alright fine, you know I have to ask. It's my job to look after you."

He ruffled my messed up hair and I gave him a sleepy smile. He looked at me oddly; I could see my reflection in his dark brown eyes, similar to my own. He did this sometimes, when he was remembering my mother, whoever she might be. I learned when I was a little girl not to ask him who she was.

"It's time to get up, Justice," he got up from my bed and leaned down to kiss the top of my head.

I looked up at him, but his eyes were clouded over once again. Moments between us never lasted long; my smile faded as well.

"When are you going to start calling me by my middle name, like everyone else does?" I called after him.

He paused at my doorway.

"The day I become..like everyone else."

And like that he was gone, probably to marinate in the Cave. I held my head in my hands, my dream was a blurry memory. I was almost sure I remembered Jester being in it, but that didn't make sense. Why was I dreaming about my enemy? Maybe I was killing him. That happy thought made the smile return to my face.

"Echo, there you are!" Dick said swinging into my doorway.

"Yeah, funny how you'd find me in my own room," I rolled my eyes.

He gave a smirk, "Come on, BatGirl, the city needs us."

"The city always needs us."

….

Somewhere, deep in the Narrows, the Joker barged into his son's room, guns loaded and ready to go.

"Get up," He hissed at the sleeping figure sprawled out on the spring mattress.

When the figure neglected to comply, the Joker shot off a couple rounds into the air, causing a light rain of ceiling bits to dust the room.

"Jesus Christ!" the figure yelped and sat up in bed.

Joker snickered and flipped on the lights with the barrel of on gun while tossing the other onto his son's lap.

"Rise-and-shine, my little Jester! We have mass chaos to cause!" he said in an almost sing-song voice.

Harley's annoying piercing voice called out to him and he suddenly grimaced. He gave his kid one last smile before turning on his heels and stalking out the door, just as suddenly as he came in.

Jester rubbed his face and groaned at his lack of sleep. He absentmindedly ran the tips of his fingers along his scars while he thought about his dream. He only remembered little bits of it, but he was pretty sure it had that goody-two shoes BatGirl in it. Oh how he loathed her; she thought she was so much better than him.

He didn't want these scars and he wasn't like his parents, he wasn't crazy..yet, at least. She had no idea how hard it was, to live life knowing that, eventually he'll snap just as his parents had, but never knowing when and how. His father had once described going insane to him, relating it to sliding down one of those twisty slides at the park…Jester hadn't been to a park since.

"JESTER!" the Joker growled, obviously waiting on him.

Jester jumped up and slapped on his uniform. He quickly smeared the goopy makeup over his face, wondering if BatGirl would be the hero to make him snap.

…..

And in a way….yes, she will be.

- Just a little taste of my new story! REVIEW PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! I shall love you forever if you do….!