Hello, it's been a while. I hope you enjoy this.

Joker bit his lip hard, groaning in pain as cramps ripped through his stomach.

He could handle most kinds of pain, some he even he enjoyed, but this?

This was terrible.

He was experiencing his first period in over 10 years.

Tears played in his eyes as his hormones played havoc with him.

He clawed at his skin in an effort to distract himself.

Any other pain was better than this pain.

It ricocheted through his body, pulling at muscles and nerves he had forgotten existed.

He needed it to stop.

Had it always been like this?

On occasion, due to his hectic lifestyle and criminal standing, he was unable to get his hands on T.

One month and maybe he would have been fine, but it'd been almost 8 now.

He was beginning to think he should volunteer himself to Arkham again, at least then he'd get his injection and be rid of this horror.

It wasn't as if he had many contacts otherwise, not that wouldn't ask questions, it wasn't as if he could waltz up to scarecrow and go 'Can I have a gallon of testosterone' and then not expect him to cotton on.

He was running out of options.

.

Arkham, as dreary as it was, felt like home to Joker, the majority of his memories were here.

Not all of them were good.

Though recently, since a flood of funding had come its way, the place had improved.

A lot of the old guards and doctors had been replaced with people who actually wanted to help.

It was a little sickening, he would admit, he didn't like the way they treated him.

He was a grown man with mental illnesses not some child who was incapable of looking after himself.

They had become a little more honed with their use of drugs too. No longer was it just to shut them up, it was to help them. Many of the old inmates were actually beginning to make progress.

Riddler and Two-face were almost reformed, Wesker had been weaned off his dolls quite successfully, even Zsasz had improved to the point of being allowed a female doctor.

It just went to show how much it helped if you treated people, well, as if they were people.

Because of this new humanitarian side to Arkham Joker was treated as soon as he got in, there was none of that old 'hurry up and wait' shit they used to do. He was checked by the doctor as soon as arriving, checked over and fixed up, and given his first injection of testosterone in 8 months.

"Thank you doc, I feel better all ready," Joker said with a happy groan as he did his belt back up, "You really are a life saver…"

"Yes, well, you know your symptoms won't stop right away, it'll take a while to gain affect," the young man said, disposing of the needle.

Joker chuckled, "Oh sweetie, I've been taking this stuff for longer than you've known it existed, you don't need to tell me."

The doctor cleared his throat, opening a draw and taking out some pills. "Yes, well… Uh, take these painkill, if you want to take a seat outside, someone will show you to your room."

"Yes yes…" Joker said with a wave of his hand. "I know the drill."

He left the room and sat in the waiting room, he felt so much better already. Just the knowledge that he'd had his shot helped so much.

If he concentrated he was pretty sure he could feel it flowing through his veins… It was great.

He'd stay here for a few days, just to ride out his period, get a good sleep, get some good food, take all the drugs he could find and then be on his way.

.

The rooms at Arkham asylum all looked the same.

A grey box of a room, smaller than a rabbit hutch, with a window if you were lucky. The beds were small, straps attached if you needed them or not, either far too hard or far too soft depending on if it were new or old. Next to the bed in each room was a small hollow table which, like the bed, was bolted to the floor. The better behaved an inmate were the more items they could get to decorate their tiny room, different people opted for different things.

Joker's was and always had been empty.

He'd managed to sweet-talk a book and some food into the room for tonight, and he was happy for it. It'd be a nice night, reading and eating sweets, it'd been a long time since he'd indulged himself, he was looking forward to it. He never felt like taking care of himself when he was off T, so for the past almost-year he'd let himself go without nourishment, without bathing, without sleep.

He felt a lot better now.

There was talking outside his room. He frowned. So much for solitude. He let out a soft growl and threw his book at the door.

"Some people are trying to relax in here!" he screeched.

After a second his face fell, he stared down at the book he'd been reading that now lay on the floor. "Oh for-" he climbed off the bed and slid across the floor, picking up the book and taking a moment to try and find his page again.

Suddenly he felt a pain in his head, he fell back on the floor, holding his head. "Ah shit!"

He looked up to see what had hit him. The door was open, that must be what it had been.

A smile came to his face as he realised who stood at the door. Shrouded in darkness.

"Batman! Ol' buddy!" he sat up properly, still holding his hand to his head, it was starting to swell. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

Without missing a beat Batman swooped down to pull him up, holding him by the collar and slamming him against the wall.

"What are you planning Joker?"

Joker chuckled softly, gasping a little from the force of the attack. "I'm not planning anything. I'm recuperating."

Batman growled, "I don't believe you." he tightened his grip on Joker's Arkham jumpsuit, lifting him a little higher.

Joker let out a soft groan, "You have no idea how hot it is when you do that," he grinned.

"Why are you here?!"

Batman was very close to him now, Joker could feel his breath on his, almost hear his heart beat. Or was that his own?

"I'm just getting my shots Batsy! No plan here I swear." He reached up to grip the arm that held him.

Batman frowned, watching Joker for a moment to gage if he were lying, "What shots? What are you talking about."

Joker's smile fell a little, was he really going to have to spell it out..? "My shots, y'know?"

"Shots for what," Batman said slowly, "Don't play with me Joker."

"Oh I'd love to, but I'm pretty sure you're the one playing with me right now Bats. It's been over 20 years are you really telling me you don't know my, uh, medical needs?"

"I said don't play with me!" Batman slammed him against the wall again, winding him a little, making him cough.

"I-If you're trying to joke with me it's not funny," Joker said, stuttering and letting out a ragged cough. "You're seriously looking at me and you can't tell me what I'm here getting?"

Batman frowned at him, letting out another growl. "Joker, I don't usually admit to being out of the loop, but I have no idea what you're talking about."

Joker looked Batman up and down, beginning to laugh, tears came to his eyes again as his laughter consumed him. He squeaked as Batman slammed him against the wall yet again.

"Tell me!" he shouted, throwing the clown onto the floor.

"20- 20 years… you're the worl-world's greatest detective," he guffawed and snorted, laughing too hard to move from where he'd fallen "My ass you are!"

Batman grit his teeth, crossing his arms and looking down at Joker, waiting for him to calm down.

"Joker," he said sternly after a moment.

Joker grinned up at him, still chuckling, "Y-yes?"

"Tell me."

Joker shrugged, sighing softly, grin still on his face, "Oh Batman… I fear it may insult your intelligence if I tell you. Why don't you do some detective work and find out?"

"I'm not leaving until I get an answer. I will hurt you to get it."

Joker let out a soft hum, "Oh I wish…" he huffed, "Ok, so I'm guessing the only reason you're pressing me so much is because you have no leads. Which is good I guess, it means doctor patient confidentiality might actually mean something!"

"Stop stalling and tell me."

Joker lifted himself up onto the bed, letting out a sigh, averting his eyes: it really wasn't fair that he had to do this, he shouldn't have to out himself in order to not get beat up.

But maybe this'd do something for their relationship.

"Batman, I thought you knew," he dug his fingers into the bedsheets a little. "I'm transgender."

Batman frowned at him, "What?"

"Trans-gen-der," he spelled out, "Do you know what that means?"

"Of course I know what it means," Batman said, his voice monotone. "I don't believe you."

"Well isn't that nice of you to say," Joker smirked, "But it's true! I've been like this longer than I remember."

Batman shook his head, "I still don't believe you."

What was he expecting? Some kind of proof? There was nothing he could show him or tell him.

"Do you want me to prove it to you?"

Batman pulled a face, the same face he pulled whenever Joker came on to him "No."

Joker chuckled, "Oh Batsy, don't give me that look. I've had all my surgeries, I can't exactly flash you my bits."

"I wouldn't have guessed you were…"

This was absolutely delicious, Joker'd never seen Batman look so uncomfortable. "Bats, you of all people should know a little something about stealth. The whole point is that people don't guess. You though? I would have thought you'd known for years."

"How would I have known?"

Joker shrugged, feeling himself relax a little, "Well I don't know, you've seen my medical records, you and me share a bond that-"

Batman rolled his eyes, "Don't start with that again. We don't share any kind of bond."

Joker chuckled, "Oh come off it Bats. Keep being snappy like that and I'll start thinking you're on your period too." Joker smiled as he saw the bat still and become ridged.

God he was so uncomfortable, it was amazing.

"You're…?"

Joker bit his lip, "Oh it's awful, worst feeling imaginable. I bet you're glad you don't have to deal with it… I sure wish I didn't." he chuckled softly. "So have you gotten your answer?"

Batman was barely moving, he didn't even seem to be breathing. Joker'd planned on making him uncomfortable but he hadn't expected this kind of reaction.

It'd be delightful if it wasn't so unsettling.

"Stop it Bats," Joker snapped, "You're giving me the creeps." He tutted, "I've had some bad reactions in the past but I wouldn't have expected it from you, the type you run around with I'd have thought you were totally into it. You run around looking like a giant bat, there's not much of a jump," he chuckled at his own joke, expecting some kind of reaction from Batman, being disappointed at not getting one.

He huffed, gritting his teeth, "Batman either talk to me or get out, don't make me call security, you're starting to piss me off."

Batman seemed to soften a little, relaxing in his stance, "…I got my answer."

With that he turned and left.

.

Since Batman's visit Joker had been feeling incredibly sorry for himself. He'd been crying a lot, a strange pit in his stomach. He wasn't his usual cheery self at all.

He didn't know what he'd expected. A hug and a kiss from his dear Bat? As if.

He'd never outed himself to anyone and gotten a good reaction. Not even Harley. 'Good thing I'm bi' had been her reaction.

How insulting.

And people wondered why he hated her now.

He hadn't said anything though, he had totally blanked him. Like he wasn't worth the time.

It was humiliating, to expose yourself like that and then be totally ignored. It made him so mad…

He needed to step his game up. Focus all his energy into getting one over on that stupid fucking bat.

He lay in bed fuming, plotting in his head, reading his book but not focussing on anything it contained.

He was so mad.

He was pulled at least partially from his thoughts by a knock on the door. It opened slowly and one of the care staff walked in.

"Joker?" she said softly.

"Yes?" Joker said, almost snapped.

She stalled and stuttered a little, "Uhh… You've had a delivery."

Joker frowned, Arkham inmates weren't allowed 'deliveries', gifts and the like, inmates like Joker weren't at least. "I've had a what?"

"A delivery? Uh, from the Batman."

Joker frowned, "Oh really? Cyanide pills perhaps?"

The woman shook her head, "Oh, no," she held out a small basket, wrapped in translucent purple plastic was a small selection of chocolates and sweets. "…They've been checked, they won't harm you."

Joker stared down at them and tutted, "Well thank you for your concern," he snatched the gift basket from her and turned back to his bed.

He turned his head back to the woman, "What are you waiting for? You can't have any, they're mine, go on, get."

He shook his head and sat on the bed as he heard the door close, unwrapping the gift basket and breaking open a bar of chocolate. Dark with butterscotch pieces.

"Well I'll be," he chuckled softly and took a bit, humming happily at the taste. Anger melting from him as he ate.

Maybe it hadn't gone as badly as he'd thought.

Leave a comment if you want me to continue.