*J* (the continuation)

Part Forty-One: Chapter 304: Joker's Dream Job

The laughter bounced off the bat cave walls. The look of horror on Alfred's face suggested that he was trying to deduce if Bruce was going to drop dead laughing, or live to frown another day? Even more priceless is the way the Joker stands, arms folded across his chest, staring at Bruce with a smirk on his face. A smirk that could have been suggesting many things. Karma. Retribution. Vengeance. Satisfaction. Amusement. But that's not the real reason for the smirk. The real reason was that he's never been so turned on before.

"Master Bruce?" Alfred takes a step forward towards him.

But Bruce quickly throws up his hand to stop him. "Heh...No. Heh-heh... I could be...ha ha ha... dangerous."

Alfred glances over at the Joker. The Joker rolls his eyes at Alfred, "I know what you're thinking. This is all my fault. Hum? Well I feel a need to reiterate that this wasn't my idea. Infact, I said it was a bad idea. He insisted. And to be perfectly honest, you didn't try very hard to change his mind. Soooo, I feel as though we should all be equals in this blame," he motions to all three of them. "And besides, I don't particularly take kindly to you automatically thinking he's dangerous just because a little bit of my blood got in his veins. Ones underlying character factors greatly into the outcome of the chemicals reaction. I became this because I was already a murderer. A bad fucking guy. But Bruce, he's not a bad guy. Look at him. Dangerous? More like a little happy and confused as to why. It can be alarming to most when they find themselves laughing at something that is not at all funny."

"Heh, he-he."

"Duly noted master Joker. Now what the hell do you suggest we do about it?" Alfred shrugs.

"Heh...more heh-heh...antidote," Bruce pants between giggles.

"That sounds like a good idea to me," the Joker nods.

Alfred quickly prepared another shot and gave it to Bruce. In the background a police scanner caught their attention.

"Reports of B&E at 364 Bayside. Shots fired. I repeat, shots fired..."

"Ha-ha...that's one of...heh... Black Mask's heh-heh... warehouses," Bruce's fights against the urge to laugh. The second dose of the antidote seemed to have helped. "Heh, I have to go," he starts trying to make it to the secondary batmobile.

"Sir! You can't go galavanting about the city in your condition," Alfred stresses.

"I agree Bruce, you're too distracted and your physical condition isn't going to help you if there's trouble. You're not going to be able to bring your 'A' game tonight I'm afraid," the Joker agrees.

"Gordo counts on...heh...me," Bruce says.

"Gordo sir?" Alfred gives him a confused look, "Are you calling commissioner Gordon that now? Forgive me sir, but that's what he addresses the commissioner as," he motions to the Joker with his head.

"Nonsense, I have plenty of other names for him too," the Joker turns up his nose.

"Heh...I have to go," Bruce insists.

"Sir you have no backup to compensate for your weaknesses," Alfred gives to him to help support his hobbling.

"Well what about me?" The Joker asks.

"...heh..." Bruce and Alfred both turn to the Joker.

"What?" The Joker shrugs. "Are you seriously saying that I'm not qualified enough?? Who knows batsy's toys better?"

"Heh-heh..."

"That might be master Joker, but it's your other skills that raise question for concern," Alfred looks down his nose at him.