To tame a Demon (english)

Chapter 29: Back to the roots

It was a beautiful sunny day in Metropolis when Lex Luthor was sitting in his office working out Campania for the next elections. If he won, it would increase his political influence enormously. Therefore, it was of utmost importance for him that his program was absolutely free of any mistakes and that no one disturbed him in his work.

But he had made the calculation without an old acquaintance.

Luthor was just about to start revising another document when the door to his office was blown open with an explosion, and a certain clown with a joyful: "Surprise! Hahahaha..." stepped out of the smoke.

"Laxy baby! Is it a pleasure to see you again! Hehehehe...."

Luthor's brow furrows deepened as he saw the self-proclaimed Clown Prince of Crime standing in his ruined doorway. Not exactly amused, he therefore replied cynically:

"Joker ...how...pleasant."

Prancing, the clown entered the office, dressed in a white suit with hat and walking stick, his left arm fixed to his body due to an injury. Just like a bad imitation of a mafia boss:

"Your hairstyle looks dazzling once again. What's your secret? A special shampoo or an old home remedy from Granny-Lex?"

Luthor sighed in annoyance and rubbed his temples with his fingers as a quick call-through came from his secretary:

"Sir Luthor, there's been an attack! The Special Forces are about to take you to the bunker."

"It's all right Miranda. False alarm. It's just an old acquaintance of mine."

His attention now returned to the grinning clown:

"What do you want Joker?"

"Oh that's what I like about you Lax. You always get to the heart of things quickly."

Joker stepped closer and, under the less than amused gaze of Luther, sat down as a matter of course on the latter's large massive desk, propping his feet up on the guest chair:

"You know Lexy, it's been sooooo long since we've done anything together and I figured it was time to set the mood again. I'm worried that you've stopped having fun because of all the work you've been doing."

"How thoughtful of you, but I'll pass. I've got important things to do at the moment and being seen with you would massively damage my career. So have a nice day, there's my former door. I'll send you the bill for the damage." Lax replied disinterestedly and turned back to his documents.

The corners of Joker's mouth moved sadly downward:

"Oh, Laxy, don't be so dismissive of me. Is that any way to welcome an old friend?"

"A means to an end would more accurately describe it."

Playing theatrically, the clown grabbed his chest:

"Ouch my poor little joker heart. Anyway, instead of throwing some paperwork at me right away, let me tell you something very interesting. You see, I ran across an exceedingly pretty little bird."

Luthor's eyes wandered first to the clown and then to the walking stick, at the tip of which a silver snake with green rubys for eyes was devouring a golden tortured-looking bird. Joker caught this immediately and held the prop melancholically in front of him:

"Pretty isn't it? I had this made a few years ago. A kind of small trophy, if you will. Special events require..."

"Get to the point or get out again." gruffly Luther interrupted the clown, whose expression clearly distorted for a moment and then purred again with a smile on his lips: