Henchman (JOKER X READER) ✅

chapter 18: negotiation

sitting on the concrete in your basement, but i don't have no time for conversation

—-

"So," Panda drawled, "Heard you're in the big leagues now."

You, Frost, Panda, Sharkey and Fox were unwinding after a long, long day of sitting in on Joker's negotiations with Dent. To be honest, you didn't even think Joker would make it to negotiating, what with his tendency to shoot first and ask questions later. But he'd actually surprised you. He practically ground Two-Face into the metaphorical dust, his demands almost unreasonable. So Joker hadn't lost his cool (or what little of it he had left), but everything was still at a stalemate.

You snorted. "If driving the boss around is what you call the big leagues, then sure."

Frost shrugged and put down a card. "It's big enough. Sharkey, where's my money?"

Sharkey grumbled quietly, pulling a wad of cash out of his back pocket and counting out three bills. "You have to be cheating," he groused as he handed them over.

"Nope. Just good at it," Frost said, a faintly smug smile on his face.

Panda glanced over at Fox. "Foxy, you've been real quiet. You're usually a chatterbox."

Fox shrugged, taking a drink from his beer bottle. "Dunno. I just have a weird feeling."

Sharkey reached over and clapped him on the back. "Hey, man, don't worry about it. Whatever happens, happens. Nothing you can do about it."

"Sure," said Fox after a moment, leaning into the hand on his shoulder. Panda made a gagging noise and you waved for him to shut up.

"Aw, let them be happy. We could all use a little joy right about now, don't you think?" You said. Panda shrugged, but cut it out.

You got out of the game pretty early, content to just watch as Frost kicked ass. He didn't play with the group often, but when he did, he was unbeatable. And from there, you stayed quiet, thinking through the day. 

At this rate, Dent would end up causing major problems anyway. He, or the other one, would get pissed at Joker's antics pretty soon, and then it would all be over. If neither one could compromise, it would end in a gang war. A war that had all of the potential to get innocents involved, tear the city to shreds, and probably kill you and everyone you cared about, too.

So you did the only thing you could think to do- track down Mikey Roberts, the only man with standing with Dent that would hear you out.

You sent one of the street kids in Joker's employ to find him, and within two hours of you sending the message, Mikey showed up at the abandoned church you'd asked to meet at.

He was smiling when he strolled in. "Hey, Y/N. What can I do for you?"

You quickly told him what you had been thinking of (minus any information he didn't already know about Joker's plans).

"I don't think Joker give any ground here," you said. "You're the only person I know who can make a difference with Dent. He has to compromise, because Joker won't. He's not going to let up, and it'll get us all killed."

"And just what in hell makes you think I'll be able to convince him to do that?"

"You know him. Please, at least try. You can't tell me you want war." You were almost pleading, and it was kind of embarrassing, but you didn't want the insanity that violence between Joker and Two-Face would bring. You were sure that Mikey was damn near your last hope.

Mikey was quiet for a few moments. Then he sighed and said, "Fine. I'll talk to him. But I can't promise anything."

"That's all I need. Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," he said, a tiny, sardonic smirk curling at one side of his mouth. "It could still go straight to shit."

"Optimism, Mikey," you said, cracking a smile. "Give it a try."

Mikey snorted, digging a slightly smushed cigarette out of his pocket. "See you, Y/N."

"Bye, Mikey."

By the time you got back, you were feeling a little better. You just hoped that your meddling with Mikey would work out- and that Dent's pride wasn't to get in the way of keeping the peace.

—

okay so i was sort of thinking of a little interlude? like a pov change so we get the scene of mikey trying to convince two-face not to do strange shit. their dynamic (as i have it imagined atm) is pretty interesting, i think, so if you'd like to see that, comment or something!