Henchman (JOKER X READER) ✅

chapter 21: arkham, again

everyone shakes to the beat with a barrel down their throats

—-

When you arrived at the asylum, Mikey was waiting for you. He was leaning against a black van, holding a lit but unsmoked cigarette between two fingers.

"The boys should be here any minute," he told you, tossing the cigarette onto the ground and stepping on it to put it out. "Then we're going in. Do you have a gun?"

"You bet." You lifted the edge of your shirt to show him your pistol, tucked in your waistband.

"Good. Here, put this on." Mikey handed you a black bulletproof vest, similar to the one he was wearing. Half of it had been clumsily painted white- most of Two-Face's gang wore stuff like that. He glanced up just as more vans pulled into the parking lot. "And here's the cavalry. Ready?"

"Hell yes," you said vehemently, adjusting the vest.

Two-Face's men grouped together, and Joker's guys split off by themselves, too. You locked eyes with Frost, who seemed shocked that you were there.

"Alright," Mikey said loudly, getting everyone's attention. "We're going in. Do what you want, take what you want, but we're here for the bosses, so stay on track until we have them. After that? I don't care what you do. Got it?" A shout went up from the crowd. "Alright. Blow those fucking doors open!"

It was a frenzy. Someone with a flask of gasoline blew the main double doors open, and you ran in alongside Joker's strangely-dressed men and Dent's, in their grey and black outfits. They were clearing the way for you, as Mikey had apparently told them to.

You and Mikey stuck together, taking out the security guards trying to shoot you from the second floor catwalk. It wasn't long before you heard sirens outside.

"Dammit!" Mikey snarled, moving with snake-like quickness to slam the end of his gun into a guard's temple. He dropped to the ground, unconscious.

"Maximum security's that way," you shouted over the noise. You pointed down the hallway- you remembered this from your first outing with Joker.

Maximum security was a ways away from pretty much everything, tucked into an alcove on the second floor. You were almost there when Mikey's phone buzzed with a text from one of the other men.

Jim Gordon's outside maximum security.

Mikey swore again, showing you the text. "And who knows who else is with him?" He asked.

"Wait," you said, "I have an idea. Get one of the security guards and make him let you in through the other entrance around the hall."

"There's another entrance? Wouldn't that be blocked, too?"

"There's always another entrance," you said grimly. "They wouldn't just have the one, not on this block. They probably won't be guarding it much, so you'll get through. Get Joker and Dent and get out while I distract Gordon."

"Are you sure?" He frowned. "I don't like the idea of leaving you to deal with Gordon by yourself."

"Well, it's a damn good thing I'm not asking you to like it, then," you said. "Go, Mikey." He dashed off, and you ran the opposite direction, all the way to maximum security.

You saw him as soon as you turned the corner. Jim goddamn Gordon. And by the looks of him, he didn't look happy to see you, either.

"Stop right there," he ordered.

"Gordon," you said, out of breath. "Do you remember me? I saved your life outside Third Bank. It- it was raining. I remember it- do you?"

You weren't sure it would work. Jim Gordon had every reason to keep Joker and Two-Face locked up. And you had no way of knowing if he remembered it, that rainy day outside Gotham City's largest bank when your life had changed irreversibly, forever. You had saved his life then. Your only hope was that he would repay that debt now.

After one very long moment, he nodded. "I do."

"I saved your life. Now help me save theirs," you pleaded. You didn't name them- you both knew who you were there for. "They're terrible, both of them, the worst people I know. But they're people all the same. Help us- help me get them out of here, and we'll be even."

Gordon watched you carefully for a moment. For that moment, you almost thought he'd agree.

He raised his gun instead. "I don't make deals with criminals."

"Just this once?" You asked hopefully, wincing at how his finger tightened on the trigger. "C'mon, Gordon. You owe me."

"I don't owe you anything," Gordon insisted. "Turn yourself in, or I'll shoot."

"Jim," you resorted to pleading, "Don't make me regret saving your life then. I didn't want you to die. I don't want you dead now. But if you do this, I promise you, you will not make it out of this asylum alive. You and your men are outnumbered." You looked around. "Actually- where are your men?"

"Dealing with yours downstairs."

"Help me," you pushed on. "Jim. I know it's not easy for you, but-"

One of the doors opened behind him suddenly, and Mikey slammed his gun into Gordon's head. He collapsed at your feet.

"C'mon," he said, and beckoned you in.

—-

oh the parallels in this... from the chapter name to the song choice (same artist, same album). feeling good.