batjoke

Wayne Manor

The thunder from earlier that night still echoed throughout Wayne Manor, giving a chill throughout the house. Bruce sat alone in his theater as he did every night, feeling a sense of dread creep up on him. Crime had been very slow recently, nothing but classic robberies and assault here and there. The Joker and Harley hadn't made a move in weeks, and Batman couldn't help but feel he was planning something.

"Master Bruce?"

Bruce turned around, pausing the movie momentarily.

"Yes?"

"The doorbell has been ringing for minutes. You didn't hear?"

"No.. who is it?"

"I'm afraid I don't know, but they seem insistent upon seeing you."

"Well... I'll be right there." Bruce looked at the screen longingly, paused on the moment in Serendipity he loved most. When the man confessed his love. He sighed, getting up out of his chair and tossing the remote aside. 'Wow. Whoever was at the door does seem insistent...' He adjusts his robe, reaching for the door. 'Wait a damn minute...' The glass of the door was sand blasted, but...that outline.. he knows it from anywhere. He leans against the wall next to the door, nodding at Alfred. Alfreds eyes widen, leaving the room to the batcave.

"Who's there!?"

"You know damn well, bats, let me in."

Bruce's heart stopped. 'Bats? Is he expecting Batman? How does he know to go to Wayne Manor? There's no way..'

He banged on the door.

"C'mon Bruce, it's pouring out here."

Bruce groaned and opened the door, putting up his arms, preparing for a thrown fist. Instead, Joker pushed past him, and plopped on his couch by the fire, ringing out his shirt.

"Um... come on in I guess?.." Bruce slammed the door, and cautiously approached the Joker in his living room. "How did you know how to find me? Who else knows you're here!?"

"Stop... screaming, would you? My ears are ringing like hell.." he rings out his hair, shaking it like a dog. Bruce grumbled to himself, looking at the soaking wet couch.

"I'm sorry. How do you know who I am?"

"I've known for a while, bats. You don't make it very subtle." He gestured at Bruce's body, and he crossed his arms uncomfortably, covering himself as much as he could with his robe. "Nice outfit, by the way. You should wear it more often." Joker laughed, but a weaker, sad laugh. He didn't seem like his clown-self at all.

"Why- why are you here? On my couch..?"

Joker chuckles, patting the puddles of rain he had around him, splashing. "Yeah, sorry bout this mess... I would offer to clean it, but I don't know what rich-ass material you got here." He only smiled, not seeming in the mood for his own jokes. There was a long pause, Joker staring at his mess, Bruce staring at him.

"...I'll be honest, Bruce... I'll be honest. And that's not very common for me, so..." He cleared his throat uncomfortably, knitting his hands together. "Harley... left me. And she took damn near everything with her. Blew up our safe spot... chewed me out... I haven't uh.." he laughed. "I haven't been doing too well."

"So... you came here?" Bruce sat down very slowly, still not letting down his guard. He doesn't trust a word he's saying.

"Frankly, bats?....no where else to go." Joker stared at the ground, elbows to his knees, hands folded together nervously.