Love, Hate, and Family Ties

Chaos, Confusion, and Rage

(Joker's POV)

"Helllllooo Carrieee!" I say quietly in her ear.

"What the hell?! How did you get in here?! What are you doing?!" She jumps up and backs away from me, as I come closer, untill she's backed up into a wall.

"I haven't caused as much trouble as I've wanted too. I don't want to look like I'm getting soft now, do I? No. Of course not. You, my dear, are going to help me get my edge back." I tell her.

"Me? But.... How? Am I going to help you rob a bank or-" I slap her hard. She drops to the floor holding her cheek. She looks up at me in tears. She has fear in her eyes. Perfect.

"No, no, no, no. You see, I haven't seen my daughter in ages-"

"THAT'S BECAUSE YOU BEAT HER AND KICKED HER OUT OF YOUR LIFE, YOU BASTARD!" She jumps up and swipes at me. I'm not phased at all. I chuckle quietly. In one swift movement I shove her head back against the wall. She slides down with a wimper, glancing at me in fear.

"As I was saying, I haven't seen my daughter in ages. I know her well enough to know that she won't come around if I try to bring her back. I know I've lost her attention to that Son of a Bitch she's dating. But I also know that you, my dear, are her only friend in the world. The people around me know that too. What better way to show them all how heartless I am," I pull out my gun and cock it, pointing it at her head, "than to splatter the wall with the grey matter between your ears. Am I right?"

"No! Please don't! Amber would never forgive you-" she pleads.

"HA! I don't want her forgiveness, I want her attention. I want to send her a message." I come closer to her, keeping the gun trained on her head. "Any last words, sweetcheeks?"

She looks me dead in the eyes with no emotion whatsoever. "I hate you!" she says, voice full of spite and anger, but no fear anymore. No matter. I don't care if she's afraid, so long as everyone else is.

I pull the trigger and she's gone, a red splatter all over the wall behind her. I check just to make sure I got the job done. Heh.

I leave the dingy appartment. I walk swiftly down to the bar that I, ah, 'aquired.' I get myself a whiskey and leave, the only people in the bar are the thugs that work for me. Well, Joker, here's to a job well done. I take a swig and walk quickly down the street, laughing for a block or two. I stop laughing when I hear someone drop down behind me. I immediately presume it to be the Bat.

Before I can turn completely around to face the person, a long whip is wrapped around me. Shit. Catwoman.

I sigh. "Selina, really, what is this about?" I already know that there's no point in struggling against her whip.

"That boy on your mission with you, Max, or something like that...." she says, obviously waiting for me to correct her.

"Uh, Matthew?" I say, remembering that Seleina and that Batbrain are having a fling.

"Yeah, him. Batman has him. He's going to take him to Arkham tonight. I saw him. He doesn't look like he would survive there for long." she says, letting the whip drop down from my body.

I rub my arms and push my sleves back down. "This doesn't sound like my problem. To me, this sounds like a problem with your morals. Too bad for you, I don't have any. Therefore, I don't care." I turn away from her and start to walk away, waving back over my shoulder without looking at her.

"I know he's your son."she says, quietly.

That stopped me in my tracks. If she knows, the Bat knows. If the Bat knows about Matthew, he'll know about Amber. Shit.