The Joker short stories

Joker finds his missing daughter

The rain drummed against the windows of the abandoned warehouse, a relentless patter that echoed through the empty space. The Joker, clad in his trademark purple suit, paced in front of a rusted metal table cluttered with old toys and broken glass. His green hair clung to his forehead, damp and wild, and his painted smile seemed more jagged than usual.
“Where are you, sweet little Ivy?” he muttered, his voice a mix of desperation and mania. His eyes darted to the shadows, searching for any sign of life. “Daddy’s waiting.”
A creak from the far corner made him whirl around. “Who’s there?!” he shouted, his voice a sharp knife cutting through the murky silence.
“Just me,” a voice replied, a smooth drawl that dripped with mockery. Harley Quinn stepped into the dim light, her red and black ensemble splattered with the remnants of their last chaotic escapade. “You really think she’ll just waltz in here?”
“Don’t you dare say that!” he snapped, pointing a finger at her. “She’s out there, I can feel it. I’ll find her.”
“Yeah? And what’s your plan, Mr. J?” Harley raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “You think shouting her name in an old warehouse is gonna do the trick?”
“Don’t underestimate the power of a father’s love!” he yelled, throwing his hands up. “I’ll tear this city apart if I have to!”
“Whoa, calm down there, Batsy!” she teased, stepping closer. “You’re scaring me. What if she’s… you know, not coming back?”
“Shut up!” The Joker slammed his palm on the table, rattling the toys. “She has to come back. I won’t let anyone take her from me!”
The door swung open with a loud bang, and both of them jumped. A figure stepped inside, drenched and shivering. “Joker!” the newcomer shouted, pulling back the hood of his rain-soaked jacket. It was Johnny, one of the Joker’s loyal henchmen, his face pale and eyes wide. “We found something.”
“What?!” The Joker rushed forward, grabbing Johnny by the collar. “Tell me!”
“It’s… it’s her phone. We found it by the river.” Johnny stammered, swallowing hard. “I think it’s broken, but it’s definitely Ivy’s.”
The Joker’s heart sank. “No… no, no, no! This can’t be happening!” He released Johnny, who stumbled back. “Where exactly did you find it?”
“I don’t know. Just… near the docks,” Johnny replied, his voice trembling. “There were some guys. They were talking about her.”
“Talking about her?” Harley leaned in, intrigued. “What were they saying?”
“They said she was with the ‘big boss’,” Johnny said, his eyes flickering nervously. “Someone important. They were laughing about it, like it was a joke.”
“Laughter,” the Joker hissed, his eyes burning with rage. “Let’s go pay these jokers a visit.”
Harley tilted her head. “You sure you want to do this? What if it’s a trap?”
“Then we’ll spring the trap!” he shouted, heading for the door. “I won’t lose her again. Not to anyone!”
They dashed out into the downpour, the rain mixing with the wild energy surging through the Joker. He had lost Ivy once, and he wouldn’t let it happen again. With each step, his resolve hardened.
The docks were dark and foreboding, the water swirling ominously beneath the dim lights. A group of shady figures loitered near a shipping container, their laughter cutting through the sound of crashing waves.
“There they are!” Johnny whispered, crouching behind a crate. “That’s them.”
The Joker peered through the slats, his expression twisted with rage. “You!” he yelled, stepping out into the open. “You dare laugh about my daughter?”
The group turned, startled. One of them, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, smirked. “Look what the cat dragged in. The clown prince himself. What do you want, Joker?”
“Where is she?” The Joker’s voice was low, threatening. “What have you done with my Ivy?”
The laughter erupted again, shrill and mocking. “Your Ivy? She’s in good hands, don’t worry. The boss loves little girls.”
“Stop playing games!” Harley shouted, stepping beside the Joker, her bat clenched tightly. “Where is she?”
“Calm down, sweetheart,” the scarred man drawled, raising his hands in mock surrender. “We’re just having a little fun. She’s safe… for now.”
“Safe?” The Joker’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step forward. “You think this is a game?”
“Maybe we should show him what we do to clowns who poke their noses where they don’t belong,” another thug said, cracking his knuckles.
“Do you really want to find out what happens when you mess with me?” The Joker’s voice dropped to a whisper, his smile widening maniacally. “I’ll paint this place red.”
“Enough!” The scarred man shouted, his patience wearing thin. “You want your kid? Then you need to make a deal with the boss. Otherwise, she’s out of the picture.”
The Joker’s heart raced. “What kind of deal?”
“Meet him tonight at the old factory by the river,” the scarred man said, a sick grin spreading across his face. “But be warned—if you don’t play nice, you’ll never see her again.”
“Let’s go!” The Joker said, turning on his heel. “We don’t have time to waste.”
As they dashed back through the rain, Harley glanced sideways at him. “You know this could be a trap, right?”
“Of course it is!” he snapped, his voice sharp. “But I’m not letting them scare me. I’ll do whatever it takes to get Ivy back.”
The old factory loomed ahead, a shadowy silhouette against the stormy sky. The Joker’s heartbeat thudded in his ears as they approached the entrance, the air thick with tension.
“Okay, remember the plan,” Harley whispered, eyeing the darkness. “We go in, we find Ivy, and we get out. No heroics.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?” he shot back, a manic grin on his face. “I’m the Joker! Heroics are my specialty!”
The inside of the factory was a maze of rusted machinery and flickering lights. The laughter echoed eerily as they moved deeper into the shadows.
“Over here,” Harley pointed to a door slightly ajar. “It’s got to be in there.”
The Joker pushed the door open, and they stepped inside. The room was empty except for a single light bulb swinging overhead. In the corner, he saw a small figure bound to a chair, a hood covering her head.
“Ivy!” he shouted, rushing forward. He ripped off the hood, revealing his daughter’s terrified face.
“Daddy!” she cried, her voice muffled by the tape across her mouth.
“Hold on, sweetheart!” He began to pull the tape away, his hands shaking with urgency. “I’ll get you out of here!”
“Not so fast!” A voice boomed from behind them, and the scarred man stepped forward, flanked by his thugs. “You thought it would be that easy?”
“Let her go!” The Joker’s voice dropped to a low growl, his manic grin replaced by cold fury. “You’re making a big mistake.”
“Am I?” The man laughed, stepping closer. “I think the real mistake was ever getting involved with you, Joker. I’ll enjoy watching you squirm.”
“Squirm?” The Joker’s eyes glinted with madness. “You don’t know what squirming is!”
He lunged forward, a whirlwind of chaos. Harley swung her bat, taking out two thugs in one swing, while the Joker unleashed a flurry of punches, laughter spilling from his lips.
“Get away from my daughter!” he shouted, adrenaline surging. He dodged a fist aimed at him, retaliating with a swift kick that sent the thug crashing into a wall.
Amidst the chaos, Ivy looked on, wide-eyed. “Daddy, be careful!”
“I’m fine, Ivy!” he yelled, the joy of fighting invigorating him. “Just hold on!”
As the last thug fell, the scarred man backed away, panic flickering in his eyes. “You’re insane!”
“Insane? No, I’m just a father who loves his daughter!” He lunged, grabbing the man by the collar. “Now, where’s your boss?”
“Don’t! Please!” the man whimpered, eyes darting. “I’ll tell you! Just don’t hurt me!”
“Talk!” The Joker’s voice was a low growl, the threat palpable.
“Okay! He’s at the old pier! But you’ll never make it in time!”
“Watch me!” The Joker released him, turning to Ivy. “You good, sweet pea?”
“I’m okay, Daddy,” she said, her voice trembling but determined.
“Then let’s get out of here!” He grabbed her hand, and they dashed out into the rain once more, adrenaline pumping through their veins.
As they reached the pier, the wind howled, threatening to sweep them away. The Joker scanned the area, spotting a figure silhouetted against the night sky.
“You!” he bellowed, pointing. “You took my daughter!”
The boss turned, a sinister grin spreading across his face. “Ah, the clown prince. I was just waiting for you. Ready to make a deal?”
“Deal? You think I’d negotiate with scum like you?”
“Then you’ll lose her again,” the boss taunted, gesturing casually. “You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
The Joker clenched his fists, his mind racing. “If you think I’m going to back down, you’re insane. Ivy, stay behind me!”
“Daddy, don’t!” Ivy called out, fear creeping into her voice. “Please, don’t fight him!”
“I’ll do whatever it takes!” The Joker shouted, his voice echoing against the waves. “I won’t let you hurt her!”
As the confrontation escalated, the Joker felt a wave of clarity wash over him. In that moment, he realized that love, even twisted and chaotic, was what drove him. It wasn’t just about laughter or chaos; it was about protecting those he cared for.
“We can end this now,” the boss sneered, drawing a weapon. “Hand over your power, and I’ll let her go.”
“You think I care about power?” The Joker laughed, a manic sound that echoed through the storm. “I care about family!”
With that, he lunged forward, a blur of motion. Ivy’s screams echoed as he fought, his heart pounding not only with rage but with the love that fueled him.
In the aftermath of the chaos, as the rain mingled with the blood and debris, the Joker stood victorious, breathing heavily. He turned to Ivy, who rushed into his arms.
“Daddy!” she sobbed, clutching him tightly. “I was so scared!”
“I know, Ivy. But I’m here now. I’ll always be here.” He stroked her hair, feeling the weight of what they had just endured. “Let’s go home.”
As they walked away from the wreckage, Harley fell into step beside them. “You did good, Mr. J. Family first, right?”
“Always,” he replied, glancing down at Ivy, who was still shaking but now filled with relief. “Always.”
In the distance, the city glowed, a chaotic mess of light and life. The Joker might be an agent of chaos, but in that moment, with his daughter safe in his arms, he felt something deeper—a sense of purpose. And that was worth fighting for.
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