Le Joker

001

Nani pulled her tired figure up from the thin mattress. Soon sunrise would illuminate the ruins that were once a bustling Gotham City and her father would rush to work while her mother coddled a new cooing baby boy.
    
Looking through the cracks on her wall, Nani could already see her peers heading to school. She jumped up and showered, preparing her three little brothers and younger sister.
    
Once everyone was ready for school, Nani smoothed down her short, curly hair and kissed her parents each on the cheek. The walk was a grueling one to the little ones. With one on her back, and two holding her hands, Nani stepped over rubble and debris.
    
Her younger sister, Artemis, hopped over large rocks, a tight grip on her sister's hand, "Nani? Shouldn't you be at home?" Nani looked down at her sister, a spitting image of her tall, rugged father, "Why would I be at home? If I stayed home, who would take you little rascals to school huh? Your brains would fry and apple trees would grow in your bellies due to lack of education."
    
All of her siblings startled at that. The youngest boy, on her back, Prince, held on to her tighter, though a smile was on his face, "I would love that. I would reach right in my belly and have an apple... I want an apple." He said wistfully. Nani patted his ankle, "I'll get you an apple soon. I promise. It'll be the biggest, most beautiful red apple you've ever seen. And I'll get you your very own."
    
Artemis didn't care about the apples though, and expressed it, "No. I don't want apples, Nani! You're gonna be eighteen in five days! Mama told us that Jerome Valeska is looking for a girl this year."
    
Another one of her brothers, Romeo, spoke up, "Yeah. I could walk everybody to school. I am gonna be ten soon." Nani smiled at her siblings, all so caught up in a silly story. "I know big guy. Double digits. You will have to protect these guys at school, but I'm not worried about Jerome Valeska."
    
Little Prince on her back spoke up again, "Yeah! Nani's too tough. She would kick his butt! Wouldn't you?" The sun was just rising as the siblings approached Gotham City Elementary School. "All the way to high heaven kid." She said kneeling so he could scramble off of her back and onto the ground. "Now, everyone, be good. Romeo, make sure if anyone messes with Michael about his missing teeth, you do what I showed you." The oldest of her younger siblings nodded, "Sucker punch, right in the mouth." He said, swinging his fist.
    
Michael, who was only seven frowned, "I wanna do it." Nani faced him, talking his little chocolate face in her hands, "Romeo's bigger okay? It's safer for him to do it. But if anyone picks on Prince, you can punch them, right in the kisser." The frowning boy smiled, "Promise!?" Their sister nodded, "Promise," They all tried to run off into the building, but Nani called out to them, "Hey!" They all stopped to face her, "And what do you do if someone looks to big?"
    
Michael smiled, revealing his missing front teeth, "I run out of class, to your school and come get you." Nani smiled, "And what will I do?" Little Prince swung at the air, "You're gonna kick their butt!" Nani laughed, "That's right, and hey, Jerome Valeska isn't gonna get me anytime soon." She said, to them before kissing all of their heads and heading to school herself, hoping she wouldn't have to get into a fight today.