Le Joker

005

"No! Nani, wear this!" Artemis yelled out, watching her sister get ready. It was finally the eve of her 18th birthday, and though her baby sister was scared, she was excited for the one day of the year that she could help Nani pick out her outfit.
    
Nani looked at the short red skirt and long sleeved, white lace shirt, "Artemis, where did you even get those clothes?" She said as she sat on the floor in her undergarments, hair still wet from her shower.
    
Instead of answering, the little girl sat the clothes on her big sister's lap, and rushed to her room to come back with crisp white shoes, "They're a birthday present." She said happily as Nani took the shoes. Knowing that her family had gotten her the clothes as a gift, Nani decided to wear them, despite the fact that she had to walk to school with a five year old on her back. Not to mention P.E. But if this is what they wanted her to wear, then she would wear it.
    
Nani knew this day was really for her family. So she put the outfit on with a smile on her face, and actually listened to the talk and warnings of Jerome Valeska during breakfast.
    
With Prince on her back and Artemis and Michael holding her hands, Nani stopped at the crude space they called a doorway for her mother's kiss on the cheek. She could see the nerves all over her mom's face, so she leaned her forehead against hers, "I'm gonna be fine mom. I promise."
    
Wiping a tear from her face, their mom kissed Nani's forehead, "Just be careful okay? Once this day is done, we don't have to worry about Jerome Valeska for a long time." Nani nodded, getting sad as her mom wrapped her in a hug, tears steadily flowing down her face, "Please come home to me tonight Nani. I'm serious." She whispered into her daughter's skin, trying to memorize the lavender scent that had fortunately plagued her since birth.
    
"I will, Mama. We gotta go, but I'll see you later okay? Tell Daddy we said we'll see him later." She said, reluctantly walking away. Everything in her wished that she could just stay home so her mom could know she was going to be safe all day, but she also wanted to show her family that they had nothing to worry about. Jerome Valeska was a tall tale. Someone made up to take the fall for Gotham's destruction.

    
Nani heard a wolf whistle on her way to school, the whistle surprising her so much she almost threw little Prince off of her back. Turning around, she saw Bryce and his brother Turner jogging to catch up to them.
    
"Look at who's all spruced up. Hey birthday girl." Bryce said once he reached her side. Nani smiled, rolling her eyes, "It's not my birthday yet Bryce. Hey Turner." She continued walking, chuckling as Artemis stared at Turner. With his bright green eyes and the dimple in his right cheek, Nani couldn't deny him being handsome, but Artemis didn't seem to understand that you don't stare at someone when you find them handsome.
    
Bryce raised an eyebrow, "We go through this every year Nani. According to me, you have three birthdays. The day before, the day of, and the day after. Now why are you fine with wearing this outfit, but not the one me and Turner got you?"
    
Prince answered before Nani could, excited to converse with Bryce, also known as his role model. "It's for her birthday! We all got it ourselves." Now Artemis joined in, the little kids always answering questions for Nani before Nani, "Doesn't she look pretty?" Prince nodded in agreement, but Romeo kicked at a rock, "I think Mama wanted her to get a boyfriend before school ended so someone could fight off Jerome Valeska if he attacked her."
    
At that remark, Nani cut off the responses, "Hey! Romeo, stop. Now I want you to take it back and apologize for making your brothers and sister anxious." The little boy apologized and resumed his walking. Bryce spoke up to ease some of the tension, "You don't need to worry about that Romeo, your sister already has a big strong man to take care of her."
    
The boy chuckled at Bruce's silliness, "My dad won't be able to go up to your school and help Nani Bryce." Turner laughed at that, making Artemis resume her staring, "I'm pretty sure he was talking about me big guy. Don't worry, you're sister's in good hands with me." Romeo just just looked at Nani, "I trust my dad better."
    
None of them could hear it, but in the shadows, someone chuckled. "He wouldn't be able to stop me either, kid."

     When they got in front of the elementary school, Nani kneeled for Prince to slide off of her back. They all stood in a line in front of Nani, "Okay, now you know what to do if anyone teases Michael about his teeth?" They all nodded. "And if anyone picks on Prince or Artemis?" They all nodded again. "And if someone picks on Romeo or seems too big to deal with?"
     They all nod again, but Romeo speaks up again, his light brown eyes looking sad, "I don't want you to have to fight today Nani. It's almost your birthday. And you're dressed nice. And what if Jerome comes after you right after you beat them up? You'll be too tired to fight Nani." By now, tears are sliding down the boy's cheeks.
     Nani feels another rush of sadness as she pulls him into a hug, "I don't have to fight for you guys Romeo. I want to. And don't worry, if Jerome Valeska does try anything, I'll kick his butt. And if I am too tired, I have these two big, strong guys with me okay? Nothing can keep me from you guys." Saying this, she releases her brother and wipes his tears away with her sleeve.
     One by one, her siblings all gave her a hug and begged her to be careful, Prince rubbing at the short curly hair on the back of her head, "Don't let him hit your head Nani. Your hair's all gone." She chuckled and kissed his forehead, "I know Prince. Don't worry about me today okay? I'll see you after school."
     Once they all reluctantly run inside, Nani stands straight up and dusts herself off, "Come on, big strong men. School is ten minutes this way."
     They were halfway to school, joking and laughing when a knife went through Turner's stomach. Immediately, Nani shoved Bryce forward, "Run Bryce! Go get help!" He went to object, but when he saw his brother drop to the ground and Nani screamed at him again, he ran. He'll never admit that another reason he ran was because he saw him.
     He'd always thought whether Jerome Valeska was real or not, guys would be safe from him, but as he looked at the smile of the man lifting Nani by her waist, he knew his options were get help for his brother, or die and help no one.
     As he ran, Nani kicked and punched at the figure with it's arms wrapped around her. Tears flew down her face as she thought about how her family would react. At the thought, she began to punch and kick harder, but it was like she was hitting a rock wall.
     Nani got frustrated, knowing there were other people who were taking the same route as her and Bryce to school, but, there seemed to be no one around. The figure got tired of Nani's wriggling and hit her over the head, knocking her out, "He warned you about that head of yours Baby Girl." The figure chuckled as he carried Nani away.