The Joker Made Me Do It

Chapter six

Even through my giggling through, I had to think. 'Can I really trust these people? I know they're billionaires and all... On tv they look so kind, but I don't know what goes on here...' I was beginning to get nervous. I could feel a laughing fit on the rise. A mental break down was coming for me. 'Oh wait. I already am insane.' I cackled away.

Dick put a hand on my shoulder. "What's so funny?" He smiled. I knew he was trying to be nice, but he didn't understand. Then I abruptly stopped.

"Why aren't you scared of me? My face?"

He shook his head and his face became serious. "Should I be?" He stared straight at my scars, then looked over my arms, his eyes wandering on each scar that had once been slits oozing blood out of my skin. He couldn't see the ones on my belly or legs though. Those were the worst. He touched my arm for a moment, letting his hand slide down it, caressing each damned scar.

I shivered, but not because I was cold. It felt nice. No one had touched me so gently in too long. He sensed my shiver and lifted his hand away. He noted to himself how dangerously thin I was and called for Bruce.

Bruce walked into the room a minute or two later holding a bowl of soup and some water. 'Great.' I thought. 'Here comes Mr. Pole-up-my-ass.' I laughed at that comment. His face no longer held worry on it, but a stubborn look on anger which he was clearly trying to hide, but was doing an awful job doing so.

He sat the soup in Dick's hands and out the water on the nightstand next to the bed.

"I've got her." Dick said to Bruce.

He looked at the two of us for a moment, thinking and then said, "Okay. I'm going to the...study. I have some things to do." His voice was low and monotone almost. Dick nodded and Wayne left the room.

Dick took the spoon from the soup and got a small spoonful, raising it to my face. 'Jesus, how much of a loser does he think I am. I can handle my own goddamn soup.' 'Well you are a loser aren't you?' 'No. You're the loser.' There I was again acting like an idiot. What ever.

I grabbed Dick's wrist and stopped him from reaching the spoon to my mouth. "I think I've got this myself, Dick. I'm not a baby."

"Okay, okay." He assured and handed the spoon to me.

'Okay Claire. Just lift the spoon. You can surely do that. You haven't been cooped up that long...' The spoon started to shake as my hands trembled. They always did when I ate food, especially in that little box. The soup started to spill over the blanket. 'Okay... Maybe I can't. God I hate myself so much.'

I frowned and Dick took the spoon from me. He snorted with a quick "ha" and dipped the spoon into the bowl to get another spoon full.

"Wait." He looked at me in curiosity. "I have to go to the bathroom."

He nodded and set the bowl on the nightstand along with the water. I kicked the blanket off of me the same way I did that first night with the Joker. I shuddered at the thought. 'I hate him, I hate him, I hate him. Claire, you hate him!!' My eyes were wide with fear and Dick could sense it. I must've been shaking because he held onto both shoulders.

"Hey, it's okay." He told me reassuringly. I turned on the bed to get up and pushed myself up with quaking arms. I immediately collapsed back onto the bed. Scolding myself, I tried again with no better results.

"Let me help." His arms snaked around my waist and I shuddered. "Claire, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help."

I looked at him with a scowl on my face. "You know what? I have a question for you! How the hell did you even find me? Batman found me, and that Robin guy! Why in God's name would they bring me here?"