He Lived For Her~ A Joker Story

Chapter 53- ACE

~this chapter will be shorter than usual, but I'm putting up another one straight after guys! Get ready...~

-IVYS POV-

"Ivy...why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"

I pulled away from the embrace and stepped away from him.
"What?...what are you talking about?"

I looked in his eyes, and they were glazed by tears.
"Why are you still denying it?"

I looked down in shame, feeling under pressure.
"Look-" I mumbled, but I stopped myself when I noticed what he was doing.

I saw him lift up a towel what was next to the sink, and he picked up a small picture what was hiding underneath it.
It was the scan...
I felt my back pocket, and it wasn't there.

"How did you get that?" I growled, stepping backward in disbelief.

He dodged my question, then held the scan up next to his head between his index finger and middle finger.
"Is this my child, Ivy?"

"HOW DID YOU GET THAT!" I repeated louder.

"IS THIS MY CHILD?" Joker shouted back, pushing the scan in front of my eyes.

"YES! YES IT IS!"

He paused. He stayed silent for a while after my reply.
His eyes looked so...sad, but mixed with disbelief.

He looked at the picture of the baby in his hands for a couple of seconds, then finally spoke- not taking his eyes off the scan.
"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't" I said "not after you held a machine gun to that little girls head in Gotham"

He looked up...he looked hurt.
"Because of that!?"

"YES! BECAUSE OF THAT!" I shouted "THAT LITTLE GIRL WAS SO SCARED...I CANT GET HER FUCKING FACE OUT OF MY MIND"

I turned and headed out of the door, but joker followed me quickly, trying to grab my arm.

"LEAVE ME ALONE" I shouted, quickening my pace.

"LEAVE YOU ALONE? I JUST FOUND OUT IM GOING TO BE A FUCKING FATHER AND YOU WANT ME TO LEAVE YOU ALONE?"

"PRECISELY" I replied

When I climbed the stairs, I entered the bedroom and grabbed my jacket from the bed.
Joker burst in the door after me, still with the towel around his waist.

I spoke before he could.
"I'll ask again, HOW DID YOU GET THAT!?"
I looked down at the scan still in his hands.

"When you were on my back" he hissed, tightening his hold on the little picture "I slipped it out of your pocket. It was when I got in the shower I properly looked at it..."

I sighed deeply, holding my forehead with my hand.
I couldn't comprehend anything, it was too overwhelming.
Part of me was happy he knew...but a part of me wasn't. He was unpredictable at times.

"I need some fresh air" I mumbled, pushing past him and exiting the room.

"IVY!" He called, but I carried on walking down the hallway and back down the stairs.

Once I was outside, it was dark and rain was falling, but I got in the car, and drove.
I seemed to always drive away from my problems, but it just gave me chance to think.

As I drove out of the old driveway, i peered in my rear view mirror.
I saw Joker getting in his Lamborghini quickly.
He was wearing his purple trench coat, and his hair was roughly slicked back.

I speeded into Gotham, trying to get away from him. I wasn't driving away from him for escape, but because I just wanted somewhere to think on my own.

I drove into a part of Gotham I hadn't been into before. It was part of the old section, but some businesses resided there.

I glanced up at a large glowing sign, what was on top of a large factory.

"ACE CHEMICALS"

That name rang a bell...

And then I remembered Bruce telling me about Harley and Joker...he mentioned ACE chemicals...

I stopped the car outside the large building, and got out quickly.
I decided I wanted to inspect this place, and see if it would tell me anything about Joker, because he wasn't going to tell me anything anytime soon, although, I guess I haven't been so honest either...
I felt guilty about the whole thing, it ate away at me.

The front door was locked, but I noticed the back door was ajar slightly.

I didn't hesitate to glance inside slightly.
All I saw were stairs, and flickering lights.

"Creepy..." I mumbled to myself.

Suddenly, I heard the screeching of a certain car nearby.

"Ugh!" I hissed, stepping inside the building and shutting the door behind me.

I looked up and examined the stairs. They were the typical, zig zag factory stairway.
There were about three levels, but it seemed to lead to something...

I took my first step with caution, then took another. I held the railing as I did.

"Hello? Anybody here?" I called out, but I only received an echo.
I started to climb the stairs more quickly now, as I knew Joker would be here any minute.

Bruce had said Harleen "fell in ACE Chemicals", but what did that mean? Were these chemicals that bad? He also mentioned that Joker has had his encounters with these chemicals.

I started to become out of breath by the last set of stairs.

"You're so lucky, lil' dude" i joked, looking down at my baby bump "you get a free ride for 9 months"

I climbed my last step, and saw a ledge in front of me. It confused me for a second.

I walked cautiously to the end of it, then looked over.
I gasped at the sight of Chemical Vats. There was so many of them lined up in three's.

The liquid inside of them was an oily colour and consistency, with a hint of green. I also noticed steam rising from it.
The smell tingled my nose, the scent seemed toxic.

"What..?" I mumbled to myself unintentionally "what is this?"

"This is my sanctuary" a familiar voice spoke behind me.

My body froze. I couldn't believe my ears. I couldn't believe that voice.
I turned around slowly...I thought she was in the asylum...