Jigsaw Puzzle || The Joker x Reader

➟ Chapter Two

After you spoke with Poison Ivy, a.k.a. Lillian Rose, you thought up a new plan. You made the decision that you were going to offer Joker a hand in crime and an easier escape for a place on his crew in return. You didn't care about the risks too much because the whole life you used to live was on the edge everyday. But before you were completely committed, you needed to talk to him.

You knew how criminals worked psychologically and there was no way you were just going off of files and records and intel from your underground network. You were ready to face The Joker with your old villain persona peaking out from under your professional face; not enough to be noticeable to others, but you certainly felt the shift in you, and you wanted to embrace it.

There was a possibility that he wouldn't recognize your name, and that was okay. If it went well, you would make him remember it. You knew the man wasn't one to be intimidated and violence that involved hand-to-hand fighting was not your thing morally (as hard as that is to believe), so your words were your best defence, but if he wanted to test you, there was nothing holding you back from breaking one of his bones.

You were in the trenches of the solitary confinement ward where they put only the most deranged criminals who were solely allowed out for therapy, then the rest was spent with them whispering back to the invisible voices. It was a poor attempt at ensuring The Joker didn't escape, but everyone knew deep down that nothing would stop him. Arkham Asylum was just a pit stop to the Clown Prince of Crime now.

"All right, I'll take it from here. You guys can go get lunch or a coffee," you ordered nonchalantly.

"No way, Doc," Aaron asserted. "This is The Joker we're guarding and we can't leave you alone with this one."

Aaron had been working at Arkham for close to ten years. He was promoted to Head of Security when the previous was killed by a patient. The two of you had a relatively decent relationship despite his advances. He was in his early thirties, so age wasn't the issue; it was the fact that he was too normal. You weren't into anything that related to the word.

"And I'm telling you that I can handle it," you replied firmly. "There is a panic button in the room, I'm advanced in martial arts, and he is chained up. This man will not harm me, I assure you both."

Aaron gave a concerned look to Jeremy until they simultaneously nodded in agreement.

"We'll be down the hallway," Jeremy stated.

Jeremy was young but tough. You didn't interact with him much, but he was an aggressive guard when needed and sometimes when not needed. It bothered you when he got a bit too rough with patients, but you didn't have the authority to call him off on it since it was his main job to handle them.

You watched them trail away from the room, then you entered with lingering anticipation, the clipboard with The Joker's file at your side. When you saw him, you couldn't help but feel pity for the heavy restraints they chose to put him in. The Joker's head was cast downward and he had silver chains around his upper body with his hands clasped behind his back and extra precaution with the same chains anchoring him to the metal chair.

"Hello, Joker," you said gleefully, closing the door and approaching your own chair across from him.

Joker's head tilted up and a sadistic smirk marred his painted lips. "Well, hello, Doctor. Might I say you are simply exquisite."

You pushed aside your hair as you sat down and held his predatory gaze. "Thank you. I take that as a compliment."

"Do you?" he challenged. "Then why don't you let me out of these chains and we can get better acquainted?"

You chuckled humorously. "That would be counterproductive, would it not?" you asked rhetorically. "Besides, I think we both know that you're capable of getting out of them yourself."

Joker flicked his tongue. "If you know me so well, then tell me, beautiful, why did you send the guards away? That's a dangerous move on your part."

"I can handle you myself," you answered confidently.

"Really?"

Suddenly, Joker jerked forward, his hands that had already been freed behind his back reaching out for you. You reflexively pushed away from the table. Your chair scraped against the floor as you stood and your hand went into your coat to retrieve your pistol that ended up only a centimeter away from Joker's forehead. It was the only thing that made him freeze.

"Yes. I can handle you myself," you growled. "For further interactions, I'm not a fan of violence that doesn't involve weapons."

"Who are you, Doc?" Joker inquired cautiously, sitting back in his chair.

You cocked the chamber of the gun back. "Someone who will not hesitate to put a bullet through your head if you try to do that again."

Joker's smile widened as if he approved of your attitude. The black color around his eyes seemed to grow darker as he stared at you, but you weren't nervous when you had a gun in your hand. If you were in a room without a weapon, it might have been a different story.

"So, tell me, are you a real doctor, or just posing as one to get something from me?"

You lowered your gun to your side. "I'm as real as my threats, so very," you responded cheekily. "But I do have a proposition that you may find interesting."

Joker fiddled with the chains around him as he studied you from head to toe. He was searching for the sincerity in your words or if this was a test of some kind, but all he found was the genuine truth. You carried yourself like a soldier that was bred to fight. You held your gun like it was the hand of a trusted friend. Your eyes were steel orbs of anything but fright--something The Joker was not used to.

Joker gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."

A knock on the steel door interrupted the impending conversation and you swiftly put your gun back in the hidden inside pocket of your coat. You saw Joker put his arms back in the chains just as the door was opened and Aaron poked his head inside.

"Time's up," he said gruffly before disappearing once more.

"I'm sorry we had to end this so soon," you apologized in your professional voice as you gathered your supplies.

"What's your name, Doc? You can't leave me hangin'," Joker questioned darkly.

You grinned and gave him a look that could kill as you began to exit the room.

"(Y/N) (L/N)."

The Joker slipped from your view, but the last thing you caught sight on his painted face was a faint look of disbelief.