One Bad Day

The Next Move

Joker's POV

All I wanted to do was stare at my daughter in my arms. I had wondered for months what she would look like. I wanted to memorize and trivialize every last inch of her. I wanted her image burned into my brain so deeply that no amount of shock therapy could ever erase it. I wanted to marvel at Lucy's creation. I wanted to revel in the joy I felt at becoming a father. It was nothing like I imagined it would be. I should have been given all the time I saw fit, hours, days, weeks even. Time should have been suspended and frozen for me. I should have been allowed a lifetime to take in my beloved daughter.

"I suppose she's an appealing specimen of newborn."

"I can't wait to teach her how to shoot! This is all so exciting!"

"Break her neck. Do it now. Save yourself."

But there simply wasn't time for that. Life had much different plans for me. I had to remind myself of the direness of our situation. Frost quickly reminded me that this safe house was compromised. Our chances of getting out of here with a favorable outcome, were slim to none. I had to pull it together and concentrate on saving my family.

"You can't save them you fool."

"But won't it be so much fun trying?! HaHaHa!"

"You can't have a normal life. You're far too weak now."

"J, it's not safe here, you have to take the baby and go. The Riddler's sent reinforcements. Is there any secret way out of here?" Bruce says gruffly.

"Listen to the Bat. Save yourself."

"No, I can't leave Harley," I shake my head with my eyes still locked on my Lucy. Honestly, I don't know if I was answering Bats or the voices.

"I can carry her," I hear him saying, but I just couldn't stop looking at Lucy. My entire world began and ended on her tiny face. Then he roughly grabs my arms, "J! Is there a way out of here?!"

I look up at him, still having difficulty taking my eyes from Lucy. "I...I don't recall," I was experiencing trouble focusing. I wasn't really sure which safe house we were at. I  look at Frost, "Is there?"

"Yeah boss, but it's just a crawl space. I'm not sure if the B-Man can even fit," he explains.

"Joker, how many men do you still have left?" Bruce asks me.

"Maybe twenty," Frost sighs. "Riddler has been picking them off one by one. We're definitely out numbered."

"Have the Riddler's guys made it to the roof?" Bats asks, his brain working a mile a minute.

"No," Frost shakes his head, "we've managed to fight them off but I don't know for how long."

Bats turns to me. "The roof is our only option. I have a remote activated drone but it can only carry two at a time."

"Ooooh, we get to see some of Bats toys!"

"Then J, Harley, and the baby should go first," Ivy says.

"Agreed," Bats nods and starts typing on this wrist pad he has. "The drone will be here in 12 minutes."

"But where can they go to be safe?" Frost asks. "I'm sure all of boss's hideouts have been compromised."

"Don't worry, they'll be safe where I'm sending them. It's completely off the radar. It's an underground compound that's 209 feet within a mountain. The mountain and a thousand acres belong to Wayne Enterprises. Only myself, Alfred, and Lucious Fox are aware of its existence. They'll be safe there until Riddler can be taken into custody."

"Custody?" I ask from the floor, looking from my precious daughter to Bats. "Do you think putting Riddler in Arkham is just going to end this little war? Do you really think that's going to stop him? If I disappear I might as well be writing him a bill of sale for whatever is mine. There is no running. If I run I lose all power."

"Now you're using that brain as more than a hat rack."

"But at least you'd have your life and your family," he looks at me intently.

"Yeah, you can be a normal family guy. Might be boring overall, but at least the kid will be safe."

"Do the math you idiots, you don't have that much money saved. It isn't like you can walk in a McDonald's and get a job. No one is going to hire us clown."

"And how long can I feed them before the money runs out? Humm?" I ask, "I'm not as rich as you Bruce. Without the jobs I pull I'd be bankrupt in a year."

Bruce looks at me a second and then looks down at his hands, "Joker, you haven't forgotten your promise to me, have you? You said that if I helped you..."

"You're actually considering keeping your word?"

"Fuck your promises, kill that Bat."

"I know what I said!" I quickly snap.

Soon we're both interrupted by Ivy, "Hey, I think Harley is coming around."

I push myself up, still safely holding my little bundle. Harley looks up at me with tears in her eyes. I knew she had to be in a massive amount of pain. We had absolutely nothing to help with it. She's tough, she can take it. Then her eyes honed in on the tiny bundle I was holding.

"Boy or a girl?" She weakly asks and reaches up to Lucy in my arms. I could tell how weak she was.

I smile and lay Lucy on her chest, holding her still, just in case Harley hasn't the strength to manage it. "Meet Lucy," I say softly and kiss her forehead.

She instantly starts crying in joy, "She's so beautiful Mistah J. She has your eyes. But is everything ok? Is she healthy?" Harley asks knowing she had been born about two months early. Still, she looks at her in awe, completely ignoring her pain.

"She perfect," I nod moving Harley's sweaty hair from her forehead. "Are you alright my love? Can you withstand the pain for now?"

She bites her bottom lip and nods. "It hurts real bad, but I can take it."

"We can't stay here baby," I stroke her cheek, "It's not safe. Riddler knows exactly where we are."

Harley's eyes find mine, "But moving me is a problem, right?" I nod, there was just no use in lying to her. "Then leave me. Save Lucy Mistah J."

"Great. It's decided then, leave her."

"No," Ivy speaks up, "Riddler wants me. He wants his serum back. I'll give it to him and then he will back off you guys."

"Yes, that's perfect. A sacrificial lamb."

"No Red! He'll kill you!" Harley blurts.

"She could be right Ivy," I say, "Riddler will be looking to make an example out of you."

"We hate the plant you idiot."

"So what? He can't resist my charms," she disagrees.

"No, he'll have found a way around that by now," I say, my focus still on my daughter. "We all go to Bats's safe house." And none of them question me. They all knew this was our only option.

"We should wait until dawn to make a move," Bats says, "The Riddler will be expecting us to move under the cover of night."

I knew Bats was right, but when did it all end? I just wanted to be at Ha-Hacienda, in bed with my wife, adoring our new addition to our family. But Ha-Hacienda is no more. Now it has been reduced to a pile of rubble and ashes. And soon every criminal in Gotham would know about the early arrival of my heir. What was I thinking when I thought I could actually protect my daughter and give her a real life? I'll never be able to protect her fully. And I can't bear the thought of losing her. I'd promise Bruce that I would go back to Arkham without a fight. But if I do, who will protect Lucy?