Melted Gold

Gratitude

He was thankful for the warmth of the pub, crammed in a corner in a dusty old trench and his hands wrapped tight around a cup of coffee. He was thankful for the trench that he bought of a peddler for his nice jacket, it kept him hidden right in the open. He was thankful for the thick rimmed hat he stole from Gordon, not quite sure yet if he would give it back, but the hat did wonders to hide his hair and face. He was thankful for the gloves he dug out of the trash hours ago to hide alabaster hands. He was a ghost, completely unnoticeable as he drifted from place to place.

He was most thankful for the night shift, allowing him to huddle in the corner with his coffee and french-fries, ones he actually paid for. He shivered, he had a lot to be thankful for while the cold outside became more and more bleak, powdered snow beginning to dust along rooftops and street sides. Soon the city would be as perfect white as he was.

Joker rubbed his hands together, he couldn't really feel the cold anymore, his chemical dip years ago had numbed him from the elements while also keeping him in a constant amount of sharp pain. Pins and needles dancing up his legs and through his nervous system, feeling much like the radio static behind the bar. Every morning a familiar voice whispered along the empty station to hand out what little clues he had to the whereabouts of old friends, and new enemies, and this morning was no different.

"Roses are Red

The Streets are Two

The Queen Stands Guard

And her Knights Love you..."

The voice was eerie and hushed and hard to hear, but Joker could catch a pin drop in a night club if he had too. He finished his meal and left what little coin he could spare for the waitress, it wasn't very often that he would wander his way into the unofficial red district of Gotham, but he knew of someone that fit Riddler's description.

He was walking into a lion den, and he hoped their Queen was hospitable.

~~~

Sometimes you had to pay for what you need, and when you didn't have money, well, you used what you had to get it. Joker had cash on him, he was lucky, but the ladies of The Ally were less fortunate. Some as young fourteen could be seen draped over cars and hustling Johns for their next meal. Joker paid the girls no mind, he was after their leader.

She had many names, this woman, some called her Queen, others called her Red, but these girls, these poor orphans, street rats and throw-aways...

They called her Mama.

And Mamas don't come soft. Mama was tough, with a tongue that could kill a man and an ass that would make them apologize for wasting her time. She had thick red curls that swam down her shoulders and over generous cleavage. Her sharp eyes as blue as Joker's were green and thick full lips painted black. She was a real knock out, and Joker knew she would claw anyone's eyes out who dared look at her, or her girls the wrong way.

Mama was a lioness, and she protected her cubs from danger.

"What are you here for?" Mama snapped, tapping pretty red nails against the old, worn table. Joker flashed her a couple bills and put them down between them, "What you payin' for, Doll?"

"Information," Joker drawled and watched his cash vanish down Mama's top, "Anyone suspicions been lurking around?"

"Besides you?" She asked, adjusting herself and crossing her legs, tight jeans highlighting all her assets, "A couple, no more than usual."

Joker hummed and traced some cracked in the wood, letting his fingers dance and play, hopping from one track to the next much like his brain was doing. His thoughts jumped from one idea to idea, hopping and skipping like a rabbit and suddenly he had a thought.