Arkham Days

The room seemed to hush as we entered together, and I couldn't tell whether it was the clown's ominous presence that quieted the others or the gleam of the chain tinkling between us that drew their attention. I imagine it was a bit of both. I kept my head turned from my new 'chain and ball', scanning the room desperately for someone who could either pick a lock or was holding one of those easily accessible tranquilizer guns. I could find neither. I felt a light tug on my wrist as the Joker led the way through the room. Hard to believe only moments ago the psychotic Dr. Quinn really sentenced us to a hard 24 hours of "quality time". This was ridiculi-----!!!!



"What the crap?!" I looked up from my new location pulling my face out of the Joker's back. Honestly, I needed to start paying attention to where I was going; running into peoples backs was becoming a bad habit. I didn't really have to look around though as I felt a large being blocking out the over head lights.



"Holy Croc…" I muttered my head craning up to get a better view at the scaly giant. What I assumed to be a smirk caused his lips to part in an odd manner, giving us front row seats to the scariest set of razor sharp teeth on earth. As frightening as it was it was almost reassuring, well to me I guess, given the light chill I felt run unconsciously through the Joker's back I was almost sure this was not who he had wanted to run into. I light chuckle rang from Croc.



"Now now, ah, big guy," The Joker's words were teasing, but his voice remained low and serious.



"Didn't you hear? Doc's orders." He lifted their wrists dangling the chain in Croc's eyes. "There will be, ah- tuh-rouble if you interfere with it."



Croc stood there doing nothing more than laughing, as the Joker began to push by him dragging me along with him. I felt Croc wrap his massive arm around me holding me in place. With out warning Croc grabbed the lack in the cuffs and slammed his fist full force into the Joker's face. I felt a light pull as the clown slammed to the ground, Croc's grasp on the cuffs kept me from feeling like my wrist was going to be dislocated, and from me tumbling to the ground with my 'cuff-mate'. I could hear the run and shout of the guards behind us calling after Croc to 'back away'.



"Not so fast now are you? Not with an anchor." He squatted down mocking the clown. "Not the smartest move on your part." Four of the guards pointed their guns at Croc ordering him away from me and the now blood gushing Joker.



"Starting fights again, Croc?" One of the guards seemed more aggressive as he shouted and began poking Croc's head with the tip of his gun as Croc fought and growled. "It's back into solitary for you!"



"He didn't start it!" It burst from my mouth before I could stop it. The guards looked over at me. One of the guards walked over to me, Jonas, a guard I was actually familiar with, pushing his gun down to his side and waving to the others to hold on.



"Let's hear it, Crow." He shifted in spot waiting for my explanation.



"He-uh, he just came over to see if I was alright!" I wasn't the best at lying, but I was practically the nun of Arkham Asylum I had never lied before so I hoped maybe they'd believe me. "Then the -uh-," I tried not to look as the Joker climbed to his feet glaring me down, a hand darting out to wipe the blood that was gushing from his nose and down his chin away. "um, Joker got in his face and took a swing at him, and uh, Oh! He threatened me too! Croc was only defending himself, and me." The guard look at me a moment, clearly not buying the story entirely, but I guess he decided to go with it because after a moment he turned around waving the guards up and letting Croc back to his feet.



"This is the only warning you get Croc." He lifted his finger to make the point further. "You get into anymore fights, no matter what the circumstances you're in the box." He turned back to us eyeing the Joker suspiciously. "You two stay in this room. I come back and you're gone, I put you in the box. I'm going to talk to the new Dr. Quinn."



I had always thought Jonas was a kind of cool guy but his decision making, and obvious dislike of the Doctor officially made him the coolest guard in the Asylum. I followed behind as the Joker furiously made his way to one of the couches a guard following close behind and Croc not much further behind. The Joker made his way to the end where he drug me down on to the couch with him reaching out as one of the guards tossed him a box of Kleenex. His mouth was set in a definite line, there was no doubt in my mind he was unbelievably pissed, and that the majority of it was directed at me. The tissue smeared the blood across his face, red seeping into the cracks of his face. Though his head was set determinably straightforward, his eyes were glaring at me from the corners.



"Here," He tossed the box into my lap. "How about a little bon-ding." I rolled my eyes turning towards me, jerking a tissue from the box. Placing them against his face I began to cleaning the blood away from his face.



"See?" He forced through his lips. "Isn't this nice bonding?"



"Oh ya," I muttered. "It's freaking wonderful." I accented the words with a not so gentle rub against his cheek. He grimaced lightly his hands reaching up to pull mine away from his face.



"That was quiet the stunt you pulled." He growled. "I can't wait till we're alone to repay you."



"It was worth it to see Waylon knock the hell out of you." I spat.



"We'll see how 'worth it' you think it is when the guards aren't watching." The Joker leaned in closer his blood smeared nose gently grazing mine before I felt the couch shift and a large grayish tail swing down between us.



"Like you'll get that chance." Croc scuffed putting his arm between us helping further define the barrier between the Joker and myself. I grinned turning to look up at my new 'buddy' as he snuggled in closer. I could feel the joker struggling as Croc's massive body squished him into the arm of the couch.



"Croc! Slide." One of the guards yelled gesturing the way he was to slide.



"Oh geez, my bad." He snickered. "Sorry Clown."



I couldn't help it. I was so happy at the Joker's light torment, the torment I had previously received, that I wrapped my arms around what I could of Croc's abdomen and squeezed in an attempt to hug. I felt Croc's back still a moment, and I looked up to catch his eyes dancing from side to side scanning the area. Then a light motion he brought his finger quickly up to his cheek tapping it lightly. I laughed rising up on my knees feeling the chain rattle from the other end. Well, I didn't have anything else of worth and it seemed only fair that I reward the man who was making this making my time with the Joker enjoyable, so I puckered my lips and gave him a kiss where his finger had previously been tapping. I laughed squatting back down as a few cheers came from the once again active card tables, and as Waylon's tail gave a few light swishes.



"Now that's not fair." I looked up to see Scarecrow, Crane, standing in front of me his arms crossed.



"He earned it!" I laughed back.



"I didn't? Who do you think sent him?" He crossed the few steps towards us. He leaned in towards me, mocking Croc, bring his finger up to tap his lips. I smiled leaning in ready to kiss him, when a scarred hand jolted out covering his mouth and pushing him back, causing his to crash onto the floor. I felt my arm extended out as the pull of the chain led to a standing and heaving Joker. I felt the Croc rush to stand, but I managed to keep him seated.



"Don't move." I whispered. Croc was in the last fight, if he was accused in this one he'd be sent away for the next 24 hours. The Joker turned back to me smoothing his hair back grinning.



"Well things haven't gone aaaaccording to plan, but I plan to fix that." He grabbed my arm pulling me swiftly from Croc while he moved to help Jonathan from the floor. Cackling madly, I heard the Joker yell.



"Somebody call the Doc!"