The Joker's New Pet

Yep once again lack of sleep caused me to write lol. I've been busy with work and stuff lately, so not much time to write. This chapter might suck but I'm trying to get the plot going because I'm anxious to write certain scenes that i have in my head but I need to get there first lol. As usual, a big thank you to all my reviewers. I hope this chapter doesn't suck too much!

**

Flashback…

Jack couldn’t believe it. In a manner of months he had developed an entire army. Rather, an entire army of followers had formed in his name without his knowledge and without any effort on his part. In the past, Jack had always doubted himself. It took years for him to gain the confidence he needed to even attempt a career in the performing arts. His rotten childhood had prevented him from truly believing in himself. He had already been through so much by the age of sixteen. Most normal people probably would have already given up at that point if they had been through what Jack had been through.

And to be quite frank, Jack was already close to reaching his breaking point by the time he had hit his late teens…and then he met Emma Mckinley. Emma had been an amazing supporter in Jack’s life and she had helped give him the confidence he needed to per sue his ambitions. “You have amazing leadership skills Jack. I think someday, others will see that too. I know they will. I have faith in you. Someday you’ll be a star. You’ll make it. I know you will. And then you’ll call the shots. You’ll be the leader and people will call you boss! I can just feel it!”

Emma’s sweet voice echoed in Jack’s head, now only a distant memory. “You’ll be the boss Jack.”

If she only knew.

Jack…the Joker, now had an entire army of minions scattered around the city. Perhaps Emma was right. Perhaps he really did have leadership skills. He always did have a charismatic voice that seemed to draw people in. Especially when he felt free. He recalled the times when he held a captivated audience in the palm of his hand. Only when he was performing onstage did he truly feel a sense of freedom. He talked and people listened. But offstage, he was always secretly stressed with a sense of insecurity. Secretly worried about keeping Emma happy. Secretly worried about putting food on the table and raising their future child. Jack had something to lose then.

Now he had nothing to lose. And it was only now that he felt true freedom, for a man can only be truly free when he has nothing to lose. His wife was dead, his future was destroyed and Jack Napier was no more. The Joker didn’t even have to bother going through his old files and erasing the memory of Jack Napier. The mob had already done that for him. It seemed like they wanted to make it appear as though Jack Napier never existed, or at least make it hard as hell to find out anything about him. The mob ran this town. They even ran the police. No matter. He didn’t want there to be any records of Jack Napier anyway.

Because the person who was overlooking the wealthy upper class neighborhood of Shadow Hills that night was not Jack. Jack was weak and Jack had no part in this tale anymore. Jack wouldn’t be able to kill, and this mission needed a cold-blooded killer. A killer with no remorse. A killer with nothing to lose. The Joker was in charge now.

The Joker casually leaned against a tall Douglas fir, glaring down at a large estate in the distance. He stood there with Croc and Marcus by his side, overlooking the wealthy community from a grassy hilltop. Shadow Hills could almost put the palisades to shame. It was on the opposite end of the city from where the palisades were and it barely even reached the city limits. It was on the very edge of Gotham, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, nestled snuggly up in the greenish mountains. Some argued that it wasn’t even a part of Gotham. It was quite a drive to get up there. But it was still technically a part of Gotham County.

“So,” the Joker’s voice spoke, almost eerily. It was a different tone of voice that even his own ears weren’t used to hearing, as if a certain personality had died and another was taking over. “This…is where the Biscotties live is it?” He put emphasis on the T and it almost sounded as though he had spat those words out with disgust.

“Yes sir,” said Marcus, showing clear enthusiasm. He was anxious for his sworn leader to come up with a plan, a wonderfully violent plan for revenge for he too wanted a piece of the Biscotties.

“Well then,” said the Joker casually. He reached into his inner pocket and took out a semi automatic then he cocked it with a look of determination washing over his painted face. “What are we waiting for? Hmm?” He stepped one foot forward, when something quickly grabbed his coattail.

“Wait!” Marcus’s youthful voice suddenly halted the Joker in his tracks. “M-Mr. J? What are you doing?”

“What’s it look like I’m doing?” the Joker grunted nonchalantly. “I’m going down there to take care of some business.”

Marcus blinked. “W-what?”

“See those two big balding chimps guarding the gate? We take them out first, uh, after we ask them nicely to let us in the gate of course. And then we, or Croc and I at least, blast our way through the whole fucking mob until I find that little prick and gut him like a pig,” the Joker looked over at Croc. “You have any problems with that Croc?”

Croc cocked his large machine gun, veins popping out of his massive muscles. “Heh. Nope.” Croc was always up for a good old-fashioned massacre, even if it was with one of the highest ranked mob names in Gotham. Perhaps not as big as the Falcone crime organization, but it was at least a close runner up.

Marcus kept clinging onto the Joker’s jacket. “But…but sir. We don’t even have a plan yet! If you go down there now it’s suicide!”

Marcus heard the Joker scoff. The Joker turned around and glared down at the boy. He leaned in closer to his face. “Does it look like…that’s a concern of mine?”

“But, but you have a whole army who you can devise a calculated plan with! You could…”

“Look kid,” said the Joker, cutting Marcus off in mid-sentence. “I’ve been trying to find that Joey prick for months. I know he’s in there. Now is the time to attack. I don’t care if I die doing it. As long as I get to watch the life slip out of that little prick’s eyes as he lies on the floor with his guts spilling out of his fat stomach, I know I can die a happy man. Now let go of my jacket if you please-uh.”

The Joker turned back around, and started walking down the large hill again. Marcus still tugged on his jacket. “But sir! Joker! You can’t leave us now! You’re our leader! You can’t…!”

Croc suddenly picked the boy up by the collar of his shirt, forcing him to let go of the Joker’s jacket and he tossed him on the ground. Marcus landed on the dirt floor with a grunt. “Boss said to let go of his jacket,” Croc snarled.

“But, but you can’t go now! You can’t…!”

“Boss, you want me to shut him up?” Croc grunted.

“Sh!” The Joker put a finger up. He had suddenly spotted something down below. “Marcus. Come over here and hand me those binoculars again.”

Marcus quickly jumped up and dusted the dirt off of his jeans. He reached into his own jacket pocket and pulled out a pair of binoculars. He trotted over to the Joker and handed them to him.

Without even looking at Marcus, the Joker took the binoculars from him. Peering through the binoculars he saw a cop car down below on the other side of the gate of the large estate. The two large suited guards wearing sunglasses talked to the two officers in the squad car. They appeared to be laughing and chatting it up for a few moments before the cops went on their way. The Joker tried zooming in closer, and he felt a pang in his stomach when he saw who was driving the Squad car. Officer Thomas Biscotti.

The Joker clenched his teeth so tightly together one could almost hear them cracking from the force. “I need, I need to follow that cop car,” the Joker growled in a dangerous voice.

Croc let out another thoughtful (or knowing Croc, an un thoughtful) grunt and Marcus stood anxiously next to the Joker, squinting to make out the cop car in the distance. The two large guards bid the cops a farewell and the enormous gate began to slowly open for the police vehicle to exit the estate. “It’s Officer Biscotti,” said Marcus.

The Joker only growled again in response, and as he watched the cop car slowly exit the driveway, his gloved hand quickly reached for the gun in his pocket. He was ready to aim for the cop car and just start shooting wildly. “Wait!” Marcus grabbed at the Joker’s arm. He was a lot weaker than the Joker of course, so he couldn’t stop him from whipping out his semi automatic. Within a fit of mad rag, he aimed for the cop car below. “Wait, wait! I know where they’re going! I’ll show you! Don’t! I’ll show you!”

Marcus breathed a sigh of relief when the Joker paused. He looked back down at Marcus, who could almost picture his furiously red skin underneath his makeup. “You know…where they’re going?” he hissed.

“Y-yes,” said Marcus, growing a bit nervous at the wild look in the Joker’s eyes. “I-I know a spot. A spot where the Biscotties go. My brother used to be involved with them, remember? I-I know places where they go. To make deals and stuff,” Marcus said speedily.

The Joker slowly lowered the gun. Croc sighed heavily, a bit disappointed and growing impatient. He was all ready to start shooting stuff and now it seemed like the Joker was having second thoughts because of some kid. “L-look. Just let me show you where they go. Better to keep doing what you’ve been doing. Knocking em off quietly don’t ya think? That way we can make sure we kill those bastards nice and painfully slow, and make sure we’re still alive to do it.”

The Joker looked at Marcus for a moment. Then a smirk slowly pursed his lips. “You’re too young to be thinking like this kid,” he snickered. “But…I can’t say that I don’t like it. Smart kid. All right then,” The Joker made dramatic gestures with his arms. “Show me where this…spot is. And they had better show up there. I’m getting way too antsy.”

Marcus smiled a little in relief. “Yes sir.”

The Joker couldn’t bring himself to admit that the kid was right. He was just so full of rage that he was having a hard time holding himself back from charging into that mansion and massacring the entire mob just to get his hands on that fat little toad. And for a moment, he really expected to die doing it, because nothing mattered to him anymore but revenge. But what was the point of charging in there like a maniac if he got pumped full of led before he even got to his enemy? The kid was right. Better to be patient. Don’t go too crazy just yet.

“Croc,” said the Joker, turning to the large man behind him. He could see the colossal disappointed look on Croc’s face. “Follow Marcus. Let’s go.”

*

The Joker was spoiling Stacey. That much was certain. Ever since she had been brainwashed, the Joker had been treating her like his own special little princess. Ordering gifts for her online under a ghost name. Video games, giant stuffed animals, even jewelry. And of course the Joker’s personal favorite, sexy lingerie. And now it was very clear to the Joker’s men that their boss was spoiling Stacey when he bought her a giant trampoline and had it set up in the middle of the living room, blocking their beloved Television set.

Normally, the opportunity to watch a young curvy female in a tight outfit hop up and down on a trampoline would be a treat for any heterosexual man. But the fact that they weren’t even allowed to look at Stacey the wrong way somewhat downgraded their enjoyment of it. And now they couldn’t even watch movies since the damn trampoline was in the way.

A group of large, gruff looking and aggravated men watched as Stacey jumped up and down on the trampoline, clad in her new harlequin outfit and giggling hysterically. Ace barked up at Stacey from the floor and wagged his little tail, obviously getting overly excited at the sight of the girl jumping up and down. He had a brand new purple collar on that the Joker had ordered for him, and he was growing at a rapid speed. It hadn’t been long since the Joker had given him to Stacey, and he had already sprouted a couple of inches.

“Daddy J look! I can almost touch the ceiling!” Stacey giggled.

The Joker was lounging in a recliner with an apple martini in his hand, enjoying the sight of his little pet having fun with her new toy. “Well you sure can angel dove,” he snickered. “Look, you’re almost flying! Like Supergirl!”

Stacey did a complete flip and landed perfectly on her feet. The Joker quickly set his drink down on the stand beside him and clapped. “Very good little bunny!” he cheered. He turned to his men. “That was good. Wasn’t it boys?” He turned to his men. They only grunted in return, some giving an effortless ‘yeah.’

“Well,” the Joker growled. “Then why don’t you *clap* for the lady?” His men quickly got the hint and immediately started clapping for her.

“Now,” the Joker said with an uncanny grin. “ Isn’t this great? We’re all just like…One. Big . Happy. Family!”

“Yes boss,” a chorus of obedient responses. Stacey continued to show off and do tricks for her audience.

*

“Now, now little bunny. Don’t let Ace sit on your lap! He’ll get hair all over your pretty new dress!” The Joker scolded as Stacey sat at the edge of the bed playing with her little puppy. The Joker had dressed her in an adorable short and childish pink dress, and he placed a pink flower in her hair to match.

“Aw J, but he’s begging to climb on my lap,” Stacey stuck her lips out in a pout.

“Well he’ll just have to wait because we have company coming over,” said the Joker. “You have a doctor’s appointment today my dear. A house call.”

“But I don’t feel sick.”

“But all little girls need their checkups,” the Joker smiled and tapped her on the nose. Inside he was cringing. He wasn’t looking forward to seeing the smug look on Crane’s face, but he WAS anxious to show off his new little pet. Not to feed Crane’s ego, but to show that he really didn’t need much of his help to completely brainwash her. Plus, part of him enjoyed showing off his pretty little creation. He might even make Crane a little Jealous. What man wouldn’t want their very own sexy little house bunny?

*

The Joker paced back and fourth, impatiently waiting for that annoyance to show up once again. Crane was always late. Just like most doctors who kept you waiting in their office for an hour after your scheduled appointment time. God he hated doctors.

Stacey was up in the room playing with Ace while the Joker waited eagerly by the front door. Finally the bell rang, and one of the Joker’s henchmen opened the door. The Joker prepared himself to give Crane an earful when he noticed that the man at the door wasn’t the masked buffoon he was expecting. Instead he was a professionally dressed balding man with glasses, holding a pen and a notepad in his hands. The Joker crinkled his nose for a moment then stomped over to the man and grabbed him by his necktie. “Who are you and where’s Crane?!” He growled.

The man flinched and adjusted his glasses. “Sir. If you would please let go of my necktie and act a bit more professional, we can complete this transaction without any trouble or liability on your part for injuries that have occurred on your property.”

The Joker blinked. He looked at the man like he had just come from outer space. “Liability…on…injuries on my property? What the… do you know who I am?” The Joker growled and tugged on the man’s tie some more.

“Indeed I do,” Said the man, adjusting his glasses again and never losing his professional demeanor. “My client is waiting outside. Now if you’ll please let go of my necktie, I have some papers here that my client wishes for you to sign before he agrees to complete this transaction with you.”

The Joker blinked again. He reluctantly let go of the man’s necktie. “Now then,” said the man, and he began flipping through the papers that were attached to his notepad. He handed them to the Joker along with the pen. “If you’ll read and sign here please.”

The Joker gave the man a nasty look then proceeded to read the paper. When he read the first couple of lines he immediately wanted to punch the guy along with Crane (as usual.) “What the hell is this?”

“Just sign the papers sir.”

The Joker grumbled and continued to read. It was a goddamn contract! He started grumpily reading it out loud.

“I The Joker, hereby swear from this day forward, blah blah blah, that I shall never lay a hand on Doctor Jonathan Crane again, yadda yadda. I solemnly swear to never hit, kick, punch, stab, or shoot Doctor Jonathan Crane nor will I raise my fists in anger in anyway, yadda yadda,” he mumbled through most of it. “I swear to never insult Doctor Jonathan Crane or speak to him in a rude manner,” He mumbled through it some more. “What is this ridiculous garbage? What are you his lawyer?”

“That’s exactly right sir,” Said the man, his face never changing expression.

The Joker laughed mockingly. “Oh you’ve got to be kidding me. Well this thing looks like it’s been written by a five year old who addressed it to his schoolyard bully, and not to mention the complete absurdity of it all. What’s he gonna do next, sue me? Ha! In case you didn’t know, I don’t exactly follow government laws anyway. In other words I’m not signing.”

“I’m afraid you have to sign sir, if you want to get the product that you ordered from Doctor Crane. Otherwise, to put it frankly in a professional manner, you’re S.O.L.”

The Joker made a few more noises that sounded like grunts, and something about wanting to pound Crane into bird food, and he angrily pressed the pen down hard on the notepad and sloppily signed a big J, then handed it back to the man. “There, happy? Now get him in here. I wanna get this over with.”

“Thank you sir. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go fetch my client so he can complete this transaction with you.”

The Joker growled as the man left. Then he waited until the lawyer showed up again, this time with four gigantic muscular bodyguards behind him. The Joker let out an annoyed sigh and rolled his eyes. “All right Crane,” he raised his voice since Crane was shielded by his guards. “I signed your damn paper, now just give me the goddamn drugs will you?”

Two of the large men moved aside, revealing Doctor Crane behind them. The Joker rolled his eyes yet again when he saw that Crane was wearing a neck brace and had his arm in a sling. “Seriously. I…I don’t know what to say. Now that I’ve signed your stupid little paper I can’t say anything because I really have nothing nice to say,” the Joker muttered.

“Well Joker. With the way you’ve treated me last time, I have to be cautious about my own safety,” Said Doctor Crane though the Joker could still sense a smile cracking in his face. “It would be a shame if I died at the hands of a clown. A quite embarrassing way do die if I do say so myself. Especially for a well respected Doctor.” The Joker had to keep himself from guffawing at that comment. “That’s why I’ve brought my good lawyer Mr. Bluestien here. He was also my criminal defense attorney when I was on trial. I can’t praise his work enough.”

“Wonderful,” The Joker said sarcastically. “Now where are the drugs?”

“Patience, patience,” Said Crane, his blue eyes dancing with condescending amusement. “I’d like to give the subject a checkup first.”

The Joker smacked his lips. “Get rid of the guards. Tell them to wait outside first.”

“Ah, now that would be quite the risk on my part. Especially when I’m in such a vulnerable state, you know, still suffering injuries from my last visit and all.”

The Joker sighed hard again. “Crane. I promise I’m not gonna hurt you this time. I just want one thing and then you can go. But I know you’re enjoying this aren’tchya?”

“Not at all, “ Crane smiled. “Hearing you call me and ask me for more drugs, practically beg me for more drugs with just your tone of voice after you so rudely threw me out of your home last time? No, I didn’t enjoy that at all,” Smiled Crane. “Especially thinking about the possible danger I was in if I came back here.”

“Do to the crippling injuries that my client received on his last visit to your residence, we believe it is best that the bodyguards stay put,” said the lawyer.

The Joker was biting his tongue. “Crippling….” he grumbled. “Alright. Don’t send the bodyguards out,” he snapped and then he turned and walked over to the stairs. “Stacey! Time to come down love!” He called up the stairs.

Up at the top floor the door to the bedroom opened and a pretty blond girl clad in a pink dress appeared. Doctor Crane raised an eyebrow almost forgetting how attractive the subject was. He immediately removed his neck brace and arm sling then handed it to his lawyer. “Coming daddy J!” Stacey said in a bubbly voice and trotted down the stairs. She hopped down and the Joker couldn’t stop himself from chuckling when she launched herself into his arms.

Doctor Crane ran a hand over his hair and adjusted his necktie. “Stacey, the Doctor is here to see you. Come and say hello to the…nice man,” he had a hard time saying the word ‘nice.’ With his arm around Stacey, he led her over to Doctor Crane. The Joker gave Crane another nasty look when he saw that he had removed his neck brace and arm sling.

Stacey looked up at Crane for a moment, and Crane smiled down at her, wondering if something in her brain would snap and she would remember him. But then she only gawked at him with innocent childlike eyes and she returned the smile. “Hello,” she said in a sweet voice.

“Well hello there pretty lady,” said Crane, eying her like a hungry wolf. “Such a pleasant surprise to get a patient so lovely,” he winked at her and Stacey’s cheeks turned a little pink. The Joker was biting his tongue so hard he started to taste blood.

Stacey looked at the four large men beside Crane and the other balding man with glasses. “Hello, who are all of you?” she asked.

Doctor Crane looked around. “Oh…these guys? Oh they’re just my…nurses. They travel with me incase there’s an emergency and I have to do…surgery at the patient’s home,” he smiled pleasantly down at her and he was pleased to see her face turning even redder.

“You’re…you’re not gonna stick me with any…needles are you?” Stacey asked with a hint of nervousness in her voice, like a little girl who was afraid of the Doctor.

Doctor Crane chuckled. “Oh no my dear. Not unless you need them of course.”

Stacey looked up nervously at the Joker who was using every ounce of strength he had to keep his vocal chords in check. “Daddy J…?

“No little bunny, don’t worry. No needles today. Doctor Crane just needs to check your pulse and prescribe you some medicine just to keep you healthy. We don’t want you getting sick again now do we?” He ruffled her hair.

“No sir,” said Stacey. The Joker hugged her against his body and Stacey cuddled him back. She looked back over to Crane, her mannerisms showing clear bashfulness. “Daddy J takes care of me. He saved me you know. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

Now it was Crane’s turn to bite his tongue. “Right. How sweet,” He looked at Stacey again and smiled. “Now dear. We need to check you out and make sure you’re all healthy. If you would just step into my office, which in this case would be your….daddy J’s bedroom we can begin.”

“That wont be necessary,” the Joker said quickly. “All she needs is some….medicine and vitamins. All you need to do really is, you know, the casual doctor stuff. Whatever it is you docs do and you can do that right here,” The Joker glared dangerously at Crane. The tension between them could be cut with a knife.

Crane smiled smugly at the Joker. “As you wish.” He motioned for Stacey to come forward a little, and he took out a tiny flashlight and checked her eyes. “Now say ‘ah!’ For me dear.”

“Ah!” Stacey opened up her mouth and stuck out her tongue allowing Crane to look at her throat.

Then he stuck the flashlight back into his Jacket. “She’s healthy as a mule,” he said. “Or in her case, a lovely white royal mare,” he winked down at Stacey again and the Joker could feel her nervousness as he held her by his side. His eyes pierced into Doctor Crane like daggers.

“Okay Stacey sweetheart,” said the Joker, gritting his teeth. “You can go back upstairs with Ace now. Daddy J needs to have a chat with the nice Doctor.”

“Yes sir,” said Stacey. “It was nice meeting you Doctor Crane,” she smiled politely.

“Oh believe me love. The pleasure was all mine,” Crane winked at her again. Stacey giggled, and then the Joker let go of her and she trotted back up the stairs.

Crane watched the childlike girl hopping back up the stairs in her skimpy formfitting pink dress. “Fascinating!” He said in astonishment. “Simply amazing what a little Crane powder can do.”

“Wasn’t all Crane powder,” The Joker corrected him with a grumpy voice. “I had a hand in making sure she remained that way.”

“Of course, of course,” said Crane, still holding a smug smile. He took out a small notepad and a pen and started to write on it. “Now to prescribe her some more of my…special medicine. How do you spell her name? Is there an E at the end or just a Y?”

The Joker let out an exasperated sigh. “Just give me the drugs. I have your cash.”

“Now, now Mr. J, I’d like to keep this legal. What do you take me for, some common drug dealer off the streets? No my good man, I’m a doctor and I would like to remain professional,” he grinned. “Oh and by the way. I only have so much with me that I can prescribe to her at this moment, so you’re probably gonna have to call and make another appointment with me in a couple of weeks.”

The Joker inwardly groaned.

*

Stacey was upstairs with Ace again when the Joker opened the door, a look of relief on his face. He was glad that was over with. He smiled at his little creation as she kicked her legs at the edge of the bed. “That was…Doctor Crane?” she asked.

The Joker raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”

“He’s…he’s handsome,” said Stacey innocently. The Joker wanted to puke.

“Of course he is,” said the Joker trying to hide the nastiness in his voice and his jealousy. “He’s a fairy,” Stacey looked at him wide eyed. “No, not that kind of fairy,” he chuckled at her innocence. “He’s a homosexual sweetheart,” Stacey blinked. “Meaning he likes men. Like the fellow who made your pretty outfits.”

“Oooh,” said Stacey.

“Yep. Why do you think all of his nurses were male?” The Joker went and sat beside her and stroked her hair. “I on the other hand, love women,” he grinned.

“Well you’re handsome too daddy J,” smiled Stacey. The Joker felt his black heart skip a beat. Even the Joker liked a compliment from a pretty girl every now and then. Hopefully she was telling the truth. Curse her for being so adorable!

But he had to stop letting her distract him so much. There was an event coming up in downtown Gotham soon, an event that the mayor was going to be at. And he just might want to take his little companion along for the ride this time. Mostly do to the fact that he didn’t trust leaving Stacey alone with his men anymore. Oh this was going to be…fun.

*

Okay I don't know why I made Crane such a cocky and comical character but I could just see there being tension between him and the Joker and a comical relationship lol. They are both Super villians after all so either one would probably stab the other in the back lol. R&R! It keeps me writing lol.