I was pacing along the shiny mahogany floor, Ricci watching me cautiously from the corner of the room.

"I told you. He won't turn up. He makes the plan, not anyone else." I tapped the gun against my hand, annoyed.

"He'll turn up. After all, I'm beautiful." I flashed my best smile at Ricci, whose eyes dropped to the floor. He had given me a white lacy dress, and I had braided my hair back and touched my lips up with pink gloss. "And I was the Joker's property. I'm high stakes. I'm valuable." 

"I don't understand. Why would he want you when he knows you come with...with strings attached?"

"I was the King of Gotham's Queen. If I'm with this guy...what's his name?"

"He calls himself Champ."

"Right, if I'm with Champ then he's the King of Gotham. He's the best." Ricci nodded slowly. I pursed my lips. He would come. I was sure of it. Just as the thought was in my mind there was a heavy knock on the door. The atmosphere changed completely. I motioned to Ricci to open the door, and placed myself in the middle of the room, the beautiful centre piece. He shimmied over to the door, unlocked it and pulled it open, cowering behind the door.

'Champ' stood in the hallway, tall and arrogant, wearing a suit with three gold chains draped down his chest. His hands were laden with diamond and gold rings, and his hair was slicked back and unmistakably brown. His eyes were black, staring at me from across the room, his eyebrows tilted down into a slight frown. I had no idea if he was happy to see me or not. He stepped forward, and I was silent. I knew who was boss here. Or I let him think that.

"Give me some, babe." His voice was honey smooth and low, a grin starting to stretch his lips. He opened his arms wide, and I giggled and ran forward, mashing my lips against his. They were cold and smooth, no metal to feel behind those lips. I felt nothing. No, that was wrong. I felt numb to all emotion. He wrapped his hands behind my back and pulled me tighter, so our bodies were together.

"You take things fast Champ!" I smiled sweetly and he smiled back. His eyes were cold and dead, empty. 

"How could I not? You're mine now." He lowered his voice to a rough whisper. "Remember that." I bit my lip, trying my best to look seductive at this repulsive man who smelt intensely of deodorant and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on. 

"Oh, I'll always remember that. I'm yours. Can we...get away? I wanna get back to Gotham." I ran my hand down his chest, sliding my hand over his creaseless shirt. I could feel Ricci's disgusted stare on me, but didn't look his way. Champ grinned and kissed my neck. Hurry the hell up. Get your goddamn lips off of me.

"God I love being King. And I love you, Joker trash." I flinched at that, but swallowed my discomfort and smiled. 

"So you have a house in Gotham?" He smiled back.

"I have ten, babe." He let me go and turned to Ricci, who shrunk back against the wall. We are friends, I remembered him saying. This didn't look very much like friendship to me.

"Ricci! I...I would like to thank you...for providing the means to this gorgeous woman." He looked and motioned to me. Ricci nodded. "And if you don't mind, we shall leave now. I got what I wanted. Goodbye." He grabbed my wrist and practically dragged me out the door, like I was a dog to him. I looked at Ricci as I went. Funny how I had been holding a gun to his head only a few hours ago. Goodbye I mouthed, as we stepped out into the cold, open air. 

The first thing I noticed was that there was nobody there. Even that woman who I had killed, her body wasn't there. There wasn't even a speck of blood on the ground to remind me of what I had done. 

The second thing I noticed was the huge helicopter hovering just inches off the ground. Champ was gripping my hand hard, his rings digging into my skin. I winced and he turned to me and grabbed my face.

"Come on gorgeous. Let's get you home." I nodded, miserable under my bright fake smile, and we ran to the helicopter together, the King and Queen of Gotham.