Me: Updates are going to slow down
Also me: Here's a new chapter a day later hehe

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"Don't be afraid of your fears. They're not there to scare you. They're there to let you know that something is worth it."
—C. JoyBell C.

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"Wha-t are you afraid of?"

"Y-You, sir." The man stammered, cowering against the cool brick wall as he pulled his knees to his chest.

"Oh?" Joker sang, the word tumbling from his lips in the form of a slight giggle as his lips contorted into an "o" shape. "And what about me seems to frighten you, kind sir?"

"You're the fucking Joker, I don't know!" The man added, his hands beginning to violently shake as Joker's gaze lingered on his printed t-shirt.

"I-uh, just have one question for yah, pal."

His eyes grazed the bat symbol on the strangers shirt, the violent purple switchblade held tightly in his clutch as he fell to a crouching position. The man began to shake harder, backing further into the wall as Joker became eye-level with him.

"Where's the Bat-man?" Joker's tone shifted, transforming into a dark and menacing sound that nearly made the man piss himself in fright.

"I-I don't know—"

"If you don't know, then why do you wear tha-t shirt, hmm?" Joker exploded, rising to his feet once again to tower over the cowering individual.

"He's my hero."

The mans blood ran cold when a taunting chuckle fell from Joker's scarred, painted lips. It was husky, deep, and most of all... mocking.

"Ha ha ha aha aha." Joker rasped, tracing the deep crevice of his lip with the tip of his tongue.

"Your hero?" He became eye-level with the man once again, arm outstretched as the blade set mere inches from the strangers nose. The man let out a fit of fearful tears in response to the proximity of the knife.

"Wha-t kind of hero doesn't even show up to save you, huh? Say, the Bat-man hasn't even shown his face in what, nine months–?"

"Everyone thinks he's a criminal because of you!" The man spat, his cheeks flushing bright red as anger boiled in his veins.

Joker's expression brightened, an amused grin plastered on his paint masked face as he let out an additional haunting chuckle.

"Your hero killed Harvey Dent. Did'yah know about that, bud?"

"I don't believe it. Harvey could've easily killed himself." The man swiftly defended.

"Why don't you kill yourself, hmm? Better to do that than to worship a-uh, false idol."

"Leave him alone."

Joker's heart stopped cleanly in his chest, an abundance of goosebumps immediately littering his skin underneath his theatrical purple suit as he slowly climbed to his feet. With a simple twist of his heel, the madman's gaze settled upon none-other than Batman, dressed in his usual blacked-out attire, eyes dark as he glared in Joker's direction.

"Oho, look whose finally come out of his cave." Joker taunted, his feet shuffling slowly in the direction of Batman as he twisted the blade between his leather gloved fingers.

"God, I've missed you, have you missed me?"

"I miss you being locked up in Arkham." Batman countered, still standing his ground as Joker crept closer and closer, a slight skip in his step as he nearly exploded with glee.

"I still wish we could've shared a padded cell, Batsy."

Before Joker could even react, Batman had him in a chokehold, tossing his body beside the wall like a ragdoll as he tumbled to the floor.

"Just like old times, huh, pal?" Joker throatily cackled, a grunt escaping his lips as he lay slump against the brick wall. With a swift side-to-side movement, he relieved his neck of the painful kink before quickly rising to his feet and snatching the knife once again.

"Stop!" A voice suddenly called.

Joker's blood ran cold at the sound, his eyes darkening as he'd realized the inevitable: The bitch just couldn't wait in the car...

A cowering Ember filed into the alleyway, her hands stuffed into the overly large pocket of her mahogany sweatshirt as her locks blew astray.

"Don't hurt him!" She boldly added, glaring directly at the Batman as she quivered in her boots.

Here he was, the real life Batman, in the flesh right before her. She never thought she'd see the masked man in person.

"I thought I told you to stay in the car." Joker hissed through gritted teeth.

"She's with you?" Batman scoffed, his jaw held ajar as he helped the cowering man from the floor.

Ember immediately froze, brows raising as she studied the vigilante's features. Something about that voice seemed somewhat familiar...

"Why d'you say it like that?" Joker chuckled.
"Wha-t? The Joker can't score himself a pretty girl?"

"Are you his hostage?" Batman wondered, a sense of worry present in his tone as Ember swiftly shook her head.

"No. I'm his girlfriend."

A sinister grin curled onto Joker's painted lips, a series of ha's tumbling from his mouth as he twisted the blade between his fingers.

"I told you so."

"He's not a good person, Ember." Batman announced, only to silence immediately following her name toppling from his lips.

What?

Both Ember and Joker exchanged puzzled glances, the air eluding the womans lungs at the sound of it. She knew that voice, she knew the way her name sounded from those lips...

"How d'you—" Joker stammered, but Batman never let him finish.

"I'll give you a five minute head-start, Joker. If I get you, you'll be shipped off to Arkham tonight. I suggest you take up my offer." The deep, gravely voice said, the bat's cape rippling in the wind as the stranger still stood in close proximity, bewildered by the sight of his hero.

"Let's go, Joker." Ember pressed, slipping her fingers into the palm of his hand as he flinched in retaliation.

"Now what's the fun in that?" Joker drawled, that hideous cackle falling from his parted lips as he inched towards the masked vigilante.

"Why don't we spend some-ah, quality time together, Mister Batman?"

"Come on, Joker!" Ember begged, tears brimming in the corners of her eyes as she imagined him being thrown into Arkham once again–being taken away from her.

"Three minute head-start, Joker." Batman dryly threatened.

"Ooo, I'm so scared." The clown giggled, thrusting the sharpened blade in Batman's face as he finally closed the distance.

"Fuck, Joker!" Ember scolded, her fingers lacing around the sleeve of his coat as she aimlessly tugged. "I-If you don't come with me right now, I'm leaving you."

Joker went lax, turning swiftly on his heel to face the woman as he merely laughed in response. Not that sincere, heartwarming laugh of his that she adored–no. No, this laugh was haunting, bone-chilling, and quite frankly, she was almost certain that he'd plunge his knife into the soft flesh of her neck at any given moment.

"Oh, will you now?"

"Please come with me, Joker. Please. I can't have you locked up, I can't live without you—" She blabbed, Batman's jaw falling lax at her proclamation as she harshly tugged on Joker's coat. "Please."

"Two minute head-start." Batman blandly stated, still clearly stunned by Ember's statement.

Joker exchanged dark gazes between the two, a sigh falling from his lips as he clicked the blade into place in the holster, messily stuffing it into the pocket before turning on his heel.

"You're lucky you have a nice tigh-t pussy, darlin'." He hissed in her ear, not a lick of affection present in his tone as his shoulder harshly brushed against hers.

Ember stole a final glance at the Batman, still standing firmly in place before skipping to catch up to the clown.

The duo clambered into the vehicle, an awkward tension between them as Joker ignited the engine, mumbling a strand of obscenities underneath his breath as his arm outstretched in Ember's direction.

Her heart lept into her throat as his fingers brushed against her jean-clad thigh, only to plumment in disappointment when his fingers laced around the handle of the glovebox, ripping it open to retreive a compact handgun.

Just as the van pulled from behind the alley, a familiar jet black vehicle pulled up behind them, a flashing stream of headlights blinding Ember's vision as Joker let out an amused cackle.

"Oh," He sang, waving the gun in the air as he jammed his foot onto the accelerator. "Batsy wants to play."

Ember flattened against her seat at the sudden shift in speed, her chest beginning to ache as Joker dangerously weaved between cars, a strand of high-pitched, hyena-like laughs echoed throughout the car, sending painful shivers down the womans spine.

Batman kept a considerable distance between them, Ember's glare glued to the rearview mirror as she intently watched his every move.

"Joker–" She shivered, only to be interrupted by another fit of menacing laughter as Joker spun around in his seat, his eyes tearing from the road as his finger applied pressure to the trigger.

Ember let out a loud scream, her palms darting upward to cover both her eyes and ears simultaneously as the glass windows on the back doors shattered. Joker's eyes still focused behind them, his left hand steering the vehicle somehow while his right sent an array of bullets in Batman's direction.

The woman's gaze refocused on the scene before her, eyes widening instantly when a petite teal car pulled directly in front of the Joker.

"JOKER!" She exclaimed, her finger pointing outward in the direction of the sudden obstruction.

Joker's neck craned, a grunt falling from his painted lips as he yanked the wheel to the left, barely missing the little teal car by several inches as Ember continued to obscenely scream.

"Shut the fuck up!" He scolded, firing the pistol again through the open back window as it measly collided with Batman's bulletproof windshield.

"I want to go home!" Ember cried, her chest heaving as Joker continued to aimlessly fire at Batman. He knew that the bullets wouldn't penetrate the mans vehicle, but he was just having too much damn fun.

"Quit being a fucking baby."

"I'm NOT being a fucking baby!" Ember exploded.

Joker lowered the gun, a brow raising curiously as he sped down the dark roads of the innermost city of Gotham, Batman trailing further and further behind as Joker took several misleading turns down questionable roads.

At first, he said nothing. The pair had driven silently beside one another, Joker's brows knit together in a mixture of annoyance and pure anger as Ember practically trembled in her seat. She knew better than to raise her voice with him, especially during a time like this...

Surprisingly, they'd lost the Batman (whether it be his choice to leave them alone or Joker's obscene driving), and arrived at the hideout thirty-or-so minutes later. Joker still hadn't said a single word to her. 

Ember unlatched her seatbelt the moment the van tumbled along that routine dirt path, her heart thumping painfully in her chest as Joker thrust the gear shift into park, leaving the engine idle as he slowly craned his neck in her direction.

"I–"

Joker propelled himself onto her, his thigh grazing the pertruding gear shift as his knee dug into the leather seat directly beside Ember's leg.

The familiar knife had found the flesh of her neck before she could protest, her eyes widening in fear as he balanced his weight between the seat and the arm of the door, his back hunched so that his painted nose sat mere centimeters from hers.

"If you ever speak to me tha-t way again, I swear to fuck I'll slit your goddamn throat." He darkly threatened, that comforting set of beautiful brown eyes transformed into deepless pits of black as he dug the blade into her neck, limiting her air supply as she quickly nodded.

"I believe you." She stuttered, gasping for air as he retracted the knife, tongue lapping out to caress his scars as his body suddenly left hers.

Joker exited the SUV without another word, muttering incoherently under his breath as he stowed the switchblade into his pocket once again.

Ember tumbled from the vehicle, her legs violently shaking as she nearly toppled to the floor.

"I know who the Batman is." She announced, her voice uneven and raspy.

Joker immediately halted in place, one foot before the other as his shoulders lay hunched forward. His outgrown mixture of blonde and green greasy curls lay in his black-circled eyes, his gaze meeting hers with ease as he rotated on his heel.

"Explain?" He drawled, smacking his lips together enthusiastically as he cautiously approached the trembling woman, who propped her weight up against the van in fear that she would fall.

"I recognize his voice, and he knew my name." She squeaked, twiddling her fingers together as she shivered from a mixture of the cool air and fear.

"And?" Joker urged, planting his feet into the gravel a mere foot from her.

"And," Ember shook.
"I'll tell you if you apologize for saying that I'm lucky I have a tight pussy. That was rude."

Joker's jaw dropped at her statement, openly scoffing as he inched closer towards her.

"No." He spat, gaze boring into hers deeply as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"Fine. I guess Batman's identity isn't that important to you, then." Ember taunted, crossing her arms firmly across her chest as she smirked.

She was literally asking for death.

"You're such a bitch." Joker seethed, his hand darting outward to claim the neck of her sweatshirt as he tugged the fabric between his fingers, contorting his hand into a fist as he grabbed hold of the tiny woman. With one swift movement, he applied a fair bit of pressure, shoving her backwards with ease as her skull collided with the van.

A painful groan fell from Ember's lips, her palm shooting upwards to caress the sore skin at the back of her head as she blinked away stars. Her heartbeat quickened when the sensation of Joker's nose flattened against her own, his breath fanning over her lips as goosebumps littered her skin in response.

"Fucking tell me." He begged, his forehead grazing hers as his chest heaved in anticipation.

"For someone who cares about me, you sure do hurt me quite a bit." Ember breathlessly stated, her eyelids fluttering closed to avoid Joker's harsh glare. Plus, he tend to look a bit—creepy—in the moonlight.

"Cares about you?" He scoffed, releasing his hold on the neck of her sweatshirt. "Oh hunny, I've fucking told you before. You're nothing but a se-t of pretty legs and a nice tigh-t pussy."

Ember's eyelids fluttered open, blinking away tears as she shook her head in response.

"You don't mean that." She murmured.

"Oh?" Joker mocked, scars tugging up the curve of his face into a sinister smile.
"Don't I?"

"N-No." Ember stammered.
"Because if you did, you wouldn't say all the cute things you've said to me."

Joker let out a hearty laugh, bending his knees slightly as he threw his head back in glee, tugging his neck and shoulders along with it as he practically convulsed in laughter. Once again–the mocking kind–not the kind Ember had grown to admire.

"Oh darling," Joker sang through a fit of giggles. "I've got-ah way with words, don't I? You see, you're so damn predictable, Em-ber. God, all I have to do is spit out some kind of compli-ment and your legs open righ-t up."

Ember's chest began to ache, the tears freely falling down the slopes of her cheeks as she collapsed against the side of the SUV.

"You're such an ass!" She exclaimed.

"And yet, you'd let me slip right into yours without any question." He grinned, clearly amused by the words that left his mouth.

"I hate you." Ember cried, hands balling into fists as her gaze darkened.

"Sure yah do, toots." Joker teased, kicking a nearby colored pebble aside with the toe of his shoe. "And yet, I'll have you screaming my name in less than an hour."

With one final burst of bravery, Ember lurched forward, pressing her palms against the mans chest as she forcefully shoved him backwards.

Joker barely budged, taking a single step back from the weak impact as his features hardened.

This bitch had some major balls.

"I'm done." Ember stated, brushing past the man as she glided up the cracked sidewalk, swinging the door open before disappearing from sight.

Joker still stood in the very same spot she'd left him in when she returned less than five minutes later, two overflowing gym bags slung over her shoulders as she clutched the silver key to the Mustang in her grasp.

His eyes followed her closely, not daring to open his mouth to speak as he watched her toss the bags into the back seat, the roof of the car still tucked away into the trunk (as it always seemed to be) as she climbed into the drivers seat.

Thick, red rings circled her eyes as she messily shoved the key into the ignition, the engine roaring to life as she stole one final glance at the Joker, who still stood silently beside the van, arms laying lax at his sides as his palms curled into fists.

She couldn't, she wouldn't...

"Bye, Joker." She whispered, backing from the dirt driveway before speeding off, abandoning the clown as she struggled to contain her blinding tears.

Bruce Wayne is the Batman.

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A/N: For those confused or questioning Batman's decision to let Joker get away, I thought it was important to let him make that decision due to Ember's presence. Of course Bruce remembers Ember, and due to his little slip-up, she knows that he's Batman now. Although he's disgusted that she'd be with someone like Joker, letting them get away was Bruce's way of protecting(?) Ember (in a sense). And no, this will not turn into some type of love triangle.

ALSO, I've stated this before in passing, this story does not follow the storyline of TDKR. Obviously, Batman goes MIA for like 8(?) years I think it is (I need to brush up on my facts), but in this story, he's not going to be MIA for that long as the series of events are altered to fit my particular storyline.

ps: Joker is an asshole but I can't help but still love him lolol. So sorry for the total trash chapter (I'm honestly not sure if I'm happy with it but it's the best I've got right now) so as an apology, here's a super cute picture of Heath: