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Blood and Lust	By : blood-and-lust-87 Category: zMisplaced Stories [ADMIN use only] > Batman (All Movies) > Batman (All Movies) Views: 11503 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Batman series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
A/NM/b>: This is Part 2 of "Meeting the Enemy". I obviously decided to keep the same angle of J's past as in my fic "Jack's Descent", only this time I added a slight twist. Either way, it's all just to fulfill our inner fangirls. xP Anywhos, this is probably the longest chapter of the 4 since they've got a matching of wits going on, but the next two are probably so much shorter since they're predominately smut. xD

CO-WRITTEN WITH CAGURLNIKKI

"Memory Lane"

Despite the fact that the Joker despised clubs, he had decided upon meeting a patron there to discuss a new "business" transaction. Almost feeling naked without his make-up, he ran a black-gloved hand across his scars as he observed the clientele. There were far too many dim-witted, obnoxious people grinding against one another for his liking, but he wasn't surprised to see such primitive, mindless simpletons partaking in equally primitive, mindless activities. Rolling his eyes when a particularly buxom blonde fell into him, he shrugged off her squeaky apology and made a beeline for the bar.

Sitting down on one of the rickety old bar stools, a sudden child-like urge to spin on his seat came to mind, but he quickly shrugged it off when the bartender addressed him with a toothy grin. "What'll it be, kid?"

The Joker smirked at that. The old man didn't know the half of it, considering how Gotham was his playground, and each of his delightful weapons his toys. With a click of his tongue, he shrugged and uttered lowly, "A scotch for now -- come back later when I want something stronger."

When the bartender nodded and went off to get the drink, the Joker's eyes lazily strayed toward the woman two seats down from him. She was wearing a slinky red dress, his gaze traveling down her slender legs to observe the equally red pumps. When he directed his gaze back up toward her half-hidden face, however, he immediately gave a leer of pleasure. Why, if it wasn't Rachel Dawes, hot babe Assistant DA extraordinaire! It couldn't be... He hadn�t expected to see her so soon!

With a grin that would make even a prostitute blush, the Joker carefully made his way over toward Rachel before having a seat beside her, his arm purposely brushing against hers to ensure as much discomfort on her part as possible. "Hello, there" he cooed.

After the events of that night with the Joker and Bruce, things had been somewhat crazy. Rachel had talked to Bruce on a few occasions, but their relationship had become rather strained. Bruce had reacted in a manner she hadn�t seen since the day she found out he�d wanted to kill Joe Chill, and that same darkness seemed to be consuming him yet again. As if adding salt to the wound, the Joker's constant teasing and messages left all over town most certainly didn�t help the situation. She really detested clubs, but Harvey had invited her to meet for drinks, and she looked at it as an opportunity to "unwind".

Sitting at the stool, the club was packed, and the heavy smell of smoke permeated toward her nose. A few drunks had purposely bumped into her, and she noticed with disgust that their eyes had roamed over her long, creamy thighs and revealing, clingy red dress. The bartender sat another martini in front of her and scurried away to serve another patron, and as she lifted the glass to take a small sip, she felt someone bump her arm. It caused her to spill some of her drink as her eyes shifted to the right, the familiar voice sending a chill through her as she dropped the glass onto the mahogany bar. "I-it can't be you!"

Rachel shifted over a bit in her seat, trying to move away from the Joker while realizing that without his makeup, no one would know he was the man whose face was plastered all over the TV and newspapers.

"Aww, shh-shh-shh, no need to get all excited!" the Joker mocked, giggling as he watched her recoil from him in fear. Handing her a napkin, he grinned as she reluctantly took it so she could clean up her mess, his fingers absently tracing along his scars as he watched her with a newfound interest. "I, uh...didn't expect to see you here in a place like this" he admitted, smirking slightly. "What's the occasion, hmm? Are you going to be this bar's new stripper? Migh-ty nice investment on their part, if that's the case."

Giggling at his crude joke, the clown prince took a swig of his scotch and sighed as the pleasurable burn filtered throughout his limbs, his jaundiced eyes taking her in appreciatively as he asked, "Got a date with the Bat?"

Rachel took the napkin from him as she wiped up the spilled drink. She could feel his eyes affixed on her as he stated that he did not expect to see her in a place like this, and her skin crawled when he made a comment about her being the new "stripper". The bartender glared down the bar at her, giving her an evil look (most likely for spilling her drink on his clean bar top) and she turned slightly in her stool to watch the Joker take a swig of his drink. She contemplated getting up and bolting from the stool, but she knew he was too fast for her. When he asked if she had a date with Batman, she shook her head, her hair fanning across her shoulders. "No...I�m actually meeting Harvey, and he should be here any moment.�

"Ahhh, Harvey-kins, eh? Now what are you two high-class schmucks doing in a run-down heap like this, hmm? Needing a get-away from the 'pressures' of daily life?" the Joker mocked, giggling slightly as he downed the rest of his drink and licked his lips. Now turning to fully face her, he leaned in close while purring, "Do I, uh...frighten you, Miss Dawes? Does my very presence make you un-com-fortable? Hmm? Do you want to hit me? Do you want to cause a sceeeene?" Giggling at the irritated look in her eyes, the Joker placed a hand on the small of her back as if they were old friends, his lips now coming close to her ear as he whispered, "Per-haps I can, uh...remedy your fears, hmm?"

Rachel watched as he giggled and asked why she and Harvey were meeting in a place like this, and truthfully she had wondered that herself. Harvey had been acting very strange lately, and it was almost as if all the men in her life had some sort of secret they were keeping from her. As he leaned closer, he asked if he frightened her and she scoffed. "Frighten me, Joker? No. Make me uncomfortable? Yes. After all, I remember our last meeting, and still have the scars to prove it.�

She flinched when he slipped his hand around her back and placed it against the small of her spine, his lips close to her ear as she held her breath from the sensation of his breath on her neck.

Feeling her tense beneath his touch, the Joker giggled while purring, "Don't worry beautiful, I'm not going to hurt you...this time I just want to talk. Our last encounter was more of, uh...foreplay, I guess you could say, but now I buh-lieve we should move on to the real thing." Leering when he noted her fear, he quickly added, "Oh no, no, no, not that kind of 'real thing', I meant talking...getting to know one another. I'd like to know what has Batsy and White Knight all in a tizzy over you, so if you're able to hook not one of Gotham's heroes but two, that must make you one hell of a woman." Sliding his tongue across his left scar, he kept his lips at her ear as he awaited her answer, all the while tempted to giggle since he knew he was making her uncomfortable.

Rachel tried her best not to show fear as he continued to purr in her ear, his warm breath still on her neck as she squirmed in her seat. Sitting straight and not flinching, she looked straight ahead while returning, "And what if I refuse this �gracious� offer to get to know you better? What will happen then?" Her breathing increased as she waited his response, almost afraid of what it might be as her hands laid flat on the bar in front of her, the "fight or flight" instinct taking hold of her in an almost suffocating grip.

Curling his hand around the curve of Rachel�s hip, the Joker roughly jerked her against him and flicked his switchblade against her waist, his lips now brushing against her ear as he purred, "I'm a-fraid that you don't have a choice, beautiful. If you coo-op-er-ate, I won't have a reason to kill you, and then after our de-light-ful little conversation, you can go aaaall the way home to loverboy and tell him what you learned." Sniffing the intoxicating scent of her hair, he made a pleased little noise before asking, "What is that, some type of flower? It�s, uh�fa-mil-liar.�

Pressing his face more urgently against her hair, the Joker stifled a little whine as unbidden memories began to flow back into his mind, his hands subconsciously clenching into two tight fists as he remembered his first love. She'd smelled of jasmines and everything sweet, and her scent had pervaded into his senses to the point that he could never go anywhere near a flower for fear of smelling her. And now that Rachel Dawes, the bunny of all bunnies carried that telltale scent, he couldn't help but laugh at the irony. His own rival's girl smelled like Celeste, and that just wouldn't do.

Tempted to kill her right then and there to end his suffering, the Joker gave a sharp growl before pushing her away in disgust. "C'mon" he urged gruffly, hurriedly recomposing himself, "just get up."

"Why do you care what scent my shampoo is?� Rachel demanded, all the while giving him a confused look. She�d always used the same jasmine-scented shampoo and cologne since it reminded her of her days playing at Wayne Manor. She slowly stood up, flinching away from the sharp blade as he led her toward the front door. He had turned quite angry suddenly, and she did not understand why. "So where are we going?" she demanded, truly afraid to know the answer.

"Away from here" the Joker returned cryptically, his eyes narrowing at her inquisitiveness. "Just get in my car, and ask as few questions as possible."

Feeling his chest tighten painfully since he could still smell her, the clown prince took Rachel by the arm and roughly pushed her into the passenger seat of his vehicle, his eyes closing for a minute as he tried to calm his breathing. He didn't want to do something brash and kill Rachel, because she would most likely prove to be important in the future.

Moving around the side of the car and getting in the driver's seat, the Joker licked his lips and started the engine. His demeanor was cold and calculating, not a single giggle escaping his throat as he glared over at Rachel fidgeting in her seat. "Hold still! You're pissing me off" he grumbled, tightening his grip around the steering wheel.

Rachel fidgeted with her seatbelt, trying to pull it across her chest and fasten it to the best of her ability, which only seemed to irritate him even more as he quickly shot her an angry glare. Somehow Rachel sensed something different about him...he not only seemed more obnoxious, but also angrier than usual. Rachel held her head down, staring at the floor mat so she could ignore his eyes.

Re-adjusting the rearview mirror, the Joker went through the necessary safety precautions -- which, admittedly, seemed downright ridiculous, considering who he was -- his gloved hands returning to the steering wheel before he pulled out of the parking space and began to speed off toward his hide-out. It was on the bad side of town (the Narrows, to be exact), but he figured that a woman of Rachel's expertise in crime would know this in advance.

Finally having calmed down, the Joker glanced in Rachel's direction before turning the radio on. A recorded speech of Harvey Dent's filled the car, and the clown prince resisted the urge to laugh. "Ahhh, nothing like some sen-ti-mental hogwash to brighten the evening, eh, Miss Assistant DA?" Giggling, he gave a sigh and relaxed in his seat, a grin spreading across his lips as he gave them an absent lick. He wasn't quite sure what to say to Rachel just yet, but he was beginning to grow rather frustrated with her silence.

As they sped through town, Rachel stared out the windshield and watched the skyscrapers disappear as they headed toward the Narrows, a place she was sadly all too familiar with. After a few miles, Rachel finally broke the silence: "So, Joker...do tell what type of small �chit-chat� we should make?" Her lips curled into a small smirk, knowing that her very presence seemed to be irritating him.

The Joker chose to ignore her question, his eyebrows knitting together as he detected the hint of a smile in her voice. Sooo, she thought she was clever, did she? Rachel had undoubtedly noticed his odd bout of discomfort, but he decided to act as if he didn't hear her words, his lips pursing so he could whistle along to the tune whirring inside his head.

Tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, the Joker began to absently sway from side to side -- he always did this when he was more keyed-up than usual -- his teeth gnawing on his lower lip as he heard Rachel give a heavy sigh.

"Well what's wrong, gum drop?" he mocked. "Am I, uh...boring you? Would you pre-fer that I entertain you, instead?" Sensing Rachel's aversion to this option, the clown prince grinned and suddenly slammed down on the brakes, a light giggle escaping his lips as he chirped, "Weee're heeeeeeere!"

Pointing over toward a rather dilapidated building, the Joker cheerily jumped out of the car and went to the other side to help Rachel out, his arm slinking around her waist as he yanked her forward so their hips were forced together. Beginning to drag her toward the building, his grin only grew as he pushed a few wooden boards aside to reveal a door. "Home sweet home" he purred.

Gazing wordlessly up at the tall, dilapidated building, Rachel tried to recompose herself as hint of fear entered her body. She couldn�t help but wonder if anyone would even find her out here if anything happened�

Humming to himself, the Joker unlocked the door -- not that anyone ever tried to break in -- and ushered Rachel inside, his voice almost cheery as he urged, "Watch your head!" Giggling when she almost bumped into the low beam on the ceiling, he grinned as he bent over and took her by her hand -- against her will, of course -- and led her toward the backroom.

"This is where the devil sleeps" he explained, obviously referring to himself. Moving his arm in a grand sweep, he showed her a musty room with a simple fold-up chair, a card table, and a cot. Strewn across the card table were various plans and drawings, each accented with painted words of ridicule. He'd defaced various newspapers as well, Harvey's face being one of the most notably scribbled on. Grinning when he noticed Rachel's horror, he folded his arms and proudly asked, "Well, whaddaya think? Everything you expected and more? We even have rats here! I've taken the liberty of naming them Squeakers and Max."

As soon as he swung open the door the dank and musty smell penetrated her nostrils, Rachel wrinkled her nose as she took in their surroundings. "What do I think?� she reiterated. �Well, I guess I can say this is what I expected from a madman such as yourself." Picking up one of the clippings, she held it for a moment while staring at the picture. When she heard his comment about his pet rats, she surprisingly didn�t react. Rats, after all, were the least of her worries at the moment. Smirking, she finally spoke again, "Well, at least you actually have some friends here."

The Joker sneered at her quip, watching her carefully as he stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. "Well, uh...you're my new friend by default, I'm afraid. Sit down, sit down....if you can find a place." Grinning, he motioned toward his cot as he had a seat by the card table, his legs crossing at the ankles as he leaned back and got comfortable. Scratching his chin, he watched her with dark eyes as she seemed to be deciding whether or not his cot was kosher, a slight giggle escaping his lips as he assured her, "Don't worry, I uh...actually do wash my bedding. I may not look like I bathe much, but I bathe just e-nough to keep myself healthy."

Smirking as Rachel finally had a seat, the Joker leaned forward and folded his hands in between his knees. "What do you think of me, hmm? Do I scare you? Are you a-fraaaaid of me, Miss Rachel Ma-rie? Does it ex-cite you to know that I've chosen you, and only you to see my humble abode? Are you flattered?"

Crossing her long, slender legs, Rachel shook her head. "I believe I have told you once before that I�m not �afraid� of you, and as far as being �excited� or �flattered� that you choose, I suppose you could say I�m more intrigued as to why you chose me, Joker. Why am I so �privileged� to be the one?" Her smoky eyes never leaving his as she studied him, she couldn�t help but wonder who the man without the paint truly was.

The Joker gave a huff at her question, his head shaking slightly as he asked, "Well isn't it obvious, honey bunch? You've managed to shoot Cupid's arrow at not only the Bat, but good ol' White Knight Dent, and that takes a looot of a certain "something" in a woman. I'd like to know why you've captured their in-ter-est, 'cause surely it takes a special kind of person to reel in Gotham's finest." Studying her with his dark eyes, the Joker briefly forgot that he wasn't wearing his face paint and immediately turned away, suddenly uncomfortable with her intense scrutiny. Sitting so that she could only see his profile, the clown prince placed a hand over his chin to further conceal his scars, a slight sneer tugging at his lips as he asked, "Not afraid? I don't buh-lieve that's possible, beautiful...everyone's afraid of what they don't understand, and you've already mentioned once that you didn't understand me at all."

Rachel was rather shocked by the statement, because true, she had been involved with Bruce and Harvey, but she just happened to love two of Gotham's heroes and she felt a sense of pride in being part of their lives. She caught a glimpse of something different for a moment in the Joker's eyes before he quickly turned away from her so that she could only see his strong profile, his hand moving over his chin as if he were trying to conceal his scars.

She heard him mumble that everyone was afraid of what they did not understand, and she had already told him she did not understand him. On that point he was correct, because the only thing that frightened her was her inability to figure him out and see inside his dark heart. "Well...on that you�re right, because I don�t understand you, and that makes you dangerous, but not frightening. Now as for Batman and Harvey, why do you believe I have, as you say, �captured� their interest? We�re all merely dear friends!"

The Joker rolled his eyes, once more turning to face her as he scoffed, "Do you, uh...actually buh-lieve I'm that blind, beautiful? When I had you trapped in your apartment, he practically murdered me since I had you in my control. He's never, uh...gone that far with me, if you get my drift, so you cuh-lear-ly mean a whole lot more to him than some mere acquaintance. As for Harvey-kins, I've seen how he looks at you, so he's definitely in love with you, as well. What do you have, an amazing sexual technique of some sort?"

Giggling slightly at his crude remark, the Joker rose from his perch and went to a small set of drawers in the corner of the room, his hands hurriedly opening the top drawer before removing two objects. Quickly unscrewing the cap of his round-shaped container of face paint, he smothered his face in the white goop and immediately felt better since he was hiding behind his mask. When he was this monster, it was ok to be considered a creature, but he didn't like the looks he received without the facepaint -- that meant he was a monster in his own skin, and that left him with an almost nauseating sensation clawing in his gut. Rubbing a small amount of red face paint onto his lips and scars, the clown prince finally turned and regarded Rachel with a sneer. "Muuuuch better...now, where were we?"

Rachel listened as he rolled his eyes and scoffed at her denial. It was true that Bruce had completely lost it that night at her apartment, for he�d lost control of his emotions, and she also knew that Harvey had feelings for her ever since she�d taken the position as Assistant DA. When he asked if it was some amazing sex technique that kept them coming, she blushed and then scowled at him. "How dare you even ask that question!? My sex life is none of your business!"

After Rachel realized that the Joker had put his face paint back on, she gave him a saddened look and shook her head. "That wasn�t really necessary...or do you just prefer to �hide� behind the paint? Does it make you feel more powerful?"

The Joker's telltale smile vanished from his face in an instant, his eyes like two fiery embers as he whipped out his knife and stormed toward Rachel in a fury. Seizing her by the hair, he pushed her back against the wall before slamming his blade into the message board behind her head, his features contorted in a frenzied snarl as he growled, "Now you listen to me, Miss Rachel Ma-rie Dawes, we aren't in the courtroom or your own home anymore, so only I ask the questions! If you want to, uh..."figure out" why I'm the way I am, I suggest you become a psychologist!"

Straightening his stance, the Joker took in a heavy breath before stabbing his knife into the card table, the deadly weapon wobbling back and forth before growing completely still.

His breathing was heavy and erratic, and Rachel's heart raced as she looked up at him, her ears ringing form the force of the blow to her head as she felt a warm trickle down the back of her neck. She knew she was probably bleeding, her eyes becoming unfocused for a moment before she shook her head. "A-alright, then start asking..."

Somewhat surprised by her comment, the Joker sneered at her before returning, "What, aren't you going to fight me on this, beautiful? Where's that de-light-ful bite you always have, hmm?"

Slowly sinking into his chair, the clown prince rubbed at his thighs as he studied her face, his eyes narrowing as he asked, "What do you think of my 'cause', hmm? Do you, uh...understand it? Do you at least see why I'm trying to save this city?"

"Your cause?� Rachel asked, giving him an inquisitive look. �Well maybe you could start by explaining your cause, and how more crime is supposed to �save� Gotham."

The Joker giggled slightly, shaking his head. "Ah-tah-taaah, my crime is merely bringing about survival of the fittest. I'm helping to weed out all of those pa-thet-ic stragglers who just bring this city down. The smartest will survive, and the slow and dimwitted will die out. It's how nature was meant to be, beautiful, so y'see, I am saving Gotham with my crime." Grinning, he cheerily added, "Besides, I'm trying to open your eyes so you can see that you're all a bunch of blind mice running through a maze. The kicker is it's a never-ending maze, but none of you seem to re-a-lize that you're being oppressed. Are you really that stupid, or are you just content to live in blissful ignorance?"

Rachel rubbed the back of her head where it had hit the wall, trying her best to grasp everything he was saying as she leaned forward, still a bit a bit dizzy as she steadied herself by clutching each side of the cot with her hands. "So the reasoning behind your madness is survival of the fittest? Am I included in the "pathetic stragglers" that bring the city down?" She heard him add that he was trying to open her eyes to show her she was being oppressed. Shaking her head, she softly added, "I don�t believe I live in blissful ignorance. I thought that what I do is help right the wrongs of Gotham...if we are both trying to �save� Gotham, how are we so different?" His words were confusing her, and the room seemed to be spinning as she closed her eyes to make it stop.

"Because you buh-lieve in letting those goons who run our country take control, and I do not. I want us to, uh...introduce a little anarchy, and despite the fact that sheer chaos will take control, it'll all even out e-ventually" the Joker returned, a little irritated with Rachel's questions. He noticed her eyes going in and out of focus and cursed, his lips twisting into a scowl as he rose and moved over to her. Bending her forward so that her head was in between her knees, he coarsely ordered "Stay there -- if you have a concussion, you don't need your blood rushing to your head."

Moving over back toward his cabinet, he grumbled something about having to "babysit a stupid assistant DA", his expression growing all the more sour as he fetched some gauze and a towel and returned to Rachel's side. Kneeling down in front of her, he pressed the towel against her head and muttered, "Keep that pressed down and it should stop the bleeding. Trust me, I uh...have a lot of experience with this type of thing."

Rachel listened as he spoke of introducing a little anarchy, and how even with sheer chaos everything would eventually "even" out. She was about to say that Batman and the others would never allow that to happen when she felt his hands on the back of her neck, pushing her head between her knees as he ordered her to stay there. She could hear him grumbling and cursing under his breath about having to babysit her before he came back, now pressing a towel against the back of her head while he told her to keep pressure on her wound. It was a different side of him, and she had to admit that he confused the hell out of her more and more every time they met. Flinching slightly at the pain the injury caused, Rachel held the towel to her head she straightened back up into a sitting position. "Thank you.�

The Joker snorted, refusing to meet with her gaze as he grumbled, "Well what're you thanking me for, hmm? I'm only giving you a hand since I don't really feel like disposing of a body tonight, not to mention that I may need you in the near future. Batsy's no easy guy to mess with, after all, so sometimes all it takes is a little 'elbow grease'."

Giving her a meaningful look, the clown prince chuckled before moving his chair closer to her, a slight grunt escaping his lips as he sat back down and sighed. "Do you, uh...finally see where I'm coming from, honey bunch? Do you understand my need to bring Gotham back to its roots of anarchistic control? 'Cause y'see, if you think that those governmental slobs give a damn about you, you're wrong. The mayor doesn't care, the governor doesn't care -- nobody cares, 'cause when it all comes down to it, everyone in this world is only looking out for number one. You do it, and I do it -- there's no use in denying that you'll always do what's for your own best interest, so if you get a job opportunity from another company, you're damn well going to take it. It doesn't matter who you have to step on in the process to get there, because in the end you will come out on top." Now smirking, he cheerily added, "And now that Gotham's in such a tough, tough time, some are beginning to panic because it seems like no one's there anymore. Politicians used to say that God was there for us, but now that's not the case anymore, and when you take a huge figure like God out of the e-quation, people begin to panic. There's no turning back from this, beautiful, because whether you like it or not, this city will move on with or without you."

Her head a bit clearer now, Rachel sat up a bit. "So basically what you�re saying is I need to get on the �right� side, or I�ll be left behind? How do you know that your so-called �anarchistic buddies� out there won�t turn on you? I mean, like you said, everyone is out for� numero uno�." She had not seen a downfall like he spoke of beginning yet, but of course like a building, if you take out the pillars of the foundation, the building will crumble.

The Joker scoffed at Rachel's musings, his head shaking as he returned, "In case you didn't notice, I don't have any friends, Miss Dawes. How can my so-called "anarchistic buddies" turn on me if I have no one to begin with? I'm one of the former stragglers who learned to make do with what I have, so I use people to get what I want. And before you say I'm a monster, or blah blah blah, just know that I'm abiding by the law of this country: use or get used. Don't you know that even Harrrvey is using you? Having a female on the team makes them look good and more, uh...'diverse'."

Leering at the look on her face, the Joker folded his hands and giggled. "Well what's wrong, dollface? Did you just suck on a lemon, or are you happy to see me?"

Rachel's brow furrowed as she huffed and adjusted her position on the cot. He took pleasure in watching her reaction as he sat back, his hands folded as he giggled in delight.

"Maybe I am an optimist and try to see the good in everyone� she finally agreed, �but that�s because I try and believe everyone has some good in them...somewhere. And according to your logic, you and Harvey are a lot alike if he�s using me. You use people too, so there is no real difference"

"Ah-tah-taaah, you're missing the point" the Joker argued, waggling his finger as he gave her an almost disappointed look. "People are inherently evil, because once they're capable of having a proper thought process, they're o-fficially devoid of all innocence. Why do you think parents try to shield their brats, hmm? It's because they know what humans are capable of, and that with the right -- or in your case, wrong -- influence, all hell will break loose."

Grinning at Rachel's declaration, the Joker shook his head with a giggle. "True, but he's missing the one thing that I have: common sense. He can't just rid this city of corruption, because it's been fermenting here since the dawn of time. It's so deeply rooted in our veins that it can't just be terminated by one man during his term as our DA. 'Cause y'see, dear Rachel, it's too late for that...the fight for Gotham's soul already has a winner, and it sure as hell isn't Dent."

"Soooo...I suppose you�re saying my fight is over? Or I am fighting for the wrong side? Is that what you�re saying?"

The Joker snorted, shaking his head as he condescendingly returned, "Now peaches, why should I tell you what side you're on, hmm? You're a bright, beau-tee-ful young woman...or at least, I think you are -- so the choice is yours to make. I'm only, uh...helping you along, so to speak. I don't buh-lieve that you understand just how important this conversation of ours is, 'cause this is a veeeery important de-cision to make."

Clicking his tongue when he noticed Rachel swaying, the Joker rolled his eyes and begrudgingly rose from his perch, his weight sinking down alongside her as he semi-roughly pulled her toward him. Bending her slightly over his lap, he parted her hair and inspected her wound, rolling his eyes agains as he muttered, "Alright, alright, lie down before you, uh...hurt yourself. Or at least, hurt yourself again."

Giggling slightly since he knew that he was the cause of her pain, the clown prince helped Rachel down onto her back before murmuring, "There, now are these the actions of a monster? Hmm? 'Cause the way I see it, you're all just scared of me, so you don't re-a-lize that I'm trying to help Gotham escape its oppression. I'm ahead of everyone since I can see through the cheap lies, the deceit...the true monster is mankind, not me."

When the Joker brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face, Rachel became even more confused. At one point his words made sense, and even though he was the cause of her injury, he seemed to be genuinely concerned for her well being. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to focus...to figure him out.

"Ah-tah-taaaah, no sleeping!" the Joker scolded in a sing-song manner, immediately tapping Rachel's cheek until she opened her eyes. "If you really do have a concussion, you may not wake back up...buh-lieve me, I know aaaall about this medical stuff. I get blown to pieces on a daily basis!" Giggling, he gestured to his scars before adding, "And buh-lieve it or not, this was my first test as a 'physician'. I've managed to perfect my 'sewing' techniques by now, so it's a pity I wasn't gay with a secret sewing fetish when my face got cut to ribbons. Might've helped with the healing process, if you know what I mean."

Absently running his tongue along his lower lip, the Joker frowned under Rachel's intense scrutiny, his eyes narrowing as he snarled, "Why are you looking at me like that, hmm? I'm not your Knight in Shining Kevlar, so don't go thinking that I'm being a 'nice guy', 'cause I'm not. I have perfectly le-git-i-mate reasons for needing you alive, you know."

Rachel cast her green eyes upon him again, demanding irritably, "And what would that reason be? I mean, I have listened to your reasoning as to why you are Gotham's �savior�, and you�ve shown me two different sides of everything, including yourself... So what am I to you? What is my purpose?"

The Joker sneered at her question, shaking his head as he snidely assured her, "Don't worry, beautiful, I'm not interested in that, if that's what your typical female mind is thinking. Like I said before, I'm in-ter-ested in being Gotham's better class of criminal, so rape and petty theft is completely beneath me. I need you for a, uh...higher purpose, if you will. I'm a-fraid that I can't tell you what that something is, because then I highly doubt you'd be such a willing participant. Not that you have much of a choice, though, considering your present condition."

Giggling slightly, the clown prince reiterated, "I've, uh...shown you two different sides of me? I'd like to think that I'm far more multi-faceted than that, but whatever you say, gorgeous. What have you learned then, hmm?"

Rachel's eyes met his again and she tossed her head lightly, a few soft brown wisps of hair clinging loosely to the side of her cheek. "Oh, I�m sure you are a very complex man, and that there are many sides to you that I haven�t had the �pleasure� of seeing, but what I�ve learned is unimportant...after all, did you not tell me earlier I wasn�t a psychologist?" She smirked and laid her head back down, unsure of his next move and where his little game was leading.

"Ahh, well I see that the snarky side of your brain was unaffected" the Joker gibed, grinning as he began fiddling with the lapels to his shirt. "You're completely right about not being a psychologist, beautiful, but everyone with a functioning mind is capable of making an analysis. Are you no longer afraid of me, or is that just your banged up head leading you into delusion? Either way, I win."

Sneering, the clown prince got up from the cot and went to a small fridge in the far corner of the room, his knees popping as he crouched down and opened the door. "Hungryyyy?" he asked in a sing-song manner, eagerly rummaging through the refrigerator in search of something decent. "Because a crazed lunatic sure works up an apetite... I'm sure that being a sane, rational being is no different in that de-partment."

Finally settling on a half-eaten sandwich, the Joker took a sloppy bite before turning to her with a crumb-filled grin. "As we approach your impending 'debut', just know that I'll also be looking for multiple facets in your character. You're not the only one making analytic conclusions here, Miss Dawes."

Swinging her legs over the edge of the cot, Rachel slowly sat back up and watched as he knelt in front of the open door, rummaging through the contents and asking if she was hungry. "No...no thank you, I�m fine, and to answer your question, no, I�m not afraid of you�just intrigued by you." It was strange how they both seemed to be analyzing each other and sizing up the other's next move.

"Hmph, suit yourself" the Joker returned, shrugging as he practically shoved the rest of the sandwich into his mouth. Chewing noisily before swallowing, he scratched his left scar and winced slightly at the burn. His skin was always very sensitive there, and perhaps it was all in his head, but every now and then they would actually hurt there.

Rachel watched as he scratched the scar on the left side of his face, and he winced slightly as if it was painful. She frowned, feeling a bit of remorse over him having to bare those scars for all his life, and when he looked over at her sitting up, he advised her to be careful that she may get dizzy. Taking his advice, she sat there for a moment on the edge of the cot before standing up, smoothing out her dress as she walked toward him and took a seat on the edge of the small table. "Do they hurt you often?" she asked, reaching out and slowly brushing the tips of her fingers against the raised scar beside his lip.

Jumping up from the table as if he'd been burned, the Joker staggered backwards as he knocked over his chair amidst his confusion, his eyes wild and animalistic as he regarded her in complete bewilderment. "Don't touch me" he choked out, his limbs still trembling from the sudden adrenaline-rush. "Don't, just....don't."

Scowling since Rachel had seen him at his most vulnerable point, the Joker snarled and turned his back to her, shrugging as he grumbled, "How do you figure they hurt me? They're just like every other thing on my body...an adornment that I can't e-rase, no matter how hard you will things to change. I didn't ask to be the way I am, but I don't particularly mind, either. You, uh...you tend to get used to it."

Gripping his fists at his side, the Joker kept his back faced to her as he swallowed sharply.

Rachel snatched her hand back when he jumped to his feet, her eyes wide since she hadn�t been expecting him to react so violently from a simple touch. She swallowed before mumbling, "I...I�m sorry, I didn�t mean... How did it happen?" She continued to sit there, staring at the back of his curly hair as his shoulders rose and fell with his rapid breathing.

The Joker laughed humorlessly. "What, you mean one of my little stories, or the real story? 'Cause, uh...I'm a-fraid it's not as in-ter-es-ting as you'd think. It's why I make up different tales....that, and because after a while I begin to buh-lieve that the real story isn't true. Sometimes it helps."

Turning slowly toward her, the clown prince was grinning lopsidedly, his head shaking as he leaned back against the wall with a sigh. "Seven years old...thaaaat's how old I was, I buh-lieve. Young, innocent, and as happy as a brat my age could be. I had a little four-year-old sister who meant the world to me...Angel, if you really need to know. I always found that name appropriate, 'cause uh...she had these big, pretty blue eyes that were like an angel's." Smiling crookedly, the Joker didn't really seem like he was telling the story to Rachel any longer, but to himself, his eyes casting up toward the ceiling as he sighed heavily. "One day the old man came home in a rage, raving about how his life was over, and blah blah blah. We all knew that he went to the hospital that day, but we didn't expect that he'd come home diagnosed with cancer. He was understandably upset, but I didn't think he'd take his illness out on the three people he was supposed to love."

Grinning without mirth, the Joker shrugged and slumped further back against the wall. "Angel and I heard mother's scream on the other end of the house, but by the time we got to her, our father was standing over her dead body with a kitchen knife in his hand. He then came toward us with this big, sick grin, his tone almost taunting as he asked, "Why so serious, kiddies? Where are my darrrrling, smiling little jokers? You look upset"..."

Twisting his lips, the Joker exhaled deeply before glancing down at his shoes. "We were upset, but Angel was the one in tears. Father didn't like that... Not. One. Bit. He took my little sister by the hair and yanked her up into his arms, and all I could do was watch on in terror as he hacked away at her face. She kept screaming and screaming at me to save her, but I couldn't do a damn thing... I was completely frozen. Before I could catch hold of my wits, he slit her throat and let her fall at my feet." Pausing, the Joker's eyes grew hollow at the memory, his features darkening as he curled his hands into two tight fists. "I, uh...don't really think I need to say what happened next. My scars are the testament to my sins...for my lack of responsibility."

Not bothering to mention Celeste or the other pains from his life, the Joker looked up at Rachel with a lopsided smirk. "Aaaand there you have it...in a nutshell, anyway."

With each word Rachel had grown deeper into the story as he�d described his sister, and she could almost picture Angel with the bright blue eyes and golden hair...so innocent and sweet. She remembered being around seven when the Wayne's had died, and her mother had taken her away. Her eyes still glued to his as he finished, she gave him a pained looked while asking, "God, how could you blame yourself for that? You were only a boy! It was not your sin...it was your father's." She gave a soft sigh and looked down at the floor for a moment, afraid to show the emotions in her eyes, fearing he would use them to play on her own feelings.

The Joker snorted. "I was old e-nough to do something other than stand there like a slack-jawed idiot. Angel asked me to help her -- she begged me, but even then I did nothing. If there's anything I've found, it's that people come and go, but the impressions they leave on you last a lifetime. I'm still waiting for Angel to disappear from my mind, but everywhere I look, everywhere I turn.....she's there."

Eyeing Rachel with a quirked brow, the Joker observed her bowed head and fidgeting fingers, his lips twisting as he grumbled, "Why do you care so much, anyway? It's not like I asked to be pitied."

Rachel looked back up at his question, suddenly a little embarrassed. "Perhaps we all have impressions that we wish to forget...maybe we have to forgive ourselves in order to let go." Her eyes met his again, and she managed a weak smile. "I am not giving you pity...I�m just trying to show you someone cares, and that everyone isn�t evil."

The Joker scoffed at her words. "You don't give a damn about me, alright, beautiful? Why would you have any reason to care, hmm? Are you trying to say we're destined to commiserate over a bottle of gin?" Leering slightly, he leaned in closer when he noticed her eyes were refusing to meet with his. Drawing as close as his comfort would allow, he brushed his lips against her ear as he asked, "What is it about me that makes you care, hmm? Just because I have a daaaark, spooky past?"

Smirking when he thought he heard her breath hitch in her throat, he relished in her discomfort since she'd had the nerve to make him uncomfortable first.

Swallowing hard, Rachel was finally able to speak: "No, it has nothing to do with your "dark" past...I am human, and not all of us are uncaring and selfish. Even though you wish to see us that way to make yourself feel better, it�s not always true."

The Joker scowled at her words, yet he remained where he was so she couldn't see his irritation. Hoping to further disturb her, he pressed his cheek against hers and purposely rubbed the scar tissue against her skin, relishing in the tensing of her muscles as he sat down in her lap. "True, not everyone is uncaring and selfish, but the Bat's the only one who's truly incorruptible in this city. There are millions like you and I, however, and I have every reason to buh-lieve that you're full of shit. I kidnapped you, possibly gave you a concussion, and now I'm supposed to buh-lieve that you feel sorry for me?"

Rachel felt him press his warm cheek against hers the scars rough against her smooth flawless skin and she tensed up slightly as he sat down in her lap, her heart now racing in her chest. Trying to calm her breathing, she sat there with her hands hanging loosely at her sides. "Perhaps part of being human is to forgive...maybe that is what you need, to "forgive" yourself for not being able to save Angel�to see that sometimes it all begins with forgiving ourselves first." She had seen a different side in his eyes when he�d spoken of his sister...the one of the person before the scars and the hate had consumed his soul.

The Joker felt a burning sense of scorn at her words, his eyes narrowing when a familiar ache began to flare within his breast. "Shut up" he urged, his voice barely above a whisper. "You don't know anything about my life, so don't act as if you can psychoanalyze everything with your condescending, self-righteous opinions! If you want to analyze something, analyze yourself. After all, what's a prim, proper assistant DA doing with a psychopathic, mass-murdering clown? And before you say you've been kidnapped, just re-a-lize that you've been talking to me this whole time of your own free will. I never once put a gun to your head and ordered you to speak, and I especially didn't tell you to touch my scars."

Reaching down to grab Rachel's wrist, the Joker roughly forced her hand against his cheek, his eyes almost animalistic as he purred, "This is what you wanted, right? To touch the face of a freak? To, uh...pre-tend that you understand me, and to pet my scars like I'm a dog?" When Rachel didn't answer, he traced his scarred lips from her cheek to her ear, giggling softly as he cooed, "Silly, silly bunny...what were you thinking, hmm? That you could change things for me? That you could get me to magically see the light and find my way back to innocence? 'Cause I'm afraid that things don't work that way, beautiful -- once the virtuous fall, there's no turning back."

Keeping his lips close to her ear, the Joker closed his eyes when her perfume began to permeate his senses, wisps of golden hair and brilliant hazel eyes appearing in his mind as he gave a soft whimper. Clinging to Rachel like a drowning sailor to a buoy, the Joker pressed his lips to her neck and gave a shuddering intake of breath. His movements were almost tender and reverent, his tongue lightly caressing her skin as he slowly ran a hand up her thigh.

Rachel closed her eyes when she heard him give a soft whimper, his lips trailing down from her ear and down to her neck as he gave a shudder. Feeling as if the air had been sucked from her lungs, she gasped for breath, her head tilted back slightly at the soft and tender movements.

Lost in Rachel�s softness, the Joker buried his face in her hair and inhaled more deeply, his hands stroking up along her sides until he gently cupped her breasts. His actions were the exact opposite of his brutal nature, but all he could see in that moment was the former object of his affections. Her eyes were laughing as she smiled, her long, honey-blonde hair framing her sweet face like a soft nimbus.

Kissing along Rachel's neck, the Joker groaned as he shifted his hips in obvious discomfort. Needily pressing his desire against her thigh, he crashed his mouth against hers before storming his tongue past her lips, his fingers weaving through her hair as he began to breathlessly grind in between her legs.

Just when it seemed as if the Joker had lost all control, he suddenly came back to earth when an unfamiliar sound reached his ears. That sweet, breathless gasp wasn't Celeste's....it was someone else's. Panicking, the clown prince jolted away from Rachel's welcoming body and fell to the floor, his eyes comically wide as he gazed up at her in bewildered horror.

Rachel felt him as he buried his face in her hair, his hands stroking slowly and sensually along her sides and cupping her breasts, causing her to moan softly from the sensation. Gripping both edges of the seat she felt his kisses trailing down her neck, and as his hips moved, she could now feel his growing desire. His lips pressed wildly against hers, and his tongue darted past her lips and meet hers in a duel of heated passion. Her head was swimming, and her body felt on fire as she met his hips as they thrust together. Rachel hadn�t felt desire in a very long time, and the Joker had suddenly awakened the dormant emotions. As their kiss broke, she gasped as their bodies moved together and without warning, she opened her eyes to see him fall to the floor as he sat there gaping at her. Her breathing was rapid as she stared at him, and the silence that filled the room was only broken by the beating of their hearts.

In normal case scenarios, the Joker would've laughed at Rachel's reaction to his touch and teased her for liking it a little too much, but this situation was much different. He'd enjoyed himself as well, and the mortifying testament to that was the visible bulge in his pants. How could he have mistaken Rachel for Celeste when they were so different? And yet....they weren't. Celeste had been an infuriating optimist as well, but that didn't mean he wanted to replace her, especially with some empty-headed attorney.

Feeling sick with self-loathing, the Joker staggered to his feet before pointing a shaking finger toward the door. "Go" he urged, his gaze panicked and ireful. "I don't care how you get home, just leave!"

Rachel's body began to shake as he sat there looking at her with a mortified look on his face, and she soon came to the realization that she, too, was shocked at the fact that she had not been appalled by his touch, but the complete opposite. He had awaken desires from down deep inside her.

When the Joker staggered to his feet, gripping the chair with one hand and pointing a shaking index finger with the other, he ordered her to go and she staggered to her feet, her head still swimming as she steadied herself for a moment before casting her deep green eyes upon him. "I�I�m sorry" was all she could utter as she headed toward the door, knowing she would soon be alone in the bowels of Gotham City.

The Joker had to admit that he was stunned she took his order so easily. He�d been expecting an argument that would last well into the night, but instead Rachel had gotten up from the chair and left without another word. Realizing that his mouth was still agape, he irritably closed it and ran a finger across his scars. The fact that his Bat bait was affecting him would not do, so he either needed to get over his odd reactions to her scent, or he needed to find a new distraction for Batsy. And yet... The Joker sneered. He could kill Rachel Dawes -- that'd not only end his infuriating attraction, but get to the Bat and a serious way.

Giddily clapping his hands, the clown prince sat down at his desk and began to furiously scribble down a series of notes. For the first time in months, the Joker felt himself smiling a true smile since he would finally be rid of one serious problem.

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Blood and Lust