Words of a Mad Man [Joker]

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

The sight and sounds around him of the cell block in the intensive treatment facility at Arkham were all too familiar to this vigilante. How many times had he come down this way just to seek answers that were often not found? The security of the place had only gotten higher since the invasion of the government. Dick was surprised that had yet to track down this place and start any major programs there yet. He had been listen and watching what had been going on in Gotham recently. It was not that hard to spot the many government agents that were new in town. But their intent was not fully known by the public or to those trying to dig up the dirt on it. All that was known was that they planned to keep everyone in Gotham and no one was allowed in. He had noticed the border control around the city lately. Though there was too little information to go by yet to know exactly what the federal agents were planning. What ever it was, there was something off about it in the approach.

Nightwing continued down the long corridor, the many cells with people locked in them behind the plexiglass. Many sitting in corners of pacing. The occasional sounds of shouting going on within the cells. A guard led the way, to the particular cell he was paying a visit to.

These people stepped up their game, making sure the prisoners were kept in their cells. And this patient was one of the most heavily guarded of them all. Nightwing had come to see one man in particular. It was not often the Bat family dropped in for a social call to Arkham. But things were leading to someone having to try and find out what might be going on in the cities underbelly.

Nightwing knew which cell lay ahead. A frown upon his face stuck to the thought of the sick minded man of that cell. The Joker. It may have been sometime since Dick had seen the Joker. But he could say he was glad for that. This guys was on the top for the most sick and twisted crimes in Gotham.

it took more than insanity to commit crimes like that. It was only the mind of the Joker that seemed to plague this town. No matter what anyone else tried to do, it just never seemed to match up to what the Joker had done in the past.

As he got closer to the cell, the guard stopped at the entrance of the cell.
"Got a visitor," the guard said as he opens the cell door to the approaching black figure with the blue symbol stretch upon the chest.

Dick had not informed why the visit. That wasn't for the guards to know. As far as he wanted, he didn't even want the police to know he had even dropped by. It paid to know people working on the inside. He had done this many times before with the Batman. But this time, it was only him and the Joker.

Nightwing glanced in at the mad man within the cell. All to much of a familiar face. One he only wished he could forget and never have to look upon. But how likely was that in Gotham. His eyes narrowed as he stood in the doorway.

[missj]

The Joker had been sitting in the dark corner of his cell on a small cement plastered seat, still entwined in his comfy little straight jacket. When a new visitor was announced, he almost rolled his eyes. He was being a good little clown; staying in Arkham, wrapped up in his straight jacket, and yet he still couldn't be left alone.

When he stared at the dark figure standing the doorway, the Joker's brow perked up. If he hadn't known any better, he would have thought that the Batman himself had come to visit him. When a bolt of lightning crashed behind him and illuminated the dim cell momentarily, he realized that this was someone else entirely. That's when he began to laugh.

"And who might you be? The white Black Lightning? Hehehehe..." He studied the suit, trying to locate weaknesses and identify the logo. "If you're looking for an arch enemy, you came to the right asylum, just the wrong cell. I'm spoken for." He continued his fit of laughter before standing up, walking closely so he was mere inches from the vigilante's face. "Don't tell me Batsy had another kid? I didn't even get an invite to the baby shower!"

While most of Batman's Rogue Gallery couldn't care less who put on the each costume, the Joker wanted to know who was who and what was what. This costume was not one he had seen as of yet. There had been Batman, Robin, Batgirl... but not this black and blue suit, yet, there was something strangely familiar about him.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick stood there watching the mad man look him over from where he sat. He merely took the insults with no response at first as he listened to that same old laugh he had heard hundreds of time before. He scowled more over the fact that the Joker always took everything as a joke. The man would never change. Dick knew that. It's why the game of cat and mouse had continued for years between Batman and the Joker.

He did not respond to the Joker's comments, allowing him to get them in as he pleased. Dick wasn't scared to face the Joker. That was obvious by how he did not respond to the welcoming. Dick glanced over form the corner of his eye and saw the guard had gone to shut the cell door for safety measures as the Joker raised from his seat.

Dick eyes came back to focus more on the mad man in the room walking toward him. And when the Joker had stopped only inches from his face, it was more than too close for comfort. Though Dick only stood silent as the Joker continued to have his fun.

"Close, but no," Dick replied coolly. His words as calm as if it weren't a killer before him. "The name's Nightwing. And I know the whole story about you," he spoke, hardly revealing much in his words. Only the fact that he had either followed the Joker's story or something along those lines. When in fact, Dick had been there all along the whole time through out the Joker's crimes as far as when he first had become Robin.

Though it the Joker wanted to figure out who he was by himself, by all means, Dick was going to allow the game to go on a bit. The longer it took for the man to figure him out, the better. This would give Dick the chance to maybe get something out of him, even if it wasn't a direct answer.

The sooner the Joker figured him out, the sooner he would probably get to the insults of the former Boy Wonder. Dick knew though that the Joker wasn't going to quit trying to figure him out. It was all mind games with him at times. Joker didn't have the advantage of freedom in Arkham.

[missj]

Had the Joker's arms not been restrained in his straight jacket, he would have brought a hand under his chin thoughtfully. There was something curious about this vigilante. Something familiar... There was one thing for sure, though: he was a member for the Bat family. "If I didn't know any better, I would have thought that response came from the Batman himself! Are you one of those weirdos who think they're super hero material? Those guys are crazy! Hehehehe..."

Joker leaned from one side to the other, inspecting the stranger carefully. There was something he was missing here. No one came to see him unless they knew who he was and had something in particular they wanted; the latter a common trend amongst his most recent visitors. “Alright, Nightwing, what is it that old Uncle Joker can do for you?” He backed up, plopping himself down on his cot with his lifeless smile back in place. In all honesty, he was more than willing to stall until he knew who this figure was in front of him. “BUT! All answers come at a price…hehehehe… I know! Why don’t we play strip poker? Each round you lose, a piece of the costume comes off until we know who the other is.” His voice was jovial, though his offer was quite serious. He needed to know who this was that dared stand in front of him so defiantly.

“Let me guess. You want me to shed some light on some super baddie that you just can’t seem to understand, because someone as insane as the Joker must be able to understand them, right? Or, you want to know if I’ve change my ways?” The Joker gave him a puppy eyed look before laughing sickly. “NEWS FLASH! If Bat-Brain can’t get through to me, then what makes you think you will? Are you a poor little orphan who Batsy took in? You trying to make your new daddy proud because your old daddy put a nine mil to his head when he realized what a failure you were?” He cocked his head to the side in curiosity as he waited and hoped for the façade to crumble.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

"There's a difference between super heroes and vigilantes," Dick commented back. He wasn't going to add to that. There was no need. Though the part about the Joker saying he would have thought that response came from the Batman himself, only made Dick frown at the thought. Every where he went he was always compared to the Batman. It wasn't over what all had gone down between him and Bruce, it was more of a pride issue.

His eyes followed as the Joker leaned side to side. And then when the Joker actually spoke up and was willing to give him a chance to try and question him, Dick raised his eyebrow knowing something was up. And with Joker's next words, Dick knew exactly what was going on. The games the Joker player never amused him. Though he almost wanted to laugh at the thought that he was actually getting to the Joker. Reminded him almost of the Riddler and how he always needed to know the answers to the things he didn't understand. Then again the Riddler wasn't a psychotic clown.

"Not a chance," Dick muttered. The Joker had yet to wear at his nerves. He could take this for a bit. It gave him the chance to see what it was like to finally have the clown guessing for once. Dick had a thought of just walking out of there and leaving the Joker to himself and his thoughts. How much crazier could the guy get anyways?

Though he wasn't going to seeing as he had come all the way to Arkham and was wasting time patrolling the city and following other cases. This seemed rather entertaining at the moment though. Dick kept his eyes on the clown, now sitting on the cot again.

Dick was going to respond to the Joker's questions and fill in the detail that he could careless about trying to get the Joker into a stable state of mind because he was beyond that kind of help. After watching and trying to fight the clown for more than seven years, there was no way to help a person that sick. Sure there were some weirdos out there, but the Joker had always been on the top of the list. The guy killed for laughs.

It was the comment on the whole orphan thing and proving himself to the Batman that irritated Dick the most. "No one can get through to you, Everything is just a sick joke to you," Dick started up, his tone getting more serious. "Do you really think I'm out for the approval of the Bat. I don't have to prove anything to him," was the reply from Nightwing, now glaring at the Joker. He had hit a bit of a nerve there. Dick didn't say any more than that. What had happened with everything, Dick did not need to hear the Joker's opinion on it. Dick had caved a bit, but not enough to lose his frame. Though anything he said was like feeding a shark. He would continue until he got all the information he wanted to figure things out.

[missj]

The Joker looked at the man in front of him with a smug look on his face. He had struck a nerve; the exact nerve he was going for. "Really, because to me it looks like you just borrowed Batsy's suit and changed it a little bit. What's next? Asking Gordon to make you your own signal?"

He let it drop for a moment, harping on the super hero comment. "Yes, super heroes wear bright colored pajamas and fly around like a bunch of pansies like Superman, while vigilantes sulk through the shadows like wanna-be ninjas." He laughed at his own comparison, rocking back and forth.

"I prefer to see the world with a smile on my face... Bird Boy." He stared at the man in front of him before breaking out into gleeful laughter. "Oh, Robin, how I've missed my favorite Boy Blunder! I thought it was you, but I just couldn't be sure!" He grinned and laughed maniacally as he waited for the vigilante's reaction.

Did he really think he could fool the Joker? He obsessed over Batman and therefore had to know Batman's sidekick. There weren't many ways to get to the Dork Knight, but Robin was one of them. Apparently, though, they had had a falling out. "Don't tell me that my favorite couple won't be heading to New York for their legal wedding!" He continued to laugh sickly at his realization.

"Did you miss your Uncle Joker, Robbie? I mean, I've missed you..." He grinned as his voice dropped several octaves, staring down his opponent. This was the meeting of a lifetime. No better way to pass the time in Arkham than to torment one of his favorite adversaries.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick knew his comment lead to a glaring mistake that would take this meeting in another direction. Watching the Joker as he gained a smug look to him. He knew the Joker was starting to put things together. Of all people, it was always the Joker that would be able to hit the nail on the head with his comments. Dick just stared down the clown when he joked about having the same things as the Batman had.

This guy never stayed on one topic for long. His conversations often just leading to a maze with no exit. Dick was starting to feel this was definitely going to be a waste of his time. He'd get to asking the question when he could, but right now he knew the Joker was going to play his games.

"And it took you this long to figure it out," Dick replied sarcastically, not at all letting the other comment affect him. He was used to dealing with this situation recently from other criminals.

He should have figured this wouldn't work out all that well. And he knew the insults were coming. Or at least the comments Dick could do without. If there's anyone who like to have the cards in his hands, it was the Joker. His fists clenched as the Joker continued on in his manner.

"I can tell you where you'll be heading if you don't quit clowning around," Dick started up with a bit of a threat. Like that was ever going to happen, the Joker's life is a jokester life. "Unless you rather not be in a hospital bed," he finished his threat through gritted teeth.

"Well that's great to know someone is thinking of me in the wall of Arkham," he said dryly. Like he would ever miss the Joker. Some of the fights between them had been the worst that Dick could remember facing. Besides the incident with Two-Face that almost ended Dick's life with a crowbar when he was younger. "Now listen, I didn't come here for a social visit with a lunatic. So, I want some answers," Dick started in, crossing his arms as he made eye contact with the Joker.

[missj]

"Where are you going to send me, Bird Brain? To Arkham? Oh... wait! Heheheheheheeee!" The Joker gripped his sides inside of the straight jacket, wishing he had the use of his arms to fully express himself. The Joker was a very animated person; the suit, the flower, the voice, the laugh, the movements. It was all part of a giant, elaborate act. "I'm pretty sure this is a hospital. Did Batsy teach you nothing? What were you two doing in that cave of yours, hmm?"

The giggling bounced off the walls as he leaned backwards, dancing around each question and threat that Nightwing gave. "I can't answer a question you haven't asked, and you can't question an answer I haven't given." He stayed silent for a moment before a slight look of false repulsion crossed his face. "I almost sounded like the Riddler..."

He stood back up, getting back into Nightwing's face. It was much more satisfying now that he knew who it was. Anything that could be used against Batman in a future encounter was a great help to the Joker. Nightwing was right; it was all mind games.

"I'm all ears, Nightwing. Not like I can go anywhere, now is it?" His voice held a bored tone as he stared down the young vigilante as the laughter escaped him. It wasn't a good thing when the Joker stopped laughing.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick ignored the empty question just trying to get a reaction out of him. Well, he wasn't going to give the Joker the pleasure that he was getting a bit tired of Joker trying to hit any other nerves. If Dick couldn't hold his own against the mind games of the Joker, he wouldn't have come. You don't not learn to gain mental stability when it came to the vigilante work. Dealing with all kinds of psychos, you had to learn what they were thinking to try and get inside their heads.

The wavering of the Joker did not deter Dick to stand down any time soon. It's all that Joker seemed to be able to do now a days. Seeing as he doesn't have the uses of his hands. Sometimes it was even weird just trying to think how the nut-job was able to get himself out of those straight jackets and the penitentiary he was located in. One thing was for sure, you never underestimate your enemies.

As the clown stood back up and was face to face with him again. Dick wanted to take a step back, but wouldn't. One step back would show as a sign of weakness to the Joker. It wasn't that he scared of the Joker, it was more of a personal space issue. This guy had no reguard to the meaning of personal space.

Almost eye to eye with the wackjob, the Joker probably had an inch or two over his height. There was never a sign of remorse for anything the guy did. That just added to the discomfort of the situation.

"Not like you can do anything about it, now is there," Dick replied. "Though with what is going on with the Feds being around, I'm sure there's probably more word going around here than on the streets. Seeing as the government wouldn't get involved if it didn't have any thing to go with people like you." Sure there was some word on the street. But things only seemed to be getting started. And of course the police weren't going to talk. But one thing was for sure, if the Feds were here, Arkham must fit into the plans some where along the lines.

"Is there anything you have heard about this," Dick figured to just ask the question and see if he could get an answer. Even if he didn't gain anything from it, he might be able to work at it. "I'm sure your pals on the outside had informed you of the city seeming to be surrounded by Federal agents.." And when it came to commotion on the outside of Arkham, that was usually the best signal to figure something would go down in Arkham. The Feds would know nothing about the way this city runs, by the way they were approaching things, it was about to get worse.

"I'm not hear to play games," he said. "But if you want to, we can do this the easy way or the hard way." Threatening the Joker was just mere talk. The guy laughed at his own pain. If it worked it worked. But most often the Joker never seems fazed by an threats. Dick had been there many time for when Batman used to throw the Joker around if he really wanted answer. Though, it was little help.

[missj]

"Robin you know I like it rough." He giggled softly as he batted his eyes at the former boy wonder. In all honesty, the Joker hoped that he could goad Nightwing into hitting him. Not only would it gave the Joker the perfect reason to hit him back, but it would mean he really got through to the brat. Mind games were his absolute favorite, and while he preferred it to be with the Batman, his favorite his little protege would do just fine.

"What happened between you and the Bat? I haven't seen you haunting Gotham in a while. You finally get sick of those green tights?" Joker continued to dance around the question until he felt like answering. "Yes, I've heard about the Federal Bureau of Idiots hanging around Gotham. I also hear about extradition to some super secret location. I'm just waiting to hear them declare war on Bats. That's when they'll need me." He grinned mischievously.

"You ever hear the saying 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend?'" He watched the boy wonder carefully as he continued to speak with an almost surgical exactness; each word intended to cut in just the right spot. "Of course, whether I give them valid information or not has yet to be determined... but just think of the fun! Sending my own army of FBI agents after Fatman!"

In the blink of an eye, his facial expressions changed to represent ignorant innocence; as if he had no clue what the man in front of him was talking about. "Now, if what I've heard is correct... then the FBI came into town about two and a half weeks ago, and I've been partying in Arkham for a little over three weeks... hmm, sounds to me like I wasn't involved. I mean, I didn't bring them here." He gave the boy a grin that was so much more than a grin. Leave it to Joker to plan his own capture around when the FBI would show up. Or had he?

Regardless, the Joker clearly was up to more than just merely occupying Arkham to serve out one of his one hundred and fifty life sentences. No, he was planning a surprise party so epic it would rock Gotham to it's corrupt and rotten core.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

If there was more than anything Dick wanted to do it was to hit the Joker square in the mouth. But he knew how to control himself. He wasn't going to give it that easily to mindless comments made by the Joker. He had been through it time and time before. Though this time Dick was calling the shots. There was no Batman there.

"Sometimes people just grow up," Dick answered the Joker's random questions. Sometime it was worth throwing the dog a bone to get them off the subject. "Then again, in your case, they don't seem to," he returned an insult of the obvious fact that Joker has been playing the same games for years. After hearing the Joker at least start in on answering part of his question, Dick knew at least he was getting something out of the clown.

Dick's fists clenched harder over the Joker's next words. There was more to this FBI mission. And Dick knew the Joker would want to twist it in his favor. "If they did start following your leads, they might as well be locked up here with you in Arkham," Dick shot back. That was the problem with outside help coming into Gotham, they didn't know what they were up against. Especially with criminals like the Joker who planned the game out step by step in their heads.

After the Joker's next words, Dick didn't like what he was hearing. There had to be more to this, What did the Joker know? It's not like he can predict the future and know what to do next. "I noticed that," Dick spoke up again. He knew what criminals were in and out of Arkham. And seeing as the FBI wouldn't have just come over one matter in particular. It had to be something bigger. Dick had a bad feeling about what might be coming. What for sure? He didn't know. But with the way things were going, he didn't like the looks of it.

The Joker seemed to confident in his own ways as he talked. And that was never a good sign for anyone. "If the Feds do let you out on a leash to lead them, you can guarantee I'll be there to to stop you," Dick replied, glaring at the clowns wicked grin again.

[missj]

Joker laughed sickly as Nightwing began to realize the genius in his plan. These FBI clowns, pardon the pun, didn't know who they were dealing with. They had no idea that the Clown Prince of Crime would send them on a wild goose chase until he was completely ready to strike. The Batman knew this. Nightwing knew this. Too bad the Feds would never listen to vigilantes.

"It has nothing to do with growing up, little birdie. It has to do with knowing who you are and not being such a screw up you get hidden in someone else shadow." His grin grew as he waited for a reaction from the vigilante. He needed to push harder.

He didn't like the idea of being on a 'leash'. He wasn't a dog, and this punk was no where near at the level to keep up with him. At least, not alone. Nightwing may have thought he was grown up, but to the Joker, he'd always be Robin.

To Nightwing's comment about watching the Joker, he couldn't resist but to continue to push buttons. "It's ok, Boy Blunder. Part of my deal with the FBI would be to have dear ol' Harv out with me, and of course he would need something to protect himself with. Like, oh, say a crowbar?" His eyes held extreme evil as he glared at the young boy devilishly.

Of course he knew of the time Harvey nearly beat the boy to death. Both of his faces were bragging about it when he got back to Arkham - that was, of course, once he recuperated from Batman nearly beating him to death. He had been holding this back for years, but now seemed like the perfect opportunity to throw it in his face. "Or perhaps Bane, to snap the Bats' back?"

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

It never ceased to amaze Dick how twisted this clown was. Compare to the other wackjobs, this one had a mind of a genius. Well as far one can be called a genius while being insane. It was sickening how he could play such games with lives. And Dick knew he would do just that with the FBI, given the chance.

"Maybe your right on that or maybe your wrong," Dick replied coolly. "You can see it how you like." He stood guard over not saying too much at this point about it. If there was one thing Dick wasn't it was being as ice cold as the Batman. Dick had the drive for revenge at times. Had it not been for Batman to stop him from getting his revenge on Zucco, only Dick would have known what could of and would of happened. Though, Bruce had seen it in him. Dick only needed to keep a level head on some things.

Dick maybe quick to anger, but it took a bit more to really shake him up to get him in a rage. That was the difference somewhat between the Batman and Nightwing. Nightwing brought more personality to the table than the Batman did.

When Joker mentioned possibly having help with him, Dick glanced away for a second from the Joker's own gaze. He remember that night. That had been the night that changed the crime fighting way of his. Though it was good in some ways. But he remembered Bruce had even feared for his life at that point, relieving just how much danger he had been letting Robin get into. Sometime Dick wonder over that about Bruce. He never seemed to let go that that had happened. Dick had moved on from it, but never forgot it. But he could still remember how close he had been to death that night.

Dick still hated when people tried to strike with a crowbar. It wasn't the crowbar just itself, it was the person using it. "If you think Two-Face with a crowbar is going to scare me, it's going to take more than that," Dick replied, bringing himself back from the memory that still haunted him. It wasn't the crowbar, it was the death of the DA at that time that still haunted him. How he had let that happen.

"Speaking of Bane, what every happened to your friend," Dick replied. "He's been off the radar for quite some time now." He was more or less just throwing that out there. Just trying to redirect this interrogation. He knew Joker was just feeding of his ever little sign of anger or fear that he gave off. This psycho was good. But Dick could still hold out. But for how much longer? He wasn't sure. He could only take so much from the clown. He knew way too much about the Batman. Dick knew the guy was obsessed, but he was starting to take it to a new level now a days.

[missj]

The clown could see Nightwing's defenses slowly crumbling which only added to his smile. It wouldn't take much more to get him to let loose. Or, whatever the equivalent of letting loose was for the boy blunder. He let the vigilante make his counter points to try to get to the Joker, but he was content to just smile. "According to Harv, you were screaming and crying for Batman like a little boy." He let his grin drip with enjoyment. "He said you were crying for daddy, but he never showed. Batsy showed almost too late. Guess you weren't on the top of his priority list."

He thought about where Bane was. He hadn't heard much from the luchador, especially since he had been locked up in Arkham. It didn't matter much to the Joker; Bane wasn't much fun. "I heard he was trying to figure out the best way to break little Robins. Then again, I heard they're best served up with a dish of Batgirl stew." His eyes danced with laughter as he waited for the outburst he wanted so badly.

Joker giggled again. This was almost more fun that tormenting Gotham. Almost.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

This clown was really starting to irritated Dick. And was really starting to work on his nerves. Dick could remember many times where Batman hadn't been there to help him out. But Dick knew the reasons. Sometime some lives were more important than others. It was a part of the work. Dick didn't need the Bat's help any more. He could handle things on his own.

The Joker's words were only getting his mind to run on those thoughts that had some what driven the wedge in between the how Batman and Robin thing. Joker was hitting the points hard. But he was still missing the biggest factor that would drive Dick to the edge.

Dick didn't respond to the first comment, he only glared colder at the Joker as he spoke. His muscles in his arms tensing up even more. Even the comment on Batgirl was starting to get to him. If any one dared to hurt her, they would have to go through him first.

"Enough with the games," he said in a low cold tone. The Joker was starting to wear out his patients with Dick. He had gotten some answers. But there was something else the Joker wasn't saying. Or he at least lack to say, but his expressions said it all. "There's more to this any just what you are saying there is," Dick replied. Not really going off to specify exactly which subject he was getting at. He narrowed his eyes more at the Joker's testing smile. His fists were clenched so tight that if his gloves weren't on, his knuckles would have been turning white from the pressure. He really wanted to just grab the straight jacket and throw the Joker to the back wall. But still he withheld it.

Joker was getting closer to pushing Dick over the edge at the moment. Though Dick had managed to keep control of himself so far. Even with the threat on Batgirl if Bane was around. If there was one thing the Joker was missing it was the fact that Dick wanted nothing to do with Batman. He wasn't Batman and he made sure others knew that. He wasn't playing around. He'd still work with the Bat family, but as far as he was concerned his part as Robin was dead. He wasn't going back. He would never go back to that again. He didn't want to be in the shadow of the Bat. Dick was his own man. Nightwing was what gave him his escape to be his own person.