What Happens In Arkham...Part 12

[heatherhouse]

Title: What happens In Arkham...Part 12
Authors: knives99 and heatherhouse .
Fandom: Batman; Nolanverse
Pairing: Batman(Bruce)/The Joker
Rating: R
Summary: Bruce Wayne goes to Arkham in search of The Joker's Secrets and Identity and ends up with more then he bargined for.
Warnings: Slash, Violence, Swearing, Sex.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters and no

Comments

[junkiefornews]

"Bruce's face darkened, jaw clamping shut and for a dark moment the cowl wasn't necessary to see what lie underneath the calm exterior. "Jack deserves a chance. He's shown that he wasn't always the Joker, there's someone under there worth saving.""

I really think that canon!Batman believes There's someone worth saving as well. There was an episode of Batman: The Animated Series called "Beware the Creeper" that starts off with Bruce Wayne watching a special about The Joker (and Tim Drake saying something like, "haven't you watched enough of these?"). Bruce was just watching so intensely. He probably knew everything the reporter was saying, but I think Bruce just couldn't help it. I think he thought that if he just watched close enough he could find the secret that would help The Joker turn around.

The funny thing is The Joker knew Batman would be watching (he told Harley Quinn that Batman was his biggest fan). I think The Joker knows that Batman really wants to help him (versus those who are only doing their jobs), and I think the Joker loves that. I think The Joker's so happy by the idea that someone would care enough to try that he'd never think of "really" trying to kill Batman.

Wound Batman? Yes. Kill his friends and Robins? Yes. But to seriously kill Batman? I don't think so. Not unless The Joker was about to die as well.

The comics have been so interesting on this topic. One time Batman saved The Joker from dying on Death Row. The Joker was found guilty of deaths (that he later turned out to be innocent of thanks to Batman's investigation) Everyone was telling Batman that he should just let The Joker be executed, but Batman couldn't do it. He had to save The Joker (he told everyone else that it was in the interest of proper justice, but he later told the Joker that it was so that every time The Joker took a breath he'd know it was because Batman saved him).

But I think my all time favorite would be the second Batman/Punisher crossover. The Punisher has The Joker cornered and is about to kill him when Batman intervenes. In fact, Batman tells The Joker to run away. I mean it says so much about Batman....he really seems to want to help people, even the bad ones.

The Punisher's line at the end was great too, "You and the giggling idiot deserve each other."

I suppose that's so true.

Anyway, back to your fic...

I am so impressed by this story. It manages to be both smutty (always great), suspenseful, and thought provoking at the same time. I love the characterizations of all the characters. Alfred was great in this chapter... I just thought it was awesome that he of all people was the one able to get The Joker to take medication. Hee! I suppose putting up with a stubborn Bruce Wayne would help in that department.

Lex Luthor is going to have to watch out though. Now that The Joker (Jack) is fixated on Bruce Wayne, I think anyone preventing them from being together for awhile might see violence coming their way. (By the way, I loved Luthor's characterization as well. I know he wasn't really in this chapter, but the line "Luther didn't want to deal the way I wanted so he's invited me to Metropolis at a later date so I can see the company workings firsthand" seems completely Luthor. I'm excited. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Anyway, great job so far! I look forward to reading more.

[fooln_what]

I almost completely agree on the "worth saving" issue.

I always found it a bit out of character for the Joker in the animated series to really want to kill Batman. Because, well, he claims to do so often enough. But maybe he doesn't mean it/doesn't *really* know what he means/wants himself.
Or maybe he wants to kill Batman, but on another level knows he'll never figure out a death which is bat-worthy.

Oh, The Devil's Advocate! I loved that one. Also the dialog lines where Batman visits Joker in his cell and he says: "I *don't* care about you. I care about Justice.", (notice the emphasis on "don't"! *giggles*) and the Joker replies: "Justice. Just us."
I never found the.. definite statement behind the wordplay, only possibilities (and I think it's meant that way!) - but I can't help thinking the Joker understands their relationship (at least in this comic) better than Batman. Even if he doesn't want it to be true in some situations , for example in "The Reign of Emperor Joker", when he isn't able to "erase" Batman.

The "genuine attempt" of Batman to help Joker in The Killing Joke was also quite interesting, though the ending clashes with the "Batman believes there's someone worth saving" thing or at least Batman being.. heroic. I think he gives up too soon, after just one rejection. (maybe you know the Killing Joke meta from kowaiyoukai? It's very interesting: http://kowaiyoukai.livejournal.com/69897.html )

Also, in the metaphoric joke at the end, the one guy from the asylum (Batman) offers to light the way over the gap which separates the other (Joker) from the other rooftops and freedom with a flashlight, so the other one could walk over the beam. So, maybe it's a genuine attempt after all, but Batman is blind to see that he can't help the Joker or, well, it isn't genuine.

Umm, now I'm confused, so I'll stop. Hope you are also a bit confused ;-)

[astraea]

I like your thoughts on this ;) I see the Just Us thing meaning that he definitely sees their relationship much more clearly than Batsy does...or wants to anyway :P Bruce is just way too deep in denial most of the tíme to even handle it. And I think TKJ is probably the closest he's ever come to actually admitting his true "feelings" for Joker in a way...By the way if you're interested in some more good B&J meta then here's one :

http://community.livejournal.com/comicslash/96425.html

[fooln_what]

*grins* good points. Agreed.
omg, I figuratively flew through the meta. It's amazing. I'll have to read the original fic and comments later (I have a visitor here and I think reading through that kind of stuff all evening wouldn't make me a better host *g*). Thankie!