Locked Up Part 5
Title: Locked Up Part 5
Author: Magick
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Batman/Joker
Summary: Gordon figures out that theres something more to Batmans and the Jokers relationship and he re-institutionalizes the Joker. It all goes down hill from there.
Bruce figured later that it must have been something in his tone when he spoke to Gordon about the Joker that betrayed him. Gordon looked at him sharply before taking off his glasses and cleaning them slowly.
“How are you keeping the Joker calm, Batman?”
“He has a craving for my attention, so I give him attention and books to occupy his time. Without idle hands he has not tried to escape or hurt anyone.” Bruce said confidently.
“What kind of… attention are you giving him Batman, because from here it sounds inappropriate.” Gordon asked shrewdly.
“Are you trying to imply something Commissioner, because from here it seems like you’re accusing me of doing something other than keeping a convicted murderer from harming the people of Gotham.” Bruce tried to keep his voice steady but he heard the quaver in it and he knew that Gordon did too.
“I appreciate all the time and energy you’ve put into keeping the Joker with you, but I think that now is a good time to take him back to the hospital. If he’s really as changed as you say then they should have no problem keeping him there.” Gordon’s voice spoke of finality and Bruce let his shoulders slump.
“He’ll break out.”
“Then that’ll be my problem. If he does break out, do not think you’ll be safe to harbor him, Batman. I’m sure your friend the Joker will be just fine without you. Bring him back here in an hour completely drugged or we’ll have to come after you.”
Gordon turned and strode away, leaving Bruce alone with his thoughts. He rushed back to the Batcave and slammed into the Joker's room.
“You have to go back to the hospital.” He gasped, trying to catch his breath.
“What? Why do I have to go there?!” The Joker cried, his eyes wide with horror.
“Gordon thinks I’m doing something inappropriate to you-hell, I am doing something inappropriate to you, but that’s beside the point. You have to go or they’ll come after us and that will be infinitely worse for the both of us.”
“Why are you telling me this instead of just drugging me up and passing me off? Wouldn’t it be easier to dose me if I’m unaware of your intentions?” The Joker asked as he backed away from Bruce.
“Yes it would be but then all the progress we’ve made will be rendered void. Listen to me. I’m taking you back to the hospital but I am not locking you up and throwing you away, I will come see you at night. Do you understand?” He stepped close to the Joker and forced him to look in his eyes.
The Joker nodded jerkily and Bruce pulled the syringe out of his pocket.
“I don’t have time to pack any of your things but I will leave you room as it is. I’m sure you’ll be back.” Bruce uncapped the needle and the Joker flinched.
“Do you have to drug me?” He asked nervously.
“I’m afraid so. It’ll be too dangerous to take you out there with all that temptation un-drugged. You know I’m right-you’re not ready for that yet.” Bruce said apologetically as he pressed the needle into the Joker's arm and pushed the plunger down.
The Joker scrambled forward to touch him as the drugs slid into his veins and Bruce kissed him just as he fell unconscious. Alfred entered the room and cleared his throat.
“We need to get him out of here and to the police station soon, Master Wayne.” Alfred said softly, as he helped lift the other man up and out of the compound.
Bruce made it to the police station easily and handed the Joker over to Gordon reluctantly.
“Are you sure you want to do this Gordon? You’re putting a lot of lives at risks putting him back into a place he’s broken out of before.”
“He’ll be fine, Batman. We have put up more locks and fixed his medication dosage accordingly.” Gordon said dismissively, turning to his officers and taking the Joker away. Bruce watched them go sadly before going home and going to bed.
***
The Joker wasn’t sure what to expect when he woke up, but being strapped to the bed with at least ten straps seemed excessive. After regaining his sense of equilibrium he set about undoing his restraints. He had over half of them undone when his door opened and a beefy nurse walked in. She pulled out a large needle and pressed it into his arm. Instantly the Joker felt darkness rush over him and he forgot all about the remaining five straps.
It was dark when the Joker woke up again but this time he noticed that he was not strapped down at all. He looked around in confusion and saw Batman sitting at his side-actually sleeping if the soft snoring was anything to go by.
“Brucey? You’ll be caught here if you sleep at my bedside.” The Joker giggled softly and Bruce stirred awake.
“I disabled the security camera by feeding in a loop of you sleeping peacefully. They aren’t going to come in here.” Bruce explained with a smirk.
“Oh, look at Mr. Smarty-parts superhero.” The Joker rolled his eyes and fought the urge to reach out to Bruce.
Bruce watched him for a second before getting up and settling into the bed beside him.
“Sorry, I’m not much of a cuddler in all this armor but its better if I’m caught in here as Batman than Bruce Wayne.”
“Who says I want to cuddle with you anyways.” The Joke snipped back but he still wrapped around him tightly.
The Joker fell asleep again with Bruce’s warmth close to him, but when he woke up he was alone.
The Jokers days began to blur together. Everyday he woke up alone and was given an injection that made him feel queasy and tired. He tried to fight it some days but the drug was stronger than him and he always ended up knocked out. The nurses had left bruises up and down his arms from jabbing the needle in harshly and the orderlies seemed to think it was fun to come in and poke those bruises while the Joker was semi-conscious. The abuse was beginning to kill that little part of him that Bruce had discovered and the Joker mourned it. The only thing that had kept him from snapping so far was finding Bruce at his bedside every night. Just seeing him for those few hours soothed the murderous rage inside of him and he almost thought he could bear it.
***
Bruce knew that it was too late to dodge just a second before the knife hit him. It was aimed for the seaming along his side and it slid home, cutting through the vulnerable spot on his armor straight through to his skin. He fell back with a cry and just barely managed to kick the robbers’ feet out from under him-causing his head to hit the pavement and him to pass out. Bruce tied the man up and left him there before hobbling back to his car. He programmed it to take him home where he passed out cold.
“Master Wayne, you must wake up!” Alfred was shaking him gently but urgently. Bruce tried to sit up but the pain in his side made him stop and he looked up at his oldest friend.
“Mr. Joker has escaped the hospital and taken several people hostage. He even has Commissioner Gordon.”
“What? He’s done what?” Bruce ignored the pain and sat up fully. He swung his legs over the side and it was lucky that Alfred was there to catch him.
“He’s holding them hostage down in the warehouse on Main Street. I have the car already programmed to take you there but if you can’t walk then you’re certainly no help at all.” Alfred helped him change back into his armor-which he’d obviously taken off him earlier to tend to his wounds. Then they made their way slowly to the car.
“You have to get up there quickly without being detected. The car will stop behind the warehouse and you’ll have to go up the fire ladder. Once you’re upstairs I’m pretty positive that Mr. Joker will stop doing whatever he’s doing but please try not to pass out until you have everything under control.” Alfred said dryly as he put Bruce in the car.
“Thanks a lot Alfred, I appreciate it.” Bruce smiled through his pain.
“Don’t worry about it, Master Wayne. I’ll be packing up a few things, I’m afraid we’ll need to go away for a while after this.”
Bruce nodded and Alfred shut the door. Then he was off to stop the Joker.
It took everything in Bruce to climb the ladder behind the warehouse. He could feel his wound reopening but he did not stop. He continued until he found the floor the Joker was on and swung through the window. If he seemed a little more out of breath or not as tall, no one seemed to notice.
“And now, Commissioner Gordon, I will kill each of these people in turn and there is no one here to stop me. Not you or your ridiculous officers.” The Joker cackled as he bounced towards a blonde woman bound of the floor.
“Joker, stop it.” Bruce stepped out of the shadows and the Joker dropped his knife in shock.
“Br-Batman? He said softly, shaking his head in confusion.
“Yes Joker, it’s me.” Bruce held out his arms so that the Joker could see that it was indeed him.
Some of the insanity in the Joker's eyes melted away at the sight of Bruce but what was left looked at him angrily.
“Where were you last night? I fought the medicine for you! I stayed awake for hours!” He screeched, moving closer to Bruce in his anger.
“I was patrolling and was injured. I passed out in the car before I even got home.” Bruce said softly, trying to pitch his words only for the Joker's ears.
“What are they talking about?” One of the hostages shouted.
“Batman is working with the Joker!” A woman screamed.
“They don’t even care that you’re trying to save them.” The Joker spat.
“I’m not trying to save them; I’m trying to save you.” Bruce answered.
“From what? Blood spatters and sweet dreams?!”
“From yourself. I did not abandon you last night, I was hurt.” Bruce grabbed the Joker's hand and brought it to the hole in his armor. The jokers eyes widened when his hand came away bloody.
“I need you to cut Commissioner Gordon free then come with me. We need to be out of the city before daybreak”
“What if they follow us?” The Joker asked uncertainly. The last of his insanity had finally drained from his visage and Bruce was looking at the face he was used to once more.
“They won’t.” Bruce said loudly to Commissioner Gordon.
The Commissioner shook his head in confusion but he did not lash out as he was cut loose. The Joker scampered back over to Bruce when he was done and they both looked at the people assembled there.
“Think what you want, people of Gotham, but I am doing this for your own good.” Bruce said seriously.
“Murderer!” A hostage yelled.
“Traitor! Working with scum like him.” Another screeched.
“No, I am just human.” Bruce said sadly, leading the Joker out the back and to his car. They could hear the people upstairs screaming at Gordon to stop them but no one tried.
“What were you thinking? You know that I patrol before I come and see you. Surely it entered your mind that I could be hurt.” Bruce questioned as the drove back to the Batcave.
The Joker shook his head no but he did not elaborate and the ride back to the Batcave was silent. Alfred met them at the entrance with several bags and climbed into the back seat with them. Bruce headed out of town then, away from Gotham, away from its angry mobs and finicky people. They made it to Bruce’s private airport just outside of town and got on a plane headed to one of the many Wayne vacation homes. Alfred explained on the way that one of his vacation homes was situated on an island with no other people on it and that it would be ideal for the three of them to hide out.
“I called ahead to the grounds keeper and he has opened the place up and is stocking it while we’re in transit then he will leave for his home off the island and we will be left there.”
“So we’re running away?” The Joker asked quietly.
“Yes, because the people of Gotham are too prejudiced to treat you as a human being and until you are better there is no sense in endangering so many.” Bruce affirmed.
“But trust me, Mr. Joker, this place will be unlike any hide-out you’ve ever had before. You’ll forget your self-imposed exile in the face white sand and sunny days.” Alfred smiled.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you Alfred?” Bruce muttered.
“Of Course, Master Wayne, I’ve been telling you to take a holiday and here it is.”
Bruce leaned back in his seat and let himself drift. The pain in his side had turned to a dull throb and had clotted, which helped alleviate his dizziness. Suddenly there were hands pulling his mask off and running though his hair.
“I’ve never taken a holiday before.” The Joker chuckled in his ear.
Bruce smile and resolved to do everything he could to make the Joker's holiday wonderful so that the last impression of it would help heal him. He hoped that when they finally returned to Gotham, the Joker would no longer be the Joker.
Author: Magick
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Batman/Joker
Summary: Gordon figures out that theres something more to Batmans and the Jokers relationship and he re-institutionalizes the Joker. It all goes down hill from there.
Bruce figured later that it must have been something in his tone when he spoke to Gordon about the Joker that betrayed him. Gordon looked at him sharply before taking off his glasses and cleaning them slowly.
“How are you keeping the Joker calm, Batman?”
“He has a craving for my attention, so I give him attention and books to occupy his time. Without idle hands he has not tried to escape or hurt anyone.” Bruce said confidently.
“What kind of… attention are you giving him Batman, because from here it sounds inappropriate.” Gordon asked shrewdly.
“Are you trying to imply something Commissioner, because from here it seems like you’re accusing me of doing something other than keeping a convicted murderer from harming the people of Gotham.” Bruce tried to keep his voice steady but he heard the quaver in it and he knew that Gordon did too.
“I appreciate all the time and energy you’ve put into keeping the Joker with you, but I think that now is a good time to take him back to the hospital. If he’s really as changed as you say then they should have no problem keeping him there.” Gordon’s voice spoke of finality and Bruce let his shoulders slump.
“He’ll break out.”
“Then that’ll be my problem. If he does break out, do not think you’ll be safe to harbor him, Batman. I’m sure your friend the Joker will be just fine without you. Bring him back here in an hour completely drugged or we’ll have to come after you.”
Gordon turned and strode away, leaving Bruce alone with his thoughts. He rushed back to the Batcave and slammed into the Joker's room.
“You have to go back to the hospital.” He gasped, trying to catch his breath.
“What? Why do I have to go there?!” The Joker cried, his eyes wide with horror.
“Gordon thinks I’m doing something inappropriate to you-hell, I am doing something inappropriate to you, but that’s beside the point. You have to go or they’ll come after us and that will be infinitely worse for the both of us.”
“Why are you telling me this instead of just drugging me up and passing me off? Wouldn’t it be easier to dose me if I’m unaware of your intentions?” The Joker asked as he backed away from Bruce.
“Yes it would be but then all the progress we’ve made will be rendered void. Listen to me. I’m taking you back to the hospital but I am not locking you up and throwing you away, I will come see you at night. Do you understand?” He stepped close to the Joker and forced him to look in his eyes.
The Joker nodded jerkily and Bruce pulled the syringe out of his pocket.
“I don’t have time to pack any of your things but I will leave you room as it is. I’m sure you’ll be back.” Bruce uncapped the needle and the Joker flinched.
“Do you have to drug me?” He asked nervously.
“I’m afraid so. It’ll be too dangerous to take you out there with all that temptation un-drugged. You know I’m right-you’re not ready for that yet.” Bruce said apologetically as he pressed the needle into the Joker's arm and pushed the plunger down.
The Joker scrambled forward to touch him as the drugs slid into his veins and Bruce kissed him just as he fell unconscious. Alfred entered the room and cleared his throat.
“We need to get him out of here and to the police station soon, Master Wayne.” Alfred said softly, as he helped lift the other man up and out of the compound.
Bruce made it to the police station easily and handed the Joker over to Gordon reluctantly.
“Are you sure you want to do this Gordon? You’re putting a lot of lives at risks putting him back into a place he’s broken out of before.”
“He’ll be fine, Batman. We have put up more locks and fixed his medication dosage accordingly.” Gordon said dismissively, turning to his officers and taking the Joker away. Bruce watched them go sadly before going home and going to bed.
***
The Joker wasn’t sure what to expect when he woke up, but being strapped to the bed with at least ten straps seemed excessive. After regaining his sense of equilibrium he set about undoing his restraints. He had over half of them undone when his door opened and a beefy nurse walked in. She pulled out a large needle and pressed it into his arm. Instantly the Joker felt darkness rush over him and he forgot all about the remaining five straps.
It was dark when the Joker woke up again but this time he noticed that he was not strapped down at all. He looked around in confusion and saw Batman sitting at his side-actually sleeping if the soft snoring was anything to go by.
“Brucey? You’ll be caught here if you sleep at my bedside.” The Joker giggled softly and Bruce stirred awake.
“I disabled the security camera by feeding in a loop of you sleeping peacefully. They aren’t going to come in here.” Bruce explained with a smirk.
“Oh, look at Mr. Smarty-parts superhero.” The Joker rolled his eyes and fought the urge to reach out to Bruce.
Bruce watched him for a second before getting up and settling into the bed beside him.
“Sorry, I’m not much of a cuddler in all this armor but its better if I’m caught in here as Batman than Bruce Wayne.”
“Who says I want to cuddle with you anyways.” The Joke snipped back but he still wrapped around him tightly.
The Joker fell asleep again with Bruce’s warmth close to him, but when he woke up he was alone.
The Jokers days began to blur together. Everyday he woke up alone and was given an injection that made him feel queasy and tired. He tried to fight it some days but the drug was stronger than him and he always ended up knocked out. The nurses had left bruises up and down his arms from jabbing the needle in harshly and the orderlies seemed to think it was fun to come in and poke those bruises while the Joker was semi-conscious. The abuse was beginning to kill that little part of him that Bruce had discovered and the Joker mourned it. The only thing that had kept him from snapping so far was finding Bruce at his bedside every night. Just seeing him for those few hours soothed the murderous rage inside of him and he almost thought he could bear it.
***
Bruce knew that it was too late to dodge just a second before the knife hit him. It was aimed for the seaming along his side and it slid home, cutting through the vulnerable spot on his armor straight through to his skin. He fell back with a cry and just barely managed to kick the robbers’ feet out from under him-causing his head to hit the pavement and him to pass out. Bruce tied the man up and left him there before hobbling back to his car. He programmed it to take him home where he passed out cold.
“Master Wayne, you must wake up!” Alfred was shaking him gently but urgently. Bruce tried to sit up but the pain in his side made him stop and he looked up at his oldest friend.
“Mr. Joker has escaped the hospital and taken several people hostage. He even has Commissioner Gordon.”
“What? He’s done what?” Bruce ignored the pain and sat up fully. He swung his legs over the side and it was lucky that Alfred was there to catch him.
“He’s holding them hostage down in the warehouse on Main Street. I have the car already programmed to take you there but if you can’t walk then you’re certainly no help at all.” Alfred helped him change back into his armor-which he’d obviously taken off him earlier to tend to his wounds. Then they made their way slowly to the car.
“You have to get up there quickly without being detected. The car will stop behind the warehouse and you’ll have to go up the fire ladder. Once you’re upstairs I’m pretty positive that Mr. Joker will stop doing whatever he’s doing but please try not to pass out until you have everything under control.” Alfred said dryly as he put Bruce in the car.
“Thanks a lot Alfred, I appreciate it.” Bruce smiled through his pain.
“Don’t worry about it, Master Wayne. I’ll be packing up a few things, I’m afraid we’ll need to go away for a while after this.”
Bruce nodded and Alfred shut the door. Then he was off to stop the Joker.
It took everything in Bruce to climb the ladder behind the warehouse. He could feel his wound reopening but he did not stop. He continued until he found the floor the Joker was on and swung through the window. If he seemed a little more out of breath or not as tall, no one seemed to notice.
“And now, Commissioner Gordon, I will kill each of these people in turn and there is no one here to stop me. Not you or your ridiculous officers.” The Joker cackled as he bounced towards a blonde woman bound of the floor.
“Joker, stop it.” Bruce stepped out of the shadows and the Joker dropped his knife in shock.
“Br-Batman? He said softly, shaking his head in confusion.
“Yes Joker, it’s me.” Bruce held out his arms so that the Joker could see that it was indeed him.
Some of the insanity in the Joker's eyes melted away at the sight of Bruce but what was left looked at him angrily.
“Where were you last night? I fought the medicine for you! I stayed awake for hours!” He screeched, moving closer to Bruce in his anger.
“I was patrolling and was injured. I passed out in the car before I even got home.” Bruce said softly, trying to pitch his words only for the Joker's ears.
“What are they talking about?” One of the hostages shouted.
“Batman is working with the Joker!” A woman screamed.
“They don’t even care that you’re trying to save them.” The Joker spat.
“I’m not trying to save them; I’m trying to save you.” Bruce answered.
“From what? Blood spatters and sweet dreams?!”
“From yourself. I did not abandon you last night, I was hurt.” Bruce grabbed the Joker's hand and brought it to the hole in his armor. The jokers eyes widened when his hand came away bloody.
“I need you to cut Commissioner Gordon free then come with me. We need to be out of the city before daybreak”
“What if they follow us?” The Joker asked uncertainly. The last of his insanity had finally drained from his visage and Bruce was looking at the face he was used to once more.
“They won’t.” Bruce said loudly to Commissioner Gordon.
The Commissioner shook his head in confusion but he did not lash out as he was cut loose. The Joker scampered back over to Bruce when he was done and they both looked at the people assembled there.
“Think what you want, people of Gotham, but I am doing this for your own good.” Bruce said seriously.
“Murderer!” A hostage yelled.
“Traitor! Working with scum like him.” Another screeched.
“No, I am just human.” Bruce said sadly, leading the Joker out the back and to his car. They could hear the people upstairs screaming at Gordon to stop them but no one tried.
“What were you thinking? You know that I patrol before I come and see you. Surely it entered your mind that I could be hurt.” Bruce questioned as the drove back to the Batcave.
The Joker shook his head no but he did not elaborate and the ride back to the Batcave was silent. Alfred met them at the entrance with several bags and climbed into the back seat with them. Bruce headed out of town then, away from Gotham, away from its angry mobs and finicky people. They made it to Bruce’s private airport just outside of town and got on a plane headed to one of the many Wayne vacation homes. Alfred explained on the way that one of his vacation homes was situated on an island with no other people on it and that it would be ideal for the three of them to hide out.
“I called ahead to the grounds keeper and he has opened the place up and is stocking it while we’re in transit then he will leave for his home off the island and we will be left there.”
“So we’re running away?” The Joker asked quietly.
“Yes, because the people of Gotham are too prejudiced to treat you as a human being and until you are better there is no sense in endangering so many.” Bruce affirmed.
“But trust me, Mr. Joker, this place will be unlike any hide-out you’ve ever had before. You’ll forget your self-imposed exile in the face white sand and sunny days.” Alfred smiled.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you Alfred?” Bruce muttered.
“Of Course, Master Wayne, I’ve been telling you to take a holiday and here it is.”
Bruce leaned back in his seat and let himself drift. The pain in his side had turned to a dull throb and had clotted, which helped alleviate his dizziness. Suddenly there were hands pulling his mask off and running though his hair.
“I’ve never taken a holiday before.” The Joker chuckled in his ear.
Bruce smile and resolved to do everything he could to make the Joker's holiday wonderful so that the last impression of it would help heal him. He hoped that when they finally returned to Gotham, the Joker would no longer be the Joker.