January/February Prompt

[Joker]

This is actually how it was when I was writing it. I took away everything before the beginning away then checked the word count. The word count I used doesn't include punctuation and symbols as spaces like some do - including any on ProBoards. I hope this is okay.

Name - Crow
Character Name(s) - (in order of appearance) Alfred, Bruce 'Batman' Wayne, Joker (mentioned), Jim Gordon, Harley Quinn.
Word Count - 2552 words.
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- something wrapped
- write about an empty glass
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Three heavy thuds caught the grey haired man's attention as he walked through the entrance hall of Wayne Manor. He paused and looked at the doors before placing the silver tray - loaded with a plate of food, a glass of orange juice and a news paper - onto the sideboard carefully then moving over to the front doors of the large house. His hand closed around the door handle and he opened the door to find a small package in light purple tissue paper sat on the doorstep. A frown engraved itself onto his features and he bent down, with a little difficulty, to pick the box up before looking over the top for a label. He saw none, instead finding that there was only one thing on the package other than the wrapping paper, and that was a light green ribbon which was tied around it elegantly.

Shutting the door, Alfred moved back over to the silver tray and put the package on it before carrying the tray up the stairs to the bedroom of Bruce Wayne. He opened the door and sighed at the sight of the remaining Wayne still asleep. Moving over to the other man's bedside with many years worth of trained ease, he put the tray on the bedside table and moved over to the curtains. Bruce gave a small groan.

"What time is it?" He asked, looking at the older man with a frown as Alfred moved to pick the tray up once more.

"Nine thirty, Master Bruce." Alfred answered dutifully, waiting until Bruce was sitting up before placing the tray down. "I don't doubt you'd be interested in the headline on today's paper, and the package was left on the doorstep about five minutes ago."

Bruce looked at the package and nodded softly, almost seeming to be numb, before he picked up the paper. In large, bold letters on the front page sat the headline of today. Four words. Four words Bruce never thought he'd read.

THE JOKER IS DEAD

Having been about to take a sip of orange juice, Bruce abandoned this mid-action and put the glass back down as his gaze moved over the headline repeatedly. Dead. It was right there in black and white. Dead. Joker was dead.

Beside Bruce, Alfred gave a hint of nod and began walking back towards Bruce's bedroom door to leave the room. Bruce moved the tray to sit it on the bed and climbed out of his double bed while frowning and looking down.

"Alfred, tell Fox I can't make it to the meetings today." He requested, looking out of the bedroom window with the frown still on his face. "I need to talk to Gordon."

"Mister Fox will be informed, sir." Alfred confirmed, having stopped when Bruce began talking. "Is there anything else you'd like me to do, Master Wayne?"

"Tell Gordon I'm coming to the station." Bruce replied, looking at Alfred. The butler merely nodded and left the room, leaving Bruce to his thoughts. Joker was dead. He didn't know how many times he'd repeated it in his head in the two minutes since he'd read the headline. He couldn't believe it, though. He went back to the tray and picked up the paper again before reading the article, now trying to ignore the headline.

The Gotham City Police Department released the information this morning that the terrorist known as 'The Joker' was dead. It's reported that they found the body at the explosion site, though it has only been identified through unknown means recently. Commissioner Jim Gordon was unavailable for comment, though it is suspected by the Gotham City Police Department that this was an accidental suicide by The Joker. Another body was found at the scene. It was that of 22 year old James Carrero, the mob boss of one of two Carrero gangs. It is believed that James Carrero was dead before the explosion. Mister Carrero's brother, 20 year old Luke Carrero, is said to be distraught, though pleased that The Joker is dead. continued page 2

Bruce placed the news paper on the bed and sat before rubbing his hands over his face. That didn't make sense. Joker would have planned an explosion down to the last second. Bruce knew it. He knew Jim would know it too. What was Jim playing at, then? Bruce gave a sigh and glanced at the breakfast. He didn't much fancy that now... His gaze turned to the box and he sighed again. The wrapping reminded Bruce of something Joker would choose... But he was supposed to be dead.

Picking up the package, Bruce contemplated not opening it. It wasn't heavy, though. It actually felt lighter than he'd anticipated. Deciding that it would probably be better to open it, Bruce did so carefully. His hands pulled at the ribbon - which had been tied in a bow - and let it flutter to the bedding as he began work on the paper. It felt like tissue paper, and sounded like it too as he pulled it away from the cardboard box and let that rest on the covers with the ribbon. Finding the way into the box, Bruce opened it and found himself staring down at a lot of news paper. Was this a joke?

Beginning to pull news paper out of the box, Bruce's eye was caught by the reflection of light from the window. As more of the paper was pulled away, a long, empty, clean champagne glass was revealed. Bruce put the box down as his bedroom door was knocked on.

"Come in."

Alfred walked into the room and stopped just inside the door.

"Mister Fox has been informed, as has the Commissioner." Alfred told Bruce before looking at the champagne glass in the younger man's hands. He moved forward and picked up the box. "Master Bruce, there's a note."

"What?" Bruce asked, looking up from the empty glass and seeing Alfred holding up a small rectangle of paper. Bruce took the paper from Alfred and looked at it. On one side was a badly drawn bat - a mimic of the logo on the light on the top of the Major Crimes Unit - and on the other was scribbled writing, an address. Bruce looked at Alfred before moving to leave the room silently. Alfred followed.

"Is there a problem, Master Bruce?"

"I need to check this address." Bruce answered on the way down the grand stairs that led to the entrance hall before leading Alfred to the lift to the Batcave.

As they were lowered into the large, dark area, Bruce turned the card over multiple times between his finger and thumb, the other hand still holding the glass. The pair left the lift and Bruce led the way over to the computer with hurried footsteps. Typing the address into the computer after putting the glass down, Bruce paid no attention as Alfred picked the glass up and began inspecting it.

"This looks to be expensive, sir."

Bruce glanced at the glass and nodded. He didn't know what to say or what to think. The headline had been a shock to his brain, leaving it unable to process most of the information he was being given by the computer - as it told him that the address was a warehouse near the docks - and Alfred.

"I trust you'll be checking this address?"

"Yes. After I see Gordon." Bruce answered, nodding and moving towards his suit as it rose from the ground and revealed itself to the pair.

"And as for Miss Quinzel?"

"I'll try to find her too - before she can do anything to Gotham."

"That's if she's read the news papers, correct?"

"Yes. Otherwise..." Bruce looked uncertain for a moment while looking at Alfred. "I'll be the barer of bad news."

"The worst news she'll receive." Alfred agreed. Bruce looked at the glass.

"Find out as much about that as you can. Makers, where it's sold, anything." He requested, watching as Alfred nodded before beginning to change into his suit.


Jim was already waiting on the top of the MCU when Batman arrived. The Commissioner didn't see the caped crusader at first as he had his back to the area of the roof that Batman appeared on.

"Gordon." He growled, alerting Jim to his presence. The greying man turned with a nod of greeting.

"Batman." He returned, looking at the masked male and taking a deep breath. "You've seen the headlines?"

"How do you know it's him?"

Jim looked somewhat uncomfortable and remained silent for a moment, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. Batman waited while Jim shifted, wanting the Commissioner to answer quickly but not wanting to demand anything.

"We don't."

Batman frowned at Jim.

"Then why say it is? It's dangerous if he's still alive."

"We want him out of the wood work. It's dangerous without telling people he's dead-"

"You're putting the whole city in danger, making them think he's dead. Making her think he's dead."

"Hopefully she hasn't seen the papers." Jim trailed off, his voice quite quiet and calm. Batman gave a small nod before looking slightly away from the Commissioner. Behind the mask, Bruce frowned in thought.

"We could tell her."

Jim regarded Batman with a look of confusion before shaking his head.

"She'd snap. I know she could live without him if he was alive... Dead?" He shook his head again, looking away from Batman now. "She wouldn't even consider a normal life."

"We could put her away, Gordon. She could go to Arkham. She'd be safe. Gotham would be safe." Batman said, shifting slightly.

"The Joker would go berserk!"

"We'd lead him back to Arkham."

"Then she'd break out!"

"If she thought he was dead, she wouldn't have a reason to break out." Batman stated calmly, watching as Jim began pacing slightly. "She'd stay in there."

"We can't do that to her." Jim argued, shaking his head for the third time in the past five minutes. "She's got more to bare than anyone else."

"Other people have scars-"

"She has a child! Damn it, Batman, we can't put her or that kid through this."

The masked man went silent at this, though he was thinking. It would explain a lot. He watched Jim turn away and run his hand through his grey and brown hair.

"But this is the only way we can catch hi-" Jim stopped talking after he'd turned back to where Batman had been only a moment before. "-m..." He gave a sigh, looking around the rooftop for any sign of the hero.


"I have information about that glass."

"Go on, Alfred."

"Only two were ever made."

Batman nodded to himself as he perched on top of one of the buildings in Gotham. Two. So who had the other? His mind floated back to the address. Warehouse by the docks.

"I'm going to the address, Alfred." Silence met this. Batman frowned. "Alfred?"

"T-T-Take... The... The glaaaaassssss." A broken voice whispered in his ear. "C-C-Can't... Leave... The gllaaaassssss." It was almost robotic, static feeding into the words, obscuring the speaker. "G-G-Got... To..." The static disappeared, allowing one hiss to be heard. "Celebrate."

"Sir? Can you hear me?"

Blinking, Batman glanced around before nodding to himself again.

"I'm come back to the cave, Alfred." He stated.

"Yes sir."


After getting back to the cave and picking up the glass, Batman began his journey across Gotham to the docks. He hadn't mentioned the voice to Alfred. He'd merely gotten into the Batcave, told Alfred that he was taking the glass to the address, and left again. His thoughts rushed through his brain as to who could have gotten hold of him via his communications device. There was an obvious answer, but he'd disappeared since the explosion. Dead or alive, Batman didn't know, but he had a feeling he was going to find out.

Hiding the glass once he got there, Batman snuck towards the building. He didn't know who was here. He didn't know why he'd been sent the address in his handwriting - Batman had seen it enough to know - but the only conclusion he could come to was that he was here. So what did they need to celebrate? Before he could get inside the warehouse, despite his speed, the door opened. He stood still, continuing to hide the glass from view, and looked at the blonde woman in the doorway.

"Whaddya want, Bats?"

"I needed to talk to you."

The woman looked surprised before she frowned.

"'Bout what? Wait, how'd ya know where we were?!" She asked, her tone becoming angry. "Scram Bats!"

"He's dead, Harley."

She froze, her face going blank. He could tell she was trying to process it. Maybe he shouldn't have said it that bluntly. She shook her head, her mouth closing.

"No he isn't."

"Yes he is." Batman said, his voice turning softer though still growling. "Joker's dead."

"You're wrong..." Her voice was almost lost to inevitable tears. It wasn't a nice sight, seeing Harley Quinn tearing up as she was told the man she loved was dead. Her eyes closed and she looked away.

"He's not immortal, Harley. He's just a man."

"You're wrong!" She screamed, glaring at him. "He's not-" Her voice stopped, a small noise of despair left her. "Joker isn't-..."

"He is."

"He can't be..."

Batman stayed silent as she looked at the ground. He remained where he was, standing still and strong as she seemed to look around as though expecting her 'lover' to appear.

"I'm sorry."

"No you're not!" She screamed angrily, tears making easy tracks down her bare cheeks. "And you are wrong! I know you are!" She turned and stormed into the warehouse. Batman moved to follow her before she came back out with a box. The paper was red, the ribbon black. "He sent me this! It was here when I woke up this morning!" She'd moved to Batman and thrust the box into his hands. He frowned at her, confused, and watched as she crossed her arms over her chest and nodded to tell him to look down. He did so. His heart seemed to stop. A champagne flute and a card. An empty champagne flute.

"Only two were ever made."

Alfred's words hissed through his mind as he stared down at the twin of his own glass. Now he pulled it out of its hiding place and lay it in his hand. One hand held the box, the other was next to it holding his glass. They were exactly the same. No. They weren't exactly the same. Harley's glass had a mark that looked like...

"Yours doesn't have a kiss..." She remarked softly, sniffing as she finished speaking. Batman looked at her, having forgotten that she was even there as his mind raced. He knew who Batman was. He'd been to his damned house. He'd dropped the package off without being seen. A broken, static filled voice from inside the warehouse plucked Batman from his thoughts. The same voice from before...

"A-A-aren't you... G-Going... To toast... The occasion?"

[Amelia Raven Blake]

Name - Silence
Character Name(s) - Amelia Blake, John Blake, James Wayne, Alex Wayne, Alyss Blake
Word Count - 2562 words

“AMELIA!!” his scream carried across the air as she stumbled, gaping as the blood poured down her front. Her eyes were heavy, closing against the weight as she collapsed, her suit already drenched in the scarlet liquid. She choked on the blood rising in her throat and trickling out the sides of her mouth as she tried to stay awake. She knew she had to stay awake, she couldn’t close her eyes but they had already closed and she didn’t have the strength to open them again.

There he was, suddenly at her side, anguish in his voice as he sobbed her name, pulling her up against him, causing a gurgled cry to leave her mouth. She had seen the shape that had thrown the knife, the knife that imbedded itself in her chest and was stealing away her life, but she didn’t dare say the name to protect him. She couldn’t concentrate on her husband’s words, she could only catch bits and pieces of broken fragments, “Amelia….Amelia…..my…..my love…..please….” She didn’t know that he was actually speaking in those terms, the lump in his throat stopping him from saying much.

She choked, forcing open her eyes, but all she could see was his outline. She filled in the rest with her memory, but even that was hard to grasp. The brown eyes she loved, the dark brown hair that she never ceased to tussle and the smile that stretched his face and the scar across it. She could hear his laugh in her memories and almost smiled, almost for the pain constricted her feelings and caused her to groan in agony instead of smile reassuringly. She mouthed, unable to speak, ‘I love you’ she choked, ‘forever and always.’

He sobbed, pulling her closer to him, his hand not strong enough to keep the blood in her body as he pressed against her. “Please,” he choked, “please…forever can’t be this short…” But they both knew that their time together had been far from short. Years had gone by since they’d met, since they’d married. And they were still together; they’d gotten over every bump in the road together. They had been together through thick and thin and now it was all going to end…

“I can’t lose you, Amelia.”

Oh John, she thought, her vision fading to black. I’ll never really leave you.

**********

Four long days had passed since she nearly slipped through his fingers. It was a miracle, really, that she breathed today. The knife hadn’t hit any main organs; it was hard to believe but after the news had reached him, John had cried, cried tears of joy. He’d gone to her room at once, rapping his knuckles against the door. He wasn’t expected to be attacked when he opened the door.

From where she sat on the hospital bed, Amelia had weakly catapulted a rubber band at her husband upon his arrival. When it hit him, none too gently despite the weakness behind the launch, across the forehead she snickered and when his brown eyes met her bright sapphire ones she grinned and waved. “Morning, Johnny Appleseed.” She flashed a grin, the wrap around her chest bulging slightly beneath the hospital gown.

John smiled, rolling his eyes and going to her side. Before a word even escaped his mouth she asked, her bright eyes boring into him, “John, when can we go home?” He smiled faintly and took her hand in his, wrapping his fingers around hers and bringing her knuckles to his lips. “As soon as you’re given the okay, beautiful,” he said softly, moving his other hand to gently cup her cheek, “I thought I’d lost you…” he whispered, his voice shaking with emotion.

“John,” she spoke firmly, taking her hands from his and placing them against his cheeks, “Robin Jonathon Blake, I am right here and I’m not going anywhere. Forever and always, remember?” She brushed her thumbs across his cheeks when a few stray droplets of grief trickled from his eyes. “Forever and always,” she whispered as his hands closed over hers, holding them gently.

**********

Darkness swallowed the light, clouds blotted out the moon and when James stepped out of the woods, his two ruby red eyes burned in the darkness. He threw back his head and sent a loud angry howl to the moon hidden by the clouds’ evil hands. He paced, back and forth, back and forth, his lean, but muscular, body melting into the shadows, only the two slits of scarlet revealing his location.

‘Where the hell have you been!?’ snapped Alex, stepping from the tears, a growl on his lips. He prowled forward, eyes narrowed. ‘Alyss has been beside herself for the last four days, and you weren’t there to comfort her as he mother teetered between life or death.’ Alexander’s golden brown tail whipped back and forth with terrible anger. It coursed through his body and made his spine tingle, he too teeter on the edge of something – control and not having control, something James had already fallen into and was nearing, his brother feared, to the next stage – insanity.

James whipped towards his brother, baring his teeth in a strong snarl. He snapped at the air close to his brother’s face, saliva dripping from his yellowed fangs. ‘Don’t,’ he thrust the harsh word into his brother’s mind, ‘don’t even think of going on. Do you think I don’t know!? Do you think I didn’t want to go to her!? God dammit Alex do you think I’m that cold; that much of a heartless monster!?’

‘Yes!’ shouted Alex, the fur along his shoulders bristling. Then he realized what he’d said and the shock that stopped his brother’s angry rant. For a moment only silence lingered between the brothers, broken only by Alex’s desperate attempt to take back that one word that had driven a stack into his brother’s heart. ‘James, I…I – I didn’t mean that…’

The black wolf, the vividness of his red eyes dimming, turned away, his head drooping. ‘Obviously,’ he muttered gruffly, ‘you did.’ Sadness flashed through his eyes; hurt glimmering in the pools of dim maroon. He sighed. ‘…You’re right, I’m a monster…I’m a cold blooded beast that has no right in living. I’m a freak…those kids at school were right…’

Alex shook his head, his fur sweeping across his neck like long blades of grass in a gently breeze. A few steps forward brought him to his brother’s side. ‘James,’ he poked his brother with his muzzle. ‘You aren’t a monster. You’re your own version of normal.’ He pushed his nose into the black ruff. ‘You’re perfect just the way you are.’

The black wolf took a step away from his brother and muttered, ‘You wouldn’t say that if you knew what I’d done…’

‘You’ve done a lot of bad things, I know that.’ Alex sank to sitting position, eyeing his brother.

‘You don’t know,’ scuffed James, ‘not this.’

‘Well. Do enlighten me.’

‘No,’ James shook his head. ‘I can’t.’

‘James,’ Alex’s voice was stern.

‘I did it,’ whispered James, his voice no louder than a broken murmur.

‘What?’

‘I threw the knife that could have killed Amelia.’

**********

“Alex, where’s James?” She asked softly, the brown of her eyes filling with concern and boring into Alex’s pacing figure. Her arms were crossed neatly over her chest, watching his every move with scrutinizing orbs of muddy brown.

The Wayne boy stopped, turning to his sister-in-law and sighed, running a hand back through his blonde hair. “He’s uhm…he’s not here,” he said quite dumbly as it was rather obvious that James wasn’t at the house he and his wife shared with their twins, Kimberly and Brandon.

Alyss retorted crossly, “I figured that much out for myself, thanks.” Her eyes were narrowed. She knew her mother was okay now she needed to know that her husband was as well. She still didn’t know about James’s crime. James’s brother sighed, chewing nervously on his lip as Alyss went on, “You know, there’s nothing stopping me from getting up and running all over Gotham trying to find him, so I suggest you tell me.”

“He uh, Alyss…he threw the knife at your mother. He’s the reason she nearly died.”

Alyss shook her head in shock, “No! No! You’re lying, James wouldn’t do that!” She was choking on tears, strangled incredulous disbelief veiling her face. She rose shakily from the couch, shaking her head. “Please tell me you’re lying…”

Alex shook his head, “I wish I could, but I can tell you this – he didn’t do it intentionally.” He told her the story of how James had been trying to save Amelia’s life by going for the man behind her but she had turned at the wrong time and the knife had hit her instead of the man. He knew that despite the explanation they could never let John find out, he’d want James dead no matter if it was an accident or not.

For a moment there was silence, Alyss trying to comprehend what Alex had said. Then she let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “Will he come back?”

Alex nodded gently, “Yes.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I know my brother, when he’s ready, he’ll come back. I promise.”

**********
“I know you saw,” John pressed, from his position beside his wife, her hands clasped in his. “Amelia, honey, please. This person doesn’t deserve to run free.” His eyes traveled to the lump beneath her shirt where the bandages were wrapped around her. He sighed, putting an arm gently around her and pulling her to him. “Please?” he asked softly, pressing his lips to her head. “For once let me know who hurt you so I can put them through Hell…”

The blonde shook her head worriedly. She had known it would come down to this. “John, I can’t…I can’t let you hurt who did this…” Bruce would kill you,’ she finished silently, meeting her husband’s muddy brown eyes, the eyes her daughter had inherited, with her stunning sapphire ones. She pressed her finger to his lips when he opened his mouth to speak. “Shh,” she whispered, leaning forward so that their foreheads touched, tenderly moving her hand to his cheek, the sapphire on her wedding ring glimmering in the light of the sun streaming through the window of their home, “you don’t need to know. It’s the past.”

His eyes searched hers. “All I want is for you to be safe…”

“Being in your arms is safety enough for me,” she murmured, smiling softly, her eyes glowing. They both knew, in their line of duty, that there really was no safety. It was just a word they used to comfort their nerves.

At that, John smiled, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his lap, her arms going around his neck and pulling herself closer to him, laying her head down gently against his shoulder. She moved her head in against his neck, bringing in the scent that clung to his skin and to his clothes, smiling sweetly as she closed her eyes with a contented sigh. He lifted her face and gently pressed his lips to hers, his fingers softly beneath her chin while hers brushed his cheek, going back into his hair. When they broke apart a moment later John whispered, his breath tickling her ear, “I love you,” and Amelia finished it by murmuring, a loving grin on her face, “forever and always.”

They were interrupted by Amelia’s phone, the rings reverberating around the house and she picked it up, surprised when she saw the name printed across the screen. James. She answered and placed it to her ear, “James? What’s wrong? Is Alyss okay? What about Kimmy and Bran?”

“They’re all fine…everyone but me…” his voice muttered into her ear, sounding actually a little slurred.

Amelia sighed, rising from her position, to John’s despair, in her husband’s lap. “Tell me where you are and I’ll be there.” Upon receiving the address Amelia hung up, slipping the phone into her pocket. She turned to John, who had risen. “I have to go pick up James…” she said, and John arched a brow in a questioning manner.

“Bruce can do that,” he replied, smoothly sliding his arms around her waist pulling her back to him.

“He needs to talk,” Amelia smirked up at him. “You can’t keep me to yourself, you know. I have other friends,” she teased, pecking his lips and skillfully slipping from his arms, stealing his wallet on the way out. She slipped on a jacket, grinning at him innocently as he stuck out his hand, looking right through her feigned innocence, rolling his eyes as she popped the wallet into his waiting hands. “You little thief,” he muttered affectionately and Amelia laughed, giving a little wave before she swept out the door grabbing the keys to her car.

**********

His milky eyes leveled on the empty wine glass in his hands, twirling it around and around in his fingers. He hadn’t broken it…yet. He was just waited for his anger to come out, smash it and allow the small shards to embed themselves into the flesh of his palm. He wanted the pain, anything to block out the agony in his heart. Two days ago he’d left the despairing city of Gotham, and his wife, behind. He hadn’t started to sorely regret his leave, the only thing he was regretting was not bringing Alyss with him, but he couldn’t face her.

Not after what he’d done. He was surprised that he’d had the nerve to call Amelia.

When she came through the doors to the bar, he leaped up, the empty glass refusing to break as he abandoned it. He rushed to Amelia, throwing his arms around her as though he was a little child, but that’s what he felt like as small tears rolled down his cheeks. “I’m sorry…” he choked, feeling her arms around him, hugging him as if he really was her son.

“James,” she said with a sigh, untangling his arms from around her neck. “I don’t know why you did what you did, but I don’t care. You did it,” she shrugged, wincing only slightly, “and I don’t care. I’m alive. Everyone’s alive and well. You can forget it ever happened.”

The boy shook his head, sinking to his knees at her feet. “I’m a horrible person,” he choked and she shook her head, kneeling before him and raising his head from his hands.

“James Thomas Wayne,” she started, her voice firm, “if you say that one more time I will personally escort you to your mother and father so they can hear you say it and you can get a lecture from them.” She took his hands, bringing him to his feet. “You are just like any other person you just had a whole lot of shit dumped on you. And you’re fairing through all of it pretty well, kid.” She smiled warmly at him, her eyes traveling to the wine glass on the table. It teetered on the edge of the counter, and yet it didn’t fall.

James hadn’t broken yet, he was still sane no matter how thin the line between sanity and insanity. For the time being he was on the right side of the line.