A Smile to Remember [The Joker] 1

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Joker’s POV

The Joker arrived at the warehouse in record time. He heard footsteps behind him and saw his henchmen following him with their individual clown masks on. He didn’t even realize that they were in the van with him. He gave them a questioning look but quickly shook it off. He had to get his Lin back.

The warehouse was dark and musty. Boxes of unknowns were scattered all over the place, providing perfect hiding places for an ambush. The Joker took out a shotgun and cocked it, ready for an attack, and his men followed suite.

“Ah, Jay.” A voice said from the darkness. “I’m so glad you could make it.” The rage that the Joker was feeling made him smile as he faced his long-lost father.

“Where’s the girl?”

“That’s all you have to say to me after fifteen years?” Shane asked as if he were shocked. “You almost kill me and then get me thrown in jail, and all you care about is your pathetic little friend?”

The Joker just glared at him.

“Like father like son I suppose.” His father said. “But I’ve heard that you’ve been introducing vast amounts of chaos in the world. I never thought you had it in you. The sweet and innocent little boy you once were has been replaced by the infamous Joker!”

He let out a sinister laugh that caused the Joker to tighten his grip on the shotgun.

“So, what are you planning to do?” Shane asked. “Are yah gonna shoot me? Would you shoot your own father?”

The Joker just stared at him.

“You know I wouldn’t be too surprised if you did, seeing as how you’ve already given me all of these scars.” He gestured to his face. “But then again, I did give you yours, as well as little Lin’s. Oh she screams like a beauty, Jay. You should hear her. Or have you already gotten a taste of that sweet, sweet sound?”

He smiled slyly at his son, who continued to glare at him.

“But,” Shane continued. “I believe that before you do decide to shoot me that you hear me out.” He waited for a response and received none, which he interpreted as a sign that he was listening.

“I think we’d make a great team, son.” He said. “Like father like son. We could introduce a little anarchy to this fine city – send people a message. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

“I don’t think this city is big enough for two sociopaths.” The Joker replied. “This is my city.”

“Who says?” Shane asked. “You have no rules, Jay. I’ve seen all of your little videotapes on the news. A world without rules is the only one to live in, correct? Then why are YOU making them? If I want to run this city, I can, and I will.”

A silence fell between the two.

“But, while you think about that one, I would like to talk about another issue.” Shane continued. “You know, I go fifteen years without so much as a phone call from you. But then again, you thought you killed me, didn’t you? Do you remember what happened that night, son? Well, let me remind you.”

Shane walked over to a wall and pressed a button that opened a metal door, and Lin’s body was slowly hauled out by a chain. She wasn’t alone though, as Shane’s men also emerged behind her, armed and dangerous. Instead of sporting clown masks, they each had blank white masks, with various painted scars running across them individually.

“Let me introduce my boys.” Shane said with arms wide open.

“I’m starting to see a theme here.” The Joker said through gritted teeth.

“Well I have you to thank for that.” He replied. “You helped me dub my new criminal name – Scar.”

Both numbers on each side were fairly even, and both sides seemed to tense as the area between them closed. The Joker’s eyes averted towards Lin’s body, and he saw her bloodied and battered, more so than what she was in the video. He must have had some fun before they arrived.

“Let’s see if you remember now.” Shane said as he traced a knife over Lin’s body. Suddenly, he dug into the skin along her right side and she let out an ear-piercing scream. Shane looked back at his son and was met with a blank expression. “What? Nothing yet?” He dug the knife in deeper and she screamed even louder than before. “I hope you remember soon, I’m not sure if she can take much more of this.”

Lin’s screams pierced through the Joker like a hot knife. He should love the screams of pain, but something was wrong with this sound. Suddenly, images flew through the Joker’s mind, and he blinked a few times to regain his vision.

*Flashback*

“Well hello son.” A hoarse voice said. Shane. His blonde hair was messy and grayed, and his dark eyes were filled up such evil. He wore a tattered suit, and stared at Jay with a smile on his face.

“Daddy’s found you.” He said.

Suddenly, the man leapt at Jay, but he was too quick and pushed Lin out of the way as well as himself. Shane grabbed him by the ankle and towered over him, and began slashing furiously with a knife, causing Jay to let out terrible cries of pain. His life was fading, and he stared up at his crazed father as he felt the scars on his face re-open, causing him to choke on his own blood.

“STOP IT!” He heard Lin cry out as she ran up to his father and started beating on his back. Jay wanted her to run. If she got hurt, he would never forgive himself. Lin was flung backwards, and Jay’s father aimed at her instead, but she was too fast and ran outside and into the storm. Jay breathed heavily as he tried to gain control over the pain. His body was so close to going in shock he let out a cry of pain. He couldn’t let his father hurt Lin. He heard gun shots and turned to see Mr. and Mrs. Lang dead on the floor, eyes wide open in fright.

Suddenly, he heard another scream, and his body jolted up to its feet. Jay’s father was standing in the doorway, as if stunned for a moment, but he quickly turned around to face his son. Rage boiled out of the boy as he stared at his father, who was the cause of so much pain. His fists clenched and before his father could say another word, he leapt towards the man, aiming for his throat. Power surged through his body as he grabbed the knife Shane was holding, and forcibly disarmed him. A look of shock and a flicker of fear ran through his father’s eyes, which caused Jay to smile triumphantly. The joy of watching this man shiver in fear was a new-found high. Jay turned around and attacked the men who had killed Lin’s parents. They were so kind to him and took him in when no one else would. Faster than they could blink, he had slit their throats, and they fell to the ground with heavy thuds. It was then that he turned towards his father who was getting to his feet, but Jay was too fast.

He ran to his father and pinned him to the ground, and took the knife and began carving the man’s face. He would cause him as much pain as he had caused him and Lin, and he would enjoy every second of it. The man screamed in agony as he drew the blade across his skin. He began to laugh at these pleas, and after what felt like an eternity, he stabbed the man in the stomach, and savored that one last cry as his life slipped away.

It felt so good to kill. Jay had no idea why. He breathed heavily as he stepped away from the bloody corpse on the floor, knife still held tightly in his hand. It was then that he remembered Lin, and he ran outside in the storm to find her, but he didn’t have to look very far.

“LIN!” He cried as he found her body lying on scorched ground. He had no idea what had happened, and didn’t dare touch her. She was almost completely unconscious and fairly burned. Her breathing began to slow, and Jay looked at her with pleading eyes, as if wishing dearly that she wouldn’t leave him.

“LIN! LIN!” He shouted, as if trying to keep her awake. She looked up at him, and then with one last breath, she closed her eyes and fell limp. He stared at her lifeless form and began to shake. Tears streamed down his eyes as he stared at the body of his best friend. He heard sirens in the distance and quickly grabbed a hold of the necklace she wore, and ripped it from her neck. He had lost so much in one night, but she was the one thing that he would not forget.

He would not lose his Lin.

*End of Flashback*

This memory flew through the Joker’s mind in a matter of seconds, and the grip he had on his shotgun tightened. How had he not killed him? Maybe he should have stabbed him in the heart. Shane gazed at his son with an odd expression as the Joker’s infamous grin was plastered on his face.

“Let’s put a smile on that face!” He said. Suddenly, he shot one of Shane’s henchmen and the man flew backwards, knocking the mask right off of his face. All hell broke loose as both sides began firing wildly at each other. The Joker stormed over towards his father who pressed the button on the wall, taking Lin deeper into the warehouse. He growled and threw his gun to the ground and reached into his pocket and grabbed a knife.

He would end this properly.

Shane smiled as he took out a knife of his own and prepared himself for battle. The Joker swiped viscously, but his blade met nothing but air as Shane dodged gracefully, and kicked him in the side. Blinded by rage, he continued to slash chaotically, causing his father to laugh.

“I forgot to mention this.” Shane said as he continued to dodge his son’s futile attacks. “I’ve rigged this warehouse to blow up in two minutes. You have the choice, Jay. Either you can kill me and get killed, or save your precious Lin and live to tell her how you became the killer that you are today. It’s your choice.”

The Joker hesitated for a split second, which gave Shane the chance to attack. The Joker let out a small laugh as he felt the blade slide through his stomach. He could feel the blood seep out slowly, but it didn’t seem to faze him. He looked the man in the eye, and grinned evilly.

“My turn.” Suddenly, the Joker took a hold of the knife his father held, and yanked it out of him, and stabbed him in the same place. He pushed him up against a wall, and held his own blade up to his throat.

“Do you wanna know how I got these scars?” He asked. “Oh wait you should know how I got them. Oh well, I might as well remind you anyways. My father was....a drinker. And a fiend. And one night he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not. One. Bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. Turns to me and he says "Why so serious?" Comes at me with the knife,"Why so serious?" He sticks the blade in my mouth. "Let’s put a smile on that face!" And..... Why so serious?”

“I always knew you’d turn out like me, Jay.” Shane said with a grin as he struggled against the knife.

“That’s where you’re wrong.” He said. “You see, I didn’t turn out like you at all. While you hid in the shadows and went about your little killing sprees, I was out introducing a little anarchy to the public! And you know what really separates us, DAD?”

“What’s that?”

“My hair looks better than yours.” He let out a chilling laugh as he savored the split second of fear in the man’s eyes, and ran the blade across his throat, and watched as he fell to the ground. The Joker stared at the bloody knife in his hands, and allowed it to dawn on him, that his father was gone once and for all. It was then that he remembered that the warehouse was about to blow, and he hurried to where Lin was.

He pressed the button on the wall and watched as her limp body entered the room. She was barely breathing, and he gently unhooked her arms and she fell gracefully into his arms. She looked up at him through bloody and battered eyes.

“Jay?” She whispered.

“You don’t look too good, girlie.” The Joker joked, putting a small smile on her face. He quickly signaled for his men to leave, and they all ran out of the warehouse just in time. He watched as Lin looked back and watched as the warehouse was engulfed in flames and her eyes widened, right before she fell into unconsciousness.

Normal POV

Lin woke up to bright lights and squinted as she heard the faint beeping of a machine next to her. She felt the soft bed beneath her and let out a sigh of relief. She was safe, and away from Shane. She hoped that he was dead, and faintly remembered the Joker carrying her out of the warehouse before it exploded. She was in so much pain, that that was all she could recall at the time. Had he brought her here? Was she in that bad of shape?

A nurse came into her room and closed the door, but Lin paid no attention to her. She couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened. She had been mostly unconscious throughout the whole ordeal, and remembered being tortured in front of the Joker. She cringed at the thought and closed her eyes.

“Still in pain, girlie?” The nurse asked, but the voice didn’t belong to that of a woman’s. The voice was too masculine, and too familiar. Lin opened her eyes and gasped. The Joker stood next to her, dressed in a nurse’s uniform and a dark copper-colored wig. His face was freshly painted and he smiled down at her. She let out a small laugh, but winced in pain.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

“I’m surprised. You aren’t still mad at me?” He asked. She paused for a moment to think it over.

“I’m not sure.” She sighed.

“First you get abducted by me, then shot, then abducted again.” He said with a grin. “How do you live through each day?” She just stared at him.

“Um, I’m not entirely sure.” She repeated with a small smile. “I guess I have nine lives or something, but I bet I only have about one or two of them left.”

The Joker leaned in closer to her and stared into her eyes. She was surprised that he didn’t laugh at her little joke, and she froze as she took in his expression. It showed genuine concern as he observed her various cuts and bruises, and she couldn’t help but wonder about the reason behind it. It was then that he pulled out the crescent necklace from around his pocket and dangled it in front of her. “I guess I won’t need this anymore.” He placed it in her hand and closed it tightly. She stared at it for a moment, and then looked back at him.

“Keep it.” She said as she gave it back to him. “I already have one.” She pointed to the crescent scar on her chest and he chuckled. “Why wouldn’t you need it?” He stared at off into space and for once, he looked calm. Maybe he really didn’t need it anymore. He had found the one part of his past that was innocent and pure – something that was once thought to be lost. She was the one thing in his life that wasn’t broken or destroyed. It seemed as if the chaos of life did bring them back to one another. No matter how angry Lin was at Jay, she was happy that she had found him. And no matter how crazy he was, he wouldn’t let her go.

“I remember you now.” He said quietly as he stared into her eyes. “You had a smile to remember.” He took her hand in his and squeezed it tightly. “I just can’t remember the rest of it.” He laughed a genuine laugh, and then it seemed as if he had lost himself in thought as he tried to think of how he became what he was today. He would most likely still follow his path of anarchy, but he was still Jay. He was still the little boy who loved to laugh and play jokes on Lin. He was her first kiss, as she was his. No matter what he did now, it would not change the boy she remembered. Part of her felt ashamed that she didn’t call the cops and have him taken away, but something stopped her. She looked at him and traced his scars ever so lightly with her free hand.

“It’s okay.” Lin reassured as she squeezed his hand. “Some things are better left forgotten.”


THANKS FOR READING! Again, let me know about a sequel!