The Perfect Smile

The Joker sent the two goons in for distraction while Penny, Jared, Jimmy and himself sneaked themselves through a back way. He knew that Two Face and his mystery guest was also probably armed. He heard Two Face yell profanities and then heard gun shots. He watched as Jimmy and Jared got their guns ready, as he got his own. Penny pulled out her whip.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha he he he ho ho ha "

Two Face: Joker!

He yelled out as The Joker entered the room with a smile. Two Face lowered his gun seeing as how their was two pointed to him now because of Jimmy & Jared. The Joker walked over and kicked one of his men that was now laying on the floor in a pool of blood. The other was in the corner with his gun pointed to the guest of Two Face. The Joker looked over his way and saw that he was Sal Maroni. Raising his eyebrows a bit in confusion. If Two Face and The Riddler were aiming towards the mob then what was Two Face doing with one of the leading mob members?

Joker: Hmm. Maroni and Two Face in a room together. I'm not really seeing the connection here, why don't cha fill me in, Harv.

Two Face looked over at The Joker and then back over to Maroni, clearly he was busted. Things still wasn't clicking for The Joker though.

Maroni: What do you want, clown?

Joker: I have business to attend to with half face over there not with you, Maroni. Unless of course.. you want me to deal with you?

Maroni took a seat back down at the old wooden chair and huffed back a bit kind of scared a bit. Maroni didn't know what was going on between Two Face and The Joker and he really didn't want to get in the middle of it. After all, either man could easily take his life from him.. both have come very close before.

The Joker then turned his attention back to Two Face and walked a bit closer to him, ordering him to drop his gun. Watching as he did, he almost magically made a blade appear in his hand. He walked over shoving Two Face against the wall. He even towered over Two Face who was considered pretty tall for a guy. He brought the blade up to Two Face's cheek and began story telling.

You wanna know how I got these scars? My father...was...a drinker, and a fiend. And one night, he goes off caaazier 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. He turns to me...and he says..."WHY SO SERIOUS?". He comes at me with the knife..."WHY SO SERIOUS?!". Sticks the blade in my mouth..."LET'S PUT A SMILE ON THAT FACE!"

He says while putting the blade to the perfect side of his face, tracing it over his cheek and then back inside his mouth.

...aaaand...why so serious?

He says just before cutting the flesh on Two Face's mouth making blood pour. Then he took the knife down to his throat and slashed it. Releasing the now dying man out of his grip with a smile he watched as he fell to the floor holding to his neck gasping for air.

Joker: Now Maroni, I do have business with you after all. I want you to tell me what happened to a woman, and don't lie to me.. I HATE LIARS.

Maroni looked up at the man with the painted face in fear. He had just witnessed him kill one of Gotham's most dangerous with a single blade and he didn't look like he felt one ounce of guilt or remorse for it. He just wondered what the clown had to do with him.

Maroni: What woman?
Joker: Carol Hudson.

Penny's eyes widened a bit through her mask. Why was he asking Maroni on the location of Maddy's mother? How did he even know about her mom? Figuring that Maddy had told him all about her leaving and such she relaxed a bit.

Maroni: Why do you want to know about Carol?
Joker: Tell me where she is.
Maroni: Why do you want to know the location of her?
Joker: Want a bullet through your head or a blade across your neck?

He said walking closer getting fed up with his games. He didn't know why he was even wasting his time on this fool, but something told him that if he could find out the location of Maddy's mom then that would make her smile. For all she knew, her mother was dead right now.

Maroni: Carol passed away last year.

The Joker looked at him and didn't know whether or not to believe him, even though Maroni said it with sorrow in his voice he still didn't know if he was telling the truth. He licked his lips from side to side.

Joker: If I find out you're lying, then I will personally kill you with my bare hands.

He said motioning for Maroni to leave. He actually wanted him to live, at least for tonight. He knew he would run and have a conversation with all of his mob buddies. Tell them how the clown single handedly took out one of Gotham's most dangerous. The Joker laughed as he exited the room cowardly and then looked back over at Penny who was looking at him with sad eyes. He figured she must know the story behind Carol too.

Joker: Let's go.

He said laying a Joker card down on Two Face's body ,exiting the house leaving his body to decay. Humming a happy tune as he walked out and jumped into the driver's seat of the van. Penny passed saying she had other things she wanted to catch up with tonight. He figured that one was enough for tonight and headed back to his hideout.

Penny skipped down the streets of Gotham and over to a local down town jewelry store. She had been eying a diamond necklace for a week now and figured tonight was a perfect chance to take what should be hers. She snaked around the back and noticed a window. Sneakily she made her way up and and took out a gadget and opened the window. She slowly made her slim figure move through the window and land on a shelf that was in the corner. She happily jumped down and handed on her feet swiftly and headed over to where she had first spotted the necklace. It was inside a glass case, only the case was locked. Cussing lightly she walked over and picked up a cane that was standing in the corner and busted the glass. She looked up as she heard alarms going off. Cussing a bit louder she grabbed the necklace and made an exit to the window she had just exited through. Fitting her small frame back through the window she started making her way through the dark alley's.

Thinking she was nearly home and safe from any cops or anyone else who would might possibly find her she sighed. Then she looked in front of her as she was turned down the corner and saw a man in black standing there his cape blowing in the wind. Batman, she thought to herself and let a wicked smile spread across her face. She purred a bit towards him and pulled out her whip snapping it his way.

He came towards her and she only flashed him a smile and started to run. They had many encounters; and each time he failed miserably at catching her. But something deep down inside of him told him he really didn't want to catch her. Something told him he wanted to let her run free. Plus, the only thing she ever really done was steal jewelry she never killed or tortured anyone like most criminals or villains did. So soon he lost her, and was back off to protect Gotham from real dangerous people.

Penny walked down from the attic trying not to cause too much noise and made her way into her bedroom stripping out of her black gear and into something a bit more comfortable for sleeping. Looking over at the clock she realized it was only a bit after 2 a.m. She got home much earlier than she did most nights. She snuggled up to her pillows and slept good that night.

.....................................

Maddy woke up around nine the next morning. Stretching and yawning she got out of the bed and walked into the bathroom. Seeing as how she took her a nice long shower before bed she didn't feel the need for one before work today. She placed some rollers in her hair and done her make-up very natural looking. She walked out and picked up one of her Arkham outfits and back into the bathroom she went to get dressed. Once she was all dressed, she exited the bedroom and walked into the kitchen and proceeded to fix herself a bowl of cereal. She couldn't help but wonder how Penny and Jack's night went. Just as she took her third bite of fruit loops Penny walked out of her bedroom rubbing her eyes. Maddy smiled over at her.

Maddy: How'd it go.
Penny: Good, very good actually. I'm sure he wants to tell you about it though.

Maddy couldn't help but smile and feel a bit more safe. She figured that Jack had killed someone last night, more than likely someone who wanted her. Finishing up her bowl of cereal she looked over at the clock and realized that she'd need to be getting to work. She told Penny she'd see her later and made an exit. Walking out to her car she couldn't help but to feel like she was being watched, shaking it off thinking it was just her being paranoid she got inside her car and started on her drive to Arkham, not excited one bit about her day at work ahead.

She was working peacefully in the children's unit when someone came knocking on the door. It was a fellow CNA named Beth.

Beth: Hiya Maddy, your father wants to see you. I'll take over here if you like.

Maddy smiled towards Beth and got up from the kids and walked out the door leaving Beth there alone with a bunch of children under the age of 10. Maddy made her way down the hallway to her father's office and didn't even knock. She angrily just went inside and took a seat at one of the comfortable seats in front of his desk. He looked up at her still with sadness shooting through them.

Joe: Madeline, please come home. I'm worried sick about you.
Maddy: I'm fine, trust me. I'm taken care of.
Joe: The Riddler didn't have you, did he?
Maddy: What are you talking about?
Joe: Eddie informed me that The Joker and Cat woman stole you away from The Riddler's clutches weeks before you returned back.
Maddy: Does it really matter who had me? You should be more concerned with the fact that they wanted my life because of YOU.
Joe: I'm well aware of why they want you, Madeline. I blame myself completely for that, but some things are not adding up. Eddie told me that Ivy and Penguin were found dead. Do you have any idea what is going on?
Maddy: Nope, sure don't. Sorry I can't help you and the mob out, pops.

She said before getting up and walking out of his office with an attitude. She couldn't believe that he had enough nerve to question her about what she knew! Not to mention he was questioning her so he could more than likely run to the mob with the information. She just couldn't believe how ignorant her father was. A part of her understood why her mother left with that man so many years ago. He was always working, and probably never made personal time for her. Now that Maddy thought about it; she hardly ever saw her father affectionate towards her Mother. No woman would put up with that.. Maddy only wishes her mother would've took her too. Then maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe she wouldn't be in the messed up situation she's in right now.

The rest of her day at work went by pretty smoothly. Once she was sitting inside her car she started it up and decided that before she headed back to home, or should she say Penny's house she would stop by and see how her good friend was doing. Pulling up to the coffee shop she smiled seeing that a black Lamborghini was sitting outside. Everyone in Gotham knew who drove that, and Maddy couldn't help but smile when she saw it. Climbing outside of her car she walked in, and looked over towards the counter and there he was leaning up against the counter near Penny flashing her his million dollar pearly white smile. She walked over to a different cashier and ordered a coffee flashing Penny a nice smile. Once her coffee was done she paid for it, and waved bye to Penny not wanting to interrupt her time with Bruce.

Arriving back at Penny's she happily got out and walked inside. instantly going inside her bedroom and changing into something much more appealing than the Arkham outfit. Slipping on a pair of blue jeans and a polka dot top she walked over and took a Soda out of the refrigerator and walked over to the couch, turning on the television and watching some Gotham news. A smile curved into her lips when she saw the breaking news headline.

" Harvey Dent, or also known as Two Face found dead at East Gotham"

She sit there and listened to the news report knowing that Jack was the one to do it. Hell, they had even said that he was found with a smile carved into half his face and a Joker card. Jim Gordon talked a bit about an underground war between criminals, a war that he didn't know whether to stop or to let continue. Giggling Maddy got up and turned off the television. She heard a knocking sound and looked around for a second not knowing where it was coming from. Once again she heard the knocking sound and remember Penny had a back door to the house that was normally locked since they didn't use it. She walked into her bedroom and picked up the gun that Jack had gave her and quickly made her way over to the back door. The knocking continued.

"Who is it?"

She ask, and heard a chuckle on the other side. Biting on her bottom lip, knowing exactly who it was she turned the knob allowing him in.

Joker: I see you really do keep that gun with you.

He said pointing down to the gun that was in her hand. She smiled at him and grabbed him by his tie pulling him in the house. He was shocked by her sudden aggressive behavior. She closed and locked the door and turned back around to him with a smile.

Joker: Guess what, Princess.
Maddy: Hmm. You killed two face by placing a smile on half his face?
Joker: Actually, no.. the slash across his throat killed him, the half smile only added to the satisfaction though.

She smiled pushing him against the wall, tip toeing up and placing a kiss on his lips. He was surprised and taken back a bit by her aggressive behavior. It was most defiantly a side he had never saw from her. Although it was a side he liked. Maddy couldn't help it, she couldn't hold back her affection towards Jack. He had took out a man that wanted to harm her, and something told her that he didn't do it for his revenge, he done it to protect her.. which in Maddy's book meant that somewhere deep down inside of him he cared for her. She just hoped she was right.

Breaking away from the kiss The Joker licked his lips and reached up placing his hand on her lips and removing some of his ruby red lipstick that had smudged their way onto her lips during their kiss. He smiled, a genuine smile. Although he knew that soon her smile would turn into a frown. He didn't only want to tell her about Two Face, he knew that he needed to tell her about Carol too.

Joker: Let's go in your bedroom, we need to talk about something.
Maddy: Bad or good?

She ask following him into her bedroom. He took a seat on the bed, while she took a seat beside him.

Maddy: What did you wanna talk about, Jack?
Joker: I don't wanna have to be the one to tell you this, but I fell that I have to.
Maddy: What is it..
Joker: Sal Maroni was there with Two Face last night.
Maddy: Maroni.. the man my mother left with?

The Joker only nodded with his head lowered. He knew how much Maddy hated that man.

Joker: I ask him about your mother, Maddy.
Maddy: What'd he say? Where is she? How is she?
Joker: He told me.. he told me..
Maddy: Say it, Jack! How is she?
Joker: She's dead, Maddy.

Maddy's lips curved into that frown he was dreading and her eyes instantly filled with water. After all these years of her mother being gone she would have never thought that she was dead. She would have figured that she would one day be reunited with her. She didn't blame her mom for leaving, she knew that the man probably forced her to go. But now.. now she would never know. She let a single tear fall down her cheek. He done the only thing he knew to do, he pulled her close and let her weep on him. He knew that it was probably hard for her finding out that her mother was dead. It'd be hard for anyone. Jack wondered back to his own mother and wondered how she was doing. He hadn't seen her since he was 17 years old, and missed her dearly. She was a kind, loving woman much like Maddy.. Maybe that's why he cared about her so much.