Pandemonium | joker fanfiction

Chapter 5

     I open my eyes and the events of yesterday come rushing back. The Joker's face flares in my mind as I hurriedly throw on some clothes. I shove the joker card into the pocket of my jeans before ripping a piece of paper out of one of my notebooks. I tell myself I'm keeping the card with me because I just want to show it to Jason, but even I know that's not the real reason.

I scribble a note to my mom and unlatch my window. I don't have the energy for a full blown interrogation right now so I'll do what I do best and avoid it. I toss my bag out the window and am glad we don't live in a multiple story home. If we did, sneaking out would be near impossible. In one motion, I swing myself out the window and land with a quiet thump on the ground below.

~~~

Once I arrive at school, I immediately track Jason down. I have yet to explain to him what happened last night.

I navigate through the twisting halls of Gotham High in search of Jason's locker. When I first moved up to the high school, I found the place impossible to understand and got lost on a daily basis. However, now the layout of the school seems simple, and a map of it is permanently imprinted into my mind.

I turn another corner and spot a familiar head of matted brown hair through the crowd of people occupying the hall. I maneuver around a rambunctious trio of juniors and reach him in record time thanks to my ridiculously long legs.

"Jason," I blurt, grabbing his shoulder. He spins around, almost slapping a girl in the face with his backpack. I pull him over to a nearby water fountain in an attempt to get out of the flow of traffic.

"You have a lot of explaining to do," he says, crossing his arms, "and since when do you ignore my calls."

"Listen, I had a lot to think through last night," I groan, not mentioning how in fact, I still have a lot to think through.

     "Alright, well I want every detail," he commands and everything suddenly comes spewing out of me.

     I tell him about Mei and the Joker's appearance. I'm just explaining my interaction with the clown when he stops me.

     "Wait, wait, wait, you laughed?"

     "Laughed, smiled, chuckled, does it matter?" I exclaim, throwing my hands up in the air.

     "How the hell-,"

     "I don't know! Maybe I just laugh in stressful situations but that doesn't matter. What matters is that he heard me."

     Jason stiffens and his face contorts in concern.

     "Did he- did he hurt you?" He whispers and  I cringe.

     "No- no of course not," I say quickly.

     "Mara, I swear to god if he laid a finger on you."

     "He didn't! He did nothing, nothing like whatever you're thinking. He just came up and took a drink from my tray...and handed me this." I slide the joker card out of my pocket and hold it out for him to see.

     "Holy shit. And that's all he did?" he asks, taking the card from me and examining it.

     "Yeah...I guess he liked that I laughed at his joke."

     "Shit, Mara. You're going to get yourself killed someday," he smirks and looks away from the card back to me. I return his sentiment with a laugh.

     "You're probably right...oh, and he threw Rachel Dawes out a window."

     Jason's eyes widen in shock and his mouth drops open. I feel the urge to laugh but suppress it. Rachel Dawes flying out a window screaming isn't supposed to be funny.