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alter-ego more often than his own. Batman had been working overtime catching criminals and

being hunted down by Gotham police in the past several months. It made him wonder, not for the

first time, which persona was whose. Was Batman Bruce Wayne=s alter ego? Or was it vice-versa?

It was his own rhetorical question. As he passed padded cell rooms full of patients that Batman had

caught, Bruce thought an advantage with this project would be to further separate his public image

from Batman=s. What masked vigilante wantedto help the people he captured?After Dr. Moss finished his complaining, Bruce spotted the specially made cell block he

was looking for. His true reason for coming to Arkham. Only Alfred could see through to that

reason. Bruce recalled what he said before he left the penthouse that afternoon.

AIf I may say, Master Bruce, that gloating is not your color.@

Nevertheless, Bruce went on. He motioned to the room and asked Dr. Moss, AWhat is that

room?@

Dr. Moss was slightly taken back. AYou don=t know?@

Of course, Batman did. Bruce Wayne wouldn't=t have a clue, nor should he.

Dr. Moss explained with his voice low, AThat=s where we keep the Joker.@

AAh. Him. I guess we shouldn't=t make his life any better, should we?@

AIt wouldn't

=t matter. The Joker could find his fun in any environment.

@

AWhy the special room?@ He already knew the answer.

Dr. Moss leaned in closer and whispered, AWe had to give him a separate room. This

wasn't=t in the news, but we tried to give him a roommate several months ago. The Joker

intimidated him so much that he hung himself by his own chain.@

Bruce gave a shocking expression. In truth, he knew of the situation through the magic of

money. He had been getting regular reports from doctors on the Joker=s progress. It unnerved

Bruce as to why he seemed to be the only one who understood the psychotic. The key to

understanding the Joker was to notunderstand him. The man thrived at creating chaos for no

reason. To express frustration at not figuring him out was feeding the Joker=s entertainment. Bruce

decided the Joker needed a jolt of reality.

He made his voice cautious to the doctor.ADoes he receive many visitors?

@Dr. Moss shrugged. ASometimes psyche majors from Gotham University come to study

him. They try to give him survey questions. You know, like they did in that movie with Hannibal

Lector.@

Bruce chuckled. AI doubt the Joker would reduce himself to cannibalism.@

AI wouldn't=t put it past him.@ They approached closer to the room. Two guards watched his

door.

Bruce put a dash of hesitancy in his voice. ADo you think it would be possible for me to

meet him?@

The doctor looked at Bruce as though mice were coming out of his nose. AAre you

serious?@

AI=m always serious.

@

AI don=t know, Mr. Wayne. He can be quite intimidating. And I don=t know his schedule. He

may have a session soon.@

Bruce cleared his throat. AYou know what? That=s all right.@ He looked across the hallway.

ATo tell you the truth, I=m not even sure I can get approval for this project. I just wanted to see it for

myself.@

The doctor gulped. AYou won=t be able to get the funding?@

AWell, initially, I was outvoted. You know what they think. It must be another one of Bruce

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Wayne=s crazy ideas. But, I assure you I will keep at it and try to convince the board that this is a

good thing to do. Perhaps in a few months time.@

AA few months,@ the Dr. repeated.

AGive or take. The board can be stubborn sometimes.@

AI=m sure they can.@ Dr. Moss looked over at one of the guards. AExcuse me a moment.@

AOf course.

@Bruce waited while the doctor spoke to the guard. He came back to Brucewithin a minute.

AIt seems he doesn't=t have any sessions today. We can only give you ten minutes time.@

AMore than enough. Thank you.@ Money. It never failed to speak.

Dr. Moss went over the procedural ground rules when visiting the Joker. No exchanges of

any kind. He had to surrender all metal and plastic items. There was to be a guard present, or at

least within earshot. After Bruce acknowledged the rules, he was ready.

The doctor then called into the cell. AJoker. You have a special visitor.@

The Joker=s voice answered from within, APerfect! Send him in. I=m famished!@

Dr. Moss turned to Bruce. AYou did know he has excellent hearing.@

The guard unlocked both locks at the top and bottom of the door and it whined open. One

of the guards stood by its side.The doctor said, AThere you go. He is chained up so there shouldn't=t be any trouble. Just

call Lenny here when you=re done. If anything happens, Lenny is fully armed.@

So am I, thought Bruce.And I don=t need a gun.

Bruce entered the bright rectangular room. To his left was a wide cot that was attached to

the wall. Hung on the walls were several pieces of paper with drawings on them. They all had one

subject. Bats. There was even one of Batman himself. Not a bad rendering either.

ALike my handiwork?@ asked a voice in the room.

Bruce looked at the far end to see the Joker sitting Indian style in the corner. He wore the

Arkham orange jumpsuit. His head was down, showing off his greenish black hair. There was a

padded cuff on his left arm and leg that was attached to a thick chain. Bruce followed the chain to

a hook set in the wall. This was the Joker=s home for almost a year. The last time Bruce had seenhim was as Batman and the Joker was hanging upside down.

Bruce didn't=t answer the Joker quick enough so he raised his head and uttered, ADid a cat

tear your tongue out?@ When the Joker looked up, he saw who his visitor was. AWelllll...look who

it is. Gotham=s own playboy and savior. Come to see how the lesser folks live?@

Bruce leaned in closer to him and extended his hand. ABruce Wayne. Pleasure to meet you.@

The Joker just stared at the hand. AYou have to be kidding.@

Bruce retracted his hand. ASorry. I don=t meet anyone who I don=t shake hands with first.

Blame the businessman in me.@

AOk.@

There was an awkward silence before Bruce said, APardon me for asking, but did they let

you keep your makeup?@

AUnfortunately, no. They do indulge me in allowing my inner artist to come out. I can only

draw with chalk pastel. No pencils or paint brushes. It really limits the possibilities. But, I find that

the chalk powder mixed with water makes an excellent base.@ He licked his lips.

AYou feel the need to wear a mask.@

The Joker pointed at him with his finger. ANow, now, now....don=t try and analyze me like

these so-called professionals in here. I expected more from a billionaire.@

AIt wasn't=t a question.@

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The Joker gave a look of interest at Bruce. AHmm. Ok. Then, you=re right. But, don=t we all

wear masks?@

Bruce chuckled. AWhat could mine possibly be?@

AOh, yours is easy. It=s in the shape of a checkbook.@

Bruce smiled and stated, ATouch.@

The Joker attempted mock seriousness and said,APardon me for asking, but why are youhere?@

AIntrigued, I guess.@

AYou...guess. Well, let me take a stab.@ He stopped to call out, AThat=s not literally, Lenny!@

He turned back at Bruce and said, AYou had some kind of deal going on that fell through and you

felt depressed enough to come and see the even more depressed. Am I right?@

Bruce stated plainly, ANot even close. I=ve heard so many things about you in the past year

that I wanted to see you in person.@

AAh, heard rumors about little ole me? They=re all true. I am such a legend.@

AA legend in your own mind.@

AKinda like you.@

AYou know, people have that misconception about me. They think I

=m all about the money.

There was no skill in obtaining my money.@

AOf course there was. It was the skill of the bum who shot your parents and his courage to

not kill you too. That...took talent.@

AYou know my history.@

AI know everyone=s history. We all have one.@ The Joker licked his lips. ADo you remember

getting breast fed by your mother?@

AWhat?@

ANo, you would have been too young.@ He glared at Bruce strangely. AOr would you? Do

you miss being cuddled by her on those cold nights in the mansion? Oh, wait...that=s right. You

burned down that mansion a few years ago. Good thing you chased those guests away before you

set the blaze. Thatwould have really made the headlines if you didn't=t. Tell me, were you mad at

someone. Dumped by a girlfriend? Come on, you can tell me? Who am I going to tell?@ He laughed

maniacally.

Bruce knew this would be coming from the Joker. It=s what he did well. He pressed

emotional buttons like no one else. The reaction he wanted was not the one that Bruce was going to

give him. He smiled and answered calmly to the Joker, AYou could say I was mad. And drunk.@

AWhat a combo!@

AI still have the blanket that my mother used to keep me warm. The East Wing used to have

a nasty draft. I kept it in a safe that survived the fire. And, I think I wasn't=t breast fed as a baby,

according to my servant.@

AUh huh. Do you know how I got these scars?@

Bruce smiled. He knew it would happen. The Joker was bored. Show him you have aninterest and he goes to the next thing to attract attention to him. Bruce played against him. AYes,

how did you get those?@

AWell, see, I had a life. Before all of this.@ He waved his hands around his face. AAnd one

night after a party, me and my wife were walking in an alley downtown. We were rather tipsy, you

see. Minding our own business. Then...suddenly, a man comes out in front of us. He had a knife.

Not one of those little potato cutters. No, no, no, no, this was a knife.@ There was a hint of an

Australian accent when he said the last sentence. Bruce figured it was to mimic the famous line

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from Crocodile Dundee. More attention.

The Joker went on. AHe forced us into the alley. He pushed my wife against the wall and

she lifted the knife to her face. He said, >Let=s start the show.= He was about to cut up my wife. I

couldn't=t let him do that. So...I intervened. I pushed him down before he could touch my wife. He

didn't=t like that. Not...one...bit.@ He overemphasized the T. ASo...he threw my wife to the ground

and he came after me. He forced me against the wall. He placed the huge knife inside my mouth.And he said, >Give me a smile!= So...I did. He then quickly pulled the blade back...and I smiled. I

always smile now.@

Bruce sat on the side of the cot during his story and listened with great interest. AOuch. That

must have hurt.@

The Joker went on as if Bruce had not spoken. He licked his lips. ASo...there I was bleeding

from both sides of my mouth, when my wife gets up and hits him on the head with a piece of wood.

It wasn't=t enough to knock him out, but it was enough to make him very angry. He starts to go after

her. I still don=t let him. I reached out with my hands,@ he mimed the act with the chains clinking,

Aand I grabbed his neck. And I squeeeeeezed. I squeezed harder. And harder.@ He closed his eyes

while describing as if he were in ecstasy.@ Suddenly, he looked at Bruce seriously and put his

hands down.AEver know what breaking bones feel like?

@

ANot particularly.@

AWhat? You=ve never snapped a chicken=s neck? Oh, of course not. What am I thinking?

You would justpay someone to kill the chicken. Let me tell you...when I snapped that fiend=s

neck...ah, it was exquisite. The sound of it cracking.@ He stopped again, staring at Bruce Wayne.

Bruce was staring back with only the hint of a smile.

The Joker licked his lips again and said, AYou know, I told that story to a Gotham

University grad student while she visited. Cute thing. She ran out of the room. Screaming. But

you...you=re still here.@

Immediately, Bruce asked him, AWhat street?@

AWhat?@

AWhich street was the alley on?

@The Joker smirked as if he knew he was being tested and said instantly, AFigaro and Fifth

Street.@

Bruce Wayne started to chuckle. The chuckle grew into a laugh. The Joker looked on with

curiosity. When Bruce calmed, he said, ABad play, Mr. Joker. My parents were killed in the alley

on Figaro and Fifth.@

The Joker smiled and said, ATouch.@

AI think I=ve heard enough.@ Bruce stood up.

AOh, so you got what you came for, Mr. Billionaire? Are you going to buy Arkham so I can

see your pretty face every day?@

ANot likely. But, before I leave, I want you to understand something. You will most likely

spend the rest of your days in here. Judging by the fiction you just told, anything you claim is truewill never be taken seriously. I just thought you deserved to know.@

Bruce bent down closer to the Joker=s face. He prepared to use his guttural, rough version

of his voice. Batman=s voice. ANow,Iam ahead of the curve. From one adversary to another.@

He had only encountered the Joker face to face a few times. He had seen him on screen in

action. He had never seen him look so shocked as he did then. Bruce stood erect again and glanced

at the Joker=s drawing of the Batman. He uttered with Batman=s voice, ANice drawing.@

Bruce smiled as he stared at him. He reverted to his regular voice to call out, ALenny. I=m

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ready to go.@

Lenny, the guard, opened the door and let Bruce out. But, Bruce stayed standing in a

specific position. Within the door at a certain height was a small rectangular hole used to slide

meals through. Bruce calculated where he would need to stand so that the Joker would have a view

of Bruce=s face through that hole. When the door shut, all the Joker could see was Bruce=s jaw and

the lining of his lips. It was almost as if he were wearing a cowl. Bruce Wayne=s true mask.Dr. Moss approached him. AWell, how did that go?@

Bruce answered, AIt was...an education. That man is clearly psychotic. He was even

claiming that I was the Batman.@

Dr. Moss laughed hard. AOh, I=m sorry, Mr. Wayne. He certainly has the Batman on his

mind. He has cooked up some good ones. It=s funny, though, the Batman may be the only one who

can make sense of the Joker.@

AMaybe he is. When you catch him, maybe they could share a cell.@

Dr. Moss laughed again. AYes, that=s a good one, Mr. Wayne.@

Bruce proceeded to say his thanks and goodbyes, as well as assurances that funding would

be on the way much sooner than months. He climbed in his limo and the driver sped off.

Bruce thought about what he had just done to the Joker. He knows. He could tell. No onewould ever believe him. Not even criminals. The Joker used fear as a weapon. He never came

across a man who was entirely purged of his fear. Until now.

Maybe we=re more alike than I realize.

The End