Gotham Is... Chaos

Chapter 3: The Plan Is Simple

"Mr Doe?" Batman checked his mental files, but couldn't find a match. "Who is he?"

"It's a stupid nickname, it doesn't matter." Joker grumbled, sitting up with an uncharacteristically normal pout. "Don't call me that, Frosty."

"As you wish..." A shadow of almost a smirk briefly flashed on Fries' face as he turned, "...Jacob."

"That's it!" Joker launched himself at the cold-hearted doctor, but was held back by vines. Wilted vines, Batman could see now, that looked like they shouldn't have been a problem for the clown's strength. Was he avoiding breaking them? "Let me at him!"

"Down, boys." Ivy hissed at them both. Fries nodded, stepping back with an apology. Joker once again stopped struggling, and the plants released him. "As you can see, Batman, tensions have been a little high."

Batman hummed in agreement, standing up. He was definitely asking about 'Jacob Doe' later, but for now... "We need to get out of Arkham and back to Gotham, contact the GCPD, and-"

"No!" Harley shook her head, scowling. "We aren' abandonin' anyone ta dis nightmare! Not Eddie or Arnold or Professah Crane, nobody. If we was willin' ta do dat, we'd already be outta here."

The villains all nodded in agreement, then again when Manbat added "Family."

"We didn't call you to get us out, Batsy." Joker explained. "We need you to help us save the others. The cops might shoot 'em, ya know that. Besides, we should be the ones handling our own."

"You're willing to get help from me." Batman pointed out.

"Oh shuddup, ya know ya became one of us a long time ago." Harley rolled her eyes. "Bein' a good guy doesn't mean ya aren' a Rogue. An honorary one, anyways."

"Enough sappy stuff, we're freezing the plot." Joker bounced over to the screens, tapping away at some keyboards. "And we're only sorta working on comic book time."

"Puddin', da others can't see the fourth wall, remember?" Harley reminded him, winking at thin air. To that same air, she said "What a silly guy, huh?"

"Oh, right." Joker shrugged. "Anyways, there's a spot in Arkham where the cameras all cut out. No one's fixed it because no one goes there, especially not the inmates. Except, we've figured out that Eddie snuck down there right before he changed."

"Has anyone investigated yet?" Batman asked. The villains all tensed up, going quiet. "Well?"

"Bolton used that area as..." Croc trailed off. "It's got a lotta bad memories."

"We were sorta waiting for you to be with us." Joker added sheepishly. "We didn't want to go alone."

"You-" Batman cut himself off, growling. "Fine, let's go and get this over with." Under his breath, he muttered. "I hope someone kills Bolton."

"Trust me, we're working on it." Joker's eyes went wide. "Uh, pretend you didn't hear that."

"Hear what?" Batman asked, leading the way into the vents this time.

"... Is he serious?" Joker asked, incredulously.

"Are any of us ever?" Ivy smirked, following the Dark Knight. "Wonder how long it will take for him to remember he doesn't know where we're going?"