Chapter 21: A Mad Love

Not long ago.

Sheriff Gordon arrived at a dental clinic, clutching his jaw, completely unaware that the dentist’s name on the door, when the letters were rearranged, spelled “JOKER.”

Upon entering, the doctor instructed Gordon to lie back in the dental chair while he busied himself organizing his tools nearby.

Gordon felt nothing amiss at first, but no sooner had he settled into the chair than a firework exploded beneath him, and colorful ribbons suddenly sprang out from nowhere, binding him tightly.

“Hahaha…” The dentist revealed a manic grin, pulling the nurse into a classic waltz pose.

Removing his mask, the dentist’s true face was revealed: Gotham City’s prince of crime—the Joker.

“Sheriff Gordon, how about I use this drill to bore a hole right through your head?” The Joker advanced, drill in hand, dancing in a strange rhythm toward him.

“Not a good idea, Joker. Your plans are getting less creative by the day.” A Batarang struck the drill from his grasp, accompanied by Batman’s disdainful voice. “I didn’t expect you to break out of prison just to do something so dull. I’m truly disappointed.”

“What did you say?” The Joker faltered, thrown off by Batman’s words. He pulled a firecracker from his pocket and hurled it at him.

But Batman was quicker, snatching up a false tooth and tossing it into the Joker’s hand, trapping it tightly in his bite.

The two clashed fiercely. The Joker unleashed bizarre gadgets, only for Batman to neutralize each one.

“Haha, Batman, try this!” Harley Quinn seized the opportunity, sneaking behind Batman and landing a hammer blow that knocked him unconscious.

Before Harley could revel in her triumph, the Joker gripped her face harshly. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Puddin’… I was trying to help you…” Harley stammered, taken aback.

“Who asked for your help? Do you think I can’t handle this bat-brain myself?” The Joker snapped, yanking her jester hat. “Come on!”

“Aren’t we going to kill him?” Harley asked.

“Shut up!” The Joker dragged her away. “I want to give Batman the most spectacular death at the grandest occasion! That’s the only way to be worthy of an unprecedented genius criminal like me!”

“Oh, Puddin’…”

Roland quietly slipped through the window and untied the ribbons binding Sheriff Gordon. Then he checked Batman’s breathing.

“I’m fine,” Batman stood.

“You scared me.” Roland asked curiously, “So, what’s the plan this time?”

“I planted trackers on them,” Batman said. “I’m leaving now.”

---

“That guy…” Roland curled his lips.

“Maybe he’s trying to help Harleen Quinzel,” Sheriff Gordon said.

“Harley Quinn?” Roland shook his head. “I doubt it. Women in love are unreasonable.”

“She used to be an excellent nurse…” Gordon sighed regretfully.

“Until she fell for a green-haired maniac. Tragic,” Roland said. “Arkham Asylum’s amazing—why catch these guys only to lock them up instead of ending it?”

“That opens a can of legal and corruption worms.”

“A headache,” Roland mused. Suddenly, a thought struck him: if Batman killed the Joker, would he still laugh maniacally?

If so, better to keep things as they are.

“By the way, how’s your tooth?” Roland asked.

“…Do you think the Joker would fix my teeth while kidnapping me?” Gordon covered his face. “After this, I really don’t want to see a dentist again.”

“Fair enough.” Roland dusted off the dirt he’d gotten climbing in. “I’m heading back. I just came out for a walk and ended up witnessing this mess.”

“Wait, how did you get in here?” Gordon was stunned. “This is the fourth floor.”

“Climbed up the outside wall.” Roland stepped out. “I’m pretty good at climbing.”

Gordon was at a loss for words. After a pause, he said, “I drove here. Want me to give you a ride back?”

“Sure.”

---

Laughing Bone Airlines

“No, no, these plans are too unoriginal!” The Joker crumpled up the sketches he’d just drawn and tossed them aside, clutching his head in frustration.

“Puddin’, don’t you want to ride your Harley around for a bit?” Harley climbed onto the table and struck a sultry pose, enticing him.

“Don’t bother me.” The Joker had no interest in fun; his mind was full of Batman.

Being mocked by Batman as boring today was a heavy blow. The Joker had to devise a more dazzling trap to turn the tide.

“How about creating a gas that controls everyone at a birthday party, then dressing Batman as a birthday cake so they laugh while eating him?” The Joker pondered. “No, too uncreative.”

“Throw Batman into a pool filled with a hundred piranhas grinning to tear him apart?”

“Dress Gordon as the Joker and have him kill Batman?”

“No… no…” The Joker crouched, dejected. “None of these are good enough…”

“Puddin’…” Harley Quinn hugged him, trying to comfort him, but was cruelly thrown aside.

Harley landed in the pool inside the room. Though it held no piranhas, the cold water dampened her fiery spirit.

She crouched, deep in thought.

Determined to devise a clever trap to capture Batman and impress the Joker with her charm.

Outside the door, two people observed her every move.

“Tsk tsk tsk, the Joker really has control over this one. That’s true love,” Roland murmured in awe.

“What are you doing here?” Batman frowned.

“Everyone loves gossip. I’m no exception.” Roland watched Harley. “Tsk tsk tsk, what a foolish girl.”

“Are you just here for the show?”

“Yeah.”

“Then would you help me out?” Batman said to Roland. “It’ll make the show even better.”

“Oh? What’s your idea?” Roland’s interest peaked. “You’re not asking me to seduce Harley, are you? That doesn’t sound right.”

“No, I wouldn’t give you a job you obviously can’t do,” Batman said.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Am I worse than that green-haired maniac?” Roland snapped.

“Let’s get back on track.” Batman gave a barely perceptible smile. “You do this… then that…”

“Ohhh…” Roland’s eyes lit up. “You’re quite the schemer. Do you usually trick girls like this? No wonder you’re known as Gotham’s top playboy.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Batman was a little uneasy. “By the way, don’t get too attracted to Harley and reveal my true identity to her.”