"It's not a social call."
Inside the cell, harsh fluorescent bulbs bounced their light off the sterile, white padded walls.
"IT'S REALLY YOU ! YOU'RE HERE !"
The cell's straitjacketed occupant flung himself from the corner of the room until he was slobbering, weeping, at Batman's armoured boots.
"I'm so glad it's you, Bats," Joker sobbed. "They think I'm mad !"
Batman kicked upwards, flipped the maniac onto his back and brought the foot back down to pin him there.
"Three dead. All children. You've been locked up here since Blackgate..."
Batman pushed down. Ribs cracked.
"TELL ME HOW !"
The sudden violence, the guttural sound of Batman's roar, surprised them both.
Batman backed towards the door, appalled. Suddenly freed, Joker rolled on the floor, hysterical.
"I knew it", he giggled. "I knew you cared !"
Batman drew his cape around himself, pushed the anger, the sudden self-disgust, back down.
"You got out, Joker. How?"
"Maybe I am mad," Joker scrabbled backwards, leaned against the wall, "Because this is the first time I'm hearing of it." He paused then, and spoke with sickening sincerity.
"I didn't kill your kiddies. And you don't need excuses to drop by."
When Sharp returned with security, Joker was alone, grinning ear to ear.
"I'm in his head, Sharpie !"
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