Little Moments That Became A Fic

Chapter 11: Laughter

"Batsy, yer child is broken," Joker said accusingly. He had appeared out of nowhere, suddenly standing on the roof in front of Bruce. He held up Cassandra by under her armpits — she was dressed in her hero suit and seemed entirely unbothered by the situation.

"What happened?" Bruce asked, concerned but also confused. Ever since the Incident-They-Don't-Talk-About with Jason, Joker's modus operandi when one of the kids got hurt was to drop them off with Alfred and hide. He hadn't brought one straight to Bruce in years.

"She doesn't laugh!" Joker whined. "Ever!"

"She's mute," Bruce reminded him flatly.

"Mute kids can still laugh," Joker replied just as flatly, glaring at Bruce as if this was his fault.

"Not her," Bruce supplied, shrugging one of his shoulders.

"Dis true, Batette?" Joker turned his head to ask Cassandra, getting a single nod in return. He gasped. "Ya poor girlie! How d'ya let people know when ya find somethin' funny?"

Cassandra signed Funny. Joker gasped again, turning back to Bruce.

"Batsy, do ya see dis?" Joker asked, looking genuinely distraught. "How's she supposed ta join in on a joke if everybody's gotta be lookin' at her ta know she's laughin'?"

"She can join in just fine, Joker," Bruce sighed. "Can you put my daughter down now, please?"

"What if she makes a blind friend?" Joker added as if he hadn't heard him, though he did set Cassandra down. She stayed where she was put, looking up at him as he ranted. "What if she goes ta a comedy club? Dis is unacceptable, Darling!"

"There's not much I can do about it," Bruce growled. He knew Cassandra had certain limitations that he couldn't really do anything about. He didn't like being reminded of it.

"Can I borrow yer credit card?" Joker asked suddenly. He waved dismissively before Bruce could answer. "Actually, nevermind, I've got money. Hafta make a stop by da Ha-Hacienda, dat means, but it's not dat far outta da way. Come on, Batette."

"Where do you think you're going?" Bruce asked warily. They had come a long way, but that didn't mean he fully trusted Joker quite yet.

"Ta get da kid a recorder!" Joker answered, as if it was obvious. He tilted his head down to look at Cassandra. "A nice one too, I promise, wit' all da different settin's an' a– say, what's yer favorite color?"

Pink, Cassandra signed.

"An' a pink case," Joker finished happily. He crouched down to look Cassandra in the eye as he explained, "We'll go around an' find some laughter ya like, an' den we'll record it. Dat way, ya can laugh whenever ya want!"

The lenses over Cassandra's eyes went wide.

"But," Joker added, holding a finger up, "in exchange, ya hafta laugh loudest at my jokes. Deal?" He held his gloved hand out in an exaggeratedly serious manner.

Cassandra shook it, signing Deal with her other hand. When Joker stood, she switched hands instead of letting go — Bruce had taught her she was supposed to hold an adult's hand when they went out in their civilian identities, and apparently she assumed that applied to Joker as well.

"I'll have da kid home in time fer bed!" Joker promised, knowing full well that none of Bruce's kids had a set bedtime.

Bruce went to protest — or at least demand he come with them to supervise — but then he blinked and the pair were gone.

...well, at least now he knew how Gordon felt when he did that.