I DON’T OWN THE CHARACTERS JOKER OR BATMAN OR POISON IVY, DC COMICS DOES. GRIN (ALAN BARK) AND MARK ARTELLO HOWEVER ARE MY CHARACTERS. I THOUGHT OF THE STORY.
I GIVE THIS STORY A T AGE RATING.
Alan Bark did not know this would happen. When he was a child he never knew he would grow up to work for the Joker, be poisoned by Joker Gas and survive thanks to the many beatings to his face that had hardened his shell as a child, and because of that walk around with a grin for the rest of his life though he had never laughed in his life. But the least believable of all of this was him teaming up with Batman, the Dark Knight, to take revenge on The Clown Prince of Crime. Just a few seconds ago Bark had left the Batcave after Batman had saved his life and given him an earpiece so that they could keep contact.
Bark decided to head for the last place Joker used as his HQ. But first he had to “gear-up”. And he knew exactly where to turn. In his birth neighborhood The Narrows Bark knew a man who had been in the crime business longer than him, much longer. His name was Mark Artello and was a weapons dealer.
The bell dinged as Bark entered the “flower-shop”. He immediately turned off the earpiece. He was alone, at least it seemed as he were. He slowly approached the counter and hit the little clock on it.
DIING!
“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming!” a voice said form a door that lead to a backroom.
“I know, I know, this a crime ridden city and you bums need your hand-guns, well hang on ‘til I’ve watered these bloody hyacinths!”
The man known as Mark Artello walked out of the backroom and walked behind the counter without raising his head, his eyes were locked on the hyacinth he held.
“Since when did you end up in the flower business, Artello? Did ya lose bet with Poison Ivy, or something?” Bark said, having his collar cover his misshapen mouth.
“Alan!” Artello said while looking at his customer. “I haven’t seen you in years. How was it again? You started working for Two…”
“Joker, actually. Yes.” Bark interrupted.
“Oh, right. What brings you hear anyway? I never told you I bought this store as a headquarters for my weapons dealership.”
“Still ya addressed me as a weapon-craving bum. Guess old ladies don’t buy flowers at this hour. Don’t worry, word goes around. But I’m not here in business, not “professional” business, at least. I’m here in personal business. Ya see, after a long time of faithful service The Prince Clown of $#!£ sprayed my £@€!&%# face with Joker Gas. Luckily I survived but one thing still happened with me!” Bark shouted as he pulled down his collar revealing his face.
Artello first looked shocked at his customer but his expression got milder quickly.
“And I suppose you want revenge now more than ever? Well, I’ve got just what you need.”
The two started walking and ended up in the backroom. At first it was dark but after Artello turned on the lights, which revealed a heavy arsenal of weaponry in all of its kind. But Alan Bark didn’t want rifles, bazookas or hand-grenades. He only needed his two hand-guns replaced, simply. He got rid of his old pair and bought two black and brand-new.
Bark soon enough left the “flower-shop” to meet up with his new associate at the place Joker used to use as HQ, a run-down warehouse by the Gotham Docks.
“You’re late.” a dark voice said when he arrived.
“I had to get my own equipment.”
“What kind of equipment?” Batman said as he approached Bark.
The two were standing in a back alley. Bark knew a secret passage-way into the warehouse.
“Those it matter? I don’t ask ya what kind of bat-crap you bring…”
“Are we clear on the plan? I’ll be patrolling the roof, while you infiltrate the inside. You give me a signal when you find anything or end up in trouble.” Batman said when he walked past Bark and neared the end of the alley.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got my own protection!” Bark said and proudly picked up his guns from the coat pockets.
Batman looked back with a disliking face and in a swift move ran towards Bark and took a grip around his throat, pressing him up against the wall.
“Did I give you permission to bring lethal weapons?!”
“Wha-what’s the problem, if ya wanted to, ya could slit a throat with those batarangs!”
“It’s different!”
“How?!”
“I choose not to. You have a criminal record, I’m not even sure I can trust you. You have killed before, how can I trust you won’t again?”
“Ya never t… *kaff* told me killing was a no-no. And what is your problem with guns anyway?!”
Batman starred at his smiling associate for a while before releasing his grip around his throat. Bark fell to the ground, trying to regain his breath. Batman started walking towards the end of the alley ones again and brought up his grapple-gun. He looked back at Bark.
“I just don’t like guns…” he said before grappling up on the roof and disappeared.
To be continued…
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