Discord in the Garden. (Joker)

[The Joker]

Joker grabbed the item next to his hand and dove out of the way as Batman barreled towards him. He was quite pleased to have the advantage in this situation. He knew that if Batman got his hands on him, Joker would be beaten quite easily, but staying out of reach was working quite well.

He spun around once he got behind Batman and brought the crowbar he had stashed in the gardens down in a powerful swing towards the man's lower back, hoping that he still had the advantage.

"I guess you liked it!" He responded gleefully

[Bruce Wayne]

Batman fell to his knees as the crowbar collided with his body. His suit absorbed any potential lethality but pain still coursed through his body. He gasped for air as he rolled away to avoid any would be second strike. He had let his rage get the better of him. He began running through various teachings he had learned in his travels. The pain began to edge off, becoming a slow throb at the base of his spine. He couldn't afford to be so careless again. He got up on one knee and began to stand up. As he did so his hand that was facing away from the Joker slowly moved to his side. He grasped the small metal shuriken in his fingers. Preparing to strike.

[The Joker]

Joker cackled maniacally as Batman went down. "Not so tough, are ya?" He asked, resting the crowbar casually against his right shoulder. He cocked his head to the side, staring at the kneeling figure. "I'll admit, I'm a little disappointed. I was hoping you'd be more of a challenge. Here I am, an inmate at an institute for the criminally insane and I already have you on your knees."

He brought the crowbar up, poised for another blow. "Ah well, I'm still having fun." A wicked grin on his pale features, he brought the weapon down, aiming for Batman's neck.

[Bruce Wayne]

As the the bar raised into the air Batman made his move. Throwing the shuriken toward the jokers wrist he lunged forward at the same time to tackle his opponent.

"I'm just getting started!"

[The Joker]

Joker mentally cursed himself for forgetting about the shurikens. He should have been watching for them. Though he avoided the same weapon that had destroyed Harvey's wrist, he still ended up under a very heavy weight with his crowbar out of reach.

Joker laughed wildly, flashing a yellowed grin at Batman. "That's what I was waiting for. Come on, Batsy, give me something to fear. Make me believe that you're worth my time."

[Bruce Wayne]

As the Joker fell beneath him Batman threw a heavy punch at the Joker's gut. He needed to gain a stronger position. He attempted to move forward on top of the other man's body and straddle his waist.

[The Joker]

The blow knocked the air out of the Joker and he grunted in a mixture of pain and perverse pleasure. He did love a good fight, but he wasn't stupid. He knew Batman had the upper hand for now.

He slipped his wiry arms under his head and peered up at Batman. "Ever planning on answering my questions? I have several queued up that you so cheerfully ignored. I'd appreciate some sort of a response."

[Bruce Wayne]

Batman brought his fist down at the Joker's face.

"I don't have to answer to scum like you. I am the blind hand of Justice and you are chaos. I will bring order."

[The Joker]

Joker's head snapped to the side at the force of the blow. He was momentarily dazed, but shook it off rather quickly. He looked back up, locking eyes with Batman. He laughed in the man's face.

"Gonna flip a coin on whether or not you're gonna kill me? All this talk of justice and order and chaos reminds me of Harvey. I will admit that I like your outfit better. It has a lot more uses and is just...fun."

He shifted. "Plus the weight and general...hardness makes your opponents really uncomfortable." He blinked, realizing what he said, and then giggled. "Hah, hardness. Get it?"

[Bruce Wayne]

Batman grabbed the Joker by his shirt pulled him closer.

"You're depraved. Harvey Dent was a good man. Harvey Dent is a good man. One day he'll see that too, and you'll be done."

He pushed the Joker back to the ground and cocked back to deliver another blow.

[The Joker]

Joker cackled. "you're so touchy. Maybe you should do a stint in here to take care of that. You could even share my cell!"

When he was pushed back down, Joker managed to get a hold of his crowbar. He swung it up swiftly, aiming for the elbow of Batman's poised arm.

[Bruce Wayne]

Batman took the blow from the crowbar into his armpit. He grunted as pain coursed through his shoulder. He locked his arm down, trapping the crowbar. He rolled to the side, keeping his arm clamped firmly to take the crow bar with him. He would have to give the Joker back his range to disarm him.

[The Joker]

Joker released the crowbar as Batman rolled, choosing instead to lurch off of him. He rose to his feet a short distance from Batman, arms hanging loosely at his side. The moonlight threw eerie shadows across his face, veiling his expression.

"Why did you come here tonight?" He asked, voice low.

[Bruce Wayne]

Batman stood slowly, tossing the crowbar far behind him. His voice was a low growl.

"Because I am Vengeance."

[The Joker]

Joker tilted his head down, a slow grin spreading across his shadowed face. His stance was wide and tense with excitement, fingers twitching.

"Vengeance. I like it. I think this has the potential to be a long and fulfilling relationship, Batsy. You see, I am Chaos, and chaos has the delightful habit of causing events that call for Vengeance."

He reached into his Arkham uniform and pulled out a single playing card. He kept his dark gaze locked on Batman's unwavering one. "I don't play by their rules. I play by mine. Know why?"

He deftly flicked the card at Batman, not caring if he caught it or not. He'd get the picture. "I am the Joker, and in my set of cards Joker is King."

Without another word, Joker disappeared into a side door to the Asylum, the door creaking shut behind him.

A worthy adversary had presented himself and Joker couldn't have been happier. Things were definitely looking up...