The moment the red timer on Gotham's clocktower hit 00:00:00, something went terribly wrong. A small part of the city, Aparo Park, became infested with large robotic wasps that taunted the citizens around the area. Police force tried to shoot the wasps down, but they were too quick. The buzzing ripped through the sky, and citizens struggled to get away but the wasps picked a few of them up only to toss them a few feet away.
"Somebody help me!" a little boy screamed when a wasp lifted him from the ground and flew a few feet forward and then it dropped him. He cried out as he struggled to stand up and get away.
Gotham city was in a frenzy.
Gotham's clock tower had been blacked out but then bold red numbers appeared. It started with 10:00:00 and then the timer started to count down.
Jungkook smirked to himself as he allowed himself inside of the apartment. He looked around, his eyes slowly widening in interest when he saw a portrait, "Aw..." he smirked as he lifted it and stared at the picture of Taehyung smiling with his cap and gown. Jimin stood beside him in the picture, but Jungkook ignored him and only looked at Taehyung. He lightly brushed his fingers on Taehyung's face before he put the picture down.
"I'm on my way!" a panicked voice called out from the room.
It was dark in the apartment, and Jimin was in a rush as he grabbed a gun, but he didn't get very far before one of Jungkook's minions got to him. Jimin struggled against the minions as they forced him to sit on a chair, facing Jungkook. One of the minions turned on the lights and Jimin glared at the clown prince, "What the fuck are you doing here?"
Jungkook stepped forward and he couldn't help but smirk, "Relax, I'm only here to discuss a few things with you." He shrugged, "Here's the deal...I don't ask you any questions, you don't ask me any questions." He paused, his eyes darkening as he glared at him, "Understand?"
"Just tell me what the fuck you want!" Jimin struggled against the minions.
Jungkook glanced at his minions, "Boys, relax. We're just here to talk...we're all friends here," as soon as he said that the minions stepped away from Jimin. Jimin glared at them and then at The Joker. Jungkook looked at him, "You and I both know that Taehyung's life in in danger right now, so I'm here to make you a deal-"
"I'm not getting him out." Jimin said simply.
Jungkook chuckled, "I'm not asking you to." He shrugged as he stepped closer to him. His face was stern as he tilted it slightly and said, "Do you have any idea how sick Choi Minho is? He gets off on this. He's basically a necrophilia—I mean come on, think about it. Why else would he uncuff Taehyung while he's paralyzed?"
Jimin's eyes slowly widened, his heart seemed to stop momentarily. His voice was broken as he stared at him, "How the hell would you even know that?"
Jungkook quickly lifted a finger and shook his head, "No questions, remember."
"You're fucking lying-"
"It's up to you whether you believe me or not...." He shrugged. "Here's my proposal." He paused and he held out an ear bud, "I need you to put this into Taehyung's ear so I can get him out of his panic induced state before Dr. Choi shoots him up again with another dosage." He smiled lightly, "In return, I vow not to cause any harm to any children."
Jimin frowned lightly, "Children aren't exactly your target..."
Jungkook smirked as he shrugged, "I don't mind hurting them."
Jimin's jaw drops slightly, "I just got a call from the police department about huge wasps terrorizing the city—is that you? It's not exactly your style..." He glared at him.
Jungkook clenched his jaw as he glared at him, "Do you not understand rules?" he half smiled, "No questions." He laughed while Jimin gripped his hands into tight fists.
"Those things were taking kids..." he shook his head and exhaled sharply, "I don't fucking trust you. How could you expect me to do anything for you after all the shit you've done?!" Jimin stood and he noticed the way Jungkook's minions seemed ready to grab him. Jimin glared at them before he looked at The Joker, "You can't fucking use me."
Jungkook rolled his eyes, "Always so dramatic. It's so nice to see you haven't changed." He half smiled and then laughed, "Taehyung will die if you don't act faster, Jimin."
"Fuck you!"
"Okay fine maybe you need some proof that I'm not playing any games." He shook his head lightly before he pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small garage remote and Jimin's eyes widened as Jungkook's thumb hovered over the button. "If you don't decide in twenty seconds I'm going to push this button and..." his smile grew, his voice droning on to add suspense, "Boom!" he laughed while Jimin looked horrified. "I placed a bomb in an elementary school." Jungkook whispered and then laughed loudly. "Let's play a game! Try to guess which one!" He laughed louder when Jimin looked even more horrified.
Jimin was frozen for a moment and he struggled before he yanked the ear bud from Jungkook's hand. "Get the fuck out of here." He was shaking in anger, "And don't fucking count on this again! I'm not your god damn toy."
Jungkook seemed pleased as he backed away from him, "Deal." He chuckled. "Oh, and just so you're aware. I know every move you make, so try something and I really will cause some damage to those kids, understood?" he taunted him.
Jimin glared at him, "I get it. Now leave."
Jungkook laughed as he headed out of the apartment with his minions trailing behind him.
Jaehyo was strapped upside down, his body swaying lightly as he cried against the gag around his mouth. He was filthy, and covered in bruises and his own blood. Jungkook had his fist against his side and he smirked at the sight of him, "Oh hush," he pushed him. "I have to be very careful. Every move I make has to be calculated perfectly—one mistake and the whole thing turns to shit." He smirked as Jaehyo whimpered, "You're my very own punching bag...what an honor." He laughed as he turned to face Chanyeol.
They were in Chanyeol's lab with three computer monitors showing the different cameras in Belle Reve Penitentiary. One of the cameras, the one in the middle monitor, showed Taehyung's room. It showed him on the bed, shaking in fear as he whimpered a few words.
Chanyeol sat on a chair, staring at the monitors, "Jimin is entering the prison..." he cracked a smile, "Wow Mr. J, I knew you could do anything, but how did you manage to convince him to do this?" he turned and grinned at him.
Jungkook smirked, his eyes staring at the monitors and watching Jimin go into Taehyung's room, "I can be quite convincing."
Jimin stared at Taehyung for a moment and he exhaled deeply before he glanced at the ear bud in between his fingers. He bit his lips together and then gently put the ear bud into Taehyung's left ear. "You have to face your fears..." he whispered and then he walked out of the room with a solemn expression.
Jungkook smiles as he grabs his own ear bud and puts it into his ear while staring at the monitor.
In Taehyung's mind.
For a moment, he was stuck in darkness. Then he was in a familiar office, and his eyes gently widened when he looked down at what he was wearing. Taehyung was in a suit but over the suit was a white coat, and he frowned as he felt his glasses. There was a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, but he couldn't remember anything anymore.
Taehyung's brain was a blank slate, and he was beginning to panic.
Why was he in this room?
What was he doing here?
Then he saw someone in a strait jacket looking at him with a wide grin on his face, "What's the matter, Dr. K? You're looking a little pale," he teased before he broke into a fit of laughter. Taehyung's heart started to race, but he didn't understand why. "Aren't you going to sit?"
Taehyung swallowed dryly before he slowly sat on the chair across from the handsome man in the strait jacket. He fidgeted for a moment as he breathed slowly, "W-Why does this feel wrong?" he asked in a small voice, but then he noticed the notebook in front of him with detailed notes on his patient.
The Joker tilted his head lightly, "Taehyung?"
Taehyung looked at him instantly.
"What do you see?" He asked.
Taehyung shook lightly as he looked around, "What do you mean?" he frowned. "I'm in an office, but I feel so out of place. Something isn't right about this, but..." he looked down at the notebook, "You're my patient?"
The Joker smiled, "I am." He confirmed and then he chuckled, "Do you want to role play today?" He smiled. "Want me to be your doctor?"
Taehyung stared at him, his heart racing and his breathes got caught in his throat as his patient's words echoed in his head. He looked at his patient, and his body started to feel weak. He bit his lips together and wondered why his heart felt so weak in this moment. Why did he have the strong urge to reach out and touch him?
"Taehyung? Focus."
Taehyung sniffled, "Why can't I remember who I am?" he whimpered. "Who am I?" he looked at what he was wearing again. "Why does this feel...so heavy?" he cried out ad tried to take his coat off, but he couldn't. "Why can't I remember anything?" he cried out.
The Joker hummed lightly, he seemed to sympathize but then he smiled widely, "Do you want some help? Want me to tell you a story?"
Taehyung didn't think a story could help him, but he couldn't refuse this man for some strange reason. "Sure." He whimpered and placed his chin on his palms as he listened carefully. He was starting to feel hot as he gazed at the man's lips as he spoke.
"Once upon a time..." he grinned as he started, "There was a criminal—he was bad, oh he was the worst." He spoke in a low, hoarse voice and though his eyes were dark, his smile was bright. "Everyone hated him and with good reason!" he chuckled. "This man was incapable of caring for someone because no one was worth it. Humans are so pathetic in every way possible, they are so consumed with things that don't matter such as money, power, success, fear—they become manipulated and broken so easily. Weakness is what irritated this criminal the most, so he couldn't help it when he constantly tormented those around him. It wasn't that difficult to do so, really." He grinned.
Taehyung listened carefully to every word and he bit his lips as he waited patiently for him to continue.
The Joker's eyes seemed to burn into his own, but the burn was satisfying. The Joker half smiled, "I don't think it's a shocking reveal to know I'm that criminal. Don't get me wrong, I have met someone that was fearless but his values and my own always clashed. Did I care about him?" His smile grew, "Debatable." He chuckled lightly. "People are just so disposable—so easy to replace..." he stared into Taehyung's eyes and Taehyung leaned in a little closer to him as he continued to speak. His words were hypnotizing.
"You never cared for anyone?" Taehyung asked softly.
The Joker cracked a genuine smile and he couldn't help but chuckle, "My father was a drinker, and my mother was as weak as they come, she was always so dependent and whiny. It was pathetic. When I finally got rid of them I had never felt so liberated—I was free. I didn't mind the loneliness, in fact I welcomed it." He paused and then reached to caress Taehyung's knuckles.
"How did you become this way?" Taehyung asked referring to his pale skin, green hair and bright grin. They stared into each other's eyes and a comfortable silence surrounded them.
"I fell into an acid vault." He said and then burst out laughing, "It was a complete accident, but it changed everything. Before the acid, I was blinded by things that didn't matter. Money, power, success...fear—it's pointless. But I didn't realize it until I came out of that acid." He chuckled lightly, "After that I couldn't stop laughing at myself, at everyone..." He shook his head lightly. "I no longer felt the burden of pointless shit...I no longer felt any fear."
Taehyung stared at his lips and then into his eyes. He must have forgotten to breathe because he lightly gasped for air. His heart beat palpitated against his chest but he smiled with his patient. "That sounds...impressive." He confessed.
"Not nearly as impressive as you are." He began and Taehyung's eyes widened slightly. "You don't remember who you are?" Taehyung slowly shook his head, " Let me tell you who you are."
Taehyung swallowed dryly, he parted his dry lips and waited patiently for him to continue. His patient had every bit of his attention.
The Joker smiled brightly, his grin stretching closer to his ears as he looked into Taehyung's eyes. "Kim Taehyung, you are the strongest person I have ever come across. When we first met, I knew there was more to you than you were even aware of. You are so much stronger than someone like Batman—hell, you're stronger than I'll ever be. When we first met, we became what the other needed. You needed a little encouragement to do what you've always wanted, and I needed..." he paused and he looked away for a moment before looking back into Taehyung's eyes.
Tears welled into Taehyung's eyes and he sniffled, "Please...continue." He begged.
"I needed you—I need you." The Joker looked at him and smiled lightly. "I could go on for hours explaining everything that you helped me with, but we don't have that much time." He grasped Taehyung's hand lightly and they held hands gently. "Listen...we have so much in common...but do you know what makes us different?"
"What?" Taehyung asked in a small voice.
The Joker smiled as he tilted his head and said, "My fear ended when I submerged from that acid vault...but your fear ended the moment you let yourself fall into that same acid."
Taehyung's body became still, his eyes widening lightly as the memories started to play into his head. Everything came to him at once and tears fell from his eyes as The Joker caressed his cheek lightly. "Jungkook..." Taehyung whispered and he whimpered lightly while Jungkook hushed him gently.
"Don't cry, baby..." He shook his head and smiled softly, "Daddy's coming to get you. Don't doubt it for a second."
Taehyung's heart was racing, his body quivering as he leaned closer and pulled him into a small kiss. Jungkook smiled into the kiss but when they pulled away they looked into each other's eyes. Taehyung's breathing was off, his surroundings were dissolving and he tried to hold onto Jungkook for as long as he could, but his vision became black.
Everything was still and then Taehyung could hear Dr. Choi Minho walking around the room, mumbling curse words to himself.
"Baby..." Jungkook's voice was soft in his ear, and Taehyung's heart beat increased slightly. "Kill him."
Taehyung closed his eyes, and they burned from being so strained, but when he opened his eyes the room started to become clearer. He remembered where he was. He remembered what happened. He glared at the ceiling, but a wicked smile spread on his lips as his adrenaline took off. The Dr. had a needle in hand but Taehyung sat up, gripped his hand around the doctor's hand and managed to take the needle from him. He stabbed the needle into the doctor's shoulder before he squeezed the liquid out of it.
The doctor was instantly paralyzed from fear, and he struggled to breathe from the high dosage. Taehyung struggled to move, but he forced himself to get off the bed and limp towards the metal table with medical tools. He grabbed a scalpel and glanced at the doctor, "Fuck you," he knelt and took the gun he had strapped to him. He chuckled darkly before he limped towards the door.
Everything was moving. Taehyung's body felt out of his control, so he struggled as he reached for the door knob. He opened the door and cocked the gun in his hand. He could only hear his own heavy breathes, his vision was blurring but he could see the bodies falling as he shot the guards and limped down the hallway.
'Taehyung...Hyuna...around the corner....' Jungkook's voice in his ear was becoming distorted. Taehyung was about to fall unconscious, but he forced himself to keep moving.
Then he saw her.
Hyuna turned the corner, her visage appeared stern, but she froze when she saw Taehyung and her eyes widened. Taehyung's smile grew and he laughed lightly before he broke out into a sprint. Hyuna called out for the guards as she quickly ran away from him, but she cried out when Taehyung pulled his arm back and flung the scalpel towards her.
The scalpel pierced her arm and she screamed which only made Taehyung laugh. He had managed to slow her down. Taehyung took her down, and straddled her to pin her to the floor. Hyuna was trying to fight him, but he grabbed the scalpel and yanked it out of her, "Fuck!" she screeched and froze when Taehyung placed the scalpel against her neck. She glared at him but Taehyung's vision was darkening.
Taehyung chuckled lightly as he leaned closer and whispered, "Told ya it wouldn't work on me...didn't I?" he taunted her. Taehyung couldn't hear anything; his body was giving out on him. Then he was yanked away from Hyuna and he was pinned to the wall, and though he was delirious, he knew Jimin was the one holding him back. Jimin injected him with a sedative and Taehyung's body fell limp against him.
Hyuna placed her hand on the wall and she slowly stood up while glaring at Taehyung.
Jimin carried Taehyung and glanced at Hyuna, "I'll lock him up...you should get that bandaged up." He said simply before he headed towards Taehyung's cell. Jimin shook his head lightly as he mumbled curse words to The Joker. He gently placed Taehyung inside his cell before he took the ear bud out of his ear, he wrapped his hand around him and slowly placed his fist against his lips, "Fuck you." He glared for a moment before he let the bud fall to the floor and then he stepped on it. He grabbed the broken bits and stuffed them in his pocket as he looked at Taehyung. He slowly shook his head and exhaled deeply before he headed out of the cell. "Lock it up!" he called out.
A few guards appeared seconds later and they surrounded Taehyung's prison cell.
Jungkook sat on the chair, staring at the monitor and watching Taehyung in his cell. He twirled the ear bud in between his fingers before he placed it next to the monitor. He smiled lightly and Chanyeol excitedly grinned at him, "You did it, boss! You got Taehyung out of the fear toxin! Well, I mean, I never doubted you—not even for a second, but it's still exciting to see your plan executed so well."
Jungkook hummed lightly as he nodded, "I don't doubt that Taehyung would have eventually gotten himself out of the fear toxin...but I needed him out now. I don't want Hyuna to forget how valuable he is to her."
"I don't think she could forget that, Mr. J."
Jungkook glanced at the clock, "What is Hyuna going to do when she's forced to include Taehyung in her little Task Force..."
"She'll have to be really desperate-"
"She will be." Jungkook's smirk grew, "She'll be so fucking desperate, I'll make sure of it." He grinned maliciously, "We still have six hours on the timer, but you should always expect the unexpected." He slowly stood up and buttoned up his blazer while staring at the monitor. He tilted his head slightly.
"Wait, are you giving them the surprise now?" Chanyeol's eyes widened and he swallowed dryly when Jungkook looked at him and nodded. "Woah...should I get your stuff ready?" he shook his head quickly, "Forget that! That was a stupid question—of course, I'll get everything ready, boss!" He sprinted off while Jungkook pulled out the dagger Taehyung gifted him, and he played with it for a moment before he called out to the minions.
"We're heading out!" He grinned brightly.
Hyuna had called in another meeting with the governing board, those that remained at least since The Joker had taken upon himself to take them out one by one. Everyone sat, patiently waiting for Hyuna to give her point once again but she was exhausted. Her arm was bandaged from the wound Taehyung inflicted, but she ignored it and glanced at everyone in the room. "Thank you for attending yet another meeting-"
Jackson Wang, the secretary of the Department of Defense, quickly stood and shook his head, "What the hell are we going to do about those god damn robot wasps? My men have been out there all day, and they can't take one out..." He paused for a moment and then frowned when Hyuna threw her files on the table. "Enough with that Task Force bullshit! It's insane. It would never work..." he shook his head. "What makes you think you can control them?"
"Getting people to act against their own self-interest is what I do for a living."
"They're fucking criminals-" Jackson bit his tongue when someone called for their attention. They turned on the TV because the emergency alarms were going off. "What the hell is going on..." Jackson turned, and they all faced the flat screen TV.
Every TV broadcast had been taken over.
On the TV screen, the Joker's clowns were armed and they were rejoicing, and taunting the dozens of hostages that were tied. The hostages cried through their gags, and a few of them tried to move but one of the minions would kick them hard enough they were forced to stop.
The room was dark, and it was unclear where exactly they were located.
Hyuna glared at the screen, "Does anyone have a location?!"
A few people quickly typed into their laptop, "We're trying to find a location now!" One of them called out.
The Joker stepped into the view and his sinister smile was deep as he grabbed the camera and held it in a high angle, "Hell, Gotham city!" he brought the camera closer to his dark eyes and he laughed loudly, "Miss me?" he snickered. "I know I've missed you..." he growled lightly as he glared into the camera. "Hello officers..." he waved lightly, "Have you detected the bomb yet?" he smiled sweetly.
"Bomb?!" Jackson turned to stare at the rest of the board members, "I'm sending a helicopter!" He called out as he grabbed his phone and called someone to fly through Gotham in hopes to detect the bomb.
The Joker laughed on the screen and he playfully hummed as he placed the camera on his lips, "I'll give you five minutes." He laughed loudly, mocking them as he counted down the seconds for them.
Four minutes passed by too quickly. Everyone was in a panic as they desperately attempted to detect the radiation of the planted bomb. But there was nothing detected. Jackson exhaled deeply, he was beginning to feel calm with the idea that the Joker was only toying with their emotions.
The Joker counted down the seconds with a big smile on his face. "5...4...3...2..." he paused, his smile growing brighter as everyone that watched him held their breathes. The Joker burst out laughing as he screamed, "1!" He threw his hands up to the air the moment a bright blue circular blast lifted from one part of Gotham and destroyed it.
"Cathedral Square...he attacked the Cathedral Square...." someone whispered as the blast instantly showed up on their screens as an emergency.
They stood there, frozen for a moment as the impact of the blast made the area shake slightly. But they weren't close enough to feel any of the damage. There was a moment of silence between them and the Joker pulled the camera in front of him and beamed.
"I'm not done..." he chuckled, "I have planted five more bombs...across Gotham city, and I'll be detonating them one by one. You won't know when they'll go off...and you won't know where. Undetectable, aren't they?" he mocked and laughed as he glared into the camera, "Until next time." The broadcast ended and everyone in the conference room glanced at each other, unsure of their next move.
Hyuna palmed her mouth, "Five more bombs..." she shook her head as she gripped onto the seat in front of her.
They weren't sure of The Joker's plans with the hostages he had tied up, but whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
The room was uneasy.
Jackson turned to face her, "Your Task Force...what can they possibly do that my men can't?"
Hyuna stared at him, "We have the most dangerous people in the planet locked up...why not put them to good use? We've lost enough people, don't you think?" She smirked as she glanced at everyone in the room. They were all listening to her, "I know exactly how to control them." She looked at Jackson.
Jackson seemed unsure.
"If anything goes wrong—we blame them. We have built in deniability." Hyuna said.
Jackson hummed in thought and then he frowned as he said, "Who was The Joker's old partner...the one that was a psychiatrist-"
"Taehyung...Kim Taehyung." Hyuna answered.
"Would he be included in this Task Force?"
Hyuna held her breath as she thought about it for a second, and then she said, "He would be the most valuable person on the team. He has incredible skills that I've never seen before, but most importantly, he knows the most about The Joker. He was close enough to have the most information on him. I can get that information out of him."
Jackson glanced at everyone in the room and they all seemed to be thinking the same thing. He closed his eyes for a moment and said, "I assign who will oversee them..." He looked at Hyuna.
Hyuna nodded, "Of course."
Jackson nodded once, "Pull them from their cells."