Never Cross The Joker

— Esther Ferreira

A/N: CHILDREN! MAMAS BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH THE UPDATES! SO SORRY ITS BEEN A MINUTE SINCE I UPDATED THIS BUT IVE BEEN BUSY LATELY. YALL ARE GONNA BE A LITTLE CONFUSED WHEN YOU READ THIS CHAPTER AT FIRST BUT JUST KEEP GOING IT WILL MAKE SENSE BY THE END. ALSO, I HAVE A NOTE AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER FOR YALL. I LOVE YALL, ENJOY. (Ps- the italicized part at the beginning is a flashback)

Amanda Waller stared at the people she was eating with before she continued, "It's taken some work but I've finally got them, the worst of the worst."

She pulls the binder onto the table and sits victoriously, her guests a little bewildered.

"There's rumors, Amanda, that some of them have abilities.." one of the men comment, cutting his steak.

"All the rumors are right. You know what the problem with a meta human is? The human part. We got lucky with superman, he shared our values." She cuts into her own steak. "The next superman may not."

"You're playing with Fire, Amanda." The other man tells her seriously.

"I'm fighting fire with Fire," she sips her wine.

"You're not gonna pitch us that 'Task Force X' project of yours, again, are you?"

"Yes, but this time, you're gonna listen." She flips open the binder to Deadshot's page. "Floyd Lawton, aka, Deadshot. He's the most wanted hit man in the world. Let's say he has an elite clientele. But everyone has a weakness. And a weakness can be leveraged. His is an 11 year old honor student in Gotham City; his daughter. So we watched her and waited."

"And you caught him?" One of the men asks.

"Not me." She replies. "I just gave an anonymous tip to the right guy in Gotham city. So now we have the man who never misses."

"Where'd you put him?"

"Let's just say I put him in a hole and threw away the hole." She responds flatly, turning the page. A blonde woman stares back then and she sighs. "Harley Quinn. Before she ran off and joined the circus, she was known as Doctor Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum. She was assigned to the Clown himself. She thought she was curing him, but she was falling in love. He had her wrapped around his finger like string; he even had her little sister fooled. Talk about a work place romance gone wrong. It all went according to his plan, though. And after screwing around with her physically and mentally, he had her where he wanted her. They became the king and queen of Gotham City. And god help anyone who disrespected the queen." She takes a bite of steak. "And that was just the beginning. She's crazier than him. And more fearless. The bat got her too. And now she's in the same hole as Deadshot." She explains, flipping the next page. "And then there's the Aussie. Digger Harkness. Or as the tabloids like to call him, 'Captain Boomerang'. He robbed every bank in Australia at least once, then he came to America for a fresh target set. He doesn't work well with others. But, he tangled with a meta human and lived to tell about it." The next page was flipped and El Diablos face met theirs. "And have you heard of the pyrokinetic home boy?"

"How'd you catch him?" One of the men asked.

"We didn't, he surrendered. Chacto Santana. On the streets they call him El Diablo. This L.A. Gangbanger thought he was king of the world, until he lost his queen. Get's jumped in a prison riot and incinerates half the yard. The security video is incredible." She shakes her head a little, flipping to the next page. The men catch a glance at the next page and are astounded.

"Oh, Jesus. What the hell is that?" One of them ask.

"His name is Waylon Jones. Evolution took a step back with this one. They call him Killer Croc. He looked like a monster, so they treated him like a monster. And he became a monster." She takes another bite of steak. "Chased out of Gotham by the bat, so he searched for sanctuary else where. He never found it." She turns one of the last tabs.

"Finally someone who looks normal." One of them says aloud and Amanda shakes her head.

"Oh, looks are quite deceiving in this case. She's really fun to look at, but she's a forest fire when she wants to be. This is one of Joker's people: Esther Ferreira, the birth mother of Harleen Quinzel's little sister and one of closest things Joker has to a Friend."

"Never heard of her." The second man states and she raises a brow.

"No one has. She's a ghost of the under world, only coming to Gotham when she's needed. She was taught everything there is to know about meditation, combat, and mind games, at a very young age . . . She's incredibly skilled. She comes and goes when she pleases and she's not good with the answer 'no'. She's not too mean, but not too sweet either. She was caught while taking care of her grandson and her nephews and nieces—the same night Harley was taken in."

"She looks pretty harmless,"

"She is until you threaten any of the few people she cares about." She leans forward. "And I saved the best for last. The Witch."

"What Witch?"

"I'm talking flying, spell casting, making shit disappear, witch. A sorceress from another dimension, another world. Archeologist Dr. June Moone, wandered into the wrong cave. She opened something she shouldn't have. Releasing a meta human more powerful than anything we've encountered. The Enchantress. She inhabits Dr. Moones body now."

"Alright, where is this witch?" The first man asks.

"In my pocket." Amanda says half kidding. "Some say the witch has a buried secret heart. And whoever has it can control the witch. So we searched the cave she was in and found it." She places the case on the table, and they look at it.

"That thing's her heart?" The second one asks with raised brows.

"Mhmm. She's vulnerable without it." She assures him.

"You wanna put our national security in the hands of witches, gangbangers and crocodiles?" He asks next.

"Don't forget about the Joker's girlfriend and their baby sitter." The first one adds.

"These are villains, Amanda. What makes you think you can control them?"

"Because getting people to act against their own self interest for the safety of the United States is what I do for a living." She tells them. "You take the finest special forces officer this nation's ever produced, Colonel Rick Flag. I assigned him to watch Dr. Moone and just as I hoped, it got personal. I have the witches heart. And Dr. Moone has his. Now he'll follow my orders."

They all glance at each other as she finishes, "In a world of flying men and monsters this is the only way to protect our country."

A heavy rain settled on the city of Gotham as Normani DeLuka rushed from her Mercedes to the door of her high-rise apartment building in uptown Gotham, after a long day of work at the Department of Human Resources.

Once she got to her penthouse, she started undressing to bathe.

Pouring a glass of her 150 year old wine, and lighting her crystal glassed candles, she poured her bubble bath into the hot tap water.

It foamed and bubbled as she put her hair up and got into the water after turning on some music.

She slid further into the water as she relaxed, watching the bubbles glide over her skin, and let out a deep breath, closing her eyes.

Every nerve in her body released its tension and every muscle went limp as the water stilled.

She breathed in water the second her head was shoved under the cast of the foam. Her arms flinging and legs kicking as her hands tried to grasp anything to pull herself up.

They continued to hold her under until she stopped struggling and gave out from exhaustion.

They snatched her up from the water by her underarms and she coughed and hacked up water as tears rolled down her cheeks.

They continued to hold her, their hand on her throat in a threatening grasp as her back pressed against their abdomen. She opened her eyes, came face to face with The Joker, and started sobbing.

"Mani!" He piped enthusiastically and she felt her pulse pick up. "I need a favor." His tone shifts to something serious and she tensed up immensely.

H•A•R•L•E•Y

"Esther complied." I overhear the woman hiss to the soldier as I was ushered back to my confined area after a bathroom break.

"Complied to what?" I pipe curiously and they both snap their attention towards me.

"Alpha get her to her cell," The man ordered Griggs and I growl.

"I asked a question." I repeat poisonously.

"And I can either answer it or ignore you. I'm choosing the latter." He barked back.

"You have no clue who I am or you wouldn't be speaking to me that way." I bare my teeth like a rabid dog.

"I know you ain't shit without your master here to tell you what to do." He crosses his arms and I grind my teeth together.

"You're gonna eat those words when I get outta here." I promise and he raises a brow.

"I look forward to it, Doctor." He snaps back and I feel anger boil through me. "Griggs, get this lunatic out my sight." He orders and I'm hauled back to my bird cage.

Griggs is about to walk out but I stop him.

"Pst," I keep a hold on the steel bars and he raises his brows. "We're friends, right?" I smile sweetly and he steps closer.

"Already told you, you ain't got any friends, Sweetheart."

"I do. They're just not here." I tell him and he rolls his jaw. "Me and you are friends, at least." I add.

"Outta the many times you tried to kill me?"

"That's how I show my affection!" I state enthusiastically. "Sheesh, don't take everything so seriously." I shake my head a little.

"You've already gotten me in enough trouble trying to be friends." He points out.

"We had fun and you know it."

"No, you had fun gettin' in my head and then sickin' the god damn Joker on me when you were tired of me."

"I flirted with you for free drinks at the casino." I narrow my eyes. "Stop actin' like we had a damn relationship." I roll my eyes.

"And that's why we ain't friends." He grins and walks off, slamming the main door of the room.

I'm left alone to my own thoughts and I nervously pace, biting my lip.

J was coming to get me, wasn't he? He had to planning on it. Unless he was getting the kids first.

I battled with myself. I couldn't decide if I wanted out first, or if I wanted them out first. I'm selfish when it comes to him, I know that much.

He wouldn't leave me in here to rot for too long.

When I think I'm alone. I hear steps on the balcony that over looks me. I look up to see the woman Flag was talking to earlier.

I look up at her as she comes closer over me.

"Are you the Devil?" I ask her gently, a little bewildered at the fact she seemed meaner than anyone I've come into contact with. Aside from J.

"Maybe." She says seriously at first. "I was going to ask you the same thing." She replies lowly and I close my mouth. "My name's Amanda Waller, I have a proposition for you."

"First tell me what Esther complied to." I demand and she stares at me.

"We'll get to that in a moment."

"I'm not a patient woman, Miss Waller." I warn.

"From what I've heard about you, you're merely a woman." She raises a brow. "An animal is more of a fitting term."

"Don't come in here and throw around your big talk like you know me."

"I know you and your sister both run with the same crowd. She just got caught in the undertow while you tend to escape any trouble you get into." She snaps. "I know you grew up in a religious home with a father who committed crimes under the table and a mother who despised and criticized everything you did. You played piano in church, and had a 4.0 GPA throughout high school and had a little help from some of your professors to maintain it in college. I know you took on The Joker as a patient for your own gain and it backfired immensely. I know you weren't sleeping with him for a good year before he finally convinced you to break him out and I know he screwed you over and tried to leave to begin with but eventually stayed. I know he's the father of your five children and the murderer of your sister." I stay quiet as she smiles a little. "Now, did I miss anything?"

"What did Esther Comply to?" I repeat the question angrily and she gives another mischievous smile.

J•O•K•E•R

I look around the penthouse, pursing my lips.

"Looks like it was worth my damn money. God knows I spent enough on it." I comment and Normani looked up at me from her place on the couch, her silk robe around her tightly.

"A simple knock on the door would've sufficed." She tells me hoarsely. "Drowning me wasn't necessary."

"Eh, I haven't beat the hell outta ya in a while. I figured why not?"

"Why're you here?" She asks weakly and I grin widely.

"Six children were previously taken away from a couple. The mother was sent to god knows where, and the father left with no traces. They were in their aunts/grandmothers care when they were taken by your unit." I speak dangerously.

She knows exactly who I'm talking about and she tenses, tears pouring to her eyes.

"I don't have authority over what happens to them once they're taken to a foster home." She tells me shakily.

"We both know what you're hiding, dear." I raise my brows. "You should know after all these years, it's not okay to lie to me."

"I can't give them to you, J. I could lose my jo—" I cut her off with a back hand and she yelps, holding her stinging cheek.

"Mani, baby, listen to me," I crouch to her level, cupping her other cheek. "Our relationship was so toxic and wonderful. I know you remember my temper tantrums." She nods slowly as my thumb sweeps her tears away. "Do you really want to see me pitch a temper tantrum?" Her eyes widen in fear and she shakes her head. "Then I suggest you get my kids and my nephew back to me." I grasp her throat tightly, making her gasp for air. "Or I will make sure you for this time." I let her go and she coughs and takes deep breaths.

Normani and I had a very entertaining relationship at one point – if you'd even call it that.

Right after I had killed Rebekah, I started Messing around with Mani when I met her in down town.

It was strictly physical, for me at least. She somehow managed to keep me from being arrested while I supplied her with things she'd enjoy.

Her penthouse, her car, all the designer cloths she wanted. Only the best for her.

Eventually she got clingy and I got bored. We didn't leave on a bad note, she only had some bruises and a scarred ego.

I let her keep the car and penthouse for favors every now and then – non sexual favors.

But I haven't physically seen her in years.

She looked good, not gonna lie.

She was of Pilipino and Puerto Rican descent, incredibly beautiful. But too damned clingy and whiny for me.

She held her throat tenderly, trying to calm down.

I look at Johnny and he takes the butt of his gun and knocks her out cold.

"We gotta get them back and go get Harley." I tell him and he nods.

"Right behind ya, Boss." He picks Normani up and Roscoe leads us out.

E•S•T•H•E•R

"I don't trust you," I speak to Amanda roughly as she stands on the other side of my cell.

"I don't need your trust. Just your cooperation." She shakes her head.

"I don't cooperate with people I don't trust." I spit back and she raises a brow.

"You've worked fine with The Joker even after he murdered your daughter."

"Don't bring my daughter into this." I hiss.

"How about your grandson? You want him back, don't you?" She asks calmly. "You do this for me, and you'll have him back."

"Your words mean nothing to me. Not until I know for certain you aren't screwing me over."

"You doing what I say isn't for my benefit. It's for your own. You mean nothing to me, but you do mean something to other people. If I were you, I'd jump to the first opportunity to get time off my sentence so I could get out quicker for the people that need me present in their lives. You are your grandson's only hope of not turning out like his aunt and uncle." She finishes and I lick my lips.

"I agreed to this before I knew you wanted me to risk my life for people who don't deserve it."

"You'll be saving people. That's all you've wanted out of this up until this point. What's changed?"

"We are an awful race of beings, us humans. I figure we'll destroy ourselves soon enough despite how many people try to stop it. So what's the point of exerting unnecessary energy?" I ask her and she rolls her jaw.

"Time off your sentence. An opportunity to actually raise your grandson the way you deem fit. That's why." She makes her point and I sigh.

"Fine." I mumble. "But if you even think of screwing me over, I will make sure you pay for it—miserably." I promise her, and she smirks.

You guys it's been so long oh my lanta:( I've missed y'all so much! So sorry I've been absent lately both story wise and on Tumblr. I'm going out of the country soon (as in Saturday) and I've been preparing for that and trying to get packed and mentally ready for a whole other culture and new place so it's been really busy but thank you for being so patient. I've recently been messaged on Tumblr, and I just had to express my appreciation of it. The user asked me to keep them anonymous but they know who they are.

As you guys know, I've never strayed away from using derogatory terms for my black characters or double standards for women and other things other authors choose not to include (WHICH IS OKAY, if they don't want to that's perfectly okay) in their stories because it can get really controversial. But recently this incredibly sweet and gracious individual messaged me:

"I've been wanting to write this for a while but I've always been a little intimidated and even embarrassed until lately. I've gone over and read all of your stories over and over and I love them. Not just because I have a love for the characters, but also for the content. I was incredibly startled when I read Roscoe's backstory. First of all, I could relate to it but secondly because you put the N-word with no regard. I wasn't offended by this, obviously the characters were strongly against the use of the racial slur. But I've never read a story like that. Authors tend to tip toe around controversial topics and tend to want to leave out the harsh reality many of us face because we read books to escape it. I can understand if this didn't sit well with others because of that fact, but I was actually very appreciative that you didn't leave it out. It felt almost refreshing to read a story where everyone didn't have a problem with another's gender or race because regardless of it being a fictional story, it contains real world elements. Including not everyone being treated equally because of their skin. I'm black and I'm currently married to a man who's the same race as me, but I have dated out of my race before and I can heavily relate to Angela and Roscoe because me and a person I was dating at one point were put through hell and back simply because I was black and he wasn't. So, thank you for acknowledging this problem in your writing. And thank you for having so many variations of races and ethnicities throughout your stories as well. It's awesome to see a majority of the characters aren't white washed. PS–thank you for showing us dark-skinned girls some love!"

I fucking cried when I read this.

Guys, I was born and raised in South Alabama. I've never been discriminated against because of my skin color and I thank God everyday that's something I don't have to worry about. But I've been to a church where the pastor was fired for allowing the church vans to pick up black kids for Sunday school and Wednesday night services. I've been called a "n***r lover" for having black friends and I have seen so many people I went to school with be completely disowned for dating someone who wasn't their skin color. Not just black people, I've seen some awful shit go on with a other races as well. I'm very fortunate to have parents that didn't give a fuck about skin color but only cared for attitude and good hearts. And the pain that witnessing all of this, and more, has caused me isn't even a fraction of what it's caused the ones it targeted to feel. But one thing I do know, any of you that have been victims of racism, y'all are tough as shit. And I can't imagine how hard it is and degrading as a human being to be addressed as some of the things people come up with, but I love you and admire how tough y'all are. Because y'all continue to be yourselves and embrace who you are. And if you've ever felt remorse and regret for being who you are, please don't. It doesn't matter what race you are, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, you are worth everything. And don't let ANYONE tell you differently. I love you with all my heart and soul and you are worth more than you'll ever know.

(And before some of y'all hit me up with that "it's not just whites that can be racist other races are racist too", I understand this, and I'm not just narrowing it down to only white people are racist. But I will say out of all the races I've been around, my own race has been the major one to put down other races...so...)

I LOVE YALL AND THANK YOU FOR READING MY CHAPTER:) I've missed y'all so, so much and will forever be grateful for your support.