The Joker opened the refrigerator, finding only crumbs inside. He and his henchmen were starving. It had been a long time since they had stolen any money to buy food. The complaints of his hungry assistants were starting to get on his nerves. One member of his gang was Dolly – a beautiful blond bombshell who loved living a life of crime. She lived for The Joker and would gladly follow him anywhere. However, even she was starting to get bummed out by the lack of food.

"Hey Jokey, I think we need help," she told him.

"One more day!" Joker blurted out, holding up a single finger. "We'll have to wait just one more day and then you'll be able to stuff that pretty face of yours all you want!"

"I hope so. If I have to wait much longer, you may end up with an anorexic victim on your hands.

"Aww…Dolly," Joker cooed sadly, putting a comforting arm around the young woman.

"I trust you, baby. Honest I do. I just get so cranky when I'm hungry."

Joker pulled her closer and sniffed her hair. "Mmm…what yummy-smelling shampoo you use. What's it called?"

"It's called 'Apples and Lavender'. And no, Joker. You can't eat it."

"Drats…" he huffed.

"Oh, I just thought of something," Dolly said, placing a manicured finger to her chin. "The Penguin is in town. Maybe he'll know what to do."

"That waddling pipsqueak?" scoffed Joker. "What does he know?"

"He knows every trick in the book when it comes to umbrellas!"

The Joker was still skeptical. Sure, he had worked with The Penguin before but the pair didn't always see things eye to eye.

"I'm gonna give him a call and tell him to come. That okay with you, babe?" Dolly asked.

"Eh, whatever."

"You don't have to call him because he's already here," said one of the male henchmen.

"Since when?" Joker asked.

"Since now. And no, Joker! You can't eat me either," Penguin said, as he waddled into the room and took a drag of his cigarette.

"Hi, Pengy!" Dolly cooed.

"Hi, Pengy!" Joker said, mimicking her.

The Penguin grumbled something under his breath and gazed at the different people in the room. He was having money issues as well and that was why he had come to see Joker. Perhaps the two of them could figure something out.

"Clearly, we need to swipe some cash from somebody. The question is, how can we do this without getting caught?" Joker wondered.

"I'm so glad you're here, Penguin," Dolly said, excitedly. "I wouldn't want you to miss out! We're going to do things!"

"Is that so? Well, goody. I like to do things," Penguin said, smirking at the female henchman.

"How are you going to steal money without getting caught, boss?" asked a male thug.

"We need to go someplace where there are lots of people," Joker explained, pacing back and forth across the floor.

Dolly picked up a newspaper and pointed to a column. "Look, Jokey…this says there is going to be a big wedding tonight. Lots of people will be there, including millionaire Bruce Wayne! We could steal enough money to buy our own restaurant!"

"Good thinking, my little plum. But first I have to figure out a way to distract everyone so we can get away with it."

"Got any ideas, babe?"

The Joker reached up to scratch his green hair as he thought. "Hmm...I'll need some time to figure that out."

The Penguin snarled at him. "Well, do hurry up! My stomach is growling so loud I can barely hear myself think!"

"You don't have to think, Pengy! It is I who must think."

"But my stomach…"

"Then tell your stomach to shut up!"

"Who are you telling to shut up!?"

Dolly jumped between the two villains before they could start fighting.

"Cut it out, you two!" she said, using her hands to push the men apart. "This isn't helping us with our problem. Joker, you have to think of a way to distract those people long enough for us to take their valuables."

"I know that, Dolly! Will you get off my back?" he shouted.

"Listen, I'm calling a timeout. We all need some time to think," a male thug announced.

The villains reluctantly obliged to this suggestion, sitting down on their behinds to concentrate. The Joker thought and thought and thought. Suddenly, he got a great idea.

"I've got it!" Joker said, jumping to his feet. "Oh my, it's the best idea I've ever had…the most sneaky, devious, delicious…"

"Well, for goodness' sake! Tell me what it is!" Penguin ordered, as he adjusted his top hat and chomped his cigarette holder.

The Joker grinned wickedly. "I could tell you…but I think it would be more fun to show you."

"So show me already!" Penguin barked, becoming impatient.

The Joker laughed and ran into his room. "Everyone come in here quickly!" he called, motioning with his hand.

The Penguin, Dolly, and the goons followed Joker into the bedroom to see what his plan was. Then Joker reached under the bed and took out some rope, grinning devilishly at Penguin.

"Get over here, Pengy," he said, "Lie down on the bed and stretch out your hands and feet."

The Penguin raised an eyebrow, becoming suspicious. "What for?" he asked.

"I'm going to show you my idea," replied Joker, smiling impishly.

"Alright, but hurry up! I've haven't got all day." With that, The Penguin did as he was told. He lay down on the bed and allowed Joker to tie his wrists and ankles to the bed posts.

"There," said Joker, stepping back to admire his work. "Can you move?"

The Penguin tried to move his arms and legs but it was no use. He couldn't move an inch. The ropes were so thick that they could only be cut with a knife. "Not at all," he replied, slightly nervous.

The Joker laughed with excitement and rubbed his hands together. He walked over to the helpless Penguin and stood over his midsection. Then Joker ripped open Penguin's clothes, exposing his bare stomach.

"Oh, I can see where this is going," Dolly giggled.

"Wait a minute!" Penguin shouted, "What have I gotten myself into!?"

The Joker ignored that question and continued with his work. He dipped his index finger into Penguin's bellybutton and wiggled it around.

The Penguin burst into hysterical laughter. The cigarette holder fell out of his mouth and fell to the floor. His eyes filled with tears within seconds and his cheeks grew flushed. He begged for Joker to stop but he was shown no mercy.

The Joker's henchmen found this terribly hilarious. Dolly thought it was adorable but she couldn't help wincing. The Joker had tickled her on multiple occasions so she knew what an expert he was. She liked getting attention from Joker but one time she wet herself from laughing. She was totally aware of how much Joker loved to torment people by tickling them senseless. Most of the time, he would show little or no mercy. He was, after all, the clown prince of crime.

The Joker grabbed a feather and began drilling it into Penguin's bellybutton. The poor sap could barely breathe because he was laughing so hard. How he hated himself for being suckered into this predicament.

"AAAAAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! WAUGHWAUGHWAUGHWAUGH! NOOO STOOOOP! PLEASE! WAUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! JOKER, I'LL KILL YOU!" Penguin screamed, tears pouring down his cheeks.

The Joker laughed right along with him, too cruel to show any compassion. "Coochie coochie coo, Pengy! Tickle tickle tickle! Oooh…somebody is a ticklish little birdie! Yes, he is!"

"Give him the raspberry, Joker!" said a henchman.

"Good idea!" Joker said, leaning down to perform the devilish action.

"Oh, baby, do you think he can survive that?" asked Dolly.

"We'll soon find out!" Joker laughed.

Then he blew a big, loud, wet raspberry on Penguin's tummy.

"AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! PLEASE STOP THAT! IT TICKLES! WAUGHWAUGHWAUGHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

By the time Joker was finished blowing raspberries, Penguin's poor tummy was bright red and glistening with saliva.

"I…I swear…I will m-murder you!" Penguin threatened, gasping for air.

"Save your breath, I'm not finished yet," Joker replied, moving over to his victim's restrained feet. "Tell me, Pengy…how ticklish are these tootsies?"

"Stay away from my feet, you lipstick-wearing goon-face!" shouted Penguin.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. No need for name-calling," Joker said, with a playful wag of his finger. He then removed Penguin's shoes and socks, revealing his smooth bare feet.

"Wow, those feet sure look ticklish!" giggled Dolly.

"Joker, I'm warning you!" Penguin curled up his toes and tried to prepare himself for the inevitable foot tickling.

The Joker grinned evilly and began scribbling his fingers all over Penguin's naked soles, starting at his heels and going all the way up to his toes.

The Penguin exploded with shrieking laughter. His face turned crimson and tears formed rivers down his cheeks. His hair was drenched in sweat.

"WAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! PLEASE PLEEEEEASE! I CAN'T STAND IT! NOOO NOT THE ARCHES! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHA!" Penguin wailed, as he thrashed and struggled fruitlessly in his bonds.

After a while, Joker decided to switch places again and moved up to Penguin's head. The restrained villain didn't have much time to catch his breath before Joker began tickling his neck. The Penguin squealed like a toddler and scrunched up his shoulders, trying to protect his neck. However, Joker's fingers still snuck in and tickled this spot relentlessly.

"OOOOHHH PLEASE JOKER! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! I-I NEED A BREAK! WAAAAAUGH! STOP TICKLING MEEEEE!"

The Joker ignored his pleas for relief and kept on tickling. He tickled Penguin's neck for several minutes before moving back to tickle his feet again.

"He's having trouble breathing, Joker," said Dolly, growing concerned. "Maybe you should let him rest for a bit, okay babe?"

"Aww, but I was having fun!" Joker grumbled, folding his arms across his chest.

Dolly came over and wrapped her arms around Joker. "Don't worry, babe. You'll have a chance to tickle LOTS of people when we get to the wedding!"

The Joker giggled and clapped his hands. "Oh, that will be so much fun! Perhaps Batman will be there! I can't wait to get my hands on him!"

"Do you think Batman is ticklish, boss?" asked a henchman.

"I don't know…but I'd love to find out! Who's with me?"

Everyone cheered in enthusiastic response, except for poor Penguin who was still tied up and gasping for air.

The Joker looked at Dolly and pointed to The Penguin. "My dear, untie that pathetic creature."

As soon as he was freed, Penguin took his umbrella and conked Joker over the head. Joker's eyes rolled back in his head as he fell to the ground with a splat. The Penguin glared down at him, aiming his umbrella for another blow.

"That will teach you to torture and humiliate me with tickles!" said Penguin, angrily.

"Be a good sport, Pengy dear!" said Dolly, running to hold his hand. "Just think of how great it will be tonight at the wedding!"

"It will probably be the only wedding in Gotham history to have its very own Tickle Monster," chuckled one of the henchmen.

The Joker laughed like a maniac as he thought about what was going to happen in the near future.

~ More chapters to come! Thanks for reading and be sure to comment. ~