The Last Laugh

My usual disclaimers: all copyrights go to those who rightfully own them.

After the successful intro to Marjorie Wilde in Never Leave Your Partner Behind, I'm going to do a sequel entry into Arkham City. And as I mentioned in the last chapter, this is going to be different. Ra's al Guhl and Talia won't be making an appearance in this one (as I mentioned, I thought Ra's being the mastermind was really cheap and Talia was completely out of character, I mean she lured Joker away when she knew just how dangerous he really was, so why didn't she kill him as soon as she had the cure in her hands?) If you're not comfortable with that idea, then don't say anything or read.

With all that said, enjoy and destroy!

Prologue: A Pacing Beast

The guard accompanying me pressed the intercom button outside the office door. It buzzed. TYGER Security guards were posted throughout the barren hallway, their hands silently resting near the triggers of their high-powered weapons. Normally, I wouldn't be inside the deep and dark TYGER complex, a foreboding fortress on the edge of the prison called Arkham City. But I was angry. I was very angry. Strange wasn't going to turn me away. I was going to give that creep a piece of my mind….

"Yes?" The creepy foreign accent responded amid the static. "I'm a very busy man so it must be important."

The guard cleared his throat. "Good afternoon, Dr. Strange. Marjorie Wayne is here. I tried to tell her that you were busy, sir, but…"

I snapped, helped in no small part by almost nine months worth of raging hormones. I pushed the guard aside and stood in front of the small speaker. "Strange, I won't be pushed around! You will hear me out and you'll hear me out now! Mark my words; I will break down the door if you don't let me in so I can give you a piece of my mind…!"

"There's no need to threaten violence, Mrs. Wayne." Strange's voice responded, cordial with a frightening edge to it. "Of course I'll see you. Come in."

The door buzzed, a sign it had been unlocked. The guard opened the door and let me inside. The room was small and windowless, lit by a fluorescent bulb. I swallowed my claustrophobia. The office was Spartan in décor. Wooden chairs around a desk, an old computer and sterile steel filing cabinets. Sitting at the computer was an average sized man, balding with a thick black beard. Big black glasses covered his eyes; I wondered how he could see out of them. He was wearing a white lab coat imprinted with the Arkham logo, a pair of black gloves gleamed on his hands. Everything about him reminded me of one of the mad scientists from those old movies.

"It's alright guard, I was expecting her. Leave us." I wasn't too surprised that he knew. Hugo Strange was the Big Brother figure of Arkham City. Nothing escaped his watch. Little wonder he scared the shit out of everyone in the super prison. The guard smartly nodded and closed the door behind him. At once I got nervous but was careful to hide it. I didn't want him to suspect that I felt like a fly caught in a spider's web. "Have a seat." Strange smiled, his big white teeth had a cold edge. "May I get you something to drink?"

"No thanks." I winced as I sat down in one of the wooden chairs. The area between my legs was sore, even though I took care to not show it.

"So, how may I help you?" Strange flexed his fingers, the rubber or leather gloves squeaked.

I cut to the chase. "I understand that you had the supplies to the Medical Facility cut off last week." My voice was edgy but I didn't care. "I want to know why."

"Oh yes, I did forget to warn them about that minor inconvenience."

His nonchalance irked me further. "Minor inconvenience?! You are aware that they're the only thing keeping some sense of humanity in this godforsaken hellhole…?!"

"You are very kindhearted, Mrs. Wayne, but please consider this. Outside this office are over ten thousand lawbreakers and degenerates. Why waste money and resources on such people?"

"You're not paying for it!" I tried to ignore the soreness between my legs. "Aren't you forgetting that my husband, Bruce, is kindly paying for everything at the Medical Facility out of his own pocket?! And he wants answers too!"

"Yes, yes, I'm aware of Mr. Wayne's involvement. But you see, Mrs. Wayne, I didn't want to intrude on his charity anymore. After all, these are criminals, worthless beings who've lost the privilege of being called human…"

To say that I was fed up is the understatement of the year. Standing up, I slammed my fist on the desk. Strange didn't flinch. "Goddamn it Strange! They're running out of food and medical supplies! They might be 'criminals', but they shouldn't fight for survival like starving animals! This will get out and you will be raked over the coals if you don't let in supplies!"

He didn't respond. I could see that this wasn't going anywhere. I stood up and prepared to storm out. As I put my hand on the doorknob, Strange interrupted. "How far along are you? About thirty-eight weeks? Hard to believe though, considering how small you look."

I felt my throat tighten. Strange was really starting to creep me out. "That's none of your goddamn business." I opened the door.

"I'm just saying…the last thing we need here at the prison is news of the future heir of the Wayne family being born prematurely inside the prison walls." I left quickly, not giving him an answer.

Bruce was waiting for Marjorie outside of Arkham City. Her face was as red as her coat, her long auburn hair flew behind her, exposing the tattoo on her neck. It didn't go well then. She opened the door and got inside before anyone. "Let's go." She said, upset. He drove away, Marjorie slumped against the window, he hand mindlessly resting upon the tiny baby bump. "God, he makes me so mad!" Marjorie groaned.

"What happened?" Bruce asked, driving towards home.

"He still refused to let in supplies. Said that they had given up the right to be human, or along those lines anyway." It hurt Bruce to see Marjorie so upset. She had been through quite a bit since being fired from Arkham. Her being unable to help her fellow comrades in Arkham City had really taken a toll on her. "Bruce, I'm going to be honest, I think this press conference idea has a snowball's chance in hell."

"Maybe, but Strange will definitely be paying attention." Bruce said. They were now out of the city limits. He could just see the rooftops of Wayne Manor in the distance, high above an ocean cliff. "I'm sorry it didn't work out, Marjorie."

"It's ok. Let's look forward to Sammie." Marjorie smiled as the gates leading to Wayne Manor opened. Bruce pulled into the garage "I swear we've got a future Olympic gold medalist on our hands."

"For what? Martial arts like me or running like your brother?" Bruce chuckled as he rested his hand on Marjorie's abdomen. There was a kick. "What was it, he set the fastest record for the state in track when he was just a freshman in high school?"

"And it still hasn't been broken. According to Mom, Sam took one step walking before starting to run." Marjorie laughed. "Maybe his namesake will win medals in both fields. Hopefully the little one has our brains too."

"With us as the parents? Sure as hell better be!" Bruce laughed as he kissed Marjorie. She smelled of her favorite citrus lotion.

We spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready before heading to the press conference. I finished getting dressed earlier and so waited in the nursery. As we decided to wait until the baby was born before discovering if it was a boy or girl, the nursery was decorated in soft greens and whites.

Tim had gotten some more diapers and the like, a late baby shower gift. "Where do you think this should go?" Tim Drake asked, holding up the box of diapers. "And don't tell me the changing table, because it's packed full of diapers, wipes and other changing things."

"The closet, top shelf, will do." I said from the white rocker, putting the final touches on blanket. Sammie was kicking away inside.

"I swear we've got enough diapers to soak up Niagara Falls." Bruce said, coming into the nursery, adjusting his tie for what must've been the umpteenth time.

"Don't count on it lasting, Master Wayne." Alfred remarked dryly, bringing up my tea. "You went through quite a few diapers in your day. When we could keep you in them when you were a toddler, that is."

I giggled as Bruce turned red. "That's quite the image, baby Bruce running around butt naked. We've got some pictures of that somewhere, don't we, Alfred?" I winked as Tim smirked. "Maybe I get a hold and take them out when I need blackmail material."

"Ok, very funny." Bruce mumbled. "Is that the tenth blanket you've worked on?"

"No it's not! It's the second." I said, folding it up and putting it on top of the dresser.

"Never thought I'd see you turn domestic." Bruce teased.

"It's not for long." I warned, struggling to get up. Even though the baby was smaller than expected, I still had trouble getting up. "After all, Leslie did order bed rest for me until the baby's born. You know me. I've got to keep my hands and mind busy some way or else I'll go insane."

"So that means you can knit a pair of socks faster than I can?" Bruce smiled as he helped me up.

"Until Sammie's born. Then I'll be back to busting your ass on the training mat."

"I'll hold you to that." Bruce winked. "You look great, by the way." I had chosen a long charcoal grey skirt and a loose silk blouse with comfortable black flats. Bruce's wedding present to me, a strand of pearls, rested around my neck. Matching earrings dangled from my ears. As I had grown out my hair, I had French braided it and then wrapped the now very long hair around my head. My memorial tattoo of St. Michael the Archangel showed, but I didn't care. It was my testament to my brother.

"So do you." I said, tying his tie for him. Bruce wrapped his arms around me and I wrapped mine over his shoulders. We stood in this embrace for a few moments. "What are you smiling about?" I asked.

"Nothing…just…how our lives could change so fast."

"I know. Are you nervous about being a dad still?"

"A little bit." I had a little bit of trouble believing him. It was a complete surprise when I got pregnant but we were so focused on Arkham City and the mysterious Hugo Strange that we really didn't have much time to talk about it. Now we were a month away from the due date and it was beginning to sink in.

"Hey, you wanna know what I think?" I said, gently pushing his chin upwards. "If we can handle mutant Joker monsters running lose in Arkham Asylum for one night, we can handle being parents."

"Thanks Marjorie." Bruce kissed me, a faint smile on his face. He rested his hand on my belly. Sammie kicked, getting Bruce to laugh. "Yep, definitely a kick boxer."

"Ready to go?" Marjorie squeezed Bruce's hand as Alfred dropped them off in front of Arkham City. Outside was like a zoo. Cameras were going off and questions were being fired.

"As ready as I can be." Bruce smiled, adjusting the A pin Marjorie had attached to his lapel. Holding hands, they strolled behind the smartly dressed Vicki Vale as she began her coverage of the press conference.

"This is Vicki Vale, reporting live from Arkham City, the controversial super prison built right here in the heart of Gotham. In a few moments, Bruce Wayne will be live on stage to explain his sudden interest in Gotham politics. The infamous playboy millionaire has never been one to…"

"It's married billionaire, Vicki. Playboy millionaires are so last year." Bruce winked at Vicki as he escorted Marjorie onto the stage. Camera blubs flashed and reporters began shouting out questions. Bruce took his place at the podium, Marjorie by his side as she always had been. She squeezed his hand and smiled at him.

Showtime. Bruce smiled and began the speech he and Marjorie had prepared. "Thank you! Thank you Gotham! Imprisoned behind these walls, gang leaders are fighting a bloody war in the middle of our once great city! Every inmate from Arkham Asylum and Blackgate Prison has been relocated to this facility. How can this be safe for the people of Gotham?"

Marjorie's grip tightened. He could see her dark brown eyes nervously glancing off to the side. A black truck with the striped TYGER logo was moving closer. Instinct, honed by years of working as a vigilante kicked in. Something was wrong. "Starting today, Marjorie and I are starting the campaign to close down Arkham City and make Gotham safe again!"

BANG! A flash grenade blew at the foot of the stage. Thick choking smoke began flooding the stage. Reporters ran amuck, screaming. Bruce pulled Marjorie close. Two TYGER guards rushed them, holding up their high-powered weapons. "Hands in the air Wayne!"

They held up their hands. "Hey! Let me go, you bastard!" Marjorie screamed as one of the guards grabbed her from behind.

"Marjorie! Let her go!" Bruce yelled and began trying to pull her back. Before Bruce could get the guard to release her, there was a hard crack on the back of his head.

"Bruce!" I screamed as he fell to his knees, having been pistol whipped from behind. He didn't get up. No…no…"You're going to pay for this, you S.O.B!" I hollered as the guard dragged me kicking and screaming off the stage and into the van.

Somebody shoved my head down to the floor. I tried to fight back but something stabbed me in the back of the neck. My screams were muffled as something was injected into me. My limbs felt like rubber and I could only watch. "Go! Go! Go! Go!" I heard somebody yell outside and slam his hand on the side. The van lurched and we began driving at a madcap pace. I tried to keep track of where we were going, but we turned so many times that I eventually lost pace.

Slowly, I began feeling myself becoming very sleepy. "The medicine has taken effect. Prepare the hook." Somebody called out. No…not my baby. Finally, I lost consciousness.

The last thing I remembered feeling was Sammie kicking my abdomen.

An electric shock pulsed through Bruce. It hurt like hell. "Ahh!" He screamed, throwing his head back. A white light blinded him. What was going on…?

"Wake up, Mr. Wayne." He could hear Hugo Strange pacing around him. "We have much to discuss."

"Strange? You won't get away with this!" Bruce growled, trying to get to his feet, but he had been restrained by hand and leg cuffs.

"I already have." Another electric shock. Bruce screamed again. "I assume that you thought you thought yourself untouchable. Well, as you can see, no one is untouchable."

Blurry memories came back to Bruce. He and Marjorie were hosting a press conference outside Arkham City. Marjorie pointing out the van. The smoke. Her screaming and being dragged away. The baby… "Where is Marjorie?!"

"There's no need to fear. Your wife is in good hands…for now…" Another electric shock.

No more… "Shut Arkham City down! It's out of control!"

"Shut it down?" Bruce could just make out Strange's face in the bright light. "By the end of tonight, I will be a hero. Just like you…Batman…" Strange smiled.

A/N: I've been a little disappointed in the lack of reviews I've been getting. So I've decided to change it up. I won't post up the next chapter until I have at least 10 reviews. And they can't be short reviews like "nice" or "update soon." Here's what I'm looking for: one thing that you liked and an opinion for the next chapter or something that needs fixing. Constructive criticism is very much appreciated, please and thank you.

Call me vain, but I don't want to spend all my time writing something that people aren't going to read.