The Universe's Mixer

Christine had been anticipating this day since he offered it. A day where the decisions were left to her. A day out of the manor. She had been kept inside their home continually and as much as she enjoyed spending every waking moment in his presence, or close to him, she knew they both needed to go outside more often. And if she wasn’t allowed to go out alone then it would have to be agreeable to him also. She already worried about her visits to the chapel given it became clear from her first visit that he disliked it. After all, he stayed outside the entire time rather than kneeling with her. But she would not push. She would never push.

She dressed appropriately for a day out, not wanting to wear the wrong footwear or a dress which would not be suitable, and eagerly waited on the moment they could leave. She honestly had thought in detail as to where they could go and her mind had immediately thought of a day by the ocean. But that, somehow, did not seem so grand a day given their home overlooked that particular beauty. So after some inquiries she settled on the Botanical Gardens which were said to be a marvel. Christine, like any woman, had a fondness for flowers and whilst an entire day may not be spent wandering there it would be a start.

Once she had dressed, she settled into one of the comfortable chairs she was happy to find in their room and simply looked out onto the waves she could see from the window. He would let her know when he was prepared to go. After all, he seemed busy working within the ledger she had gifted him and she loved and appreciated his music too much to interrupt him just yet. Though that may change if he, perhaps, takes a little too long.

Jesse stumbled upon the Joker in a way that he never expected. He knew that the man was still out and about, free in the world. It was a knowledge that bothered him. But as long as there were heroes out there, Jesse didn't feel like it was his place to step in. Of course, before tonight, he'd not crossed paths with the psychopath in any way. Not since they'd gotten Jake out of Arkham. It was like the City knew that he wouldn't be able to stop himself if he were to come across the bastard.

Years.

Jesse had been helping to fight Jack Napier for years. He had stood beside various members of the Batfamily and done whatever they needed him to do. He had played parts in more than one rescue. He had healed more than one wound caused by that psychopath. He had lost a lot because of him. Jesse was tired of worrying about the people he cared about. He was tired of seeing them get hurt because the City apparently couldn't see fit to be rid of the goddamned menace. He was angry that innocent people kept getting hurt and nothing ever happened to Jack. Nothing. He disappeared for a while and always resurfaced again. Always with some new plan. Always intent on doing more harm.

All of this flooded through Jesse as he discovered Joker coming out of Dinah's shop, a strange satisfied smile on his face. There was a truck nearby and Jesse watched Jack enter it and come out with a barrel. He didn't have a hand truck or anything to carry it, but was rolling it on it's edge toward the doors.

He couldn't not do something. He couldn't let whatever this was happen. Not at the risk of his friends. Jack was here to do harm. Why in Dinah's shop, he couldn't say. He had no idea what was in those barrels, but there seemed to be a lot of them. A quick look in the truck told him that much. He was going to act. He was going to interfere. He was going to use his powers in a way that he had said that he wouldn't. Jesse didn't know what the repercussions would be, but surely there would be something. Right now, he didn't care.

When Jack stepped back out to go back to the truck, Jesse made himself known.

"You ain't gonna do this, whatever it is."

Jack was actually, legitimately startled. He'd been so busy with his work that he hadn't been paying much attention to his surroundings. His giddiness at planting the Fear Toxin in Dinah's little shop was overwhelming. He was going to rig it so that as soon as she opened the door, they'd go off. He had all the stuff to do it, too. Dinah Lance, the downfall of the City and its citizens. The idea of it was too beautiful.

"I remember you." He moved forward, narrowing his eyes at the man and then smiling big. "You're Max's sweetie! Oh, look at you! Don't you look handsome. And what are you going to do, handsome? Punch me? Go ahead. I don't mind a little beating. Won't keep me down for long."

It was Jesse's turn to smile. His smile was no more nice than Jack's. His eyes were dark and determined. "Ain't gonna touch you, clown. But I'm gonna make sure that you don't get a chance to hurt no one."

"OOooh." Jack giggled. "I'm so afraid of you!"

Jack reached into the pocket of his vest, grasping onto something. In an almost graceful movement, he tossed it in Jesse's direction. "Here! Have an explodey!"

With that, Jesse let loose. It was like his anger flowed from him in waves. He wanted The Joker gone, but couldn't bring himself to kill the man. He wanted the Joker imprisoned, but didn't think that Arkham could hold him. He wanted the Joker unable to harm anyone for a long time, to be easily found, restricted and confined. All this intent went into what Jesse unleashed. He didn't think, just acted.

What he ended up with was a metal statue of a man who looked like he might be checking for rain. Hand out, foot back a bit. Big smile. Right in front of Dinah's shop. The thing that Jack had been tossing was no longer arching toward him. Jesse wasn't quite sure what he'd done with it, until he saw it laying on the ground. Oddly enough, it was a flower. Or at least, flower shaped. He moved toward it, looking. It was stuck in the sidewalk.

"Well. Shit." Dinah was not going to be pleased about this. Though, maybe she would be. He'd have to talk to her and see what she wanted him to do.

Jesse's next step was the barrels. He went into Dinah's shop to see what was in there. Jesse shook his head. Whatever these were, they couldn't be here anymore. They couldn't be anywhere in the City at all. With a wave of his hand, he willed them gone. Just gone. The ones in the shop, the ones in the truck, and even the truck. It was so much power to use. It was so much interfering. Jesse didn't feel bad for it, not exactly, but he knew he'd catch some kind of hell for it. The City had told him once already, long ago, to watch himself. Maybe, though, it wouldn't be quite so bad, given that he'd helped the City escape the Thomas body.

Jesse sighed and left the shop. He made sure Dinah's door was locked behind him. Then he headed back to his apartment with the intention of getting really fucking drunk.