The Clown Prince's Parable

The Joker gloats over a defeated Batman

Well, well, well good evening to you,

The Dark Knight himself, The Batman.

Mister Bruce Wayne.

We really have to stop meeting like this,

All bloodied and bashed to a pulp.

The only difference is this time it’s you who’s lying face down like a beaten dog.

Oh, but you’re not beaten yet, are you?

I can see it in your eyes, such hate, menace even.

Disdain for all the evil in the world, the evil that broke your body, that twisted your mind

That killed your parents.

But you can’t blame me for all that, no, not when it’s you who won’t see what we really are.

We’re not so different, you and I.

Both scorned, mocked, hated by the ‘civilized’ people of this city.

Both of us broken, tired men, hiding behind masks.

Both of us scarred, torn beyond repair. 

All our scars put there by our parents.

But, your scars are all on the inside, hidden and locked away beneath that suit of armour. 

Mine, well, I see them every time I look in the mirror. 

Do you wanna know how I got ‘em? 

When I was a child, I was somewhat of a, joke, to my parents. 

Never really taken, seriously. 

My father, quite the joker he was.

His wit was, sharp as a knife.

And his jokes cut quite deep. 

So one day, I have an idea which splits the red grin he left on my face all the wider. 

My father stumbled from the wreck of our burning house, the orange glow lighting up the night sky,

Mother was in his arms burnt beyond recognition. 

I walked towards him, a knife in my hand, and a chuckle on my lips. 

He looked up at me and the wild light in his eyes was quickly extinguished by the look in mine. 

I grabbed him by the collar, dragged his face to mine, and whispered his three favourite words. 

Why so serious?

And with that, my dear Dark Knight, I became the thing which stands before you today.

The thing that even with all your gadgets, all your strength,

All your ‘morality’,

Still fail to see.

I became the closest thing to family you will ever have.

For without me, there can be no you.

You complete me.

Good cannot exist without evil.

Madness cannot exist without sanity.

The only thing left to do,

Is figure out who is really ‘good’, who is really sane?

You see, I’m not insane, I’m just, ahead of the curve.

Gotham, now that’s the mad house.

The good, innocent people’s ‘loyalty’ will last as long as a hungry dog’s when the chips are down.

Then, they’ll eat each other.

And when that happens,

You will be left to cower in the shadows once more,

And that’s no joke.