Joker's Interrogation

### **The following story is a sequence of the famous "Joker Interrogation" scene in *The Dark Knight* film, which will occur in the Legend of Reylea series. While this specific instance is intended to be canon to the Shaniverse, it was written before the Reylea series was retconned, thus meaning things could change later on. Nevertheless, this is a potential spoiler for those who wish to avoid it.**

Lin walks up to the table in the metal interrogation room where the Joker was locked down with handcuffs on his wrists. She sits down in her chair and remains silent for a short while, giving Joker a hard glare, while he merely gazes at her with a disinterested expression, seemingly unimpressed about something.

“Senator Shuno never made it home,” she finally says.

“Of course not,” Joker replies casually.

“What have you done with him?” she demands.

“Me? I was right here,” he replies incredulously, gesturing to his handcuffs. “Who did you leave him with? Your people? Assuming, of course, that they are still your people, and not Zhen’s…”

Lin keeps staring forwards, her frown deepening as she takes in the information. The fact that some of her own officers may actually be criminals is a frightening realization of just how corrupt the system is, something that is absolutely infuriating to her. The Joker grins at her, seeing the reaction in her eyes.

“Does it depress you, Chief Beifong, to know… just how alone you really are?” he taunts her. “Does it make you feel responsible for Senator Shuno’s current predicament?”

“Where is he?” she asks again.

“What’s the time?” he asks.

“I fail to see how that's relevant,” she scowls at him. "Answer my question first."

“Well, I'm gonna need to know the time first," he replies raising an eyebrow at her. "Depending on the time, the honorable politician may be in one spot or several."

Lin continues to stare at him, her frustration growing. Outside, Tenzin and the rest of Team Avatar watch through the thick glass, the sound filtering through the speakers.

“This guy just won’t take the hint,” Mako huffs.

“He’s insane,” Asami scoffs, crossing her arms.

“No kidding. He freaks me out with that paint!” Bolin admits in agreement.

“Maybe Korra can actually get something out of him,” Luon says hopefully.

“I’m not so sure this is a good idea,” Tenzin murmurs doubtfully.

“Come on, have a little faith,” he replies.

Back inside the interrogation room, Lin finally gets up from the chair, waving her hand to take off the handcuffs. She picks them up once they fall off and looks down at the Joker.

“If we're going to play games, then you should know that I’m not in a good mood,” she says.

Lin starts walking towards the exit, and the Joker hums in intrigued amusement.

“Ahh, the good cop, bad cop routine?” he asks with a cheeky wink.

Lin ignores him on her way out the door, shutting it behind her. The Joker frowns in momentary confusion and squints his eyes when the overhead lights suddenly turn on, blinding him for a moment. At the same time, a hand grabs him by the back of his head and slams him down into the table.

He groans in pain and looks up while holding his forehead to see Korra walk around to the front of the table with a simmering glare of anger on her face, beyond upset.

“Never start with the head... the victim gets all fuzzy,” Joker complains. “He can’t feel the next-“

Rolling her eyes, Korra brings her fist up and then slams it down onto the Joker’s exposed hand. The Joker freezes for a moment, brow furrowed in thought.

“All better, wacko?” she asks sarcastically.

“Mmm hmm," he hums in reply. "See what I mean?”

Outside of the room, the others watch as Lin rejoins the group.

“Way to introduce herself,” Luon comments.

“Yeah, so don’t make her mad at you,” Asami teases.

The two start bickering quietly for a few moments while the adults converse with each other.

“You sure this is a good idea? I’m not too comfortable with it” Tenzin tells Lin.

“She’s one of the people he’s interested in, so she’ll get a reaction out of him,” Lin replies. “The Jedi is still an enigma. And I’m not putting Caran in there."

Though Tenzin strongly agrees with the last part, he still can’t help feeling uncertain.

“If you say so,” he replies with a sigh.

Back inside the interrogation room, Korra sits down in the chair Lin was previously in and looks at the Joker, who grins back eagerly.

“Alright, I'll bite. What’d you want?” she questions.

“I wanted to see what you'd do,” Joker replies eagerly. “And you didn't disappoint... You let five people die. All because you decided not to turn in your brother, or the so-called ‘Jedi.’”

Korra grimaces at the reminder of those deaths, but hardens her gaze and stares back at him.

“Where’s the Senator?” she questions.

“Those triad fools want you gone so they can get back to the way things were,” he continues, ignoring the question. “But I know the truth, there’s no going back. You and your freaky Force friends… you’ve changed things. Forever. And you just don't know it yet.”

“Then why do you want to kill us?” she demands.

The Joker starts to laugh hysterically, finding the whole idea funny and ridiculous, much to everyone else’s surprise.

“I- I don't want to kill you! Sure you’d be reborn again, but earthbenders are no fun! And the other two weirdos make this so interesting!” he exclaims excitedly. “What would I do without you guys? Go back to ripping off the bending triads?”

He scoffs at the idea, leaning back in his chair and shaking his head.

“No, no… no!” he says, leaning forwards with a wild grin. “No you… you and your team... You. Complete. Me.”

“Say I believe you. What about your other friends?” Korra points out.

“Who?” he asks innocently.

“You know very well who!” she snaps, frustrated. “The ones giving you those weapons!”

“Oh right, right right right,” the Joker replies with a nod of recognition. “No. They don’t want to kill you either... at least not yet.”

“What do you mean ‘not yet?’” she asks, narrowing her eyes.

“I mean... not yet,” he replies, grinning at her. “You see, they’re my partners. Business partners anyways. Helping me out with a little… business!”

“Why would they ever want to help you? You're just a street thug who kills people for money,” Korra says in disgust.

“Don't talk like one of Beifong’s cops, you're not!” he snaps, leaning forwards. “Even if you'd like to be. To them you're just a freak... like me. Like your brother… like the Jedi.”

Korra glances at the glass while the others stare back with frowns on their faces, a bit confused and wary.

“Look, I know exactly why you try and act so ‘righteous’ all the time,” the Joker says in exasperation. “I get it. You’re the Avatar. You want to protect the world, but you don’t want it to change.”

“Change?” Korra asks slowly, confused.

“What I’m saying is you try and help people all around the world. But what does the world ever do for the Avatar, hmm?” Joker asks with a raised eyebrow.

Korra frowns at his words, not wanting to take them seriously at all, yet it still strikes a chord within her. Sure, she’s not gonna turn back on the world for a second, but plenty of people out there have not liked her as the Avatar, some even wanting to kill her.

“You see, they need you right now. But when they don’t, they'll cast you out... like a leper. Their morals, their code... it’s a bad joke,” he scoffs, smirking in amusement. “Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They’re only as good as the world allows them to be. You'll see. I'll show you... when the chips are down, these uh… these ‘civilized’ people... they’ll eat each other.”

“He’s full of himself,” Mako scoffs.

“I know right?” Bolin nods in agreement. “Has anything else ever sounded so stupid before?”

Lin and Tenzin share a glance, however, and keep listening.

“See, I'm not a monster…” Joker finishes with a shrug, leaning back casually in his chair. “I’m just ahead of the curve.”

Irritated, Korra finally reaches across the table and grabs the Joker by his shirt, yanking him up and over the table.

“Alright I’ve just about heard enough nonsense out of you, so talk! Where’s Senator Shuno?” she demands with a scowl.

“Oh really? You’re actually using pain as a threat?” he replies sarcastically.

Korra spins around and slams the Joker against the wall, pinning him there with a forearm to his throat. Outside, the others watch through the glass as Korra continues her rough interrogation, some becoming a little worried.

“I don’t like this” Tenzin murmurs, watching uneasily.

“If she goes too far, then I’ll handle it,” Lin tells him.

Korra glares at the Joker in frustration, keeping him pinned against the wall.

“I might if you don’t stop talking nonsense,” she threatens.

“Oh, then that’s the rule you’ll have to break to know the truth!” Joker says in amusement.

“What are you even talking about?” she asks him.

“The only way to live in this world is without rules! And tonight, you’re gonna break Avatar Aang’s one rule!” he continues.

“Is that right?” she deadpans.

“Oh there’s only minutes left, you’re gonna have to play my little game if you want to save one of them,” he states with a grin.

Korra remains silent for a moment, narrow her eyes at him. Outside the box, the others glance at each other in unease.

“Them?” Korra asks carefully.

“You know… I always did wonder where he got his powers. Since he’s adopted and all!” Joker taunts, chuckling a wheezing laugh.

Outside of the cell, everyone gasps in horror at the realization.

Korra’s eyes go wide with fury and rage upon realizing what the Joker just said and, with a roar, she flips him over and slams him painfully into the table. The Joker groans in pain for a moment, and then continues to chuckle.

“Korra!” Tenzin exclaims.

He and Lin both rush for the door, but Korra was already a step ahead of them. She grabs one of the chairs and then jabs it underneath the door handle.

“Look at you go!” Joker taunts with a laugh.

Korra then pulls out some water from her pouch and freezes it closed for good measure, ensuring nobody would get inside. Tenzin and Lin both got to the door and tried to force it open, but were unable to do so. Lin bangs her fist on the door in frustration.

“Just metalbend it!” Tenzin urges.

“It’s made of platinum, Tenzin!” she growls.

“Wh-“ he tries to ask.

“Because we also get earthbenders in her!” she furiously cuts him off.

Meanwhile, Korra was storming her way back to the Joker with heaving breaths, trembling with rage, her vision nearly clouded by red. The Joker sat up on the table and took a moment to crack his back, still grinning at her.

“Is the reason you call him squirt because he’s just so adorable?” he taunts.

Korra grabs the Joker by his greasy hair and then slams him against the glass with all the strength she could muster, the blow is so strong that a few cracks actually spread out from the impact. Joker groans in pain and collapses to the ground while Korra stands over him.

“Where’s my brother you *sick freak*?!” she yells.

“Killing is making a choice!” Joker replies, and she punches him in the face.

“*WHERE IS HE*?!” she screams.

“You choose between one life or the other!” he continues, and she stops for a moment, panting heavily. “Your friend the president-elect, or your tiny squirt of an alien!”

He begins to snicker and Korra pulls her fist back to punch him again, sending him sprawling on the ground in a daze. And yet the Joker wasn’t hurt or frightened in the slightest, his only response being to holler with maniacal laughter. He looks up at her, grinning as widely as possible, his gaze showing nothing but insanity.

“You have nothing, nothing to threaten me with!” he declares, and she growls in anger. “Nothing to do, with all your strength!”

Korra is practically snarling now, reaching down to grab Joker by the shirt and then lifting him up effortlessly, glaring into his eyes. Filled with fury she then enters the Avatar State, signified by the bright glow of her eyes. Even then, the Joker is not afraid, remaining completely careless

“Don’t worry, I’m gonna tell you where they are! Both of them,” he says smugly, grinning at her. “And that’s the point. You’ll have to choose! You’ll find the esteemed senator at the city’s power plant, while your brother is on block 1011. That’s at the Dragon Flats.”

The glow fades from her eyes and she throws him roughly onto the ground before running out of the interrogation room—melting the water, kicking the chair away, and yanking the door open. The Joker’s laugh echoes after her as the door closes again.