He hummed out of tune.
On purpose.
It sounded like a nursery rhyme, and like someone had wiped the back of a knife with one.
A chill crept up the back of Chen Mo's neck as he listened.
When Joker finished humming, he even gave himself two satisfied claps.
Clap, clap.
The corridor lights flickered.
The faces of the handcuffed people all changed.
Batman's gaze shifted from Joker's face to them.
Joker smiled even more happily.
"See? I mention owls, and they start remembering the bedtime stories they heard as kids. Poor Gotham children. Even their bedtime stories sound like ghost stories."
Chen Mo looked at those people.
It wasn't Joker they were afraid of.
That said a lot.
Batman's voice was very low.
"Who taught you that song?"
Joker widened his eyes.
"Taught? Oh, no, no, no. Songs grow all by themselves. Put your ear against Gotham's old walls, and they're full of songs. The pipes sing, the floors sing, even dead people sing. Much nicer than the hospital broadcasts, though the lyrics aren't exactly child-friendly."
Chen Mo said, "You know who tampered with this permission?"
Joker looked at him.
His eyes lit up.
"I know lots of things, Spider-Man. For instance, you really wanted to ask me just now, 'Did you have anything to do with this?' Answers are so boring. I had nothing to do with it, or I had a teensy bit to do with it, or I just thought it'd be fun. See? None of those answers sounds good."
He swayed a step forward.
Batman also took a step forward.
Joker immediately stopped and raised both hands.
"Okay, okay, I'll keep my distance. You don't look the least bit interested in dancing right now."
Chen Mo frowned.
"You came out just to sing?"
"Singing is