Joker, as he was so accurately nicknamed in the circus that he had traveled with, had finally come back to Destiny City.

Due to some unusual circumstances, Joker had eventually sneaked away with a traveling circus when he was young. He had stayed with them for several years, traveling to different places with different cultures. Sometimes, he would only stay for a week, other times, he would stay for as long as six months. Now that he was back at the age of 20 for the time being in Destiny City, he figured that he might as well make the best of it. He had become self-dependent since then, learning to pick up a variety of different jobs, as well as making a go for Sovereign Heights University. Although it was more of a favor to his mother who had expressed her wishes for him to eventually attend college. In the several weeks that he had been here, he enrolled himself at Sovereign Heights, picked up a job at a restaurant and gas station, and leased an apartment on a monthly basis. He was a guy who could adapt to his surroundings, and learn no matter where he went or where he worked. As long as he had a roof over his head, something to eat, and a place to take a bath, he considered it all right. Sometimes, that was all you could do in life when it afforded you no luxuries.

Raising his hands above his head and crossing them, Joker decided that he would make the best of it! He might stay here for a while. He had old friends as well as people he owed it to to visit. He wasn’t a person that didn’t repay his debts.

.. The first place he went to was his old father’s friend’s dojo. “Yo!” he showed up on the door step of the old man’s, and was treated to one hell of a welcome. The old man had initially stared at him in blank surprise – and next, Joker was treated to a fierce uppercut that sent the young male flying back into the wall. “Owch..” He groaned as he finally recovered his senses, sitting up and rubbing at his chin with a wince. “No welcome back?”

“You idiot! Where have you been all this time? Leaving without a word and you have the nerve to simply show up at my doorstep?”

Seeing the pain on his face, of the man who regarded him nearly as a son, Joker apologized. “I’m sorry.” Standing up, he felt bad. He really did. “I’m back.” He hugged the old man, the closest thing he had known to a father. “You’ve grown a lot.” The old man gruffly remarked. The last time he had seen him was when he was a boy – and now he was nearly a man. “I hope you haven’t slacked in your training.”

Stepping back, “Not at all.” He grinned. “And I’m here to stay. At least for a while. I’m going to Sovereign Heights and I picked up several jobs.” Pointing to himself, he asked, "Aren't you proud?"

“Hardly," The old man scoffed, but continued with, "I presume that you’ll be visiting me?”

“Of course!”

“I’ll train you harder than you’ve ever worked.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

--

Afterwards, while sweeping the dojo grounds, Joker paused and leaned on the broom. “I wonder what’s changed in the last several years? Although it’s good to know that you haven’t changed at all Gramps!”

He was treated to a flying plate that he could not duck in time, hitting him in the face that sent him to the ground. “We.. really need to stop with this.” With hits like those, Joker wondered if he would see Jesus, or even Buddha far sooner than he intended. No thank you, as he actually wanted to live until he was an old man. But Joker wasn’t sure that he’d survive past today, much less for the next couple months.