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j0kers-light · 1 year

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His Lighthouse: Following Orders (LedgerJoker x f!reader)

Following Orders

series summary:

Y/n is an aspiring writer living in Gotham City and struggling to find her next muse. Her recent novel is getting all the buzz, earning her far more attention than she signed up for. But when a chance encounter results in her nursing The Joker back to health, will she find the time to write another best seller or will her own story become front page of the Gotham Gazette?

chapter summary:

The day of the charity arrives as Y/n copes with the emptiness of not having Joker around. Should everything go as planned, hopefully you can move on and have this back to normal in your life.

Author’s note:

Is this the longest chapter to date? Yes! Is it the most important? I hope so.

At the beginning of 2022 I had ongoing dreams about Joker falling in love with an original character. Lol I still do! but at the time I didn’t have the confidence to start writing but I kept post it notes with ideas on what would happen between them by my nightstand. Each time I had a dream, it turned into an idea. I’m running out of notepads!

This chapter dives into the first dream I had. You can say this update is what started this journey.

I cried while writing and editing it. This is a piece of me I share with all of you. I CANT BELIVE THE FLOOD OF SUPPORT HIS LIGHTHOUSE HAS RECEIVED! I never thought so many people would care enough to read my story. Thank you for the love and support here on tumblr, Wattpad, and on ao3. Comments motivate me to keep going. I hope this chapter doesn’t turn people away but things are about to get real. Enjoy!

Taglist!

@blackreaderatrisk

Last Chapter | Next Chapter

Two weeks. That's all you promised Joker.

You promised to nurse him back to health and offered him a place to hide from the authorities in exchange for your life. His plans thereafter were completely up in the air.

You didn't know if he would leave peacefully or simply kill you to ensure that no witnesses were left behind. Either way, your fate was not your own and you blindly trusted a madman with it.

Funny how that worked out but you couldn't say that you regretted anything that did happen.

There were only five days left in the arranged agreement yet you found yourself alone pacing your apartment, stressing out about him.

Who would've thought that a petty argument would have resulted in him leaving? Could you even say he was gone for good? What ever happened to promises with definite answers?

Joker and his vague, 'don't wait up'. What did that even mean?

Your nails suffered the price of your anxiety. You held them back at arm length and groaned remembering you had a gala to attend tonight.

You seriously did not want to shake hands with Gotham's pompous elite all night but Cindy really gave you no other choice. Could you even squeeze in a manicure with your jam packed schedule today?

You had too much on your plate as is. Thankfully you had the hindsight to text your hair beautician last night to come to your place. She sent a heads up message this morning apologizing in advance for being late.

A blessing in disguise; you didn't wash your hair last night and how could you with your distracted mind?

After your emotional phone call with Barbara your nightly routine was shot.

The front and balcony door was locked and checked off of your nightly to-do list. Just because you were on the top floor of a high rise building didn't mean someone could break in. This was Gotham City, anything was possible.

But after that? It was a wrap.

You said screw it to your hair and fought the urge to sleep without brushing your teeth but you just couldn't commit. There was no way you would skip a crucial task like that, but the brushing time was cut in half due to your mellow mood. What was one night without flossing gonna hurt? Not a thing if your tired bones had any say about it.

You barely peeled off your bell bottom jeans and swapped out your light grey crop top for your usual pjs before you crashed for the night.

More tears threatened to spill when your head hit the pillow but you couldn't allow Joker to monopolize your emotions.

He didn't control them and he would not control you. So what if he left? His time spent at your apartment was meant to be temporary, right from the beginning.

You knew this day would come. Two weeks was all you had to give. Yet day ten and he was gone, taking a part of you with him.

You should be rejoicing. You were alive and stress free once again! You could go back to your quiet, normal life without waiting on Joker hand and foot.

But when you woke up this morning, groggy and exhausted from staying up so late the night before, the first thought on your brain was what to fix Joker for breakfast.

You buried your face in your hands and groaned out loud. This is what you got yourself used to. Pitiful.

You no longer had to care for Joker but that piece of you he took with him hurt.

It ached relentlessly with each lingering thought of Joker. Ten days was enough time to develop a crush on someone, especially with how you and Joker were around each other almost twenty four hours each day.

You had to stop fooling yourself; you liked Joker. Maybe more than liked, at least more than you liked Bruce. That realization made you pause.

How could you prefer a madman over a model citizen?

Could you really be that sick in the head? Admitting your feelings aloud was a can of worms you did not want to pry open. Which was stupid because you were writing a romance novel about the guy!

You would never escape that green haired clown but you still had a life to live. You sat up in bed and checked your phone for any messages to start off your day. Everything was in order for tonight's festivities. All you had to do now was run water for a bath and wash your hair before your company arrived.

Your bathroom was pitch dark when you entered but that was nothing new.

A button on the wall commanded the shades to move, revealing the vast windows and the city view below. Gotham's sunrise was peeking through the clouds as you turned the bathtub faucets on with a yawn.

The two chibi sprites faucets emptied water from their mosaic vases in sync with the deity statue that filled your tub with her open mouth.

It would take twenty minutes to fill. You were feeling chamomile with lush jasmine to add into the bath and you certainly didn't forget to grab your shampoo and conditioner to wash your hair.

You dropped the bath bomb into the running stream where bubbles immediately began to form. The water turned a creamy off white with a faint shimmer.

In the meantime, you leaned on the edge of the sink scrolling through your phone. A few likes were made as you crossed posted about the gala tonight on two different apps when you accidentally called Barbara.

Your thumb slipped and hit her name as you tried to turn off the faucets before it overflowed. By the time you noticed the mistake, she had already said hello four times and counting.

"Seriously, I'm going to-" You heard her stern voice echo in the room and you rushed over to apologize.

"Barbara? Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to call you."

It was an ungodly hour and knowing that she worked long nights, you felt absolutely terrible for disturbing her.

What you didn't expect to hear was her amused snort. "Calm down Y/n, you didn't wake me. I'm surprised that you're awake though. Did you get any sleep?"

Your long sigh was her answer. "No... but thanks for asking. I got an early hair appointment this morning. Florence is coming over so I can look like a decent human being tonight."

You slid your phone into its custom holder attached to the wall and stepped in. The water temperature was just right and it did wonders for your tired muscles.

You almost forgot about Barbara, you were so relaxed.

"I haven't seen her since our girl's night last month." It sounded like Barbara was doing something else in the background but she returned to the phone call without skipping a beat. "How is she?"

Your circle of friends was more like a sad tiny square. It was only Barbara, Dick, and Cindy if you overlooked the fact she doubled as your manager.

If you couldn't overlook that then Florence, an old high school friend and full time beautician, and Morgana— your favorite local florist, were the only four people you kept constant contact with.

You lived in Gotham City for a year and one month now. By definition, you were an introvert. You just happened to fake being charismatic whenever Cindy forced you to socialize with others.

Her words from earlier this week mocked you.

"Oh calm down, Y/n. You're a natural communicating with others!"

Even she knew it was a joke but still respected your aversion to talking to new people. She never put too many public appearances on your plate at one given time. Your social battery was a real thing and needed to charge daily.

You hummed and decided to answer Barbara's question.

"Florence? Yeah she's been doing great actually. She got flown out to Cali to do some famous celebrity's hair since you saw her last and it really opened up doors for her. I'm shocked she agreed to do mine last minute with how solid her schedule is nowadays."

Plus her initial consultation and booking process was a pain but Barbara didn't need to know that.

Any friend of yours was friends with Barbara.

Even though the two women were from different backgrounds, (just like you were originally with the red headed computer analyst) they grew to accept their differences and formed a strong bond.

"Hey, why don't you come over at eight? She'll be here all day until it's time for me to leave. We can turn this into an impromptu glam squad day! She'll be so happy to see you and we all got some catching up to do!"

You were massaging shampoo into your hair but rounded back to your invitation, "That is if you don't already have plans, Barbs."

"I'm free today and that sounds like fun. Should I bring anything like snacks, wine?"

"I'm not drinking." You mumbled but Barbara knew that already from your dad's bad relationship with alcohol and continued talking.

"I'll stop by the store and come over when I'm done." She heard you agree and disconnected the call after saying goodbye.

This was a great idea. All the girls together having fun before your night begins. If it was just fans attending, you wouldn't be so wound up but you knew only stiff collars and fat wallets would be at the event tonight.

And you had to convince one of them to sponsor a movie deal for you. That should be easy.

You rolled your eyes before tilting your head back under the two vases to wash out your shampoo. The same process was done three more times before you worked on actually washing your body while the hair conditioner processed.

The time on your phone put you ahead of schedule but you still wanted to hurry. You had to moisturize and tidy up the living room and make sure absolutely nothing pertaining to Joker ever staying here remained.

Barbara was perceptive just like her father; you were taking NO chances around her.

A mental checklist was made as you finished bathing and rinsed out your conditioner. Your big toe popped open the drain and the last of the opal jasmine and chamomile bath bomb swirled down the drain.

This one was all natural and wouldn't stain your tub. It was a pain to clean the sunken structure at times.

You used an old T-shirt to partially dry your hair and padded over to your bathroom bench to lotion up and then part your hair for Florence.

She could do this for you but you knew she preferred it if her client's hair was already prepped. You sectioned off your semi wet curls into four chunky braids and left your bathroom.

Joker's old guest room was scanned up and down for any trace of him.

You found nothing inside and moved on to the main bathroom where you tossed his shower loofah out and hid the stash of makeup you bought him inside your own modest cosmetic collection.

You were paranoid and looked twice as hard to make sure nothing suspected as his was left behind. You lived alone. Nothing hints of a roommate or guest staying with you could be found.

When the hallway bathroom was cleared, you migrated into the kitchen and spazzed. The cake had to go, right? Was it too obvious or was your paranoia just blowing it out of proportion?

You couldn't decide but still you cut the remaining cake in half to make it seem like you had just a little bit left and wrapped up the other piece for later. It found a temporary home in your bread box.

The dual set of dishes were put away and the island barstool was pushed a nanometer away from its twin. It looked too close together. Yeah, you were losing it.

Your eyes darted over your apartment hoping things looked singular, distant, and befitting of your loner lifestyle.

Hopefully you didn't miss anything.

For a guy who stayed here for ten days, Joker didn't leave that much evidence of his presence behind. There was no trace of him left. If you didn't have the numerous memories of him, you might've convinced yourself that he didn't exist. And that thought left you feeling a little hollow inside.

"Nope. Don't think about it because if you do, then you'll start crying again and you don't need puffy eyes tonight." You spoke to yourself while walking down the hallway.

A final sweep of the penthouse was completed and right in the nick of time.

A series of knocks that made up a complex musical beat was pounded onto your door. Only one person in your square of friends would do that and you giggled like mad answering the door for her.

You flung it open to reveal your old high school friend Florence standing there with two big suitcases and a bigger smile.

"What's up?"

Once again, the perks of living on the top floor. You could be as loud as you wanted. The maintenance floor below yours buffered the loud squeals the two of you made while greeting one another. First a secret handshake with a bit of college step elements mixed in, followed by a long overdue hug.

"It never gets old!" She said while laughing.

"At all! Come on in and get situated!" You ushered her inside and then noticed an assistant trailing behind her. You apologized and let her in as well.

Florence wasn't a stranger to your home but she never failed at taking a good look around the place each visit.

In the time it took to hug your friend, the sunrise was halfway in the sky, casting muted oranges and warm violets into the penthouse.

A ray of rich sienna highlighted Florence the moment she parked her equipment and turned around.

Always dressed for any occasion she wore a long strapless sundress that billowed as she floated around the living room. You noticed it tied in the back and a high split on the side showed off her gorgeous melanin skin.

She looked radiant in the morning sun and ready for the day.

Her yellow sandals had a heel to them because they tapped against your hardwood floors to a beat only she knew. She always accented her clothes with her footwear, it was something you loved about her. The sandals she wore today highlighted the bright yellow flowers in her sundress.

There were also pinks and greens within the print and her hoop earrings, real gold, tied the whole look together.

She flung her designer handbag on the couch. It seemed California drastically altered her taste in fashion.

"Huh. This is new. Did you finally listen to Red and Grayson and got a new sofa? About time, that old one was a hot mess girl." She ran her hands along the new velvet cushions.

No nonsense, very opinionated. That was the Florence you knew and loved.

You were about to defend your old couch when she clicked her tongue in annoyance. "She won't bite, Sharon. You can say hello at any time."

It was then you gave your full attention to the second guest in your home.

She was shorter than Florence but still considered tall in your book. Her legs stretched for days in the dark yoga pants she wore that matched the sports bra she had underneath a long floor length jacket.

It was white and tailored to trail behind her as she walked. Capes must be back in fashion. To be honest, you wanted to ask her where she bought this one from but you decided to start out with a warm hello.

"Hi!" you extended your hand, "I'm Y/n. Thanks for coming on such short notice."

She nodded her head once while shaking your hand but didn't speak. You hoped in the next few hours she would come out of her shell.

Florence noticed the frosty exchange and tried to lighten the mood by teasing you a bit.

"Miss Sealy, Miss Sealy, Miss Sealy!" She sang referring to the rudimentary braids you had.

She walked over and got a handful of your hair. "You just washed?" She asked.

"Mhm, right before you got here." You replied back.

Florence nodded. "Good, I taught you well. Now! You have a big night. I wanna see the dress so I know what I'm working with." She snapped her fingers and you didn't waste any time pitter patting around.

You rushed straight to your room to grab your dress and accessories.

Once you were out of earshot. Florence rounded on her assistant. "Get that stick out your rear and lose the attitude. Y/n is a very close friend of mine and you're gonna act like you got some sense 'round her, even if she didn't officially book us. She's a celeb to me. Got it?"

Sharon bobbed her head. "Yes ma'am."

Florence rolled her eyes and began unpacking her equipment. She liked having the much needed help, but this particular assistant just wasn't cutting it. She'd address that issue later.

For now she returned her focus when you returned back into the living room with your dress bag in tow, unzipping it as you walked.

"Okay.. Cindy had this delivered to me yesterday." You peeled back the cover to show them the haute couture gown. Their eyes widened reading the label.

"I was thinking maybe something half up, half down? It's from Paolo Sebastian's fall Moonlight Serenade collection of this year. Delicate, regal, screams of Greek inspiration to me. Oh and here's the earrings that came with it." You had the jewelry box tucked under your arm but popped open the lid.

A pair of diamond leaf earrings proudly bearing Alexander Laut's name inside a felt lined Neiman Marcus box twinkled in the overhead lights.

You glanced up when Sharon gasped. "Blame Cindy okay? She really went all out this time."

Sharon and Florence shared a look. It made you panic.

Before they could pounce on you, another knock on the door was heard. "Lemme get that."

You excused yourself from the two conspiring women to go answer the door. A familiar face greeted you. Barbara waved at you from her chair.

"Hey! Sorry it took so long. Who woulda thought the grocery store on Holt street doesn't open until nine am sharp. Had me waiting outside.. Florence!!"

Barbara stopped ranting mid sentence and wheeled herself straight past you and over to her friend and automatically joined the glam squad huddle.

"....and good morning to you too, Barbara." You chuckled to yourself while closing the door.

You saw the store bags hanging from her chair handles and took them off to unpack them in the kitchen.

It was something to do since obviously you weren't needed.

A fond smile was etched on your face as you sorted out the wine bottles. White and red, Barbara wasn't playing around. You could tell her and Florence were excited, so you paid the expensive bottles no mind.

It was a last minute girl's day. Everyone deserved to have a little fun.

You could make another charcuterie board to go with the wine Barbara brought. That should hold everyone until takeout could be ordered later on.

"But you know Y/n.. it's not breakfast and thaT is the most important meal of the dayyy."

You froze and looked over the island counter where Joker sat. His body language appeared bored but his smug grin gave him away. He was already having fun.

Cue your panic.

You cast a glance into the living room where your friends were still gathered and wondered how he got past them without being seen.

You were about to ask Joker what his intentions were when Florence walked into the kitchen and sat down right where Joker was. His image distorted like a plume of smoke being fanned away making you panic for a different reason.

"Hey.. you alright in here?" She asked.

You blinked in disbelief. He was gone. Great. You were seeing things now.

"Hello? Earth to Y/n? I told you she didn't get any sleep last night, do you believe me now?" Barbara rolled to a stop next to your left hand side and snagged a grape from the unfinished cheese board.

Florence hummed and stole a slice of Monterey Jack on top of a cracker.

"I see. Well, when you're done acting like someone's housewife making fancy food trays, you can join us in the living room. Your edges are mine!"

Barbara howled in laughter. "Ha! Good one Flo."

You barely heard them leave, you were so caught up in trying to figure out what was real and not from your hallucinating mind.

Did you seriously envision Joker here in your kitchen? Was it possible that your mind forgot he left last night without a trace? No matter how hard you tried, you would never fully get rid of Joker. Why was that so hard to accept?

You finished making a simple yet fancy cheese board for your friends and carried it out to begin the party.

Sharon expressed concern about drinking on the job but Florence shut her up by popping open a bottle like a pro. The cork broke something in the background but you didn't worry about it when you were having fun, surrounded by friends.

If only Joker could see this side of you. This would prove every hurtful thing he said about you dead wrong.

But that was a chapter in your life thoroughly closed so you did something unexpected and knocked back a glass to celebrate with the girls.

Barbara didn't want to say anything and ruin the mood after seeing that. You rarely drank and that only confirmed her suspicions. Something was troubling you and it definitely wasn't about some stray cat.

She kept an eye on you just in case you spilled any tea on what was going on with you.

After a collective decision over wine, the trio decided on faux locs done up in a half up half down bun for your hair tonight. It would give your earrings a stage to pop and still be compatible with the gown Cindy chose.

There were concerns about the gown's train and the locs clashing but Florence put all worries to rest saying she wouldn't make the braids too long. With that settled, a daytime talk show was put on the tv and both Sharon and Florence attacked your hair simultaneously.

In the interim, Barbara found your scarcely used makeup collection, (thankfully she didn't comment on Joker's portion that was included) and poked around inside for ideas.

"I don't want to wear any makeup tonight Barbs." You whined.

"Shhh! You have no input here."

It was obvious that you didn't. You were just a doll Florence and Barbara were about to play dress up with. You sent Sharon a please help me look that went vastly ignored. Okay.. so you were on your own here.

You hoped the morning torture flew by quickly.

It didn't. The early morning turned into late afternoon one slow tick at a time.

You regretted inviting Barbara over after the giddy excitement her and Florence shared all day grew. The wine only amplified their antics. How Florence managed to braid your hair while drunk was astonishing but it could very well be the Haitian in her at play. That and she held her alcohol remarkably well.

The same however could not be said for Sharon.

After Barbara coaxed her into drinking a glass, (more like forced) the woman's tongue grew emboldened. It was safe to say gossip hour had begun.

"I'm sorry, I have to ask. How come you still single?"

"Facts." Florence chimed in from your right.

The two beauticians were moving at the speed of light cutting what usually would take nine hours to complete in half. Barbara was tipping the delivery guy but quickly joined the conversation with her input once he sat everything down for her and left.

"She won't be for long. Bruce Wayne has eyes for her!" She popped open the many Chinese takeout boxes and began divvying out portions.

Her actions signaled an official break for everyone. Your hair was almost done save for the ends and it was only one in the afternoon.

They were ahead of schedule. The four of you washed your hands and gathered at your dining room table. Fried rice, noodles, and all other kinds of dishes were passed around to each other.

"Barbara.. quit it. It's not going to happen." You said.

"And why not? Two adults are interested in one another. He's hot, you're gorgeous, just smash and pass if you're not ready for commitment but c'mon, Y/n. Thousands of girls would kill to have his attention and you're brushing him off! Live a little!"

You sighed hearing Florence's advice. It wasn't as simple as it sounded. Bruce was the ideal partner, the problem was– you weren't.

He asked you out to dinner so many times you lost count and each time you turned him down because your heart was hung up on someone else that it shouldn't be meddling with.

You didn't want fancy dinners and the honor of being Bruce's arm candy.

You longed for a quiet night indoors spent in the company of Gotham's most wanted. You knew Joker was undateable and you doubted he saw women as potential partners, rather as an easy hostage or his next murder victim.

He advertised his red flags from day one. He was capable of hurting you and did numerous times, but he was smart and also showed you his compassionate side.

The first night when he fell on top of you. His mini interview with you about your book tour. He asked you so many personal questions, it felt so natural.

When you cleaned out his infected leg wound and the steamy moment you two shared in the shower immediately after.

Cooking with Joker and knowing that he cleaned even after he screwed up and hurt you again. You wished it wasn't true but everything Joker did, was a ruse. He didn't care about you, not for a second.

Joker was manipulative, you knew that. All of Gotham did, but in your heart you wanted to believe for just a second– those moments with Joker meant something to him.

You wanted to believe that his eyes grew soft only for you and that each time he touched you by accident or whenever he caressed your hair, it was the actions of a man falling in love.

You scoffed at the thought. Joker? Falling in love? Gotham City would be crime free before that ever happened.

"Something you want to share with the class Y/n?" You forgot you were in front of company.

Your eyes glanced from your plate up to the three pairs of eyes staring at you.

One set was green, but not the right shade you wanted to see. "I uhh.. can you repeat that Barbs?"

She faced Florence and pointed at you with her fork. "See? She's been acting weird all morning! I doubt she heard a single word we've said. You're more aggressive than me, get her to cough it up."

"You're the Commissioner's daughter. Why don't you interrogate her?" The Haitian woman bartered back.

She didn't want to address the elephant in the room. They started a playful argument and didn't notice when Sharon turned to face you.

"I know we just met today and not on very good terms. I'm used to having scheduled appointments with the client's consultation already complete. Florence just told me to pack everything up and meet her at some address across town. It kinda pissed me off. But now I understand you two are super close."

She waved her fork in the air, flinging a lo mein noodle unintentionally across the table.

"I might not be your friend but a beautician knows when her client is stressed. You've been squirming in your seat for four hours straight and you keep biting your cuticles."

You glanced down at them, wincing. She hummed out a, I told you so noise and kept pushing.

"It's none of my business, but what's your problem?"

After her question the table went quiet and you saw Florence and Barbara eye the situation closely.

You smiled down at your plate trying not to match her rudeness with your own. "Let's just finish eating and.."

"Why are you evading the question?" Barbara seized the opportunity and ran with it.

You let your chopsticks fall and rattle on the plate. Here we go. "Why are you looking for a problem that isn't there?"

Florence tapped in when she saw your defensive body language. "Because we're your friends and we know when there's something wrong with you. You act out just like you are right now." She mentioned.

"There's nothing wrong." You denied.

"Denial is the first stage of admitting that there is." Barbara stated and propped her elbows up on the table.

"Oh my God. Barbs, seriously. I'm fine." You stressed.

"Were you fine last night when you cried all day over some cat?" She was hitting you where it hurt and Florence got confused and had to intervene. "Cat? What cat?" She asked.

"Exactly! What cat Flo? Y/n claims she's been taking care of a stray for weeks now but I haven't seen not one water or food bowl, no litter box, or any evidence of a cat ever being here. There's no lint or cat hair to be seen and trust me if you ever owned a cat before, you know their hair gets everywhere. So tell us the truth, Y/n. What are you really hiding?"

All eyes were on you. Your heart was beating out of your chest for being so careless. You didn't expect anyone to come visit so physically keeping up with your little white lie was the least of your worries.

Your 'cat' was long gone but you couldn't tell them that.

Barbara figured out this much on her own, it was only a matter of time she figured out the cat was actually human and really tear you a new one for lying to her.

You sighed and stood up from the table. "There's nothing to talk about."

You grabbed your plate and headed toward the kitchen but Barbara wasn't having it.

She pushed back from the table and followed you in her wheelchair. "That's bull and you know it Y/n!"

Curse your open floor plan. She could follow you anywhere in the apartment and once Barbara had her teeth into something, she refused to let it go.

"Good Lord, what do you want from me, woman?!" You spun around to confront her.

Your plate was tossed onto the counter and the loud noise it made had both Sharon and Florence rush over.

"I want you to admit there's something wrong and talk to us about it!" Barbara countered.

"Fine! There is no cat. I lied so you and Bruce would leave me alone!" you yelled to her face. "I just wanted some time to myself to get this new WIP off the ground and I can't even have that! Is that what you wanted to hear? You treat me like a helicopter mom Barbara! Always checking in like I'm incapable of taking care of myself. Well guess what.."

"That's enough!" Florence swooped in and broke things up before you said something you regretted.

Her mocha colored eyes darted back and forth from her two friends and she quickly became the neutral party to defuse the situation.

"I don't care what's bothering you Y/n but what you're not about to do is take it out on us. Let's all step away for a minute and we'll finish your hair once everyone has calmed down, alright? Cool. Sharon in the hallway. Now."

Barbara wheeled herself out onto the balcony and you used the pretense of cleaning up the dishes to settle down.

Sharon walked into the hallway and waited for her boss. She had an idea what this was about but tried to stay optimistic.

However seeing a furious Florence rounding the corner confirmed her worst fears.

She tried to defend herself but Florence didn't give her a chance. "What you pulled back there was not your place."

"I know and..."

"And since you're well aware that it's none of your business to pry into my client's personal life, I no longer require your assistance. I'll pay you for the services rendered today but after that? You're fired."

You looked up when the front door slammed shut and Florence walked back into the kitchen area looking both relieved and irritated.

"Uh... what was that about?" You asked.

Flo fanned your question away and went to go check on Barbara outside. You just shrugged and continued scrubbing the dishes.

Florence made it to the balcony door and slid it open. She immediately found her friend sitting in front of the railing, looking down at the people on the street.

Barbara heard footsteps approaching and began reciting the apology speech she drafted in her head.

"Lemme stop you right there Red. I don't wanna hear your apologies, I want answers. We both know Y/n. Have you ever seen her get so defensive about her privacy?"

Florence locked eyes with Barbara and they both had the same conclusion.

"She's hiding something big." The redhead sighed.

Florence snorted, "Duh. But she's not coming clean about it so keep your eyes and ears open until we figure out what it is."

Maybe those bat trackers were a good idea after all. Barbara hated invading your privacy but if it kept you safe, she'd do anything.

There were some in the backpack she brought with her today. When she had the chance, she could scatter a few throughout your apartment. What you didn't know wouldn't kill you.

Barbara nodded once and spun her chair around. "C'mon. You got a client to finish."

With that said both females went back inside. Now that it was just the three of you present, the tension in the air died down as well as the buzz from the wine.

Florence went back to wrapping your hair into beautiful faux locs and Barbara parked her wheelchair nearby to watch. She resigned her fate to just being a bystander until you nudged her knee with your foot.

Of course she didn't feel it but she got the message and looked up.

"Hey. I don't like when you're mad at me. Can we make up already?" You pouted your lip and it sparked an idea in Barbara's mind.

She leaned on her armrest. "We can if you let me do your makeup."

You groaned as Florence laughed along with Barbara. Makeup was the last thing you wanted to be bothered with tonight but you'd do anything to repair your friendship with Barbara.

"Fine."

You said nothing but a word. Barbara dug out a silver eyeshadow palette and practically danced in her chair. You unleashed a monster but smiled at the peace restored.

"Okay we're cutting it close Y/n! That was the desk downstairs. Your driver is waiting on you." Florence hung up the phone and went back to her current task.

She was finishing up some last minute touches to your hair while Barbara fastened a bracelet to your wrist. Barbara noticed your hands were shaking but kept her mouth shut.

She did enough talking today to run up your nerves, you didn't need anymore stress. Tonight was going to be fun no matter what.

In the end, you looked stunning. Your two friends turned proud parents, cooed at their hard work.

"Look at her!" one started, "Our baby is all grown up!" The other finished.

You had to agree. The haute couture gown was a vision on you. The light grey chiffon hugged your figure and the dress train accented it even further. If you were short before, clearly you wouldn't be tonight.

Cindy made sure the clear platform heels she bought shot your height up by a few good inches.

You wobbled at first but after test walking around the apartment, you found a rhythm to them. They were very high but necessary so you didn't step on your dress that pooled to the floor.

One of your legs were fully exposed due to the high split in the dress but you flaunted it nonetheless. A blinding bracelet attached to your wrist distracted anyone who stared for too long.

The white gold piece matched the leaf earrings that hung from your ears. You were dripping with elegance and for good reason. The earrings alone cost more than three of your royalties checks combined.

"Don't you think it's a bad idea to wear this out? I look like a robber's dream victim." You stood in front of a mirror that was propped up against the living room wall.

Barbara had started filling up your matching clutch with God knows what. You'd find out later.

She didn't look up as she spoke. "But you agree? That you look like a dream?"

You gave her a side eye. "That's not what I meant.."

"Stop moving." Florence smacked your exposed shoulder making you stop instantly.

"I get it. It feels like prom all over again but I'm trying to pin this braid down so your hair can stay secure all night."

You felt a sharp pain scraping your skull and knew she got the last bobby-pin where she wanted it to be.

"There. All done." Florence stepped back but you dragged her back into a hug. "Thanks Flo."

She just shook her head and hugged you back.

Not one to be ignored Barbara cleared her throat until you crouched down and hugged her too. She handed you the silver clutch sparkling with diamonds, filled to capacity.

"The makeup looks amazing, Barbs. I really appreciate it."

"Thank me when some hot producer signs you on for a movie contract." You gave her another stink eye. "I'm serious! That silver smokey eye just screams, "I'm worth the paperwork." Her and Florence proceeded to crack up.

You had no comment. You glanced at the time and yelped. "Ah! I gotta go, it's a quarter till six! Will you two um..?"

"Clean and lock up on our way out?" Barbara suggested first.

Florence however had other ideas. "Leave this mess for you to come home to? No problem Y/n!"

If you had more time, you would've argued with her but you knew the traffic headed to The Prosperity would be terrible on a Friday night.

You had no other choice but to trust them and head towards the door. You shouted out your thanks to them again and missed their response when the door closed.

You called for the elevator to come pick you up and scrolled through your phone while you waited.

After a few minutes the lift arrived and you rode it all the way down to the main floor where a familiar, at least to you, black sedan was parked outside.

"Sebastian! To what do I owe the pleasure?" You stopped near his back door and he hopped out to open it for you.

"Ah yes, long time no see Miss Y/n! Your manager requested that I be your driver for the evening. Are you ready to depart?"

He always remained professional but couldn't help meeting you halfway for a hug. Too much time had been spent together to not be on friendly terms.

You accepted his hand to help you into the backseat before you buckled in. He did the same and turned off his hazard lights before meeting your eyes in the rear view mirror.

"How's Will doing?"

Sebastian chuckled and signaled to enter the flow of traffic.

"He's doing wonderful all thanks to you. That book community of yours exposed him to socializing with others. He has friends outside of school now and Margaret informed me that he wants to attend your GothCon in a few months with them."

You were happy to hear William was coming out of his shell.

He reminded you so much of yourself growing up, it was safe to say you wanted to spoil the kid rotten. You almost forgot about the upcoming convention with Joker clouding your brain but you could never fully forget about your fans.

"Good to hear. I'll talk to my manager and snag some VIP tickets for him."

Sebastian was at a loss for words. "Miss Y/n, you don't have to do that!"

"I know I don't, that's why I'm doing it." You replied.

You looked out the window as the car crossed over Madison Bridge into Somerset. It would take almost an hour if not more to reach the Coventry district in Burnley.

Why did this venue have to be so far away? Sebastian seemed to hit traffic about halfway into The Bowery. You kept quiet so he could focus on the crazy Gotham drivers on the road.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. At the top of the hour Sebastian pulled into the public entrance at The Prosperity.

"Right on time. How do you do it Sebastian?"

Like they magically knew who was inside the vehicle, a crowd of journalists, paparazzi, and other media outlets huddled behind a rope line began snapping pictures and screaming out questions.

This is what you were dreading tonight.

Sebastian heard your sigh. "Take your time and let me know when you're ready."

You thanked him and took some deep breaths to prepare yourself. Sebastian waited for your word and once he got it, he got out of the car and crossed over to the passenger side to help you out.

His back shielded you from the flashing lights but once you stood on your own two feet, Sebastian let you go.

Remember what Cindy told you Y/n. Chin up, face forward. Don't stop for comments and keep a gentle smile on at all times.

That was your pep talk and it played on repeat in your head from the car, up the stairs, until you entered the building.

And what a sight it was.

The lobby was all golden and ritzy, proudly bearing the name of the place through design. Guests and workers were milling about but one casually walked up to you.

"Miss Y/n? The gala is on the top floor. Right this way." He guided you to the gilded elevator and sent you to the rooftop.

The long ride up gave you jitters but you schooled your features when the lift softly chimed and opened up to a party well in full swing. So much for being on time. It was obvious Cindy lied about the time so you wouldn't be late.

A waiter instantly spotted you and handed you a flute of champagne that you held awkwardly until a savior came along.

"There she is! The woman of the hour! Y/n L/n everyone! Haha, cheers!"

Scratch that. He wasn't a savior.

Thomas J. Ford: Cindy's publishing partner and successful businessman.

You weren't his client but he wanted you to be and probably his romantic partner too with how he acted around you. His loud voice bellowed over the soft jazz music that originated from somewhere in the hall.

The crowd died down and raised their glasses as if your sudden appearance made a difference, and the party 'officially started'.

What did Cindy drag you into?

"Mr. Ford..."

"Aww, Y/n you wound me! No need for stuffy manners between us. You look... I can't say what I want to in public! Maybe I can say it later in private? Anyways! You ready to rub elbows with some movie moguls?"

He didn't give you a chance to be put off by his inappropriate words before he grabbed your arm and led you around the room.

It was going to be a long night.

Halfway through, you managed to shake Thomas loose and finally got to breathe. You didn't trust a single person in the room and opted from drinking any of the offered glasses that flowed freely.

It seemed to make everyone a little too intrigued in your petition for a movie. Maybe you were being paranoid or perhaps your books were just that good.

Either way, you felt like someone was watching you and it kept you hyper vigilant of everything you did. The feeling got so unbearable you visibly jumped when someone tapped on your arm.

"Sorry! I really should have said hi before approaching you. Are you okay Y/n?"

She never broke eye contact as you calmed your beating heart. "Yeah.. no worries. Uh, who are you?"

"My name is Sapphire. I'm an intern under Miss. Cindy. She wanted me to keep tabs on you tonight."

You nodded slowly. "She mentioned that. Didn't know she was serious about it though."

Sapphire flicked her light blue hair off her shoulder and laughed. You could tell it was freshly dyed for tonight. You didn't want to openly stare but she stood out amongst the opulence because of it even if her dress was designer.

The string of real diamonds on her neck and waist was a good attempt at blending in while displaying her personality.

"So– how long is your internship for?"

She didn't hear your question since a reporter barged up to you trying to start an interview.

"Any and all questions you have for Miss L/n can be directed to our office first thing in the morning. No further comment. Thank you."

Sapphire handled the situation like a pro while you cowered and used the distraction to get away.

You felt a panic attack coming from being surrounded by so many people that you didn't see the lady you bumped into while trying to run.

"Oh my. I'm terribly sorry. Did I spill any Perignon on you dear?"

She patted your gown for any wet spots and looked up. "Miss Y/n. Are you alright? You seem a bit frazzled."

You exhaled, waving your arms frantically. "I'm fine thank you."

She kept staring at you making you feel paranoid. "Is the party getting too much for you? Mr. Wayne wanted us to attend but I'd rather be at home watching tv so I get it."

"Mr. Wayne? I'm sorry..." She threw you off guard with the name drop.

"The one and only." She took a sip of her champagne and moved you towards the wall and out of the stuffy crowd.

"He wanted as many of his employees to attend tonight's gala as possible. He loves your work by the way."

You silently thanked her for relocating you. You could finally breathe and so you had the energy to engage in her conversation.

"I know. I had the pleasure of discussing it with him." You sighed out.

She turned to you, smiling wide. "That's splendid! He encouraged us all to read your most recent trilogy and I have to say, many of us would love to see it adapted onto the big screen. It gained so much traction in the department, a company wide poll was taken to get his approval."

"Uh thanks but approval for what?"

"To fund a future production of course!" She turned to people watch and you were left staring at her sharp profile and her Malaga colored lipstick.

In between deep breaths you spoke your thoughts aloud. "I didn't know Mr. Wayne had business in film."

"You'll be surprised what all he dabbles in." You made a face at her words and she backtracked.

Her left hand rested gently on your wrist gaining your attention.

"Please don't take it that way. I'm no talent scout, I'm actually here with my husband off the clock but hang on." She handed you her glass so she could dig around in her bag.

She fished out a card and held it in between her index and middle finger.

"Here's our department's info. Give us a call when you're ready to negotiate." You stared at the pre-offered card.

Polly Truman | Production Secretary

The card was made of heavy card stock and slate grey, just like Barbara mentioned all those months ago when she thought Bruce gave you his business card.

You flipped the card over and saw the famous Wayne logo embossed in glossy finish against the matte card. It was legit.

"Wow... uh thanks. I-I think I will. Thank you for this." You thanked her again and she left with a head tilt, uttering a feel better under her breath.

So she knew about your panic attack. It was kind of her to subtly calm you down while presenting a movie proposal at the same time. And she said she wasn't a talent scout.

You watched her walk over to an attractive blonde male and kiss him on the cheek.

He didn't look familiar from this far away but Cindy explained that the guest list only included big shots for you to propose.

Polly could be the invited guest and just brought her husband along as a plus one. You didn't know. It didn't matter. You were optimistic about securing a possible movie contract without having to flaunt your assets like Cindy had suggested.

Things were looking up until a magazine clip of bullets was unloaded into the gala ceiling.

You and just about everyone in attendance screamed and/or jumped. Just like that the joyful air in the hall was squandered.

A gang of men walked in carrying armed weapons, ready to stir up trouble.

They would have passed the event's dress code if their suits weren't burned down the middle. Also the burnt masks they wore was a dead giveaway as to who these men reported to.

Why didn't you notice the signs?

The media aired it on practically every station, every hour. One news reel stuck out the most and its coverage ran on loop in your terrified mind.

'GCPD authorities have seen a rise in Two Face gang activity over the past few days as we prepare for this four day weekend. They advise to stay vigilant as the ongoing curfew remains in effect on the hunt for The Joker..'

You were so fixated on Joker that you forgot the city had a handful of insane criminals on standby to wreak havoc in his absence. And Harvey Dent was the last person you wanted to see. He put you on blast for your 'controversial' book series numerous times.

Something about demanding justice for the book's murderers, not understanding the reader themselves were the catalyst and the reason why each character died.

He preached about how they needed to be punished and given a fair trial... blah blah the man was insane!

What part of the 'This is a work of fiction' disclaimer at the beginning of each book, did he not understand?

You didn't think he was serious about his quest for justice, but as his goons parted the terrified crowd like the Red Sea, you knew he took this personally.

The split personality burn victim walked into the gala with the former swagger his true identity, Harvey Dent used to carry.

You had a view of his good side but knew his sicker mental state would triumph in his decision making.

"Good evening everyone. We're sorry to barge in unannounced, truly. We're just looking for Y/n L/n. We need to have a.. little chit chat."

Of course Harvey spoke first. With Two Face, his good side always showed up first.

The room was so quiet you could hear someone cough. No one dared to speak and anger the schizophrenic but it was inevitable.

The former politician's patience grew thin and with it gone, his Two Face persona appeared. The transition was so fluid no one was prepared.

"Oh? Did we crash the wrong party?" He turned to a board member of Panessa Studios and without hesitation, shot him at point blank range.

It caused instant pandemonium. People screamed and scattered like rats.

"Don't let anyone leave until we find her!" Two Face ordered his men.

They dispersed into the crowd, some just shoving people out of the way, the more mentally disturbed however took to their guns and shot people down as they saw fit.

The senseless violence had you frozen in place, jaw slack, and speechless.

Your feet felt like lead and your previous panic attack was back and worse than before. Someone to your left spotted you and was about to rat you out when you were snatched out of their sight.

Your eyes followed the arm dragging you through the crowd and recognized the intern from before.

Powder blue hair styled into an effortless waves with a diamond waist chain dress. Old Hollywood with a modern twist. Sapphire was her name you thought offhandedly.

"C'mon!! We have to get you outta here!" She pulled you towards one of the venue exits when more gunfire rang out far too close for comfort.

Pure instinct had you covering your head and dropping down low. The Blüdhaven girl in you knew what to do in these situations.

Sapphire wasn't phased and remained standing but turned around to scold you. "Y/n let's go!" She shouted over the chaos.

Big mistake.

"OVER HERE!" You heard over screams and mass commotion.

Sapphire bent down to help you up, not realizing her fate until it was too late. Neither of you heard the exact gunshot but the blood splatter that sprayed your face informed you it hit its mark.

You opened your eyes and saw Sapphire's body fall to the ground, motionless.

Standing behind her was her murderer, one of Two Faces' goons. He smiled and began to approach you when he too met the same fate as poor Sapphire. This time you heard the shot go off since the barrel was pointed directly over your shoulder.

It left your eardrums ringing and sent your heart on a nosedive straight to your stomach. You were shaking like a leaf but you snapped your e/c to its owner.

Another finely dressed male, obviously not one of Dent's men if his fashionable toffee colored suit was an indicator.

His eyes were cold, distant. This wasn't his first kill and he didn't miss a beat in dragging you closer to the door.

"Let's go." It wasn't a request. It was an order.

In your panic you didn't protest until he led you out of the grand hall. More people were running out of the venue this way creating a large, uncontrollable crowd that jump started your brain back into working mode.

"No, let me go! I—"

You were getting tired of the constant screaming as more automatic gunfire rang out and instantly dwindled the crowd.

Your mystery rescuer returned fire and took out quite a few men before practically throwing you over his shoulder. You heard your dress rip, but that was the least of your concerns.

"Put me down!"

He responded in kind by shaking you roughly.

"Listen lady! I'm here to protect you unless you actually want to talk with Dent!" He kicked a stairwell door open and barely made it inside before shots tore through the door.

His words made you stop hitting his back but you were still wary about trusting him.

"All those people are being killed because of me! I have to do something!" You thought you could plead a pity case to make him consider but failed.

"I don't care. I'm following orders. Keeping you safe is the only objective." He barked out.

He began running down the flights of stairs with you in tow and it did absolutely nothing good for your vertigo. And he made it look like a breeze.

Although it made you wonder why no one else was in the stairwell. Weren't people trying to escape? Surely they weren't that dumb and waited for the elevators like sitting ducks?

Regardless of their fate, your savior kicked a back door open and you noticed he emerged from a service exit and out onto the back alleyway of The Prosperity.

He wasted no time and ran towards an unmarked van where your heart dropped even further to your feet.

"Hey hey hey! Where are you taking me?! Whose orders are you following?!" No one you knew would have you treated like this.

It was turning out to be a kidnapping rather than a rescue. Not today Satan, you thought.

With some hidden strength you bucked your weight, throwing the guy off balance. He struggled a bit with you fighting back, but managed to slide the van door open and throw you in.

The metal lining was cold on your skin and somehow during the mayhem you twisted your ankle. Yet you shot up ready to fight your way out when he finally responded to your question.

"My Boss's orders."

He slammed the door shut on your bewildered face.

Your head was spinning trying to figure out who that was. You didn't hear him peel out of the alleyway on two wheels or overhear his frantic phone call to his unknown employer.

The only thought on your mind was, who was his boss? There were too many possibilities. This was Gotham after all.

A sharp turn had you colliding headfirst into the van's wall. You cried out in pain but it was drowned out by approaching tires and another shootout.

This was maddening!

Bullet holes riddled the lining of the van but thankfully they didn't come through and hit you. Maybe this guy was serious about protecting you. Your throbbing head said otherwise.

You applauded both his driving skills and the fact that he was multitasking in returning fire but there were no windows to see if he was winning or not. You were too dizzy to watch anyway.

The gunfire trickled to a stop and the van made several more sharp turns before straightening back out.

During one turn, you and your clutch slid on the floor, the latter gaining your attention.

Somehow the strap was still intact and didn't come loose. You didn't remember putting it on yet your Blüdhaven instincts were alive and kicking. It's what kept you alive so far.

Then everything was calm for what felt like hours.

You decided it was time to establish communication. "Hello?! Can you hear me? Where are we going?"

You hit the wall closest to the front seats with your fists until you ran out of energy.

If he did hear you, he chose not to reply so you sat in anticipation waiting for the van to fully stop. You were still running on adrenaline. You could still fight. When you felt the van come to a halt, you were a ball of nerves lying in wait. You had nothing to fight back with if the guy turned out to be a killer but you would go down swinging.

It felt like ages ago you were thinking about accepting Polly's offer before a psychotic former district attorney and his band of thugs started shooting up the place.

Did Polly and her husband make it out alive? You knew for a fact Sapphire was dead. The loss of life left a bitter taste in your mouth. A young girl with so much potential in life, gone. One minute you were talking to her and the next? Her blood was on your face.

You weren't expecting this to happen tonight. No wonder you were so nervous all day.

Maybe your subconscious knew what would happen and tried to warn you. All you knew was that innocent people were dead all because you wanted a movie contract.

It made you feel awful.

The door abruptly slid open, stealing your attention. Your captor stood in silence before he lifted up a brown linen bag. It was the kind you saw on tv that resembled potato sacks criminals put over their victim's heads and oh.... you knew what came next.

He approached you slowly.

"Don't you... dare!" You scooted as far back as you could but he was faster and dragged you forward by your clear high heels. "No!!" And your flight or fight instincts kicked in. Literally.

"Quit kickin' me!" He spat out.

He was quick to overpower you and corral the sack over your head, plunging you into darkness. But it didn't stop you from resisting his hold.

From here on out, you couldn't see a thing. He forcibly dragged you out of the van and once again hefted you over his shoulder, making you feel like a sack of potatoes. The irony was not lost to you. The bag over your head matched.

You screamed out as loud as you could and fought his hold but focused your remaining senses to remember or pinpoint your whereabouts.

The drive was long and you were in and out of consciousness during most of it. You heard waves so you were close to a body of water. Gotham was a cluster of islands so you used your nose instead. It wasn't briny or reeked of chemicals. That ruled out Gotham City's Port Adam and Dixon docks.

It was cold on your bare arms and somewhere during the walk the temperature drastically changed. Outside to inside, you didn't feel your captor hold a door open or walk up or down any stairs.

Wherever he took you was not anywhere you could determine based on your natural senses. You heard a new voice grant your captor access further inside. Not like he needed help, the guy holding you didn't break his stride once.

The new voice whistled and cat-called as you passed and laughed at you when you began to protest. "Easy.. easy." He said.

The guy holding you just sighed at the distraction but kept walking down seven steps, (you counted) until he came to a halt. He knocked on something, an old door judging by the creaking hinges it made as it opened. So this place was old. You remembered that useless fact for later.

He didn't walk far inside the room when he placed you back on your feet. Hands steadied you when you wobbled in your heels but a new voice rang out that made you stiffen up.

"You can go. I got her."

You thought you'd never hear his voice again. A part of you didn't want to believe this was real.

When the brown sack was removed from your head, you finally got to see the familiar face that haunted your mind and tormented your heart.

"J-Joker?"

He was seated at a table within the room but stood up to approach you slowly.

His clown makeup was fresh and he looked far more at ease than he ever did while at your apartment. His entire demeanor was different too. Dark, menacing, and heavy with unpredictable energy wafting off of him.

You were genuinely terrified of him. Joker was in his element here and he dominated the room with his dangerous aura. You didn't expect to ever see him again by the way you two yelled at each other last night.

Even though he said don't wait up, something about the way Joker left made you believe he wasn't returning. Despite all of that, Joker acted like nothing happened.

"Well you look like crap."

It took your brain a second too long to process his words but when they did, you exploded like a bottle rocket.

"T-That's how you greet me!? You disappear WITHOUT a trace and have me freaking kidnapped.."

"AhhttT. Rescued." Joker butted in to correct you. You glared daggers at him and kept ranting.

"And all you can say is look like crap?! I saw a teenager get shot in front of me! They.. they just barged in and st-started.."

Joker saw the exact moment when your anger shifted into sheer terror, reminiscing.

"Dent wanted me and.. and your henchman was in the right place at the right time. If he wasn't there, I don't know.. Wait. He protected me. You sent him to protect me didn't you? You knew?!"

Joker panicked when he saw you cry.

He feared absolutely nothing but when tears fell from your beautiful eyes, it terrified him like nothing else. He couldn't stand to see them. He feared them. He... feared you.

You had such a powerful hold on him it fascinated and troubled him.

"That's what your phone call was about that day. I was the target! You assigned your henchman to protect me. You knew! You knew and you still let this happen!"

You didn't know when Joker moved closer to you and quite honestly, you didn't care. "Hush bunny."

The dam broke after hearing that stupid but endearing nickname Joker gave you. He was quick to swoop in and hold you as you cried. You felt so small in his arms, your head barely reached his even with the sky high heels you wore.

Finally.. Joker had you in his arms and he refused to let you go.

Your body was cold with fear so Joker held you tighter to try and transfer his body heat to you. It was the best hug you could ever ask for in a situation like this.

Joker was floating on cloud nine. He buried his nose in your hair and inhaled the various products used to make it look so beautiful.

Even after your entire ordeal, the meticulous braids stayed in place and looked intricate and pretty. He wished he could have seen you beforehand. Your dress was ripped and it had blood all over it, but you still looked stunning in his eyes.

The grey material hugged all of your curves that he finally got to feel flush with his own body. You were so soft and gentle. Like a cherub he needed to cherish and never put in harm's way. Tonight's events were confirmation that he made a grave mistake in leaving you.

It took seeing the folly of his actions to realize what he had.

Joker never wanted to hurt you, it was always just an accident. You suffered his anger and paid the price countless times, but you still smiled for him. You were an innocent bunny in his eyes, hence the nickname you hated, and he could have prevented tonight's incident with just one order.

Joker had ample amount of manpower in the building to stop Two Face since his own men were already there to raid the party. But in the end his priority became you. It always was, Joker just lost sight of that fact.

Instead of proceeding with his original plans for the gala, Joker ordered Frost to get you out while the rest of his men stalled and returned gunfire with Two Face's goons.

GCPD will rule it a gang turf war and a senseless loss of life but Joker saw it all as a means to protect you.

Unfortunately there will be some lasting damage caused by tonight's actions but he would fix those problems as they arise.

Right now he had a hysterical girl in his arms. You weren't making any sense trying to apologize to him when in reality he was in the wrong.

Joker rarely apologized yet today seemed to be a first for everything.

"Just.. shut up Y/n and let me talk. I uh, I shouldn't have yelled at you. I was... I didn't have to say those things but I did. I keep causing you pain but it's not my intention.. I swearrr." Joker stressed his syllables and this time, it was because he was nervous.

You shook your head, still wrapped up in his embrace and looked up into vivid green. Your e/c orbs were like crystals gazing at him, blinking back tears.

"I'm the one who's sorry. I told you to leave when that's not true! I-I don't want you to leave.." You clung to his suit jacket, making wrinkles in the custom made material. You doubt Joker minded.

He was too caught up processing your words "I uh.. I won't leave." He wiped your tears and some of the blood from your face with his thumb.

A face like yours shouldn't be dirty, he thought.

Your breath caught in your throat like a hiccup. "P-Promise me you won't leave me again. I can't do this if you–"

He watched you suffer long enough.

Joker silenced any further words from your mouth with a long overdue kiss. It pleaded for forgiveness and was fueled by the growing tension festering between the two of you since the day you met.

Your hands found purchase in Joker's green tinted locks and you refuse to let go. Not that he minded. He was teleported to another dimension.

He finally got to kiss you and by the gods you were worth the wait.

Joker didn't consider himself a religious man but he prayed to any higher being available to stop time so he could savor you just a little while longer.

Exquisite and absolutely divine; you were his newfound drug.

He picked up the saltiness from your tears but your plump lips were ripe and moved with the sole purpose of driving him sane.

Every fiber of your being was poured out into this kiss and Joker was greedy enough to consume it all. He couldn't stop even if you begged him to. He wanted everything you had to give yet he knew you needed air.

A string of saliva kept you both connected until it broke off midair. You were panting and high off the feeling of Joker yet it wasn't enough.

Your lips desperately sought his again with a broken whine. Joker knew what you wanted and playfully tugged your bottom lip in between his teeth to deny you even longer.

Joker was enjoying this too much. Your moan tipped the stakes and it almost provoked his inner demon, but he held himself back. You didn't need that right now.

Joker stole one last kiss before resting his forehead on yours.

His voice was raw with passion, lowering it to a decibel that sent molten lava straight to your core.

"Shhhh.. I won't leave you again, bunny. I hmm.." Joker licked his lips and you kissed his jaw as he tried to gather his thoughts. "I won't, Y/n. I promise."

His words didn't falter and it was all the proof you needed to know that Joker was telling the truth.

You felt it in the way his hands shook on your waist and by how his breath was labored and tickled the un-gelled baby hairs on your forehead.

You had his word sealed in your heart and it was so surreal.

It left you feeling exposed and far too vulnerable in this random room. You didn't know where you were, except that you were in the comfort of Joker's arms.

It was the only place you knew that you were truly safe.

It sounded bizarre for the same man who caused you so much pain and who could have prevented the events you experienced today, to bring you comfort.

Today was so hectic. You'd been nonstop since early this morning.

Arguing with Barbara and Florence to your traumatic and stressful experience with Two Face. There was so much to unpack and not enough time to do it.

There was a growing pressure on your eyelids although you tried to fight the urge to stay awake. You wanted to stay forever wrapped up in this dangerous web with Joker.

He clung to you just as fiercely despite you weaving your silky spell further around his heart.

"Don't.. leave.. me." Your slurred speech made Joker pull back to eye you with concern.

You thought he was letting go and began to cry until his deep coo entered your ears. "I can't uh... your grip is too tight."

You didn't hear him fully but nodded listlessly nonetheless. Joker had mere seconds to adjust his hold on you when you suddenly fainted.

Despite today's circumstances, he wouldn't change a thing if the outcome kept you in his arms. Call him selfish, heartless- whatever. He waited long enough to kiss you and now that he had a taste, he couldn't leave.

Joker was addicted. For once he was grateful to be a man of his word and that you believed him.

He promised you he wouldn't leave and he vowed right then and there- not even Batman himself could tear you out of Joker's arms.

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