Till a Century

Just like a crow chasing the butterfly.

The Signs:

Her hand dances, firmly so. Fingertips fiddling with the cloth of her dress, humming languidly a cheerful tune; dawning to her environment of a lazy day underneath the everglade. She feels warmth against the porcelain of her face as a balance of sunrays trickle between the hands of branches that protruded proudly from trees. For the moment, she feels at ease. Listening to the performers that practiced around her sleeping form, idly watching the circus children duck between the thick roots of tall grass.

Alice leans against the bark of the tree, barely listening to the chatter around her. "And is Miss Alice comfortable?" One performer would ask while taking the stroll pass her tree and into the thick turf of swarming grass; a gentle gale riddled the pasture, and ruffled the hem of Alice's dress.

"As comfortable as my body will allow." Alice hummed slowly, sighing almost to her own readjusting. "I'll tell you where it hurts the most." Alice huffed, almost humorously when she thought about her condition, "The spine. I've read this was normal – sure, but books could never prepare me on how uncomfortable my body would be."

"Do you wish for me to retrieve something more proper for you to lean against?" The acrobat offered and Alice was quick to wave off the offer with a flick of her hand and a subtle smile. "No thank you. I truly need to sit up straight. I must admit – I've been lazy lately."

"In all due respect, Miss Alice, it is to be expected." The faceless performer chuckled, his hands clapping eagerly together. "I must insist. Allow me to retrieve something for you. Perhaps you crave the soda popcorn?" The performer bounced on heel, his clothes jingling to every movement.

Alice inwardly wanted to gag; who came up with the bright idea of popcorn and soda? Alice already banished her cravings that gnawed in the breaking hours of dawn – but she was never desperate enough to understand the joys of soggy popcorn that churned in various colors of soda. Alice nervously chuckled, not meaning to be rude, "No – no. I'm perfectly fine with leaning against this tree and watching the rest of you practice."

"Nothing at all? You're completely sure, Miss Alice? A pillow? How about a blanket? It is no hassle – if you believe that." The faceless performer went on.

"I'm truly fine." And truly, she was. Mindlessly, her hand graced the swell of her stomach and rubbed in a slow circle. She was at peace.

White:

The man loomed near, almost trailing Alice with every twist and corner she indulged in. Of course, the Jester would offer his hand to the young maiden with child, his child. And of course, Alice would decline the offer of the slide of hand to guide her. "I'm fine. I wasn't born yesterday. I can walk on my own." Alice mumbled irritably, fingers skimming through a market stall table. Her fingertips brushed dainty against fabric and layers of colors that seemed to catch her eye.

"Hm. Mood swings, I suppose?" White chuckled warmly, "And I have no doubt, dear Alice. Don't blame me – blame the land. A pregnant Foreigner of our world is a –"He cleared his throat, "privilege." He tries to present her with his hand again. Scornfully, she narrows her eyes at the snow-pale hand, before turning her back to him to carry on her window-shopping. She wasn't in the mood; not with her back in pain and her odd need to move around rather than laze about. "And – here my lovely Alice wounds me." The Ringmaster grinned, "And declines my love so."

"I'm not rejecting you." Alice bit off, "I just do not feel like being touched." She folds several garments and hangs them on the side of her arm to checkout for later.

"That's not what she was begging eight months prior." The mask attached to White's hip sang, mocking her. "I can remember it," the mask crackled evilly, "does the phrase 'Put it in me. Put it in me. Please, don't stop.' ring a bell, princess?" White is quick to snap his hand over the mask, silencing the laugh that echoed within the confines of the glassy face.

"Pay Joker no mind, dear Alice." White masked his counterpart's laugh with his own subtle one.

Alice's lips thinned, and her eyes widen up at the man. White's single eye reminds her of blood; menacing and longing. His smile is pulled wicked, his features truly hard to read even if she squints her eyes and tilts her head. This reaction only causes Alice to frown, and retreat to her everyday affairs. "Regardless," She mutters behind her dulled pink lips, "I don't need you treating me like a child. I – know my way around the circus grounds."

"And I do not doubt your abilities to get around. Oddly –"White straightened out his clothes, fidgeting on the foreign feeling of caring. It disgusted him on how he, and his counterpart turned out; sniveling, deranged men that was placed in a goose-chase of rounding their not so kind – rather moody, pregnant Outsider. (She can be kind depending on the occasion and weather. Not so much today.) "- It must be natural to bicker over your significant other. Tell me, fair Alice, is this how foolish men in your world react? The feeling is annoying. Worrying – how troubling." Still, the clown would smile even if his words didn't match up with his features; horrifying happy.

"Depends on the man." Alice noted drolly, scooting about the man to look over the table that was decorated in gold and pretty bobbles that caught her fancy. "Though, there is nothing troubling to raise concern. Be off now."

The Ringmaster circled the maiden, ignoring the vivid frown that plastered over her thin lips. "Hey, now. Is that any way to talk to someone who only offers their support?" His hands plucked at the fabric that Alice carried, and placed them upon his forearm. His daring, unbalanced crimson eye staring the young woman down; his slender, spiderlike fingers slowly sliding up the length of her arm, then curved over her shoulders to pull her into his good graces. "Such a bitter woman." The clown hummed when his lips pressed firmly to her forehead, smirking into the delicate skin.

Velvet kissed the lining of her face, her fingers curling into the fabric of his chest, trying to push him away without prevail. "Can you not do that now?" Her voice fell between the lines of a whisper, slurring when his head tilted down to press his lips against hers, he'd do it again to tempt a deeper frown upon her lips; he'd smile knowing that he could do whatever he wished.

"Hush." He teased calmly, "Now, listen to me." His hands slid back down, mapping out a shiver upon her flesh. One hand moved to brush against the swell of her stomach, while the other reached up to cup her chin, sliding his thumb over her bottom lip. The man kept true to his hallow-point smile, but his eyes filled to the brim with insanities and melancholy promises – he wasn't right in the head, but Alice seemed to denounce the blemish. It dawned upon her that she cared, even if she never meant to fall into the arms of the bluntly mad. "You tell me not to treat you like a child. Knowing so, that you are with my child. How can you ask me not to bother you? Silly, girl. Might as well get over it." He leaned back in to give her another peck, a simple kiss.

There was no denying the proximity at that moment; standing within the middle of the marketplace.

Black:

It was a push. A rather forced push.

Alice stood her ground, seething at the man before her. Unfazed, Black calmly brushed off his warden uniform. "Such a bratty girl." The man mused, grinning hard over the woman who dared him an inch closer. Still, his shoes clicked against the concrete of the prison, making his way to press back against the woman; the object of his own twisted affection. Hands gripped at the bars from over her shoulders, her body bumping into the cell behind her; the cage rasped over the added weight.

"I'm not in the mood. I'm tired." Alice noted and Black purposely ignored the information.

"Still doesn't explain your reason of pushing me. And here – I was wishing in insisting you to the bedroom." The watch-keeper simply stated, inclining his head to catch a better visual of Alice's face; she turned her head away and making it blatantly obvious that she didn't care about the cautious glare he supplied her with.

"Simply luring me." The woman huffed.

"Me? Lure you? All the f- no. Now, would I trick you?" His fingers curled dangerously around the bars, caging her like a startled animal; preying and hovering over her smaller form, claiming. "You've been bitching lately, and it's gotten on my nerves. Now, I'm not going to take it like that bastard clown. You can drop the act. Tch. Bloody woman."

Alice pushed against his chest, attempting to remove him from her space again. The warden remained firm, and instead went to gripping the side of her hip and her forearm. "Will you stop? Damn." In vain, Alice's fingers curled against his uniform, nails digging into the dark fabric.

"I told you I'm not in the mood! I'm sick, now leave me alone." Alice shot back, but the man kept his grip firm against her and began to wrestle her form against his; he enclosed her against his chest, and the hand that held her arm quickly shifted to the small of her back, pressing her hips against his; the swell of her pregnancy pushing against his abdomen.

"Will you shut up? You're giving me a headache." He muttered against her forehead. While he spoke in vile intent, his actions proved differently; his fingers moved in slow circles against the lower portion of her back, his other latched over the upper section to hold her securely against his chest. "Now, what the fuck has been up with you lately? I can't even get in a word without you bitching at me for every little thing." His tone dropped an octave, his steady breathing blushed against her skin.

"I'm sick. I'm tired. I just want to go to sleep without you bothering me." Alice repeated, jerking against his touch. Once she realized she wasn't going to escape, she settled into his hold.

"So you've made it known. I could practically hear you yelling down the halls." Black hummed, his gaze was riddled unimpressed, his lips thinned out and wasn't as menacing as before he caught her in his metaphorical web.

Alice scoffed, "And you persist in bothering me!"

"I only deem it right. Might as well get over it, princess, you're stuck with me." Black noted drolly, almost bored over Alice's exchange. "I understand that you're pregnant. That you must complain. Whatever. But can't you at least greet me before sulking off into the bedroom?" He leaned in and nipped the side of her neck, his teeth grazing over her flesh, "Fuck." He muttered in a harsh whisper. "You're irritating."

"You only contribute." She retorted, still trying to move away from his touch; he wouldn't tolerate it.

"Not I, you bring it upon yourself." He moved his lips up her neck, one peck underneath her jawline, then one placed in the middle of her throat; her back was pressed firmly against the jail cell gate, hands roaming and cupping. "Now, quit fighting and humor me, Alice." Black chided, but his smug remark was replaced with a more balanced grin.

The girl began to settle, feeling at ease once his hand finally graced over her stomach, thumbing gently over the fabric of her dress. "Are you scared?" He finally let out, ravishing her with ghosted kisses against the hollow of her neck.

"Of course." Her eyes closed, trying to sooth her erratic breathing.

"Why?" He beckoned. His lips moved away from her skin, his eye moving to level her out again, nuzzling his forehead against hers. "Why is my annoying Outsider scared?" He playfully repeated.

Slowly, her eyes opened. A single crimson hue stared back into her ocean-complex. Nervously, she bit her lip, leaning herself back into his touch. "Why? Can't you also admit that you are scared? I'm sure even Joker could admit to the fear in change."

Black lowly chuckled, "You assume that I'm scared? Not I, dear girl. I find it enticing."

"Or so you say. You are a man of lies." Alice's lips slowly shifted north, sighing in content to the warmth of his hand brushing against her stomach.

Bed: (Shorts)

"No."

"Shut up, and move over. Here." Black holds up the blanket, waiting for Alice to slide into his space. He tugs on the blanket impatiently.

"It just hurts to lay down. The baby is basically laying on my spine, well it feels like that." Alice kneeled upon the bed, her knees brushing against the plush of the bed, her hands fisting into the covers. She's experiencing a shortness in breath, her body overall uncomfortable over the change.

"Lay on your side, and press yourself up against me. I'll help you go to sleep." Black bickered and Alice cringed. "Not like that! Damn it! Can't I say anything without you taking it to a different context?" Black leaned over to tug at Alice's arm, slowly coaxing her to turn away from him and lay upon her side. Alice gasped in pain, waiting for Black's arms to engulf her.

"I'm still in pain." The foreigner whined, feeling the slide of Black's hand that was placed on her hip.

"I heard you the first time." The warden sighed, curling against her body. His hand rotated in comforting circles about the muscle of her hip, moving the touch to the lower section of her back, feeling her body tense then relax under the care. "See? Better? Try to get some sleep now." If Alice wanted to be truthful with herself, she would have guessed a note of comforting upon his foulmouthed, silver-tongued words.

She moved her body closer to him till her back was flush against his chest. And after a thirty-minute process she finally drifted into a dance of a dream; sighing humbling under the touch. After an hour, however, Black still didn't find the need of sleep.

The bed shifted in weight, and under the dark silhouette, Black could see his counterpart's frame. White moved against the adjacent end of the bed, nuzzling his face into the crook of Alice's neck; Alice heeded nothing, but shifted slightly in her sleep.

"Really? I mean, really?" Black whispered in vain, his tone dropping dangerously to the man on the opposite end. Possessively, Black shifted Alice's sleeping figure closer to his.

-x-

A/N: Time to sum shit up! It must be confusing considering both Joker's dad to Alice's child. Well – if you wanted to be technical, they would be since they are one entity. It sort of makes more sense in Diamond no kuni no Alice. (One entity that are the same, but not.) If it bothers you that much just think of them as separate? Hence, my reason for separate name categories.

These will be dabbles of Alice and the Jokers that revolve around their kid(s)

Reasons: It was more out of request. A continuation of "I Cannot Leave" This fic will consist with creepy shit – even if it may seem sweet now. Whatever.

Rating: A High Teen for Language and implied sexual themes.