While being held up in Gotham's city hall, Lucy was amazed at her indifference about the whole situation. She was quite sure the violators would take whatever it is that they wanted and leave wlth no problems. They wore clown masks except for one.
Everyone's hands were up as they had been told to do so.
It was him. She'd know him even with the face paint and the scars.
His eyes brought back memories of those experiences; nights of recreational fun and self medication. Combined equally with nights of arguments and frustration. Which led to horrible weeks of detox. They'd helped eachother get through the nightmare days. The times when she could not find peace or be physically still due to withdrawls. He was able to calm her. When she looked at him, tunes of lazy sadness came back in the form of Without You, I'm Nothing by Placebo - one of the songs that she'd almost forgotten about listening to during that time. They had tried to find solace in music, which was ironic as sometimes it seemed only to flame the fire especially in times of reminiscing.
She's stuck by him for years while he searched the world for answers. He'd even gone back to college to major in philosophy. But as with everything, it had all fallen apart and he had left.
He had caught sight of her, doubtful that she'd recognize him. He turned around and began to walk away when he heard someone speak.
"So what. Your degree in philosophy makes you God now?" He halted.
"You read some Nietzsche and suddenly you have all the answers? Huh? Jack? Why don't you tell everyone what this is really about." gasps were heard when Lucy said his name. "Or are we all too stupid to understand."
He turned to her. She saw that he had been smiling. He put away his knife and slowly made his way to her.
"Ah there it is again," he said to himself aloud, "a face that could launch a thousand ships," He paused looking at her, "Baby!" he exclaimed, "You always did know how to push my buttons." He walked around her, "You haven't changed a bit," he said.
She rolled her eyes.
"You know I gotta admit, I was hoping we'd see each other again."
"Wish the circumstances were...different" she replied, haughtily.
"I wasn't sure you'd...ah...recognize me," he gestured to his face.
"Why did you leave me." She said under gritted teeth, becoming increasingly aware that Batman was probably nearby.
Jack was clearly baffled by her question.
"No I get it. You had an existential crisis." she got sarcastic when she was furious with him. He'd almost forgotten.
"Lucy," he said in a warning tone. But she kept on.
"I mean, I get that you are trying to prove a point. I get that you need an outlet-"
"Lucy, I-"
"I even understand why you want to watch it all burn-"
"Lucy-"
"But I don't get why you left me."
"Because I know you!" he erupted, "You would have followed me into the abyss!"
He smirked at her sudden loss for words. He turned around seemingly to exit but thought better of it and strode right up to her.
Batman immediately stood up, battarang in hand.
She did not flinch at all and was not afraid as the Joker extended his hand toward her. He caressed the hairline of where her cheek met her jaw the same way he did so many times before.
Batman froze in shock, watching them.
"I've missed you." Jack whispered to her.
His eyes were sad. His voice was as she remembered. He utterly meant every word he said. His gaze was so intense that she was ready to do anything for him. She had always been simply lost without him.
Just as she was quite certain that she'd be leaving with him, he was gone. Without her. As she came back to her senses she wondered about his face. Her anger and lust had blinded her to where she didn't think about how his face had got cut.