I was originally gunna just have this as well chapters but I had a couple of cute little ideas so they get their own chapter, it's just filler though really.
Joker fell back on the bed, panting and laughing. he raised his hand to wipe his flushed face.
"Was that..?"
Joker nodded, "Oh yeah… You've gotten good at that."
Bruce lifted himself over Joker's small frame, running his hand over the man's chest, brushing a few kisses into his skin.
Joker bit his lip, looking down at the younger man. "You can't... " he cleared his throat, painting his charade smile back on his face and affixing the tone of voice that went with it. "Brucie, baby, I was thinking… You know what Damian's been saying? How you should give up being Batman?"
Immediately he felt the mood of the room change, Bruce tensed up, instantly angry.
"Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea," he added, unsure of himself.
Bruce shook his head, pulling away from him, "Why would you think that?"
Joker raised an eyebrow, "For all the very smart reasons that your little hell spawn has already told you. That and I don't like you running off and having fun while I'm stuck here."
"I'm not running off having fun."
Joker scoffed, pulling Bruce in for a kiss, "Don't lie to me Batsy, I know that you feel more alive out there than you do anywhere else."
Bruce stayed silent, pulling away from his new boyfriend and pulling on some clothes.
Joker smirked, knowing the silence meant he'd made his point.
"Brucie, look, I'll make a deal with you. You stop being Batman and I'll stop being Joker."
"How would that work?" Bruce asked, sitting down at the end of the bed, taking a moment to admire Joker's naked frame.
Despite everything, he found it hard to imagine a more beautiful sight.
"I don't know," Joker replied with a coo to his voice, "Just call me Joe from now on."
"And come to therapy with me," he added, "I know you've seen just as much shit as me."
Bruce bit his lip, frowning weakly, "I don't know."
Joker let out a huff as he sat himself up, "Look, the Joker was my entire identity and I gave that up without a fight. I've dyed my hair, cut off all ties to everyone… all the shit I've done. I've given up my entire life for you."
Bruce decided against reminding Joker that he'd been on the brink of suicide when they began this.
How hard it'd been for him since then...
That night on the rooftop felt so long ago even though it was only a few months. Joker had made so much progress in that time. Now that he wanted to be helped, now that he had some kind of closure of his former life…
And now he'd picked a name for himself.
"Joey," Bruce said, playing with the word in his head. "Joey's good. I thought you liked Jack..?"
"Jack feels a little young for me. Maybe as a middle name?"
Bruce nodded, letting a smile take over his face. "Joseph Jack Wayne? Sounds great."
Joker shrugged, "Your name tacked on the end doesn't sound half bad," he gave Bruce a playful wink. "So what do you say to giving up Batman?"
Bruce let out a soft huff, "I… it's a big decision. But… I can at least try." He gave a smile to the ex-clown, "Do you want to come and have some breakfast with me?"
Joker reached out lazily, a sweet smile on his face, "I thought you'd already had your fill, old man."
Bruce raised an eyebrow, leaning down to give Joker another kiss, "Don't be crude." He pulled himself away and walked to the door, Joker watching intently from the bed. "Get some clothes on and come on."
After getting appropriately dressed the two made their way to the kitchen, finding the rest of the family already there: Damian, his husband Matthew and their adopted son Dylan.
"I have some news," Bruce said as they entered. Joker felt his stomach flip; was he going to announce his retirement this soon after deciding?
Everyone was looking up at them.
"Joker has chosen a new name," Bruce began, much to Joker's internal dismay. "Joseph Jack Wayne. If you could call him that from now on."
"Joseph is a little close to Joker don't you think?" Damian asked, his eyebrow raised.
"Damian's a little close to demon don't you think?" Joker retorted weakly.
That was one thing he'd admit he didn't like; staying in a family home.
He'd stayed at a therapy centre for the first few weeks after he and Bruce had first… connected, and he'd gotten used to that setting pretty quick, this however… it had been months and he still had trouble.
Being around a child put him on edge and he wasn't sure why. He didn't want to dwell on it. He'd always hated children.
Matthew, Damian's husband, was always oddly accommodating, it was as if the man didn't know who he was. It was so unnerving to be treated without any kind of malice.
Damian was the total opposite, acid in every word aimed at him.
Without another word he took his food and sat down, in the chair furthest away from the happy family.
He'd listen to their conversations but never take part. It felt so disjointed.
.
Bruce felt his back strain as he lifted one of the moving boxes, gritting his teeth in pain.
"Brucie," Joseph called, beginning to walk over, "Lift with your knees not your back."
He put the box down, rubbing his side and straightening himself up. How he was lifting was not the problem.
"When are your children going to come and help you?" Joseph said, his tone filled with judgement.
Bruce shook his head, he knew they were on their way but they sure did seem to be taking their time.
"Should we go inside and have a cup of tea?" he offered, smiling at his partner and hooking his arm round his waist.
Joseph let out a small hum, nodding happily and guiding them into their house.
It was perfect.
A spacious one bedroom bungalow with a big garden, miles away from anything.
They walked together through the spacious white front hall and into the contrasting kitchen.
Everything was set up furniture wise, the boxes in the car was all that was left.
"Joey did you bring the cups in already?" Bruce asked, looking around the room before beginning to open the cupboards, pausing once he realised everything has already been put in its proper place. He pulled out two mugs and began to make the tea, he could never get it as good as Alfred had, but he tried.
"See when I say I'm going to do something I do it," Joseph said smugly, "You should know that by now."
Bruce let out a small grunt, glancing over at him and smiling softly.
"So where's my thank you?" Joseph grinned, "My congratulations? My number one boyfriend trophy?"
"I haven't unpacked it yet," Bruce retorted, smiling and leaning on the counter.
Joseph let out a soft chuckle, stifling himself, "I see my humour's rubbing off on you," he bit his lip, pulling up to give the other man a soft kiss, hooping his arms around Bruce's neck. "You know I find that very attractive in a man."
"Then how did you fall for me in the first place?"
Joseph smirked, kissing him again, "I've told you before, you used to be hot."
"And I'm not hot now?"
Joseph shrugged, "Well I mean, your ass isn't quite as perky."
Bruce let himself chuckle, moving his hands to Joseph's hips, "I wore a cape how could you see my ass?"
Joseph pressed against him, so close Bruce could feel his breath, "A mad man has his ways."
Bruce leant forward to kiss him, pulling him as close as he could.
He hated when Joseph referred to himself as mad, it made his stomach turn. He was trying so hard, he tortured himself so much. To hear him say it so nonchalantly…
They were pulled from their moment by a knock on the door and a shout through the house.
"Hey, Bruce? Joe?" Richard's familiar voice called through, "Why is all your stuff just…"
The young man paused as he walked into the kitchen, seeing them partially entwined. "Oh," he said flatly, "Ok, look, if you want my help you can't be… canoodeling infront of me."
Bruce looked over Joseph's shoulder towards his adopted son, "We're just taking a page out of yours and your husband's book."
Dick shook his head, "Please don't. And speaking of my husband, Al couldn't come to help, him and Shane have this daddy day thing."
Bruce felt Joseph deflate a little through relief, he knew he wasn't looking forward to having a teenager running around.
They still weren't sure exactly why he disliked children so much, though they were sure that'd come out eventually.
"Ok," Bruce said with a nod, giving Joseph a small squeeze before pulling away, "Well all that's left out there is things I can't bring in myself." He glanced down at the mugs of half-made tea, "We were just taking a break."
"Yeah don't you tell me what you were doing," Richard said with a shake of his head, "I preferred it when you thought you were asexual."
Joseph raised an eyebrow, "The fuck is asexual..?"
Bruce shook his head, "It doesn't matter Joe," he looked up at Dick, "Stop being over dramatic."
"No no I like over dramatic," Joseph whined, tugging on the sleeve of Bruce's shirt, looking at Dick and smiling, "Do go on Dicky-bird."
Richard shook his head dismissively, letting out a huff, "Do you want my help or not?"
"Not only do we want your help, we need your help," Joseph said happily, finally pulling himself fully away from Bruce, "I'm pretty sure that he's going to kill himself if he tries to bring those books in."
I hope you liked it, please review.
