Chapter Seven

I woke up the next morning alone. The Joker had left my apartment immediately after our three hours of animalistic activities. All he had said when he left me there, bruised and sore, was that he would text me my next assignment on Monday. I had hoped that this meant I wouldn't have to see him all weekend, but a small part of me was hoping I would. I walked into my bathroom and saw all of the hickies and bite marks on my chest as well as my neck. Without thinking, I violently grabbed my concealer and dabbed blobs of it on each contusion. I carefully blended the liquid into my skin and although the naked eye probably couldn't see it, I could still feel it. I walked into my kitchen and shoved a k-cup into my Keurig. As I waited impatiently for my coffee, I heard a pound on my door. I knew it was Corrinne before I even opened up the door. I opened it and she looked worried.

"Leah, why the fuck was The Joker leaving your apartment early this morning?" Corrinne asked me as she came into my apartment. I shut the door and started to panic. She saw him. She saw The Joker. And everyone in Gotham knew who he was. He was constantly on the news.

"He's my new boss, Corrinne." I said as I grabbed my coffee. I poured the creamer in that Corrinne liked and took a sip before handing the coffee to her. She had bags under her eyes which meant she needed it more than I did.

"My God. What are you talking about? Why would Gotham's biggest criminal want a journalist on his payroll?!" She shrieked.

"My piece that I wrote on him. He didn't take too kindly to me putting his personal life on blast. But he appreciated how I have my resources in Gotham. So he hired me as a PI." I said. She eyed me, confused. "A private investigator. He is paying me A LOT of money to do this. Plus, he really didn't leave me a choice." I said.

"Wait, he is forcing you?" She asked, blinking at me hard. I hesitated. "Oh hell no Leah. You don't have to do anything you don't want to! Can't you go to the cops?" She asked.

"No. I can't." I really didn't want to tell her that he would probably kill me. That would just make this even worse. She sighed in a frustrated manner.

"This is so messed up Leah." She said shaking her head.

"I know. But I can take care of myself." I said as I sipped our coffee.

"Well, how was your date with Josh?" She asked.

"You mean Jeff? It was fine. He is so cute. So nice too, which is not what I thought of him to begin with." I said smiling. "He is making me dinner tonight at his place." I said. She eyed me, confused again.

"Now, I am not trying to pry, but you look like you just got laid. So did you guys already do the deed?" She asked.

"Um. No." I said, looking away. She gasped.

"The...You did The…"She tried to spit out.

"Yes. I did. You'd be surprised how charming he can be…"I started.

"Leah, he is a criminal. He is not a good guy! He made that psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum lose her mind! He tortured her! What the hell was her name?" She asked.

"Harleen Quinzel. Better known now as Harley Quinn. And yes I am aware." I said. "It's just a physical thing. For some reason I can't turn him down. I hate the guy with a firey passion. But his body. His eyes. His everything really, I can't say no to it. I barely even know him, but I do know two things. One, I hate him. Two, I can't stop screwing him." I said angrily. Corrinne looked at me sympathetically. She of all people knew what that felt like.

"Who says you have to stop then?" She asked, smirking.

"I mean, there's Jeff for one thing." I said.

"Are you two exclusive? I don't think so. One date doesn't mean a relationship. You are a grown woman and you can make your own choices. Don't be so hard on yourself. The only thing I would be concerned about is the fact that…"She started.

"He is a murderer, a thief and a con artist?" I said.

"Well I was going to say he is your new boss, but hey that works too." She said smiling. I smiled back. My phone buzzed on the counter and my heart dropped. I was dreading that it could be The Joker, but when I saw that it was Jeff, my grin dropped a bit. "Uh huh. Not The Joker that texted ya huh?" Corrinne asked.

"What? How did you know?' I asked.

"You smile went away pretty quick. Just a lucky guess that it wasn't him." She said smirking. I slapped her on the shoulder and texted Jeff back.

-Hey gorgeous, my place, tonight at 8pm sound good?- Jeff

-Yeah sounds great. :-) Address? - Me

- 59th and Franklin St. Apartment 10.

"Well, I am going to try and get some cleaning done before I have to leave tonight." I said as I hugged Corrinne.

"Well okay. But I do believe a girls night is in order very soon." She said. I smiled and nodded as I shut the door behind her. I scrubbed down my house in a freakish sort of way until I felt exhausted. The Joker had touched a lot of places in my apartment. It made me feel uneasy. Before I knew it, it was only an hour before my date with Jeff. I threw my cleaning gloves off and got ready. I kept it casual. I wore light skinny jeans, chucks and a band t-shirt. When I stepped out of my apartment building, I felt like someone was watching me. I shrugged it off and started walking. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket.

-You look cute, where ya headed gorgeous?- Joker

My heart froze. He was watching me. I looked around at the busy city, trying to figure out where he was.

-You'll never spot me.- Joker

-1) None of your business 2) Good, now leave me alone. - Me

I was waiting for a threatening text as I walked towards Jeff apartment in the middle of Gotham City. Nothing. I smiled and continued walking through the busy streets. I reached the apartment building Jeff gave me directions to and I buzzed apartment 10. Instead of ringing down to see who it was, he just buzzed me in. I walked up the first flight of stairs and reached apartment 10. As I knocked I heard Jeff rustling around in his kitchen as I could hear the pots and pans. He answered the door in a gray and plaid button up shirt, jeans and his hair was down and sort of swaying in his face. He looked amazing. I suddenly became self aware of my bite marks all over me. I remembered the gargantuan amount of cover up I used and relaxed. His face lit up as he saw me.

"Hey you. Come on in. I've got some Italian cuisine goin'. Wine?" He asked.

"Ugh yes please." I said as I sat down roughly on his couch. He eyed me.

"Rough day?" He asked as he poured. Damnit. Think of something.

"Oh no, just tired I guess." I said. He nodded and handed me a glass of dark red wine. I gulped it down quickly.

"Are you sure?" He said as he chuckled. I smiled.

"Oh yeah, just the new job is taking a lot out of me." I said. I wasn't really lying.

"Yeah I can tell, I saw you at that bar next to the coffee house last night. I figured it was work." He said, almost interrogating.

"Oh yeah, one my bosses clients." I said.

"Damn. That's a shady bar, lot of the mob hangs out there. What kind of clients does your boss have?" He asked, almost prying.

"Oh. I don't know. I don't ask many questions." I said, trying to avoid the subject. He nodded as he sipped his wine. We ate our dinner and joked. We laughed and carried on about random things. It was when I was around Jeff that I felt normal. I clung onto that for dear life. We proceeded to the couch after dinner and sat close to each other.

"So, have you lived in Gotham all of your life?" He asked as he stroked my leg.

"Yeah. You?" I asked. I really didn't want to talk about my past. He nodded.

"Any brothers or sisters?" He asked.

"Um, no." I said quickly.

"Where are your parents?' He continued.

"I, I don't know. They...I was in foster care my entire life." I said.

"Wow. I didn't know. I'm sorry." He said.

"That's not really the bad part of my past really. I had a period of my life where I got into some...trouble. I was sort of lost. But I found my way." I said. He nodded and brushed a stray hair away from my face.

"That's amazing. I've never met anyone like you. You're so strong." He said. I smiled. He leaned in to kiss me and I completed his path to my lips. I straddled him as he gripped onto my thighs. The rest of the night was history.

I woke up next to Jeff and looked at the alarm clock on his nightstand. It was 2am. I grabbed my clothes and did my best to not wake him. I left him a note apologizing for bailing, but letting him know I would see him later. I was sure to add a few x's and o's. My night with Jeff was amazing. But I couldn't help but see that white face. That white face with that terrifying grin. Being with Jeff was gentle and normal. Something every sane person wants. But I found myself hungry. Hungry for the lust and anger that came alongside my time with The Joker. This scared me. I walked out of Jeff's building and hugged myself from the cold. As I walked, a car pulled up beside me. A black Cadillac. The back window rolled down and I saw his piercing eyes, glaring at me.

"Get in." He growled. I didn't hesitate. I opened the door and slid in. The Joker was leaning his arms on his cane, that dug into the car floor. He stared out the window next to him and ignored me. My chest heaved as I waited for him to say something. "Was he good?" He asked. My heart dropped. He knew I slept with Jeff. He was going to kill me.

"He was...different." I whispered. The Joker cackled under his breath. Before I could comprehend, he had a hard grip around my throat. I choked out as I tried to loosen his hand. No use.

"Different eh? Who is better? Me or him?' He growled.

"You." I choked. His grip loosened and I could feel his hot breath on my lips. He smelled like liquor and cigarette smoke. I didn't even think he smoked. Before I could think, his lips were on mine. He roughly kissed me and I kissed him back. I wrapped my arms around his neck and moaned into him. Just as things were getting good, he pulled away and sat back in his seat. The driver stopped the car.

"Now get out." He ordered. I looked at him with shock, he ignored me. I scoffed and got out. I watched as the black SUV sped away. This was my life now.