A/N: Ring a ding ding, I'm in a cheery mood tonight! It's four a.m. and I just finished polishing the disheartening chapter 8. Expect an update on Friday! People have put this story to their favorites, I'm exceedingly flattered and hope that the chapters still to come won't disappoint. Keep reviewing, doesn't have to be serious critique, it's just nice to hear if you like the story. Or the Joker. Or anything. I have nothing against serious critique either. ^^ Still, I don't own the Joker. If I did he'd be harassing me, not Gin. Not that I'm jealous. Damn.
"What did you just call me?" That'd better be the last time he called me that.
"What's wrong, Virginity? That is your name, isn't it?", the Joker said, pushing her buttons on purpose. He kept his back on her, pretending to examine the tapestry.
"It isn't. It's not", she pressed. Virginia was a name bad enough, and he had to twist it and turn it into something even worse.
"But it suits you so well", he said, turning around to look at Gin who was fuming by the edge of her bed, "By what I've seen, and, um, felt, so far, I'd say that name does you more than justice."
"You're disgusting", she said, making a face at him.
"You wouldn't have me any other way, love."
"Actually I-"
"Enough chitchat, as much I enjoy getting you all riled up, we've got places to be!", he said with enthusiasm, slamming his palms together. Gin noticed that he wasn't wearing his gloves. "Get dressed, so we can get going? Great! I'll be waiting in the living room."
He hastened out of the room, leaving Gin behind with a hundred questions. She blinked a few times, the fact that she was apparently going to get out of the apartment sinking in. Yes! Not that she had a plan, but hey, it was progress compared to just pacing around the apartment like a feline in a cage.
After putting some clothes on, this time she'd chosen her outfit in a record time: fifteen minutes, she was getting more excited by the minute. I'm getting out! Not sure where exactly, but as long as it's outside it's good. Maybe I could try something, try to escape... But how? She couldn't call the coppers, her own record wasn't exactly clean, and she assumed that the Italians were still after her. Shite. She truly was in a dead end.
She wondered if staying with the pesky clown was her only realistic option as she walked to the hall, looking around to find the said clown. He noticed her from the living room and broke into a smile that would have been heartwarming, had it been on someone else's face. He spread his hands in an admiring gesture, giving her an appreciative once-over.
"You're looking absolutely amazing today, sweet cheeks", he said, taking her hand and kissing it in a parody of chivalry. She yanked her hand away, raised an incredulous eyebrow and didn't say anything as the Joker gestured her to move towards the front door. She went to the door and stopped next to it, knowing it would be locked, and waited for him to come and open it with an irritated expression on her face.
He took a bunch of keys from his pocket, where does he use all of them?, found the right one and unlocked the door. Instead of going through it, he stepped to the side and bowed.
"Ladies first, or what is it that they say?"
"What are you waiting for then?" She crossed her arms and looked at him with a defiant expression. He slowly straightened himself and took a deep breath.
"Why thank you, but I'm no lady. You see, I enjoy, violence, arsons, and rough and dirty sex in alleyways. I'm not a vulnerable virgin, who gets all fuzzy when a man is," he flashed her a knowing grin and stepped closer, "less than two feet away from me."
"Fine! Fine. Ugh!", she gave up and raised her arms in surrender.
Wanker, Gin thought, but went through the door. No one there. I could make a run for it. The emergency stairs are just around the corner... But before she could sprint anywhere, the Joker had thrown a possessive arm around her waist, pulling her to him. She glanced up to his face to see a wicked grin.
"No funny business, got that cupcake?" Gin only nodded frantically in response.
They took the elevator down to the parking hall and Ginny cursed that there were no security cameras anywhere. There had been a reason her godfather had chosen this building to buy an apartment from. It respected the privacy of its residents. The elevator doors opened and they stepped out, his hand never letting go of her waist.
There were some men hanging around the hummers that had once been Gambol's. Those bastards are using his cars! Gin's doubts were confirmed as one of the shady looking men opened the door to the black car, allowing her and the Joker to get in. Gin automatically backed away to the other door, trying to get some space between them. His reaction was to give her an amused look while making himself comfortable, spreading his legs and leaning down on the seat. He pulled out a small knife from his pocket, starting to play with it absent-mindedly. Gin took a second glance at the blade and decided to keep it cool. If I can.
The driver got in, started the car and violently pulled out from the parking spot. Gin looked out the window for a moment before turning her head to the Joker and asking:
"Where exactly are we going?"
The Joker turned his gaze to her, scratching his left cheek.
"Well, if you haven't noticed, the fridge is almost empty, so we need to refill it", he said, using the tone a parent would use while explaining a kid why it's stupid to bite your own hand.
"What, so we're going grocery shopping?"
"No, we're not. You and my friend here are." He pointed at the driver with the knife, and he gave Gin a hesitant smile.
Gin rubbed her eyes in disbelief. Oh come on, grocery shopping with some crook? Her life was getting more and more ridiculous by the moment.
"Don't ya worry, sweetie, he knows the consequences if he tries something funny with you", he said, apparently thinking she was afraid of the thug. She slowly lowered her hands, looking at the Joker from above them.
"Oh really? What if I try something funny?", Gin asked. The Joker gave her an "oh, please" -look and then turned his gaze back to the window.
"We don't need to find that out, do we?"
Gin swallowed, watching him play with the knife, and said in a shrill voice, "No."
The car then curved to the parking lot of a supermarket.
"Now, I'm gonna wait here, in the car, while you do your little shopping. Larry here has the money, you just get what you want, mmkay?"
Ginny looked at the Joker as "Larry" parked the car right in front of the store.
"Um, okay...?"
"And honestly, Virginity, even if you somehow, magically manage to run away, I will find you, okay? And when I will, I'll have to punish you", he said with a serious voice and Gin didn't feel like making clever remarks. Larry got out of the car and went to open the door for Gin, interrupting her reverie while she wondered what her "punishment" would be.
Of course, while inside the store, Larry kept always side to side with her. Apparently I'm not the only one getting punished if I get away. She just kept gathering things casually in the cart, trying to decide what kinds of foods she'd like to have. And oh yeah, Gin remembered, a new bottle of gin. She put a bottle in the cart, avoiding Larry's eyes the best she could. He did gave her a strange look, but decided not to ask questions.
To her own astonishment, she'd completely given up on the thought of escaping. Of course a part of her rebelled and tried to think of clever ways to get rid of Larry, but then she remembered that the Joker would find her, and she didn't want Larry to pay the price for her taking flight.
Since when have I cared for some small-time criminal? Gin shook her head to regroup herself. She had everything she needed and headed to the checkout, Larry scampering a few steps behind her with the full shopping cart.
Gin smiled at the poor henchman and wondered what the Joker was paying him. Probably not enough. Larry returned her smile hesitantly and started to unload the cart onto the counter. The cashier wished them a good morning, not noticing anything strange in them. If she only knew...
Gin giggled to herself and the girl behind the cash register glanced at her, also smiling.
"Nothing, just remembered something funny", Gin cleared. The cashier just kept smiling, getting back to her work. Larry gave Gin a nervous look, scared that she might blow their cover and tell everyone that the Joker was outside waiting them in a car.
She was actually weighing her options. Her latest plan was to wait until they'd leave the store, when she would make Larry carry the heavy shopping bags, and then make a run for it at the door. Where would I run? To the police? Maybe not. Over to Amy's? Gambol had her uncle shot last week. Shite.
Gin realized that even if she did get away, she'd have no place to go. Talking about a dead end.
Feeling defeated, she settled for hovering around, making sure that she stayed within Larry's vision. No need to make him anxious, he's probably afraid for his life. She took a transitory look at the window, seeing their car outside. Its windows were, of course, darkened so that you couldn't really see inside.
The Joker saw her at the store window and grinned. Hmm, whatcha thinking Ginny? Not thinking about running away, are you? She was looking quite nervous, worrying her lower lip. She's got guts, who knows what she'll come up with. Not that I'd let her get away with it.
He grinned to himself, admiring the shine of his pocket knife. He'd never had a pet before, and he was starting to think he quite liked his new toy. Fuck, am I getting too attached? If something happens to her because of me... I can't afford to have something that can be used against me.
He snarled, he'd just meant to have a laugh at her, and maybe bang her a few times. But she understands this world, she's probably seen men get killed right before those green eyes and still she seems so innocent. Wonder if she's ever actually- Oh, shut the fuck up! He closed his eyes and shook his head hard, then moving his gaze to the entrance of the store to see Gin and Larry coming out, Larry balancing four very full paper bags. Women.
Gin was furiously looking around, trying to find someone or something that could help her out of the situation.
"Nnngh", she made a strange, strangled sound of frustration and turned her head back towards the car. The Joker had noticed her little bout of hesitation and he looked at her observantly, waiting for her to make something desperate.
Is this so bad? He hasn't beaten me, raped me or killed me, and he is also strangely appealing- no no no! Crap, I must have the Stockholm syndrome or something. She shook herself mentally, opening the door to the backseat of the car, finding the Joker staring at her.
"Virginity, how nice to see that you're already so fond of me that, that you didn't try to abandon me like, you know, like some one-night stand of yours", he mused, putting the knife back in his pocket and straightening himself.
"I don't do one-night stands", she said while she climbed in, keeping as far away from him as it was possible.
"Don't you? Well, where's your better, or more likely, worse half?"
"Don't have one."
"Oh, you, you poor thing, why is that?" He said in mocking concern, leaning closer to her but not touching. Gin turned her head to him, giving him an angry stare.
"Why would I?"
Larry had finished stuffing the groceries in the trunk and went to the driver's seat to drive them back, what was it, home?
"Because I know a girl has, um, needs. And unless you've got a, battery operated little friend in the drawer of your nightstand, one-night stands is the only option."
Gin made a disgusted look, I have no such thing, turning to him. He was in a semirecumbent position, leaning over to her side of the seat and looking at her intently with a curious expression on his face.
"You make my skin crawl."
"In a good or ecstatic way?"
"Neither actually-"
Suddenly Larry made a violent turn, making the Joker fall back to his seat and Gin's upper body crash into his lap. She automatically tried to get back to her side, but he wrapped his arms around her and kept her there.
"Now we're getting somewhere", he said excitedly, lifting his eyebrows at the unexpected, but pleasant turn.
"Let. Me. Go. Please? I, I want to look out the, um, window" Shite, he's so warm and solid. And those arms- Oh shut it!
"Sure you do", he said, stroking his hand up and down her arm. She was wearing a jacket, but that didn't stop her from feeling just the tiniest bit uncomfortable.
"God, would you stop that, please?!"
"Oh come on, babe. Sometimes you just gotta, open your knees and feel the breeze."
What did he just say? Oh my god, this is really getting out of hand- Her thoughts were interrupted as Larry hit the brakes a bit too forcefully and she crashed onto the car floor, her head ending almost between his legs. She was being tossed around like a bloody ragdoll. The Joker chuckled.
"Oh Virginity, I knew you'd warm up to me!", his laughter increased in volume as Gin shot him yet another angry look and pulled herself up from the floor, "But aren't you just a tad too eager? You know, I prefer my women to have a little fight in them."
"Sod off", Gin bade to the Joker as she finally made it to her seat, just as Larry made it back to the parking hall.
"We're here, boss."
Thank god, Gin thought as she quickly got out of the car and started to scurry to the elevator, not bothering to wait for the Joker to get out of the car. A moment more in the car with him and I don't know what I'd have done. She pressed the button to call the elevator and took a deep breath, trying to get her disheveled hair back to control. Someone needs a cold shower.