Scars We Share: That Night

I know I have an excuse for like everything xD But my computer crashed (again) and this time wasn't able to be restored, so I had to transfer all my files again and typing on this new computer is ridiculous and absolutely terrible xD but here ya go :)

Btw... I dont own anything :)

"Jack."

Bruce snatches up the Joker's arm, holding it in a vice as a means to make him speak. "Tell me everything that happened on that night."

Dark eyes pierce deep into the billionaire's soul, but they were not full of anger or hatred. Behind them was a cloud of sadness. The Joker twists away and his hands fall to his flat stomach as if the child was somehow still present. He shuts his dark rimmed eyes.

"I was headed back home after making sure the boys had been doing their correct duties in place of my absence…

It was already late at night and I doubted anyone would notice me walking in between alley ways back to the narrows. It just seemed like a normal night and I felt safe because the Gotham Police Department changes shifts at ten and the night shifts are usually lazy. It had been two weeks since I left Mario Falcone and his manipulation web.

But as I made my way back to our home, there were cruisers all over the place and my boys were being escorted out at gunpoint. I already knew what had happened; my plan turned on itself.

I knew I couldn't be caught in that situation or condition so I ran. They say a loyal dog will give up its life for its owner. Mine proved not to be so reliable. They had seen me and given away my position. The guns were pointed towards me and I had no choice but to run.

I ran back towards Gotham, and a squad of a dozen officers followed me with their dogs hot on my heels. They yelled at me over microphones but I could barely understand them; I was too focused on getting away, and then they opened fire.

I could not even hear the noise of the gun, but when I twisted around at the flash of light, a 9mm caught me in the side. I saw myself falling, but my feet saved me and I ran behind the nearest dumpster.

I waited until they passed by and continued.

There was an explosion behind me and I saw my home erupting in flames.

I ran again, and then…

I started to go into labor."

Bruce sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder. "They destroyed your home…"

"Yeah…

They took away everything, just as I had taken away lives. It was only fair for me and I deserved it all. I just did not agree then. There was no pain, but I felt a strange cramp in my side and I knew I had to get out of there. So I called you."

"What happened after you hung up?"

"I-I didn't hang up, I lost connection. And then you took me to your place.

After settling me in, I set up the bed. I didn't want to make a mess, I am polite and have morals…

He tied his belt around the iron board and hooked his arms into it, pulling down as leverage to help ease the pain. He spread his legs out to create more room, tucked his chin into his chest and pushed as hard as he could, letting out a small groan.

After a few seconds, he took a deep breath, trying again. He switched positions multiple times, trying to rid himself of the thing inside him.

I knew I needed help, but my nerve did not let me merit assistance.

He whipped a hand over his sweaty brow, readying himself for the next contraction. He wrapped a wrist up in the leather belt, and held on tightly with the other as he strained against the binds, giving it his all. Teeth clenched tightly, he cried out as the pain became almost unbearable.

Tears pooled in his eyes as he attempted to keep his tranquility against the pain. He squeezed his eyes shut, taking a deep gulp of air and wheezed out.

His whole frame shook after the contraction passed, wheezing into his shoulder.

I can't do this… Bruce!

A sharp whine escaped his scarred lips, beginning to hyperventilate against the hurt and binds. "Fuuuuuck…!" Strangely, cursing seemed to help.

He struggled for what seemed like hours and buried his melting face into the feather pillow, nearly screaming into its fibers. It was there, and it would not accept any other way out. He could feel it dropping and the sudden singe of pain boring into him.

Only… a few more…

The battle exhausted him to no end, sweat glazed his tiring body as grey tears trailed down his face.

Again…

He arched his back, chin resting on his chest as the last few swept through his body.

And again…

He could feel his body tear into two.

One more…

He fell onto his side in the sinking mattress, eyes shut and fingers loosening their grip upon the sheets. It's comfort nearly halted his thumping heart, unable to grasp reality through his arbitrary thoughts. It was over. He panted, nearly choking when fighting to catch his breath. The pain was gone. He lay still for moments, debating whether or not to let himself die.

But the eerie silence kept him at bay, shaking as he turned himself over. He felt sick as he looked at the strange thing lying between his legs. Jack quickly took a peek around the room, hoping something or someone would appear to tell him what to do.

He sucked on his lip as he reached for it, touching its tiny hand, still warm and pink. He drew back quickly, heart stopping. He snatched up his shoe, lying on the floor and began to unlace it, nearly breaking it off in the process.

He twisted it around the cord, when his eyes crossed over the little face.

No…

Jack licked his dry lips, "The cord… was wrapped around its neck. It suffocated before it was even…" he trailed off, shaking the thought from his mind.

Bruce looked down, subconsciously taking up the boy's hand. Guilt spread over his face for accusing him of killing his own child. "I'm… so, sorry Jack…"

He quickly shook his head. "Don't say that, it's fine."

The brunet looked up to him, trying to search his face for any sign of hurt or pain. "It wasn't your fault, Jack. These things happen."

Jack shook his head again, holding up a hand to keep Bruce from talking. "I know." He whispered.

"No, no, come on…" He tapped the pink face, watching the little chest for movements after tearing the cord away from both of them. There was no response from the little one, his child.

His voice cracked, "Come on…"

He leaned in, gently plugging the little nose, attempting to push air into the premature lungs. He broke away, panting and wiping his face as realization struck him like a bullet to the heart.

Jack whipped his head around frantically, quickly grabbing his phone from his coat pockets—dead. "No, come on.." He tapped his phone, stealing glances to the still being lying before him.

Please…!

He took a deep breath, covering his mouth with a bloody palm and squeezed his eyes shut. "God dammit…" he cried out, wiping his face from the hot tears running down his scarred cheeks.

The blond boy took one of the warm, white bath towels bundling up the wee child in them, cleaning off the perfect, unscarred face and soft lips. The still babe was perfect, a stunning image of everything he had never expected. He wrapped up the infant gently, taking it into his arms as he leaned against the bed frame, studying its features.

Dark hair feathered upon its tiny crown, still matted flat from the blood and fluid. Its body was barely the size of a doll, as tiny and precious as he could ever visualize. He snuck a finger towards the little fists, hoping—praying the baby would reach out and grasp his finger. I waited for any sign of life.

I waited a long time.

"I-I didn't kill it…" Jack shook his head up and down, holding back the lump in his throat. A sour feeling in the pit of his stomach twisted inside him at the word, shutting his eyes. He let his head fall; the reminiscence of the night tearing at his heart.

"I didn't…" He trailed off, keeping himself from looking at Bruce.

The billionaire's mouth hung agape, nearly on the edge of tears. He did not try to smile, did not try to reassure him. Bruce Wayne did not say a word as he watched his friend begin to cry…

He rested his face into his hands as he started to sob.

Bruce quietly sat himself next to the young man, hesitating… and wrapped his arm around his shoulders. Jack reluctantly leaned in, curling his arms around his empty middle.

Oh, Jack… I'm so sorry, I had no idea…

The words failed to escape his lips as he held the kid tightly, hoping he would speak soon.

He reached under Jack's chin, gently lifting it away from his chest, to look at the tear stained features. "It's alright, Jack…" The gentle, chocolate eyes gazed up at him. "You don't have to act like everything is okay."

Jack lightly grasped the base of Bruce's neck, bringing him in closer, close enough to brush his lips on the tan skin upon the side of his jowl. Warm breath upon his body caused him to shiver, and Bruce held his breath as he drew away, ashamed and staring down at his hands.

Bruce reassured him with a squeeze on the shoulder, inviting him into his open arms. He fell to the thick mattress, locking his arms around the boy with no intent of ever letting go. The blond curled himself up into the warm embrace, laying his head in the crook of the billionaire's shoulder.

He exhaled, shuddering as he did so. "Bruce…"

"Yeah?"

"Can you do something for me?"

Bruce looked down to the nearly sleeping figure resting on his chest. "Anything."

Jack smiled softly, blindly groping for the warm hands he missed around his body. He intertwined his fingers within the billionaire's. "Stay here with me, right now. At least until I fall asleep…"

"Then I'll stay."

"All night?"

"All night."

Shuddering into consciousness, he glanced around the dark room from the strange disturbance that had stolen him from a sound slumber. Sensing that they remained the only beings in the room, he felt an unusual weight upon himself attempting to adjust his eyes to the darkness. Fumbling in the dim light, he found the warm arm draped over his thinning middle.

He sighed, removing the intruding hand from him and rubbing the blur from his eyesight. Sitting up slowly, he looked over to the analogue alarm clock. 4:22am.

Great.

Carefully swinging his legs over the side of the mattress he grabbed his cell phone next to the clock, suddenly feeling lonely. No messages, no missed calls. A sick feeling sunk into the pit of his stomach.

Great.

He turned towards the sound brunet lying in his bed, fast asleep before removing himself from the warm covers and greeting the cold floor. Eyes pried halfway open, he led himself into the bathroom, blindly finding the light switch.

Stumbling into the room, he barely shut the door before clutching his belly and releasing its contents into the toilet below. After coughing, gagging, and spitting, he sank to the tile floor, rubbing his brow on his forearm.

Fucking great.

The billionaire stirred at the sound of running water, slowly opening his eyes. "Jack…? What are you doing…" He groaned into his pillow.

He flicked the light off, striding into the room and leaning over the bed. "Nothing. Go back to sleep."

Caught between needing more time to rest and questioning the Joker of his every move, he sighed and fell back into his dreams.

Reluctantly settling himself back into the king sized bed, he tucked his legs under the sheets and curled against the billionaire's warm body.

"Jack…"

"What?"

"Can I ask you something…" His voice was barely audible from speaking into his own pillow.

Jack nodded, "Yeah."

Bruce tiredly tripped over his own words, "I keep having these dreams and thoughts so I wondered. Why did you keep it?"

The words felt like daggers in his heart, and buried his face under the comforter. "You really want to know?"

"Yeah…"

Taking a long breath, he turned over to face Bruce, taking a hold of his hands. "I guess I just waited until it was too late."

"What do you mean?" he whispered.

"I-I never acknowledged it, I tried not to think about it, I just completely ignored it as if I could just go on with my life without it ever bothering me. But of course it did catch up to me…

I laid there in Arkham; I would stare at the ceilings every night before I could finally catch some rest. They moved me from the prison to a more hospitable place. I had my own room, a bed, and with little freedom I could wander the halls with the aid of an official.

They watched me like hawks, but they were blind to what they never noticed."

"Your weight gain?"

"Yes.

I was still able to hide it in the first weeks I was there, but as my freedom expanded, so did I. I refused any treatments, threw up the drugs they gave me, even my appetite took a turn on its own heels. It seemed normal to me. I wanted to believe I was getting better instead of being the way I was.

There were days I thought about it, and days it never occurred to me that I would be a parent into only months time. The thought never seemed to irk me until one night.

Picking at the last bit of crumbs in the empty potato chip bag, his growing belly still growled for more. He sighed. Guess I'll be going to bed hungry tonight. Again. He leaned back on the far wall, bundling himself up in the cotton blankets.

He curls himself up, extending one leg and rolling onto his stomach, instantly becoming uncomfortable.

He growled out, "God dammit." Flipping himself onto his side. The new thing inside him definitely was a pest and was very problematic. He sighed, nervously running his hands down his body until they cupped around the new bump where his abs used to be.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he traced his fingers around it, curiously feeling what he had feared.

"You… are very inconvenient, little beast."

A sudden… flutter caught him off guard. He sat up suddenly, looking down at himself and then around the room, obviously alone. Carefully, he laid his palm back on his side, slowing his breathing to listen.

Another swift movement startled him, searching his body for another.

He drew back as something pushed against his palm.

The being was restless, attempting to make more space in its tiny home. Jack laid both hands on top, staring off in the distance. There would be flutters, stretching, and small kicks from the inside of his body.

It was alive.

Heart nearly coming to a screeching halt, he removed his hands as he felt the babe inside him turn around and fight some invisible being elsewhere. Falling onto his back, he bit his knuckle.

Jack shook his head, beginning to laugh.

"I'm…" …Pregnant.

Kane was right. About everything.

I was pregnant all those years ago. He chewed on his nails. It all makes sense. The morning sickness, weight gain, and fatigue. Falcone… killed it before I even knew. But I didn't forget. This… thing. It's real. It's alive.

26 weeks ago was the last time Falcone and I had an arrangement.

26 weeks ago, you were made.

11 weeks ago, I found out about you and I was placed in this hellhole.

6 weeks ago you made yourself visible.

4 weeks ago you started to move. I thought it was just dyspepsia.

Today… you became mine.

Today, I became your father, your mother, your aunt, your uncle, your protector, your guardian, your family.

He wiped the wetness around his eyes, sitting in a cross legged position, fingers curling around his middle again.

Your father doesn't know you. Your father will not be there. Your father… will never be allowed near you. And if he tries to touch you…

I'll kill him.

He bit his bottom lip, chewing on the vertical scar running down the middle of his face. He drew his fingers through his dirty curls as the thought faulted his mind. Bringing his knees to his chest, he bent himself over to scan his surroundings.

No.

I can't.

I'm not this person…

I'm a wanted man. A fugitive stuck in an institution.

I can't take care of you baby.

But I can get you out of here.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Medicine time. He readjusted his clothing, moving himself out of the cot and peeked his head out of the small, square window on his door.

He smiled.

…That's why I escaped."

Bruce squeezed his hand as reassurance. "You did everything you could, Jack. You tried as much as anyone. You owe it to yourself, you know?" he was lost in his own words, tripping and stumbling over himself. He never thought the Joker would be so… compassionate about anything.

"I know."

Closing his eyes as the urge to sleep overcame him, Jack nuzzled himself in closer to Bruce, yearning for the warmth of the billionaire's arms around him. Shifting his body closer, he rested his head upon Bruce's shoulder, sighing in satisfaction.

He smiled tenderly, carefully tucking each stray blond hair away from the boy's face, and leaned in, pressing his lips to his temple, the tip of his nose, and against the scarred lip.

Hesitating for a moment, Jack lay still and reached up the caress the long, brown locks and cradled the brunet's lips in his own.

The brunet responded to the kiss, allowing for the younger man to invade his body, turned his head and ran his tongue over the scarred lower lip. Underneath, Jack tensed slightly and hesitantly took Bruce into his arms, enveloping the warm body within his grasp.

As their dance in the dark accelerated, the brunet could feel Jack shake underneath him. He broke off and sighed, tearing himself away from the young man.

"J-Jack…why are you doing this?"

He sat up, adjusting his shirt and avoiding the billionaire's eyes. "What do you mean…?"

Bruce bit his lip, "You don't have to do this for me, Jack. I want you to want it, not feel obligated to do it to please me."

Jack tilted his head to the side, looking away. "I don't want you to force yourself, I'm not Mario."

He traced his bottom lip with the tips of his fingers, still tingling and warm from the billionaire's upon his. "I'm sorry…"

Shaking his head, Bruce sat back next to him. "You don't need to be sorry, it was my fault, I didn't-"

"No." Jack interrupted him, snaking his hand around the burnet's shoulder. He stared up at him, the Joker's eyes piercing deep within his body. "I mean, I'm sorry."

Before he could even flinch, he felt a sudden sting in the back of his neck, a small groan escaping his lips. Vision blurring, he fell forward into Jack, unconscious.

Looking down into his lap at the suddenly asleep billionaire, Jack removed the small syringe and needle from his body and tossed it aside.

"Sorry, but I can't have you following me on this one."