Part 10
Joker had stayed with Raven for the next week. Josh went to the theater and pretended to be her cousin; telling Jack the truth that she was attacked at her apartment and needed time to recover. Jack had giving Raven this play off and the rest of her cast had sent 'get well' cards and gifts to Raven with Josh. Joker had also noticed Raven made a point of staying away from his weapon room even when he was in there. For once though, Joker was being patient with her.
Max was also doing better, he needed help walking up and down the stairs again due to his broken leg. After the week was up, Josh took Max back to the vet who said that Max would need to keep the cast on for another week along with the cone before he could move to something more comfortable since his break wasn't that bad; and puppies heal a lot faster. Joker had a lot of fun teasing the puppy; at least until Raven scolded him when Max would run, more like wobble, to her whining. When Raven was taking a shower one day, Joker taped a small dog treat to the edge of the cone then laughed as Max tried to get it, occasionally running into a wall because the cone limited his sight. Raven came down then and gave Joker a disapproving look before removing the treat and giving it to Max. Joker also got the silent treatment from both Raven and Max for the next few hours that day.
"It's fine Raven," Joker soothed trying to pull her into his weapon room, "I'm right here with you."
"I-It's your room Mr. J," she stuttered, "I'm not needed in there." Joker picked her up then and carried her into the room while she buried her face in his neck. He sat on the cushion with her in his lap and gave her forehead a kiss.
"It is my room," he hummed, "but I do enjoy your company and I want you to understand that there's nothing to fear." Max wobbled into the room then and Joker chuckled watching the puppy struggling with his casted leg and the cone still over his head.
"Don't laugh at him," Raven pouted and lifted Max into her lap, "he's injured." Joker smirked before giving the edge of the cone a small flick making it vibrate and Max jumped in surprise then barked at Joker who laughed.
"Not funny." Raven muttered holding Max and slipping off Joker's lap. She laid on her side, her back to Joker, and let Max cuddle up to her. Joker laid behind her and hovered over her a little. Max gave a squeak of happiness when Joker scratched behind his ear making Raven smile a little.
"Well he's no German Shepard," Joker said, "but I suppose he's a brave little guy."
The next week Raven was sitting on the couch in the lounge at the club. Max was in her lap pouting because he couldn't lick his bandaged leg with the cone still around his neck. Lucky for him, Josh was taking him to the vet tomorrow to get the cone removed along with the cast. She looked up at Joker who was sitting across from her staring at his laptop screen looking bored. Frost walked in briefly to hand Joker an envelope before leaving. Raven watched curiously as Joker opened the envelope and pulled out something that looked like an invitation. She watched him roll his eyes and toss the paper on the coffee table.
"What is it?" she asked leaning forward and picking up the elegant invitation.
"Falcone is hosting a costume party on Halloween." she said looking over the invitation, "why would he invite you? I-I mean this doesn't seem like something you'd do."
"It's not," Joker replied with an eye roll not looking up from his laptop screen, "Falcone is just trying to suck up to me because he owes me money."
"Well that's one reason sir," Frost said walking into the room again with food, "he's also been bragging that the king of crime will be at his party. I heard that's why many people in the underworld are actually going."
"Wow you really are famous." Raven muttered out loud looking over the invitation.
"What do you mean 'really'?" Joker said flatly and Raven jumped looking up at him.
"N-Nothing," she stuttered, "I-I'm mean you're actually famous."
"That's the same thing," Joker replied tapping his fingers on the table as he continued to lean forward and glare at her.
"N-No what I mean is that I'm surprised people are actually trying to suck up to you." Joker raised an eyebrow and Frost set her food in front of her.
"Digging yourself into a deeper hole there, kid." Frost said to her before walking out. Raven set Max on the floor so he could eat his food while she picked up her plate and focused on her food.
"You're infamous." She said finding the right word and looking up at him with a small smile.
"Should've said that first Mouse." he purred with a smirk. She swallowed her food and looked back down at the invitation.
"Isn't dressing up in costumes supposed to be fun?" she asked, "I-I mean I've never done anything for Halloween."
"Dear old parents didn't even let you go out trick or treating?" he mocked and she scratched Max's head.
"Even if they did," she replied, "it's not like I'd have any friends to go with or any homes to go to. I was homeschooled so I never made any friends. Then our house was out where there was a lot of land so no neighbors." Joker was suddenly sitting right next to her and he draped an arm over her shoulders.
"What was your favorite time period Mouse?" he asked and she blinked at the sudden change in topic.
"Um I think the nineteen twenties would be my favorite time period." She replied and he chuckled.
"What a very fun time," he purred, "crime was high; the mob ruled all the cities. What a time to live in."
"I was more thinking of the parties and the outfits." She replied making him smirk.
"It's decided then," he said while standing and pulling her with him; "we're going to the party dressed in nineteen twenties costumes." Raven blinked, her mind going blank. That was the last think she expected him to say.
"Um what?" she asked dumbfounded making him smirk.
"I suppose going will also remind Falcone how much he owes me." He hummed walking back over to his laptop; "now what to wear?" Raven sighed sitting back down; he clearly wasn't talking to her anymore so she returned to eating her dinner. She smiled a little when Max wobbled over to Joker and laid at his feet, resting his small head on Joker's foot. Although it didn't look very comfortable with the cone around his neck. Raven's phone suddenly buzzed and she looked at it to see a text from Lucy. It was a picture of her holding her baby nephew. Raven smiled a little and responded to the text. After the shopping trip with Lucy and Ruby, Raven had actually become closer to Lucy. She was the closest person Raven had to a friend.
"Mr. J," Raven looked up, "can I go out shopping with Lucy tomorrow?" Joker glanced up at her.
"Who's Lucy?" he muttered.
"The understudy for Ruby and I," Raven replied, "we went out shopping while you were…um away."
"As long as you're back by six." He replied looking back down at the laptop.
The next evening Raven was walking out of the mall with Lucy who had brought her nephew along so Raven could meet him. During the middle of the day, Joker sent Raven a text letting her know he was picking her up outside the mall.
"This was a fun day," Lucy smiled and Raven did the same thing while holding Lucy's nephew, Luke.
"I agree," Raven replied, "but I still feel bad for not inviting Ruby." She grabbed Luke's tiny hand when he tried pulling at her hair.
"She hates babies," Lucy laughed, "trust me she said no when I told her I had to bring my nephew along." They stopped at Lucy's car then and Raven noticed Frost's black car was parked across the street.
Joker watched from inside the car as Raven walked out from the mall with her friend. What he didn't expect was to see her holding a baby who was playing with her hair while she talked with the other girl. He let out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding when she handed the baby over to her friend and tickled the child one last time before her friend left her. She quickly crossed the street and got into the car with a big smile on her face.
"Have fun?" Joker asked while the car drove off.
"Huh?" Raven replied, her thoughts off in other places, "oh ya. Lucy's nephew was just the most adorable thing ever. I had so much fun with him…oh and Lucy too. She's babysitting him while her sister and brother-in-law are on vacation."
"I thought you were shopping," he muttered looking over at her bags.
"I was," she replied and started to dig through the bags, "look I got Max a new toy, a blanket, a small stuffed animal, some treats…oh and I got him a collar too!"
"Did you even shop for yourself?" he rolled his eyes, "or are you just spoiling the mutt?"
"Um," Raven muttered digging through the rest of the bags and he raised an eyebrow when she blushed.
"Nope just for Max." She replied quickly shutting a bag.
"Sure," he hummed then quickly grabbing the bag with a smirk and she panicked.
"H-Hay," she stuttered trying to get it back, "wait, L-Lucy made me buy those when I accidently mentioned I had a boyfriend…No don't look!" Joker's smirk grew lustful and he raised an eyebrow while holding up some very sexy lingerie underwear and Raven's cheeks turned a darker shade of red.
"How scandalous Little Mouse," Joker teased and she quickly snatched the underwear form him along with the bag.
"I-It was Lucy's idea." She muttered looking away and Joker chuckled. He moved forward and sat on the floor of the car before cupping her face in his hands and making her look at him.
"But you bought them." He purred and her heart skipped, "you'll have to model what you got for me when we get home."
"I-I think I'll return them later," she quickly said as her stomach turned in embarrassment.
"No returns," he hummed, "all sales are final Mouse. You can't show a guy that and then leave him wanting. It's like leaving a show in the middle of it."
"Y-You looked in the bag without my permission," she tried to argue as he moved to straddle her and sat on her lap while resting his arms on her shoulders.
"Yes," he purred, "but the fact still remains that I've seen them. Mouse I didn't know you had such scandalous taste either. This is going to be a fun night. Perhaps I should get some expensive wine for the night." He got off her lap as the car pulled up to the house. Raven looked down, hiding her red face from Frost with her hair as she quickly walked past him. Joker was smiling brightly walking behind her with her bags and they entered the house.
"Max." Raven called wondering how he was doing with his cone and heavy cast off. She looked down when Max wobbled into the entryway/kitchen clearly still injured; but at least he got his cast and cone off. Raven froze though at the sound of bells and blinked down at her puppy who was dressed in a green, pink, and gold jester type dress and a jester looking hat with bells on the tips and was strapped to his head. Max looked up at her with pleading eyes while Joker smirked down at the puppy before frowning when Raven looked at him.
"What is that?" she asked disapprovingly as she gestured to Max.
"A dog," he replied seriously while setting her bags down on the kitchen counter; faking innocence.
"And he's still injured." She scolded.
"He's mostly healed," Joker shrugged, "and I don't see what's wrong with him; he looks perfect."
"You did this didn't you?" She placed her hands on her hips while Max walked up to her with a sulky look and laid at her feet.
"In my defense," Joker replied with a bright smile, "I warned him there will be consequences for wanting to join me in my weapon room this afternoon." Max shook his head and the bells on the hat jingled making Joker laugh.
"Yup," Joker chuckled, "perfect."
"Poor little guy," Raven soothed picking up Max and removing the hat then the dress, "was that clown being mean to you?" Max licked her face in happiness when she removed the outfit, being mindful of his still injured leg.
"Hm," Joker muttered, "I should've gone with a more clown like outfit; I'll remember that for next time." Raven set Max down and gave Joker a scolding look while he just smirked. Raven dug into the bags and Max barked in happiness when she handed him a treat bone.
"Well at least there's one guy here who's getting a treat tonight." She said patting Max on the head and Joker tilted his head a little.
"And what does that mean?" he asked following her up the stairs. She stopped half way up the stairs and turned to look down at him since being a few steps up made her taller.
"Lucy told me that lingerie is only a treat for boyfriends," she said trying to sound confident, "and like I said: only one guy gets a treat in this house tonight and he already got it." She turned around then, but was stopped when Joker suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist from behind and purred in her ear.
"Oh she's getting so feisty," he purred, "you're so adorable when you're trying to act like a tough Little Mouse. Although I suppose you're right about one thing."
"W-What is that?" she stuttered losing her earlier confidence and he chuckled.
"Lingerie is a treat and therefore should be a surprise," he hummed, "I do look forward to that surprise; but don't wait too long. Remember Mouse: I'm not a patient man."
Two hours before Falcone's party, Raven was sitting on the bathroom counter as Joker styled her long hair into a nineteen twenties style. Raven was wearing a sleeveless 1920s party dress. It was a black dress with silver sequence in the middle and on the shoulders. The dress was very short and strings hung down from the bottom of the dress. She also wore sequenced laced gloves that reached past her elbows. Instead of a head band, Joker put on a black mask with a black feather on the side. The upper eye parts of the mask were shaped by white jewels and Raven briefly wondered how much the mask alone cost. He had also told her earlier that she needed to wear the mask since there would be a lot of people there and he preferred to keep her identity hidden from those people. Joker got her a long pearl necklace and wrapped it around her neck when he finished with her makeup.
Joker was wearing black pants with a black buttoned up shirt tucked neatly into his pants. Over the shirts he wore a lighter black vest with white strips and silver buttons; a white tie was tucked neatly under the vest. He also had on shiny black shoes that looked brand new. His black harness hung over his shoulders with the two custom guns in it. Raven couldn't hide her shock when he put on a dark white 1920s hat with a black band around it. He had on his diamond studs in his ears and he wore the rings he always had on when at his club as well.
"Alright let's go," he smiled while lifting her off the counter. Raven patted Max's head before walking out of the house with Joker. Frost was waiting in the car along with Josh and Raven was shocked that they too were dressed up like 1920s gangsters.
"Um so why am I going?" Raven asked again as Joker tied on the mask tighter around her head.
"Because I said so," he replied and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "and like hell I'm going to a costume party alone." Raven sighed while trying to calm her nerves and Joker turned her to face him.
"And what's the point in having such an exquisite woman if I can't show her off?" he continued with a smirk and Raven just blinked at him. It's not like she ever expected him to refer to her as his girlfriend; but she sometimes felt like some prize he just wanted to show off. Raven looked out the window then; well at least he had stopped referring to her as a pet.
"Something on your mind Mouse?" Joker purred while wrapping an arm around her waist. Raven shook her head a little and he raised an eyebrow as the car came to a stop in front of Falcone's large mansion outside the city. The party had started half an hour ago and she could hear the loud music playing. There were still a few people that were just arriving and walking into the mansion. Joker go out of the car and helped Raven out while putting on his white hat.
"Oh don't look so scared Mouse," he chuckled while Frost and Josh entered the mansion ahead of him, "it's just a party."
"Full of criminals." She muttered a little making him laugh.
"Well yes," he hummed, "but you're with the king of crime; so there's no need to be scared." Raven hooked her arm through his and he gave her a smile before leading her into the mansion.
The large open entryway was where the majority of the people were and where the party was in full swing. Couches and chairs were set around the walls and left a large open space for people to dance and mingle. The lights were dimmed and the inside of the house was decorated with very scary decorations making Raven cower a little closer to Joker who was spinning his cane with his free hand. It didn't escape Raven's notice that people would quickly clear a path for Joker and many stopped what they were doing to look in their direction.
It was clear then that no one actually expected the king of crime and Gotham's underworld to actually show. Joker moved his arm away from Raven before wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him; making her relax a little as she grew uncomfortable with all the attention. Frost and Josh were socializing with other men in a far corner, but would occasionally glance over in Joker's direction in case they were needed.
"Mr. J," the young Falcone coughed a little clearly caught off guard when Joker walked up to him by the large grand staircase, "I'm glad you could come." Joker gave his dark smirk while his cane clicked against the tiled floor as he set it in front of him.
"Well you know," Joker hummed, "I'd never miss a party." Falcone shifted a little and glanced at Raven.
"Well I hope you two enjoy the party." He said and quickly walked off making Joker chuckle a little
"I think he may be scared of me." Joker teased looking at Raven who gave a small smile.
"Just a little." She replied and he laughed while pulling her over to a corner.
"Hm," he replied pulling her down onto his lap as he sat on a couch which a couple quickly ran from when he walked over, "Here I thought I was such a friendly person." He let her move off his lap and she crossed her legs before looking back at him.
"It's a mystery to me," she replied, playing along with him. He chuckled while resting his hands on his cane, looking out at the crowd. Raven looked around then and noticed many people were glancing over at Joker looking like they wanted to say something to him; but clearly afraid to approach. She also noticed some women were sneaking pictures of him with their phones. Raven looked over when she noticed Falcone walking over to them looking like he had composed himself; there was a butler looking man following him.
"I do hope you're enjoying the party," Falcone said taking a seat on a chair across from Joker.
"I don't know," Joker smirked looking at Falcone, "I just got here." Falcone shifted in his seat and cleared his throat.
"Would you like anything to drink?" he asked politely and Joker tilted his head.
"Whiskey," Joker glanced at Raven, "a sweet cocktail for her." the man standing behind Falcone nodded and walked off. Raven shifted in her spot as the two men talked business. She stretched her legs out for a moment when they got stiff before crossing them the other way; not realizing that she had attracted Falcone's attention when she did so.
"See something you like?" Joker's dark voice made Raven look over from her people watching. Falcone let out a cough and quickly looked away from Raven; his butler came over then and handed Joker and Raven their drinks. Raven's cocktail was a light blue with a dark blue on the bottom. It was sweet, but had a lot of alcohol in it; so she made a mental note to drink it slowly.
"Sweet Mouse," Joker's voice made her look up from her drink and she looked over at him as he leaned closer to her, "I believe you've caught Falcone's attention." Raven looked taken aback as Falcone let out another cough.
"I'd offer to lend her to you for the night," Joker continued with a smirk then wrapped his arm around her and rested his white glove covered hand on her bare thigh; "but she's such a shy little thing. Can't let her out of my sight or she may panic." Raven glanced at him. It slightly annoyed her just how right he was.
"I can see that." Falcone muttered then took a drink of his whiskey.
"Well…Put a few drinks in her and she becomes a feisty girl." Joker hummed and Raven looked away to hide her blush. Luckily her mask also helped with that. Falcone stood up then and set his empty drink glass down on the table.
"Excuse me," he said, "I have business to attend to. Enjoy the rest of the party." Joker watched the man walk off before rolling his eyes and leaning closer to Raven.
"She catches men's attention without even trying," he whispered in her ear and she shivered; "I really do need to keep an eye on you." Raven bit her red painted lip and looked at him.
"I-I didn't mean too," she replied, "I don't even know what I did." Her heart skipped when Joker removed his arm from around her then moved that hand over her leg.
"Flashing those very fine legs may have something to do with it," he replied with a teasing tone, "you naughty little thing." Raven looked down and took a sip of her drink, not knowing what to say. Joker chuckled and moved his attention back to the crowd watching the people dance. Raven did as well, watching some women lure men onto the floor to dance with them. She was enjoying watching the people and admiring the costumes people were wearing while Joker looked completely bored.
"Oh look," Joker hummed looking across the room, "it's my old friend Gambol." Raven looked in that direction to see a middle aged man sitting on a couch surrounded by women and talking to some men. He was dressed in a pirate costume along with a woman sitting next to him. Joker stood up then and held out a hand to Raven; she stood after setting her empty glass down. Joker chuckled when she wobbled a little and she grabbed his arm to steady herself.
"We really need to teach you how to hold your liquor Mouse." Joker teased and she blushed. Joker walked through the crowd, instantly attracting everyone's attention as he made his way towards Gambol. It still surprised Raven how quickly people got out of Joker's path. He really is the king of this city.
"Evening Gambol," Joker sang a little stopping by the couches and Gambol looked up then gave a polite smile.
"Falcone said you'd be here," Gambol said, "here I thought the kid was just lying to get company." Joker chuckled while Gambol shooed away the woman on the couch across from him. The women reluctantly left as Joker sat on the couch pulling Raven down with him. There was only one woman that remained sitting by Gambol and she looked to be his age.
"The poor child seems to be digging himself deeper into a grave," Joker chuckled and Gambol smirked.
"Well it's not like his father did any better." Gambol replied, "So is this the actress you took us to see a while back?" Raven shifted a little as Gambol looked at her.
"The one and only," Joker smiled moving an arm over her shoulders, "Say hello Raven." Raven gave her polite smile and looked up at the two across from her.
"Hello." She said shyly and the woman across from her gave her a polite smile.
"Nice to meet you," the woman said, "I'm Annett; Gambol's wife." Raven blinked in shock. She was his wife and was completely fine with all those other women here? Raven didn't understand crime families at all.
"You know," Joker suddenly said, "Gambol and I have boring stuff to talk about; why don't you two go dance. You'll have to be patient with her though; Raven's a shy little girl. Perhaps you should get a few drinks in her first." Raven gave Joker a panicked look as Annett pulled her off into the crowd and Joker simply smirked at her. Annett pulled her over to the bar area and flagged down the bartender.
"Two Smokin' Skull shots." Annett said holding Raven in place as she shifted a little.
"I-I don't really drink." Raven stuttered watching the bartender set down two shot glasses that smoked with dry ice in them, surrounded by a strong smelling alcohol.
"You're from an uptight family huh?" Annett said as they waited for the dry ice to melt. Raven shifted a little and re-tightened her mask.
"Oh come on girl," Annett smiled, "I'm sure being with Joker; you've let loose at least a little." Raven's blush gave herself away and Annett laughed.
"I'm not trying to be a bad influence," she said handing Raven the shot glass, "but it's ok to let loose every once and a while. Come on hun, drink and we can put on a show for the men." Raven blinked at the woman in front of her who looked to be at least ten years older; but there was something about Annett that Raven liked.
"Well I guess," Raven muttered and Annett smiled.
"Ok," Annett raised her glass, "here's to a fun night." Raven made a face as the strong liquid flowed down her throat and instantly gave her a small buzz. Annett chuckled and ordered more shots for them.
An hour later Joker and Gambol finished their conversation and were just talking about typical business things when Gambol looked over and chuckled.
"Looks like my wife go your shy girl out of her shell." Joker leaned back in the couch, resting his hands on his cane as he looked over. Sure enough, Annett and Raven were dancing on the floor attracting everyone's attention. The strings on Raven dress flew out every time Annett spun her around; both woman smiling and clearly drunk. Joker watched Raven intently; even when drunk she was still an exquisite dancer. Joker sometimes wondered if she was even real. Raven was a natural born beauty and everything she did looked so effortless. Then there was her acceptance of him; the most feared criminal. Some mornings Joker would wake up expecting that she was just a dream his chemically poisoned mind made up just to taunt him.
Falcone walked up then and sat in an empty seat by Gambol. Joker absently listened to their conversation, occasionally looking over to watch Raven dance. She would sometimes vanish and he would be getting ready to go look for her until he noticed her doing more shots with Annett. It was nearing three in the morning and people were leaving the party while Annett and Raven stumbled over to Joker and Gambol.
"Well until next time J." Gambol said, supporting his drunk wife and walking her out. Raven stumbled over to Joker with a smile and wrapped her arms around him.
"Did you watch me dance Mr. J?" she said drunkly with a giggle. Joker smirked down at her and wrapped one arm around her waist to support her swaying body.
"Beautiful as always Mouse," he purred and started walking them out catching Raven when she stumbled on occasion. When they got home Max was pouting by the door and jumped up in happiness when they walked in.
"Maxie!" Raven giggled and Joker caught her when she almost fell.
"Alright drunk Mouse," he chuckled, "bed time." Raven let out a squeak when he set his cane on the counter then picked her up.
"But I'm having fun!" she wined and Joker could tell she was close to passing out. Raven swayed on the edge of the bed as Joker dressed her in her pajamas.
"Pretty green." Raven murmured, messing with his hair as he kneeled down in front of her to put her shorts on.
"Am I your girlfriend?" she asked suddenly and he looked up at her briefly before continuing to dress her.
"See," she continued when he didn't respond, "you never say anything; don't you like me Mr. J? I guess not since I'm just a pet to you." Max laid on his bed and watched from there as Joker lifted Raven up making her squeal.
"Bed time." Joker said flatly lifting the sheets and laying her down. He pulled the blankets over her watching her smile a little as he ran his fingers though her hair. She was just about to fall asleep when she whispered one last thing.
"I love you Mr. J." she whispered before passing out and Joker's hand froze in her hair. He quickly removed his hand and brushed back his hair that she messed up.
"You're not supposed to." He replied to her as she slept. He quickly dressed into his black pants and burgundy shirt then put his harness back on. Max followed him to the front door and whimpered when he shut the door and sped off in his sports car, heading in the direction of Ace Chemicals.