Chapter 9: Getting to Know You

I was pleasantly surprised to wake up in Jack's arms. However, I hadn't fully opened my eyes yet, which was nice because I didn't want to disturb what he was doing. I could feel him playing with my hair, while occasionally stroking my cheek with his hand. I wanted to smile, but I didn't.

At one point, I pretended to roll away from his grasp, as if I were still asleep. "Ohh no you don't…" He whispered possessively while gathering me more firmly in his arms.

My heart soared at feeling so secured within Jack's embrace. I knew then that he had to love…no matter how much he denied it, I would always know the truth.

I grunted in fake protest at having my position being disturbed. "Ah ta ta little kitten you're staying right here."

A small smile began to tug at my lips, but I tried to suppress it.

"I know you're awake honey bunch, so you can drop the 'I'm still asleep and like having the most wanted criminal in Gotham feel me up act.'" My eyes snapped open and I slapped his arm playfully.

"You jerk!" I laughed out, "You were not feeling me up, you were simply holding me, and I liked that for the record."

The joker shrugged while licking his lips. "Yeah well I knew it would get your attention anyway, so I used it."

I shook my head while rolling my eyes. "Ya know hun, there are other ways of getting a girl's attention."

"Oh? Like what pray tell?"

Oh please! Like he didn't know…

"Well, for starters you could get your girl some breakfast and maybe a new change of clothes and a shower."

The joker giggled in delight at my response. "Well I wouldn't want my little kitten to starve now would I? But I thought you'd be full after last night's delightful feast." He laughed at his own crude joke.

"Nooooo…" I groaned out. "That's not what I meant smart ass. Even people like me need to eat."

The joker nodded while laughing some more. "I know and you will get your wish your highness. But first, you're probably wanting that shower and change of clothes."

I nodded my head eagerly. "Yeah…so maybe you could let me go shower now?"

"Okay!" The joker chirped while picking me up again and carrying me over to the bathroom across the room.

"Um, I meant ALONE!" I protested as he closed the door behind him once we were in.

He shrugged casually while throwing his arms up dramatically, "Well ya never said alone darlin." Then crossing his arms nonchalantly, the joker sat on the sink and waited for me to undress.

"Ha ha ha ha…you're funny clown. Now get out!" I growled out, a little bit irritated that he couldn't give me some privacy.

The joker's eyes widened and he shook his head slowly while tsking. "Goodness, so rude! And to think, everything in here belongs to me and you're demanding me to go away as if you own the place."

I snickered in spite of him, "Ha! Everything belongs to you, fat chance! You probably just broke into this apartment and killed the previous owner."

The joker chuckled while shaking his head again. "For you information little girl, I found this apartment fair and square and no one was living in it. As for everything else, I'll admit they are stolen goods."

"HA! I WIN!" I squealed triumphantly while throwing my arms in the air. "But no seriously, if you want me to kiss you at all tonight, you'll go away and get me food while I freshen up."

The joker made a dramatic bow while saying, "Yes your worshipfulness. I'll go right away!"

Ignoring his sarcasm I administered a pleasant "thank you" before pushing him out the door.

"Oh sweet cheeks? One more thing." I heard him say before I could fully shut the door.

Sighing, I opened it again. "What?"

He pointed to his lips expectantly.

Laughing quietly, I walked up to him and kissed him full on the mouth.

However, the pleasant moment ended quickly when I felt the kiss of his palm smack a few hard ones on my rump.

I yelped in protest at the painful feeling.

"That's for swearing earlier missy." He scolded gently while smirking at my discomfort.

"Also I just couldn't resist."

I pouted adorably while looking innocently into his eyes. "That hurt! You're mean!"

He merely laughed while stroking my cheek tenderly. "Sticks and stones love. Now, I don't want to uh…hear anymore foul-uh mouthedness out of you, okay princess? You're far too beautiful to be uttering such vulgarities."

Then kissing my forehead, he began to walk towards the door before I could reply.

But I decided to test him further. So, master joker didn't like me swearing eh? Well, he'll love this!

Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside the bathroom before yelling at the top of my lungs, "YOU'RE GRANDMOTHER IS A-" and a string of all kinds of words I had ever heard escaped my mouth.

Any other day, I would never have said such things, but I wanted to get back at the joker for smacking me against my will. Plus, I just loved to bug him.

In an instant, he whirled around and glared at me in shock with his mouth agape. "EXCUSE ME YOUNG LADY?" He then began to charge at me.

Laughingly, I quickly slammed the bathroom door and locked it right as he was face to face with me.

I could hear the loud thud as he ran into the door. I fell to the ground laughing at the picture that went through my head of the oh-so-infamous villain running hard into a door.

I was still laughing as he pounded on the door and yelled all kinds of threats at me. "Damnit Rachel Dawes, when I get a hold of you later you will wish you hadn't disobeyed me or slammed that door in my face!"

"Oh come off it freaky face!" I laughed as I began to undress. "Consider it pay back for your cruel treatment of a lady."

The poundings stopped immediately. "A lady huh?" I heard the scoff on the other side. "No lady would say what you just did."

"I'm not listening!" I replied in a sing-song voice as I turned the water on and began to step in the tub.

"RACHEL! YOU'D BETTER NOT IGNORE ME!" I heard the warning yell on the other side.

I knew he wouldn't try to disturb me; he was in far to good a mood right now. But then again, I remembered that he could change moods at the speed of light.

"GO GET MY FOOD YOU CRAZY FOOL!" I shouted while laughing.

Silence…

I nodded at myself in triumph that I had gotten the last word.

I sighed in relief as the feeling of warm water poured over my pale, cold flesh.

I loved being clean, plus I knew it would make him happy too.

I must have lost track of time, for it felt like only five minutes had gone by before the shower curtain was suddenly thrown aside and the joker was standing there with a grin on his face.

I shrieked at his sudden appearance and tried to cover myself as I glared at him, "HEY! GET OUT OF HERE YOU PERVERT! I'M TRYING TO SHOWER!"

"You've been in there for over twenty minutes sweet cheeks; you're using all my hot water. It's time to get out." I blushed as he reached over to turn the water off.

"You could have just knocked you jerk!" I retorted in embarrassment.

"Oh stop it. It's not like you would have answered me anyway."

"JUST GIVE ME THE F'ING TOWEL!" I shouted angrily.

"Why? It's not like I haven't seen you like this already beautiful." He replied with a giggle while staring at my body.

I growled and grabbed the towel that he held in mid air, teasing me to catch it.

I quickly wrapped it around me before whirling round to glare at him some more. "I really don't like you right now Jack."

At the sound of his real name, the joker stopped laughing and his body went rigid. He looked like he wanted to strangle me, but something in him compelled him from doing so.

He growled before stepping back and dashing out the door.

Oops…

A couple of minutes later, I walked back out in the cute Tommy Hill figure shorts and navy blue tank top he had bought me.

The joker was sitting on the bed, his back facing me. I noticed the large plate of waffles, bacon, sausage, and eggs that was on the little bed stand. Where did he get that?

"One of my men just happens to be a cook in case you're wondering." The joker answered my thought, freaking me out a little.

"Thank you so much." I replied before taking the plate and seating myself next to him on the bed. No words were spoken those next few moments as I ate.

However, I didn't notice the way the joker was observing me the whole time I chowed down on my food.

When I finally finished, I turned my gaze back upon Jack who seemed to have taken on a serious expression.

"Why?"

The question was simple.

"Why what?" I replied with confusion.

"Why did you comfort me last night? Why did you risk death just to make me feel better after one of my usual nightmares?" His eyes bored into mine,

"You would never have killed me Jack." I replied calmly, trying to soothe him.

"Don't. Call. Me. That…" He growled out menacingly while gritting his teeth and clenching his fist.

"Sorry…" I apologized, not wanting to anger him. "But you know, anyone would have wanted to be comforted after a nightmare like you were having."

The joker shook his head as if he didn't want to believe it. "No one would have dared to…yet you did…you risked my wrath just to make me feel better…why Rachel Dawes? Why do you care? I'm a criminal…a nobody…a master of chaos…a murderer."

I smiled sadly while scooting over to his side. I gently took his hand in mine, "That's what love is joker."

He snatched his hand away from mine. "Love…" He spat the word out as if it were poison. "Love is a sappy emotion that ends as soon as something goes wrong…love is fake…love is what makes people weak and vulnerable…"

"No…" I replied feeling bold.

"Love is patient; love is kind and envies no one…" That had always been a favorite quote of mine.

"Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offense. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, and endurance. Love never fails."

As I spoke this, I took Jack's hand in mine again and gently kissed it.

The joker looked at me in astonishment. "Wow…I've never heard that one before." He replied bitterly. "Sounds like a poem…"

"In a way, it is, but it's also true." I replied with a smile.

The joker scoffed while leaning casually back into the bed. "I wish you could tell that to my old man. He never even knew the word or the meaning."

"Neither did mine…" I replied sadly without thinking.

Surprisingly, the joker didn't even question me about that those words…he just looked at me as if he knew something I didn't.

After a few minutes of him staring at me, he held his arms out to me and said, "come here." It was more of a command.

Willingly, I laid myself down in his arms and rested my head against his chest.

"You do realize that I'm never letting you go now precious, right?"

I closed my eyes in content and smiled. "I don't care…keep me all you want. I like being with you even if you are annoying at times…"

He chuckled at this.

"Besides, I'll be found eventually…by Batman." I added a dramatic emphasis as I said the name.

The joker only shook his head and tightened his grip around my waist. "He can't have you…"

"Do you have a choice?" I mumbled.

After a few more moments of awkward silence, I finally asked, "So, what are we going to do today?"

"Well…" the joker started thoughtfully, "Seeing as you're my captive, and I can't let you out,"

"Oh no, wouldn't want that now would we?" I replied sarcastically while glaring at the joker.

He merely ignored me and continued to say, "I thought we should both have a movie day!"

My eyes lit up at that suggestion. I loved movie days! "Sounds innocent enough…but it all depends on which movie." I replied while eyeing him suspiciously.

"Oh I don't know, does 'Sweeney Todd' sound good enough for you princess?"

I gasped excitedly at the mention of one of my favorite movies and musicals. "Hey! That's one of my favorite movies! How did you know?"

Jack laughed while tracing my lips with his fingers. "I make it my business to know…"

"Sweeney Todd…how appropriate." I said thoughtfully while laying my head back down on his chest.

"How's that?" He asked innocently.

"Gee, well let's see…the main character wants to get revenge on the world because of one man's crime against him when he was younger. He kills many people and has only one friend and she's a woman. Sound familiar?" I looked at him knowingly.

The joker looked around as if didn't understand me. "Yep, you've pretty much hit the nail on the head. As Sweeney said, 'we all deserve to die.'"

I sighed while shaking my head. "You're hopeless…"

"I know…"

Suddenly, I wanted to walk around the room. I began to push myself up from the joker, but was surprised and annoyed when he held me down against my will.

"No no no, my little cupcake…" He admonished gently in my ear, "you have to, hm…stay in Daddy's arms where you'll be nice and safe and warm…and mine…"

DADDY'S ARMS? WAS HE SERIOUS? I snorted and burst out into a loud laugh at his words.

The joker had a slightly amused yet annoyed look on his face.

"Daddy's arms?" I laughed out "I am not your little girl Joker…"

"Maybe not-uh. But good-uh daddies lo-oooove their little girls, and uh…like them to feel secured and protected no matter wha-T. So why shouldn't you call me daddy?"

He replied while smirking at my embarrassed look.

"Let me think…" I began while trying to keep the snicker out of my voice, "One, because good lovers and husbands also want their girls to be safe and feel loved no matter what, and two, if you wanted our relationship to be that of a father and daughter you wouldn't have made love to me already and kissed me over a million times."

The joker sighed in slight defeat. "Yes, but there are daddies out there that do that to their little girls too."

Instantly, our discussion wasn't so funny anymore.

My heart lurched in disgust and I burst out of his arms in a fit of rage. "DON'T SPEAK OF THAT LIKE IT'S FUNNY JOKER! IT'S NOT! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY LITTLE GIRLS ARE ABUSED LIKE THAT EVERYDAY?"

I was backing away from Jack now, rage pouring through my soul.

The joker had shock written all over his face at my reaction.

"Hey hey hey now…" He began while getting up ad moving toward me with caution. "I didn't mean for it to come out that way Rachel…" His tone actually sounded apologetic when he said this.

GEEZE WHY DID HE HAVE TO BE SO BIPOLAR ALL THE TIME!

One moment he could be a cruel joking clown, then he could be positively evil, yet he had moments like this where I saw love and kindness in him.

"WELL IT'S A TOUCHY SUBJECT FOR ME JACK!" I cried out as I continued to back away from him, tears filling up my eyes.

Jack's eyes flashed upon my calling him by his real name. "Don't call me that Rachel…" He growled out while stopping in the middle of the room.

I sneered defiantly, "Why not JACK? You didn't seem to mind so much last night JACK after you had that awful nightmare JACK and I held you in my arms JACK and comforted your fears JACK and wiped away your tears JACK!" I knew I was pushing it again.

Who was I to talk about him being bipolar? Heck! I was the bipolar one!

I was surprised the joker hadn't charged me yet. However, he was glowering at me in calm anger that shook me more than his usual outbursts did.

"Rachel Emily Dawes, unless you want me to smack you again you will keep your mouth shut! I do not like being called that name."

My mouth dropped open at his threat!

HE HAD NO RIGHT TO THREATEN ME! I WAS THE ONE BEING TORMENTED AT THE MOMENT!

"Yes, I know your middle name does that surprise you-?"

"SHUT THE HELL UP JACK! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! I HATE YOU! I HATE THIS WHOLE DAMN CITY! I HATE THIS WHOLE WORLD! JACK JACK JACK JACK JACK!"

I taunted insanely as tears streamed down my face, already not caring about his threat.

That did it. The joker was at me in a flash, and could feel his arms wrap tightly around me.

I struggled and screamed as he picked me up and brought me back over to the bed and sat down with me in his lap.

However, instead of getting the promised punishment he'd threatened me with, I felt him begin to rock me gently and hug me tighter to himself.

"Shhh shh…Rachel…doll face, calm down…what is the matter?"

"Let me go…" I whimpered pitifully while making a pathetic attempt to push him away.

"Rachel…" He called me gently again yet still with authority…

He took my chin in his hand and raised it to meet his own eyes. "Tell me what is bothering you kitten. I don't like seeing you cry…"

I scoffed bitterly at those words. "Right, you just like to beat me senseless and hear me scream, or smack my butt and watch me squirm and yelp with that pleasure I know is in your eyes everytime!"

The joker's eyes narrowed and his hold on my chin tightened as he looked at me with disapproval.

"Rachel Emily Dawes, that's in the past and I apologize for hurting you like that when we first met. I should have just smacked you for your awful words instead of repeat the brutal behavior my father did on me as a child. But despite all that, it doesn't mean that I like seeing you cry."

I shook my head wildly as shivers convulsed through my body.

"LET ME GO!" I wailed in agony, wanting to curl up in a little ball and die.

"No. Not until you tell me what is wrong…" The joker replied stubbornly as I struggled in his strong embrace.

After a couple minutes of repeatedly pounding his chest with my small hands, I finally gave up and collapsed into his embrace, allowing my tears to fall freely; God how I hated crying.

The joker kissed me gently on the forehead while rocking me.

"Talk to me precious…What. Is. Wrong?"