Chapter 11
XD! This chapter is stupid…I tried to make it interesting and this came out.
I don't know, maybe you'll like it.
It's silly and doesn't really fit, but it's Joker so when would it? xD
Oh well, try to enjoy anyway, it gets better in the next chapter~ :'D
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It was a little strange walking home with Joker. He never left Bruce's side, not much more than a step in front or behind him. Usually he'd be walking Joker to a jail cell not to his home. They walked in silence, just exchanging small glances every now and then.
Once they were in the building they entered the elevator and pushed the very top floor. It was nice for Bruce to be back in the penthouse after being in the Batcave for so long. He watched Joker from the corner of his eye as they ascended the 30 floors to the top. He was oddly quiet, something Bruce wasn't used to. The clown's hands were in his pockets and his head was sown, blonde curls hiding his eyes from view. His face was still perfect, the makeup not showing in the slightest. The silence was making him uneasy…he shifted his weight from one foot to the other and glanced to the floor number, they had just passed the twenty-third…27…29…30. The elevator pinged signaling their arrival. Joker exited the metal box first, not giving Bruce a second glance.
Bruce growled, irritated, and grabbed him by the shoulder, pinning him to a nearby wal. Before the clown had a chance to protest, Bruce had his mouth covering his. His tongue delved deep, exploring him thoroughly. Joker whimpered in protest, rubbing against the larger man in attempt to break free. Upon releasing, Joker landed a hard backhand to Bruce's cheek. He pulled at the "skin" over his scars, ripping and tearing it in a truly macabre sense. It looked as if he had been mauled by a feral beast, minus the blood. He threw the pieces of latex flesh to the floor, glaring up to Bruce with eyes of utter poison.
"You'll have to enjoy that fake skin by yourself, because I don't want it," he growled, "If you think just because you're the big bad bat you can pull me around by this little imaginary leash you think you've put me on, the you are so undeniably wrong, Bat. I told you before, you are not my owner, nor am I your pet." Joker threw the last pieces of latex and wax at Bruce, not caring where they landed, "You can't make me be something I'm not. You may be a spoiled little bastard, but you can't always get what you want." His voice was quiet and matter-of-fact.
Joker stormed off in some random direction, and although he had no idea where he was going, he was determined to distance himself as far away from the other as he could.
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Bruce was left standing speechless. He didn't know whether to follow him or let him be. The clown's mood swings were grating on him by now. He slowly wandered in the direction Joker stormed off.
His body trembled in his anger. Although he wasn't sure if the reason he was angry made sense. It did to him at least. Bruce wasn't looking at him each time Joker had caught him staring. He was only looking to the painted skin and blonde hair. That's what made him angry. If he was going to have Bruce's attention, he'd be dammed if that attention was directed towards the latex mask. If he wanted to get Joker, he needed to look at Joker for what he was, criminal and all. He wasn't going to play "Bruce's Country Cousin" for the rest of his life…He needed to get some air…
Joker fumbled around in some remote bedroom, feeling around in the dark for curtains to a window or some opening to the outside. Eventually his fingers tapped cold glass hidden behind heavy curtains. He stood and threw them back, wincing slightly as the bright moonlight mixed with the faint city lights. He had come upon a balcony overlooking the city. He unlatched the hook on the handles, and quietly pushed the doors open.
The night air was chilly on his bare face, but as he breathed it in it soothed his raging nerves and calmed his thoughts. He leaned on the banister, hanging his head slightly and gazing upon the city…
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Bruce sighed in frustration. The penthouse wasn't that big, so where could he be? It made him a little uneasy not knowing where the clown was at. For all he knew, he could've escaped and was already out reigning terror…He rubbed his temples. Just then a cold breeze rushed by him, sending a shiver up his spine. He hadn't left any doors open…Joker must be outside…
Bruce quickly set to raiding every room with a door or window. The first few proved no clown, but the last one pictured a dark shadow of a man against a dark blue starry sky. Joker hadn't escaped.
He stayed still in the doorway a moment, not wanting to frighten the other from his hiding spot. Joker didn't move much, just shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Not once did he glance back even though Bruce was sure his presence was known by now.
"…Joker." He said softly.
The clown shifted slightly but stayed silent. He didn't feel the need to talk just yet. Bruce would need to explain his behavior towards him before he would want to talk to him. He turned his head away from Bruce, making it clear he didn't want to talk.
"You're such a brat…" Bruce sighed.
He placed his hands on Joker's shoulders, pulling him away from the banister and closer to his chest. The harlequin reluctantly let himself be pulled in, crossing his arms defiantly and averting his gaze, "You tell me not to ignore you, but here you are ignoring me," he said softly, his hands wrapping around the slighter male's waist, "What's wrong?"
Joker's eyes widened and his spine stiffened. He tore Bruce's hands from his body and turned to face him, "You really don't know what's wrong? Are you that dense, Bat?" his voice shook with rebuilding anger, "You should know, you kept looking at that stupid fake face you made me put on. Gazing so longingly at that plastic shell…" he growled, balling his fists in his hair, "That's not me, Bruce! It's not! You acted so sweet when I wore those covers, but here once they're off, you treat me like a dog in a cage. Guaranteed it's a larger cage than the cave…but that's not the damn point. The point is that you're a two-faced, lying bastard, and I want nothing to do with you! You think you can make up for your shitty behavior with kisses but that's not going to work." He shoved Bruce out of the way and hurried out to the elevator they came up on. He slammed the down button and waited. He rode the elevator down and scurried out to the street, not caring who saw his scars now. He ran up and down the alleys and sidewalks, searching for one store in particular…
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Bruce sighed heavily, watching from the balcony as Joker ran until he was too far to see, "I suppose I should go get him…" he thought. He hurried out to the front room and pushed a hidden button to a chute to take him down to the garage quicker than the elevator would. As he went, he kept asking himself why he was going after the clown. He tried telling himself it was because he didn't want Joker ravaging the city suddenly after weeks of absence, but there was a feeling in his gut that was telling him that was wrong by far. He was denying the fact that he was starting to need Joker around. He shook his head to rid the thoughts and pushed another button as he arrived at the garage. He pulled out a set of keys from a secluded cabinet and reached a shiny black speed bike with a matching helmet. He tossed the helmet aside and mounted, clicking the ignition and speeding off out of the garage. He tried hard not to think too much as he rode. He had a mission to complete and crashing now wasn't an option.
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The radio was already pouring out little bits of information about a robbery that had just occurred, It wasn't an armed robbery, the person had gone to a toy store and taken a few stuffed animals, a toy gun with paintballs, and a cardboard cutout. There was a note of a police man dress-up outfit missing as well. Anyone listening would find this report odd. No money was stolen; no one was killed, just toys taken. The only person that wouldn't find the broadcast odd would be the one performing the heist…Joker.
The clown had taken a shopping cart to hold his stolen items and now he was taking them to a secluded place. His stolen police hat covered his eyes from view as he came to the park. The park was simply for walking, no playground equipment, just a sidewalk circling the area and a multitude of trees. Joker set up his little array of prisoners. Ironically, all the stuffed animals were dogs…His cutout was in the image of a male celebrity, he hadn't stopped to see what one when he grabbed it. But now that he looked, Brad Pitt's body was printed onto the cardboard. He raised a brow a moment, no why would a toy store have that? He shrugged, deciding it wasn't important. He pulled the hat down a little, and shoved the gun into the little plastic holster. He turned back to the execution line.
"Alright you maggots," he purred in a gravelly voice, "You're facing your last moments here. What are you gonna do? Hm? Have any last words, you slime?" He turned back to the line, the cutout on the left side of the row of dogs. He pulled his gun and aimed it to the first dog on the left, "Hm? How about you? Wanna say goodbye to your little bunny?" he cackled and shot three times, fascinated as the paintballs exploded against the little dog's fur, "Oops, my bad~"
Joker went trigger-happy and mauled the other dogs with little paintballs exploding in brilliant crimson, until they were gone. Once the gun slicked instead of delighting the clown with another shot, he threw it aside and went to the cutout. He dipped his fingers in a puddle of red near the stuffed animals and splattered the liquid over the cutout, tinting its chest red. Another dip in the paint and Joker smeared it over the cutout's lips, forcing a bright red smile to cover his face, "There Brucie, you look much better now," Had he gone delusional? "You look so much better with a smile on your face," his fingers swirled in the paint again and he brought them up to his own face and smeared it over his lips and scars, "There, now we're both smiling. Don't we look wonderful Brucie?" he purred shakily.
The harlequin embraced the cardboard "Bruce" a moment then danced off, "Aw, look at the poor Joker. All bloody and messed in Brucie's cage," he stuck his bottom lip out in a mock pout, "Well let's see…What would the Bat do?"
He smiled momentarily and suddenly set out to crush the cardboard. He pulled and ripped the cardboard apart, littering Brad Pitt all over the grass. The paint on his face leaked a little, a drop slowly running down his cheek. He jumped back with a mumbled squeal as the rev of an engine and a bright light burst towards him. He scurried off to the side of the oncoming vehicle. He watched, chest heaving as the bike came to a halt and its rider stepped off. As Bruce came into view, Joker's eyes widened. He curled himself up in himself, trying to hide himself from the other's view.
As Bruce came towards him he raised a brow at the scarlet covered dogs, then the painted and torn cardboard pieces scattered over the grass. It seemed Joker was learning how to control himself a bit. He smiled slightly, knowing now that Joker was starting to be aware that killing people wasn't the way to exert frustration. He kneeled in front of Joker, the little smile never leaving.
"What's with the stupid smile? Are you happy you're driven me so far as to shoot paint at stuffing-filled rags?" he huffed hiding behind his knees, only his eyes visible.
Bruce placed a hand on Joker's cheek, "Yes as a matter of fact I am," he said in all seriousness, "I'm ecstatic for you to be drawn to this."
Joker's eyes widened in disbelief, "And why is that you over grown rodent!? You want me to be miserable!?"
Bruce just chuckled, annoying the clown even more, "Because you're controlling those deathly little urges," he smirked, "Well, for the most part," he stood and held a hand out to Joker, "Come on Joker. Let's go home."