Chapter 14
warnings: this is written oddly. also, slash. slight oocness.
my apologies for the tardiness of this update. once again, I have failed at my promise. I honestly have no excuse other than college apps.
I am so sorry, dear Paper China. Mommy loves you.
i no ownies and neither do you.
Jonathan
Jonathan both loved and totally despised the Joker for his insane, completely batshit escape.
He had little time to devote to choosing the more apt emotion- Joker had Jonathan's hand in a vicelike grip, practically dragging him along as his legs refused to cooperate. Behind them, the sirens screamed the news of an escape while police cars swarmed the asylum, far too late to see the pair's destination.
All Jonathan could do was gasp for breath and struggle to regain control of his traitorous body, seemingly quitting when it was least convienient.
(Jonathan hated his life, so so much.)
He jumped as a whoop of delight assaulted his ears and looked in the direction Joker's feverish gaze was, and the edge of Gotham Forest sprang into sharp relief, contrasting to the lights growing in intensity behind their tracks.
Joker gave Jonathan a sharp tug, urging him along. Jon grimaced, fighting against his useless feet.
"Come on, Jonathan!" Joker's voice was a frustrated hiss, and Jonathan could only agree mentally, sending a furious glare down as Joker pulled him along. He grabbed a huge breath and forced his body to cooperate, at least for a little while, and they sped off into the dark haven the trees created.
Joker
He was still going to murder Lyle Bolton. They may have escaped, he may have Jonathan's hand in his, Jonathan may be safe beside him- more or less- but that didn't change a fucking thing.
It didn't erase the image of his Jonathan
HIS JONATHAN GODDAMNIT
humiliated, used and thrown uselessly to the carpet.
It didn't erase the sounds he heard through the wall, it didn't erase the self-assured voice, it didn't erase the cocky smirk, it didn't erase what happened to Jonathan
HIS JONATHAN his mind screamed and every fiber of his being had to agree
and so, he was still going to kill Lyle Bolton.
He squeezed Jonathan's hand- his Jonathan's hand, stumbling beside him- and gave him a tug toward the deep woods and freedom.
More or less.
Jonathan
The woods were dark and cold but it relieved him to note that he was not afraid. So what if a few memories caused nightmares he couldn't shake and tears he could not stop? So what if he'd been violated more times than he could count, been helpless and alone for the past six months? So what if he had less than a year to live?
So what?
He was not afraid of the fucking woods.
So there.
"Jack…." he called out softly, the darkness pressing in on all sides, making it almost impossible to see a few feet in front of him.
"Boo."
It was barely whispered and right in his ear, and, to his credit, Jonathan did not flinch
he was not afraid of the fucking woods
though his heart stopped beating for a moment.
"Batman."
He uttered the dreaded name with as much confidence as he could muster, though it fell far short of what Scarecrow would have provided.
"Hello, Crane. I assume that's who you are?"
Jonathan gave a stiff nod, eyes frantically searching the woods for any sign of Jack.
"Yes," Jonathan finally spoke to the masked man with a mixture of apathy and anger. "But it doesn't matter, you know. Neither one of us will be going back."
"Is that so." Batman's voice was incredulous. "And why do you say that?"
"It's just a fact."
Jonathan's heart calmed as he caught glimpse of glittering green eyes behind a tree a few feet away. Jack grinned and put a finger against his scarred lips.
No fucking duh. Jonathan shifted impatiently and waited for Batman's next move.
"Where's your friend?" Batman asked in a hiss.
"He went ahead," Jonathan answered smugly.
"No, he ran off, didn't he?"
"He went ahead." Do not let him win, do not let him win.
"He ran off. You know how I know?"
"He went ahead."
"Because he's the Joker," Batman hissed right in Jonathan's ear. He flinched away and Batman laughed.
"And you know it's true," Batman finished. Jonathan refused to look at him, his gaze fixed on where Jack was-
He was gone. Jonathan's heart stopped and he looked frantically around, searching for a grin, a green eye, a hospital uniform- anything.
"Well?" Batman asked, voice at once taunting and cruel.
Jonathan swallowed thickly.
"He- he went ahead," he answered finally, though his voice wavered.
"I love your faith," Joker said, his voice a disturbing form of loving. "Remind me to reward you later."
Batman was out before Joker finished speaking, and Jonathan jumped away as his body fell to the ground with a nasty thump.
Joker caught Jonathan's arm in a tight grip.
"Next time," he breathed. "Just-ah- trust I'll be there, yeah?"
Jonathan nodded- suddenly, that was all the strength he had left to do.
Joker snorted and his scarred lips briefly captured Jonathan's- he'd call it "affectionate" if it wasn't Joker doing it.
Jonathan closed his eyes against the world.