I knew he had told the story to me with pieces of the puzzle missing. The entire time he spoke with a vacant face. His eyes lost in memories as I hugged the duvet, my body turned towards him as he stared to the other side of the room. His words were cold, the story was short and simple and focused primarily on how the man we was before was dead. There was not an ounce of him left and instead he was now the beautiful sinner laying frigid in bed beside me. He was now the Joker.
He thrived explaining how he had gone from that man in the river to dominating the crime industry of Gotham, governing gangs and killing rivals that refused to obey his rules, a sadistic smirk casting across his face at the mere idea.

Small giggles left his lips as he recalled the numerous murders and his tale came to a finish. My eyes scanned his face, his eyes void of emotion yet the smile that spread across the red smeared lips appeared haunting on his pale face. I propped myself up on one arm sliding to almost his height as his eyes glanced down at me. I raised my fingers and allowed them to limply trail along a scar that tainted his porcelain cheek. "What a charming bed time story" I murmured with amusement in my voice.

His hand engulfed mine and yanked it from his face, he brashly rose to his feet and sauntered over to his desk once more, a small "get to sleep" falling from his lips as he began scribbling frantically on the papers before him.

When I awoke he was nowhere to be found and his men flooded the flat with so many guns and various other weapons and ammunition that could supply a small army. I was left to my own devices, allowed out in partial moments of his distraction – not being able to escape the public eye unless buried beneath various accessories – and was able to contact Jane to let her know I was alive and sane – partially.

The days that passed Shiv would accompany in most of my outings, he was the only person I was capable of having a normal conversation with it seemed. Yet it was undeniable that even he, despite how apparent it was that the life inside him was slowly dying out, was terrified of what was to come.

"Shiv" I stopped in my tracks, the biting cold nipping at my cheeks as snow lightly fell around us, "I'm not oblivious to everything that's happening and yet you, you all, continue to baby me and prevent me from finding out what the hell is going on."

Shiv had the intention of continuing to walk and ignore my query, his hands embedded in his suit trouser pockets as he bunched his shoulders trying to protect himself from the cold as his body was wrapped in a large black overcoat. "It's nothing. I wouldn't worry your pretty little face." He mumbled taking a further step. My hands grabbed at his jacket, pulling him back and turning him towards me. His eyes rolled as he huffed a white puff of his breath into the cold air.

"Shiv, tell me." I begged, my grip not releasing him.

"I can't say. You're not wrong in believing there's something about to happen – and sooner than you can imagine. And it's going to be big, and terrifying, and just… messy." His gloved hand slipped from his pocket and restlessly ruffled his hair in angst. "If I were you I'd try and get out of it as soon as you can, Jess. It's dangerous and J… I know you aren't gonna wanna hear this but J isn't going to save you. He's evil, Jess. He'll throw everyone else under the bus and in front of the bullet before he sends himself in."

"Don't" I whispered.

"Jess, he's not go-"

"DON'T!" I demanded. Shoving my fistfuls of his coat back at him before continuing to walk down the street.

I heard him sigh before the familiar clicking of his shoes echoed off the pavement and his tall stature was once again situated by my side.

The rest of the day his words haunted me. Whenever the pale murderer was in the same room I found myself analysing his every move, questioning if it could all be indicated as proof to what Shiv had said. His eyes would trail to mine occasionally, discomfort apparent on his face as his body moved awkwardly whenever he felt my criticising stare upon him. Slowly it was just Shiv, J, and I in the living room.

J twisted and twirled his cane between his legs as Shiv appeared to make final touches to whatever plan the two had been drafting out.

"Doll face" J's voice called across the room, his body upright in an armchair in the corner of the room, his position imposing on Shiv's work with scrutinising surveillance. My eyes rose to his from the book that I had been using as a prop – pretending to be besotted in the story being told on the pages. He flicked his cane up, the end of it pointing directly at me before he swiftly motioned it back to its positon, indicating his demand for my movement.

I leapt to my feet, flicking the book behind me and onto a seat as I seductively ambled towards him. His arms shifted to the sides as he opened his lap to me, I giggled falling into place. I sprawled across him, my legs flipping over the arm rest as though a child on a throne. Joker's twisted smile and his grilled teeth beamed, a hand of his slipped to the nape of my neck, his fingers delving into my brown hair or tracing my spine. His fingers begin to wrap around the nape of my neck, his entire hand almost engulfing it as his fingers tightened. I tried as I could to hide the discomfort as Shiv's face contorted for a split second in mere disgust.

"Oh my boy! Don't pull that face" J began to cackle, his grip on my neck never faltering. "Did your mama never told you it'll get stuck?"

"Sorry sir" he grumbled in response. J's laughter rose, "Oh you're being so intense… my, my…" he began to shove me off of his lap and I slid into the armchair as he rose to a stand-still beside Shiv's seated position.

"What has got young Shiv's tongue in such a twist?"

Shiv froze and gave no response, the Joker's tone may be playful but his words were seeping with venom - one wrong move and the snake would bite. The noise of a knife flicking open clicked behind Shiv's ear and J began to trail patterns in Shiv's cheek without piercing the skin. "You aren't jealous… are you?" J teased.

"J-" I tried to stop him but he held up a hand to silence me. The last thing I wanted was for Shiv to now get hurt. J whipped his head to me and with a purple gloved hand motioned his index finger in a movement which indicated for me to rise to my feet. With hesitation I slid off the seat and stood to my full petit height, my bare feet twisting on themselves as my fear heightened for Shiv.

"Look at her" J motioned to me. Shiv unwillingly rose his head from the papers on the table and turned in his seat to face me - viewing the entirety of me as I was draped in a baggy white t-shirt stained with black and red makeup and dark skinny jeans.

J's face contorted with jealousy, he bent down so he was ear to ear with Shiv. Two pairs of eyes lay upon me, Shiv's filled with boredom and the tiniest light of fear, and J's with the familiar dangerous hunger. "Doesn't she just drive you crazy?" he enthused, his hands gripping Shiv's shoulders and massaging them as the knife lay tucked under his thumb.

"No"

"No?"

"Mr J…" I whispered, the awkwardness growing by the second. "I'm going to head to bed, if you want to join?" I teased, attempting to lighten the room and distract J from whatever monstrosities he was planning to inflict upon Shiv. A smirk flashed across his lips as he stood, a growl in his voice as he hummed to himself. He slipped the knife into his pocket and Shiv noticeably relaxed as I smiled flirtatiously at the Joker, relieved at the immediate distraction. Yet just as I went to walk to J with open arms he suddenly gripped a fist full of Shiv's blonde locks and slammed the side of his head in a forceful motion against the table.

I gasped in shock as Shiv yelped in pain before falling unconscious, the paper beneath his head tainting red with the blood from the force.

"He'll be fine" J nudged his shoulder and sure enough Shiv's deep breathes became clear after the jolt. He then outstretched his purple clad hand and led me to our room, the faint words of "let's hope he's one to go tomorrow" grumbled under his breath as though talking to himself.