"Are you sure this is okay?"
"Stop being such a spoil sport, Sakura... It's fine." Jack grinned watching the pinkette sitting on the floor. The dirty blond sat on the wooden surface beside her, leaning up against the mattress behind them.
"My dad doesn't come home till late, sometimes early in the morning. He already left, so I highly doubt he's coming back anytime soon. Mom's still sleeping, but she wouldn't care if you're in here anyway." Patting his hands on the floor, his grin widened when the puppy hopped towards him, abandoning the old shoestring it was chewing on.
"Good boy! See how he comes to me? Yeah! You're a smart little guy, aren't ya?" Jack scratched behind the dogs ears, cooing at the small animal as it leaned into his hands.
"Yeah, he's like you.. What a little cutie! So adorable!" Sakura couldn't help herself, leaning forward to pet its back. She never had a pet, but always wondered what it would be like. They weren't really supposed to have any in the building, but it wasn't like anyone would care or really even check.
Jack had been acting weird earlier when they were sitting in class, more than usual. Fidgeting and looking at the clock consistently. The pinkette couldn't help noticing it, she always knew when something was out of the ordinary. On a typical day, he would either sleep through class or doodle, lost in his own little world and waiting for the bell to ring.
They shouldn't have been in the same grade... He was almost two years older. From what he said, his mom didn't enroll him into school until it was too late and missed the deadline...by a couple months. That left him a year behind the other kids his age. To make matters worse, he failed last year and had to repeat the fourth grade all over again.
It didn't make sense to Sakura. Out of all the kids she knew, including herself, Jack was much smarter than all of them. Whenever they did their homework together, he always had all the answers and would show her how to figure it out, only to leave his own half-finished or blank all together. It was annoying...just like when he seemed happy when he found out he failed for the year. It didn't even seem to bother him, even after the beating his dad gave him when he found out.
The other kids in school had no problem with reminding him that he should be in sixth grade, making fun of him whenever they got the chance. If it wasn't for his age or clothes, then it was about his dad, who most people in the area knew about. It didn't seem to faze him much, usually ignoring it.
Sakura, however, couldn't... That's when the fist fighting started. Although she was small, she didn't have an issue with punching someone in the face or kicking their shin. They started getting into trouble together, even though neither of them would start it.
Someone would call Jack a name, say a few choice words... The pinkette would count to three and after that, she would start saying things back. One shove led to another, then it would turn into a brawl that would end up with Jack pummeling someone's face in.
It just seemed easier not to even go to school anymore, but her dad wouldn't let her stay home. The blond-haired boy's parents didn't seem to care what he did either way, but he always trailed behind when she left for school, even if he complained most of the way.
"I have something to show you when we get out of here." He said during lunch while they sat against the wall of the old building. It was unusual to see him excited and antsy at school of all places.
Right as the last bell rang, he practically dragged her home in a rush. For the first time, he seemed eager to bring her to the apartment his family lived in, right next to hers. Usually, he tried avoiding it for the most part, especially when his dad happened to be home. Most days were spent in hers or outside, wandering the streets or going to the park. No one was really around to tell them they couldn't, so why not?
After they got into the apartment and carefully looked around, he motioned for her to come to his room, something her mom always told her not to do.
"If you go into a boy's room when no one's around, bad things happen chicky..."
It was okay, Sakura knew that. Jack wouldn't let anything happen. Was something supposed to pop out of the closet or something? Would she get cursed or spirited away by a yōkai like in the stories her father would tell?
The only thing that surprised her was the small black and white puppy sitting in the closet on some newspapers, with a bowl of water and some food.
"What kind of dog is it?" The pinkette didn't really know much about dogs. Only that they needed to be fed and watered, taken outside to go to the bathroom, and that they bite.
"I'm pretty sure he's a Pit Bull. See how wide his head and chest are? And how his coat feels? The place I got him from is known for breeding them. Right, little guy? He's probably about three months old. That's when the mom had her puppies, at least from what I heard my dad saying..." The pup was on his back, tongue hanging out as he panted.
"Oh... Where did you get him from?" How was he able to pay for a dog? It wasn't like his parents would give him money, especially for a pet.
"I snagged him from a cage in the McCleary's yard. Those locks are easy to open if you have a bobby-pin. Hahaha." The smug look on his face horrified her as she realized he not only stole the dog, but from the McCleary's at that. They were an Irish family in the neighborhood who were known for being trouble, but were living better off than most in the area. Their son, Connor, was Sakura's age and always seemed to like messing with everyone, since people were afraid of his dad, and he knew it.
"Jack! Are you serious? You can't just take someone's dog!"
His brows furrowed, face scrunching up in confusion. "Why not? They use them for fighting and making money. This little guy was the only one left out of the litter. If I left him there... He doesn't deserve that. C'mon! Just look at him!" Picking the puppy up around the middle, he held him up to make his point. "Would you wanna see him in a pit, fighting with other dogs? I can take good care of him. Better than those assholes anyway... Besides, it's good practice."
"Good practice for what?" Sakura cocked her head to the side, not understanding what he meant for a moment. "Ah, for when you're a vet. Right?"
Jack looked at her with a strange expression, putting the puppy back down between his legs. "... Yeah..." Fiddling with the floppy ears between his fingers, dark eyes stared downwards as the pinkette watched him.
Throwing his head back to look at her, the corners of his mouth curved up, making his dimples more apparent. "... That's right. It's good practice for when I become a vet."
"Mom says that Pit Bull's are dangerous, to stay away from them. They rip people apart."
"Your mom is full of it... A lot of people say crap like that, but it's just a misunderstanding. It all depends on how you raise them, if you do it right or not. Just bullshit. These dogs are strong and smart...very protective." His thumbs caressed the sides of the puppy's face as it put its paw on his chest, lifting itself up. "They're really misunderstood. People judge them just because of the way they look and how they act out sometimes. A whole breed shouldn't get punished over a handful of incidents that probably could've been prevented if they were raised differently..."
Jack's head snapped in her direction when she chuckled. "What's so funny? Hmm?"
"I'm sorry. The way you said it just kind of...reminds me of you." She didn't mean to laugh, honestly. It just sounded like he was practically describing himself, even if he didn't mean it that way. Maybe that was what pushed him to take the dog in the first place. He always had a soft spot for them, saying they were man's best friend and were loyal, unlike most people. "You know a lot about stuff. So smart..."
Dark eyes stared at her unblinkingly, widening when the words dawned on him. "Well... I guess you're right. Kinda does sound like me..." Turning back to the puppy, his features softened as he ran a hand down its back. Yep, he probably was seeing the similarities. "You're smart too, ya know."
Sakura couldn't help the snort she let out. Compared to him, she didn't feel very smart... Who was the one always asking questions and who always had the answers? Even if there was a two-year difference, she knew he understood a lot more than the other kids his age from the way her dad would praise him after he'd go back home late at night.
"Did you name him yet?"
"Uh... Yeah. I wanted to pick a name out together, but I know you're just gonna come up with something I can't say right, so I thought of one. I wanna call him Watson." The grin on his face when he held the puppy made Sakura feel happy for him. He seemed so excited to finally have a pet.
"Watson?" What kind of name is that for a puppy? She expected something like Spot or Chewy...
"Watson! Like from the Arthur Conan Doyle novels?... Ya know, Sherlock Holmes? John Watson is one of his only real friends and partner in their detective adventures. I thought it would be unique... None of the other dogs in the neighborhood would have a name like that, haha." Jack seemed pleased with himself at his own cleverness.
"Jack! Where the hell are you?!" A deep voice yelled from somewhere in the apartment, making the two of them jump. Watson crawled under his leg at the angry sound coming from outside of the room.
"Shit..." In just seconds, the mood changed drastically. Dark eyes wandered over towards Sakura apologetically, the smile he had been wearing turned into a straight line as he pursed his lips.
"I thought you said he wouldn't be home till late?" Her words were just barely over a whisper, not wanting to draw attention from the man stomping around the apartment.
"Yeah... So did I." A groan left his lips, lifting the puppy off of his lap and handing him to Sakura. She raised an eyebrow when he motioned for her to get up with his chin, doing the same and getting to his feet.
Walking over towards the closet, he opened the door and pointed inside. Without arguing, the pinkette held the puppy in her arms and tried to quietly walk across the creaky floor boards. As she stepped in, trying to be mindful of the bowls, she felt her heart sink at the expression on Jack's face. They both knew what was going to happen...
Putting a hand of Watson's head, he ruffled the little guy's coarse black and white fur. "Stay with mommy, little guy. I'll be right back." Sakura felt her chest tighten at the way he referred to her and the look on his face. It was when he was preparing himself for a beating. If his dad came home early, it was never a good thing. He must've run out of money or something hadn't gone right. Either way, he was going to be drunk and angry... Whether it was Jack or his mom, or both, someone was going to get hit.
These days, it seemed to be the blond boy more than anything, and his mom didn't seem too upset about being out of the line of fire. After all, Jack could take it, right? He was young and sturdy, not an older woman who's breaking down mentally and physically. Unlike Marion, he didn't cry or scream when it happened, which meant Dave could keep going without Sakura's dad coming over and trying to knock him out.
"Don't go..." Sakura couldn't take it anymore, but there was nothing she could do. It wasn't like messing with the boys at school. If she did anything, they would just both get beaten. Jack would get it even worse during and after for her getting involved. She was only ten, what could she do against a grown man? Her dad still wasn't home from work either...
"If I don't, he's just going to hit mom and then come in here. I don't want him finding you or Watson... It'll be okay. I'm strong, remember? I can take it... Can't really run from this... Not the type to anyway." Without another word, he closed the closet door. She could hear him shuffling around, pushing the chair in the room against the handle to make sure she couldn't get out. He always did that on the few occasions she came over and this happened. It was almost like protocol, like they already had an automated system set-up for this kind of situation.
This is why they usually went to her apartment, where the two knew they were going to be okay. Her mom was typically gone most of the day and her dad would never do any of the things Dave did. Most of the time he was out working, so no one was home.
Sakura slid down against the wall of the closet, holding Watson close. When was this going to end? Were things always going to be this way? Closing her eyes, the pinkette tried hard to stifle the tears threatening to burst out from hearing the noises coming from the other room...
She couldn't. It wouldn't be fair to Jack to come back after what he was going through and her be the one who was upset. He would end up trying to console her, even though it was him who needed it.
Nope, she wasn't going to cry...
"Hey..." The voice seemed far off, barely registering in her mind. "Hey... Eyes on me."
Sakura didn't even notice the hands on her face until they were shaking her, smashing the scene playing out into pieces, bringing reality back into the forefront.
Fingers tapped against her cheek, trying to get her attention. Had he been saying something a few moments ago? If so, it was completely lost on her...
"You remembered something." It wasn't a question. Dark eyes stared down intently, making the pinkette shift on her feet. "What. Was. It."
Joker held on, not loosening the grip his fingers had holding her to the spot when she tried to take a step back. She needed some space, to just get a free breath in, to gather her bearings. Nothing came out as she looked around, feeling lost in her mind from the whiplash of going back and forth between the then and now.
"Tell me."
"Just...remembering the time...you showed me Watson." Trying to steady the erratic beating in her chest, she took a deep breath to collect herself. Now wasn't the time to lose her shit... They weren't back in the apartment anymore where it felt safe, more at home.
Green eyes gazed up at the man hovering over her, watching as the corner of his mouth twitched. Guess he didn't expect that? Probably not out of all the things she could have remembered. It was a sore spot growing up. That year was terrible for both of them... A few months later her dad died, and Watson a little further down the road.
"Forget about that. It's not important." He bit out, hands dropping when he turned away. Dress shoes tapped against the wooden floorboards as he started pacing back and forth. The muscles seemed tense beneath his skin, flexing with each movement. He suddenly froze on the spot, cocking his head to the side. He was quiet for a moment, carefully studying her face, making her fidget. After all they've been through, she didn't know why she still did that whenever he looked at her that way. It always felt like he was seeing something that she couldn't. Those ark orbs bearing own on her like if he concentrated hard enough, her thoughts and feelings would materialize in front of his eyes.
"Ha... Hah... HAHAHAHA! Hoo boy! Out of all the things you could have remembered about this room, that's what came up?" He laughed hysterically, making her flinch. Why was that funny to him? Was he hoping for something different?
"I can't control what pops up, Jack. You know that... They just come and go as they please." It was true. Sometimes seeing an object or place triggered the images, other times it was a feeling or sense of déjà vu...
Stepping across the creaky boards, he gazed down at her, swaying his long arms. Sakura didn't know what he was looking for, trying to pull out of her. From the look in his eyes, she could tell he wanted to say something. He wasn't going to and they both knew that. Whatever he wanted to bring to the surface by showing her this would have to come out on its own. The same way their relationship started... Instead of just talking to her, he cornered her and forced it to reveal itself out of desperation. She shifted on her feet, taking to staring at his chest instead of looking up.
"Is... Is that why you brought me here? To make me remember?" Fingers ran along the front of the coat, plucking each button as they made their way up. With the last one finally free, he slid the thick purple fabric over her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor. "When did you do this?"
"Hmm? Let's see..." With a pop of his lips, his head turned up towards the ceiling as she looked up at him. It seemed like he was just pretending to think about it, his eyes roaming around at nothing in particular. "Dunno. Can't recall..."
"Bullshit." Someone who pays such close attention to detail wouldn't forget when they did something like this.
A grin spread across his face, tapping a finger against her forehead. Right on the violet rhombus-shaped birthmark. He knew better than to think she would believe such an obvious lie. Leaning down, he snatched up the coat and straightened it out, tossing it onto the messy bed.
"To me... This room brings back a lot of memories." Sakura looked around while he spoke, feeling strange standing in this place. It almost didn't seem real, like being lost in a nostalgic dream. She barely registered the fingers running through her hair or him towering over her as she glanced at the different objects around them.
"I did this a long time ago. Just wanted somewhere that felt comfortable. The places I can go aren't always so...welcoming, like your apartment. Can't say I come here often. Sometimes, it's just, ah...a bit much." His arms wrapped around her shoulders, trying to pull her in against his chest, but she put her hands up to stop him.
Raising a brow and craning his neck back, he looked almost offended at the rejection. Pointing a finger towards his chest at the blood that was starting to dry on his skin, Sakura made a grimace. As much as she didn't mind him holding her, a face full of blood and brains wasn't something she was too keen on. It wouldn't be the first time he's gotten something on her, but this time she knew where it came from. Saw it happen...
"Tsk." A dark eye twitched in annoyance, like he couldn't believe that would even be an issue. He quickly let go, turning away from her. Part of him probably didn't think anything of it, especially since blood was nothing new for him.
'I wonder how often he gets covered in it...'
The thought made a shiver run down the pinkette's spine. Was that something that she would have to get used to?
Joker stomped over towards the bed, huffing and mumbling something incoherent, toeing off the dress shoes he was wearing. His shoulders seemed tense, raised up the same way they'd been when he was pacing in front of his men outside.
'Is he angry?'
Without another word, he paced along the floor by the edge of the mattress, a hand going to his chin and fingers tracing the dark marks around his mouth. Sakura stood there watching him carefully, wondering what was going through that head of his.
It felt weird... Back in the day, she was almost always able to tell what Jack was doing or how he was feeling. When it came to the man stalking around the room, she felt lost at times, unable to predict or completely grasp what he was trying to do. Were things really this different or was it just her?
As soon as it seemed like he was the person Sakura thought she knew, something threw her through a loop, making her question everything all over again. Either way, it didn't matter. It was still Jack... She would just have to give it more time to get used to the changes and accept them as they came. Not that it mattered anyway. Even if she didn't have any intentions of leaving his side, there was no doubt there was no leaving in any of the options that were left. He would make sure of that...
Joker suddenly stopped moving, like a wall erected itself in his path. Dark eyes stared wildly at the wall as his fingers froze around his scars, lips slightly parted. Like something just dawned on him. Sakura kept staring at him curiously until his head snapped towards the bed and back over to her.
Turning on his heel, he marched across the floor towards the dark bathroom and smacked the switch against the wall. The sudden burst of light in the dim room made the pinkette wince, making the back of her eyes ache. After being in a pitch-black van to the dingy building, it was a stark contrast.
"Don't you dare leave this room." His features were hard as the words that his mouth. It wasn't a request, but a command. That much she did know. He stared her down, almost daring the pinkette to try disobeying him.
"Yes, master."
The door slammed, leaving her alone in the room. Why the hell would she leave? There was a large group of murderers and criminals on the first floor, who would probably love nothing more than to tear her to pieces or rifle through her pockets. Was he worried curiosity would get the best of her and she would sneak downstairs? The thought of him freaking out and killing someone if something happened was more than enough to leave the bedroom door closed.
Remembering the way he covered her eyes, she knew the acts going on down there was something he didn't want her to see. Sakura wasn't a fool, it wasn't a secret what was happening at this very moment. The henchmen were getting prepared for whatever was going to happen tomorrow and it was going to be big. Readying weapons, drinking and doing drugs, screwing around with prostitutes... Like it just might be their last night on Earth.
Unless, this was a regular occurrence... The sight really made her question just what kind of life Jack had been living up to this point. Is this what he did? What he takes part in? If it was...she was very disappointed.
It was weird. Sakura could deal with him killing someone, blowing up a building, even robbing banks...but the thought of him getting messed up and screwing hookers bothered her far more. What was wrong with this picture?
'I'm being insecure...'
Padding across the floor, she plopped down onto the bed. It felt comfortable... Not like the stiff one they used to sleep on back in the day. Laying back, she let herself sink into the mattress. Reaching up, a dainty hand latched onto one of the sheets and rolled over, letting it wrap around her small frame.
"Ahh..." It smelled just like him. A mixture of smoke and gasoline... Why the hell did he always smell like that? Either way, it was relaxing. She felt so tired from everything. Work, surprises, the van... Her legs and arms still ached from his manhandling. Sending a wave of warmth through her body, a groan left her lips as it soothed her exhausted limbs. She found herself enjoying the sensation each time she used the ability. It was relaxing, like dipping into a hot bath after a long, stressful day at work. That initial feeling when her body submerges itself in the water, letting the tension and strain leave her muscles, turning into mush and reveling in it.
Closing her eyes, she felt herself start to drift off... There was nothing to worry about. Jack was in the other room and the bedroom door was locked. If anyone was foolish enough to try coming up here, it would be their own messy ending.
"Pretty nice out today, isn't it?" Jack flopped down on the grass, taking in a deep breath and leaning back on his hands. "C'mon, take a seat.." He patted the spot next to him, motioning for her to sit down with his chin.
"It is... Feels so good." Sakura gently sat down, stretching her legs out and kicking off her shoes. Feeling the grass against her bare feet was wonderful, especially in comparison to broken sidewalks and concrete where they lived. No one sober was foolish enough to walk around The Narrows barefoot... Not unless they wanted to get a shard of glass or needle poking somewhere.
"Yeah... In more ways than one, right?" The grin on his face told the pinkette exactly what he was thinking. "Hmm?"
Looking away, her cheeks were beet red as her chest tightened. How embarrassing...but it didn't stop the smile she tried to cover-up with the back of her hand. He always had to make a joke, didn't he?
"What's wrong? Are you embarrassed? C'mere..." Long arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her right up against his side so there wasn't any distance between them. It wasn't like there was much to move. Compared to his larger frame, she seemed pretty tiny.
Jack had always been tall, even compared to the guys around their age that lived in the area. For a while now, he was just a few inches short of being a foot taller than her. It felt nice though...made Sakura feel safe when they were together.
It wasn't that she couldn't do anything on her own, that was an understatement. If someone tried messing around when he wasn't nearby, there weren't any qualms about throwing fists. That ship had long sailed. When she was little, her father taught her and Jack how to throw a punch when they were younger and how to avoid damaging their knuckles more than necessary.
"Always lead with the index and middle. They stick out further and the last two are more likely to get hurt if you're not careful. Keep the thumb on the outside. You have a better chance of damaging that if it's on the inside when your fist collides against something. There you go!"
If someone couldn't do at least that much, they might as well just stay indoors all day and night. No one knew when there was going to be trouble, whether it was running into drunks or thugs. Even then, it was smart to carry some sort of weapon, just in case. Jack always had a knife or two on him. That was his favorite and even if he didn't have to use them, at least pulling one out would usually scare someone off. They were always sharpened and looked...vicious.
"Boy is your face red! Hahaha!" His chest shook with laughter, laying his chin down against her shoulder. Just doing that involved him having to lean down. "Do you...regret it?"
"Shut up!" The vein in her forehead pulsed as she reached up to grab a handful of dirty blonde curls, giving them a playful tug.
"You don't have to be embarrassed, Sakura. It's natural... Right? Bound to happen eventually." The words only made the knotting inside worse, a mixture between anxiety and excitement. "Or...is it because it was me who did it?"
"Knock it off... It has nothing do with that. Of course, it was going to be you, moron. I'm just... I don't know. Guess I have to get used to it. I just feel...funny when you talk about it." It made her feel shy, which wasn't something that happened too often. She just didn't feel comfortable talking about it randomly like this. At least they were alone when he mentioned it, not in front of anyone else.
Jack was quiet, leaning forward to fiddle with a small stone sticking up out of the ground. Without him having to say anything, it was clear what was going on. Always thinking to himself, probably mulling over what she said. The pinkette didn't like how his thoughts seemed to turn towards insecurity, questioning himself and her desire to be with him. It was annoying, but all she could do was try to be reassuring. The self-loathing he carried was mind boggling to her.
Why did he always look down on himself? Was it because his dad was always calling names and degrading the family? Or the treatment from when they used to go to school and problems with punks? It didn't make any sense. Jack was tall, good-looking and smart. He had a good heart, even if he was a bit rough around the edges.
"Sorry, heheh... Sometimes I can't help it. I like the face you make when I do." Smacking her hand against his chest, he chuckled, pulling the stone out of the dirt. Turning it between his fingers, he gazed at it like he found something interesting instead of just a rock. "Do you think it's okay?"
Sakura raised an eyebrow at his question, leaning forward to look at the rock curiously. "If what's okay?"
"Well... You know... We didn't, ah...use anything." Dark eyes glanced at her sideways as he twisted the stone in his hand. Smacking his lips together, he seemed to be watching for a reaction. Silently studying her face and body language, searching her expression for something.
Sakura froze, biting her bottom lip when she realized what he meant. Part of her wanted to know what he thought about it first, opting not to answer to draw it out of him. When he wanted an answer or hoped for something and got nothing instead, he'd eventually say more. When he swallowed hard, turning to look out towards the lake, she knew he was going to get to his point.
"I mean... I don't have a problem with it, honestly. Just not sure what to do... Especially with my dad and Todd, not including our moms. It just wouldn't be a good environment. We'd probably have to leave. Yeah... That would be better. I need money for that..." He seemed to be lost in his thoughts, spacing out as he pulled his arm back, launching the stone far off into the water.
"What are you talking about?" It was obvious what he meant, she just wanted to hear him say it.
"Uh... Well-I mean... If we didn't use anything... You could get...pregnant. I don't wanna have a kid around our parents. Hahh..." He reached up to scratch some of the messy curls near his temple. She could see he was becoming flustered, having a hard time with this. If he wasn't looking away, she would have had to hide the crooked smile playing on her lips, finding him cute when he was like this. "I don't want to have a kid in The Narrows. Period. That wouldn't be fair... I wouldn't want our kid turning out as messed up like me."
Without hesitating, Sakura punched him in the arm. He turned around wildly, eyes wide as he put a hand on the spot where she hit him. "What the hell was that for?!" The way his voice squeaked in surprise and the look on his face almost threw her off. It's been a few years since he made a noise like that, when his voice was changing. The urge to laugh was tempting, but it would only make things worse.
"You're not messed up for one... Is that what you think? There's nothing wrong with either of us." His lips shifted, looking away. "Second, I just turned sixteen. Do you really think I haven't thought about this? Besides, my mom had me on the pill since I was twelve, so we don't have to worry about any brats."
Jack's brows furrowed as he grimaced, muttering 'brats...' under his breath in agitation. Was he offended that she said it like that? "What do you mean you're on the pill? How come I didn't know that?"
"You never asked and it just didn't seem important before. Like taking a vitamin I guess... I don't know, it didn't matter to me. It wasn't like we were doing anything before." Sakura looked up at the sky, fingers dancing along her chin. That's how her mom always put it, even though they didn't take those either.
"Why did she have you get on it?" There was bite in the tone, leaning forward close enough that his dirty blond waves ticked the skin above her collarbone.
"Just in case...something happens. You know how Todd is... Said she wasn't a white-trash hillbilly. That she didn't want to be grandmom and stepmom at the same time." The pinkette's stomach twisted with the words coming out, almost not believing them herself. It didn't seem real the first time she heard it and felt even worse repeating it...and to Jack of all people. It was embarrassing, even if he knew all too well how things are.
"That's fucking disgusting!" His words only made Sakura feel dirtier, pulling her knees in closer when he pushed up off the ground in a huff. It wasn't like anything happened with Todd, but that wasn't from his lack of trying or hinting at it. God knows there'd been plenty of screaming, fighting, throwing things and running away because of that and his drunken freak-outs.
Standing up, Jack grabbed another stone that was lying near his boot. With a grunt, he sent it soaring over the surface of the water.
"Goddammit!" His shoulders were tense, mumbling and cursing loudly. It wasn't her intention to ruin the good mood since they were having such a nice day, but he would know if she lied right away. If his questions were purposefully avoided, he would just become more persistent, until she finally gave in.
"Ya know... I really hate them... All of 'em. One of these days, I'm seriously going to kill every one of those bastards. Then there won't be anything holding us back." The scary part was that he was being serious, the look on his face made that as clear as the sky above them.
"Don't say-... I don't want it to be like that. We can get out of here a different way. There are always other options. Besides... You kill them, then what?"
He spun on the heel of his boot, crouching down low in front of her. "You know how my dad is. He'll just try to track me down and I don't you getting hurt in the process. Fuck... I don't want us having to hide like rats. That's not how this is supposed to go..."
Reaching up and taking the sides of his face, the pinkette smiled sadly. So he really has been thinking about this... "Then how is it supposed to go? How did you imagine things going?"
Jack's neck turned red, swallowing hard and trying to look away, but the hands on his face held him still and he didn't pull away. Smacking his lips, a long-drawn-out sigh came out as he sat down on his knees.
"I...dunno... I'd get a job... Save up some money, get an apartment or a small home somewhere outside The Narrows... We can get married, have a few, ah, "brats"... Live quietly. No one would bother us. We'd have meals and go out like a normal family... Maybe go to a park like this, or somethin'. Our "brats" could go to school, make somethin' of themselves, while I work myself into the dirt... Ya know, the way it's 'spose to be..."
Green eyes widened at his words, pursing her lips together tightly. So this is how Jack pictured a "normal" life to be like? It wasn't anything like what they were given. Where did these ideas come from? It sure wasn't from experience. Honestly, she couldn't help finding it endearing. He really did have a kind heart, no matter how he acted in front of other people. At the end of the day, he just wanted to live quietly and be happy.
"Hehehahaha!" The laugh leaving her lips couldn't be suppressed. The things he wanted almost seemed unrealistic to her ears. Unattainable. Was a life like that even possible?
"What's so goddamn funny?!" His face twisted in anger, watching the pinkette throwing her head back and laughing. At him, at his dreams... After he lowered the bridge to the stone fortress he painstakingly built around himself. It wasn't easy for him to do that, to reveal his thought or personal desires, even to her. He grabbed onto her shoulders, shaking her to make it stop. Anyone else, it wouldn't have mattered. He could take it, but not from Sakura... "You think I'm joking? That it's stupid?"
Seeing that Jack was only becoming more riled up, she tried to calm herself down, wiping away a stray tear from laughing so hard. It really wasn't funny, not by a long shot. She hadn't meant to hurt him, but she could see it in his dark eyes. He really was upset at her reaction.
"No. No! I don't think it's stupid at all. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way...but... Do you think a life like that is possible... For us?" It sounded very enticing. The thought of spending anymore time in those apartments seemed unbearable. Their minds and bodies could only take so much abuse from both sides.
"Of course!" The anger was replaced with indignation, offended she'd even question the possibility. "Ya know who you're talkin' to? Anything can happen, but not if someone doesn't do shit about it. We can make it work... I know we can. We'll get the hell out of this shit hole. I'll make sure of it." Jack was brimming with excitement and ideas, she could see if all over his face and the way his hands moved around.
"Mhm... I would love that. We can leave and never come back. I almost can't imagine a life like that, but I can believe it if you say we can." That would be like a dream come true. No more drunken fights between her mom and Todd. Jack wouldn't have to be on the receiving end of his dad's terror and mom's lack of care. No more beatings, cuts or bruises... They could just live together, without hiding or sneaking around.
"That's right, sweetheart... We'll get out of this dump. As long as we're together, it'll all work out. Trust me. I'll do what I can to make some money, we can get outta here, then we'll get married. Well, it doesn't have to be in that exact order...but you catch my drift." The grin on his face was comforting, like it really could become a reality.
"Of course we'll be together. It's not like I'm going anywhere. I always figured we'd stay attached to the hip anyway. Can't really imagine having a life without you in it. That would be...miserable. It doesn't matter where you go, you know I'll always follow you." It wasn't a lie. Life would just never be the same if Jack wasn't there. Something would always be missing.
"Promise?" Dark eyes narrowed in her direction, pursing his lips together tightly.
"Yes..."
Someone was yelling...loudly.
Sakura could just barely hear it through drowsy fog, waking her up. Rolling over, her tired mind tried to ignore it, dragging the sheet along with her.
"Sakura!" The bathroom door flew open, making her bolt straight up, clutching the sheet tightly to her chest. Her eyes popped open, flickering around in confusion. What the hell was going on? It was startling. Panic set in, afraid something was happening. With the people here and who they were, including Jack, it really could be anything. A timer could have been set off by accident and they only had three minutes to run before being blown to pieces.
Jack was in the doorway, dark eyes wild and muscles tense, fists balled up at his sides. When he noticed she was curled up on the bed with the sheet wrapped around her, a heavy breath left his lips. The corner of his mouth twitched, the hard expression on his face softening.
"What's going on?!" She couldn't help yelling. He scared the shit out her while she was just trying to take a little nap. Was the building on fire? Batman at the front door? What the hell was he screaming like that for?
"Nothing... Thought you, ah, might have gone downstairs.. Didn't hear anything when I called you." The pinkette groaned, falling back against the bed. Was he being serious right now? What was going on down there that was so important that he didn't want her to see? Hookers? Drugs? Weapons? Been there, seen that. Nothing she was eager to find more about. Or was there something she missed that he was so worried about?
"Hate to break it to you, but I'm not that interested in how you guys live."The fact that he was this concerned about her going down there only made it more tempting, if she was being honest. To see what all the commotion was over, but her sense of self-preservation far outweighed any amount of curiosity.
A hand wrapped around her ankle, dragging her to the edge of the mattress. Looking up still in the throws of a sleepy daze, she froze seeing the look on his face and the deep frown pulling at the corners of the scars. His brows were furrowed, seemingly angry at what she said.
"C'mere." Before she could protest, he latched onto her wrist, yanking the pinkette off the bed and onto her feet. The sheets fell to the floor in a messy heap, but he couldn't care less.
"H-Hey!..." He was being rough again, pulling her towards the bathroom without bothering to look back. Right as they got through the doorway of the bright room, she tried shielding her tired eyes, blinking rapidly to adjust after being abruptly woken up.
"Stay here." Clicking her tongue when he stalked through the door, Sakura watched his retreating back in confusion. What was he up to now? Her hazy mind was too tired to worry about the whiplash his moods and action always gave. It just seemed easier to go with the flow. She yawned, trying to wake herself up and wiping away the stray tear starting to form. Shaking it off, she glanced around, taking in the bathroom. This was the only difference from the old room. A closet would have been here instead... Where Watson had been hidden on several occasions.
It seemed unusually normal for someone like him. Half expecting spray paint or weird images on the walls, but to her surprise, it looked like a typical bathroom. Toilet, sink, towel hanging on the back of the door...shower.
'Ah... That's more like it...'
Taking a step forward, the pinkette pursed her lips seeing the red droplets scattered around. All along the side of the tub and the fading remnants of what happened earlier slowly running towards the drain, almost completely gone.
'So... He came in here to wash his chest off. How...thoughtful...'
There was still smeared greasepaint across his face, so he didn't take a shower. He must have just used the handheld shower head to spray the blood off of his chest. What a weird person...
Sighing, she stepped away from the messy tub and over to the sink. The little nap only made her feel more lethargic, like wetting your lips when you're thirsty. Not knowing what he had in mind, it would be better to at least stay aware for the time being. Who knew what surprises could suddenly pop up? Right as things started to seem normal, that's when problems seem to poke their little heads up out of nowhere.
'What's the hell is that smell?'
Her face scrunched up at the strong odor throughout the small area. It was overwhelming, the same way gasoline was, but at least that became something she didn't mind getting used to. This irritated her nose, making a grimace twist her face as she looked around for the source.
'Damn. I really must be tired if I didn't notice that right away... Smells like ammonia...'
A small dark bowl was on the counter, next to the sink. Curiously, the pinkette pushed up against the ledge to lean over and take a look. If it was something of his, it would be better not to touch it... Who knew what kind of things he was toying around with. It could be explosive, chemicals mixing together, some kind of acid or poison... With her luck, she would knock it over and the whole building would go up in flames.
'Christ...'
Sakura's thin brows raised high up on her forehead when she looked into the bowl, seeing the green gook inside. It was thick, a bright toxic color that made her own frown deepen. Whatever it actually was, she didn't want it anywhere near her. It smelled as bad as it looked, burning her nose and eyes from the close proximity.
'What the heck is that? Is he making slime? No, that wouldn't smell like this... Maybe it's hair dye?'
"Here." Spinning around at the sound of his voice, a pair of clear gloves hit her square in the chest as she instinctively reached up. Seeing that she noticed the bowl, a crooked grin spread across his ruined lips. Something was dragging behind him into the small room, making her shift to see what it was. After everything that's already happened, she wasn't sure if she could handle anymore surprises.
The legs of the chair were dragging loudly across the tiled floor. Without any hesitation, he spun it around and placed it right behind her spot by the sink. Sakura eyed him wearily, noticing the shift in his mood from just a few moments ago. He looked so angry when he ripped her off the bed, but now he seemed playful, light-hearted. Maybe even a little excited from the way he was moving around, brimming with energy. The comment she made clearly pressed some kind of imaginary button, which wasn't too hard to do. He must have decided to let it go, to not let it ruin whatever he had in mind now. With a chuckle, he plopped himself down on the seat, staring at her expectantly. With him sitting on a chair, there wasn't much of a height difference between them. She could maybe just rest her chin on the top of his head.
'Is... Does he want me to...dye his hair?'
"Whatcha waiting for, dollface?... Put the gloves on. Don't, ah, wanna get that on your pretty little hands.." His dark eyes narrowed on the gloves in her grasp, shifting to look back up her face. Seeing her bewildered expression, he craned his neck forward, quirking up a brow. What he was expecting her to do was clearly obvious.
'Is he serious?...'
"What? You want me to dye your hair?"
Cocking his head to the side, he seemed to be enjoying this. Mirth danced in those dark orbs, watching her wringing the gloves between her hands, looking from him towards the bowl on the sink. Acting like this was something normal, that she's done this for him before. His tongue ran over the smeared pink hue along his lip, prodding the cracked skin, trying to not show the grin on his face from her reaction.
"Yeah. Why no-t? Ya see, I always make such a mess... Thought we could spend a little time together that didn't involve me...heh...throwin' ya around the room." The smug look on his face was as obnoxious as the smell coming from the dye, making the thought of going back to sleep all the more tempting. "Just wanted some quality time with my special lady..."
"... You're such a pain in the ass... Fine." Sakura wasn't going to deny him this. It really wasn't asking for much, even if his snarky reply made her want to smack him. Stretching out the gloves, she begrudgingly slid her fingers into them. The way he referred to her and said that he wanted to spent 'quality time' together that made her stomach flutter with a strange sensation she couldn't pinpoint. It must mean that he wants to talk, right? That he even was suggesting that was odd in itself, usually she needed to ease into it, try to pull it out of him. This time, he was willingly trying, wanted to do something other than rolling around in the sheets or watching something together. She turned away, not wanting him to see how flushed her face had become. All it would do was make that big ego soar... His head didn't need to get any bigger than it already was...
This was surprising, felt kind of personal that he wanted her to do this. Even though the world always saw the green hair, it seemed weird thinking about him dyeing it himself. She knew he must have personally done it by how faded and bad of a job he's done. It was curious why he even bothered doing this when he didn't seem to put any care in his appearance. Perhaps it was part of trying to shed his old identity, to be someone completely different...
"Do you have a comb or anything?" Seeing the way his brow rose when he shifted his head to the side, there was a great amount of doubt whether he knew or cared about doing this properly. Not that Sakura has ever done this before, only ever watching other people do it. When they were teenagers, she considered dyeing her hair a "normal" color, in hopes that people would stop staring or saying things about her light pink locks. If Jack hadn't threatened to shave her head if she did, it might have actually happened.
'I'm glad I didn't...'
"For what? Just, uh, slap it on. Doesn't need to be even or anything." Seeing the incredulous look on her face, he didn't even try holding back the laughter.
"Hahh... What the hell am I going to do with you.." He was absolutely incorrigible. No wonder it turned out like this...
"Please! I'm telling you, I really have no idea where he is... We were only following directions like usual!" The man screamed from the floor as large hands gripped his shoulders, holding him in place. Knees dug into the cement floor, making him wince when the pressure refused to let up.
"So... You're telling me that you've been following orders for the last few days without seeing your boss... Does anyone else here with a logical brain see an issue with this picture?" Crane crossed his legs, shifting against the chair with a sigh. Was there a single person in this area that had an inkling of a cell in their cranium that actually worked?
"Stephen has always been...peculiar...but anytime we've had a meeting, he's always showed up in person. It was inconvenient enough that he rescheduled our appointment the other day, but this is just being rude now." Using his index finger, the dark haired man pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, eyes narrowing at the simpleton on the floor.
It wasn't like Stephen to forgo their meetings, especially at such a crucial time. Had they not spent the last year and a half trying to develop a new chemical far more enhanced from the last? Was the doctor getting cold feet all of a sudden?
'No, not him... He's more passionate about his projects than anyone I know.'
It was finally perfected just a few months ago thanks to Stephen's dedicated research. Crane was still in Arkham at that time, but now they were able to synthesize it into powder form. That made it easier for the formula to become an additive to the drugs The Chechen would distribute throughout the city. Despite the issues they recently had over the last batch, it was promised this one wouldn't have the same side effects.
Jonathan wasn't lying. They wouldn't have the same effects... It would be ten times worse. Thanks to the Batman interfering, there were very few places to get a hold of illegal substances anymore. That left the Chechen and Maroni's men with little option if they wanted to continue making a profit. Especially after Lau had taken the entirety of the mobs savings and hid it in an unknowing location. With the accountant in the hands of the MCU, there was a low chance of getting their hands on him to at least reveal its whereabouts.
Their loss is his benefit.
"The Doctor is getting older, sir... For the last year, he's mostly been communicating through phones or a third party, but we do see him now and then. That's why it didn't seem unusual to us...at least."
"Hmm. Seems I guess he doesn't deem it worthy of his time to go out of his way for simple henchmen... Quite different from the old days. So, I suppose he doesn't think this is worth his time either?" It was insulting. After all these years of working together, this was all Crane was worth now? To not even show up and just send a few stooges?
"I-I don't know. He just instructed us to bring the delivery and make sure you received it. Said it was everything left that could be distributed after-..." There wasn't any need to finish the sentence, sensing the agitation coming from the former psychiatrist. He knew very well what the man was referring to...
The large shipment of their new and improved formula that was added to the Chechen's drugs had been stored on a vessel at the dock. It was almost everything the older doctor had synthesized and packaged, ready to be distributed right away.
For some reason that seemed almost unfathomable, that fool of a clown had blown the vessel to pieces, destroying the majority of their stock. For Crane, he saw this as a direct attack to their plan and desired the Joker to be taken out for ruining all the hard work and wasting materials. Millions and millions of dollars of product going up in flames. It was inexcusable...
'Unforgivable... Rotten circus-freak.'
The Chechen swears it must have been a mistake or was the doing of Batman. After all, wasn't the clown supposed to be working for the mob to kill the flying rat? Wasn't that the deal? According to the men who searched the area to see if anything could be salvaged, they found one of the Bat's blades, proving there was a scuffle with the vigilante. To the Chechen, that was more than enough proof to blame someone other than that insane clown. Crane wasn't convinced. An explosion of that magnitude had to have been planned and staged for it to work.
The Joker knew exactly what he was doing, but the mob bosses didn't want to hear it. Were they so afraid of the clown that they weren't willing to confront him on the matter? How foolish... He was just another man in a costume. Nothing special, just another madman running around the city causing trouble.
Jonathan was angry that the incident was even brought up. That was the problem with the muscle these days... No tact and even less brains.
"Would you like to see my mask?" A grin spread across the doctor's face as he snapped open the briefcase sitting on the table next to him.
"N-Not really..." A bead of sweat ran down the side of the man's face, his expression quickly changing when hearing the doctor's question. He shifted on the floor, still being held in place by the gorilla above him.
"I use it in my experiments... To be honest, it might not seem like much. Maybe it really isn't, at least on its own." Pulling out the poorly stitched burlap mask, Crane pulled it over his head, shifting it into place perfectly. He knows well what his own gas does after what the Bat did to him last year. This version is far worse and he'd rather not receive a dose of it after seeing the effect it had on some of the people they used it on.
The man yelled, trying to struggle against the paws holding him down, knowing exactly what the mask was. Scarecrow... It's what follows its appearance that is so feared.
"However, with the right dose... It becomes something else entirely. Let's see what it becomes for you." Striding across the smooth floor, the doctor carefully rolled his sleeve up, enjoying how the man was losing it at the sight of the dispenser hidden under the fabric. Pointing it straight at his face, he let out a shrill scream when the gas shot out, enveloping him in the poisonous fog. The person holding him down let go, coughing and falling backwards onto the floor.
"Hahaha..." This is what got his blood pumping more than anything. Seeing his hard work come to fruition and seeing the effects it causes on the human body and psyche. Nothing was more pleasurable... "I wonder what this mask looks like from your eyes with this version. Although I can't say I'm curious enough to try it myself."
"Ahhrggg! No! Make it stop! Get away from me!" Crouching down to give the man a better look, Crane smiled seeing the terror on his face. Eyes wide and throwing himself against the cold floor, he kept screaming, raking his fingers down his face. Clawing at his skin like there was something slithering beneath it.
"Don't worry, it will be over soon. That's a concentrated dose." Unfortunately for the goons holding the man down, he was too close to avoid it and was having a similar reaction.
"Ah.. Oh, well... There's plenty of time for more fun. You guys, bring in the delivery. We're on a tight schedule." Pulling the mask off when the fog dissipated into nothingness, the doctor tossed it back into the open briefcase. The men who stood out the line of fire-knowing what would happen if they were too close- scrambled to bring in the boxes along with Wells' hired hands.
Sighing, he ran a hand through his dark locks, leaning up against the side of the table. Dull, blue eyes watched the men coming in and out, stacking the boxes up onto each other. They were going to have to get the shipment out as soon as possible, before something else unwarranted happened.
One of Wells' gorillas brought in the last one, setting it on the table. Looking up at the large man in confusion, Crane's brows furrowed. His instruction were quite clear, were they not?
"What's this?"
"The Boss told me to give this directly to you. Something new he's been working on that you might be interested in. Said to make sure no one else touches it and that you'll understand. As he put it-'The only one with a working brain that could appreciate the intricacies of his hard work.' His words exactly."
A laugh left the brunette's lips as he gazed down at the box on the table. So the good doctor's been working on a side project after all.. No wonder he's barely been seen lately. Now it all made perfect sense. Whenever there's something he's in the middle of or testing out, he practically didn't exist until it was complete. The only question Jonathan had was why nothing was mentioned about it before. Usually, he would practically gush about his work when they spoke.
"Sounds just like something he would say." After all, Stephen had been the one Crane was completing his residency under in Gotham General. They helped each other quite a few times in their experiments over the years. The old man had quite the experience and a wonderful brain...and had similar tastes in how they conducted their tests.
"Give me a knife." The stooge reached into his pocket and handed him the blade, not wanting to make the doctor wait. Between him and Wells', it didn't take much to end up becoming one of their experiments if they weren't careful or deemed useless.
Gingerly, Crane carefully slit open the tape holding the flaps of the box together, not wanting to damage anything inside. Knowing Stephen, he wouldn't have someone carefully bring a sample with a delivery unless it was something special that he wanted his professional opinion on. That didn't happen often, so this would be quite interesting to see what he's come up with this time.
Pulling back the folds of cardboard, Crane's face twisted in confusion as his glasses slid halfway down the bridge of his nose. There was a blank piece of paper on the top of a piece cardboard. Whatever he wanted him to look at must be beneath it.
Grabbing the blank sheet, he flipped it back and forth, inspecting it. Doing something unnecessary wasn't like Wells' at all. He wouldn't put a piece of paper in here for nothing... Noticing the words on the other side, Crane pushed his glasses back in place, pursing his lips together as he read.
Hey Johnny
Didn't your mother ever tell you it's not polite to pass gas in front of a lady?
Hmm?
"What is the meaning of this? Is this some kind of joke?!" Crane fumed, turning towards the large man next to him, debating on whether he should put his mask back on or not.
"I don't know, sir! He said the samples were under the cardboard and that it would all make sense... That you would really enjoy what he came up with. That's all I know!" Holding his hands up in defense, the man looked from the doctor to the paper being shaken in his hands.
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Crane grabbed the edge of the piece of cardboard to pull it out. Clenching his teeth when it wasn't coming out easily, he tried to keep his temper in check. Patience was a virtue, one all doctors who specialize in any field must have. The piece must have been taped or glued onto whatever was beneath it. Giving it a firm tug, he stumbled back when it finally came out.
'Christ! He's going to hear about this when I'm done...'
Looking into the box, blue eyes widened when he realized what it was. His face twisted in shock, like someone dumped a bucket of ice water down his back. There was a timer counting down from ten on top of a black box, ticking away fast. Next to the counter was a Joker card with bold, black wording etched into it.
It's been a blast knowing ya...
Mr. J
The counter was at 00:03 seconds when the doctor stumbled back, hands grabbing at his own hair, staring wildly at the box. Realization hit like a ton of bricks. He'd been had.
"No-"
BOOM
"What was that?" Sakura jumped where she stood, dainty fingers accidentally gripping the wavy locks they were threaded through much harder than intended.
"Heh... Nothing to be worried about, dollface." Joker groaned, letting his head lull back, enjoying the way the pinkette pulled at his hair in surprise.
"It... That sounded like an explosion..." Her head was turned in the direction the noises came from, teeth running over her plump bottom lip as unnecessary worry passed over her delicate features.
Smacking his lips together, the clown sighed as he reached up, trying to get the woman's attention back on him instead. The was no need to bother her with such useless little things... After all, this was for her as much as it was for him. If things were going to move along as planned, any and all loose threads needed to be cut. That included the old, frayed ones as well.
There couldn't be any loose strings attached if they were going to start over. Anything and everyone tied to their pasts that could get in the way needed to be removed. Had to be burned away and turned to ash... That's the only way they can move forward.
Joker would punish everyone for what had happened. Past, present, and future. He swore a long time ago that he would never let it happen again, that the world would burn for what it did to them.
"Hey... Eyes on me. Hmm?" Fingers danced along the soft skin of Sakura's jaw, pulling her attention back towards him. This is how it's supposed to be. She didn't need to worry about anything else and he would make sure it stayed that way.
That's a promise he made to himself.