Sakura stumbled down the street in a mindless daze, swaying on unsteady feet. People walked by staring at the pinkette who stuck out like a sore thumb, wearing an emerald green gown and a mask hanging from her face.

Moments after the Joker disappeared, the authorities swarmed the building, questioning everyone who was still there. It was a long and tedious process while they took everyone's statement. With all the confusion and people still being in hysterics, the pinkette took advantage of the chaos to slip out of the emergency exit, fleeing down the flight of stairs. No alarms went off, thanks to the tampering from the clown's men. There's no doubt they'd done it just before storming the hall.

There was no way she could give a statement to the police against the Joker. What reason would there be? Besides, there were dozens of people who were more than willing to tell them everything they witnessed. She refused to be a part of the lynch mob going after him...and she wasn't going to help them either.

'I can't... I just...can't... Not after what I know.'

After escaping, the pinkette wandered the streets of Gotham, lost in her own thoughts. The night had been going so...surprisingly wonderful, before everything turned to shit.

'Fucking Dimitri...'

Sighing, it wasn't lost on her that something was going to happen anyway. The Joker had plans of his own, and that included finding the District Attorney. It wasn't by chance that there was a group of armed men waiting right outside...

Sauntering around the next corner, a young couple passed by and abruptly stopped, staring without the decency to not make it look so blatantly obvious. Their eyes widened as they scrutinized her odd appearance, muttering to each other and saying things about the clearly inebriated woman with pink hair. Cosplayer, weirdo, sloppy drunk...

It didn't matter...not anymore. Who cared what anyone thought, especially strangers? Shaking it off, the pinkette continued on her way, not paying them any mind. They were irrelevant.

'Let them look. I don't give a shit anymore...'

Slim fingers tightened their grip around the liquor bottle, the pinkette's feet leading her down some random alleyway. This was the last thing she should be doing right now...wandering the streets of Gotham at night. It was foolish, there was no denying that, but what was there to be afraid of anymore? She spending the last two weeks being harassed by the most infamous criminal in the city, witnessing multiple people being murdered, a club being shot up, the city bridge blown sky-high, and almost dying from faling head first into the rocks along the bay... What could possibly be more terrifying than all that? A drunken bum who wanted to get handsy? The liquor bottle could take care of that, if wielded properly. One good smack on the head with the heavy glass would get her point across real fast. If worse came to worst, she could always break it and find a different use for it as a weapon.

A few dim street lamps lit the area up just enough to see where she was going. There were boxes and crates piled-high along the sides from the little stores and restaurants that ran along the main street. Empty beer bottles and trash littered the path, old chips bags and soda cans...shopping bags, empty food containers and styrofoam. This place was a mess, but it was no different anywhere else. The rich wouldn't walk this way, so no one cared. There was a large dumpster halfway down the darkened alley, not that anyone bothered using it, apparently. Had Gotham always been like this? As long as it's out of the way, it could go straight to hell?

"You have all these rules and you think they'll save you!"

Groaning, the pinkette flopped down on a crate, not knowing what to do now... There was no doubt that Bruce and maybe a few others noticed her disappearance, after the police showed up. Questions would be asked, but she could handle it. Anymore these days, she felt like a different person. It was becoming easier to lie and hide what's been going on. Aside from the night of the club shooting, she hadn't even talked to Ino...and the blonde hadn't tried contacting her either. For some reason, it was fine. That way, no one had to discuss Jin, and she wouldn't have to pretend not to know what happened. The only thing she really knew was that he was dead... Joker had killed him. He admitted it himself, then laughed about it hysterically. Sakura didn't know how he did it or what happened to the body and she would like to keep it that way.

Grazing her bottom lip with her teeth, she leaned against the cold brick wall of one of the buildings, letting it cool off her hot body. The difference in temperature felt so good, making her pale skin prickle with goosebumps. It was very rare for her to drink liquor... This was the second time this week that she let herself get drunk.

Tonight had told Sakura much about herself, as it did about the Joker...

Seeing Batman hit and throw him to the floor was like a punch to the gut. Watching him being hurt, she realized now that the feelings from the past were still there, slowly starting to take over. No matter how hard she tried, there just wasn't a way to forget it all. To forget about Jack and pretend he never existed. Even if what he's been doing was wrong and horrible, she couldn't stand seeing him getting punched and kicked. Part of her felt like throwing a table at the caped crusader, but knew it would have been foolish...

Jack said to go with the other guests for a reason. He didn't want her to get hurt and knew what would happen if it was revealed that she had some sort of connection to him. There would be a target on her head. Police, mobsters, criminals, politicians, probably even Batman would come after her.

'They would try to use me as way to draw the Joker out, so they could get him...'

It was hard to standby while he was being hurt like that. Just thinking about it made her chest tighten.

At least by doing what he demanded, they would be safe for the time being. No one that she knew of suspected her affiliation with him and thankfully, she hadn't uttered a word to anyone either. The only one who knew anything was dead now... All she could hope for was that he hadn't told another soul, especially his brother. Then again, if he did the authorities would have jumped on any lead they could get, especially now.

'That way, Jack can have somewhere safe to go... He can eat and sleep as much as he needs to, without worrying about someone getting to him.'

It must have been so hard on him... Going all these years constantly on the run and looking over his shoulder...alone. Remembering the night his father carved his face open, all he was worried about was whether she still wanted him or not. The two of them were all each other had, living in squalor...but they were happy.

'And yet... I'm the one who left. I couldn't remember him at all. Even after all these years, he still never forgot about me.'

After all they had been through together and one day, the only person in Jack's life that he cared about was suddenly gone. Left all alone with no parents, no friends, nothing. The only thing that remained were the scars on his face to remind him everyday about where he stood in this world. There was no way for him to make an honest living... It was hard enough to find a job as it was, without being disfigured.

Before that night, Jack was always been handsome to begin with. Though no one but her rarely saw it, he had a nice smile... The dirty blonde had dimples and creases around his grin that always made her heart flutter. It was one of the pinkette's favorite features on him, aside from his dark brown eyes. After what his father did, no one cared what he used to look like. All they would see were the swollen scars around his mouth. People just called him a freak and keep their distance, shoving him away.

"That's right..."

Jack didn't deserve it... Why was it his fault that he was born to rotten parents who neglected him? Why did he get treated like shit just because he was raised him in the slums? Why should he be punished because some drunk psycho slashed his face open with a knife?

"I remember..."

Wasn't it bad enough that Jack's parents wouldn't feed him properly or made sure he wore clean clothes? It wasn't like he'd been a bad person... If given the chance, he was more than willing to work hard, even for very little. No one tried to sit down with him and teach him anything... Everything he knew was learned from the streets or taught by himself...

Sakura gripped the bottle tightly, the memories slowly surfacing to the top. Bringing the glass up to eye level, she swished it around, watching the clear liquid slosh back and forth. Only a handful of sips were taken out, but it was strong... She didn't intend to get wasted, just wanted to relax a little.

Putting the bottle down on the crate, the pinkette ran her hands through her hair, cradling her head. It hurt...but she didn't want it to stop. She wanted the memories to come back. Natasha Romov was just a sad joke... It wasn't who she really was. That was just a name Bruce came up with in the hospital, all those years ago.

Sakura Haruno was her name. Her real one. There was no point going by a name that meant nothing... Natasha was no one. Just a person who wanted to spend her life wasting away over trivial matters, hopping from one job to the next as an interpreter, using what she knew to tell people of different backgrounds what they were saying to each other. Part of her thought that in itself was an accomplishment... That she was able to lay a bridge down and bring people together.

What did it matter to bring the rich together who cared nothing about her, whatsoever? None of those people gave a second thought about what's going on in the world... How many times had they walked past kids, like her and Jack, without batting an eye while they played in dirty clothes and were hungry?

Thinking about Bruce, the negative thoughts started swirling around, realizing the reality of what happened. He paid her way out of guilt, because he knew it was partially his fault for not trying to clean up his own properties. How many winters went by with no heat? How many times did old pipes burst and flood the basements in those old buildings? All the kindness he had shown her was to ease his own guilty conscience...

Not only that, but him just slapping on a new name and sending her away from Gotham took her away from Jack. He would have found her...He always did. It wasn't exactly clear what he knew of the accident, but if she stayed in Gotham, they would have eventually found each other sooner, instead of seven years later.

Maybe... She could have saved Jack from the Joker... Stopped him from losing his mind from all the grief and anger he endured all these years. No wonder things happened the way they did. He'd lost everything... Absolutely everything and the world kept kicking him into the ground. This city rejected his very existence from the start.

Leaning back, Sakura closed her eyes as a grimace twisted her soft features.


"There you are..."

The pinkette glanced up from her spot next to a large dumpster in the alleyway. The place where she'd been hiding for the last few hours, hoping no one else would find her.

Jack stood there, staring down at her as his tongue snaked out over his bottom lip, trailing along the swollen scar. He always did that... Just one look at his face and she could tell he was irritated and upset. From what she could see looking through one eye...

Crouching down, he reached over and moved the pink hair away from her face. He always knew when she was trying to hide something.

"Son of a bitch! I swear I'm going to fucking kill him!" Moving closer, he examined the eye that was swollen shut and the dark bruise around it. She flinched from the pain When his rough fingers carefully felt around, inspecting the bone to make sure everything was intact. "Doesn't feel like anything's broken... Thank goodness."

Grabbing a empty beer bottle from off the ground beside his boot, he handed it to her, pursing his lips and looking away. "Put this on it. Should be cold enough to help the swelling go down."

Taking the bottle from him, she gently pressed it against the bruised skin, hissing. He was right, it was cold. It felt good on the pulsing heat.

Jack sat in front of her, squatting down between her legs to watch her, completely livid... He always got this way when anything happened. Without having to say a word, the pinkette could always tell just by his posture and how tense his muscles were, especially around his shoulders and face. That was always a dead give-away.

"Why didn't you come to me? I put that door in for a reason..." His voice was low, restrained...but she knew he wanted to yell.

"I... I just didn't want to always put my crap on you. After everything that happened... It just doesn't seem fair to drag you in the middle-"

"Stop being stupid. Haven't we talked about this before? I'll do whatever the hell I want. If you don't like it, you're just gonna have to kick me to the curb... That's if you can."

The pinkette choked out a sob as she tried to laugh, hanging her head down. She didn't want him to see her so upset like this.

"C'mon... Don't do that. I can't stand it when you cry..." Balling his fist, he punched the side of the dumpster, imagining it was Todd's face. "Dammit! I'm going to kill that piece of shit when we get back. For real this time!"

"Please, don't... Remember what happened last time you beat him up?" How could they forget... The cops ended up hauling off Jack and keeping him in a holding cell for five longs days, saying that his paperwork had been "misplaced". The one time they actually came, and they take the wrong person.

Those five days had been the worst... Jack was locked up and Todd had gone on a rampage, embarrassed that a "freak" had beaten the shit out of him.

"Don't remind me... I'm still pissed about that. The only reason Todd got away with that shit is because that asshole's always gambling and dealing with those mob fools...and the crooked fucking cops they pay off..." Taking in a deep breath, he took a seat next to her, running a hand through his dirty blonde hair. "This city's gone to hell. It just keeps getting worse and worse, every single day... I don't know how much more I can take..."

Sakura leaned in, resting her head against his shoulder. Jack being here was already making her feel better. His presence was all it took to completely change her mood. It always seemed like everything was going to be okay, just as long as they were together. Things just weren't as bad compared to when they were alone.

"Hahh..." Jack groaned, slipping his hand into hers. Lacing their fingers together, he threw a sideways glance, dark eyes staring at her face.

The pinkette watched his fingers intertwine with hers, a small smile tugging at her lips. They always looked so small compared to his rough hands.

"I need to get us out of here... This can't keep happening, and I'm not letting those pigs drag me off again. It's either I kill him, do nothing, or get us out of this goddamn city. My options are limited... I can't let that bastard do whatever he wants. At least one of us needs to stay good-looking."

Jack grinned, watching the girl next to him laughing, reveling in the soft and carefree birdsong that brightened everything up for him. He was always trying to drag it out of her when they were alone.

"You are good-looking. What the hell are you talking about?" Looking up at him, her eyes widened at the horrified expression on his face.

"Have you taken a good look at me lately?" He sat up to move closer to her face, poking his chin out and shifting from one side to the other. Trying to point out the puffy, raised scars without having to say it. They both knew what he meant, it was a constant sore spot. "I look terrible! Can't even stand looking in the mirror anymore..."

When he moved to sit back, Sakura's hands reached out to grab the sides of his head, pulling him back to her. Leaning forward, she didn't hesitate kissing each side of his mouth, along the jagged marks. His dark eyes narrowed, watching her curiously while she showered them in affection. No matter what she said, he just couldn't understand why they never bothered her. The sight of them was always enough to send him reeling in anger.

"Don't say things like that. To me, you're very handsome. Scars and all. If anything, I think they're kind of sexy. Makes you look like a hard ass." Jack craned his neck back, staring at her like she was completely out of her mind. What kind of normal woman would like such a nasty-looking disfigurement? They didn't even heal right, after the crap job he'd done suturing them up. He suddenly burst out laughing, face and neck turning red as he looked away, embarrassed. He always had a funny way of taking compliments from her, breaking whatever mask he was trying to wear at the time.

"You know, you're a weird chick. I like that..." Throwing his arm around her, he pulled her close as she put the bottle back on the ground. "Wait till your eye goes back to normal.. Then you'll see..."

"Shut it!" Why did he always have to put himself down? Couldn't he see what she did? "Don't talk like that."

"Tch... By the way, if I find out you step onto that fire escape one more time, I'm really gonna punish you." Jack always hated it when she did that, saying one of these days that old piece of shit was going to give way, and they were on the third floor. One wrong move and that was it. Nodding, she knew he only said things like that because he was worried about her getting hurt...or worse.

They sat in comfortable silence as he stretched his legs out, tapping an empty beer can with the tip of his boot. This is how it's always like between them. Whether they're in a dirty alleyway or in his bedroom, it didn't matter. Just as long as they're together, everything would work out.

"So... Where is that bastard now?"

The pinkette chuckled, covering her mouth with a hand. Jack looked down at her, confused by her reaction. He raised a brow, not understanding what she was finding funny about the situation. Glancing at the dark swelling around her eye, his jaw shifted uncomfortably. Nothing made his anger spike like the way it does when seeing her being hurt.

"At the hospital...getting stitches in his chin."

"HAHAHA!" Jack slapped his knee, throwing an arm around Sakura and pulling her close, trying to be mindful of the bruise. A smile played on her lips from feeling the rumble against her face, his chest shaking with laughter at the drunk's current dilemma. "That's my girl!"


Sakura stood up, grabbing the bottle and throwing it as hard as she could against the brick wall. The glass shattered, fragments showering down over cardboard boxes and concrete. It was too much... Another memory that made her heart ache from a past she thought was long-forgotten. Tears ran down her face as she stumbled, falling back onto the crate.

"It's not fair..." What happened to them wasn't right. A twist of fate that completely changed both of their lives. How different could everything have turned out?

Staring at the scattered glass all over the ground, she wondered if that's what it was like for Jack. Being all there one moment, whole and together, able to keep everything inside...then completely shattered from someone else's actions. If left alone, the bottle can hold the liquor without any problems, whatsoever. Only when someone breaks or smashes it, that it's no longer what it used to be, unable to keep it all in anymore. What was once a sturdy bottle, was left nothing more than a bunch of broken glass, left there to be forgotten. No one caring or paying it any mind, while they stepped over the pieces, not bothering to try sweeping it up.

Sakura let out a long, shuddered breath, watching the wisps of fog slowly dance around in the frigid air. Winter was coming, fast. It was starting to bite at her skin, making it prickle with goosebumps. There wasn't enough time to check-out her coat from the lobby when the police arrived at the fundraiser. Not without getting caught-up and questioned. At first, she hadn't really felt it, walking around in a daze and the liquor quickly warmed her up. Now it was all fading, the cold bringing her crashing back into reality. A person could only run for so long... It was over. There was no other choice, but to look back and face the music.

Staring at the brick wall stained with alcohol, her eyes trailed up. A strange sense of nostalgia soured in the pit of her stomach, along with the drink. Glancing towards the top of the building across from where she sat, it finally hit her. That strange sensation when she fell from the bridge, the way heights always caused her to tremble...

"That's right... I fell...from the fire escape... The one he was constantly yelling about..." Jack was always right. It used to be annoying to hear him say, 'I told you!', with that smug look on his face. He only said it because he cared, wanted her to listen to him in the first place to avoid accidents from happening.

Sirens blared, coming closer with every passing second. Glancing towards the corner she turned down earlier, police cars raced by, their red and blue lights blindng in the dark. There was at least six of them, with others coming from different directions, the sounds ripping through the quiet night. They flew down the street, going past the alley where she sat. The noise grated her nerves, only making the throbbing in her head worse, going in rhythm with the piercing wail coming from their vehicles...

Sakura blinked hard, watching them going by. Everything was starting to piece itself together the more her memories resurfaced. The pinkette felt enlightened, close to finishing the puzzle with the help of the clown. He had all the pieces that she needed, closely guarded in the pockets of that ridiculous purple trench coat and leather gloves. There were still so much more to remember, but the most important things were coming back. Grasping onto something was far better than nothing at all.

Now, Sakura felt like she understood how Jack turned into the Joker...and it wasn't entirely his fault. He tried so hard, for so long... It was this city and the people in it. Those who never take the time to consider how anyone else felt or even cared to try... His entire existence had been a bane to society, and they rejected everything about him. It didn't matter how good of a man he'd been or what he endured. They didn't care.

An explosion could be heard in the distance. The police sirens were quickly multiplying, driving further away from where she sat alone in the alleyway. A small smile tugged at her lips as she closed her eyes, leaning back against the brick wall.

"They brought it on themselves..."

'You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain.'


Unlocking the door to the apartment, the pinkette kicked it closed with a loud bang. As expect, there was thumping against the wall, always followed by yelling. Carelessly tossing the heels she'd been carrying on to the floor, her bare feet were aching from the hours spent in them and treading across cement all night. She stood at the threshold in a daze, feeling on the precipice of a break through or loss of all reason.

The cursing coming from the other side of the wall was pushing the small woman right out of the fog she'd been drifting through in a drunken stupor. It was peaceful on the way home, for the most part. The sirens wailing and screams of people were drowned into a low humming in the background as she wandered through the streets, not concerned in the least about the latest travesty going on.

'It was so late... Why is he still up? Does that asshole really have nothing better to do, than wait for me to make some sort of noise? Just to yell and throw a bitch fit?'

Dragging herself into the kitchen, Sakura swung one of the cabinets open and took out an aspirin bottle. Right after coming in and hearing the neighbor start his shit, the headache that she thought she left in the alley returned with a vengeance. Instead of the wall, it was like someone was hammering on the inside of her skull.

Looking at the bottle wistfully and hoping to God they would help, the pinkette quickly twisted the cap off, trying to ignore the sound of the pills rattling around. Every noise was like a nail being driven into her brain, watching the small tablets rolling out on to her palm. It really was a bad idea to drink... This is why she rarely does it. A night with any liquor always ends with a bad headache, but this was far worse, almost like the day of the bank robbery. Taking the aspirins and throwing them back, she smacked the handle on the sink, leaning forward to drink the tepid water to wash them down. Despite wanting something to cool her off, she knew cold water would only make the ache worse.

Throwing her head back and sucking in a deep breath, the pinkette reached up to wipe her mouth with the back of her hand. This was too much... It was like the pressure against her skull was determined to make it crack open. Why does this keep happening? Did the old injury not heal right or something? Gritting her teeth, a small whimper spilled out. She ambled out of the kitchen, trying not to trip over the bottom of the long gown. The last thing she needed was to fall over like a klutz and smack her head against something.

Stopping at the entryway to the living room, the pounding from next door kept going...making it feel like someone was standing there with a meat cleaver, having a go at her head with no remorse.

'I can't take it anymore!'

Crouching down, Sakura cradled her head in her hands, trying to relieve some of the pressure. Nails grazing along her scalp, a pained groan pushed through her lips as the pounding only got worse. How much longer until it stopped?

The neighbor yells, his fist banging on the wall again. This man was never going to stop, huh? This would keep going on and on, just wanting someone to take his frustration out on. Was this really necessary? One small noise would always bring on an entire tirade of cursing and abuse. The smallest thing could trigger it, making far more racket than the initial offense had. Even when she would be completely silent in hopes that it would stop...he'd continue.

"You have all these rules and you think they'll save you!"

'Christ!...'

Slim fingers raked down her face, her eyes glaring at the wall like the anger coursing through her could bring it to a stop on its own. Blood vessels were close to bursting, the vein in her forehead pulsing through the pale skin. The pounding in her chest rose to a deafening rhythm, almost loud enough to block the man out. The pinkette was at her breaking point, standing on the edge of a cliff and looking down. One step forward and it would be at the point of no return.

Why was it okay for him to do whatever he pleases, but she couldn't make a single sound? Who gave anyone the right to treat others like shit, just because they felt like it? Why did everyone always expect her to just take it? And still have a smile on?

Another bang on the wall was the straw that broke the camel's back. Something deep inside snapped, not caring about anything anymore. Not the consequences or the idea of a possible confrontation. Nothing...

Sakura had enough.

"Shut the fuck up already! Hit that wall one more time and I'm gonna come over there and punch you right in the damn jaw! Bastard!"

Silence.

The pinkette's hands shook, nails digging hard into the soft skin of her palms. Her entire body trembled in anger as she let out a shaky breath, listening for any sounds coming from the apartment next door.

'I-I don't hear anything...'

He stopped... That's all it took? A scream, littered with a few curse words and a threat?... Why hadn't she done this a while ago? It would have saved so trouble. For the first time in God knows how long, she felt the weight on her shoulders melt away, dissipating along with the fear of what other's thought. Just doing what she internally wrestled with and going with her instincts. For years, Sakura always hesitated, over-thinking and analyzing everything, worrying about what people thought or how they would react. What did that matter? It only brought misery, caging herself up at the whims of others and their useless opinions.

"...Ha.. Hah... Hahaha... Dropping her head down, Sakura couldn't help laughing at the absurdity of it all. If she just did what she really wanted to all this time, everything would have been so different.

"That's my girl..."

Sakura jolted when the deep voice rang from across the room, green eyes darting towards the man sitting on the couch, slowly clapping his hands.

'Jack...'

"Now... Don't you, ah, feel better?" Her eyes widened seeing the clown lounging on the cushions, bare feet propped up on the coffee table.

A lump formed in her throat at the sight of him, not a single thought of complaining about him using her furniture as a footstool. She didn't care anymore, not about any of the insignificant things that used to bother her. Nothing else mattered... Not that he was a criminal, not what others thought, not even what was going to happen tomorrow.

Clambering to her feet, they seemed to move on their own straight towards the couch. In a moment of clarity, everything came together. She could finally see things for what they really are.

Stopping just short of his long legs stretched out, the pinkette bit the inside of her cheek, watching as he languidly sat up from his reclining position against the cushions. He'd already changed back into his infamous attire, no longer wearing the purple Venetian carnival costume. The greasepaint was completely smeared and worn, compared to just a few short hours ago. The black was spread out further than usual, webbing out along the creases around his eyes. Patches of white were missing in places, rubbed off in streaks like he'd just been in a fight. Everything was mixing in with the other colors from sweating, angry trails running down his face and neck. There was no doubt in her mind after seeing the state he was in, that he was involved in all the commotion that was going on outside.

And that was okay.

Joker slouched forward, carefully watching the pinkette standing there as he slid his legs off of the coffee table, planting them on the carpet. Turning his head to the side, his dark eyes narrowed in on the small woman suspiciously, moving his jaw around. Shifting on her feet, Sakura knew he was trying to read her, attempting to figure out what she intended to do. He didn't move, waiting for her to do something to see where they stood.

Things could go in different directions depending on what she chose. It wasn't like the clown knew who he was dealing with, between Sakura and Tasha. Maybe it didn't really matter, he would do whatever he wanted either way. He's made that very clear over the last two weeks.

Steeling her resolve, Sakura stepped right in front of him, standing in the wide space between his legs. Even if she knew Jack, it didn't mean the Joker would react the same way. There were so many differences from the past and the present... Craning his neck back, it seemed like he was expecting her to throw a fist or slap him across the face. Maybe he deserved it after all of the terrible things he's done. No one would blame her if she did, but that wasn't going to happen. Despite his steady gaze, his knees were bouncing in anticipation, gloved fingers strumming against the purple pinstripe fabric.

'Is he anxious? Or excited? I can't tell...'

Throwing caution to the wind, the pinkette dropped to her knees, leaning forward to wrap her arms around his waist. Burying her face into his green vest, she could feel how tense he was, sucking in a deep breath at the unexpected action. Despite how awkward this would have been just this morning, Sakura was more relaxed than she could have imagined being this close to him. It just felt...right. Like finding a way home after being gone for so long.

Pressing against the green fabric, she could feel how rigid he was, letting out shallow breaths through his ruined mouth. He really must have been expecting a completely different reaction. It seemed like he was preparing for her fury and wrath to rain down on him from what happened earlier at the fundraiser. Even still, she couldn't help the enjoying the way his heart was racing, able to feel it pounding through his clothes.

Joker was completely frozen, eyes wide and staring at the spot where she'd been standing just seconds ago. Swallowing hard, he looked down at her curiously, wondering what the hell was going on. His gloved hands were raised up in surprise as she gripped him tightly, almost like he was anticipating for a gun to be pulled out and pointed straight at him.

"... Did-uh-something happen while you were out, dollface?" He felt stiff, not knowing what kind of whirlwind she found herself in while sitting in that dirty alleyway.

"Yeah..." The smell of gasoline and gunpowder no longer made her stomach turn when she breathed them in, just wanting to be closer. The heat coming from his body was unbelievable, still the same way it used to be all those years ago. She could remember all those cold nights back in that old building when it was the only thing keeping her warm when the heating wouldn't work. That seemed to happen every year and it was never fixed. She would lay in bed with him, trying not to freeze to death, only to wake up covered in both of their sweat.

"What happened? Hmm?" Sakura sat back, looking the clown straight in the face. Even with him slouching, he seemed so much larger than her. The tip of his tongue snaked out over his bottom lip and along the cracked skin of his scar, dragging some of the red paint with it. "Someone piss ya off? Shit in your Wheaties?"

"N-No." Seeing the way his brow cocked up when he asked that almost dashed any thoughts of sweet nostalgia. "Nothing like that. I just...remembered...a lot." His dark eyes widened and hands latched on to her shoulders, making her lean back to stare at her face. They flickered back and forth, almost waiting for her to start laughing, to admit it was all a cruel joke to get back at him. The mask hanging from her face finally fell off, dropping on to the rug with neither paying it any mind.

Sakura wasn't sure if he found what he was looking for as his fingers dug into the fabric of the gown, but she could have sworn she saw his shoulders drop down slightly from their raised position. Joker looked like he'd been on the defensive, silently waiting for a blade to come out from under her gown and stab him in the chest. He sucked in his bottom lip, grazing his teeth over it and letting it go with a pop, still watching the pinkette intently.

'What's he thinking about? I don't know what to expect anymore...'

"Hehh..." Letting out a long, dragged-out sigh, his head rolled along his broad shoulders. Sakura stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to sat anything, to answer the revelation she just laid out. The only thing she got was a twitch from the muscle by his mouth.

'I don't get it. I thought he would be happy about this...'

Gloved hands yanked Sakura forward, making her cry out in surprise as he shifted, leaning back into the couch and dragging her up onto his lap. Long arms coiled around her waist, bringing the pinkette close. That was the last thing she'd been expecting, holding in a bated breath in anticipation of what he might do next. Trying to get comfortable, she moved her legs from under her, stretching them out along the cushions on the couch.

The strained muscles started to relax beneath her, feeling his breathing slowly evening out. Fingers deftly fiddled with the decorated the decorated headpiece, clumsily trying to removed it. He finally was able to get the bedazzled piece out, after getting in caught on a lock and yanking on it, earning an exasperated groan and frown from the owner. That only seemed to assume him, the corner of his mouth curling up into a crooked grin. Glancing at the accessory with scorn, he carelessly tossed it away, not caring where it might have landed. His dark eyes gleamed, watching the long curls cascading down her back and along his purple dress shirt.

"About damn time..." He murmured, burying his nose into the soft pink hair, pushing for her to lay her head against his broad chest. Large hands ran along her back, fingers drawing lazy circles along the curve of her spine.

Sakura hummed softly, reveling in the soothing touch. This is where she belonged all this time without even realizing it. Everything became so clear. No wonder it always felt like there was something was missing... The reason why the pinkette couldn't make an intimate connection with anyone she'd gone out with, didn't feel physically or emotionally attracted to them, had that empty space in her chest that nothing could fill... It was because Jack was gone. Even if she couldn't remember him, something subconsciously did. All those feelings and desires bottled themselves up, drifting into a dark corner of her mind to slumber, waiting for him to barge in and wake them up.

"Ya know-" The pinkette could feel his lips curling up against the top of her head, twisting into a grin. "How, ah, tiring it is going back and forth with you? Hmm? I have an easier time fist-fighting with the Bat."

'Does he have a clue how tiring it is going back and forth with him?! He would have murdered someone for pulling half the shit he's done. I've seen him do it for much less.'

Laughing at his own joke, Sakura grinned against the purple dress shirt, feeling his hot breath wash over her scalp. The hammering in his chest was strong, a rhythm she found herself enjoying. Between the warmth radiating from the clown's body and listening to the beating of his heart, the combination was beginning to lull her to sleep. After everything that happened throughout the fundraiser, having little sleep during the last two weeks, and drinking earlier, she needed it-badly. Lying against his chest with the strong arms tightly wrapped around her, Sakura felt safe...comfortable. The only thing that could hurt her anymore was running his hands along her back, completely smug with his personal victory.

The corner of Sakura's mouth turned upwards, practically purring with contentment under his gaze. She was like a cat lying on the Joker's lap as his hand ran from the top of her head, all the way down to her spine. Her toes wiggled from the sensation, relishing in the affection she was being shown. It's been a long time since anyone was this close.

"Is it all there?" The words were low, barely above a whisper right next to her ear when he leaned in. It made the pinkette shiver, and she hoped he didn't notice it right away. All it would do is fuel his already inflated ego...

"What?" She wasn't sure what he was referring to, brows furrowing when his hands latched onto her shoulders, making her sit back to look at him. Seeing the dazed and sleepy look on her features, his red-painted mouth twisted into a sneer, watching the effect the small ministrations had on her. A little shake roused her to attention, the clown determined to get answers when he expected them.

Blinking and groaning out in annoyance, her eyes narrowed in on the man staring down at her. Despite the face full of greasepaint and untamed faded green hair, Sakura could still see Jack behind it all. Before they seemed like different people... Now, they were one in the same. The Joker was still Jack and Jack had turned into the Joker. Two sides of the same coin.

"What did you remember?" A gloved hand ran over the top of her head, fingers firmly massaging her scalp. The small movement was making her far too relaxed, eyes fluttering and rolling back. It felt too good, completely soothing. When he gave the strands a small tug, she barely recalled that he asked her a question and was expecting an answer.

"Not all of it...but, enough for now. It just comes randomly. Different parts that pop up like small clips... My dad giving me that charm on my birthday, you putting the door in, us sitting in the alley with a swollen eye..." Sakura rambled on, tongue prodding her lip. She stared at one of the cushions on the couch, looking away from his face. It felt strange talking about this, like recalling scenes from an old movie.

"Heh. Swollen eye... Which time? Which one of us?" Sakura pursed her lips together, glancing back and seeing the sheepish expression on his face. How many times did that happen?

"Christ... I'm not sure which time, but it was my eye that was screwed up... I said something about Todd having to go to the hospital to get stitches in his chin." At the mention of that man's name, she felt the Joker's body stiffen up, his eyes darkening, something playing behind them that suddenly frightened her. Was he still angry about all the shit he put them through back then? That look... The pinkette didn't like it, knowing something bad usually followed closely after. Her mind quickly scrambled, searching for anything to get his mind off it. He wanted to know what resurfaced and she would tell him as much as she could.

"Sometimes it's just fragments or images, then there's ones that go on and on. I can remember falling from the fire escape. The strange part is that I-...I don't know what happened before that. Just the fall itself. Maybe it'll come back later on at some point. Also that night your dad...You know." Part of her almost couldn't say it, didn't want to. Putting it into words felt harder than it should have, but it was. That was the moment everything first changed for the both of them, mostly Jack. He was never the same after what his father had done. Killing his mother, carving his mouth into a permanent smile, trying to rape her... Leaving Jack with no other choice, other than killing him. Even if he restrained him and called the police, they would have probably just let him go and covered everything up, thanks to his connections on the street. After that, there was no doubt that drunk would have come for them to finish the job.

Joker ran his tongue along his scar, looking away with a grunt. That night was probably replaying in his head as well.

"Well, it's a start. We'll get 'em back, I'll make sure of it..." He was muttering low, but she could still hear it. She wasn't sure if he was talking to himself or to her. It wasn't clear how exactly he intended to 'get 'em back'. Sakura was about to ask, stopping herself at the last moment, deciding it might be better not to know.

"Jack, I'm so sorry. All these years... I forgot everything. It wasn't fair... You didn't deserve-"

Putting a gloved finger against her lips, he stopped her mid-sentence. "Sh. Shh. Shhh... Don't worry about it, doll. We're here now and hopefully you're, ah, done throwing plates at my head." He chuckled, planting a sloppy kiss on the violet birthmark on her forehead.

They sat on the couch, quietly basking in each other's company. Taking the tip of his glove between his teeth, he yanked it off, spitting it out onto the rug. Reaching down with his bare hand, the clown ran his fingers through her pink locks, enjoying the feel of its softness against his rough skin.

"...I...missed you..." Joker said under his breath, almost begrudgingly. It was like the words were difficult for someone like him to admit, let alone say out loud.

Hearing that coming from his mouth made a breath catch in her throat, her heart skipping a beat to know that he really did miss her. Leaning forward, soft lips pressed against the jagged mark on the side of his mouth, kissing a trail along the raised scars. Just like back in the day, she never hesitated around them, showing the marred skin the same attention she willingly gave the rest of him. The pinkette could feel him tense up as she got near them, dainty hands using his chest as leverage.

Sakura stilled her ministrations along his cheek, feeling something warm and wet on his waistcoat. With the way Joker quickly adverted his gaze, there was no doubt what it could be. Lifting her hand up, a gasp left her lips seeing the dark blood coating the pale skin of her palm.