Celine didn't know where to look. King's gaze was patient and direct, but she was much too overwhelmed to hold it for long. She glanced at Joker, hoping his famously neutral expressions could help reground her.

He wasn't faring much better. In fact, it was probably some of the most genuine shock she had ever seen on anyone's face. To disorient a man like Joker wasn't easy; she wished for the seemingly hundredth time for her phone, or at the very least, a camera. Witnessing the glimpses of humanity in him were precious to her in a way she had a tough time putting into words.

He had to have read King as a kid. It's like a rite of passage for any outcast or misunderstood young person. To gravitate toward King's work. I'm certainly not excluded from that.

Joker coughed and abruptly looked down at his plate. His body went rigid and all hints of surprise vanished as quickly as it arrived.

He doesn't enjoy being caught off guard like that. But I just know he's freaking out a little bit inside. If he won't take the initiative to talk, I've got to.

Clearing her throat, she exhaled and met King's eyes.

"Hello. Um, what brings you to our corner of Maine, Mr. King?"

"Stephen's fine," he softly reassured. "And to tell you the truth, I haven't been to this part of the State in a long time. Never hurts to reacquaint yourself with past travels."

She nodded.

"And... how are you enjoying this part of Maine?"

He laid the newspaper down.

"Very well. Your town in particular has a... charming antiquity to it. More often than not, sleepy towns like this think they need a wakeup call. That's when trees get the bulldozer treatment and chain businesses start moving in. Beneficial to the economy of the town, but it loses a special little something along the way. It's hard to pinpoint."

"It is," she agreed, easing a little better into the conversation. "Don't get me wrong, I think progression is a natural course of things, but returning here... I'm always relieved. Might be the nostalgia. Or it might be that it's remained... unspoiled?"

"Yes, unspoiled. It's good for the senses, I think, returning to that."

Oh my god, Stephen King just agreed with me! Okay, be cool, be cool. For starters, try not to grin like an idiot.

It was tough obeying this command. She had so many questions, but lacked the ability to coordinate them effectively. She feared if she tried asking one, it'd come stumbling out as a garbled mess.

Is it selfish to ask for his autograph? Probably. He's just sitting here, trying to enjoy the paper. Bruce wasn't overly fond of being approached in public when we were in the middle of something.

"I have to confess-." She tuned back into King's voice. "-my visit here isn't purely recreational. Writer's instinct insisted I'd find inspiration up here to better move along the outline of a story I've got in the works."

This drew Joker's attention upward. But it was brief. His eyes immediately shot back down.

"Good place to get inspired," she encouraged. "How's it coming along?"

He leaned forward a little and brought both hands together atop the table.

"Funny you should ask. I couldn't help but overhear your friend's speech to Dawn. A very... impassioned speech. Meticulous, well-crafted, if not altogether disturbing."

If Joker wasn't tense already, this comment made him a statue. She had to glance at his pulse just to make sure he was still breathing.

I have never seen him behave like this before. Is he... embarrassed? Shy? Nervous?

"I won't police what should and shouldn't be said," he continued. "Censorship is a slippery slope; I've never been fond of commenting from the top of that peak. And I think I understand where it came from. Young love is a... force to be reckoned with. It's remarkable all we're willing to abandon for the ones we'd do anything for. Restraint being one."

Joker's head shot up.

"I don't love her."

From the way he emitted those words, it sounded like he thought her the most repulsive creature on the planet. She knew this wasn't the case, but it made her deflate a little nevertheless.

Of course he doesn't love me, I don't think he ever will. That's fine. I'm fine with that.

She didn't realize right away both Joker and King were staring at her.

I've gotta do a better job of not broadcasting every emotion that comes my way. Shrooms really bring out that authenticity without shame. Which is good... in select moments.

"He doesn't," she pitched in, meeting Joker's gaze. "We're uh... we're just friends."

Joker frowned, but didn't say anything.

Geez, what does he want me to say? Make up your mind.

"Apologies," King excused. "It seems my observational skills aren't what they used to be."

She looked down at her abandoned salad. Neither she nor Joker made a further attempt to speak.

"Ah. I'm afraid I've made things awkward."

"You're okay," she reassured. "Um, I'm sorry if we disrupted your... creative process."

King rapidly shook his head.

"No, not at all. In fact, you've done the exact opposite. Would you mind telling me your names?"

They glanced at each other. His surprise was a little milder than hers.

"I'm Celine," she introduced, "and this is Jack."

"Celine and Jack."

It was a little surreal to hear him say their names. She would not soon be forgetting this exchange.

"There's a compelling energy between you two," he noted. "I'm sure I'll figure what it is out when I least expect it. But in the meantime, could I borrow you both?"

They must have been wearing equally perplexed looks for he clarified just a few seconds later.

"-for this upcoming story. I'll change the names to protect your privacy. I... well, I'll be blunt at my own risk. Jack, you have maybe the most intriguing face I've ever laid eyes on."

Joker went perfectly stiff.

"I could write pages of manuscript about it," he continued. "And the emotions you evoke... curiosity, compassion, a determination to know every thought that passes through your head. Usually, I have to construct a character that reels me in that much. But you... I don't know what it is. You emanate without saying a word. Very few human beings are capable of that."

One of the strangest sounds she had ever heard, flew out of Joker's throat. She couldn't attach a single emotion to it, and maybe that's why it'd come out in the first place. Something transmitted without a source, needing to get out.

"I hope I haven't made you uncomfortable," King followed up.

Joker was slow to shake his head. Licking his lips a few times, he rolled his shoulders back.

"So, you uh want to write me into your story?"

"If it's not too much trouble."

Joker seemed uncertain on how to respond.

"I don't have to if you don't want me to. You're just... well, frankly, an author's kryptonite."

"And what about the scars? Can't think you're gonna flatter me too much in that department, especially given your ah preferred genre."

As if to reaffirm this, he lapped at each of his cheeks. She knew well enough that he'd just issued a test.

King's brows shot together.

"Son," he said, "people that carry the deepest scars sometimes have the most humanity in them. What yours say to me is that you're capable of feeling with an extraordinary depth. Perhaps sometimes to your own detriment."

Joker blinked. He leaned back a little.

"I would be remiss," King added, "in trusting anyone with unblemished skin. Life... well, it batters the hell out of you sometimes. Showing that to others isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of being alive. You're alive. That's what those scars tell me."

Whatever Joker intended to say, suffered a much-needed death on his tongue. He drummed his fingers on the table, peering at King without blinking.

King welcomed the stare with nothing but openness. And more importantly, honesty.

He really is a wordsmith. And how... unreal. I've not really put much thought into why his scars don't bother me, and I think Stephen nailed it. It's just as human as the rest of him.

She couldn't help but gently lower a hand to his knee and squeeze once. He looked down, then at her.

Celine didn't hold back in showcasing her affection for him. Usually, she muted it to avoid discomforting him. But if ever there was a time to display it, it was now.

Joker's eyes widened a little. His scars started twitching. It was taking a great deal of energy for him to maintain composure, that much she could tell. And the look behind his eyes...

Oh, yes. Stephen saw Jack, not Joker. And Jack is just a little bit stunned that someone other than me, acknowledged him.

"What do you say?" she asked. "Wanna be his muse?"

He expelled a puff of air before turning back to the author.

"Go for it."

She went to remove her hand, but he just as quickly threw his on top of it. Her touch on him was no longer welcome, it was required.

King's entire body relaxed at hearing this.

"Thank you." His eyes settled on her. "To the both of you. Though, I can't guarantee I don't kill the characters you inspired, off."

"Oh," she replied, "I think we both insist you put us through the most excruciating, grueling scenarios possible."

Joker nodded vehemently.

"Don't ah skim on the details either. The gorier, the better. Make IT and Needful Things, tame by comparison."

King's eyes widened.

"You're sure?"

"I've been reading your stuff since I was a kid. You've yet to gross me out. Try and put some effort in this time."

This properly took King aback. But she could also tell he was more than willing to rise to the challenge.

Joker really was quite clever in the ways he utilized his influence.

"I'll keep that in mind." He laughed a little and shook his head. "Write to me and let me know how I did."

"Mm, will do."

Whatever was currently radiating off of Joker made her insides all fluttery and light.

He's happy. Not the malicious kind after death or destruction. No, this is happiness in its most genuine form. Maybe... maybe this could work out between us. Maybe he's capable of...

She focused back on King as he stood; rolling the newspaper up and tucking it beneath his armpit.

"It was nice to meet you, Celine. And you, Jack." His eyes couldn't help but shoot to their arms. It was obvious from his angle that their hands were in contact with one another. "I hope you won't mind an old man imparting some wisdom. Something occurred to me a few years ago... I'm not sure what brought it on, only that I've been more mindful of it ever since."

They were both quiet, waiting for him to continue. He was probably one of the only people Joker reserved that respect for.

"Thought goes into touch," he said. "What you think dictates all that you do. How you taste, touch, smell, hear, perceive... that's the reality you create for yourself. Think well and you'll treat others well."

Joker's grip tightened on her. His skepticism was evident without having to look.

"Is it really that simple?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered. "I suspect that it is. We just complicate our understanding of that."

He offered them a final smile.

"In regards to your... friendship. Cherish it, work on it, water it. You don't get to experience the purest form of it often, so when you've got it, give it all you've got, because you don't know when you'll ever get it again."

With that, he walked to the front. Briefly, he spoke with Sophie, before exiting the diner.

They stared after him through the window until he was out of view.

She shook her head.

"Holy shit."

"Yeah."

They were on the same wavelength in regards to what just happened. It relieved her that for once, she had company.

"Stephen King complimented your scars."

She looked at him with a dazed grin. He did his best to remain nonchalant.

"About time. I worked hard on these beauties."

An even bigger realization hit her.

"We're gonna be in his next story! I mean, not as us, but sorta-kinda inspired by us."

She turned to him and held up an arm.

"High-five to us for being...us!"

He arched a brow, glancing at her raised limb.

"Don't leave me hanging."

She wiggled her fingers expectantly.

Something between a sigh and a grunt rattled around in his throat.

He high-fived her hand with such force that she had to massage the sting out of it for close to a minute.

"Sorry sweets, can't help it," Joker boasted, throwing an arm around her and tugging her into him. "I smack hands like I smack asses."

"Yeah?" she groaned. "It's a wonder your face isn't redder."

He snorted loudly.

"Aw, aren't you just a bouquet of courtesies?"

He laid a noisy smooch on her cheek all the while holding her so tightly against him that she didn't even bother trying to fight out of the grip.

The moment was interrupted before Joker could do any more damage to her person.

"Hey," Sophie said. "Sorry that your order came out wrong, I could have the kitchen whip you up something, no charge. Um, Mr. King paid for your guys' meals, and Marvin's coffee."

Joker casually unwound his arm from around her. The playfulness that'd dominated just a few minutes earlier, mellowed out into indifference.

Showing me affection in front of someone is like being caught red-handed to him.

She stored this thought away to mull over at another time.

"No, that's alright," Celine answered. "We're kind of running late to something. But thank you anyway, and... well, that was nice of him, wasn't it?"

Joker didn't answer, but Sophie nodded.

"He's been spending time here the last three days. Sits in the same booth, reading the morning paper. He asked that I didn't tell too many people he hung out here. Which, I totally get. He's been the talk of the town."

Their discussion was temporarily halted as the kitchen doors swung open.

Celine's heart nearly sank at seeing Dawn standing there. In the excitement of the last few minutes, she'd almost completely forgotten Joker's verbal annihilation of her.

God, maybe I should go apologize.

Dawn refused to so much as glance in their direction.

"Sophie, come see me in the back."

The girl grimaced.

"You guys have a good one," she said, before skulking to the kitchen.

Celine made to stand, but Joker's hand immediately clamped down on her thigh.

"Don't you dare."

How he knew her intent, she hadn't a clue. But it wasn't enough to deter her.

"You really hurt her feelings. Which, don't get me wrong, I get why, and I don't blame you. She was being a real pain in the ass. But that was some brutal stuff; it can't harm anything making sure she's okay."

He glowered at her, fingers digging in.

"And how's this any different than you with that State Trooper?"

It took her a few seconds to recall what he was talking about. Her mouth popped open, but nothing came out.

"Little hypocritical, don't ya think?" he pressed, eyes narrowing. "That you can get mouthy with someone that disrespects me, but I can't do the same?"

She swallowed.

"That- this is different."

"I don't think it is," he groused. "I think you've been alone for far too long."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

His jaw tightened. He was peering intensely at her, seemingly on the verge of saying something important.

He inhaled deeply through his nose before removing his hand from her leg.

"It wouldn't kill ya to learn to... let people do things for you."

This was all he had to say. He was out the front door not even ten seconds later.

She stared after him, thoroughly bewildered. And maybe just a little bit embarrassed.

I... he's right about me being a hypocrite. I might've not been as... blunt with that Trooper as Jack was with Dawn, but our actions came from the same place. Not wanting to see the other disrespected. It wasn't right of me to react as if it had been uncalled for. Or rather, that the situation needed to be rectified. Even though... god, I can't imagine how Dawn's going to go about her business after what was said to her.

She looked at the kitchen doors, and then the entry door. This was a proper conundrum. How could she patch up both relationships? How could she appease two people at once?

I don't think I'm meant to. I don't need to go back to the kitchens to know she won't ever forgive me for this. Whatever rocky relationship we had with one another is officially sunk. Jack's words were said with too much truth for them to ever be undone, or laughed off. Which means... for as shitty as it feels... I have to let it go. Focus on... the relationship that I still do have. Like King said, work on it, water it.

She did a few breathing exercises, massaging the palm of her hand.

There was another thing to consider. Did she have a problem letting others do things for her? And why did Joker take such issue with that? Wasn't he equally self-sufficient?

I let Bruce invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into my company. I let Lu bring gratuitous amounts of food over for us. I don't have a problem. Granted, the former was because that was literally my job, to gain an investor. And the latter would have been impolite to deny. But beyond those recent examples...

She bit her lip, thinking back to all the times she and Bruce went out to eat. She always made sure to pay her half of the bill, or pay him back if she didn't have money on her. Prior to this most recent falling out, that had been something they bickered about frequently, until Bruce learned to drop it.

He claims I've been alone for too long. That's not... a bad thing. Right?

She ran a hand over her face, groaning a little into her palm. Joker said he didn't do relationships. It was becoming understandable why. Was it always this confusing? Or just for them because it was something they had intentionally avoided for so long?

I've gotta get going.

Sighing, she got to her feet.

Before turning to leave, her gaze swung to the left. It didn't take long for her feet to set off after her eyes.

Marvin was stroking the handle of his cup with a thumb. His brows were furrowed, as if he were trying to figure something out.

"Hey."

He tore his eyes from the window and looked up at her.

"Are you having a good day?"

Marvin looked out the window, and then up at her. It took him a few seconds to respond.

"It's... a lively world out there."

She tilted her head and smiled.

"It sure is."

He squinted at her.

"D-do I know you from somewhere?"

So, he's having one of his better days. I'm glad.

"I used to work here. You were very kind to me."

A flicker of recognition passed his face.

"Nora."

She opened her mouth to contest this, but decided against it.

"Yes. I have to get going. But it was nice seeing you, Marvin."

The corners of his eyes crinkled.

"You don't let anyone give you trouble," he cautioned with a wagging finger. "Tell me if they do, you hear?"

She smiled and nodded.

"You'll be the first to know."

He made a noise of approval before fixing his gaze onto the window once more.

Celine left the diner filled with a cluster of turbulent feelings. She let them exhaust themselves, nibbling on a piece of toast Joker had neglected to eat.

When she got in her car, she noticed Joker wearing a tense expression. His phone was clutched tightly in his hand.

"What's up?"

It took some time for him to respond.

"Someone called. From... your family."

She glanced at the phone.

"Was it Lu? What did he want?"

He shook his head.

"A... Dolores."

"Oh, okay." She relaxed. "That's Lu's wife. What did she say to you? You look like... you're gonna throw up."

His frown deepened.

"She wanted to know... if I had any allergies. I hung up."

Her brows drew together.

"Why'd you do that?"

"It's obvious, isn't it?" He leveled an unexpectedly manic stare onto her. "Your uncle's gunnin' for me. They're gonna poison my food."

She couldn't help but chuckle. Which only served to darken Joker's expression.

"They are not going to poison you," she reassured a few seconds later. "Aunt D usually cooks and prepares all the side dishes. She wanted to know if you had any allergies so she didn't accidentally set one of them off. Anyone new to these gatherings gets the same treatment. She's making sure she doesn't poison you."

He didn't seem fully convinced.

"Here, let me call her back."

He kept his phone cradled against his chest.

"Jack." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "My family is not trying to kill you. If they were trying to kill you, trust me, it wouldn't be in that way. They've made the same threat since I was old enough to date. Lu lives on a couple hundred acres of property, most of it woods. He would give you a ten-minute head start before he and my family hunted you down, and then killed you. Poisoning via allergies is not their style."

He cocked his head.

"They ever make good on that threat?"

"I've lost count of all the dead exes," she deadpanned, gesturing with a hand for the phone.

He pursed his lips, gaze narrowing, before handing his phone over.

As she swiped to his most recent calls, she asked-

"Do you have any allergies? She really does want to know. We had a scare a few years ago with my cousin's boyfriend. Aunt D makes it a point now to ask any new faces."

He bit his tongue, saying nothing.

"Jack... do you want us to poison you?"

This too failed to produce a response.

Why is this like pulling teeth? We're asking to know what he's allergic to, not-

It occurred to her right then. Not only must he be seriously allergic to something, but cluing them in would reveal a weakness. Having others know what could harm him was considered a very real threat in his eyes.

She put the phone to her ear, making eye contact with him.

"What do you want me to tell her?" she tried. "I can ask her to just keep it between us three. She'll understand."

"Will she?"

"This is my aunt," she reaffirmed, "not one of Gotham's crime lords."

"Hello?"

Celine perked up.

"Hey Aunt D, it's Celine. Um, sorry about earlier. Jacks not used to... unfamiliar people calling him."

"Oh, that's alright dear, I figured I might've spooked him. Just getting ready to start cooking everything. Does Jack have any allergies I need to know about? I still feel awful about what happened with Lauren's boyfriend."

"That wasn't your fault, it was a really unusual allergy. And you didn't know better to ask back then. I- was she going to be there?"

"Oh yes, but she can't stay long. She's got an evening shift she can't get out of. I swear, they're working that poor girl down to the bone."

Sighing, Celine looked ahead.

"That's good that she can make it." She didn't particularly believe herself. "Um, hang on-."

She turned to Joker, muffling the phone against a shoulder.

"Last chance to tell her."

He gritted his teeth, but said nothing.

"Okay," she accepted. "But we're not responsible if something happens to you. I won't allow her to take that guilt on."

She made sure he could read the truth clear as day in her eyes.

Apparently, he didn't like this so much. His gaze quickly shot out the window.

"Hey, Jack is all good. No allergies," she informed.

"Oh, that's a relief to hear. It'll be at least a couple of hours before everything's ready. Will you be here soon? Everyone's arriving, and Lu's getting... well, he's just a little bit antsy. He got real worried when you weren't answering earlier."

"I know. We lost track of time; I'll try not to let it happen again." She glanced at the clock. "We should be there in about a half hour, maybe a little less. Just about to leave Leo's."

"Good to hear, I can't wait to see you, Celine. After the last few months you've had... well, I'm just grateful God brought you back to us, safe and sound."

She smiled, ignoring the pair of eyes suddenly burning into her cheek.

"I'm grateful to be back too. I'll see you in a little bit."

She hung up and returned Joker the phone.

He didn't speak, nor fully untense until she was driving them out of town, heading east.

"Your uncle live in the country?"

"All of my family do," she answered, welcoming the change in topic. "Lu and D are in between Calgary Cliff and Higginsville. My Aunt June – mom's sister – and her husband Martin have a farm not too far from Lu. And my Uncle Reed – mom's brother- lives about an hour north on the coast with his partner, Frank. Speaking of-."

She looked at him.

"Full disclosure, Frank is a bit of an... agoraphobe. He'll likely be inside the house for most of the cookout. Reed usually has to bribe him to get him to come to these outings. Keep that in mind when you're doing your scan of the perimeter. There isn't an intruder, it's just Frank."

He tilted his head and side eyed her.

"You lied to me."

Her brows shot together.

"When?"

"Our first meeting," he reminded, watching her closely. "When you were trying to convince me to execute you instead. You said you had no family."

"Oh." That meeting felt like a million years ago. "I... it just sort of came out. The goal was to change your mind, and um... well, it worked."

"Mm, funny how con-spiratorial fate can be." He was quiet for a few seconds. "You worried they're gonna recognize me?"

She looked at him. Her words didn't need to be said, it was evident in her expression.

"Extremely," she answered, looking back to the road. "I'm trying not to think about it too much, otherwise I might have a panic attack. I will say... they don't exactly keep up with the news, so I'm not sure how many of them will know what you look like. I mean, they'll watch the local station and read the local paper, but the national news... depresses them. Which... I understand why. Rarely is anything positive broadcasted, and a lot of these news stations give too much power to opinionated commentators. These pundits can just... say things, and not back themselves up with sources. And their goal seems to be to just... get you as riled up and outraged as possible. It's not healthy to repeatedly consume something like that. My family is pretty... grounded. They know the value of turning off the television and spending the day outdoors."

"They uh know about you and the Graves woman?"

"I don't think so. I never got any texts from them when all that was happening, which, to be fair was pretty localized. She didn't speak to any national outlets, just Gotham-based ones. Though... I can't be sure."

She shook her head.

"God, this is insane. And reckless. I am so fucked if they realize who you are."

"Mm, they won't."

She glanced at him.

"How can you be so sure?"

He didn't answer right away, gaze diverting to the road.

Suspicion wormed its way into her gut.

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Be more spe-cific. There's a lot I don't tell you."

She gripped the steering wheel and released a deep breath.

"If they find out who you are," she told him. "I..."

It's like someone cranked the heat up fifty degrees. He knew exactly what she was hinting at.

"They're my family," she followed up. "I can't lose them."

She met his gaze and quickly looked away. The anger contorting his face wasn't all that surprising. She had revealed to him a very inconvenient truth. He was not worth losing everything over.

It was what resided in his eyes that caused her to look way. Unnamed, unspoken, but felt by the depths of her very soul. Merely witnessing it conjured an ache so fierce it nearly paralyzed her.

Please... please let this work out. Just because I can make that choice doesn't mean I ever want to be put in the position to do so. King was right, you never know if you'll ever get this again. Especially in our case.

Appropriately enough, the next song to play on her mixtape was "The Chemicals Between Us" by Bush. It seemed the universe was bent on reminding them it had a sense of humor.

Joker didn't say anything for almost the rest of the drive, and Celine lost herself in thought; envisioning every likely scenario and how to respond if it came to be.

Outlines are funny. You can write down 'okay, A is going to happen, then B, which leads to C, and then we're off to D'. Then, you actually get to writing the chapters and there's a voice that says "Nah, don't listen to this fool or their dumbass outline, we're gonna go our own way" and you think "Yeah!" and then realize you're the dumbass that wrote the outline to begin with. The creative process is a... magical thing.

In the words of Farrah Moan - Let's get this roast a-cookin'!