To say Joker had regained his confidence would be an understatement. His posture was much laxer, his wandering around the bathroom done as if he'd been inside the room dozens of times prior. She viewed this transition of mood through the mirror, eyes ping-ponging between his form and scrubbing down the counter.
Can you envy someone else's nonchalance? Because it's taking a lot not to think of his mouth on me each time he licks at one of his scars.
Her appraisal of him wasn't done very discretely. When his gaze found hers, he abruptly threw down the candle he'd been sniffing and approached.
She focused extra hard on the wash cloth in her hand, belly tingling.
"Something on your mind, Cece ?"
His arms slid around her sides, back pressing into her until she was trapped between the sink and his body.
Gulping, she slowly released the wash cloth.
The counter by all means looked and smelled acceptable, but there was still a mild paranoia not yet extinguished that someone would be able to piece together what'd occurred.
"Just making sure- ah-."
He'd began to nibble down the side of her neck, his palms on her stomach clutching her impossibly close. All she could do was watch through the mirror with fluttery eyelids as he lavished the right side of her neck, then switched over to the left.
"How-," she finally managed to stutter out, "-are you still so horny ?"
He laughed against her, resting his chin on her shoulder and meeting her eyes through the mirror.
"How can I not be?" he returned. "Still got the taste of you on my tongue. And uh your panties in my pocket. All it'd take is one... yank of your skirt and you'd be exposed for all the world to see..."
He ground his hips into her, eliciting a frazzled moan out of her.
That had been... a fruitless endeavor. Upon realizing he'd no intentions of giving back her underwear, she'd tried to dive at him when he least expected, hoping to retrieve them herself.
Joker had easily side-stepped her, and launched into a fit of giggles as she chased him around the bathroom. Deviant that he was, he'd veer into a semi-circle so he was the one pursuing her; offering her bottom a rapid fire of pats before she'd twirl around and restart their game of bear and bunny.
When she'd started to perspire from her efforts, reluctantly, she had to concede him his prize. Otherwise, they'd have been up there all day.
I've helped him become comfortable, but at what personal cost? Another lesson in disguise... always bring a back-up pair in case he tries something like this again.
"I gotta ask... that the first time ya had a man's mouth on your pussy?"
He rasped this quietly, though the vulgarity of the question made it seem as if he'd bellowed it through a microphone.
"I- was it that obvious?"
He shrugged.
"Doesn't bother me any. I ah... well, in past rendezvous, I've generally been the receiver. Something about me just... tends to attract... the giving type. Girls that enjoy worshipping my dick, and get off on the praise I give 'em while they're doing it."
She grimaced and looked away. His past affairs weren't a topic she was thrilled to hear him go into depth about. That other women had known him so intimately, had been the source of his orgasms, his mouth, his hands...
"Hey," he growled, fingers grasping her chin and forcing her face back to the mirror, back to his gaze. "None of that. This grizzly bear... why, he's found the perfect place to hibernate. He's not about to do something loony like stray from such a soft, warm den... one that welcomes his cock so damn eagerly."
She nodded, secretly pleased he made it a point to reassure her. It seemed that the insecurity once plaguing her wasn't altogether purged. It'd been lurking all along, awaiting this moment to rouse from slumber. Awaiting this... soulmanship.
I have so much more sympathy toward his jealous outbursts in Gotham. Granted, they could get a bit extreme, but he's a man of extremes. And... had to have felt strongly about me even then to be so vocal and honest about it.
"Reason I ah brought those gals up," he continued, releasing her chin, "is so you know what an elite club you're a part of... one no one else has the luxury of being in."
She was visibly confused.
"You're telling me they didn't get the privilege of you breaking into their apartment?"
He snorted into her neck.
"They could only be so lucky. You ah really underestimate how clingy girls have been of me in the past. Which is... kinda my fault. See, I like 'em a little fucked in the head. And maybe... a little lacking in self-esteem, depending on my mood. Makes them soooo eager to please."
She wasn't particularly impressed by his bragging, and would have mentioned as much if he didn't choose that exact moment to bite her shoulder.
"Ow!" she squeaked, hand shooting to the mark, only for Joker's hand to intercept the limb and bring it down to her side.
"You're getting me off track," he accused. "Now, where was I? Mm... elite club. Right. I ah never felt the need to go down on a girl. So much funner getting head than giving it. But you-."
"Hold on," she interrupted, eyes widening. "Are you telling me that was your first time?"
He didn't answer verbally, but rather with his direct, unblinking gaze.
"How? You-." She debated briefly whether to be truthful or not. "-I've um, I've watched porn where... oral sex is performed on women. And... geez, you could easily show the guys doing it, up ."
His chest puffed out against her.
"Now that's some praise I'll not soon be forgetting," he mumbled, grazing his nose against her pulse. "Funny you should mention porn, as that's been my primary... instructor . I'll have to make a monetary donation to all those filthy, filthy sites for teaching me how to satisfy my bunny."
Her stomach dropped at the pet name, and the accompanying fire in his eye.
That's actually... sweet of him. Studying and learning so he performs it right. Really, really sweet of him.
"I lov-."
She instantly bit her tongue, flabbergasted at what had been on the verge of coming out.
I... okay, we need to counteract right away. Think of the not so sweet moments. Moments where he behaves inhumanely. Cruelly. The opposite of everything I want in a partner.
"You what? " he followed up, watching her through narrowed lids.
"I... love," she redirected, "that you went through the trouble. That's very considerate of you."
"Considerate?" he repeated, hands dropping from her sides. "Sheesh, you really know how to kill the mood, don't ya?"
She gaped at him, blindsided by his shift in attitude.
"I- I wasn't trying to?" He took a step back from her. "I just wanted to express my gratitude."
Already, she missed his warm touch. Judging by the displeased expression he wore; she didn't think she'd be getting it back anytime soon.
"Next time," he suggested, "try not being so god damn sentimental. Nothing kills a boner faster than being told I'm... sweet, or... nice ."
His hands were flexing uncontrollably.
"It's worse," he went on, "because I know you actually believe it. Never forget, I was gonna kill you while you slept. More often than not, I regret that I didn't."
Her brows shot together. The man peering back at her was suddenly equipped with cold eyes and a crooked frown.
How in the HELL did we arrive here when minutes ago we were behaving like hormonal teenagers?
She wasn't sure how to respond.
It... seems like he's lashing out. He isn't happy knowing 'considerate' is a trait he's capable of embodying. And he is capable. In sexual ways and platonic. Maybe... he's not looked too far into how they can come off to me. And having my verbal acknowledgement... that he can care about someone other than himself... well, I can't imagine it's an enjoyable reminder.
Still... what does it help taking it out on me?
"No," she blurted.
His brows sank.
"No?"
She shook her head.
"No. I'm not the sort of person who's going to only tell you things you want to hear. Yesterday, I challenged you to see the duality in you. Whether you like it or not, you are capable of being considerate." He opened his mouth, but she continued before he could interrupt. "This doesn't make you weak, it doesn't magically make you a good person. It doesn't erase all of the atrocities you've committed. What it does mean is you're... complex. It means you're interesting. And I'd take that any day over someone who's boring, someone who's... predictable."
His expression faltered.
"But I'll keep that in mind. And do my best to refrain from killing any future boners."
He blinked. It was clear the conversation had swerved into a direction he hadn't anticipated. If she didn't know any better, she suspected he meant for his reminder of nearly killing her to hold more weight. To creep under her skin and slice into her nerves.
It is disturbing that he often regrets not doing it. But... setting aside my own discomfort, I... get it. In a way, I am both an addiction and a poison to him. Thus far, the addiction has won out. And... I think he knows that. And... he might be in this too deep to do anything about it. Well... I'd like to think so, anyway. I would hate to be around on the day he decides he wants to sober up.
"Give me a few minutes to put everything away," she said, gesturing to the cleaning supplies.
He accepted this dismissal wordlessly.
She watched him exit, and after he'd shut the door behind him, she slumped against the sink and exhaled deeply.
"God," she muttered, "it's like... one step forward, three steps back, two steps forward, five steps back. My feet need a rest."
Again, she had to question whether this was worth it. Yes, they were soulmates, and they had something exquisite, undeniable between them. She would even go so far as to admit that presently, she'd rather be nowhere else on this earth than here with him. Their chemistry – when cranked to its full capacity – was wildfire and adrenaline.
But... when would the whiplash lessen? When could she finally lower her guard for more than twenty-four hours? When could she be honest with him and not potentially face negative repercussions? She'd joked earlier in the day about their relationship being unhealthy, but it was hitting her now that it'd been a more serious quip than she realized. She couldn't imagine it was normal to feel like you were treading a field laced with landmines when with your partner?
It's... he's... damaged. Life was not as kind to him as it's been to me. It's... not fair to expect out of him someone he's not yet comfortable being. Or for him to be... well-versed in a healthy relationship. He's... made ground, but his journey is long. And... I can't abandon him when I promised I'd make that journey with him. I... need to be patient. The guy just ate me out, something he's never had the desire to do to anyone else. I'd say that's a milestone to celebrate. Put focus on the positives.
Sighing, she straightened up and nodded. There'd been the positive earlier too- him not losing his shit when she stood by her ideologies. And the unintentional bonding between him and Uncle Lu. He'd also made a genuine compliment to Aunt June on her cider. And went out of his way to reassure her she wasn't a burden to him. Yes, the steps were all over the place. Backwards, forwards, sideways, sometimes no progress at all, just stubbornly stationary.
But, as long as he was her partner, she was willing to dance that dance. As she'd concluded that faithful day he'd snuck into her car... if she didn't, who would?
Five minutes later and Celine was perusing the bathroom a final time, making sure everything was as it'd been when they first entered. At the last second, she ended up opening a window, hoping to air out the room of any lingering sweat and... body fluids.
We really did that. Is it bad that I kind of... want to tell someone? Maybe Layla... or Aunt Viv. The former probably wouldn't be able to keep it a secret, and the latter would see it as something to cheer on. Now... that would be a way to one-up Jack's past relationships. Mention the details of Aunt Viv's 50th birthday party.
It was a group that had consisted of herself, Lauren, Miranda (she'd made the flight home to celebrate her mom's birthday in person) and a couple of Aunt Viv's girlfriends. They'd crammed into a car and drove down to Portland for an all-day/overnight celebration. What had begun as a lazy day playing bingo at the casino ended at a venue around midnight where an all-male strip tease troupe was visiting.
So. Many. Bouncing. Dongs.
If Viviene wasn't an already taken woman, Celine suspected she'd have left that night with the number of the buff, older cowboy who seemed to delight in her squeals each time he'd lasso'd her with his rope.
Yeah, Jack might lose his shit if he knew I'd gone to that kind of event. Not that it did anything for me. If I'd been as drunk as everyone else, I'm sure it'd have been more exciting. I think I was more impressed with the dance numbers than the gradually vanishing clothes...
Upon opening the door, she jumped a little.
Joker was hovering directly outside of it.
"M', bout time," he grumbled. "Was starting to wonder if you'd drowned in the toilet."
"Wonder or hope?"
His lips twitched. He slowly unwound his crossed arms.
It seemed he was determined to pretend their most recent conversation hadn't happened; something she was more than willing to grant him. Barring that slip-up, they'd both been in good moods. Neither, it seemed, wanted a brief hiccup to muddle what had been a mutually pleasurable experience.
When they descended the stairs, she was delighted to note that Joker no longer felt the need to keep her blouse in a stranglehold. He still kept close to her, but gone was the anxiety of encountering her family. She'd given him something to be confident about, and he was riding that confidence like a surfer does a tidal wave.
"There you two are!"
Celine smiled sheepishly, re-entering the kitchen with Joker at her side. She was relieved to find Aunt Dolores the only occupant.
"Sorry we were gone so long. I... decided to show Jack around. I hope you didn't mind."
"Oh, not at all, dear." She was saran wrapping the latest dish she'd finished up. "Did you tell Jack about how much the attic spooked you as a child?"
Celine shifted in place, biting her lip.
"Um... no. It was so long ago, I-"
"Mm, do tell," Joker interjected, slipping an arm around her back. "Gotta know what to protect my soulbird from, after all."
If she could get away with elbowing him in the ribs without prompting a look of concern from her aunt, she would.
"Well, to be fair," Aunt D recounted with a laugh. "All you kids, with the exception of Eli, were terrified of the attic. Which, now that I think of it, was Marty's fault. He told you that story about seances allegedly being held up there by the previous owners, and how some of the spirits never left."
Joker smirked, tightening his arm around her.
"Spooky," he remarked. "Go on ."
"Well, one night, when Celine was maybe nine or ten, she went inside the house to use the bathroom. She was the only one in there, mind you. The rest of us were in the backyard by the fire. About ten minutes later, we hear her scream. It's the sort of scream that immediately raises every hair on your body. Nearly scared us half to death."
"Scared you to death?" she scoffed. "I was the one that almost had a heart attack."
Aunt D grinned at this.
"Of course, dear. I don't doubt it was more traumatic for you than it was us. Exempting Nora. I've never seen someone react so quickly. She was running into the house before you'd stopped screaming."
Celine smiled at this detail. It was one that tended to get neglected each time the story got retold. The aftermath of remembering it was bittersweet. Sweet because she had someone that loved her so much that they'd run into the unknown without thought, bitter because that someone was no longer around.
"Do you want to tell the rest, sweetheart?"
Exhaling, she relaxed into Joker's hold, not quite ready to meet the glee she knew she'd find in his face.
"First, I heard this deafening thump! like a dresser had been tipped over," she recalled, extending a finger. "Then... silence. I... god , it felt like I stood at the bottom of the stairs for an eternity, debating whether to investigate or not. I should've gone outside and had one of you come with me, but-."
She shook her head.
"I was thinking... if there was someone or something up there and they meant to do us harm, I'd rather face it alone than be responsible for someone else getting hurt too."
Joker stifled a grunt.
"Not much's changed, then."
She threw him a pointed look. He deflected with an arched brow.
For nearly a minute, they maintained eye contact, refusing to bow to the other.
Aunt D, thankfully, recognized the tension and chose to quell it.
"It was brave of her to face her fears like that. Reckless, maybe, but brave."
"Reckless," he decided.
"Brave," she returned.
"Agree to disagree!" Aunt D expressed with a clap of the hands. "This is a good lesson in compromise. Lord knows Lu and I wouldn't be married forty-two years without it."
She reluctantly tore her gaze from his and exhaled. It was silly to get caught up in whether he approved of a decision she made over two decades ago.
That's not the point, though. He's implying I'd still rather go it alone than let someone face it with me too.
Ultimately, she chose to let his comment slide. They'd already gone toe to toe on the back porch regarding her self-reliance. There didn't need to be a passive aggressive rehash of it right now, especially over what she hoped was just a sarcastic quip on his part.
Clearing her throat, she continued with the story.
"Before I went up there, I ended up grabbing Jimmy's aluminum bat from his room. Which, in hindsight, probably wouldn't have done much against a malevolent ghost." She laughed dryly. "Damn, Marty really did mess us all up."
"I'm certain that was the last time he was allowed to tell you ghost stories," Aunt D recalled. "Well, until you were adults anyway."
"I think you're right." She looked up at Joker. "Um, the thing with our attic is... there are no windows. Which means...it's insanely dark up there, especially at night. And you can't reach the light switch until you've gotten to the top of the stairs. It's... while I was fiddling around for the switch that I heard this... scratching . Like... something with sharp nails was scuttling across the floor. I panicked, my imagination got the best of me, I thought I felt someone breathe on my face, and uh... well, cue my horrified screaming, and then mom barging up there, ready to fight whatever had caused me to sound like I was on the verge of dying."
Joker tilted his head, lapping at a scar.
"So... was it a ghostie? Didja have to call Ghostbusters? "
"That'd make for a better story," she agreed with a half-smile. "But uh, no. That particular winter had a lot of ice storms and strong winds. They loosened up some of the structural support up there. I guess one of the beams had been rotting pretty badly, and chose that night to snap; half of it collapsing to the floor. AKA, noise number one. The scuttling around? Somehow an... owl had gotten in. The beam falling probably startled it into a frenzy. I guess I'm grateful it chose to freak out on the floor rather than flying into me in pitch blackness, talons extended."
Joker contemplated her story with a squint.
"You wanna know what I think?"
She shrugged.
"Sure."
"Mm, I think whatever was up there knew you were in the house alone, so it ah... gave the beam that extra push. When it heard your teensy little feet coming up the stairs to investigate, it was elated . The owl freaking out was an added bonus as it only spiked your fear, which it could sniff in the air. That's what you felt breathing on you. And the only reason it didn't getcha is cos mommy got to you just... in... time ."
Celine's face went pale.
"Why the fu-." She caught herself at the last second. "Why would you say that? That attic didn't stop terrifying me until I was in college ! And now you've... you've... re-opened that can of worms!"
Joker snickered loudly.
"You were right to be afraid," he continued, leaning over her with a devilish expression. "And you were right to bring a bat with ya... not that it'da done you any good ."
Her mouth opened and closed.
"Oh dear," Aunt D inserted, tossing a mildly queasy look upstairs. "Now, even I'm a little scared to go up there."
This got a hearty laugh out of Joker, who ended up releasing her to clutch his tummy.
"Ooo hoo hoo, hee hee -."
She was dearly tempted to gag him with a nearby rolling pin, but Aunt Viv's sudden arrival halted all such ambitions.
"We were just about to send a search party out," she exclaimed. "I'm not sure if Lu passed it along to you, but Gene and I have a birthday gift for you."
"He did mention it, yeah." All irritation at Joker's antics vanished. "Um, did you want me to come out or-?"
She shook her head.
"I'll bring it in. Everyone is... well, quite rambunctious right now. They're trying to meet your record with the longbow... no one's been successful yet."
Her gaze strayed to Joker, as if to offer justification on why they were unsuccessful. The man beside her merely smirked, politely saying nothing.
As Viv went back out to retrieve her gift, Aunt D spoke.
"Thirty-two... goodness, I remember when you were just two!" She shook her head, grinning at the memory. "What've you got in mind for thirty-two, dear? Hopefully something indulgent. With the year you've had, you've more than earned it."
Celine's smile disintegrated.
FUCK.
Her body went stiff. Internally, she was reeling like an out-of-control carousel.
So much has happened since I last spoke to Wesley. I nearly forgot what I agreed to.
Her family would love to hear that she was going on an excursion around the world. Like Bruce, they wanted her annual trip around the sun to be as special as possible. Hell, they'd probably be pestering her with suggestions the second she told them.
But... it was Joker's reaction she dreaded to see. This soulmanship between them had accelerated quickly, intensely, and in unforeseen ways. She simply wasn't sure how he'd handle her departing for three whole months, with one of his other former hostages, at that. The one... whose life she'd traded for her own.
I agreed to this, and there's no doubt I'm following through. Especially getting to sit in on a reading by the Dalai Lama. If that's not the universe aligning perfectly, I don't know what is. But... could Jack remain that patient? Would he be comfortable leaving me alone for so long with a guy that wasn't him? Even if I took the time to reassure that Wesley is like a younger brother and nothing more.
When nearly a minute passed of silence on her end, Celine straightened up and cleared her throat. She didn't have to look to her right to know Joker was staring intently at her.
"I- was actually thinking of going on a trip," she said carefully, which was partially true. "It's why I came home a month earlier than I normally do. Gotham... well, it's the first time since arriving to the city, that I've felt physically and mentally exhausted from living there."
"A trip is an excellent idea," Aunt D supported. "Where were you thinking of going?"
Celine bit her tongue. God, she didn't want to lie, but she was petrified of what consequences the truth would bring.
What if Jack leaves? What if he moves on to someone else? What if... he kills Wesley out of spite?
She stuttered out a breath.
"I... am not sure, honestly."
Viv chose that moment to re-enter the kitchen, saving Celine the headache of constructing another ambiguous response.
"We couldn't decide between the two, so we decided on both," she explained, handing her a large, glittery gift bag. "I hope you enjoy."
She smiled and took the bag.
"You guys didn't have to."
Viv shook her head.
"We really did. You've faced an ordeal no person should have to go through. I told Gene... this year, money and a card aren't good enough. We could've lost you. Consider this our appreciation that we didn't."
She felt a mix of the heartiest joy at her caring words, and the most unsettling guilt because the man responsible for said ordeal stood just to her side.
Joker shifted in place, gaze swerving to the hallway. He seemed content to ignore the proceedings.
That is, until she started opening the card taped to the side of the bag.
Celine smiled fondly at the cover of it.
Stargazing had been a near-nightly activity of hers when she'd been young, whether at Lu's or at home with her mom. They'd both taught her the constellations visible from their neck of the woods, and she was sure on her eighth Christmas she'd unwrapped one of those flimsy little telescopes you could find at Wal-Mart.
The damn thing had broken the first time she'd used it, and she'd been so upset that she'd tossed it into the ocean. That... had not been a fun admission to come clean about to her mom. She'd earned a solid three week grounding out of it.
The front of Viv's birthday card was a beautiful photographed print of the night sky. The colors were vibrant, the constellations recognizable, and the card thick; indicating it wasn't one of those under two-dollar one's people picked out at the last second.
She opened it, eyes honing in on a quote stenciled in a smooth, black cursive. It was attributed to someone she wasn't familiar with.
"What's it say?" Aunt D asked.
Celine licked her lips.
"We all walk in a land of dreams," she read. "For what are we but atoms and hope, a handful of stardust and sinew? We are weary travelers trying to find our way home on a road that never ends. Am I a part of your dream? Or are you but a part of mine? "
Right below the quote was Aunt Viv's flowery scrawl. She read this out loud too.
'In this dream, we are so blessed to know you. And love you so very much. Happy 32nd birthday, Celine. I hope this gift voucher helps with all that still needs healing.'
Her brows pinched together. She looked up at Viv with a bit of dew in her eyes.
"That's so sweet," she nearly whispered, swallowing tightly. "Thank you. I- appreciate how personalized this is."
Aunt Viv beamed.
"I realized in years past the card's always been an afterthought. This time around I wanted to celebrate the things I love most about you. You've always been a dreamer... I remember Nora saying the only limitations you'd encounter are the ones you imposed on yourself. And... I think she'd be proud to see all you've shaken off to achieve what you have."
Celine's gaze grew blurry. She swiped at her eyes, a little embarrassed at the heaviness of emotion striking her. But that was the reality of loss. Time might make the pain more bearable, but it could still hurt randomly, out of the blue, with the same intensity as the day it happened.
She blinked away the rest of the wetness and slid a thumb over her aunt's words; smiling as she reread them.
"Okay, okay, now open the voucher," Viv encouraged with clasped hands. "I did some researching online about what's available in and around Gotham. Hopefully, it's something you'll get the chance to utilize soon as you get back."
Celine obeyed, sliding the voucher out of a small, white envelope.
It read-
The Pampering People Spa & Resort
According to the address on the voucher, it was located in a wealthier district of Gotham. And the amount Aunt Viv had made it out for was-
"Holy shit," she gasped, looking up. "This is way too much to spend on me. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it. But this part of Gotham is so bad about inflating their rates, no matter the business. I can't-."
"You're going ."
It was Joker that grunted this, startling both of her aunts.
She glanced at him. He was staring down at the voucher.
"Know for a fact," he continued, dark gaze lifting to meet hers. "That this place is... non-refundable. Wouldn't be very nice to have your aunt break the bank, just for you to return her gift, would it?"
She couldn't believe she was being emotionally manipulated into accepting this voucher. Well, upon second thought, yes, she could. She just couldn't believe he was being so... public about it.
"How do you know it's non-refundable?"
His smirk was subtle.
"I'm familiar with their... veteran discount ."
She badly wanted him to elaborate. Was he making this up, or had he actually... gotten serviced there?
"Are they as good as they advertise themselves online?" Viv asked him.
His eyes found hers.
"Better," he assured. "Couldn't recommend enough the uh... scalp massage and mud bath. The staff are... mmm, very friendly. They weren't at first. But... we came to an understanding. I'll put in a good word so Cece gets the finest treatment available. And uh... if she doesn't, well, I'll just have to make my dissatisfaction... known to upper management."
It was disorienting listening to him relay all this, and realize that she and her aunts were having two different pictures painted for them. They were taking his words at face value whilst she was picking up on all the insinuations.
The staff weren't friendly, and now they are? An understanding was reached? He'll make his dissatisfaction known? That last one... something tells me that's not going to be leaving a one-star review online.
The idea of Joker enjoying a mud bath, however, was... a more intriguing scene to picture. Cucumbers over the eyes. Maybe headphones in the ears as he bopped along to his favorite rap mix...
She shook her head.
"I-."
He was right, it'd be disrespectful to turn down the gift. This was also an opportunity to work on letting others do things for her. At the very least, he'd stop harping on her inability to do so, so damn much.
"-thank you, Viv," she accepted. "I'll for sure use it. Truth be told, I've never been to a spa before, but um, I look forward to being pampered by The Pampering People. "
Viv clapped her hands.
"Oh goody, I was hoping you'd like it. Now onto the next!"
She closed the card, set it inside the gift bag, then worked on removing the sparkling white tissue wrap enveloping her next present.
Above her, Joker could no longer be bothered to hide his curiosity. He'd also taken to tapping his thumb against the base of her spine.
The first chance they got alone together; she was going to pester the hell out of him about whether he frequented spa resorts.
You would think something like that would make the front paper in Gotham. This man... he never ceases to amaze me.
Viv's gift was light in weight, but bulky; requiring quite a bit of tissue to cover whatever it was, up.
"Oh," Viv fretted, "this was Gene's idea and I couldn't talk him out of it and I just hope they're not too..."
She pulled away the last of the tissue to reveal-
"Oh my god."
She and Joker looked at each other at the same time. Her grin met his lopsided smirk. Their eyes basked in the same whirlpool of amusement.
In her hands was a pair of duck slippers. Literally, slippers in the shape of two puffy, robust mallards. The material was soft to the touch, and the bottom soles were the only section that was thick and coarse. Right behind the duck heads were two holes to sink her feet into.
Aunt D started to giggle while Aunt Viv watched on with her bottom lip caught between her teeth.
"I love them!" Celine squealed, setting the bag down and bringing the slippers up to her face. "They're so... silly. And my floor always gets cold during the winter months. They're perfect to wear around the apartment!"
Aunt Viv sighed with relief.
"Oh, I'm so glad!" She grew serious for a second. "Though, I advise you to be careful wearing them. Gene, well, he suspects they're... drug dealers."
Her brows furrowed. She examined her adorable, multi-colored mallards.
"He does?"
Her nod was hesitant.
"Yes. Allegedly-" She cupped the side of her mouth and lowered her voice to a hush. "-they've been trying to sell him quack ."
Celine snorted so loudly her nostrils ached. Beside her, Joker rolled his eyes. Though, his lips were twitching so badly it was hard to tell if he was still smirking or had finally given into the temptation of a smile.
"I'm sorry," Viv apologized. "He begged me to make that joke. He really is such a goof sometimes."
"He's just fine," she reassured, fighting off the mother of all chuckles. "This is all so- you guys did a great job. Seriously, thank you so, so much. I can guarantee I'll be getting the best use out of both gifts."
She stepped forward and pulled Viv's waiting form into a hug. They both laughed a little, Viv stroking her back.
"I meant it you know," she told Celine. "You're a born dreamer, and you didn't let the world steal that from you like it does so many others. Nora... would be proud of the young lady you've become. And... I can't help but think if she's still with us in spirit, then she was there with you in Gotham, making sure no harm came upon you. So... let this hug be... from the both of us."
She felt a pang at the back of her throat as Aunt Viv's arms tightened around her. Briefly, her eyes flew shut to keep back the tears seeking release. Upon opening them, her vision was clear, and her heart was full.
"Oh," Aunt D said, watching them both with a soft cock of the head, "is it asking too much that I might join in?"
They pulled back to look at her.
"Of course!" Viv expressed. "The more the merrier!'
Both women extended an arm to Aunt D and suddenly the trio was hugging it out in a family-style huddle. Giggles were released and Celine had a passing thought.
Maybe... maybe it's time to start considering... moving back home.
They were all startled when Joker gruffly cleared his throat.
Celine lowered an arm and peered his way.
"Where are our manners?" she said. "Did you want to get in on this? Always room for one more."
He made an expression that... wasn't particularly polite.
But it made no difference to the women. They all were equipped with instances of men in their own lives who weren't... open to expressing their more affectionate feelings. None of them took the slightest bit of offense to his reaction.
Something Joker was late to the party to realize.
When they all dis-embraced, he was studying them like science experiments. Celine could tell something wasn't quite adding up in his head, and she was concerned to see a frown return to his features.
Before it could be fully unleashed, his left hand slipped into his pocket. She knew it was the same pocket that held her underwear, and by the looks of it, he seemed to be stroking the material.
When his frown receded, she relaxed. His eyes found hers and he shot her a wink.
This time, he was the recipient of an eyeroll. A very slow one, as she really wanted to emphasize just how unimpressed she was.
He's never going to let me live it down. But... hey, if that's how he's keeping his emotions in check, more power to him... I guess. Argh...
Her inner monologue was interrupted by a series of loud bangs from the front of the house. Then, the screen door creaking open.
"Thees iz a 'ome envasion!" a man's voice yelled in a bad French accent. "Put ahl your baked goods inside oour stoma'chs and no one ges 'urt!"
There was a second of silence, and then-
"Reed!" Aunt D grinned in delight. "About dang time!"
The last of the guests had finally arrived, and now... now they could start having a proper family outing.
The quote inside Celine's birthday card is by author Libba Bray.
If you're wondering whether duck-shaped duck slippers exist, the answer is yes. I found a pair at a thrift store last summer, they're one of my favorite finds. I use them both for good (warming my feet) and evil (pretending to attack my cats, who end up smacking the shit out of them).
I badly want to put here a link so you can see a pair, but FF is awful about being able to post https links. I think I've faced this issue too with trying to link a photo of what Celine's beach house looked like. Over half the address just disappears.
So, if you're curious, just do an engine search of duck slippers and you should hopefully find the green/brown/yellow/gray ones I'm referring to in this story.
My last two brain cells uploaded this chapter. I'm in need of some sleep. I will be more coherent in the next note. As always, thank you for your support.