The week seemed to pass Willow by rather quickly, and as she looked back she wondered what she had been spending most of her time doing. Every night she went to work, and found herself rushing the hours by so she could get home and sleep. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stand to work with Britney, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could take Joey bothering her about dancing. He was desperate to the point where he even had asked Joker to talk about it to her. All she could do was shrug them both off. She'd dance when she was ready to.
At home she found herself eating a lot, secretly desperate to gain a little more weight back at least to the point where her clothes would fit better. She hadn't seen Loc the entire week, which made her happy; she could finally smoke in peace. But due to the TV being broke, she found herself in her room a ton, just laying in her bed, thinking while she played with her knife, listening to Joker's new habit of playing music from within his office. He seemed to play a little bit of everything, and Willow even recognized some of the songs as the ones that she discovered on that CD. She didn't understand why he was playing music all the time, but it seemed to keep him in more of a better mood in general, and it gave her something to listen to when she was stuck doing nothing.
Now she had just finished tying on her apron in her room for work. She sighed loudly as she ran her hands through her tangled hair, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her make-up was smeared slightly and her hair tangled every which way, and the long apron completely covered up her shorts and tank top, but she didn't care. She was already tired enough, and though she wasn't in the mood to deal with Britney, she felt she had gotten pretty good at ignoring her.
She walked out of her bedroom, staring at her feet as she went, and she failed to notice Joker waiting for her at the door. She looked up at him once she reached the door, and he grinned at her. She noticed he was wearing his usual purple trench coat, but instead wore a gray button down, un-tucked shirt and black dress pants.
"I've got nothing else to do," he said with a shrug, and Willow grinned slightly as she started out the door, Joker locking it behind him.
The club was bustling as always, and Willow already felt herself start to get a headache once she stepped inside. Joker looked around for a moment before he noticed Willow was already stepping behind the counter of the bar and he started over as well.
"You're late," Britney said as she glared at her, her hands on her hips. "And oh my God! After almost a month and you still come to work looking like a damn-"
She stopped short when she finally noticed Joker leaning against the bar, his arms folded on top of the counter. He grinned widely as he cocked his head to the side, staring intently into Britney's big eyes, the dim lights from above shadowing his face dramatically, causing the black rings around his eyes to appear larger and travel downward farther.
"Look like a damn what, exactly?" He asked in a growl. Britney's heart pounded against her chest as she stood there, frozen on the spot, unable to breath . Willow smiled slightly as she leaned against the shelves behind her, enjoying her nervous state that Joker could so easily bring on.
"Don't lie to me Britney," he said, still eerily growling. "I have a great talent of knowing when people are lying." He looked over to Willow and winked before he looked back over to Britney who was stuttering now. Butterflies started in Willow's stomach as she waited for Britney to answer.
"A-a stripper..." she finally answered quietly, and Willow rolled her eyes as Joker laughed.
"Well isn't that insulting..." Joker mumbled as he waved his hand in the air with a roll of his eyes. Britney continued to shudder as she stared at the Joker. Finally Willow stepped to the side and she grinned as she watched Britney quickly walk further into the club and disappear behind a stage for safety. Willow shook her head with a roll of her eyes as she turned to Joker.
"You're welcome," Joker said smartly as his grin widened.
"She wasn't bothering me," Willow said. "She always says shit like that."
"I can tell how annoyed you already are. I was just simply trying to do you a favor, but now that I see how ungrateful you are towards my kindness..."
Willow smiled again as she rolled her eyes, amazed at how easy it was for the Joker, when not even trying, to make her feel better. Just when she figured it was going to be an okay night, she spotted Joey making his way over towards them, and she couldn't help but sigh.
"Joseph!" Joker cried as he turned around to face his friend, and Joey rolled his eyes with a frown.
"It's 'Joey'man," he said. "You are not my mother so quit with that."
Joker laughed as he leaned his side on the counter, and Willow found it strange at how good of a mood Joker was in. She continued to dry the glass in her hands as she eyed both men, Joker grinning as Joey scowled.
"I'm so glad to see you both all happy again," Joey said in a rather rushed way, and Willow cocked an eyebrow as she set the glass down before she picked another one up. "Really, it's great. Willow I need you to go back to dancing." He sounded desperate and Willow's eyes widened as Joey slammed his hands on the counter and he leaned over them, his eyebrows raised. Joker smirked at him before he turned his head to her, his body still facing Joey.
"He's desperate, Willow," he said in that flat, clowny voice. "Help a guy out," he added and he grinned at Joey when he turned to face him, an even bigger scowl on his face.
"Man if you don't shut up, I swear..." Joey shook his head as he leaned back now. "Why are you in such a good mood?" Joey asked now, confusion in his voice. Joker shrugged as his answer, and Joey rolled his eyes as he turned back to Willow, his eyebrows raised again as he slightly tilted his head to the side, leaning over the counter. "Look, I'm not playin' girl! I need you start dancing."
"Why?" Willow asked as she picked up another glass to slowly dry it.
"I can't hear Britney complain anymore," he said. "And you're probably the worst bartender in Gotham right now, ya feel me?"
"Hey!" Willow said as her eyebrows met in the middle, and she felt like throwing the glass in her hands at Joker as he laughed at her, having the nerve to actually point at her as he did.
"It's true!" Joey said, his voice gruff. "As your boss, I'm telling you to go get naked on that stage right now!"
Willow's eyes widened even more as Joker continued to chuckle, shaking his head as he did.
"So professional, Joseph," Joker growled as he leaned off the counter. Joey turned back to him to point a finger in his direction.
"Man, you better-"
"I'm going, I'm going," Joker said as he held his glove-less hands up. He grinned at Willow before he headed towards the private area without another word. She watched him go, wondering where he was going when Joey's fingers snapping in her face caused her to exit her trance.
"Willow, please," he said now. "Jack says you got your titties re-pierced and everything. What's the damn hold up?"
Willow's jaw dropped as she stared at him. "I- I don't know," she stuttered. "I just... don't feel ready."
Joey rolled his eyes. "You're killing me," he said. "I mean it. If I hear one more person talking about your solo dances, I'm going to go on a murdering spree, ya feel me?"
"Yes," Willow sighed. "But Joey, I-"
"I don't wanna hear it," he said as he held his hand up. "I don't want to fire you from bartending, and I don't want to force you to do something you don't want, but you gotta understand my club comes first, ya dig? And as the owner I need to make sure I got the best of the best, all the way around. That includes bartending," he added flatly.
Willow sighed as she threw the cloth onto the counter. "Can I think about it?" She asked, mainly to just get him to go away. Joey sighed now as he shook his head.
"I need an answer by tomorrow," he said. "I dig ya Willow, especially since you're with Jack, and the fact that he hasn't killed you yet is a big deal, but like I said, the club comes first."
"Yup." Willow said in a very expressionless tone, and once Joey realized he wasn't going to get any further with her in this conversation, he shook his head once more before he stalked off back towards his office. He threw back the red curtain and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Joker standing right in front of him, admiring a painting on the wall. Joey cocked an eyebrow, getting slightly annoyed with the good mood Joker was in. While he wondered why the fuck Joker was staring up at the painting of wolves on the wall, his hands together behind his back, his head slightly cocked, Joey was in no mood to be mimicked by his friend.
"Don't you think this painting is truly symbolic, Joseph?" Joker asked, not bothering to look over to Joey. Joey mouthed the word 'what?' to himself as he furrowed his eyebrows, and he looked at the painting Joker was looking at. One wolf stood on a cliff in the top middle of the canvas, while another wolf was pictured running off, face-on, on the bottom left, his somewhat evil looking eyes glowing yellow.
"Man you need to talk to her about dancing," he said, ignoring Joker's question as he stepped over to him. Joker looked over to his friend as he crossed his arms in front of him now. "And stop acting weird!" He added as he now started towards the stairs. "That painting is not symbolic."
"What makes you think she'll listen to me?" Joker called after him a small smirk playing on his face as he now ignored Joey's remark.
"Man why wouldn't she listen to you?" Joey called back before he disappeared around the corner of the stairs. Joker grinned and shook his head, before he turned back to the painting.
–
The night didn't seem to move along fast enough for Willow. The club was ridiculously crowded and bar was swamped with men, shouting out drink orders. Britney seemed at ease, but Willow moved quickly with shaky hands, glancing up every now and again, hoping she'd see Joker and have an excuse to leave, her reason being that Joker had beckoned her over and she did not want to keep him waiting in fear of angering him. But she didn't see much of Joker, and she couldn't help the sloppy grin that always formed on her face when she did. For the three hours she was there, she'd only ever see him wandering about, looking at things that most other people probably didn't care to look at or notice, such as the wooden ceiling beams, the paintings and pictures, and at one point she even caught him studying the detail on the wallpaper. She wanted to know why, exactly, he was acting so strangely, but all she could do was shrug it off and accept there was no logical reason.
At one point she had caught him standing near the curtain of the private room, staring up at the stage next to it. Willow watched him, feeling slightly annoyed at how he seemed to watching the dancers there without blinking, his head cocked to the side as if profoundly studying them. Willow narrowed her eyes on him and looked over to the dancers; she knew she was better than them, and for a moment she actually felt somewhat jealous. This emotion only forced her to think about going back to dancing, but upon further thought, she was still convinced she had lost all of her 'talent', and instead she worried about how she was going to break the news to Joey the following night.
Around one in the morning Britney dismissed Willow, claiming she was only slowing her down. Willow didn't argue and instead put her apron away and met Joker in the TT.
Now Willow sat at the couch, still in her shorts and tank top. Her eyes were closed as she listened to Joker's blaring music from behind his office door, and she idly tapped her foot along to the guitar of the rock song. She yawned a moment later, and her eyes snapped open with a start when Joker's door suddenly opened. She leaned up and looked over the top of the couch and watched as he headed into the kitchen, humming along to the song. She listened as Joker got himself a glass of water, and he emerged out of the kitchen a short moment later.
"What are you telling Joey tomorrow?" He asked. His tone was back to normal. It no longer held that happy, clowny element, and was now deep and flat. Willow wanted to ask him what his deal had been earlier, but she decided against it. It had been rather amusing, and she had a feeling if she called him out on it, he would make it a goal to suppress his good moods when around her.
"I don't know," she answered. "Probably that I'm not going to dance."
"Why?" Joker asked after he had taken a sip from his glass. "What's holding you back?"
Why do you care? Willow wondered to herself as her eyes fell from Jokers, and she stared at his shoes for a moment. "I just... feel like I can't."
"I imagine it's not hard," Joker said. Willow sighed as she looked back up to him. It wasn't all fun and games either. Joker could see the slight anger in her eyes and he chuckled to himself. He could tell Willow was still passionate about it, and he knew she had once enjoyed it. Truthfully he would have liked to see her go back to dancing. Not only would Joey calm down and stop bothering him about it, but admittedly he had enjoyed watching her. "I bet you can't give me a successful lap dance to the next song that comes on," Joker bet as he pointed with his thumb behind him towards his office. A look of confusion washed over Willow's face as she slightly titled her head back.
"What?" She asked. Joker sighed.
"If you can't give me a good lap dance, right now, then I'll tell Joey to drop the issue, once and for all. But..." he went on to say as he took a step closer to Willow. His tone dropped and octave and he titled his head down slightly. "If you can, then you have to go back to stripping tomorrow."
Willow's breath hitched in her throat. She felt nervous, but at the same time a big part of her wanted to accept his challenge.
"Never mind," Joker suddenly said. "I bet you can't do it," he added smartly as he started towards his office now, the rock song coming to an end as he turned his back to her to head inside.
"No," Willow quickly said. Her heart raced and the room spun, but now it was too late to take it back. Joker stopped in his tracks and an evil smile crept onto his face. He had got her. He turned to her slowly now.
"I'll do it," Willow said as she stood up now, and Joker took a minute to eye her up and down. Willow noticed this and she cocked her hip to the side. "But we play by the club rules," she said sternly. "No touching. At all."
Joker raised his eye brows, exposing those wrinkles on his painted forehead, as he held his hands up, the glass of water still clutched in his left. "You drive a hard bargain," he said sarcastically with a smirk. "But I accept. Step into my office," he added with a hiss.
Willow swallowed as she followed into him into the room. She took a short moment to look around, but found it hard to pay attention to detail as she watched Joker start towards an armless, gray chair sitting against the wall by the stereo. It seemed as though she had finally realized what she had agreed to do, but she reminded herself she didn't have to take anything off. It was only a lap dance, a way to prove to herself and Joker that she still had it in her. She took a deep breath. She could do this.
Joker put his glass down on the floor in front of the stereo and grinned at her. "Ready?"
Willow nodded to him slowly, finally the last chord on the guitar had been struck, and she anticipated the song that was going to come on. With her luck, she knew it would be some odd reggae styled song that would harder to dance to. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass herself in front of the Joker. She gave very few lap dances at Line of Jewels, and the dances she gave at Midnight Misses were to rather slow songs. She thought back to the dance she had given him upon their first meeting. That had gone well, but then again she had no idea it was him.
But just as she had stepped over to where Joker sat, she instantly recognized the song that had come on as one of Joker's favorites by an artist who called himself Gorilla Zoe. She grinned to herself, thankful this song had chosen to come on, and she now felt somewhat confident. She knew the song's beat was to start after the rapping in the beginning, and she got herself in the zone, getting closer to Joker. Her heart pounded nervously, and she reminded herself it was best to just go all out. There was no way to ease herself into it. She was going to have to pretend there was no much thing as feeling awkward.
Joker stared expectantly up at her as he bit down on both his scars, parting his lips slightly, his eyes dark. His heart raced with anticipation, waiting for beat of the song to instantly start. His eyes roamed down Willow's body, slowly, until they bounced back up to her face. He released the scars from his teeth and stared directly in her green eyes, which seemed to suddenly burning with something he hadn't seen in them for a while: desire.
With the last words being said, Willow placed either of her legs over his, standing over him, and she flashed him a sexy grin before the bass line fell suddenly, and she plummeted deep into his lap, instantly moving her hips side to side to the bass. Joker's eye's widened slightly, and confessedly it took everything in him to keep his hands at his side, and he clutched the back legs of the chair.
Willow leaned off him some but kept her hips swinging dangerously close to his. She maintained eye contact with him, butterflies whirling in her stomach when Joker grinned at her. She stood suddenly and spun around to the beat before she lowered herself onto his lap completely, moving her hips back and forth as she dug her ass onto his crotch. Joker closed his eyes and tilted his head back before he looked back down, watching her ass as she danced.
Really feeling the music now and practically forgetting who she was dancing for, Willow turned around again. She looked down at him as she placed her hands on either side of the wall, spreading her legs as if she was about to get patted down for a search, and she dipped her back, bringing her boobs dangerously close to his face. Joker grinned as he bit his lip before Willow suddenly felt his cold tongue trace against her cleavage, and she couldn't help but groan slightly. About a short minute later she leaned off the wall, still looking at him as she parked herself into his lap again. She continued to move her hips, Joker noticed it was more to the drum beat now, and he watched her intently as she grabbed the bottom on her shirt, her arms forming an 'X' in front of her. She smirked as she peeled off her shirt and tossed it behind her, Joker's eyes instantly roaming down as he continued to try and keep his cool. She stood from him again and continued to grind her hips to the beat in front of him, teasing him, and she knew it was working. She knew Joker to be growling from within himself, waiting for her to sit back on him, and she knew if she didn't soon he'd probably break their rule and grab her. At least, that's what she hoped was going on with him.
She had no idea how right she was. Despite his best efforts, Joker's knee started to bounce as he watched her dance in front of him. His eyes came to stare at that black bra again, and all he wanted to do was cut it off of her. Every time she turned her ass was just barely peeking out from the bottom of those tight shorts, and it was starting to drive him a little crazy. His hand twitched slightly and he gripped the leg of the chair again, tighter than before. Willow hovered over him again, finally, and she placed her hands on the wall again for support as she brought her breasts close to his head again. She dipped down low and practically rubbed them against his face, repeating the action. She knew the last verse of the song to be starting, but she was sort of having fun with his.
So fun, in fact, she failed to notice Joker had slyly reached into his pocket to draw out his favorite knife with his left hand. He flicked it open, the music drowning out the sound. Willow's eyes had been closed all the while, and they opened with a start when she suddenly felt Joker place his hands on her hips, the blade cold against her skin. He wasn't playing by the 'club' rules anymore... He was making his own.
Willow's jaw dropped slightly as he pulled her back into his lap, forcing her even closer to him, and she repaid this by grinding herself into his crotch as hard and slowly as she could, the bass from the stereo vibrating the floor which in turn was vibrating the chair as well. Joker growled as he brought up his knife to her, Willow eying it somewhat nervously as she tired hard not to let it affect her dancing. She continued to grind into him, leaning back slightly so he had a better few of her body. She watched as he brought the knife up to her thin bra, and with ease he brought the blade up, slicing it right in half. Willow's heart pounded so hard she was sure it was about to break right through her chest, but she kept as calm as she could, and stared into his eyes as she brought the straps off her shoulders and she tossed it behind her.
Joker grinned as he placed his knife in his mouth, biting the blade between his teeth as clutched her hips again, staring at her freshly pierced nipples. He allowed Willow to stand and turn around for the final part of the song. She sat back on his lap and held her arms straight in front of her as she slowly and sensually moved her hips on him again to the base in tight circles, and she couldn't help the moan that escaped passed her when Joker's hands came to grab both her breasts from behind. She bit her lip as she continued work her hips on him, and she grinned as she bent her arms at the elbows, raising them up slightly. Joker grinned and laughed slightly from behind her, knife still between his teeth as he brought his hands down from her breasts back down her hips, his rough hands never leaving contact with her skin.
The song, which was ending now, was at Willow's favorite part, where the only word spoken and repeated was 'yeah', said in a deep almost raspy tone; it reminded her of Joker. She closed her eyes as she grinned to herself. Yeah, she thought to herself. She felt rather good suddenly, and much awake, and she found herself not wanting the song to end.
The song ended abruptly it seemed however, and Willow opened her eyes, somewhat frozen on the spot. She breathed deeply as she looked down, it seeming as though she had just woken from a dream that had come to life. She finally leaned off of him and turned as she stood up, feeling starting to come back to her body, and she finally realized how badly her nipples hurt and stung. She looked at Joker with wide eyes, finally noticing how he had placed his knife between his teeth. He removed it however and stood up; something didn't seem right. His head was bowed as he looked at her from under the ridge of his eyebrows. He felt hot, and could feel sweat building from beneath his shirt, and the room spun slightly. He was slightly angry, for he was not supposed to be having these sudden urges because of this, but he felt almost as if he couldn't control himself, especially if Willow was to continue being in the same room as him. Willow watched him as she crossed her arms in front of her, a way of trying to hide her exposed torso from him as he took a step closer to her. He grinned slightly before he licked his lips, and Willow waited for him to suddenly pounce on her angrily. She felt as if she was going to pass out as she waited anxiously for something to happen, and without realizing she took a step back. Had it been that bad?
"You better get out of here," he warned, his voice deep and raspy. Willow swallowed but she couldn't help but grin, finally realizing what was up. Joker raised his eyebrows as he looked at her. It was on the tip of his tongue to compliment her, tell her how unfortunately great that dance had been but he forced it back. Without a word, but still grinning slightly, Willow collected her clothes from the floor and started towards the door.
"And for the record," Joker said as he finally stood up straight now. "You start dancing, tomorrow," he said. Willow smiled widely; to her ears Joker had just told her she had obviously done a pretty good job. She eyed him one more time before she finally started out of his office, closing the door behind her.
–
Rain poured harshly onto the streets of Gotham the following night. The clouds covered the moon and stars, leaving the night darker than ever. Willow had just made her way to the back of the stage, leaving Joker to go wander around somewhere, and her heart pounded slightly as she walked through the narrow hallway. She couldn't help but smirk at all the girls that gawked at her in the dressing room, however, ignoring their hushed tones as they leaned in and pondered 'what is she doing back here?' Willow took it as encouragement as she went to pick out an outfit, bothering everyone even more by not looking at them or saying a word. She just merely smiled to herself as she went through one of the metal rack of the clothes.
A few moments later, just after Willow had slid on a white g-string, the door at the end of the long room was suddenly thrown open, and Willow heard clicking heels on the floor as dancers all moved to the side.
"You guys are killin' me!"
She turned upon recognizing Joey's voice and she watched as he somewhat angrily stalked into the room, all the girls pushed against the wall to let him through the narrow and hot space. Two other girls, however, were following him, a somewhat sad and frightened look on their faces. Willow held up the white and black bra she had chosen against herself as she full on faced Joey now. His head was down, his eyebrows furrowed, and he face slightly reddened. He held up a hand into the air before it came crashing back down at his side and he turned, looking at the two girls now.
"It's been two weeks since I've gotten your cut," he started. "Two weeks. Where is my money?"
Both of the girls cowered as as they stared up at him.
"Joey, we-"
"I know, I've heard it," he interrupted flatly, his voice gruff. "Look I was nice, okay? I let you keep all that you made so you could pay your rent, feed your little rat dogs, whatever. I'm done being nice. Give me my pay cut, or you can't dance here anymore, ya dig?"
Willow raised an eyebrow. Pay cut? Joey had never asked her to give her a cut of what she had made each night. Weird, she thought.
"Joey, p-please," they started. Joey growled and rolled his eyes as he started to turn around.
"Come up with the money by tomorrow or you're done. I swear it." Both of the girls instantly hurried away as the rest of the dancers in the room nervously stared at their boss, of sorts. The red in his face seemed to start to disappear, and he jumped slightly when he saw Willow standing in front of him. A small grin crept into both of their faces as Joey eyed her up and down, his eyes lingering on the bra she held against her self with her arm.
"Girl you serious?" He asked loudly as he finally stepped up to her. Willow's grin widened into a full on smile as she nodded. Joey smiled widely at her as well as he placed his hand on her back. "It's about time," he said. "Why the change of heart?"
"I, um..." Willow started. "Just, because." She laughed slightly.
"Jack have something to do with it?" Joey asked with a perverted grin. Willow blushed slightly and nodded as she look down, more than half of the girls rolling their eyes as they started back to what they had been doing.
"Well, whatever," Joey said as he removed his hand from her back. "It's about time. Nadine, take a break. Willow's taking your spot."
"What! Why?" She cried. It almost looked as though she was about to burst into tears. "Because Willow hasn't danced in a while, and I'd like her to get back into it, quickly," he explained. "Look, do this for me and I'll wave your cut for tonight, right?"
The girl looked down, and Willow could have sworn she heard her sniffle Seriously? Willow wondered to herself, and she rolled her eyes.
"A lot of you are seeming to forget I'm trying to run a business," Joey started as he started out. "It's a privilege for you all to be dancing here," he added.
"Hey, don't talk to us 'bout pay cuts and privileges," a black girl Willow knew as Whitney quickly spoke up as she waved her finger in front of her face, her lips pursed. Joey stopped and turned to face her. "Talk to the girls in dressin' room B. Some of the girls in there are getting' free drinks from Britney," she spat her name. Joey raised an eyebrow and Willow looked from Whitney to Joey.
"Why am I just hearing about this now?" Joey inquired with a sigh.
"We just found out about it the other night," Whitney said with a shrug.
"Who?" Joey asked.
"Me, Jessica, Jenae, Meg-"
"No, who's been getting the free drinks?" Joey asked with a roll of his eyes.
"Oh. Hannah, Alexa, and Jenny."
Willow couldn't help but grin slightly. She finally understood why Joey always seemed so rushed with his movements and why he spoke quickly and was always on the verge of yelling when he talked. It was all this stupid drama around his club. Willow rolled her eyes as she finally went to putting the bra on.
"I'll talk to them," Joey said with a sigh. "From now on ladies, I want to know everything that goes on around here the second someone knows about it, ya hear?"
"Yes, Joey," all the girls practically sang in unison, and Willow sighed loudly as she rolled her eyes. The strippers here were so pathetic. With another sigh Joey turned to leave the room, shaking his head as he went.
He saw Joker leaning against the bar, Britney pushed all the way to the corner diagonally from him as she somewhat nervously talked to some guy, trying to stay as from Joker as she could. Joker noticed Joey coming up and he grinned slightly.
"You hear the news?" He asked as he raised his eyebrows, exposing those wrinkles from under his smeared paint.
"Yeah I heard the news," Joey said. "I also hear that Britney has been giving out free drinks."
"Oooh," Joker said lowly and quietly as he widened his eyes and looked to Britney, his manner resembling that of a child making fun of someone who had just gotten called to the principals office. Britney's mouth was agape and her eyes wide as she stared at Joey as the random man quickly walked away. Joey rolled his eyes at his friend's childish ways before he sternly looked back to Britney. She nervously looked from Joey to Joker then back to Joey.
"W-what?" She asked in a small voice.
"Yeah, I heard," Joey said as he took a step up to the counter. "Tell me the truth." He crossed his arms as he stared at her.
Joker turned all the way around now and he slid his arms onto the bar, bent at the elbows, as he leaned over the counter, intently studying her face with her squinted eyes. She swallowed as she backed up and she looked up to Joey, trying to ignore the Joker. In a small state of panic that she was trying to keep under control, she nervously shifted her eyes to the left before she forced herself to look into Joey's dark eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She tugged her lips in the corners as she shut her mouth, and she stood up straight.
"She's lying, Joey," Joker declared easily, and he tilted his head up and to the side as he looked to his friend who was looking at him, his face emotionless before he looked back to Britney.
"Britney," he started. "I'm not in the mood to play games. In face, I hate games. Tell me the truth. Are you giving your friends free drinks?"
Britney swallowed again, wondering how she was going to get out of this one. She wondered if she could get off by making it seem as though it had been Willow.
"It was Willow!" She quickly said, making it seem as though all the pressure had spilled the truth from her. Joey widened his eyes slightly but Joker looked unfazed as he continued to stare at her. Joey was about to speak but Joker beat him to it.
"Willow?" Joker asked as he leaned up some, and he placed his elbow on the table as he pointed at her with his purple gloved hand. "You mean to tell us Willow, who doesn't know the difference between Gin and Vodka much less know how to properly mix them in a drink, was giving out free drinks? To girls that she hates?"
Joey nodded now, realizing what Joker had said made a lot of sense. Britney's mouth dropped as she looked back to Joey. She wished more than anything she could tell the Joker to butt out of it, but she knew that would be the death of her, quite literally.
"Britney, the truth. Now." Joey's eyebrows met in the middle, his eyebrow and lip ring glistening in the light. Britney continued to nervously stare at him, and Joey rolled his eyes. "I don't want to have to fire you girl, but you know the rules..." he started slowly.
"No!" She said.
"Just fire her," Joker said as he turned back around, and he placed his arms on the counter behind him as he went back to leaning on it.
"Man, shut up," Joey said as he looked to Joker, who merrily grinned up at him innocently. Joey growled as he looked away from his rather annoying friend. "Last chance, girl," he warned.
"Okay," she said, "I'm sorry. But it was only to three girls, and it was only beer!" She cried. Joey rolled his eyes as he placed his thumb and middle finger on his temple, closing his eyes. Joker looked over to him before he turned to look at Britney over his shoulder, a slight frown on his face. He leaned off the counter and stood at Joey's level now, his back to Britney, but he spoke loud enough purposely for her to hear.
"Want me to take care of her?" He asked as he leaned in towards Joey. "Out back?" He added as he held his hand to the side of his face as if to be quiet, and he raised his eyebrows. Britney's eyes widened and she looked as though she was about to freak out and cry. Joey rolled his eyes as he heavily sighed.
"Man! Why don't you go stare at a painting or something!" Joey yelled to him as Joker laughed out loudly in that traditional, high-pitched cackle.
"Strange, I was just about to do that!"
Joey glared at him heavily, no amusement on his face whatsoever. Joker continued to grin at him before he started away.
"Bye Britney," he said as he girlishly waggled his fingers at her. He laughed eerily before he turned around finally and he made his way towards the private area. Britney's heart raced faster that it ever had as tears formed in her eyes and she looked back to Joey, terror stricken.
"Calm down," Joey told her as he rolled his eyes, about ready to go be considered the hero who killed the Joker. "I won't let him do anything."
Britney seemed skeptical as she sniffled. "I'm sorry about the beer," she said in a small voice. Joker had certainly scared the truth from her. "I won't do it anymore.
"Make sure of it," Joey warned, and he instantly turned his back to her to go find Joker.
He wasn't in the private room, and Joey knew he had seen him go this way. With a slightly growl he looked up the stairs; he must be in his office. He started up the stairs and quickly opened his unlocked door and stepped inside.
"Jack?" He asked as he closed the door behind him. He walked further into his dimly lit office. "Jack?" He called again, but nothing stirred. He walked around the corner and stopped suddenly when he saw the door to Joker's old apartment was opened slightly, the orange light flooding out. He bit the inside of his lip ring as he started towards the door, and he gently pushed it open more. He looked to the right and saw Joker sitting on the bed, his back hunched as he looked down at something. His purple coat was laying on the bed next to him, and Joey noticed the stereo was on again. He slowly stepped inside and couldn't help but shudder slightly. He hated being in here.
Joker either didn't hear him come in or ignored him as Joey made his way over to him. He stopped by the stereo, looking down to the photograph Joker held in his hands, and he noticed a small, plastic contained was opened at Joker's feet, filled with pictures and old newspaper clippings. He looked back up to Joker's face before he cleared his throat.
"Hey, next time I gotta confront someone. Stay out it," Joey said, his tone softening the further he got in his sentence. Joker ignored him and continued to stare at the picture while Joey scowled at the stereo and the song that was playing. "What are you doing in here?" He finally asked.
Joker shrugged as he finally set the picture down beside him. Joey glanced down and saw it was a picture of a little boy and some slender woman with brown hair, her hand placed on the little boy's shoulder as they both stared into the camera. "Just lookin'," he said as he finally stood from the squeaky bed.
Joey nervously shifted his weight to the side after he had stepped back to let Joker through to the rest of the apartment. He looked over to all of Willow's borrowed clothes on the couch before he turned back to Joker, who was now at the random sink in the middle of the room.
"Hey man, if I knew it would bother you so much, I wouldn't have let Willow stay here."
"Hmm?" Joker asked as he turned to Joey. He had barely heard him. He was too busy dealing with all the memories in his head upon being in that very room. Literally everywhere he looked he could remember something significant, especially with that sink.
"I'm sure she's bothered you with a ton of questions," Joey went on.
"No, actually," Joker said. "She hasn't." Not that I'd answer. He finally turned all the way to Joey. "You didn't tell her anything, did you?"
"Nah, man," Joey said. "I mean, she knows what you did up here, but nothing else."
Joker nodded as a smile formed on his face. Joey, however, did not smile, and he remembered how confused and frightened he had been. He remembered Joker storming out of the club, and he remembered how he felt upon seeing all that blood on the floor...
"Did you really listen to this shit, man?" Joey asked now as he nodded to the stereo.
"Yeah," Joker said simply. Joey decided not to ask any further questions. Both men were silent, Joey leaning against the wall while Joker studied the knife in the sink. Finally, a good few minutes later, he picked the knife up and placed it back where it had been on the shelf in the medicine cabinet.
"We should probably head back down," Joey said. "Willow's probably done dancing."
Without a word Joker shut the cabinet. He picked up that picture from the bed, folded it, and placed it in his pants pocket before he picked up his coat. He started out of the room, and after Joey turned off the stereo again, he shut off the light and closed the door behind him, feeling as though a shower was needed to wash off the eerie feeling that clung to him.
As compared to the quiet apartment, the club was loud, the music blaring, as they entered the main part of the club. Joey saw Britney was busy making drinks, the bar crowded, and with a satisfied smirk he turned towards the stages. Joker had just turned as well when suddenly Willow came rushing over to them.
"Did you see my dance?" She asked both of the guys, practically out of breath. She had changed into a different outfit, this one completely cherry red now as she stared expectantly at both of the guys, her eyes wide.
"No," Joker answered. "Sorry, lovey, but we were upstairs."
"Doing what?" She asked, a saddened tone to her voice as her face fell.
"Stuff," Joker answered simply. Willow sighed as she slightly hunched her shoulders. She was slightly upset neither of them had watched her, especially after Joey had made it such a big deal and she figured after his lap dance, Joker would have liked to watch her strip. But she tried shrugging it off, knowing there would be many more opportunities. For the time being, she knew her dance had gone perfectly, and she was finally, after months and months, feeling pretty good about herself.
–
Willow had boredly just turned the page of her catalog, and she studied the add of shoes on the page as Joker emerged from his office. Willow paid no attention as she deemed all shoes, save for one pair, ugly on the page, and without a care in the word she tossed the page, studying the blouses now.
"Do you work tonight?" Joker asked as he came out of the kitchen. Willow sat up and turned towards him, and was just about to answer, but she stopped just as her lips parted. Joker stared at her, an eyebrow raised as he stared at Willow, who greatly resembled a prairie dog as she sat straight, listening. She set her catalog down and headed over to the window, listening to what sounded like a car rolling up. She knew that Loc and all the rest of the thugs were here, for she had just been outside by the all the cars smoking a Prime Time. She wondered who was coming. Once she reached the window she let out a sigh of relief when she saw Joey's black Camaro creeping its way up to the building. Her eyebrows met in the middle with confusion, however, and she wondered what he was doing there. The sun was just starting to set, and she wondered why he wasn't at the club.
Joker had come to stand behind her now as he looked out the window just in enough time to see Joey stopping his car behind the Audi, the red brake lights bright.
"Looks like we have a visitor," Joker said calmly. "I better go see what the occasion is." Willow watched him go out the door before she turned back to the window, and a few seconds later Joker appeared from out of the door. She watched as he headed over to Joey who was just starting to step out of his car. She watched them talk for a moment before Joey smiled and reached back into his car. He came out a second later holding a large paper bag that he gave to Joker before he reached for another one himself. She raised an eyebrow again as both men headed back towards the building, and she met them at the door.
"What's going on?" She asked, and she closed the door once Joey had made it inside.
"A celebration, apparently," Joker answered. Willow watched as they set the paper bags on the coffee table in the living room. Joey was quick to sit down and start taking out bottles upon bottles of liquor.
"Why?" Willow asked as she went into the living room now.
"For you," Joey said as he organized the bottles on the table now in some special order to him. "For goin' back to dancing!"
"Okay," Willow said slowly, a small grin appearing on her face. She was still confused and had a few more questions, but she figured it was best to just enjoy herself. Joker had been in a rather good mood lately, so she knew the best thing to do was just let loose and have fun. Still though, as she sat down in Joker's spot on the couch, she couldn't help but wonder how the night would eventually end up. She remembered what had happened the last time she had gotten drunk with both Joey and the Joker...
"You're in my spot, kiddo," Joker said as he came around the couch now. Willow looked up to him and was just about to protest when Joker sighed, irritated "Joey doesn't bite," he said. "Move it."
With a small pout Willow moved to the middle of the couch, Joey immediately looking to Joker.
"Tell me you got shot glasses," Joey asked, desperation in his smooth voice. Joker's eyebrows met in the middle.
"Why can't we drink from the bottle?" He asked. Willow rolled her eyes. Gross, she thought.
"Because," Joey said as he rolled his own eyes now. "We're taking a shot to celebrate. You don't just drink from the bottle. That's sloppy and stupid."
Joker rolled his eyes with a slight grin. "Willow, won't you be a dear and go fetch us three shot glasses?"
"Where are they?" She asked. She had never seen any in the kitchen before.
"Cabinet above the stove," he said. Willow stood from the couch and headed into the kitchen, and sure enough there was a shelf full of shot glasses. Only problem, however, was even on her tip-toes she couldn't even touch the tip of a glass. She brought herself back down with a huff. There was nothing else to do but climb for it.
Joey and Joker had been talking about something in the living room when a cabinet clanking caused them to both halt the topic and listen. Joker made a slightly confused face as he leaned his back on the back of the couch and he turned towards the kitchen.
"Willow?" He asked in that clowny voice. "What are you doing?"
Willow was too busy at the moment trying to carefully climb down the counter while holding three shot glasses. Finally she touched a foot to the floor, thus successfully completing her quest.
"Getting the glasses," she said as she emerged from the kitchen.
"What took so long?" Joker asked, though he didn't particularly care.
"I couldn't reach them," Willow said in a small voice as she set them down on the table. Joey laughed.
"Damn girl. Any shorter and you'd be the perfect high for... you know," he said with a wink. Willow thought about that for a moment before she rolled her eyes, noticing Joker's wide smile.
Joey went ahead with picking his favorite rum to drink first. Willow had sat back down in the middle and she watched as Joey poured it.
"Here's the deal," he said as he looked over to Willow and Joker's direction as he screwed the fancy lid back on the bottle. "Let's not be weird about this. Let's just drink and have a good time. I think it's safe to say we're all friends here. So lets just do it!"
Willow smiled while Joker grinned behind her, and Joey went about passing out the shot glasses.
"To doing it," Joker said stupidly as he held his glass out.
"To Willow' dancing, finally" Joey said with a wide grin.
"To... being out of Arkham," Willow said truthfully. They all clanked their glasses before downing the shot, kick starting the night ahead...
Willow wasn't sure how much Joey and Joker had consumed, but after four shots she was feeling pretty tipsy. She felt that all she could do was sit in her spot on the couch, where she had been the entire time, and just sloppily smile as she listened to Joey and Joker's conversation. She feared if she was to try and stand up, it would all hit her at once. Regardless of how she was feeling, Joey seemed to be in a great mood; he was full of smiles and laughed continuously, it seemed, while Joker seemed a little more calm, but also in a good mood. At some point during the night Joker had opened his office door and put on his stereo on a somewhat low level, but all Willow could hear at the moment was Joey and Joker's voices.
"So you're telling me," Joker said as he sat up a little. He leaned over, placing his elbow on his knee as he pointed a finger, very loosely, towards Joey. "You're not actually bald?"
Willow's smile widened as an odd sounding laugh escaped passed her. Her shoulder's bounced from her slouched position on the couch, her hands folded over her stomach. She closed her eyes, trying to stop laughing. What Joker had said wasn't very funny, she knew, but she had barely any control of her body.
Sitting on the loveseat on the same wall as the front door now, Joey sat up a little as he took another drink of his rum from his glass. "No I'm not really bald!" He said back, loudly, though he laughed.
"How old are you?" Joker asked randomly. Willow finally quieted down as she looked to Joey.
"I'm twenty seven," he answered. "I fuckin' shave my head, dick."
"Why?" Joker pondered on now, truly interested in this.
He's twenty seven?" Willow thought to herself.
"Because," Joey slurred. "Why not?"
"I didn't know you had hair." The conversation seemed to finally hit Willow, and she laughed more after realizing what she had just said. Joker looked over to her, a wide toothy grin spread on his lips as he watched her laugh, and he slid his eyeballs up to Joey who was grinning back at him. Joker was enjoying this.
"I'm not fuckin' sixty guys!" He said in his defense. "I choose to look this way, and I like it!"
"What color is your hair?" Joker went on to ask as he looked away from Willow and back to Joey fully.
"It's brown," he said. "What's yours?"
"Obviously it's green, Joseph," Joker said as he finished off what was left of his rum in his glass.
"No, I mean..." Joey went on to say, but he faded off suddenly in a fit of giggles.
Willow stared to laugh again, and sensing someone was staring at her, she turned towards Joker and found him grinning down at her.
"I think somebody needs another shot," he declared.
"I don't," Willow began to protest, but her laughing fit suggested otherwise.
"You do," Joker went on to say as he set his glass down. The room wobbled a bit as he leaned back towards Willow, and he slid an arm behind her back before gripped both of her hips. "And you're going to sit riiight here to do it," he added as he slid her onto his lap with ease. She giggled girlishly, wanting in her head to stop but she couldn't. Joker leaned over, reaching around her as he poured her a shot of clear rum rather than Joey's brand, and he leaned back, focusing hard on keeping a hold on the shot glass, waiting for her to take it. She stared at it, and her hand pivoted in the air slightly before she finally grabbed it. She stared at it further; it seemed like there was a lot in there...
"Do it!" Joey called as he leaned over, his glass nearly falling out of his hands as he stared at her, grinning widely. Willow's lips parted as Joker placed his hands on her hips again, as if helping her stay in balance, though he was slightly off himself, even just sitting there. Willow swallowed somewhat nervously before she placed the glass to her lips, and she swiftly brought her head back as she poured the bitter liquid into her mouth. She made a truly disgusted face as she swallowed, and her head shook violently as if to trying to rid the taste. Joey cheered while Joker laughed behind her. Dizziness washed over Willow quickly and she sloppily smiled again as she swayed slightly, feeling weightless.
Joker continued to grin behind her as he tightened his grip on her waist, and without warning he suddenly threw her off of him, tipping her to the side so she went rushing headfirst into her spot on the couch. Willow screamed as her head hit the cushions and she bounced backwards on the floor next to the coffee table. The room spun and she felt as if she was floating as she came to lay on the floor, laughing loudly up to the ceiling. Both Joey and Joker stared down at her, laughing to themselves as well as they watched poor Willow, who was completely unable to control herself at this point.
"What a lightweight," Joey said as he shook his head. Joker stood up now, and he wobbled a bit before he pushed his shirt sleeves up and started around the coffee table towards Willow. Joey continued to stare down at Willow, and once Joker had made it to her he leaned down and placed his hands under her arms and hoisted her up, her body loose. She had completely become a puppet in his hands, and he wondered what he should do with her.
She continued to laugh, her eyes closed her Joker held her up. Her head fell back and she opened her eyes to stare at Joker. He stared down at her upside down face, unable to help but grin. Her face features seemed really prominent from this angle; her could really make out her cheekbones and sharp jawline and chin, and her shaped lips. Her eyes seemed wider, the green in them brighter and he chuckled slightly as her grin grew even wider, baring her white teeth. He pushed her head against his chest to make her head go forward again before he lifted her a little higher so she was fully on her feet now.
"Willow," Joker started, his voice high and clowny. "How are you feeling?"
"Fuckin... drunk!" She said loudly before she went into a fit of laughter again. Joker grinned as he looked over to Joey, who was grinning back as he leaned over, his elbows on his legs as his hands loosely hung down in between them, his back hunched.
"Why don't you dance for us, sugar-tits?" Joker asked as he looked back down to her.
"No!" Willow cried. She had understood what he said, and she really didn't want to, she couldn't, but she couldn't help but continue to smile and laugh. Joker giggled as he adjusted his grip on her, his legs nearly threatening to give out as he closed his eyes tightly, laughing so hard now there was suddenly no sound coming out except for little gasps of breath. Joey closed his eyes to laugh as he leaned back now.
"No?" Joker asked now, trying to calm down. "Why not?"
"No!" Willow said again.
"I think you want to," he said. "I want you to."
Willow bit her lip as she tried to stop laughing, but it felt as though her jaw was too heavy and her lip slipped out of her teeth's grasp as her jaw hung open. Joker leaned her against himself again, holding her up with his arms as his fingers found the bottom of her small shirt, and he lifted it up, adjusting her body on his again as he somehow managed to lift the whole shirt from her body and throw to the ground in front of them.
"Ugh!" Willow started once she felt the cool air on her torso and she finally opened her eyes. "Dammit," she continued as she glanced down to her white bra, only to laugh again a second later when Joker turned her to face Joey now, the room whooshing by her. Joey looked back up to them from where he leaned back on the couch, laughing as Joker had now gripped her wrists, and he hummed to the song that played as he moved Willow's arms, stepping side to side as he made her 'dance'. His humming to the song was interrupted every now and again by his loud giggles as he went all about the room now, swaying Willow's arms side to side, resembling that of a tipsy hula-dancer. Willow continued to smile and giggle herself, feeling dizzier than ever as she was swung all around the room until finally Joker stopped abruptly, and he let Willow fall to the floor. He was unable to help the sickening feeling from his stomach that was now crawling up his throat, and without a word he quickly started his room, tripping over his feet.
Willow rolled onto her back and sat up, holding her head as she continued to smile, trying to calm down her laughs. Joker was suddenly gone and she grew confused when she glanced over to Joey, who was now draped over the arm of the couch from his sitting position, his eyes closed. Willow frowned slightly, though her lips continued to tug at the corners. Grabbing the messy coffee table for support, she stood up, her legs wobbling. She looked at her bedroom door, and she knew it was her goal to get to her bed. She focused hard on moving passed the living room to get to it, holding onto every large object she could as she made her way towards it.
A good five minutes later she finally reached the wall by her door, and she leaned against it, sliding slowly towards her door, still slightly laughing at how incredibly hard it was for her to do such a simple task. She finally reached the door, and after struggling to turn the handle, she pushed the it open, the knob hitting the wall loudly and she sloppily walked over to her bed. Her legs finally gave out and she landed on her bed with a grunt, bouncing up and down slightly. She continued to laugh as she struggled to roll onto her back and she laid her head on her pillow before she finally turned to her side, and it seemed within seconds all went silent.
AN: sort of a light, happy chapter :) I enjoyed writing it and hopefully you all enjoyed reading it, lemme know with your reviews! Thank you all who enjoy this story, and who added it to their alerts and favorites, and ESPECIALLY to those of you who review! :) My world revolves around them (as does the next chapter ;) )
And by the way, for those of you who asked and who may be wondering, Harley Quinn will NOT be making an appearance in this story. Sorry :)