With a small groan Willow turned from her back onto her stomach the following morning. Face down, she breathed out into her pillow, and groaned again when she felt a headache coming on. She lifted her head and took a deep breath before she turned onto her side to face her open door. Memories of the night came rushing back, and she wondered if Joey was still on the couch. Glancing over to the clock, she noticed it was just about eleven in the morning. She groaned once more to herself as she forced herself up, wondering if Joker had any aspirin.
After putting a shirt on she stepped into the hall, the living room seeming ridiculously bright, and through squinted eyes she could make out Joey's figure sprawled out onto the couch. She rubbed her eyes and blinked rapidly for a short moment until she finally felt like she could stand being in the light. She smiled slightly as she looked back at Joey, who was on his back, his legs and arms spread open, one hand dangling off the couch while his right foot was rested on the floor. She looked to her left and noticed Joker's door was wide open, and while it was tempting to look inside, she thought better of it and headed towards the kitchen.
With no luck finding an aspirin for her head, she settled on getting a glass of water. As she sipped it she stepped back into the living room, raising an eyebrow at the slight mess. Joey had finally dropped his glass, and she noticed the drink had stained the carpet. She took another sip from her glass; she knew Joker was not going to like that. Among a few other things on the floor, the couch cushions had been pulled away from the back of the couch and the pillows all laid on the floor. She remembered what had happened, she just couldn't remember making that much of a mess.
She finished her water and had just headed back into the kitchen to get more when she heard loud pounding on the front door. She jumped, frozen on the spot, and her heart racing as the pounding continued. She quickly made her way into the living room just as Joey started stirring on the couch at the noise. She sucked in a nervous breath as she looked out the peephole and she grew confused when she saw it was Loc. He looked incredibly rushed and angry, his face was red and he gritted his teeth as he pounded on the door again. Joey had managed to sit up now just as Willow opened the door.
"Wolf's Bulldozing company is here!" He quickly said before Willow could even speak.
"What?" Willow said. She had never felt so confused.
"A fucking bulldozing company is here!" Loc yelled again. "Go tell the Joker! Now!"
With wide eyes Willow shut the door on him and instantly heard him running back down the stairs.
"What's going on?" Joey asked, his voice very rough and deep, but Willow ignored him and instead ran up to the window. Her eyes widened more than ever and she felt her heart stop when she saw a truck that read 'Wolf's Bulldozing Co.' on the side traveling up the long dirt path.
"Oh, shit," she heard Joey mumble behind her upon seeing the truck, but she paid no attention to him and instead took off towards Joker's room, having no time to be nervous about waking him up. He couldn't be mad at her since this was incredibly important.
She rushed into his room and went right up to the side of the bed.
"Joker," she said loudly over him. He grunted a little as he he started to turn into his pillow, hiding his ridiculously smeared face. "Joker!" She said again louder as she leaned over him. She heard him growl now, and she jumped back after she had said his name one more time.
"What is it Willow!" He barked at her.
"A bulldozing company is here," she said, deciding not to take his rudeness to heart at a time like this.
"A what?" He asked now as he looked up to her. His hair was ruffled in every direction and his chin and lips had been completely exposed, the red and white make up all over his pillow.
"A bulldozing company!" She said louder. She had never seen Joker move to fast. It seemed in the blink of an eye he was out of bed and already rummaging around for something in his closet.
"Go get Joey up," he said.
"He is-"
"Go!" He yelled at her. Heart pounding with anxiety, Willow rushed out of his room and back into the living room.
Joey was still sitting on the couch when Willow rushed up to the window just in enough time to see the truck had come to a stop behind all the cars. Willow swallowed and jumped again when she heard Joker behind her. She leaned over and glanced out the window.
"We need to take them out," Joker ordered with finality as he started towards the door. "Willow!" He called, and once she turned around she jumped when Joker tossed her a handgun. She gasped as she caught it and was just about to protest, but Joker was already staring out the door. In a panic she quickly handed it to Joey, who had just stood up and she instantly started towards her room. Without a word Joey started out the door and paused at the top of the stairs when he saw Joker, who was pressed up against Loc's door as he held the gun at his side, cocked and ready to be fired. Joey cocked his own gun and prepared to shoot who ever came through the door.
There seemed to be an unspoken plan that both Joey and Joker seemed to know. Once the door opened and a man stepped inside, Joey took aim at his chest and fired two shots, Joker starting out the door directly afterward to quickly kill the man who had started to run, scared, back to the truck.
Willow had been her room putting all of her clothes back in her bag she had kept under her bed, and she jumped when she heard those two loud gun shots, two more being fired off from outside. She had just tossed her knife into the bag and had just zipped it up when she heard both Joey and Joker come back inside.
"Willow!" Joker shouted, and she appeared at her door, feeling small and useless. "Take everything I give you at the door and put it into the black SUV," he said as he tossed her the keys. Without a word she turned quickly and grabbed her bag before she rushed down the stairs. Her stomach dropped when she saw a man in a pool of blood laying at the door, and she tried hard not to breath as she stepped around him to head outside, only to gasp a second after upon seeing the second dead guy. With shaking hands she quickly unlocked the car and opened the back, tossing her bag in. She put the keys in her small pocket and started back towards the building and rushed up the stairs, only for Joey to instantly hand her another heavy bag.
Her and Joey moved as fast as they could, carrying what ever Joker deemed important to the SUV. Once they both went upstairs for the last time Joker was quickly walking around, his head looking side to side quickly, making sure he had gotten everything important.
"Where are we going?" Willow asked as she headed towards the table by the kitchen, glancing around herself. Joker was just about to speak when Joey beat him to it.
"Just go to my house," he said in a panic. He was not going to stay there any longer, for he knew his career would be in jeopardy if he did.
Without a word Joker started out of the apartment, Joey right behind him.
"Willow let's go!" Joker shouted. She felt as though she couldn't breath as she glanced at the table, an idea coming to mind. Despite Joker's command she quickly grabbed a newspaper and opened it up as she stepped into the kitchen. She turned all the gas burners on high, the small flames all coming to life on all four burners, and she placed a corner of the newspaper in the flame. She quickly threw the rest of the paper on top of the stove, the flames instantly igniting some of it and she ran out of the apartment.
She stepped outside, noticing first that the white SUV was gone before she noticed Joker's angered face. He held his hand out and quickly waggled his fingers as Joey started the engine to his own car. Willow quickly threw him the keys to the truck while another set of keys landed at her feet.
"Drive the Audi," he told her. "Stay close," he added before he disappeared around the truck, instantly starting it before he even shut the door. Willow bit her lip and had just unlocked the car when Joey had started off down the dirt path, Joker instantly turning to follow. Her hands were shaking so bad she had an incredibly hard time putting the key in the ignition, and by the time she had finally started the car Joey and Joker were already turning onto the main road. The last thing she needed was to be left behind...
She quickly swung the car around, the engine roaring as she sped down the path, turning in the direction they had. She sped down the road and was just pushing eighty when she finally caught up to them. She breathed in and out slowly, trying to calm herself down as she followed behind Joker's SUV, Joey leading the parade in front.
Willow had a pretty hard time keeping up as they drove through the city. With quick, sharp turns, rapid changing lanes and speeding though yellow lights just turned red as to not get separated, Willow felt completely exhausted. Nothing could explain how relieved she felt, however, once they seemed to turn onto a road that seemed to lead out of the business of the city. They followed the two lane only road, in their line, and Willow wondered where Joey lived. She had no idea how far they were from the club.
A good ten to fifteen minutes later Willow followed the pair as they turned into a neighborhood, and her jaw dropped. She couldn't help but gawk at all the houses; they were huge! She was sure they were one square foot away from being mansions. She was too busy looking up at a giant blue house she failed to notice that Joker had come to a stop. She slammed on her breaks, her eyes wide, until she finally noticed they were stopped in front of a big, light tan house with blue and black trim. She watched as Joey drove up the long driveway, pulling into a three car driveway. She swallowed somewhat nervously as she now followed Joker up the driveway as Joey opened another separate garage detached from the house at the side. Joker pulled inside on the left which left Willow room on the right. Joey was standing behind Willow's car now as she got out, and she handed Joker the keys when he held out his hand for them. It was quiet for a moment before Joey finally spoke up.
"I'll show you the house," he said as he raised his eyebrows, and he turned around instantly to head over to the main garage. Before they went through the door, he hit two buttons on the side, closing all the garage doors before he pushed the thick, wooden door open. Willow's eyes went wide with wonder as they stepped inside the house; it was positively huge. She looked all around her, taking in the light wooden floors, the high ceiling and skylights, and the fancy front door. Joker's eyebrows were raised as he looked around. He nodded as he looked to Joey.
"I'm impressed, Joseph," he said with a smirk. Joey ignored him and instead continued through the massive entryway and they followed him to the kitchen. Willow was too busy staring with awe at the light wood cabinets and granite counters and the living room just in front of the kitchen she didn't even hear Joey talking.
"... the original design for the kitchen was shit, man," he said as he looked to Joker, who was nodding, pretending to be interested when in reality he knew there was more important things than kitchen designs. "So I told the builders 'no, I don't want that. I mean it was all out of whack, man. The room didn't flow, if you know what I mean, right?"
"So, then what happened?" Joker asked passively a moment later as he stepped further into the kitchen behind Willow. Joey either didn't pick up on his tone or ignored it as he went on.
"I paid them extra to do it my way. I think it came out good." He placed his hands on his hips and nodded.
"Yes, yes it did," Joker went on to say somewhat sarcastically as he now stepped next to Willow. "Willow, don't you agree?"
She jumped when she felt Joker place his bare hand on the small of her back and she looked to him with wide eyes.
"What?" She asked in a small voice.
"Me and Joseph were discussing how lovely his kitchen looks. It's all his design you know," Joker went on to add as he slid his arm around her shoulders. He turned Willow and himself to face Joey. "You know what, why don't you tell her. You can tell the story much better than I can."
"Man, fuck you," Joey said as he shook his head, Joker laughing now as he closed his eyes, shaking his own head as he took his arm away from Willow. She frowned up at Joker before she turned synthetically to Joey.
"I think it's beautiful," she said honestly.
"Why thank you, Willow," Joey said as he now started back to the entryway. "At least someone knows how to pretend to be polite."
"They don't call me the Joker for 'nothin," he said in his defense with a wide grin. Willow rolled her eyes as she followed Joey towards the stairs in front of the front door. He stopped before them and pointed at the staircase that led down to the basement.
"I'm currently finishing the basement," he said. "It's a fuckin' mess down there," he added before he started up the stairs. Once at the top Willow noticed four white doors directly in front of them in the wide hallway.
"That's my room," he said, pointing to the door closest to them. "That's the bathroom, a closet, and the guest bedroom," he added, his voice getting quieter it seemed. They followed him to it and he pushed the door open, revealing a large bedroom with a big, king sized bed with a white comforter and blue pillows "You guys can stay in here," he said. "There's only one guest bed..."
"Interesting," Joker said as he peeked his head in through the door. Willow stepped inside the room, looking around as she slowly spun around.
"How long are you planning on staying here?" Joey asked quietly now to Joker. The weight of what he had finally done had hit him once they stepped inside the house, now that the hectic emotions of the morning were starting to leave him. He had invited the most wanted man alive to stay at his house and he felt like he was starting to regret it. Next to him, Joker shrugged.
"How long are we welcome?" He asked back. Joey shrugged now and Joker smirked.
"I guess for as long as you need," Joey said, the nice guy inside him wanting to help his friend out. Joker could tell his statement sounded forced. "Just... don't do anything stupid."
"Oh, believe me Joey," Joker said as he looked to him, grinning slightly. "The last thing I would want to do it make life hard for you."
Joey glared at him a moment before a grin cracked his face and he looked back to Willow. "You like it?"
"Yeah," Willow said. "I've never been in a house this big."
"Shocking," Joker said sarcastically before he turned to head back down the stairs. Willow watched him go before she turned back to Joey, a somewhat large frown on her face.
"You sure you wanna share a room with that guy?" He asked as he stepped into the room, pointing a thumb behind him. Willow sighed.
"Do I have a choice?" She asked. "I don't think he's the kind of guy to shun to the couch," she added with a mumble, and Joey laughed.
"Probably not," he said. "Sorry babe."
"It's fine," Willow said with a smile.
–
After a receiving a tour of the rest of the house (which included where the main level bathroom was, his in-home office, the laundry room and a few trivia facts about the massive living room/den) Willow was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a Pepsi while Joey sat in the living room, eating a bag of chips. Joker had borrowed Joey's office to call Rocco to find out where they had gone. Willow had just finished the rest of the can when Joker came out of the office, walking back out of the hall that was next to the living room.
"Well they're at some friend's of Loc's way the hell downtown," Joker said as he paused in the middle of the living room, and he stared at Willow before he turned to Joey once he started to speaking.
"Did you tell them where you were?" He asked, his eyes wide. Joker grinned, his eyes going wide.
"Yes, Joey, I did," he said. "They're my boys, they gotta know that I'm currently residing at 15585 Fountain Springs Drive. Now they're free to invite the rest of their thug buddies to ruin your house and kill you."
Joey was glaring at him.
"I'm not appreciating your sarcasm, ya feel me? My house, my rules."
"Oh yes of course Joseph. What ever you say." Joker smiled widely at him, baring those teeth and dimples, and Willow couldn't help but laugh slightly. Joker looked over to her and started towards the kitchen.
"Willow can appreciate a good joke," Joker said as he continued to look down at her, and like a predator stalking its pray he circled around the table before he leaned on it with his hands, his eyes never breaking contact with hers. Willow's heart pounded, but she tried to keep herself calm and instead just grinned up at him.
"Yeah? She can also appreciate a good kitchen design," Joey said as he popped a chip into his mouth. "It's called being polite, asshole."
"Really?" Joker said as that grin came back. "Not in this case, buddy," he said as he finally leaned off the table and turned to go into the living room. Willow watched him for a minute, unable to wipe that grin off her face. She was enjoying the positive, joking energy going on. She was suddenly staying in a nice, clean, giant house where there seemed to be no tension. She found it odd: at one point in her life she had gone from miserable to scared, and now suddenly, with living with the Joker and his friend, for the first time she felt happy, and dare she even say safe.
"Won't you come join us?" Joker's voice broke her thoughts, and she stood from the table. She threw away the can before she went into the living room and sat down on the couch next to Joker when he nodded to the side. She was still in her clothes from the previous night, they all were, actually, and all she wanted to do was take a shower. But she figured she might as well relax and watch what ever action movie was on the TV.
A short moment later a dog parking in the distance snapped her out of her daze, and she looked to Joey when it kept going on.
"What's that?" She asked as he started off the couch, rolling up the chip bag.
"Arlo," he answered simply. She watched as he started towards the entryway while Joker growled deeply next to her and she turned around to look up to him.
"A dog," he said as he rolled his eyes. Willow was just about to ask him what the problem was when suddenly she heard running up the stairs before a big, tan pitbull rounded around the couch and stomped right up to her. Her eyes went wide and Joker couldn't help but grin when he felt her scoot further into the couch and closer to him. The dog growled slightly as it sniffed her feet before he moved up to her ankles. Finally the growling ceased and it started to wag its tail as he now looked up to her before he went on to sniff Joker's leg. He considered kicking it away from himself, but Joey's voice interrupted.
"That's Arlo," he said as he came back into the living room. "He's a pussy, he won't bite you."
Willow looked skeptically over to Joey as Joker glared at the dog. Joey laughed.
"You don't like dogs?" He asked. Joker shook his head as he looked up to glare at Joey as if saying get this dog away from me.
"Arlo! C'mere," Joey said as he pointed to the floor, and the dog instantly scamper over to him before he sat right down, panting as Joey pet him. "Don't tell me you're a cat person."
Joker felt like strangling him for even thinking it. "No," he said as he crossed his ankle on his knee. "I'm more of a... reptile person, if you know what I mean," he said with a grin.
Joey rolled his eyes.
"Why is his name Arlo?" Willow asked, unable to help but smile at how clumsy the dog was.
"Long story short," Joey said. "I didn't know what to name him when I first got him, and when this chick asked what his name was I said 'I don't know' and she thought I said 'Arlo'."
Willow laughed slightly. "Who was the girl?"
Joey shrugged. "I don't know. Don't care."
Willow rolled her eyes as she sat back now, looking back to the TV.
About an hour passed, and around five when the sun started to go down Joker and Joey stood up in unison. Confused, she looked up to both of them.
"Where are you going?" She asked them, but Joey didn't answer and instead started out of the living room, leaving Joker to explain.
"Downstairs," he answered. "Stay here with... Annie, or who ever."
"Arlo," Willow said as she glared up at him. Joker growled as he rolled his eyes and he followed Joey downstairs. Willow sighed, wondering why she couldn't go, but she figured it best to obey Joker, especially since she'd be sharing a bed with him every night, which was nerve racking in itself. She motioned for the dog to come over, and once he reached her he sat down before her on the couch, placing his giant paw on the couch once she started to pet his head.
Downstairs, Joker stopped in the middle of the giant, unfinished room while Joey took a few steps in further.
"Yeah man," he was continuing on. "Plan was to have it done by last Summer. But..."
Joker nodded as he looked around, taking in the concrete floors, the sawdust all over, the giant beams of wood and unpainted walls. He looked down to his left and noticed a hallway with three doors.
"What's down there?" He asked, jabbing his thumb in the direction.
"Another bedroom. A bathroom and... closet, thing. I don't know."
Joker nodded again as he pushed his shirt sleeves up. "This is an awful big project to tackle on your own Joseph," Joker said.
"Man you are not gonna keep calling me that, ya dig? And I know. I don't know what I was thinking." He waited a short moment before speaking up. "Wanna help me finish it?"
Joker took in a deep breath in from his nose as he puffed out his chest before he quickly slouched back down. "I don't know," he said. "What's in it for me?"
"It'll be your way of paying me back," Joey said with a grin. Joker considered it for a moment, tilting his head to the side in thought. He looked over slightly to his right and noticed an unfinished bar area right next to the sliding glass door. "If I help you, I get this whole basement for as long as we're here."
"Deal," Joey said reaching out his hand with a grin. Joker grinned back and shook it.
"You want a cigar?" Joey asked now. Joker answered him by starting toward the sliding glass door, leaving Joey to grab the cigars.
A few moments later Joey took his first puff from it while Joker looked out into the backyard. They stood on a large concrete patio, complete with patio furniture, right under the large wooden deck.
"So, look Jack, I'm a pretty greedy guy, I'll be the first to admit it, but I don't have a problem with helping out a friend."
Joker looked over to him as he blew out a large cloud of smoke into the air, and he raised his eyebrows curiously, waiting for him to go on.
"All I ask is don't... blow your cover, ya feel me? I worked hard to get to where I am, to get out of my fuckin' brother's shadow. And you have the potential to... ruin that, ya dig?"
"I dig," Joker said sarcastically as he took another puff from his cigar.
Upstairs Willow had finally grown frustrated and she stood up from the couch. Arlo watched her go, and once she rounded the corner, he laid down on the floor, letting out a huge sigh.
Willow ventured down the stairs slowly, listening to the voices that seemed far away. She heard the faint voice of Joey and she slowly peered into the basement. The room was cold, the floor dirty and messy, and she debated walking in with bare feet. But the muffled voices had gotten louder, and she was curious. She stepped on the cold, concrete floor and passed a large beam that reached from ceiling to floor, she saw Joey and Joker standing outside, smoking cigars.
"...and try to keep Willow, you know, under control," Joey was going on. Willow scrunched her eyebrows as she continued to listen in. "It seems like she doesn't... think sometimes."
Willow's mouth dropped upon hearing this. What was he talking about? Her heart pounded nervously as she waited, hoping Joker would come to her defense. She watched as he shifted his weight to his right foot, looking down for a moment before he looked back up.
"I know what you mean," he said, his voice low and quiet, almost as if he knew she was listening.
"Yeah, like I can't have the neighbors spotting her. She ran away from Arkham's program you know. Any person could recognize her"
"I know," Joker said with a grin. He couldn't help it. Joey sighed.
"Just, you know. Stay in the house," Joey finished now. "Keep Willow under control. And stop calling me Joseph."
"Yes sir," Joker said sarcastically. With a final huff Willow turned around and quickly started up the stairs, wondering what Joey meant by 'she doesn't think sometimes'. She figured she'd ask Joker later.
Once the sun had gone down, and after Willow had helped Joker and Joey carry all their things inside, Joker was in the guest bedroom, organizing all his various weapons on one side of the sliding door closet while Willow finished up in the shower. She paused next to the door, wrapped in her blue towel as she stared at her reflection in the fogged mirror. She was always free to dress in the comfort of her own room. Now she was sharing a room, a bed with Joker every night. Once upon a time she would have been fine with this, but now, things were a little different.
She sighed, figuring she could quickly grab some clothes and go back to the bathroom. Her hair dripped onto her back as she she opened the door, and she instantly rounded the small area of wall to enter the bedroom door located right next to the bathroom. She glanced over at Joker, who was sitting at the foot of the bed, running a smooth, black cloth over a knife. He glanced up at her with only his eyes as he raised an eyebrow. She expected him to lose interest and go back to polishing the blade but he kept his eyes firmly on her, turning his head when she now stood on what she figured would be her side of the bed.
"Where's my bag?" She asked.
Joker nodded his head towards the closet, and with a sigh she walked passed him and to the closet, sliding it to the left. Her bag sat on the floor, and she bent down, rummaging through it to find clothes to wear, only to end up making piles of what was dirty and what could be considered clean. Joker continued to watch her as she now stood back up, an arm full of clothes, and she started back towards the door.
"Ah, ah," he said, and she slowly turned around. "This is your room as well. Change in here."
Willow swallowed nervously and bit her lip in frustration as her face fell into a frown. Joker smirked at her as she made her way back to her side of the bed, and she stood behind him next to the end table. With a small chuckle Joker sat back further on the bed as he turned his body to face her.
"Nice try," he commented and Willow rolled her eyes; if she could get naked in front of random men, then she could get naked in front of Joker. She let her towel fall to the floor. Joker grinned as he let his eyes exploit her body before he looked back up to her.
"Joey's house is nice, don't you think?" He asked casually as Willow put her tank top on.
"Yeah," she said. She reached to the floor to pick up her underwear. "What were you and Joey talking about downstairs?" She blurted out. Joker's eyebrows raised as his grin fell. She felt her stomach fall as she watched him set the knife and cloth down on the bed before he stood with a growl, and he took a step over to her.
"I had a feeling you were listening," he said as he stood directly in front of her. Willow's eyes were wide, and she couldn't help but the small grin that slid on to her face. Joker didn't seem mad...
"You're not the... stealthiest person around," he went on as he smirked again. He glanced down to her smooth, naked legs before he looked back up to her.
"What did he mean I don't think sometimes?" She asked, her tone slightly angry. Joker laughed, which only seemed to make her even more mad.
"He was laying down the law," he started, his voice a higher tone than normal. "And he's concerned about you." This was partly the truth. Willow raised an eyebrow.
"Why me?" She asked, and was just about to go on when Joker interrupted her.
"Remember Loc's little girlfriend?" He asked. "Hmm?"
Willow instantly though back to her, and her eyebrows furrowed in the middle.
"I killed her because I was trying to keep her from finding out-"
"And while that's very appreciated," he started sarcastically. "You've given yourself quite the reputation of not being able to control yourself." He nodded with finality as Willow reflected back on his words.
"That's not true!" She squealed as she took a step back. "I can control myself!"
"Perfect example," Joker said as he pointed to her. "Any angrier and I'm almost positive you would have thrown something. Look back to Loc," he observed. "You can never keep calm around him."
"Well that's because-"
"You have an excuse for everything," Joker said as he took another step towards her. "Take a deep breath, and calm down. I mean it," he warned. Willow glared up at him as she took a deep breath, purposely puffing out her chest and she widened her eyes sarcastically as she blew it out. Joker grinned at this.
"Think before you act," he said. Willow continued to glare at him. She did, she knew she did. She wasn't about to argue about it any more with him, so she merely nodded, pretending to take his advice. She knew she was stupid, and she always thought before she acted... didn't she?
"Oh and by the way," he started as he tilted his head to the side. "When I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it."
Willow's lips parted and Joker could see confusion all over her face.
"The gun?" He asked. "I handed it to you for you to use, not for you to give to Joey. At times like that, and as you know there are plenty, the way it works is for you to listen to me. And not run into your room to pack your things. Your clothes are not a priority."
Willow closed her mouth and gritted her teeth, and Joker noticed her jaw clench tight.
"I was trying to be prepared," she started. "I didn't want to be..."
"Be... what?" Joker asked after she had paused.
"Left behind again," she said as she looked down, crossing her arms in front of her. Joker frowned as he looked down at her, her body just inches from his. He placed his finger under her chin and tilted her head up.
"We talked about that," he said, his voice low. He wasn't about to repeat the talk they had once had; he knew Willow remembered all of it. "I wasn't going to leave you," he said honestly. Willow bit her tongue as she looked up to him, and a cold shiver ran down her back when she realized that she actually believed him.
"Okay?" He asked as he looked into her eyes. She finally nodded as she uncrossed her arms.
"Go to bed," he said, and before he could give a reason he suddenly turned and left the room, rounding the corner to enter the bathroom. Willow finished putting her shorts on as she heard the shower running. She sighed as she started out of the room, and she ventured downstairs to enter the giant kitchen. Arlo was still laying on the floor, Willow noticed, as she walked up to the fridge. She grabbed herself another Pepsi and opened the can just as Joey appeared in the hallway across from the kitchen. She wanted to call him out on his accusation, but decided it was best not to, and to be honest she was still feeling lightheaded due to her and Joker's conversation.
"Jack in the shower?" He asked as he leaned against the counter before the entrance of the kitchen, and he pulled out a stool to sit down.
"Yeah," Willow said as she walked up to the other end of the counter. Joey rolled his eyes.
"I've never had roommates," he growled and Willow couldn't help but grin. "I mean I lived with my brother, once, but I wouldn't consider him a roommate. More like an annoyance," he added lowly.
"You're house is amazing," Willow said. Joey turned back to her with a grin.
"Yeah, I'm one impressive mother fucker, wouldn't you say?"
Willow rolled her eyes. "I guess so," she said with a grin of her own. "Be nice if you had two guest beds though," she joked, and Joey laughed.
"Yeah," he said. "Dude's weird."
"Doesn't it like, scare you?" She asked. "To have The Joker here?"
"Nah," Joey said with a shrug. "He's not Joker to me. He's Jack. I knew him well before he pulled off this shit, and if you ask me it's stupid," he went on today. "Dude never liked clowns, ya feel me? And I've only ever played cards with him once."
Willow laughed, nearly chocking on her drink. "Why?"
"'Cause he fuckin' acted like he couldn't play the game, right? And at the last minute, bam! He took me for all I got, you know after I was feeling cocky n' shit. That' was my fuckin' rent and grocery money."
Willow continued to laugh, so easily being able to picture that.
"To me he's still my friend, with a killing a problem. As long as he keeps his shit under control around here, we'll all be cool."
Willow's smile faded as she nodded. It was silent for a minute before Joey slapped his hand down onto the counter.
"Well I'm going to bed," he said. "Till then."
"Night," Willow said as she watched him head toward the stairs, but he didn't respond, and quietly climbed them. A second later she heard his door shut, and after she finished her Pepsi she headed back to the guest room as well.
It seemed as though Joker was still in the bathroom, and Willow yawned as she pulled back the white comforter and black sheets on the bed before she turned off the light next to her. She wasn't sure why sleepiness washed over her so quickly, and she yawned again as she laid down. The bed was surprisingly very comfortable, the only problem, however, was the moonlight that shone directly through the big window, bare of any curtains. She frowned as she looked out the window to the rustling, dying tree directly out of it, the leaves and thin branches casting eerie shadows into the room. She had just closed her eyes, trying to ignore the light, when she heard the door open behind her. She felt her body stiffen and she held her breath as she listened to Joker make his way inside. He walked up to the bed and she heard him drop what she assumed was a towel to the ground as he climbed into the bed. He looked over to the window, frowning slightly as he scooted down to put his head on the pillow, and he turned around, his back to Willow.
She swallowed nervously, her body nearly hanging off the edge of the bed, and she wondered vaguely if he had any clothes on. Her mind wandered away from that and she pictured his face without his make-up. She had rarely ever seen his bare features, and she couldn't help but have the biggest urge to turn around and look at him in the moonlight. But she stayed still. She bent her legs at the knees and wasn't surprised that she didn't feel him next to her.
On the other side of the bed, Joker stared at the shadows on the closet. He felt Willow move beside him, and he knew she was as far as she could go on her side of the bed as well. He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the craving he had to feel her smooth, soft skin against his; he felt as though just by thinking about it so intently he couldalready feel it. He growled to himself, not only at the need to satisfy his craving, but at how stupid they were being. This is ridiculous, he thought sourly to himself. He instantly turned around to face her while scooting away from the edge at the same time.
Willow froze again when she felt him turn around, and she quickly locked her legs back straight when she felt him hit her feet. She could feel his body heat behind her, and she wondered how much closer to her he had moved. She continued to stare out of the window. She knew if she wanted to see his face, now was her chance.
With every ounce of courage, and energy she had, she forced herself to turn around, Joker's face now just a few inches from hers. His eyes were closed, and he looked so peaceful, so normal as she let her eyes roam over his face. Her eyes lingered on his only exposed scar, the one that perfectly curved upward, before she moved on look at his nose and exposed eyebrow. It was as if Joker could feel her staring at him and he instantly opened his exposed eye and he narrowed it on her.
"What?" He growled sleepily at her, sending Willow's heart into a frenzy, but she grinned nonetheless.
"Nothing," she said, and she instantly closed her own eyes as she titled her head downward slightly, bringing her knees up to her chest.
"This uh... arrangement isn't going to be a problem, is it?" Joker asked, and Willow opened her eyes again to look up at him.
"No," she said in a small voice, her heart pounding all the while with no sign of stopping. Joker remained looking at her, he could feel how close she had moved her legs to him, but he continued to hold himself back.
"Good," he finally said. "It's gonna have to be." He turned around again, wondering why he had even bothered in the first place.
Willow rolled her eyes behind him before she finally closed her eyes again, hoping sleep would take over her quickly.
–
The next morning the first thing Willow did was venture into the kitchen. The sun blaring into the window was way to annoying and had kept her awake for over an hour, and after her failed attempt to fall back asleep, she finally exited the room. Joker wasn't in bed and he wasn't in the living room or kitchen, and she wondered where he had gone. She hesitated as she looked into the fridge, unsure if Joey would appreciate her going through his food and using his pots and pans. She sighed; she just couldn't bring herself to use his things without asking. She had just turned around to exit the kitchen when Joey suddenly walked passed, on his way to his office.
"Hey," Willow said. He instantly turned around and he raised his eyebrows. It seemed he was in a bit of a hurry. Damn, Willow thought. Does he ever relax?
"Can I make something to eat?" She asked as she pointed behind her to the stove.
"Of course," Joey said. "It's easier if you find everything yourself."
"Okay," she said. "Hey where did Joker go?" She quickly asked before he could turn around again.
"Said something about a new truck," he said. "He just got home."
"Oh, okay," Willow said. "Thanks."
Without a word Joey proceeded down the hall and he rounded the corner, a door closing a moment after.
Willow turned around and opened up the fridge again, and she glanced up. She noticed a carton of eggs, a large jug of ice tea, milk, boxes filled with cans of soda and some Tupperware bowls. She sighed as she pulled open the large, flat drawer on the bottom. It was filled with lunch meats and cheeses, and she made a face when her eyes fell on a box of yogurt. She picked it up, two containers left. She didn't recognize the brand name, and she continued to make a sour face, wondering why Joey ate it in the first place. She let out a snort of laughter, however, when she turned the package upside down, and she read the words 'Hungry Girl Approved'. She shook her head and was just about to set the package down when Joker entering the kitchen caused her to quickly turn around.
"What's so funny?" He asked as he made his way over to her. He was wearing his normal purple attire, and Willow couldn't help but to secretly take in the scent of his cologne.
"Joey's yogurt is 'hungry girl approved'," she laughed between her teeth. Joker couldn't help but grin as he rolled his eyes, and he turned to look out the kitchen window, and he growled when he saw Arlo running around the backyard. Willow finished up her laughing fit and she finally put the yogurt away, deciding she'd settle on making some scrambled eggs.
"Do you want anything?" She asked Joker. He turned to her, an eyebrow raised.
"No," he answered simply, going to the fridge himself now for a glass of milk.
"Where'd you go?" Willow asked now just as Joey came back out of his office, holding a phone in his hand.
"Got a new car," Joker said as he poured the glass of milk.
"Why?" Willow asked with a frown, but Joker didn't answer her and instead turned his attention to Joey.
"You gotta do something about that dog, man," he said after he took a sip. Joey grinned at him. "I'm being serious. That thing would not leave me alone this morning. I swear, I'll kill it."
Willow gasped as she turned away from the melting butter on the stove.
"No!" She cried. Both men looked over to her, and Joker rolled his eyes while Joey continued to grin.
"You are not gonna kill my god, bro," he said. "If you do, I'll kill you."
Joker laughed loudly at this. "I'd like to see you try, Joseph."
"Man, what did I say abou-" The house phone ringing interrupted Joey, and he sighed as he looked at the caller ID. "You've got to be kidding me..." he mumbled before he pushed the button. "What?"
Willow raised an eyebrow, wondering who had just called as she poured the beaten eggs into the pan. Joker leaned on the counter/table as he watched Joey pace back and forth.
"Here?" He asked. "When? Y-you can;t. Because Dan I said so! Why? Because it's my fucking house!"
Joey angrily turned off the phone and slammed it down on the counter.
"Who's Dan?" Joker asked casually, not bothering to take a minute to think that maybe Joey didn't want to talk about it.
"My brother," he spat.
"And what did big brother want?" Joker pushed on as he grinned at Joey. Joey glared at him before he turned to the living room. He picked up the remote and put the TV on.
"He's coming to town," he said. "He wants to stop by."
"How lovely," Joker growled, and Willow rolled her eyes, the eggs finally finished. She put the pan in the sink as she covered the eggs in ketchup, and she brought her plate over to the counter. She pulled out one of the stools and sat down, Joker scowling down at her plate.
"Does somebody have a ketchup problem?" He asked as he rolled his eyes up to look into hers.
"It's not a problem," she said as she took a bite. "I love ketchup. When I was little I used to eat it by the bowl full..."
Joker was just about to comment on that when Joey speaking up interrupted him.
"Whoa," he said. "Guys check this out."
Both Willow and Joker looked to the TV, and Willow's breath hitched in her throat at the images on the TV. Joker raised an eyebrow, confused. The land that the old apartment once sat on was now completely barren, the building they once lived in now a giant black mound. Willow's mouth was dropped open, and Joker looked over to her before he looked back to the TV.
"Apparently it was a gas related fire," Joey said. "They predict it started from a stove."
"That's odd," Joker said. Willow turned to him, a small frown on her face. "You look incredibly guilty," Joker noticed. "Why?"
"I, um..." she stuttered over her words. "I started it," she finally said. "Only so no one would know who was staying there though," she quickly added. "I thought-"
"Shhh," Joker said as he slowly waved his hand in front of her face. He laughed a moment later. "You did that? Little stripper Willow, who apparently can't think before she acts," he glanced up at Joey, "thought to do that?"
She bit her lip as she nodded, unsure if Joker was upset or not. While she had thought to protect their secret, she hadn't thought about the fact that there might have been things there that he still needed...
"We'll, I'm impressed," he said as he nodded. "You're lucky I made sure to leave nothing important there, but I'm impressed," he repeated as he raised his eyebrows again.
To this Willow smiled as she continued to look at him.
"Well good thinkin' girl," Joey said as he stood up from the couch, and he rounded the dark brown furniture to stand in front of the counter again, next to Willow. "No one's gonna think anyone was-"
The phone ringing on the counter in front of him cut him off again, and he growled as he picked it up.
"I'll talk to him," Joker offered happily as Joey started walking away.
"You're hilarious," Joey called back.
"Hey, am I working tonight?" Willow asked him.
"Yeah," Joey answered. Willow turned back around and found Joker staring at her, and she paused before she could take a bite. "What?"
"You'll love me for this, but I'm inviting Loc and the boys to tag along tonight."
"Why?" Willow whined as she dropped her fork onto the plate, it clattering against it loudly and echoing through out the kitchen. Joker grinned.
"I need to go over things with them."
"Why does it have to be there?" She continued, and Joker grinning at her only frustrated her more.
"Because," Joker said. "It's a good meeting place."
Willow rolled her eyes as she now stood from the stool, and she picked up her cold plate.
"And I'll be sure to pick a table right in front," he added with a smirk as he watched her stomp over to the sink.
"I'm sure you will," she said, no humor in her voice at all. She angrily threw the faucet on and rinsed her plate. She could feel Joker staring at her, but she ignored him as best as she could.
"Well when you're done acting like a brat come outside and see my new ride," Joker said stupidly. Willow rolled her eyes, and she didn't turn off the water until she heard the front door close.
a/n: hope you enjoyed the 'change of pace' guys :) but for real, we're slackin with the reviews homies. got some puuurty tight and sexy things about to happen... so leave me some good reviews if you want 'em! :) thanks for all the continued support!