I swear the results in the poll made me go "Eek!" lmao.

Spoilers from Joker no Kuni no Alice will be in here, kinda sorta maybe

-.-.-.-

Child's Play

"Black-chan, play with me!" Alice begged the warden as she pranced down the aisles of jail cells that contained faceless prisoners.

The low sound of her fair bare feet hitting the pavement below managed to fill their ears and those that were still in their right state of mind found their breathing hitching in surprise at her sudden appearance.

Black Joker's face contorted massively right as he carelessly threw the faceless that he once held by the collar, back into his cell. Quickly, while biting his tongue, he slammed the metal cell shut and only turned around to face the little girl after hearing satisfying click noise that signaled the cell block was definitely locked.

The foreigner stood on her tippy toes, a bright beam on her face that practically seemed to match the polka dot pajamas she was adorned in.

He hoped she hadn't witnessed too much of the scene he had put on display earlier.

It was far too early to end the game that was set up.

Much to his relief, Alice didn't appear the least bit disturbed and instead she flashed a toothy grin while she waved the peach colored stuffed rabbit that was in one of her hands around in the air cheerfully, "I want to play house!" She declared in a sing-song type of way.

Audibly, he heard the prisoners down the corridor all begin to whisper if they weren't already laughing maniacally from their loss of sanity.

His eyebrow furrowed in annoyance and he could only hope none of the pitiful scum started begging Alice for help from their captivity. However, she remained entirely oblivious, her wide teal eyes simply watching up at him as though he were the only thing in her world.

That didn't do anything to ease his irritation as he glared down at her, "White and I told you don't come to this part of the prison. Why are you here?"

Innocently she smiled up at him, "White-kun is running a show right now! I was bored and lonely so I wanted to play with you!"

With how sweetly it was said, the prison warden couldn't help but bite back a growl.

Truth be told, she really did look so cute and helpless, more so than she did when she was normal and it was amazing what your actions could do to change your physical appearance.

"No. Now get the hell out of here." He bluntly instructed, one of his hands rose and he pointed down the hall, "Go back to your little area and wait for White."

Alice didn't appear at all prepared for his harsh response and she froze for a moment, her mouth's smile slowly slipped into that of a frown, an action that admittedly made the redhead stiffen up.

His mind immediately began chanting for her to not cry because he honestly had no idea how he was supposed to deal with a crying girl and Alice slowly raised her stuffed rabbit to cover a majority of her face.

The brunette's blue eyes shifted downward miserably and the sight of tears welling up in the corner of them became apparent much to the Joker's horror, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to make you mad at me… I just really wanted to play with you…" Her voice came out like a whimper and a slight crack in her tone was heard toward the end of her sentence, a fact that made the darker Joker evidently a bit blue in the face.

"Do not cry or I swear—"

His words came to an instant halt as tears began streaming from Alice's eyes fluidly and the little girl gave a sniff while she clutched onto her stuffed animal tighter than before.

"Fuck, stop it!" Joker demanded, the desperation in his voice was clear because he really had no idea how he was meant to handle her like this. His face grew increasingly exasperated as his hands went out as though to grab at her shoulders but for some reason, he knew the action would be awkward so he stilled himself halfway, "Don't cry!" He repeated once more.

Alice shook her head, "But Black-chan hates me…" She wept out sorrowfully.

Reaching the end of his limit, Joker gave a groan while glared down at her, "Okay, fine damn it! I'll play with you! Just stop the water works!" He ordered fiercely.

The little girl brightened up instantly, the tears in her eyes ceasing to flow while she looked up at him with a smile, "Yay! I'll be waiting!"

With her declaration, the little girl turned on her heel and began to sprint back from the direction she had arrived.

From the moment that the brunette disappeared down the halls, the inmates all began murmuring in unison.

Hushed and low, the redhead could only make out certain words that were spoken.

Reaching the boiling point of his anger, especially with Alice not present, the darker Joker unhooked his whip from his side before he proceeded to slam it against a nearby cell block, the sound effectively silencing everyone within the corridor.

"Not a single fucking word about what you just saw." He seethed out darkly, his gaze glaring into each of the cells slowly while he walked ahead, "If I heard any of you saying something about it, you'll answer to me."

As expected, there was no verbal responses given and with that done the man adjusted his hat with a small growl before he continued his walk in the direction the little girl had bounded to moments earlier.

"Black-chan came! Yay!" Alice clapped her hands as she sat down Indian-style on the ground while surrounded by an abundant amount of toys. The lighter of the Jokers was situated beside her with a small smile on his lips while he regarded his counterpart politely.

Seeing his other half present, the warden sneered, "I didn't sign up to be a babysitter."

With his words, Alice tilted her head upward and continued clinging to her rabbit tightly, "I'm not a baby!" She defied as she stuck her tongue out.

Still admittedly annoyed with her display from earlier he didn't spare her much of a glance even as he took a seat on her empty side, "Nobody asked you, short stack." He hissed though it seemed that only made her stick her tongue out with more intensity than before.

Chuckling with a hand to his chin, White Joker watched at her gently, "So exactly what game is it that you wanted to play, Ali-chan?"

Taking her gaze to him, she grinned widely and stuck stuffed rabbit on her lap with glistening eyes, "House! I want to play house!"

Though he saw it coming, he couldn't help but show his distaste on her decision, "For fuck's sake…" Black Joker moaned while he pushed a palm to his forehead. The thought of actually playing house with both of them sounded vastly unappealing. Especially when it was inevitable that his counterpart end up as either the father or the child and he definitely did not want that..

Now that he thought about it, Alice had told him that the Ring Master wasn't even there.

"I thought you said White was still at the show?" He spoke out dangerously with a narrowed eye directed at the female's direction.

Alice shrugged her shoulders, her eyes nervously settling on the rabbit at her lap.

This response caused the darker Joker to growl, "You little brat." He hissed before pulling a portion of her hair in his grasp, an action that caused Alice to whine while she attempted to hold her head up, "You forced me here even though he was here the whole time!"

"I'm sorry!" She moaned in pain, "Let go! It hurts!"

"So you're saying that a five year old forced you here? Really Joker? You really are getting soft…" The Ring Master teased lightly, though the smile on his face seemed innocent, the warden was able to dissect the gleam in his eye well enough to truly see the more modest man's thoughts.

Not wanting to start an argument, Black Joker rolled his eye, "I'm out of here." However, before he could get up, Alice put a hand on his leg,

When he turned to look at her, he found his composure threatening to falter entirely.

"B-but you promised…" Alice softly said with wide eyes that were rapidly becoming clouded with tears that threatened to fall from the corner of her eyes, and if Black Joker said it didn't make him want to crush his face with the palms of his hands he knew he'd be lying.

Adding fuel to the fire, White Joker leaned over, "Yeah… You promised Black-chan." He mocked out as he put his hands on Alice's shoulders with a reassuring beam on his face, "Don't worry, Ali-chan! I'll play with you." The little girl smiled at him before turning her gaze to Black awaiting his reply.

"I'm not." Black snorted, remaining entirely true to his word before he removed her hand from his leg and got up before walking away without another look back.

Alice frowned as she watched him leave, her earlier tears gone but the sadness in her heart not disappearing. When he was completely out of view, she turned back to White Joker with slumped shoulders, "Why does Black-chan hate me…?" She questioned dejectedly, her expression mirroring that of a kicked kitten, "Am I really that bad a person…?" She asked White Joker as she dropped her bunny to the floor.

"He hates everyone, Ali-chan." He attempted to assure her positively, "But if you really want to know, he only dislikes you." His single red eye gave a wink while he knowingly nodded.

Not entirely understanding, Alice nodded slowly, "Oh… Well, White-kun likes me, right?" She unsurely voiced while her eyes shyly watched at him for his answer.

Charmingly, White Joker kept his smile to his face while he picked up her fallen stuffed rabbit and placed it back on her lap before his hand moved to rub at her hair gently, "I think the word 'like' is too simple. What I feel for you isn't one-dimensional in the slightest, it's actually quite complicated… Though in a way, I suppose you can say that you're a very interesting person to me."

Alice blinked her teal eyes, his words flying completely over her head.

After a moment she smiled timidly, "That's good…?" She tried out while tilting her head, though right after her action she found her hand moving to her mouth with a tiring yawn.

Joker found himself watching down at her curiously while she began crawling over to place her head on his lap, "Are you sleepy?" He inquired, however he didn't receive a response as the female's eyes closed.

-.-

Alice's eyes blinked in vicious confusion at the new space-ish world around her. "Where am I?" She voiced out fearfully, her feet unsurely moved inward and she held a hand to her heart while she looked around in search of anyone familiar.

"Ali-chan!"

Hearing her nickname she turned around immediately to come face to face with Nightmare who was looking at her worriedly.

"How does big brother know my name…?" She questioned curiously as the incubus sighed, "You forgot… Again." Floating down so that their foreheads were touching Nightmare looked into Alice's teal eyes steadily, "If it's not a tree… It's a whip. You just can't stay out of trouble can you?"

She took a step backward, her eyes now realizing that he was levitating, a sight that immediately made her eyes glow in amazement, "You're flying! So cool! How are you doing that!?" Her hands clasped together, "Big brother, can you teach me how to do that, too?" She pointed at herself happily.

Nightmare frowned, not liking the sudden topic change as he allowed himself to land on equal standing ground with her, "Don't call me big brother… Nightmare is more fitting." He sighed while his eyes watched her in exasperation.

"Nightmare…? That's a scary name…" Alice said taking a step back when she realized exactly how close the two were, however she couldn't help but be curious about his earlier flying ability.

The incubus folded his arms over his chest, his eye watching her firmly "Tell me, Ali-chan… Where were you before you fell asleep?"

"I was with White-kun!" She buoyantly informed him with a smile on her lips, "Uh… His name is Joker!" She restated with a finger to her lip and as an added continuation after she put more thought to it she looked at the silver haired male proudly, "I was taking a nap with White-kun inside of the prison!"

Proud of how she tied it all together she nodded her head with a beam, though it only caused Nightmare to scowl heavily.

Advancing towards her he released a heavy breath, "Well, this certainly isn't good…" He mumbled lowly, causing Alice to blink her eyes, "Can you tell me if 'White-kun' has done anything bad to you? Has he hurt you?" Nightmare continued before he lifted Alice's chin to inspect for any injuries.

When his results came up short he let her go with a cringe, "Your mind is so out of control when you're like this… I can't…" He held the side of his head with a slight wince.

"Why does everyone assume that I plan on hurting her?"

Nightmare grimaced and Alice curiously looked over to see White Joker standing behind Nightmare with a bright smile written on his face.

"White-kun!" Alice exclaimed before she pushed past Nightmare to give the redhead a hug which he gladly returned.

"Ali-chan… You just can't seem to learn… I don't want you talking to people with faces, remember?" He asked down at her, though the polite expression he wore didn't waver. In response to that, Alice pouted, "I know… But Nightmare is nice! He even knows how to fly!"

"Why?" Nightmare asked the Ring Master now before he could reply to the young girl in his arms, his demeanor clearly going downward incredibly quickly.

White Joker looked at him with feigned innocence, "Why what?" He suppressed a smirk from appearing on his face, though it was the clear the incubus knew everything.

Alice now took this time to speak up once more while she reached up to tug on the redhead's hat, "Hey, hey, White-kun… Where's Black-chan…?" She questioned, and it was obvious that the tension that was building between the two role holders was completely out of her own sight and comprehension.

Returning his attention to her kindly, Joker poked her nose, "He's back at the prison, Ali-chan." He answered simply and immediately after, Nightmare spoke up, his tone harsh and firm, "You should go back there too. The dream is my realm." The incubus seethed spitefully, though it didn't appear to change the Joker's own standing.

"Eh!? This is a dream!?" Alice shouted out in surprise with hands on her face, instantly catching the attention of the two males entirely.

Joker nodded, "It is, Ali. So let's both wake up so we can—"

"No." Nightmare interjectedly firmly before he grabbed Alice from the Ring Master's embrace, though this was immediately met with protest from the young girl who squirmed in his hold,

"Nightmare! Let me go! I want to be with White-kun!" She whined out in his grip as she looked at the Ring Master frantically, "White-kun!" She exclaimed right before she stepped on Nightmare's foot as heavily as she could muster.

The incubus released her with a shout of pain while he immediately went to clutch at his wounded foot and once released, the brunette made a bee line straight for the redhead who accepted her with open arms.

"Nightmare is a meanie!" Alice pointed a finger at him with a pout.

"What's the matter? Aren't you going to attack me like the last time when I visited her dream?" Joker taunted the silver haired man who glowered at him darkly, "I'm pretty sure this Alice would love to see me hurt." He continued with a smirk now igniting its way on his face. "And she'd also love to see a total stranger act barbaric and then claim to be friendly… Hm… Children are interesting, aren't they?"

"This isn't over." Nightmare folded his arms over his chest as he began fading away,

Joker put a hand to his mouth as he chuckled lightly, "You're right, but keep in mind that something can't be over if it never even began." With his words, the dream world slowly became disoriented.

-.-

Black Joker scowled as he moved to the spot where Alice and White had slept the previous night. Though he wasn't present for the meeting his counterpart experienced with the incubus he knew exactly what happened. The very idea of the role holders being turned into nothing but pathetic helpless little dogs amused him to such a level that he knew this was a confirmation of his sadist personality, it was actually pretty hilarious.

And it was all for one girl.

Alice Liddell.

Their desire to protect her was something he couldn't truly say he didn't understand. He could relate to it to a certain extent, but the level of protectiveness that Cloverland's residents had over her was too easy to play around it. As much as he was fond of her in his own way, one of the last things he knew he'd ever do was risk his life for the little entertainment he got out of her.

She was there for amusement. That and only that. And she certainly was providing him with that for now, albeit, slightly more annoying entertainment that is.

"Oh, you're finished checking on the prisoners?" Joker asked turning around to view his counterpart with his usual smile.

The warden nodded, his eye fleeting away from his other half's gaze in order to take in the sights around him in search for the little girl.

The toys were still scattered on the floor as they had been when he was last there the night before, but he didn't see her.

Glancing upward once more, his eyes glanced beyond the standing Ring Master though it was nothing but empty cells. Already knowing he wouldn't be able to find her on his own, he decided to look over at his counterpart with an arched brow, "Where is she?"

Sweating a bit, something that made the warden the slightest bit unnerved, White Joker laughed lightly, "Do me a favor and be sure she makes it to the circus without any broken limbs, okay? The game for the role holders would be ruined if she got a broken arm or leg, or even neck." He turned around and prepared to make an exit as Black blinked his eye, "Where is she though?"

Without a word, the redhead pointed one of his index fingers upward toward the ceiling before he began jogging out quickly.

Following his counterpart's gesture with his iris, Black Joker felt his eye widening in genuine surprise.

It only took a second or two before he fully realized what was going on and naturally, just seeing her do something so stupid pissed him off.

"Ugh! Get down from there!" Black Joker hissed while he looked up at the prison ceiling in obviously irritation.

Alice, who was currently balanced on one leg on one of the thin ropes that hung across the ceilings with a 10 foot long pole in her hand glanced down at him with a smile, "Good morning, Black-chan!" She hyped obliviously with little rays of sunshine practically radiating off of her despite the darker area that she was situated in.

It practically hurt his eyes to look at her.

Fuming, his glare on her form intensified, "Did you hear me? I said get down!" He fumed once again.

Confused, Alice blinked her eyes, "Why…?"

Black Joker growled, his fists clenched at his sides strongly and he felt himself nearly succumb to a clockattack when he saw the rope beneath her feet waver for a split second, "Stupid brat! Don't question me! Just get your ass down the same way you went up now!"

Not pleased with such an answer, the five year old pouted heavily, "I'm just practicing for the act that White-kun said I could do today!"

Black Joker narrowed his red eye at her being that stood unmoving and still on the tight rope. "In the prison? Without a mat underneath you? When you're about fifteen feet off the floor? Are you really that stupid!?" He angrily roared causing her to flinch painfully, however he didn't cease, "Get the hell down right now before you become a gory pancake on the ground!"

Unlike what he had hoped, Alice wasn't in a rush to come down after his commands.

Instead, her lips went into a pout, "I won't!" She defied crossly with a huff, and truth be told it just made the Joker even angrier than her stupidity in the first place.

Humoring her, his gaze darkened considerably, "Elaborate on why, little girl."

Alice put the balance stick in one hand as she looked down shakily, "Because you're not the boss of me, Black-chan~" She sang out with a playful grin sprawled across her face. Her reply to his orders obviously ticked off the redhead to a zenith level.

Feeling himself about to reach his limit, he gritted his teeth, "I'll give you two seconds to come down before I force you down."

"Make me!" She stuck her tongue out at him, clearly not afraid of his threat.

"Why are you such a brat?" Black groaned out rhetorically as he made his way to the ladder that was planted against the way and began climbing.

Alice strained to look behind herself as the prison warden made his way on the rope, despite the tightness of it, she was still able to feel when his added weight was put on, "Wait until I get my hands on you…" He threatened forebodingly while he easily made his way across the rope without effort closing in on the motionless brunette.

Alice turned her head around suddenly surprised at how fast he was moving when unexpectedly her balance stick slipped out her hands.

"Ack!" She shrieked out startled, her movements instantly caused her footing on the thin rope to fall apart as she felt herself falling. Closing her eyes, she flinched and prepared to hit the floor when she felt another body press against her back and a pair of arms snaked their way around her stomach. Eyes wide open with shock she turned her head to look at her savoir as Black Joker with an irritated expression descended to the floor slowly with her in his arms.

"Idiot girl." The warden insulted as they landed on their feet of the prison floor softly.

"Eh!? How'd you do that?" Alice asked amazed right after she got out his grasp, her eyes shone with wonder while she looked up at him in anticipation for his answer.

"Don't be stupid!" Black Joker roared, paying no heed to her earlier question before he began pulling her nose roughly, "Even though this is my realm, imagine if it wasn't! I wouldn't have been able to save your fall!" He thundered out as the little girl flinched in his hold, "Owie! Owie! Owie! Owie!" She cried right as began to twist his grip prior to releasing her,

"Think about it. If the scenario was tweaked about, you'd be nothing more but a bloody mess on the floor for someone to clean up right now."

Alice rubbed her nose painfully with a heartbroken expression on her face.

Already recognizing the expression, Joker grunted with a half-lidded stare her way, "Don't. Give. Me. That. Face." He sternly ordered at the same time tears started to cloud the corners of her eyes and she trembled slightly. "For fuck's sake…" He cursed lowly right before she began bawling.

"Stop it! God! That's so damn annoying!"

"B-but! I almost died!" She sniffed out in between tears.

Black Joker glared down at her, "Almost being the key word, short stuff. I was there so there is absolutely no reason for you to start the water works."

Alice lessened her sniffs at the logic, Black kept a cynical face on as she finally stopped. "Yeah… Thank you, Black-chan…" She softly smiled up at him with tears still in her eyes but they now shone with the old jubilance they once did as usual.

The Ring Master rolled his eyes, "Whatever."

"No, really! Thank you so much!" She hyped her old melancholic mood forgotten as she looked up at him determined. "Are you freaking bipolar?" Black deadpanned in regards to her sudden mood change.

Not paying attention to his words, Alice placed both of her hands in front of her, "You saved my life! You're my hero, Black-chan!" She declared positively.

"Hero?" He twitched, "Listen kid. Hero and Black-Chan, those words are never supposed to be used in the same sentence. Not unless the sentence goes like 'Black-chan is not a hero.'"

The five year old blocked out all his words as she squealed in happiness, "Ah! Black-chan! I love you!" She proclaimed, automatically widening the eye of the red head before she tackled hugged him to the floor with an incredibly amount of force.

The Joker blushed lightly while she snuggled into his chest as she continued going on with her praise towards him.

"Oh! So she made her way down without dying." White Joker laughed as he made his way back in, "But enough of that… Today we have a special show today, Ali-chan!" He told her as she looked up from Black Joker's chest curiously, "Eh?"

The darker Ring Master threw his hat at the girl's face uncaringly causing a whine of protest to erupt from her cutely. "Isn't today the day where all the role holders come to the circus?" Black inquired, though his tone indicated he wasn't concerned.

White Joker nodded, "That's why I came to ask her if she wanted to participate in a circus act today."

Alice put Black Joker's hat on her head amazed, "Alice-chan can be in the circus again!?"

White Joker helped her up from the floor with a smile, "Of course. It wouldn't be complete without you." He eerily spoke as Alice began cheering. "Yay!"

"I'm definitely going to see this." Black Joker remarked as he took his hat back from Alice, though it was met with protest as she watched up at him with puffed up cheeks, "Hey! Give it back!" She demanded with furrowed eyebrows.

With a smirk, he took his hat and dangled it above her head, "This?" He questioned right before she jumped for it, however he pulled it higher out her reach in order to stop her from grasping it.

"Yes!" She giggled as he continued teasing her with it.

"Jump for it like the little bunny you are." He ordered simply and Alice laughed but did so anyways, "I want the hat!" She stated as she continued for it despite her height disadvantage. "No fair!" She whined, though her jumping didn't cease.

"Life isn't fair. Now keep jumping if you want this glorious hat little girl." Black smirked down at the brunette who stuck her tongue out at him before continuing her efforts.

"When you two are finished meet me in the tent with her, Joker." White smiled with a wave before he turned to leave.

"Tch. I don't think it'll be soon." Black Joker answered as he raised his hand once again when Alice was lifted off the ground. The second her feet touched the floor again he lowered the hat. "I can do this all day."

"I want the hat!" She repeated with a flail to her arms dramatically, though it only caused the warden to snort, "You'll want a lot of things in life, and rarely will you have to jump to get it. But for this occasion you have to jump. Jump for the hat, little girl."

-.-.-.-

Black-chan and Ali-chan are quite the pair huh? Oh, Ali-chan just knows how to bring out the deredere side in anyone xD

Next chapter shall have some action :'O (Hopefully) Reviews are most appreciated!