© Ellie Goodson 2016

Chapter Twenty Seven-Cat and Bat

~Arabella Jones~

For the next couple of weeks, my life with the Joker was undisturbed. Everything was quiet and calm and, for once, I was completely relaxed. My body was healing well; and I was left with a shining scar on my leg from the bullet. Things only began to get a little exciting once more when I was woken from sleep one night. I stirred under the sheets, but was unable to return back into a peaceful slumber as more pebbles or rocks got thrown at the window. Groaning, I clambered carefully out of bed, careful not to wake the Joker who seemed to have the ability to sleep through any amount of noise. I slid the window open, ready to scream at whoever it was to go and die. But... "Catwoman?"

"Hush, let me in." I stepped back from the window, allowing the graceful cat lady to slide through. "Be quiet, I can't be long here."

I dropped down onto the floor, taking a seat there as there weren't any others. Catwoman followed with a low purr in the back of her throat. "You know about Batman and I?"

"You care about him very much." I replied in a slight whisper, praying that the Joker didn't wake.

"Things...have been going on since our last encounter." She purred back. Selina was in full costume, her hair hidden under her black mask. "We plan on leaving together, running out of Gotham and taking a normal life together."

"When?" I asked, my curiosity sparked.

"Tonight, which is why I can't be long." I remained silent, signalling for her to explain more.

Catwoman got onto her knees, her claws tapping over them softly. She took a while to continue, as if deciding how to word it. "He is going to give up Batman, and leave Robin in his place. I am going to give up Catwoman, give up the life of crime."

"This is all very sweet and romantic, Selina," I replied, a slight hint of annoyance in my voice. She had woken me up; it needed to involve me somehow. "I still don't understand what any of this has to do with me."

"Aha!" At that point, Selina pounced to her feet, holding out a clawed hand. I took it, and got up myself. "I want you to take my place, Arabella. Not as Catwoman, but as a criminal. I want you to take my place with the girls and with the Joker if you wish." She gestured to Jack, who remained sleeping in bed.

He faced stayed soft, like it always was when he slept. But I had become familiar with the Joker when he slept truly, and I could tell that he was awake. He was very good at faking it though, I had to admit. I remained pretending that I didn't know otherwise, knowing that Catwoman would become uncomfortable to talk if she knew that Jack was awake. "Do Ivy and Harley know about this?"

"Yes, they do. They don't understand as well as you do, but they are happy to take you on. The whole Joker thing is a...tender issue for Harley. But I'm sure it can be cooperated with."

"Of course. It means a lot, Selina, for you to trust me with this." Catwoman was now taking a slow but steady stroll to the window, and I could tell that our time was coming to an end. "I hope you and Batman...well I hope it works."

"I do too, Arabella, I do too. I'm giving up everything for him, and I'm sure he's giving up everything for me." It sounded more like she was trying to reassure herself, instead of me.

She sat on the window sill now, legs dangling out. The air was cold, causing a shiver to run down my spine and goosebumps to prickle at my skin. "Stay in contact, let me know how it goes and I'll return the favour." I told her, joining her at the window. She nodded her head, before falling in a swift and steady pounce. Because she wore black, and it was the middle of the night, Catwoman faded as she fell. Only the stable thud of her landing and the sound of her speeding footsteps allowed me to know that she was gone. I couldn't quite believe what had happened, Catwoman and Batman were leaving. Robin, the fun little boy, was taking his place, and I was taking hers. I would become a proper criminal, but wouldn't I need a name? I shook my head, clearing my mind.

I turned to face the Joker, who was still faking his slumber. I crouched down beside his resting body, a playful smirk on my face. "Jack," I hummed. "I know you're awake. I know how you sleep, you can't trick me anymore." A small giggle escaped my lips as he opened one eye, his own, cherry red lips pouting slightly. "How much did you hear?"

"All of it, what was she using to get your attention? Rocks?" His question was sarcastic, so I left it unanswered.

"Well, it saves me from having to fill you in. It's exciting isn't it? New enemy, proper criminal." My hands clapped themselves together quickly, my posture stiffening with excitement.

The Joker turned and rested on his side, eyes fully open now. "What time is it?" His body heat radiated off of him and onto me, warming my chilled body and softening my insides.

"Late, still. We need to get a clock in here, seriously. I don't know the date, the time, nothing. I could've missed my birthday or Christmas for all I know!" The Joker chuckled, hand cupping my face as he pulled me in for a quick kiss. He knew that I was exaggerating, getting a little hyper. It was what happened from time to time, and he seemed to enjoy it very much. I melted into the kiss, my body leaning forward as it desired more. In a sudden movement, Jack caught me by the waist and pulled me back onto the bed, my legs straddled his hips. "Well, this is new." I murmured, pulling back to gasp in air. The Joker simply 'mhmm'ed for reply, continuing the kiss once more.

I watched in awe as the Joker dragged the razor over his bare face. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you without any of your make up."

"Is that so?" He replied, concentrating on not cutting himself. The razor carefully slid over his beautiful scars, and I continued to hover in the doorway, watching in admiration. When he was finished, Jack rinsed his face in water, dried it, and came up to me. "Love it while you can, doll. It's going away pretty soon." I reached up, my thumbs trailing softly over his scars. I pressed a kiss to his cheeks, then multiple soft kisses over his jaw and up to his head. I placed pecks onto his temples, trailing them down his nose before finally kissing his plain lips lastly. The skin around his lips felt smoother, gentler and more pleasant to kiss. But I didn't care, I didn't care how soft his skin was, I'd kiss it whatever condition.

I pressed my forehead to the top of his chest, which is where I reached compared to his tall, muscular body. "Can I tell you something?" I asked with my heart racing. Every time I thought of saying the words, I got so nervous, unsure of how the Joker would react to them.

"Go ahead, doll." The Joker's voice sounded light and blissful, filling me with ease. It was good to know that a few kisses from me could have that effect on him.

"I love you." The words came out of my mouth in a whisper, and I kept my eyes closed. The longer he remained silent, lost in thought, the harder my heart raced.

"I love you too, Bella doll." He said eventually, picking me up so that I could lace my legs around him. "I love you a lot; you're the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Well, that's a good thing. Because I'm not going anywhere." I pressed my forehead to the Joker's, inhaling the scent of gunpowder which never seemed to leave his body.

The Joker and I, we had our disagreements. We had an argument every so often or a heated discussion that ended in many ways, but no argument was ever severe enough to separate us. To tear us apart. We were connected, linked together with an unbreakable bond and we couldn't be unlinked. I had full faith in our relationship, full trust and loyalty. We understood, we cooperated and communicated. It was as simple as that. Love, that was the key part of us, I was sure of it. As long as we had love, and loyalty and trust, we had it all.

And as for the new things, we worked that out as well. The Joker wasn't all that happy about losing Batman; for so long his life has revolved around the bat. But I assured him that Robin was just as much fun and that all we were doing was trading a bat for a bird. I had to promise, several times, that I'd remain safe and alive in this new criminal career. But that was all proof that the Joker loved me, he wanted me safe and alive so that he could continue to love me. I needed him alive, he needed me alive.

I hadn't seen Harley or Ivy in a while, but I knew that I'd be seeing a lot of them soon. Two Face had been a no show for weeks, and the same went for Scarecrow. I knew that I'd run into them eventually, avoiding them wasn't going to happen in the criminal world. And when I did, I'd be ready. I'd be ready for whatever was thrown at me.

I wondered how Harley really felt about the Joker and I. She had told me that she was okay with it, that she could see that the Joker really did love me. But why was it a 'tender issue' for him to join me if she was fine with it? It was completely understandable for her to feel a certain way to the Joker, he did treat her badly. But she could be annoying, and that was a long time ago. Before I came along, the Joker and Harley had been severely separated, so he was already a changed man before he met me, and then he changed even more.

I didn't know much, but what I really did know was that the Joker was my everything. As long as I had him, I'd get through anything and be alright. If I lost him, then the world would lose me. Because I couldn't live without him, not anymore. Like I said before, there was no way of me getting out of it, not alive anyway. I was in deep, hooked and addicted like a drug addict, not that I cared. Being with the Joker added a thrill to life, and I found it hard to believe that I was ever 'happy' before I met him. That was all just a trick while I was caged in my own mind, a cog in a machine.