"But I can't help him, can't make him better
And I can't do nothing about his strange weather

'Cause you are unfixable
I can't break through your world
'Cause you live in shades of cool"

Lana Del Rey - "Shades of Cool"

"Welllll Tommy boy, aren't ya gonna move for the lady?"

The Joker leaned back in his seat, taking his drink with him. He was referring to one of his henchmen sitting in my way.

Joker looked at him expectantly, stirring his drink around in one hand. Finally getting the hint, Tommy stood up. It was clear he wasn't too bright but when it came to henchmen they were all brawn with no brains anyway.

"In fact, why don't all of you take a nice stroll for a while. I hear there's entertainment elsewhere?" He turned his attention to Angelo, probably referring to the strip club upstairs.

All of his men seemed rather fond of that idea. Angelo, however, did not. But he swallowed hard and released me, letting a smile tug at his lips, "Yeah, there's other entertainment all right. You sure you wanna miss out on that?"

By this point, the clown had his eyes back on me. He didn't even bother looking at him again. "Oh no, no, no, no, no. That's not my sort of thing. I prefer long walks on the beach, deep conversations, sunsets, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera." A wide grin spread across his face as he emphasized his last three words.

That was when I noticed he had a metal grill in his mouth. The lights dancing off of it as he smiled. I could feel the heat rolling off Angelo. He was over the games Joker was trying to play.

"Alright." Angelo looked to me and then back to him, gritting his teeth. "Take good care of her." Then he turned to the henchmen. "Follow me."

When everyone had left I felt like the whole world had melted away and that the sounds of my pounding heart could be heard over the speakers. I kept repeating play it cool over and over again in my head. Even still, my legs wobbled and I couldn't get them to move properly. This didn't seem to bother The Joker one bit though.

Rather, he took some kind of enjoyment from it. "Have a seat, I won't bite." His smile was still plastered on his face.

I knew I didn't want him to tell me a second time, so I forced myself to sit down next to him in the rounded booth. He leaned forward to push another drink I hadn't noticed, towards me. It was a glass of red wine.

"Drink?"

I looked at the offer and then back to him, "Oh no, I-"

"Drink." He turned his head forward taking a sip of his own.

I must have misunderstood him. It certainly hadn't meant to be a question.

My fingers careful overlapped around the glass, bringing it to my lips. He began to observe me. My eyes instantly met his as I took that drink. This time a small smirk graced his lips. "Good girl."

I felt a chill course throughout my body.

He leaned back again to the position he was in moments ago. His left arm was draped behind me above the booth. "So, Chrysalis-"

I put my glass down to correct him, "Ah, it's Butterfly-"

"Chrysalis," he reiterated, his features twisting. There was a pause but I comprehended at that point that he had made up his mind, whether I liked it or not. I didn't bother to fuss.

With my silence his face softened again. "I have quite the favor to ask you."

I genuinely laughed, taking another sip of my wine. "Everybody has a favor tonight, Mister Joker."

He actually smiled again, "Yes, yes they do, don't they?"

Being so much closer to him I started to notice all the tattoos riddled on his body. At least, from what I could see. "Damaged" on his forehead, a "J" on his cheek, and little scars scattered on the rest of his ghostly face. My mind started to wonder what story lied behind each wound.

Suddenly, his right hand reached for my hair. He fingered the glittery bow in it. "What a pretty accessory." he commented. "Is that from your boyfriend?"

I felt my face get hot, averting my gaze. "No, no! Angelo and I are nothing like that."

His eyes twinkled as he watched me. "Ah, Angelo." was all he said before he unclipped it from my hair. I wanted to protest, remembering what Angelo said but I didn't feel the need to start an argument over a bow. He'd understand later.

Joker was studying the bow intently now. "Looks a bit dirty." He spat on it, rubbing his thumb over it again and again. Then he inspected it, shook his head slightly, and slammed it a few times on the table. I was bewildered by all of this. What the hell was he doing?

After looking pleased with what he had done, he dropped it into a half empty beer that was abandoned by one of his henchmen. He finally turned back to me.

"Ah, well, you look much better without it honestly." he chuckled.

I tried to mirror his grin, "I suppose so."

He swigged the rest of his liquor and abruptly slammed the glass back down on the table. It made me jump little. "How 'bout another?" I assumed he was asking.

Maybe.

I wasn't taking any chances so I attempted to finish my glass in one swig as well. I wasn't the least bit graceful, however. Some of it dribbled down my chin. I caught it with my hand, giggling. I noticed he was laughing with me, his blues beaming. I felt myself loosing up a bit.

"Absolutely!" I agreed.

He flagged down a waitress passing by and ordered two more of what we were already drinking. I sensed the table vibrating following it to his phone, which had been next to the gun. You could tell it annoyed him but answered anyway, excusing himself. I was a little thankful for the moment, I wanted to regroup my thoughts.

I practiced a few breathing exercises to steady my nerves. I seemed to be doing okay so far but I know we've barely scratched the surface. I really wanted to know what his favor was and at the same time…I didn't.

When he came back, he slid right back into the booth. "Now where were we?" he said, folding his hands on the marble top.

"Uh, about the fav-"

"Ah yes!" he interrupted. "Have you grown up in this area, Chrysalis?"

The question took me aback. "Uhm, well no-"

"No, I didn't think so." He shook his head. Was he mocking me? I wasn't too sure.

"You seem like a small town girl to me." He rested his head on his right hand, curling his fingers around another grin.

I felt my stomach twist. "What gives you that impression?"

Just then, like a cliff hanger, the waitress came back with our drinks. He tipped her well and gave her a wink. Of course she drooled over it. I pitied yet admired her innocence.

"I use to know a man, by the name of Donald Freud." He started, stirring his glass with the tiny straw that was in it. "Donnie, if you will." He glanced at me.

My whole body stiffened. My fingers glued to my wine glass.

"He was, well, quite mad…but you knew that already, didn't you?"

The air was thick and silent between us. I was fighting the urge to just run away, or worse, pick up his gun and shoot him. I knew he'd snatch it before me though. His eyes traced mine.

"Ah, ah, ah. Careful." he tutted. "I was beginning to like you."

My heart sank and I wasn't entirely sure why. Did I really want him to like me?

"What do you want?" I hesitated.

The Joker didn't answer me right away, naturally. He took a few sips of his drink and smacked his lips obnoxiously. "Ah! Well, a man wants a lot of things." He intentionally let his blues meet my greys slowly. I could feel everything inside of me start to liquefy.

He licked his lips and leaned in toward me, whispering, "How strange that his house just suddenly, POOF!" He made me jump, making hand motions with it. "Went up in flames! Sounds like a bout of bad luck to me."

My lip quivered and I took a sip of my wine to slow my pace. "Well like you said, he was mad. At that, a mad scientist. His experiments were out of control."

The green haired man held up a single finger. "Oh! But I didn't say any of that."

"But everybody knows it!" I tried to defend myself.

"Do they?" He relaxed his chin in his propped hands, his face beaming. "Olive."

He knew my name. He knew my name! Probably knew it this entire time. Of course he did, how could I be so stupid!

"Olive." He repeated. I drew my face upwards to meet his. "What did Dr. Freud do to you?"

My head began to swim. "Wh-what?" I barely breathed.

Joker leaned closer, almost whispering. "Over fifty stab wounds, Chrysalis. He was carved like a Christmas ham, yet it's said he burned alive. Now, how could that be…?" A slender finger reached out to trace the balisongs attached to my thigh.

Instinctively, my hand went to grab his but I caught myself midway, letting my hand hover between us. He watched it, not with anger, but curiosity. It was apparent he had become more interested in my reactions rather than my words.

I retracted my hand to avert my eyes towards the table. I couldn't even think properly anymore. My head filled with horrible memories. Why was he doing this to me?

Unexpectedly I felt a finger stroke upwards on my cheek. Startled, I glanced back at him. He was examining the tear he captured. Was I crying? My fingertips swept my face. I hadn't noticed.

"You know, " He rotated his finger back and forth, almost admiring the salty droplet. "I don't really care what you did to him." He peered at me. I could see it from the corner of my eye. However, I didn't have the guts to look at him just yet. I was in so much distress.

He abruptly shook his hand away from himself to dispose of the tear and slide much closer to me. He pressed his arm into mine, whispering again, "Tell you what, I like you. I like your voice. You've got talent, kid. So I'm willing to bend some rules." He let a finger trace along my jawline this time. When he reached my chin he pulled my face towards his, elevating it. A wide, grill filled grin was staring back at me. "I have a very important engagement at the end of this month. That's exactly three weeks away." He used his free hand to show me three long, digits.

"I want you, " he paused to tilt his head. "that is, I would like you to be the entertainment for that night." he rephrased.

I felt the blood pumping in my ears. "I-" I fumbled with my words trying to find the right ones. "-I don't really want to decline but-"

"Then don't."

"-But Angelo-"

Joker pulled away from me in one swift motion. "Ah, yes, Angelo. How you do love to talk about him."

"That's not it!" I protested. I wish he'd let me get a damn word in.

The fingers of his right hand dipped into the old beer of one of his henchmen, pulling out the soggy hair bow. He balled it in his first, looking at me with a strange expression. I couldn't place it. "How much do you trust our friend, Mr. Rouse?"

I felt a fire building in my belly. "With my life." I didn't even have to think to answer that. That man gave me everything.

"What a waste." he sneered, then he started picking apart the bow. In minutes he had what appeared to be a microscopic microphone in pieces on the table. "I don't think he feels the same, toots."

I suddenly felt very pale. This could have meant so many things and yet, I didn't want to swallow it. There had to be a reason. "He said he wanted to protect me."

"I'm sure he did." Joker laughed manically. "Why not use the one thing that would never question you. Like a puppy…a faithful dog." he snorted into the drink he was attempting to consume.

"No."

"Oh yes, sweetheart." He finished his liquor and bent towards me again. "Let me break it to you this way, he bugged you without your knowledge. If I wasn't as preceptive as I am…well I might have just…" His words slowed as a tattooed hand gently wrapped around my throat.

I inhaled with caution as his grip tightened. I couldn't shake it, this feeling. Somewhere deep down I knew he was right. If Angelo had really cared about my well being he wouldn't have been so careless. He must have known how unforgiving The Joker could be. More so than him.

It still didn't change the fact that even if I ran from Angelo, he'd find me. It was too late. I let a hardly audible word slip my lips, not realizing how tight the clown's grip had become.

"Maybe."

Joker's fingers wiggled, loosen up. "Maybe?" he echoed me.

"Maybe he did set me up. Maybe I'm just an instrument in his grand scheme, whatever that may be. But I can't deny that he's provided me with a better life than I had before. I couldn't change that verity even if I wanted to."

A smug look formed on his ghostly features, "Loyal. So loyal. Why they call you The Butterfly and not The Puppy is astounding." His face glowered. "You must like getting kicked."

As unpredictable as the weather his atmosphere changed and he showed off his metal grin. "I like that about you too, you know."

I wasn't biting. "I'm sorry, Mister J, but I just can't."

"Tell you what," he began as he slide out of the booth. "I'll come visit you every week, once a week, before my very important engagement. That's how many weeks from now?" He raised what would have been an eye brow, if he had any.

"Three." I remembered.

"And by next week?" He took a step towards me.

"Two."

He was smiling again as he gently ran three digits along the side of my face, raising my chin once more. "Good girl." he breathed. "Time is short, but I have a feeling you will change your mind."

The Joker let his fingertips slip leisurely from me. "Good night, Chrysalis."

I felt my heart racing as he parted ways with me, disappearing into the crowd. Part of me wanted to celebrate that I had survived this meeting and that it was finally over…another part was silently screaming for him to come back.

He was hard but he made very valid points. He knew too much for his own good but he was also very confident in what he knew. He was charming, abrasive albeit, but charming. I could only wonder what his manic side looked like. All the stories I had heard. I guess this was his version of "gentle".

I rested my head back on the booth. My heart was still pulsing fervently. I had to remind myself that a man like that always gets what he wants. Even if that means playing nice.

I frowned. That's right, a game. Buttering me up to bend my will. For what though, I wasn't entirely sure. I had my suspicions it was more than just a guest spot on his stage.

"Oh, baby doll! You're alright!"

My eyes traced over to the relieved voice of Angelo. How unfortunate.

He walked up and held me tightly against him, whispering. "I'm so glad you're okay. Really." he tried to give me those eyes.

"Mmhmm." I pursed my lips.

He rested his hands on either of my shoulders. "Olive, I'm so sorry. I feared at one point or another a guy like him would show up in my club. I didn't expect him to be so interested in you, though."

I kinda think my blood was starting to boil. "And why's that? I thought I was special."

Angelo looked shocked as if he couldn't understand why I couldn't understand. "Baby, listen, to a guy like that no girl means nothing. Nobody means nothing." He paused. "Except for maybe that Dr. Quinzel."

That's right, I almost forgot. I'd heard she was assigned as Joker's psychiatrist in Arkham and inevitably, lost all her marbles too. Where was she tonight?

"It doesn't matter nonetheless, you're safe." He elated.

I pulled myself from his hold, "Yeah, no thanks to you!"

I stormed off in the direction of my vanity. The tall man was close on my heels.

"Olive!" he shouted. "Olive, don't you walk away from me!"

He grabbed my arm, pulling on it. My wild eyes glared at him. Customers were starting to notice the scene being played out before them.

"Let me go." I warned.

Angelo took authority, knowing exactly what he was doing. "Here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna walk back to your dressing room and you're gonna tell me what the clown prince said that's got you so riled up." He was so calm and collected. From another perspective, you'd think I was just being a crazy bitch.

"You're not gonna run, you're not gonna fight me, and you'd be stupid if ya tried." His tone was even and low. People looked less interested in us. "You're not stupid, Olive."

Internally, I was screaming. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. The worst was that when I got too frustrated I would cry. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

Angelo was immediate in his actions as he wrapped an arm around me instead. He led me right back to my vanity in the backstage dressing room. I settled myself in my chair, dabbing at my tears with a tissue.

"Baby, baby, baby." Angelo repeated exhaustingly, rubbing a hand over his face. He was propped against another vanity across from mine. I could see him in my mirror.

"You lied to me, Angelo." I choked. He looked super unamused. "You said you'd protect me, but you bugged me!"

"That was to protect you, Olive."

I turned to face him, "No, you used it for information. If Mister J hadn't-"

"Ey! Don't get it twisted." I could see was becoming visibly angry. "That clown's got you all screwed up. What did he ask you, Olive?"

I just leered at him. "Olive…" he said slowly, losing his patience.

I rolled my jaw and stared at the floor. "He knows about Freud, he knows my real name. He knows I'm not from here."

"That's it?" Angelo looked a little relieved.

"That's it?" I seethed. "He probably knows everything that could put me away forever, Angelo!"

He snickered, "I doubt that. That's not his style." He crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Sounds like scare tactics to me."

I was baffled, "For what?! Just so I can preform at one of his parties?!"

"What?" This seemed to deeply concern him all of a sudden.

I held my tongue for a moment, mulling it over in my brain. "He, well, he said he had an engagement happening in three weeks. He likes how I sing and wanted me to entertain."

"He should also know that booking you has to be done through me." Angelo was starting to sound very possessive. I was his profit, after all.

"I know that. I told him I'd have to decline."

"And?"

"And he insisted on visiting me once a week up until the party. He thinks i'll change my mind." For some reason, talking of Mister J this way made my chest flutter.

Angelo place a hand to his chin. "That's not gonna happen. What's that clown up to?"

I shook my blonde locks about, "I have no idea. I know I'm not that good."

"No, you're great. You're my number one." he cooed, running both hands down either side of my face.

I could feel my anger start to dissipate. No matter how much he infuriated me or how much he wronged me, he always knew how to make it better. Always made it up, one way or another. I made peace with myself long ago that even if he cared, he was still a young business man at the end of the day.

"What I'm wondering, is there are a million and one other acts he could use, but he's persistent on you. Now why is that?"

I let my right fingers trace up one of his hands on my face. "I guess we'll have to find out."

Hey guys! My rule of thumb is usually to upload two chapters to a new story so it gives you little more to read. Get a good feel of it. Instead of writing a reeeaally long chapter.

Hope you guys are enjoying it so far! Please R&R. :) More to come.