Chapter Text
The days that followed hit Joker the hardest. The world kept spinning, he kept killing, and all was relatively well in Gotham—but a tiny voice in the back of his head kept mentioning that something was wrong.
Something was off and Joker refused to let some unnatural force of nature (that he didn’t believe in, mind you) get him down. He was the one in control of his life and he wasn’t losing his mind thank you very much. Still, an uneasy feeling lurked about the more time he spent thinking about you.
You somehow managed to crawl under his skin and take up residence. Not to be mistaken; Joker was not afraid of you—he feared nothing. However, you were a problem he needed to address sooner rather than later.
Joker couldn’t shake the memory of your eyes glaring at him out of his head. No fear, no cries for mercy. Joker hated the owlish flutter of your lashes but he took the time out to count each one. Seven. Shouldn’t there be more? Joker was no eye expert, but that number seemed low.
Even the humane reflex of blinking was abnormal if you happened to be involved. Would anything make sense if you weren’t?
Why didn’t you follow the script? Screaming! Tears! That he could work with. Things would be a lot easier—he could plan accordingly if you reacted like all the victims that came before you. He was a dangerous unpredictable clown and you, supposedly, a poor defenseless citizen who remained apathetic towards him.
Joker wanted you to fight back, cry, beg, and plead; not stand there and stare as if he was a freak of nature. You made him feel weird. You made Joker hesitate and above all, you made him think far too much. If only his enemies could see him stressing out over a woman. It was pathetic.
He should have killed you when he had the chance. If Joker had known the consequences of his actions (the countless headaches) you would be a stain on the floor by now.
Because Joker now found himself at your mercy. You had the upper hand in this situation and he hated that.
You thought you had power over him because he kept you alive. That arrogant look of yours when he fled your apartment haunted him night and day. He was an idiot for not killing you. Joker lost his composure and until he saw your corpse decomposing beneath his feet, his ego would never recover. He wouldn’t make the same mistakes again. He had to do something about you.
Joker vowed to show you exactly how things worked in his world. He always got the last laugh. Always.
At least that’s the lie Joker told himself, because no matter how hard he tried to deny it, you had already won. You made a joke out of The Joker.
Gotham City was alive with lights and sounds despite the late hour.
Police sirens, the screech of car brakes, the inaudible chatter of humans walking by, to the occasional bark of a dog afar off. There was always background noise in the city that soothed your weary soul. You loathed the silence that clung to the pristine marble halls you once called home. The pressure therein was stifling, and the guilt you carried even more so. Home was just a flight away, but it seemed so far out of reach.
You failed your duty and worse, you kept it a secret. There were no laws against that, but it felt treasonous all the same. You were ashamed bearing the titles bestowed upon you when a life went unaccounted for on your watch.
Were you a Great Angel if you couldn’t fulfill a simple guardian task? Could you stand before your fellow angels with this disgrace lingering in your soul? Nights like this hit the hardest.
Your wings itched with the desire to extend yet you couldn’t bear to unfurl them. Something in the air made you feel nostalgic and as punishment, you denied your true self.
Every year on this day, you forced yourself to atone. To remember. To never forget your last charge. Your greatest failure sat heavy on your conscience but alas, you couldn’t remember a single detail except his kind smile.
The smile he lost because of you.
His memory was fading from your mind no matter how much you fought to preserve it. You were losing everything and you knew not why.
Sirens rang out a few blocks away and your eyes scanned the horizon for the source. Gotham was a city that never slept. Good thing neither did you. You briefly wondered what that human, Batman if you remembered correctly, could be doing at the hour.
Was he busy pursuing his fruitless sense of justice? Was he staying out of harm’s way? Then you stopped yourself. You didn’t have to question his safety. He was not your charge. Joker was.
Just uttering his name made your feathers bristle in agitation. How could fate be so cruel and botch your assignment? You never experienced such an incident and no records found in the Great Hall mentioned one occurring in the past. You fought with the counsel to reconsider, but it was futile.
The Joker was your assigned task and you were bound by duty to guard him. It was an honor to protect nevertheless, this task felt different.
You were quick to deduce that Joker was danger personified, however, sensing his distress calls via long distance was next to impossible. You spent eons serving as a guardian angel and always felt the innate call to rush to your human’s aid. You could be in a different hemisphere or worlds apart and you managed to save your charge without fail.
You resided in the same city as Joker and struggled to sense his call at times. How, when the guardian bond was so overwhelmingly strong? The truth eluded you. You wouldn’t be surprised if he found a way to block the connection link. Joker seemed the type to refuse help even if it killed him.
Regardless, you rifled through countless tomes for an answer to this phenomenon. How could you fail to sense his cry for help but near faint whenever he touched you?
Oh, but his touch.
For years you had adjusted to the lack of it. Ario—always one to help, never skirted on being physical; whether pinching your cheek or brushing his fingers down your arm mid conversation, all much to your chagrin. You never meant anything by Ario’s actions (he was affectionate with everyone) but you preferred not sensing things.
Emptiness was your penance after your monumental failure. It was only fair that you suffered as well. So, you grew accustomed to feeling bereft until Joker came along.
He was like an explosion to your senses. A hot, blistering heat that threatened to consume you whole. The mere thought of him was perpetually dangerous to your psyche. A thousand reasons screamed at you to cease thought immediately. Stick to your role. Duty. Duty over emotions and yet you could not stop reminiscing about him. The texture of his gloves against your skin, the vibrant hue of his eyes staring into your soul.
You never had a connection link this intense. In all honesty, you never had a relation like this with any being. Perhaps that’s why it felt so strange.
When your fingers grazed his skin, you swore fire was shut up in your bones. Something from deep within came alive and you feared the damage it would leave in its wake. How could a mere human make you feel this way? And why now? Why did your senses suddenly return with this new assignment or better yet, why did it leave you in the first place?
Such questions prodded your mind to the point you lost awareness of your surroundings.
The sirens in the distance drew closer as you perched upon your balcony. One of your legs hung freely over the ledge while your back remained propped up on the concrete wall of your building. The sudden police presence below did not bother you the longer you sat lost in thought. Blue and red lights flashed across your torn face, creating quite the sight for your intruder.
He almost felt bad for startling you, almost.
The creak of your door opening snapped you back into focus. That someone was able to catch you off guard was troubling, you quickly perished the thought. Angelic instincts screamed at you to react—to take flight, do anything to avoid falling nine stories like a helpless human, but you were masquerading as a human. So, when in Rome.
You sighed in defeat as you lost your balance and began toppling over the balcony.
Never did you expect Joker to yank you back towards solid ground. The two of you fell back onto the balcony a pile of panting idiots, very much at a loss for words. You were in shock that your charge was here, that he saved you.. and more concerning, as to why you didn’t sense him. Again.
Joker was battling a similar situation. Of all the places in Gotham why did he seek shelter from you? He’d been evading police all afternoon bleeding well into the night and each step he took brought him right to your doorstep.
He told himself to stay far away from you but when did his subconscious ever listen? Joker’s chest tightened when he saw your apartment complex looming ahead. Were you home? Could he see you again? Was it worth the risk of being caught? Better yet. Why did he care so much about you to risk the chance?
That weird feeling plagued him again only this time, he didn’t shy away from it. He wasted enough energy thinking about you, might as well rip the Band-Aid off and figure out your deal. Maybe he would finally get the answers he so desperately craved, then he could move on with his nefarious plans in peace.
He took the stairs all the way to your front door on autopilot and broke in with ease.
Whatever adrenaline Joker was running on abruptly ended the moment he stepped foot inside your place. The apartment remained barren. No personal effects, no inviting warmth just enough furnishings to meet basic human needs; if that. Joker lived out his days in between safe houses and hideouts, but this residence was different. The only area that showed signs of life was your bedroom.
Everything was pristine; no clutter on the dressers, no clothes on the floor, however books appearing older than time itself were stacked on the nightstand and more tucked inside strange-looking chests on the floor. Loose papers were strewn atop and shockingly enough, the glass that Joker broke days prior remained on the floor like freshly fallen snow.
His boots crunched it finer as he familiarized himself with your room. The bed was unmade and an unnatural scent emitted from it that had Joker fighting its allure. It was a dark mysterious aroma that clogged his throat with a sharp medicinal chaser. Peculiar was the only valid description for your scent.
You spent time in this bed. Joker willed himself away lest he fell prey as well.
He had a hunch that you were near. The bathroom and attached closet were empty and he thought of returning to the front to await your return when he spotted the cracked door leading outside. There.
You were like those angel statues in Gotham Park. An ethereal beauty carved out of stone forever frozen in time. He dared not to blink or the image of you might vanish.
Time may have truly frozen because Joker found himself lurking in the shadows watching you fall deeper in thought. An adorable pout adorned your face and his own lips twitched in a phantom smile witnessing it. Did you ever smile? You were a rather aloof individual. It wouldn’t kill you to smile.
Maybe he could help with that, the killing part that is. He was still on the fence if he should keep you alive or not. In time he could probably adjust to your peculiar nature but was it worth the constant headaches and stress? That was still up for debate.
Joker shifted his weight and in the process leaned more on the door. The responding creak shattered your focus and launched the two of you back to present tense.
You had yet to realize you were straddling Joker although he wasn’t complaining. You were radiant with the moon and stars serving as your halo. The wild curls of your hair took life with the sudden breeze, and your e/c eyes wait… He must be seeing things. Were your eyes glowing?
Joker couldn’t resist reaching up to brush a strand of your hair back but you jerked away, blinking wildly. The mysterious glow was gone before he could question it further. Maybe he was losing it after all.
In more pressing matters, Joker took offense to your hasty retreat. “Mm what’s this? Is my lit-tle birdie skittish?”
The odd name hit too close to home. Your defenses rose even higher as a result. “Why are you here?”
You did not hear him come in. Were you losing your skills or was this man not human? You had yet to determine his identity, however, now was not the time for doubt. You demanded answers.
“Would ya believe me if I said I was in the err… neigh-bore-hood?” Joker leaned back on his elbows with a smug grin. The flood of blue and red lights did him many a favor. A handsome man in his own unique way (if one ignored his scars) but leagues below your radar.
As if you could ever look at a human in such a manner.
You ignored his words and rose to your feet brushing off nonexistent dust. You were treating almost falling to your death remarkably well. Like the peculiar thing you are, Joker thought. Always full of surprises.
He was glad he stopped by. Like a drug, this short encounter improved his entire day. The little fights he had with Bats were amusing but he could never hold a flame to you. Joker had a shiny new toy to play with. He just had to break you in a bit.
You stood over Joker, blissfully unaware of his sinister thoughts, when a series of loud poundings originated from your front door. Neither you nor Joker moved to answer it. Joker watched in real time as your face morphed from annoyance into stony indifference. He audibly gulped.
“Heh, where ya going, angel?” Joker asked your retreating form. You sent a sharp glare over your shoulder at his choice of words. You never knew if he was joking about or if he knew your true nature.
He had seconds to hide before you opened the door to the sight of two police officers each holding flashlights.
One had a standoffish air akin to your own; the other took one look at you from top to bottom before plastering a flirtatious smirk on his face. It was like Ario in human form.
“Evening ma’am. We’re searching the premises for a wanted criminal. Mind if we check you out?” His partner elbowed him in the side, “I mean check your place.” He corrected himself with a airy chuckle. You hardly paid him any mind.
Your focus was on Joker or rather, his absence. You couldn’t sense him like you normal could, so you had to play this by ear. Luckily, no premonitions entered your subconscious. Joker’s life was not at risk although that did not mean he was safe. Nothing ever went accordingly with that man.
You eyed the two men in uniform, “Warrant.”
The tough cop responded after a pause. “Don’t need one, mandatory searches. Are you gonna make this difficult ma’am?”
To prove his point, you saw another officer down the hall barge into your neighbor’s unit without much preamble. You heard shouts and outrage from various tenants and the faint barks of canine as they searched each floor. The entire precinct was here on a warpath.
They were searching for Joker, and they meant business. This human never stayed out of trouble.
A wise warrior knew when to concede. You stepped aside for the police to enter. “Search as you please. There are none here but I.”
They shared a look after hearing your strange turn of phrase. Odd but they heard worse. The charismatic cop took note of your sparse furniture and arched an eyebrow, “You live here?”
His partner shined a flashlight onto your balcony, finding nothing amiss. He then stepped into your bedroom around the corner thinking the same thing. The place screamed model apartment There was nothing to prove that you stayed here. They eyed you pensively once more.
You really had to humanize the place. “Yes, is that a problem?” you sighed.
You made yourself comfortable at the kitchen island with the hopes of appearing innocent. You had nothing to hide except a murderous clown. Was he still in the apartment, you couldn’t tell. Even his heartbeat was too faint for your supernatural ears to detect.
“Uh n-no, not a problem it’s just ya know.. Empty.” The cop noted. He was doing a thorough search of your kitchen space. Like Joker was hiding away in the cabinets. It was just an excuse to talk with you. He became the perfect target for what you had in store.
You crafted a low-level glamor right as he glanced at you, “I travel for work. Therefore, I am never home.”
“Oh yea?” He giggled like a teen and ran his hand through his hair. Poor thing thought you were actively flirting with him. Whatever got his mind away from reality. He would have a nasty headache later though.
That was one down. You set your sights on the other officer inspecting your bedroom.
There weren’t many hiding spots inside the apartment for Joker to choose from. If he wasn’t on the balcony then he must be in the walk-in closet. You had to act fast before things took a turn. You sent a strong delusion to the last officer and sat back in your chair pleased with the results.
It was amusing to see their primitive brains subjected to your illusions. Like lost little sheep you herded them towards the front door; not once did they check the bathroom or closet therein although one came rather close.
“All clear. Sorry to intrude, miss. Stay safe.” One mumbled. “Yeah, don’t hesitate to call me if you see any suspicious activity. Or if you need some company.”
You held the door open with glowing eyes. “Take care gentlemen.” Hardly a second passed after closing the door, Joker stood before you with a curious gleam in his eye.
He was this close to being discovered but right when the cop was about to open the bathroom door, he was called away. It left Joker feeling uneasy but nothing ever made sense when you were involved. Somehow he knew you were responsible for this. Just like everything else that left foggy gaps in his mind. You were always the culprit.
Joker got right to the point, “Why did ya help me?”
You scoffed and brushed past him. “I know not of which you speak.” you mentally cringed. Whatever happened to dialing back your angelic dialect around Joker? Apparently, all logical thought escaped you whenever he was present.
He had that same face as the officers from earlier. Who talks like that? It made you correct yourself. “You don’t need my help, Joker.”
He filed the way your lips uttered his name for later. For now, he stalked forward to grab your arm. “I should kill you.”
You shuddered from the jolt of electricity running up your arm. This man. He had no business controlling your emotions with a single touch. His threat actually held weight. It was possible for him to achieve such ambitions.
You tried to appear strong when you locked eyes, even as a whimper got stuck in the back of your throat. “Then do so.” You knew he wouldn’t.
More doors slammed shut in the background with faint yelling mixed in.
The police were now searching the lower levels in earnest. It wouldn’t be safe for Joker to leave for at least a few more hours. You were stuck with him for the night. A night that you wished to spend in solitude. Maybe scan a few more tomes to decipher the mystery standing before you.
As you were itching to understand Joker, he too was desperate for the truth.
He couldn’t think straight around you. The full picture was constantly missing key pieces and you didn’t help fill in the gaps—rather you created deeper ones with cryptic words and that mesmerizing stare of yours. It sucked him in with no possibility of escape. So empty. So… compelling.
Times like this when Joker stared into your eyes he wondered who was playing with who. As much as he should keep his distance or just flat out kill you, Joker was right where he wanted to be. All tangled up in your chaotic web.
“Who are you.” Joker whispered.
If you weren’t blessed with angelic hearing, you would have missed his question. The depth of it put you on edge, but you had to feign ignorance. If you were to continue your duty as Joker’s guardian angel, he would only know your human form.
Joker forced your hand in that bank and now he would suffer the consequences of knowing you exist. That reality came with confusion and disappointment; something he would do well adjusting to.
You could take your own advice. Joker was just a man, even if a little broken. He was insignificant compared to your greater being. Why did you allow this human to stir up your mind in such a way? To assume he was a fellow angel was a silly notion. You were simply rusty from the years without an assignment. Once you fell back into the swing of things, Joker would not affect you so.
You played this game for centuries, and you refused for a mere human to turn the tables on you. With that in mind, your lips cracked its first genuine smile in over a millennia.
Joker’s grip fell from your arm, which allowed you to slip away towards your bedroom. You stopped and granted your guest some semblance of hospitality along the way.
“The GCPD are all about the building and will persist their efforts for some time. It is best if you stay here until they leave.” You gestured to the living room and encouraged him to make himself comfortable. Not like he would.
Joker watched you disappear into your room, already feeling a migraine forming.
All you ever did was deflect and hide more pieces to the puzzle from him. Enough was enough. So what if he has a strange attraction to you? In time it would fade. Who cares if you are mildly fascinating? That initial appeal had worn off days ago. He would rather check into Arkham Asylum than stay another minute in your presence. It was at that moment he decided on his next course of action.
Joker had to kill you.