What Happens In Arkham...Part 12
Title: What happens In Arkham...Part 12
Authors:
knives99 and heatherhouse .
Fandom: Batman; Nolanverse
Pairing: Batman(Bruce)/The Joker
Rating: R
Summary: Bruce Wayne goes to Arkham in search of The Joker's Secrets and Identity and ends up with more then he bargined for.
Warnings: Slash, Violence, Swearing, Sex.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters and no profit is being made here. Batman and the Joker do not belong to me or my co-author.
A/N: This is a RP run story between me and my co-authorknives99 . Knives plays Joker and Gordon while I play Bruce/Batman and Alfred.
Bruce pulled him in tighter and combed Jacks wet hair aside to kiss his throat, hot breath still not completely back to a normal rhythm as he trailed a path down. His hand reached for the taps and the water was suddenly shut off, leaving the steam and each other to fight off the chill as Bruce began to move them backwards, mouth fastened to collar bone as he sucked the skin between his teeth, desperate to make a mark.
Jack’s cock twitched as Bruce began to worry his collar with love marks. He moaned and tried to close the space between them to renew the warmth he’d lost from the shower.
But Bruce didn't touch him, in fact his arms loosened so that there bodies only met where hands and lips made contact. Bruce moved his hands to Jack's hips to make sure it stayed that way, guiding the other man from bathroom to bedroom without having to relinquish his attentions to segue them.
In seconds he felt the bedside against the back of his knees and he gave to fall back on it. His heart was beating hard in inside his chest when he hit the soft expensive sheets and slid his legs around Bruce and purred,” Don’t be gentle.”
Bruce grinned against Jack's chest as he lightly bit a nipple. 'That's not the plan, Jack,' he hummed to himself as he blew air over the skin he'd just had his teeth on. He just wasn't about to tell the man what his plan was.
But a sudden sharp rap on the door blanked out Bruce's brain. Giving him enough time to grab the sheet more on reflex then thought out move. Unfortunately it really only covered so much as Alfred walked in and stopped abruptly in his tracks.
A pout quickly graced Jack’s scarred face and he glared death at Alfred. How dare he interrupt them at such an intimate time! He wrapped himself tighter around Bruce, pulling him down into him more. He didn’t want to waste time talking to the butler when they were so close to….
"Yes Alfred?" Bruce said, trying to sound casual, but it was difficult with a determined man wrapped around you.
Alfred finally stopped his stare down with Jack to switch a disapproving look to Bruce, he was expecting that. He'd been barged in upon with many woman in the past but the Joker was definitely an exception that wasn't winning him any popularity points with Alfred. Still, he was surprised the man hadn't committed him yet.
"I was just coming in to say that breakfast is waiting, but if you're too busy at the moment.."
"No, we'll be there in a minute." Bruce cut in. He sent a look at Jack that quite simply said 'Please'.
Jack gave Bruce a shocked angry look before growling and relenting on his grip around the man above him. The clown remained on his back on the bed, his soggy blonde hair soaking the sheets, and glared daggers at Alfred, ‘I’ll get you for that one..’
Alfred nodded curtly and left as Bruce felt Jack let him go, it was like being let loose from a binding before you were ready for it. "I'm sorry," he said, a little edge of easy sarcasm showing up in his voice. "But I haven't eaten since you broke out, and I doubt you have either. So you can just lie here all day or get dressed long enough to join me." He wasn't lost on the oddity of it.
He didn’t answer and got up from the bed quickly going after the clothes he’d discarded on the floor. The clown slipped into his boxers then the rest of his clothes Alfred had given to him. Sighing he tried to think of anything to will away the obvious aching stiffness in his pants. He sat down on the edge of the bed letting his hand traveled down his stomach and rubbed over the bulge.
Bruce disappeared for a moment and came back with a towel which he dropped on Jack's head as he passed, rubbing his own short hair dry as he pulled on a pair of jeans and a button up shirt. "If you start dripping all over the penthouse it will only give him another reason," Bruce explained as his bare feet padded over to the bed where he pulled on his watch. "I don't even get away with it."
The moment the towel landed on his soggy head he growled low and started to violently rub the cloth on his head,” He raised you?”
Bruce nodded. "Since I was eight, he didn't have to but he did." He said, imagined a girl with pigtails waving goodbye on the same day that guardianship started. He looked down at Jack, busy his hands by combing his hair back in place. "You might not want to mention the party," he said slowly, almost unsure as he said the last part. "And please don't talk about Rachel around Alfred. She was...important to him, like she was to me. I think it's already too soon to be staring at her killer without having to talk about it." He swallowed and went back to folding down his collar.
Jack got up mumbling in a low voice,” Blah blah blah blah blah…” He would listen but he’d do things his own way. He was the Joker dammit not a trained puppy on a leash. Deal or no deal he was still going to get even with the damn butler for the interruption.
Bruce watched Jack numbly, wondering if he'd actually expected compassion from the other man. Strangely enough it still stung when he acted like himself. "Right, food." He said as he brushed past Jack and opened the door, leading him out into the kitchen.
Bruce didn't like using the dining room when it was just he and Alfred and he certainly wasn't going to break his habit now. Breakfast was already spread out on the kitchen counter, two seats pulled up to the attached buffet. Alfred was serving out portions when they came out, Bruce took in a deep breath scented with eggs, jam and sausage and gave Alfred an appreciative smile. "Smells amazing," he said honestly, hoping and receiving a small smile in response from Alfred. Well it was something.
He paused once in the vicinity of Alfred and stared at him. Taking him in and sizing him up before exhaling hard and walking past him to his chair and pulling the towel from his head to hang around his shoulders. Food.. He stared at it, wondering. Then his eyes wandered back to the butler. He didn’t pick up a fork but glanced over to Bruce and smiled at him. He put his elbow on the table and rested his head against his hand watching him.
Bruce, out of habit, had started in on his food without a thought. But midway through chewing his eggs the silence got his attention. He looked up to see Alfred giving Jack a strange look. Not angry or kind, just curious. It made Bruce turn to Jack and raised an eyebrow at the sudden scrutiny. He swallowed. "Not eating again?" He asked, remembering the force feeding session from Arkham all too well. And not planning on a repeat.
He glared back at Alfred and looked at Bruce with a smile," Not...right now."
Bruce let out a frustrated noise and picked up Jack's plate and switched it with his own. He took a pointed fork full of food and washed it down with coffee, raising his hands to show he was in fact, not dead. Alfred suddenly looked affronted as the gist of Jack's reasoning.
Then the butler snorted in a very English way as he turned to clear away some pots. "It's not as if I hadn't bloody thought of it." He mumbled.
He smiled big noticing a small bit of egg on Bruce’s chin. Reaching out he pinched it and brought it back to his own mouth and ate it. Jack was treating this entire breakfast thing like it was some big joke.
Bruce went still, coffee cup still to his lips as he watched Jack. His eyes flicked to Alfred who had missed the little gesture.
"Oh, and Master Bruce. Mister Fox called, he said you're expected at Wayne Enterprises today for that meeting with Lex Industries." Alfred said without turning.
Jack looked smug and then started to play with the eating utensils like a kid. He hung the spoon off his nose and then held in his laughter from the success of looking like a fool. It fell off and clattered to the floor. An annoyed huff left him and he leaned over in the chair dramatically to go after the fork.
Bruce went from smirking at Jack's unusual use of silverware to groaning at Alfred's news. "Can't you tell Fox I'm a little busy?" He asked.
"I did mention it, sir. But he was rather insistent that you not reschedule a third time as you were the one who wanted to sit in on this meeting in the first place." Alfred said, raising an eyebrow at Bruce.
He knew what that meant. His other past 'emergencies' had kept him from his duties, this was not another reason to add. Bruce sighed. "Fine."
“Wait, what about me?” He dropped the fork on his plate and frowned. Bruce wasn’t really just going to abandon him here with…the butler…to go see other people was he?
"You stay here," Bruce said simply, finishing his coffee and grabbing a piece of toast. "I'll be gone two hours, three at the most. I'm sure you can survive that long without me."
"But, Master Bruce," Alfred began, looking cautious.
He would have laughed if he wasn't leaving a psychotic murderer with his butler. "And not try to kill each other while I'm gone." It wasn't a joke.
Jack grabbed a handful of still wet hair and looked to be thinking really hard,’ Two or three hours…?’ How was he supposed to last two or three hours without Bruce there to correct him if he slipped? This was a test and he knew it.
Bruce looked at Alfred and the man sighed, nodding as he left them alone. He turned to Jack and reached up to ply the hand gently from his hair. "Jack, listen to me. I'm coming back," he smiled. "This is my house, where else am I supposed to go?"
He let Bruce take his hand away and grabbed on to his," I-I don't know." Jack kept his eyes down on the table.
"I don't know what to do to make you believe me." Bruce said honestly, closing his fingers around the grasping hand.
“I can wait. Just don't lie like in Arkham. I don't want to get stuck here with the butler like you left me with that stupid doctor." He squeezed Bruce's hand and then leaned into him.” It’s hard...to ignore the laughter with you gone."
Bruce took in a slow breath, he didn't want Alfred ending up like the doctor. "Just wait for me and don't do anything...rash." It was the best word he could come up with. "You can call me if it gets too loud." He promised.
“I can wait. I'll wait right here if you want me to." He said softly. Meaning it. Jack was so much like a child it was surprising. He seemed to be like the type of little boy who loved to follow mommy around the house clutching her skirt. The type that was afraid to be alone or sleep in the darkness of the bedroom out of fear a monster was under his bed. He also seemed very loving when it came to people he considered special to him. The blonde man smiled then moved quickly into Bruce’s lap and hugged his head against his chest,” I’ll wait anywhere you want if your coming back. Just...if you're not back by night I’ll be coming to find you.”
Bruce was shocked. All the affection he'd ever received from Jack had been hard won and usually took at least an hour to coax out. This was just...sudden, unexpected. So he was a moment behind before his arms wrapped around a killer and felt fine with it. "You won't have to do that," he said, looking up at the ceiling at the implications of those words and took in a calming breath. It was a clear warning. Be back before dark or the Joker would be back. He was just amazed that Jack was really trying to fend him off.
He put his hands on Bruce's face and pushed his mouth against his. Then broke away after a second," Then you pinky swear you'll be back?"
He held up his hand pinky out.
Bruce had no time to react to the kiss before he looked down at the pinky with an amused smile. "You're serious?"
"When have I ever been serious?"
Bruce nodded his head. "Good point." He said, sticking out his own pinky and wondering if they had to spit into their palms next.
He hooked his finger around Bruce's and said the silly little thing that went with it then again with no warning pushed his mouth against Bruce's and tried not to laugh.
Bruce was getting used to these sloppy kisses, finding it strange that he was getting used to them. And waited till the kiss ended to speak. "Now, the sooner you get off my lap the sooner I'll be back."
A tiny pout,” You’re no fun.” He got back into his own chair and crossed his legs. ‘Now you going to tell him you miss him little Jack?’ A voice in his head said then giggled. Jack’s goofy pout left slowly and he glanced down at the floor.
Bruce stood and grasped Jack's chin, turning it up. "You make up for my lapses." He said with a smirk before he kissed the man thoroughly and left to get changed.
Jack watched Bruce walk and disappear behind a door to get ready for his meeting. This was the moment all he had pushed back retaliated with painful laughter ringing through his head. That growling voice mocking him in the back of his mind, 'You won’t make it! You won’t make it! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-' He grabbed his head and curled forward before springing into action. Running at top speed he quickly went from a couch to the room with the elevator. He sat next to it’s doors hugging a decorative pillow tight against his chest and waited patiently for Bruce to pass by with hopes for another kiss.
It was twenty minutes before Bruce came back out as the Prince of Gotham. Hair slicked back and clean shaven, tailored charcoal suit and dress shoes. He was fixing his cufflinks when he came out and noticed Jack sitting at the elevator cuddling one of the throw pillows Alfred had talked him into buying. Bruce raised an eyebrow and walked over as Alfred handed him the folder for the Lex meeting that he'd kept at the penthouse. "You're not going to be sitting there when I get back, are you?" He asked teasingly.
“Maybe.” He smiled. Jack let the pillow rest on his lap and looked up at Bruce with tired eyes. He’d only slept for as long a Bruce had..
Bruce smirked, the man in front of him was just an anxious bundle of nerves and it pulled him in, made him want to hesitate at the door. Mindful of Alfred at his back he bent down and pressed his mouth against Jacks for a fleeting moment, leaving behind a whiff of cologne and after shave as he locked eyes with Jack. "Get some sleep," he said before getting into the elevator.
Bruce's last sight before the doors closed was Jack touching his ruined mouth with his fingers and watching him go with a hint of worry in his eyes. Where he sat patiently he felt his broken mind ask, 'Is it funny now?' His hand moved up to his hair and grabbed. He needed a distraction, one that would last three hours. Standing up he walked towards Bruce's room with an air of stress about him. He could already hear the laughter starting up in the back of his mind trying to desperately clawing its way to the front for giddy control.
He rushed out of the bedroom and then into the kitchen searching around. He found highlighters, pens, pencils, and papers of all kinds and brought them into the room with the elevator and started to draw. Scribble, Scribble, Scribble . He was on all fours on the floor drawing all over papers. His breathing a little hard and eager as he broke open a red pen and started to finger paint with the ink. Creativity could help pass the time!
Alfred was never far behind the manic man, he'd been a little worried during the kitchen scramble, his memory detailing the placement of each knife. But he was surprised that, instead of weaponry the lad had armed himself with arts and crafts supplies.
Cleaning up after breakfast was a sound excuse to stay close by and keep an eye on the man, and it looked like he'd have another mess to clean up before Master Bruce came home if the Joker kept on snapping pens open.
‘Don’tstopdon’tstopdon’tstop..’ His mind raced those words back and forth to battle the aching laughter that was trying to break through to the front of his mind again. The stink from the markers and pens were starting to burn his nose and eyes making his skin itch with anger. His drawings varied from finger paint doodles and clever sketches to violent stick figure deaths and mutilations. Soon the drawing became unbearable and he started to tear up the sheets of paper. This wasn’t going to do..
He could only see a sideways peripheral of the paintings from where he was, but the amount of red helped him get the basic idea. The smattering of red on both the Joker's hands and face unnerved Alfred, looking too much like blood for his own liking. He kept his back to the butcher block as he cleared away dishes.
"Perhaps if you used another color." He suggested lightly, as he watched the man act like a five year old with a temper tantrum.
He glared at the old man and then down at the paper,” I’m not doing it because I want to.” He smacked the papers away from himself and sat back on his heels.
Jack rocked silently for a few moments before an idea hit him. He rushed to the closest TV and turned it on. He looked for a music channel and turned up the volume as loud as he could and began practically bouncing off the walls; doing anything he could think of to exhaust himself. Well, this managed to block out the faint laughter in his head and it definitely was something to burn up the energy he really didn’t have since he never typically slept unmedicated. The music station was blasting Van Halen’s old hit of ‘Hot for Teacher‘ while the tornado incarnate Joker went wild in the living room. He tossed pillows around and sang along with it really loud.
Alfred watched with wide eyes at the impromptu head banging session and had a moments weakness where he wished he could call Bruce back. But instead he sighed and went over to clean up the mess of pens and paper before they could stain the floor. He dumped the broken bits and kept the drawings for Bruce to look at later. Judging by lack of sleep, lack of food and the rate at which the man was destroying the living room, Alfred was relieved. At this rate when the Joker hit his peek of energy he'd sleep long enough for Bruce to get back and then some.
As if someone had pushed a button in his head he wandered from the living room to around the halls and started to dig around in things. Exploring items and making messes. Soon he got the idea to go to Bruce’s room and help himself to exploring in there. Surprisingly the panic room never came to mind. Yet, he was VERY interested in helping himself to Bruce’s dresser and what was in the side table drawers of his bed. Condoms, lube, diaphragms, a sex toy, body oil, and ladies lingerie. He laughed and once he’d pretty much ruined Bruce’s room he got the evil idea of putting on the skimpy lingerie colored all black and skid down the hall again to find Alfred,” Hey! Look what I found!”
The only betrayal of shock on Alfred's features by the Joker skidding in half naked was the sudden redness in his face and the stiff way he went to rearrange the living room back into order. He'd leave the bedroom for last.
'Half of Gotham better bloody well be on fire the next time I'm asked to babysit, ' Alfred thought viciously.
"I don't think Master Bruce would be too amused with your choice of clothing..." He paused, realizing that calling him Joker was probably not in his best interest. But he wasn't sure if Jack was a pet name, as disturbing as that thought was, or his actual name. "Listen lad, what am I supposed to be calling you?" He finally asked with a tinge of exasperation, though he kept his eyes on the scarred face when he turned to the man.
An almost evil looking grin," The Joker." He did a handstand and tried to walk on his hands in the outfit. “And I think Bruce wouldn’t care...what I have on. As long as its fun to take off."
Alfred watched with all the detachment afforded him by over thirty years of service to the Wayne family and the experience of raising a young boy on his own. Still, this did take the cake when it came to strangeness, even in this household.
But he did have the boy talking and not growling at him for the first time which was an improvement. "I suppose Jack is something you've given solely to Master Bruce then?" He asked, straightening a few pillows and righting a lamp that had somehow not been broken in the dancing.
He fell over and shifted so he was sitting up on the floor," Given..?" Obviously this old man thought that he was feeling human feelings like normal people for Bruce. He frowned and slid the upper half of the outfit off," I can't sleep." He put his arms around himself and rocked a moment. Distressed. He didn’t know what to do with himself and the lack of sleep was making things even harder.
"What did they usually to give you to sleep?" He asked curiously, taking the over stalked medicine chest to mind.
A dark look came on his face," You just want to drug me…I don’t trust you Jeeves.” He growled in his best Joker voice.
"Well, it's either take something to help you sleep or run yourself out so badly that by the time you do chance to wake up, Master Bruce will be ready to turn in himself." He said carefully, like bribing a small child with ice cream if he cleaned his room.
Jack put his arms around himself and stared down at the floor unsure about this. If he rested Bruce would be back and he’d have the energy to play, but if he took the meds to sleep he’d be leaving himself vulnerable and in the butlers hands. He stared untrustingly up at Alfred for a few moments before he relented,” He’ll come back? I won’t wake up in a cell?”
"After all the trouble he went to this morning to keep you out of one, I don't think so." His lips twitched into a weak smile and he began to see the cracks Bruce had found where the man had started to shine through the monster.
He held out his hand," Just this time.."
Alfred nodded, understanding the gesture as a hesitant trust not in himself but Bruce's promise to the madman. "Do you know what it was?"
“It was in a needle. I don't know. It was probably a powerful form of Valium."
"Valium we have. And since you've haven't eaten anything yet," this part sounded like disapproval, a tone he was used to taking with Bruce. "Then a regular amount should do the trick. Now go lay down and I'll bring it to you."
Joker wandered into Bruce's bedroom and curled up in the sheets. Willingly taking a drugging…he’d come a long way to keep his deal with Bruce. Laughter made his head ache as it switched on and off in powerful bursts.
Alfred wasn't long before he came back with the pills and a glass of water, both of which he handed over to the Joker.
He hesitated. Then looking determined he tossed back the pills and downed them. He looked tragic after swallowing them down. How could he have done that?
"You'll be up in time for dinner," Alfred said assumingly before he turned to leave the room. Then remembering his untouched plate this morning, he turned at the doorway. "And just so I know my cooking won't go to waste, what do you eat?"
“Sugar. " He said simply and laid back. Looking worried and unsure about what he'd just done. He curled up into the sheets and nuzzled his face into Bruce’s pillows.
Alfred paused. "Sugar?" He repeated and shook his head before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.
~~
Bruce arrived back an hour later then planned, he didn't even wait to buzz the penthouse, instead using a keycard to override the alarms on the elevator and go up unannounced. His foot tapped anxiously as he waited in the lift for what felt like an eternity. It had taken a week for Jack to fall back into himself last time, but he didn't want to take any chances.
When the doors opened he was greeted by the sight of an empty apartment, looking exactly how he'd left it and the same classical music playing in the background that Alfred preferred. He set down his keys hesitantly, something about this wasn't right. He was so in tune with every noise he heard that a voice nearly made him jump out of his skin.
"Finally back then, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked, a small smile on his face from be able to sneak up on the young man.
Bruce whipped around and glared at Alfred. Well that was one unmaimed person accounted for, but he wasn't going to put it past Alfred being able to clean up a body and make it impossible for a full force forensics team to find any evidence that he did it.
"Luther didn't want to deal the way I wanted so he's invited me to Metropolis at a later date so I can see the company workings firsthand. Where's Jack?" He said without pausing for breath.
"Sleeping," Alfred said simply. "Though I do think you'll need to have a talk with him about appropriate sleeping attire sometime."
"Sleeping? How'd you manage that one with the penthouse still intact?" Bruce asked curiously.
Alfred shrugged. "A few Valium and a glass of water." He quickly held his hand up as Bruce straightened. "And before you rant to me about the misuse of pharmaceuticals to make my job easier, Master Bruce. Allow me to tell you that this was after he tore apart the living room and his little Frank-n-Furter impression. And to ease your worries further, he took them willingly." He explained.
Bruce raised an eyebrow, not knowing exactly where to begin asking what had happened. "How and why did you give him drugs?" He asked. "He hated taking them at Arkham."
"He said he couldn't sleep. He was against taking them at first, but when I explained it would take away from time with you if he didn't get any sleep at all he relented." Alfred said as he reached for the damaged stack of pictures. "He did draw these, right after you left. He wasn't happy with them afterwards. Starting tearing them up when he seemed to realize what he was doing. He told me, 'I'm not doing it because I want to' and then started doing whatever he could to wear himself out."
Bruce took the drawings of murder and mutilation, stick figures of pent up rage. His eyes narrowed. "He's trying to exercise the Joker," he said with realization, running a hand over his face. "Trying to keep him at bay in whatever way he can." He set the disturbing pictures aside, looking at Alfred. "Did he say anything else?"
"Only enough to say that your plan's working. Whoever that young man in there is, his complete fixation is on Bruce Wayne." He said, pointing to the bedroom. "I didn't even hear a peep out of him about Batman." This gave the older man pause and his eyes settled on Bruce seriously. "How exactly do you plan on going out at night if only a few hours away makes him this anxious?"
Bruce suddenly stood, moving to shrug his jacket off. "I don't, Alfred. Gordon and his men can take care of city for a while. Consider it Batman's much needed vacation." He said with a smirk before folding the jacket over his arm and looking towards the bedroom. "Besides, what I'm doing right now is keeping Gotham safer then just patrolling the streets can do."
"Are you sure that's such a good idea, sir?" Alfred asked, pulling Bruce's attention back. "He's not the only one who's becoming infatuated. I've seen the way you've treated your flings and I've seen the way you treat your enemies, both Batman's and Bruce Wayne's. And this is more then that. You might not have planned it that way and I understand why you see hope in him. I saw it this afternoon. But he's far from fixable. You need to remember that."
Bruce's face darkened, jaw clamping shut and for a dark moment the cowl wasn't necessary to see what lie underneath the calm exterior. "Jack deserves a chance. He's shown that he wasn't always the Joker, there's someone under there worth saving."
Alfred nodded without hesitation. "Yes, one day, a long time ago I have no doubt that he was a decent man. No one is born with blades and gasoline as playthings. But that day is far and away from here and all you have are a couple of good days amid all the insanity." He said.
"He only broke out of Arkham because I wasn't there when I told him I would be," Bruce said harshly. It was the one thing he knew for sure.
"That may be true," Alfred agreed. "But what happens when you can't be there for him, or you have to break a promise? Or god forbid, if you have to bring out Batman or he gets tired of living the rest of his life in this penthouse?" He asked, letting all the scenarios run through Bruce's well strategized mind. "You can't spend the rest of your life hoping for a good day."
Bruce thought about what Alfred told him. All of them ended in wild laughter and explosions, it left him speechless.
Alfred sighed and took pity on the young man, patting his shoulder. "And today is a good day, so it works in our favor." He said assuredly, squeezing with a strong hand. "I'm going to start dinner, you should check on him."
Authors:
knives99 and heatherhouse .Fandom: Batman; Nolanverse
Pairing: Batman(Bruce)/The Joker
Rating: R
Summary: Bruce Wayne goes to Arkham in search of The Joker's Secrets and Identity and ends up with more then he bargined for.
Warnings: Slash, Violence, Swearing, Sex.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters and no profit is being made here. Batman and the Joker do not belong to me or my co-author.
A/N: This is a RP run story between me and my co-author
knives99 . Knives plays Joker and Gordon while I play Bruce/Batman and Alfred. Bruce pulled him in tighter and combed Jacks wet hair aside to kiss his throat, hot breath still not completely back to a normal rhythm as he trailed a path down. His hand reached for the taps and the water was suddenly shut off, leaving the steam and each other to fight off the chill as Bruce began to move them backwards, mouth fastened to collar bone as he sucked the skin between his teeth, desperate to make a mark.
Jack’s cock twitched as Bruce began to worry his collar with love marks. He moaned and tried to close the space between them to renew the warmth he’d lost from the shower.
But Bruce didn't touch him, in fact his arms loosened so that there bodies only met where hands and lips made contact. Bruce moved his hands to Jack's hips to make sure it stayed that way, guiding the other man from bathroom to bedroom without having to relinquish his attentions to segue them.
In seconds he felt the bedside against the back of his knees and he gave to fall back on it. His heart was beating hard in inside his chest when he hit the soft expensive sheets and slid his legs around Bruce and purred,” Don’t be gentle.”
Bruce grinned against Jack's chest as he lightly bit a nipple. 'That's not the plan, Jack,' he hummed to himself as he blew air over the skin he'd just had his teeth on. He just wasn't about to tell the man what his plan was.
But a sudden sharp rap on the door blanked out Bruce's brain. Giving him enough time to grab the sheet more on reflex then thought out move. Unfortunately it really only covered so much as Alfred walked in and stopped abruptly in his tracks.
A pout quickly graced Jack’s scarred face and he glared death at Alfred. How dare he interrupt them at such an intimate time! He wrapped himself tighter around Bruce, pulling him down into him more. He didn’t want to waste time talking to the butler when they were so close to….
"Yes Alfred?" Bruce said, trying to sound casual, but it was difficult with a determined man wrapped around you.
Alfred finally stopped his stare down with Jack to switch a disapproving look to Bruce, he was expecting that. He'd been barged in upon with many woman in the past but the Joker was definitely an exception that wasn't winning him any popularity points with Alfred. Still, he was surprised the man hadn't committed him yet.
"I was just coming in to say that breakfast is waiting, but if you're too busy at the moment.."
"No, we'll be there in a minute." Bruce cut in. He sent a look at Jack that quite simply said 'Please'.
Jack gave Bruce a shocked angry look before growling and relenting on his grip around the man above him. The clown remained on his back on the bed, his soggy blonde hair soaking the sheets, and glared daggers at Alfred, ‘I’ll get you for that one..’
Alfred nodded curtly and left as Bruce felt Jack let him go, it was like being let loose from a binding before you were ready for it. "I'm sorry," he said, a little edge of easy sarcasm showing up in his voice. "But I haven't eaten since you broke out, and I doubt you have either. So you can just lie here all day or get dressed long enough to join me." He wasn't lost on the oddity of it.
He didn’t answer and got up from the bed quickly going after the clothes he’d discarded on the floor. The clown slipped into his boxers then the rest of his clothes Alfred had given to him. Sighing he tried to think of anything to will away the obvious aching stiffness in his pants. He sat down on the edge of the bed letting his hand traveled down his stomach and rubbed over the bulge.
Bruce disappeared for a moment and came back with a towel which he dropped on Jack's head as he passed, rubbing his own short hair dry as he pulled on a pair of jeans and a button up shirt. "If you start dripping all over the penthouse it will only give him another reason," Bruce explained as his bare feet padded over to the bed where he pulled on his watch. "I don't even get away with it."
The moment the towel landed on his soggy head he growled low and started to violently rub the cloth on his head,” He raised you?”
Bruce nodded. "Since I was eight, he didn't have to but he did." He said, imagined a girl with pigtails waving goodbye on the same day that guardianship started. He looked down at Jack, busy his hands by combing his hair back in place. "You might not want to mention the party," he said slowly, almost unsure as he said the last part. "And please don't talk about Rachel around Alfred. She was...important to him, like she was to me. I think it's already too soon to be staring at her killer without having to talk about it." He swallowed and went back to folding down his collar.
Jack got up mumbling in a low voice,” Blah blah blah blah blah…” He would listen but he’d do things his own way. He was the Joker dammit not a trained puppy on a leash. Deal or no deal he was still going to get even with the damn butler for the interruption.
Bruce watched Jack numbly, wondering if he'd actually expected compassion from the other man. Strangely enough it still stung when he acted like himself. "Right, food." He said as he brushed past Jack and opened the door, leading him out into the kitchen.
Bruce didn't like using the dining room when it was just he and Alfred and he certainly wasn't going to break his habit now. Breakfast was already spread out on the kitchen counter, two seats pulled up to the attached buffet. Alfred was serving out portions when they came out, Bruce took in a deep breath scented with eggs, jam and sausage and gave Alfred an appreciative smile. "Smells amazing," he said honestly, hoping and receiving a small smile in response from Alfred. Well it was something.
He paused once in the vicinity of Alfred and stared at him. Taking him in and sizing him up before exhaling hard and walking past him to his chair and pulling the towel from his head to hang around his shoulders. Food.. He stared at it, wondering. Then his eyes wandered back to the butler. He didn’t pick up a fork but glanced over to Bruce and smiled at him. He put his elbow on the table and rested his head against his hand watching him.
Bruce, out of habit, had started in on his food without a thought. But midway through chewing his eggs the silence got his attention. He looked up to see Alfred giving Jack a strange look. Not angry or kind, just curious. It made Bruce turn to Jack and raised an eyebrow at the sudden scrutiny. He swallowed. "Not eating again?" He asked, remembering the force feeding session from Arkham all too well. And not planning on a repeat.
He glared back at Alfred and looked at Bruce with a smile," Not...right now."
Bruce let out a frustrated noise and picked up Jack's plate and switched it with his own. He took a pointed fork full of food and washed it down with coffee, raising his hands to show he was in fact, not dead. Alfred suddenly looked affronted as the gist of Jack's reasoning.
Then the butler snorted in a very English way as he turned to clear away some pots. "It's not as if I hadn't bloody thought of it." He mumbled.
He smiled big noticing a small bit of egg on Bruce’s chin. Reaching out he pinched it and brought it back to his own mouth and ate it. Jack was treating this entire breakfast thing like it was some big joke.
Bruce went still, coffee cup still to his lips as he watched Jack. His eyes flicked to Alfred who had missed the little gesture.
"Oh, and Master Bruce. Mister Fox called, he said you're expected at Wayne Enterprises today for that meeting with Lex Industries." Alfred said without turning.
Jack looked smug and then started to play with the eating utensils like a kid. He hung the spoon off his nose and then held in his laughter from the success of looking like a fool. It fell off and clattered to the floor. An annoyed huff left him and he leaned over in the chair dramatically to go after the fork.
Bruce went from smirking at Jack's unusual use of silverware to groaning at Alfred's news. "Can't you tell Fox I'm a little busy?" He asked.
"I did mention it, sir. But he was rather insistent that you not reschedule a third time as you were the one who wanted to sit in on this meeting in the first place." Alfred said, raising an eyebrow at Bruce.
He knew what that meant. His other past 'emergencies' had kept him from his duties, this was not another reason to add. Bruce sighed. "Fine."
“Wait, what about me?” He dropped the fork on his plate and frowned. Bruce wasn’t really just going to abandon him here with…the butler…to go see other people was he?
"You stay here," Bruce said simply, finishing his coffee and grabbing a piece of toast. "I'll be gone two hours, three at the most. I'm sure you can survive that long without me."
"But, Master Bruce," Alfred began, looking cautious.
He would have laughed if he wasn't leaving a psychotic murderer with his butler. "And not try to kill each other while I'm gone." It wasn't a joke.
Jack grabbed a handful of still wet hair and looked to be thinking really hard,’ Two or three hours…?’ How was he supposed to last two or three hours without Bruce there to correct him if he slipped? This was a test and he knew it.
Bruce looked at Alfred and the man sighed, nodding as he left them alone. He turned to Jack and reached up to ply the hand gently from his hair. "Jack, listen to me. I'm coming back," he smiled. "This is my house, where else am I supposed to go?"
He let Bruce take his hand away and grabbed on to his," I-I don't know." Jack kept his eyes down on the table.
"I don't know what to do to make you believe me." Bruce said honestly, closing his fingers around the grasping hand.
“I can wait. Just don't lie like in Arkham. I don't want to get stuck here with the butler like you left me with that stupid doctor." He squeezed Bruce's hand and then leaned into him.” It’s hard...to ignore the laughter with you gone."
Bruce took in a slow breath, he didn't want Alfred ending up like the doctor. "Just wait for me and don't do anything...rash." It was the best word he could come up with. "You can call me if it gets too loud." He promised.
“I can wait. I'll wait right here if you want me to." He said softly. Meaning it. Jack was so much like a child it was surprising. He seemed to be like the type of little boy who loved to follow mommy around the house clutching her skirt. The type that was afraid to be alone or sleep in the darkness of the bedroom out of fear a monster was under his bed. He also seemed very loving when it came to people he considered special to him. The blonde man smiled then moved quickly into Bruce’s lap and hugged his head against his chest,” I’ll wait anywhere you want if your coming back. Just...if you're not back by night I’ll be coming to find you.”
Bruce was shocked. All the affection he'd ever received from Jack had been hard won and usually took at least an hour to coax out. This was just...sudden, unexpected. So he was a moment behind before his arms wrapped around a killer and felt fine with it. "You won't have to do that," he said, looking up at the ceiling at the implications of those words and took in a calming breath. It was a clear warning. Be back before dark or the Joker would be back. He was just amazed that Jack was really trying to fend him off.
He put his hands on Bruce's face and pushed his mouth against his. Then broke away after a second," Then you pinky swear you'll be back?"
He held up his hand pinky out.
Bruce had no time to react to the kiss before he looked down at the pinky with an amused smile. "You're serious?"
"When have I ever been serious?"
Bruce nodded his head. "Good point." He said, sticking out his own pinky and wondering if they had to spit into their palms next.
He hooked his finger around Bruce's and said the silly little thing that went with it then again with no warning pushed his mouth against Bruce's and tried not to laugh.
Bruce was getting used to these sloppy kisses, finding it strange that he was getting used to them. And waited till the kiss ended to speak. "Now, the sooner you get off my lap the sooner I'll be back."
A tiny pout,” You’re no fun.” He got back into his own chair and crossed his legs. ‘Now you going to tell him you miss him little Jack?’ A voice in his head said then giggled. Jack’s goofy pout left slowly and he glanced down at the floor.
Bruce stood and grasped Jack's chin, turning it up. "You make up for my lapses." He said with a smirk before he kissed the man thoroughly and left to get changed.
Jack watched Bruce walk and disappear behind a door to get ready for his meeting. This was the moment all he had pushed back retaliated with painful laughter ringing through his head. That growling voice mocking him in the back of his mind, 'You won’t make it! You won’t make it! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-' He grabbed his head and curled forward before springing into action. Running at top speed he quickly went from a couch to the room with the elevator. He sat next to it’s doors hugging a decorative pillow tight against his chest and waited patiently for Bruce to pass by with hopes for another kiss.
It was twenty minutes before Bruce came back out as the Prince of Gotham. Hair slicked back and clean shaven, tailored charcoal suit and dress shoes. He was fixing his cufflinks when he came out and noticed Jack sitting at the elevator cuddling one of the throw pillows Alfred had talked him into buying. Bruce raised an eyebrow and walked over as Alfred handed him the folder for the Lex meeting that he'd kept at the penthouse. "You're not going to be sitting there when I get back, are you?" He asked teasingly.
“Maybe.” He smiled. Jack let the pillow rest on his lap and looked up at Bruce with tired eyes. He’d only slept for as long a Bruce had..
Bruce smirked, the man in front of him was just an anxious bundle of nerves and it pulled him in, made him want to hesitate at the door. Mindful of Alfred at his back he bent down and pressed his mouth against Jacks for a fleeting moment, leaving behind a whiff of cologne and after shave as he locked eyes with Jack. "Get some sleep," he said before getting into the elevator.
Bruce's last sight before the doors closed was Jack touching his ruined mouth with his fingers and watching him go with a hint of worry in his eyes. Where he sat patiently he felt his broken mind ask, 'Is it funny now?' His hand moved up to his hair and grabbed. He needed a distraction, one that would last three hours. Standing up he walked towards Bruce's room with an air of stress about him. He could already hear the laughter starting up in the back of his mind trying to desperately clawing its way to the front for giddy control.
He rushed out of the bedroom and then into the kitchen searching around. He found highlighters, pens, pencils, and papers of all kinds and brought them into the room with the elevator and started to draw. Scribble, Scribble, Scribble . He was on all fours on the floor drawing all over papers. His breathing a little hard and eager as he broke open a red pen and started to finger paint with the ink. Creativity could help pass the time!
Alfred was never far behind the manic man, he'd been a little worried during the kitchen scramble, his memory detailing the placement of each knife. But he was surprised that, instead of weaponry the lad had armed himself with arts and crafts supplies.
Cleaning up after breakfast was a sound excuse to stay close by and keep an eye on the man, and it looked like he'd have another mess to clean up before Master Bruce came home if the Joker kept on snapping pens open.
‘Don’tstopdon’tstopdon’tstop..’ His mind raced those words back and forth to battle the aching laughter that was trying to break through to the front of his mind again. The stink from the markers and pens were starting to burn his nose and eyes making his skin itch with anger. His drawings varied from finger paint doodles and clever sketches to violent stick figure deaths and mutilations. Soon the drawing became unbearable and he started to tear up the sheets of paper. This wasn’t going to do..
He could only see a sideways peripheral of the paintings from where he was, but the amount of red helped him get the basic idea. The smattering of red on both the Joker's hands and face unnerved Alfred, looking too much like blood for his own liking. He kept his back to the butcher block as he cleared away dishes.
"Perhaps if you used another color." He suggested lightly, as he watched the man act like a five year old with a temper tantrum.
He glared at the old man and then down at the paper,” I’m not doing it because I want to.” He smacked the papers away from himself and sat back on his heels.
Jack rocked silently for a few moments before an idea hit him. He rushed to the closest TV and turned it on. He looked for a music channel and turned up the volume as loud as he could and began practically bouncing off the walls; doing anything he could think of to exhaust himself. Well, this managed to block out the faint laughter in his head and it definitely was something to burn up the energy he really didn’t have since he never typically slept unmedicated. The music station was blasting Van Halen’s old hit of ‘Hot for Teacher‘ while the tornado incarnate Joker went wild in the living room. He tossed pillows around and sang along with it really loud.
Alfred watched with wide eyes at the impromptu head banging session and had a moments weakness where he wished he could call Bruce back. But instead he sighed and went over to clean up the mess of pens and paper before they could stain the floor. He dumped the broken bits and kept the drawings for Bruce to look at later. Judging by lack of sleep, lack of food and the rate at which the man was destroying the living room, Alfred was relieved. At this rate when the Joker hit his peek of energy he'd sleep long enough for Bruce to get back and then some.
As if someone had pushed a button in his head he wandered from the living room to around the halls and started to dig around in things. Exploring items and making messes. Soon he got the idea to go to Bruce’s room and help himself to exploring in there. Surprisingly the panic room never came to mind. Yet, he was VERY interested in helping himself to Bruce’s dresser and what was in the side table drawers of his bed. Condoms, lube, diaphragms, a sex toy, body oil, and ladies lingerie. He laughed and once he’d pretty much ruined Bruce’s room he got the evil idea of putting on the skimpy lingerie colored all black and skid down the hall again to find Alfred,” Hey! Look what I found!”
The only betrayal of shock on Alfred's features by the Joker skidding in half naked was the sudden redness in his face and the stiff way he went to rearrange the living room back into order. He'd leave the bedroom for last.
'Half of Gotham better bloody well be on fire the next time I'm asked to babysit, ' Alfred thought viciously.
"I don't think Master Bruce would be too amused with your choice of clothing..." He paused, realizing that calling him Joker was probably not in his best interest. But he wasn't sure if Jack was a pet name, as disturbing as that thought was, or his actual name. "Listen lad, what am I supposed to be calling you?" He finally asked with a tinge of exasperation, though he kept his eyes on the scarred face when he turned to the man.
An almost evil looking grin," The Joker." He did a handstand and tried to walk on his hands in the outfit. “And I think Bruce wouldn’t care...what I have on. As long as its fun to take off."
Alfred watched with all the detachment afforded him by over thirty years of service to the Wayne family and the experience of raising a young boy on his own. Still, this did take the cake when it came to strangeness, even in this household.
But he did have the boy talking and not growling at him for the first time which was an improvement. "I suppose Jack is something you've given solely to Master Bruce then?" He asked, straightening a few pillows and righting a lamp that had somehow not been broken in the dancing.
He fell over and shifted so he was sitting up on the floor," Given..?" Obviously this old man thought that he was feeling human feelings like normal people for Bruce. He frowned and slid the upper half of the outfit off," I can't sleep." He put his arms around himself and rocked a moment. Distressed. He didn’t know what to do with himself and the lack of sleep was making things even harder.
"What did they usually to give you to sleep?" He asked curiously, taking the over stalked medicine chest to mind.
A dark look came on his face," You just want to drug me…I don’t trust you Jeeves.” He growled in his best Joker voice.
"Well, it's either take something to help you sleep or run yourself out so badly that by the time you do chance to wake up, Master Bruce will be ready to turn in himself." He said carefully, like bribing a small child with ice cream if he cleaned his room.
Jack put his arms around himself and stared down at the floor unsure about this. If he rested Bruce would be back and he’d have the energy to play, but if he took the meds to sleep he’d be leaving himself vulnerable and in the butlers hands. He stared untrustingly up at Alfred for a few moments before he relented,” He’ll come back? I won’t wake up in a cell?”
"After all the trouble he went to this morning to keep you out of one, I don't think so." His lips twitched into a weak smile and he began to see the cracks Bruce had found where the man had started to shine through the monster.
He held out his hand," Just this time.."
Alfred nodded, understanding the gesture as a hesitant trust not in himself but Bruce's promise to the madman. "Do you know what it was?"
“It was in a needle. I don't know. It was probably a powerful form of Valium."
"Valium we have. And since you've haven't eaten anything yet," this part sounded like disapproval, a tone he was used to taking with Bruce. "Then a regular amount should do the trick. Now go lay down and I'll bring it to you."
Joker wandered into Bruce's bedroom and curled up in the sheets. Willingly taking a drugging…he’d come a long way to keep his deal with Bruce. Laughter made his head ache as it switched on and off in powerful bursts.
Alfred wasn't long before he came back with the pills and a glass of water, both of which he handed over to the Joker.
He hesitated. Then looking determined he tossed back the pills and downed them. He looked tragic after swallowing them down. How could he have done that?
"You'll be up in time for dinner," Alfred said assumingly before he turned to leave the room. Then remembering his untouched plate this morning, he turned at the doorway. "And just so I know my cooking won't go to waste, what do you eat?"
“Sugar. " He said simply and laid back. Looking worried and unsure about what he'd just done. He curled up into the sheets and nuzzled his face into Bruce’s pillows.
Alfred paused. "Sugar?" He repeated and shook his head before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.
~~
Bruce arrived back an hour later then planned, he didn't even wait to buzz the penthouse, instead using a keycard to override the alarms on the elevator and go up unannounced. His foot tapped anxiously as he waited in the lift for what felt like an eternity. It had taken a week for Jack to fall back into himself last time, but he didn't want to take any chances.
When the doors opened he was greeted by the sight of an empty apartment, looking exactly how he'd left it and the same classical music playing in the background that Alfred preferred. He set down his keys hesitantly, something about this wasn't right. He was so in tune with every noise he heard that a voice nearly made him jump out of his skin.
"Finally back then, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked, a small smile on his face from be able to sneak up on the young man.
Bruce whipped around and glared at Alfred. Well that was one unmaimed person accounted for, but he wasn't going to put it past Alfred being able to clean up a body and make it impossible for a full force forensics team to find any evidence that he did it.
"Luther didn't want to deal the way I wanted so he's invited me to Metropolis at a later date so I can see the company workings firsthand. Where's Jack?" He said without pausing for breath.
"Sleeping," Alfred said simply. "Though I do think you'll need to have a talk with him about appropriate sleeping attire sometime."
"Sleeping? How'd you manage that one with the penthouse still intact?" Bruce asked curiously.
Alfred shrugged. "A few Valium and a glass of water." He quickly held his hand up as Bruce straightened. "And before you rant to me about the misuse of pharmaceuticals to make my job easier, Master Bruce. Allow me to tell you that this was after he tore apart the living room and his little Frank-n-Furter impression. And to ease your worries further, he took them willingly." He explained.
Bruce raised an eyebrow, not knowing exactly where to begin asking what had happened. "How and why did you give him drugs?" He asked. "He hated taking them at Arkham."
"He said he couldn't sleep. He was against taking them at first, but when I explained it would take away from time with you if he didn't get any sleep at all he relented." Alfred said as he reached for the damaged stack of pictures. "He did draw these, right after you left. He wasn't happy with them afterwards. Starting tearing them up when he seemed to realize what he was doing. He told me, 'I'm not doing it because I want to' and then started doing whatever he could to wear himself out."
Bruce took the drawings of murder and mutilation, stick figures of pent up rage. His eyes narrowed. "He's trying to exercise the Joker," he said with realization, running a hand over his face. "Trying to keep him at bay in whatever way he can." He set the disturbing pictures aside, looking at Alfred. "Did he say anything else?"
"Only enough to say that your plan's working. Whoever that young man in there is, his complete fixation is on Bruce Wayne." He said, pointing to the bedroom. "I didn't even hear a peep out of him about Batman." This gave the older man pause and his eyes settled on Bruce seriously. "How exactly do you plan on going out at night if only a few hours away makes him this anxious?"
Bruce suddenly stood, moving to shrug his jacket off. "I don't, Alfred. Gordon and his men can take care of city for a while. Consider it Batman's much needed vacation." He said with a smirk before folding the jacket over his arm and looking towards the bedroom. "Besides, what I'm doing right now is keeping Gotham safer then just patrolling the streets can do."
"Are you sure that's such a good idea, sir?" Alfred asked, pulling Bruce's attention back. "He's not the only one who's becoming infatuated. I've seen the way you've treated your flings and I've seen the way you treat your enemies, both Batman's and Bruce Wayne's. And this is more then that. You might not have planned it that way and I understand why you see hope in him. I saw it this afternoon. But he's far from fixable. You need to remember that."
Bruce's face darkened, jaw clamping shut and for a dark moment the cowl wasn't necessary to see what lie underneath the calm exterior. "Jack deserves a chance. He's shown that he wasn't always the Joker, there's someone under there worth saving."
Alfred nodded without hesitation. "Yes, one day, a long time ago I have no doubt that he was a decent man. No one is born with blades and gasoline as playthings. But that day is far and away from here and all you have are a couple of good days amid all the insanity." He said.
"He only broke out of Arkham because I wasn't there when I told him I would be," Bruce said harshly. It was the one thing he knew for sure.
"That may be true," Alfred agreed. "But what happens when you can't be there for him, or you have to break a promise? Or god forbid, if you have to bring out Batman or he gets tired of living the rest of his life in this penthouse?" He asked, letting all the scenarios run through Bruce's well strategized mind. "You can't spend the rest of your life hoping for a good day."
Bruce thought about what Alfred told him. All of them ended in wild laughter and explosions, it left him speechless.
Alfred sighed and took pity on the young man, patting his shoulder. "And today is a good day, so it works in our favor." He said assuredly, squeezing with a strong hand. "I'm going to start dinner, you should check on him."