Batman: Locked Up Part 8
Title: Locked Up Part 8
Author: Magick
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Batman/Joker
Summary: The Joker gets antsy and wants to go out. Bruce doesn't think it's such a good idea...
“Brucey, I’ve been feelin kinda antsy lately.” The Joker commented casually over breakfast one morning.
Bruce froze with his spoon nearly to his mouth, his cereal sloshing over the edge and dribbling down to the table. Alfred glanced at him curiously before turning to the Joker.
“What do you mean by ‘antsy’ Mr. Joker?” He asked neutrally.
“I’ve been cooped up for a long time, Alfred. I’ve told you that I broke outta Arkham and the like because I was bored. I’m not saying that I’m gonna break out of here and go kill people-I just wanted to tell you that I feel restless. Maybe if I tell you far enough in advance you’ll have a plan before I do lose control and go on a murder spree.” The Joker smirked as he sipped his orange juice.
Bruce closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was going to be a long day.
“You know that you’re behaving like a spoiled child, right?” Bruce sighed.
“You do spoil me Brucey, I can’t argue with that.” He chuckled.
“Where is it that you want to go, Mr. Joker?” Alfred asked.
“Some place with a lot of people. No offense to you guys, but I’m getting prêt-ty tired of only seeing your faces.”
“How would I keep you with me? You could slip away into a crowd without any effort.” Bruce sighed.
“I guess you’d have to hold my hand Brucey.” The Joker winked saucily and Bruce groaned in frustration.
“You know we can’t do this immediately. It’ll take planning on a major scale. What would I call you in public? How would I explain holding another mans hand in public? Who the hell would you be and how the hell would we cover your scars?” Bruce dropped his spoon into his bowl then ran his hands through his hair.
“Hm, a name for me…” The Joker stroked his chin dramatically and Bruce could tell that he’d been planning this whole scene for a while.
“A name that is synonymous with a love for the macabre-someone whose mind was a twisted as mine.” The Joker paused theatrically and Bruce raised his eyebrow. “Call me Edgar.”
“No one is named Edgar anymore, Joker.” Bruce shook his head but his eyes were amused.
“Then I shall start a trend. My public name is Edgar.”
“What about Allen? At least that is more common.”
“No, Edgar. Now, go back to your plotting and finish your cereal.” The Joker ordered pompously as he devoured the rest of his own breakfast.
Bruce rolled his eyes at the other mans antics but let his mind shift back to planning their outing.
***
“I never agreed to outing myself in this process.” Bruce protested.
Alfred sighed but did not relent.
“Master Wayne, the best way to explain why you are holding another mans hand is that you’re dating. The only other plausible explanation I can think of is that he is in invalid and I don’t think Mr. Joker would appreciate that. Anyway, it’s not really like you’re in the closet-you’ve dated men before.”
“I’ve dated other men before, but never went out in public and constantly held their hand. It’ll be odd enough to see me in a shopping mall-especially with you and a strange man. It’s bound to draw the attention of reporters.” Bruce slid down further in his chair until his knees met his chin.
Alfred smiled at Bruce’s pouting posture before calling the Joker into the room.
“Mr. Joker, I thought you might appreciate seeing how your request to go out is affecting Master Wayne.” Alfred said with a smirk.
“Oh Brucey, are you upset because the media might find out that you like to fuck men? I promise I won’t tell them how much you love my cock in your mouth.” The Joker laughed.
“This isn’t funny. I don’t like having my private life examined.” Bruce defended himself.
“No, you’re just not ready to admit that you are rather gay because you don’t like the implied weakness that goes with it.” The Joker sneered, his voice angry.
“That’s ridiculous. I’ve never hidden any of my past relationships with men-why would I be afraid to now?” Bruce asked, his face flushed.
“I don’t know Brucey, why are you now?” The Joker asked, crossing his arms.
“I’m not. Fine, you’re my boyfriend and I’ll tell anyone who asks. Now, how do you plan to cover your scars?” Bruce changed the subject desperately.
“We can use makeup; I’ve had to do it in the past. I just need skin colored stage makeup-it’s thick and covers them completely.” The Joker rolled his eyes at Bruce’s abrupt dismissal of their conversation.
“I’ll order you some then, Mr. Joker. For the time being I would suggest an increase in your writing therapy so that you will be more prepared for the outside.” Alfred said before leaving the room to order the makeup.
“Tell me the truth Bruce, why don’t you want anyone to know that you like men? From the way you talk I can’t help but wonder if you truly like women at all.” The Joker threw himself in a chair across from Bruce and stared at him expectantly.
“There is so much more to this than what you’re understanding. You’re not taking into account that if I tell everyone that I have a boyfriend they will expect to see us out places. I’d need to take you to the opera and ballet, to charity functions and the like. How long would you be able to stay calm?” Bruce ran a frustrated hand through his hair and sighed.
“That’s the point of all this, Brucey. I thought you were trying to save me-rehabilitate me like a fighting pit-bull that’s learning to be a house pet. It’s happened before, ya know. I’ll never be sane, and I’ll never forget the unique rush that comes along with taking some ones life but I have learned to control my desire to harm. I need to practice that control or it’ll never hold out in the long run.”
“I understand that. We’re going to go out, just start preparing.” Bruce said.
“Maybe you should start preparing, Bruce. Make sure you bring lube with you-I hear there are tons of places to sneak off to in a mall.” The Joker winked, leaving Bruce gob-smacked in the living room.
***
Bruce paced the living room nervously. The Joker had locked himself in the bathroom with a box of makeup for over an hour. Bruce had been talking to him through the heavy door for the last twenty minutes but the Joker only assured him that he was ‘almost done’ and to ‘stop being so impatient.’ Finally Bruce heard the lock click and he whirled around to see a very handsome man staring at him.
The Joker's skin looked smooth and flawless and the line of his cheek bone looked chiseled and perfect. His long hair was tied back at the nape of his neck and his teeth freshly brushed. This all paired with a pair of snug fitting jeans and a purple polo made him look positively edible. Bruce contemplated throwing him against the wall but Alfred stepped between them and cleared his throat.
“The car is ready, Master Wayne. My, you do clean up well Mr. Joker.” Alfred smiled at the younger man.
The Joker bowed dramatically in thanks then turned to Bruce. His grin turned smug when he saw the desire flitting across Bruce’s face.
“I’m glad you still look at me like that when I’m not made up or I’d develop a complex.” He laughed, grabbing Bruce by the hand and jerking him towards that waiting car.
“I don’t think he’ll have any problem calling you his boyfriend, Mr. Joker. Though, if he continues to stare at you with his mouth agape then he may have trouble responding to any stimuli.” Alfred commented dryly as they climbed in the car.
“That’s alright with me.”
The three of them made it to the bookstore without incident and tumbled out of the vehicle. The Joker planted his hand firmly in Bruce’s grasp and smiled broadly. Bruce looked around but he found that no one was even paying attention to them yet. He smiled bravely at the Joker before leading them into the building.
“Try not to go too overboard, Edgar, your bookshelf is full as it is.” Bruce warned him as they entered the store.
“As if you can’t buy me a new bookshelf.” The Joker said as he pulled Bruce towards the fiction section.
Alfred found an attendant with a cart and asked her to follow them. In no time the Joker picked out a load of books-ranging from children’s books to sci-fi thrillers. The Joker didn’t pause to see if anyone was getting him a new cart or not, instead he moved further into the store. It was slightly darker in the far corner containing the religious books. Bruce only had a moment to muse about the irony of such a thing before the Joker was pushing him against the shelves and kissing him. Bruce was fumbling with their belts when they heard a cry from the next section over.
“What are you doing?! I told you not to touch anything and you’re over here putting your fingers all over the books!” A woman shouted, her voice shrill.
The Joker went very still in Bruce’s arms and instantly alarm bells went off in Bruce’s head.
“I’m sorry mommy! I wanted to show you the dragons!” The little boy sobbed, his grubby hands still clutching the books close to his chest.
“You know that you’re supposed to listen to me when we go out places. Now go put those back right now!” The woman’s voice rose in pitch and Bruce winced.
The Joker was trying to ignore the screaming woman but her voice was melding with the one echoing in his head. He could hear his own mother screaming at him, calling him stupid and worthless-and the Joker knew he was quickly losing control over his actions. He tried to convey the whirlwind of feelings to Bruce but his voice would not work properly.
“Bruce, I…”
“But mommy, the dragons!” The child shrieked-then they heard the sound of skin slapping skin and the little boy crying louder.
“Put them away!”
The Joker tried to spin away from Bruce but he was being held too tightly. A red haze was rapidly filling his vision and he was drowning in it. He wanted to go hurt that woman-to see her run through the way his own mother had been. Her blood called to him and he grinned in anticipation of it rushing over his fingers. Laughter built in his throat and licked his lips compulsively.
“You are not going over there.” Bruce grunted as he tightened his hold on the Joker.
“And however are you going to stop me, Batty? You don’t have your gizmos and you know I’m stronger than you.” The Joker cackled lowly as he fought to be free of Bruce’s grip.
“I do have this.” Bruce pulled the syringe from his pocket and pulled the cap off with his teeth.
The Joker did not have a chance to react because Bruce plunged the needle into his arm and forced the tranquilizer into his blood. The world swam in front of him for a second before blackness overtook him.
“Alfred!” Bruce called sharply.
Alfred rushed around the corner looking harassed and took a breath to berate Bruce for acting like a hormonal teenager-but stopped when he saw the Joker slumped in his arms.
“We had a little incident.” Bruce explained with a shrug. “Can you get the driver to help him to the car? I have something to tend to.”
“Yes, Master Wayne.” Alfred said as he threw the Joker's arm around his neck and motioned for the man standing with their cart of books.
Bruce made his way over to the children’s section silently, very aware of the child still sitting on the floor sniffling. The mother had moved on without waiting for the little boy, leaving him in the middle of the store alone. Bruce shook his head and picked up the Dragonology book the child had been desperately trying to show his mother and took it to the counter.
“I want to buy this for that little boy over there.” Bruce said charmingly. Instantly the girl behind the counter went bright red.
“That’s so sweet of you, Mr. Wayne! I’m sure he’ll be delighted!” She gushed as she rang up the book.
“Don’t tell anyone that I bought it though, I don’t want his mother to feel obligated to pay me back or anything.” Bruce leaned closer to her and murmured the words softly, causing the girl to blush more.
“Of course not, Mr. Wayne! I won’t say a word.” She promised.
“Thank you.” Bruce smiled winningly then left the store. His car was waiting at the curb and he got in quickly.
“Has he moved yet? I didn’t get him the strong stuff.” Bruce asked as he felt the Joker's head then looked in each of his eyes.
“He’s moved a little but he’s out for right now. We’ll just have to get him home and into bed for tonight.” Alfred answered.
The ride back to Bruce’s penthouse was silent. Together Bruce and Alfred dragged him to the bedroom and laid him down. Bruce took the chair beside the bed and sighed. The knowledge that the Joker could have easily broken free from him and killed that woman was heavy in his gut and he berated himself angrily for giving in to that Joker's wishes.
“What am I even trying to do here?” Bruce muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Bruce sighed again-only silence answered him.
Author: Magick
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Batman/Joker
Summary: The Joker gets antsy and wants to go out. Bruce doesn't think it's such a good idea...
“Brucey, I’ve been feelin kinda antsy lately.” The Joker commented casually over breakfast one morning.
Bruce froze with his spoon nearly to his mouth, his cereal sloshing over the edge and dribbling down to the table. Alfred glanced at him curiously before turning to the Joker.
“What do you mean by ‘antsy’ Mr. Joker?” He asked neutrally.
“I’ve been cooped up for a long time, Alfred. I’ve told you that I broke outta Arkham and the like because I was bored. I’m not saying that I’m gonna break out of here and go kill people-I just wanted to tell you that I feel restless. Maybe if I tell you far enough in advance you’ll have a plan before I do lose control and go on a murder spree.” The Joker smirked as he sipped his orange juice.
Bruce closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was going to be a long day.
“You know that you’re behaving like a spoiled child, right?” Bruce sighed.
“You do spoil me Brucey, I can’t argue with that.” He chuckled.
“Where is it that you want to go, Mr. Joker?” Alfred asked.
“Some place with a lot of people. No offense to you guys, but I’m getting prêt-ty tired of only seeing your faces.”
“How would I keep you with me? You could slip away into a crowd without any effort.” Bruce sighed.
“I guess you’d have to hold my hand Brucey.” The Joker winked saucily and Bruce groaned in frustration.
“You know we can’t do this immediately. It’ll take planning on a major scale. What would I call you in public? How would I explain holding another mans hand in public? Who the hell would you be and how the hell would we cover your scars?” Bruce dropped his spoon into his bowl then ran his hands through his hair.
“Hm, a name for me…” The Joker stroked his chin dramatically and Bruce could tell that he’d been planning this whole scene for a while.
“A name that is synonymous with a love for the macabre-someone whose mind was a twisted as mine.” The Joker paused theatrically and Bruce raised his eyebrow. “Call me Edgar.”
“No one is named Edgar anymore, Joker.” Bruce shook his head but his eyes were amused.
“Then I shall start a trend. My public name is Edgar.”
“What about Allen? At least that is more common.”
“No, Edgar. Now, go back to your plotting and finish your cereal.” The Joker ordered pompously as he devoured the rest of his own breakfast.
Bruce rolled his eyes at the other mans antics but let his mind shift back to planning their outing.
***
“I never agreed to outing myself in this process.” Bruce protested.
Alfred sighed but did not relent.
“Master Wayne, the best way to explain why you are holding another mans hand is that you’re dating. The only other plausible explanation I can think of is that he is in invalid and I don’t think Mr. Joker would appreciate that. Anyway, it’s not really like you’re in the closet-you’ve dated men before.”
“I’ve dated other men before, but never went out in public and constantly held their hand. It’ll be odd enough to see me in a shopping mall-especially with you and a strange man. It’s bound to draw the attention of reporters.” Bruce slid down further in his chair until his knees met his chin.
Alfred smiled at Bruce’s pouting posture before calling the Joker into the room.
“Mr. Joker, I thought you might appreciate seeing how your request to go out is affecting Master Wayne.” Alfred said with a smirk.
“Oh Brucey, are you upset because the media might find out that you like to fuck men? I promise I won’t tell them how much you love my cock in your mouth.” The Joker laughed.
“This isn’t funny. I don’t like having my private life examined.” Bruce defended himself.
“No, you’re just not ready to admit that you are rather gay because you don’t like the implied weakness that goes with it.” The Joker sneered, his voice angry.
“That’s ridiculous. I’ve never hidden any of my past relationships with men-why would I be afraid to now?” Bruce asked, his face flushed.
“I don’t know Brucey, why are you now?” The Joker asked, crossing his arms.
“I’m not. Fine, you’re my boyfriend and I’ll tell anyone who asks. Now, how do you plan to cover your scars?” Bruce changed the subject desperately.
“We can use makeup; I’ve had to do it in the past. I just need skin colored stage makeup-it’s thick and covers them completely.” The Joker rolled his eyes at Bruce’s abrupt dismissal of their conversation.
“I’ll order you some then, Mr. Joker. For the time being I would suggest an increase in your writing therapy so that you will be more prepared for the outside.” Alfred said before leaving the room to order the makeup.
“Tell me the truth Bruce, why don’t you want anyone to know that you like men? From the way you talk I can’t help but wonder if you truly like women at all.” The Joker threw himself in a chair across from Bruce and stared at him expectantly.
“There is so much more to this than what you’re understanding. You’re not taking into account that if I tell everyone that I have a boyfriend they will expect to see us out places. I’d need to take you to the opera and ballet, to charity functions and the like. How long would you be able to stay calm?” Bruce ran a frustrated hand through his hair and sighed.
“That’s the point of all this, Brucey. I thought you were trying to save me-rehabilitate me like a fighting pit-bull that’s learning to be a house pet. It’s happened before, ya know. I’ll never be sane, and I’ll never forget the unique rush that comes along with taking some ones life but I have learned to control my desire to harm. I need to practice that control or it’ll never hold out in the long run.”
“I understand that. We’re going to go out, just start preparing.” Bruce said.
“Maybe you should start preparing, Bruce. Make sure you bring lube with you-I hear there are tons of places to sneak off to in a mall.” The Joker winked, leaving Bruce gob-smacked in the living room.
***
Bruce paced the living room nervously. The Joker had locked himself in the bathroom with a box of makeup for over an hour. Bruce had been talking to him through the heavy door for the last twenty minutes but the Joker only assured him that he was ‘almost done’ and to ‘stop being so impatient.’ Finally Bruce heard the lock click and he whirled around to see a very handsome man staring at him.
The Joker's skin looked smooth and flawless and the line of his cheek bone looked chiseled and perfect. His long hair was tied back at the nape of his neck and his teeth freshly brushed. This all paired with a pair of snug fitting jeans and a purple polo made him look positively edible. Bruce contemplated throwing him against the wall but Alfred stepped between them and cleared his throat.
“The car is ready, Master Wayne. My, you do clean up well Mr. Joker.” Alfred smiled at the younger man.
The Joker bowed dramatically in thanks then turned to Bruce. His grin turned smug when he saw the desire flitting across Bruce’s face.
“I’m glad you still look at me like that when I’m not made up or I’d develop a complex.” He laughed, grabbing Bruce by the hand and jerking him towards that waiting car.
“I don’t think he’ll have any problem calling you his boyfriend, Mr. Joker. Though, if he continues to stare at you with his mouth agape then he may have trouble responding to any stimuli.” Alfred commented dryly as they climbed in the car.
“That’s alright with me.”
The three of them made it to the bookstore without incident and tumbled out of the vehicle. The Joker planted his hand firmly in Bruce’s grasp and smiled broadly. Bruce looked around but he found that no one was even paying attention to them yet. He smiled bravely at the Joker before leading them into the building.
“Try not to go too overboard, Edgar, your bookshelf is full as it is.” Bruce warned him as they entered the store.
“As if you can’t buy me a new bookshelf.” The Joker said as he pulled Bruce towards the fiction section.
Alfred found an attendant with a cart and asked her to follow them. In no time the Joker picked out a load of books-ranging from children’s books to sci-fi thrillers. The Joker didn’t pause to see if anyone was getting him a new cart or not, instead he moved further into the store. It was slightly darker in the far corner containing the religious books. Bruce only had a moment to muse about the irony of such a thing before the Joker was pushing him against the shelves and kissing him. Bruce was fumbling with their belts when they heard a cry from the next section over.
“What are you doing?! I told you not to touch anything and you’re over here putting your fingers all over the books!” A woman shouted, her voice shrill.
The Joker went very still in Bruce’s arms and instantly alarm bells went off in Bruce’s head.
“I’m sorry mommy! I wanted to show you the dragons!” The little boy sobbed, his grubby hands still clutching the books close to his chest.
“You know that you’re supposed to listen to me when we go out places. Now go put those back right now!” The woman’s voice rose in pitch and Bruce winced.
The Joker was trying to ignore the screaming woman but her voice was melding with the one echoing in his head. He could hear his own mother screaming at him, calling him stupid and worthless-and the Joker knew he was quickly losing control over his actions. He tried to convey the whirlwind of feelings to Bruce but his voice would not work properly.
“Bruce, I…”
“But mommy, the dragons!” The child shrieked-then they heard the sound of skin slapping skin and the little boy crying louder.
“Put them away!”
The Joker tried to spin away from Bruce but he was being held too tightly. A red haze was rapidly filling his vision and he was drowning in it. He wanted to go hurt that woman-to see her run through the way his own mother had been. Her blood called to him and he grinned in anticipation of it rushing over his fingers. Laughter built in his throat and licked his lips compulsively.
“You are not going over there.” Bruce grunted as he tightened his hold on the Joker.
“And however are you going to stop me, Batty? You don’t have your gizmos and you know I’m stronger than you.” The Joker cackled lowly as he fought to be free of Bruce’s grip.
“I do have this.” Bruce pulled the syringe from his pocket and pulled the cap off with his teeth.
The Joker did not have a chance to react because Bruce plunged the needle into his arm and forced the tranquilizer into his blood. The world swam in front of him for a second before blackness overtook him.
“Alfred!” Bruce called sharply.
Alfred rushed around the corner looking harassed and took a breath to berate Bruce for acting like a hormonal teenager-but stopped when he saw the Joker slumped in his arms.
“We had a little incident.” Bruce explained with a shrug. “Can you get the driver to help him to the car? I have something to tend to.”
“Yes, Master Wayne.” Alfred said as he threw the Joker's arm around his neck and motioned for the man standing with their cart of books.
Bruce made his way over to the children’s section silently, very aware of the child still sitting on the floor sniffling. The mother had moved on without waiting for the little boy, leaving him in the middle of the store alone. Bruce shook his head and picked up the Dragonology book the child had been desperately trying to show his mother and took it to the counter.
“I want to buy this for that little boy over there.” Bruce said charmingly. Instantly the girl behind the counter went bright red.
“That’s so sweet of you, Mr. Wayne! I’m sure he’ll be delighted!” She gushed as she rang up the book.
“Don’t tell anyone that I bought it though, I don’t want his mother to feel obligated to pay me back or anything.” Bruce leaned closer to her and murmured the words softly, causing the girl to blush more.
“Of course not, Mr. Wayne! I won’t say a word.” She promised.
“Thank you.” Bruce smiled winningly then left the store. His car was waiting at the curb and he got in quickly.
“Has he moved yet? I didn’t get him the strong stuff.” Bruce asked as he felt the Joker's head then looked in each of his eyes.
“He’s moved a little but he’s out for right now. We’ll just have to get him home and into bed for tonight.” Alfred answered.
The ride back to Bruce’s penthouse was silent. Together Bruce and Alfred dragged him to the bedroom and laid him down. Bruce took the chair beside the bed and sighed. The knowledge that the Joker could have easily broken free from him and killed that woman was heavy in his gut and he berated himself angrily for giving in to that Joker's wishes.
“What am I even trying to do here?” Bruce muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Bruce sighed again-only silence answered him.