A World of Dreams and Nightmares (pt.11)
Title: A World of Dreams and Nightmares (pt.11)
Author:moni_mama
Beta:mayphoenix
Rating: PG-13 this chap
Pairing: Batman/Joker ( some implied Bruce/Rachel but nothing explicit)
Disclaimer: I don't own them sadly...cause if I did...they'd never be dressed or leave bed...<3 this is just for fun and cause my little mind is so very slashily warped. XD
A/N: This is going to be a looong one, many chaptered, but this is the first part, basically the summary is that when moving things around in the batcave Bruce sets off a reaction that sends him to another AU, where the Joker was never made, and instead Jack Napier was allowed to come to be and is another wealthy playboy. There is no Batman or Joker in this AU and Bruce has to figure out how to get back, while dealing with some growing feeling for Jack..XD Annnnnd I dunno say anymore caaaaause I gots lots little twists in here ^__^ sooo enjoy?
P.S. Well we're nearing the end! Another three maybe four chapters then it is fin! However I am already toying with the idea to a sequel so lemme know if people would be interested in one! Many thanks to my beat mayphoenix and to the amazing heatherhouse as she helped to inspire this chapter. X3 And to all the readers! Thanks so much for your patience!
Past Chapters
Bruce sat there, eyes unseeing but turned toward the fireplace. In one hand was the letter that caused both joy and overwhelming, heartbreaking indecision. He closed his eyes. It had come that morning, when he had gone into the shower; there was nothing on his bedside table but a glass of water, but when he got out there it was, folded neatly beside the glass. At first he thought it might have been a message from Jack left by Alfred, but once he scanned the first few lines he felt his heart leap and drop at the same time.
He was going home. Tonight, at midnight. He groaned and rubbed his face. The letter was from Alfred and Lucius Fox. Apparently, Alfred had gone down to the cave to investigate after Bruce returned from Gotham. Batman had escaped from Arkham, where he had been committed after what Alfred termed a ‘small mental collapse.’ Bruce winced when reading that. He understood what the other Bruce felt, all to well -- the sudden loss of everything he loved and held dear. He had wondered how the other Bruce had fared. Now he knew. The last mention Alfred made of him was that he was secured in the manor with none other than the Joker, who had helped him break out. Bruce had many questions about that particular event, but he could wait till got home.
Home. He felt tears sting his eyes and he blinked them back harshly.
Alfred had gone on to explain that the mind control cards in one of The Hatter’s boxes had been activated on accident when Bruce had been organizing the Bat Cave. He had jostled the boxes and a temporal displacement device from The Clock King which had been dormant picked up on the waves the chips gave off, causing a chain reaction that created a temporary rift in their dimension and sent Bruce to this alternate Gotham. Because it had been a freak accident, there had been no control and the two Bruces had been simply switched. With Fox’s help, Alfred said they were able to open a stable portal to allow one-way transfers: one could go in or out without a trade taking place. They would open the portal for him and the alternate Bruce at midnight on the front lawn of Wayne Manor. If Bruce did come through on his own in an hour after opening the portal, someone would come through to find him.
Bruce had thought he would have been happy, nothing but relieved to get home and get back to his life. That was before one major thing happened to him: Jack. He couldn’t deny being in love with the light and loving Jack Napier. He was everything Bruce could have ever wanted in a lover. Kind, caring, giving and sweet. Intelligent and handsome, with a body to die for, and he loved him. Jack loved Bruce with everything he had and God help him, Bruce loved him back every bit as much. Now he had to let that love go. He couldn’t stay, he knew that. Gotham needed him, needed Batman, and Bruce couldn’t turn his back on his home. Part of him wanted to be selfish for once, to keep the one thing that truly brought him joy in his darkened life.
To let go of the cowl and live as Bruce, just Bruce, with Jack. It was a tortuously beautiful dream, but a dream nonetheless. It could never be more then that. He replayed the message he had left for Jack. It was urgent and desperate, everything he felt in the moment.
“Jack, come to Wayne Manor tonight at midnight. I’m sorry for asking you to come at that time, but it is imperative you be here right at midnight. I can’t explain any more right now. You’ll understand when you get here… Jack…I love you.”
He had hung up feeling lost, confused and nervous. Could he let go of Jack when the time came? He wanted him there, he knew that much. Wanted to be able to say good-bye at least, but the question was -- could he really do it? Say good-bye and lose this, too? He crumpled the letter in his hand tightly.
Standing up, he made his way to the desk and picked up the letter he had written to the other Bruce. He stared at it long and hard. Another thing he wasn’t sure he could do. Let the other Bruce have him, have his Jack. He snorted to himself. “His” Jack wasn’t meant to be his to begin with, but now he could bear the thought of anyone else touching him, even if it was another him. He gripped the letter tighter for a moment and then dropped it to the desk. He had to prepare for tonight as best he could, though he had the feeling that for a night like this, there was no real preparation.
He turned and left the study with the feel of defeat and sorrow hanging heavy in the air behind him.
Author:moni_mama
Beta:mayphoenix
Rating: PG-13 this chap
Pairing: Batman/Joker ( some implied Bruce/Rachel but nothing explicit)
Disclaimer: I don't own them sadly...cause if I did...they'd never be dressed or leave bed...<3 this is just for fun and cause my little mind is so very slashily warped. XD
A/N: This is going to be a looong one, many chaptered, but this is the first part, basically the summary is that when moving things around in the batcave Bruce sets off a reaction that sends him to another AU, where the Joker was never made, and instead Jack Napier was allowed to come to be and is another wealthy playboy. There is no Batman or Joker in this AU and Bruce has to figure out how to get back, while dealing with some growing feeling for Jack..XD Annnnnd I dunno say anymore caaaaause I gots lots little twists in here ^__^ sooo enjoy?
P.S. Well we're nearing the end! Another three maybe four chapters then it is fin! However I am already toying with the idea to a sequel so lemme know if people would be interested in one! Many thanks to my beat mayphoenix and to the amazing heatherhouse as she helped to inspire this chapter. X3 And to all the readers! Thanks so much for your patience!
Past Chapters
Bruce sat there, eyes unseeing but turned toward the fireplace. In one hand was the letter that caused both joy and overwhelming, heartbreaking indecision. He closed his eyes. It had come that morning, when he had gone into the shower; there was nothing on his bedside table but a glass of water, but when he got out there it was, folded neatly beside the glass. At first he thought it might have been a message from Jack left by Alfred, but once he scanned the first few lines he felt his heart leap and drop at the same time.
He was going home. Tonight, at midnight. He groaned and rubbed his face. The letter was from Alfred and Lucius Fox. Apparently, Alfred had gone down to the cave to investigate after Bruce returned from Gotham. Batman had escaped from Arkham, where he had been committed after what Alfred termed a ‘small mental collapse.’ Bruce winced when reading that. He understood what the other Bruce felt, all to well -- the sudden loss of everything he loved and held dear. He had wondered how the other Bruce had fared. Now he knew. The last mention Alfred made of him was that he was secured in the manor with none other than the Joker, who had helped him break out. Bruce had many questions about that particular event, but he could wait till got home.
Home. He felt tears sting his eyes and he blinked them back harshly.
Alfred had gone on to explain that the mind control cards in one of The Hatter’s boxes had been activated on accident when Bruce had been organizing the Bat Cave. He had jostled the boxes and a temporal displacement device from The Clock King which had been dormant picked up on the waves the chips gave off, causing a chain reaction that created a temporary rift in their dimension and sent Bruce to this alternate Gotham. Because it had been a freak accident, there had been no control and the two Bruces had been simply switched. With Fox’s help, Alfred said they were able to open a stable portal to allow one-way transfers: one could go in or out without a trade taking place. They would open the portal for him and the alternate Bruce at midnight on the front lawn of Wayne Manor. If Bruce did come through on his own in an hour after opening the portal, someone would come through to find him.
Bruce had thought he would have been happy, nothing but relieved to get home and get back to his life. That was before one major thing happened to him: Jack. He couldn’t deny being in love with the light and loving Jack Napier. He was everything Bruce could have ever wanted in a lover. Kind, caring, giving and sweet. Intelligent and handsome, with a body to die for, and he loved him. Jack loved Bruce with everything he had and God help him, Bruce loved him back every bit as much. Now he had to let that love go. He couldn’t stay, he knew that. Gotham needed him, needed Batman, and Bruce couldn’t turn his back on his home. Part of him wanted to be selfish for once, to keep the one thing that truly brought him joy in his darkened life.
To let go of the cowl and live as Bruce, just Bruce, with Jack. It was a tortuously beautiful dream, but a dream nonetheless. It could never be more then that. He replayed the message he had left for Jack. It was urgent and desperate, everything he felt in the moment.
“Jack, come to Wayne Manor tonight at midnight. I’m sorry for asking you to come at that time, but it is imperative you be here right at midnight. I can’t explain any more right now. You’ll understand when you get here… Jack…I love you.”
He had hung up feeling lost, confused and nervous. Could he let go of Jack when the time came? He wanted him there, he knew that much. Wanted to be able to say good-bye at least, but the question was -- could he really do it? Say good-bye and lose this, too? He crumpled the letter in his hand tightly.
Standing up, he made his way to the desk and picked up the letter he had written to the other Bruce. He stared at it long and hard. Another thing he wasn’t sure he could do. Let the other Bruce have him, have his Jack. He snorted to himself. “His” Jack wasn’t meant to be his to begin with, but now he could bear the thought of anyone else touching him, even if it was another him. He gripped the letter tighter for a moment and then dropped it to the desk. He had to prepare for tonight as best he could, though he had the feeling that for a night like this, there was no real preparation.
He turned and left the study with the feel of defeat and sorrow hanging heavy in the air behind him.