My head is spinning with this new knowledge as I leave the building. The rain has stopped, so I don't have to run home. It gives me time to think.
Arthur is a murderer. Intentionally. The three Wall Street guys? You could pass that off as self-defense. Maybe. But his mother? With good reason? I can't let that slide. And yet what I want to do is let it slide. Forget that this happened. That this was a conscious decision he made. The man I love can't be a murderer.
Allison brings Sophie over to our apartment later that day, and she and Devin really hit it off. Allison and I retreat into the kitchen, where I explain further what's happened since I left Sophie's place.
"His mother?" she whispers, hand over her mouth.
"Yeah," I nod, staring into the glass of water I'd gotten for myself. It was like a rock dropping into a pond- dread and anxiety slowly sinking and seeping into me.
"Mars," Allison grabs my wrist and I look up in shock, putting the glass down on the counter. "You have to stop seeing him. I know you care about him. But this man is dangerous. Before now you'd never have thought he'd kill his mother. Nobody would have. What if it's you next, Mars? What are we going to do if he comes for you next?"
"He needs help," I argue.
"He does," she agrees vehemently. "Help that you can't give him, Mars. You aren't a therapist. You aren't a counselor or a psychiatrist. He's insane. Dangerous," she repeats. "I don't want to see you dead. I don't want to turn on the news and see that the 'clown vigilante' struck again, but this time, it's you!"
"I know," I say. She lets go of my wrist but doesn't take a step back.
"You have to stop."
"I'll try," I tell her, heart sinking. Allison gives me a look. "I promise," I say.
"Good," she steps back and picks up her own glass. "Come on, I want to see if Devin and Sophie are smooching yet."
"Oh God, ew," I scrunch up my face. "Of course not! The hell is wrong with you?" Allison giggles and walks out into the living room. Devin and Sophie are sitting on the couch, laughing together. Devin looks happier than I've seen him lately.
"Mars, I haven't told you yet but," Devin says, turning to look at me as I sit on the armrest of the couch. "I called my dad yesterday, told him about-" he gestures. The meds. I nod. "He said he's worried. That if I want it, my parents' next-door neighbors are renting out an apartment where they live, and I can get my medication there. Where the social services are way more reliable."
"That's great!" I grin. "Your parent's are in DC, right?"
"Yeah," he smiles. "It'll be great to see them again. They're worried about us, with the riots down here."
"I'd be worried for us, too," I shrug.
"They also want to know if you'd come with me." Devin says, a little quieter.
"What?" I ask. I know what he's asking, I just- I've never met his parents. And they want me to come to DC to live with their son there?
"I talk about you to them, you know," he says, rolling his eyes. "They know about you. They think it would be nice if you came too. You get out of Gotham and I get my best friend to come with me. I don't have many friends up there."
I think about it for a moment. Getting out of Gotham would be amazing. Not having to watch my back (or my wallet) going down the street sounds great. Not having to worry about getting jumped at night much, that would be awesome. And I could probably get better jobs in DC, maybe score an agent and become a real artist, instead of a bar singer doing covers in dingy clubs. But then my thoughts drift, as they seem to do now, to Arthur. I'd be leaving him. Here. In Gotham. Alone, hurt, and-
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➸ viva la vida (arthur fleck x oc) ✅
Fanfictionarthur fleck can honestly say he's never had a friend. but he has a purpose- his journey to becoming a stand-up comedian, and his dream of making people happy. he dresses as a clown and spins signs for stores, and lives with his mother, and goes to...
