Stop Me If You've Heard This One

Setting the Stage (intro)

Chp 1/?
Stop Me If You've Heard This One
Setting the Stage

♤♡♧♧

"I spy with my little eye..." he murmurs as he peers over the roof's ledge. A slow smile stretches his ruby mouth and small clouds of steam escape his parted lips. His nose, ears, and cheeks are the faintest pink, kissed by the crisp night air. His eyes gain a glint of mischief.
Joker is pleased for the first time in weeks. Successfully surprising Gotham takes planning, hard work, and pacing. This time it's only halfway through the tedious parts of his citywide plans and he's already short on patience. With all of this hard work isn't it about time he threw himself a party? Had a tiny break? A small treat? A little playtime? That's where you come in.

He chuckles to himself as his eyes track your movement on the street below. J is positioned on a strategically chosen rooftop. He knows where you're headed and which streets you'll take to get there. It's where you always end up weekday evenings. He knows your habits help you feel safe. They help you cope with the damage he did to you.
"how long has it been?" he muses to himself, tapping his chin thoughtfully. After a tick he shrugs the question off and his gaze returns to you. What does time matter? Joker remembers it clear as day and he knows that, despite all of the medicines and therapies and treatments, you do too.

He knows that you have been undone. He's seen you giggling in the dark. He knows you absently stroke the scar on your face when you feel anxious. He knows that sometimes you sense him when he's nearby. He's seen you struggle to stop your lips from twitching into a smile as your eyes search the shadows for him.
Joker knows he owns you. Whether you realize it or not is irrelevant.

J's fingertips tap together in silent, excited applause as you turn the corner. On this street the lamps become more widely spaced along the sidewalk. The dark is inkier here, the echoes more defined; perfect for a rousing game of hide and seek. He smoothly dances to the the fire escape that you've just walked past. Joker glides soundlessly down the metal stairs, taking care to contain his giggles as he goes. His descent is careful, for he is watching you closely. He's waiting for you to notice him. He's waiting for the chase.

J indulges in a triumphant grin when your footsteps slow and shoulders tense. Your head cocks ever so slightly, your hackles up. Your fingers raise gingerly to your face as the side of your mouth pulls in an involuntary tick. You can feel him. He's near. Adrenaline starts to sharpen your senses. Trying to discern where he may be, your eyes scan the road and the alleys as you pass. You become more obviously defensive, withdrawing a can of pepper spray from your pocket, holding it firmly in your shaking hand.

Joker lets his feet gain weight as he descends, stepping just heavily enough to make the steel steps sigh beneath him. His landing is light upon the pavement and his stride towards you is swift.
You freeze momentarily and then, without so much as a backwards glance, you run.
As you flee down the street the world begins to blur. Tears fill your eyes. They sting worse than the air that whips your face as you gain speed. Sobs burst from you. You don't think you can outpace him.

'shake it off,' you tell yourself, 'can't think about that now. Just fucking run!'

The buildings pass by rapidly and you pray that someone -anyone!- will see you being chased and call the cops. It's unlikely. If they see who is chasing you, you'll never get help. Joker is an expert. He can find the households susceptible to bribery. If not, he can find secrets for blackmail. If even that won't work, he won't hesitate to kill an entire family to have his way.
You chide yourself, reminding yourself that you worked on this kind of extreme thinking. You need to stop. But you know that offenses against him don't go unpunished. Those with any sense in their head dare not cross him.