JOKER - The Madness We Share

Ⅰ

The streets of Gotham were dreary and dark, reflecting the somber and twisted state of the city. To the Joker, these streets were a canvas for his madness, and he relished in the chaos and despair they evoked. These dimly lit streets, shrouded in shadows, is just what Arthur needed in order to calm the war raging in his mind. He had always found a certain beauty in the madness of the city.

The beauty of tonight, however, seemed to be the madness of a stranger walking alone through it.

It was quieter than usual, but the faint sound of footsteps caught his attention. He was surprised, to say the least. Surprised to find another person who enjoyed walking through the damp city streets of Gotham this late at night.

'Whoever is out here at this time of night is practically asking for it,' he thought.

Arthur sat alone on a bench, smoking a cigarette. He watched as you passed by.

You glanced over at him, trying not to make too much eye contact. He seemed depressed and slightly frenzied. You clutched your bag tightly, remembering how you had promised your landlord that you wouldn't be out past the curfew anymore.

Arthur noticed you looking at him and he couldn't help but smile a bit. He took another drag from his cigarette before flicking it away and standing up. He walked over to you, trying not to make himself seem threatening.

Looking over your shoulder, you realize that he's following you. Having worked all day, you're pretty tired at this time of night. You're caught unsure of what to say or do in this situation. You decided to walk a bit faster, in hopes of avoiding contact with the bizarre man.

Arthur noticed your reaction to him, so he picked up his pace as well. He didn't want to scare you but he also didn't want to lose sight of you.

You sigh, stopping dead in your tracks. You were tired and just wanted to make it home. Alive. You spun around quickly, slightly startling the man.

Arthur was not even sure why he was following you, but something about you made him feel... different. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves.

You stared at him for a few moments. The silence was deafening. His eyes were a dark shade and right above his mouth was a small scar.

'He's certainly unique... What is he thinking? What should I say?'

Arthur watched you closely, trying to read your expressions. He wasn't sure what he expected but this was definitely different than anything he had experienced before. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to break the silence.

"Uh... hey."

You almost jumped when he spoke. Up until now, you were not even sure if he could. You swallowed hard. "H-hi," you stammered.

Arthur couldn't help but smile a bit at your reaction. It made him feel a little more comfortable. He shuffled his feet nervously and took another deep breath. "What's your name?"

"What's yours," you replied, still extremely suspicious of him.

Arthur could sense the tension in your voice. He felt it in his too. Still, he knew that he couldn't pass up this chance. He cleared his throat and tried to sound as confident as possible. "My name's Arthur."

"Arthur... Nice to meet you. I'm Harlynne," you admitted, wondering what he could possibly be doing out here.

Arthur's heart raced as you spoke. Your name was certainly unique. Admittedly, he loved it. He smiled warmly and nodded, finding himself more and more attracted to you by the second.

"Harlynne... that's a pretty name. I like it."

You couldn't help but stare, distracted by his clothing. 'Why exactly would he be wearing a suit out here?' You wondered.