deal with the devil! | JOKER X READER ✅

CHAPTER 17: more to the story.

TW: ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION!

Unsurprisingly, you didn't get much sleep that night. The handcuff around your wrist made you physically restless, while your thoughts of your interaction with Joker made you mentally restless. After all, he had given you a lot to think about, and you couldn't shake the feeling of his lips ghosting over your own. You longed to experience it again.

You spent a lot of the night just looking at Joker. He seemed to be resting easy, though he moved a lot in his sleep. Sometimes, you'd look and see his back. Then, you'd briefly doze off, wake up, and see his face instead, body subconsciously curled toward you.

After an unusually long doze, you awoke once more, noticing that it was morning. The curtains weren't open, but the room was still bathed in a muted, midmorning light. A glance at the alarm clock on your side of the bed told you that it was 8:34 AM.

Your arm was stiff from having it up all night, causing you to wince as you moved it around. The action caused a faint rattling sound, one that made Joker stir. You weren't sure if he was asleep, or just facing away from you in silent, yet conscious pondering.

These questions were answered when he turned so that he was laying on his back. He let out a tired groan, running his hands through his hair, which was messier than normal, but still didn't look horrible. In fact, its messiness was a little attractive. It gave him a more rugged feel. It was nice to not see him as polished and dapper as he normally was.

"Good morning," you volunteered pleasantly, unsure of how to even begin speaking with him after last night's interaction. Every bit of filler conversation felt wrong, since there was an elephant in the room that wasn't being addressed, and that was his twisted fascination with you and your feelings for him. Well, technically, it had already been addressed. But, when it was, it didn't provide you with any guidance on how to proceed. And now, knowing how he felt, you couldn't focus on anything else.

He sat up in bed, looking extremely well-rested. You envied that. "Morning," he replied in an almost-as-pleasant way. He looked at you with a sinister grin. "Sleep okay?"

"You know damn well I didn't." You pointed at your cuffed wrist, which was lazily flicked downward in an attempt to find comfort.

"Well, get used to it." He got out of bed, grabbing the cuffs' key off his bureau. He approached you, unlocking your restraints and freeing your wrist. "Because, punishment or not, I think that's a sight that I need to see more of."

You rubbed your wrist, which was etched with the marking of the cuff. A physical reminder of the previous night. Where Joker had you right where he wanted, both physically and emotionally. Your raw skin ached a little in protest as you rubbed it, just like your heart ached as you took in his innuendo. He was drawing you in with every comment, and he knew it.

"You're the boss," you mumbled, a little bitter at having to endure more nights of this inhumane restraining. But, you knew better than to complain. Besides, there was a silver lining, and that was that him restraining you would make you feel vulnerable in a good way. Whether that emotion should be felt was another discussion, but in the moment, it made you feel spectacular. But, short-lived ecstasy was still ecstasy.

You began to empathize with the drug addicts you took advantage of at The Last Laugh, back when you were in good standing with Joker. Beforehand, you had thought that it was pathetic to rely so much on substances that you'd willingly trap yourself in a room with a dangerous criminal. That you'd willingly spend your hard-earned cash on them.

But, you understood them now.

You realized that not all drugs had to be substances.

Joker was your drug.