Heartstopper Inktober 2K24

18 - Drive (Batman!AU)

(Note: I'm imagining for this that it's Teen energy on a compete and utter weird scale.)

Any second now, he's going to be here. He just knows it, feels it deep down in his soul. He can always feel when he's near, it's what makes them so good together.

They were always better as a team, at least, that's what Puddin' says to him anyways. That they have a drive that no one else does and he needs him like a pair of lungs.

So, he waits, cause he knows he's on his way.

These kooks in here don't understand them. They always try to push his buttons, make him talk, get him to open up. Explain why. Why, why, why.

Why did you jump in the acid, Charlie?

Why did you let The Joker manipulate you, Charlie?

Why are you still loyal to him, Charlie?

Why don't you care about your family, Charlie?

So many questions and so little answers he wants to give. They wouldn't care what he said anyway, all they wanted was to know about his Puddin', not him. Same with his sister. Tori had always wanted to talk about Charlie, not about Puddin', but she wasn't here anymore.

Neither was Ivy as she wasn't in their shared cell at the moment. She'd been allowed to go to lunch. He was not, cause of those stupid prison guard arseholes.

So, here he stood, leaning against the bars and looking out at the almost empty space of Arkham, the dyed blonde layer over his underlying black curls adorned in red and blue catching the fluorescent lights along with his face that was painted with stolen makeup in the same manner. He'd been allowed to keep his clothes this time at least, "Daddy's Lil' Monster" shirt that had been given to him from his boyfriend under his open jumpsuit.

Speaking of Daddy, however-

A bunch of alarms sounded from around the prison and Charlie could only watch (and laugh) from above as a bunch of people in clown masks came storming in and held the guards and dining prisoners hostage. Given everyone got a pair of meta cuffs put on them when the were taken out of their cells and also, meta anklets in the case of more serious threats, it was kinda genius timing for a raid as no one could cause a scene.

Well, at least, not one that mattered.

Giggling, he watched as guns and people were yelling out instructions not to move and rocked in the balls of his feet as he heard footsteps approaching his cell at a rather hurried pace. Then a person came into view Finally. "Finally, what took you so long?"

"I was just getting some supplies, lovely." A lock of green hair fall from its place, his eyes crinkled from smiling as he looks at her from where he stands, two thugs on hand with him like at all times as he snaps his fingers. Guard one ends up holding the door, while Guard Two unlocks it with a tiny pipe bomb that barley smoked as he stepped out, grinning as purple clad arms wind around him and a mouth brushed against his head. "I missed you Puddin'."

"Missed you too, my little thief." The Joker smiled against his ear, though his eyes instead, rolled sarcastically unbeknownst to him. "How about we go and have a welcome home party this evening, hmm? Say a shopping spree on Mayfair? Your choice."

Charlie grinned up at him. "I could use a makeover, maybe some diamonds. A little colour wouldn't go amiss either. Lead the way, Puddin'."

"That's my beautiful flower." A gloved hand took his and in a split second, they were running and running and running and Charlie's already got a gold chain in hand after the end of noon.

Now all he needs is a ring. A really big, really sparkly ring. Maybe one day, Puddin' could do it. Or maybe, as he looked on while he destroyed the city while she had a good look around, it could be sooner than that as well.

He could swing it. Puddin' could never say no to him.