deal with the devil! | JOKER X READER ✅

CHAPTER 36: commitment.

   TW: SLIGHTLY STEAMY

The car ride home was quiet. So quiet that you were slightly uncomfortable. But you didn't know how to break this deafening silence; what was there to say after something like this? You knew what you wanted to say, but you couldn't say it. You were too nervous, but you didn't know why.

   Around halfway home, you felt Joker's hand gently rest on your thigh. His hold was gentle, absent of that possessive tightness he had always gripped you with. And something in that hold just made you relax. You let out a big breath, feeling confident that everything would resolve itself. You would soon be back where you were meant to be.

   As he pulled into the driveway, you felt emotion overcome you. You saw that mansion in a whole new light now. It had been your prison, but now it was your safe haven. It was your home again.

   You didn't know that tears were falling from your eyes until Joker wiped them away. "You're home now. It's all over," he whispered.

   You nodded, desperately trying to contain yourself. "I'm home."

   He helped you out of the car, walking you to the front door. He unlocked it and led you inside as you sniffled quietly to yourself.

   Frost immediately perked up from where he was sitting on the couch, clearly curious of what events had unfolded to bring you back here. But then his eyes fell on your injuries. His expression twisted with horror, he hopped to his feet and rushed up to you.

   Joker gently moved you away. "Careful, she's hurt."

   "No shit." Frost's eyes were watering as if he were harnessing your injuries as his own. "What the fuck happened?"

   "Long story. Another time, Frosty."

   "No, it's okay," you interjected. "Apparently, Harley had been working for Two-Face this whole time. They held me hostage and roughened me up a bit. Joker came to save me, and I guess Harley changed her mind about working with TF. She shot him."

   Frost had a strange expression on his face, almost like he couldn't decide how to feel. "So, it's over?" he eventually asked.

   You smiled weakly. "Yeah, it's over. He's dead."

   He exhaled heavily, returning your weak smile. "Thank God."

   "Inform the others, will you?" Joker asked, ushering you away with a hand on the small of your back. "I have to get her fixed up."

   "Yes, sir."

   He brought you to that oh-so-familiar torture room to tend to your wounds. Your skin reflexively erupted in goosebumps at the memories this room provided, most of them involving searing pain. But you knew that from now on, you'd remember this room as a testament to the end of your suffering. You were here, so you had survived Two-Face and could truly start living.

He sat you down in that damn dentist's chair once again, pulling out those damn sutures to stitch you up. You squeezed your eyes shut, praying that this was the last time you'd ever have to be here.

As he worked, he was oddly silent. There was no commentary, no apologies, nothing. Just the silent agony of thread weaving through skin. You didn't try to speak either.

After a bit, his voice finally cut through the quiet. "Done."

You looked at your hand. Your wound hadn't been particularly long, so the stitches only consumed a small portion of your hand. "Thanks. Looks good."

"You're welcome."

You two just stared at each other for a moment. Joker's eyes were strangely telling of how he was feeling; normally, they gave absolutely nothing away. But now, it was plain as day. He was sorrowful, and his icy eyes reflected that. He couldn't fake an emotion with his eyes. He was really, truly feeling.