As Fate May Have It (Joker x Reader)

Chapter Eight (House of Memories)

He continued looking over the plans and without putting his review of the plan on hold, he inquired, "You know we'll have to talk sometime. You can't ignore me forever."

"I can try." Her childishness made him chuckle. She didn't understand why he'd laugh because she was being serious.

"Why avoid me?" He asked. Not out of anger, but out of curiosity.

Her heart dropped at those words.

'To protect myself from what I might learn,' she thought. Her thoughts stayed thoughts, she'd never admit that out loud.

"Well..." he sighed, looking at the drunk, who soberly looked at her lap, refusing eye contact.

"Other than these few mistakes," circling each mistake in red pen, "which I suspect you made to have a valid reason to get away from me, the plan is fine."

"Cool," she breathed out and started preparing for the debriefing. With it now obvious (Name) would speak much more, the Joker went back to playing with his mobile.

After a short time, she'd abruptly got up and walked towards the door. The (colour) haired woman stood half way out the door and yelled, "Debriefing in five minutes!"

Whatever anyone was doing, it was dropped immediately. One after one the the seemed to flow into the room, creating small conversation until debriefing started.

"This mission won't be difficult, but it is important," she began her ramble of an explain, as she always did.

And she had been right, it wasn't difficult. Unanimously, they all had agreed so. The group had come to terms that any mission they did really didn't effect them. However, it gave them a reason to party and celebrate like they're teenagers drinking and experimenting with alcohol.  They all partied together temporarily. It never lasted long. All of them, together. Mainly because their team captain wasn't much of a partier. (Name) would stay for a bit, then she would leave to her room or the missions' office to do work. She was as much of an alcoholic as she was a work-oholic.

Not long after she left, the Clown Prince of Crime followed. She went to her room and shut the door, not locking it. He easily got in as there was nothing to stop him, however, it was useless as she wasn't there. Her window was open though. 'She wouldn't just leave, would she? It was definitely out of character for her but where else would she go,' he questioned mentally. He looked out the window on the off chance that she'll just be there waiting for him or something.

"Looking for me?" Her voice was near but definitely not near enough to see, unless...

He turned to sit on the window sill to look up at the roof. She'd was there. She was laying on the roof, drink in hand. She was beautiful like as she was in his memories. With her baggy sweatshirt and jeans, she couldn't be more perfect than this moment.

"Are you gonna keep staring like a creep or are you gonna join me?" At her words, he moved to stand on the window sill and used larger chipped parts of the wall to help him climb the short distance. After pulling himself onto the roof he walked towards her then sat down. He couldn't help but let memories flood his mind as they sat in silence. They were happy memories, memories from before he was pushed to the brink of insanity, memories of her, memories of when she was his. But there was one not-so-good memory that pushed itself into his head, he was so wrapped up into his happy thoughts, he almost didn't notice it until it replayed in his head. He felt a sense of depression, like when you rewatch a sad movie.

He remembered how it had been a cool, clear evening, not one cloud was out to block the moon's light. He remembered how at just the right angle, the moon made her skin glow. He remembered when she caught him staring. He remembered how she chuckled and stopped their walk. He remembers how she grabbed on his scarf and pulled to kiss him. He remembered when they saw a faraway light, and when they'd come to find it was a building on fire. And how she tried to go, to help. And how he'd stopped her and went instead. And how...

"-u okay?" He gave a questionable look at her before mentally piecing together what she'd said, and quickly muttering something to the effect of, 'yep, I'm good'. The silence between them, one again, was interrupted, not that 'J' cared. He was more so happy that she started their zombie-ish like conversation.

"I know we need to talk and I said I didn't want to earlier, that's because I didn't. Still don't. But now is as good of a time as any, especially since I'm prepared." He was shocked slightly that she started this conversation. For her to start conversation with him at all is beyond explanation, as she's expressed time after time that that's not what she wants. And now here she is, attempting to begin a conversation she doesn't want to have with the person she doesn't want to talk to, out of her own free will.

He just stared at her, not quite knowing how to respond. She was the only on that could ever do that to him, make him unsure and he loved it. Their conversations had always been adventures for him. He slowly leaned back to lay next to her. "Prepared?" She answered by lifting her drink for him to see, then shaking the bottle a little, "I'll drink my sorrows as they come, I expect you'll join me."

"Where do we begin?" He started, turning his head to look at her.

"Why don't I remember? I know I had head trauma, but why?"

"There was an explosion." He simply stated.

"I know that, but what lead to it? Why was I there?" He opened his mouth to respond, yet what was he going to say. How should he tell her they were together, that she forgot her significant other. He wasn't sure how he should, so he wouldn't. He'd answer the questions he was asked and expect nothing but the same from her. That's what he would do.

"You were there with your boyfriend." He didn't exactly answer the question, but his answer seemed to satisfy her. This conversation wasn't easy, for neither him or her.

"And why were you there?" Maybe he wasn't who she thought.

"Same as you, just walking." 'Why is he so vague?' She was hopelessly curious.

"Why am important to you?" That question. There just didn't seem to be words to explain why.

"Can I try something?" (Name) responded with a questioning look and a quiet 'sure'. 'J' moved to prop himself up on his elbow. He took her hand in his, wrapping his hand around hers as much as he could. She watched their hands as he brought them close to his face, so her hands back was against his lips. Her gaze met his as he let go of her hand. Her eyes wondered around his face, and her fingers grazed his cheek, then her palm. Her palm rested on the side of his face with curled fingers.

His hands found her own face, and slid to her cheek. Slowly, and without realisation, they got closer, even as they studied each other's facial features. They got so close, one of them could so easily lean into the other only a few centimetres and their lips would lock. Our pair of genius' seemed to have the same brilliant idea at the same time, leaning in, only to surprise each other with a brush of their lips.

They weren't the only one surprised, however. A sudden gasp of shock and horror came from the same spot 'J' had climbed up from. Harley. She'd likely been looking for her puddin', only to them together. She didn't try to hide, but rather run, she slipped back in through the window, and she was gone.

"Shit, shit, shit..." (Name) pulled away. She hated herself for what had just happened. She was upset and a bit tipsy and very confused. How could she do that to someone she felt was a friend? "I'm so sorry, Jack. I shouldn't have done that. Shit fuck. That was horrible of me, I'm sorry."