Jigsaw Puzzle || The Joker x Reader

➟ Chapter Fifteen

"Bruce Wayne makes this way too easy," you said as you scanned his penthouse through a pair of binoculars.

"He has to show he's better than everyone," Joker replied.

"Pretentious. Like you."

"As if you're so innocent," he remarked.

"I am," you insisted, setting the binoculars in your lap and snaking out your phone. "Commissioner Gillian Loeb has been poisoned and Judge Janet Surillo has been blown sky high. Time to move in."

"You're taking the floor below the penthouse, right?" Joker asked.

"Yeah, with Charlie and Todd. We'll secure it and meet you upstairs afterwards," you confirmed, sliding your phone in your pocket and slipping the strap of your machine gun over your shoulder.

"See you then," he said with a malevolent smile.

"Good luck," you replied, pecking his lips once before turning around. "Let's go!"

Charlie and Todd made it to your sides and each of you shot your grappling hooks across to Wayne Enterprise. Joker was already retreating to the exit of the building you were in as you flew over the city streets on the zip line. The three of you crashed through the glass and landed in the empty office with shattered shards scattered across the floor.

"You would think a billionaire like him would be smart enough to have stronger windows," you commented.

"Everyone should be on the top floor at the moment, meaning we have adequate time to--"

Charlie was cut off by the screams echoing from the floor above you. Your trio took the signal and panned out to search the office for mainly Harvey Dent if he happened to be tipped off about being targeted. Logically, he wouldn't have had much time to hide more than one floor down, so that's what your job was--secure the area, then join The Joker upstairs.

The three of you began checking each room and office across the floor with guns drawn, ready to fire at a moment's notice. When cautiously creeping down a long hallway, you heard something that sounded like footsteps and halted immediately. No one should have been around and the gut instinct hit you that whoever the footsteps belonged to was an enemy.

You snapped your fingers twice and Charlie and Todd were by you in an instant like silent ninjas. You pointed two fingers forward and jabbed a thumb to the left to indicate where you thought you heard the person. The chaos upstairs wasn't as loud, so you assumed Joker was giving a long speech or something.

Suddenly, a dark figure jumped out and slammed his fist into the side of Charlie's head, effectively knocking him out. You and Todd spun around and started shooting at the person, but their skills were obviously advanced as they dodged the bullets. You knew it was Batman.

You kept firing until Batman got close enough to tackle you to the ground and sent a fist to your jaw. You grunted in pain before Batman was kicked off your body by Todd. He helped you up as he continued to shoot with one hand. You shook your head and grabbed your gun to get back in the standoff, but as you aimed, Batman took advantage and shot what you believed to be a tranquilizer at Todd.

Unfortunately for you, Todd fired a round of bullets before he went down and you had started returning to firing as well, but just as Todd hit the floor, you felt a burning pain on the right side of your abdomen. You gasped and dropped your gun, then fell on your ass as pain drummed through your body.

Batman, on the other hand, was confused, but took the opportunity to get away and rushed to the penthouse as blood poured out of your wound. You scooted to lean against the wall as you clutched your stomach and the red liquid covered your hand. Your breathing became shallow and you tried to think about your medical training but there was nothing you could do with it in the situation.

As you thought about how you could get out of there, you fell on your side and your right shoulder hit the floor. You shuddered in pain and you watched your own blood seep onto the marble.

Meanwhile, Joker held a gun to the head of Rachel Dawes and stared down Batman after their scuffle.

"Drop the gun," Batman demanded.

"Sure," Joker replied, tightening his hold on Rachel, "you just take off your little mask and show us all who you really are."

Joker busted the window behind him as Rachel continued to struggle in his grip. He flipped them around so Rachel was now standing on the slanted roof and he held her by the forearm.

"Let her go," Batman commanded.

"Very poor choice of words," Joker said, then immediately pushed Rachel down the slippery roof, resulting in Batman jumping after her.

Joker ran with his guys following back to the elevator but couldn't shake off the concern at your not showing up. You had more than enough time to clear the floor below and get back to his side, but you were nowhere to be seen.

Joker wordlessly hit the button for the floor because there was no way in hell he was leaving you again. You did things to him he couldn't explain. You were the first person who made him actually laugh and enjoy being alive without needing someone to be screaming in the process. It was more demonizing than it appeared, but it was also intoxicating.

"Hold the door," Joker ordered his men, then stalked on to the floor.

He used his navigation senses to locate where anything in particular had taken place. He saw the broken glass in one of the offices, then followed the expected trail through a collection of hallways before he found you.

Joker saw Charlie and Todd passed out until noticing your slumped form with blood around you. His initial thought was that you were dead, and for the first time, he felt his throat go dry and heart rate increase with dread and rage. But that left him once he saw your hand twitch. He couldn't see your face until he ran over and crouched by your body.

Your bruised face was twisted in pain but was calm for the most part. Joker brushed the remaining hairs from your complexion and put a gloved hand over your own that was holding your wound.

"J," you mumbled, peeling your eyes open to see the concern reflected in his own.

"It's okay, baby," he assured, gliding his arms behind your back and under your legs. "You're okay."

You draped your arm around his neck and graciously rested your head against his shoulder as he picked you up and carried you quickly to the elevator.

"Thanks for coming back for me," you whispered suddenly, taking the hand that had been pressed against your bloody abdomen and circling it around his other shoulder to lock your hands together, basically giving Joker a loose hug. "Every since my family died, no one has ever come back for me."

Joker stayed silent. You sighed against him in comfort as he turned the corner and was headed for the elevator's entrance. He caught you by surprise by the words he finally spoke.

"I'll always come back for you."