The Set Up

The Bar Room Part 1

My body tensed as I gasped, giving the Joker the opportunity to slide his tongue into my mouth. I jumped back, slamming my body against the cold passenger window. The clown seemed to growl in a pleased way as he followed my movements, pressing himself closer to me. I was so startled that I didn't have time to respond to his actions. His hand grabbed my thigh tightly, forcing me to let out a small moan. At that same moment, someone knocked on the driver's side window.

Joker pulled away after a second, sneered, and ripped the door open while practically screaming at a man who could've been mistaken for as a giant.

"What?!" Joker roared.

The man seemed unfazed, "Boss, you're 11:30 appointment is here."

Joker groaned before getting out of the car only to come around to my side and open the door while offering me his hand, "Come. I'll show you to where you can relax."

Mentally shaking the shock off from earlier, I took the man's large hand. He proceeded to lead me up a set of steps in the far corner of the sleek garage and through a rather stylish house. It was huge and, from what I saw around us, we were walking through a heavily equipped kitchen. He continued to gently pull me through the tiled room, through a dining room and hallway. When we stopped, we were in what I guessed to be a bar area. The wall to my left was covered in giant windows overlooking a pool and hot tub while the wall opposite held a fire place. The whole room all together was luxury at its finest with a stocked bar (with bartender), pool table, leather couches and fur rugs.

The Joker released my hand while turning to me, "Feel free to relax in here while I attend to my...business. If you wish to freshen up, Marcus will show you to the restroom." He pointed at the bartender. Joker then brushed his thumb against my lightly swollen lips while staring hard into my eyes.

"I won't be long, make yourself at home."

Joker then walked out a double door on the far side of the room, followed by his giant goon. I crossed my arms while awkwardly saying hi to Marcus. I walked over to a giant glass window and noticed that every wall of the house that faced the pool was covered in windows.

"So miss, would you like a drink?"

I jumped and turned to the bar tender. I stared at him blankly for a moment, taking in his middle aged status, the salt and pepper hair along with signs of wrinkling giving it away. I cleared my throat while brushing my hair back and shaking the feeling of eyes on my skin before clearing my throat.

"Yes, please. Uh, a screw driver?" I say quietly while sitting at the beautiful, cherry wood bar.

The man worked in silence and I took the time to stair in the mirror behind the bar. Sighing, I pulled off my half faced skeleton  mask, cool air hitting the hot skin around my eyes. My makeup had sadly smeared in areas. Mainly around my eyes and lips. I blushed deeply as I took a napkin and went to work with fixing what I could. Marcus placed a napkin on the bar top followed by my drink.

"Ma'am." He smiled.

"Oh, please no. I'm no ma'am." I spoke shyly while sipping my drink.

"I insist. You're Mr. J's company, so you will be given the utmost respect."

I opened my mouth to object again when my phone rang. I excused myself while pulling it out of my pocket. Leah's picture came up on the screen. I pressed answer.

"Sam, hey where are you? I didn't see you outside or in the club." My friend screamed through the phone, club music still in the background.

"Uh, yeah. I..." Lie, I thought quickly, "I got sick, so I headed home. I'll just see you tomorrow."

The was a pause on the phone.

"You promise?" She asked hesitantly.

I laughed, "Uh, yeah. Just have fun, meet some people. I'm gonna crash in the chair and watch some cheesy '80s slasher flicks and munch on popcorn."

With that, she told me to get some rest and hung up. I sighed in relief, only feeling the slightest bit guilty. I was more worried about what I was going to tell her about how my Halloween night really went in the future than about my white lie in the present.

"If you would like that, I could set up the TV, ma'am." Marcus chipped in.

I looked around the room, confused.

"There's no TV." I stated.

"No, not exactly. There's a projector." Marcus said while pointing behind me.

I turn and let out a little snicker, spotting it hanging from the ceiling, "Fancy."

"Mr. J said that a TV would make the room look tacky and insisted on this instead. Works well and has a good picture so just as good as a TV."

Marcus held up his hand and clicked the projector on, the screen appearing on the blank area above the fire place before he switched it to some horror movie. Screaming could be heard around the room as Marcus stated that there was also surround sound. There was no chatter as the movie played in the background while I sipped my drink. I eventually pulled out my phone to care for my vault dwellers in one of my apps when there was a sudden 'bang' as the Joker slammed the bar room doors open, startling me and causing my phone to nearly slip from my grip.

"Sorry, honey! Had to take care of some business." He stated as he walked over to me.

"It's ok, I get that."

He leaned over to look at my phone and tsked, "I already told you, those things can melt your brain."

Looking at him, I answered, "Maybe I want a melted brain."

I could feel the Joker's chest against my back as he placed his hands on the bar, trapping me in. Seeing that Marcus had left, I looked in the mirror as the crime boss smelled my hair before letting his eyes roll back. My cheeks seemed to be on fire as I blushed with embarrassment and I inhaled sharply.

"None of that now, you'll lose that fire you have."

My body went stiff with nerves. This man was a wild card, he was known to be dangerous, he was the most wanted in all of Gotham, he could get anything, anyone. Yet here he was rubbed up against me. I tried to swallow as I slowly got up.

"Uh, want to play some p-pool?" I mentally kick myself at the stutter.

I watched the Joker consider it before giving a face splitting grin, "Alright, but I want to make it interesting."

"I'm not taking my clothes off." I state flatly.

"No, no, you're my innocent flower. I can wait, but I would like to know more about my flower. Each ball you pocket, you can ask something and vice versa ."

"I'm not a flower," I reply before sighing and looking away, trying to hide how red my ears had turned from his comment, "Yeah, sure. I'm good anyways, you probably won't be able to ask anything."

Picking up a pool cue, he started to chalk up his hands, "Oh, I don't doubt that you're good but I never lose."

I follow his actions, chalking the tip of my pool cue, "Cocky much?"

"Yes, very!" He let out a laugh.

"Probably a bit crazy too, huh?" I joke as the man sets up the table.

Bending over, Joker lines the cue up with the white ball before taking his shot, pocketing a solid and looking up at me. The way he was posed made my stomach knot and my toes slightly curl. I bite the inside of my cheek, hiding my body's reaction to the vibes he seemed to be giving.

"You have no fucking idea," he growled as he approached me, pressing his body against mine, his hot breath on my face.

"How old are you?" He asked.

I shake my head, trying to clear the fog, "Huh?"

"I got a point." He stated.

"Oh, um, I'm about to be 22 in a few weeks."

Talk about a build up to something as odd as that question. I breath in and start my turn, this was going to be a long game.