I Hate You, But I Love You

Chapter 1: Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea

     Step back. Punch. The contact of Batman's fist to Joker's jawbone was almost satisfying as it connected hard. The Joker was completely stunned for a moment, but threw out a leg, causing the masked man to trip. J never played fair, but then again, he never won either. Bruce somehow managed to bring him down, the clown's hand grasping around the handle of a pocketknife. He was slashing toward Batsy with a great fervor, thinking he could still win the upper hand.

They were at the docks by Gotham's bay, and Batman finally had Joker pinned down on the damp wooden pier. J grinned up at him as he usually did. "Big bad Batsy. You think you're going to win by punching your way out? You haven't got a chance." He was bluffing and Bruce knew it.

"That's hard to see from up here, J. When are you just going to behave and make my job easier?"

J chuckled and looked up at him. "I like this angle." He was referring to how Batman was perched on top of him, pinning him down. "Now is not the time for jokes. Are you going to surrender and turn yourself in, or am I going to have to keep you like this?" Either way, he didn't trust J and he decided he needed to cuff him. In the middle of Batsy being preoccupied with the cuffs, the Joker got enough of a footing to push himself off and launch himself about ten feet down into the water. The only complication was that the cuffs prevented him from swimming. He couldn't paddle back up and he felt the ocean closing in on him. 'What a way to die', he thought to himself. He felt his vision going dark as he struggled to hold his breath. He started to breathe in the water, panicking. The last thing he felt was a force yanking him upwards.

Batman laid the joker down on the sandy bank, the man clearly unconscious. The caped crusader felt for the joker's pulse but he couldn't find one. There was only one way he could save the clown: he had to give him CPR. The thought almost instinctively repulsed him, but he decided to help him for the greater good. Bruce started chest compressions and then leaned down after a few seconds, his mouth meeting J's to breathe life back into him. After a few rounds of that, J's chest heaved and he coughed the salty water out. His eyes, throat, and nose were burning, but he could see Batsy as clear as day hovering close to him. He was too shocked to say anything at first. His lips felt warm and he could smell cologne from where Batsy had gotten so close.

"Did you just make out with me?" He teased with a little giggle, panting right after. It was his thing to do. If he didn't tease after that, it would give him away. Batman raised an eyebrow, not that Joker could see.

"I saved your life." He growled out, thinking maybe it would have been less annoying to let the clown drown in the bay. J sat up, trying to catch his breath as Batsy turned to walk away. "I'll let you go this time.." He was being merciful, what was up with him? J raised an eyebrow, but he didn't question it. For once, the Joker was silent, not even a word of sass escaping his lips. J then stood up.

"You forgot to remove the cuffs." He simply stated, looking toward Batman's back that was turned to him. Bruce didn't face him. How could he after that?

"I'm sure you know how to get out of those. So cut the shit and get out of here." J sensed that something had changed in him. It was as if he were more hostile since saving his life. He didn't need to be told twice to leave. He headed out, leaving the bag of cash behind. That wasn't important now.

When he finally got back to his club, he went in the backdoor, noticing Harley sitting on top of his desk cheekily. "I've been waiting for ya, Mistah J." The green-haired mess then walked over to her, caressing her bare thigh.

"Could you be a doll and get me outta these cuffs?" He asked, smirking as he met her gaze. She giggled and nodded.

"Sure puddin!" Harley picked the lock, finally getting them off, and J rubbed his wrist.