Paper Planes

XIV

A/N: Oh, how I wish I could smother that face with kisses...

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"If I have to have a past, then I prefer it to be multiple choice."
—Alan Moore

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"Holy shit, J? Is that you?"

"In the flesh. How've ya-uh, been, Ryder?" Joker grinned, his hand resting on the dip of Ember's back as she gawked at the man before them.

Ryder, as Joker called him, was freakishly tall, easily over six and a half feet. Half of his face was covered by a deep scar, tracing from his jaw to the top of his brow.

His black, beady eyes met a tiny, shivering Ember.

"And who do we have here?" Ryder mused, sucking on his bottom lip as he stepped aside, allowing the three of them access into the building.

"This," Joker heartily began, putting a slight bit of pressure on the small of her back, silently urging her to shuffle into the house. "Is Ember. An old friend of mi-ne." His scars broadened as he emphasized the "n".

"Drop dea-d gorgeous, ain't she?" Joker grinned, stealing a glance at a very silent Ember as they followed Ryder inside.

"She's very pretty, J." Ryder modestly spoke, careful not to cross any boundaries with the clown. Although Ryder'd taught Joker nearly everything he knew, the man couldn't help but be slightly afraid of the painted-faced man. His strength and stamina was absolutely impeccable.

She wasn't quite sure what to expect to see inside the dingy building. What she did see, however, was quite shocking.

It was a very open floor plan, almost resembling an old, deteriorated warehouse. The ceiling was multistory, with flickering lights and open pipes held up by metal bars.

"Ry-der," Joker began, his tongue routinely tracing the deep indents of his scars. "I wan-t to teach Miss Em-ber how to shoot a gun."

The mans expression brightened as Ember stilled beside them.

"What?" She stammered.

Why would she need to know how to shoot a gun?

"Be my guest, J. The range is all yours."

"Grea-t." Joker mumbled, his caloused fingers twisting around Ember's frail bicep as he tugged her in the direction of the indoor range.

Horton stayed behind, following Ryder to an undisclosed location as Ember suddenly felt quite ill.

Truth be told, she'd always been afraid of guns. Whether it be the loud noise or the fact that they kill people, she wasn't quite sure what scared her the most about them.

"Why do I need to learn how to shoot a gun?" She squeaked, tripping over the toe of her sneaker as Joker clamped down on her arm, preventing her from face planting.

"Be-cause, toots," He heavily sighed, dragging her towards the gianormous indoor range, accompanied by an abundance of moving and still targets. "D'yah really want to ro-t away in tha-t room for the rest of your days?"