Paper Planes

XLI

"Everything is going to be fine in the end.
If it's not fine, it's not the end."
—Oscar Wilde

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I present to you:
The final chapter of Joker & Ember's story. Grab a box of tissues. Or maybe twelve. Please try to read this in one sitting, as it is quite a hefty chapter and contains a LOT of important details!

(final thoughts and q + a to follow)

word count: 9209

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Ember bid goodbye to Judith and Abelia, Redheaded Sarah still pouting in the staff room as the woman strut from the boutique.

A part of her missed the long hours spent at Charlie's, laughing alongside those kind women. However, Ember didn't want to change a thing about the life she currently lived.

She loves the Joker. She loves waking up to those sparkling brown eyes, to hear that groggy morning voice laced with sleep as she smothered his scarred face with wet, sloppy kisses. She loves the way he groans in annoyance, and how his arms effortlessly lace around her petite waist to pull her body to his.

Ember had spent so much time thinking about her darling beau that she hadn't even realized that she'd stumbled off the side of the sidewalk. Her foot slipped, prompting her to nearly topple forward onto the concrete as a mysterious vehicle rapidly approached her.

The woman straightened her posture, swallowing a slightly painful gulp as she gripped onto the wilted strap of her leather purse.

The passenger window lowered, revealing the familiar face of Grim, one of Joker's loyal henchman.

"Hey, Ember!" The man cheered, his thin lips curling into a smirk as he craned his neck to meet her gaze.

Ember stepped down to see him properly, brows knit together in curiosity.

"Hi, Grim. I thought you and—" Ember began, Joker's name getting caught in her throat as she glanced over each shoulder.

"—the boss – went on an excursion?"

"We did. But him and Horton had other plans to run, and he sent me to pick you up." Grim reassured the woman, still smiling broadly in her direction.

Ember toyed with her purse strap, feeling a bit uneasy at the peculiar situation. Joker hadn't called her to inform her of this.

"I drove myself." She murmured.

"That's alright. I'll come back later to grab your car. The boss also asked me to pick up Michelle, too." Grim added, leaning over the center console to manually unlock the passenger door. "Climb in, kiddo."

Ember hesitated for a moment, tapping her foot anxiously against the concrete as she glanced over her shoulder several more times.

"C'mon, kid. We still have to get Michelle."

Ember rolled her eyes at the degrading nickname, her manicured fingers cradling the door handle as she pried it open with ease. Grim simply smiled as she settled into the vehicle, clutching her purse to her chest as he began to drive.