Shattered Pieces

Chapter Ten

Bruce woke up to beeping next to his head, groaning as he reached for the pager.
It's barely even morning.
He thought, rolling out of bed. He tossed a shirt on and went across the hall.
"Yes?"
He grumbled as he entered, stopping when he saw Joker, rolling around in bed. He quickly walked over, seeing the pager on the bed. Joker was in a cold sweat, breathing panicked.
"Joker. Joker wake up!"
Bruce grabbed Joker's arms, trying to keep him from flailing.
"No! No! Please!"
"Joker wake up! Joker!"
Bruce grunted as a leg connected with his side.
"Jay! Wake up!"
Joker opened his eyes, a hand almost connecting with Bruce's face. He slowly stopped struggling, staring up at Bruce. Tears ran down his face, eyes full of fear and tears.
"Hey... It's okay."
Bruce comforted, moving the pager off the bed so he could sit with him.
"Nobody is going to hurt you."
He pulled the blanket back onto the bed, covering Joker again. Joker was quiet, curled in on himself. He flinched when Bruce's hand slipped into his hair, calming slightly as he felt his green curls played with.
"You're only being nice because he said so..."
"Why do you think that?"
"Cuz Batman told you to take me in... He told you to take care of me."
"That's not true. I want to take care of you. I want to be nice. Between you and me, I'm the one who has to tell Batman to take care of you."
Joker went quiet, looking down.
"N-Not that Batman doesn't care about you. He does, in his own way."
Bruce sighed, startled by Joker pulling him down to the bed.
"Joker..?"
He said nothing, curled up next to Bruce. He got the hint, wrapping an arm around the bundle of blanket which was Joker. He was planning to leave once Joker fell asleep, but wound up falling asleep with him.

"Master Bruce."
Bruce groaned, sitting up to look at Alfred. It took him a moment to remember what happened. He looked beside him, Joker fast asleep clinging to the pillow.
"Would you like a big spoon with your coffee sir?"
Alfred joked, leaving the room. Bruce slowly got up, not wanting to wake Joker, before following. He locked the door, glad Joker didn't wake up and try to run.
"Alfred?"
"Yes, master Bruce?"
"What do you think about letting Joker out?"
"I would think he rubbed his insanity off on you."
"Maybe in a few days when he's really settled."
Bruce hummed, grabbing the newspaper that sat on the kitchen table. He sat and flipped through it, stopping when saw his name.
"Bruce Wayne adopts a not-so-friendly new member to his household. Arkham staff has agreed to allow Wayne to house Joker in his custody, providing everything needed. Is this an act of goodwill or is there something darker behind this."
Bruce read, snorting as he took a bite of the freshly made toast.
"There certainly is another side of this."
Alfred said jokingly.
"Sir, if you don't mind me asking, how do you feel about the Joker?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well I did walk in on you cuddled up to him."
"He was having trouble sleeping so..."
Bruce sighed.
"Yeah. I guess I do like him. Just a little. I think I'd like him a bit more if he'd take his medication without a fuss."
Alfred only chuckled, giving Bruce his coffee. Bruce got up as he heard the pager.
"Might as well bring him breakfast."
Alfred handed Bruce the tray. He nodded and headed upstairs.

Pathetic!
He'll never save you!
You think you're worth his time!?
He will never care about you!

Give up!
"Shut up!"
Joker screamed, hands over his ears.
Batman doesn't care about you.
Bruce is doing this for the publicity.
They will abandon you.

They have abandoned you.
Joker started sobbing, unable to hear the door open.
"Joker I brought-... Joker? Joker!?"
Bruce put the tray down before running over to Joker. Joker was curled up on the floor, hands over his ears. Bruce sat next to him, reaching to try and comfort him.
"Hey, are you okay?"
He jumped as Joker clung to him., sobbing against his chest.
"It's okay. I'm here now."
He hushed, slowly picking him up and back into bed. He frowned at Joker's whimper, laying him in bed before grabbing the tray of food.
"I-I thought you abandoned m-me..."
Joker hiccuped, hiding behind his knees when he thought how clingy he sounded.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because... Batman did."
Joker mumbled. Bruce frowned and sat closer, wrapping an arm around him.
"I guess he did..."