RELAPSE - Arthur Fleck | Joker FANFIC/LOVE STORY

Chapter 18: I Love You

Arthur's POV:

I laid on my back on the couch, my head supported by my thin pillow that was propped up on the arm of the couch, as I watched some show that was on the TV. I had never seen the show before and I wasn't actually enjoying it, but Anon slept on top of me; her head on my chest, her body resting on my abdomen, and her legs sandwiched between mine. She must have drifted off to sleep during the movie that we were watching a little earlier and I didn't dare disturb her because then she would insist on leaving so we wouldn't have to share the couch. She would say that we would get better sleep that way, but that wasn't true. Not for me. I slept better when she was close to me, even if that meant being squished on a small couch. I ignored the small pain in my neck from it being stuck at a slight angle for at least a couple hours now.

I looked down at her, though I could really only see the top of her head from this angle, as I carefully ran my right hand through her blonde hair and moved it down to her side, rubbing her with my fingers gently. I felt her body rise and fall as she breathed at a slow rhythm. I focused my attention on her breathing until my eyelids became heavy and I started to drift off.

"Happy!"

My eyes opened at the sound of my mother's voice. I turned my head to look at the TV and found that the show I had been watching was still on, so I couldn't have been asleep long. What does she want? I let out a frustrated sigh. Part of me wanted to close my eyes and pretend I didn't hear her, but the other part of me knew she needed me. Mom had been feeling bad all day.

I moved my hand from Anon's side to her shoulder, "Hey love, I'm so sorry, but Mom needs something." I felt awful waking her up, she was sleeping so peacefully. She mumbled something as she slowly pushed herself off my chest into a sitting position.

She stretched her arms and yawned as she sat in between my legs, then she looked at me, "Did I fall asleep on you? I'm sorry, that must have been uncomfortable."

I sat myself up and took her face in my hands, "I was cuddling with you, nothing is more comfortable than that."

She smiled at me, but shook her head in disbelief. I smiled back and pecked her on the lips with a kiss before I got up from the couch to make my way to my mother's room. I heard her call out for me a second time.

I walked into her room, closing the door behind me. It was dark, but I saw that she out of her bed, standing by her dresser, and digging around in her jewelry box. "Mom, what are you doing out of bed?"

"I woke up with a terrible headache, Happy," she didn't even look at me, she just kept digging in her jewelry box.

I sighed, "Well, at least get back in bed, Mom. I will get you some medicine."

Before I could open the bedroom door to leave, she sighed in frustration, "Oh, where is it. Where could it be. I know it's here. It's always here."

I peered at her, "Mom, what are you looking for?"

I could tell she was on the verge of crying, "My necklace. Oh, it's gone."

I rolled my eyes, walked over to her, and looked at the jewelry box, "You have several necklaces in there. Are you sure one is missing?" All of her necklaces were cheap, so I didn't see why she would be so bothered.

She smacked at my arm with the back of one of her hands, "My special one. It's missing."

I raised an eyebrow at her, "Are you talking about the diamond necklace?" She nodded her head as she started to sob. "You gave that to me. You said you didn't need it anymore."

She pushed against me. She wasn't strong enough to actually move me, but I took a few steps back anyways. She shook her head and looked at me with angry eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks, "Why would I ever give it to you!? It's special to me!" I was shocked that she was actually yelling.