chapter 11

2.1K 65 0
                                    

My heart was pounding like a jackhammer inside my chest. There was blood everywhere and Arthur just stood there staring at me in shock.
"Why did you come back?" His voice was hoarse and sinister as he glared at me.
"I was worried about you- what the fuck Arthur!" I spoke without thinking. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs but I forced myself not to, I didn't want anyone finding out about this.
Instead I turned to run out of the door back to my apartment but as I did so I felt a cold hand lock onto my wrist, stopping me from moving.

Arthur had a secure grip on my wrist as he pulled me back in, locking the door. "Listen y/n, I haven't been completely honest with you" He was speaking in a hushed tone as if he had listeners surrounding us. "Yeah no shit" My emotions ran high but I stayed under control.
"Let me explain" He walked me towards the sofa and sat me down. "I didn't want to tell you because I feared if I did you would hate me. You would never look at me the same. I feared I would lose you for good and I can't let that happen. I love you" He was almost pleading for me to understand him at this point.

"Who else have you killed?" I asked in disgust. I needed answers.
Arthur sighed before answering. "The three guys on the subway and, Penny" He paused before saying the last name. My eyes widened in fear and shock. I felt like a knife had just pierced my stomach.
"Why?!" That's all I could manage to say. Why. I turned away from him; I couldn't stand the sight of him.
"Listen please y/n, I only did it because they wronged me. The guys almost killed me, Penny lied to me my entire life and Randall" He motioned towards the corpse on the ground "started this whole thing. He gave me the gun to begin with, which led me to getting fired and kill people. I would never kill anyone that didn't deserve it. And I would never hurt you" He tried to pull my head towards him but I backed away.

"You already did" I stood up and walked to the door, glancing at the body once more. I didn't dare look back at Arthur I just left and went home.
------------------------------------

I arrived back at my apartment and burst into tears. I haven't cried in years but he had done something to me I can not explain. I still loved him and believe it or not I some what understood him. But he was a changed man.

I collected myself and sat down on my sofa trying to process everything I had just witnessed. I'm not like most people. I don't go running and screaming over death. I knew that would be the last thing Arthur would've needed. But at the same time I can't forgive him that easily. Especially for Penny, even though we both read the files, it did not warrant him killing her. She was a lovely person who deserved so much and who knows, she could've been telling the truth. We don't know. Wayne was very powerful. He could've quite easily forged those papers and framed Penny just so he wasn't associated with them both.

I shook my head trying to change the subject. I had been sitting there for about 20 minutes just thinking. Images of what I had walked in on still flashed into my head. I never knew Arthur was capable of such things, although I was beginning to understand him a bit more as time went on.

After a while the phone rang. I didn't move from my spot. I just waited. The answer machine came on and that's when I heard Arthur's voice.
"Y/n I'm sorry for what you saw and heard, I never wanted anything like this to happen. If you could please just understand me. I get it if you don't love me anymore but I just need you to understand. I still love you, more than anything." There was a pause before he continued. "I'm at the Murray Franklin show. I'm on in a few minutes if you still want to watch. If you do I'm warning you now not to run away. I hope to hear from you love."
The phone went dead.

What the bloody hell did he mean by that. My hands started shaking as I switched on the TV and changed the channel to Live with Murray Franklin. I didn't know what to expect but I had a horrible gut feeling it wouldn't be good.
----------------------------------

I had waited for ages. Shouting at the screen when ads came on. I was sat on the floor with my eyes glued to the screen. I was shaking in fear. I didn't want Arthur getting hurt.

Then Murray spoke. "Please welcome Joker".
"Joker'? I questioned. Then out he came. Arthur Fleck. He was dressed head to toe in a bright red suit with a yellow waist coat and green shirt underneath. His hair was still bright green and he had clown makeup fully covering his face. A massive smile plastered his face as he danced through the curtain and towards the guests.
That's when he kissed the lady. What. The. Fuck. ARTHUR! I couldn't believe what I just saw. I thought he loved me. My heart began pumping so fast it felt like it was going to explode.

He had sat down and was just staring into the audience. My fists were clenched as I glared through the TV. He knew I was watching. The whole scene was painful to watch. They finally began talking to one another although Arthur seemed to talk more to the audience rather than Murray himself.

Murray had already started making fun of him as he asked him for a joke. " He's got a book. A book of jokes." The audience joined in on the laughter. "Take your time we've got all night" Once again laughter filled the studio.
"Knock, knock" Arthur had found a joke. "And you had to look that up?" Murray took every opportunity he had to mock him. I could tell Arthur was getting angry.

"Knock, knock" He spoke. "Who's there".

"It's the police ma'm, your son's been hit by a drunk driver, he's dead" Arthur began laughing at his own joke but no one else did. Instead there was gasps from the audience. The guests and Murray told him that it wasn't funny and that's when Arthur spoke again.

"Yeah, It's just you know. It's been a rough few weeks Murray. Ever since I... Killed those three Wall Street guys". The audience gasped followed my murmurs and hushed speaking. "Ok I'm waiting for the punchline".
"There is no punchline. It's not a joke" Arthur almost seemed proud of this.

My eyes blinked as I stared lifelessly towards the screen.
This was bad.

Arthur Fleck/ Joker X Reader (Completed)Where stories live. Discover now