Batman x joker

*freezes, staring* you're... you're actually laughing. *voice wavers* oh. *suddenly buries face in Batman's shoulder, shoulders shaking*

*wraps an arm around him* Hey... *holds him close*

*muffled against his shoulder* you laughed... *voice cracks* you actually laughed at my stupid joke.

But the other guy shakes his head: "Do you think I'm crazy? You'll turn off the flashlight the flashlight halfway across!" *starts laughing at own joke* oh, excuse me.

*Batman starts laughing with Joker 🥹💕*

*grips tighter* You're not a toy.

*pulls back just enough to look at him* then what am I? *voice barely a whisper* tell me what I am to you.

*searches Joker's face, voice rough* Everything. *the word escapes before he can stop it* You're everything I can't... *pulls back, shaking* Damn it.

*Joker goes all the way to the roof*

*grapples silently to an adjacent building, heart pounding as he realizes Joker's intentions* No. Not like this.

*stands at the edge, wind whipping his clothes* who knew Gotham was so quiet at night? *laughs bitterly* guess Bats finally got his wish. *Joker jumps*

*clenches jaw* I know.

*shoulders slump* yeah. you always do. *walks away without looking back*

*watches until Joker disappears into the shadows again, then picks up the dropped cake* Damn it.

*laughs shakily* sure. the bats, in the neighborhood. *wipes his face* what're you gonna do, arrest me?

That was always the plan. *eyes narrow, scanning Joker's disheveled appearance*

*shrugs weakly* go ahead. *spreads arms* it's not like I got anywhere else to be tonight.

*a week later is Joker's birthday and he robs Gotham's National Bank on purpose but Batman doesn't show up...*

*batcomputer pings with alert* Not today. *turns back to case files*

*stares at the empty shadows* no show, huh? *laughs bitterly* happy birthday to me.