A total fiasco. That's what he was.

It stopped being funny when the money in his pocket seemed to flee, when he wasn't able to feed his wife, his now very pregnant wife.

As he stepped out from the club office from where he had just been rejected, Jack's feet moved involuntarily. He couldn't care less where they led him, perhaps a bridge would be good idea or even the train tracks. But the laughter from happy children called him somehow and he ended up sitting on a park bench.

Tired and frustrated, the young man buried his face on his hands and sighed, choking back desperate tears. It was a hot sunny day, an unusual beautiful afternoon in Gotham City where it normally rained for ten days in a row and the rest of the month remained cloudy. But not today, it was bright and warm, the irony. It didn't match his mood at all.

A sudden presence made the sad man look up when a small finger poked his shoulder. There, sitting next to Jack, was a young girl grinning back at him.

"Can you please, please, please pretend that you know me?" the girl mumbled as she forced a smile, motioning towards the swings where a couple of boys stared angrily back at them. "I told them that you're my big brother and you would beat them up if they didn't stop bugging me."

Jack smirked and shot his best menacing look at the boys who gasped and ran as fast as they could.

"Well, what did you do to provoke them, anyway?" he said, his eyes searching for hers. The girl was a little rascal, there was no doubt about that, a mischevious smile betrayed her. She shook her head, the blonde ponytails that adorned her head dancing before her big blue eyes.

"Well... they probably... kind of... lost a bet." she said, pulling out a bunch of bubblegum from her jeans' pocket. "But they are just a bunch of weepy little losers!"

Jack chuckled and leaned against the backrest, the sadness slowly flooding his body. The girl noticed and moved carefully closer to him, her eyes examining his gloomy face.

"Let me guess, you're having a bad day."

He sighed and nodded, staring blankly at the horizon. The bubbly girl patted his shoulder and Jack couldn't help but smile gently at her actions.

"You can tell me if you like. Coming from a dysfunctional family and being raised by problematic adults I think I'm capable of listening and give some good advice for whatever is troubling you, sir."

Jack laughed loudly at the little adult's words. She was sure fascinating and funny.

"Well I," he started, choosing his words wisely. If there was something Jack hated was to victimize himself. And doing it before a total stranger was even worst. "I had an audition and it didn't go that well."

"You're an actor!" she squeaked and clapped her hands. The young man smiled warmly and shook his head.

"Not really. I'm a comedian. Or trying to be, for that matter."

"You can't make people laugh if you're sad. It just shows." she frowned, staring deeply into Jack's eyes, as if reading his thoughts. "There are three things that cannot hide: the sun, the moon and the truth. According to my grandpa."

"You're very wise for your age, kid." he said, a kind expression forming slowly on his tired face.

"Well, like I said, I've been raised by problematic adults. So I have two choices: to grow fast or to go crazy even faster." her solemn countenance replaced by giggles and blushed cheeks, "I just happen to have a sharp mind and clever mouth. According to my grandpa."

The little girl reached for his hand and handed Jack the whole bunch of bubblegum.

"You will need it, sugar makes people happy. According to my–"

"Grandpa." Jack finished her sentence with a smirk, "My name is Jack and it was very nice to meet you, little lady."

"Harleen! Come here this instant. We're going home!" A woman in the distance called and the little blonde sighed sadly.

"Thank you for saving me from the bullies, Mistah Jack." she said, jumping up on her feet and running towards her mother. "I hope we meet again when you are a famous and successful comedian!"

•••

Hi clown babies!

I know this is a short short short one shot but it had been twirling inside my head for many days now.

Tell me what you think! 

I think it was so cute. They don't even know... 🙈💚

Comment and show me some love!