"The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules."
—Heath Ledger

|•|•|•|

The Napier's

three years later

"Stop it!" Ember cried, clutching tightly onto her side as she burst into another round of exuberant laughter. Several tears slipped through the miniscule cracks in the corners of her nearly closed eyelids, her brunette locks fanned outward in diverse directions against the cold wood floor.

"J-Jackson!" She shrieked, her speech interrupted by her obscene laughter as she attempted to shove his prying hands away from her sides.

"Say the magic wooord..." Joker teased, scarred lips tugging upwards into a cheeky smile as his hips straddled hers.

Ember's chest heaved, her heart racing beneath her ribcage as she struggled to contain the giggles that effortlessly slipped through her chapped lips. Joker's complexion was blurred by the amused tears that flooded her eyes as she hastily blinked them away. Once she was able to properly focus her gaze on his face, an immediate sense of warmth spread throughout her every limb, encapturing every fiber of her being as she blatantly admired the man sitting atop her bony hips.

"Please?" She innocently whispered, thin lips curling up the length of her cheeks to display a petite grin.

The gaudy greasepaint was absent, dirty blonde curls somewhat obscuring his soft brown eyes as he flashed her a toothy grin.

"The correct response is: Please... daddy." Joker teased, drawing his pink bottom lip between his teeth as Ember's cocoa-hued eyes rolled in their sockets.

"Please... daddy." She murmured, a snort vibrating through the length of her nose as her chest heaved. Joker's palm met her warm cheek, calloused thumb grazing the corner of her mouth as her cheeks flushed.

"You're-uh, the mos-t beautiful like this." Joker slurred, cheeks growing hot the moment the words left his lips.

Ember raised a questionable brow, little pink tongue darting out to wet her severely dry lips. "Like what? Laughing?"

"No," He swiftly countered, thumb capturing her bottom lip. Ember stilled beneath his abrupt touch, savoring every innocent touch as he grazed his finger over the swollen skin.

"Underneath me." The Joker finished, eyes inmediately darkening as the phrase slipped off his silver tongue.

Ember playfully scoffed at his remark, a lazy hand delivering a pitiful slap to his bare chest as he finally climbed off of her, allowing her freedom once more as she quickly scrambled to her feet.

"I hate tickles." She murmured, lanky fingers lacing around the spaghetti straps of her top as she adjusted the fabric back into place. A distinct snort emerged from the man behind her, a pair of hands claiming her hips as he roughly tugged her tiny frame to his.

Ember's rigid form immediately went lax the moment she met his broad chest. A violent shiver traveled down the length of her spine at the sudden feeling of Joker's paper plane pendant against the exposed skin of her back. Instinctively, her perfectly manicured fingers inched upward, claiming her identical charm between two fingers. A staggered breath escaped her as she analyzed the charm, feeling every curve and crevice of the paper plane.

Bursts of butterflies littered her belly the moment Joker's bare lips met her jaw, strong arms enveloping her waist as he peppered slow, open-mouthed kisses to her skin. Indescribable sparks ignited her form, catapulting her into a euphoric state as Joker left behind visual evidence of his not-so-gentle assault on her neck.

"Mmm," The man hummed, the tone of his voice instantly shifting to a lower octave as Ember's eyelids fluttered closed.

"You are ab-so-lutely breathtaking, Mrs. Napier." Joker hummed, the words vibrating against her flesh as her hands met his.

A genuine grin slapped across her features as Joker's fingers instantaneously laced with hers. He practically growled in response to the simplistic action, the tip of his nose burying into the crook of her tainted neck.

"A whole year," Ember mused, running the pad of her thumb along his as she swayed against his frame.

"Three-hundred and sixty-five days." Joker finished, placing an additional kiss directly below her ear.

"I never though the Joker would settle down and become a husband." Ember chuckled, still rather appalled by the mere fact of it.

The Joker was her husband.
Her legal fucking husband.

Three-hundred and sixty-five days ago, on the thirteenth of April, she exchanged vows with the fucking Joker. The duo stood underneath a blossoming Kwanzan Flowering Cherry tree, in nearly full bloom as bright pink flowers surrounded them. A man by the name of Gyukstan married them, while Ryder — Joker's best man — and Michelle — Ember's Maid of Honor — stood beside them, broad smiles all around.

No greasepaint. No green hair or purple suit. Just Jackson Napier, dressed sharply in a navy blue tuxedo and glossy black shoes. Curly blonde hair fell into his eyes, brushed away by Ember's shaking fingers as the sleeves of her lace white dress hiked up the length of her arms.

"I love you." The woman spilled, tightening her hold on his arms, as if he'd magically slip through her fingers if she didn't hold on tight enough.

"I love you too, pumpkin."

"Can you two quit it with the mushy gushy tickle time and help me with these cookies?" A stern, muffled voice called from beyond the living room wall.

Joker let out a dissatisfied grunt, prompting Ember to elatedly giggle before slipping out of his tight hold for good.

"C'mon, Momma needs help." The bright-eyed woman cooed, planting a firm kiss upon Joker's bare lips. His slender fingers laced tightly with hers, the pad of his thumb tracing miscellaneous shapes against her palm as they strut into the kitchen.

Several weeks following the wedding — Per Ember's request — The pair of them renovated the kitchen, replacing the beaten and chipped cremé coloured cabinets and drawers with deep chestnut wood, accented with inky, rectangular metal handles. The granite countertops were replaced, similar in hue but newer and brighter to compliment the stainless steel appliances and shiny new cabinets.

Michelle hovered the kitchen island, her dainty hands stuffed into a sapphire plastic bowl filled nearly to the brim with raw cookie dough. Her eyes flickered upwards at the faint sound of the duo pattering into the kitchen, features instantly illuminating as her lips curled into a grin.

"Happy Anniversary!" She beamed, the slick dough slipping through the cracks of her fingers as it tumbled to the base of the bowl. Her hands fumbled with a nearby towel, ridding the skin of the raw dough before abandoning the counter and swiftly approaching the couple.

"Thanks, Mom." Ember grinned, outstretching her arms to offer a warm hug as Michelle eased into the petite womans embrace. Joker let out an involuntary whine when Ember's hand fell out of his, brows knitting together in irritation as Michelle pried herself from Ember's arms in order to plant a fat, wet kiss on Joker's cheek. Her palms met his marred face, lips repeatedly planting sloppy kisses along the lacerated skin as the madman let out a disgruntled: "Maaa."

"So," the aging woman cheered, rounding the oblong counter as she resumed mixing the dough. "Any big plans for tonight?"

Ember's lips parted to speak, only to let out a gasp at the sight of Joker cheekily grinning behind Michelle, his fingers brushing against his lips as two of them naughtily parted, insinuating a very dirty activity.

"What?" Michelle pried, glancing over her shoulder to view her son, who had instantly dropped his hand to his side, an innocent grin encapturing his features as his form went rigid.

"Nothing," Ember swiftly defended, prompting Michelle to raise a curious brow. "I thought I saw a bug."

"You two better not get into any trouble tonight." The elder woman replied, portioning the cookie dough into delicate balls onto a cookie sheet. While her gaze was diverted, Joker snatched one of them, tossing it into the depths of his mouth as he quickly chewed.

"Hey!" Ember shrieked, eyes widening at the sight. "You can get salmonella from that!"

"Jackson, did you steal one of my cookies?" Michelle scolded, eyes contorting into slits as she cocked her head to view her guilty son.

Joker's jaw froze mid-chew, head shaking from side to side as he held the raw dough in his mouth.

"Open." Michelle ordered, placing another rolled ball onto the pan.

Joker resisted, his scarred lips sealed as Michelle impatiently claimed his lips with dough-riddled fingers, prying them open with ease as a chewed mound of cookie lay in his mouth.

"Jackson!" His mother scolded, retracting her hold on the man as he burst into a fit of muffled giggles, mouth resuming the motion of chewing as his ever-changing eyes sparkled.

"Fucking snitch." He hissed in his wife's direction, lacing his arms around her waist as he pressed cookie-dough filled kisses to every inch of her face.

"Holy moly, so much PDA today." Michelle playfully scoffed. "I can handle the cookies. Go fuck or whatever, just please not in front of me. My stomach is already in knots today."

"Sorry, Ma. Cookies are egg-cell-ent." Joker teased, winking reassuringly in her direction before dragging Ember from the room.

"You could really get sick from eating cookie dough. You could even die." Ember pressed, an exasperated hmph falling from her lips as Joker tugged her body flatly against his, her hooked nose colliding with his as a slight twinge traveled throughout the skin. Still, even several years later, her nose hadn't properly healed.

"Ohoho," Joker darkly mused, pressing her thin frame firmly against the living room wall as she stilled beneath his hold. "I can see it now... 'The in-famous Joker, a man whose survived countless stab wounds, bullet holes, and beatings, dies from chocolate chip cookie dough'."

An involuntary giggle slipped through Ember's lip at the tone of his voice, which mimicked that of the burly, thick-bearded news anchor on the Gotham Nightly News, who went by the name of Ethan and absolutely loathed Joker.

"Jeez, you sounded just like Ethan for a second there." The woman chuckled, wiggling out of Joker's weakened grip as she strut in the direction of their bedroom. "Fancy a shower?"

"How 'bout a bath?" Joker seductively winked, drawing his bottom lip between his teeth.

|•|•|•|

"Em, fucking stop i-t." Joker snipped, a hint of annoyance present in his condescending tone as two fingers slipped into a container of bright white greasepaint.

Ember's slender arms laced tightly around the clown's waist, applying an ample amount of pressure, resulting in a tight squeeze. The woman buried her nose into the crook of his neck, sopping wet ringlets brushing against the skin of her nose as beads of bath water dribbled down her flesh.

"You're just so cuddly." She swiftly defended, peppering hot, open-mouthed kisses to the exposed skin of his neck. The Joker was clad in his usual attire, minus the deep plum overcoat. His hexagon printed dress shirt lay unbuttoned, inconsistent patches of golden hair littering his chest. The sleeves of the dress shirt were inattentively rolled, cupping the pertruding skin of his elbows as he effortlessly applied the vibrant paint to his face.

"St-op." The man clipped, left sleeve unhooking from his elbow as it crept down his arm.

Ember let out an irate sigh, unlacing her arms from his broad hips as she slunk into the gloomy bedroom. Lazy eyes settled upon the king-sized bed, where the amethyst tinted sheets lay severely crinkled and soaked. A cheeky grin encaptured her features, vivid visuals of Joker carrying her from the warm bubbly bath to the silk sheets riddling her mind. The woman suddenly become very aware of the pleasant ache between her legs, a giggle slipping off her lips as she collected the damp sheets in her arms.

Just as she straightened back up, a mound of soaked fabric held in her arms, a pair of arms had captured her petite waist. A gasp tumbled from Ember's lips at the sudden sensation, limbs growing rigid as Joker's painted chin claimed her bony shoulder.

"S'just me." He cooed, holding the woman close as he swayed from side to side at an agonizingly slow pace.

"I'm going to throw this in the dryer." Ember whispered, craning her neck to plant a fat kiss on his temple. A contentful sigh emerged from his nostrils at the innocent action, arms unlacing from her torso as she scurried from the room.

Joker's gaze lingered on the vacant doorway, painted lips curling into a considerably large grin as his fingers daintily buttoned the shirt closed, concealing his bare abdomen once and for all. Ember returned moments later, brows raising as she viewed Joker in the exact spot she'd left him, hooded eyes instantly brightening the moment her presence was made known.

"Why do you look like a lost puppy?" The woman teased, rapidly approaching the madman as she instantly melted into his welcoming embrace.

"Be-cause," Joker drawled, burying the his nose in her damp locks. "I'm oh-so lost without you, doll."

Ember retracted her face from the crook of his neck, gleeful gaze meeting a sea of black as her expression brightened.

"Are you going to kiss me already?" She challenged, stare flickering downward to meet his pouted lips.

A toothy grin tugged at Joker's scars, forehead crinkling in amusement as the vibrant white paint soaked into the creases of his skin. The air instantly stilled at his thumb routinely met her chin, applying the faintest amount of pressure as he parted her lips.

The theatrical man's tongue darted outward, wetting his lips fully as his gaze flickered between Ember's bright eyes and her pleading lips, oh-so-desperately wishing to be kissed...

Joker's free hand gently tangled in Ember's stringy locks, several thin strands of hair twisting around his discolored fingers as he finally closed the gap, full lips pressing against hers forcefully.

Greasepaint pranced among their taste buds, teeth occasionally clattering together as the duo impatiently kissed, wanting — needing — craving every single breathless sigh, which rolled so effortlessly off their tongues, as one another swallowed it with absolute glee.

Ember's manicured fingers located Joker's curls, claiming the ringlets in her clutch as she deepened the kiss, tasting every inch of the madman's mouth as she purposely tugged on his overgrown locks. The viridescent hue had faded entirely, allowing an ashy blonde color to grow in it's place.

Joker released a considerably loud groan at the action, his hold on her hair tightening as he practically threatened to rip every strand straight out of her scalp. He wanted her — He needed her. She was the fuel to his fire — The air to his lungs. She filled the meaningless void that consumed his very soul — The purest, most true source of happiness, resided in a petite woman with a severely crooked nose and prominent cheekbones. Eyes — Although nearly identical to his — Reminded him of the earth, the soil beneath his feet... the steady land that kept him grounded (well, somewhat...)

A series of phrases tumbled from Ember's lips, coating Joker's face and neck as she whispered sweet nothings against his skin.

"We need to ge-t going soon, toots." Joker growled, eyes rotating to the back of his skull when Ember found his sweet spot directly beneath the soft skin of his ear. She withdrew her hold, a dramatic pout overcoming her features.

"Okay." Ember sighed, side stepping towards the illuminated bathroom as she eyed the smeared greasepaint on her reflection. Joker amusingly observed her actions, completely enthralled by her petite figure as her palm met the counter, steadying her weight as her nose nearly collided with the toothpaste-stained mirror. Dainty fingers vigorously rubbed at her tainted skin, the bold streaks of red slowly vanishing as her oily fingers rubbed the paint away.

He eventually broke his solicitous trance, gaze diverting to the heap of tangled ties on top of the dresser. Painted brows knit together in concentration as he rummaged through the fabrics, his clutch lingering on a sleek, inky tie. Typically, the ostentatious
man preferred vibrantly hued ties, accented with an assortment of various shapes, sometimes geometric in form. However, Ember had gifted him this unembellished tie on his thirty-second birthday, and he couldn't help but absolutely adore the piece of clothing.

Plus, it looked fabulous tied around her eyes...

"So," Ember purred, reentering the bedroom as Joker shrugged into his plum hued coat.

"Let's wreak havoc on Penguin's night, shall we?"

|•|•|•|

"You don't have to carry i-t if you don't want to, doll." Joker cooed, cradling a sleek black AR-15 in his clutch, skeptical gaze settled on Ember's rigid form.

"But I want to. I'll be fine, I probably won't even need to shoot it." Ember reassured the man, a clammy palm claiming his knobby knee. He involuntarily jerked his leg in response to the abrupt touch, distressed bottom lip tugged between his teeth.

"And if I do, I think I can handle it. You've taught me well, Jackson." Ember added, retracting her hold on the jumpy bloke as she reached for the firearm.

Joker raised a curious brow, cautiously handing the loaded rifle into her prying grasp as he stirred in his seat. The van sat idle, the engine groaning in displeasure as the vehicle cradled the curb directly outside the back entrance of the Iceberg Lounge.

"Careful," He murmured, fishing a freshly sharpened switchblade from his pocket.
"It's loaded."

The confident woman merely nodded, ensuring that the barrel never once faced Joker's direction as she slung the strap over her bony shoulder.

"Ready when you are." She whispered, delivering a wink in the mans direction as she clambered from the vehicle.

Their prey lounged beyond the thick brick wall, downing an amplitute of tequila shots alongside several pretty girls. He went by the name of Bolton, and was a huge kiss-ass to Sal Maroni. Unfortunately for Bolton, he'd crossed paths with the Joker several weeks ago, knicking a significant chunk of money from the clown before disappearing off the face of the Earth.

Ember hovered the broad steel doors, which lay slightly ajar. The comforting resonance of jazz music filled the womans ears, instantly catapulting her frantic frame into contentment. It was wild how just a little bit of music could ease every fiber of her being...

"Ready?" Joker hissed, his tall frame enveloping hers as a confident palm met the small of her back, urging her to enter the premises.

Ember audibly gulped, slowly nodding before outstreching a trembling arm and opening the weighty door.

The volume of the live music instantly amplified the moment the door swung open, which revealed a pitch-black hallway littered with miscellaneous goods stacked sky-high on multi-layered metal shelves.

Ember cradled the firearm close to her heaving chest, eyes wild in wonder as the pair shuffled through the darkened hall, approaching a final door, which opened up to the rear of the dining hall.

"Breathe, baby." Joker lowly spoke, stray curls tickling the nape of her neck as he held her close as they walked.

"I'll make this nice and quick."

"Be safe." Ember gulped, worrisome eyes flickering in Joker's direction as they approached the final door. A petite sliver of light emerged from the miniscule crack in the door, illuminating half of the madman's features as his dialated pupils met hers. Greasepaint littered lips transformed into a cheeky smirk, scars tugging up the length of his cheeks as leather gloved hands met her flushed cheeks.

"No promises." He snickered, left eyelid flickering closed in a wink as he pressed a dainty kiss to her forehead.

With that, the man slunk through the door, disappearing from sight as the woman lay isolated in the nearly pitch-black area, the sound of her racing heartbeat filling her ears as panic began to set in.

With one final deep breath, the woman snuck through the door, an abundance of screams and shouts filling her ears the moment she entered. Her manicured fingers clutched the firearm closer, heart thumping thickly in her throat as sets of terrified eyes met hers.

"JOKER!" A strained voice yelped, prompting a shiver to travel down the length of Ember's spine as she swiftly approached the madman.

Bolton's lanky figure lay entrapped in a vibrant purple choke hold, a keen blade pressed against his jugular as thick tears clouded his vision.

Panic-stricken expressions littered the room, hundreds of uneasy eyes focused on Ember's frame as Joker dug the blade into Bolton's neck.

"No-t now, Penguin!" The clown seethed through gritted teeth as Oswald's petite frame approached the pair.

Wild eyes flickered between Ember and Joker's contrasting stances, contorting into slits at the sight of the situation as Penguin's arms crossed firmly.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." The man snipped.

"H-Help me, Penguin!" Bolton cried, but was ultimately silenced by Joker's tightening grip on his neck.

"Zip it." The clown scolded, drawing a sliver of metallic blood from the thin skin as Bolton cried outward in pain.

"Take it outside. Please." Penguin dryly begged, twisting on his heel in preparation to leave the scene.

"N-No! Please!" Bolton sobbed, reaching outward for Oswald's assistance as Joker's haunting laugh instantly filled the void.

It began as a low chuckle, prompting an array of goosebumps to instantly arise on every individual's flesh. Within seconds, it began to transform, crescendoing into a high-pitched cackle, which rippled and ripped through the air with simplicity. The miniature hairs on the back of Ember's neck stood tall at the sound, mouth instantly going dry as Joker's laugh filled the void, sending everyone into instant panic.

Oswald Cobblepot slipped into the crowd, isolating the madman as Bolton fidgeted beneath his firm hold, crying outward for help. However, not a single soul stepped forward — Not a single man even attempted to help. Bolton's fate was sealed, and everyone in attendance knew exactly of it.

"Do it now." Ember pressed, pulse quickening in her chest as she took several steps backwards, avoiding Joker's frame as he physically shook with morbid laughter. With one final cackle, his gloved fingers tightened around the blade, digging the sharp edge into the soft flesh of Bolton's neck.

The crowd cried outward in fright as the lanky mans blood spewed out, coating his too-tight skinny jeans. Several splashes coated the elegant dressed woman beside him, her cheeks stained with mascara tracks as she let out a vociferous shout.

Bolton's still frame toppled from Joker's weakened hold, sinking to the floor for eternity as the madman nearly doubled over in amusement, eyes crinkled as he continued to laugh.

Ember observed the man she called her husband, eyes wild with fear as he claimed a nearby chair, climbing onto the rickety furniture as he towered over an essence of sobbing individuals. Even after all this time, whenever the Joker got into these — moods — He absolutely frightened her.

"Ladies and Gentle-men," Joker announced, arms outstretched as the bloody blade claimed his left palm.

"May this be a reminder of where you all stand." He added, gaze flickering momentarily in Ember's frozen direction before hastily turning away.

"This is my city," Joker darkly spoke, left arm curling inward as he tapped his broad chest with the bloody knife. "And you are my people. So-uh, yah migh-t wanna think twice before crossing me."

The crowd remained deathly silent, Joker's determined voice dissipating as he glanced in everyones direction.

"Thank you." He confidently finished, leaping from the chair as the soles of his boots loudly collided with the wooden floors.

Ember slightly flinched upon impact, beads of sweat littering her forehead as the Joker avoided her entirely, strutting in the opposite direction as he headed towards the back entrance.

All eyes remained on a rigid Ember, patiently awaiting her next move as she weakly smiled before darting in Joker's direction.

Ember's lips parted as she attempted to formulate some type of statement, her feet struggling to keep up with Joker's abnormally large strides as he shoved his way through the doors and climbed into the vacant vehicle once more.

Just as the woman had managed to climb into the passenger seat, he'd applied pressure to the gas, prompting the van to tumble forward at an obnoxious speed as Ember's limp body flung forward. A strangled cry escaped her lips as her elbow met the dashboard, eyes widened in surprise as she observed Joker's irate expression.

"What the fuck is your problem?" She yelped, discarding the gun into the back of the van with difficulty as Joker sped down the winding roads.

"I told you tha-t you wouldn't have to use it." He lowly muttered, darkened gaze avoiding hers.

Like day and fucking night.

Ember crossed her arms with displeasure, eyes contorting into slits as she focused on the outdoor scenery. Trees whizzed by the vehicle at an alarming rate, resembling fearsome figures as she instantly recalled the frighteningly shaped trees directly behind Arkham Asylum.

Suddenly, it was January of 2009 again. She'd taken a shortcut home from Charlie's that night in hopes that she'd catch several reruns of Friends before they went off air for the night. All went somewhat well, besides the sticky mud that clung to her rubber boots. If she hadn't worn those ruddy things, she might've been able to escape Spalding, Bleaker and Horton.

At the sudden thought of Christopher Horton, her chest immediately tightened.

"Jackson." Ember breathed, glossy eyes meeting his rigid form.

"Hmph." He merely grunt in response, gaze solely fixated on the nearly vacant road before them.

"Nevermind." She quickly dismissed, saddened gaze meeting the fogging window once more. Joker did not pry.

They arrived at the hideout twenty minutes later, a stale silence littering the air as Ember quickly exited the vehicle.

She met a dreary Michelle seated on the living room sofa, her drooping eyes focused on the television as she lay curled up beneath a wool blanket.

"He's in a pissy mood." Ember announced, strutting past the aging woman as she started in the direction of hers and Joker's dingy bedroom.

Happy fucking Anniversary to us.

Michelle darted upwards at the sound of Ember's door slamming closed, a frown tugging at her thin lips as Joker eventually entered the premises, a gloved hand tangled in his oily curls.

"Jackson," Michelle instantly scolded, rising from her spot as she approached the weary man. "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing, Ma." Joker snipped, brows raising in curiosity.

Ember was mad at him?

"Well, it must've been something." His mother argued. "She doesn't seem very happy, especially since it's your Anniversary."

Joker shoved past his irritated mother, a strand of obscenities tumbling from his silver tongue as he started in the direction of the sealed bedroom.

Gloved fingers laced around the knob of the door, twisting sharply. The door, however, did not even budge.

A distasteful grunt toppled from his lips as he let out an irate shout: "Le-t me in!"

Lucky for Ember, she almost instantly obliged. The door swung widely open, revealing a red-eyed woman as she welcomed the madman into the bright bedroom.

"Wha-t?" He snipped, strutting into the room as his hardened gaze settled upon the distressed woman.

"Nothing." Ember dismissed, snapping the door closed on his heel as she catapulted her tiny self onto the bed. Apparently, Michelle had replaced the sheets for them in their absence.

What a good Mummy.

"Emb-eeeeer." Joker drawled, hiking his legs up as he crawled onto the mattress to meet the silent woman, who lay buried beneath the comforter in silence.

"C'mon, doll. Talk to me." He begged, digging through the thick duvet in search of his girl.

"What did daddy do wrong?"

A muffled giggle emerged from beneath the blankets, prompting an amused, toothy grin to encapture Joker's features as he dug his way through the comforter.

"Get off." Ember pitifully begged, attempting to conceal her giggles as she effortlessly failed. Joker had finally managed to resurface her flushed features, bright eyes meeting his as butterflies raided his belly.

A leather thumb met her cheek, tracing circles against the skin as he silently begged for an explanation. Several dark curls concealed his vision, a profusion of black paint tugged above the hair of his brow as the paint began to seep into every crease and crevice of his scarred face.

"I just wish we could've done something more romantic tonight." Ember shamelessly revealed, gaze faltering as she cowered against the mattress.

"Oh?" Joker raised a brow.
"The-uh, Joker isn't romantic."

"Jackson is." Ember countered.

The air went stale at her statement, red lip tugged between a row of teeth as Joker stirred above her.

"C'mere." He urged, fingers lacing around her dainty wrist as he tugged.

"Where?" Ember whined, refusing to move from the warmth of her bed as Joker crawled from the mattress, attempting to drag the tiny girl along with him.

"Just come."

Ember let out a considerably loud sigh, crawling from the bed as her fingers laced with his.

The madman drug her from the comfort of their bedroom, down the hallway and towards a door that had remained sealed for nearly ten months now. At the mere sight of it, Ember's pulse immediately quickened... palms beginning to profusely sweat as the clown opened the door and tugged her inside.

She violently shivered at the drastic shift in temperature, the concrete cold beneath her bare feet as she let out a squeak.

"Why are we in here?" She merely cried, widened eyes meeting Joker's as she cowered against his warm frame.

"Be-cause," Joker began, smacking his lips loudly as he held her close.

"If you ever begin to-uh, doubt my love for you, I wan-t you to come into this room."

"But–"

"Listen, Em." Joker pressed, hands cradling the shaking girls face as cocoa-hued eyes bore into hers. "Look at the wall."

Ember audibly gulped, nodding curtly before tugging her face from his grasp and twisting on her heel.

The opposite wall still lay tainted, forever stained by the blood of an innocent photographer. I love you sat etched upon the paint, the intensity of the color was somewhat dim and drained as the statement sat aged nearly three years.

An indescribable sensation overcame the womans every limb, eyes watering severely as she admired the proclamation before her. It was beyond morbid — Completely and utterly fucked up beyond belief — But it was, by far, one of the most romantic things he had ever done for her. Even more so than simply uttering the phrase, as he really took his time to plaster it onto the wall, to coat his fingers with the blood of a stranger and turn it into something disgustingly beautiful.

"My love saved your life in this room." Joker lowly spoke, snowy hued nose meeting her cheek.

"The moment I saw that fucking necklace, it was all over." He huskily added, pressing a soft kiss to the nape of her neck.

"I'm a fuckin' goner, baby."

Ember's heart nearly burst from her chest at his words, sopping wet tears claiming her cheeks as she spun around to face him once more.

"Shh," Joker cooed, wiping the thick tears away as his lips planted kisses along her skin.

"I'll always be yours." Ember spoke, her statement clinging to the musky air like glue as Joker's heart immediately swelled.

"And I yours."

|•|•|•|

A/N: Merry Christmas, darlings! Here is my gift to you... ❤️

God, how I've missed Ember and Joker. I love them so much. I can't promise another epilogue, but who knows... I can never make up my mind.

Thank you all for everything. I am forever blessed. I love you all to pieces.

Happiest of Holidays,
allie. xo