Mayday Parade

   Joker was an insomniac. He didn't like sleeping. Because if he fell asleep, everything would return to haunt him. The past life he'd long since buried. If he closed his eyes, for even a moment, he'd feel himself falling again. 

The darkness of Bruce Wayne's fifth master bedroom at night seemed to be collapsing on him. Normally, Joker would spend his nights in a club, avoiding the prospect of being alone, in a room, trapped with his memories. 

For his plan to work however, he'd need to think back to the past, he'd need to think of what he'd tried to forget. Still, he did not like the idea of thinking about what had happened. 

He knew Batman was only about ten feet away, resting on the couch, but that did not comfort him. 

Nothing could.  

Sure, he'd come up with a plan to escape the Bat's prison. But then what?

 He stared into the blackness, he did the same thing over and over. Batman would never accept how they were practically made for each other. Batman, along with everyone else, thought he was insane.

And maybe he was. 

Joker pulled his knees to his chest as the darkness surrounded him; however, all he could see was the past, swallowing him. 

She was smiling at him, as he placed a hand on her pregnant belly. He smiled back at her, a real smile that wasn't tainted by his scarred mouth. 

Then there was his wife again, mouth covered in scars as she cried. 

Don't cry. 

He'd help her. 

She shouldn't be ashamed, he'd show her. She should smile. 

Joker gasped, reaching a hand to his mouth, feeling the scars extending his smile, a permanent reminder of his gambler wife. 

Falling. Falling. Falling.

Out of money.

Out of time.

Falling. Falling. Falling.

That was the day the man he used to be died, and the monster was born.

The acid was below him, all he could do was watch it come closer. No stopping it now. Time seemed to go so slowly as he stared at his doom waiting below him. 

Splash.

He barely heard it, consumed by the feeling of his face burning, screaming silently. His skin had turned pale, his mouth redder than lipstick, hair a sickly shade of green. 

The Joker could feel hot tears rolling down his cheeks as he made a strangled noise. He couldn't go back. He couldn't think about who he'd been. He could barely remember what his name had been before, all he was now was the Joker. 

That's when he felt the arms around him, and he knew his plan was going to work.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Bruce knew something was wrong when he heard the soft sniffles of the Joker crying. It was the strangest sound he had ever heard. Gasps and the shuffle of bed covers. Bruce didn't know what could possibly cause a man like the Joker to break down, but what ever it was it must be something terrible. 

He quickly slid off the couch, barely making out the sight of the Joker holding himself as he cried quietly. Bruce awkwardly wrapped an arm around him, not really knowing what to do. 

To his surprise, the green haired man immediately grabbed a hold of him, crying into his shirt. Something stirred inside Bruce, something couldn't quite place. He carefully wrapped his other arm around him, rubbing small circles into the clown's back. 

After a few minutes, he had the will to pull away, trying to see the Joker's eyes. "What happened?"

The Joker didn't respond, but curled up around him, not making any noise as he lay his head on Bruce's chest. 

Sighing, Bruce lay down on the bed, holding Joker close to him. 

-_-_-_-_-_-

Joker watched the light seep through the room as morning arose in Gotham city. Batman's arms were still holding him tightly. Just as he had planned.  

The Bat stirred, opening his eyes, yawning. He didn't know if the Bat meant to pull him closer to his side, but he found himself closer to the Dark Knight than he had been a few moments ago. Bruce seemed to realize that he was currently holding the clown prince of crime to his chest, breathing in the scent of his acid-stained hair. Quickly pushing the clown away, Bruce sat up, face slightly red.

Silently, Bruce set his feet on the floor, wiping his face with a tired hand. Joker smiled, this was way too easy. He wrapped his arms around the Bat's waist from behind. He heard the bigger man suck in a breath, turning his head slightly to look at the grinning face of his nemesis. "What are you doing?"

Joker shrugged, resting his head on the strong shoulder of Batman, "You're the one who got into my bed, what do you think you're doing, sweetie?"

He could feel the muscles of Bruce's back tense at the accusation. Joker ran a hand down his arm, lightly caressing his skin. Shutters ran down Batman's body and he slowly began to relax. Joker slowly made his way around to the other side of the man, until they were facing each other.

Joker licked his lips, searching Bruce's face. He chuckled, seeing the direction of the Dark Knight's gaze. He leaned towards Bruce's mouth, pecking his lips for a brief second before hopping off the bed and sashaying away. 

Everybody knows

I don't wanna die alone, say you'll come for me

But I'm lost and found, I'm already jaded

Say what you think you out loud or forever hold your peace

You can turn your back but the sunset is fading

Say what you think out loud, how do you like me now?