#and them seeing a Batjokes fanfic

[lovenaiu]

DC version of AO3 is called Tales of Our Own??

WHY DC MAKING ALTERNATIVE VERSION OF AO3

(Far Sector: Green Lantern)

#dc #dc comics #dcu #comics #batman #so Superbat can be an actual fanfic on DC universe #imagine vigilant x reader #hell no #omg #Sojourner Mullein #the person who is reading tbc #she's a green lantern #ao3 #imagine being one of bruce kids #looking at ao3 #and them seeing a Batjokes fanfic

[fractualized]

Hey

Don't really consume original batman comics, can't have acess to this things but I started to read and watch batjokes stuff. I'll say that I consume from the dark and reflecting to the wholesome peak, and one of that keeps heartwarming me is Telltale batjokes. Love how John can go from scary smiling creature to a precious sweetheart. Also like to see different versions of Joker interactions with the batfam in the various fancomics and fanfics. What makes think how I don't see many fics about John Doe with the batfam. Of course I see that is because the Telltale universe doesn't have the Bruce's kids, what is really sad because I think that "collision" could give us some truly great things.

What scenarios do you think it could be treated on these stories that you haven't saw being made yet?

Also, I saw once a post a person made talking how they'd like about John exploring more his sexuality. Like, that would focus more in the John's experiences out of Arkham BEFORE meeting Bruce again. Trying new clothes, talking with new people, discovering makeup (that I think he wouldn't get acess in Arkham). Do you have any thoughts about that too?

Recently I watched some videos that talk about John's possible disorders. How looks like he keeps switching from 'John' to 'Joker' and how he was way more "Joker" in Arkham, maybe having a kind of personality disorder. Sure, must be in that way because they wanted a different John from the one that we have in season one, but we can dream about this a little bit, can we?

That was long. Sorry for the errors, english it's not my language. Like your fics btw. The more I read some things, more I like the whole fan creation stuff and understand better too.

Thank you for the message, and for enjoying my fic! No worries about the length. I'll take your questions one by one:

John Doe and the Batfam

I think one of the reasons not a lot of people (including me) have incorporated the batfam into Telltale fic is that a big selling point for writing it is that the Telltale-verse is its own thing. There's much, much less history to complicate matters if you want to write a canon-compliant story, which includes there being no children to distract Bruce from his relationship with John, which a lot of fic focuses on. The batjokes is certainly what I enjoy! I don't have anything against the batfam (and I'm actually trying to read a little more about at least some of them), but since that interest has never been super high, my fic ideas never went in that direction.

If I do think about bringing in batfam, well, I get a little stuck.

While John is a lighter flavor of Joker, he's still a Joker, and Joker is not a parental person. In the comics he has had some interesting nonviolent interactions with kids, indulging or even protecting them, but that's not the same as being responsible for them. And one of the stronger Joker characteristics John has is his obsession with Bruce and wanting his attention. I don't think John would go all "Death of the Family" on a kid brought into the manor, but he would be wildly jealous. Like, my first plot bunny is John getting a visit from Bruce, who tells him about witnessing this tragic accident at the circus that left a poor child acrobat orphaned, and wanting to help him. Then over more visits, we get a story of little Dick Grayson insisting on investigating his parents murder, so intently that he becomes Bruce's vigilante partner. And John, who's been gnawing on his jealousy over Bruce spending all this time with some kid, loses his shit that an 8-year-old is a better vigilante than he ever was. Just spiraling about how Bruce is forgetting about him. He breaks out, insisting he can help, but just gets thrown back in again. A tragedy!

Okay, let's try one with John out of Arkham, and let's go non-chronological this time and say Bruce meets Jason Todd first. Jason's trying to steal the batmobile's tires, of course, but he's also a witness to a murder or something, so Bruce brings him home. This time John directly witnesses Bruce bonding with a troubled kid, and the jealousy is worse because John recognizes all the ways Bruce calms him down. John and Jason don't get along at all because John is constantly trying to get Bruce to shuttle this kid off to a nice foster home, but similar to the scenario above, Jason's moxy earns him a Robin spot. Then a twist! Jason has leaned into Bruce's mentoring because he wants to find his mother, who he's sure is alive! And John is like, well dang, I'll help you find her if it gets you out of my house. And in some eerie parallels to Jason's comic death, they end up overseas and find Sheila Haywood, who it turns out is defrauding the aid organization she works for. On being discovered, the men she's working with attack Jason, and John has this terrible opportunity to take his jealousy past the brink and let whatever happens to Jason happen-- but he doesn't. He saves Jason instead, not just because he knows Bruce would be wrecked but because he sees parts of himself reflected in Jason. There, that's sort of nicer! I still don't think John would be parental after that, but it would be nicer??

John's Self-Exploration

See, the thing with John having new experiences after getting out of Arkham is that they have to be limited, because that's key to what happens with his character in the game. He's really struggling with finding who he is, because he keeps trying to emulate other people rather than figure out what he personally wants to do with this life. (Which would be understandable even if he was the average person. It's easier to model yourself after somebody else than to put yourself out there again and again to figure out what works for you.) Before Bruce reappears, John is focused on being who he thinks Harley wants him to be and having a place with the gang. It ties into his hatred for Riddler, who just outright disdained of him instead of simply tolerating him like, say, Freeze.

He still naturally does some exploration, of course. He has to dress himself outside of Arkham, and he's a talkative guy so he managed to find, uh, acquaintances outside of the Pact at the Stacked Deck. It probably would have helped him a lot if he'd done more of that, but as much as he seems to act independently in the game, all too often it's in service of impressing Harley or then Bruce. If I were to write about John's exploration, it would probably be about restraint. He would be full of curiosity about the ways other people express themselves, and he'd stifle it because he's not sure if that's what Harley would want. Makeup would be a big curiosity for sure, but I can see John not indulging either because he doesn't see a lot of other guys wear it or because he asked Harley if he could try her kit and she decided to psych him out about it because she could.

Is it too drastic to say that a John who had even trepidatious confidence for self-exploration might have found more balance and avoided his fate in the game? Maybe, but I have to wonder.

John In Arkham Versus Outside Arkham

Personally I tread lightly when it comes to assigning specific disorders to John. It's one thing if someone recognizes their own diagnosis in him and uses that to inform a fic. When it comes to the writing in the game, as far as I can tell, it was just working off characteristics common to the Joker: impulsive, manipulative, self-important, and infatuated with violence, with a poor sense of boundaries and an inappropriate sense of humor. Those traits may be consistent with certain disorders, but there aren't that many fic scenarios where I would feel the need to specify what applies to John, and in those cases I would be extremely careful. When it comes to pure speculation? I'm just not qualified. Heck, I have a fic where I gave John a heart diagnosis and I'm still hoping I wasn't super off-base.

As for the shift from "Joker" to "John," I ascribe to the fish-out-of-water explanation (which, yeah, papers over how Telltale simply needed to change his character for the story). John learned a more aggressive way to navigate life when he was incarcerated in a corrupt asylum, and when the rules he lived by there did not apply outside of it, he had to re-map. Not only did he have to learn different ways to behave, but he had to do it while feeling more off-kilter than usual, exposed and vulnerable. Make a mistake when living in Arkham, you just get put in a deeper hole in Arkham. Make a mistake outside of Arkham, you lose all your newfound freedom and get thrown back behind bars. I don't see a "switch" in John, just him reverting to more aggressive behavior at times, especially when he's under stress.

Well, I hope my thoughts were… interesting? I feel like I pushed back on most of your starting points and that's probably annoying. Sorry!

#ask #telltale batman #john doe #batjokes #anonymous #my jibber-jabber

[icespur]

Fellow The Batman 2004 fans

The show is already pretty underrated, especially with lack of Batjokes fanart and fics from the show. But there are some.

But you know one ship I haven't seen any fanart or fics of?

Ethan Bennett and Ellen Yin.

There's no obvious romantic hints between them in the show, maybe it's because they're the opposite sex and are partners in Police work, or Yin's reaction to Ethan's Clayface villain phase, but I shipped them, I shipped them hard, it seemed like such a logical obvious pairing to ship together.

But when I go on Google images I find nothing, absolutely zilch of shipping fanart of those two. Only in show screenshots of them standing side by side, and that makes me sad.

I can't be the only 2004 The Batman fan who shipped these two together.

This is a call and plead for possible fellow Bennett x Yin shippers to come out of hiding so I don't feel so alone, and for them to MAKE 👏 SOME 👏 CONTENT 👏 with them! MAKE THAT FANART, Fluff, SFW, Innocent kissing, NSFW art, all of the above, same with fanfics or AO3. I need to see shipping content of these two

#the batman 2004 #dc comics #warner bros #ellen yin #ethan bennett #fanart request #fanfic request #fan content request #shipping content needed #Bennett x Yin #Ethan Bennett x Ellen Yin #Clayface x Yin #Ethan Bennett Clayface #i am desperate #calling all shippers #where you at #fanartists #fanfiction writers #Batman #matsudaverse

[k-s-morgan]

Hi, I wanted ask when you write joker and Bruce relationship, will you focus on Bruce as person too because I have seen other people focus too much on his Batman part and don’t give enough love to his Bruce part.

another thing I wanted to ask was will you any of bruce habits even though he is Batman he still probably has some rich person habits.

and if you really write this fanfic,I hope you continue writing other fix with this ship, like a fix where they see each other as kids.

Hi! Oh yes, for sure. I love Batman a lot, but I love Bruce even more. Sure, they are one and the same, but they are also different enough to have different impacts.

While many different scenarios are applicable, I feel like Joker is too focused on the idea that he and Batman have a hatred-based relationship. He craves the connection between them, he adores Batman, but he revels in the fact that they are bound by hate. There is an understanding, I'd argue that there is attraction and passion, but hatred fuels all of it. Joker seems content with it, to the point where he is uninterested in trying to get more, to deepen their dynamic, to access a new level of it.

Batman is rage, aggression, vengeance - there is little space for lighter, more positive feelings. Bruce, in turn, is someone softer. Kinder. He is someone who could love Joker under certain circumstances, and this is what I hope to explore when I get to writing.

As for habits, while Bruce can be as undemanding as possible, I think he does have more sophisticated tastes that he entertains when he has this opportunity. Like drinking a specific brand of expensive water, sleeping on a specific kind of linen, etc. Joker would be delighted to know :D

I won't write a long Batjokes story until I'm done with at least one of my two major WIPs, but I'll write something shorter, maybe something up to 30K words. While I have a story with them as adults in mind, I might write something smallish with them as kids, too. It'd be fun to see how a meeting between a serious kid-Bruce and obsessive, unhinged kid-Joker could go.

#batman #batjokes #my fics #bruce wayne #joker

[mywitchcultblr]

23. SEA. Trans/genderfluid, Bi-Ace. Random blog, posting politics, fandom and sometimes tagged horny post, also a lot of shit posting.

NO fandom harassment and NO ship war! I'm against information and creative censorship. HATE censorship because I live in a horrid pro- censorship conservative nation. Also, I'm an Intersectional feminist who is kink and sex work positive. Inclusionist too. I hate those false accusations/overblown call-out over fanfic/kink or fandom drama etc, they are bs to ruin lives.

FUCK FANPOL. thanks @ashlake for telling me to slit my wrists over ao3 bullshit.

He/she/they but more HE. Unhinged. Proceed with caution with my blog, not an NSFW blog but if there are NSFW posts they are tagged.

Mage rights and elves defender, oppressive church and templars deserve to die. Supporting revolution for freedom. I'm the trans antifa that your momma warned about 🚬.

Handers, obikin, Obianidala, John Hancock/Sole, Pavelyan, Godwoken/Ifan. Ra's Al Ghul/Roman Sionis. BatJokes. Ned/Petyr. + others. Fandom creed: Don't like? Don't read. I'm not into adult/child, incest or zoo fanfic. Don't ask me to make them. I scroll down if i see them, Would rather not read or whatever 🚬

Fave ao3 tags: Psychopaths in love and Bottom!Obi wan. Omegaverse, stewjon biology. Tits and 🥛. Dark. Whump. Dead Dove: Don't Eat. Fluff.

ROMAN BEAUVAIS SIONIS IS MY DARLING Rommy baby let me just— *psycho*

Also Halston is my second gay awakening. He's my precious meow meow... I relate SO MUCH.

Jk don't crucify my ass i love him

#ye #bio #fandom #personal

[chokit-pyrus]

💫what is your favorite kind of comment/feedback?

🌻what makes you want to give up on writing? what makes you keep going?

🍭why did you start writing?

💫 Uuuuh, comments in general are cool. I don't keep track of kudoses, I only check my comments. I guess it would be cool if someone made art for my fics, that's never happened before.

🌻Uhhhhh, everything? I'm not a writer, I'm an artist. Writing is more of a side thing so I'm not super motivated to write. I'd rather do other things most of the time. I only write if I think of fun or interesting concepts or character interactions. Or I guess, if no one else has written about a specific topic, I have to do it myself.

🍭My first fanfics were from way back in 2010 or something, writing about Fable 3. I completely stopped writing for a while until late 2017 when I learned about Batman: The Telltale Series. I hadn't even played the game yet, I just watched it on youtube and fell in love with Bruce and John's relationship.

So me getting back into writing was because of my desire see them fall in love and be in a relationship. Also fun hijinks (and discussions of mental illness), so yep. It's because of batjokes that I write fanfiction now. 🤡

Writer Asks

#txt #asks #vagabond pinky

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

A Bad Joke, A Batjokes fanfic

by Graysondagent

This a hypothetical story about what would happen if our classic good guy and bad guy were together at one point. But what would happen to split them up? So why don't we sit around this dumpster barrel campfire and I'll tell you this highly gay and erotic tale while you grab a cup of tea and maybe some popcorn to see this drama unfold?

WARNING:

I did not tab off the nonconsensual stuff because you only really get a small taste for it in the first chapter. And later you hear someone mention something like that happening later. So I thought it wouldn't count. There is sex and cursing in here, so children leave, please. Like... pretty please??? I don't wanna be arrested. Also, this version of Joker isn't mainstream Joker where he's known for like... literally r-wording Batgirl and paralyzing her. So this is Batman: The Animated Series Joker mixed in with a pitch of lego joker for wholesomeness. I only really did this so I'd be better writing about our little painted weirdo being his goofy self.

Words: 3661, Chapters: 2/50, Language: English

Fandoms: DCU, Batman: The Animated Series, Batman - All Media Types

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: M/M

Characters: Batman, Bruce Wayne, Joker (DCU), Harleen Quinzel

Relationships: Joker (DCU)/Bruce Wayne

Additional Tags: BDSM, Superheroes, Rough Sex, Anal Sex, Enemies to Lovers, Dating, Bi-Curiosity, Gay, Gay Sex, Crazy, Betrayal

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/46626046

#IFTTT #bruce wayne #batman #the dark knight #the cape crusader #gotham #dc universe #ao3 #ao3feed

[randishm]

What song do you listen to and just think screams batjokes.

I have two both by The Wombats.

Turn

Be Your Shadow.

I had to rewrite this twice because of tumblr😤 but I added those songs to my playlist thank you for sharing!! 😭❤

This reminds me of: Joker struggling with falling for Batman.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5hqK5evNmuLtIiQs4Z5N1M?si=XNELpSU4SUiPsGc9dvMK7Q&utm_source=copy-link

This is more like them dreaming of eachother

https://open.spotify.com/track/6SUPgdRKyyPBf2jNWYQbXk?si=D2YbdYhYRtq0TJKWSi3lMQ&utm_source=copy-link

Batman trying to understand Joker.

https://open.spotify.com/track/54zjAmM6zJoW8X0t8brP7u?si=sgYSAsDjQACI-smGOhz76w&utm_source=copy-link

Batman and Joker singing together

https://open.spotify.com/track/0mFSV2Bawz8i9wnlc9eYme?si=r_FzqLyIRgCJDWznRguptw&utm_source=copy-link

Joker singing this alone

https://open.spotify.com/track/6pVZR38m2UcizxA6YAnkw4?si=gdFAsw8FS9WZyhZyVuYKeA&utm_source=copy-link

Batman dies and Joker sings this (its hurts😭)

https://open.spotify.com/track/5yyQEHPb0BTElUrgeyGZ33?si=38LcPDBaT7-xOQyiE2xXMw&utm_source=copy-link

Joker singing this to Bruce on a phone call

https://open.spotify.com/track/6cs6lzFhsxAKbXQiuunOqp?si=opwFSuPJSOqpPEUUagjcTQ&utm_source=copy-link

This song reminds me of my first fanfic bonded by insanity (I want to rewrite it someday but it holds such a special place in my heart)

https://open.spotify.com/track/2IjXAdGBmdLQPPdZE7BBBq?si=4VH4npMaRnW5LuXwVKT-Vw&utm_source=copy-link

Now for a spicey songs👀:

HateF--k by the bravery

I hate you by simon curtis

Okay now for some honorable mentions

The drug in me is you by falling in reverse

You make me smile By Blue October (My absolutely favorite band!! I still dream of seeingthem in concert😭❤)

Heart go Bang by Blue October

How to dance in time by Blue October

Dirty imbecile by the happy fits: Joker ranting I cant get that out of my head like xD

Warn you by royal & the serpent

One more

Cover of Video Games by the young professionals

I wanted to make a animation of this but I may leave it for someone else to do so- basically Joker getting ready to leave his hide out because Bruce and selina are together and joker remembering his time with bruce. Joker ends up watching them from a rooftop into their window with his sniper rifle when the chorus goes "its you its you its all for you" joker kills them both then himself. That was my idea xD feel free to use it because its been sitting for many months and idk if I can create it the way i see it

#batman x joker #batjoker #batman #batjoke #the joker #joker #batjokes songs #batjokes playlist #batmanxjoker songs #batjokes #batman and joker songs #batjokes music

[fordarkisthesuede]

May I ask for some batjokes? 😂🥺

You want some batjokes?

You're asking me, fordarkisthesuede, who practically lives in Telltale BatJokes Land, who has completed not one, but two book-length fanfics, with a secret alternate one-shot alongside a real one-shot, and who has another new work being updated monthly on Ao3...for some batjokes???

Now, I don't want to send you away with nothin' new, baby-cakes, but I have a bit of a problem.

Y'see, I'd love to say 'yeah, okay', but I'm sitting here in the middle of constructing a new ride here at Telltale BatJokes Land. I've been working on it for a bit. Strivin' to hit that Valentine's Day deadline, when a bunch of people will be wandering into Telltale BatJokes Land for a romantic batjokes experience or two. And I'm trying very hard to put all these pieces together and get my vision in place. So you'll forgive me, I hope, if I can't come up with anything on the fly for you. Because I have construction equipment in my hands.

But I can, instead...offer you some things to think about. Because I, too, am thinking about them.

Some have pointed out how much Batman, like, stares at Joker. Not that Jokers can really see the exact spots Batmen are looking, but they know he does that. Jokers have even joked about it. "Tell me how pretty my eyes are!" Watching people must come second nature to Batmen, but how much does he really take notice of when he realizes someone isn't a threat? He'll know their face if it comes up again later, but does he always note the way their eyes squint and expand and flash? How their lips twitch? How they move their hands when they talk?

Nah. Nah, right? Not unless he has those things memorized from being around them for so long. He's a detective, he must be good at reading body language. But maaan. Joker's a special case in every sense, all across the spectrum of Jokers. Always unpredictable. Always secretive. Can't trust half of what he says, when he actually says something worth listening to. Batmen who have interacted with their Jokers for years know the danger those hands can bring. Know the amount of blood that's been on them. It's natural to watch for them. Strange to hold them. Yet Batmen can be seen holding onto them, at one time or another, in canon.

So when you consider the Telltale Joker, John Doe, and his corresponding Batman, there is only one canon case where they held hands, or touched hands at all. That scene in the alley of the Vigilante!Joker Route, where John hands over the LOTUS virus but takes Batman's hands in his and hiss-whispers that he's trusting him about this, by which we know to be everything. And when you watch that scene you can see, and hear, very clearly that Bruce is not paying the foggiest attention to anything else but Joker. All other sound disappears. He's staring at him, watching his face, enthralled with rapt attention and interest, with everything in the background faded away. It takes a moment for him to drop his outstretched hand with the virus vial in it, after John lets him go.

And I know, because that scene has lived rent-free in my mind since 2018, honey-buns. So consider - how much attention does Bruce pay to his hands after that, when everything in the story is said and done, and we're in a timeline like that of my various rides where Bruce has admitted, at least to himself, that he has romantic feelings for John?

He's seen them in blood before. And after. He knows how it holds a knife. How it pulls a trigger. How they clap together when John is excited for something. How they briefly comb through his hair when he's a bit puzzled or anxious. He knows how John's hands feel on his. They're smaller than his, but they're still a man's, so they're heavy, and likely a bit dry on a usual day.

Does he think of them in blood, at any point? Does he watch them for any sign of danger, like a punch or a flash of a blade or a sneak of something, because he remembers very clearly the Joker he'd fought? Or does he just watch his hands, and note they way they move, like the way he notes how his eyes shift and brighten and darken, and how his lips curl and tighten and pout with his myriad of expressions. Does Bruce consciously think about his hands when they do, eventually, touch him in a new way? Or does he just enjoy the moment, the feeling that accompanies it, the simple fact that John is touching him with all the warmth and weight and reality that he has in his loving hands?

I bring this all up because this darn ride I'm constructing has an awful lot of hand movements I need to describe, and I'm teetering on exactly what to focus on sometimes.

Send me your energy, so I may finish piecing this darn thing together by Love Day. And know that I love you. 😘

#ask #anon #anonymous #i hope you don't mind my pet-names #because i mean them genuinely out of affection #i just can't say no to the 🥺 face #batjokes #telltale batjokes #reblogs are a-okay #atbom #ttoj #twny #i do also want to say...i am using honey-buns as a ref to the sweet pastry and not another word for your bum #(at least here)

[zukoromantic]

Ship asks: what is your absolute favorite ship?/what ship do you hate most?

YEAH MAN I AM SO SORRY IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO REPLY

Okay, this is partially because life right now is mean but also I HOPE YOU KNOW I ALMOST HAD AN EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN AT THIS QUESTION (I couldn't choose just one, I couldn't)

And thank you SO MUCH FOR ASKING!!!!! <3333A

Okay so that this is out of the way

It really took me some deep diving into my past ships, but my absolute favorite ones i could really pin it down to were:

• Dakavendish (Milo Murphy's Law)

Look man, the Dwampyverse is good at making dramatic gay couples and who am i to deny it. I guess this has really special place in my heart because it started a whole bunch of gay ships and I am very thankful for that. These two, just.... oh god, they make me so soft and happy. They care so much about each other. Good husbands okay. How are they not canon, they are so wonderful and I love both of them. (They also were the only ones to carry season 2 and maybe sometimes Doof, but don't at me)

• Johnlock (BBC Sherlock)

Yeah man i don't know what you want me to say here, they're Johnlock, they're gay, it's science, it's obligatory for me to mention them. Every time I get into them again, I go in DEEP into the feels, so I feel like it wouldn't be fair to leave them out.

• Lego Batjokes (The Lego Batman Movie)

Okay this one is VERY. VERY special to me. I didn't watch the movie when it came out which was a HUGE mistake. Some time last year I discovered that there were edits of these two, so obviously I was interested. I watched the movie. And holy fucking shit. I SO got back into lego. Into Ninjago too. Into everything. Best thing that happened to me. And the ship, just.... I absolutely LOVE how they're written. It is so beautiful. The intentional writing it like a romantic relationship. And the final saving the day scene, I'm - it's so beautiful. Probably one of the pairings I read the most fanfic about simply because their relationship is so much fun and there are so many interesting things you can do with it. Okay I gotta stop talking now, but the inherent beauty and tenderness of them is just so relevant, okay

• Entrapdak (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Did I add this one just because they've been relevant recently? Probably. But look, I - LOVE them. With all of my heart. Entrapta is legit the light of my life (okay I see this about multiple characters, BUT NOT MANY) and seeing her and Hordak together just makes me so so so happy. (Especially in season 5 okay.) They are so tender and soft and important and they make each other so happy and actually feel comfortable and they both deserve it so much and I should stop talking now before I get too into it. (Watch She-Ra, watch season 5, everything about this show is amazing.)

And my least favroite ones, well, I - to be honest, I don't really.... have them??? I mean sure there are pairings I don't love, but even those ones I'm okay with. Like, do I like every ship? No. Do I still get happy when I see that one amazing AMV of them in my youtube recommendations? Yes. I often don't go out of my way to have a special distaste for some ship. I don't know, it just makes me happy when people like something even when I don't. (Exculding pedophilia of course like ouch.)

Okay, Elsa and Jack Frost, like omg, what, just because they have ice powers and isn't he emotionally like 14 or something, I don't know, I think that's sort of creepy (Okay, yes, I said it once now, I'll never say it again, I don't - spread hate, it's just that it kinda was unsettling for me to see it be somewhat popular, but that was mostly years ago and it's not that I mind that much anyway)

This post is a bit very long whoops, I'm sorry, but whatever I guess. Again, I'm so sorry this took so long, but thank you so much!

#jcmorrigan #ask me #you're great thank you! #aaaand sorry for the long reply #whoops #BUT WELL YA ASK AND YA SHALL GET AN ANSWER...... eventually #ships #yay

[kari-izumi]

Jesus Christ, to everyone I ever told at Fandom Rants to not make a big deal about people wanting warning for slash and being way too mad because someone thought Batjokes was unrealistic and for every other garbage hot take I ever said, the error of my ways have truly been honed in tonight by the YouTube's comments of a video I replied to and I am so very, very, very sorry.

I get it

(I mean, I did well before now, but these takes about how no one cared about shows like Queer as Folks and how I'm "supposed to be mature" (read: smile and shut up) and not "be so angry about a kids' show" (which, in spite of the video topic, was not what set me off))

The comment I replied to went like this:

After the guy posted everal similar comments like this:

To which I reply to photo one:

In comes white knight #1:

My reply:

Strongly worded, yes, but no less than I received that time I shat on someone's fic for having "depression that comes outta nowhere"

In comes white knight #2 last week:

Okay, so it was this video, because every is always Voltron (and I may or may not have blasted the Bi Lance theory way earlier in that comment thread, whoops)

Anyway, another strongly worded reply:

And then both idiots show up:

Like, the entire unedited, uncensored thread was up for them to read to see he was a Trump fan, but no, let's take the piss at icky old women in their fandoms.

(Also lol at @ snot-nosed brat being something they need to pull out the smelling salts for)

I asked them both in my reply to fucking LOOK at the Trump joke this guy was making easier before he said that. Because antis have the reading comprehension of a potato, I don't expect much, but I just had to vent.

Ugh

(sorry, cuts never work on mobile for me. I honestly did try)

@antis-delete-your-blogs-pls-thx @just-antithings @fandom-is-for-pleasure @fandomsense @huntypastellance @grumpy-old-fandommom @theassholeantiarchive2-0 @legendary-discourse @anti-anti-a-la-bi-bi @freedom-of-fanfic @shipping-isnt-morality

#im done #fandom discourse #salt post #i just-- #if im the asshole ill gladly retract this #but fucking christ this started with a shitposting MAGA moron #the context couldnt BE more obvious

[batjokesgothamexchange]

JOIN US FOR THE BATJOKES GOTHAM EXCHANGE!

SIGN-UPS ARE NOW OPEN!

The mods are proud to present the Gotham fandom with our first gift exchange for the Batjokes (Bruce/Jerome or Bruce/Jeremiah) ship! Do you love either variation of ship or both of them? Do you wanna create more content for Batjokes? Come join us July 1st-Sep 15th!

Rules || FAQ || Ask The Mods

What is an “exchange”?

This is a fandom-based, ship-based gift exchange for the Batjokes ship in FOX’s Gotham. You will be assigned someone to make a gift for, and someone will be assigned to make a gift for you. DO NOT TELL ANYONE (ESPECIALLY YOUR GIFTEE) WHO YOU WERE ASSIGNED OR WHAT YOU WERE ASSIGNED. We want you to keep it a secret until posting! Half the fun of this gift exchange is the anticipation and surprise!

What kind of gifts are accepted?

Fanart, fanfic, moodboards, fanmixes, edits, and gifsets.

What kind of ratings are accepted?

All ratings accepted if you are 18 and over. If you are a minor, you will not be able to request/receive NSFW.

What's the schedule?

Sign-ups: June 2nd-June 29th

Assignments sent: June 30th-July 1st

Check-in #1: July 20-23rd

Check-in #2: August 17th-20th

Last day to drop-out: August 25th

Posting begins: September 9th-15th

Tag your gifts under #batjokesgothamexchange and @ the blog so we see it! Track this tag also in the meantime and follow this blog for updates!

If you have any further questions, please feel free to send an ask! Or visit the Rules or FAQ for more details. Can’t wait to get started!

SIGN-UPS ARE NOW OPEN!

#gotham #batjokes #baby batjokes #valeyne #wayleska #bruce wayne #jerome valeska #jeremiah valeska

[fractualized]

I totally see where you're coming from with how you like your mix of comedy and seriousness and I think I'm really similar! I can definitely tolerate a lot of cheese but I'll almost always consider it a one off situation. I recently rewatched Batman and Robin while my wife was making a cast of my body so we could make cosplay and it was just so funny and silly that like it reminded me of what one of those really campy comics would look like in real life and I respected the fact that they could commit to it that way and make an artful movie that brought that to life but there were a few elements that didn't make sense to me like Barbara being Alfred's niece that I was just like whatever man and I knew I couldn't like... use it as a foundation for my basis of characterization, like I can with other media! I really love the animated series too, I grew up with it being my first experience with Batman and I always really respected it as a medium that I could trust to be satisfying and whole. I also really really liked Batman beyond because it felt like the closest continuation of that story even though I know it's really not canon and it kind of doesn't work, I like to view it as like a semi-official what if fan fiction from the original writers lol

I completely get what you mean about the comics, cuz I kind of view official comics like fanfictions even in their own right? I mean when you think back on like Bill finger and Bob Kane like eventually every other writer is going to be writing fanfiction of their characters but it's really fun to go through all the different Batman media and see whose stories you kind of like more and then whose stories you kind of tend to avoid

and when I mentioned I knew you liked comics, I was also speaking more from the perspective that you seem to have more knowledge about them Rather than I thought you had a preference for them, because you put together that comic PDF with batjokes moments and I was really impressed with that ☺️

i love your telltale fics and the games as a beautiful breath of fresh air into the life of batman so sometimes I like to imagine the animated series would be a great way to say where is juce 10 years later, if those universes were more cohesive setting wise lmao

Yeah, Barbara randomly being Alfred's niece is definitely one of the aspects of B&R that just… I guess it breaks up the campiness? That and Ivy being in love with Freeze for no discernable reason. And teaming up with him even though he'll kill her plants. And poor Bane! And then that weird bit at the end where Freeze is sort of forgiven but Ivy can't be? And Alfred almost dies. Should taken all that stuff out and added more camp.

I really enjoyed Batman Beyond too! I didn't even realize a lot of people didn't like it until recently. Honestly it's one of those things where I don't look into the reasons too much. lol I liked it and I'm fine with having liked it, no notes!! (OK I sorta lied. That bit in JLU where they made Bruce Terry's bio dad, that was bizarre.)

I am definitely in the "anything not created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane might as well be fanfic" camp. Like, sure, if DC puts resources behind a project, it has a better chance at being worth your time, but when I get down to it, I can't put a lot of weight behind the idea that someone's official derivative story is more valid than another someone's derivative AO3 post just because there was a cash exchange with a company that owns the original "asset." People who want to lean into that idea, that's their business.

The wild thing about the batjokes spreadsheet is I know that it's only a fraction of what's out there. I have read hundreds of comics at this point and I still feel like it's not enough to totally have a handle on things. Especially knowing how little I've retained. 😅 But that's another reason for the spreadsheet!

Thank you for enjoying my fics! And for implanting the idea in my head of a Telltale universe animated series… Just hijinks and maybe a little more murder with John and Bruce, bestest buddies.

#ask #my jibber-jabber

[hysterialevi]

A quick fanfic for all you BatJokes shippers

So I’ve been asked by a few people to write a BatJokes fanfic, but since I’m 1.) already focusing on another new story, and 2.) not really used to writing about this ship, I decided to start out short and see how it turns out. Hope you guys enjoy :)  -Levi

From Bruce’s POV

THE STACKED DECK

With a crazed smile, John gazed aimlessly in the distance for a moment before slowly turning to me, his eyes twinkling once they met mine. He was acting...different. ...Calm, almost. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something about John had changed ever since we escaped the bar, and he seemed to be stuck in this trance-like state. The way he looked at me, the way he spoke--it was all just...different. What was up with him? He wasn’t mad at me for punching Willy out, was he? I mean, the man pulled knife on me, for god’s sake. It wasn’t like I could just stand there and let him stab me. Besides, John looked like he was actually enjoying the violence. So much, that he recorded it. 

Maybe it was regret that made John act like this. After all, he and Willy seemed to have some sort of...“friendship.” If you could call it that. What if he was expecting an apology from me? Or maybe, he thought I didn’t punch him enough? I had no idea.

Normally, I had no problem when it came to reading people, but John was like a closed book that had been sealed with a padlock and thrown into a safe with a twenty-digit combination. Nothing about him ever made sense. His actions were always so unpredictable and spontaneous, and yet, despite all the craziness, he was one of the closest friends I had. I wondered what that said about me.

Staring at John, I waited for him to say something. He was still gazing at the ground with blank eyes, but after a second, he noticed my puzzled expression and, with hesitation, blurted out a quick explanation.

“I think...” he hid his face from me and scratched the back of his head, a little bashful, “I think...I’m in love.”

Right. That helped.

Slightly taken aback by the sudden confession, I blinked a few times and simply stood there in silence, dumbfounded. What was I supposed to say to that?

“Erm--” I stuttered, clearing my throat. “And are you...are you i-in love with...with me?”

John’s smile grew even larger at that response and his eyes widened with excitement, nearly bulging out of their sockets. He closed the distance between us until he was only mere inches away from me, and I found myself feeling the urge to step back. I would’ve been lying if I said I wasn’t a bit uncomfortable.

He grinned at me. “...yes.”

My jaw hit the ground. What?

John let out a cackle, his slouched shoulders shaking in unison with his maniacal laughter.

“What’s not to love...!?”

Without any warning, John violently gripped the sides of my arms and pulled me even closer, looking directly into my eyes.

“You may not want to admit it, Brucie-boy, but you’re just as crazy as me. There’s this...this fire in you that I just can’t get enough of. The way you walk around Gotham, showing everyone who’s boss...Oh, if only the effects of that drug had lasted longer when you beat Cobblepot up. The rest of the crowd might’ve been shocked, but I...” John shook his head in blissful disbelief, “...I found myself...falling in love. It was...amazing. You’re amazing, Bruce. I don’t see how we aren’t destined to be together,” another laugh, “it just wouldn’t make any sense!”

I could feel my heart pounding inside my chest, and the longer John held onto me, the more I actually found myself...relaxing. What if what he was saying was true? What if we got along so well because...because we were more alike than I thought? Was I really that crazy?

“Um, I...I don’t know what to say, John.” I replied quickly.

“Oh, you don’t have to say anything, Bruce! I know you feel the same way. You might be scared to accept it now, but you’ll come around. I know you will.”

“I’m not scared,” I corrected, “I’ve just...never really...”

John nodded with a flirtatious smirk, understanding exactly what I meant. “Never had someone love you for the madman you are? I get it. I mean, when you’re the CEO of a company as big as Wayne Enterprises, it’s kinda tough to let out your crazy side, isn’t it? The last time you did, you got fired! HA!”

He broke into a chain of hysterical laughter at that comment and wiped invisible tears from his eyes, slapping his knee out of amusement.

“Getting fired from--from your own company--HAHA!” John patted my shoulder in a friendly manner, nearly wheezing from how much he was laughing as his voice echoed in the empty alleyway. “I can only imagine the look you had on your face when--when they kicked you out! HAHA!”

I stood there quietly, unsure of how to react. And he wondered why I didn’t like talking with him in public.

“Oh,” John calmed down a bit, “sorry, Brucie. I know that must’ve been a frustrating time for you. It’s just -- how does something like that happen to a guy like Bruce Wayne?”

I shrugged. “What can I say? Crazy has a habit of finding me. It also just admitted to being in love with me.”

John’s expression softened with fondness, and he practically gave me puppy-eyes as he reached for my hand, slightly worried that I’d reject him. I didn’t.

“...and?” He gazed up at me. “Do you...do you love ‘crazy’ back?”

As if on queue, the rain sprinkling down on us gradually began to grow heavier, and before I knew it, both John and I were soaked head-to-toe in water, but neither of us ran from it. We simply stayed in place, caring about nothing but each other at the moment. I brought a gentle hand up to John’s cheek, looking at him affectionately. He beamed at the intimate response, and his face seemed to light up once we made contact.

I took a deep breath. “...I--”

“--Yoohoo!” A third voice jumped in, interrupting me. “What’s takin’ so long?”

Searching for the source, I found a peculiar-looking woman standing next to John’s car, waving at us. I recognized her. It was the same woman suspected for causing all the damage at the bank. Harley Quinn.

“Are we doin’ this, or what?” She exclaimed before allowing herself into the vehicle. “Mama’s gettin’ old, here!”

John let out a disappointed groan, rolling his eyes. I chuckled.

“Don’t worry,” I reassured. “We can talk more about this later.”

He pouted. “But I wanna talk about it now. Right now!”

“We keep Harley waiting, and we won’t be able to talk about it at all.”

With that in mind, John wasted no time in snapping back to business, and gestured for me to follow him to the car. Before either of us could take a single step however, I lightly grabbed his chin and, without a second thought, planted a brief kiss on his lips, causing him to freeze on the spot. His mouth fell slightly open in shock.

“That enough to satisfy you for now?” I joked. For a second, John only gaped at me, completely ignoring Harley’s nagging in the background as he tried to process what just happened. This was the first time I’d ever seen him speechless, and for a moment, I actually thought he was about to faint. I felt the need to check on him.

“...err--John? You okay?”

Suddenly, out of nowhere, John leaped into my arms, forcing me to catch him as he wrapped himself around me, clinging onto my chest like a koala on a tree. I sheepishly smiled back at Harley who was watching the show from the car, staring in bewilderment while John snuggled against me.

“You have...no idea...how happy that makes me, Bruce!” John giggled. “It’s like I’m in heaven.”

Slightly threatened by Harley’s glare, I hurriedly put John back down, trying to act as if nothing just happened.

“Um, we should...see what Harley wants.” I suggested. John grabbed my hand.

“Let’s go! Oh man, I cannot wait to introduce you to the other guys. Harley’s gonna love you! Not as much as me, obviously, but you get my point. Oh! And we have to take a better picture together, okay? I’ve got this very special frame in my room for you, but at the moment, it’s just your face taped over some other guy’s.” He laughed. “It’s embarrassing, honestly.”

Sprinting towards the car, John pulled me behind him, practically dragging me along the street as I tried to keep up with his pace. 

I had to admit, as insane as he was, I couldn’t help but feel a strange kind of attraction towards him. He might’ve been crazy, but he was definitely one of the more genuine people I’d met. John never appeared to care about my flaws -- in fact, he actually seemed to cherish them -- and with every wrong I did, he only grew more attached to me. It was like he thrived on my “crazy side,” and for the first time in a while, I felt like I could be myself around someone. It was a welcome change, and I hoped that the Pact accepted me just so I could stay with John for a while longer.

The only thing that concerned me was how Waller would react if she were to learn about our relationship. I knew she wanted me to get close to Bane, but there was no telling what she’d think about John. After all, the man was significantly more unpredictable than that wrestler on steroids, and with Waller’s agents constantly following me, it was inevitable they’d learn the truth eventually. 

Well, whatever Waller did, one thing was clear. I cared much more about John than anyone else, and if she ended up forcing me to choose sides, there was no question about whom I’d stay loyal to. I didn’t quite trust the rest of the Pact yet, but if it came down to it, Waller was going to regret ever sending me to them.

#batjokes #bruce wayne #john doe #joker #telltale batman #telltale games #fanfic #i tried my best

[thechronicliar]

Story plans down below if interested

Alrighty, I do have a lot of fanfic plans, besides personal writings. 

I do have several works in mind for Gravity Falls. I’m going to rewrite/edit and complete Shutter and Card Tricks. I basically got their plotlines mostly figured out to where I can get these done and I really like what I have planned for both. I want to be a few chapters ahead before I start posting, well actually I’d prefer having them completed before I start posting, but we’ll see how it all goes. I also have one large short to be written based on one of my older posts about Dipper making a deal with Bill and releasing Bill from his confines. And last but not least, I do have a smutty smut-smut short for the boys. 

In other fandoms, I do have several things, but mostly short stories, cause I am far better at finishing shorts than chapter stories. There are several Sterek stories. Many just funny shorts, though this fandom has one of my only chapter stories in it, but that one is on the back burner until I get other chapter stories done. 

And then I have a few random ones that are just my contribution to some of my fave ships that I love to read. Bagginshield, Johnlock, Batjokes, and Stuckony. 

So if you see some things you may like, then yay! I hope to get a chapter or short out at least once a week, if not more. I’m not taking prompts until I at least get through 75% of my works. 

#Personal #Mainly for me to hold myself accountable

[anna-omens13]

Gotham: Valeyne/Batjokes Halloween

Valeyne/Batjokes Halloween Fanfic Jerome Valeska X Bruce Wayne

Summary: "Jerome Valeska finds himself out of the confines of Arkham Asylum to discover he's been kidnapped by an obsessed fangirl and he has to team up with an "old friend" in order to escape her monstrous henchmen on Halloween night in Gotham City."

It’s a late Halloween story and the first fanfic I’ve ever posted on Tumblr!! Notes to some of the references used in the story can be found in the DA artist comment section here: https://anna-autobot12.deviantart.com/art/Gotham-Valeyne-Halloween-Epilogue-713478362

Hope you guys enjoy!! <3

This… isn’t Arkham. Even with closed eyes anyone can tell this isn’t Arkham. It’s the atmosphere; just the feeling alone gives it all away. The sound, the smell, even the taste backed that thought up. It’s not cold or damp, it’s not giving off that sour taste the grim and gloomy asylum tends to consistently have, and it smells far to clean. And if that’s not enough, there’s no screaming, no crying, and definitely no laughing. Nope, this is so not Arkham.

“Uuuugh… Damn headache…” A gravelly voice says from the darkness; consciousness slowly began to return to its owner and surroundings started to come into focus. Jerome Valeska, Gotham’s most chaotic criminal, moved in stiff motions; lifting his head away from his chest to hold it up on his own as his strength slowly came back. He stretched his muscles and tightened his eyes to relieve the tiredness from his body. “Woo, must’ve been some party last night for me to black out without a clue.” The redhead let out a weak chuckle. “Uh, probably slipped us some extra happy pills or something…” Finally, eyes opened, Jerome was greeted by the sight of his new surroundings as well as a new set of dapper looking clothes. Instead of his black and white stripped prison uniform, he was now dressed in a dark purple suit, a black dress shirt, a dark green vest, a neon green tie, and black gloves. He also noticed thick ropes that tied his wrists and around his chest to the arms and back of a wooden chair he was seated on in the center of the room. Confusion overtook his expression as he scanned every direction of his new environment. The room was pretty rundown but fairly spacious; judging by the lack of care and the amount of dust that was present, it might very well be a living room in an abandoned apartment complex. Cracks, mold, and even damaged but still hanging picture frames littered and tainted the once coral colored walls. Two couches, one to Jerome’s right and one in front of him, sat on the rickety floor accompanied by boxes, a few old TVs, speakers, a boom box, and other random objects; probably stolen. Behind the right couch hung a pair of dusty brown and tan curtains covering up shattered, boarded up windows. A lamp lit up the room to the left of the couch in front of him and to really bring the room together, painted on the wall above it was the smiling face Jerome’s followers immortalized his image with. “Hm… Decent decorating…” He commented. “Glad you think so.” A voice replied from behind him, laced with flattery. Jerome did his best to turn his head in the direction the voice had come from, as straining as it may have felt to his neck, he managed to spot three figures standing behind him in a wide doorway to the left of the room. A blonde teenage girl wearing pigtails, bright lipstick, and smothered black eye shadow stood between two giant henchmen. They looked both sharp and out of place in their black suits and ties with messily painted red lips and black eye sockets. The girl was clothed from head to toe in pink and black: Her pigtails were tied with pink ribbons, she wore a black cropped tank top with the word “smile” written in pink, a pair of black shorts held up by a pink belt, black and pink striped tights and long gloves to match, and a pair of black knee-high converses to complete the look. With a smile on her face and a confident sway to her hips, the girl walked over to Jerome with her goons following behind her. “I picked it out special for you.” Her hand reached out to drag underneath Jerome’s chin in a flirty manner, causing him to smirk dangerously as she and her men walked passed him. It was a small hint that he found her confidence amusing but not very smart; safe to say he might not appreciate being touched. “I hope you like the new suit too;” She said as she took a seat on the couch in front of him, relaxing and putting her hands behind her head while her men stood one on either side of the couch in soldier-like stances. “I kept you in mind the entire time I searched for the perfect look.” “Riiight… Well I’m sure you thoroughly enjoyed the task of changing me out of my prison suit while you were at it too.” Jerome said with a smile on his face, although there was anything but happiness behind it. “Oh! I would never disrespect your privacy, Sweetums!” She said, dramatically placing a hand over her heart. “I had one of my boys do it. Of course, next time, if you want me to be there instead, I’d be more than happy to help.” She suggested with giddiness and a high pitched giggle. Once again, Jerome admired her boldness but behind that smile and innocent head tilt was annoyance and more than likely the guarantee that he’d be sticking a knife through her stomach when he got out of his restraints. “Quite the set up you got here, how’d you get it?” He asked, trying to change the subject and get his mind away from wanting to kill the girl. “Oh my daddy bought out the whole building but never did anything with it, so I thought I’d help myself.”  She explained in a spoiled brat kind of tone. “Don’t you just love it?!” “Hmmm…” Jerome looked around the room. “Well… Not as cold, dark, and cozy as Arkham but I’d say it was a pretty good score.” Despite being a prisoner behind its stone walls, Arkham Asylum is his home-sweet-home; it had been for a while now and definitely better than that old trailer hell-hole he used to live in with his wretch of a mother. Well, at least he didn’t have to worry about any of that anymore, he made sure of that. He turned back to the blonde. “By the way, I never got your name.” “Gasp! I never gave it did I? Silly me! My name’s Sally,” She answered in a kind tone. She leaned forward, resting her left arm across her crossed legs and placing her right elbow over her knee while laying her cheek in her hand. The girl smiled so dreamily at the ginger before her with lidded eyes as she continued. “And you,” She released a long swoon. “You’re even more gorgeous in person. A face like that belongs in the spotlight, not behind bars! So I just had to do something; I pulled a few strings, bribed a few guards, and here you are!” She sang so excitedly. The smile on Jerome’s face spread at the girl’s obvious infatuation. “Very devious of you.” He said with a fake smile and impressed tone in his voice. She was completely flattered though, bursting in a fit of girlish giggles at his words. “Now then, if you’ll just untie me, I’ll be heading out now. Places to be, people to scare, things to blow up; you know, the usual act.” He proclaimed as he struggled against the ropes. Sally’s laughter died. “You can’t leave.” She stated with innocent confusion, the smile fading from her face and was replaced with a deranged, obsessed stare. Jerome was definitely not amused anymore; the promise of torture and death decorated his face as his struggling ceased and his attention went back to the blonde. “…What?” He asked through clenched teeth, doing what he could to hold his anger back. “You haven’t gotten you present yet Silly!” She said excited as ever. “Oh but trust me Pumpkin, once you see what I got for you, you’ll fall so badly for me, you’ll never, ever, EVER wanna leave!” Her giggles started up again. Delusional little brat; as if Jerome had anybody he would fall for, let alone let anyone tell him he would, like they knew him so damn well. No one was special enough to earn his favor, loyalty, and especially his obsession. “Tell you what, I’ll untie you if you promise to stay and see what I got for you. Pleeeease??” She pleaded hopeful and innocently. As pathetic as it was to agree to the girl’s begging, if it’ll get him out of these ropes, he had no choice. Jerome nodded. “Yay!” Sally clapped her hands, thrilled by his compliance. “Cut him loose.” She ordered the big lug on her right. The man pulled out a switchblade and walked over to the tied up teenager. He cut the ropes from his wrists first before walking behind him and freeing him from the rest of his restraints. Jerome quickly shrugged and yanked off every piece, not appreciating things that keep him from his freedom. Sure, he creepily enjoyed a warm, snuggly straight jacket the Arkham orderlies forced him and the other inmates into every now and then, but waking up strapped to a chair, away from his nut house of a home by a crazed, wannabe-bad fangirl wasn’t exactly the wisest thing to do to Gotham’s Ginger Maniac. “And send him in.” She ordered the goon once he was done with the ropes. Jerome was on his feet now, rubbing the pain from his wrists and watching through his peripheral vision as the man walked towards the door-less frame leading to the hallway outside. “Him?” The young man questioned as he turned to face the entryway. The goon disappeared for only a few seconds before footsteps were heard heading back to the living-room. He returned with another henchman who pushed a hooded figure dressed from head to toe in black into view and stood him between the two of them. The figure’s hands were clearly cuffed behind his back and a hand from each man was fastened over his shoulders to keep him from running. Soon enough, the goon to his left harshly yanked the hood off the figures head, revealing Sally’s gift to the redheaded criminal. The once mysterious figure’s eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the lights that illuminated his face as he blankly looked up at Jerome. Who turned out to be under that hoodie ended up bringing a slow forming and sinister smile back to the criminal’s face. “…Bruce…” The name flowed smoothly from his lips, practically savoring it as it exited. Now this one, this one has definitely earned every bit of Jerome’s loving obsession. The young Bruce Wayne: Billionaire, social outcast, and Jerome’s tenacious little prey that he’s been infatuated with targeting since coming back from the dead. “Jerome… Nice to see you again…” The boy greeted with no particular emotion in his voice. No sarcasm, no fear. He just stared rather calmly at the mad man before him. That had always impressed Jerome; how Bruce could be so composed even under the most dangerous of situations. “I sent him a message yesterday!” Sally said cheerfully loud. It put a damper on Jerome and Bruce’s staring contest; the ginger was rather enjoying it and the sound of her voice was all it took to whip the smile clear off his face. With an annoyed roll of his eyes Jerome looked to her and listen to her continued explanation. “Told him if he didn’t want a repeat of Gotham’s Mad City drama that he’d get his little rich boy butt down here tonight and make a deal with me… Heh, he came running!” She chuckled at that. “I mean seriously! A wannabe hero boy like him, how could he resist?!” “Aw Brucie,” With Sally’s explanation done and over with, Jerome was free to return his attention to the captured teenager. He slowly walked up to him with a crazed, but very happy smirk on his face. “You came all this way just for me?” The redhead practically towered over Bruce. Despite his rapid growth over the years, he was still shorter than the killer before him. Instead of justifying Jerome’s question with a response, his mouth remained shut. However, his silence was taken as an answer either way. “I’m touched.” Jerome said as he leaned in to be a little more leveled with Bruce’s eyes, his smile growing wider. “And now,” Sally started saying with a crazed look on her face. She reached for her left hip and brought out a knife. She quickly stood up from the couch and began to pace over to the two foes. “He’s dead!” The knife was raised above her head as she neared the young billionaire. Before she could do any form of damage however, Jerome’s hand shot up and grabbed her by the wrist. “Wow, wow!” Jerome chuckled at her eagerness. “Easy there Doll-Face,” Sally’s arm relaxed as she looked up at the ginger. He gently held her by her upper arms to keep her steady. “I like the enthusiasm an all but believe me when I say Brucie over here is worth so much more than an average stab to his pretty face.” Jerome briefly turned his head and sent a wink Bruce’s way. The boy wasn’t sure to take that as a flirtation or some sort of signal from the deranged lunatic. “He’s the main event,” Jerome explained to Sally. “The star attraction, the kind of creature you really wanna flaunt and present in front of a live audience!” Bruce decided on the latter. So as Jerome passionately defined the meaning of showmanship to the blonde, Bruce gave a quick glance to each bodyguard. They didn’t seem to suspect anything or even notice the wink given to him, so he took the opportunity to discreetly reach into his jacket sleeve and pull out a bobby pin. As the rich kid started to work on picking at the lock to his cuffs, Jerome continued his speech. “So why don’t we slow it down a bit, huh?” He asked with a charismatic smirk. “Art can’t be rushed after all and if it’s planned out just right; it’ll be the grandest show Gotham City will ever see.” Sally looked up with fully obsessed amazement at Jerome’s patience and natural act for creating the most brilliantly twisted criminal deeds. “For the time being,” The ginger dragged a finger slowly against the blonde’s cheek. “What do you say we get to know each other a little better? You mentioned something about helping me into some new clothes earlier…” His turned on the charm with a dangerously flirty grin stretching further along his face as he whispered the rest. “Or was it off?” Of course, the moderately dirty suggestion caused the crazed fangirl traits to come bubbling giddily back to the surface. Sally was just a fit of flattered giggles and snorting laughter. Bruce’s eyes rolled, indicating he was entirely done with this. “Are you done?” He asked impatiently. “Are you?” Jerome asked in response, peering at the boy through the corner of his eye. In a swift motion, Bruce revealed his newly freed hands, holding on the cuffs in his left and using both elbows to harshly knock the wind out of each guard’s stomachs. With loud grunts, the men bowled over at their now pain filled torsos. Bruce quickly turned around and grabbed the wrist of the guard to his right, snapping a cuff on it before reaching over to the left guard and cuffing his wrist with the other. With the two now joined by one pair of restraints, Bruce placed his hands on one side of each goon’s head and firmly slammed their skulls together. It might not be enough to render them unconscious for very long, but at least it would give the time needed to make a daring escape. “Sweeeet…” Jerome witnessed the whole thing, pleased and utterly impressed with Bruce’s quick maneuvering and with the guards subdued, he turned his attention back to his target. An insane smile brought Sally’s eyes away from Bruce’s striking display of deceiving strength and back up to the young man in front of her. An effortless, but still strong shove from the maniac extended the distance between him and his nutty fangirl. She was sent flying into the couch hard enough to bounce off the soft cushions and face first onto the splintered floor. The knife she held clattered just a few inches away from her. The third guard still standing by the sofa was so taken aback by the turn of events, he barely had time to reach into his jacket for a small remote and push one of its buttons before a wooden chair was broken over his head. The impact caused the man to stumble until he began to fall forward. Sally was just regaining her senses when she noticed her falling goon. Unable to move away in time, the bodyguard collapsed atop his young employer, trapping her with absolutely no way of getting out. That didn’t stop her from trying and throwing a fit while she was at it. The struggling stopped when a shiny dress shoe appeared in front of her face. She looked up to see Jerome towering over her with a dangerous gleam in his eyes and a smirk on his face. “Not so fun when it’s you unwillingly trapped by an idiot is it?” He squatted down to get a better look at his former captor. “Now you know how I felt about the chair.” There was absolutely no smile on his face anymore, just murder. “However,” Jerome reached over and picked up the discarded knife, much to Sally’s horror. “You were kind enough to cut me out of those ropes, so…” The boy threw the knife from his left to his right hand, admiring the sharpness before looking back at the blonde. “Why don’t I return the favor and cut you out from under there… Piece by piece?” Jerome asked with his terrifying smile returning and pulled his knife wielding hand above his head. “Let’s start with that head of yours…” Now for a good thrust of a knife through her skull. “Leave her alone.” Bruce’s voice firmly said from behind him, causing Jerome to stop his murderous attempt. Green eyes rolled irritatingly at Bruce’s disruptive righteousness, but he still lowered the knife and stood up right to show Bruce his disappointed scowl. “You’re no fun, Brucie.” His voice was raspy and bored, but as much as Jerome wanted nothing more than to drive the knife through the blonde’s head, there was no real anger from Bruce’s request to stop. “It’s not gonna be so much fun when more of her men show up. Pretty sure that remote was a relay for backup; three unsuspecting guards wasn’t a problem but I’m sure a handful more won’t be as easy to take down, at least not here. We need to leave, either slip away or get them on our own turf.” Bruce explained. “Uuugh, fine…” Jerome agreed, loathing how right Bruce was about leaving before more guards showed up. “Since you did as so nicely.” He sent him a flirty grin and another wink with a click of his tongue. Bruce simply rolled his eyes at the teasing gesture while Jerome turned around to address the girl. The knife that was once in the mad man’s grasp was now hanging delicately between his thumb and index finger; his other hand relaxed in his pocket as he whistled a casual tune. Suddenly the knife slipped from his grip. “Oopsy.” Jerome said playfully and unapologetically. “No!” Bruce exclaimed and flinched at the descending blade. Plink! Sally’s tightly closed eyes flashed opened to see the knife stabbed into the floor just a few inches from her face. A cold sweat formed from the anticipation of her death, she stayed speechless when she realized it wouldn’t be coming after all. Bruce was entirely relieved at that, the tension in his shoulder’s noticeably relaxed as he let out an anxious breath. Sally’s gaze traveled away from the knife and up at its wielder who was smiling down at her. She got off easy, but how could he refuse the rich boy he’d grown so fond of since his rebirth? “You’re lucky my favorite volunteer is a hero and that I highly value his opinion.” Jerome told the scared girl. “So anyways, thanks again for the bust outta Arkham and the new threads Sweetheart, I REALLY appreciate you getting me all suaved up for my big date tonight.” He squatted to her level again. “Can’t exactly charm my way into a night with the Prince of Gotham without the proper attire right? Like they say, no one can resist a man in uniform.” He said with a wide grin. “Well,” Jerome quickly stood up. “See you around Blondie.” Sally started to relax as Jerome turned away from her; the relief was short lived however. “Oh,” Jerome stopped. “And, one more thing:” He said turning on his heels to face her, his index finger raised to represent his final thought. In a split second, a horrifyingly dark expression spread through Jerome’s face. His smile was completely gone, the light from the lamp littered the left side of his face in shadows, and his eyes became insanely greener they once were. With terrifying speed, he squatted in front of her again; Sally’s eyes were wide in absolute fear of just being close to his calm but chilling expression. She stayed silent, waiting for the one more thingthe redhead mentioned to be said and done. “Stay away from my Brucie…” There was nothing but seriousness in his voice. “Kay?” But the humor soon returned when he asked for confirmation that she understood in a sweet, lighthearted tone and a sinister smile to keep his charming insanity visible. “Let’s go, Jerome.” Bruce insisted calmly at their need to leave before trouble came their way again. A low chuckle escaped the ginger’s stretching smile; Sally kept him from his little hero long enough. So he stood up and hurried after Bruce who started towards the doorway once he was sure Jerome would follow. The two disappeared into the hallway, leaving Sally all alone and having to wait for her henchman to regain conscious before she could properly wallow in her misery and the rejection she had received despite her efforts. For now, she was stuck sulking and pitying herself under the crushing weight of the passed out bodyguard and left to think twice about messing with Jerome and Bruce in the future. Finally the boys were out of that dreary, old building and reunited with the streets of Gotham City. Jerome closed the door behind him as Bruce led them down the steps of the complex and onto the sidewalk. “Since when did I ever become your Brucie?” The black clothed boy asked Jerome, not even looking at him as they walked side by side with their hands in their pockets. There was a happy stride to the young lunatic’s step while Bruce was a little hastier and kept scanning the abandoned neighborhood for any sign of trouble. “Aw come on, Brucie,” The killer said in a tone that made it seem like they had known each other for years and as if the possibility of Bruce punching his lights out if he spoke freely and without restraint wouldn’t occur. “You know the two of us were practically made for each other.” Jerome started walking backwards in order to explain himself to Bruce face to face, quite effortlessly so. “Ever since our last little date at the carnival, I knew there was something between us, even more magical than at the charity heist. You remember it right? The hate, the fun, the fighting…” Jerome immediately stopped causing Bruce to halt in order to avoid a collision with the lunatic. “The sparks.” He pointed out with an ever growing smile. The rich boy only shut his eyes at how bothered he was by the older teenager. “There’s no denying the chemistry here!” He leaned in a little closer. “You and me, we are destined to do that forever.” Bruce looked him dead in the eyes. “And where exactly did you come up with that prediction?” Bruce asked. “Arkham.” Jerome answered with a shrug, like it was the most obvious place for someone to come up with their future. “Nothing much to do there but think.” He took a dangerously closer step to the boy. “And baby, did I think… I thought about you every day my little Dark Knight…” His movement to lean in closer was a bit slower, more seductive even. “It really kept me warm at night…” He rasped with a lick of his lips. The young billionaire was disturbed and agitated, no doubt about it, but kept it pretty well hidden. He stayed calm as he kept eye contact with the maniac. Their staring contest was interrupted however when the sounds of cheering and laughter caught their ears. Looking ahead at the main street of the neighborhood, they noticed a huge crowd of people and bright lights. “Shall we proceed?” Bruce asked, turning back to look at the psychotic teenager. He didn’t wait for an answer before advancing towards the swarm. “Hard-to-get, huh? I like it…” Jerome said to himself with another slow lick to his lips and pressed on to catch up to Bruce. There were hundreds of people and the festivities stretched for blocks. Everything was decorated in orange, green, and purple lights, there were Jack O Lanterns, ghosts, witches, spider webs, skeletons, and bats everywhere, and everyone was dressed in illustrious, colorful costumes. “What’s going on here?” Jerome asked with genuine interest and ready to stroll right into the sea of people. Ever the party pooper, Bruce grabbed a hold of Jerome’s upper arm to keep him from going any further. “Don’t go in there yet.” He ordered. The lunatic smiled down at the hand gripping his arm and immediately the boy let go before any flirtations comments could be made. “There are too many witnesses and if any of them happen to be your cult followers, they’re sure to recognize us. We have to blend in.” “You sure you don’t just wanna keep me all to yourself?” He said with yet another wink, which earned him yet another eye roll. Bruce spotted something to his right. He made his way through the less crowded sidewalks and behind a small tented booth filled with costume accessories. Wigs, capes, and masks were hanging from poles while makeup, props, and random decorative items littered the tables. The young man squatted behind them to stay out of sight from any merchants or customers. He looked down at the scattered items, randomly grabbed a can of green hair spray and a small, unopened package of red, black, and white face paint, before quickly walked back to Jerome. “Here, put these on.” He handed the supplies to Jerome, who just looked down at them, then back at Bruce. “Got a mirror?” He asked. Bruce turned his head left, thinking for a bit before taking in and letting out a breath through his nose. “They have changing booths are here somewhere.” He said looking back at the redhead. “Follow me.” Bruce started walking, Jerome more than happy to let him lead the way as he smiled. A few minutes later, a booth made of orange sheets was found. Bruce stood outside with his arms crossed as he kept a look out while Jerome put on his new disguise. “So what’s going on here, huh?” Jerome asked from behind the curtains. “Awfully Halloweenie out there.” “That’s because it is.” Bruce replied. “No! Really?” The ginger exclaimed in genuine surprise. “Man, I have been gone long.” “It’s the annual Halloween Bash.” The boy explained. “The city hosts it in the abandoned neighborhoods to keep the busy streets clear. Plus the scenery makes for a more Halloweenie atmosphere as you put it.” “Yeah and just a little more mudery too.” Jerome added. “They have policemen stationed throughout the streets in case of trouble.” Bruce responded. “Just another reason a disguise is a good idea.” “Right, don’t wanna end the date to early after all.” The maniac agreed, teasing humor in his voice. Cue the eye roll and frustrated head shake from Bruce at the flirty comment. “You know, I’ve never experienced a Gotham Halloween before, or any in general.” Jerome confessed. This somehow got Bruce’s attention. He looked through the corners of his eyes towards the curtains booth. “You’ve never celebrated Halloween before?” The younger teenager asked. “Course not.” Jerome replied as a matter of fact. “I grew up in a circus, every day was like Halloween. ‘Cept instead of various costumes, there were only clowns, instead of black cats and Jack O Lanterns, we had tigers and trailer homes, and instead of a fistful of candy, I got a mouthful of blood after mommy dearest gave me my daily dose of child abuse. Well… her or one of her boyfriends.” Jerome was talking as if it was no big deal to have had to endure an abusive childhood; it actually made Bruce feel for him. “…I’m sorry to hear that.” Bruce said as he turned his head back to the festivities. It didn’t sound very heartfelt, but then again the boy wasn’t the best at that. He did mean it though. Bruce had wonderfully loving parents; he couldn’t nearly relate to Jerome or even imagine why anyone would want to hurt a defenseless child. “Yeah well, don’t gotta worry about it anymore.” Jerome breathed out. “I got over it.” This time his voice went dark; it didn’t last long as he released a sigh to calm his nerves. “So what about you Brucie? Celebrate Halloween these days?” Bruce stayed quiet for a while, staring down at the cement under his feet. “…No… Not since my parents died…” He confessed. Jerome was surprisingly honest with him so why not return the favor, even if it was pretty vague. “Well, you ain’t missing out on this one Brucie Boy,” With a dramatic push of the curtains, Jerome presented his newly painted face and hair color. “You got me!” He announced joyously while holding his arms out to gesture to his costume with a giant smile. Bruce gave him a quick scan before looking back at him with an unimpressed expression. “…You’re serious?” The raven haired boy questioned on account of the choice in theme. Jerome’s face and neck were completely white, his eye sockets covered in black, and a messy red smile stretching practically from ear to ear. His hair was smothered in green spray; rendering his red hair practically nonexistent underneath it and making his locks appear spikier. “Hey, I loathed the place, but you can’t forget your roots! The circus is in my blood!” The painted up boy exclaimed with no shame. “Whatever you say, Joker.” The billionaire replied, turning his attention back to the crowded streets. Although he may have been trying to sound humorous by giving the maniac a somewhat nickname, he still looked as inexpressive as ever. “Aww… My first nickname!” Jerome cooed, truly touched by the unintentionally sweet name given to him. “Joker…” He allowed the name to linger in the air, then looked back at Bruce with a huge smile. “Has a nice ring to it.” He stepped closer to Bruce. “I knew you were starting to warm up to me.” Bruce didn’t even bother looking at Jerome to know he was being flirty again. However, Jerome noticed something that quickly replaced his smirk with a confused expression. “Hey what about your costume?” He asked. There wasn’t a response, instead Bruce reached into his jacket and pulled out a small black mask. He placed it over his eyes before pulling his hood over his head to complete the look and turned back to Jerome. Well that solves that. “Happy now?” Bruce asked, not aiming to please but to shut the older teenager up. “Very…” Jerome’s smirk returned, satisfied with Bruce’s silent answer. “Could use some color though.” “I don’t do color.” The boy retorted. “So I’ve noticed,” Jerome replied back indifferently to Bruce’s fashion sense. “But I gotta say you look pretty hot in black.” There was no holding back the irritation for this guy’s flirtatious comments. “…Thank you…” Bruce said forcing himself to be polite. A compliment was still a compliment after all. “Not a problem Sweet Thing.” Jerome said patting Bruce’s behind and causing the younger boy to flinch at the unexpected contact as he walked over to stand a few steps ahead of him. The rich kid breathed out his anger in order to resist the urge to kick the ginger’s ass. Don’t want to draw attention to themselves after all; that’s what the costumes were for to begin with. “So, what do you wanna do?” Jerome asked while taking his turn to scan the costumed civilians, Bruce irritatingly walking up to stand next to him. “Wanna grab some hot dogs, candy corn, maybe share a milkshake like all the lovebirds like to do?” He suggested with a charming smile while Bruce only glared up at him. “Hey, watch it!” A voice sounded from the already too loud party goers, catching Bruce and Jerome’s attention as they simultaneously turned to locate the source. Farther down the street, a total of five of Sally’s clown faced bodyguards made their way through the large crowd, pushing costumed bystanders out of their path with just their massive stature alone. “Dudes!” A zombie man exclaimed. “Agh!” A bumblebee girl yelped “Excuse you guys!” A teenage princess sassed. “Get offa the street, you Bozos!!” A skeleton man shouted at the painted goons. “Ah man,” Jerome said in disappointment. “Just when the Halloween fun was about to start!” The now green haired teenager pouted. Turning his head right, Bruce spotted a tall building across the street. His eyes wandered all the way to the rooftop as he also took note of an alley to the left of the high structure. “We need to get to higher ground,” He concluded looking back to the bodyguards getting closer and closer. “Maybe avoid any encounter with them in case our disguises fail.” He brought his eyes back to Jerome who was still watching the approaching goons and went silent for a moment. “If it’s safe after a while,” He started up again with a gleam of hesitation in his masked face. “We can come back down and partake in the festivities.” Now that was unexpected! Jerome was shocked to hear somebody thinking up something specifically with the painted lunatic in mind. He met their gazes and smiled both in suspicion and excitement. Did the Bruce Wayne just imply that he wanted to spend Halloween night with theJerome Valeska?! “Is that your way of saying you wanna spend Halloween with me?” Jerome asked with a charming smile. Bruce stared up at the clown. “Do you wanna be able to enjoy the festival in peace or not?” He asked irritated. Jerome’s smile stretched at Bruce’s avoidance of his question. “Lead the way, Brucie.” He replied with a slight bow to the masked boy. “…Let’s move then Joker.” Bruce said, making Jerome’s smile grow further by using his newly given nickname again. With one more glance at the monstrous goons, the boys made their way across the street. It took a bit of effort getting through the costumed crowd; a few bumps, a few grazes, and a few skids were taken to avoid any passing or blocking party goes, but eventually they reached the alleyway and began to climb the steel ladder right along the corner of the building. Back on the ground, the burley bodyguards stopped to scan the area a more closely. The man at the head of the small group, possibly the leader, decided to look up. A small movement brought his eyes to the abandoned complex and right at the boys scaling the building. Jerome had a sudden urge to look down at the streets and saw the guard leering at them. With a huge smile, he sent a friendly wave to the painted man. Bruce looked down at the green-haired lunatic when he noticed he had stopped moving and followed his gaze to the men down below. Startled at being discovered by the very people they were trying to avoid, he quickened his ascent to the rooftop, causing Jerome to following. The main bodyguard looked back to his associates and nodded in the direction of the building to pursue their targets. Bruce made it to the top and climbed over the ledge of the structure to stand on the roof. “You let them see us?!” Bruce yelled behind him. “What happened to using out costumes to slip away quietly?” He asked with absolute frustration. “Oh please, where’s the fun in that?” Jerome responded as he pulled himself over the ledge and joined Bruce on the rooftop. “Isn’t that what Halloween is all about? Mischief and mayhem?” The clown faced teenager asked in amusement as he strolled up to the young billionaire with a smile. “Just trying to make our night on the town a little more exciting.” “It’s gonna get us killed is what it’s gonna do!” Bruce angrily spat up at Jerome. “So you admit this is a date?” The clown flirted playfully. “That’s not what I implied.” Bruce said in annoyance and turning his head away from Jerome’s direction. He actually seemed a bit embarrassed by the insinuation. And was that blush under his mask? “Yeah, whatever you say Darlin’.” Jerome teased in a low, raspy voice as he placed a finger under Bruce’s chin and directed his attention back to his nearing face. The sound of feet landing on the roof brought the two out of their child-like argument and to the edge of the building. The main guard was already standing on the roof’s floor, staring ahead at the boys while the rest of his men climbed up the ladder and took their place on either side of him. “Evening, Gentlemen!” Jerome greeted merrily. “Nice to see you boys again so soon but as you can see,” The purple suited teenager began explaining as he snaked his arm around Bruce’s waist and pulled him closer against him, much to the younger man’s discomfort. “We’re on a date. So we’d really appreciate if you guys make this quick so we can all get back to the Halloween fun.” Bruce waited with a concerned expression for a response from the goons; the leader answered by running at them. “Now we’re talking,” Jerome whispered with excitement in his crazy eyes. “Hang tight Brucie.” “What?” Bruce asked turning to him when he didn’t understanding what he meant by his instruction. He soon found out when Jerome took hold of his right hand and swiftly dipped the both of them just in time to dodge the large man flying right over them. The boys lifted their heads in time to watch the man become a giant heap on the rooftop floor before turning their gazes back to each other. “You ever dance with the Devil in the pale moonlight?” Jerome asked grinning down at Bruce. “What are you talking about?” The rich kid asked irritated once again. “I don’t know,” Jerome confessed. “I heard it from somewhere, seemed pretty fitting with the setting and all. Anyway, wanna kick these guys’ asses?” He asked sweetly. “It’s about time…” Bruce answered. Once in agreement, Jerome straightened his stance and launched Bruce as hard as he could at the row of clowns. The rookie hero flew like a rocket into one of the center guards, pushing him with absolute force against the rooftop. The big man landed close enough to the high ledge to get the back of his head smashed against it, rendering him unconscious. Bruce used the momentum to push off the knocked out man’s chest, flipping his body midair so he could land in a squat on the ledge, now facing the group of thugs and incredibly impressed maniac. “Damn, that was hot…” Jerome said biting his smiling lips at Bruce’s impressive display of speed and agility. In his distracted state, the young man was sucker punched by one of the guards. The force of the hit sent Jerome stumbling backwards into the waiting arms of the recovered guard who had previously attacked them. The surprise assault made the maniac chuckle nonetheless at his mistake of taking his eyes off their attackers to watch Bruce’s new and improved skills. He winced at the pain flooding to his face; restrained from tending to it by the giant bear hug he was receiving, but he was able to shake his head to regain some of his coherence. “You know, you’ve gotten a lot better since last time, Brucie!” The lunatic reported his observation while harshly thrusting his head back into his captor’s face. The man released his hold on the teenager to take care of his now bleeding if not additionally broken nose. “Looking for a rematch when I got out?” He turned to finish off the bleeding guard with a swift punch to the side of his jaw, sending his falling to the floor. Two down, three to go. Bruce had gotten down from the ledge to fight against two of the guards. The boy who had donned the very mask he was wearing had been the city’s mysterious vigilante-in-training for a few months now; it was no surprise that he’d improved so much since his start and even more so since the Mad City carnival. “You seem to be holding your won fairly well yourself.” Bruce replied as he was currently dodging punches and attempts of restraining him. He stepped back to avoid a fist from the guard to his left and leaned forward to avoid one from the right. He sent an uppercut the jaw of the right guard and gave a sharp kick to the left guard’s stomach. The third man went after Jerome, randomly throwing punches as the rest of his fellow goons had done before. The killer was actually very graceful; almost expertly he dodged the attempted blows from the bigger man. Jerome was able to land a hard punch to the thug’s face, but it was only enough to force his head back for a few seconds before he regained his composure and glare back down angrily at the young man in front of him. Jerome only stared speechless at his opponent for a moment. “…Well,” He said with a shrug of his shoulders. Without many options left, the clown gave a fast kick in between the goon’s legs as a last resort. The goon’s eyes practically flew out of their sockets and he slowly lower to fall face down on the floor clenching his injured groin. Jerome stepped over the fallen bodyguard and looked up at Bruce with a smirk. “More or less.” The maniac’s last assault on the man was an effortless heel kick to the side of his head, knocking him out cold and making that another goon down between the two teenagers. “I grew up in the circus remember? That and I learned a thing or two in Arkham.” He stated proudly as he fixed his tie. “Which would explain your less than honorable tactics.” Bruce pointed out to the criminal. The black clothed hero was backed up against the ledge by one of the towering giants, but despite their stature, he had skill on his side. He leaned back to dodge a right hook, and pushed off quick enough to duck under the arms of a would-be bear hug. The guard bumped against the ledge; looking down at his empty hands that missed their intended target. Before he knew it, Bruce had come up behind the goon and with all his strength, launched his shoulder into the man’s back and sent him screaming off the rooftop. The young man watched the big lug’s decent until his yelling ceased with a loud crash into what sounded like a full container of garbage. A startled cat was the last noise that sounded off before the boy turned away from the ledge. He must have forgotten how many opponents there were when the remaining guard lifted him off the ground by his upper arms. The man was pissed at being out done by the young fighter; he flashed his teeth in a low growl with a small stream of blood flowing out of the corner of his mouth. “Well, what can I say?” Jerome’s voice reached Bruce’s ears but he had yet to see him passed the angry, scowling thug. That was soon remedied when a loud thud caused the big man to go bug-eyed and his angry expression disappeared clear off his face. His grip on the boy loosened enough for Bruce to land safely back on his feet. He watched the goon fall to the left and collapsed to the ground with a painful groan. Jerome was revealed to be standing direction behind the guard with that ever-present smile on his face. “I’m the bad guy!” Jerome declared as he stretched his arms out to gesture proudly to himself. To his surprise, those words somehow earned the lunatic a small, but still noticeable smile from the rookie hero. “Wooow…” The green haired teenager stepped closer to Bruce, his hood having fallen back down during the fight and leaving him with only his mask to conceal his identity. It was alright though; seeing him with the mask alone made him appear even more adorable in the maniac’s eyes. “Did I just make the Prince of Gotham smile?” He asked as his grin stretched. “I didn’t even say trick-or-treat…” He finished with a wink and stopped in front of the shorter boy. Bruce rolled his eyes like he’s being doing the entire night, except this time he was actually amused and not annoyed by the older boy’s words. His smile remained as he scanned from left to right at their defeated foes. “They’ll be out for quite a while,” Bruce explained as he turned around and started his way to the ledge of the building. “We should head back down if we want to catch the last few hours of the party.” The rich kid had barely lifted one foot onto the ledge before a hand grabbed hold of his hood and yanked him backwards. Bruce found himself firmly pressed against Jerome’s chest, the one of the criminal’s arms tightly wrapped around his chest and the other around his waist to keep him from getting away. “What are you doing?!” The boy growled angrily and confused as he struggled to get loose. Jerome gave a twisted smile. “Real nice try, Brucie Boy,” The insane boy rasped against Bruce’s ear. “But you can’t fool me.” Jerome released his grip on the boy and harshly shoved him to his left. Bruce fell to the floor and skidded against his right arm; once he stopped, he glanced over his shoulder at the maniac he had fought beside only minutes ago. “You really think I’d fall for something as stupid as you letting me loose on Halloween?” Jerome asked, almost insulted as Bruce got back to his feet. “You gotta give me a little more credit than that Babycakes! I. Know you! You were just gonna bide your time,” Jerome began to elaborate; Bruce could only stand his ground and stared up at the slowly approaching lunatic. “Get me all sugar rushed, and then smash a Jack O’ Lantern over my skull when my guard was down …” The purple suited clown stopped mere inches from the young vigilante, leaning in closer to stress his words. “Goodnight Gotham, good morning Arkham…” Bruce remained silent; he didn’t even flinch at the strong grip Jerome’s hand put on his jacket in order to pull him closer to his angry, painted face. “Nobody gets the drop on me without me knowing about it;” Jerome explained. “Especially not a spoiled, wannabe hero boy who would never waste his precious time on a criminal freak like me…” At those last words, Bruce grew tired of Jerome’s false accusations and sent his fist crashing into his painted cheekbone. The crazed lunatic’s grip released from his jacket and allowed him to extend the space between them. Jerome stumbled back but kept his footing; he held a palm against his injured face and stared angrily back at the rich kid. “… Guess you’re not as clever as I perceived you to be…” Bruce stated. His heart was not at all in the insult; he almost looked sad if not at least disappointed by the sudden change in alliance between the two of them. “Then again… You may not be accustomed to someone just trying to do something nice for you…” Jerome was speechless for a second before a small giggle escaped his lips and soon he began softly laughing as Bruce’s words finally started to sink in. “Brucie…” He spoke through his hushed laughter. “You are so cute!” The laughing then busted full force out of his stomach. “I’m being serious.” Bruce replied, annoyed that his words were not being taken sincerely. “Yeah, right!” Jerome laughed, clenching his sore stomach. “Bruce Wayne, elite billionaire of Gotham City, doing something out of the kindness of his heart for the scumbag who made the whole city go completely nuts!!” He couldn’t hold it in any longer; laughter increased in volume and rate as it flooded out of the criminally insane maniac. He had to lean his hands against his knees to keep from falling to the floor in hysterical amusement. “Like…” He tried to catch his breath and straighten his stance. “Like you really care about treating me like I’m an actual person!” The laughter started up again and he flew back to lean on his knees. “I’m genuinely trying to!!” Bruce shouted, finally having enough of Jerome’s ridicule. The unexpected outburst caused the insane laughter to stop and the lunatic shot his attention back up at the younger boy. “I had always assumed you were just another criminal! That all you were after was the spotlight, the killing, and the chaos that comes with it! Just like the rest of them!” Bruce took a short breath and looked away to calm himself down before continuing. “But tonight I realized something…” The billionaire boy’s eyes looked up from the ground back at Jerome. “That’s just one half of the story… There’s always a second side that doesn’t get the chance to be heard…” Jerome was up right now, listening to Bruce’s words with curiosity of where they were going. “I read your file, found out what you did to your mother… Before tonight, I figured it was solely based on unexplainable violent tendencies… But judging by what little you shared with me earlier… I realize it must have been far more personal than just a murdering impulse…” Jerome remained silent. “I’m not saying that what you did to her was justifiable; in my opinion there are prison cells for what she did to you. Nor have I dismissed the thought of sending you back to Arkham for your crimes against the city…” Bruce gave him one last look before turning his attention to the night sky then down to the ground on his left side. “I just thought, considering the holiday… Maybe for one night, you’d like to experience what it’s like to just be a regular kid…” The boy gathered the courage to look back up and see what the clown’s reaction would be. Jerome was surprised to say the least by Bruce’s unexpected sincerity; he never thought he’d see the hero boy show him any form of sympathy for his old life, let alone defend him for his still growing but already infamous criminal life. He took a step, a confused smile spreading on his face, as he started walking slowly towards Bruce with his hands stuffed into his pockets. “You’re being serious, aren’t you?” The painted teenager asked. “Aww…” Bruce watched the maniac getting closer and closer to him with every step he took, a calm expression never leaving his face. A few more steps and Jerome was standing directly in front of him. “Growing a soft spot for me Brucie?” The masked vigilante didn’t answer. “…Let’s just say…” Bruce started to say but then turned his attention to the ground, growing very shy as he thought about how to respond to Jerome’s question without giving away the full empathy he discovered he had for him after the tonight. He was tense; suddenly a timid sort of demeanor coming over him and that blush from earlier was peeking from underneath his mask again. He worked through his nerves to look back up at Jerome. “I know what it’s like to be a freak too…” Vivid emerald eyes pierced deeply into midnight blue ones in a rather intimate manner. Despite their many differences, whether it’s in their affiliations with the law, their lives in both the past and present, or even their wardrobe choices; somehow they managed to find far more similarities than they had expected. Jerome smirked down at Bruce before quickly closing the gap between them and firmly captured the rookie vigilante’s lips with his. The clown held onto the black suited crime fighter’s upper arms to pull him in closer; Bruce’s hands managed to keep that from completely happening by pressing them against Jerome’s chest. The young lunatic was putting a majority of the effort and enjoyment into the kiss, but even the Prince of Gotham couldn’t help but kiss back. His participation was small but noticeable enough to cause a smirk to form on the maniac’s lips and for Bruce to feel it against his own. After allowing the kiss to continue for a few more seconds, Bruce decided that was more than generous. He pushed firmly but gently against Jerome’s chest, a way of politely asking the other to stop. Their lips unlocked with a smack and their eyes opened to meet each other. In Jerome’s face, there was nothing but pride, amusement, and total satisfaction while Bruce’s held utter speechlessness, confusion, and pure irritation when he knew internally for a fact that he had enjoyed the kiss just as much as the clown did. “To hot for you Bruce?” Jerome teased with a flirty smile. “…It wasn’t terrible…” Bruce admitted embarrassingly. “You loved it…” The Jerome said undoubtedly. “By the way, color looks pretty good on you.” Confused at first, Bruce’s fingertips touched his lips and when he drew them away to have a look, spotted a smudge of red face paint on them. He annoyingly started rubbing the back of his sleeve against his lips to rid them of the colorfully bright substance. “Do not get used to that…” He commanded in a threatening tone. “Wouldn’t dream of it…” Jerome declared; the distances between them shortened again as the maniac’s hands were back on Bruce’s upper arms without much refusal from the younger boy. “I love me a game of hard-to-get better anyway.” Jerome thought for a bit as big blue eyes stared back at him; Bruce knew he was thinking over some newly formed idea in his messed up head that ended up bringing a mischievous smile to the lunatic’s face. “Eh!” The clown shrugged. “One for the road.” Before the billionaire knew it, painted lips were back on his. The kiss was much more demanding the second time around; one of Jerome’s hands held onto the side of Bruce’s face while the other pushed against the small of the rich kid’s back to bring him closer to him. As much as he tried to refrain, Bruce couldn’t deny his want to give in this time. His hands gripped Jerome’s jacket lapels to bring them even closer together, causing the kiss to become even more passionate. Jerome was ravenous but still surprisingly gentle; as obsessively violent as he can be, with Bruce, there was just something that made him feel more like himself, more relaxed, more playful… More human. Their lips broke free from each other; Bruce’s smudged in red once again while Jerome licked his hungrily as his own way of savoring the hero’s taste that still lingering on them. There were only a few inches between them, their eyes locking in another intimate stare as they caught their breath. A gleam of mischief reappeared on Jerome’s face as he regained his composure and flashed Bruce a cunning grin. The moment vanished when Bruce’s hood was harshly pulled over his head, obscuring his view. When he gathered his senses from the unexpected action, he removed the hood to reveal Jerome had disappeared from before him. He looked from his left then to his right, finally spotting the clown standing on the ledge with his hands relaxing in his pockets again and a big smile sent his way. “Gotta say Brucie…” Jerome brought a hand to his lips, lightly caressing them with his fingers in a provocative manner as he kept his lust filled eyes on Bruce. “You’re pretty feisty when you wanna be. Hot damn!” Jerome bit his smiling lips. “Maybe we can do it again sometime.” He suggested in a deeper, raspy voice and sending a wink and seductive lick of his lips to the raven haired boy. Bruce squinted his eyes suspiciously. “But I’m sorry to say I gotta cut out little date short tonight. Wanna be able to enjoy some me time before I get started on the real fun I’ve got planned for good ol’ Gotham City…” His eyes suddenly got darker. “Unless you plan on stopping me beforehand…” Jerome sounded like he was daring the boy to make a move, expecting him too actually, and do everything he could to make sure the killer was returned to Arkham Asylum. Bruce just stood there, taking a moment to think about his options. Astonishingly, just a few seconds later, a small but undeniably noticeable smile appeared on his face. He looked back up at the purple suited clown. “Maybe later…” Bruce said confidently. “…Aww…” Jerome cooed. Bruce never ceased to surprise him, especially as much as he did this whole night they spent together. “So you do care about me…” The habit Bruce had seemingly adopted of rolling his eyes at almost every flirty or foolish comment Jerome made occurred once again, however the smile never left his face. The replacement of annoyance with actual amusement in his eyes was a way of showing he didn’t admit to it but he also didn’t deny any truth he felt about the lunatic’s words. “Goodnight Jerome…” Bruce bade to the costumed criminal, the smile on his face unmistakably growing. Seeing a genuinely happy smile on the usually brooding rich kid caused a sincere smile, with no evil or mischievous intentions behind it, to spread across the strangely calm lunatic’s face. “…Nighty night Brucie…” Jerome replied softly. He gave a gracefully bow to the masked teenager, as if he was in the presence of royalty. In a way, he kind of was. He has referred to Bruce as the Prince of Gotham quite a few times before after all. Jerome stood back up to his full height, jumping down fearlessly to land on a step of another ladder attached to the opposite side of the apartment complex. He held onto one of the security bars with one hand, hanging lazily from it as he glanced around the bars and back at Bruce. The green haired maniac sent a flirty wink to the young hero along with his infamously charming smile accompanied by a loud click of his tongue. His other hand reached for the second bar, hopping off the step he was suspended on and sliding his way down the ladder. With Jerome out of sight, Bruce wasn’t afraid to further extend his smile in light of the clown’s final flirtation. He lifted his hand to place his hoodie back over his head and turned around to make his own way down from the building.

It was close to eleven when Bruce finally got home. In the living room, Alfred sat peacefully watching TV with a bowl of popcorn on his lap. His full attention was on the television that was currently playing the classic It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, the voices of children listing the different candies they received while one stated he had instead received a rock. As the butler brought a few pieces of the traditional theater snack to his lips and munched away, Bruce made his way into the cozy room. “Evening Alfred.” The still mask donned boy greeted, an uplifting tone replacing his usually prim and proper speech pattern. Alfred looked over his shoulder at the sound of his ward’s voice. “Evening Master Bruce.” Alfred greeted back politely as he placed the popcorn bowl on the table in front of him and rose from his seat. The man straightened out his vest and turned to the teenager standing just a few feet behind the sofa. “Back from your nightly patrol I see. Did you happen to take my advice and partake in any Hallows’ Eve festivities while you were gone?” “Not really, no.” Bruce responded as he removed his hood. He didn’t want to reveal the events of tonight nor the company he was with to his guardian. He wasn’t entirely lying though, aside from the costumes, there wasn’t much of any Halloween based activities to report. “Oh,” Alfred nodded. “Then I suppose the red on your face isn’t at all from stuffing your gob with junk for tonight then?” Red on his face? Bruce’s eyes widened when he realized what the man meant by that. He must have forgotten to clear off the paint Jerome smudged on his lips after their second kiss occurred. Following their first, Jerome had pointed it out to him and he was quick to remove the evidence of their lip lock, but the second was on impulse and unexpected. The two were so occupied by the surprise occurrence of the intimate gesture, that all else must have been lost to them. “Oh!” Bruce rapidly began wiping his sleeve against his lips for the second time that night. “Yes, well…” He moved his arm away when he was sure all the red was removed and smiled calmly back at Alfred. “I may have indulged in the holiday pastries at the Halloween Bash this evening.” The news, albeit false, made Alfred smile. “Well, that’s good to hear Sir.” The older man said. “I know holiday fun of any kind has been rather difficult for you to participate in for quite some time now…” The smile on his face only grew. “It’s nice to hear that’s changed for tonight.” Bruce’s smile stretched further as well, happy that he managed to bring some joy to his guardian’s night. There was a comfortable silence between the two of them before Alfred broke it. “I was just watching a Halloween special,” He indicated to the TV. “If you care to join me. I can whip us up some more popcorn, bring in a few drinks, maybe even some of the cupcakes I put in the oven not too long ago.” It was definitely a night of smiles as the one on Bruce continued to grow. “That sounds fantastic Alfred.” The black suited boy replied. “Rightio then!” The man exclaimed; excited by Bruce’s Halloween spirit he had thought was long gone since his parents’ passing. “Why not get changed then while I set things up?” “Of course.” Bruce agreed; turning to exit the room before he abruptly looked over his shoulder back at Alfred. “Oh and Alfred… Thank you…” He gave his surrogate father one last smile before officially leaving to his room. Alfred smiled at his adopted son’s show of appreciation. The door to the room opened and the rookie vigilante quickly stepped inside. Bruce shut the door behind him, tiredly leaning his back against it and hung his head to release a relieved sigh. With eyes peacefully closed, he reached up to detach the small mask from his face. He reopened his eyes and lifting his head. To his surprise, he found the window across his room wide open, the curtains flowing gracefully with the cool fall breeze. On the window sill was a plastic, pumpkin-shaped bucket goofily smiling at him. The young man approached the fake Jack O Lantern, greeted with the sight of it nearly filled to the top with a various selection of candy. Atop the Halloween treats appeared to be a folded piece of paper. Bruce reached in and began to unfold it. It was a note: “Hi Gorgeous, hope you’re not too mad about the break in, couldn’t resist getting you a little something before the night was over to say thank for not turning me into the cops. But just between us, why don’t we think of it as a Halloween present instead to make it more special? You’re room wasn’t hard to find by the way, the black curtains were a dead giveaway.” That part of the note brought a smile to Bruce’s face. “So I bet you’re wondering where the candy came from; I stole it off some chick at the party. She was complaining about her outfit not being sleazy enough. No worries though, I didn’t kill her, as fun as it would have been; I snatched it while she wasn’t looking. The small cake I threw at her managed to shut her up though!” Bruce let out a breathy laugh at the image of frosting splattered against the spoiled girl’s hair and face popping into his mind. “Tonight was a hell of a night Darlin’, I should get kidnapped more often if it means another date with my favorite volunteer. I’ll be seeing you again soon Brucie Baby, and you can so count on another game of KISS THE CLOWN when I do. ‘Til then my little Prince of Gotham, sweet dreams. Forever yours, and don’t deny it, Jerome… No! Forever yours, Joker XOXO” With the note finished, Bruce placed it gently on the window sill; his hand pressed to his once again blushing face. How embarrassing to know that even Jerome’s flirtatious comments in note form could also cause him to fluster uncontrollably. His hand dragged to the back of his neck as he contemplated the words the maniac wrote to him; he wasn’t quite sure what to think of it all. When they first met, all he saw in Jerome was an insane criminal bent on bringing destruction to his home of Gotham, but tonight he saw passed the cold blooded killer and learned about the child who had to endure abuse throughout his life that eventually led to his current life of crime. So could he really blame him for any of it? Were they truly so different that he couldn’t sympathize with what a traumatic childhood could do to someone? There was always a change that Bruce would turn out just like Jerome. However, he at least had family in the form of Alfred, who has protected and guided him even before he lost his parents; Jerome had no one to keep him safe or supported… Wait… Maybe, just maybe… He could be the one to save him. Maybe he could help him; rescue him just as he did tonight. Who knows, maybe one day, they could even fight side by side instead of against each other. They did seem to make quite the team after all. Those possibilities were meant for another day. Tonight, it was still Halloween and he planned on enjoying the remaining time it had to offer. He’d missed far too many these past few years and that was going to change. He had to admit, Jerome was right; it really did turn out to be a hell of a night: Bad guys, rooftop brawls, candy, and even the company of a green eyed psycho clown he didn’t expect to share his first Halloween in years with. Not to mention the double dose of surprise kisses they shared and thoroughly enjoyed despite Bruce trying to convince himself otherwise. All the thinking was put to rest for now, Bruce finally making peace with the reality of the events of tonight and his new found understanding of his new frienemy. An amused hum escaped him at the very thought of them being anything but enemies. Moving the pumpkin to the side to make room for his crossed arms, he leaned against the window sill and took in the night’s atmosphere. The moon hovered brightly over the distant city; it was one of those rare nights of the year when the Gotham sky was clear and completely deprived of its usual thick blanket of gloomy clouds. There were even a few stars shining alongside the lonely white giant. The breeze was fresh and welcomed as it blew against his face and through his ebony hair. He fully intended on enjoying what would be the first moment of peace he had experienced all day. “See you later Joker…” Bruce whispered to the absent criminal. Unbeknownst to him however, was a smirking Jerome standing just below the window. He was leaned against the brick wall with his hands in his pockets and chewing on some gum as he too enjoyed the nighttime sky. A few moments more passed before Bruce retreated back into his room to change and rejoin Alfred in the living room for the last bit of Halloween fun. When the sound of heavy, booted footsteps faded into near silence, the still painted clown lazily blew a bubble; it soon popped and the sugary treat was once again in between his teeth. “See you later…” Jerome responded to Bruce’s farewell in a low, raspy voice; his smile stretching at the knowledge of the rich kid being completely oblivious to him being right outside his mansion. The young hero wasn’t that good… Yet… “My Little Dark Knight…” The End… For Now……

#Gotham #Bruce Wayne #Jerome Valeska #Batjokes #Valeyne #Batman #The Joker #Arkham Asylum #The Dark Knight #DC Comics #Happy Halloween #Fanfiction #Fanfic #I Ship It #My Stories #I Understand That Reference