He drove up to the gate and just drove right through, parking underneath a half broken building. He climbed out and I followed as he walked off into the park.
"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to catch up to him.
"Shh, ask less questions. Questions get you where you don't want to be." He said.
I shut up and just followed him. We walked over to the ferris wheel where he started climbing a ladder on the side.
I hesitated. "This doesn't look safe.." I said.
He chuckled and glanced down at me. "If it wasn't safe I wouldn't be leading you up it would I?"
I smiled a little. He was right. I followed him up, climbing the ladder slowly.
As we reached halfway I made the mistake of looking down. I froze and looked back up to see him looking down at me.
"Scared of heights?" He asked smiling. I nodded a little. He kept going so I just went for it. We reached the top and there was a bridge you could walk on.
Probably for maintenance back when it was running. We sat down on the edge and looked over the city as the sun set.
I looked over at him and noticed the same makeup over his face. As I looked closer I noticed tattoos and what looked like scars next to his mouth. He saw me looking and shifted his face a little.
I took the hint and looked away.
"Can I ask a question?" I asked.
He glanced over and shrugged.
"If it's not too nosy." He said a smile tugging on his mouth.
I smiled back blushing. "What do you do, you have bright green hair, makeup, tattoos, a sick ass lambo." I said laughing a little at the end.
He chuckled. "Keep those questions to yourself. Maybe one day." He said winking at me.
A small sigh escaped. No answers I guess.
We hung out at the park a little more before he drove me home later.
I waved bye as he tore off and I walked inside.
I walked into the bedroom and heard Danny on the phone. I didn't want to eavesdrop but I heard a woman's voice on the phone.
"Yea for sure, I'll see you at work tomorrow. Yep. Talk to you later." He said laughing before hanging up.
I walked in acting like I just got home.
"Hey babe, just got home. How was your day?" I said setting my things down.
He glanced over and shrugged. "It was ok, just played some games. What did you do?" He replied, turning the game off and flipping to a news station.
"Just drove around the city and hung out." I said nonchalantly.
He nodded, leaning back into the bed as he watched the TV. I watched as he turned his phone off and flipped it over on the nightstand.
Usually I brush it off but he never did that before.
I changed and sat in bed next to him, turning my attention to the TV as well.
"And back to you."
"Thank you Chris. As all of Gotham knows of it's most famous criminal, The Joker is still on the loose. After escaping Arkham once more a month ago, he is back to creating havoc in the city. Including fighting with The Batman. We encourage anyone who knows of his whereabouts to please step forward. The police force has a hefty reward for any information known. And now onto some recent news of the local hos-"
The lady's voice faded out as a picture of him flashed across the screen for a moment. The man I was just with.
I felt my stomach do backflips as I registered what she just said. I cleared my throat.
"Who's that? And who is Batman?" I asked out loud.
Danny looked over and laughed.
"Well before we moved here I didn't know any of it but people at work filled me in. Apparently there's a bunch of crazy criminals with different outfits and names who have powers or whatever. Batman is the 'hero' of Gotham." He said in air quotes.
"Hero?"
"Yea, he's dressed as a bat and goes around beating them up and trying to turn them in but they always escape. And I guess this Joker guy is the king criminal, gets his way a lot. Runs it more than this supposed hero. He's just a clown. Some joke there." He said laughing at his own corny joke.
I tried laughing along, more realization hitting me.
I had run into what was the biggest crazy criminal of all of Gotham who had a long history. I spent the night researching him.
But for some reason I wasn't scared. If he was a criminal why did he save me so much and agree to hang out? The driver also did say he took a liking to me.
The next few weeks came and went, work was uneventful and I continued acting like I didn't know anything. We hung out here and there but only ever half past five. Always something with the time with him. That and a text saying "Keep our business on the low low." As if I’d say something. Nothing else eventful happened.
Until Danny came home beat up and drunk.
"What the fuck happened? Where were you?" I demanded as he walked in the door bloody and bruised with alcohol on his breath.
He rolled his eyes and wiped his nose, blood following. I grabbed a paper towel and handed it to him.
"Went to the bar with some friends and that clown punk came out of no where and beat my ass. Telling me not to do something again, all jokes. Bitch better back off before I report him and get that money." He scoffed walking off to the bathroom. My stomach sunk.
I grabbed my phone and typed out a message.
"What the fuck was that about?! You just sent my boyfriend home bleeding and beat up telling him not to do something." I texted.
I waited a few minutes for my screen to light up.
It was a picture. Of Danny not at a bar. But a club. A strip club.
My stomach and heart did flips as I stared at it longer.
There was a girl on his lap making out with him with a stripper pole behind him.
I angrily stomped over as he walked out and shoved the phone in his face.
"What the fuck is this?! You were at a bar with friends?! Bullshit!" I yelled.
He rolled his eyes and shoved the phone out of his face.
"That's not even me get out of my face. It's none of your business what I do." He snapped back.
I followed him into the bedroom.
"Not my business? I think it's my business if my BOYFRIEND is at a STRIP CLUB, MAKING OUT WITH SOMEONE!" I screamed back, shaking with hurt and anger.
He growled and spun around.
"Oh well! You're never around. You're always working and it's not the same!" He replied angrily.
"Oh, so we're using excuses for cheating now? That's fine. Get the fuck out." I demanded, pointing towards the door.
He scoffed. "You're kicking me out? Classic." He said rolling his eyes.
"Yes I am. I bought this house and got a job here after YOU insisted we move. For what, so you could cheat on me?!" I snapped.
"Oh my god you're being such a bitch about this." He groaned, grabbing his head.
"Oh I'm being a bitch? Whatever Danny. We're over. I'm leaving. When I come back tomorrow you better be gone." I stated. He just stared at me.
"You can't kick me out. Where will I go?" He angrily asked.
"Go live with your new hoes. Since that's all you're doing now." I said turning on my heel and grabbing a bag I shoved some clothes and essentials into it as he protested and argued behind me.
I spun around in his face.
"I don't care what you have to say. You can get the fuck out and if you're not gone tomorrow I'm calling the police to handle it. End of story. We're over." I said before turning and walking out the door. I collapsed on the stairs as the hurt took over.
I cried and wondered where I'd even go at a time like this. Before I could even think of options a black car pulled up and honked, the window rolling down. It was the driver.
"Get in. Boss wants to see you and said you might need a place." He said motioning for me to get in.
I wiped the tears away and climbed in. I didn't care at this point.
We drove off through Gotham and eventually were on the outskirts of the city, driving up an empty road.
As I was staring out the window I saw a huge mansion appear. It was gated and had men standing at any entrance. We drove through the gate and parked in a garage next to his lambo.
I got out the car following the driver inside. He stopped at the door and I looked up to see him sitting in the kitchen facing me.
He grinned and stood, arms outstretched.
"You're finally here. How do you feel?" He asked.
I stood there before feeling a tear fall down my cheek. He stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. I buried my face into his chest as I let it out before calming down.
As I pulled away I smacked him in his chest.
"That is for beating him up and not just telling me. You made it worse by doing that. Now he wants to report you." I scoffed. Then froze. I accidentally slipped.
His smile wiped clean and he examined my face as I tried to look away. He grabbed my chin and made me look at him.
"Report me?" He asked lowly.
I swallowed. "Y-yea, like cause you assaulted him." I said quickly trying to cover it up. He chuckled a little.
"So you saw the news hm. How long?" He asked letting go and sitting back down. I didn't answer.
"How long?" He demanded again a little harsher. I jumped a little, I had to admit I was a little intimidated.
"A few weeks ago." I mumbled. He just stared at me.
"And you didn't say anything?" He asking musingly. I shook my head.
"It didn't bother me I guess, especially since you helped me and I felt like he was doing something." I replied, looking down.
He chuckled. "Well there you go sweetheart, now you know what I do. Now about your little boyfriend. He needs to go if he says anything." He stated simply. My eyes widened.
"No no you can't kill him." I said desperately looking back up at him.
He looked over at me.
"Why not? Maybe I'll just scare him a little." He said grinning.
"Anything but kill him. Please. I already kicked him out. Said he needs to be gone when I come back tomorrow." I said.
He nodded. "Good, I'll come with you. Maybe finish what I started." He said winking at me. I felt my face get hot.
"That's fine." I mumbled. "I want to go there in the morning." I said looking at him.
"The morning won't do, how about half past-"
"Five?" I finished, cutting him off. He grinned.
"Yes." He replied.
"Why do you only want to see me half past five? What is up with that?"
He sighed. "Nothing you need to worry about." He simply stated, walking off down a hallway.
I followed. "No, because everytime I've seen you lately it's only ever half past five. I don't understand why, are you ashamed to be seen with me?" I protested. He stopped and turned towards me, frustration on his face.
"It doesn't matter. Now stop asking questions before you put yourself in a place you don't want to be. You can sleep in there." He said, his tone harsh. He gestured to a plain bedroom as he stalked down the hallway into what I assumed was his own room.
Before I got myself worked up I just went inside and shut the door. I turned the lights off and climbed into the bed, burying myself in the covers and drifted off to sleep.
I woke up to talking outside my room. I checked my phone. 10 am.
"No, just take her home whenever she wakes up. I have things to do and people to see and I want her gone before I'm back. I'll go over there later. Keep the guys away from her. Understand Frost?" I heard him say from the hallway. I listened but they didn't speak anymore, I just heard him walk off.
I dozed back off, exhausted from the day before.
I finally woke up on my own and stretched, climbing out of bed and checking my phone. No new texts or calls. It was also 2 pm.
Crap. I didn't mean to sleep almost all day.
I opened the bedroom door and stepped out, hesitant because I was left alone in a house I've never been in before with no idea where to go or what to do.
Remembering the night before I found the kitchen and as I entered a voice spoke.
"You're finally awake, boss said to take you home when you woke up. Ready to go?" It was Frost. The driver. I nodded and followed him to the garage.
As we were driving I felt my phone vibrate. I pulled my phone out and checked my texts, Danny texted me.
"Working until 6. Getting everything out then."
I left him on read and ignored it. At least I could be alone for awhile. We arrived and I got out, thanking him once again. I went inside to see half of his things packed up.
Bad thing was that he owned a lot of the things we had including furniture and I knew he was going to take it all. I decided to get fresh air and walked into the city some more, checking out the shops to busy myself. I reached a part of the city I didn't recognize, it was more empty.
I still decided to walk and approached a club where I could hear music inside. It was 4 pm who would be clubbing?
I thought too soon. The door flung open revealing a giggling woman and a very drunk Joker. I shifted and hid in an alley way that was right before the door. He had his arm flung around the woman's shoulders as they walked out and towards his car. The car he took me for a joyride in.
I felt a pang in my chest. I didn't even know him like that yet I still felt this way. I felt angry. No wonder he only ever sees me after a certain time. He's too busy being with women who are easy.
I waited until they drove off and started walking home. I got inside around 5:30 and just waited for Danny to get back. Not long after I got home I heard a truck outside and Danny walked in. He didn't look at me.
"Got a truck and some guys, loading everything up and then I'm gone." He said shortly.
I huffed. "Good." I spat back. He clenched his fists and faced me.
"Good? You're such a bitch Harleen I hope you know that. Just because you're a doctor or psychiatrist doesn't mean you're all that. You never have been." He spit back at me.
I was shocked. He never spoke like this about me, let alone to me.
"You're just mad you got caught cheating. Now I want nothing to do with you and you're mad about it. Maybe you should grow up." I scowled.
He laughed and got closer to me. "No, I didn't care if I was caught. You've always been stuck up and more involved in work than you have been in having fun or giving me anything I want. So I had to find it somewhere else." He said, laughing in my face. I felt my breathing quicken.
He was too close. I reached out and shoved him backwards away from me, feeling tears threaten to fall. He grunted and raised an arm. Before he could lower it a gloved hand grabbed his wrist.
"I don't think you want to do that." A voice said from behind him. Joker.
Danny ripped his hand away and turned to face him. "Oh look, it's the clown! Is this who you've been fucking Harleen? The murderer of Gotham? Real classy. Get out of here before I report you and get the money for it you pathetic dress up." He spat at Joker.
He grinned and started chuckling, then laughing, and soon outright cackling. Danny tried to act nonchalant as we both watched the clown shake with laughter.
He stood straight up, still chuckling and place a hand on Danny's shoulder, glancing over at me.
"He really thinks he's all that? Well I have news for you Danny boy," He said turning back to him, his grin disappearing. "I'm going to say this once and oyu better listen before you're 6 feet under, and you're lucky you're not already because she doesn't want you to be. Don't underestimate me or play with me, that's not a game you want to get into with me. Now, you're going to get all your things and you're going to leave, not just here but Gotham. If I find out you're back or planning at all to come back you'll be dead in less than a day. Understand?" He asked.
Danny didn't say anything, speechless. Joker grinned and patted his cheek. "Good. Now hurry up before I kill you now." He demanded. He walked over to me and looked down at me as Danny rushed around behind us.
He held his arms out for a hug but I just glanced at him and shook my head.
He frowned. As he opened his mouth to speak I cut him off.
"So you only ever see me half past five so you can fuck other bitches before me?" I spat out. He stared at me before chuckling.
"What did I say about minding your own business and keeping our business on-"
"On the low low? Yea fuck that, I caught you walking out of the club with some bitch basically attached to you." I cut him off angrily.
"I don't even know why I care, shit you're a fucking serial killer who does whatever he wants I should've known when I found out." I spat out.
He continued staring at me before speaking. "I'm picking you up tomorrow when you get off. No exceptions." He said before walking out.
"Yea well after that I don't want to see you!!" I yelled after him. Danny got the last of his things and left. I was finally alone and everyone sunk in.
My boyfriend of years cheated and left so easy, and I was crushing on a psycho killer clown who could care less about me. I got ready for bed and went to sleep, fed up of how my life was going.
I woke up the next morning and just laid in bed. I called into work and said I was sick and that I'd be in the next day. My boss didn't seem to care so I was glad for that. The hours ticked by as I laid in bed on my phone until I noticed it was 6. I heard the roar of an engine and a call popped up on my phone.
It was him. I decided to let it ring. He called again. Let it ring. A text popped up.
"If you don't answer I'm coming inside to get you."
I scoffed and typed back.
"Come talk to me before it's half past five and you haven't been with anyone else and maybe I'll answer."
I turned my phone off and set it on my nightstand, rolling over. A few minutes later as I was dozing off again the front door burst open and I heard footsteps coming to my room. I groaned and buried my face in my pillow.
I heard my door open but he didn't walk in.
"Did you not read my text? Fuck off." I said through the pillow.
"You're right, I don't like seeing you before half past five. Because what would my reputation be if anyone else saw me with a psychiatrist of the asylum I've been admitted to more than I can count? I have business and sometimes it means other women. But I like you, and I want to keep you around so maybe you should be grateful for that." He said.
I scoffed and sat up, glaring at him. "Grateful? You know what yea, thanks for saving my life a few times but fuck you for everything else. Reputation my ass, looks like you care more about business than anything else. Keep me around for what, your amusement? I'm not interested." I spat.
He stode forward and grabbed my arm, lifting me easily. "Put me down!" I struggled against as he dragged me outside and to his car.
"We're going somewhere." He said simply getting in next to me.
As I started to speak he turned the radio on full volume, to prevent hearing me. I scowled and crossed my arms as the music played. What an ironic song.
"Your man on the road, he doin' promo. You said "Keep our business on the low-low"
The music continues to play on as we drove through unfamiliar parts of the city.
"I only call you when it's half-past five, the only time that I'll be by your side."
The sun was starting to set and I was getting impatient.
"When I'm fucked up that's the real me, yea. I only call you when it's half-past five, the only time I'd ever call you mine."
We lurched to a stop and he climbed out. I followed and looked around until I spotted a sign.
"Ace Chemicals."
He stalked off towards a door and I hurried to stay caught up with him.
"Why are we here?" I asked following him up a flight of stairs. Silence.
"You never tell or explain anything, what else could you be hiding besides like, everything?" I scoffed.
Still silence as we climbed a ladder to a platform above huge vats.
"Come on! I want to know what's going on, just let me in!" I yelled impatiently from behind him. He turned and walked up to me, grabbing my face.
I froze, not expecting that as I stared up at him. Before I knew it he crashed his lips into mine.
He pulled away after a second.
"If you want to understand anything, me, half past five, what I do, then you'll jump." He stated. I frowned.
"Jump?" I asked. He led me to the edge of the platform and I stared down into the vats. They were full of chemicals.
I took in a deep breath. "I can't jump into those, it'll kill me!" I said shakily, looking back at him.
"If they were going to kill you, I wouldn't be here." He said. I shook my head and looked back over.
Then it clicked. This was how he became the clown, the crazy. A big part of me ached to know but I didn't want to launch myself into chemicals for him.
I turned back to say something and felt myself slip. I gasped and flung a hand out towards him as I fell backward.
All I saw before I hit the liquids was him grinning ear to ear and chuckling.
After that, everything changed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And that's Half Past Five :) I hope everyone enjoyed! This took me forever to write but I love it. I'll have more stories out soon, life has just been busy so I can't update all the time.