Lonely Freakin' Freak - Thank you for the review! It warms my heart to hear other people enjoy my strange muses 3 I hope you continue to enjoy!

J- Thank you so much! This story is definitely gonna be a bit of a slow burn, but I do intend to reach the pinnacle of that downward spiral. I'm toying with a few different catalysts but most of them are probably going to break my heart writing them so I'll be taking you down with me xD At least we'll be in good company?

Guest- First and foremost, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read and write such a heartwarming review and I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. After I saw Joker, I felt super inspired to start writing and while, initially, I didn't have any intention of sharing this little muse filled earworm, I couldn't stop myself once I started shaping the story. I put a lot of thought into creating the type of character I wanted Bonnie to be and I really enjoy the dynamic between them. Again, I'm so grateful you decided to leave such a sweet review and I hope you continue to enjoy 3

Bonnie was aware of nothing but the rhythmic pounding in her skull and like an erratic drumbeat, it pulled her out of consciousness with the sheer stubborn tenacity of its existence. An involuntary groan was pulled from her vocal cords and she shifted, a hand lifting to touch the tender wound on the back of her skull where she'd been struck. She immediately drew her hand back with a hiss of pain and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. A few deep breaths and she tried to focus on what was around her instead of the pain.

The first thing she registered was the feel of silk tangled haplessly around her legs and her breath caught. Oswald paid her well but not well enough to spend thousands of dollars on luxury sheets. These weren't her blankets and by default, this couldn't be her bed. Gingerly she pushed herself up, moving slowly so she wouldn't agitate her throbbing skull while her hands moved to feel out her surroundings. Beyond the sheets, she could feel the sturdiness of a hard oak headboard but all that did was confirm what she already knew. This place, wherever it was, wasn't home.

Bonnie leaned forward and crawled over to the edge of the mattress, ignoring the agonizing throb in her skull and stuck her arms out, feeling around for her cane. It wasn't there and genuine panic began to set in as everything came rushing back to her. Gordon, the police, Penguin coming to her aide, the docks and then... blackness. He'd said something about the Joker orchestrating her harrowing escape but then her mind went blank. Was this one of the Penguin's hideouts or had the trade-off actually happened? She was startled from her musings when something knocked into the palm of her hand. Thin, hard and hollow she knew the feel of her cane anywhere. Her fingers tightened on it reflexively and there was a brief moment of resistance before whoever was offering it to her released their end. Her face twisted in embarrassed anger and she opened her mouth to speak when a burst of uncharacteristic, dark laughter sparked a harsh sensation of memory. She knew that laugh and now that she was concentrating, she could smell him too.

"You...uh... haven't changed. Not. One. Bit." The words were sharp, exaggerated. Every syllable was well thought out and calculated, but he still carried a hint of the shy boy she'd met years ago. She could hear him in the way he paused and used now familiar filler words. Bonnie didn't relax though, while she may have trusted Arthur, she knew nothing of the Joker or his intentions. To him, she was just another face in an endless sea of fodder and she was too smart to think she was special.

"Mmm, that's not entirely true, I play Fur Elise with a bit more finesse now and I've added quite a bit of Dean Martin to my repertoire." The quip was low and unsure in tone. She wouldn't pretend like she didn't know him, but she held back her usual enthusiasm. If he failed to find the words amusing, she had no desire to push him into violence. Apparently her worries were for not because a low, bemused chuckle curled through the air in a drawl. Bonnie shifted, sliding her cane between her knees and taking comfort as it came in contact with the floor.

"Is that so? Was that the... encore... Gotham's finest were goading you for?" Curious but dark, the questions felt loaded even though they sounded innocent in delivery.

"I don't play encores for people who aren't my friends." Quiet and low, she answered him almost immediately and an appreciative hum emerged from the opposite side of the room. He remembered. She wasn't sure if she should feel warm or just anxious. Not for the first time, Arthur successfully confused her.

There was a creak, ominous in juxtaposition to the quiet atmosphere that engulfed them and a moment later the sound of his footsteps followed. Bonnie bristled, body wire tense as the bed moved and shifted, accommodating a second body. She didn't turn her head, what was the point? She couldn't see him. Fingers curled around her chin and turned her head for her. Bonnie didn't resist if the news was anywhere near accurate he'd killed people for a hell of a lot less.

"Why?" A sinister drawl, almost a growl. "Why didn't you tell the police or Officer Gordon everything you know about me?" Punctuated and sharp, Arthur had taken his strange method of speech and transformed it into something truly intimidating. Terrifying. Bonnie trembled and licked her lips out of nervous habit.

"You were good to me." It was raw honesty colored by fear but Bonnie made a point not to lie. It was a hard limit for her and Arthur knew that. His fingers tightened against her skin and she could feel each digit threatening to bruise her jaw as they pressed against her gums and teeth. She whimpered and the Joker loosened his hold instantly. "We were friends. We were something special."

"Friend?" The word was cold and mocking, he was spitting on her sentiment and as a cackle bubbled up from his chest, a surge of anger gave her courage. Bonnie's eyes narrowed and she shoved his arm off of her.

"Not the first time I've lost intellectual objectivity where you're concerned." Bonnie snapped, hurt and wounded by his cruelty. It was a mistake. His fingers coiled around her throat this time and he threw her back onto the bed. Her cane clattered to the floor as he squeezed until she gasped, useless eyes wide and hands clawing at his forearms.

"And it won't be the last." Joker snarled and she could feel his breath wafting across her face. His whole body pinned her down and he hoovered so close she could almost taste him. "You know why Bonnie girl?" It was rhetorical, he was squeezing her throat too tight for her to answer. "Because you're different. A freak. Just like me." Sharp and cold, he'd lost all warmth and familiarity. Abruptly he let her go and she scrambled to get out from under him. Back pedaling until her shoulder slammed into the headboard, Bonnie wheezed and sucked in several ragged breaths. She pulled her knees up to her chest and blocked her face with her hands. She couldn't see. Wasn't that punishment enough? Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes and she ducked her face to hide them but she would be denied even that humane privacy.

Lithe fingers curled around her wrists, pulling them away from her face and she fought him but he shushed her, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He trapped both of her delicate wrists in one hand and tenderly brushed the moisture away from the corners of her eyes with the other. Bonnie flinched, shuddering violently but still his touch remained gentle, reverent even.

"At, ta ta ta! Shhh... no tears." It managed to be both chastisement and comfort. She sniffled once more but obeyed him, blind eyes shifting uselessly in their sockets. "It's okay, Bonnie Girl, ya know why?" He rumbled in a half growl. Bonnie answered with a soft, involuntary sound, a cross between a whimper and a distressed noise but Joker had fallen silent, he was waiting for her to answer. Bonnie shook her head once and swallowed hard, hating the way it now hurt to do so.

"N-No." She flinched at the stutter, God she sounded so weak."No. I don't." Everyone got to have moments and to be fair she had justification to be afraid. The Clown Prince of Crime was not known for charity and orphan parties.

"Because I'm not gonna kill ya for it, I'm gonna keep ya." Dark and cold, the words lacked any kind of real feeling. It was like he was stating a fact. Bonnie's blood turned to ice in her veins.

"Keep me?" Meek but confused she echoed the words and was met with that harsh, cackling laugh. It startled her and she jumped but she didn't try to get away this time. She was a fast learner and this was Arthur's show, not hers.

"Yes, Bonnie girl. You're smart so don't... uh... make me repeat myself." Sharp but punctuated by soft fits of giggles, the outburst betrayed how much danger that put her in. She opened her mouth to speak when he covered her mouth with his hand. "He, ha, ho, easy girl. You can still...play... in Oswald's little hovel of a joint and you can still do... whatever it is Bonnie's do, but when I want to drag you out of my toy box to play, you'll be there or here rather. I don't like hunting down my toys and you... Bonnie Girl... have always been my favorite. It's time I brushed the dust off and brought you back into the spotlight." He cackled, laughing harshly and Bonnie... Bonnie had no idea what any of that even meant.

"Where is here?" Of all the pertinent questions... that was the one her stupid lizard brain blurted. Intelligent her ass. Joker seemed amused.

"Deep in territory Gordon and his little lackeys dare not go." A growl, low and dangerous. "Not unless they want to lose pieces and more. You'll be safe here." That last sentence was tacked on like an afterthought but Bonnie breathed out a deep breath. "A driver will take you to The Icecube... errrr... Iceberg." Joker grinned and cackled again. Bonnie was willing to be it hadn't been a mistake. "I believe the words you're looking for is thank you, hmm?" He was close again, close enough that she could feel his body heat and the warm caress of his breath. She shuddered and forced herself to swallow.

"Thank you." She murmured and he cackled, and got up, sauntering across the room with exaggerated footsteps. Bonnie's heart raced as she heard the click of a window. He was leaving, leaving her here in an unfamiliar room and an unfamiliar part of town. "Why?" Bonnie suddenly blurted, unfurling herself and crawling towards the edge of the bed, childishly she reached down, refusing to step down off the mattress until she had her cane in hand to guide her. She grabbed the cane and dragged it back, shifting around to put her feet on the floor when she realized the room had gone silent.

For a long minute she'd assumed he'd already slipped out the window when she heard his footsteps trailing back to her. Regret filled her, she shouldn't have asked, she should have just left well enough alone- He grabbed her free hand, uncurled her fingers and put a small object in her palm. Instinctively she maneuvered it, creating an image in her head from her dexterity alone. It felt... like a flip phone. One flick of her nail, the thing popped open and she could feel the braille that translated to numbers. Bonnie gasped surprised and then jumped when he shut it and forced her fingers to squeeze it tight.

"Voice-activated. There are only two contacts. Use it for only one of those two contacts." His voice had changed, from wild and unpredictably chaotic to utterly serious. "The first is me. You need to uh... get ahold of me... you ask for 'Me'. The second is OIYAD. Say them both. Now." A growl, Bonnie didn't hesitate. She spoke the word 'Me' and rattled off the seemingly random abbreviation of numbers. Joker grunted seemingly satisfied but squeezed her wrist nearly to the point of pain. "That stands for 'Only If You're Dying' and I mean it Bonnie Girl... only if you're dying because if you're not, I will make you regret it." There was a promise of violence in those words and Bonnie swallowed but nodded. "Good."

She heard him move away again and exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

"You see me." Softer, quieter and almost vulnerable, the words made her brows furrow in confusion. "You... uh... asked me why." A growl and understanding blossomed across her face. "You don't have eyes but you've always seen me, even when no one else could. I like that. I really, really do." He didn't give her a chance to respond. She heard the window slide shut, heard him lock it and could tell he was gone. The oppressive atmosphere was gone and even though all he'd really done was leave her with more questions than answers, she was accustomed to being alone with her swirling thoughts.

She was late. Mother of all that was holy and good... she could spin a sonata that could make the world cry but for the utter life of her, she couldn't manage to get out the door before she was forced to hustle. Again. Mentally berating herself in a tone that sounded suspiciously like her father, she went for the stairs. She didn't have time to wait for the elevator to glitch and jam on the third floor. Using a mixture of her cane and the handrail, she whipped down the steps with practiced ease and shouldered open the door at the bottom, halfway spilling into the alleyway.

"Woah there doll, ya don't wanna take a header do ya?" Lenny's grumble of a voice rasped against her ears and she smiled brightly as he steadied her, one hand on each shoulder.

"Oh Lenny, where would I be without you? Lost in a hurricane of dreadful road rash and bruises. I've got... a snickers bar and a fresh bag of strawberries. Think I can afford to keep you on retainer just one more day?" Innocently she presented the sealed Ziploc bag of goodies and Lenny made a happy sound.

"Ya drive a hard bargain miss and it's cruel to bribe a man with caramel. Playin' dirty that is." Lenny sighed dramatically but plucked the items from her hand. This was their ritual, had been for the better part of seven months. He took care of her and she took care of him in their own limited fashion. Bonnie giggled, rocked onto her toes and pressed a kiss against his cheek.

"You're a doll Lenny. Go on up and get outta this cold for a spell. Take a bath if ya need, I left the door open for ya." Bonnie rumbled with a smile. This was the extent of Bonnie's deviousness. Lenny was too proud to ever accept her offer but if she left the door unlocked in this sketchy part of town, the ex-marine couldn't stop himself from going up to check.

"Damn it Bon! You can't be doing that 'round these parts!" He admonished her but Bonnie just laughed and sped off, waving over her shoulder as she trotted down the sidewalk. Her cane knocked against the familiar structure that encompassed the bus stop bench just as the screech of harsh breaks filled her ears. She quickly shuffled into the line and moved up the stairs. Depositing her money, she moved slowly down the aisle, biting her lip. This was now a familiar ritual wherein her heart fluttered and a smile teased the edge of her mouth as she waited for the signal.

Was Arthur on this bus or was he on the last? Had she missed him because she was always cutting it close or was he hiding among the throng of- the gentlest of tugs, alerted her to the fact that someone was touching her cane and Bonnie smiled. She knew that tug. Swinging to the right, she effortlessly slipped into the outer seat and laughed softly as she felt the familiar hard edges of Arthur's frame brush against her side. He giggled covering his mouth to stifle the noise and Bonnie grinned wildly, turning her head to give the illusion she was looking at him.

"Good morning Arthur." Warm and gentle, she giggled softly so he wouldn't be laughing alone. She'd long since grown accustomed to his condition and instead of scoffing or seeing it as something needing to be fixed, she rolled with it. What was wrong with a little more laughter in this world? "Did you have breakfast this morning?" Her tone carried the barest hint of warning and she could feel him fidgeting uncomfortably. That was answer enough for her and she rooted around in her bag.

"Good morning Bonnie... and... no, I was too focused on my mom today." Soft and almost admonished, it was obvious he didn't want to disappoint her. He was a bit like a puppy that way and Bonnie made sure to keep smiling, so he would know she wasn't upset. A moment later she pulled out a sandwich. Roast beef with a hint of Dijon mustard.

"Lucky you, I made the mistake of making two sandwiches instead of one. Won't you have it? I'd hate for it to go bad..." She frowned as though perplexed by her dilemma but smiled when Arthur quickly plucked it out of her hand. A sandwich might not cure his borderline emaciation, but at least it was some measure of calories he was consuming. "So tell me, what's on the menu for today? Children's party? Another hospital gig?"She leaned against his side, resting her head against his shoulder. He didn't bristle anymore and instead, he slipped an arm around her shoulders to keep her anchored there. It was sweet, the kind of familial touch almost everyone shied from nowadays but... it made her happy and Arthur never seemed put off by her proximity. She couldn't see, touch was all she had and Arthur seemed to understand that.

"Uh... no, not those. The grand opening of a local mall... somewhere near the police station, I think. All of us are going, we're supposed to make balloon animals and to...ah... tell a few jokes. Nothing exciting." Soft and low, he turned his head to bury his nose in her hair. She could hear him gently inhale, like he was savoring the scent for a moment before he pulled away. Bonnie wriggled.

"But that is exciting! You wanted to be more vocal out there. Practicing your jokes in front of kids is the best way to show your boss you can do it. Picture it like a grand audition, a dozen spotlights blinding you, an audience waiting on baited breath so you take a deep breath and slay them all with the best joke." Perhaps she was being a touch ridiculous, but her silly words drew a giggle from Arthur, genuine this time and he shifted again, fingers tightening reflexively on her shoulder in an effort not to jostle her.

"Hmm..." He hummed contemplatively and shook his head, she could feel stringy bits of his hair dusting her cheek. "Which jokes should I tell? I don't want to be... inappropriate... like the laughter." She could hear the trepidation and pain in his voice but Bonnie refused to let him recede.

"Arthur...It was just one overzealous mom who would have found a reason to complain whether you gave her one or not. Some people are just like that. You can't let them get to you. I like all of your jokes and I count for something ya?" She tilted her head back at him, smiling upside down at where she presumed his face was. "And as for the jokes, stick to the animal ones. Pages... 5 through 6 in your book I think?" She tilted her head childishly and she heard him suck in a breath. The silence stretched between them for a long minute but slowly, ever so slowly, she felt his fingers trace her jaw before tucking a stray strand of blonde locks behind her ear.

"Why... why are people like that?" A whisper, quiet and soft, he bent his head down toward her, mouth hoovering above her forehead.

"I don't know. Maybe because the world is sad and the only way some people know how to deal with it is to lash out." Her response was equally quiet and earnest. He absorbed the words and let them percolate in his soul before finally closing his eyes. She was safe. It was a word he'd only ever associated with his mother until her. The companionable silence settled for a long moment until he sighed softly.

"How did you know those jokes were on pages 5 through 6?" Innocent curiosity trickled in his tone and Bonnie grinned.

"A lady never reveals her secrets." She offered the teasing rumble and Arthur huffed softly.

"You can't see." Incredibly dry, the sarcasm was genuine and it was Bonnie's turn to burst into laughter. A few people grunted in distaste at her outburst but Bonnie promptly ignored them and shook her head.

"I hear them. You turn the pages softly but they're so worn I can hear them crackling. You have them categorized." Bonnie answered in a bemused tone and Arthur blinked, surprised that she'd even paid attention. She saw him and it never failed to astound him. No one ever really saw him. The silence stretched for a beat longer than a typical lull in conversation.

"I'll try the animal jokes then. Makes sense, kids like animals right?" Hopeful now, the assignment for the day didn't seem all that daunting. Bonnie bobbed her head.

"Yup, most of em do anyway. Any of them that say otherwise are probably lying." Bonnie chuckled and Arthur frowned, confused. If you liked something why lie? It was probably a simple answer, something that mama said blew in one ear and out the other but he'd pestered her with enough questions. His eyes shifted to the sandwich. It was one of many she'd 'accidentally' made two of but... hers always tasted better than when he made them. Warmer somehow. The thought made him smile and he looked back at her.

"Would you like your joke for the day?" Timid and shy, he never could ask the question with confidence but Bonnie smiled all the same.

"Yes please." Her response was immediate. Arthur shifted to get his book out of his bag. He flipped through it to her section, now conscientious of how he turned the pages, and cleared his throat.

"Why don't blind people... go skydiving?" He kept his finger on the joke, so he wouldn't lose his place while he glanced at her and awaited her reaction. Bonnie cocked her head, considered, but ultimately shook her head. Arthur smiled. "Because it scares the dog too much." He whispered and she giggled, foggy blue eyes lighting up with mirth. She opened her mouth to speak when the bus creaked and came to a halt. The static announcement hailed Bonnie's stop and she gave him an apologetic look. Arthur's heart plummeted when she wriggled to stand up. He hated this part, watching her leave. She was kind to him, he liked her, but he was always waiting for the day she'd walk away and never come back.

Bonnie got as far as standing before Arthur abruptly reached out and caught her wrist. Bonnie paused, sightless eyes starring somewhere over his left shoulder. Even now she didn't look at him with annoyance or exasperation... just curiosity and expectancy. Arthur swallowed the lump in his throat.

"You are." He whispered and she furrowed her brow, confusion contorting her face into a perplexed expression. Arthur hesitated and instinctively tightened his grip on her. "You asked if you count for something. You...um... do." He wheezed out, licking his lips in nervous anticipation but instead of looking disgusted or creeped out, she smiled with a beautiful vibrancy that stole his breath. She squeezed his wrist in return.

"You count too Arthur. Never think otherwise." Her voice was gentled and soft but the words warmed parts of him that he didn't know he had... so he burst out laughing, cackling so hard that tears trickled down his face. Nearly everyone on the bus turned to stare but Arthur couldn't bring himself to care. His eyes were fixated on Bonnie's retreating frame as she navigated down the aisle and stepped off the bus.

Arthur pushed himself up, still bursting out with wheezing trickles of laughter as he moved to the back of the bus and wriggled into a space so he could see out the back window. He pressed his face up against the glass, watching her until she was lost to the dark streets of Gotham but even then he slumped in the dirty seat still giggling.

He pulled out his laminated card, rolling it between his fingers as he struggled to stop laughing but unlike normal he didn't pass it to the people around him because... he didn't care. He wasn't laughing out of an impulse or some skewed instinct, he was laughing because he was ihappy./i And for today... that was enough.