(A/N: Well I had been on the fence about a second chapter, but here it is everyone. I don’t own Batman, please don’t sue me. If I fudge it a little on ages or any distinguishing features just remember that in comic book world everything is subject to change. Oh and there’s no lemon, I mean sure hinting, but otherwise, none. Ah, who cares on with the show.)

Of Enemies and Liquor: 2 Action/Reaction

The blazing glare of the sun got easier to handle, and the hangovers began to fade, at least they mattered less. Bruce was wholly invested in the younger man tangled around him, their lips tingling and swollen from almost violent kisses. It didn’t matter so much anymore that they had been thrown out of the house, it didn’t matter that they were enemies, all that mattered was quenching the fire of desire in their hearts. Love, was a very distant concept to both of their hearts, but they understood that they had strayed into its gaze. And neither of them cared what anyone thought of it.

The Joker whimpered weakly as they splayed out in the shade of a large umbrella, his eyes closed against the sun, painful reminder of the hangover that it was. Turning he stared at his companion’s face, Bruce Wayne was Batman, and who could have guessed? But if his lover was the most powerful man in Gotham City, what did that make him? Obviously it meant nothing if Bruce wanted it to mean nothing, but the Joker didn’t think he could accept that. Sure, both of them were well known for using and losing lovers, it just seemed like something was different between them. Perhaps it was the long history as enemies, or the utter calm with which they laid together, but ending the relationship was the furthest thing from either of their minds.

“Joker?” Bruce’s voice was tense, though the attempt at compassion was clearly there. Softly, in response to the question, the Joker turned on his side and lifted his body with his elbows, looking into Bruce’s eyes, searching for an answer. It was very rarely that he was at a loss for words but the vigilante had managed that feat quite well. Closing his eyes the Clown Prince bowed his head and rested it lightly on his partner’s chest, sighing in relief when he felt Bruce’s arms close delicately around him. Strange that normally the Dark Knight would have hurled him against the wall, yet the billionaire treated him like a piece of china, fragile as glass and weak as a bubble about to burst.

“You think we should try to get inside? We are never going to recover if we don’t get some water,” Joker said at last, his eyes meeting Bruce’s for a long moment. Those soft brown orbs darkened for a moment, and instinctively the Joker recoiled, he’d been struck far too many times to not at least flinch away from expected pain. Normally he wouldn’t have made the move but being so hung over and in so much pain he wasn’t ready for more. But Bruce pulled him close; kissing him softly to assure him that harm was not his intent as they shifted to a sitting position. They had been outside for a few hours, time for a couple bouts of lovemaking and some serious discussion as to the future and a few times even touching on the nature of their relationship.

“It’s my house. I’m not going to let them keep us out,” Bruce said determinedly and began to pull his clothes on. His boxers were still soaked from the swim in the pool and the Joker’s were probably busy clogging the filter, but that didn’t matter. They were going to get in that house if it took all day, and he refused to listen if any of his companions tried to talk him out of his relationship. Bruce pulled the Joker close for a moment, hugging the smaller man (if only by a few inches) as close as he could without hurting what he knew to be damaged ribs. With a soft sigh the Joker cuddled against his lover’s chest, it was okay with him, being submissive in the relationship; after all, the only thing he had ever wanted was his Batsy’s attention. It made him happier, knowing that he had such a strong hold over the billionaire that there was genuine concern displayed in those brown eyes.

“They couldn’t possibly pull me away from you. You know that sweetheart,” the Joker said, a glint of his old self seeping back in to his booze abused mind, the dark humor following shortly. Yet standing beside Bruce made no difference, Joker or not, he was a man in love, and that made you do really strange things. He allowed Bruce to hold his hand, to walk him up to the glass paneled doors at the back of the mansion, even enjoyed the heat of his partner’s nervous grip. It was something that the two of them were in together, love couldn’t come from just one person, as his mind caught on to that, the Joker resolved to write Harley a long apology letter. Staying close to his lover the Clown Prince stared around the house that he so frequently contemplate holding for ransom, wouldn’t have done much good would it?

“Bruce?” Dick questioned quietly as his eyes caught sight of his mentor, they hadn’t expected him to bring the Joker back in with him. The expression that Bruce wore told him just how angry his former master was, and he didn’t like it one bit. But he couldn’t be serious, a relationship with the Joker? Had the Bat finally addled Bruce’s brain to the point of forgetting that Jason was dead because of the Clown? What excuse could there possibly be for loving the twisted monster that called itself the Clown Prince of Gotham? Was the Joker blackmailing him?

“It is still me Dick, whether the three of you want to believe it or not. If you can’t accept it, you can go back to New York,” Bruce said, all things considered he was being as nice as possible about the situation. After all, he hadn’t said or done anything when Dick came home and almost immediately began flirting with Tim, never said a word about the fact that they were lovers long before Tim’s 18th birthday. Bruce felt that he deserved a little respect, after all he was edging in on 50 and he’d been sacrificing himself more than half his life, he wanted to be selfish damn it.

“It’s not that Bruce, you know we’d support you any other time…”

“But nothing is ever going to change the fact that I’m the Joker, no matter what my face looks like, how I act, I’m the Joker,” the clown filled in quietly, not morbid or cruel, just plain and calm. He knew who he was, knew that he scared the hell out of the 25 year old in front of him, the 18 year old that was hiding somewhere around a corner, and the Butler that didn’t care to be seen. The Joker softly touched Bruce’s face, being as pleasant as he could about the situation; he pulled the billionaire in for a kiss, just to let him know that he understood.

“I wish that you were wrong. I want to see Bruce happy as much as Tim or Alfred, this just isn’t what we pictured,” Dick said in a measured tone, Bruce could tell that he was trying to sound peaceable. It wasn’t what he wanted, but he did want love, and there wasn’t really any other way that he saw to getting it.

(A/N: Well, now it seems this is going to be longer than I thought. Stick around for the next chapter and so you all remember, reviews are love.)