Over the next couple of days, as Bruce continued to heal, he gently questioned the Joker about his past. He was careful to do it because talking of his past made The Joker edgy, and Bruce didn’t want to wake up cut or not wake up at all. On some level, though, he understood why the Joker had saved him from the car accident. They needed each other. Bruce also noted details about the Joker. He had some medical knowledge, but hadn’t been a doctor or a medic. He used a paratrooper knife, which Bruce had remembered Gordon telling him. All the knives he had used were military. Also, there was his knowledge of explosives.

The Joker was edgier than usual. Bruce wished that he could get his hands on some medication, because it was obvious that the Joker needed it. He contacted Alfred and told him he would be home in a few days. He contacted Donald Jorgen, the man that he had used to make sure the Joker was protected when he was in Arkham. He asked Jorgen to find him a competent psychologist who knew how to deal with both PTSD and memory loss. He knew that was only the beginning of the Joker’s problems, but he wanted someone who knew what they were doing. No Dr. Crane or Dr. Quinzel for the Joker this time. Bruce knew that the most competent doctors were in Europe, but he had no objection to taking the Joker there.

There wasn’t any medication in the farmhouse, but Bruce found that having sex calmed the Joker down, too, so they had a lot of sex. The Joker seemed to need Bruce to hurt him more, too, which is why he was currently sporting a black eye, a lump on his head, and bruises on his shoulders. Bruce worried about hurting the Joker too badly, but he wasn’t sure what else to do. He had promised to hurt the Joker if he asked.

They were sitting on the couch, watching some movie in the DVD player, since the tv got such bad reception. The Joker hadn’t watched many movies, so he was occupied with that for about an hour when suddenly he got bored and turned to Bruce.

“ Kiss me, “ he demanded.

Bruce complied, marveling at how much he truly enjoyed kissing the Joker. He pulled the Joker to him and the Joker climbed in his lap, being mindful of his bruised and still bandaged ribs.

“Mm, Brucey, I need you,” the Joker moaned.

“Again?” Bruce questioned, although he could already feel his body responding to the Joker’s proximity and his words. He wondered why he never got tired of having the Joker in his bed, and he really liked his company out of it, which the last two days had proved.

“Yes,” the Joked ground his hips into Bruce’s.

Bruce grabbed the still bright green hair and demanded,” Get your clothes off.”

The Joker, who had been wearing a pair of bright green and purple paisley pajamas. He had put his makeup on that morning, but it was looking rather ragged by now. Bruce really didn’t like the makeup, but he understood that the Joker felt that he needed it. Bruce watched as he removed the pajamas and climbed back onto his lap.

“Prepare yourself. I want to watch,” Bruce said, handing him the lube which had been sitting on the table from their earlier bout of sex.

The Joker took the lube and did what Bruce asked. Bruce knew that he wouldn’t prepare himself as much as he needed because he liked the pain, so Bruce was sure to lube himself up pretty well. Both men groaned as the Joker sank down on Bruce’s cock.

“Ride me, “ Bruce ordered, shifting into a more comfortable position as the Joker unknowingly jarred his bandaged chest.

Bruce kept grabbing the Joker’s hair and kissing him, biting his neck and playing with his nipples before he got tired of their current position.

“Get on your back and spread your legs,” he ordered. The Joker did as he asked, laying back on the couch and watching Bruce crawl between his thighs. Bruce added more lube and then slowly entered the Joker.

“Yes, that’s much better, “ Bruce murmured in the Joker’s neck as he began to move. The Joker wrapped his arms and legs around Bruce and held on. Bruce buried one of his hands in the Joker’s hair and used the other to brace himself. He leaned down to kiss the Joker again and again as his thrusts became both harder and faster.

Bruce found that he was gazing at the Joker as he moved.

“Say it, “ the Joker whispered. “ It’s ok, you can say it. I want to hear. I can see it in your eyes, so just say it. “

“Fuck, “ Bruce whispered. “ I love you. I love you so much. I can’t think of anything but you sometimes, I’m so in love with you.”

Saying the words made it so much more real to Bruce and changed the act from sex to lovemaking. His orgasm overtook him without warning and he moaned with the intensity of it. When his body finally stopped shaking, he realized that the Joker had found release as well. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes and then Bruce said gruffly,” let's go take a shower.”

The Joker was silent until they had gotten into the shower and Bruce was soaping him up.

“Why,” he asked quietly.

“I don't know,” Bruce sighed. “ If I did, I would make a fortune bigger than the one I already have. Why do women marry men on death row. Why does anyone fall in love with anyone.”

The Joker was silent again as they finished washing and got out, dried off, and had gotten into bed. They were spooned together and Bruce pulled the Joker against him possessively.

“ I don't feel like other people,” The Joker said. “ I don't think it was something that was done to me. I think that it was something that existed before. I cannot feel bad that I killed your friend or that I made Harvey Dent kill men that needed to die. I do feel upset because it is something that makes you angry. “

Bruce said nothing, but his arm tightened around the Joker and the Joker knew that it was in anger.

“ With you. I need you. I knew that the first time we were together in the interrogation room. I know that if the cops hadn't been outside, we would have consummated our relationship right there. You...you make me sane. Or saner. I don't think I'll ever be truly sane. “

“We'll try, though,” Bruce said quietly.

“Yes, we'll try,” said the Joker. “ I don't need to cause chaos to get your attention. The Gotham underworld is mine, if I want it. I don't really want it, but there you go. What I wanted was you. First to kill you, then for you to pay attention to me. Now, you do pay attention to me. I need you, though. Someone would have died if you had died at that hospital or in that ambulance. A lot of people would have died.”

Bruce said nothing, but pulled the Joker even tighter to him. He held him until the trembling which Bruce knew was rage, subsided.

“It's ok, “ he whispered.” I am here and we are together and we are safe.” The Joker continued to shake and Bruce started kissing his neck, very gently. He was again reminded that the man he lay in bed with was not civilized. It was as if he was in bed with a tiger.

After a while, the shaking stopped completely and Bruce began to fall asleep. He was almost asleep when he heard the Joker say, “where were you when I called you that night?”

“What night?” Bruce was still very fuzzy.

“The night that we first came here,” The Joker clarified. He turned over so that he was facing Bruce. “I called you and you told me to come here.”

“Oh,” said Bruce, waking up a bit more.”I was at the Opera with Heidi and Madison.”

“Who are they?” The Joker asked, his voice curious.

“My favorite dates,” Bruce explained. “ I hate being 'Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy' but Heidi and Madison make it easier.”

“How?” asked the Joker.

“They aren't bubble heads, which is nice because when I want intelligent conversation, I can actually have it. But, more to the point, they are not interested in 'Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy' in any way except as a beard”

“I don't understand,” said the Joker.

“Heidi and Madison are with each other,”said Bruce. “ They are a couple, but they don't want it to get out that they are. They live in the same apartment and they pretend to be fortune hunting socialites. In fact, they are very happy with each other, and thanks to some investment tips from me, they have made their own fortune.”

“So, you've never slept with them?” asked the Joker.

“A couple of times, early in our friendship. That was before I figured out their relationship. I was horribly embarrassed when I did, but they assured me that they didn't sleep with me to pay me back, and that they had a good time. They still offer, but I turn them down.”

“So, they didn't mind you leaving?”

“ I told them that they could have dinner at the restaurant, and they were fine. It makes all of Gotham think that I am a terrible cad, when I do things like that. Usually, I am leaving to become Batman,” said Bruce. “Why?”

“ I was just wondering. I needed you that night. I didn't think that you would come when I asked. Everything hurt. Everything hurt so bad and I needed you to hurt me to make it better, “ said the Joker.

“I've been worried about that,” said Bruce. “ I worry that I will truly hurt you. “

“You won't,” said the Joker decisively. “ You know when to stop.”

“I don't really like doing it,”confessed Bruce.

“I know, “ said the Joker. “ But you do it because I need you to. And, on some level you do like doing it. You are still very angry with me for killing your friends.”

Bruce pulled the Joker closer. His body had been reacting to the Joker, who had been slyly rubbing against Bruce and now it was time again.

“Spread your legs,” he growled, flipping the Joker onto his back. The Joker complied, wiggling while Bruce prepared him. It was too dark to see each other, but Bruce was able to do it by touch. He slid inside and the Joker wrapped his legs around him.

“Touch yourself,” Bruce whispered.” I want to feel your hand moving. “

The Joker complied. He felt Bruce's breath panting in his ear, then Bruce was kissing him. He tightened his legs around Bruce and his hand moved faster.

“Why?” he asked Bruce again.

“Because you let me be Batman. You want me to be Batman. You stand for everything that Batman fights against and yet you want Batman to exist, “ Bruce gasped, thrusting harder.

The only sounds in the room were their panting breaths and the creak of the bedsprings.

“Oh, fuck,” Bruce gasped. “ Come. I need you to come for me.”

The Joker sped his hand up even faster, swiped his thumb over the tip and moaned as he came hard, his ass clenching around Bruce.

“Yes, oh, yes,” Bruce moaned as the Joker's release triggered his own. He kissed the Joker fiercely and whispered.” I never have to be 'Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy' around you, either.”

They both drifted off to sleep with Bruce wrapped tightly around the Joker and the Joker wrapped just as tightly around Bruce.

Fin