Work Text:
Joker’s humming as Bats drives him back to Arkham. It’s not a new thing, he’s always talking or laughing or humming, it’s like he thinks that if he’s quiet he’ll just cease existing. Bats learned a long time ago to just ignore it. Sometimes, though, he can’t help the way he listens in.
Because he knows that song by heart, would know the beat of it even if he was fighting for his life, would recognize that melody anywhere.
“I loved you dangerously…” Joker whispers in finishing and Bats grip on the wheel tightens. He doesn’t look over, doesn’t want to see that look on Joker's face— Eyes wide and trusting and dilated, everything saying lovelovelove you Bats— and speeds the car up, saying nothing.
The song plays in the back of his mind constantly and he wishes he could shut it off, just for once.
Gave you all of me and now I’ve got nothing left.
Arkham looms in front of them and Bats grits his teeth.
Cause I loved you dangerously…
He shoves Joker at the orderlies rougher than needed and disappears into the night, the song still echoing in the silence and creeping in the shadows around him. He tries his best to ignore it, but that hasn’t worked before, and it doesn’t now. So he shoves the thoughts away and runs.
Like he always does, always has to do, and always will. Because he can’t love him, because it is dangerous. The song has that right, at least.