#and of course legacy licks and nibbles your cheeks when he comes out again

[that-foul-legacy-lover]

I just had an... idea. So you know magical girls right? Transformation sequences and all? That, but with childe and foul legacy, you could go the normal route of childe -> foul legacy. But theres also the more crackjob route of foul legacy -> childe. Like giant murdery abyss moth transforms with a blinding flash of lighand becomes!... just some dude. Its hilarious.

i hope you know this made me laugh for a solid five minutes, thank you

he does it just to hear your laughter, the huff of amusement that always slips past your lips when witnessing Legacy's antics. to be completely fair to you, it IS really funny- he makes a big show out of it on purpose, just as Childe does transforming into him. perhaps he even twirls once or twice just for you, violet lightning crackling into ocean waves before fading and revealing your Harbinger love, giving you a mischievous grin. just some guy, indeed. you open your arms for him to run into and he scoops you up and spins you around with a laugh, peppering your face with little kisses. it's one thing Foul Legacy can't really do, kiss you- his mouth just isn't made for that, it's for tearing and rending flesh. but Childe can and does so with gusto, doing just as you do to his freckles until you're breathless with laughter

most of the time, though, his transformations with you are quiet and subtle. sometimes you don't even notice until you look up to see that the Abyssal monster you were napping on has become human again, his hand running up and down your back. Childe always smiles at you drowsily, Foul Legacy peacefully tucked away and taking his own dose of snoozing as his human counterpart hugs you a bit tighter. now you can return the favor, pressing tiny kisses to each freckle you can see and listening to him sleepily chuckle, late afternoon light illuminating his lovely blue eyes. even the most perceptive of the Fatui would be baffled seeing the Eleventh Harbinger sprawled over a couch, looking up at you so lovingly with the softest melted smile on his face

good, then. that means there's more for you

[xenia-cenia]

Chongyun x Fem!Reader - Strength

A/N - I forget how many days since I finished the Mondstadt part of this series... I had to start Liyue with my boi. My beloved. He <3

Also fan fact: Chongy means gum in Britain so it double works for Chongyun cuz he’s so dang good :) 

Trigger/Content Warnings: ghost mention, bad parents, food mention, we hurting Xingqiu today lads, fear, light swearing, kidnapping (kinda?)

Word Count: 2,937

Request: No

Summary: You’ve been plagued by demons your whole life. He’s never seen one. What will happen when you meet?

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Ghosts, spirits, and demons.

You were no stranger to the unknown. They often whispered secrets of their lives into your ears as you slept. Many exorcists had come and went. They all charged thousands of Mora, only for their promises to fall short. 

Your family was desperate. These whispering strangers grew stronger with each passing day, they began to claw and destroy your family. In one last-ditch effort to keep the (L/N) legacy alive, you were thrown to the streets. 

Many weeks passed, your survival depended on the kindness and naivety of strangers. They invited you into their homes, promising happier times and brighter futures. 

But just like before, they lied.

The whispers turned into yells, the yells into shrieks. It was positively unbearable. Madness constantly danced at the edge of your vision, you wanted nothing more than to give in.

It all changed, however, when a boy with light blue hair and cat slit pupils paused at your trembling form.

“...are you okay?”

Your head snapped up and you looked the boy up and down. He looked nothing special, light clothes and a melting popsicle in his hand. Your eyes focused on the popsicle and you unconsciously licked your lips as you imagined how good it’d feel to have real food in your mouth after... 4 days? 5? You’ve lost count.

He looked between you and the popsicle for a few seconds, sighed heavily, and handed it to you. As you nibbled on the popsicle, he uncomfortably shifted his weight between his feet and waited for you to finish. 

When you were done with it, he cleared his throat and began to rifle through a small bag that was slung over his shoulder. A few moments later, he pulled out a trinket that was engraved in gold.

“You’re (Y/N) (L/N), right?” His voice was soft as he handed you the item. “Take these. It’s a talisman, it should keep the demons at bay.”

Taking the talisman in hand, you flipped it over a few times and considered the boy carefully. Hundreds- no, thousands- of exorcists have tried their hand to free you from the demons who chose you to haunt. What would make this boy any different?

“It’s not like they’ll ever leave.” You mumbled to yourself.

For a moment he looked almost excited, but quickly hid it with a stoic expression, “Can you still hear them?”

You paused. What an odd question. Of course, you could still hear them, why, they were...

“...silent.” You looked up at him, partially horrified, partially euphoric. “They’re silent.”

He sighed to himself, “I see.” The boy stretched and began to walk away, believing his job to be done.

But the moment he left your eyesight, the voices came back louder than ever. 

“Why did you try to get rid of us? Don’t you love us? We love you! Stay with us. Stay with us. Stay with us.”

“Stay.”

A scream fell from your lips, you gripped and pulled at your hair, trying to regain the peaceful silence you had mere moments ago.

Cold hands on your shoulders, heavy breathing, and the scent of various herbs and old paper. You opened your eyes and saw the somewhat panicked cat slit eyes staring at you.

“They came back.” You breathed.

He sat next to you and went deep into his thoughts. For half an hour, the two of you sat there in silence. You relished it, taking in and memorizing every hint of life you hadn’t been able to hear before. He hated it, remembering each time his pure positive energy stopped him from performing his job. 

“Can I...” you finally spoke, breaking the silence, “come with you?”

The out of the blue comment surprised him, but not a hint of that surprise showed on his face, “Why?”

“They’re quiet when you’re here. I never realized how good the quiet was.”

He considered it for a moment, looked at you, “Fine.”

You sighed in relief, “Oh, thank the Archons...”

“But.”

“Oh no.”

“You have to help me get my friend Xingqiu back.”

You blinked at him. ‘Get him back’? Was he in danger? Was he kidnapped somehow? You knew a bit of fighting but not enough to go raid a camp full of stronger, more trained adults.

“He keeps pranking me. I need to get him back.” The boy shook his head solemnly, “Every day he tells me that I’ll finally see a demon. Every day he makes fun of me when I get back.”

“Oh!” You tried to fight the smile that was building on your lips, “Okay. Yeah, I can do that. I, uh, sure. Okay.”

He stood and shook the dirt off his clothes, “We aren’t too far from Liyue Harbor. That’s usually where he stays. It’ll be about uh... a 12-hour walk.” 

“12... hours...” you squeaked. You shook the nervousness away and managed a shaky smile, “You never told me your name.”

The boy paused a moment, “Chongyun.”

You and Chongyun walked in synchrony after hour 3. He kept his distance but always made sure to be close enough so the voices wouldn’t return. Chongyun found you to be eerily calm considering your situation.

Xingqiu told him that you’d been abandoned by your family after years of the spirits gaining strength and losing patience. For the first time, Xingqiu seemed panicked. He begged Chongyun to set out to find you. 

Who was Chongyun to say no? 

His original plan was just to give you the talisman and leave but... this might work out better. The way Xingqiu had described you, it was obvious you were someone close to his heart. Maybe he’d be happy to see you relatively safe and sound. Chongyun liked the idea of that. 

“...yun?”

Chongyun turned to face you, barely feeling your hand grip onto his sleeve. 

“What is it?” He internally winced at how cold he sounded.

“Thank you.” You let go of his sleeve and ran your hands up your arms, “It’s been... ah. Just, thank you. Could you tell me more about your friend?”

“Xingqiu? He’s... hm. He’s really smart. He helps me think of ideas to finally see a demon-”

“You’ve never seen one?” You interrupted him. “Why would you want to see one?”

He slightly puffed out his chest, “It’s my duty as an exorcist to continue the family lega-”

“Screw that! You’ve been blessed! I wish I had that.” You kicked a small rock that lied in your path.

Chongyun sighed heavily. He’s seen this reaction many times over the years, “It makes my job harder.”

“How? Just sit still and bam! Demons gone!”

“I have to draw and describe them in The Field Guide to Demons and Beasts. Not being able to see them makes it... hard.”

You exhaled, “I still wish I had that power.”

“It’s...” he shook his head. “Nevermind. We can talk about it later.”

The two of you walked the rest of the way, with some snack breaks, in silence. 

As you arrived in Liyue, you caught sight of a navy blue haired boy anxiously pacing in front of the entrance. You paused, narrowed your eyes, thought for a moment and when the realization set in, you cried out in glee.

“Xingqiu!” You yelled. The boy looked towards you and quickly dashed in your direction. As he came to a stop, he gripped your hands and smiled happily at you, “Oh, Archons, how long has it been?”

“4 years? When I heard how your family sent you out, I knew I had to do something!” He tightened his grip on your hands as his smile fell. “Are you alright? Are you injured anywhere? Are they...?”

You sighed and let your grip loosen, “I’ve been better. They’re a lot quieter when I’m with him.” You nodded towards Chongyun who was awkwardly standing while chewing on a popsicle.

“Did you get to see them?” Xingqiu asked Chongyun.

“No,” he spoke dejectedly. “There’s has to be at least one demon who isn’t as strong as it, right?”

“It?” You looked between the two boys.

“My ‘power’.” Chongyun specified.

“Ahhh,” you nodded, “well. I’m utterly exhausted. Xingqiu, can I stay at your place tonight?”

“Su-”

“You can stay at mine.” 

You and Xingqiu both looked at Chongyun, surprised by his sudden offer. 

“It’s only to make sure the demons don’t come back during the night.” He spoke, digging his toe into the dirt and suddenly very interested in a nearby bush.

“Can Xingqiu stay with us? I just... well, I don’t really know you.” You nervously laughed, “I’d just feel more comfortable if he were there.”

“In that case, let’s just skip the walk and stay at my place. I’m sure Father wouldn’t mind.” Xingqiu looked between the two of you. You looked at Chongyun, who was still entranced with a nearby bush and waited for his response. After a few moments of silence, he nodded his head.

The three of you walked the streets of Liyue, the further you got the more familiar it felt. Dogs who always licked at your heels, tourists surprised at the food, children laughing and chasing each other. 

You stopped walking and looked around in awe. The boys, caught up in conversation, hadn’t noticed. 

Is this how it feels like? To not be afraid? You almost didn’t believe it. No, you definitely didn’t believe it. They were gone, it was quiet. You couldn’t feel their warm claws digging into your shoulders, nor their cold breaths on your cheek. Anything you wanted to do you could. The voices and demons would never bother you again as long as-

“Why do you keep trying to leave us?” 

You gulped, sweat beading at your brow as you spun around. No, this isn’t right. 

You got rid of them. They’re gone. It’s been half a day and you hadn’t heard them, you’re free. So why...

“Listen to us. We just want to keep you safe. Don’t you want that too?”

...why were they back?

Why did you feel their nails beginning to pierce your skin as rose petals slipped down your shoulder? Why could you hear their melodic hums in your ears as their tongues tied and twisted around you? 

Your eyes were unfocused, your legs were shaking, you swallowed every bit of spit that lingered in your mouth but your throat still ran dry. You could almost hear pounding footsteps; could almost feel a boy with navy blue hair pushing through the crowd until his hand wrapped around your wrist and yanked you forward. 

Your feet were moving. That much you knew. Where you were going and why they were moving were two separate matters entirely. Slowly, the voices were replaced by panting and their burning claws melted into cool metal.

“...huh?” you spoke as you gathered your senses. Why were you sitting on the streets of Liyue? You looked around and felt your shoulders immediately relax as you saw Xingqiu. “Xing... Xingqiu?” 

He was holding your left hand tightly, trying to manage a reassuring smile despite his panicked eyes. You looked to the boy pressing the cold circular object against your shoulder.

“What’s...” you yawned, “What’s happening?”

“I, uh, we got wrapped up in the conversation. We thought you were right behind us.” Xingqiu looked at the ground guiltily, “You just about passed out.”

You looked up at Chongyun, taking note of the determination in his eyes. “I guess I’m kinda stuck to you for a while, huh?” You laughed sadly.

He froze and looked down at you, his eyebrows knitting together as his lips turned into a tight frown, “I don’t think that makes me stuck to you.”

“True, you could always drop me off at... well, anywhere.” You rested your head against the wall you were propped up against, “It’s not really you who's stuck.”

Chongyun shook his head, “That’s not what I meant.”

A soft blush covered your cheeks, “Oh.” 

Xingqiu looked between the two of you and quickly bit his tongue. 

“Don’t interfere, Xingqiu.” He chided himself. “Your childhood crush is nothing. It’s been 4 years! They just met anyway.”

He shook the anxiety away and tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach. All old crushes die out eventually, he’ll be fine. 

He was not fine.

It’s been 2 months since your arrival and he’s found himself as head-over-heels for you as he was 4 years ago. He took every opportunity he could to spend time with you. He was jealous of Chongyun, and he hated it. 

Chongyun got to spend all day with you. Chongyun spent hours training with you and planning ways to beat your demons. 

Chongyun was his best friend! It’s fine! Your just his friend, it’s okay! He’s okay with that!

“Mmm, okay I think I get it.” You spoke, pointing at a book that was spread between you and Chongyun, “This is for healing and that’s why we need it.”

“We also should bless it in pure rainwater.”

“Chongy, do we need to wait for it to rain here? Who knows how long that’ll be...” 

Chongy.

Chongy.

A nickname. You gave Chongyun a nickname. Why didn’t you give him a nickname? Xingqiu found he could no longer ignore the feelings building in his chest. He tore through every book in his collection, nearly memorized every declaration of love. 

For 20 minutes a day, you were alone. You and Chongyun were testing your tolerance and slowly but surely, it was growing. That was good news all around. Xingqiu took these measly 20 minutes as an opportunity. He knocked on the door to your room and waited for a response. A few minutes passed and he grew anxious. He announced his presence and let himself into your room. 

It was eerily clean. Xingqiu called your name a few more times and grew more and more confused as he couldn’t find a trace that you had ever been there. He sat on your bed and jumped when he heard something crunch beneath him. 

Right where he sat, a note was lied out.

Chongyun and Xingqiu -

I’ve decided I’m going to try to go back home.

I know you’d try to stop me... so I figured it’d be best to just run for it. I think I’m enough now. Enough for them.

 I’ll use the skills we went over and I’ll control the demons! They’ll be so happy. 

Thank you for helping me.I’ll write again when I arrive so you know I’m safe. Feel free to visit!

-(Y/N)

Meanwhile, you knocked on the door of your family's home. The entire trip over you’d been practicing what to say to them. Your mother opened the door and gasped when she saw you.

“(Y/N)?” She whispered, her eyes wide. “How are you...?”

“I’m back.” You sheepishly smiled. “I, ummm, I spent a lot of time getting control of them. I think I’m better now. See? They’re not even here!”

“S-Stay here...” she half-jogged deeper into your house and didn’t return. You awkwardly stood around, twiddling your thumbs, not even noticing the shovel about to hit the back of your head and knock you unconscious. 

When you woke up, your hands were tied behind your back and you were surrounded by the damp scent of rotting wood. It was dark and your head hurt.

Where were you? This isn’t right. You had been going home. No, you were home. You saw your mother. Why are you here? Are they afraid? No. No, that doesn’t make sense. 

You did your best. You thought it was enough... wasn’t it enough? The voices had stopped. You made friends. You...Tears bloomed in your eyes as you harshly bit into your lip. 

You thought they’d love you if you came home the way they wanted. Why didn’t they love you? Where was Chongyun? Where was Xingqiu?

You missed them. You wanted Chongyun to sit next to you like he always does. You wanted to hear him enthuse about exorcism. You wanted to lie your head in his lap and tease him. Just like you always do.

“Chongy...” you muttered to yourself. “I lo...”

A loud crash upstairs forced a gasp from your lips. In horror, you sat silently and hoped the house wasn’t getting robbed. The yelling, banging, and screaming wasn’t easing your nerves.

You sat as still as you could, hoping that whoever was up there wouldn’t hurt you. Praying even. Light flooded the room which made you wince and turn away. “(Y/N)?” A familiar voice called.

You looked in the direction of the voice and let the tears fall loose. There, at the top of a staircase, stood Chongyun. The light behind him made him look like an angel.

“Ch... Chongy!” You yelled. He raced down the stairs and looked at you. “Chongyun, Archons, I’m so happy to see you.”

He worked quickly, untying your hands and letting you collapse into his arms. “Xingqiu and I came as fast as we could...”

You gripped onto his shirt and held him closer, “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“I thought... I thought they loved me.”

“I know.” He drew loose circles on your back with his finger, “I know.”

You rested your head in the crook of his neck and let the scent of various herbs and old paper engulf you.

Xingqiu, who had just finished fighting your parents, stopped at the top of the stairs and smiled at you two. It was the first time he’d seen Chongyun able to touch someone without his congenital positivity overflowing... 

Maybe you were helping him just as much as he was helping you. 

[digressfromreality]

The Day The Tables Turned

Synopsis: This was PERSONAL. That much was obvious. What does one clown do when a mobster doesn’t learn his place in Gotham’s new criminal hierarchy? Of course, kidnap their life blood, the one that literally means more than the filthy air they breathe. First he isolates her, second manipulates her, third the mutual companionship was completely unexpected. Revenge at its finest.

Original Inspiration: Heath Ledger’s Joker     Part 6 of 6

Warning: SMUT, DEATH, my terrible grammar lol

THE END

“I don’t want to do this.” Rose whispered. He didn’t appreciate her answer, no, no after all the trouble he went through to give this to her. She had to follow through.

“I.” Slam. “Don’t.” Slam. “Care.” Slam. He wouldn’t let her have her hands to calm her now pounding headache.

“But Joker, please?” He licked his lips, grinning down at her trembling ones. She could always get him going. He wondered if maybe they would have enough time to make her lower lips match. The very thought made him acutely reminiscent of their first, intimate encounter.

“As much as hearing you beg usually persuades me-ah,” he pinched the side of her face, “we gotta keep our appointments today. I’m a man of my word.” His three-day threat was almost over. He focused his attention back towards the streets. He had patiently listened to the chatter; his biggest appointment today was awaiting him old candy factory. Oh, the delight, a sweet for his sweet. Rose was going to answer the looming question today, was she going to give in? Was she��

“Holy shit! Watch out for that!” The delivery vehicle took a harsh veer to the left, nearly missing a mailbox and a few pedestrians. The Joker let out an exciting laugh. She had reached into his pants, in hopes of distracting him, not trying to nearly kill them in the process! Her pounding head was long forgotten in the now present thumping of her heart. They had almost crashed an account of her.

“Oh doll, your frantic screams are hard to pass up!” He swung a sharp right, driving them into a secluded parking structure. Her chest smacked the dash with a thud, when he slammed on the brakes. “Now, we’ll have to make this quick.” He pointed to his bare wrist, as if he had a watch that she couldn’t see there.

“Come ‘ere.” She slid closer to him in the seat, ready to grasp him once more, now that they had parked. He slapped her hands away. She looked at him confused, as he began to empty his coat pockets. Lint, lint, knife, paper, knife, an ear, Rose grimaced watching, knife, knife, gun, stray bullets, and a walkie talkie.

“I don’t understand, don’t you want me to,” she cleared her throat, “take care of you?” Her cheeks flushed red as he smiled bigger than she had seen before. His lopsided scars stretched across his face. He rolled up his sleeves, yanking her lower half forward. Her shoulders hit the bench seat hard as he hooked her legs up on his shoulders. His fingers made quick work of pushing her dress up, she was already worked up for his lesson.

“Today is about you!” He bit her inner thigh hard, dragging his teeth slightly. Her muscles clenched because of the pain, but he knew ultimately, she would enjoy it. She seemed to always see it his way, eventually. Obedient to a tee, but wearily, enough to keep him wanting, no needing more. Just as she did.

“Can’t I show my number one girl a good time?” She bit her lip, trying to think. He didn’t wait for a reply, he needed a response! An urgent one! He plunged forward slamming his lips on her well-groomed ones.

He began to viciously tongue fuck her. Slurping, nibbling, sucking, and generally licking, her beautiful screams practically lit the air around them. His dick throb at the delicious sounds. It only seemed he was going for probably about a minute, but that’s all he needed apparently. She came, and came hard, he tried to lap up her fluids as they squirted against his mouth. Rose was panting, she hadn’t thought he could make her orgasm in minimal time, but again she was proven wrong.

She shivered feeling him lick the remainder of her cum off her. He smeared his paint up and down the sides of her thighs, unknowingly to her, but strategically for him. Another reason for papa Maroni to go on a tangent about this clown, tasting his daughter. Joker smiled, seeing her writhing form.

“Maybe we have a few minutes, to-ah return the favor.” He lifted an eyebrow and gave a cocky smile.

———————————————-

“He’s upstairs Boss.” Joker slapped his hands together in excitement.

“Oh goody!” He snatched Rose’s hand, pulling her nervous body towards the stairs. “Move, move. Move it!” Clowns were trying to move out of the way quickly, some weren’t as lucky, Joker pushed several over the stair’s banister. Some with just his elbow, others with the end of his knife. The thugs cleared the doorway as Joker threw Rose into the dim room at the top of the stairs.

Different types of sweets permeated the air, expensive chocolates, delectable toffees, and blood? Rose looked towards the ground seeing blood stains across the floor. She tried to avoid looking at the drag marks to adjacent corners of the room. Whoever lost was probably in pieces.

“Hello?” She watched as four clowns were pounding on someone. The man was trying to put up a fight, but there was only so much that could be done in their position.

“Rose?” A familiar voice snapped her out of her daze, she feverishly threw the attackers away from him.

“Get off him you animals!” She shrieked, her father was bloody and disheveled. She was sick to her stomach. She held her father’s face in the palms of her hands as he began to slide down the wall. She knelt with him. She could hear Joker whistle at the others, making them leave the room.

“Are you okay? Can you breathe?” She started to wipe some of the blood from his sweat slicked hair. He pushed her back slightly, his arm weak from the beating. His forces were dropped all around him, he hadn’t a chance to flee.

The last three days had been hell for him, trying to evade angry citizens, keep his distance from corrupt police and disloyal servants. He was going to die, to be throw in the heaps of bodies lying beside him. Oh, had he wished death would have come sooner, he didn’t want her to see him like this. He glanced at his daughter’s legs, snarling in disgust. He narrowed his eyes at the clown behind her, taking in the scene before him in sick pleasure. He split out some blood before speaking.

“You sick…freak. How dare you!” Joker cackled, his personal touch to Rose had gained the attention he wanted.

“Me?” He shook his head, trying to contain his excitement with fake woe. “I didn’t initiate any of that. I practically had to fight her off as it was.”

“What are you babbling about?” Rose felt as if she had missed something important. Her father’s eyes blazed into the Joker’s. Her father pushed her back again, her legs let go from her crouched position.

“You smell like sex, grease paint and him!” She looked down to see, dried cum and grease paint up and down her legs. She just wanted to cry, she was a whore. Getting fucked in an abandoned area while her father was gambling for his life. “You did this to her! You ruined her! You destroyed her innocence!” Joker cackled again moving to Rose’s side. He patted her on the cheek.

“Far from innocent. Your little girl here, she taught me a few tricks that I didn’t even know.” He had been theatrically gesturing crudely, “There’s few that can one up my experience, but there she is taking as much….” Rose shoved the Joker back enraged herself. She stood up glaring at Joker herself.

“You asshole! What the hell is the point of this?” Joker grinned, she just wanted to slap it right off his face.

“I’m here to snuff the light right out. I want to watch you truly lose yourself to the madness. So, what’s it going to be? Kill or be killed!” Rose stared at her father, she couldn’t lose him. Everything she had, her smile, her devotion, her mother’s legacy, her everything would be gone.

“I’ve killed plenty before. Why do I have to do this?” Joker knew she was trying to stall the inevitable.

“Because it’s the ultimate test, prove sanity or… Insanity.” He released a maniac laugh. She looked at the Joker and looked back at her father. She loosened her grip on the gun, Joker pushed it firmly back into her hand. “Loopholes aren’t at play here. To win the prize, you must play the game.”

“I can’t.” She cried out, she didn’t want to choose between the two and it sickened her.

“Trouble baby,” she swooned at her childhood nickname, she turned her attention back to her father who was backed into a corner. A little bruised, a little broken, mostly unsure. “Who is the woman that you want to be?” Joker clapped his hands in excitement, a menacing grin spread across his face.

“Yes, trouble what kind of chaos do you want to create? Show us the woman you want to be?” Joker picked up her hands cocked the gun towards his temple. He guided her fingers to the trigger. “Let’s create some chaos-sah.” His dark eyes dared her, they made her itch to squeeze the hard trigger. Her body ached, constantly reminding her of the hell he had put her through. The cutting of words, of skin, of everything that was good in her life.

She snapped her head to the right, as if to push the thoughts away. He had freed her, liberated her from the lies that she was buried beneath. He made her understand the passion she had been looking for, had always been dreaming for. She was never destined to live in the shadows, she was never destined to live the simple content life of a nobody. She was somebody, she was Salvatore Maroni’s only heir.

“I won’t.” Joker lowered the gun, grinning widely as he patted her on the shoulder. He always had good odds at this game.

“You made the right choice doll. Now we finish the job.” He pulled the pistol from her grasp and towards to the unarmed mobster.

“Wait.” The Joker paused, “let me do it.”

“Ha ha ha. This is too rich.” He pushed the warm metal back into her hand. “One shot doll. Don’t miss.” He licked his lips in anticipation.

“Rosalyn Christine.” She stepped closer to her father, “Rose.”

“Mr. Maroni,” she shook her head, “father.”

“You don’t want to do this.” He raised his hands reassuring her he was unarmed. Her eyes began to blur with tears she wiped her eyes on her shaking arm.

“You’re right I don’t,” she softly caressed the side of his face, “but I have to, it’s the only way.” He noticed the gleam in her eye, he had the same look when his mind was turning. She was trying to think on her feet.

“What you are playing at Rose?” She backed a bit away.

“Yes, Rose-ah. What are you doing?”

“I’m going to finally win.” She cocked the gun pressing it to her temple. She turned staring at the third figure that had largely went unnoticed the last thirty seconds, the Batman.

“Don’t you dare, this is not how the game played.” Her finger ghosting over the trigger. Joker roared, “ROSE!” Bruce was torn, would he take his opportunity to take down this psycho, or stop a corruptible girl from meeting her end. He would be too slow to make his decision.

“But for once, I’m going to play by my rules.” She turned facing the men, Joker was quickly advancing towards her, Batman aiming his grappling gun at him, while her father was staring at her in disbelief. Without clarifying who, she whispered, “I love you.” And she pulled the trigger.