Work Text:
Corruption was intoxicating. It was wildly addictive and Bruce Wayne, being human, was prone to this addiction.
It tasted just like acid, cotton candy, and gunpowder. It was the blossoming purple of bruises, acidic green eyes, the white snow that fell every December, and it was the deep red that flowed from bodies. Corruption was a sweet desire that sat right at the pit of Bruce's stomach only to snake up into a blush on his cheeks. It was all the things wrong with Gotham and all the things wrong with Bruce Wayne.
"I knew you had it in you, sugar." The clown whispered into his ear. Bruce tasted blood; it was a familiar taste that, in some twisted way, comforted his tastebuds. He leant in, silencing The Joker and biting on his lip. Bruce feared words only made Gotham's cries louder; and he was going deaf.
This wasn't happening, along with every other kiss and every other long night. Their relationship couldn't be real even though Bruce felt it so deep in his stomach. The vigilante could feel a change in his being, along with the air in Gotham; the hot summer was exchanging roles with a more familiar cold winter. Batman thrived in the winter, and in turn, The Joker was also at his most powerful. The twos greatest dances commenced during cold winters; giant galas of romantic violence that only ended in the loss of innocence...in the loss of lives.
Their relationship had been changing along with the seasons; what started as another outlet for hatred had turned into genuine honeymoon-phase outings. Bruce's head was spinning because holy shit corruption looked a lot like stargazing dates. The toxicity of Joker's words had turned into soft sweet nothings and Gotham was now being flipped on it's head.
The batsuit didn't feel right.
Church didn't feel safe.
Alfred didn't feel like a father.
Work didn't feel fulfilling.
Jim didn't feel like a friend.
Bruce Wayne was now corrupted; he was dirty. He had red lipstick on his collar and acid running through his veins. He belonged to the very thing that destroyed all of Gotham; Batman used to exist in spite of Joker...but now he existed for Joker.
Silk sheets felt right.
Dingy apartments felt safe.
Bloody kisses felt deserving.
Late night rendezvous felt fulfilling.
The Joker is more than an enemy.
Bruce couldn't escape it, he was falling into an endless pit. A pit that was written as a prophecy for him, an inevitable demise destined with the bullets that made him.
Joker said it constantly, "This is meant to be, Batsy. You see, we're the same...you and I. Both created out of the pits of darkness, reborn as monsters. We sit in this uncanny valley of inhuman humans...rejected from society-" Bruce was crying, tears flowed from his blue eyes; and Joker only laughed, "-oh baby, you know it's true. It's why we need each other...it's why you come back to me like a moth to flame. You know I'll hurt you-" The clown used a knife to cast his lover's tears away, "-but it's just apart of your instincts."
slash. blood poured from the cut, a violent expression of love now placed right below Bruce's jaw. It hurt and tears continued to flow down his sad face, but Joker always fixed it. He'd kiss it better, like always; and Bruce would come back like moth to a flame. Bruce was bleeding and in turn, being drained of Batman.
Corruption tasted just like blood, candy, and cheap cologne. It was the heavy purple eyebags, neon green hair-dye, the white noise ringing in Bruce's ear, and it was the bleeding red of his heart onto a lover's hand. Corruption was a twisted craving that took over Joker's motives and twinkled in Bruce's eyes.
Instincts drew them to each other. Batman was destined to be tainted by purple, green, white, and red. Blood was on the vigilantes chest; but it was his own. The Joker's fate lied in those kevlar-clad hands; his heart beating solely for Gotham's dark knight. Two sides of the same coin ripping at each other's throats, clawing for blood and flesh and lust and love. Both would dance till they starved, scream till they died, and cry till nothing was left.
This was going to kill the both of them.
They were going to die together.