Arthur Fleck and Joker Imagines

A little inspiration - Part 4

(Y/n) couldn't help but laugh. In fact, she didn't think that she had stopped laughing since they had arrived at the mall. As soon as Arthur had reported for work at the fancy dress store, he had become the clown that he appeared to be on the outside.

He had danced, done magic tricks. Made balloon animals, and thrown himself into his role, body and soul. It was wonderful to watch the interaction between Arthur and the children that had either gone into the store or had passed by with their parents. She had lost count of the smiles, of the joy on the faces of the wide eyed youngsters that had been captivated by the bright, happy clown. It was still hard to think that the confident, bubbly, outrageous jester before her, was, in fact, under all that face paint, a shy, quiet, timid creature, who most people wouldn't know was there even if they tripped over him.

Suddenly the noise of her stomach grumbling alerted (Y/n) to the fact that she was yet to eat anything. The thought of going to a place that was full of clowns had put her off the idea of breakfast. But now as it was just her and Carnival, (Y/n) had decided that lunch might be the best idea. Pushing her notebook and pen back into her back, the book already almost filled with ideas and frantically scribbled images, she looked at her watch both hands pointing to twelve.

"Er........Carnival." (Y/n) said quietly as she came up behind Arthur, the author smiling at the children that were gathered around him. The kids squealing with laughter as the clown accidently let go of a modelling balloon that he was blowing up. The inflatable tumbling around in the air before dropping limply to the floor.

"Sorry to interrupt you mid performance. But aren't you entitled to a lunch break? I mean, you must be tired. You've done nothing but jump around since we've been here." (Y/n) noted, as Arthur went back to handing out balloons.

"I.......I don't normally take breaks. I just work through." Arthur confessed cheerfully, as the gleeful children slowly began to disperse, all carrying a riot of floating bright balloon attached to a length of string, with them.

"Arth.......I mean Carnival." (Y/n) began, remembering she had to keep up the pretense of this persona for the children that were left.

"You are a very naughty clown, Carnival. You should take the break that you are entitled to. And I am hungry and wouldn't mind your company." (Y/n) jokingly chastised him, as one or two of the children giggled at the exchange.

"Now." (Y/n) announced, as she turned to the kids that were looking up at her and Carnival.

"Mister Carnival has to go and move his clown car. It's needed back at the circus to take the elephants out for popcorn." (Y/n) informed the kids, as she took Arthur by the hand and pulled him to one side.

"Arthur, I'm serious. You need a break, even if its for fifteen minutes. Now go inside and tell them you will be back soon." She told him as she pushed him into the store. (Y/n) not noticing that a little girl had come up behind her.

"Are you Mister Carnival's mummy?" The child enquired. (Y/n) turning to look at the small girl, hoping that she didn't actually look old enough to be Arthur's mother.

"No sweetie. I'm not his mummy. I'm his....well......I." (Y/n) began, not quiet sure whether to describe herself as a friend, an acquaintance, or something else.

"I think you're his girlfriend." An older boy said, as he came up behind the little girl and took her hand.

"Mom sounds like that when she's telling daddy off." The boy continued, as both children now looked up at (Y/n), waiting for a response.

"Well.......I........I do like him.......I mean, he is nice. And he's sweet. And kind.......but I........" (Y/n) spluttered out, desperate to find an appropriate answer.

"See. She's definitely his girlfriend." The older boy noted as (Y/n) began to blush a shade of brilliant red.

"Come on Rebecca. Let's find mom." The boy said, as he turned and pulled the little girl behind him.

(Y/n) stood there for a moment, thinking that the old adage of, out of the mouths of babes, might just be appropriate in this situation. That the young man had seen something in her. Something in how she and Arthur interacted, that she herself hadn't noticed.

It was true that she did find Arthur sweet. That she did think he was kind. That despite her phobia, she had fought against it so that she could get to know him better. Originally, (Y/n) had tried to convince herself that it was all just for her story. That he was her inspiration. But as she contemplated what had already happened between them, how she had been caught up in his eyes while he was in the ward. How he had looked at her as he had listened to her proposition in the hospital canteen. How her heart had raced when she had seen him coming towards her earlier that day. How she had done nothing but smile since she had been watching him in the mall. (Y/n) beginning to seriously think that maybe this wasn't all for a book. And that maybe, just maybe, she did in fact more than just like Arthur.

It had been a long time since she had had any kind of serious relationship. Finding that she was always too busy to go out to the usual spots that one might find a man. But even when she had done, she had found that those that were available, were in her opinion, less than suitable. Some of them apparently only being interested in a quick roll in the hay rather than anything more. Yet Arthur seemed different. He was nice, polite, courteous. And (Y/n) felt this strange need to protect him, like she had this morning on the bus.

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Arthur quietly watched (Y/n). The woman seemingly lost in her thoughts. He had been to see the owner of the store, and had been told, to his surprise, that it was fine for him to have a break. That he could even have thirty minutes. And as he had happily made his way back to the front of the store to tell (Y/n) the good news, he found that he couldn't help but stop and stare as she seemed to have drifted off into her own mind.

He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. It wasn't just her figure, her hair, or her face that he found wonderfully appealing, it was how she had been with her niece in the hospital. How she had been so kind to him, how she had protected him that morning. How she hadn't been embarrassed to sit next to him on the bus. And even now, she actually wanted him to come for lunch with her.

Arthur knew that he shouldn't get his hopes up. That if he did, he would probably find those hopes dashed, and his heart broken. But he couldn't help but hope that there could actually be something more between them than (Y/n) just wanting to use him as inspiration for a book. More than just a friendship. He had noticed the way that she had looked at him in the hospital canteen when they had discussed her proposition. How despite her phobia she had still wanted to work with him. And that Gary's comments about just that, may be correct.

"(Y/n)." Arthur said softly, as he came up behind her. (Y/n) jumping slightly at the sudden sound of his voice.

"They said I could have thirty minutes. So, if you want to get some lunch, we can." Arthur told her, as he pulled his green wig from his head, and brushed his fingers through his wet hair.

"Oh, yeah. That's great Arthur. Come on, lets go find somewhere nice." (Y/n) told him, as she took him by the arm. The pair making there way through the mall.