Arthur Fleck and Joker Imagines

Come home - Part 2 - Arthur x Reader

(Y/n) threw open the door of the cab, tossing dollar bills at the cabbie before she raced to the main door of the old apartment building. She knew that the driver had done his best to get there as quickly as possible. But the journey, for her, and she was sure Gary too, had felt like it had taken a lifetime. So, now that she was here, she wasn't going to waste any more time. She wasn't going be polite and wait for the little man to join her. (Y/n) quite sure that he would understand.

During the journey, Gary had done the best he could to try and tell her what to expect. To prepare her for the worst. But (Y/n) knew that she had to see it for herself. She had to see Arthur in person.

The large door to the building sounded as if it had almost broken from its hinges, as (Y/n) forced her way inside the address. It all just a blur as she chose to run up the stairs instead of taking the slow and creaking elevator. Not caring how many flights she would have to ascend to get to Arthur. Her heart pounding so violently in her chest as she got to the door of the apartment, that she was sure that at any moment it would fail her. Her eyes growing wide as she saw the still slightly ajar door that led to the dark home beyond.

Slumping against the wall, she tried to catch her breath. She knew that she had to be calm. That if Arthur hadn't been taking his prescribed meds. Had chosen instead to take something that he shouldn't, (Y/n) knew that his mind would be racing. That it would be descending into a dark hole. That every demon and voice that the prescribed pills would do their best to keep at bay, would now no longer have anything to stop them from escaping. And given that, she would need to have a level head. She would have to remain calm, despite every emotion screaming at her to let them escape.

"He is in a disgusting heap on his sofa." A voice said. (Y/n) nearly jumping out of her skin at the words. A wave of relief flooding over her, as she realised that Gary had managed to catch up with her.

"It isn't a pretty sight." Gary continued, as he took hold of (Y/n)'s hand and squeezed it gently.

"Bring him back to us, won't you, (Y/n)." The little man added. A small, worried smile creeping across his lips, as (Y/n) squeezed his hand in return. Nodding slowly before making her way through the door.

As (Y/n) moved further into the flat, she finally realised that the whole place smelt. No, strike that. It stunk. She couldn't quite put her finger on what it was, but she was sure that it was a mixture of terrible things. yet she doubted it would be food. Food being another thing that had a low priority in Arthur's life. Unless she had made him eat of course. But that was not her concern at the moment. Her concern was Arthur.

As she saw him, she couldn't help but gasp. She had never seen Arthur Fleck look like that before. Even on the best of days he could look a little bedraggled. Like some sweet, shaggy dog. Especially if he had been caught in the rain. But this, this was different. He looked filthy. Dishevelled. A heavy stubble kissed his cheeks, and his hair was revoltingly greasy. He seemed even thinner than he had been, if that was possible. His cheeks hollow, his eyes dark from the shadows that lay beneath them. And (Y/n) couldn't help but want to run to him. To take him into her arms and tell him that everything would be alright. But first she had to fix this. She had to make him see that not taking his medication was not the answer. That if he did love her, he would have to show it by promising that he would never do it again, despite how much she knew he hated being a slave to the pills. But, at this moment, she would have to be cruel before she could be kind.

With a deep breath, (Y/n) took a seat on the coffee table in front of him. Brushing away the tears that she had been unable to keep from falling, before she spoke.

"You look like shit. And you smell even worse." (Y/n) said. Her tone a little harsher than any that she had ever used for Arthur before. The quiet clown's eyes flying open as he heard her voice. Arthur slowly sitting and trying his best to straighten his pants.