Joaquin Phoenix Imagines

Misunderstood

< part 2 >

"N-no y/n I'm not a bad man I-I'm a misunderstood individual"

I sighed as I remembered that specific line...it's been 12 years now. Ever since I've seen Arthur or even mentioned his name. I decided to do some search on why he did what he did...one of my friends had bought up the death of Murray Franklin in class last week and with that I remembered having this friendship with Arthur...but I didn't tell anybody. Now that I was 19 years old I was living on my own...I rarely speak to my parents since I'm so wrapped up by work and assignments. But I did manage to find out a lot about Arthur's history...and I was shocked. All of these events starting from the subway murders to murdering Murray Franklin. All of these events were glazed and hidden from my 7 year old sight, 12 years ago... I knew where Arthur was kept but I was so scared...would he even remember me? He wouldn't even want to speak to me! I had no idea.
_
The next day I decided to visit Arthur! I was shaking! Would he even remember me? I walked outside into the freezing air, my coat wrapped around my body as I waited to the taxi. I waved my arm infront of the taxi that was approaching me. He stopped and I hopped in...knowing the asylum was quite far.

"Arkham Asylum please" I spoke
"Alright"

After an hour; I finally arrived...I gulped and thanked the taxi driver as I paid him. He drove off and I sighed waiting outside the unclean gate.
I knew what I wanted to say to him...he really had a impact on me...he showed me that there are people out there just like him who are being mistreated. And I wanted to thank him for being there in my life for a short amount of time but having such an impact as to the fact that I grew up being more opened minded instead of an asshole. I toughened myself up and pressed the bell beside the guy.
"Hello?" A voice spoke
"Hi I'm here for visiting hours"
Slowly the gate creaked opened; I walked up the minimum stairs and walked into the asylum. I walked over to the reception and greeted the recipient. She was a blonde women with bags underneath her eyes; she looked annoyed and just tired.
"Yes? How can I help you" she asked as she sipped her coffee
"Hi I'm here to see Arthur Fleck" I asked
She looked up from her computer screen to face me; she raised a brow and chuckled
"This ain't a place to fuck around"
"No seriously I need to speak to him"
"Who exactly are you? What relation do you have with Arthur Fleck?"
"His my fathers best friend?" I lied
"Fair enough what did he do buy you candy?" She chuckled
I sarcastically laughed back; finding her humour dull.
She lead me through the hallway...I could hear people crying painfully and others laughing hysterically! Some of the patients were wandering around. I followed after the receptionist and she showed me the room.
"He's in here" she said
Before I could thank her she walked away. I stood outside his door shaking at this point. I knocked twice; and heard a voice that I've been aching to hear for years.
"Who is it?"
I didn't respond I couldn't bring myself to respond
I heard the door unlock and Arthur stood there looking at me. He was rather confused. He still looked the same, those big green eyes, his messy brown hair...I smiled.
"I'm sorry but who are you?" He asked
"Oh my gosh Arthur" I sighed
"Lady no offence but I don't recognise you" he said as he looked left and right into the hallway trying to understand the situation
"It's alright"
"Have we meet?" he asked
"Yeah"
"Look if I was drunk or I stumbled across you at a party it meant nothing alright!" He said
"No no im not one of those" I said
"You don't seem like it, you look like you're in early 20s?"
"I'm actually 19 but close"
"Still have no idea who you are?"
"I'm y/n?" I said
Arthur's confusion soon faded and he smiled
"Oh my gosh you were the little girl" he gasped
"You still remember?"
"How can I forget? You were the reason why I" Arthur stopped and looked down
"Reason for what?" I asked
He looked up at me
"You were the reason why I stayed here...When I saw the fear in your eyes 12 years ago, it hurt me which confused me because I was sure that nothing would hurt me anymore" he explained
"I hated myself knowing that I had scared you, that made me feel like a horrible person; it sucks knowing that me as an individual could scare a child, all I ever wanted was to make people smile" he said as he finally looked up into my eyes
"Arthur I'm really sorry" I said
"It's alright"
"I did a lot of research on you Arthur"
Arthur eyes widened
"You had time" he smiled
"I wanted to thank you for showing me that there are different people and no matter what we should all be treated equally" I explained
Arthur smiled
"Hows your parents?" He asked knowing this wasn't a good question
I chuckled
"They're alright"
"Yikes"
I gasped
"Arthur" i laughed
"What's the real reason?"
"Real reason?"
"You look like you have a lot to say"
"I-I don't know how to say this but you know...I really just couldn't get you out of my head"
"This is scaring me" Arthur jokingly said
"Arthur!" I sighed
"I-I just I really like you" i said as I blushed
"Why?" He asked as he smiled
"I just realised these feelings have developed"
"Don't Get it twisted y/n! Your parents will cause a riot" Arthur laughed
"Arthur! This isn't a joke! I'm serious" I yelled causing Arthur to back away
"Alright alright" he smiled
"I'm sorry it's just it's been hard for me"
"It's okay y/n" he smiled
As he opened his arms up, I placed myself onto him as he slowly closed his arms. I felt safe.
[requested by -that199Xgrrrl- ]