Arthur Fleck and Joker Imagines

The one that got away - Arthur x Reader

Inspired by 'Fast Car' by Tracy Chapman.

As Arthur stared at the woman, he had called mother for as long as he could remember from the doorway of her hospital room, he couldn't help but think about the girl that he had let get away because of her. Now that he knew all about Penny Fleck's secrets, about all the lies she had told him, there was nothing he could do but hate the frail woman in the bed and lament the life that she had denied him.

Arthur could remember the look on (Y/n)'s face as he had stood there with his bag in his hand, he could remember that fateful moment that he had decided not to get in her car and leave with her, he could remember that last glimpse, as he saw a tear roll down her cheek before her car sped off into the distance.

Arthur had met (Y/n) when she had arrived at Gotham High, halfway through the semester; new kids always caused a stir, but (Y/n) caused a bigger stir than anyone else. She was exceptionally beautiful and intelligent, but unlike many of the other girls, she never cared for her looks; she preferred to read, spending most of her free time climbing trees with a book between her teeth, vanishing for hours into the leafy canopies, the sun glinting through the leaves and onto her face as she lost herself in another world.

Arthur always thought that (Y/n) looked like the kind of girl that should be the head cheerleader, the archetypal girlfriend of the quarterback; but much to his shock and amazement she seemed to have been as drawn to him as he was to her.

(Y/n) strangely became Arthur's friend and protector; people had found out that she was the daughter of some kind of war hero, and that dear old dad had taught her quite a thing or two, so as long as she was by his side, no one would dare mess with him, and even when she wasn't, the idea that (Y/n) would find out that someone had bullied him, instantly made the prospective bully think twice.

For once in his life Arthur had felt loved; (Y/n) had been his first real friend, his first real love, and his first kiss. He would spend as much time as he could at her house, desperate not to have to return to the apartment where his mother would be waiting.

(Y/n)'s mother was a sweet and kind large lady, the kind you would see on ads for family meals, or the image of the perfect farmer's wife, the apple pie American mom from the 1950s; her father was a tough man, and even though it was obvious that the ex-serviceman had a problem with the drink, he was still a good man, and would always tell Arthur about his time overseas.

But (Y/n)'s life had changed the day her mother had left; her father's drinking had slowly gotten worse, finally getting to a point where (Y/n)'s mother had packed what little she could, and left in the middle of the night, leaving her young daughter to pick up the pieces and try and care for her father.

Arthur was distraught when (Y/n) had left high school, and despite the fact he knew she had done it to look after a man that was slowly descending into the depths of alcoholism, it didn't make it any easier. She had taken a job at a convenience store and used the money to maintain the house as best she could, but had bought one thing for herself, a fast car.

"Is everything ok (Y/n)?" Arthur had asked, as the two sat on the bleachers, looking out onto the school's sports field.

"Arthur, I'm leaving." (Y/n) suddenly said, turning to face him.

"I'm leaving Gotham, and I want you to come with me." She admitted, looking into his shocked eyes.

"B-b-but (Y/n) what would we do? We don't have any money or anywhere to go, why would we leave?" Arthur asked, as (Y/n) stood up, clutching her head in pure frustration.

"We would leave because any place is better than this, because we have nothing to lose Arthur; and maybe, just maybe, you and I could get somewhere. I've been able to save a little bit of money, and it should keep us for a while, we can go anywhere Arthur, do anything. We can have a life, together; I can get away from my dad, and you can get away from Penny, she doesn't deserve you Arthur, you are too good for this place, too good for her. I have to leave...... I want a life, and I want you to be in that life." (Y/n) said, the tears flowing down her cheeks as she threw her arms around him, squeezing him tight.

Arthur knew that (Y/n) was right, his mom would never let him have a life, she hated (Y/n) even though she had never met her; his mom had been rude about (Y/n)'s parents, even though she knew nothing about them, in fact, his mom hated anyone that may keep him away from spending all his time with her.

"Alright." Arthur had said simply, as (Y/n) pulled away, so that she could take his face in her hands and kiss him deeply.

The two had arranged to meet back at the sports field the next night, they would both get in her car and drive away, leaving the city and their parents behind, never looking back, always looking forward.

Arthur could remember feeling nothing but joy and a feeling of liberation as he packed a few belongings into a bag; as he did, he thought about the look of love that (Y/n) had given him when the two had parted the day before, and knew that no matter what happened, at least now their lives would be their own.

Slowly and quietly Arthur had made his way to the door, taking one last look at his mother as she watched TV, completely oblivious to the fact that he would now be leaving her.

As he waited for (Y/n), Arthur couldn't help but think about his mother, about how he was the man of the house, about how she needed someone to look after her; it was then he began to feel the guilt.

Suddenly a car came roaring towards him, stopping only feet from his legs, as (Y/n) jumped out of the driver's seat and into Arthur's arms.

"Oh Arthur, thank god you are here...... I was worried that you wouldn't turn up." (Y/n) said, pulling away from his arms, the bright smile leaving her lips when she saw his face.

"You're not coming with me, are you?" (Y/n) had asked, watching as Arthur lowered his gaze, not feeling brave enough to look into (Y/n)'s hurt eyes.

She sighed heavily. "It's ok Arthur, deep down I knew that you couldn't leave your mom; but as much as I don't want to leave you, as much as I love you, I can't stay here, even if this is the worst decision of my life I have to take a chance." She had told him, pulling him back into her arms and holding him tight.

"Well Arthur Fleck, this is goodbye." (Y/n) said, taking his face in her hand.

She kissed him. "This is for what could have been." She said, before kissing him again.

"This is for what would have been." She told him, before kissing him one last time.

"And this is for what should have been." She had said, a small sad smile gracing her lips, as she took one last long look in his eyes.

"Don't ever forget me Arthur, because I will never forget you." She said, fighting back the tears as Arthur reluctantly let her go.

As she had climbed into the car, Arthur had looked through the passenger side window, his eyes falling on the single perfect tear drop that rolled down her cheek.

"I love you Arthur." Was the last thing she had said, before the car roared to life, and had sped off into the distance.

Arthur could remember the long walk home, his heart and spirit were broken, and he knew then that he had thrown away the only opportunity he would ever have, to have a normal life.

"There you are Happy; did you check the mail dear?" His mother had asked, as he walked back through the door.

"Er..... yeah mom. Nothing I'm afraid." He had said, rushing off to hide his bag so that his mother would not know that he had tried to leave.

Arthur had never heard anything from (Y/n) again, he knew he had hurt her too badly to warrant knowing what her new life had brought her, though had he had been to see her father once or twice in hopes that he would know if something had happened to her; but each time he had gone to her old house, her father was too drunk to remember his own name, never mind care about what could have happened to his daughter.

He had often hoped that she had thought about him, often hoped that she still loved him; but he knew in his heart of hearts, that she probably had never given him another thought, that by now she would have a wonderful life, with an amazing husband, who would never abandon her for a mother that had told him nothing but lies.

Arthur shook his head angrily, trying to get the thoughts of guilt about abandoning the only woman that had ever loved him out of his mind. He stood up straight, and made his way into his mother's room; as she looked up at him and tried to speak, Arthur knew that it was time that he took his life back; and as he pressed the pillow down over Penny's head, Arthur couldn't help but long for the one that had got away.