Archive of Our Own ^beta

Bruce sipped the champaign glass in his hand, looking out over the crowd of people chattering idlely.

He didn't want to be here. 

But Alfred had insisted that he should go; picking out a White Formal suit for him, and a black metallic mask that resembled his cowl maybe a little too much.

Who's idea was the ' New Year's Masquerade Ball ' Anyways? It was a very dull idea, in Bruce's opinion.

He was about to call Alfred and tell him that he was leaving the Ball to go patrol the city as Batman when he saw it.

Acid green eyes flashed brightly even from afar. Without thinking, Bruce stepped forward; trying to get another look at the person before coming to any conclusions.

And there he was. Without a doubt, in a satin white strapless evening gown and a wide-brimmed white sun hat. Joker. 

His mask was plain and white, too generic for the Clown's tastes. 'He must want to blend in then, at least for a while.'

His green hair was carefully hidden beneath his hat, but he could throw it away any second to reveal himself and pull weapons out from his gown.

Bruce approached the man slowly, trying to seem casual. But the closer he got, the more his composure seemed to wane, because Joker looked absolutely beautiful in the dress, like it was his wedding.

Bruce shook his head, telling himself to focus. Joker wouldnt have come here without a dangerous plan in mind.

"Oh, ofcourse." Bruce heard Joker purr, thats when he noticed the young man standing beside his clown.

"Wait, really?" The man asked, eyes wide and face flushed. He had dark brown hair and even darker brown eyes, his suit was plain grey, just like his mask. There was nothing about him that couldve gotten the clown's attention.

Bruce narrowed his eyes as he watched the man awkwardly try to hold Joker, who chuckled and took the man's hands in his own; draping one on his own waist and holding up the other with his hand. Then he brought his other hand up to rest on the Man's shoulder.

Bruce's nails dug into his palms as he tightened his fists. 'What is Joker doing? What did this man have to do with whatever his plan was?'

The billionare shook his head and took in a breath, then exhaled through his mouth.

When he looked up again, Joker and that man were swaying slowly to the soft music in the background.

Bruce wanted to break something. 

Preferrably Joker's nose, because- 'What the hell is he doing?'

The clown let out a soft huff of laughter when the man stumbled a little, unable to keep up with Joker's pace.

Bruce looked around, trying to find out if Joker had brought his underlings with him. Then the tempo changed, the music got louder, and more people started to dance.

He heard some people calling out his name tentatively, but he paid them no mind. Then when the man messed up one too many times and awkwardly left, Joker started dancing with someone else.

This one wore a grey mask with a brown suit, and he'd kissed Joker's white gloved knuckles before moving to hold his waist. Joker, in turn, held onto his shoulder's, grinning as he did.

Bruce was Fuming.

And before he realised it, he was walking towards Joker with intense strides.

The two of them turned to Bruce when they noticed him approach. The man frowned, looking at him questioningly. Bruce didnt give him a second glance and turned all his attention to Joker; who looked at him with amusement shining in his eyes.

"And who might You be?" The Clown purred. "I believe," Bruce leaned in to whisper lowly into the clown's ear. "You owe me a dance."

Joker chuckled. "Oh? Do I, now?" He seemed intrigued, all his attention finally focussed on Bruce. "Yes."

The man who was dancing with Joker opened his mouth to protest, but the clown politely apolagised to him and left with Bruce. "I dont know who exactly you think I am, but you seem interesting." Joker commented as Bruce pulled him closer by his waist.

"Hn, how so?" Bruce asked, trying not to linger on the feeling of Joker's hip-bones, separated from Bruce's bare hands only by a single piece of cloth. 'Did those men feel it too?' Bruce felt an ugly feeling flare up at the thought.

"You have this almost arrogant confidence in your voice," Joker wrapped his hands around Bruce's neck. "I could say the same for you." Bruce started slowly swaying them to the music. Joker giggled. "Oh, I like you." He grinned up at Bruce. 

After a second, Joker narrowed his eyes. "Now that I think about it, you seem a little... familiar." Bruce's eyebrows rose.

"I dont think we've met before, though." Bruce replied casually. Joker hummed, pouting. "Yeah, alright. Its not possible for us to have met before, anyways."

Bruce slowly steered them towards the underside of the Large stairs, knowing that it was a blind spot for the cameras. "I see."

Joker seemed to realise where they were heading. "Not a fan of crowds." Bruce tried not to raise any suspision yet. Joker responded with a hum.

They were finally away from prying eyes now. Bruce stopped dancing.

Joker now eyed him with suspision. It couldnt be helped.

Bruce then pushed Joker forward, pinning him to the wall. Joker chuckled. "Well, would you look at that. I'm sorry, Mister; but my heart belongs to another."

Bruce knew. He knew that Joker had... Feelings, for Batman. But till this day, he'd always told himself that he didnt reciprocate it.

Bruce hadnt even considered the possibility of Joker ever giving another man the time of his day, though. But here he was, dancing and holding and being kissed- albeit on the knuckles- by men he didnt even care to learn the names of. They were all so very bland, too; not Joker's type at all.

"Ahem, listen here-" Bruce put a hand over Joker's lipstick-covered mouth. "I know," The billionare leaned down to whisper in Joker's ear. "Joker." The clown froze.

"What?" He asked, caught off-guard. 

"I think you're very mistaken-" He pulled out a folding fan from a hidden pocket in his gown and used it to hide his face. "No, I know who you are." Bruce said confidently. "You cant just-" Joker's words were cut off when Bruce snatched his mask off of his face.

"Wha- Hey!" The clown tried to reach for it, but Bruce held it up and out of his reach. "Give it back, you-" Bruce used his body to cage Joker there, pressing closer until the clown barely had space to breathe.

Joker looked offended. Bruce leaned in close, their noses brushing. Joker froze.

Then he averted his gaze, using his folding fan to push Bruce away.

"Youre not supposed to take my mask off. This is a masquerade-" Bruce simply stared at Joker's lips intensely. His lipstick had gotten smudged when Bruce used his hand to shut him up.

"You know the Rules, right?" He refrained from meeting Bruce's eyes. "No." The billionare simply stated.

Joker finally met Bruce's gaze again. Then his eyes widened, pupils expanding as he let out a soft gasp.

Joker recognised him. That should've been a cause for concern; his secret identity being revealed to his greatest enemy, but all Bruce could think was 'Finally.'

Then he dove in to capture Joker's lips with his own.

The clown gave a squeak of surprise, then kissed back like a starved man being let into a buffet.

Bruce's last remaining string of control snapped.

He pressed even closer, his chest flush against Joker's, then licked into his mouth. The clown brought his hands up to hold onto Bruce's shoulders for dear life, moaning in ecstacy.

Bruce tangled a hand into Joker's hair, his other hand running down the side of Joker's hips. The clown groaned, pushing himself up and throwing a leg around Bruce's back.

The Billionare caught Joker's thigh and lifted him up, biting the clown's lip. 

Joker let out sounds that Bruce had never imagined, even in his dreams. Then, all the dreams he'd had about this exact moment resurfaced from where Bruce had burried them, hoping to pretend they didnt exist.

'I'm doing that.' Bruce thought with a sense of Pride. He was the one pulling the noises out of Joker. Not anyone else. Him. It could only ever Be Him.