Not Done Yet

A/N: As always, I am so sorry to take so long to update, please forgive me. Thank you so much for reviewing!!

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The first days of the Joker's residency in the Wayne penthouse passed smoothly enough. Bruce eventually worked up the courage to take him downstairs to meet Alfred; to his surprise and pleasure, Jack was relatively polite and friendly towards the older man. Alfred was his usual self, betraying no trace of concern and treating the unpredictable criminal with at least superficial good will and respect.

Bruce took him on a tour of the penthouse--although, not the Bat Cave--ending in his home office, where he showed him the plans, well underway, for the rebuilding of Wayne Manor. Jack was interested, obviously familiar with reading blueprints, and asked some very perceptive questions about the building, it's flow and structure, which Bruce took pride in answering to his satisfaction, and for a brief time, the two were more like a pair of old friends, equals, rather than a captor and his prisoner. Bruce liked that very much.

Bruce had already decided that Batman needed to take a week off; he couldn't take a chance on disrupting what appeared to be turning into a fairly calm transition for the Joker, and he didn't need to place anymore stress on himself at this time, plus things had been wonderfully quiet in the city for the last several days. As Jack, seated in the desk chair, mulled over the plans with his host standing next to him, Bruce decided to tell him that he would be staying at home with him for the next few nights.

"Really, Brucie? You're gonna hang out with me instead of ferreting out vicious gangs of jay walkers and purse snatchers?" he asked, amused, but seemingly pleased.

"Um-hm."

"Well...that's peachy," Jack mused. "But...."

"But, what?"

"Uh...aren't ya supposed to, you know, protect the city and all that? Be the Dark Knight? I don't want to interfere...I mean, what if the litterbugs decide to take over the city? Who'll be there to stop 'em?"

"I think the sanitation department can handle it."

They chuckled for a moment, then Jack cast a frown of concern at his host.

"No, really, Bats, are you sure? Maybe you should...."

"Everything's fine right now. I can afford to stay in for a little while, I think."

"Oh. Ok." He actually sounded disappointed.

"What?" asked Bruce in mild exasperation.

"Nothing. I just thought...."

"Yes?"

"I thought maybe I could go with you...you know, like the night I saved your life? Remember? Now, that was a fun night. I'd like to do that again. How about it, hm?"

"No! You are NEVER going out with Batman--ever, do you understand? And, if you'll recall, I could have been killed that night...."

"I know! That's what made it so exciting!" The Joker giggled with the pleasure of the memory.

"Well, I hate to tell you this, but I'm not planning to allow a repeat of that little incident just to keep you occupied. And, you're not leaving this building, period, much less going out on patrol with me. Do you understand?" Bruce bent down to stare intently into Jack's eyes. The slighter man glared back for a while, then rolled his eyes impatiently.

"Fine! Ok, whatever you say, Bruce. I know my place, right here in your little maximum security luxury resort. But I could help ya, if you'd just let me. You know, use my powers for good, not evil, and all that...."

"Uh-huh. A very kind offer, but no thanks. Just, please, do what I ask and stay put."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Once again, it becomes very obvious that you don't trust me...."

"I never said I did, did I?"

The former clown gave Bruce an exaggeratedly hurt look, then shrugged.

"True...I guess you're smarter than you look, huh?"

"I'm smarter than you think I am. Look, how about we go downstairs and play pool until dinner? Ok?" asked the dark-haired man, giving him a hug and pat on the shoulder, hoping to mollify his companion.

Jack made a show of pondering the suggestion. Then, magically dismissing his grumpy mood, he cheerfully accepted, and the two men headed off to the game room.

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After dinner, they watched a movie in the den, each rather uncomfortably seated at opposite ends of the overstuffed leather couch. Bruce found himself wishing he could pull his lover over next to him, but the probability of Alfred coming in and seeing them like that deterred him. He didn't think Alfred was ready for that.

When Bruce noticed that Jack had slipped into a light doze, he grinned, moved over and smacked him on the back of the head, a little harder than he intended.

"Ow..." the Joker complained, startled and groggy. He rubbed his head and gave Bruce a look that suggested he was ready to go into fight mode....

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty, are you ready to go upstairs?" Bruce asked amiably.

"Oh...uh, yeah. Sorry, the meds...." He still looked a bit disoriented.

"That's ok, it's been a long day. I'm ready for a good night's sleep myself."

"How'd the movie end?" he asked, interested, as they roused themselves into standing positions and headed for Bruce's bedroom.

"Everybody dies," Bruce revealed.

"Cool!" Jack answered, cheered.

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Both men were exhausted. They disrobed, crawled into bed, and after a perfunctory good-night kiss at Bruce's insistence, Jack scooted as far away as possible from his bedmate, leaving Bruce, disappointed, to turn over on his side with a pointed sigh, to go to sleep without further physical contact. He was too tired for sex, but he had hoped to be able to sleep with Jack close to him, not way over on the other side of the world....

Jack also sighed. It was a goddamn king-sized bed, what the hell did Bat-boy need to be so close to him for? It was annoying, and he didn't see the point, he'd be asleep, for God's sake, what difference did it make where he physically ended up? Sex was one thing, this namby-pamby cuddling crap was quite another...he'd break him of wanting it, if he had to use a damn crowbar....

They both fell asleep, each suffering their own variety of dissatisfaction.

Hours later, Bruce awoke at the sound of Jack's voice, muttering nonsense. He was still sound asleep on his side of the bed and he had slept so fitfully he'd wriggled out from under the covers. He was sleeping naked, covered only by a thin sheet over his midsection, his legs bare, and his pale, bony shoulder exposed, vulnerable. Bruce scooted over, reached out and laid his hand on him, and found he was ice cold. Tsking, he reached down for the blanket and pulled it up over his bedmate.

The movements disturbed Jack, and he shivered. "Cold," he whispered sleepily. "Well, hot shot, come over here then, I'll warm you up," said Bruce, suddenly filled with a swell of affection for the man, combined with lust and something like protectiveness.

Jack, too groggy to argue, obediently rolled over into his arms, snuggling up against him like a kid. Bruce brushed his lips over his forehead, and again gathered the covers around Jack's bare shoulders.

"Its' been a long time since anyone gave a shit whether I slept warm or not...." Jack murmured. He sleepily looked up at Bruce and grinned slowly. Bruce smiled back at him and kissed him. Feeling Bruce's member surge into an erection, Jack accommodatingly flipped over, his back against Bruce's chest, pulled up one leg, and offered Bruce his entrance.

"'Come on, Brucie, fuck me," he demanded playfully, wiggling his bottom suggestively against Bruce's hardness.

"Ok," Bruce agreed without a second thought, reaching for the lube.

"Don't bother, don't need it, just hurry up..." Jack hissed irritably.

"No, I don't like hurting you, just hold your horses a minute," said Bruce patiently, as he began to prepare his lover.

Jack rolled his eyes, but had to admit, having Bruce's slicked-up member slide smoothly into him did feel nice, rather than the rough, painful resistance he was accustomed to.

Bruce held him securely with one arm wrapped tightly around his waist. His other hand gave Jack's cock a firm caress followed by long strokes that brought the just-awakening erection to full attention. He then ran his hand up his partner's torso, brushed his fingertips over Jack's nipple, gently pinching and twisting it until he moaned in response.

Bruce nibbled on the chilled shoulder, moved upward, taking a moment to push a mop of tangled blond curls out of the way to find the tender skin on the back of Jack's neck, and he firmly bit into it, pulling the flesh, tasting him. Jack shivered and gave a deep, appreciative chuckle at his lover's commanding touch.

Bruce reached over to take Jack's chin in hand, gently forcing him to turn his head, craning his own neck far enough to master a long, loving kiss as he thrust deeply into the skinny blond's tight channel.

Jack took Bruce's hand and firmly placed it on his own erection, silently asking for further attention, which Bruce obligingly provided.

"How's that feel?" Bruce asked as he stroked him with tight, rapid movements.

"Too fucking good, I'm already coming--you bastard, this is too damn quick," he groaned as he flooded Bruce's hand with his creamy ejaculate.

After Jack's release, Bruce pushed him onto his stomach, and without pulling out, continued powerfully thrusting into him from behind, until he heard himself cry out in blinding orgasm.

Their fevered coupling finally complete, Bruce gathered his lover into his arms for a long, passionate goodnight kiss. The Joker submitted to it--he had already learned he had no choice, well, not if he didn't want to fire up an emotionally-charged verbal battle, which he was in no mood to do. He'd found that once Bruce had him wrapped in those strong, steely arms, there was no easy escape until he was done with him.

After a lengthy session of post-coital smooching, Bruce finally gave him an affectionate peck on his nose and smiled. "Goodnight, babe." he said softly, releasing his grip on the blond.

"'Night!..." the Joker gratefully responded and took the opportunity to hastily pull out of the embrace, roll over and scoot to the safety of his side of the bed.

Bruce stared after him. He couldn't understand it. Of all the things he had hoped for with having Jack share his bed throughout the night, it was that they could finally fall asleep in each other's arms, and that he could wake up with Jack snuggled against him, the two sharing their body heat in a kind of innocent intimacy that had nothing to do with sex.

But Jack wasn't having any of it.

Bruce looked over at the slight frame of his blond boyfriend in the dim light--the room was illuminated by the moon and the distant street lights of Gotham--and felt sad. He knew he could scoot over and put his arm around Jack, but he had learned that would result in at the very least an annoyed grunt, and, more likely, an exasperated Jack, rolling out of bed in disgust and throwing himself on the chaise lounge to sleep alone.

Jack heard the loud, meaningful sigh. He could have ignored it. He wanted to ignore it. But...damn it, why was Bruce so...needy? Maybe he should get a puppy, a big one. Something warm and helpless to cuddle with...then maybe he could get some sleep.

"What?" he finally asked in exasperation, after a second, pointed sigh.

"Nothing, forget it."

"Well, I can't sleep with you making noises all night. What's the matter?" Jack twisted around and propped up his head with one hand.

"Nothing! Go to sleep."

Jack narrowed his eyes at Bruce, but turned over again and took another shot at going back to sleep.

"It's just..."

Jack's eyes flew open and he was beginning to feel a murderous intent. Taking a deep breath, he wondered if he should pop a couple of his anti-anxiety meds real quick, before Gotham permanently lost its Dark Knight.

"For God's sake, Bruce, what is wrong?" he asked.

"You never want to be close to me." he said simply.

"What the hell do you call what we've been doing for the last half hour, how much closer can you get than having your dick all the way up my ass? Isn't that enough?" he asked plaintively.

"It's not the same. I just...I like having you next to me when I sleep."

Jack rolled his eyes in frustration.

"But, I can't sleep like that! You move around too much, and you breathe on me...."

Bruce knew Jack was a light sleeper, and his sensitivity to sound and touch were heightened by some of the meds he was taking. He tried to be understanding, but Jack was so uncompromising...

"Ok. Never mind. Good night." Bruce rolled over on his side and closed his eyes.

Jack was half sitting up and he stared over at his lover's dark, muscular form. He was so fucking beautiful, but such a pain in the ass. Yet, sweet, in his way. He deserved better...Jack irritably got up, shambled over to Bruce's side of the bed, and crouched down next to him, peering into his face until his eyes opened.

"Hey, dumb-ass. Look. Just because I don't want to be squished all night doesn't mean I don't, you know, like you. I do, heh, obviously. It's just...you know, I've been sleeping alone in a hospital bed for the last year, and the only time someone touched me, it was to stick a needle in my arm or clamp an electrode on my brain. I just...need some time, you know? I know I'm an asshole, but it's not because...."

"I know!" Bruce stuck his hand out from under the covers and caressed his lover's scarred face. "I know. I'm expecting way too much from you. I just...I'm just glad you're here, ok?" Bruce's voice was heavy with emotion and Jack smiled at him encouragingly.

"It won't always be like this, I promise. Just give me some time, ok? I'm trying to..."

"I know. I'm sorry, you need to get some sleep, good night." Bruce reached out and gave Jack a gentle kiss, lay back and shut his eyes.

Jack stared at him a minute, ran his hand over Bruce's tousled dark hair, down to his smooth cheek, then stood and returned to his side of the bed.

"Fucking 'relationship'..." he muttered as he climbed back into bed, but he had a smile on his face as he drifted off to sleep.

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