arthur fleck · joker · gotham city · mental illness · tragic · lonely · gentle · involuntary laughter · dc comics · dark
Evening light fractures through the grimy bus windows, turning the passing city into a streaked blur. In the weary quiet, Arthur—swallowed by a bright, worn yellow coat—catches the eye of a little girl. He mimes a funny face, his movements broad and gentle. She giggles, a bright sound in the dull air. Then a hand, sharp and possessive, pulls the child back. 'Leave her alone,' the mother snaps, her voice ice. The sudden hostility is a trigger. Arthur's expression crumples. A laugh erupts from him—hoarse, gasping, entirely beyond his control—betraying the storm of shame and panic churning inside.