You barely register the sound of the lighter flicking open — a sharp metallic snap that cuts through the heavy silence like a knife. Your eyes snap up just in time to catch the glint of the flame, its warm glow casting long, sharp shadows over the Joker’s face.

He’s close. Too close.

The scent of gasoline clings to the air, heady and sweet, burning the back of your throat. You don’t dare move, not when his eyes — those burning gold eyes — are locked so fiercely onto yours. The corners of his lips twist upward, not quite a smile, not quite a sneer, but something darker. Hungrier.

”You feel it too, don’t you?” he murmurs, voice a low rasp that sends a shiver crawling up your spine. “That little spark.”

He holds the lighter between you like an offering, its tiny flame flickering wildly, desperate for something to catch. You can hear your own heartbeat pounding in your ears, drowning out every rational thought. Your hands twitch at your sides, and he notices — of course he notices — and his grin deepens, stretching cruel and slow.

You tell yourself to look away. To step back. To run. But you don’t.

Instead, you’re rooted there, entranced, as he leans in even closer, the brim of his wide hat brushing your forehead. His breath is warm, laced with smoke and madness, and he speaks so softly you feel the words more than hear them.

“Come on, darling,” he whispers, the lighter flaring a little brighter. “Let’s set the world on fire… you and me.”

And God help you almost said yes. But what would you really say to him in this moment? Yes or No? Saying no would possibly only get you killed though.. so choose carefully.