2A/N: Hello!
Well, this was the first story for ''Heart/Clover/Joker no Kuni no Alice'' that I've written years ago.
I just recently found it again on my computer and reread it. Doing so, I realized that I could probably do better and started correcting the chapters, so I could upload a better version of the story years after I've actually invented it.
I hope that some readers from back then will find this story once again and that all of you will enjoy reading it.
The main pairing is intended to be Alice x Black Joker but there will also be some cute scenes with the other role holders. Please enjoy! :D
Disclaimer: I don't own anything besides this story!
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Chapter 1: I want you to nurse him!
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Alice slowly took one step after another as she walked through Joker's forest.
Curiously, she turned her head to both sides, her eyes drawn to the arrows that were attached to the trees and the broken toys which were scattered on the ground. As always, the sight made her feel uncomfortable but curious at the same time. Ever since she wondered where all these toys came from, yet alone why they were even there; the prison's corridors were covered by similar toys, she knew that much but even so she still couldn't figure out why they were also scattered in the forest itself.
The brunette shook her head, pushing the thought into one of the furthest corners of her mind. She would never find the answer anyway, let alone understand it if there was one.
Wonderland wasn't a place she was meant to understand in the first place. That fact was the only one she had understood a long time ago.
Finally reminding herself of her reason for being in the Jokers' realm, Alice increased her pace and walked in the circus' direction.
The young outsider was planning to change the season she was currently spending her time in. She had stayed at the Clover Tower for some time now and needed something different but the cold and the snow; something refreshing.
What season should I take? she wondered.
Spring? But I don't necessarily want to see Peter. I could visit the Hatter mansion as well but I don't know whether the twins would let me go once I arrive there. It might be too exhausting for me, taking all their so-called games into account. Maybe I should change the season to summer then. I haven't seen Boris for a while and I'm sure there are some new rides at the amusement park.
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Alice was still lost in her thoughts when the happy circus music grew louder. The young outsider looked up, blinking at the sight before her.
"Oh!" she exclaimed.
The main tent of the circus towered over her, casting a shadow on the ground. Some acrobats hurried over the place, chatting happily with each other while they carried utensils for the next circus performance from one place to another.
Alice quit walking for a moment and let her gaze roam over the circus' realm in search of Joker. When she couldn't see the jester anywhere nearby, the brunette started walking again, approaching a group of acrobats standing not too far away from the main tent.
"Pardon me. Do you know where Joker is?" she asked one of the group's faceless woman as she came to a halt next to them.
The acrobat turned her head slightly in her direction while the rest of the group silently sneaked away, giving Alice a small nod before they went back to business, helping the other people prepare for the next show.
Alice glanced after them, a silent sight leaving her lips. Many of the faceless people from the circus still seemed kind of taken aback when Alice approached them. Maybe they were still not sure how to cope with an outsider, especially knowing that a fairly huge number of role holders fancied her; Maybe they were scared to say something wrong that could later backfire at them.
Alice didn't know and she was sure that no one would actually tell her honestly if she asked. Therefore she just endured it, hoping that the people from the circus would slowly start opening up to her just like their boss.
The brunette glanced back to the woman in front of her.
Said woman tilted her head to the side and pondered, tipping her chin with her index finger while doing so.
"Joker…" she repeated in thoughts and Alice nodded. Some seconds went by but in the end the acrobat simply shook her head.
"I don't know, Miss. I'm sorry, " she apologized as she gave Alice a small smile and turned around to join the others.
Alice sighed. She put her hands on her hips and scanned the area once again. Her eyes flew over the faces of dozens of people, searching for the familiar figure of the red-haired ringmaster.
"Where could he be?" she mumbled to herself, not wanting to go back to the Clover Tower without achieving anything.
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"Where could who be?" a voice wondered, mimicking Alice's question.
Alice winced and whirled around in surprise, looking up at the tall man who was now standing in front of her.
"W-White!" she exclaimed, "Don't just creep up on me like that! You scared me."
The jester smiled kindly at Alice and chuckled, his lips curling into a small smile.
"A-aah~ I'm sorry, young lady. Nevertheless, who are you searching for? May I help you?"
The brunette frowned at the redhead's question and rolled her eyes playfully as she smiled up at the redhead.
"What kind of stupid question is that? I was looking for you, White. Who else could I be searching for at the circus?" she said, rising her eyebrows provocatively.
The ringmaster nodded approvingly as if he wanted to signal that he had known Alice's intentions from the very beginning. He gave the young girl a mischievous grin while he walked past her and gave her a hand sign, implying for the outsider to follow him. .
Alice started trotting after the ringmaster, eventually catching up to the Joker.
"Did you get bored of the current season, my dear?"
Joker glanced down to the girl beside him, seeing the nod the brunette gave as an answer.
He grinned a little, about to ask what kind of card game the young outsider would like to choose as challenge when all of sudden a high-pitched voice cut through the air, interrupting their conversation.
"Don't wanna interrupt your lil' chit-chat but where the f*** are you, Joker? These damn prisoners think they can screw around with us, making stupid attempts to escape their cells. Move your damn ass here immediately and do your f****** job! Don't wanna admit it but I need your help, stupid clown! "
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Alice blinked in surprise. She gazed up at the jester who sighed quietly, then turned her gaze to his hip, eyeing the mask attached to the jester's belt. She was accustomed to the other Joker's colorful language by now but not even once had she heard him ask White for help, even though he was still rude while doing so. Carefully, Alice bend down to the mask, making sure that she wasn't invading White's comfort zone.
Her eyes still fixed on the small mask, she asked, "Since when does Black need your help?"
The nicer Joker shook his head slightly.
"Currently, Joker is in a rather bad mood,"he sighed, sounding kind of apologetic.
Alice stood up once again, tilting her head as she watched the jester cross his arms in front of his chest and watching him mumble to himself, "But I have to prepare the new show. I wonder how long I will have to help Joker out?"
The young outsider's interest got awakened. She simply couldn't help it when it came to people mumbling to themselves. It was similar to whenever Julius mumbled about Ace and herself interrupting his work and the two of them just couldn't help but to tease him about it, saying that he actually enjoyed their presence.
It probably wasn't one of Alice's best character traits; rather the one that threw her into trouble on a regular basis. But it also certainly was the one character trait that provided her the most entertainment as well, therefore Alice couldn't help but to step closer to the jester and pull at his jacket like a child, her blue eyes glancing up at him.
"White, mind telling me what's the matter? Do you need help with anything? It sounds like you're quite busy, so maybe I can lend you a hand?"
Once the words had slipped through Alice's lips, the young girl immediately started to regret them. She realized she should have phrased her question differently. The way she had asked only implied that she was available to offer the jester her help if needed. And to tell the truth, curiosity aside, that was the last thing she wanted to do. Who knew what kind of problems the Joker could have, yet alone what it would mean to offer to solve these problems?
The brunette wanted to take her words back but White already grinned down at her, his ruby eye glittering with a hint of amusement.
"If you offered me your help, Alice, a huge weight would be lifted from my shoulders. We should take our leave then, don't you think? Joker will be happy to see you offering your help to him."
The redhead put his arm around Alice's shoulders and gently pushed her forwards.
Alice tried to stop him by pushing her weight against his arm but just a few seconds later the scenery around her faded away and the prison's cold walls surrounded her; Alice shivered at the sudden change of scenery.
Regardless of how often she came here, her involuntary stays which she rather wanted to forget forever included, she simply couldn't get used to the atmosphere inside the huge building. Even though she knew that being the ringmaster and the prison warden were the roles the Jokers had to play, the brunette couldn't fight against the urge to run away whenever the prison walls started to surround her, capturing her in a place she wasn't meant to be. But at the same time Alice couldn't find a convincing reason to completely stay away from the redheads. Every single person in Wonderland was dangerous and nuts and every single being had to play a role, therefore she had no right to stay away from the Jokers while spending time with the other role holders.
Still feeling uncomfortable though, Alice started to stutter, "W-White… uhm… maybe I…"
Before the outsider was able to sort her thoughts and think about an excuse, a deep voice interrupted their conversation once again.
"It was damn time for you to show up, Joker!"
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Alice turned around the exact same moment White did. Black, fully dressed in his warden uniform and his whip gripped tightly in one hand, stomped towards them. The heels of his boots clacked against the hard stone floor, echoing inside the building and causing Alice to become tenser with every step he came closer towards them. Just when the warden was about to reach them, he suddenly stopped, finally taking notice of the young brunette standing next to his counterpart.
"What the f***?" he cursed, "Why is she here?"
A sneeze followed, to which Alice winced in surprise.
"My, my, Joker! Don't be that rude. The young lady offered us some help, right Alice?" the circus master smiled and looked at her expectantly.
Not sure whether she should be nodding or shaking her head, the young girl lowered her gaze, staring at her feet.
The prison warden frowned at the sight, sneezing again and clutching his head afterwards.
"Dammit! I feel like my head is splitting in two. Freaking annoying, " he murmured.
Alice forced herself to look up to the foul-mouthed Joker, stepping closer towards the said one.
"Have you caught a cold, Black?" she asked nicely, ignoring the fact that she had just been scared by his sudden appearance due to White suddenly bringing her to the prison realm.
The redhead stared at her annoyed.
He clapped his hands together as if he wanted to applaud her and then hissed, "Congratulations! You noticed that I've caught a damn cold. How did you know? Can you read my or the clown's mind? Don't tell me you can because that would be great!"
The brunette growled at the warden's act. Annoyed, she stuck out her tongue, glaring up at him like she was ready to argue if he said anything else.
White giggled from behind them.
"Ah-ah-ah, Joker," he chuckled, showing his foul-mouthed counterpart a sassy grin.
"You shouldn't be like that to your personal nurse. Who else could treat you but our favorite foreigner?"
Alice nodded in agreement, simply being happy that White was defending her against Black's nasty teasing. The meaning of his words, however, she hadn't processed fully.
The brunette crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking up at the taller warden with a rather pleased smile, while she kept nodding to agree to White's statement.
"That's right, Black! You shouldn't behave like that towards the person who's going to take the part of your personal nurse."
Alice smile faltered once she realized the meaning of the words she had just said. The word 'nurse' echoed inside her head, causing her cheeks to flush slightly as she panicked and whirled around to White, gaping at him.
"Wait a second, please. What am I supposed to be? I think I heard you say nurse?"
The jester smiled gently, whistling quietly as he returned Alice's gaze. Playing innocent, he tipped his index finger against his chin and chirped, "I thought you said that you would like to help? Joker became sick but I still have to run the circus properly and prepare the next show. With Joker being sick, I also have to help out in the prison more often. Splitting my time doing both will be quite stressful, so there won't be any time left to take care of him until he's fully recovered. I thought you might be nice enough to help us out and watch over Joker for a while. You know, playing his 'nurse' until he gets better… I'm sure he wouldn't take as much time to recover when someone keeps an eye on him, stopping him from wandering around the prison. "
Alice opened and closed her mouth several times. Not a single word wanted to escape her lips, yet alone a single reasonable answer came to her mind. As expected, White wasn't someone to take as a joke. Alice started to wonder if he had planned the whole scenario all along since she had arrived at the circus. It was fair enough for him to say that he was busy with his own duties but making her Black's personal nurse? The young brunette didn't know what to say. She was too perplexed.
Instead of herself, Alice could hear Black cry out, "Excuse you, stupid clown? What the f*** did you just say? "
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A/N 2: I hope you liked it.
Please review or keep the story in mind if you want to know what will happen next.
Thank you very much!
