Impractical Jokers: [Joker]xReader Collection

Joe x Reader - I'll Prove You Wrong

The words sting, and not just because he's unprepared to speak but because he really feels that you're going to find him stupid. That invalidating his feelings somehow makes the situation better. He's always doing that, sacrificing himself for the sake of others - you wish, just this once, he'd stop.

"You know I won't." Gently, you force him to look at you, the puffiness of his eyes having your heart sinking until you feel its six feet under. It makes you so upset to see him so low, so consumed in his own sadness that he doesn't trust even you to be able to help him out of it. "Talk to me."

"I don't... I don't feel like, I'm... good enough."

The words are by no means steady, syllables that tug at your conscience and remind you of everything he's ever said to you: that you're good enough. That you're loved. That no matter how alone you feel, you never are - not when he's there to love you enough for the both of you. So to see him crumpled in defeat, bawling over his own lack of self-worth, it really makes you frightened.

"What're you talking about?" you whisper, brushing soft pads of fingers down his face and tracing the hot streaks that have been embedded into his skin like the striking brand of a hot poker. "You're more than enough. I love you."

Slowly, he shakes his head. "...ya could do so much better, [Y/N]."

Jarred, as if you've stepped out of your body to assess a situation that isn't your own, you rear your head back slightly and allow your brow to furrow.

"I'm not... I'm not good for ya–"

"Joe..."

"–I'm not good. I don't look good. I look terrible. I don't feel good. Everythin' ya ever thought about me, I don't know why–"

"Stop it..."

"I don't deserve–"

"I said stop." His words stammer, and then die, much like he wants to as he realises that you're on the brink yourself. Wetness begins to form at the corners of your eyes, the threat of tears as you stare searchingly at him. Eyes locked, noses all but brushing, shallow breaths mingled. "Joey, please stop... stop being so horrible to yourself..."

[I can't drown my demons; 
they know how to swim.]

Before you can stop it, a tear escapes your eye and you sniffle hopelessly as you bury your face into his neck and kiss it mindlessly. He trembles with effort to hold it in all over again, your lips soft over his skin and slip further down his body. Sensing the catalyst of his uncertainty, you lay with your forehead pressed to his stomach and nuzzle against it. A mumble catches your attention from above but you lift his shirt and press soft kisses to his skin. You're stunned when he reacts violently, writhing backwards and away from you before tugging his shirt tightly back down.

"Joe..." Soft crying catches your awareness once more but you just nudge closer once more, wrap arms around him and guide your head beneath the material blocking him from your sight. The Joker is already shuffling to try and get away, but any further and he'll fall backwards and onto the floor. "I love every part of you..." you breathe softly, pressing kisses to his belly. Stiffening, hands searching for your shoulders beneath the blankets, attempt to pull you away but he's too weak with insecurity to do it with conviction. A broken 'please stop...' is heard but you persevere, refuse to let him give in to his insecurities.

"Joey, I love the feel of you. All of you. So you're not stick-thin..." You trail off, gentle kisses all over his tummy as he lays there shivering with the urge to curl in on himself and lock you out again. However, he has to admit, he hates being alone more than he hates you confronting him; he'd take this gentle reminder that he's attractive over being locked away again. "...I find that so attractive. There's a reason I didn't go for any of your friends. Murr with his shape; Sal with his adorable face; Q with his scruff... and it's because none of them are you. I love you, and if you ever tell me you're not good enough then you're calling me a liar - and I'm no liar."

Feeling as if you've managed to get through to him, you slowly kiss up his chest before unhooking the shirt from over your head and emerging from the blankets once more. Joe is laying there in stunned silence, tear-stained but hopeful.

"...you mean that...?"

Breathlessly, you lean close and kiss him deeply, a hand resting on his stomach as your tongue passionately slides against his, your free hand moving to cup his cheek as you press against his sturdy body. Gatto whimpers, uncharacteristically vulnerable as he lets you take the reins and guide him further into the love you feel for him. Pulling away with a soft slip of your lips, you nudge his nose with your own and release a shudder of a breath when he raises a thumb to brush your tears away.

"I'm so sorry..."

"Stop apologising. I should've noticed. I should've known."

And you kiss him again, before he has chance to argue with you, hands sliding over one another desperately as tension between you dissipates into an urge to make one another feel loved. It's a lonely world - and without one another to keep each other in high spirits, you have nothing. You dread to think what life would be like without the lovable man you'd been in love with since day one, knowing somewhere deep inside of you that the moment you'd locked eyes was the moment you'd clicked into place. The thought itself was scary.

"Don't ever bottle it up again... all you have to do is tell me and I can prove you're wrong. I can prove it."

"I won't [Y/N]... just don't let go of me, please..." He's begging, the one thing he said he'd never do, and your exchanged speech is all in between soft kisses and squeezes of flesh that make you arch into one another. "Don't let go..."

"I won't. I won't."