To all you wonderful readers that have stuck with me. I would like to thank each and every one of you, and wish you all a wonderful holidays. May you and your loved ones be safe, happy and together over the festive season. 😊
Arthur wasn't one to believe in Christmas miracles. Miracles were wonderful things that happened to other people, but certainly not people like him. He couldn't really remember anything wonderful ever happening in his life, and despite how many times he had wished, hoped and prayed for his very own miracle, Arthur knew it was never going to happen. He was never going to find the love he craved for so much. Love that could move mountains and navigate vast oceans, just so that it could find its mate. Love that didn't look at the physical, but instead saw the heart and soul of a man. Love that would last a lifetime.
Arthur sighed as he looked around his apartment. He had done what he could to bring a little Christmas cheer to the place, but he had to face the fact that a bit of tinsel and a tiny artificial Christmas tree, were not going to make the dingy place look any better.
It would be yet another Christmas on his own. Another year of trying to fool himself that the next year would be different. That his stand up career would take off, and he would find the woman of his dream. But deep down he knew that this Christmas, and the new year to come, would just be a carbon copy of every other year that had been before.
It was Christmas Eve, and even Gotham looked a little brighter. The twinkling of thousands of tiny lights bringing a pleasant bright hue to the otherwise dark and dismal city. Arthur moved over to the window, his eyes focusing on the revellers outside as they laughed and sang carols at the top of their voices. The couples that walked arm in arm, snuggling into one another as the snow fell around them. It was strange to see Gotham like this, an air of optimism and happiness falling over the city. An air of optimism that even gave Arthur a glimmer of hope.
At this very moment the world looked so beautiful, so picturesque. The deep pure white snow concealing a multitude of Gotham's sins. But it was enough to compel Arthur to reach for his coat. Enough to make him want to leave the oppressive confines of his apartment, and step foot out into the cold night air.
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Arthur looked up into the sky, the drifting snowflakes landing delicately on his skin. He couldn't help but smile. It was no wonder that people believed that miracles where more possible at this time of year than any other. That magic was possible. For if a blanket of snow, and a few twinkling multicoloured lights could bring a sense of joy to Gotham, then anything was possible.
Zipping up his jacket, Arthur made his way into the brightly lit night. He had no idea where he was going, he had no place in particular in mind, he would just let his feet lead him through the snow. For he knew that anything was better than spending another lonely minute in his apartment.
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(Y/n) looked out of the window of her hotel room. Of all times to move back to town, this was definitely not the best. The holidays meant that she would have to spend the next few days alone in the hotel. She hated the idea of spending Christmas day by herself, but work had kept her working until the last minute, and she had no other option but to stay in the surgically white room, until the moving guys could move her into her new apartment.
(Y/n) had grown up in Gotham. The city, as well as a difficult upbringing, had made her tough and resourceful, but had also made her want to escape both as soon as she could. She had been lucky, despite her home life she had always had good grades, always made a good impression on those that counted, always pushed herself to do better than others around her. And she had been rewarded for her efforts by being able to snag a coveted position in one of the top newspapers in the country. She had worked long and hard to get where she was, she had used her toughness to rise to the top, and it had led her back home with a promotion to editor in chief of Gotham Gazette. It was a position that she at once desired, but again feared. Gotham held it demons. Her parents may have died a number of years before, but she had not returned for the funerals. She had not been back to Gotham since she had escaped on the greyhound bus. But now she would have to face the city, face the memories, and not allow either of them to get in her way.
With a sigh, (Y/n) watched the snow fall from the sky. The city below bustling as people went from party to party, laughing and singing as they went. A man dressed as Santa ringing his bell and hoping for donations for the less fortunate, stood on the corner. And a group of carollers sang under the large Christmas tree in the centre of the city. Their melodious voices reaching (Y/n)'s ears and giving her a sense of hope that things wouldn't be as bad as she feared.
She couldn't help but laugh as she saw some kids running along the street, balls of snow flying between them as they used other passers-by as shields. She could remember doing such things herself. She could remember making snowmen and falling onto her back to make angels in the pure white, twinkling powder. But that was when she was very young, before life had taken an unexpected turn.
(Y/n) turned her attention to the room that the newspaper had managed to supply her with. It was nice enough, and comfortable, but it was a little to sterile for her taste. She thrived on chaos and clutter, on controlled madness where she knew where everything was, and no one dare touch it. She hated white walls, and white sheets, hated the faint smell of bleach. And even though she knew that the outside world would be cold, what better time than this to reacquaint herself with her old home. Especially when it looked so beautiful.
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Arthur neared the centre of town. He hadn't intended to walk so far, but his feet had forced him on. Every time he had wanted to stop and turn for home, his feet had urged him to continue, like they had their own motive for bringing him there. But who was he to argue? It was a beautiful night, and it was the one time of the year that Gothamites seemed to put their usual contempt for one another aside and embarrassed their fellow man. The air was filled with an infectious hum, and Arthur couldn't help but feel like he wanted to dance. The normally inhibited man finding himself spinning and turning as the music flowed around him.
"Oh, I..........I'm so sorry." Arthur said, as he knocked into someone. Arthur feeling embarrassed as he held out his hand to help the person up. Knowing that at any moment the yule entente would disappear, and he would be yelled at for not looking that where he was going.
"That's ok. No harm done. I should have been watching where I was going." A beautiful voice said. Arthur's eyes growing wide as he helped the exquisite looking woman up from the floor.
"Are......are you ok? You landed with one heck of a bump." Arthur asked, as he assisted the mystery woman with brushing the snow from her coat.
"Honestly I'm fine. I............wait. Arthur? Arthur Fleck. Is that you?" The woman asked, Arthur shocked as he tried to work out where he could possibly know someone like this from.
"Geez Arthur. It is you. I would recognise those eyes of yours anywhere. It's me, (Y/f/n) (Y/l/n). We were at high school together. We used to sit next to one another in English, history, and biology. You always used to get stuck with me as your lab partner." (Y/n) chuckled, as she pulled the still shocked Arthur into her arms.
Arthur thought for a moment as the cheerful looking woman looked at him. (Y/n)? (Y/f/n) (Y/l/n)? Of course, how could he forget? She was the only one that ever seemed to have time for him, the only one that ever seemed to have a kind word for him. He had always loved being lab partners with her, always loved that she would pass silly messages to him in class, even though it had got them both into trouble on a number of occasions. More than once she had defended him against his bullies, more than once she had shared her meagre lunch with him. More than once he had wished that there could be something more between them. But when he had finally plucked up the courage to ask her out, he had learnt that she been able to escape a life that had been as hard as his.
"(Y/n). Wow. You look.......you look amazing. But there again you always did." Arthur announced, as he forgot himself for a moment.
"I thought that you left town a long time ago?" Arthur continued, a soft pink hue warming his cheeks as (Y/n) continued to smile at him.
"I did. I was lucky. But, well I'm moving back. I have a new job with the Gotham gazette, and I start in the new year. So, I'll be calling the old place home again." (Y/n) said, a slight shiver racing up her spin as a sudden blast of cold air hit her.
"I don't suppose that you would like to get a coffee, would you Arthur? It would seem such a shame to let you go now that I've literally bumped into you. And goodness knows I could do with a friendly face. I'm stuck in a hotel room by myself for Christmas, and I don't really like the idea of just going back and looking at four bare walls again. And I would really like to know what you've been doing all these years." (Y/n) enquired, hope in her eyes as she looked up at the man before her.
She had always liked Arthur. He had always been sweet and kind, always a gentleman. He had a way about him, an innocence, a vulnerability that (Y/n) had always felt a need to defend. And if his current appearance was anything to go by, he had lost none of what had made her like him so much when they were younger.
"I....... I'd like that." Arthur told her, as he offered her his arm. (Y/n) taking it happily as they walked along the sidewalk together.
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"So, you're all alone for Christmas?" Arthur asked hesitantly, as he pushed the door of the diner open. The pair taking a seat in a corner booth.
"Afraid so. My parents died a few years ago. Not as though I would want to spend Christmas with either of them if they were alive. And I have no one else. Normally I spend most of the holidays working on one thing or another, but because my new job doesn't start until the new year, I haven't even got that. So, this year it will be just me, and room service." (Y/n) chuckled, as she thanked the waitress that had just set two steaming beverages before them.
Arthur's mind raced. Maybe this was the reason his feet had led him there. The reason he had felt the need to leave his apartment, and step foot into the snow. (Y/n) would be as alone as he would be. She would be stuck in a room watching old re-runs of Christmas shows on the TV just like he would. So, if they were going to be doing the same things alone, why couldn't they be alone together?
"Erm........You know. I'll be alone too over the holidays. So, if you want......I mean you probably don't, and I know that we haven't spoken in years. But if you don't want to be alone, you could always spend Christmas with me. If you want." Arthur half whispered, his head dropping as he waited for the usual rejection.
"I'd love to Arthur. That is so kind of you. But I shouldn't expect anything less. You always did have a wonderful nature. It was one of the reasons that I always liked you." (Y/n) said, as she placed her hand on his. Arthur's head shooting up as her fingers held his tightly.
"So, you really want to come?" Arthur asked, hoping that he had heard right.
"If you'll have me. I would love to spend Christmas with you. And you never know, we might be able to get to know one another better now that I'm back in town for good. I did always regret leaving town, and not being able to ask you to be my prom date." (Y/n) said, as she leant across the table, and kissed Arthur on the cheek.
Arthur couldn't help but smile as the two continued to talk. The pair making plans to be together for the next few days. Arthur knowing that despite what he had always thought. Even people like him, could be gifted with a Christmas miracle.