Sirens…blue…red…shouting….cold…rain…
It's been about three hours that I've been sitting here on the cold wooden steps outside the apartment building. The thick, forest green blanket covering my shuddering shoulders smelled slightly of dog; it wasn't completely unpleasant just…odd. I tried to wrap the blanket around my body as much as I possibly could to shelter myself from the rain; it almost seemed hopeless considering the down pour. One would think that living in Gotham would make the weather easier to deal with but it's not. My once faded jeans have long since been drenched in water turning them a dark grey. Trying to ignore the noise around me, I see that the knees in my pant are so thin that under any more pressure there will soon be a hole. Well I guess it's time to get a new pair.
"Miss Sur-Sur-Superanskaia?"
I break my gaze from my almost threadbare jeans, startled; I see a man's face. Commissioner Gordan. He's holding a large black umbrella over the both of us and I can't help the strain in my neck trying to look up at him. I'm instantly grateful for the sudden shelter from the rain.
"Von Superanskaia actually," I corrected with a shy smile.
"Sorry, Miss Von Superanskaia," he gently smiles and I can't help my shy grin from turning into a real smile. Gordan is defiantly a genuine man. He's helped me since the moment he came and it's physically obvious his sincerity; the deep laugh lines on the side of his face and the little wrinkles that appear on the sides of his eyes every time he smiles is proof. "Would you mind coming down town with me to report everything you may know? I'll promise a hot cup of coffee?"
I silently nod my head and slowly get up. My knees and back have fallen asleep and it takes a moment to get used to the prickly feeling rushing through my tired limbs. Hastily, I try to wring out my soaked hair. Man I'd give anything for a pony tail right now. In my attempt at trying to be presentable the blanket slightly slips from my right shoulder revealing the bandage. The once a starch white cloth was soaked in bright red splotches but over the hours it has turned into a dark auburn, almost completely destroying any trace of white left. At least it stopped bleeding.
"A new bandage with that coffee would be good too," Gordan says quietly showing me to the car. Once I get inside my nostrils are instantly met with the smell of stale coffee and slightly of dog. After the initial reaction it wasn't so bad, in fact it smelled kinda like…..cinnamon? Slightly swaying from the rearview mirror was a red X. What the hell?...oh wow no shit. Soon the red X turned into to a car freshener in the shape of two red cinnamon sticks. Odd. "Is there anyone you want to call? Anyone you want us to contact?"
"Yeah, my parents and my older sister please" oh god…there is no way this is going to go well….not like it's gone so peachy so far. In reality I knew I shouldn't expect them to be anything less then extremely apprehensive. I am the baby after all… I couldn't help but scoff a little. Twenty-four years old and my mother still calls me on a regular basis just to "check in". As annoying it maybe, I wouldn't have it any other way. Suddenly the passenger door opens and Gordan is standing there, umbrella waiting. "Thanks," I say with a small smile.
I'm instantly greeted with noise. Phones ringing, people shouting and running around, and I suddenly miss the quiet car. "Here come in, I'll go get that coffee and um…bandage," taking another look at my disheveled appearance he adds with an apologetic look, "and a new blanket." As he shuts the door to his office all the noise is muffled; with a sigh of relief I sit down on the arm chair adjacent to his work desk. With barely any interest I take in my surroundings. On the left side of the door hang plaques and degrees of everything he has accomplished. Damn. In the far corner stand two bookshelves over flowing with law books, encyclopedias, and other related literature. Is that a Charles Dickens novel I see there? Suddenly there is a slight glimmer of light reflecting out of the corner of my eye and I turn to its source. On his desk lay at least ten frames, each reflecting happy warm faces; one of a son, one of a daughter, one of a wife, and one of a husband. He reminds me so much of pop.
Knock knock. "Here you are," gently Gordan hands be the coffee and helps dispose of the sopping blanket. My shoulder is now completely exposed and judging by his reaction it's not the prettiest thing in the world. Slowly he peals the medical tape from my skin; each hair being pulled painfully is probably the most irritating thing in the world.
"Pardon me Commissioner, but would you mind just ripping it off in one go? This is a bit….irritating," I ask with a slight grimace. He gives me another apologetic smile and then riiiiip. God damn it!
"Almost done Miss Von Superanskaia," and then suddenly my entire shoulder is on fire. Through the gash I can feel every cell in my marred skin screaming in agony. The disinfectant bubbles, no sizzles, its way through the bacteria. "I'm sorry but we don't want it to get infected." I know Gordan meant well but a freakin heads up would have been nice. I hear more medical tape being cut and then Gordan was finished. "All done, again I'm sorry for your discomfort." He places a gentle hand on my elbow and I can't help but forgive him. So so so much like pop.
"Alright Miss Von Superanskaia…..is that Russian?"
"Ha yeah….my name is Katerina Von Superanskaia but Kat is fine."
"Kater-er….yeah Kat works."
"Hahaha. Nice try Commissioner."
"Well thank you," his laughter slows and then his expression turns concerned, "We need to discuss why the Joker attacked you…and why."
"He didn't attack me Commissioner. It was an accident," his expression clearly gave way to his questions on my sanity, "No commissioner it really was. He didn't…dot it."
Gordans face contorted its self into an expression of disbelief, confusion, and ultimately shock. "He didn't do this?"
"No…you see commissioner…I know him. I know Jack."