" You're making it hard to get in touch with you." The woman tapped her pen on her notebook and smiled softly. " If you don't feel comfortable, you don't have to do this, Aniyah."
Aniyah sighed and tan her fingers through her faded orange hair. " I'm sorry. It's not that I don't want to do this. It's just-I'm-"
" Scared? I understand. But you need to understand that he's not getting out of Arkham anytime soon. You're safe."
" I want to believe that, Kelly. I really do, I just-" Aniyah sighed again. " I don't feel safe. I'd rather stay in the house." She mumbled.
" Then I'll come to you." Kelly smiled. " Would that be okay?" She asked.
Aniyah nodded, looking away. " Thanks." It was quiet now. Her auburn eyes looked around the room with baby blue coated walls, starting to feel a bit awkward.
" I heard that your book is selling pretty well. How's that?" Kelly asked.
" It's good." Aniyah smiled. " I'm really happy about it." She said.
" That's good. I might buy it and see what all the fuss is about." Kelly winked. " You know, people miss you. Harleen called yesterday and Pearl called today."
" Yeah, I'll call them today." Aniyah nodded.
" And, I'll see you next week. Try to go out more. Even just on a porch. It will help, I promise." Kelly said.
Aniyah paused before nodding. " I'll try." She said, standing to leave. " See you next week." She quickly left the room and made her way to her car. She got inside and sighed, resting her heard on the steering wheel. After she sat there for a few minutes she sat up and started her car, deciding to call Harleen.
" Hello?" Harleen's voice was monotone as she answered the phone.
" Hey, Harleen." Aniyah said.
" Aniyah! How are you?" Harleen asked.
" I've been better." Aniyah smiled slightly.
" Well I'm glad you called. Can Pearl and I come over? Have some tea or something? We really miss you, Aniyah." Harleen said.
" I miss you guys too. I should be back home in about thirty minutes." Aniyah said.
" Well I get off in an hour, so we should be there by six maybe. I'm glad you're okay. Kelly told me you weren't going to therapy and you weren't answering the phone. I was worried."
" That's where I'm coming from. Don't worry, I'm still in therapy." Aniyah said.
" How's Bruce doing?" Harleen asked.
Aniyah didn't respond right away. " Bruce, he's-" She sighed. " He won't talk to me."
" Oh...I hope he's okay." Harleen said.
" Yeah. So do I." Aniyah said. " But call me when you're on your way."
" Alright, I will. Bye." Harleen hung up.
As soon as Aniyah put her phone down, it started to ring again. She rolled her eyes and answered. " Hello?"
" Hello."
Aniyah paused, her eyes widening slightly. "...Mom?"
" How are you, Aniyah?" She asked.
" I'm-I'm fine." Aniyah smiled slightly. " I'm glad you-wait." Her smile quickly fell. " So after nearly four years, I get to talk to you." She said.
" You know I'm in Germany."
" Yes. I get that. But-"
" I couldn't just drop all of my work. That's why I'm calling you now."
Aniyah clenched her jaw, taking a deep breath through her nose. " Like I said. It's been nearly four years." She said slowly. " And it's not like you just heard about what happened. I know because of the painting you made on the day of Michaela's funeral-"
" Well it wasn't exactly a painting, Blueberry. I drew it with colored pencils." Her mother stated.
' I don't give a fuck.' Aniyah rolled her eyes as the line began to beep. " Alright, Mom, we'll talk later, someone's calling me, bye." She quickly hung up and switched lines. " Hello?"
" You don't sound very happy."
" Bruce." Aniyah smiled.
" Are you okay?" Bruce asked.
" Eh. Are you okay?" Aniyah asked.
" I've been better." He said.
" Well, I'm almost home. Did you plan on seeing the sunlight today? It's real nice." She teased.
" You know, Alfred told me he had to make you leave." Bruce said.
"...Yeah. My therapist is coming to me from now on." Aniyah sighed.
" The sunlight isn't that good then, huh?"
" Yeah well you can still come out of your room at least. I don't see you as much as I used to." Aniyah said.
" I know. I'm sorry. I'll try." Bruce asked.
" It's okay. If you try, I'll try." Aniyah smiled. " I'll see you when I get home."
" Okay. Be careful." Bruce said.
" I will. Bye." Aniyah hung up and put her phone down, turning on the radio.
" I see you're back in one piece." Alfred said as Aniyah walked into the kitchen.
" Ass always, Alfred, you were right." Aniyah chuckled.
" called and said that she was stopping by." He said.
" Nothing special, Alfred." Aniyah said.
" I know that by now. No, this," Alfred pointed that the chicken. " Is dinner for you and Master Wayne. I made sandwiches for you and your friends."
" Well I'll help you cook so wait for me." Aniyah winked.
" At least you're making an effort no to lock yourself away. Now all you need is a nice man by your side."
" Oh my God, Alfred." Aniyah groaned.
" You know I want the best for you, Aniyah." Alfred said.
" I know, Alfred. But for good reason, I'm not looking for a relationship."
" Alright, I won't push. For now." Alfred said.
" Thank you." Aniyah said as someone knocked on the door. " I'll get the door. Can you sit the sandwiches out in the garden for me?"
" Of course." Alfred said as Aniyah went to open the door.
" Aniyah." Harleen smiled and hugged her tightly.
Aniyah smiled and hugged her back. " Hey. Come in." She let Pearl and Harleen inside.
Pearl stepped inside and held up Aniyah's book with a big smile on her face. Aniyah blushed slightly, glancing at it.
" So you liked it?" Aniyah asked.
" Liked it? I loved it!" Pearl exclaimed.
" It was really good, Aniyah. I was actually surprised, since you usually stuck with Science Fiction." Harleen said, following Aniyah out to the garden.
" And Red? She's amazing! Well, actually, she's terrifying." Pearl chuckled.
" Terrifyingly amazing." Aniyah winked.
" She could've destroyed the whole city if she wasn't stopped." Harleen said. " But she's shamelessly my favorite character."
" Makes you feel guilty, doesn't it? You kind of want Red to win." Aniyah said.
" Yeah, honestly, I did." Harleen chuckled.
" What town were they in?" Pearl asked.
" A lot of people see Gotham." Harleen said.
" Well what did you see?" Aniyah grabbed a sandwich and took a bite out of it.
" I saw New York." Harleen said.
" I saw Baltimore." Pearl grabbed a sandwich as well.
" Well in the beginning, I pictured the main character's mind. Everything was in order and she had control over everything, until she got involved with Red." Aniyah explained.
" Oh, I get it. I want to see for myself so don't tell me." Harleen smiled.
" Alright." Aniyah smiled as well.
" How are you?" Pearl asked.
Aniyah's smile faltered slightly. " I've been better." She sighed, sitting back. " Today was the first day I left the manor in a while. I wasn't that paranoid, but-"
" I understand. You don't have to explain." Harleen nodded. " I'm really glad you're trying though." She smiled.
" Yeah." Aniyah smiled slightly. " I just wish I could act like nothing happened. I want to forget so bad."
"..I-" Pearl stopped and looked away.
Aniyah sighed, shaking her head. " No. I'm sorry. I shouldn't keep bringing it up."
" It's clear that what we-what you went through inspired your book." Harleen let her hand rest on the cover of Aniyah's book. " But, I think you should write something else. Something more personal. Maybe if you write about it, you'll feel better." She said.
Aniyah paused then nodded. " I'll think about it." She said. " Enough about me, Ms. Head of Arkham Asylum. How's work?" Aniyah asked Harleen.
" Busy." Harleen sighed, chuckling. " Super busy."
" I can believe it." Aniyah nodded.
" You know, Poison Ivy's been asking about you." Harleen said.
" Woah, really? I thought she would've forgot about me. That's cool." Aniyah smiled. " Tell her I said hello. I don't plan on stepping foot inside Arkham for a very long time." Her smile dropped.
"...Speaking of Arkham, how is he?"
Harleen shook her head. " I haven't heard from him. No one has." She said.
" I heard that his wife is in a coma." Pearl said.
" Really? She's alive?" Aniyah's eyes widened.
" Well, yes. But most of her organs are failing. No doctor in Gotham makes that many transplants." Harleen said.
" Oh." Aniyah sat back. " I feel so guilty..."
" You shouldn't." Pearl shook her head. " The J-uh, he planned that all out. it was going to happen with or without you."
' You see, I don't plan things. I'm not a guy with a plan-ah.' Aniyah cleared her throat and sat up. " Guys, I'm sorry. But I'm gonna go get some rest, okay?"
" Um, yeah, alright." Harleen said as her and Pearl stood up.
" I'll talk to you guys later." Aniyah walked them to the door and watched them leave before quickly going upstairs into her room and closing the door. She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair before taking off her jacket. She looked down at her forearm and ran her fingers across the J-shaped scar before shivering and covering it.
' There's times when love can't even help you, so pain is the next best thing.'
Aniyah sat on her bed and rubbed her temples. ' Don't think about him.' She thought.
' There'll be a second date, I promise. Then, uh, I won't let you out of my sight-ah.'
Aniyah yelped as someone knocked on the door.
" Are you alright, Aniyah?" Alfred asked.
Aniyah let out a shaky breath. " I-I'm fine. Just, a little jumpy. I'm alright. It's over." She mumbled the last part, sighing.
" I can only assume you're jumpy because of lack of sleep." Alfred said.
Aniyah didn't respond, looking away from the door.
" You don't have to help me cook." He said.
" No, I'm fine! I still want to-"
" Aniyah, I insist." Alfred said.
She paused and looked down. " I guess I'll get some rest then."
" I'll bring dinner to you. Please rest." With that, Alfred walked away.
' How the hell did he know I wasn't sleeping?' Aniyah got up and walked into her bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror. " I need more hair dye." She mumbled, looking at her light brown roots. " but I'm tired of orange." She sighed.
Aniyah washed her face and changed into some sweatpants and a tank-top before laying in her bed. ' Sleep.' She closed her eyes and relaxed. ' Just sleep.'
