The street known as "Crime Alley" was a change of scenery both sides of dent could agree on. Cool night air blew through his unbuttoned suit coat as Two Face looked back down at the cat that had followed him the entire way.
"You know that cat didn't write the note…somebody's settin us up." Dent's twisted side started the argument, as always.
"Why do you think the whole world's out to get us?"
"Not the world…" Two Face said defensively. "Just Gotham…"
For one of the rare moments in his life, Harvey actually agreed with his split personality. However, none of that explained where the cat came from or to whom it belonged to. The only indication of any ownership what so ever was the small metal nametag hanging on the cat's collar read "Destiny." But, as Dent looked away the feline took off into a dark alley. Feeling something tug at his mind Harvey just growled softly and shook his head.
"I'm not going after it…" Dent reassured the other half of his persona as he looked down the deserted street.
"Glad you have some shred of manhood left in ya." Two Face teased as the something caught Harvey's eye.
The soft light from the moon above sent an almost eerie shine on the front door of Dr. Leslie Thompkins. For some reason, the clinic's windows were dark as it appeared no one was inside.
"Lookin' for somebody?" A rough voice behind Dent broke the silence around him.
A distinct clicking sound of a revolver hammer begin drawn back could be heard as Harvey felt Two Face try to take over. The former district attorney didn't fight him this time, letting the insanity flow through his entire being.
"Nice suit freak…money now." The man ordered as Dent turned to him.
Steeping into the dim light Two Face could see the realization of the thief as he recognized his victim. The young man couldn't even speak, as he stumbled and muttered to find a full statement. Dent felt a smile stretch across his face as Two Face took a step towards the man. As an observer, Harvey noted his assailant's appearance. He was young, no older than twenty, and appeared to have chestnut skin. Harvey couldn't point out his race, but his clothing reflected that he was probably homeless.
"You ever do this before, kid? Or, did you just…lose your nerve."
Before the mugger could react Harvey pulled the man's gun arm towards him and turned the gun against him. As the madman felt the trigger begin to pull back Dent felt something touch him inside. Two Face's obvious inner struggle was an advantage the young thief recognized as the only diversion he would get.
"What the hell Dent, let me take the guy out." Two Face 's eye followed the fleeing man as he fought with his inner self.
"You've done enough for tonight."
Dent grunted as he re-took his body and shook off Two Face's influence. He then looked over the large revolver he took from the would-be-thief, but quickly dropped it into the nearby dumpster.
"You realize that now word is gonna get out that we're a pansy right?"
"Shut up will you…" Dent growled defensively.
"Well well, look who found a pair…you didn't even let me flip our coin."
Harvey let Two Face get the last word as he shoved his left hand into his pocket while he twirled the aforementioned coin in his right. The continued journey down the street was now fueled by a new goal; find someplace to set up shop, or at least to spend the night. As he came to the mouth of the street the east side of Gotham City enveloped Two Face with all it had to offer. Sirens could be heard in the night air and it sounded as if some couple were fighting in thier apartment nearby with their windows open.
"Hey there…you two want some company?" A nearby woman with a boa wrapped around her neck beckoned to Dent.
It took Harvey a few seconds to realize that she knew whom he was and was trying to be funny. He just waved her off and kept walking trying to find some kind of shelter. His eyes caught on the yellow police tape that usually was meant to keep people away from an area wrapped around the door of what looked like a condemned building.
The night quickly became day in the run down apartment, and with the sun came the heat. Without any air conditioning, Harvey had to strip down most of his cloths just to keep from over heating. His suit coat was tossed onto a dirty mattress that was left on the floor, as his dress shirt's sleeves were rolled up above the elbow. His necktie was undone so that he could unbutton his shirt that was un-tucked from his pants. Dent frowned as he looked upon himself in a piece of shattered glass from a mirror he found somewhere around the apartment. He was no longer the fierce looking crime boss that was feared by most in Gotham, instead Harvey saw and outcast standing in the reflection. Complete with sweat stains gathering at the pits of his shirt and a rugged five o'clock shadow on the unscarred side of his face.
"Well we aren't gunna win any beauty contests…" Two Face teased before dent fiercely tossed the glass against the wall.
"No shit…" Dent retorted as he stepped to the window, looking outside to the street below.
The sunlight just exposed the neighborhood for what it really was, a ghetto that was formally the center of the "old" Gotham. A slum that the garbage on the street didn't just consist of what people tossed out their apartment windows. Harvey couldn't take the sight anymore, and just slouched down in nearest moth-eaten chair. A sigh escape his lungs as the dust escaped from the old furniture.
'You hear that?' The voice inside Dent's head whispered as if someone else could hear.
'Of course, we have the same ears…' They both stopped the fight there to listen for the sound of something moving on fire escape to occur once more.
The sweat dripped from both sides of Harvey's forehead as he slipped off of his seat and tip toed to the window. He leaned softly against the wall before drawing his double barrel pistol from his side holster and aiming the end of the barrel at the open window. A soft purring could be heard from the outside of the window before the familiar fur of Destiny the cat slid into view.
'Not the fur ball again. We should just pull the trigger.' Harvey actually had to fight Two Face for control of the gun before he could slide it back into its holster.
"Come on, this cat obviously belongs to someone…and that note around its collar was obviously for some…. body." He stumbled with his words as he saw another piece of paper around the cats collar.
Slowly, but surely Harvey leaned over as the feline rubbed itself against his leg and plucked the paper from the cat's person. As he unfolded the note, Dent could feel Two Face trying to take control so to rip up the paper in his hands.
"Could you please just relax…this person is trying to help us, see." Harvey offered as he presented the paper as if he were talking to a completely different person.
"Is Scareface really dead?" Two Face's rough voice read aloud from the note, a hint of confusion rang with it.
"What's it mean?"
"It means…this new ventriloquist might know something."
Wow, Culinary school is bringing me down when it comes to my writing, but I'll try not to disappoint when updating this story. Thanks for the support, and please R&R
