Saxon took a drink out of her water bottle and hopped over a box on her way from the kitchen to her couch, her house phone to her ear.

She had gone to the club with Sarai a full two weeks prior and she still felt like she was being watched.

She had started her first 'big girl' job and had moved off of campus and in to a place of her own. The place wasn't much really, but it was nice enough. It was a simple one bedroom and one bathroom apartment. Her parents had offered to let her move back home, but she had hastily declined. After living on campus for five years, there was no going back home. She had gotten a taste of freedom and wasn't looking back. They'd told her that moving back home would help her stay clean. They were very much mistaken. Going back home would probably drive her to use again. She loved her parents. They were dear to her and she would do anything for them, but they were her parents and they acted as such. She would be 23 with no freedom to speak of. They would want to know her whereabouts each time she wasn't home and they'd want her home by a certain time. Saxon wasn't partying. She hadn't partied in quite some time actually, but she did enjoy having the option.

"He climbed out of the ring and threw up," Sabastian was saying.

Saxon pushed one of her boxes out of the way with her foot and set her water bottle down on her clustered coffee table before collapsing on to the couch.

"That's disgusting, Bash," Saxon reached for a box and began to rip the tape off of it.

"Maybe, but I won and am still undefeated," Sabastian said proudly.

"I am super proud of you," she smiled automatically.

"Thank you, thank you. I would be more than willing to sign an autograph for you," he chuckled. His sister scoffed.

"You wish I wanted your autograph."

"Yeah, yeah," Bash laughed, "So, what's up with you and this accounting firm? Do you like it?"

"It's okay," Saxon opened the box before her completely and took in the content.

"Just okay?"

"Just okay," she repeated back at him.

"If you aren't happy, quit."

"I just started," Saxon reminded, standing up and picking up a picture frame from the box she'd just opened, "Besides, I didn't go to college for five years to not use my degree."

"There's always something to do," Bash countered, "I have a degree in Computer Information Systems and I punch people for a living."

"Well, we aren't all so fortunate, Bash," Saxon placed her picture frame on her entertainment center.

"Right," he sighed, "How's the new place?"

"It's great. I'm in the process of decorating and unpacking," she headed back to her box, dragging a large trash bag with her.

"Sounds… horrible."

"It is," she admitted.

They both laughed.

"Are you really okay?"

Saxon paused in her living room and she took a deep breath. She looked around at her crowded area, boxes littering the floor.

"Yes," she decided.

"Do you need money, Saxon?" his voice got serious.

"No," she said immediately, "I saved up from waitressing and our parents paid my way through school so working for three years and barely having bills I definitely have enough money to last a few months," she knelt on her floor and began to throw trash in to the trash bag, "and my stocks are doing significantly well. What kind of accountant would I be if I couldn't manage my own money?"

"A crappy one," Bash said without thought, "but even if you're the worse damn accountant to ever exist in Gotham, you're still my sister and I'll take care of you if you need."

"I'm fine."

"Okay," he took a breath, "How's Sarai?"

"She's doing wonderful, Bash. She's taken up smoking recently which is just disgusting, but she's overall happy and healthy."

"And how's mom and dad?"

Saxon stood back up and took in her clean coffee table. She moved to one of her end tables.

"You would know if you called them," she slid all of the discarded tape and random papers in to the trash bag.

"Don't," he chuckled, "Don't do that."

"Dad is great," Saxon said reaching over her end table to plug her lamp in to the wall, "Mom is okay. She misses you. You should come around more often."

"Yeah, I know."

Saxon stood up again and sighed.

"Promise?"

"Yes," he said lightly, "and I'll even kick your boyfriend's ass."

"I don't have a-"

Saxon heard a door close and paused. She tilted her head to the side.

"Saxon?" her brother called.

"Yeah, Bash, I'm here."

"You were just about to lie to me," he reminded.

"Right," Saxon heard a sound again and paused, "I think I hear someone moving around."

"In your apartment?" he asked slowly.

"Yes."

"Saxon-"

"I'm probably being dramatic," she tried to convince him and herself, "Just stay on the phone for a little longer," she stood up and walked to her bedroom door, "and call mom and dad this week," she attempted to distract him before she pushed the door open, hit the lights and paused.

Nothing.

"I will. Eventually."

"At least call once."

Saxon backed out of the room and headed to the next. She kicked the door open, turned on the lights and looked in and around. Nothing.

"Yes ma'am."

"Thanks," Saxon walked towards her bathroom and pushed the door open.

She turned on the lights and looked around. She walked in and took a deep breath, looking at her reflection. She was wound too tight.

"Yup," Sabastian yawned.

"You should get some sleep. I was being dramatic and there is no one in my house," Saxon turned away from her mirror and paused.

"Okay. I love you, kid. Goodnight."

"I love you too," Saxon walked slowly out of her bathroom and looked both ways down her hall.

A silhouette. She could have sworn she'd just seen someone run by. She heard Sabastian hang up and she walked towards her kitchen, quickly, quietly. She turned the corner and then cursed. The window over her kitchen sink was open, stray leaves blowing in to her home through it. She walked quickly over to the window and leaned over the sink to shut it. She locked the window and then stood in her kitchen and looked around. She had turned on nearly every light in her apartment and there was still no intruder to speak of.

She pushed her hair back and took a deep breath. She was hallucinating. She shook her head, as if to clear it. She didn't need to finish packing. She just needed to go to sleep. That was what the issue was. She just needed sleep.

Saxon looked around again and then she dragged her exhausted body to bed.

X

J sat comfortably in his office, his feet on his desk beside Harley Q, who was sitting completely on top of it, her legs criss-crossed. He had a Rubik's Cube in his hand and he was more interested in the stupid thing then he was the man speaking in front of him. He had been working on it for a little more than 10 minutes and he already wanted to throw the damned thing and hit Harley in the back of her head. She was the one who had mixed the colors together after all. He grit his teeth and he focused.

"J," the man in front of him said softly, "are you listening?"

"Yes," J sighed and continued to work on his Rubik's Cube, "Black Mask wants war," he sighed, "How unfortunate."

A smile spread over his face and his hands started to move faster. He'd seen the pattern. He worked through the rest of his cube quickly and then threw it in the air. Harley caught it and began to mess up the perfectly presentable thing as J slid his feet off of his desk and stood up.

"Hugo Strange will probably side with him," J scoffed, "and Bane."

"And two face," Harley said never looking up, "You did burn half of his face off."

"You're right, cupcake," J smoothed her hair back, "And who are we looking at on our side again?"

"Scarecrow, Riddler, and Red," Harley looked up and set the cube on the desk, "Deadshot's relocated with his daughter and Diablo went back under the grid. I may be able to get Boomerang if you really want him."

"Not in the slightest," J rolled his eyes, "So, we have two of your friends and two of mine," J scratched his head as he looked around his office, "because you are on our side, aren't you Croc?"

"Yeah, yeah," Killer Croc waved him off, "but there are wild cards that can affect the outcome of this if you were to go to war, sir," he said adjusting his stance.

J took him in. Killer Croc was one loyal man. He had a skin disease that made it look like he had reptile skin and Harley Quinn had adored him at first sight. That was why he was around. He doted on Harley and the kid had no work ethic. He was large and he was strong and fast. He could have done a lot of stuff. He didn't. He simply existed. So, J had done the smart thing. It was no hidden secret that Killer Croc adored Harley. J had used that to his advantage. He'd used Harley as his way to meet with KC and then he'd given Killer Croc a home with him and Harley and he'd trained him to harness his strength. KC, who didn't have many people being nice to him had appreciated the gesture and J had gotten one loyal and powerful henchman over time.

"Of course," J walked around his desk, "The Penguin and who else?"

"Victor Fries."

"Freezy?" J chuckled, "Right."

"And Talia al Ghul."

J's smirk died down slightly.

"She's in charge of a variety of hitmen," KC continued, "And-"

"I'll take care of it," Harley stretched her arms above her head and then stretched her legs out in front of her, "Red and me will have a lil talk with her about girl power and it'll all be taken care of, puddin," she slid off of his desk and flipped her freshly died hair over her shoulders.

J closed in on her and he grabbed her chin roughly in one of his hands.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" he pulled her face closer and Harley smirked.

"Of course."

"Don't mess this up, Harleen," he dragged her name out and then raked his nails down her cheeks and chin so hard he was surprised blood didn't draw."

"You worry too much," Harley pushed his hands away from her with one of her own and winked at him before turning on her heels and heading towards his office door, bumping KC with her hip as she went.

J bit his bottom lip, picked up the discard Rubik's cube and then leaned backwards against his desk.

"Anything else?" he grumbled and then stood up and spun around when his office phone rung, "Hold that thought," he pushed the speaker button and hopped over his desk to collapse in to his desk chair, "What?"

"I have that information you asked about."

J recognized the voice at once and he smiled, a wide smile that stretched across his face as he began to unwind his Rubik's Cube.

"Penguin," he sang the name, "Just the man I've been needing to talk to."

"I bet," the Penguin grunted, "The girls name is Saxon Robinson, 23. She works at some little firm as of a week or so ago doing desk work. She graduated from college after 5 years, but it gets better. Your girl is a junkie. She was checked in to rehab for her extensive use of cocaine 3 years ago."

"Hm," J hummed and scotted closer to his desk, "What else do you have?"

"She's one of three kids. Her older brother, Sabastian 'Bash' Robinson is a boxer. He's 26. She has a younger sister too, Sarai Robinson, 21 years old and still in school. Her parents are both still alive. She doesn't have any pets or allergies to speak of, but she has what people would assume to be her boyfriend. The kid's name is Jared and he's 25. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. His dad is a doctor, no mom. He's her parent's husband of choice."

"I heard her say something about owning stocks last night too. Find out what company she's buying through and if she has a stock broker put me in contact with them too, will ya?"

"Sure J," Penguin scoffed, "and anything else I thought you might need will be on the paperwork I'm about to fax you."

"Sounds like you're sweet talking me," J cooed, "Be here for a card game tomorrow, huh?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"And your money is being deposited now," J looked up and at KC, giving him a signal.

KC pulled a phone out of his pocket and he began to type away on it. A small ding echoed and J nodded at that.

"I've got it," the Penguin said quietly, "Good doing business with you."

"I have two more questions before you go."

"What's up, J?"

"Was it just cocaine?" J strummed his finger on his desk, "And where is good ole Bash located?"

X

Saxon collapsed at a small table. She was supposed to be getting a quick smoothie with Jared. He was not her boyfriend. He was her friend. She was so used to repeating that, that she almost thought it automatically when people said his name. She stretched her legs out beneath the small table. She had gotten her hair in to a neat donut atop her head and she had forced herself in to a beige pencil skirt and white button down top with matching white heels. She hated it. She hated it so much. The pearls around her neck made her feel as if she were chocking and the pearls in her ears made the back of her ears itch. She knew that she was being dramatic and that it was a mind thing, but she hated being dressed up. She hated being forced to pull all of her hair up and to wear jewelry. She was not a person that enjoyed earrings. She hated them. Her first day of work she had, re-pierced her ears herself when she'd attempted to put in pearls and had found the holes in her ears completely closed.

She strummed her fingers on the table in front of her and then pulled out her phone absently so that her idle hands had something to do. She pulled up a game and she worked on that. She knew Jared was not someone who was typically on time. It was one of his very few character flaws and she had accepted that. She sat back in her chair and she crushed candy, a guilty pleasure of hers that she knew she needed to get together. She had an extremely addictive personality. She did everything in extremes. She had been attempting to channel her addictive personality in to work and decorating her new apartment and anything else productive that she could think of, but she caved sometimes and crushing candy wasn't the worse thing she could consider a guilty pleasure. That was what she told herself anyway.

She didn't look up when Jared sat down. She finished her level in complete silence and then set her phone face down.

"Sorry," she took a deep breath as she looked up… and paused.

"It's okay. I've got all the time in the world, tuts."

Saxon looked around the smoothie place and then back in front of her. That was not Jared. No, not at all. He sat before her, a plain black hat on, all of his hair tucked beneath it and a pair of reflective shades over his eyes. He leaned forward placing his elbows on the table, in his plain black shirt and light blue jeans and he reached up and lowered his shades down his nose. Saxon took a quick breath and J winked at her before pushing his shades back up.

She made a move to stand.

"Uh, uh, uh," J reached across the table and grabbed one of her hands in his, "I've gone through all this trouble to not cause a scene and I'd hate for you to just ruin that," he ran his thumb over the back of her hand, "besides," he used his free hand to lift his shirt slightly, "We're just two people having a conversation. I'd hate to have turn this in to a kidnapping."

Saxon looked down at his concealed gun and she sat back down, crossing her legs at the ankle.

"Right," she said stiffly.

"Good girl," he let her hand go, "We wouldn't want everyone running to the exit, now would we?" he smirked at her, "A little deja vu."

"Of course not," Saxon placed her hands on the table, "and I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Right," J nodded once, "Well, our security footage says differently."

Saxon swallowed and licked her lips. She looked around the small shop and she leaned forward.

"What do you want from me?"

"I don't know yet," J admitted, "but you interest me," he strummed his fingers on the table.

"I don't know why."

"Neither do I, dollface, but we're going to figure it out," J took in his surroundings, "Tell me about your boyfriend," he leaned his face on one hand as if a friend preparing for a story and Saxon scoffed.

"I don't have a boyfriend."

"Tell me about Jared," he clarified.

Saxon was sure her face drained of color and her stomach fell. He knew about Jared just like he knew she would be here. She wasn't sure what to say. He had looked in to her. She didn't know if she should have been worried or not.

"He's a friend of the family," Saxon said carefully, "We've known each other for years," she shrugged, "There's nothing really to tell. I consider him my best friend. He was there for me through a lot of stuff and everyone just believes we should be together."

"Rehab?" J asked, "He was there for you while you were getting clean?"

"Excuse me?"

J laughed, a soft chuckle that put Saxon on edge just because it was so out of his character.

"Dark time in your life, huh?" he grinned.

"Yeah," she said simply.

There was no point in lying. He'd probably already gone through her medical history. He wouldn't have brought it up if he didn't already know the answer.

"Accounting," he said the world slowly, as if in thought, "Maybe you can help me and I can help you, huh?" he looked at her and smiled, and Saxon was sure she needed to throw up and he looked at his watch, "I'll be in touch," he pushed his chair backwards and stood up, "If you need anything let me know."

J removed his shades and Saxon looked up at him. His eyes held her still. She wasn't sure how he did that, but she was sure that her heart was hammering in her chest and he held her gaze as his hand moved on the table.

When he tapped the table and Saxon looked down her eyes bulged.

X

J took her in, stray strands of her hair framing her face as she looked down.

He didn't have an accountant. There was no one he trusted more with his money than himself, but Saxon was looking promising. He had a plan that he had already set in motion. It would take him two months to get Saxon right where he wanted her. That was it. He enjoyed being the Clown Prince of Gotham. He enjoyed it quite a lot actually, but he was not stupid. He was extremely smart actually, and he changed with the days. He had no emotional connection that caused him to be one set way. He could be a business tycoon one day and a maniac running through his mansion naked the next if he wanted. He changed his personalities the way Harley changed her hair and he would pluck just the right personalities to get sweet little Saxon right where he wanted her.

"I look forward to working with you," J said simply and he watched Saxon not lift her head.

Her eyes were glued on the Joker card he'd left on the table for her, one of his numbers scribbled on the bottom and a pill of Rush sat directly on the "O". He was sure she was sweating and she tucked her hair behind her ears and took a shaky breath. He watched her battle with herself on what to do with it, the rush and he almost scoffed. She was still a drug addict.

"I look forward to working with you," J repeated slowly and he watched Saxon shake herself free of her own thoughts.

"Working with me?" Saxon's gaze remained on the table.

"You work for me now, dollface," he put his pointer finger on the pill and slid it away from her before plucking it up and flicking it in to the air.

He tilted his head back and caught it in his mouth and then he raised his shades and winked at her distraught face before spinning on his heels and heading back out of the smoothie shop.

He spit the pill out the second he stepped foot off of the curb and snatched off his hat and shades as he walked to his waiting car. As much as he enjoyed messing with sweet little Saxon, he had actual work to be done.