Two Heads About Everything

Chapter Fourteen: Deal

While Joker and Two-Face settled the jewels and so forth from the back of the trunks of the two cars, Chance led Ace to the middle of the fair grounds. Ace waved a hand at the palace of the carnival with a wide smile.

"This all came to me when we split up," said Ace, leading Chance around the mirror house and the ferris wheel. "It was like freedom was for me, you know. Destiny."

"Destiny," muttered Chance. "Whatever came of destiny? If anything, everything is ruled by 50-50."

Ace sat down on one of the benches. She pulled her friend down beside her. Chance looked slightly crestfallen.

"Why the glum mug?" inquired Ace. "We just jacked that bank for what Gotham owed us. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Well, of course..." said Chance admittedly. "But, my God, I should have been past this ages ago. A whole year and what have I achieved?" Ace watched her rise to her feet and cross her arms. "For years, I told you that I wanted to work my way up the chain. I haven't moved since I allied with Two-Face. And his constant need for that stupid half-dollar is annoying. Ace, I plan. I scheme. A whole year, I've dealt with his whiplash and it's driving me crazy..."

Ace stared at her.

"Don't you love the guy, though?" she rose to her feet as well. "Chance, you told me you fell in love with Harvey Dent."

"He's not what I anticipated him to be. Big Bad Harv isn't there all the time."

"Honey, he's an MPD." Ace cooed, setting a hand on Chance's shoulder.

"I know that." Chance muttered. "But I hate how he isn't...balanced. When Two-Face leaves, and Harvey takes his place, sometimes I think his immoral side won't ever return. I fear the worst."

Ace understood. "You think he'll turn you in?"

"Well, I'm not saying I fully trust my instincts, but I've got a horrible feeling..." Chance said. "I usually can get Two-Face to dominate Harvey; sometimes, though, it's like I have to beat him in order to get him angry. It's the only way to draw him out."

"Is that what's bothering you?" said Ace incredulously. "Cold, hard-stoned Chance doesn't trust her boyfriend?"

"He's not entirely truthful," said Chance. "It's not just my paranoia. He's got that wife of his."

"Who, the blonde?" Ace chuckled. "Grace? Chance, you saw on television how well that came out. She left Harvey Dent."

"She left Two-Face," noted Chance. "She still loves Harvey."

"Then kill her." Ace replied nonchalantly. "She makes it harder for you, kill her. Chance, do what you have always done when someone gets in your way: intimidate them. Extort them. Buy them off. You're a different class of criminal, friend. You're most likely to run in Penguin's game."

"That fop surrounds himself with women to make himself look popular," said Chance disdainfully. "I'm a flair for the intellect, that appearances...Obviously."

"Well, I'm not for back-stabbing, but why don't you get Two-Face out of the way?"

"I can't do that." Chance muttered.

"Ugh, Chance. Get love out of your head if you want to climb that ladder. Where business is, pleasure can't intervene. Unless your thing is prostitution, but I wouldn't recommend it. Heard that bosses take most of the cut."

"Ace, I'm not killing Two-Face...I promised him that I wouldn't harm him."

"You and your promises." Ace scoffed. "Some of them you can't keep."

"I've always done what I promised." Chance said defensively.

Ace waved her hands, "And that makes you so honorable. Ugh...it's a sign of weakness."

"Control is a sign of weakness?" Chance remarked. "Perhaps you haven't noticed, Ace, but Joker's let you run too easily. You're killing off everyone in sight. And I wouldn't let me guard down so quickly, you know."

"What, Chance? You think those pathetic thugs over there can take me? Think I'm not up to anything? Well, Missy, you should know that I've prepared myself for any situation. I'm not..."

"You're very confident," said Chance notably. "I know I'm rather vain when it comes to my intellect, however yours is quite advanced. Taken down so many thugs in past month, you've grown accustomed to winning. Ace, it's not about winning. You have to cover your tracks."

"I cover them well." Ace retorted.

"Yes, if by well you cover your footprints with trails of blood. You leave your bodies behind. Haven't I always told you to hide well?"

"You've told me lots of shit in the past, Chance. Joker lets me wander."

"Joker lets you get caught!" Chance said loudly, approaching Ace.

"He always bails me out." Ace said assuringly.

"And what happens when he values Harley over you, hm? What will happen when he suddenly decides out of the whim of amusement that you no longer...accomply?"

Ace smacked the shit out of Chance. Chance fell to the rough patch of dirt under her feet. She grunted slightly. Ace hadn't flinched. She merely watched her friend rise to her feet slowly.

"Okay," said Chance lightly, rubbing her reddening cheek. "I deserved that."

"Damn right, you did." Ace said quietly.

"Ace," continued her friend mildly, "I'm not putting your clown down. By all means, he makes a good boss if you're understanding his humor, which is very funny. But hasn't he ever told you how he treats Harley?"

"He doesn't treat me like he treats Harley."

"So hitting you is a good thing, then?" remarked Chance coldly.

"He's rough." Ace said sweetly. "And you can't find a better boss. He's a funny guy."

"Funny guy? He's absolutely ruthless." Chance uttered. "As I said, I wouldn't let my guard down. Harley Quinn is a piece of work. You have to watch your back."

"Oh, because Harley is a tough nut, I have to walk on my tippy-toes"—Ace mimed walking on glass—"or maybe I should cower when the fluky floozy comes a-bouncin' around, crawling all over him? Chance, friend, she's not a challenge for me."

"For now." Chance said enduringly. "Ace, I'm only looking out for your well being. I've looked out for my skin for the last few months, and I've made some good things for myself. Although, I am feeling a bit restrained. It's like Two-Face doesn't think I should mount the throne of Gotham's worst villain. He might think I'm too ruthless."

"You're calculating and want riches. Two-Face wants two different things: justice and injustice, and he'll try to balance them out, and try to keep you, and perhaps get Grace." Ace reported. She sat back down on the bench. "Look, after all this time, you want to knock him out of your game? He's got connections. He seems like he cares about you..."

"It's all business, it seems. In the end, it's a transaction." Chance said gently.

"You don't trust him, he doesn't trust you. It's the lack of faith." Ace said. "I trust Joker with my life. One day, I hope, he'll feel the same for me."

Chance sighed.

"I sort of wish we never separated."

"Well," breathed Ace, "I understand why we did, but you might have overreacted."

"Me?" said Chance, turning to her. "You lost me 50 billion dollars."

"Yeah. But there's always more money anywhere." Ace shrugged. "Could've gotten it from anywhere."

"I would have been famous for taking the bank," said Chance pointedly. "The money would've have been a bonus."

"A very fortunate bonus," Ace added in. "Look, it's all right for now. Convince Two-Face to join Joker. You'll work with me, it'll be like old times. If push comes to shove, I'll whack off Two-Face, but I won't tell you when. Then you won't break your promise, and hell, we'll have more money for the three of us."

Chance nodded.

They shook hands.

"Deal." They said together.