New chappy folks! :)
Chapter 14
When Andrea woke up in the morning she could smell fresh coffee brewing. She stretched and flopped back into her pillow. Then her eye caught the stack of bills. She'd almost forgotten last night.
A deep weight settled about Andrea as she got ready that morning. What did it matter that the Joker had just paid her for sex? He could have killed her instead. But Andrea was still upset, deep down inside her rolled up ball of hidden feelings, she was upset. Refusing to touch the money Andrea tied back her hair and stepped out into the main room. She fixed herself a cup and grabbed a bagel smeared with cream cheese and went to pick up the newspaper from the front door. She paused staring at the bagel in her hand. Spinning around she stared into her kitchen. Yup, steaming pot of coffee and a plate of bagels. Both of which she hadn't made. Casting a suspicious search around the room, Andrea pondered the absence of the Joker and his gift of coffee and bagels.
Deciding there was no explanation for any of it, Andrea choose to let it slip from her mind. Picking the paper up she flipped the tv to the news channel and casually browsed the entertainment section while she waited for the morning show to air.
"...later this morning we will be Live on Location at Gotham's Funeral Parade for Commissioner Loeb and Judge Surrillo. Both were targeted victims of the madman known only as the Joker. Back to you Rob."
Hearing a sound she glanced up, dropping the bagel in surprise. Joker was standing off to one side, watching the television carefully. "They always call me a madman. I'm not though. Simply ahead of the game." He commented lightly, before turning his attention to her.
Feeling awkward under his scrutiny, Andrea leaned down to retrieve what was left of the bagel. She avoided eye contact with him, preferring to finish her bagel and purse the paper.
"You'll need to leave." Andrea stared at him confused. "What? Why do I need to leave?! It's my apartment!"
Joker shook his head. "Batsy knows we're here. After today he'll be after me more than usualll, and since he knows that I have a in-terr-estttt in you..." Joker rolled the words around in his mouth casusally. "So you can either stay here and wait for the bat to come get you, or you can leave. Believe
me, I won`t be saving you from him again."
"What makes you think I need saving?" Andrea raised an eyebrow.
Joker just shrugged. "Rumour has it that he beats his victims to pulp while interrogating them. He sure made short work of my men at that party."
Joker stretched his arms above his head and twisted his neck from side to side till he heard the crack, then lowered them with a sigh of satisfaction.
"It's up to you doll. But if you're not gunna run, then I'll take my money back." Joker began gathering his things from around the apartment as Andrea ran his advice through her head. She didn't want to be beaten to pulp, but on the other hand Batman hadn't hit her once. Not even when she was resisting him at Greene Tower.
Mind made up she headed into the bedroom to return the Joker's money. She really didn't need it anyways. As she leaned over to pick the money up, a folder caught her eye. It was underneath the neatly wrapped stack of bills. Placing the money aside she opened the folder curiously.
Inside was every detail about the comings and goings of her enemy, Miss Waters. She couldn't imagine how long it would have taken herself to collect all this. Gathering the folder and money to her, Andrea returned to the main room.
"Why?"
Joker looked up from counting out his knives at the table. "Why what?"
"Why this?" Andrea persisted, "Why go to the bother of giving me this? All this information?"
"It amuses me." Joker replied simply, starting to place his knives inside the inner pockets of his jacket. "Did you know her name was Mildred Forks? Mousey brunette with no real looks? Took her daddy's inheritance and put it into making a name for herself... and those knockers she parades around." Joker winked at her. "Funny thing, isn't it? You and her have a lot in common."
Andrea frowned, "I do not have fake tits!" She protested.
"Oh I know... but Andrea Masque isn't your real name is it?"
Andrea was struck dumb. How could he know?
"Ta ta Miss. Bononami." Joker smucked a kiss on her lips and exited the apartment.
"Wait a minute!"
Andrea rushed to the door, dropping the folder and money on her way. "JOKER!" She caught him just in time to see the elevator doors closing on his smirk.
Furious and terrified, she made her way for the emergency stairs. By the time she reached the bottom, Andrea was feeling a little out of breath and was even more enraged when she saw her car go peeling out of the underground parking lot. "DAMNIT!"
Heading back for the elevator, Andrea considered her options.
Option A: Stay at the apartment. Possible issues: Batman abducting her, Joker abducting her, Police arresting her for affiliation with the Joker (she was sure nosy Mrs. Phillips had picked up something strange about her new roommate. If not the surveillance camera's will.)
Option B: Relocate to different apartment/area of Gotham. Possible issues:... Joker, Batman...
Andrea's second option was starting to look better and better.
Locking herself in the apartment, Andrea began packing a small luggage bag to take with her. It simply made it look like she was on vacation, or visiting relatives. The apartment wouldn't have that abandoned in a rush look if Batman or the Police came calling. She paused when she went to pack her catsuit, then carefully placed it in a smaller bag to be hidden underneath her lingerie in the suitcase. Finally in went the large stack of bills and the folder containing all the information on 'Mildred Forks'.
Slapping on a pair of shades and a jacket, Andrea left via the back stairs. It was longer, but she felt more at ease with the stairs then she did being stuck in the elevator.
Good thing too. Bruce Wayne was making his way up the elevator to knock on her door.
Slipping out the front door, she eyed the Lamborghini parked in front of the building warily, before hunting down a cab to take her far away from her apartment.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Bruce knocked on Andrea Masque`s door for a third time. It was now obvious that the designer was out. Glancing up and down the hallway, he slipped a key out of his pocket. Bruce had charmed the middle-aged Mrs. Phillips to pass along a spare key to Andrea`s boyfriend. He`d faked worry over Mrs. Phillips` mutterings about a man in makeup leaving the building. In fact Bruce was a little concerned, if only for the reason as to why was the Joker here again?
What was going on between Andrea Masque and the Joker?
Slipping into the empty apartment, he flicked on a light. Nothing was out of place as far as he could tell. A scattering of fashion and news magazines combined lay on the coffee table. He started to download the database off her computer. While it was loading he searched the spare room, closets and finally made it to Andrea's room. Nothing was abnormal. Nothing shouted out villain. Nothing said that the Joker had made Andrea his henchwoman. Having no real answers out of Andrea while she had been captured, Bruce was curious as to what was going on behind these closed doors.
Andrea's room was neat. A large dresser of clothes was pawed through by him, and upon finding nothing to confirm his suspicions Bruce almost left. Almost.
A splash of red caught the corner of his eye. There was an en-suite bathroom attached, in which he found a smear of red paint on the corner of the mirror. Reaching for it he opened the mirror to find a message for him.
"HAHA BATSY! TIME TO JOIN THE HA HE HE Ho Ho haha."
It was smeared in red facepaint on the inside of the mirror.
Bruce's face was set in a grim line as he exited the building to head to the temporary underground BatCave where Alfred was waiting for him with the results from the shattered bullet.
Something was going to happen at the Parade today. He just knew it.
A/N: Alright, another shorty chapter, but I wanted to get it out. Some more allusions to the Joker knowing Andrea's background, some planned revenge on Andrea's part and a little bat thrown in. What did you all think?