"Thank you, Shade," the man in handcuffs said as the cop shut the door after he got into the vehicle.

"Under arrest, yet he's thanking you?" Commissioner Gordon said to her.

"Well," she replied, doing her best to disguise her voice. "I had to stop that one from killing him.

Gordon looked in the direction where she was pointing. Another man, seething with anger being escorted to another police vehicle. He was glaring at her, full or hatred.

"They're both part of the cartel," Gordon said.

"Yes," she answered. "And there's enough cocaine in the building for this bust to make the front page of the news tomorrow."

"We can't thank you enough, Shade," Gordon said.

"My pleasure," she responded.

.

.

.

"I think this had been the longest day of my life," Adriana said to Harri over the phone. "Serious...it feels like this day had been at least two weeks long."

"You should get some sleep then," Harri said.

"Bruce is sleeping at the moment," Adriana said. "He didn't get any sleep last night."

"Right," Harri said. Adriana had told her everything about Sidi telling Bruce all about her nightmares and how he had witnessed their effects the previous night and had not slept at all. "So you'll sleep when he's done?"

"Yes," she said. "Or maybe I will just stay awake til Saturday evening when Sidi can..take care of this."

"How are you feeling about it?" Harri asked and then burped. "Excuse me."

"Well..." Adriana said. "I haven't actually been thinking about it too much..it's difficult. Maybe it's best if I don't think too much about it. Just..stay..blank and let it happen."

"It's your choice..but this is big," Harri said. "You'll finally be..normal."

"Yes," Adriana said, knowing that no matter what, she would not stop her vigilantism. She would never be completely normal. "Oh..I have another call coming in."

"And I need to make a martini," Harri said. "Perfect timing."

"Bye sis, love you," Adriana said.

"Love you too," Harri said and hung up.

"Hi Lucius," Adriana said as she answered the other call.

'Good evening, Adriana," Lucius said.

"How are you doing?" she asked him.

"Just fine," Lucius said. "Have you spoken to Bruce?"

"No, why? He's was asleep when I got back in," she said. "I had to run downtown to handle something with a few members of a drug cartel."

"I see," Lucius said and waited. "Are you still there?" Lucius asked after a few minutes.

"Oh, yes," she said and began to search Bruce's memories as he slept. "One sec."

She saw the conversation between Bruce and Lucius from earlier that day.

"He asked you to do it!" she said with relief. "Oh...this is such a weight off my shoulders."

"Yes," Lucius said. "He asked me to hire a team and construct a facility to relocate the Joker."

"And Bruce wants no involvement with it, no visual confirmation..nothing," she exhaled. "So we don't have to do anything or worry about anything."

Adriana was quiet, waiting for Lucius to say something.

"Lucius?" she asked. "What is it?"

"Perhaps...this is an opportunity," Lucius said.

"For what?" she asked him. "Lucius?"

She was quiet a while longer, the suspense bothering her. He was too far away for her to know what he was thinking. She hated phone conversations for this reason.

"I don't know what you're thinking Lucius, you're going to have to tell me," she said.

"I will have full control," Lucius said. "The facility, the staff...treatment-"

"Wait, wait!" she said, cutting him off. "You...you actually want to do this!"

"He's a criminal, Adriana," Lucius said. "I think this is the safest option for everyone. I will make it comfortable for him..enjoyable even. I could make it so that he will not even know he is being monitored or guarded. A beautiful location anywhere-"

"Lucius...this..." she said.

"An isolated location, no authorities would be able to locate him," Lucius went on. "We'll set him up in an actual home. Freedom and anything that he wants within the confines of the property. Of course there will be round the clock surveillance and guards at all perimeters, but it would be his best option. His only other choice is a life on the run. He will have no worries."

"Oh...oh Lucius," Adriana said, not expecting this. "We...we'll have to talk to him about this."

"Yes, I assumed as much," Lucius said. "You can discuss it with him when you are ready."

"No," Adriana said. "You...you will discuss this with him..tomorrow."

"Well, that sounds like an order."

"Lucius, he has to trust us both in order for something like this to work. I think you need to speak to him..to maybe even see that something like this isn't necessary.."

"Okay then," Lucius said. "Tommorrow."

Once the call was through, Adriana went to the bedroom where Bruce was still sleeping. It was a little after midnight and the home was very quiet. She crawled onto the bed, laying on her side watching him sleep. He seemed to sense her and slowly opened his eyes.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"It's..." she said, grabbing his wrist which still had on his Rolex. "12:15 a.m."

She smiled at him. He had taken off his jacket, shoes, and tie but had otherwise gotten into bed in full business attire.

"There was a huge cocaine bust tonight," she said proudly.

"Bigger than my heroin bust a couple nights ago?" he smiled.

"Nah," she said. "But close."

"You must be tired," he said. "Your turn to sleep, and I..."

He paused and touched her cheek lovingly.

"I will watch over you," he said. "Cold water and ice packs ready."

She smiled down at him and kissed him softly a few times.

"Actually," she said against his lips. "I'm not sleepy just yet."

"Is that so?" he replied after a momentary pause and then surprised her by flipping her onto her back so quickly that she let out a scream before laughing.

"Yes," she said, with her eyes closed as his lips covered her neck and chest. "It is."

.

.

.

"Good morning," Adriana said to the Joker, who was alone in the physical therapy room, working on external hip rotation exercises. "I thought your physical therapy wasn't until eleven."

"Kapoor said I can come in here any time," the Joker said to her. His hair was damp from a shower and he turned to face her.

She was shocked by what she saw. In less than a day, his scars had faded even more, to the point where she could barely see them without trying.

"Oh," she said, stunned. "Right."

She swallowed before saying more.

"Have you...had a chance to look into a mirror?" she asked him even though she already knew the answer.

"Why should I?" he asked carelessly. "You told me to stop peeling my skin off, I haven't listened. Why should I look now? If I look worse does it really matter? I would say, no. Best guess."

He could tell his scars felt flatter when he felt them with his fingertips but he imagined the skin looking thin and transparent, like open wounds.

"I..really think you should," she said to him.

He frowned and touched his face with his hand. He almost never looked in the mirror intentionally. He could shave without a mirror. There was no need.

"Fine," he said and stood up. They walked quietly back to the small bathroom in the physical therapy gym.

She turned on the light and walked over to the mirror. He frowned by the doorway, looking at her. The way she was looking at him now was unspecified surprise. He was afraid to look into the mirror.

"It's okay," she said. "Just look."

He frowned and took a few steps forward into the bathroom, keeping his eyes on her as he went before the mirror. He blinked a few times before letting his eyes move to the reflection in front of him. The person he saw before him was not was he was expecting. His scars were visually gone. And integral part of who he was had vanished, and so quickly. He looked the man in the mirror up and down as he would a stranger.

Adriana watched him standing there stiffly staring at himself. He wasn't looking at himself in awe or admiration. He tilted his head, not to get a better look at himself, but to see if this reflection was tricking him. It moved exactly as he did. It looked like him...but so different.

"I look like..." he said, surprised at the way his mouth looked when he watched the movement of his lips in the mirror. "I look like..a person."

.

.

.

"Are you okay?" Adriana asked the Joker as he picked up a waffle with his hand.

"Are you?" he asked.

"Huh?" she replied.

"Must look pretty scary," he said. "Even you can't look me in the eye."

"What?" she asked and entered his thoughts. He was right. She had always looked him in the eye, and now she seemed to be avoiding his gaze without knowing it.

"Nothing," he said.

"Sorry...I'm just...it's very different."

"Yeah," he said dismissively. "So what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Oh," she said and sat in front of him. "So..my friend wants to come and talk to you about something."

The Joker raised his eyebrows and looked at her suspiciously.

"Friend? Why?" he inquired. "Who is this friend?"

"His name is Lucius," Adriana said. "You..haven't officially met him, but you've seen him once before. I don't know if you remember. When I found you..underground..the first time I tried to get you to come out he was there. He was there the second time too, but you wouldn't have seen him..you were passed out."

The Joker squinted trying to remember, but the whole thing felt like a dream from a million years ago. His heart rate quickened at he remembered a helicopter flying overhead, scaring him. He remembered wanting to run back into the darkness and quiet. He vaguely remembered seeing a man there.

"Ehh..." the Joker rubbed his forehead, recalling what he saw. "Is he Black? Is he tall?"

"Yes," she answered.

"Why does he want to talk to me? What does he want?" he asked her.

"I'll let him explain when he gets here..." she said. "If it's okay..and if you're up for a visitor."

"Fine, then," he said with a sigh. "When?"

"In a couple hours," she told him.

"Mhm," he said. "Tell me this."

"What?"

"How do you know him?" he asked. "This friend, Lucius."

"Well...he..." Adriana thought about what to say, and decided a vague truth would suffice. "He works for my husband."

"Bruce Wayne, " the Joker said as if reading the name from a cue card.

"Yes," she said.

"And you told this friend about me," the Joker was confused. "Why?"

"Because we're friends and I trust him, that's all. I needed someone to help me."

"And the doctor..you told him about me out of desperation," the Joker assessed.

"Yes."

"That's an extremely close friend," the Joker said. "Lucius."

"Yes," Adriana said again.

"Your husband knows how close the two of you are?"

"Listen," she said, stopping him. "It's not like that, okay? My husband knows we're friends. He's close to my husband too."

"I'm wasn't suggesting anything," the Joker said. "It's just odd. You tell him huge secrets like this, and the both of you keep it from Bruce Wayne. What else have you told him?"

Adriana leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms, becoming a bit annoyed by him referring to Bruce by his full name every time.

"Okay," she said, thinking quickly to explain it away. "Clearly you're smart. Fine. But my husband can't know anything about this. He's a prominent businessman and what we're doing here..harboring you..it's very illegal. My husband has more at stake than Lucius or I or Dr. Kapoor do."

"Clearly," the Joker said, unconvinced and still suspicious.

"And as far as what Lucius knows.." she said. "Yes. He knows. He knows about...what happened between us."

"So, you told someone?" the Joker was surprised.

"Yes," she said.

"He must be one hell of a friend," the Joker said. "Much more to you than to Bruce Wayne. Which one of you has he known longer?"

"Well...Bruce.." Adriana answered. "He's been working for him for over a decade."

"Interesting," the Joker said.

Adriana didn't know what to say. He had read the situation so clearly and easily.

"Are you sure you two aren't..." the Joker asked, and she could tell he was teasing her.

"Please stop," she said. "We're friends and that's it. He'll be here in about three hours."

.

.

.

"You're early," Adriana said as Lucius came through the elevator. "He's on the roof now, I'll go get him."

"So you," Lucius said and stepped out of the elevator. "Allow him to go onto the roof?"

"Yes...but it's totally safe. I keep an eye on it..making sure no one's going up to the roof or thinking about doing so. It's an isolated area as well."

"Alright," Lucius said.

"You can wait in the room..three doors down on the left. I'll be right back."

Lucius nodded and headed down the hall. Adriana went up to the roof to let the Joker know that his visitor was there and they went back down the elevator in silence until just before the doors opened.

"So much mystery," the Joker said, still not knowing what the visit was about. "Exciting. Don't you think?"

"Sure," she said and followed him down the hall.

Adriana opened the door and saw Lucius seated at a table in the middle of the room. There were four chairs and Lucius was seated facing the door. His thoughts were crystal clear.

Lucius was astonished at what he was seeing as he stood to greet them. The last time he had seen the Joker he was nearly skeletal, long grungy hair over a gaunt face. A frail body, dark circles, and greyish skin from anemia and lack of daylight exposure.

The man that stood in from of him was strong in appearance, with radiant skin, healthy hair and a glowing complexion. He looked physically fit and much younger than he imagined the Joker being. Lucius previously perceived the Joker as being a man in his early 40s at the youngest, but the individual he was looking at appeared to be a handsome 25 year old. The scars on his face were not apparent. There was no way anyone would believe this young man was the Joker.

"Hello, my name is Lucius Fox," Lucius introduced himself as Adriana and the Joker sat.

"Lucius," the Joker said, his distinctive voice reassuring Lucius that it was in fact the Joker. "I assume you know who I am."

"Of course," Lucius said and sat. "You are looking well. Incredible recovery."

"Thank you," the Joker said, still getting used to using the phrase.

"You are welcome," Lucius said.

"And thank you for assisting Adriana with my..extraction," he said about being freed from his underground prison.

"Of course," Lucius said. "We did what needed to be done."

"Hahaha," the Joker laughed loudly, surprising Lucius. "Of course we all know that it didn't need to be done. You could have let me die, quite easily."

"Well...uh..." Lucius said unsure of how to respond. "Adriana would never allow something like that to happen."

The Joker looked at Adriana who was sitting quietly beside him.

"Probably right," the Joker said.

"So..." Lucius said, wanting to get to the discussion. "I am here to talk to you about..options for your future."

"Wasn't aware that I had any," the Joker said in a dull tone.

"You do," Lucius informed him. "Adriana and I, we want to help you."

"So what are you offering," the Joker said, understanding what was happening.

"We can make you very comfortable. You can go anywhere in the world you want, and everything will be set up for you. A home, privacy, no chance of authorities discovering you. Food, clothing, medical expenses, everything."

The Joker squinted at him and leaned back.

"Who is paying for this?" the Joker asked. "You?"

"Well...I have a budget for it," Lucius explained without further detail.

"And you're just doing this out of the kindness of your heart?" the Joker said.

"I am doing this because it needs to be done," Lucius said.

"You certainly have a sense of duty, don't you?" The Joker asked.

"You could say so."

"And this..magical island where I live alone with all the food and clothing I want," the Joker said. "Let me guess..I will be under constant invisible surveillance?"

"Uh...well yes," Lucius said, seeing the Joker as a very perceptive and intelligent man. "And if you'd like it to be an island, we can make that happen."

"Mhm," the Joker said.

"You don't have to make a decision now, I just wanted to come here to let you know that it is an option-" Lucius said but the Joker cut him off.

"When do I leave?" he asked.

"Wait," Adriana said, finally speaking. "You'll do it? Just like that?"

"Sure," the Joker said. "Beats being on the run, with a bum hip."

"Your hip is-" Adriana said but realized she didn't want to get off track. His hip still gave him problems but it was healing very well. "I'm glad you decided to...I really think it's the best option."

"Is that all?" the Joker asked and looked at the clock on the wall.

"Yes..that was all," Lucius said.

"Good then," the Joker shook Lucius' hand and stood. "Ten more minutes left for me to head up to the roof before Dr. Kapoor removes his stethoscope and transforms into a shrink for our session."

"Okay...enjoy," Lucius said and the Joker left.

"So...that was very easy," Adriana said and Lucius nodded.

"Is he genuine? He really is on board with this?" Lucius asked.

"Yes..as far as I can see within his thoughts he's fine with it," she said.

"Okay. I will get started on the project," Lucius told her. "Are you...in my thoughts?"

"Well, I'm trying not to be," she said. "I was focusing more on him."

"His appearance is astonishing, Adriana," Lucius said. " Even facial recognition would have a hard time matching..."

"Yeah..he's really come a long way," she told him.

"And how is all of this for you? Watching this happen to him?"

"I don't know.." she said. "At first it was difficult because he was suffering a lot of pain and we didn't know if he would make it ..but I think it's getting easier."

Lucius nodded. "I should get back to the office. My lunch hour is just about up."

"Okay," Adriana said. "I'll see you later then."

"Yes," Lucius said before leaving.

She held onto his thoughts as he left. His memories. Watching her and the Joker sitting side by side at the table. Even Lucius could feel it...a tension. A denial. As if they were both trying to control themselves and fortunately, both were very successful.

Lucius never was able to imagine Adriana and the Joker romantically involved, it had been impossible for him to envision. But seeing them seated together, even though they behaved with all the decency he could imagine, he could see it. He could see the energy between them that was being suppressed. Suppressed to the point that they were almost cold to each other. Cold and clinical, with burning lava rippling beneath the surface.