Bruce made a sharp turn on the race track on the screen, tilting Arsenio in his lap. The baby squealed as Bruce gripped the steering wheel. Another car zoomed in front of him and Bruce sped up.
The game was Arsenio's favorite. They were in the game room at Wayne Manor and Bruce was driving in a racing arcade game, Arsenio holding his forearms.
"First place!" Bruce exclaimed when the game was over. "We win again! Good teamwork!"
"Yahh!" Arsenio said. "Car! Car!"
"He knows how to say car now?" Harri asked as she came into the game room.
Bruce turned and looked at her, as did Arsenio.
"We just learned how to say that word this morning," Bruce said and kissed the top of Arsenio's head.
"Good job!" Harri said and Arsenio reached out his arms in her direction.
She walked over and picked him up.
"So," Bruce said. "You just got in?"
"Yes," Harri said. "A few minutes ago."
"How was Chicago?" Bruce asked.
"It was nice," Harri said while Arsenio began to play with her necklace.
She and Bruce looked at each other quietly, both of them thinking about the elephant in the room. The letter.
The letter she left for Bruce before she left for Chicago for the weekend. The words she had written to him letting him know that she did not believe the Joker had harmed Adriana were in that letter. He had only let Alfred read the letter halfway before finishing it himself. They couldn't discuss the letter now in front of Arsenio, he would understand them. They both had to bite their tongues for now.
.
.
.
The Joker stirred the sauce on his stove slowly. He had seen Adriana do this several times. Cooking wasn't so hard, he thought.
He looked out at the pool in the backyard through his kitchen window. The day was sunny and incredibly warm. The home that Lucius had given to him was beautiful. When the Joker had arrived a couple days ago, he almost couldn't believe how much effort and thought went into it. He had everything he needed. The home was fully furnished, kitchen stocked with food,closet full of clothes.
He was aware that the property was monitored around the clock. There were no cameras in the house, but there was security outside on the gated premises. Once a week there would be grocery delivery and four days a week a team of housekeepers would clean. He was free to come and go from the property as he wished but he knew that he would be discreetly and invisibly followed. There was a garage with two vehicles for him to use, he had televisions, computers, and an in home bar.
It seemed that no expense was spared. He was very comfortable, and he knew that in this place, perhaps, he could eventually find happiness.
.
.
.
"So..I assume you got my letter," Harri said as soon as Bruce came into the kitchen after putting Arsenio down for a nap.
"I did," Bruce said after a momentary pause.
"Okay...and?" Harri asked.
"Harri," Bruce said and walked over the kitchen island where she was sitting on a tall stool. He stood across from her and spoke very seriously. "I understand that you..believe that it's possible that Adriana and the Joker were somehow involved..in some kind of an..actual relationship. Where she..possibly wanted to be with him. And that whatever happened was voluntary."
"Yes," Harri said simply.
"But Harri," Bruce said. "That is because you don't know the man. You've never seen him, met him, interacted with him."
Harri almost corrected him, but then decided it would be a bad idea.
"What if I had?" Harri asked instead. "Consider the possibility that he's..not as bad as you think?"
"He is worse than any of us think," Bruce replied, not considering it at all. "If you had ever met him..ever looked into his eyes, you would see. There's nothing there..no emotion, so soul...just darkness. Wickedness. Evil and plotting. He is completely vacant of whatever it is that makes us human."
Harri blinked. That wasn't the experience that she had. But obviously Bruce was thinking of a specific incident.
"Tell me," Harri encouraged him.
"Before he killed Rachel," Bruce said. "I asked him where they were. Where were Rachel and Harvey..after they were abducted. I tried to beat it out of him. He told me my strength was useless as I hit him over and over...it was all a game to him. I don't even believe he feels pain."
"And he didn't tell you?" Harri asked.
"Oh he told us," Bruce said. "He switched the addresses. He lied."
Harri felt like she could see Bruce's skin beginning to crawl with anger.
"He knew I would be faster than the police. He knew I wanted to go after Rachel. He switched the addresses," Bruce said.
"I'm...so sorry Bruce.." Harri said, seeing how hurt, angry and helpless he felt as he told her what happened.
"So am I," he told her. "You don't know how many times..over and over...I remember him, licking his lips, telling me the addresses. Lying. I could sense it...I could sense that there was some..lie! He would never just tell us! It couldn't be that easy! The Batman should be able to see through something like that, and he knew it. But he also knew that...he could see that Rachel meant something to me and it blinded me. I did exactly what he wanted. I saved Dent."
There was nothing that Harri could think of to say to him.
"But..I will make him pay," Bruce said. "For Rachel..for Dent..for Gotham...for Adriana."
"Okay," Harri said quietly. She was hopeful that Lucius had done a good job at hiding the Joker. There was nothing she could do. "What if you never find him?"
"I will, I have a plan."
"A plan?"
"It's crazy..but it could work. I'm going to get Lucius to tell me."
"Bruce...come on. If he hasn't told you yet he's not going t-"
"He will."
"Are you going to hurt him?" Harri asked with concern.
"Harri, no. What do you take me for?" Bruce asked.
"It's just..you're very angry and desperate for revenge-"
"You would be to if you knew the...horrendous things that man is capable of."
"But Bruce..what if..." Harri began to ask. "What if Lucius is so protective because it's what Adriana wanted? What if that's why he hasn't told you? Because Adriana..actually cared about the Joker and Lucius could see it-"
"And what if I could ask her myself?" Bruce asked.
"Well that can't happen."
"But what if it could?" Bruce asked her.
Harri looked him in the eyes. She was tempted to feel his forehead for a fever.
"There might be a way," Bruce said. "To bring her back."
Harri's lips tightened.
"Look..I know it sounds crazy..but there's someone who can help me. She said..I can go back into time and change things," Bruce said, beginning to speak quickly. The speed in his voice, he was aware, was making him sound crazy, but he had to tell her. "She's going to help me and show me how to go back."
"Oh Bruce..." Harri said, looking extremely concerned for him. "Listen to yourself...this..isn't-"
"If it doens't work them maybe I'm crazy for believing it , but I love Adriana and I will do everything in my power to bring her back!"
"Who is it.." Harri asked. "Who's this person telling you these stories about bringing back the dead?"
"Her name is Madame Twyla," Bruce said. "Aymara told me that she's very powe-"
"Twyla?!" Harri asked. "Bruce! She's the one that Adriana flipped out on! Destroyed her building!"
"Adriana didn't destroy the building, just some of the merchandise," Bruce clarified.
"Same difference!" Harri said. "Listen to yourself! Why would she help you? Your wife busted up her merchandise? And now she's probably going to give you some hallucinogen-"
"No, she said it's..something like a time machine," Bruce said. "I don't think I have to ingest anything."
Harri stood up.
"Wait, where are you going?" Bruce asked as she began to back away.
"I'm going to tell Alfred," Harri said.
"Tell Alfred?" Bruce said, the tone in her voice like a tattletale.
"Yes! Someone needs to reason with you, I have to tell him you're flipping out!" Harri said.
"I'm not flipping out," Bruce said. "I'm a little excited to do this but I'm perfectly calm-"
"You're flipping out!" Harri exclaimed.
"Harri," Bruce said. "I can't involve Alfred in this..he won't understand-"
"And neither do I!" Harri asked.
"I'll tell you what," Bruce said. "Come with me this evening..we'll see Twyla together..you can make sure there's no funny business."
"It's all fucking funny business! Time travel!" Harri said and placed a hand on her own forehead.
"Harri...if it turns out to be a sham...it's fine...I'm not getting my hopes up too high but I am hopeful...just come with me , please?" he asked.
"Yeah.." Harri said, her voice tense and sarcastic. "Sure. I'll come with you."
