"You certainly were not exaggerating," Alfred said Adriana after seeing Bruce's gray hair.

"I told you," she said and sat in front of her plate of waffles. "He must be insanely stressed about this whole thing with these...fucking depraved people trying to expose him."

"Has he spoken to you about the matter?" Alfred asked.

"Barely.." Adriana said and put a spoonful of whipped cream onto her plate. "I asked him about it and he's acting like it's nothing..like he doesn't care much about it. It's as if he's just accepted that sooner or later someone at the police precinct is going to acquire and reveal that video of what he did to Dent. And then what? The city will hate him. And then they might reveal his name...he would get life in prison most likely-"

"Perhaps he has a plan," Alfred said. "And that is why his concern appears minimal."

"But why couldn't he tell me about a plan if he had one?" Adriana asked Alfred.

"It could risky and he wouldn't want you to worry," Alfred told her.

"Wait.." Adriana said. "Do you know something? Did he tell you what this is about?"

"I assure you I know nothing," Alfred told her truthfully.

"Okay..." Adriana said, believing him. "I just don't want him to feel like he's in this alone now just because I don't have my gift anymore. I still want to help him however I can. But maybe you're right..I mean why would he just call me out of the blue and call off our search with my gift? He was so incredibly intent on me working hard to scan every employee's memories and some of the long term hotel residents too..and then all of a sudden, bam, he calls Sidi."

"The timing is strange, I will admit," Alfred offered. "But perhaps we should allow him his space to continue whatever he is working on."

Adriana nodded quietly. Truthfully, she didn't believe that Bruce had some grand plan to stop the harassment and threats against him, but she had to accept his words.

.

.

.

"I can't stay long," Adriana said to the Joker as she sat his breakfast in front of him. "Dr. Kapoor is already here and he'll be in to see you soon."

The Joker nodded and took the plate.

"Okay.." she said and began to leave, not sure why he was quiet. "So..enjoy your day."

Before she could go out the door he squinted at her and frowned for a moment before picking up his fork.

"What?" she asked him as he touched his jaw before beginning to eat. "Is one of your teeth hurting?"

"No," he answered and looked into her eyes again.

Something was different. She felt like she was looking into his eyes for the first time..but at the same time she felt she knew him inside and out. It was such a peculiar feeling and she couldn't place how and why, but she felt a sense of comfort and belonging. She looked away.

"Then what's wrong?" she asked.

"Oh...apparently," he said. "Nothing at all."

"What? Speak English," she told him, feeling that this was a riddle of some kind.

He sighed and put down his fork. "You seem just fine with me knowing everything. I didn't expect that. This isn't a bad thing," he said. "Just peculiar, especially regarding your husband, Bruce Wayne."

"Okay..I.." she said, now realizing that he expected her to be in his thoughts. "I actually have no idea what you're talking about."

"Then read my mind," he said. "You let me know yesterday that you are all-seeing. You've given me a name and age. Remember? In the medical refrigerator? Where you were sitting on the floor sweating. You told me, I'm called Jack."

"Right," she sighed and sat at the table in a chair facing him. "That's actually gone now. Last night a close friend of mine...well let's just say she helped me get rid of my ability."

"Why?" he asked her.

"Because it was making me sick," she said. "I mean physically sick. It needed to be done."

"Ahhh..." he nodded and picked up the fork again.

Once he began to eat she sat waiting for him to discuss what he had brought up earlier.

"Look, I can't stay here all day," she said, although she wanted to stay. She felt like she could look at him for hours. "What were you talking about? You knowing everything."

"Don't worry about that," he said, not looking up from his food tray. "It was absolutely nothing."

Adriana rolled her eyes and grabbed his tray of eggs and sausages with both hands. He looked at her with his fork in mid air.

"Tell me," she said.

He pulled the tray back to himself.

"Last night," he said as if confessing something. "I felt overcome with the urge to break into Dr. Kapoor's office. You know..I can't help these things."

"Yes you can," she said firmly. "You can help it."

"Nahh..." he disagreed. "But anyway, I broke in."

"Great," Adriana said. "Now I will let him know to change the passcode."

"Mhm," the Joker nodded and stuck his fork into a sausage link. "I only mentioned it because I assumed you knew what I saw, due to your mind-reading abilities."

"What did you see?" she asked and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Files," he said.

"Oh.." she said nervously.

"Arsenio Thomas Wayne..." the Joker said and looked her straight in the eyes.

Him saying the name and looking at her at the same time made Adriana realize how much Arsenio looked like him. She wasn't sure what to say.

"That's.." she said and looked down. "That's my son."

"Yes, you told me you had a son," the Joker said.

"So..what is it you think you know?" Adriana said.

"The timeline...his birthdate..."the Joker said casually. "It's interesting."

"So you think he's yours?" Adriana asked boldly, unsure of where her attitude was coming from. She was angry with him for going through confidential files and felt incredibly exposed.

"Well," the Joker shrugged. "Is he?"

Adriana looked at him seriously and nervously tapped a finger on the table, unable to answer.

"Okay then," the Joker said plainly and went back to eating.

Adriana watched him take several bites of food, glancing at her in between each one. He wasn't going to say anything more.

"So..." she said and put both hands on her lap. "So that's it? That's all you have to say?"

"If you won't answer my question, then yes," he said.

"Fine," she said, still nervous. "I...became pregnant when we were together."

The words were obvious and she knew that he already knew the truth but she saw the second he froze when the words finally left her mouth.

"And I had a son..his name is Arsenio," Adriana said. "I didn't want to burden you with this..information-"

"Burden?" the Joker asked.

"Okay, maybe burden was the wrong word," she said quickly, her mouth running more rapidly than her thoughts. "I just meant...I didn't know how you would take this information and I know it's a lot and I know you might feel confused and..I don't know."

"Is that how I should feel?" he asked, his voice still neutral.

"I'm," Adriana said, taking a breath to pause before continuing. "I'm not telling you how to feel. But we can talk about if you want."

The Joker released a deep groaning sound in his throat and sat up a bit straighter.

"Look," he said in a subtle negotiating tone. "You didn't want to discuss this, let's be honest. You never wanted to tell me. There's no need to talk about it. I assumed you knew that I knew. We don't need to discuss."

Adriana swallowed as the Joker went back to poking at the food on his tray.

"Are you mad?" she asked.

He frowned at her. "Why would I be mad?"

She had no answer.

"I must assume your husband, Bruce Wayne, doesn't know," the Joker said.

"No..." Adriana said. "No one knows. Just Lucius..and my stupid ex.. but he won't say anything."

The Joker looked attentive. "Who?"

"His name is Damien," Adriana said. "He's a cop..you've probably come across him-"

"Oh yes," the Joker said. "I have fond memories of the time he starved and beat me. I know exactly who Officer Ricard is."

"Right..he told me about that.." Adriana said. "I'm sorry he did that to you."

"Ehhh," the Joker shrugged it off. "I've had worse treatment. So, the cop knows."

"Yes, and he's signed an agreement not to say anything," Adriana said.

"You're not worried he will mention it to Bruce Wayne one day?" the Joker asked.

"Of course," she said. "But they never interact so the chances of that are minimal."

The Joker squinted. "Does Bruce Wayne believe he's Arsenio Thomas Wayne's father?"

"You don't have to say their whole names.." Adriana looked at him strangely. "It's weird. And no, he doesn't think he's Arsenio's father. I was already pregnant when we got together and he knew."

"Alright," the Joker said conclusively.

"Any other questions?" Adriana asked.

"Just one," the Joker said.

"Go on," she told him.

"How do you think Bruce Wayne will react if he does find out?" the Joker asked. "That this child is...well, the product of something I did. The product of his worst enemy. Will the child be in danger?"

"What?" Adriana asked. "Worst enemy?"

"I know that he is the Batman," the Joker said. "Perhaps I should have led with that."

"What makes you think he's the Batm-"

"Come on," the Joker said. "I've seen his medical records. A couple of those injuries are ones I inflicted, exact date and all. Who else can afford the be the Batman? Who else would require a private medical facility in downtown Gotham? I'm no genius but ahh..."

Adriana was quiet.

"Yes," the Joker said. "You married the man who put me underground for over a year. You let me rot there until I was almost dead."

"No," Adriana interjected. "I..I didn't know. While I was pregnant I didn't have my gift at all, I didn't know what my husband was thinking. If I would have known I would have freed you right away! You have to believe that, I don't think what he did was right. I came to get you out of there as soon as I knew. I couldn't see his thoughts until a couple months after I had my son. I would never-"

"Okay, I believe you," he said. "Just needed to clarify what happened exactly."

"So..." Adriana said nervously. "You know my husband is the Batman..he's the one that put you in an underground prison.."

"Not to worry," the Joker said. "I've forgiven him that."

"You have?" she asked with a bit of disbelief.

"I'm free now, aren't I?" he asked.

"Yes.." Adriana said, not able to fully believe that he didn't resent Bruce at all. She wished she could see into his thoughts.

"You certainly keep a lot of secrets," the Joker said.

"I do," she told him.

"When did you know?" he asked.

"Know what?" she inquired.

"That you were..." he waved a hand around as if searching for another word. "Expecting."

"Oh.." she said. "Well I didn't know for sure until..um...the doctor here told me."

"After the Batman had shot you with the poison that I created. The dart that was meant for me," the Joker put the pieces together aloud. "The Batman brought you here after shooting you..got you a blood transfusion. And the doctor found out you were expecting."

"Yes, that's what happened," she told him.

"And the Bruce Batman Wayne fell in love with you," the Joker said.

"And I fell in love with him," she said.

"And you lie to him," the Joker said without judgement.

"I would tell him if I could," she explained. "But...there's no way. Maybe one day I can tell him everything but.."

"But..." the Joker said.

"He hates you," Adriana said. "Passionately. And there are some things going on right now that I can't discuss in detail but I'll just say that..If he ever found out that you know his identity he will blame it all on you..even though I know it's not you. I can tell him the truth when you're relocated and when this all blows over."

"Is someone using his identity to blackmail him?" the Joker guessed.

"What?" Adriana was shocked at how intelligently he had used her few words to piece together what was happening with Bruce. "How did you-"

"Billionaire...secret vigilante...numerous illegal crimes even in the name of the alleged good.." the Joker said. "Doesn't take much knowledge to figure this one out. What do they want? Money?"

Adriana was unsure of she wanted to pursue this conversation with Bruce's nemesis, but she trusted the Joker even though she didn't know his thoughts.

"I don't know," she answered. "They haven't made any demands."

"So what have they done?" the Joker had the slightest excitement in his voice. It was the most exciting puzzle he had come across in ages.

"Umm...well," Adriana said, knowing that Bruce would flip if he knew that she was talking to the Joker about his problems. "They've sent video footage to the police of him doing something that the public would perceive as...quite terrible. I mean, the city would turn against him if they found out."

"And why haven't they found out?" the Joker asked.

"Well, Commissioner Gordon is doing is best to confiscate the tapes as soon as they come in and preventing anyone from seeing them," Adriana explained. "But it's only a matter of time-"

"Before one of these tapes ends up in the wrong hands," the Joker said.

"Yeah," Adriana nodded.

"And so Gordon knows the identity of the Batman?" the Joker asked. "As Bruce Wayne?"

"No," Adriana told him. "The tapes being sent so far just show the crime and footage of my husband in his suit so he's not identified. But they sent the same tapes to our home, I mean..came in to the building and left it at our doorstep. They didn't mail them to us. So they..whoever they are...they know who he is."

The Joker leaned back and began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"Oh...pardon the laughter," the Joker said, not sounding sorry, but sounding entertained. "I'd just like to meet this person."

Adriana looked down.

"Adriana," the Joker said and she looked up. It was such a rare occurrence, hearing him call her by her name.

"Yes?" she said.

"What's the crime?" he asked.

She looked down again.

"The killing of Harvey Dent," Adriana said and she watched the Joker's smile flatten. He looked serious.

"Ah.." he said. "Haven't heard that name in a while."

The Joker remembered Dent. He remembered killing his fiancee and he recalled turning him. Dent had become vengeful and assassinated the police officers associated with the abduction of the woman. Half Dent's face had been burned off and he had nothing to lose. In a way, the Joker knew that what happened with Dent was his fault. He had turned Dent into a man that wouldn't be stopped.

"He abducted Commissioner Gordon's son," Adriana said. "A child. He was saving the boy..but that wasn't in the footage. All you see is.."

"The Batman killing Dent," the Joker said and Adriana nodded. "So Bruce Wayne may soon be inmate Wayne at a federal prison soon."

Adriana felt her jaw tighten. "Yeah."

The Joker sighed and leaned back.

"And now your mind reading skills are of no use," the Joker said.

"Nope," she said.

The Joker looked like he was thinking deeply. Adriana watched him for a moment.

"They can be found," the Joker said. "Well, their delivery person can."

"Delivery person?" Adriana asked.

"There's likely a group behind this," the Joker said. "With a very long term goal in mind."

"My husband said the same," Adriana said.

"The person mailing these tapes and leaving them at your home," the Joker said. "It will just be one person. Most likely the same person sending them each time. They're working for the group but likely not the primary enemy. Delivering tapes to your door in person is extremely risky, which makes me think this person is dispensable to the group. Possibly even a reluctant party."

"You think they're forcing someone to do this?" Adriana asked.

"That's how I would do it," he told her.

Adriana sat up straight. "So...what do I do?" she couldn't believe she was borderline asking for his help. The Joker helping the Batman.

"Do you have the tapes?" he asked. "The packaging it came in?"

"Well..." she said. "I might. My husband keeps them locked up so maybe I could get it when he's not at home or asleep and bring them here. If he notices they're missing he would flip."

"Not as much as he would if he found out that Arsenio Thomas Wayne has my genetics," he said.

Adriana looked at the Joker seriously.

"Bruce loves Arsenio," she said, very sure of herself. "I feel that..even if he did find out, he would still love him just the same. He loves Arsenio more than anything."

"So then why not tell him?" the Joker asked.

"Why not tell him?" Adriana repeated. "Because he will never accept that Arsenio was conceived willingly. No matter what I tell him. I just...I know Bruce. He'll believe that you assaulted me, no matter what I tell him. Maybe one day when there's less stress in our lives I can find a way to tell him, but not now."

The Joker said nothing but looked like he understood.

"Makes sense," he said.

Adriana looked at her phone which began to vibrate in her jacket pocket.

"I have to go," she said.

The Joker nodded.

"If you would like," the Joker said as she stood up. "I could have a look at the tapes."

Adriana took a deep breath and realized it was relief. "I'll bring them as soon as I can."