"I've done you a favor," the Joker said to Adriana about the phone call. "Now you owe me one."
Adriana frowned. "What do you want?"
"Dr. Kapoor offered to give you a checkup, so go ahead and have one," he said.
"I just did," she told him.
"That was an iron test," he replied. "He's polite enough not to press the issue of you fainting, I however am not."
"Fine," Adriana said and rolled her eyes. "I'll make an appointment."
"What's wrong with right now?" the Joker asked. "He's free for the next two hours."
"Well..I'm not," she said. "My husband scheduled some spa treatments for me so I have to get back upstairs. And I told Lucius we could have lunch and after that I have to go pick up my son."
He said nothing while staring at her and listening to her excuses.
"I'll...make an appointment," she promised. "It's not like it's anything serious, I feel perfectly fine. It can wait a few days. I've got a busy week ahead but I'll fit it in."
.
.
.
"What time is it?" Adriana asked Bruce.
She was in bed and he was in their bedroom, loosening his cuff links before removing his tie.
"It's 6:30," he said and walked over to kiss her.
"Oh.." she said, unsure of how she had slept so long.
"How are you?" he asked and sat beside her.
"Tired.." she yawned. "Which is odd..I just slept five hours."
She remembered coming in for a nap immediately after lunch with Lucius, where she told him about her possible unidentified blackmailers. She still didn't want to tell Bruce, because she remembered when he was being harassed with having his identity exposed. The stress nearly ruined their relationship.
"You probably need the rest," he said. "Maybe you could have another chill day tomorrow."
"No..." she said and yawned again.
"Why not?" he asked.
"No lo necesito," she shrugged. She told him she didn't need it. "I probably just need some coffee."
Bruce rubbed her leg through the sheet and looked at her quietly.
"What is it?" she asked.
"With your app being disabled by the police," he said. "Perhaps you could take a rest. For just a few weeks, to recharge."
"Weeks?" she asked.
"It would serve you well," he told her.
"Did you ever take weeks off?" she asked. "Vigilantism?"
"Yes," he replied.
"No you didn't," she laughed. "Injuries and being outcast and wanted criminal for a crime you didn't commit doesn't count."
"That is true," he told her. "However, I wasn't taking on incidents both great and small like you are. I used my energy wisely and selectively. I also wasn't cooking and cleaning and taking care of a husband and nursing a baby. I chose my tasks with priority and even still I fell asleep at work. None of us are superhuman."
"I love what I do," she told him.
"I know," he said. "And I love you being happy, rested and healthy. It's not healthy to push yourself so hard."
"I guess," she sighed.
"Just take a week and see how you feel," he said. "If anything major comes up in the city...I will hand it discreetly. No one will know the Batman is active."
"That's not really possible in all situations," she shrugged. "To be invisible."
"I can make it happen," he said. "So, what do you say?"
"Can I give you an answer tomorrow?" she asked.
"Sure...take your time," he replied sweetly, although Adriana could hear the disappointment in his voice.
"Thanks," she said and they kissed. "Something smells good."
"We're having sautéed scallops," Bruce told her. "Are you ready to eat?"
"I totally am," she smiled and they stood to leave.
As they walked to the door Adriana grabbed Bruce's arm as a wave of dizziness hit her.
"Adriana?" Bruce asked.
"Sorry, just think I stood up too fast," she laughed. "Let's go."
The dizziness too a long time to fade. Adriana hid it well, but she felt lightheaded through dinner and through the movie they watched with Arsenio. It finally started to go away as they sat in Bruce's den looking through a photo album.
"That's Wayne Manor," Bruce said to Arsenio. "Where I lived when I was tiny like you."
Arsenio, who was sitting on Bruce's lap, looked up at Bruce with a smile.
"Manoo," Arsenio tried to say.
"Yes," Bruce said. "Manor. One day it will be yours."
Arsenio looked confused and both Adriana and Bruce laughed.
"Daddy means," Adriana tried to explain. "One day when you're older, you'll have this place to live if you want. It's really beautiful there, right?"
Sayyy you, mommy!" Arsenio said to Bruce and then turned to Adriana. "Sayy you, daddy!"
"You're saying you want to stay with me and your mommy," Bruce gathered.
"Ya!" Arsenio said and touched the picture of Wayne Manor.
"Of course you'll stay with us, but one day when you grow up you'll want your own place," Bruce said.
"No!" Arsenio said. "Sayyy you! Mommmy!"
"Stay with us forever?" Bruce asked with a smile.
Arsenio nodded and smiled, happy with finally being understood.
"You can stay with us as long as you want," Bruce told Arsenio. "Forever."
.
.
.
"Going back to sleep?" Bruce asked Adriana.
They were in bed and he had his arms wrapped around her. She had her face in his chest and her eyes were closed.
"Mmm..." she said and tilted her head back to look at him.
He looked at her waiting for an answer.
"Not yet," she said and touched his face. "You're so cute."
"Thank you," he replied.
"I'm glad I didn't break your nose when I accidentally hit you," she laughed.
"Ah...so am I," he replied and thought of the last time they made love. He wanted her again, but he didn't want to change anything about himself. He didn't want to mimic. He wanted to be himself.
"Harri thinks you've had a nose job," Adriana laughed.
"What?" Bruce laughed back.
"Yes, she said your nose looks too perfect but I told her it's natural," she told him.
"She's a riot isn't she," Bruce laughed.
"You've no idea," Adriana said. "Maybe one day we'll all hang out together. I know you haven't spent a lot of time with my sister but she's hilarious and awesome."
Bruce thought of his experience before he and Harri went back into time and before Harri forgot everything. He had spent days alone with her in the middle of the ocean. Hilarious and awesome were excellent words to describe Harri.
"That would be great," Bruce said.
The time was just a few days away. In the erased past, he would have been out on the boat with Harri at this exact moment.
"Did you enjoy your spa day?" Bruce asked.
"It was very nice," Adriana answered. "Thank you for everything."
"Or course," Bruce said and looked at her. "I'm glad you enjoyed it...but I can't help but notice..you seem a bit down, my love."
"Oh.." Adriana said.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"No.." she lied.
"The other night you were about to tell me something before we were interrupted," he said. "Something about a man you used to know."
Adriana swallowed. She needed to talk to him but she didn't want to stress him out with the entire story.
"When I worked for the Joker, this was this guy on the team named Wyatt. But we called him Brake," Adriana said.
"Okay," Bruce replied calmly.
"I just found out he's in the hospital. He got into some kind of a prison fight and he was stabbed nearly to death. He's in a coma now."
Bruce raised his eyebrows.
"He is?" Bruce asked. "A coma."
"Yes..and they're saying his kidneys are failing and he needs a transplant but clearly...he's not a top priority," she explained. "He's not a bad person. He was always so awesome and kind to me and I guess I'm really sad because he didn't deserve this.."
Bruce felt his body become tense. He thought of Sidi's prediction. Someone would die in Adriana's place. Time was running out. Sidi never gave a name. It was never very clear. A man from Adriana's past..one with a horrible past that left him in karmic debt. Bruce felt his body go cold. It wasn't the Joker. The Joker was the one that needed to die, in Bruce's eyes. There was no way Bruce could allow it to be anyone else. It would be too disappointing and Bruce would feel too much guilt. He would not feel guilt about saving Adriana and causing the death of the Joker. But he knew he would feel something for this man that seemed to be Adriana's friend.
"I wish there was something I could do but there's nothing anyone can do," Adriana said.
"He's on the transplant list?" Bruce asked.
"Sure...probably at the very bottom," Adriana said. "He probably doesn't have much time. I wish this wouldn't have happened..I feel so bad."
"It's not your fault," Bruce said. "I'll take care of this."
"What?" Adriana asked. "How?"
"I will get him to the top of the list."