As soon as they got in the car good, the youngster let the old man have it.
She started screaming like a goddamn banshee, surprisingly both the old man and Gabby.

Honestly, Gabby didn't know the kid had the pipes.

'Colin is a nice boy!' She exploded. 'Why did you hurt him?'

'He would have tried to follow us!'

'Nuh-uh.'

'Yes-uh!'

'Nuh-uh!'

Joker turned to Gabby. 'Help me out.'

'You make a fair point, but I'm going to have to side with her on this one because you just pistol-whipped two little boys.'

'A couple of pussies is what you's two are!'

'What's that?'

'What's what?'

'A pussy. What's a pussy?'

'It's...,' he turned to Gabby.

'Yes, what is it?' She asked with a smile.

'Well, uh... it's a cat.' He said, glaring at her.

'You're calling us cats?'

'Yes.'

'We're acting like cats?'

'Scaredy cats.'

'Oh.'

'The point is; he would have followed us, and then I would have HAD to kill him.'

Josie's eyes widened, and she sank back into her seat; it was quiet for a while.

'So, uh... how long will the test take again?' Asked Gabby to lighten the mood.

'About five days, a week tops.'

'Uh... are we going to tell Ivy?' Asked the kid.

'About?'

'About our... outing... she might get mad...'

'Then, we don't tell her.'

'You want to lie to her?'

'Not lie, just... omit the truth.'

The Kid frowned but said but didn't dispute the subject further.

'Uh, what do I call you?'

'What do you mean?'

'Do I? Should I call you Joker or... dad?'

'Joker, just call me that for now.'

Gabby thought he should let her call him dad or something, but then again, he doesn't know if she's his kid.
But it didn't phase The Kid; she just shrugged and looked out the window. There was an awkward silence; then she turned him.

'Joker?'

'What?'

'How come you don't like Batman?'

'Don't like him? Darling, I'm crazy about him.'

'Then why do you want to kill him?'

Gabby wondered about the older man and Batman as well.

Whenever someone mentioned The Bat, the Joker would gush like a girl with a crush.
He always did act quite funny... but he had Harley... maybe he went both ways.

'Did he make you crazy?'

'Yes.'

'Did he chase you down in the rain and slam your head on the ground?'

'We've fought in the rain a couple of times.'

'Does he... scare you?'

'Does Robin scare you, Girl Scout?'

The Kid didn't respond; she only looked at the window.

'Do you want to learn how to fight?'

'Grandpa said fighting never solve-'

'Grandpa is Vietnam Vet.'

'I know.'

She looked at the older man and stared at him strangely.

'What's wrong, kid?' Asked Gabby.

'I was just wondering...'

'What were you wondering about?' He asked.

'You.' She said quietly. 'Did you ever fight in a war like my grandpa did?'

'No, not exactly.'

'Did you ever meet them?'

'No.'

'Has he always been like that?'

'Who?'

'Robin?'

'It's not the same Robin; he's just the latest model.'

'Is Batman a late model?'

The older man paused for a second, scowled. 'Yeah, he is.'

More than one Batman?!

'Do you know where the old model is?'

'No, but he can't hide from me.'

Gabby glanced over at him, then turned to the girl.

'Why not?'

'He's a bit of a control freak; he convinced himself that he's the only person that can deal with me. He'll return... he's compelled to return.'
'What does compelled mean?' Asked The kid.

'Force or obligate, someone, to do something.'

'You mean... obsession compulsory distress?' She asked as she chewed on the lock of hair sheepishly. 'Is that it's called?'

'No, not exactly.' He said quietly with a smile, not his usual smile, but a more... natural one.

'What is it called?'

'Obsessive-compulsive disorder, and you might be on to something...'

'He's a cleaning freak?'

'More or less, but there are four types of OCD.'

'4?' Repeated Gabby.

'Contamination, perfection, doubt and harm, and forbidden thoughts.' The older man sighed, rolling his eyes.

'Where does Batman fall?'

He drove in silence for a while, rubbing his chin.

He'd been pondering this question for a while.

'I'd say he's between contamination and perfection.'

'Are you OCD?'

'Why the sudden interest in mental health?'

'I dunno.' She shrugged.

Maybe she thinks that she can help him... Gabby thought glumly.

'It's getting late; we should get you back.'

'If you end up going back to Arkham, do you think they'll lemme see you?'

'Probably not, unless...'

'Unless...?'

'Unless The Bat allows it...'

'You don't think he would...?' Asked Gabby.

From what she learned over the years, The Bat had a soft spot for kids.
Indeed, he would let The Kid see him...

Right?