Over a week had passed since the rendezvous in my apartment and no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, I still felt that disconcerting feeling deep down in my gut. I attempted to rationalize that perhaps I was just lonely, because I truly was lonely. I grew up on the outskirts of Gotham and had moved into the city for school, but I had known many others that did the same. The truth was that after high school ended, I just seemed to leave behind the friends and the life I knew then, and pushed away the ones that tried to stick around. A few years on, I struggled to make any to replace them. Family also wasn't really a place to find comfort and companionship either. I only had my father, and things between he and I had not been decent in years, by his own doing. I know it sounds bleak, but I was not a complete recluse. I had my psychiatrist...and acquaintances, but no one I could call up for a girl's night or something. In fact, there had been stretches of weeks during my university career where I spoke to no one but myself. That has to do something to a person.

I'm sure it goes without saying, too, that working at GCN did nothing to help me forget about him either. In fact, I'm almost certain it made things worse. Every day I saw his face plastered on the papers that lined the newsstands as I walked to and from the station, and everyday he starred in the news that the station produced. Even when he didn't show up in person, he seemed to haunt me in every other way possible.

In an attempt to distract myself and alleviate my psyche, I even tried, though alarmingly out of character, to flirt with the barista I saw every morning. He told me his name was Mason and however awkward and off-putting I felt, he seemed receptive of my forced flirtations, even asking for my number and surprisingly inviting me to lunch on the upcoming weekend.

On Friday afternoon, he texted me to discuss our plans for the next day and I happily, and quickly, responded. He confirmed the time and place, and I told him it all sounded great and I couldn't wait. Our exchange was brief, but I strategized saving up my best conversational material for our actual "date." To be completely honest, I was proud I had finally pushed myself outside of my comfort zone and was getting to know someone on a different level. That night, as I laid down in my bed, my thoughts were stuck on Mason, and I felt content.

When the next day came, I spent nearly the entire morning getting ready. I curled my hair and put on makeup, although not too heavy-handed as it was a day date. After much debate and frustration, I finally settled on an appropriately casual outfit, took a few deep breaths and left my apartment. It was just before noon when I walked out the front doors of my building and made my way down the bustling downtown street. I was relieved Mason had suggested a Thai place a few blocks away and I didn't need to call a cab or struggle with public transit. I also didn't mind the walk; it gave me more time to gather myself.

It was a surprisingly brisk day. The towering skyscrapers of the downtown shrouded the city streets in a cool shadow and a chilly wind bit at my cheeks and nose. My stomach flip-flopped nervously when I could see the familiar sign of the restaurant ahead and I silently prayed my watery eyes didn't ruin this morning's hard work. As I neared the entrance, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and glanced at the time. I was 10 minutes early, which was right on cue considering I was always early to everything.

Stuffing my phone back into my jacket pocket, I hesitated for a moment before walking up the short steps to the restaurant's door and sliding into the warm atmosphere of the cozy dining room. A waitress approached me and I told her I was meeting someone. She informed me he has not yet arrived, and happily seated me in a reserved booth near the back, in relative seclusion.

Unsurprisingly, the restaurant was buzzing on a Saturday at lunchtime. I listened to a few of the conversations going on around me as I looked through my phone to pass the time. A young couple beside me argued quietly about the Batman and I smiled to myself and tilted my head away, pretending not to eavesdrop. Joining in the various sounds filling the restaurant was now the nervous tapping of my foot on the tile floor as I scrolled through my Twitter feed.

When I had exhausted the resources of social media, I glanced up just in time to watch my server approach. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment when she shot me a sympathetic look.

"Would you like something to drink while you wait?" she asked gently, making me feel, if inadvertently, only a little pathetic.

"Um…yeah, sure. Can I just get a water, please?"

"Absolutely. I'll be right back." She gave me a kind smile before retreating toward the kitchen and I slumped a little in my seat. I grabbed my phone off of the table and checked the time. 12:15. He was 15 minutes late, which wasn't terrible by any means but definitely had done its work to piss me. Sighing, I opened up the under-utilized solitaire game on my phone and decided, however reluctantly, to give him 15 more minutes to show before heading home.

I was only halfway through my first game when I was interrupted by the sound of swift footsteps approaching my table. Feelings of anticipation swelled in my chest and a smile tugged as the corner of my lips as I worked to quickly close the app and join him in the real world. He didn't even hesitate at the threshold of the booth before slipping into the seat across from me, and when I finally lifted my attention to greet him, my voice caught in my throat.

The Joker sat across from me in plainclothes, his hands folded politely on the table between us. He was the same version of himself that I met that day over a week ago in the control room; scars exposed and features unpainted. He wore that same black baseball cap which somehow concealed him enough to enable him to go unnoticed.

"Sorry I kept ya waitin', babe." He grinned at me from across the table. "I know how punctual you always are."

I sat motionless, staring straight ahead, meeting his gaze. I felt like he could see my body shuddering in rhythm with my now thrashing heartbeat and I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, feeling hypnotized by his naked features. I'd finally become used to the images of his face layered in clown makeup, and seeing his bare scars again was beyond jarring.

"Where's Mason?" I finally croaked. My mouth felt incredibly dry and I wished I already had my water.

He tilted his head playfully, "Don't you know it's rude to talk about other men when you're on a date, Andy?"

I scoffed in disbelief, unsure of how to respond.

When he noticed the lingering look of concern plastered on my face, he rolled his eyes. "Don't worry about the pretty boy. He did his job."

His words triggered a thought that I wished it hadn't; that Mason, like Officer Lerner, was just another of the Joker's cronies and his "interest" in me was disingenuous. The presumption left my chest feeling a little tight.

"Did you miss me? I know I took a little longer than expected to visit…I got a little busy."

I could tell he was alluding to everything that had been credited to him in the news in the past week.

"Yeah, like killing the police commissioner?" I shot.

He let out a quiet, satisfied growl. "So you've been paying attention." He wasn't asking me, he was telling me.

"I work at a news station, I can't avoid it."

"Uh huh." He mumbled, smirking smugly.

Even if he was right, and I had been paying somewhat careful attention to any Joker-focused news, I wasn't willing to let him know that. My brain buzzed for a response and an indignant retort was forming on my lips when I noticed the waitress approaching our table out of my peripherals.

"Hey, you made it!" She joked as she came to a halt at our booth, placing my water in front of me. She smiled down at him warmly, but his unwavering gaze remained locked on me.

"Mhmm." He muttered.

I could tell she was a little put-off by his lackluster response and she shifted uncomfortably, "Well, can I get you anything to drink? Or are you ready to order?" She looked back and forth between us expectedly.

"Hmm…I just don't know. Are you ready to order, Sweetheart?" He said, his voice dripping with duplicity.

I let out a small uncomfortable laugh. "You know, I'm suddenly not feeling well. Can I just get a tea please?"

"Of course. And you?" She turned her attention back to him.

"Ask me again in 15 minutes."

"Ooohkay." She said, her tone steeped in annoyance, "I'll be back."

He rolled his eyes as she walked away. "Can't we get any privacy here?" He said melodramatically.

I sighed and leaned back in my seat, waiting for whatever was coming next. He noticed my distance and followed suit, leaning in closer toward me across the table. I was thankful for the barrier between us.

"I'm gonna need that favour now." He said in a low voice.

Ah, there it is. The favour. I was filled with a sense of dread.

"What is it?"

"Don't worrrrry, Andy. It's simple. I'm gonna make a special call to GCN on Tuesday, and I'm gonna need you to be there to relay it to the right people."

I wrinkled my brow, confused. "What do you think I do at GCN?"

"I don't care what you do, I just want you to do it." He tapped his long, spindly, stained fingers on the table in what I assumed was growing irritation.

My gaze moved from his hands to his face and more specifically, his scars. I could see them shift and twist as he impatiently waited for my response. They weren't nearly as intimidating without all the makeup.

"I'll try."

"That's more like it." He smiled broadly and his scars stretched and wrinkled in protest. He reached across the table and patted my cheek and I somehow managed to suppress the urge to jerk away.

"Anyways, I gotta get goin'." He said, checking his nonexistent watch and moving to stand.

"Oh…so soon?" I said, feigning disappointment, and my pluckiness surprised even me.

He looked up with raised eyebrows and grinned. "I'll be in touch soon…and I'm sure our next meeting will be much longer." He adjusted his hat and winked at me. I looked away, embarrassed.

"Ah…" He hesitated for a moment, shoving his hand into his front pant pocket. "Let me pay for your, uh, tea...like a gentleman." He said, dumping a handful of change on the table in front of me. I didn't say thanks, and he turned on his heels and left without another word.

My eyes followed him until he was out of sight. To my surprise, tears welled in my eyes as feelings of relief overwhelmed me and I let out a small laugh. I put my head in my hands and took several deep breaths. When I heard footsteps approach my table again I felt panic until I looked up and saw the server coming over with my tea. I furiously wiped my watery eyes and smiled as best as I could as she came to a stop. She smiled down at me, that same look of sympathy as before plastered on her face, but I didn't care this time.

"Is he coming back?" She asked.

"I don't think so." I replied, looking back toward the door.

"I hope you don't mind me saying…but the guy seemed like an asshole." She said, gently placing the tea in front of me.

I laughed. "Yeah."

I sat and finished my tea alone.

(A/N: Hope this was okay! Thank you so much to kykyxstandler and Argalii for your kind reviews of the last chapter!)