Arthur went back to his apartment alone and locked the door and latched the chain. He went over and turned on the TV in the living room. He changed the channel until he found a soap opera, deciding to try something different for a change. He had enough of comedy for right now. He just wanted to spend some time alone and hide away from the world. He didn't even care if he left Wendy behind at the hospital. He knew she would be mad at him, but he would explain everything to her later.
It was late and he didn't get to sleep until three in the morning. Instead of the couch, Arthur thought he would sleep in his mother's bedroom for the night. He kept the TV on while he slept. By the time he woke up, it was late in the afternoon. He stayed in bed all day. He thought he heard a knock at the door, but didn't bother to answer it. He dozen off. By the time he woke up again, the sun was going down, the day turning back into night.
Arthur laid in his mother's bed, lying on his right side and facing the spot where she usually slept. He grabbed her pillow and brought it to his face. His forehead touched the cool surface of the pillowcase, yet he could still feel the warmth of her body and smelled the faint scent of her hair. He felt like a child who was alone and in desperate need of some comfort. He heard a news report on TV about the clown murderer on the subway. He sat up at once and crawled over to the edge of the bed and turned the volume up, listening to the broadcast with a blank expression. A mob of rioting people in clown masks and makeup were standing in front of a charity benefit being held at Wayne Hall, shouting and protesting the name of Thomas Wayne for the poverty they were suffering. Arthur smiled as one of the clown protesters cursed Thomas Wayne, though the swearing was bleeped out. He never thought he would gather such a large following, all because he took a gun to some people who beat him up. It was all too good to be true.
The newscaster reported that Thomas Wayne had offered little to nothing of an apology for his statement. That was enough for Arthur to finally do something about it. It was time for him to confront the famous billionaire.
Arthur took a taxi down to Wayne Hall, where a large crowd of protesters were standing outside the gala, screaming and shouting and holding up signs. There was a cluster of storm clouds gathering above, the oncoming sign of rain over the next day or so. A line of policemen and security guards were doing their best to hold back the crowd as they tried to push through the steel barricades blocking their way. Arthur walked easily through the crowd, staring around at the mass hysteria he had created. He cheered along with them, raising his fist in silent encouragement as he tried to find a way around the building to sneak in and talk to Thomas Wayne. One protester got into a fight with a couple of police officers, causing a huge fight in front of the building. Arthur took the opportunity to slip pass all the chaos and sneak in around the back. He found a door and went in. He knew he would look out of place in his grungy clothes, but luckily for him, he found a room with some red uniforms and put one on, passing off as a theater usher.
He walked through the lobby and went up some stairs into a theater room that was showing a movie for the evening. Inside, there were more than a hundred people, rich and elite alike. They shared the evening in laughter at a Charlie Chaplin movie playing on the giant silver screen. Arthur took a moment to enjoy the movie himself, before looking to his right and spotting Thomas Wayne sitting next to his pearl-wearing wife, Martha. He almost couldn't see him in the dark, but he recognized his profile from the picture he saw in the newspaper. Arthur felt nervous, thinking his plan wasn't going to work, but it was his last chance to talk to somebody and find acceptance in this cold, dark world. He only wanted a father. Arthur saw Thomas Wayne getting up out of his seat and decided to follow him out. He saw him go into the bathroom and went in to have a private word.
Thomas was using a urinal, there was another man standing next to him. Arthur waited for the other man to leave and removed his usher uniform. The other man came over to wash his hands as Arthur looked in the mirror and fixed his hair. Soon as the other man left, Arthur turned and took a deep breath, approaching Thomas Wayne and staring at him in disbelief. He summoned up the courage to speak and said in a timid voice, "Hello."
Thomas glanced over at the strange man staring at him and asked, "Can I help you, pal?" He sounded annoyed, thinking this guy knew nothing about privacy.
"I don't know what to say", said Arthur with a nervous smile.
Thomas zipped up his pants and flushed the urinal, walking over to the sink and asking Arthur, "What do you want, an autograph?" He washed his hands, thinking this guy was a freak.
Arthur turned and walked over to Thomas, saying, "My name's Arthur. Penny Fleck is my mother."
Thomas glanced at Arthur in the mirror and said, "Jesus Christ, you're the guy that came to my house." He turned off the faucet on the sink and dried his hands and turned to take a good long look at the man who approached his son.
"I have so many questions", said Arthur, not sure where to start.
"Arthur, I'm not your father", Thomas told him, sounding calm and polite. He figured he was dealing with a crazy man and didn't want to upset him.
"The thing is, I think you are", said Arthur.
"Well, you're wrong, because you were adopted. I never slept with her."
Arthur blinked, his brows creased in confusion. "What?...No, I wasn't...I wasn't adopted. Why are you saying that?" He was already starting to get upset. This was not the way he envisioned it.
"You mean she never told you?" Thomas asked him.
"Told me what?" Arthur asked him, restrained anger in his voice.
"You were adopted long before your mother started working for us", Thomas explained. "She was arrested when you were a boy and committed to Arkham State Hospital. She put your life at risk at the hand of her boyfriend for-"
"Okay, stop", Arthur told him, getting angry and feeling as though he were about to cry. "Why are you saying this to me? I know it sounds strange. I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I don't know why everyone is so rude. I don't know why you are. I don't want anything from you. Maybe a little warmth, maybe a hug, Dad! How about just a little bit of human fucking decency? What is it with you people?! You say that stuff about my mother? She's dying, for Christ's sake!"
"Arthur, I'm sorry", said Thomas with sympathy. "I really am, but no matter what you think about her, she's still crazy. You're better off without her."
Arthur couldn't believe Thomas just said that. Under enough stress as it was, Arthur started to break down in laughter, his voice cracking at one point. He looked at Thomas and said, "Dad, it's me. Come on, ha ha ha ha-"
Thomas was outraged, thinking Arthur was calling him a liar. He had enough and punched him right in the face. Although it hurt, Arthur did not cry or yell out. He stifled a laugh, holding his nose as he tried to fight the pain.
"Touch my son again and I'll fucking kill you!" Thomas warned him, threateningly. He walked out of the men's room and went to search for security.
Arthur held onto his nose, snorting down the blood that started to drip down his nostril. He choked on his dying laughter and walked over to the sink, bowing his head and placing his hands on the marble countertop, the blood from his nose dripping down onto the porcelain sink. He stood there for a minute, trying to breathe despite the pain. He felt as though the rug had just been pulled out from under him. He had one tiny glimmer of hope of finding out who his father was and Thomas Wayne ruined it for him.