Chapter 2- Without You, I'm Just Me.

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Ready. Set. Go.

We shifted from place to place. We weren't in one place, or even one room for that matter for more than 24 hours. I had no idea where we were. The Joker had blown Gotham to smithereens, so it is likely that everyone, including Batman had migrated to neighboring cities. I just followed the Joker and wherever he took me. I was safe with him and I knew that he would keep me safe. Nobody would mess with him.

I was tired of the change though. I wanted to stay in one place. I wanted normalcy—or rather as much as I could have with the Joker. I hated being cooped up in the hotel room while the Joker was out doing his thing.

Yes, I had gone mad.

As of now, I was sitting in our most recent hotel room, bored out of my mind. I attempted to read the complementary Bible given in any hotel room, but I couldn't get past the first page. I just sat around and waited until the Joker came back. He went out once in a while - probably trying to rebuild a network.

The Joker had completely gotten rid of the make-up and get-up since we traveled so often and his name was infamous. Somebody would recognize him 200 miles from here.

I heard the doorknob turn and waited from him to enter the room. He rushed in, covered in water—it had been pouring for the last 3 days. I loved it.

I walked over to him and helped him take off his soaked coat. He was humming to himself. That must have been good news.

" A-dahhh-dahhh. A-dahhh-dahhh."

He sat down at the desk and pulled out a couple of guns, a knife, and 2 or 3 grenades from his pocket. He really was well prepared for whatever this city had to offer.

I was shaking off his coat when he pulled me onto his lap. I loved when he was this possessive over me.

" Any good news?" I asked as I stroked his hair. I'm glad he didn't mind anymore the intimacy or displays of affection I would show him. I still didn't get anywhere near the scars though.

He looked me straight in the face.

" Thisss cit-y is al-most as easssy as Goth-am. HAHAHAHA." He snickered.

The Joker was out and about most of the time. I was heading over to the local grocery store to pick up the essentials we needed. We were basically living on microwavable meals, and if it wasn't for me, I don't think the Joker would have ate at all.

I was grabbing some microwavable soup from the top shelf when I heard someone call my name. I looked to my left, but I did not spot anyone, and then switched to my right, and could not find anyone either. I finally turned around when I ran into something.

" Sona, fancy to see you here."

I looked up into his liquid brown eyes and was momentarily entranced. My arms were still against his rock hard chest and my breathing was still a little off because of the recent encounter. I quickly realized the position of my arms and moved them away. I could hear him chuckle and I tried to smile it off.

" Bruce Wayne, fancy meeting you here." I said through an exasperated laugh.

" How have you been? I'm glad you made it out of the catastrophe in Gotham." He said, genuinely concerned.

" Yeah, I was long gone before that happened. I was at my cousin's in this city. I'm so sorry about your company, and the building." I said. I truly was sorry about that. That was the one building that I did not want the Joker to blow up. Bruce did not deserve that.

" It's alright. I mean, there was no stopping the Joker, right?" He let out a forced laugh. I could tell.

" My company is getting back on its feet. I mean, faster than the rebuilding of Gotham, that's for sure."

" Do you know what is going on with the city?

" Yeah, I mean the government is obviously providing the funds to rebuild it. I don't think they actually know how it all is going to fizzle out, I mean, the entire destruction of a city isn't a normal catastrophe—especially the intentional destruction of a city. I don't think it's ever happened before. I don't know how long the rebuilding is going to take. I do know that the Joker is wanted within a 200 mile radius. "

So I had been right.

" Yeah, it's like he vanished into thin air, even after he did all that."

" Yeah. So how is Jack?" Bruce asked a bit too quickly.

I had to steady my voice.

" He's fine. He's looking for work here and there—trying to make the daily grind. You know?" I stated as casually as I could.

" Yeah. I'm somewhat familiar with that." He said with a sarcastic tone.

" You working?" He asked.

" Uhhhh no. Not right now. I decided to take a bit of a break. My cousin has the means to support me so I thought I'd relax for a bit."

" No, I completely understand. You deserve a break. " He added nonchalantly.

I let out a small laugh and he looked into my eyes. I wanted to turn away but part of me couldn't; part of me wanted to continue staring.

" What do you say we get out of here and grab a cup of coffee?" He asked softly.

" I would like that." I responded and we headed over to the cashier to pay for our things.

Coffee lasted longer than I had expected. It was nice to see an old face though. It brought me back to a time where there was some consistency in my life.

I walked into our hotel room hoping he wasn't there.

But knowing my luck, he would be there, and waiting for me.

" Do-llllllll, I kno-w lad-ies like to take the-ir time while shop-ping, bu-t don'-t youuu thin-k you are a ta-d bi-t la-te?" The question was lightly worded but I could hear the menace laced within those words. He was angry.

" I ran into Bruce Wayne at the store. We had coffee after." I said as monotonously as I could.

" A-hhhhhhhhh, ol-d Bruc-ey. How issss the ol-d chappp? H-mmmm? Fend-ing we-ll aft-er, I don'-ttt know, the liter-al fa-ll of his comp-anny? How-'s busi-nesss now-a-daysss? HAHAHAHAHAHHA" The Joker erupted into laughter. For some reason, I did not find it that funny. I mean, I doubt anyone, and by anyone, I mean ANYONE on this planet had the same sense of humor as the Joker and that's why I honestly felt bad for Bruce. I can see why Bruce's predicament would entertain the Joker, but Bruce deserved a break.

I didn't laugh or smile in return and the Joker took note of my rigid demeanor.

He sensed by attitude and I saw a grin spread across his face.

" Ohhh- noooo. Di-d I up-set youuuuuu?" He said in a mock caring voice.

"No. I'm just tired."

It was silent as I began to pull off my coat, and the Joker walked over to me. He took off my coat for me and I let him do it. I wasn't angry with him. I just didn't know why I felt this upsurge of compassion.

" Oh we-llll then do-llll, why so seriousss?"