"Extraordinary isn't it?" it was, I needed to talk to Harley about this, see how she was feeling.
"She really is pregnant." I said turning to face the Joker who was now standing in the doorway he grimaced slightly.
"Yes, not my idea I must admit, but it seemed to make Harley so happy I didn't have the heart to ruin it for her." I found it hard to believe that he "Didn't have the heart" but who knows what those two were like when they were alone. In fact, as I cast a quick glance at the test I realised I didn't want to know.
"Where's Harley now then?"
"I believe she's stopping in on Ivy on her way back here, probably to break the happy news to her. If you want to intercept her i'd head there. Just follow the plants and you'll be there in no time!" He wheezed more laughter and left the room. I looked at the test on the table one more time before following him out. As I was leaving I heard him call out from behind me.
"If I do die, you better keep an eye on them dollface. Or I swear i'll haunt you!" he laughed but I could tell he was being serious, maybe the most serious i'd ever heard him and that scared me. I turned to look at him.
"You know I would do that with or without threats Joker."
"Yes but it's much more fun with threats!" he was back to his normal insincere self, I sighed and left him standing there alone.
It didn't take too long to find Ivy's vine encased fortress, I beat a couple of Blackgate thugs for information and in return let them live. I didn't worry about her guards attacking me as I was pretty sure she'd be fine with me turning up. I was correct and one of her guards even offered to escort me in.
"Nice to meet a polite man. Seems you're a rare breed around this place!" I joked
"Mistress instructed us to treat her friends with respect, it would anger her if we were to mistreat you." She'd worked her special abilities on them, it made sense now and I couldn't help but be a little impressed. We walked in to find her sitting amongst her plants.
"I see you got yourself set up pretty quickly here then Ivy." she looked up at me and smiled.
"Genevieve! I had no idea you were here, I hope you killed whoever gave you those injuries."
"Most of them. Cobblepot has it coming though don't you worry."
"I'll have to make sure I teach that repulsive meatsack a lesson in manners next time I see him."
"Well if you do make sure you record it for me." she laughed and walked over to me.
"I am truly glad you are safe Genevieve" she said pulling me in for a quick embrace.
"You too Ivy."
"So what's happened to you so far in your stay here?" I filled her in on everything that had happen her anger at Penguin and Zsasz was palpable and at the mention of Catwoman she tensed.
"I thought you two were friends?"
"Sometimes we are sometimes we aren't, right now, we aren't." I shrugged I couldn't bothered to try and understand "a second note you say?" Ivy was the only person I had told about the notes. "May I see them? I might know the handwriting." I got out my pocket watch and opened it revealing its contents, two notes, as small memory card and a photo of me and my parents standing in the botanical gardens at Arkham smiling as if we didn't have a care in the world; that was so long ago now. I handed Ivy the notes and she studied them intently.
"Of two things I am certain. firstly whoever this is they mean you no harm, if they did you would know that by now judging by their ability to access you. Secondly I have seen this hand before, I am sure of it."
"So you can tell me who it is?"
"Unfortunately not, the identity still alludes me. However as soon as I remember you shall be the first person I call upon." We were then interrupted by the very loud entrance of Harley.
"Red, and Curly too! I'm so glad you're both here, i've got some amazing news!" she was gushing with excitement, at least she wasn't upset about it then. "Though Puddin' tells me you dropped in earlier and found out for yourself Curly, but anyways..."
"Just tell me Harley" Ivy said in a bemused voice.
"Me an' Mr-J are havin' a baby!" I could tell Ivy was shocked.
"A baby?"
"Yep i'm preggers Red! Ain't it wonderful?"
"I am very happy for you Harley." Ivy said finally, I breathed out a sigh of relief. Despite her shock Ivy did sound genuinely happy for Harley.
"It's fantastic Harls. The best thing i've heard all year!" I told her and she let out a squeak of happiness before running up to us for a hug.
"I know you're only meant to have one but I want you both to be godmother, so screw the rules!" I laughed, it was nice to get some genuinely heartwarming news in the middle of all this mess.
"I'm sure I speak for both Genevieve and myself in saying we are extremely gratefully accepting your request Harley." Ivy said
"It would be an honour." I added
"Thank you both so..." she trailed off as the notes me and Ivy had been examining caught her eye. "What's this?"
"Some anonymous notes i've been given, the first one in the hospital after the breakout last year and second one earlier this evening. We were trying to work out who they're from."
"Hmmm well i'll tell ya this, I know that handwriting from somewhere."
"Can you tell us anything about it?"
"Besides the fact they seem to have a bit of a crush on ya, just that I know it's a guy. I can't seem to remember who though."
"Well since you both recognise the writing it must be someone from the asylum."
"Maybe Eddie?" Harley suggested
"No, Nygma doesn't write that neatly if he bothers to write at all. Besides if it were him it would be a riddle, this is too plain."
"It certainly is cryptic though." I wanted to know who it was but we were all stumped. "Maybe I could ask Eddie if he can work it out for us?"
"That certainly could work, it is his area of expertise after all." Ivy nodded
"Well in that case I better be gettin' back to Mr-J then!" harley said "I'm happy you two are pleased about the baby, it means a lot ya know?" she then hugged us again and skipped from the room humming. Ivy looked back down at my small stash of stuff.
"Are those your parents?" I looked down at the photo and nodded. "They seem like lovely people. I have heard nothing but good stories about them, you look like your mother you know?"
"I do?"
"Yes, I think they would be pleased to see that you are fighting for their legacy."
"Maybe not at some of the other things I do."I smiled sadly
"True, but would you really want them to be proud of that part of yourself?"
"No, It may be who I am but it's not who they were."
"They hadn't experienced what you have."
"That's true. You know i've been thinking about it and I can't help but think that we all have it in us to turn out twisted; it just takes a push over the edge."
"I think you may be right."
I left soon after that, and started to head towards the church where Ivy told me I should be able to find the riddler. As I was heading in that direction I heard a payphone ringing, a shiver went down my spine as the sound echoed around the dark streets.
"Not this time Zsasz." I quickly hurried away from the phone and continued towards the church, then things got scary. Every single phone I passed rang until I was out of distance, he must have been watching me and that scared me more than anything. I started to run, I had to reach the church before Zsasz made his move. I ran past yet another ringing phone and rounded a corner almost running straight into three blackgate prisoners, I quickly realised they were Penguins men and got ready for a fight.
"It's the Wraith the boss was yellin' about earlier!"
"Get her!" They all charged me simultaneously and I dodged two punches but caught a kick in the side which knocked me over. As they advanced on me I bounced off of my hands and kicked one in the face before ducking another one's punch. I stabbed him in the shoulder and he let out a cry of pain, one of the other two punched me in the jaw and I retaliated by letting out a series of swift jabs to his stomach leaving him doubled over in pain while those two were recovering I launched a powerful kick at the third man which connected with the side of his face knocking him unconscious. I then grabbed the second man who had recovered and was now charging at me and lifted him by the throat. I slammed him against the wall and drove my knife into his stomach.
"Get me will you?" I stabbed him again. "I think not." I twisted the knife whilst pulling it out, he screamed in agony. "Let's see you take me to Cobblepot now." I slashed the knife across his throat, putting him out of his misery. As I took my knife out however it was knocked out of my hand by the man I had stabbed in the shoulder, he picked me up as if I weighed nothing and physically threw me across the street. As he started to walk towards me I searched for a weapon, my hand made contact with a fire extinguisher. I picked it up and swung it around hard until it made contact with his head, it made a dull thudding sound and knocked him backwards, dazed. I got up and hit him again, he continued to advance, I lifted it over my head and brought it down with both arms, as it hit his head I heard a cracking sound and he fell to the floor twitching before eventually going still. I decided not to carve the unconscious one and instead left him behind, he could tell Cobblepot not to mess with me again.
I stood up and and admired my handiwork, I was about to turn and continue on towards the church when I felt hot breath on my neck.
"Don't move a muscle Miss Arkham." it was Zsasz, he had come for me. I went to lift my knife but he pressed his own one harder into my neck "Ah ah ah, you wouldn't want to make my knife here slip would you? You know Miss Arkham you were very rude ignoring my calls, and I thought we had a special connection too. No matter you're still my one. I hear you strive for freedom, but you see you've been looking in all the wrong places. I can free you Miss Arkham, I will free you."