Rex and I left shortly after dinner. I didn't want Rex to stay in the house and make Wally uncomfortable any longer than needed. We wandered around for a while, him being loud and proud, and myself hiding my face in my scarf again.
"So…" Rex sat down on a swing set at the local park. I was surprised it didn't break from his weight. "You gonna go home tonight?"
"I… I dunno." I shrugged and sat on the swing beside him. "I don't know what to do. What can I do? I can't go to school looking like this. They'd send me to Arkham."
I shivered at the thought of going to the Asylum. I was afraid of what they could do to me there.
"Arkham? That place isn't so bad. I took a stroll through there once. Busted out a few people." He laughed. His sharky teeth clicked together. "Wanted a few friends for poker one night. Turned into a brawl across the city with Bane. I didn't muff him up too badly."
"You broke into Arkham just to…" I stopped. I was slowly realizing that this was just something Rex did. It was just Rex being Rex. "How many of 'Gotham's most notorious' do you know, anyway?"
"As many as I need?" He shrugged and started counting on his fingers.
"Nevermind." I shook my head.
"Why, anybody you want to meet?" His eyes lit up at the thought of a surprise visit to someone who would fear him.
"Um, no." I shook my head.
"Hey, you wanna go get a drink?" He asked, standing. "We can go to my favorite night club. Not that I can even get drunk, but whatever. Feels good goin' down."
"You want to go drinking?" I felt almost shocked at having a normal conversation. Well, sort of normal.
"Sure. Let's go. Bet we can get in for free." His grin widened.
"I dunno if I want to bet against you…"
The Iceburg Lounge, one of Gotham's premier night clubs. Well, now it was a premier nightclub. Not long ago, someone had burned the place down. Its owner was as rich as Bruce Wayne, so nobody thought he was the one to do it. It had been attributed to gang related violence, just like everything was. What was his name again? Cobble something.
It was brand new, people were lined up to get inside. Rex and I started walking past the line when some guy grabbed my arm.
"Where you's guys think you're goin'?" He demanded of me. "Wait in line, just like everybody else."
Asshole. I pulled my scarf down and barred my teeth at him, hissing. He jumped back a whole foot, knocking one of his friends into the wall behind them.
Rex laughed at me. "That's more like it, Harm! You might not like being like this, but you might as well take advantage!"
I turned pink and returned my scarf to where it was.
The bouncer let us through, of course. No fee, drinks were on the house, we were assured. Rex put his arm around my shoulders to guide me to a table in the back. This was the VIP section. Never in a million years—
"Rex, how are you!" A short, stout man waddled over. He was wearing very formal clothes, monocle and top hat included. Under his arm was an umbrella.
"Copper-kettle, I'm doin' good." He grinned.
Copper kettle?
"And who is this lovely young lady?" He offered his hand.
"This is Harmony."
I reached to shake his hand, but instead he took mine and kissed it.
"The pleasure is mine, madam." He waddled to the seat in front of us and sat down. "I am Oswald Cobblepot, owner of this fine establishment."
I turned pink again. I definitely wasn't used to that kind of treatment.
"What can I have them get for you two?" He waved one of the workers over.
"Spiced rum." Rex answered immediately.
"Just got that in, good stuff. Miss?"
"N-nothing, thank you." I stammered. Who was this guy?
"A glass of water, then?" He turned to the waitress that came over to us. Were there only waitresses in the back? I hadn't seen any on the way in. Granted, the place was a little full… "My dear, get Rex's usual, the fresh shipment, and a glass of water for Miss Harmony, and I think a bottle of blackberry wine for me, please."
The little waitress quickly scribbled everything down, turned tail and almost ran away. What did Cobblepot do to his workers to have them so scared?
"Rex…" Cobblepot turned. "You know I am under surveillance by the Batman. Why do you come here?"
"Best place to unwind. Well, second best." He allowed. "That fighting ring is definitely the best. Besides, Batsy is getting old. He can't chase me around forever. Not like he could catch me."
"Fair and true points, but why take that chance?" He wondered. "You haven't been here in months, at any rate."
"Yeah. I need something special though. Think you can take care of it? I'll pay you double whatever you need for it." Rex leaned forward. "I need something sturdier than anything you've ever gotten for me." He pulled out a sheet of paper. "Here are the measurements. I need it bulletproof, flexible, breathable. Something a contortionist could wear comfortably."
"Who is this for?" Cobblepot's eyes darted to me.
"Just get it done. Color specifications are on there too. Let me know how much money you need."
"This is going to take some time…" Cobblepot frowned. "You're sure these measurements are one hundred percent accurate?"
"Without a doubt. I had Aunt Ivy take them. She's never measured anything wrong in her entire life, I think." He nodded confidently. "What, double pay ain't enough?"
"N-no, no, dear Rex, I just need a little time to get this finished." Cobblepot quickly shook his head. "Just want to make sure I don't keep you or your family waiting." His eyes glanced towards me again.
"Thanks, Copper-Kettle." Rex leaned back. "I appreciate it. I'll put a good word in with my dad and see if we can't get someone in here to make sure that some 'gang' doesn't set this place on fire again."
"That would be very much appreciated, Rex." Cobblepot looked uneasy.
"About how much do you think this is gonna cost?"
"Bare minimum, and a very rough estimate…" Cobblepot looked the sheet of paper over. "I would say just under twenty thousand."
"Awesome." Rex nodded, satisfied. Apparently, that sounded like the right kind of price. "You just let me know when you need the money."
The little waitress came back, shaking, carrying two bottles of alcohol and one wine glass.
"My dear," Cobblepot took the wine glass and bottle while Rex took the bottle of rum. "Did I not ask for a glass of water for my lovely guest here?"
I didn't like that tone of voice. I was tensed up. He was going to hit her. I could feel it.
"I'm s-s-sorry, Mr. Cobblepot." Her voice was cracking. She was going to cry.
"Me too, my dear. Me too."
He lifted his umbrella to her and she started to scream. Bang. She fell to the floor.
I was frozen in place. Rex frowned, but took a big swig of the rum.
"Good stuff, Copper Kettle." He said absentmindedly, staring at the girl's brain all over the floor.
I quickly found a trashcan and lost my dinner.
"Weak stomach, good to know." Rex muttered. "Least you didn't puke on me. Or Penguin's shoes."
The Penguin. Shit, that was the Penguin. Why didn't I know that? Short fat guy with a top hat, monocle and umbrella. Shit!
I stood. I was mad. Rex stood too and quickly stepped away.
"I said I didn't want anything." I said quietly.
"Hm?" Cobblepot looked up at me from his wine glass. "Don't worry, Miss, I'll have someone clean up this mess right away. If you need to be seated elsewhere, we can arrange to have any table in the club."
"You killed her!" I objected.
"She didn't do her job." He shrugged. "Why are you upset?" His shifty eyes went to Rex. He took another step back.
"I'm upset because you shot her!" I yelled. "Why is her life any less important than yours?"
"Please remain calm, I'm sure—"
"Did you just tell me to remain calm?" My voice fell and I was almost silent.
Cobblepot froze this time. The Penguin, frozen in place.
"Mister, after the day that I have had I could kill you with my two bare hands." I clenched my fists as though with them I could control how infuriated I was. "I could. Really. But tell me before I do, what was her name?"
Cobblepot looked like he was going to piss himself. "H-her name was…"
I caught his face as he turned to look at her name tag. I felt his jaw crack in my hands.
"You just killed her for no reason. You will never do that again." I said. I was calm, just like he wanted. "You will never kill someone for doing their job again. I didn't want anything to drink. She didn't make a mistake. She listened to me. See that you do to. You will find out her name and you will put up something in her memory because she did her job right and you did yours wrong. It will have her name on it. Or I will kill you. And if I can't do it, I know Rex can."
I left him there with his cracked jaw, shaking in fear of me.
I felt sick again. I didn't know what had come over me. I understood why he was scared of me and Rex. I was scared of myself.
Rex followed me, bottle still in hand. He didn't say a word, but I couldn't have wiped that stupid grin off of his face if I tried to beat it off of him.