29. The Jade Pendant

Disclaimer: Hey all! So sorry it's taken me forever to update—crazy busy/stress, but here you go! Glad you enjoyed the last chapter. Yes, Pixie is a bitch and we all love to hate her hahaha! My love to all of you lovely readers and reviewers!!

I ran and ran until I was back where I started—just outside the Joker's apartment. How the hell did I end up back here?! I clutched the peeler in my hand with every ounce of force I had in me. I wanted to find Batman. I kept looking up into the night sky, at the various building tops and the fire escapes. Batman was truly nowhere to be found. Maybe he wasn't out tonight. Maybe he was but the Joker would never find him because Batman knew the Joker was looking for him.

I turned around. Tonight was not the night for the showdown. No—there would be no fighting tonight and I think Batman knew this—in fact, he anticipated this. I would have to go back up to the apartment and play the role of stupid, obedient Giada. As I climbed up the fire escape, a plan was formulating in my head. The Joker was doing business behind my back that was currently including this Pixie bitch. I would have to do business on my own—perhaps even with Batman if possible. I would have to wait it out for a few days—maybe even weeks, before I could make my mark—prove to everyone I was a worthy and intelligent criminal. The only way I could do this would be to capture Batman and the Joker—I would catch everyone off guard. Getting my beloved Joker to do something for me would be the easy part—but getting Batman—that would be the challenge. Oh, and I'd probably have to kill Pixie Dust as well—especially if she even dares to touch the Joker.

I slid back into the apartment and lit the candles. I wandered through the apartment to the bathroom so to remove my makeup. As I passed by the bedroom, from the corner of my eye, I saw a figure sitting on the bed. I did a double-take as I backed up to get a better look into the room. Seeing the man sitting on the bed, I just stood in the hallway. The Joker was sitting on the bed with his gloved hands clasped and sitting in his lap. When he noticed me, he lifted his head and released his hands from their grasp. He motioned for me to go over to him with just a single finger. My heart skipped a beat and began pounding as I moved slowly into the room. I was sure he was going to kill me—if not kill me, definitely cut me. Oh well. It was what I was there for, I guess; what I had gotten myself into.

I stood in front of him, but not close enough for him to reach out and grab me; I wasn't that stupid. He shook his head suddenly.

"No, no—I said come here," he said as he pointed to the ground directly in front of him. I took in a deep breath and swallowed the spit that was forming in my mouth.

"Technically, you didn't say anything," I responded. Stupid idiot! A mass murdering clown summoned me to him and I am back-talking to him! Oh, I really am that stupid. Realizing he wasn't going to respond, I approached him ever so slowly and with caution.

The instant I was close enough to him, he reached out and grabbed my wrists and pulled me close to him and wedged me in between his legs.

"Giada—you look nervous? Why should you be nervous? Have I ever given you reason to be nervous?" he asked as I squirmed to free myself from his forceful grasp.

"No, but you're a…high rate criminal…who kills readily…and as far as I know…disobeyed you this…evening," I explained as I continued to struggle for my freedom.

"Disobeyed me? Did I give you orders?" he asked calmly, tilting his head to the side, almost in mockery. "Oh, you know what? I think I did mention something to you about staying put…here…but it was made very clear to me my wishes for you were not…of interest,"

"I want to help you…Joker—I don't feel I can do that effectively while…here," I stated, still trying to free my wrists.

"I see—and how right you are. And believe me, Giada, you will help me—I'm a man of my word—but what I say something regarding your safety, you…must listen, hm?" he responded, holding onto me a little bit tighter. Damn he was strong! He showed such little effort in restraining me too!

"What are you, my father?" I asked, a bit irritated, "do you think you're my protector?"

"I am here to make sure the Batman doesn't find you, Giadaaa," he stated flatly.

"Well, I hate to break this news to you baby doll, but, I'm a big girl now and I can fend for myself," I sneered at him, this time with my face directly in his.

"A big girl, hm? Well then let's act like one then," he responded as he loosened his grip on my wrists. I quickly removed my right hand and slapped him across the face. He started laughing as he pulled me on top of him.

"That's what I'm talking about," he giggled. I slapped him across the face again as he began removing my clothes. He kissed my neck as he wrapped his arms completely around me.

"Promise me you'll include me on your planning from now on," I said.

"Planning? I promise you everything," he responded as he continued kissing me.

The night turned into heated sex—as usual, followed by deep slumber. I had fallen off to sleep, but the Joker remained restless. I could feel him tossing and turning every now and then when I woke. He turned over on his side and woke me again, accidentally, of course. My eye flew open to see him staring back at me.

"I'm so sorry, Giada—I didn't mean to wake you," he stuttered suddenly as he sat up. I sat up and placed my hand on his back.

"It's okay. Are you alright?" I asked, trying to catch his eyes again.

He just glanced over at me nervously for a moment and then stared back at the bedding in front of him. He opened his mouth as though to say something, but then shut it. Licking his lips, he glanced over at me again and then removed himself from the bed.

"Where are you going?" I asked, "is everything okay?"

He went out into the hall and rustled through a bunch of things for a few minutes. I decided to stay put. I rested my head back down on the pillow while I continued hearing the shuffle of books, boxes and papers from beyond the doorway.

Finally, after what felt like eons, the Joker emerged from the hallway with something in hand.

"Giada," he whispered loudly as he climbed back into the bed. I rolled over and sat up.

"What is it? Is everything alright?" I asked finally, hoping to get a real answer this time.

"Yes—well, Giada," he gulped and then licked his lips, "sometimes, more often than not, you…well…do things...that are…well," he licked his lips again, "feeling,"

"Yes?" I asked, not really sure where he was going with this.

"Well…sometimes, more often than not…when you are with me…" he licked his lips some more and glanced down at his hand, "see, I want you safe—and well, with me all the time, so…I here—I want you to have this," he said as he presented to me the thing in his hand.

"What is it?" I asked, not able to really see the object.

"It's…a jade pendant—because your name means Jade in Italian," he responded, licking his lips nervously.

"That's very…thank you very much. I love it," I replied as he placed the chain and pendant around my neck.

"I…do too," he stated anxiously as he quickly turned back over onto his side. I floated my body back down to the bed and took hold of the pendant in my hand. It was smooth and oval shaped. This was his way of saying he loved me—I just knew it. He just doesn't know how to say it. He had to show me. I turned over on my side and kept the pendant in my hand as I closed my eyes. From behind me, I could hear the Joker snoring softly—he was finally in a restful repose.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"In about an hour, Maroni and his men are holding a meeting," the Joker stated the following evening as he tied his tie in front of the mirror.

"Fantastic—and I assume you're going," I replied, sitting on the bed, watching him.

"Right you are, my little harlequin!" he exclaimed with a giggle as he turned around and kissed me.

"And that would mean I'm attending as well," I replied once he was standing again.

"Giada, see…no," he stated as he buttoned his vest and then put on his jacket.

"What?! You told me last night I could go with you! We're a team, remember?" I restated firmly.

"Yes…we're—a team—but tonight is…well…"

"I don't care what tonight is or isn't—if we're in this together and if I am to help you, I need to be able to go with you to these meetings—especially if they are in regards to Batman," I replied.

"As I've stated—the Batman is looking for you,"

"And if he knows anything at all, he'll know to find me here," I protested.

"If that were true, he would have found you already," the Joker retorted.

I paused for a moment and licked my lips, "Is Pixie Dust going to this meeting? From what I understand she's Salvatore Maroni's catch,"

"Pixie Dust?" he asked, furrowing his brows in confusion.

"That chick—you know, from last night,"

"Oh that green skinny thing. Probably—she's got some kind of dust made from botanicals that—"

"That erase finger prints—I know. I met her too," I snapped back.

"Ohh not just finger prints, dear—but other things too," the Joker responded.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Like…memory," the Joker stated.

"That's horrible! If you erase someone's memory what's left of the person?!" I exclaimed.

"Exactly!" the Joker giggled.

"No—that's not fair—it's just not right!" I exclaimed, "you can't go! Don't let her go! Don't let her use that faerie dust!"

"It's the perfect weapon against Gotham City," the Joker explained.

"Yes, and then Batman? Please Joker, you can't be serious,"

"Serious? Who ever said I was serious?" he asked with a laugh.

"This is insane. Please, for the sake of humanity—do not let her use that dust," I stated with all seriousness.

"She doesn't have it with her—it is something she can create—and when the time is right, we'll ask her to do so," the Joker replied.

I sat there in awe. Not only was this the worst idea in the history of the world, but I felt useless and powerless. I couldn't offer these criminals anything. This Pixie bitch came into the Gotham with her plants and captured the attention of Gotham's most infamous criminal and I was there, presenting them with nothing. I had nothing to offer and nothing to make them want to change their minds. I looked back at him and thought quickly. I did have one thing that maybe would make him change his mind or at least think twice.

"Last night you gave me this, remember?" I asked, holding up the pendant from my neckline.

"Yes," he responded, getting a bit nervous. A soft smile crossed my lips.

"Well, just to let you know, whatever this means to you, I understand that…feeling…quite well actually, and if something such as a memory expulsion dust ever got near either you or I, this…feeling…would be lost—forever," I explained. He licked his lips and blinked his eyes a couple of times.

"I have to go," he stated finally.

"Of course you do. Make some good decisions," I replied, "not that I doubt your ability to do so. Like you've told me so many times before—we have psychology on our side—we can talk anyone into anything,"

He turned to leave, but stopped. He turned around, approached me still sitting on the bed, learned down and kissed me. He pulled away and then left.

I waited several minutes until I knew he was gone before I began putting on my costume. I knew now that with the jade pendant, I had the courage and capability of reaching depths of feeling with him that I didn't think were possible before this. I would go out on the city tonight and I would try and find Batman again—but most importantly, I would try and find this meeting location and gather as much information in a most clandestine manner. I was, after all, a harlequin of the times.