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30. Ahead of the Curve

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Disclaimer: Many, many, many, MANY thanks to you all reading and/or reviewing! I love you all and I have missed updating and writing this story!!!!! So glad you liked the chapter! I hope this one pleases you also

The night was darker than usual. It seemed there were fewer lights illuminating the streets. Perhaps it was my makeup that inhibited my vision. No, it couldn't be. My makeup was pristine. My appearance as a whole was pristine, lest I run into a certain Pixie Dust in my travels. There should be no reason she should capture the attention of my Joker with her long legs and slender tall frame. There would be none of that. I would do my best to be the one his eye is attracted to.

As I walked relatively aimlessly down the side streets of Gotham, I noticed a chill run up and down my spine. I quickly turned around to see if there was someone following me, but no one was there. The wind blew coldly against my face. I had almost forgotten it was November. That would explain the chill. I wondered if the Joker and I would celebrate Thanksgiving—it had to be only a week away or so.

What a stupid thought. Why would we celebrate Thanksgiving? What did we have to be thankful for? I guess I was somewhat thankful for the Joker; he made me realize many things about myself—but what of the other aspects of my life? I upped and left my home without any word at all. For that I was certainly not thankful. I was ashamed. I wasn't all that thankful for the arrival Pixie Dust—in fact, I was pissed. That bitch was going down.

"Oh look! A little harlequin!" exclaimed a voice from behind that made me cringe.

"Oh look! A pixie!" I mocked in return as I turned around to see her standing against the wall of a building. She was clad in her usual attire—green leggings and an over-sized button down shirt.

"Have you seen the Joker? I've been lookin' for him all night," Pixie stated as she lit up a cigarette.

I chuckled and pursed my lips together. Finally, I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders, "Nah, I have no idea where he is. Beats me!"

"Yeah I figured you'd be of no help—no offense," she responded.

"None taken," I said with clenched teeth.

"It's just, you don't really strike me as a girl who really has the need for a guy like him and therefore would be negligent in the knowledge of the location of said man," she replied.

I laughed once more at her crazy antics, almost in disbelief. Maybe this warped thought of hers was exactly what she needed to keep on believing—that way, when she found out how wrong she was, in her stupor, I could cut the bitch.

"Well, you certainly have got me all figured out, haven't you!" I responded, still chuckling.

"You're not that difficult to read, Jade," she stated with a grin.

"Yeah—I know. Well it's been nice talking to you…Pixie. I must be off!"

"Oh, where you goin'?" she asked.

"To get a burger," I responded flatly.

"Oh I can't eat any of that crap—gotta watch my figure, you know!" she giggled.

"Yeah," I turned to leave.

"If you run into Mr. J, let him know I'm lookin' for him, will ya?" she called after me.

"You bet!" I exclaimed as I turned the corner.

The nerve of that wench! She honestly thought I had no affiliation with the Joker—and she believes that she will be able to take up sides with my Joker! The likes of that! I'll show her—I'll show her exactly what she's got coming to her—that I'm Mr. J's and no one else is. She can't call him Mr. J! Only I can do that, I thought to myself as I wandered through the back alleys. Feeling my blood begin to simmer, I decided to sit down on the pavement and just cool off. I shut my eyes and leaned my head back on the building.

"You look tired, Jade," a voice said. My eyes flew open. The Batman. I jumped to my feet as quickly as possible.

"Nope, not really!" I responded.

"Where's the Joker?" he asked.

"What is with you people!? Why does everyone assume I know where the Joker is?!" I exclaimed in frustration only because of Pixie asking the same thing.

"I'll assume you either don't know either or won't give up his location," the Batman responded.

"No," I said finally, "No, I don't know where he is—he won't tell me where he goes,"

"Aren't you supposed to be his henchwoman?" Batman asked.

"I don't even know anymore," I sighed, feeling a bit dejected. I just knew Pixie was going to find him and try to seduce him with her stupid plant dust bullshit.

"I take it you are no longer an asset to the Joker," Batman stated.

"No, that's not true—I am still an asset to him—he just doesn't need me right now for whatever he's doing," I replied.

"So…you're just walking around Gotham until he's done and then you'll go home?" Batman asked, I think a bit confused.

"Technically, he doesn't really want me out and about but he can fuck himself if he thinks I'm going to stay put all night indoors while he's out and about doing God knows what!" I exclaimed.

"I see. So right now, his main need for you is met after dark when he comes back indoors," the Batman stated.

"No, I'm not just some fuck toy, if that's what you're getting at," I corrected him, "I know you won't believe it, but the Joker actually tries to demonstrate feelings through various gestures of kindness. No one would believe it, but he actually shows me he cares for me in way that are of a nonverbal nature," I explained, almost slipping into my educated mindset that I had once done so readily for Bruce Wayne.

"Despite what I believe of the Joker, it sounds like you've got a pretty good…analysis…on his behavior," the Batman replied.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that—I mean, it's what I do—I write analyses," I stated.

"Is that so? How did you end up in the criminal business then?" the Batman asked.

"Well, to put it simply—I fell in love," I responded. I paused for a moment and really thought about that statement. I fell in love with the Joker and readily gave up my educated professional life-style. I really was crazy; and now there I was, talking to the Batman like he was an old friend and not my enemy, about my life choices.

"That's…interesting. You sound like someone else I know—her name is Giada DiMarco. I asked her if she could help out the GPD in writing an analysis of the Joker," the Batman said, somewhat slowly. My heart sank. He didn't know it was me. I should have guessed. He had never seen me as Jade—with all the face paint and what not. Should I tell the Batman that I am Giada? Maybe I could gain his trust that way…

Maybe if I told him and the Joker found out he would really kill me. That would be horrible. But then again, he told me he'd never kill me. It would be a chance I'd have to take, because if I could befriend Batman, I could get him for the Joker and then the Joker would be so pleased with me he wouldn't even know what to do! And that would complete rule out Pixie.

"Giada DiMarco, huh," I responded.

"Yes—do you know her?" Batman asked.

I paused for a moment and licked my lips.

"Well…"

"Jade! I have been searching all over this damn town for that Joker!" Pixie exclaimed suddenly.

"Damnit Pixie! I told you I don't know where he is!" I exclaimed in frustration. She had just interrupted something important.

"Batman!" she shrieked finally and then ran from our sight.

"Thank God—I can't stand that bitch!" I exclaimed.

"I can tell," Batman responded. He paused for a moment then spoke again, "it looks as though she's after your Joker—how does that make you feel, Jade?"

"Oh it's just great—I know he won't go for her. She's not his type—too botanical…not enough clown," I responded sarcastically. The Batman laughed at my comment. I was taken back by his laugh. I did not expect him to laugh at something I'd said. I smiled back at him.

"Like I was saying before, Giada DiMarco—yeah I know her," I replied.

"Is she a friend of yours? Last I heard she was back at home in Boston," Batman stated.

"Well…I am her," I said finally. Batman remained silent.

"You are her," he repeated finally.

"Yes—and I feel so horribly for the things I've done, but please understand that I have fallen so hard for the Joker—he's been able to reach me like no one else I've ever known and he's been able to show me who he really is too. I just don't know if I could ever face Bruce Wayne again—he had offered me such a wonderful opportunity and I really fucked it up. I owe him so much," I explained in all seriousness. The Batman was quiet for several moments.

"I understand if you can't condone being friendly with me—I am, after all, allied with the 'bad guys'," I said, using quotes.

"No, I think you're good willed and good intentioned, Giada. You've just gone astray a bit, but if this is the life you feel you need and want, then I can't judge you for that," Batman said finally.

"Thank you," I responded.

"As for Bruce Wayne—I think he'd surprise you—he's just as lost as you are," Batman replied.

"Really? How so?" I asked, eager to learn more.

"I can't say exactly," the Batman said, "but I have to go. Please, take care, Giada," he said as he turned and fled from the alley.

I was so confused, but I felt a bit better. I was gaining status with Batman. He obviously hated the Joker but as long as I could stay on his good side, I would have one up on the Joker and every other mobster. This would certainly put me back on the crime map as someone who has insider information and thus and quintessential part of the planning process. I was officially ahead of the curve!

I turned to leave and head back to the Joker's apartment. I was feeling pretty excited and light headed with adrenaline that I just made headway with the Batman behind everyone's backs. Whether they knew or not didn't bother me.

I turned a corner and went into another back ally when I suddenly stopped in my tracks. The Joker was talking with Pixie Dust. Laughing, she placed her hand on his chest in a flirtatious manner. My hands began to tingle and my head began to feel light. Dots started appearing before my eyes and my heart skipped a beat. I quickly reached into my pocket and grabbed onto the Joker's knife. Suddenly, Pixie turned her head and saw me.

"Jade? What are you doing here?" she called over to me. The Joker's gaze softened immediately as he turned towards me. I think he saw the fury building within me and he ran over to me.

"Giada, you're freezing," he said softly into my ear. I saw Pixie's gaze on the two of us narrow into eyes of jealousy.

"I'm sure she's fine—all of those layers of clothing," Pixie responded as she walked over to us.

I was still clenching my fists tightly onto the peeler knife. The dots in my vision grew larger and soon things turned blurry.

"Giada? Can you hear me?" the Joker asked. He glanced down ad saw my hands in my pockets were trembling.

"I…I…can't breathe," I said finally as I collapsed into his arms. He gently scooped me up into his arms.

"Giada, wake up," he said as he rocked and shook me back and forth.

"Looks like she's out cold," Pixie stated with a small laugh.

"Laugh some more and I'll cut that smile permanently into your face," he said curtly as he flashed her eyes of death. In that moment, Pixie knew the Joker had feelings for me and I was now officially competition that needed to be removed from her path in getting to the Joker. The Joker turned and left the ally, still carrying me in his arms.