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58. Discovery

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Disclaimer: Thank you all for your reviews!! Sorry it's been a while since my last post—stupid school. Graduation just won't come fast enough!

A few days after performing my Joker make-over, The Joker felt that it would be optimal for us to return back to the Iceberg Lounge. The idea of going back there again made me both jump with excitement, but a twinge of anxiety knotted itself in my stomach at the idea of going back there—the Penguin, for one thing, was a bit shoddy for me. I was also anxious about seeing what other Gotham criminals I might run in to. Finally, I hoped that perhaps the Joker would want to go back as himself this time, not his younger form.

"Well, Giada…how about it? A little trip back to the old 'berg in order, or what?" he asked me, licking his lips, eager for my response. I couldn't understand why he'd be so eager to bring me back, I figured I couldn't pass up an opportunity to go on a date with the Joker.

"Yeah, sure, why not? Let's go," I agreed. He paused for a moment, analyzing my face and posture as I stood before him. He walked around me and narrowed his eyes a bit finally.

"You look unsure of your answer," he stated finally, taking a step closer towards me. I really hated how he had a sixth sense with me.

"Well, I…am just a little anxious about the other criminals we might run in to when we get there," I explained truthfully. The Joker's laughing lips exploded into a cacophonous laughter.

"The other criminals, Giada?! Woo! That's a good one," he cackled.

"What?! It's the truth! I mean, I don't really know many of them—and I feel a little strange about the Penguin!" I exclaimed over his laughter.

"The Penguin is no one to worry over, Giada—just a…man. And as for the others…well, they really won't know what to do with themselves around you when they see you…with me," he explained slowly and carefully.

"But you wore a disguise last time," I pointed out, "I guess I figured that would be something you'd do when you go to the Iceberg Lounge…you know…to kind of…go unnoticed,"

The Joker shook his head from side to side, "No…no, see, I did that because I saw you there with…Wayne. If we go tonight, and any night after this…I'll be…me," he stated affirmatively.

"And what does it do to your…reputation…among the other criminals if they see you…the Joker…with me. What am I to them…your sidekick or something?" I asked with a small huff of a laugh, trying to play it off like a small joke. My heart was racing with anticipation. He shook his head again and licked his lips.

"No. No, no, no, see that's just it—I want them to see you with me…so they know to keep their hands off," he responded, his voice low, almost in a grumble. I was taken aback by his comment. I hadn't anticipated this. He wanted to be seen with me, he wanted to be seen dancing with me and drinking with me. I felt a small smile bend my lips.

"Then…I guess we should go," I said with a shrug, trying to make light of his statement. He grinned then opened his mouth for one final request.

"No face paint for you tonight. You're going…as you," the Joker smirked.

My mouth dropped open. How could he possibly expect me to show up to the Iceberg Lounge with him without face paint—not as Jade?! I was still working at Arkham—I had a reputation to uphold! Despite the fact criminals populated the Iceberg Lounge, common citizens populated it as well—including my dear friends Bruce Wayne. Though Bruce Wayne was no common citizen, I knew very well why he would entertain himself at the lounge.

"How could you expect that of me?! I can't show up with you as myself! I'm still working at Arkham, you do realize—if anyone ever saw me with you, everything would be undone!" I exclaimed.

"Sh, sh, sh, sh," he held his gloved hand up to my mouth, "I'm meeting you there—inside the lounge…I'll meet you…for the first time. It'll be so much fun! Like a little game!" he giggled finally at the idea of pretending to meet me for the first time.

"This will never work—it's completely unpredictable as to who'll be there," I stated matter-of-factly.

"I'll meet you in there," he finalized the deal. There were no if's, and's or but's. I guess he liked to play things close to the chest. No, I knew he liked to play things close to the chest. He liked taking risks and grabbing life by the balls. I couldn't fault him for that—it was just who he is.

In any event, I agreed to his quest and met him at 10:30 at the Iceberg Lounge, or rather, I showed up and waited for him to show up and, inconspicuously, we would meet. This whole pretending to meet again thing was so odd—I wasn't even sure what I should think about the whole thing. Knowing him, he probably had something up his sleeve he wasn't telling me. There had to be a reason for this kind of event, but I didn't press the matter.

I showed up at 10:30 to the Iceberg Lounge. It was just beginning to snow outside as I walked through the entrance. I felt the bass from the music rumble through my feet as I walked through the coat room. As I walked, I kept turning my head, hoping the Joker would make his appearance and that I wouldn't have to be alone in the club for too long.

"Oh Miss Giada! You're back! So good to see you—oh…you're here alone?" The Penguin suddenly greeted me as he seemed to pop out of nowhere. My heart skipped a beat and I jumped a bit, startled from his unexpected appearance. Then again, I should have expected on seeing him—he did own the club, after all.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, forcing a smile as I placed my hand to my chest, "Yes…I'm here, again. I think Bruce said he would be meeting me here," I lied, still smiling, trying to seem convincing. The Penguin smiled back and nodded his head.

"Yes, of course, of course," he responded, peering at me through small eyes and his monocle. I grinned again at him, this time nervously as I made my way from the coatroom and into the lounge. The Penguin followed me silently, close behind. I paused for a moment, scanning the crowded lounge and dance floor for a familiar face, but all was lost in the cloud of dim lights and quickly moving faces. I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder. Startled, I turned around to face the Penguin once more.

"I'm afraid Mr. Wayne has yet to make an appearance this evening—though he was here last night…and the night before that," the Penguin stated, his voice fluid and greasy. There wasn't much I could say in response to that—I wasn't supposed to be meeting Bruce…I was supposed to be meeting the Joker. Come to think of it, I hadn't spoken to or seen Bruce since the night he first told me to meet him at the lounge. It had been a few days ago, sure, but it felt like a century. I licked my lips as I glanced about the room one last night.

"Well that's too bad then, isn't it," I responded finally, darting my eyes away from his every few moments, in an attempt at catching a familiar face in my peripheral.

"Indeed it is—but who's to say he won't show tonight!" the Penguin gestured grandly outward with his cane. I forced another smile across my face.

"Yes. Well I do hope he makes it. If not, I'm sure there are others here I can mingle with," I offered, hoping he'd let me go take a seat down by the dance floor.

"Oh of course," he replied, "Well, I'll let you do that…Miss Giada," he took a step back from me and I took that as my cue to head for the dance floor. I darted down the steps and squirmed my way through the crowd of bobbing people until the Penguin was completely out of my sight. I did not rest until I found a vacant table and chair for me to seat myself. As I sat, part of me hoped Bruce would show up and spare me from my loneliness. I must have looked pathetic—sitting alone at a nightclub was not something I felt any eligible young woman should do in her lifetime, but since it was part of a plan, I felt I had no other option.

I kept my eyes scanning the dance floor and the faces seated at various tables and sofas along the club walls. It was well past 10:30 and the Joker was nowhere to be found. Irritated as I was, I kept waiting. Maybe I should just go out and dance or something—keep my mind off the fact that I was in a nightclub, alone. Just as I was about to stand, my eyes focused on a familiar person—someone that rang a bell in my mind: a blonde woman. In that moment, my mind raced back to the last time I was at the club with Bruce—the Joker had shown up, and I was drunk and we danced and then I remembered seeing Bruce sitting with a blonde woman. I had completely forgotten about her! I had forgotten I asked the Joker who she was…and he avoided my question. He knew who she was. I squinted harder at her through the crowd and dark lighting. I felt I knew her as well. She knew Bruce, apparently. Maybe she worked at Wayne Enterprises. I rose to my feet and my heart dropped into my stomach as I got a better view of the blonde woman. She was at the door and finally turned to face the room. Seeing her face made my stomach churn. It was Pixie.

That bitch was pregnant—but here she was, meeting up strangers in the Iceberg Lounge…and Bruce! How could I forget Bruce?! He knew Pixie! He knew her as Batman. There couldn't possibly be any way that he would get her confused with someone else. No other woman in this city of criminals had beautiful blonde hair and played around with the other criminals of the city—nonetheless did as many drugs as her either. I shook my head in disbelief. It just couldn't be her. After blinking several times while staring at her in the distance, I wasn't able to shake it from my visual—it was Pixie. She was standing by the door to the coatroom, scanning the room just as I had. She appeared to be waiting for someone. Her drug deal, no doubt. That bitch was pregnant and still doing drugs. Unbelievable. I averted my eyes from her and scanned the room once more for the Joker. Where the hell was he?! I decided to make my way down to the dance floor. I needed to get a drink and start getting my dance on. This night was turning sour pretty fast.

I made my way to the bar and ordered myself a shot of patron. I downed it in one swift motion, void of salt and lime. I was too anxious to bother. When I turned my back to the bar and began walking down to the dance floor, I saw Pixie turn towards the door and greet the man she was meeting. In one quick motion that felt like a lifetime, Pixie greeted my best friend Bruce with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I felt the patron almost heave itself back up my esophagus from my churning stomach. Oh this was awful. This was the definition of awful. Not only had Pixie stolen the Joker's heart, but now she was stealing Bruce's. This couldn't be true. Bruce knew Pixie was a criminal—he knew everything about her botanicals and whatnot! He had to know about the drugs too—and he also knew about the pregnancy. This had to be a plan of his. There was no way he could possibly have feelings for her.

Suddenly, my concentration was blown to pieces by the fantastic DJ. It was as though he could feel my emerging emotional angst. "Scream" by Timbaland filled the club—the song I danced with the Joker to the last time I was there. I had to dance. I let the music fill my body and carry me out to the dance floor.

While I was in my music euphoria, I failed to notice the Joker enter the club. He looked brilliant—fresh face paint, the purple suit, the green tinted hair. He was perfect. Licking his lips, he made his way through the club, his dark eyes searching for me in every direction. The pulsating beat from the bass filled his ears as he scanned the dance floor…until he finally saw me, dancing. A grin spread across his lips as he made his way to the bar and ordered a shot of Jack. He downed it without a flinch and strode over to the DJ, requesting a song, no doubt.

"Hypnotize" by Notorious B.I.G filled the club as the Joker made his way to me. The song I had requested last time I was there—I danced drunkenly with Bruce to it. It was my song. Just as I was about to dance, the Joker made his appearance known to me. His dark eyes met mine as he snaked his arm about my waist, pulling me close him.

"Care to dance?" he asked in a low voice as he pressed himself into me. I just about melted into him.

"You bet," I replied with a fantastical smile. We grinded to the Notorious B.I.G just as Bruce and I had days ago—but this time, I was different. I was dancing just as suggestively, but it was with the Joker—and this time, that was different too—he was himself, clothes, face paint and all. I caught a couple of shocked expressions as we danced to the song, but I ignored them all as the song droned on. I had almost completely forgotten about Bruce and his alleged date, Pixie Dust, sitting just beyond the dance floor…waiting for us to discover them.