Adriana felt the weight of a gun in her hand, her finger on the trigger. It felt strange. It felt as if she was watching herself from the outside but could also feel the gun and the weight of her body on her knees. Finally, she could see, and she was looking down at the gun. Even stranger. It was bright green and transparent, filled with water. A water gun?
A stream of water flew past her face and then she felt it wetting her hair. With a knowing smile, she felt and watched herself turn and fire the toy gun. A little boy in the bathtub full of bubbles in front of her laughed with glee. He was a gorgeous child that looked about three years old, with bright laughter and brilliant smile. Adriana squirted the water at his little arm and he shot back at her and then squirted the water at the gun up to the ceiling.
The sound of the alarm on her phone startled her until she woke from the dream.
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"Do you want more beignets?" Aymara offered Adriana another breakfast pastry.
"Sure," Adriana took one of the powdered fritters.
"Everything Ayamara told you yesterday was true," Sidi said after finishing her coffee. "I have only known a few people like you in successful relationships. And they are typically the way Aymara told you. Together since youth. Seems the only way one would be able to make it work at your age is to find someone pure."
"My age?" Adriana laughed. "You make me sound so old. I'm only 30."
"Yes," Sidi went on. "But that doesn't change the fact that you aren't a child anymore. Maybe you should make better decisions."
"Mother, you don't have to say it like that," Aymara said. "I'm sure if Adriana knew things were this way she would have chosen more cautiously. I can't imagine if I were in your situation. Not being allowed to make a mistake with who you involve yourself with for fear that they might turn all crazy and obsessive. I mean we have all made a few mistakes here and there, right?"
"Yes, I suppose that's true," Sidi agreed. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's alright," Adriana assured her. "I've been a little dumb. I guess I can't help it. It's probably better that I stay single anyway. I mean...seeing everyone's past almost makes me feel sad for them. That's usually how I end up with guys, I almost feel bad to say no."
"If you say so," Sidi replied.
"I do say so," Adriana laughed.
"A bit more hesitation and discernment would be of great benefit," Sidi said.
"It's not like I go from relationship to relationship," Adriana said. "I spent years single."
"And now you are single again," Sidi said. "Just choose wisely this time."
"This time?" Adriana said and walking in on Bruce having sex in his office. "No...I'm planning to be single again for while. Maybe forver. I just...need something to feel passionate about. Not a person. No..I need a hobby."
"Sounds like you already know what it will be," Ayamara chimed in. "Care to share?"
"No...not quite," Adriana said. "Sidi..this is random but-"
"What is it dear," Sidi said.
"Do you think it's possible for me to see...premonitions?"
"See the future?" Sidi asked.
"Maybe?" Adriana asked, unsure. "I had the weirdest dream last night. It felt so real. But it also felt like a hunch..intuition. It felt like something I was anticipating that would happen eventually."
"Was it bad?" Sidi asked.
"No..it wasn't," Adriana said. "It was nice. So is it possible?"
"Well, as I told you, your gift will morph and change until it comes time for it to be extinguished once and for all," Sidi said. "Anything could happen."
"What did you dream?" Aymara questioned.
"There was a little boy..I guess I was giving him a bubble bath and we were having a water gun fight," Adriana said. "He was adorable."
"Hmm..." Sidi said.
"What?" Adriana asked.
"Did he look like you?" Sidi asked curiously.
"Well...no," Adriana remembered the boy's beautiful face. He was a handsome child but looked nothing like her. "Not really. He didn't. Why?"
"Just wondering," Sidi said, "Could be something that happens in your future. You said it felt real. Did you physically feel anything?"
"Well, I felt like I could really physically feel the little water gun in my hand. I felt the floor under my knees," Adriana said. "I've never had a dream feel so real before."
"I see," Sidi said. "Did you knees look like you had been kneeling when you woke up?"
"I don't know, I didn't look," Adriana responded. "And what I woke up it wasn't like...waking up. It was like turning my head or something. Looking from one thing to another. That's how real it felt."
"Next time, check your body afterwards," Sidi said. "If you get physical signs of your dreams or visions..time is getting close to eradicate your gift."
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"I'm not sure Mr. Wayne is in," the receptionist said to Adriana. "He may have gone to lunch, but I will have someone from security escort you up."
"Actually," Adriana said, hoping not to run into Bruce. "I am here to see Mr. Lucius Fox?"
"Oh," the young man replied. "Do you know how to get to his office?"
"No, I'm sorry I don't actually," Adriana said.
"You can take that elevator," he gestured. "And go to the 23rd floor. Take a right when you get off of the elevator and 2344 is where his secretary is."
"Thank you so much," Adriana said and quickly went to the elevator.
Once Adriana arrived, Lucius's secretary gave her friendly greeting and seemed to be looking through her computer for an appointment that she was not finding.
"I actually don't have an appointment," Adriana told the woman, who had previously introduced herself as Shannon. "If he's busy I could just contact him some other time."
"He's not in a meeting now or on a call, so I could check and see if he has a few moments," she offered and then went back to his office. She emerged a few seconds later gesturing to Adriana that she could come in.
"Good afternoon, Miss Navarro," Lucius said, looking quite busy. He had several sheets of paper on his desk and was typing away on his computer. "How can I help you?" He was wearing a blight blue shirt and a deep blue and red bow tie.
"Oh, Lucius, you're busy it's not that important," Adriana said. "I could come back later."
"That's true, I am quite occupied at the moment," Lucius said and looked back at his computer. "Quite surprising how much a catastrophe like the bombing yesterday can affect businesses."
"How is everything after that?" Adriana asked.
"Mayor Garcia is fine, but there were several casualties," Lucius said.
"It's awful," Adriana said.
"That's Gotham," Lucius responded and stopped typing and his secretary quickly came and left, leaving him with a cup of tea. "So, how can I help you today?"
"Oh..actually, maybe here isn't the best place.." she answered.
"Well, it's time for my lunch hour," he said. "Care to join me?"
"Sure," Adriana replied as he stood and left to get his jacket. She pulled the vibrating phone from her pocket and saw that Gordon was calling.
"Commissioner Gordon?" she answered the call. "Hi."
"Hello, Navarro," he said. "I was expecting a call from you yesterday-"
"Oh, I'm so sorry I forgot. I was supposed to call you when I left Arkham but it totally slipped my mind,"
"Not a problem," he replied. "Did you learn anything there?"
"Well..not yet," Adriana answered. "
"Yet?" he asked.
"I'm..working on it," she explained vaguely.
"Alright," he said. "You'll keep me informed."
"Yes," she said back, even though he didn't ask a question.
"Great," he said.
"How are things?" Adriana asked him.
"Hellish," he replied. "We are trying to get to the bottom of this C4 situation. We need to know who supplied him with those explosives. We need to shut this down before anyone else gets killed."
"Yes," Adriana said. "We'll figure it out. Damien came to Arkham yesterday too."
"Ah, yes, I let him know you were there," Gordon said
"You did?" Adriana asked him.
"Yes. Something wrong?" Gordon wanted to know.
"Well..we broke up and I'm trying to keep my distance," Adriana said.
"I had no idea," Gordon apologized. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay," Adriana said. "I was just wondering how he knew I was there."
"It won't happen again. I'll let you go and enjoy the rest of your day, Navarro," he said. "I must get back to work."
"You do the same, bye."
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.
"This is a nice restaurant," Adriana said to Lucius, "Do you have lunch here all the time?"
"French food is what I enjoy most," Lucius answered. "At least twice a week."
"I never liked escargot," Adriana admitted with a smile. "But I love creme brulee."
"Tragic," Lucius laughed. "So, Ms. Navarro, I'm sure you wanted to see me for some reason."
"Yes, that," Adriana took a deep breath. "It may be a bit strange to ask about this.."
Adriana looked around. The restaurant wasn't extremely busy as it was in between typical lunch and dinner times. They had privacy.
"Oh?" Lucius said as she reached into her jacket which was hanging on her seat and pulled out the cell phone and nearly blank business card that she acquired at Arkham and sat them on the table.
"These are..some things that belonged to the Joker," she said.
Lucius rasied his eyebrows.
"I see," he said and lifted the phone. "Haven't seen one of these Nokia phones in ages. Buttons and all. Where did you get these?"
"At Arkham," Adriana said. "His old roommate."
"Bruce did mention something about you visiting Arkham," Lucius said as paused his speech as the waiter delivered their entrees: escargot and french onion soup.
"Yes," Adriana said after the waiter turned away. "I told him about that. Not about what I found though."
"Instead you're telling me," Lucius observed. "Any particular reason for that?"
"Okay...maybe this will seem silly and childish but," Adriana started.
"Go on," Lucius said and took a sip on wine.
"He doesn't think I can do anything to help him," Adriana said. "Out on the field."
"The field," Lucius said.
"Yes..." Adriana said. "I want to help catch the Joker. Bring him in."
"So you want to use these items to...catch the Joker yourself?" Lucius said. "I'm afraid I don't like the idea of that either."
"No..not catch him but at least help Bruce get closer to," Adriana said. "Maybe if he sees that I take a few steps on my own and that I can be of use..he will take me seriously."
"I assume you would like my help to see if I can get any information from these items...share it with you and not disclose it to Bruce?" Lucius said.
"Um..." Adriana shrugged. "Well, yeah. I mean...I'm not trying to interfere with the actual investigation-"
"Hmm.." Lucius said and looked incredibly uncertain about the idea.
"I just...I want to help," Adriana said. "I think I can be more helpful out there. And I discovered that I can fight. I'm actually good. Even Bruce said so."
"Yes..he told me something similar," Lucius told her.
"Seriously?" Adriana asked.
"Yes."
"So...can you help me?" Adriana said. "I swear I won't do anything too dangerous and obviously we tell Bruce if we think we have located the Joker or of we're on the trail and need his help."
Lucius looked at Adriana.
"I am not exactly sure what it is you plan to do in the field," he said. "And no matter how good you've gotten at fighting or combat skills, I do not like the idea of you attempting to use any of that against the Joker. He would kill you."
Adriana glanced away.
"However," Lucius said looking at the phone and card. "I will examine these. If there's something direct and significant I will have to tell Bruce about it."
"I understand," Adriana said.
"But otherwise..." Lucius said and Adriana raised her eyebrows. "I will give you a full report."
"Thank you so much, Lucius," Adriana told him.