"You got him to give you a grapple gun," Lucius said sounding impressed.

"Yes," Adriana smiled. "I've used it over a dozen times so far. I love it."

"Only a dozen?" Lucius asked. "You're on the news every half hour. Are you sure you aren't wearing yourself too thin? The job of Gotham's entire police force is a bit much for one person. You're putting them out of work."

"I'm fine with it," she said. "I love what I'm doing. I'm not wearing myself thin."

"Are you entirely sure about that? You look a bit tired," he said.

"I'm totally sure," she said. "The grapple gun is really helping me a lot. Great job designing it by the way. I love how compact it is."

"Thank you," Lucius said as his secretary knocked at the door.

"Come in," Lucius said and she walked over handing him a file.

"The statements you asked for this morning," she said pleasantly.

"Thank you very much," Lucius said and put on his glasses. "Would you mind giving us about twenty minutes, take messages for all calls."

"Of course," she said before leaving. "You won't be disturbed."

"So..." Adriana said after the secretary was gone. "Am I... in trouble or something?"

"I'm not supervising or commanding you. Why would you be in trouble with me?" he asked.

"Maybe because...Bruce asked me..well Shade..to help him with the Joker," she said. "To find him. And I kinda agreed too..after I swore to you I would stay away from him. I thought he might have mentioned it to you."

"I cannot control you, Adriana," Lucius said. "I would just hate to see you hurt."

"Yeah but..." Adriana said. "I mean, maybe I could handle it on my own. If the Batman admits he needs Shade's help to finally get the Joker then...maybe-"

"Well," Lucius said, his tone very fatherly as he took off his glasses. "No one can stop you from going after him. I am concerned about your safety. You are doing great work in the city. There's no need to do any more than what you are already doing. You can focus on-."

"Everything but the Joker?" she asked.

"Yes," Lucius told her.

"The Joker may surprise you," Lucius said. "Despite your mind reading abilities. Which is something I don't want to happen. If Bruce is willing to partner up I think you should take the opportunity. There's no reason to keep your identity hidden from him at this point as Shade. Going after the Joker alone...and keeping the fact that you are Shade hidden from Bruce...I simply don't see it ending well, Adriana."

"Don't tell him," Adriana said. "Please. Just let me...think about it. I need to think about telling him the truth and teaming up with him to take the Joker down. I just need time. Please?"

"Time..." Lucius said.

"Please?" she asked.

Lucius nodded once.

.

.

.

"This was meant to last for over a month," Madame Twyla said to Adriana as she held the empty glass. "Minimum. And now you need more in less than a week."

"Yes," Adriana said and looked at the watch Bruce had given her on Madame Twyla's wrist. Adriana herself was wearing the same watch that she had purchased online as a replacement. "I need a bit more this time.."

Madame Twyla looked at Adriana and sighed.

"It doesn't seem dangerous to take it more frequently," Adriana said. "I've been using it a few times a day and I love it."

"Do you remember what happened each time that you took it?" Madame Twyla asked.

"Well.." Adriana answered honestly. "No. Sort of ...blacked out. But nothing bad has happened."

The times that Adriana could remember taking swallows of the potion, the bottle was a little more empty than she had remembered. Meaning that she had been using it and having enormous memory lapses. But each time, she saw herself on the news, doing good in Gotham..saving people, businesses, and more..She didn't need the memories. She knew that the substance worked.

"I have already warned you," Madame Twyla said.

"Yes," Adriana said. "I need more though. Plus, I already signed that paper releasing you from any liability if anything happens."

Twyla looked her up and down.

"Fine," Madame Twyla said. "I will prepare more. Come back tomorrow."

"Okay," Adriana said. "Actually...you don't have anything now? Just a little for me to use today?"

Madame Twyla gave her a look and Adriana felt her thoughts. She thought Adriana sounded dependent. She didn't even want to go a day without the potion. To Madame Twyla, Adriana sounded a bit like an addict.

"Yes," Madame Twyla said. "Another bottle the same size as this one I gave you before."

"Okay," Adriana said, realizing Madame Twyla was nothing like Sidi. She was willing to give Adriana anything she wanted..for a price. "How much will it be?"

"I like the watch," Madame Twyla said.

"My watch again?" Adriana replied. "I mean...you already have one-"

"I like it," Madame Twyla said.

"Do you know much these things cost?" Adriana hissed, realizing her anger was coming through in her voice in a way they it never had before. She sounded almost evil. She took a deep breath and swallowed, gathering herself.

"Yes," Madame Twyla said, not missing a beat. "The watch for another 20 dose bottle. Four watches for two gallons."

"Why can't I just pay you cash? The watches come from overseas...That will take a while to come in the mail and I might use this up again-" Adriana said.

"How many days for the watches to come?" Twyla wanted to know.

"I don't know..3?" Adriana said. "With express shipping."

"You want to take 20 doses in three days," Madame Twyla laughed.

"No, I don't want to... but just in case-"

"What other jewelry do you have?" Madame Twyla smiled. "You are a rich lady."

"Worth the same as four watches? $130 grand?" Adriana huffed. "Nothing. I don't have anything worth that."

"Too bad," Madame Twyla said and walked out of the room to retrieve the blue potion.

After she was out of the room Adriana let out a loud sigh of annoyance. Her blood was boiling and she felt a surge of fury that made her want to smash some of the bottles in the room.

Adriana could see Twyla's thoughts. She was intentionally making it hard for her to pay for the substance by demanding diamond watches instead of cash. Adriana was filled with rage.

She wasn't used to feeling this way..it felt like it was taking all of the energy in her body to control herself. Her eyes fluttered closed and she massaged her temples before opening her eyes again. Her eyes fixed on a tray of red bottles on the shelf in front of her. Her arm seemed to move on its own as she swiped the larger red bottle sitting in front and tucked it into her pocket.

"What the hell am I doing?" Adriana asked herself and rolled her eyes. She reached back into her pocket to put the bottle back onto the shelf but Madame Twyla was already entering through the door.

"Here," Madame Twyla handed her another bottle of the blue solution.

"Thanks," Adriana said nervously as she quickly took off her new watch and handed it over.