"She'll be alright," Gordon said to Shade as the woman who she had just talked out of jumping from the roof of her apartment building was placed into an ambulance. "She'll get the help she needs."
She nodded, still afraid to speak to Gordon directly, fearful that he would recognize her voice, even though she did her best to disguise it.
"The people of Gotham are very happy that you're back, Shade," Gordon said, trying to get her to talk.
After nodding again, she turned to leave, hoping that Gordon wouldn't stop her.
"Are you back for good?" he asked.
She turned to him, her voice a whisper. "Yes."
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"The public loves you a lot more than they do me," Bruce laughed as he and Adriana spoke over a Sunday lunch alone at home.
"Nah, they love you too," she replied.
"They don't love me," Bruce said as Arsenio made a noise. "See, even my son agrees."
"They do love you," she said again.
"They rely on me when needed" he clarified. "They are still against me for what happened to dent. And with the one who wears the purple suit gone, they're remembering that. You're the beloved one."
"Whatever you say, baby," Adriana told him as Arsenio made another tiny noise.
"He's so vocal today," Bruce smiled. "Will you be talking soon little man? Can you say mommy?"
The baby gave a small smile and made another noise.
"How about daddy?" Bruce asked and touched his feet.
"I think that's a few months away," Adriana laughed.
"Maybe he's a baby genius and will say it tomorrow," Bruce joked. "Is Monday the big day little one?"
Adriana laughed and watched Arsenio looking at Bruce, smiling a bit every few seconds. They were so happy.
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"Merry Christmas," Bruce whispered into Adriana's ear as she slept. "Mrs. Wayne."
"Hmm," she said, half asleep, as one her arms lifted and her hand found his face. She kept her eyes closed as he kissed her. "Merry..."
"Still asleep," he said, smiling against her lips.
"Mhm," she said with her eyes still closed and rested her wrist on her forehead.
He placed a hand on her waist and began to kiss her stomach above her belly button. She felt the warmth of his lips through the t-shirt she was wearing and smiled before finally opening her eyes.
"Merry Christmas," she said finally.
"My beloved is finally awake," Bruce said into the fabric of her shirt.
"I am," she said and took her arm off of her forehead and ran her fingers through his silky hair.
"Look to your right," he said.
She turned her head and saw four small jewelry boxes on the bed beside her.
"Awww..." she said. "You didn't have to get me four gifts."
"I didn't," he said and moved up to kiss her lips. "The other ones are in the living room."
"You told me you don't do much to celebrate Christmas," she laughed. "And that you didn't want anything."
"I have everything I could possibly want," he said.
"But you got me real gifts," she said. "And all I got you was a decanter set."
"Thank you," he said. "Speaking of gifts, open yours."
"Okay," she laughed and sat up. He had gotten her two pairs of earrings from Cartier. An amulette pair of mother of pearl and onyx, and yellow gold Love hoop hearings. He had also gotten her a gold Love bracelet and an emerald and diamond panther necklace.
"Do you like them?" he asked.
"I love everything," she said honestly. Everything he had gotten her were things that she would have picked for herself. "I can't wait to wear these Love earrings."
"I'm glad," he said and gave her another kiss.
"I wish had a better gift for you," she said.
"You do," he said seductively and began to kiss her stomach again.
"So that's what you want for Christmas?" she laughed. "The same thing you get all the time?"
"I never get tired of it," he whispered. "That's all I want."
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"You have to admit," Shade said to the Batman. "We make a good team."
"Teams aren't for me," he said, disguising his voice as he dragged one of the men they had found in the woods.
Four men had escaped from the prison and the police had already found two. He and Shade were working on finding the last one.
"One day you'll admit it," she smiled. "I'm going to check by the river."
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"My baby is fourteen weeks old today," Adriana said to Arsenio. "Isn't he?"
He looked at Adriana and Aymara sweetly.
"He's going to grow up to be gorgeous," Aymara laughed. "Look at those dimples."
"Yes, pretty baby," Sidi said and handed Adriana a cup of coffee.
"So what did you two do to celebrate the new year?" Adriana asked them. "Anything interesting?"
"Like what?" Sidi asked.
"I don't know...does it mean something to you?" Adriana asked.
"You mean when we harvest the energy of the moonlight to bring in the new revolution around the sun? Some time of a very powerful witchcraft ritual?" Sidi asked.
"You really do that?" Adriana asked seriously.
"No," Sidi replied, just as seriously.
"So disappointing," Adriana laughed.
"Haha," Aymara laughed sarcastically.
Adriana looked down at her vibrating phone to see that Bruce had texted her.
"Oh...I'm going to have to leave soon," she said.
"You just got here," Sidi said.
"It's my husband, he needs-" Adriana said and stopped talking. "Just needs me to come and see him at work."
"Hm," Sidi said, and Adriana could immediately see the slight judgement in her eyes.
"You can leave Arsenio here if you want," Aymara said. "I'll watch him for you."
"You don't mind?" Adriana asked.
"No, no," Aymara said. "He's an easy baby to watch."
"Thanks," Adriana said.
"So, what does your husband need that's so urgent?" Sidi asked.
"He just wants to see me," Adriana said and shrugged.
"Mhm," Sidi said. "I know what he wants. "So this is what you do? Run to his office at his beck and call?"
"Sidi," Adriana said, embarrassed at how the conversation had turned. "Even so, I'm his wife and we're married...we can do what we want."
Adriana had gotten the feeling, ever since she and Bruce had gotten married, that Sidi did not approve of him for her. She was very quiet about it and never explicitly said anything, but Adriana could tell.
"Do you remember what I told you," Sidi said. "Long ago...about your happiness. Your relationships."
"You said I would be miserable forever and every man that I'm with will treat me like garbage," Adriana said. "But you were wrong. Because Bruce treats me amazingly well."
"I never said you would be treated like garbage," Sidi said. "Foolish girl, twisting my words."
"Well then refresh my memory, because that's how I heard it," Adriana said.
"I told you to be careful in your decisions," Sidi said.
"I was careful, and Bruce was the choice that I made," Adriana said.
"Yes," Sidi said. "But I told you, you must be careful who you chose to give yourself to. I can tell your gift, though absent for you, is spreading to him. Why else would he be calling you in the middle of the day to have you rush to him?"
"Sidi-" Adriana said.
"No," Sidi interrupted. "I am your friend and I am here to be honest with you. The man you chose...he is known to all in Gotham to have been a promiscuous man."
"So? You think that he'll cheat on me?" Adriana asked.
"Not necessarily. That is beside the point-" Sidi said.
"Well then what is your point?" Adriana asked, frustrated. "Why would you even bring that up?"
"He has been with enough women to see more clearly the difference between you and everyone else. I hope for the sake of your mental state and his, that you two stay together. He will not let go of you easily of anything happens."
"Sidi," Adriana rolled her eyes. "We are never breaking up."
"Even men, such as your ex the cop, make mistakes. Take you for granted. They are men after all. And now you have your husband dependent on you physically. Tell me, have you ever denied him?" Sidi asked.
Adriana thought about it a few seconds before answering. "No."
"Perhaps you should," Sidi said. "Such a dependency isn't healthy. I assume he's using you to get ahead in his business. You're affecting his mind in a way that he will not want to do without."
"So what are you saying?" Adriana said, now feeling incredible defensive. "He only wants me for my gift? That's all any man will want me for?"
"No," Sidi said. "I'm saying you need to be careful. I didn't say that's all any man will want you for but I am saying you certainly are making it that way by running to him whenever he wants something from you. The only type of man you could be so giving to would be a man that is the opposite of what your husband has been with women. You need to ration it out, and not be at his beck and call, Adriana."
Adriana realized she was right. With every man she had been with, she felt a growing dependency. A growing addiction. They could barely control themselves with her, and usually sex was over very quickly, even if it happened several times. With every single man...all but one. One who had the opposite history with women as Bruce. She didn't want to think about it. It was in the past.
"Do you even enjoy it?" Sidi asked.
"Ma?!" Aymara, who was quiet all along, interjected.
"Answer me," Sidi said. "Do you?"
"I mean..." Adriana said. "It's enjoyable.."
"You're doing this mostly for him," Sidi said, after sucking her teeth and rolling her eyes. "Just because it is what he wants. This is not healthy. You will eventually grow tired of it and it will hurt your relationship. You will grow to resent him."
"So?" Adriana said. "What am I supposed to do? Tell my husband I don't want to sleep with him so much because it will hurt our relationship?"
"You need to enjoy it as well, otherwise you will grow to resent him for taking from you. Taking and taking, while you only give in," Sidi said. "Only a matter of time. Have you ever enjoyed a man even once?"
Aymara looked like she was embarrassed to even be alive as she listened to the direct questions her mother was asking.
"Yes," Adriana said, certain of her answer. "And I enjoy my husband too-"
"You must have been young," Sidi said. "It must have been long ago."
"No," Adriana said. "It was...a little over a year ago. Why do you assume I was young?"
" Because a young and innocent man is less likely to see you as a mine to extract valuables from," Sidi said. "Perhaps you need to, for the sake of your relationship, take a lesson from when you had enjoyment. And find a way to enjoy your husband as well, because I can tell this running back and forth will only break your relationship."
Adriana looked at Sidi, trying her best not to show her anger. But maybe Sidi was right, Adriana felt like she was slipping back into old habits. She remembered Damien, and how it always felt like she was giving in. She gave in for years until one day she shut down and shut him out. It was right before she admitted herself into asylum.
She couldn't help but also think of the Joker and how different things had been with him. She remembered the contrast...when she was with him, she initiated about 90% of the time. He never seemed pressed or dependent on her, he was incredibly calm compared to every other lover she had taken. She knew that he was nothing like Bruce-he was the polar opposite, when comparing their sexual pasts, but she refused to accept that Bruce's past would permanently affect their relationship.
Maybe Sidi was right, and it was up to her to decide to ensure that she would enjoy it every time. She remembered how vocal she had been when she had her most enjoyable experiences over a year ago. Maybe it was time to become bold and forthright again. She loved him and wanted them to stay together and happy. The both of them.
"I have to go," Adriana said.
"Well I will keep him," Aymara insisted. "He can stay forever."
"I'll be back later," Adriana said after kissing Arsenio several times.
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Are you on your way? Bruce texted Adriana.
She looked at the message on the screen for a few moments and took a deep breath. She wanted her relationship to work, she wanted to be happy. She had to speak.
No. I am home. She looked at the reply message before she hit send. The penthouse was empty and quiet.
Is something wrong? She read his message and took another breath.
Come home.
She sat her phone down, wondering if maybe she should call him. But she couldn't do anything over the phone. Sitting around was hard to do as she wondered whether or not he could get away from work. He had told her earlier that he was going to have a very busy day, at least four meetings. But Sidi's word's had made her realize her flaw...quiet complacence.
Fifteen minutes later she heard the front door open and then Bruce calling her name.
"In here," she said calmly. She was sitting on the couch in their bedroom.
"What's wrong?" he asked, visibly worried. "Where's the baby?"
"Aymara has him," she said. "I'm going back to get him in a little bit."
"Oh.." he said, obviously confused. "You gave me a fright, Adriana. I thought something happened."
"Sorry," she said. "Nothing happened."
"Why did you want me to come home?" he asked and glanced down at his phone to re-read her message but she took the phone from him.
"I needed to talk to you," she said and sat his phone down beside her before standing up. "We need to talk."
"Well..." he said, suddenly nervous. "That's never good."
She looked at the pattern in his tie, and intricate zig zag weave. Then she looked at the crisp white shirt he was wearing under his deep blue pinstriped jacket.
"What's wrong?" he asked, seeing her stalling.
"I'm...not happy," she said carefully.
She watched the color leave his face as his lips slightly parted. He looked like he had seen a ghost.
"I see," he said.
The reaction shocked Adriana. She didn't want to scare him. She grabbed his hands to give him some easement.
"Bruce," she said. "It's okay..I'm not going anywhere...I just wanted to talk to you about it and I'm sorry I'm just springing this up on you-"
"Tell me," he said. "Tell me what's wrong. What did I do?"
"Nothing," she said in a comforting tone. "You didn't do anything wrong, I did. You're an amazing husband and father, Bruce. I just...haven't communicated as well as I could about something-"
"About what?" he asked eagerly, with a bit of relief.
"It's...um..." she said, unsure of why she was suddenly nervous. "I know this is bad timing, and it could have waited until later-"
"No, no, Adriana," he said seriously. "Tell me. Whatever it is, it is important to me.."
"Okay," she said and exhaled. "Well, it's our sex life. I'm not completely...contented."
She watched as Bruce let out another breath.
"Alright," he said and sat on the edge of the couch immediately ready to discuss. "Alright...Is ahh..."
He pushed his hair back with his left hand.
"Is it something we can fix or... work on or something.. permanent?" he asked.
"Huh?" she asked unsure of what exactly he was asking.
"Is there something," he asked, as if ready to be hit with bad news. "Something about me that's not..." he said while making gestures with his hands. "Not...satisfactory...or inadequate-"
"Oh, Bruce," she exhaled, almost laughing. "No, no, nothing like that. You have nothing to worry about with that. Trust me."
"Are you sure?" he asked. "My feelings will be hurt, but don't be afraid to be honest with me-"
"I'm sure Bruce, I promise," she told him honestly.
"Okay..so then it's something else," he said. "Something we can fix hopefully?"
"I mean, I think so," she said. "If you're willing-"
"I'll do anything you want, Adriana. I mean that," he said and took her hands.
"Okay," she said, looking at his impeccable suit. "Maybe when you get back from work later we can talk about it-"
"No," he said firmly. "Now. I'll call the office and move my meetings."
She could tell he meant what he was saying. She nodded quietly and he stood quickly to leave the room. His voice could be heard outside the door as he made a total of two phone calls, one to his secretary and one to a colleague he was supposed to have a lunch meeting with in an hour.
Adriana sat on the bed and felt nervous again. Maybe she didn't even know what she wanted. Maybe she had forgotten. Maybe all of this was for nothing and she wouldn't be able to communicate effectively with Bruce, and even if she was able to, maybe it wouldn't work and she would still be less than satisfied.
She didn't want to think of him. The Joker. But how couldn't she? It was as though he had taught her how incredible she could feel and she wanted to return to that. That feeling. Or at least something close.
Bruce came back into the room and shut the door, even though there was no one else in the penthouse.
"Okay," he said and walked over to stand in front of her.
She stood up quickly, somehow feeling suddenly empowered.
"Get undressed," she said and began to pull off her own clothing.
He was a bit stunned at how rapidly she was moving and how blunt her words were. He wasn't expecting it, but he obeyed. Once he was nude she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gave him a kiss. The kissing deepened for a minute before he stopped.
"Am I am an okay enough kisser?" he asked, thinking far too much about it. "Just tell me if I need to do something different with my -"
"Shut up," she whispered and grabbed him and began to kiss him again.
This was the bossiest he had ever seen her, and he was almost entirely certain that he liked it, even though he was a bit anxious about what was to come.
As they made love she couldn't help but thinking of him. Again, the Joker was in her mind. It felt like he was the blueprint for her pleasure. But he was not there.
She didn't know how he did it. How did he do what he had done to her? And how could she instruct Bruce to do the same? She realized that she couldn't. She couldn't make him replicate what another man was. Bruce was her husband, and she realized that he was good enough.
Good enough? She thought of the words that had just come to mind as he kissed her and she felt him inside of her.
Bruce loved her. Sidi was wrong. Adriana did find some happiness in making him happy. It would not destroy their marriage because Adriana knew she could live with it. Bruce was not cruel to her, he didn't talk down to her. He was generous.
So what if she never felt what she had before? At least she had experienced it.
And what had she experienced? Her mind kept going as she clung to Bruce. She had experienced a deep aching desire that was always completely and thoroughly fulfilled every single time. She had been pleased so well, that she didn't care that the man she was with was a killer. That he was a terrorist. That he had no intentions of ever changing. When she had been with him it was the first time that she felt that physically...it could get no better. There was no topping it. Because it was already terrifyingly explosive.
Her mind wouldn't stop. Had it only been so amazing because she knew how terrible he was? Was it all thrill? Had it all been...excitement? Because she was finally a rebel? She shut her eyes and tried to remember.
The thought if his skin, his smell, his pressure and rhythm, sent her over the edge. It had been real. Even if he had been a straight edged cop, she would have experienced him the same. In fact...she would have been happier. She would have stayed with him forever or for as long as he would have had her. In the moment, she knew that it couldn't be forever because he was a criminal. She had accepted then, and was rejecting it now. She missed him.
She opened her eyes. Back to reality.
She would stay with Bruce. Sidi had no idea what she had been talking about, she told herself.