"Aya! Aya!" Arsenio said to Bruce and Adriana
The three of them had eaten breakfast in bed and Alfred has just come in to clear away the dishes.
"It's Saturday," Adriana said. "Don't you want to spend it with me and your Daddy?"
"An Aya!" Arsenio said. "Aya too!"
"Alright then, I will call them and see if we can visit," Bruce said and Arsenio gave him a kiss.
"Coh!" Arsenio said.
"Now?" Bruce asked and Arsenio nodded.
Adriana laughed and handed Bruce her phone. Arsenio picked up the last grape from the plate Alfred was clearing away. He put the grape to Adriana's lips and she ate it and kissed his forehead.
"Thank you my sweet baby," Adriana said as she chewed the grape. "Thanks Alfred."
.
.
.
"I'm pretty sure they're speaking their own language," Adriana said as Arsenio talked to Aymara.
"Oh, yes," Sidi agreed and then looked at Adriana. "Well, aren't you looking happy."
"I am happy," Adriana said with a smile and shifted on the couch to pull her cell phone out of her back pocket. "Oh..."
"You look excited now," Bruce said.
"Heists are my favorites," Adriana said and stood and kissed Bruce quickly. "I'll be back soon."
"Mommy go hiiiiiise!" Arsenio said as she kissed his cheek.
"Yes, baby and I will be right back," she told him.
As soon as she was gone Arsenio and Aymara began talking again. Sidi looked at them with wide eyes as they conversed.
"When will I be used to it," Sidi said to Bruce. "One year old having a conversation."
"I'm still not used to it," Bruce said.
"Ah too too!" Arsenio said, trying to pronounce a word Aymara said.
"Altitude," Aymara said. They were talking about planes, Arsenio's obsession.
"Atood!" he said.
"Bravo," Aymara laughed.
"Sidi," Bruce said under his breath to Sidi. "Do you have a moment?"
Sidi kept looking ahead at Aymara and Arsenio. Bruce saw her eyes open a bit wider and the rest of her expression didn't change. She looked annoyed. Then she turned to Bruce and stood up.
Bruce followed her into the dining room and she shut the sliding bamboo door behind them and then they walked over to the kitchen. Sidi stopped in the doorway.
"Hm?" she said and crossed her arms.
"Wow..." Bruce said. "Such inviting body language."
Sidi rolled her eyes and went into the kitchen. She began to pour coffee from the coffee maker into a mug.
"Adriana is very happy, and so am I," Bruce said and she walked over to the refrigerator to get cream.
"I can see that," Sidi said.
"Things are great," Bruce said to her. "For once...I can see that there is no pain in her eyes. She's happy."
"Things are well," Sidi said. "Good to hear. So what do you want?"
"But things have...changed, I believe," Bruce said.
"Oh?" Sidi said, her voice displaying almost interest.
"I have changed things," Bruce said. "Arsenio's...biological father.."
Finally Sidi looked moderately interested in what Bruce was saying.
"You mean, Mr. Hayden?" Sidi said and Bruce's jaw almost dropped.
"How did you know?" Bruce said. "How did you recognize him at the party?"
"I didn't," Sidi said and stirred sugar into her glass.
"Then how...did Adriana tell you?" Bruce asked.
"No," Sidi said. "But I could see something very clearly."
"What's that?" Bruce asked.
"The energy between them," Sidi said. "That have known each other before."
"By known you mean.." Bruce said.
"The resemblance to the little one was just confirmation," Sidi answered. "So what about him?"
"Well," Bruce said. "I've agreed to help him. Although..to be honest I am not sure it is the best move."
"Help him with what?"
"With...erasing his past," Bruce said. "Documentation in all forms. It's a mammoth undertaking."
"And you have told Adriana you want to do this," Sidi said. "Now you are considering going back on your word."
"No...nothing like that," Bruce said and then realized she was right. "Only if it's the wrong choice. I mean..let's not kid ourselves...the man is...a terroristic madman-"
"If you believe that then why help him?" Sidi asked.
"It's what Adriana wants," Bruce said. "She wants him to be able to Arsenio from time to time."
"And what do you want from me?" Sidi asked.
"I need to know if it's the right decision," Bruce said. "I need to know what will happen if he stays...or goes."
"You want me to see two paths and tell you what to do," Sidi said.
"Yes," Bruce said. "I'll decide to help him and then I will change my mind. You can tell me which is best."
"And if helping him is not what is best?" Sidi asked.
"I will explain it to Adriana," Bruce said. "She will understand."
Sidi sighed. "It doesn't work as you are anticipating."
"Anything will help," Bruce said.
Sidi walked over the table and sat. She rested her elbows on the edge and sipped her coffee a few times. Bruce sat beside her. Bruce felt he was in a tough spot. He was the most shocked at the fact that he did not exactly dislike the Joker. As least not as much as he though he should. But what bothered him was the part of the Joker's honesty where he confessed that he still wanted Adriana and always would. The idea of his love being taken away was too much.
For a moment he wondered if he was going down a hole, spiraling into another mistake that could jeopardize his relationship. But this seemed harmless. Adriana would not leave him for simply refusing to help his arch enemy, if that was what needed to be done. He felt fairly certain that he had no interest in hurting or seeking vengeance on the Joker, but the decision to go out of his way to give him a clean slate was risky.
"Give me your hands," Sidi said.
Bruce held them out and Sidi turned to him.
"Which one should I do first? Think of helping him or..." Bruce said. "The other option."
"As I said," Sidi said. "It does not work that way."
Bruce didn't know what to expect now. He felt Sidi take his hands and close her eyes. He wanted a clear vision of exactly what to expect even though he knew it never worked that way.
"I see an injury," Sidi said.
"What?" Bruce asked. "He'll injure me?"
"Hm...no..." Sidi said. "You will be injured though. I do not see anything malicious as a cause. No bad intent. Perhaps it will be in an accident."
"What about Adriana and Arsenio? Will they be hurt?" Bruce asked.
"I do not sense that will happen," Sidi said. "I see you...with a cane."
"Cane?" Bruce asked. "This is obviously too far down the line. I need to see more recent-"
"The injury is significant," Sidi said. "Will impact your life for a number of years. I still see financial ruin. You will lose almost everything. I see torture...I see you being tortured."
Bruce swallowed.
"You told me this before," Bruce said. He was unafraid. As long as Adriana and Arsenio were okay.
"It is more clear now," Sidi said. "I see...faceless people...escaping prison. A group..a team...a league of sorts is the source. A man...terrible...the worst you have ever encountered. I can only see his eyes. He will...take you to the edge of your life but you will survive. Gotham will be...a warzone. Unsafe."
Sidi said and took her hands back.
"Wait," Bruce said, taking Sidi's hand. He wasn't afraid. No matter what happened he knew he would make sure his family was safe.
"Hm?" Sidi asked.
"I need to know if I should help him or-" Bruce said.
Sidi stood up and looked at Bruce.
"This is the last thing I will say to you on the matter," Sidi said. "And it is the most important thing for you to know."
Bruce nodded, understanding.
"If you do not help him," Sidi said. "Your regrets will be multiplied ten thousand fold."
"As opposed to me having him sent away?" Bruce asked.
Sidi nodded once and walked away.