"You should have seen your mother earlier," Bruce told Arsenio. "She did amazing."
"I was an amazing lookout," Adriana laughed. "Your father was the real star."
"Yayyy Daddy!" Arsenio said and kicked his feet, swinging his legs.
"Me made a good team," Bruce said and he and Adriana smiled at each other.
.
.
.
"Hi," Adriana said to the Joker when she arrived at his apartment.
"Good evening," he said to her and let her in.
He saw that she was carrying a large envelope, but not the painting.
"As you can see," she said. "I wasn't able to get the painting."
"Ah..." the Joker said. "It's gone. I understand."
"Actually," she said. "No...it's not. Bruce actually wants to keep it."
The Joker was noticeably surprised.
"For what?" he asked.
"Because he likes it," Adriana said.
"I see," the Joker said. "So, you asked him about the painting."
"Yes," she said.
He nodded.
"I'm sorry," Adriana said. "But...I did bring something."
She handed him the envelope. He opened it and he pulled out a large high quality framed printed portrait of Arsenio. She watched him look at and walk over to the couch to sit with it.
"I know it's not the same as your painting," Adriana said. "If I could get it for you I would."
"It's..." the Joker said and looked at her. "A very nice photo. Thank you."
"You're welcome," she said. "It's my favorite picture of him."
"Yes," the Joker said. "He looks very happy."
"So..." Adriana said. "Did you deposit your check yet?"
The Joker looked at her strangely.
"No," he said. "I haven't gone anywhere. I also do not have a bank account."
"Well, don't you speak to Lucius?" Adriana asked. "You could ask him to set one up for you."
"He was just here," the Joker said.
"And what does he think you should do with the check?" Adriana asked.
The Joker shrugged. Obviously, they hadn't talked about it.
"Well...maybe you could ask Bruce to do a wire transfer instead," Adriana said.
The Joker frowned at her.
"Look...you could just send him an e-mail or something," Adriana said. "You don't have to call him or see him."
"No, thanks," the Joker said, still holding the frame.
"Okay then I'll ask Lucius for you," Adriana said. "To set up the account and find a way to deposit it remotely. Might not be easy because of the amount but he can do it."
"Mmm.." the Joker said absently.
"Are you okay?" Adriana asked him.
"Yes," he said. "I'll take the check with me. I'm sure I can deposit it in person when I am in the Dominican Republic. Lucius will have a Dominican account set up for me."
"Oh...okay," Adriana said.
The Joker was quiet as he put the frame back into the padded envelope carefully. He cleared his throat and then spoke again.
"Appreciate the portrait," he said conclusively.
"Jack..." Adriana said and sat next to him. "If something is bothering you...you can tell me."
"I am not bothered," he said. "I am...learning."
"Learning what?" she asked.
He lifted his hand holding the portrait a few inches.
"How to do this," he said.
She looked into his eyes, understanding.
"He remembered me," the Joker said. "Hadn't seen him in weeks and he said my name as soon as he saw me."
Adriana smiled remembering Arsenio waking up as she took the Joker into his room during the party.
"Of course he did. Of course he remembers you. He likes you," Adriana said. "You're his friend."
The Joker nodded.
"You're...thinking that it will be difficult to leave him behind," Adriana said.
"Always knew I would have to," the Joker said. "Always knew that. From the start. But I.....cannot do it. I need to learn how to do this."
Adriana looked down. Teaching a man how to leave his child was something she didn't know how to do.
"Last couple of weeks have been long," he said. "When you let me see him last night...he was much bigger. Growing quickly."
"Yes...he is growing up fast," Adriana said.
"Yep," the Joker said.
"So...what are you saying?" Adriana asked. "You don't want to leave yet? Or at all?"
"I cannot stay here," he said. "Every time I leave this building it is a gamble. My DNA, my fingerprints, facial recognition. I have to leave. And even if I do stay and am holed up indoors forever...then what? You bring your kid to come see me? Impossible. That's even more of a gamble. Much easier when I was living in the floor beneath you."
"But..." Adriana asked. "I asked if you wanted to leave.."
"I do not," he said.
"Well...maybe we can brainstorm....find a way so that you can stay?" Adriana said.
"Brainstorm," the Joker chuckled for a moment. "If you must."
"You...really care for Arsenio," Adriana said. "And that's natural. You're...his father."
"Bruce Wayne is his father," the Joker said. "I am..."
The Joker took a breath.
"What I am," he said. "I'll survive if I can't see him all the time. Once a month...Once a year? It's fine. Leaving forever however...something I'd need to learn how to do."
"I'll think of a way for you to stay," Adriana said. "I promise."
The Joker looked at her and squinted.
"Aren't you kind," he said.
"Well...I appreciate what you did last night," Adriana said mostly thinking out loud.
"Behaving decently at the party?" he asked. "Accepting the check after you showed up here last night?"
Adriana knew what she meant but she couldn't tell him. The previous night, she had wanted him so badly, and part of her still did.
The Joker had been decent and respectful the previous night and was respectful now. She didn't know if it was because he didn't want her at all anymore and no longer saw her in that way, or if he was simply respecting fully the fact that she was a married and unavailable woman. But either way, his decency and collection prevented her from doing something that would have been a betrayal to Bruce.
"Yes," Adriana said. "You were great at the party. In spite of...my sister's questions."
"Ah...your sister," the Joker said. "Is very..."
"Exhausting?" Adriana laughed.
"Now look who's kind," he said, and Adriana laughed again.
