"Did you have fun?" Adriana asked Arsenio when she came to pick him up from the Joker's apartment. "Huh sweetie?"
"Mommy!" Arsenio said as she lifted him into her arms and gave him a kiss. Arsenio hugged her. "Ya!"
"Are you ready to go home?" she asked him.
"No, mommy," he replied. "I droow!"
"I see you've been drawing," Adriana said and smiled. There were countless colorful sheets of paper all over the floor. "Maybe you can come back this weekend and finish, okay?"
Arsenio nodded and then looked at the Joker. Adriana noticed that the Joker was very quiet and had said nothing to her.
"Want to say bye to Jack?" Adriana asked Arsenio.
"Bye Dak!" Arsenio said and waved.
The Joker finally smiled. "Goodbye Arsenio."
"Dak!" Arsenio said and stretched both hands in the Joker's direction.
The Joker blinked a few times and walked over. Arsenio reached for him, and Adriana let Arsenio go into his arms. The Joker had held Arsenio countless times, but for the first time, the Joker felt Arsenio give him a hug. It was a brief embrace, and after a couple seconds, Arsenio turned back to Adriana.
The Joker had seen Arsenio embrace his parents. The Joker wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel about the hug, or if his overwhelming joy was appropriate. But he made no effort to control it. He was happier than he had ever been.
"Ok, bye Dak!" Arsenio said again and waved.
"So...we'll see you this weekend," Adriana said. She could see the Joker was ecstatic. She was sure she had never seen him hold a smile so long. His attitude towards her changed very quickly. He became slightly more stern.
"Of course," he said to Adriana, still holding the smile he had for Arsenio. "See you then."
"Alright," Adriana said and picked up her bag and went to the door.
The Joker opened it and watched them leave.
.
.
.
"Very spacious," Adriana said about the warehouse where Bruce had their computers and equipment moved.
"Indeed," the Joker commented.
The warehouse was large and was only well lit where the computers were.
"Are there more lights?" the Joker asked.
"Sure," Bruce said. "We only need to light this area though. Why do you ask?"
"No reason," the Joker said. "So, shall we start?"
"I think we should," Adriana said.
They went to their computers and began to work. They were working quickly on all the video footage they could find of the Joker. Bruce estimated they could finish their work in seven or eight more days.
All three of them were focused, worked long hours on the project and were determined to get everything finished as soon as possible.
After about an hour of working the Joker stood up. Adriana and Bruce both assumed he would go to the bathroom, but he went outside.
Adriana and Bruce looked at each other for a second and then she shrugged. They resumed their work.
"Look at this," Bruce said to her after a while.
