"And what is all of this?" the Joker asked Adriana.
"A formal apology," Adriana said. "And a promise not to ever hit you again."
"Haven't you already apologized?" he asked. "The last time you hit me was a long time ago."
"Yes..." she said and looked at the covered dish in her hand. "But that time I didn't apologize with cake. And yes, it was months ago but, I still feel badly about it. I know you're...just trying to help. And I...was really close to hitting you again the last time I was here. My attitude lately hasn't been great, but I wanted to bring you a peace offering."
The Joker smiled.
"Come in," he said and stepped aside.
Adriana sat the dish on the table in his dining room.
"I made it myself," she said. "A black forest cake."
The Joker took the lid off the tray and looked at the cake.
"It's..." he said. "Abstract."
Adriana smiled and then laughed.
"Well, Arsenio wanted to help me with the decorations," Adriana explained. "And you know..he's so cute, I couldn't say no."
The Joker looked at the cake again. "In that case," he said. "I love it. Best cake I've seen by far."
"I'll tell him," Adriana said in parting.
"You don't want a piece?" he asked as she went towards the door.
"Oh," Adriana said. "Well, sure."
"A peace offering should be shared," he said to her as he went into the kitchen.
Adriana sat at the dining room table, relieved that everything seemed to be smoothed over. She didn't want any negativity and wanted them to get along, for Arsenio's sake.
"Thank you," Adriana said to the Joker once he had returned and cut her a slice. She started eating as he cut his own piece. "This is so good...I should bake cakes more often."
The Joker sat down in front of his cake and looked at Adriana. It was written all over his face that he had something to say.
"What?" Adriana asked him.
"I've been meaning to tell you something," he said.
"What is it?" she asked.
"A while ago, when Arsenio stayed over," the Joker said. "Months ago. My neighbor came by. Said something about him looking just like me. And that she couldn't believe we weren't related. Assumed he was mine."
He paused and took a small breath.
"She said it in front of him," the Joker went on. "Once she left he asked me about it. I just told him...sometimes people just look alike."
"Oh..." Adriana said. "Well...Jack...that isn't such a big deal, you know?"
"It is," the Joker said. "The kid is...well, highly intelligent to say the least. Of course now he sees us all as friends. You..me...Bruce. But I'm telling you..that kid learns things quickly. In a year or two his intelligence will be higher than ours."
Adriana started to laugh.
"Jack..." she said, still laughing. She reached for his forearm and placed her hand on it. "It's okay...It's not a big deal. My baby won't have adult intelligence in a year. He doesn't know that you and he are related."
"Right," the Joker said. "But he will one day."
"Yes...perhaps," Adriana said, calming her laugher and speaking more seriously. "But..is that so bad?"
