Joker's POV
I stare blankly at the pictures scrolling across my laptop. Lucy. My beautiful daughter Lucy. Marlene has always been kind enough to send me pictures of Lucy. Birthdays, school plays, her graduation, she sent me all the important moments and I'm grateful. Seeing her life through pictures was all I had. But she has thrived without me in her life, just as I always knew she would. I was so proud of her. She was everything I always wanted her to be.
But pictures can't tell you everything. Things like her favorite color, favorite food, favorite song, I could only guess those things. I did want to know those little things. I wished I knew who she was as a person. Which parts of me carry on through her? What parts of Harley? How sane is she? Did she inherit my crazy? Or Harley's for that matter? Or is she as perfect as she always looks in her pictures? So confident, so happy, so ready to take on the world.
Now she's on her way here. How do I refuse the urge to hold her to me in the warmest embrace? How do I refrain from asking her all the questions I wanted to know? How do I keep from telling her that I'm her father? I didn't want to lie to her, but I know she's better off not knowing the truth. She has a very good life without me in it complicating things.
"She's our baby. Grab her and hold her and never let her go."
"Don't be weak Jack."
"You'll only ruin her and you know it."
"Do I?" I sigh.
My eyes fall down to an old bottle of skin tone concealer that Harley left behind a lifetime ago. I twist the lid off and squeeze some out onto my finger. I start to smear it across my white face. A spray on tan would be much better, but there wasn't time for it today. She would be here soon. I need to order something for dinner. It was strange having guests.
My eyes are caught by another picture scrolling across the screen of my laptop. Harley and I on our wedding day. Harley looked so happy. Her skin glowed with life. And she loved me more than I ever deserved. But that was then. Harley left me after I took Lucy away. You know what they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned? Well it's true. For the last two decades my wife has been pursuing me just as I do Batsy. But she's out for blood, my blood, to prove her point. Honestly, I don't want to hurt her, I hate even defending my life. So many times I just wanted to let her end me. So many times I longed to kiss her, just one last time. Not that I've ever tried telling her that. The Joker had far too much pride to say the things he should.
I missed her. I missed her laugh, her voice, her eyes, her perfect body, and her undying devotion and love for me. She's attempted to divorce me many many times. I always refuse to sign the papers. I just couldn't. That was the last shred of her that still belonged to me. I just couldn't let it go. I love my wife. I never stopped. But she did, and she had every right to. I wish she could be here with me as I meet our daughter for the first time in twenty years. She should still be here at my side.
"We're better off without her."
"I miss her too Jack."
"She doesn't love us anymore."
My eyes move over to the security moniters. I see Frost pulling up with Marlene and Lucy. My heart starts pounding. I was so nervous about seeing her. I have no idea if I can even pull this charade off. But I have to, plain and simple.
I look back into a mirror and apply fake brown eyebrows. Then I cover my green hair with a matching wig. I bare my teeth and paint the metal on them white. I button my collar all the way and tie a bowtie over it. I pull on white gloves to cover my white hands. I look like I'm about to tend the opera. I looked overdressed to just be in my home. But it was necessary to cover any traces of who I really am. I had to do this for my daughter. I don't wish to complicate her life.
"That is precisely what you would do."
I watch on the moniter as Lucy stands in my living room, looking around in awe. Her smile reminded me of my own. Perhaps it was my own. I zoom the camera in on her face. My finger traces her cheek on the screen. My beautiful Lucy. My thoughts get interrupted by a tap at my office door. Frost sticks his head in.
"They're here boss. Oh, and you're obviously an agoraphobic who works at home, and a highly recommended geneticist. Your name is Dr.J because your last name is too difficult to pronounce."
"Thank you," I nod, "I'll be down in just a moment."
"Ok boss. I'll go be...friendly."
I take one last look at myself, making sure no white is peeking through. I stand and nervously straighten my clothes. I leave my office and walk down the hall. As I descend the stairs I can hear Lucy's voice.
"Oh my god, is this real Faberge?" She lightly touches it with her finger. "It looks just like that one stolen from the museum. I remember seeing it in the paper."
"It's a fake," I say as my foot hits the floor. "I appreciate the efforts of people who try to carbon copy things."
Yes, I'm lying. It's the stolen one she referred to. Damnit, I have to make sure no other famous priceless relics are laying around. I force my feet to carry me closer to her. My head and heart both pound like a drum in my ears. My stomach flutters like a butterfly. She was so beautiful. Pictures apparently didn't do her justice.
"She's beautiful."
"Hello, I'm Dr.J. you must be Lucy," I say and try to not look so nervous.
"Yes," she smiles at me.
I extend my gloved hand out to her. She hesitated, staring at it, then put her hand in mine. "I'm sorry miss, I'm a bit of a germaphobe."
"That's ok," she grind.
"And this must be your mother?" I swallow hard and approach Marlene. I can't look at her without seeing Harley. It pained me deeply. "Well is there anything you will require before dinner?"
"Oh," Lucy says suddenly, holding her hand up like a kindergartener wanting to be picked by the teacher. I couldn't help a smile. It reminded me so much of Harley. "I need vitamins. Lots of them. Every kind."
I nod, "Of course," I then merely look up at Ace. He turns and leaves the house to go stock up on vitamins. "Johnny will show you to your rooms and explain the house rules to you. If you'll both excuse me, I have a business matter to tend to." I swiftly turn and leave. By the time I'm out of the room I start panting. Hyperventilating actually. So many emotions are swirling inside me. I haven't allowed myself to feel in a very long time. I don't know if I can do this.
