Sending a message

[Suzume]

The laugh that escaped from Suzume was a bit odd. It was higher pitched than usual and sounded slightly unhinged. She liked her laugh. "My apologies! I did not mean to imply that Dent-sama looked old."

She searched his face, trying to gauge whether or not he could be lying. Relatively satisfied he was telling the truth, she continued. "What a shame you are childless. I know there must be many children who would love to have you as their honored father."

She pulled another vial of acid out of a small pocket in her skirt and casually rolled it across her fingers, watching in fascination as the liquid moved within. "This pleases me to hear. I had been unaware of the science behind it as well until I did some research. It's quite fascinating. I may need to add it to my list of usual weapons."

She looked up at him, the vial still moving across her fingers. "Would you like it, Dent-san? It is the same compound that you witnessed the affects of earlier. I thought you may enjoy studying it."

[Olivia Hale]

Olivia shot Harvey a bewildered look as if to say 'who is this kid?' She looked between the pair once more, Suzume's laugh unsettling her immensely.

"Well! I'm going to go make the hot chocolate for Harvey and myself. I'll...be back in a few minutes." With one last wary look at the girl, Olivia disappeared into the back of the store.

[Harvey Dent/Two-Face]

The girl's laugh was almost frightening. Harvey's fingertips lightly stroked Olivia's back, wishing she didn't have to be in the same room with this strange, sadistic child-woman.

He forced a small smile and looked at Olivia as Suzume spoke about children. "Well, maybe one day. We hope so." His arm moved lightly around her waist.

Harvey's eyes fixed on the vial of liquid as it moved across the slender fingers as if in imitation of his own habit of rolling his coin. His eyes were cold as he replied. "I know all I need to know about sulphuric acid. Thank you."

His expression darkened as Olivia left the room, his voice blunt. "Why are you here? Have you been having me followed?"

[Suzume]

((Sorry it's not up to usual Suzi standards. I'm tired and cold but don't want to forget it haha))

Suzume's eyes sparked at his comment about children but she remained silent on the subject. She also didn't reply about the sulphuric acid, choosing instead to slide it back into her pocket.

She rose to her feet at his questions once Olivia left the room. Her expression was intense. "Yes, I was having you followed. Don't expect it to be a trend, though. I just wanted to see what you would do, and I'm glad you did. I came here to inform you how disappointed in you I am."

She took a step forward, body tense with pent up energy and frustration. "I gave to you, as a token of goodwill, a priceless katana that was especially made for you. I wanted us to be good business associates, but you threw it back in my face. While I appreciate the subtle message you sent, you still sent me poisoned fish in return for a very special sword. I do not appreciate having my rare moments of goodwill thrown back in my face, Harvey Dent."

[Harvey Dent/Two-Face]

Harvey regarded her coldly. "Then I apologise for my shortcomings," he said drily.

Harvey stood his ground as Suzume walked towards him. "A katana that was delivered with a threat towards my business - veiled as it may have been. The demure act doesn't work on me, Miss Tiger. You're subtle, and you're smart, and you proved in that video that you've more than got the stomach for this kind of work. I respect that."

His voice dropped in volume but only grew more intense. "But I am warning you, Tora -san. Threaten my business interests, and the reprisals will make what you did to that Triad look like a goodnight kiss. If you want to take on the other bosses, I wish you luck. I have no allegiances to any of them."

His eyes burned with malice. "But cross me, and you will suffer before I kill you. Don't think that your being a child will make a difference to me."

[Suzume]

"The katana was not meant to be a threat!" Suzume exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air in frustration. "You have my word when I say that it was a gift and a token of goodwill. I want nothing more than to have a good relationship with you, Dent. If you can't understand that than you are obviously more stupid than I thought."

Her eyes narrowed into slits, nostrils flaring. "You have no right to threaten me! Just because you do not understand how I work does not mean that you can threaten my life. Not that there is much you could do. You would never be able to lay even a finger on me. The yakuza are stronger than you realize, as am I!"

She turned away from him, breathing heavily. This was not going according to plan. When she spoke again, her voice was weaker, with a hint of sadness. "I never meant for us to fight like this. I came to Gotham knowing that I wanted to work with you, not fight against you."

[Harvey Dent/Two-Face]

Harvey took the coin from his pocket, rapidly spinning it between finger and thumb so she could see both sides. "Let's hope for your sake we never have to test that theory."

There was melancholy in her voice suddenly, and Harvey found himself wondering how someone so young could be so broken... how someone could lose their sanity so quickly.

"I have a business partner already." He solemnly tapped the left side of his forehead. "And he does not take easily to threats to his position." His voice softened slightly. " I meant no disrespect to you. If I offended you, I am sorry. But Two-Face and I work alone."

[Suzume]

Suzume was silent for a long moment before she spun around, eyes cold in their fury. Her youthful face was twisted with anger and frustration. Instead of responding, she pulled the vial of acid back out and threw it onto the stack of his books about Japan.

"That is what I think of you and your business partner. You are no longer welcome in yakuza territory. I will not inform you you when the perimeters of our land changes. Just be warned, you and I are now enemies."

Jaw clenched tightly and eyes rimmed with tears of anger and bitter sadness, Suzume stormed out, slamming the door of the shop behind her.

[Harvey Dent/Two-Face]

Harvey could not stop himself flinching as the acid poured out from the broken vial and hissed as it rapidy sank through the stack of books, smoke rising and a sharp, chemical stench filling the air.

For an instant, he was transported back to that day in the courtroom when half his celebrated, handsome face had literally melted from his bones, and the dark half of himself that he had fought to contain for so long had finally begun to wrestle free. He closed his eyes as the door slammed, and fell silent for a long moment.

"You can come out now, Ollie," he called wearily.

[Olivia Hale]

Olivia had been listening to the exchange with a phone clutched tightly in her hands. She trusted Harvey to take care of himself and knew that calling the cops probably wouldn't help, but it made her feel better. When he called her, she crept out

After taking in the acid eating thriugh the books and the expression on his face, she movrd over to take his hands. "Are you okay? She is absolutely nuts, Harv."

[Harvey Dent/Two-Face]

Harvey squeezed her hands, eyes troubled but face composed. "She is. Between her and Joker, I'm beginning to feel relatively sane."

He glanced at the ruined books. "Sorry. Guess I'm going to have to try Borders instead." He sank into the armchair and stared moodily into the fire, rubbing his forehead. Two-Face was raging, and most of it was unrepeatable.

[Olivia Hale]

Olivia hesitated for a moment and then knelt in front of Harvey, her hands on his knees. "Harv, talk to me. Please let me know that you're all right. You have me worried."

She glanced at the books and squeezed his knees lightly. "Who do I even call to clean this shit up? I don't want to touch it. Police, maybe? But they'll ask questions." She sighed, shaking her head. "Well, what's done is done. I'm just glad that you weren't hurt."

[Harvey Dent/Two-Face]

Harvey shook his head. "It's ok. Really. She seems to have taken an instant dislike to me. Can't think why. Most people find I have a very sweet disposition." His lip curled ironically.

He followed her gaze to the books, or what was left of them. "No, don't touch them. There are some industrial strength protective gloves in the trunk of the car, I'll get my driver to handle it. He's used to cleaning up after me, I should give him a raise."

He coughed as the smell of the destroyed paper rose in the air. "How much do I owe you for all those? "

[Olivia Hale]

Olivia frowned slightly. "Please be careful. I can't explain it but there's just something about her that's...off. I can't even imagine what she could do."

Olivia laughed quietly. "Your poor driver. Please, give him a nice raise, a bonus and a vacation. As much as I love you, even I wouldn't want to take care of you at work. He's a brave man."

She stood up and brushed off her pants. "I'm not sure. I can just explain to my manager what happened and he could take it out of my paycheck. Its not a big deal."

[Harvey Dent/Two-Face]

Harvey thought back to the video Suzume had sent him. "You've got that right. She's more dangerous than I could have thought."

He smiled briefly. "You're a good influence on me, Ollie. I'll make sure he has some time off over Christmas. Speaking of which, you do realise I'm going to spoil you over the holidays, don't you? I don't want to hear any complaints."

He raised his eyebrows. "What, you'll explain that your gangster boss boyfriend has made an enemy of a psychopathic miniature Yakuza and she threw acid over his purchases?" he scrutinised the pile of still-smoking paper. "Will 50 bucks do it? I need to pick up some other stuff too. I promised Joker I'd bring him back a present."