Valentine’s Day

Batman: The Long Halloween #5

April 1997

February 14 finds Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent on the doorstep of Wayne Manor. They want to speak to Bruce about the connection they have recently discovered between the Waynes and the Falcones, and even though Bruce is not at home Alfred lets them in. When Harvey tactlessly presses Alfred for information about Bruce's father, Alfred warns the two that, it being Valentine's Day, Bruce might be out for quite some time and perhaps they might spend their time with their wives instead.

Meanwhile Batman has confronted Carmine at Alberto's grave, asking the Roman if his son's life was an equal trade-off for his life of crime. Carmine is ready to shoot Batman for his insults, when Catwoman appears and yanks the gun from his hand with her whip. Batman chases Catwoman down to find out why she interfered and to warn her to stop getting involved.

Later Bruce Wayne meets Selina Kyle at the opera, where they are approached by a female peddler trying to sell Bruce a rose. Selina pays, and the peddler rakes the thorn against Bruce's finger, drawing blood. The peddler slyly smiles as she walks away, her thin green lips a sharp contrast to her pale white cheeks.

At Maroni's restaurant, Vernon and Sal are discussing what Vernon has learned as a plant in the DA's office. Sal hands a stack of money to Vernon, who then reveals that Maroni has been targeted as the key to bringing down the entire Falcone organization. Outside several of Maroni's guards, hired to keep the restaurant secure after the Joker's attack on Christmas, are warming up in a car when Holiday arrives, opening fire on the guards and then blowing up the car. Maroni rushes outside to find Holiday's clue, a heart-shaped box of candy, and vows revenge.

Jim Gordon comes home and gives his wife the same box of candy, kissing her as she rocks Jim Jr. to sleep. Harvey in turn comes home to join Gilda in bed. And Bruce returns to Wayne Manor, sniffing the rose he earlier received and too preoccupied to answer Alfred's questions about his evening. Bruce heads straight out to the veranda, as if sleepwalking, to meet there the peddler who gave him the rose: Poison Ivy.