Disclaimer: I do not own Batman, or any of the characters from the movie/comics. I only own the original characters. Nor do I own the book that is mentioned.

Now a lot of you might notice this book and I'd just like to say yes, it's a real book. No, that's not the person who wrote it. I sort've just put it in their to amuse myself and other people who can appreciate two Christian Bale references in one story (1 being obviously this is his portrayal of Batman). If you have anymore questions about the book titles I'm going to be using, I suggest you look at my

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"BANG"

Batman listened intently, trying to figure out which direction the sound came from.

"Help! HELP!"

He swooped down from the fire escape he had been perched on into the alley and went running towards the street. It was deserted other than a few lone parked cars scattered around the street. He turned his attention to the figures that were in front of him, but he had the advantage, for he was still in the shadows of the alley.

Upon closer inspection, he could make out two largely built men, and one smaller man. The smaller man's head was bleeding, and one of the larger men was holding a crowbar.

That made the BANG. He must've really hit him hard

Batman looked up and saw another fire escape at the building nearest to him. Silently, he shot up his grappling hook and attached it to his belt. As he flew through the air and gracefully made his landing, he never took his eyes off the scene. His intuition told him that this was no ordinary mugging, and while the man obviously needed medical attention, he would try and get a little information first.

"You better shut yo' mouth man" said one of the large men

"Yeah, don't want us callin' the boss" said the other with a sick grin

"I swear--I... don't... know... any, th-thing"

The man was fading fast. Batman knew it was in his best interests to finally make his scene.

"Aight, I see how it is, you ain't gonna cooperate with us. Looks like we're gonna haft- AHHHHHHH"

Batman swooped down simultaneously kicking one of the men unconscious and grabbing the other up with him.

"What are you doing!" He screamed in his low, gravelly voice

The man who had previously looked menacing, shook with fear at the sight of the caped vigilante.

"We was, we was, gettin' some info for the boss" the man gulped

"Who do you work for!"

"He said, never, never to tell" the man spat out

Batman released him, knowing that he was not high enough up to kill the man from dropping him. Batman grabbed him by his collar and hoisted him up.

"I said, who do you work for!"

"It's--"

"BANG!"

Batman looked as the man's eyes rolled to the back of his head. His chest was bleeding, he'd been shot. Most likely by someone else who worked for "the boss". Batman knew that it would be impossible to find the shooter without getting the injured victim help. So he rushed over the the small man who was trying hard to keep his eyes open.

"Stay with me" Batman said as he placed a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder. It was all the man could do to nod. Batman took his phone out and dialed Gordon's number, and told him where to go, and to send an ambulance.

"Here batty boy!"

Batman winced as clutched his back. The other large man had woken up and smacked him with the crowbar.

"Big mistake" said Batman

The man smirked, completely unaware of his adversary's capabilities.

Batman twisted the man's arm around and dislocated it. The man yelped as Batman kicked out his feet and threw him up against the nearest wall. He threw a few hard punches, enough to keep him down until the cops arrived.

Sirens. Batman had to make a run for it, he was still being pursued by the police after nearly a year. He quickly made his way up a building and ran across the rooftops until he had come to where the tumbler was parked. He swooped down and got in the car. He turned stealth mode on and tried to drive as fast as he could while still being discreet.

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Sunlight flooded the room and Bruce groaned.

"Morning sir" chirped Alfred, "or rather, afternoon"

"Mmmm" Bruce moaned discontentedly, "What time is it"

"Just around noon sir, I thought I'd wake you a little early" Alfred said sarcastically in his strong British accent.

"Did I miss any appointments?" Bruce said, truly sounding sorry

"No sir, it's actually Saturday, though I know you aren't one for keeping track of time"

Bruce sighed and stood up. He grabbed the protein shake Alfred had put on his tray and nodded a "thank you" to the old butler.

"Sir, that is a rather nasty bruise on your back, would you like some ice"

"No, I'm fine"

"Just to remind you sir, Bruc-"

"Yes Alfred, I know, I have limits, but I promise, I'm fine"

"Right then, I'll just be leaving you"

Alfred turned to walk out but then turned around, as if forgetting something.

"Ah, and sir, you may want to check the newspaper, it seems as if Batman had made an appearance again"

Bruce looked at the paper's headline, "The Bat is Back in Town". Underneath was an older picture of himself as Batman, he was an expert at avoiding press. It basically explained that the police had received a call from Batman, and that even though it appeared he was doing good (that hit Bruce hard, he wanted people to know he was doing good), he was still wanted by the police for the murders of Harvey Dent....

Bruce had to stop reading. He knew at the time it had been the right thing to do, but he almost regretted taking the blame for those murders. Hopefully people knew that Batman would never kill, but it was hard to have faith in a city that believed even the most absurd tabloid stories.

He walked into the bathroom and took a shower. His mind couldn't stop thinking about his reputation as Batman. It was hard enough to have the reputation of "playboy" as himself, but Batman was supposed to be his way of showing people the real him, even if they didn't know who was actually behind the mask.

After showering Bruce walked right past his closet filled with lavish suits and to his tiny dresser. He rarely had opportunities to go without wearing a suit, and he was happy that today was one of them. Settling on a favorite pair of jeans and a black T-shirt, he grinned as he passed himself in the mirror.

If only people knew that I would dress like this everyday if I could

He walked down stairs to the first floor of the penthouse and went straight to the huge wall of books in the living room. Most people thought the books were for show, it would surprise people to know that Bruce had actually read every single one of those books at least once.

"I can just see the headlines now sir, 'Playboy Bruce Wayne Spends Free Time Not With Supermodels, But Reading' ".

Bruce looked over at his old companion and laughed. It was true, it was not what most people would expect to find him doing if they were to come to his house. Even as a child Bruce had never really been one for socializing, and it worsened after his parents death, but you do anything long enough, and you become good at it.

He finally chose one of his favorite books, American Psycho by Jewel Millman. It was actually a pretty graphic book--sex and violence wise, but the wit behind it all made him love it. Plus, it was pretty damn funny in some spots.

After sitting on the chair of his balcony, he became absorbed in the book and didn't have a sense of time, but before he knew it, it was nearly 8:00, and he had "business" to attend to.

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Batman had decided to go to the narrows that night because it was more likely he'd find some information on "the boss" there then in the main part of town. Also, crime had been slow since the mob had disbanded and the Joker had put in a padded cell, so he was also more likely to find action here.

He heard an ear piercing scream and it struck a cord within him. Perhaps he was being sexist, but it always made him feel worse when he knew a woman's life was on the line.

He hadn't brought the tumbler that night, he didn't know his way around the narrows as much, so it'd be easier to get away from a run in with the police on foot--or rather, on rooftop. Quickly making his way towards the sound, a male shape being pressed against a female one came into view.

"Please, please let me go!" cried the woman.

"Not before I gets a little bit a pleasure first" said the man disturbingly.

This was one crime that Batman really hated, violating someone like that--man or woman--was just sick. He didn't hesitate.

"Not tonight" said Batman before grabbing the man by the collar and tying him up by a trash-can. Not before getting a few good punches in first though.

"Are you OK miss?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine"

The girl was dressed in a high waisted A-line skirt that hit at about mid thigh, she had a white blouse tucked into it, with black tights and 2 inch oxford heels. She looked very fashion forward--and way too into herself. Her hair was perfectly wavy and her makeup was exact. Sure she was beautiful, but he lived in a world of beautiful people, she wasn't anything special to him.

"What's a girl like you doing in these parts anyway?"

She studied him for a minute, and shook her head.

"You know, with all of the bad press you've been getting lately, you're awfully fast to judge a person"

He was at a loss, no one had ever said anything like that to him before.

"Thank you, but I better be on my way now"

Batman watched as the girl walked away from him. He figured she was just a little out of it--being that she almost got raped.

He called police, and told them where to pick up the man and what he'd been trying to do.

He patrolled for a few more hours, and was surprised when he found that crime was even slow in this part of town.

Maybe the day is coming when Gotham doesn't need Batman anymore.

This thought actually had him on the verge of tears, it brought him back to Rachel, and how she was going to wait for him (A/N: Though if you've seen the Dark Knight, you know this isn't how it actually was).

I need to stop thinking like this. Rachel will always be in my heart, but she's gone now, and I need to accept it.

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So what do you all think so far? I realize that it was a little boring, but I really needed this chapter to set everything up.