DISCLAIMER: I do not own BUFFY/BATMAN. I wish I did. :-) Hope you guys enjoy! Earlier on, there's more story and plot than romance, but as everything develops, things get much deeper. Please review, Thanks!

Intro

The sunlight cascaded in on the hardwood floor of Buffy Summer's hotel room. It'd been a while since she'd been allowed the time to relax, and she was taking full advantage. She propped her head up on a pillow and scooted herself upwards before turning on the television. The London News was reporting on the city of Gotham. Buffy had never been to Gotham herself, but the beasties she fought would sometimes mention the great big bat. Seems legend had them more spooked of him than her, and she fancied him an ally if she was to ever was to meet the bat himself. She sighed out loud before realizing what she was seeing.

There was a man, face painted white, red lipstick or maybe even paint splashed around his lips. His hair was a mess of green and look unwashed and dirty. She eyed his suit of purple and green, and listened to his laughter as he held up a hostage and snapped the man's neck for all to see. The man began to make idle threats at the great Batman before the video went hazy and they cut back to a reporter. Buffy's eyes narrowed on the profile picture above the newscaster.

"The Joker," Buffy mouthed, "too bad he isn't a demon."

Bang. Bang. Bang. Buffy jumped, realizing she was slightly on edge. Xander walked into her room, popped his eye patch at her before sitting down.

"All this news about the States getting you riled up," he asked quizzically.

"I dunno. It's just always bothered me to see humans taking human lives. I can't fight people. Well, I can, I have…"

"You can't go off chasing every serial killer that pops up, or psychopath, or random robber. You wouldn't be around to fight the real bad guys."

"Xander, this guy is just as bad as some of the demons I've fought. And he keeps slipping the 'Great Batman' up," she replied adding air quotations, "if he can't catch him, maybe I should. This guy's in it for the big haul. He wants to destroy a city. He's just as bad as Glory."

"Well, see, that I disagree with, Glory kind of wanted to destroy the whole world. And the whole being that is you."

"A fun time game I'd like to play with this 'joker'. Still, I can't help but feel like I've met him before. There's a certain familiarity to him."

"Maybe you feel that way because you really want him to be a demon."

"And Batman," Buffy continued ignoring Xander, "the whole city has basically turned against him. He's the only one capable of catching this creep, and the people he is trying to save are turning against him. I can, sad to say, relate…"

Xander focused his one eye away from Buffy for a moment, remembering all too well their turn on Buffy not too long ago. She touched his chin gently.

"Anyways, I always want them to be demons… and usually, they are," she retorted before grabbing her overcoat, "looks like rest and relaxation will have to wait, again."

Chapter One

That afternoon Buffy spent packing her luggage for an impromptu trip to Gotham City. Giles had given her the "be careful" speech a thousand times, and the "you really don't have to do this" speech about half of that. Only after all the speeches did he agree to get some of his contacts to secure her a place to stay, a feasible cover, and her beloved trunk of weapons that Angel had took over watch of when they flew to London. She'd put Faith in charge of the girls under her command, and instructed Willow Dawn was to behave or have no free time. Xander had volunteered to come with Buffy, but she'd denied him.

"I'll only be gone a few weeks. You guys can manage. I'm doing strictly infiltration work, putting this guy in jail, and them I'm back. Simple. Don't worry. And Stop furring your eyebrow at me!"

"So, what are you going to do?"

"Rough him up and put him in jail. Period. What Batman can't seem to do. And since this guy is evidently in between our leagues of criminals, his being hoodlums, mine being crazed demons, I think I've got authority," she joked grabbing her stuff and loading it into her cab.

"Let us know what's going on."

"I'm sure you'll see it on the news soon enough. I have to do this. I don't know why. I'm drawn to this mess unusually strong, and my slayer senses are tingly. I promise I'll be careful. And remember, he's not a demon. He's just a man," she stated. Xander took a hollow stance before replying.

"The last time you fought a man, he shot you. Understand my concern. I can't loose you," he answered. Buffy looked up calmly, giving Xander a kiss on the cheek before heading off to the airport. She knew his concern was well placed, and there was no more need for words.

THE NEXT DAY

Buffy arrived exhausted in Gotham. She went straight to "her" apartment, and gazed around in wonder. There was a ton of stuff she knew should be in a museum and certainly not in an apartment. She smirked at the thought of Giles's friends being just as Giles-like as him. There was a small packet of information on her alias on the desk, but just as she pulled it all out to read it, she fell asleep. She'd really hoped to get right to work, but it was a set back she didn't mind. The next night, she was out on the town. Her name was Marissa Lancaster, and she was there visiting family un-expectantly who evidently owned a well-established art facility downstairs from her apartment. The packet had also stated they were regrettably out of town for the next two months. "Tell everyone you should have known a surprise visit would never work with Lancasters," the note had said. She really wished she could have meet these people, they seemed interesting. She decided to dress casual, black jeans, black shirt, hair pinned up. She didn't want to draw any attention from anyone. She asked a store clerk where the rougher parts of the city were, only to be laughed and told all over.

"Thanks," she replied, "you've been of great help."

"I ain't kiddin' little miss. All over. That Bat's done nothing for us down here. Got his head up in the sky," the short, stubby man argued frankly. Buffy nodded slightly before taking her leave. There was a bar across the street, and she figured it looked as good a place as any to start her decent into crime in Gotham. She walked in, trying to not look as if she was searching everyone in the room. She failed, but no one took any notice of her surveillance, only of her small and graceful stature. A few men whistled when she walked by, sizing her up. Buffy tried hard not to roll her eyes out of her head, and took a sit at the bar next to a man in a large overcoat. The bartender smiled nicely at her and asked in a raspy voice, "What'll be miss?" She thought for a moment, before the man next to her answered him for her.

"Make it a Tom Collins. She looks like a Tom Collins sort of girl to me," the man said turning to face her. He was stout, a bit worse for wear, and he extended his hand towards her. "Name's Barley. It's been a hell of a night. Least I can do is finish it off by buying a pretty lady a drink," he continued as Buffy shook his hand firmly. He raised it to his dry lips and kissed hers gently. Buffy winced, but didn't let it show.

"Thank you. If you don't mind the intrusion, what's been 'a hell of a night'," she said as innocently as she could.

"Oh, me and my boys have a had a wild ride, I'll just put it that way. Anymore in detail, and well, you might have one too," he said with a grin. Buffy made a mental note that this man must be followed, and began to idly sip her drink. He said a few more words and then got up to leave. She waited a few more minutes, then headed out herself, eyeing him as he hung up the payphone outside and started walking north. She followed him, a great distance away until they came upon an alley way. She felt uneasy about this, and Giles words of "never let yourself get cornered in" came back into mind. She giggled at all the times she hadn't remembered that over the years, and held her position where she was. She could hear chatter down the alley, and could only hear about every other word from where she was standing.

"The boss 'as got us ….. 8'clock sharp. ……across street." She tried to hear more, but as she heard their footsteps quickly left the scene. She figured that'd be it for the night. A successful adventure her first night out, worthy of a pat on the back.