My name is Kristina. I hate it. It sounds too…feminine. So as soon as I could talk, I made everybody call me Kris. I like that a lot better.
Now if there's one thing to know about me, it's that I am a 26-year-old geek. Seriously, I watch every comic book hero movie and/or series ever made, I've attended more than one Comic-Con, and sometimes I cosplay in the privacy of my apartment for fun. The thing I love to watch most, though, is the Dark Knight Trilogy. Not only is it directed by one of my favorite directors, Christopher Nolan, but a lot of the cast members are extremely attractive. I've watched those films more times than I can count. It's kind of sad actually. One time in college, they hosted a few stage combat workshops and one of them was adapting a fight from The Dark Knight Rises for the stage. Obviously, I signed up for it in a heartbeat. We learned part of the fight where Bane breaks Bruce's back. I learned Batman's part while my partner played Bane. Despite the fact that I couldn't lift my arms or legs for two days afterward, it had been one of the highlights of my college years. To be able to know the actual choreography for one of Batman's fights pretty much made my life right there.
I'm still unmarried. In fact, I've only ever had one boyfriend before and that was just a little high school relationship that didn't really mean anything as I look back on it. I mean, sure I've had a couple crushes here and there, but nothing really serious. It's partially my own fault though. I spend a lot of time cooped up in my apartment watching Netflix and reading fanfiction. Yes, I'm 26 years old and I still read fanfiction. Admittedly, I am a bit anti-social. I've always been kind of shy. Maybe not once I'm close with someone, but I'm pretty quiet when I'm first introduced.
Going back to the Dark Knight Trilogy thing, I'll admit that I have a huge crush on Bruce Wayne. Does the fact that he's played by Christian Bale have to do with anything? Maybe. In fact, I'm pretty sure that may be the whole reason I've watched those movies so many times. I could probably quote the entire thing if I wanted to. I'm also a 26-year-old fangirl…
It was a day like any other when I got into my little used car to drive to work. I much rather would've preferred to spend the whole day in the quiet of my apartment on the sofa watching Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises…for the umpteenth time.
When I stopped at a stoplight, I reached over for my purse in the passenger seat. While my hand was on it, the light turned green, so I gently let my foot off the pedal, still trying to grab my purse. Then the worst thing imaginable happened. A car on the other side of the intersection ran the light and sped right for me. Before I could do anything, the car collided with mine and everything went black.
My eyes popped open and I stumbled forward a bit as I found myself on a sidewalk. What just happened…? The last thing I remembered was the car hitting me. So how on earth did I get here on a sidewalk I've never seen before?
I looked around me and I had to say that everything looked oddly familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. And that's when I saw it. A huge tower with the words "Wayne Enterprises" on it. I was in Gotham City.
At that thought, I began to hyperventilate. How the heck did I get here? Was I in the movie? Which one? How am I supposed to get back? If I am in the movie, any of them, will I die? Can I die?
My breathing came in very short gasps as I leaned onto the nearest building for support. I sank down against it, trying to calm my racing heart, but my efforts proved useless.
"Are you alright, ma'am?" a voice next to me said. I looked over to see none other than a man who resembled Michael Caine.
"You're…you're…" I stuttered.
"I'm Bruce Wayne's former butler, Alfred, yes," he answered.
"Former?"
"I'm afraid Master Wayne is…well, gone."
Okay, so I was either in Batman Begins when Bruce was on his little seven-year hiatus or I was in the Dark Knight Rises when Bruce was trapped in the pit.
"How…how long?"
"Oh, around seven years now."
So I was in Batman Begins. Well, at least I roughly knew where I was in the trilogy. So, was I going to stay for the whole freaking trilogy or just until Batman Begins ended? This was all really confusing.
My breathing still hadn't calmed down and I could tell Alfred was really worried about me. "If I may, Miss…"
"Jacobson. Kristina Jacobson."
"Miss Jacobson, it appears that you are in shock. Has something happened?"
"You…you wouldn't believe me if I told you…"
"Well, in that case, I must insist that you return with me. I can give you some tea and food to try to help you relax."
Still too stunned to protest, I allowed Alfred to gently help me up and get me into his car. We drove for a while before he stopped in front of a place I had only dreamed of seeing in real life. Bruce Wayne's manor. I was majorly fangirling inside, but I was also close to having a heart attack, still beyond freaked that I had somehow landed inside Batman Begins.
Alfred carefully led me inside and sat me down in the kitchen where he proceeded to quickly make a cup of tea for me. I have to admit that I am not a huge tea person, and when I do drink it, I put so much honey in it that it is virtually disgusting to the rest of the world. But when I took a sip of Alfred's tea, my taste buds danced for joy. I had never tasted anything so sweet and perfect in my entire life. I could feel my heart rate slowly begin to decline to its normal level.
"Better?" Alfred asked me.
"Much, thank you," I responded as I took another sip.
"May I ask where you live? I can drive you home when you have calmed down some more."
I let out a dry laugh. "Actually, I don't have anywhere to stay. I…just got here today and I guess I need to find a hotel to stay in until I can find a better place."
"You will do no such thing. This house has been quite lonely with no one but the old butler to take care of it, and I'm sure that if Master Wayne were here, he would insist on you staying here for the time being."
"I don't want to impose." Psh, that was a total lie. I wanted to impose so much that I couldn't think straight.
"Nonsense, there is more than enough room. Have you any belongings?"
I shook my head. There was no doubt that Alfred probably thought I was very, very strange, but he would just have to get over it. There was nothing I could do about it.
"After you've finished your tea, I can show you the guest room."
We made casual conversation, and I was surprised to find Alfred so trusting. I mean, I was a woman he had found having a panic attack on the side of the street, only a few bills and some ID and meaningless items in my purse that somehow managed to come with me, and no other belongings. Yet he was still offering me a place to stay here at Wayne Manor. Not that I was complaining.
After I had visibly calmed down enough, finally grasping my situation, Alfred took me up to the guest room where I could stay. It was incredibly spacious and absolutely beautiful. I thanked him for letting me stay and he left me to get settled in as much as I could. Later on, he showed me a closet full of clothes, most of which would fit me. I decided it was best not to ask why Bruce had a closet full of women's clothes…
Alfred proved to be amazing company. We talked for a really long time over the course of the next couple of days and I managed to find out more about Bruce that I had never known before, despite the fact I've seen these movies so many times. I was curious to know how long I had before Bruce came back because I was going out of my mind with anticipation.
My question was answered not long after I awoke the next day.
"Miss Jacobson," Alfred said as I came down for breakfast. "I've just received a call. Master Wayne is…alive."
I feigned surprise. "Bruce isn't dead? But he's been gone for seven years."
"And I'm sure he'll have a lovely explanation for it. I'm going to go pick him up now. We should be back by this evening. You may take anything you like in the kitchen if you get hungry."
"Okay, I'll see you then."
As soon as I was sure he was gone, I ran all around the Manor squealing in delight like the fangirl I was. I was about to meet Bruce Wayne. THE Bruce Wayne. Bruce freaking Wayne!
I had to give myself a little pep talk to calm me down. If I acted like this around him, he was sure to get freaked out and might even kick me out of his house. That would not be good, especially since there was nowhere for me to go.
Butterflies swarmed in my stomach for the next few hours as it drew closer and closer to Alfred's return.
When I heard the door open, I took a couple deep breaths, gave myself another little pep talk, then walked to the door. There stood a man who looked strikingly similar to Christian Bale. That just made me all the more nervous. He was way, way more attractive in person.
"Oh, you must be Kristina Jacobson," he said in a smooth, rich voice.
I found my own voice catching in my throat and really hoped I didn't look as stupid as I felt. "Yeah, that's me. But please, I beg of you, call me Kris."
"Nice to meet you, Kris. I'm Bruce Wayne." He shook my hand and I thought I was going to explode. I just touched the Bruce Wayne. Oh, I could only imagine how many girls would kill to be in my shoes. "Alfred told me that you've been staying here for a few days."
"Yes, but that's only because it was just him living here. Now that you're back, I guess I should go find somewhere else to stay. You probably want me out of your hair."
Your gorgeous, flawless, beautiful hair.
"Of course not. You can stay as long as you need to. It's a big house. In fact, if you wanted, you could probably walk around and not see me for a day or two. I really don't mind."
I prayed the blush wasn't clear on my face. "Thank you so much. It's nice to see that you are just like Alfred described you."
He gave me one of his gorgeous, trademark smiles that made me go weak at the knees, and I knew he noticed. I chose that moment to go back the guest room. Once there, I just fell on the floor and laid there for a couple seconds, the fangirl inside of me not allowing me to stand any longer.
