"Stella… Stella, wake up!"
"Hm?" Stella looked up to the worried face her brother. Balancing on a single elbow she unleashed an enormous yawn.
"Are you alright?" Harvey Dent kneeled by his sister's side, "You burst into my house and collapsed! I- I was worried."
"I'm fine," she smiled reassuringly, but it morphed into a frown as the night came back to her.
"What happened?"
"Well I- it's complicated," she didn't want to cause him worry. She was safe, wasn't she? A young woman with long, dark curls emerged from another room, clad in only a thin black robe.
"Who's this?" Rachel's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Well," Harvey stood, brushing blonde strands from his eyes, "I was going to introduce you at the fundraiser tonight, but seeing things as they are, this is my sister, Stella. Stella, Rachel."
Stella nodded in response, and Rachel offered a smile, but pulled her robes more securely around her. Realization lit Stella's face.
"Oh! Do you want me to…?" Stella bit her bottom lip.
"No! No you're fine!" Rachel hurriedly replied. She and Harvey shared a glance before she excused herself, bare feet ringing on the cold marble tiles.
"Well I planned to invite you to a fundraiser tonight, but seeing that you seem a bit… traumatized, maybe that wouldn't be best…?"
"No, no," Stella sat upright, "I'm fine. Fundraiser? Next election's in like, four years, why would you…?"
"Bruce insisted…" he rubbed the back of his head.
"Bruce Wayne? Like, the super billionaire Bruce Wayne?" She was suddenly interested.
"That's the one," Rachel sauntered out, now fully dressed in a business pant suit. She slid onto the black leather couch beside Stella, smiling comfortingly, "You in?"
"Sure," Stella crossed her legs.
"I called mom, she knows you're here. Need a ride?"
Stella was about to refuse, but remembering the last time she walked alone, she reconsidered "That'd be fab."
They drove home in silence, Harvey's sleek sports car purring softly. They pulled into Stella's driveway, and their mother rushed out, arms open. Stella fell into her embrace, her light tears wetting her hair.
"I was so worried," her mother breathed.
"I'm fine," Stella pulled away, "I just- I'm fine. That's what's important," she didn't need her mom flipping out.
"Thank you," their mom turned to Harvey, wiping a stray tear away. He simply nodded, waving goodbye to his sister, "See you tonight?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," she cast a last glance before dashing inside.
Harvey nodded to his mother once, before turning back to his car and slipping into the dark leather seat. He dared not turn around. Ten years ago he had abandoned all family life, choosing the path of justice instead. Rachel's worried gaze swept over him before she dismissed it, deciding to leave him be. They didn't speak on the way back.
-X-
Throwing open her closet with the ferocity of a wild animal, Stella feverishly searched for something to wear. At fifteen years old she hadn't lived much, and a chance to meet the Bruce Wayne was probably the most interesting thing that had ever happened to her, besides being attacked by a crazed man and a lunatic clown.
She hadn't brought much to Gotham, she was only meant to stay a week. She had packed only two dresses, one more casual then the second.
Choosing the more formal gown she owned, she appraised it with cruel eyes. It was knee length and cinched at the waist. Gradient in design it began at the hem with a dark, deep blue, and faded to a much lighter shade as it worked its way up her chest. It had no back, instead donning crisscrossing laces up and down her spine. Sparkling silver buckles sat where the laces begun. Instead of feeling fortunate to own such a garment, her thoughts were on the luck that she had packed her silver heels.
-X-
"Stella, you're going to make us late!" Harvey knocked savagely on the bathroom door, willing his sister to hurry.
"One sec!"
"Stella I-"
He was interrupted by the swinging open of the restroom door. Harvey Dent's sister certainly stood there, but he hardly recognized her.
A form fitting blue dress caressed her figure. Shining high heels made her look taller, more mature. Her hair wasn't straightened as usual, instead falling into the natural, soft waves she chose to hide. The tips brushed against her collar bone.
"Harvey? Yoo-hoo, you there?" Stella peered inquisitively into his eyes.
"Oh! Yeah! Fine. You look nice," He abruptly turned on his heel and headed towards the car. She had grown so much since he had last seen her. It reminded him of how much of her life he had missed.
As they arrived at the Wayne manor, socialites immediately descended on Harvey, wanting a chance with the man of the hour. He mouthed "help me" to Stella seconds before he was lost from view.
Now alone, Stella hugged the corner of the main room, wondering when the infamous Bruce Wayne would arrive.
"Hey!" Rachel strode up to her. She had chosen a floor length green dress that, in Stella's opinion, suited her well, "Can I have a word?"
"Shoot."
"Well, have you heard of Zsasz? Probably not, I'm assuming. You're not from around here. Anyway, his trial's tomorrow and Harvey and I are prosecuting. I was wondering if you wanted to come?"
"Sure, why not?" Stella shrugged, not terribly interested, "How'd you get him?"
"Well, Batman took care of it for us. He was found outside the station this morning," Stella noticed Rachel said the word "Batman" with a bit of humor. Sarcasm maybe? While for that moment it intrigued her, she forgot it almost instantly.
"What'd he do?" Stella wondered aloud, "What are the charges?"
"Butchered people for the mob, but they lost hold of him. Murderer is a fitting title I suppose. He's crazy as any of them, but if I do my job right that won't let him off the hook," Rachel's tone was caught between speaking to a child and an adult, as if she wasn't quite certain how to treat Stella, " Even weirder, he was found with a bullet wound in his left calf. We know Batman doesn't use guns, so it's anyone's guess what happened."
Bullet wound? Left Calf? Murderer? Stella visibly paled.
"Are you alright?" Rachel peered down at the girl.
"Fine, fine. I'm just- I'm going to get a drink," Stella pulled herself from the conversation abruptly, leaving Rachel confused and wondering.
