Merry Christmas Guys! Here's a gift from you to me. :)
Why so serious? HAHA You can only guess who shows up in this chapter.
Now, find out what he gave Scarlett for her birthday.
"It's so cute!"
Putting her hands inside the box, Scarlett lifted out a tiny Labrador. Smiling softly at the puppy, Scarlett looked over to Bruce, who had his right hand behind his back. Cradling the puppy to her chest, Scarlett walked over to Bruce and kissed him on the cheek. Bruce smiled and said, "What are you going to name him?"
"I really like the name Bruiser. It's such a strong name for such a tiny being."
"Well, Bruiser won't be tiny for long," Bruce said.
Scarlett nodded and said, "Thank you so much. I can't believe you got me a puppy."
Taking the puppy from Scarlett, Bruce set Bruiser back down on their bed. Turning back to Scarlett, he took his right hand from behind his back, revealing a small box to Scarlett.
"One more thing."
Bruce walked over to his fiancée and set the box in her hand. She quickly opened it and gasped again. A small silver chain rested inside with two silver wedding bands hanging from the chain.
"Whose are they?"
"Your mother's and mine. I had Alberto find your mother's and I simply looked in my mother's jewelry box to find hers."
Running her fingers over the metal bands, Scarlett smiled and looked up at her fiancée. He was looked at her expectantly.
"Do you like it?"
"I love it," Scarlett said, taking the necklace from the box.
Unclasping the clasp, Scarlett hooked the necklace around her neck until she securely fastened it. Turning back to Bruce, she ran to him and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"Thank you so much for both gifts. I love them."
Resting his chin on Scarlett's head of hair, Bruce rubbed her bare back, sending chills down her spine. As he fingered the lacing of the gown, Scarlett whispered, "We have company. Can't you wait?"
Groaning, Bruce released Scarlett from his embrace and looked down at her flushed face. Grinning, he noted that her eyes had begun to turn blue.
"Shouldn't I be asking you the same question?"
"Me? I'm perfectly fine," Scarlett said, crossing her arms.
"Your eyes have turned blue," Bruce retorted.
Scarlett smiled sheepishly and played with her engagement ring. "Damn. I was hoping you would not notice."
Wrapping his arms protectively around his fiancée's waist, Bruce lowered his head in an attempt to kiss her. Noticing Bruce leaning down, Scarlett tilted her head and closed her eyes waiting for the feel of his lips on hers. It would have been a successful kiss, had a bright shining light not illuminated the star struck couple. Scarlett's eyes snapped open and her head swiveled to the giant window. Bruce's head turned towards the light as well and he scowled. It was the signal for Batman.
Running his hand through his hair, Bruce turned to speak to his fiancée but noticed she was missing. Turning back to the bed, Bruce saw Scarlett holding Bruiser to her chest and fiddling with her necklace. Swallowing down the guilt of leaving her on her birthday night, Bruce walked over to the bed and knelt in front of her. Scarlett refused to meet his eyes for she didn't want him to see that her eyes were welling with tears.
"I have to go."
"I know."
"Can you handle it back down there?"
"Yes," she lied.
"Liar. Just tell them I'm feeling ill," Bruce said.
Scarlett nodded and put Bruiser back on the bed. The puppy tumbled about before resting over in Bruce's spot. Bruce smirked and said, "He already kicked me out of my spot."
Scarlett giggled at her puppy and looked back to her fiancée. Taking his face in her hands, she said, "Be careful. Heaven knows what you have to fight tonight"
Bruce nodded before leaning up and kissing Scarlett on the lips. When he pulled away, she whimpered in protest. Getting to his feet, Bruce began to make his way towards the closet. Scarlett watched him as she got to her feet, wiped her eyes and headed towards the door, back to the party.
"Scarlett," Bruce called out.
Stopping in front of the bedroom door, Scarlett turned and waited.
"I love you."
Scarlett smiled and said, "I know."
She then watched as Bruce opened the closet door and shut it, leaving her sight. Sighing, Scarlett looked around the empty bedroom and to the sleeping puppy on the bed. As she turned to open the door, Scarlett suddenly stopped and looked back towards the windows. Turning away from the door, Scarlett ran over to the windows and pressed herself against the glass. Waiting, she expected the Tumbler to come roaring out but it never did.
"I love you," Scarlett whispered, before walking back to the door.
"There you are. Did you guys have a quickie? Because you look the same," Emily joked.
"Oh my God! EMILY," Alberto said, slapping his girlfriend's arm.
Rachel turned to Scarlett sympathetically and said, "Did he leave?"
Scarlett nodded and said, "He got me a puppy and this necklace."
"A puppy? What kind," Rachel asked.
"Lab."
"I like your necklace," Alberto joked.
Scarlett smirked at her brother and nodded in thanks. Emily came forward and picked the necklace up from Scarlett's chest.
"Whose rings?"
"My mother's and Bruce's."
Emily smiled at the gift that Bruce gave her before taking in Scarlett's appearance. She was pale and her eyes looked red. Emily embraced her friend tightly in a comforting hug. Alberto and Rachel came forward as well.
"I'm sure he's fine. He does this every night," Rachel said reassuringly.
"I just have a bad feeling that something's going to happen," Scarlett said.
"Do you want to leave," Alberto asked.
"Yes. Let me just go inform Alfred and get Bruiser," Scarlett said.
"We'll get the car. Come on you two," Rachel said.
As her three companions walked in the direction of the doors, Scarlett turned and maneuvered her body through the clusters of people and over to where the caterers were coming in and out. Alfred would be inside, no doubt helping in the kitchen. Before she could reach the kitchen door, a woman's scream sounded throughout the ballroom. Looking towards the woman, Scarlett saw that she was looking towards the windows. Tilting her head, Scarlett gasped as the windows suddenly broke with loud blasts and six people dressed in black with their faces painted ambushed the party.
"Oh shit," Scarlett mumbled.
Suddenly it was a free for all. People began to scream and make their way towards the doors. Glasses of drinks crashed onto the floor and the rush of people began to push Scarlett towards the doors. Cursing, she maneuvered her body towards the stairs and once there, she got onto the stairs and craned her neck. Catching Alberto, Emily, and Rachel's eyes, Scarlett motioned for them to get to her. Along with them came Fox, Harvey Dent, and Lieutenant Gordon.
"What in the hell is going on," Harvey said as the six of them reached Scarlett.
"I don't know but come on. I have a place where we'll be safe."
"Safe? From this," Fox said.
No sooner had he spoken when gun fire sounded throughout the ballroom stopping all the people in their tracks and the ballroom became dead silent. A shrill laugh suddenly sounded throughout the ballroom and the people looked around in fright.
"Well well well. Look at this little predicament," a gleeful voice said.
"Oh no," Gordon said.
"What? Who is it," Rachel asked.
Gordon turned to them and said, "The Joker."
Rachel and Harvey exchanged glances before Rachel turned to Scarlett.
"We've been searching for him for a long time. Just our luck that he turns up tonight," Rachel whispered to Scarlett.
The various people dressed in black maneuvered the people around and pushed them all into a tight circle surrounding a man. One of them noticed the seven people standing by the stairs. "Let's go! All of you!"
Alberto wrapped his arm around Emily and slowly the seven of them began to make their way towards the other people. But the man in black had other ideas and pushed them to the front where they came face to face with The Joker. Scarlett cringed at his appearance. Stringy green hair, an almost powder white face, and a clown like grin on his face. He wore a suit of purple that looked as if it had seen better days.
"So, who owns this lovely abode," the Joker said.
Gulping, Scarlett hoped to God no one would point her out. She shrunk back against Fox but a woman behind her suddenly pushed her body forward and bumped Scarlett out in front of the Joker, who smiled at her.
Rounding on the woman, Scarlett opened her mouth to scream at her but she was pulled forward by the Joker. Alberto lunged at the Joker but was stopped by Emily, Rachel and Harvey. Fox and Gordon exchanged glances, for they both knew that this could end badly if the caped crusader didn't show up soon. As Scarlett struggled in the Joker's grasp, he held her tiny wrists still and put one arm around her waist.
"Get your hands off me," Scarlett growled before she rammed her fist into his stomach.
"Ah, a little fight in you. I like that," the Joker said.
He looked towards his men and nodded his head. Two men grabbed Emily and Rachel as three other men held Alberto, Harvey, Gordon and Fox back from doing anything stupid. The girls struggled as they were dragged past Scarlett and towards the doors. The Joker smiled and turned his attention back to Scarlett.
"Cooperate and I'll leave you, these people, your friends, and your pretty little home alone."
In response, Scarlett spit in his face.
The Joker's grin suddenly disappeared and he reached his hand into his jacket and pulled out a knife. He held Scarlett's head in his right hand as the knife in his left pressed to her cheek on the corner of her mouth. Scarlett did not flinch for she knew that he would relish on her weakness.
"Don't be a stupid girl. I don't want to scar up your pretty face."
"Then what do you want?"
The Joker smiled and raked his eyes up and down her figure before he said, "Batman."
"How on earth would I know where he is," Scarlett said.
"Because where there is trouble, he'll come running. I figure if I hold you and these people long enough, he'll come."
Not even a second later, the sound of breaking glass sounded throughout the ballroom and a figure dressed in black landed before the Joker and Scarlett. It was Batman. His cold dark eyes sized up the situation. Upon seeing Scarlett with a knife to her skin, Batman's fury heightened. Her blue green eyes looked to him in panic before the Joker turned her back to him and held the knife to her throat.
"Why does it always happen to me," Scarlett mumbled.
"Leave her alone. Your fight is with me," Batman growled.
"I like her. I think I'll keep her for a while."
The Joker then looked over to Rachel who looked back at him fearfully. He turned back to Batman and said, "You can take her but this one and the redhead remain with me."
He then had one of his men push Rachel into Batman's arms. Once she was there, Batman gently pushed her towards Harvey, who took her from him quickly and hid her behind the men. The Joker began to back up as his men made sure no one would move in on them. Batman watched them carefully. The Joker noticed the predatory look on the man's face.
"We're gonna have a little fun with these two. If you want them, come get them."
The Joker then grabbed Scarlett by the hand and dragged her towards the door as another man picked up Emily and threw her over his shoulder.
"Gentlemen, ladies. I'm sorry to have ruined your lovely party. I'll just be on my way but let me ask you all something. Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?"
The Joker then threw an object to the floor and purple smoke flew into the air and the Joker, his men, and the two women disappeared from everyone's sight. The people all looked around fearfully before Fox began to move most of them towards the doors. Batman unleashed a growl from the back of his throat and looked to Gordon.
"I'm going after him."
"Alone? You're going to need back up," Gordon said, striding forward.
"I work alone."
"I'll go with him," Alberto said.
"I said I work alone. It's too dangerous for you."
"This is my sister and my girlfriend," Alberto whispered, leaning in to Batman. "I'm coming with you, Wayne."
"Fine," Batman said.
He turned to Rachel and said, "Make sure these people get out of here. Make sure there's no panic."
Once down in the cave, Batman led Alberto to the Tumbler and opened up the hatch quickly. As Batman climbed in, Alberto looked inside and said, "Are we going to be able to fit Scarlett and Emily?"
"We should. Now, get in."
Alberto nodded and climbed into the Tumbler. As Batman closed the hatch, Alberto looked out the main front windows. Batman looked over to his companion and said, "Put your seatbelt on."
"Why?"
Batman smiled and a second later, the Tumbler went straight forward and out through the waterfall.
"JESUS WAYNE," Alberto screamed.
Batman paid him no attention and drove down the secret pathway and out onto the open street. Luckily, he caught the Joker's van right away and he followed it down the open street. Inside the van, Scarlett and Emily huddled against the door as the Joker and his men took out guns and opened up windows in the sides to shoot at their follower. Seeing as how they were on the open street, Scarlett began to devise a plan for them to get out.
Craning her head, Scarlett looked out the back windows of the van and saw the Tumbler speeding up behind them. She then looked to Emily and said, "I have an idea."
Inside the Tumbler, Alberto looked over to Batman and said, "Uh, Wayne. I see guns."
A second later, gunfire began to hit the Tumbler and Batman swerved to another lane, where the cars began to screech out of the way.
"Sorry," Batman mumbled.
Looking over to Alberto, Batman said, "I'm going to move the Tumbler beside the van."
Alberto nodded and unbuckled his belt, knowing what Batman's plan was.
Inside the van, Scarlett began to slowly unlock the latch as Emily created a distraction.
"Hey! Hey, you in the black. I'm talking to you."
"What do you want," one of the men said.
"We're going to be saved and you're never going to get him. He's Batman and he'll outsmart you."
"Is that so? Well, as long as we have you both, then we have something to bargain with" the Joker said.
Emily gulped and backed up against the doors, where Scarlett was still fiddling with the latch and had a knife in her hand. Scarlett noticed her friend up against the door and she turned to Emily angrily.
"Give me one more second," she hissed.
"We don't have another second," Emily screamed.
Turning around, Scarlett came face to face with the Joker. He smiled and said, "Boo!"
Scarlett screamed and with the knife, she slashed him across the face on the side of his cheek. Scarlett then backed up, causing the doors to swing open. The Joker screamed in pain and his blood splattered all over Scarlett's exposed chest and down her gown. While he was distracted, Emily quickly grabbed onto the right door and held on tightly. Scarlett grabbed on to the door along side Emily and the door swung out over the fast moving road. Both girls screamed as the road moved below them.
"Great idea, Scarlett," Emily screamed.
"Shut up, Emily," Scarlett yelled back.
Inside the Tumbler, both men looked at each other and Batman immediately switched a latch on the hull, causing the top to open up. As it did, Alberto leaned out the side and screamed, "Scarlett! Emily!"
Both girls turned and Emily turned to Scarlett who nodded. "Pull up beside us," Emily yelled.
"Do it," Alberto yelled to Batman.
He obeyed and the Tumbler slowly swerved over to the doors. Emily took her chance and without a moment's hesitation, grabbed onto Alberto's outstretched hand and he pulled her into the Tumbler. Once in, Alberto set Emily down on his seat and turned back to Scarlett. She scowled at him and Alberto gulped at the sight of his angry sister.
"What about me," Scarlett screamed.
"Hang on," Alberto yelled back.
Alberto looked back to Batman and said, "Let me drive."
Batman looked at him quickly, before he pulled on Alberto's coat and they quickly switched places. As Batman climbed over Emily, she pulled her feet to her chest and said, "You trust him to drive?"
Batman looked down to Emily and cocked a smile before turning his attention to Scarlett. He reached out his hand but no sooner had he done that, bright lights hit his face. He yelled in anger and leaned back into the Tumbler, as Alberto pulled up behind the van. Scarlett's mouth fell open and she narrowed her eyes.
"What the hell," Scarlett yelled.
"Look in front of you," Emily screamed.
She then turned and finally noticed the truck driving straight towards her. Scarlett screamed and maneuvered the door against the van just in time for the truck to pass her and whiz up against her bare back. Scarlett pressed herself to the door and prayed she wouldn't fall. As the truck passed, the door swung back and the Tumbler roared up along side her. Batman leaned out of the Tumbler once again and held out his arm.
"Jump," he yelled.
"Are you nuts," Scarlett screamed.
"I'm not going to let you fall. Don't worry!"
"Oh I'm not worried at all," Scarlett yelled sarcastically.
"Scarlett, grab my hand for God's sake," Batman yelled.
Nodding, Scarlett swung her body towards the Tumbler and before Batman could grab her around the waist, the Joker leaned out the side of the van and grabbed her bare arm. Turning back, Scarlett screamed in frustration and her eyes widened when she saw his hands were all bloody.
"Why won't you die," Scarlett yelled.
The Joker laughed and attempted to pull her back in. Scarlett turned back to Batman's outstretched arm and she quickly wrapped her arm around his neck. Batman turned to Alberto and his brother-in-law nodded before pulling away, taking Scarlett with them. The Joker pulled on Scarlett's hands and managed to pull her engagement ring off.
"Hey! That's mine," she yelled.
The van turned down a side street and the Joker's laugh echoed throughout the night.
As Batman pulled her back into the Tumbler, Emily maneuvered her body and managed to sit in Alberto's lap as Batman sat in the passenger seat with Scarlett curled up in his lap. Alberto hit the latch and the top of the Tumbler closed.
"I'll drive to the Falcone manor. Emily and I will stay the night there and you two can go back home."
Batman nodded and wrapped his arms tighter around Scarlett's cold body. Looking down at her bloody hands, his eyes widened.
"Where's your ring?"
"He took it," Scarlett mumbled.
Wow. Joker's a nutcase. He's really hard to write as well and I hope I'm doing a good job keeping him in character. He plays a crucial role in the last few chapters. You'll see.
Anyway, I hope everyone had a good Christmas. I did and I'm about to stuff my face with more delicious food.
Leave me a review if you have time. Next chapter's already written so possibly up by tomorrow.