Disclaimer
I do not own Batman Begins. The marvelous people at DC Comics and the movie people do. I own Eleanor Black, her background and everyone associated with her who's not from the movie. I also own the parts of the plot that were added or changed. Nothing serious was done though, don't worry. The fic is rated for language, violence, sexual situations, drinking, blood, and a serious cat fight.

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Superhero's Confidante
Chapter Six: Fire

I was very obviously drunk when Bruce returned.

I managed to notice he was looking wound up about something though, and as he came over to where Lucius and I were standing, I smiled at him. It was probably a frightening gesture; I don't remember everything exactly. I do remember Bruce returning the gesture and then speaking to Lucius. I didn't hear what they were saying, however, as my face was buried in another glass of wine, and there was a constant buzzing in my ears.

"I think you've had quite enough to drink, Eleanor," Bruce said suddenly, pulling the glass away from me without spilling any of the deep purple liquid. Feebly, I flailed for the glass as he said: "And I think you should head upstairs and lay down."

There was a tone of urgency in his voice which forced me to obey. I nodded - or, I think I nodded - and then turned to the grand staircase and slowly navigated my way to the top. Of course, the top turned out to be only about halfway, because I didn't feel I could go any farther. I sat on the wide step and pressed my face into the cold wooden railing. Below me, a loud hum bloomed. People were talking and loudly.

"Shut up..." I mumbled to myself, pressing my hands over my ears.

"Eleanor."

I turned my face upwards to smile sloppily at Alfred and fell against his legs. The older butler helped me to my feet and down to the ballroom once more. Confused, I tried to tell him Bruce had told me to go upstairs, but my words came out only as a mush of syllables. We moved through the crowds, which seemed to be angry at Bruce, who was standing in their midst, and into the study. Alfred pressed the clean keys on the piano and a section of the bookshelf moved back to reveal a door. So that's why the keys weren't dusty...

"I've been asked to give you this-" He paused only long enough to inject me with something that stung my arm- "And to take you home, Eleanor. Along with Ms. Dawes, who has been sedated and is waiting in the cave."

"Cave?"

But Alfred didn't have to answer my question, because the next minute, a blast of chill hair hit me and we were on an elevator, speeding down into a pit; the air grew colder and colder as we went lower. The cave opened up suddenly, and the air was filled with the roar of water. It hurt my head something fierce, and I leaned into Alfred to try and rid myself of the noise.

"It's all right, Eleanor."

"I shouldn't have had all that wine," I said. "It gives my headaches."

Alfred sat me down on a metal chair. "You're going to have to walk by yourself, as I have to carry Ms. Dawes. Will you be all right?"

"As long as I go slow, I should be..." I hiccupped. "Fine."

So, crawling at the speed of snails, Alfred, burdened with Rachel in his arms, led the way back upstairs and down a different hallway to the driveway outside the kitchen. I tumbled into the front seat and closed my eyes as I listened to Alfred maneuver Rachel into the backseat. I had a random urge to smother her with my dress but I contented myself with imagining the scenario. I came to the conclusion that Bruce would kill me though, and I didn't want that.

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"Eleanor! Oh my God, are you all right?"

Naomi's arms pushed the air from my lungs, and for the second time that night, I felt confused. "What are you talking about? And I can get some coffee in me please?"

Liam brought me a mug of steaming coffee as Naomi pulled me onto the couch and continued to hug me tightly. "Wayne Manor burned to the ground, Eleanor. We were worried you were caught and injured... Or killed." He smiled and placed an affectionate hand on my shoulder. "We're just really happy to see you're all right."

I froze. "What? Burned down?" My first thought was Bruce. I jumped to my feet, but my head protested and I sat back down. "It's... gone?"

"They haven't reported any bodies, honey," Naomi cooed.

"That doesn't me he's alive!" Again, I tried to get to my feet, but this time, Liam held me in place. "Let me go! I have to see if he's OK!" My head throbbed and my stomach turned. I could almost feel my face turning green. I doubled over and vomited suddenly. "Ugh... Somebody find out if he's OK..." I flopped back into the corner of the couch, and Naomi through a blanket over me.

"I'll find out, Eleanor." Liam immediately left the room, intent on fulfilling my wishes.

"Just rest, honey. You father will find out and let you know what you wake up. You really should try and sleep, you know."

I could hear the disapproval at my getting drunk, but she was smiling none the less. She was probably thinking about Bruce and me ending up together, happily forever and ever. My subconscious rolled its eyes. I closed my real eyes though, just to oblige Naomi, but found myself pulled into the Sandman's grip. My coffee sat on the table, long forgotten and getting cold.

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Flames leapt up, licking at the ancient wood of the building and trying to seduce it to fall. Pops and cracks could be heard as elsewhere, the wood submitted, and bangs could be heard as it fell to the ground, destroying whatever was in its path. The source of this fire was unknown. No one had seen who had started it, and since Bruce had been so angry before, it was almost if it had sparked from his rage and apparent drunkenness; Bruce would never actually get drunk.

But now, pinned underneath a fallen beam and flirting with unconsciousness, Bruce couldn't do much of anything.

Eleanor was running towards him, but he wasn't getting any closer. Her hands were outstretched and she was screaming something, but Bruce just kept slipping away. Finally giving up, she turned away and found Rachel smirking at her, a look of victory in her brown eyes.

"I win..." she said, voice barely above a whisper.

Rage boiling over, Eleanor leapt at Rachel, her hands wrapping around the smaller woman's neck. Behind, Bruce had risen from the flames and was walking towards them, begging them to stop fighting, but years of pent up hatred had escaped from Eleanor and there was no ebbing the flow. As the life left Rachel's eyes, Bruce turned and walked away from Eleanor. Terrified that he was going to leave her forever, Eleanor sprang to her feet and began to chase after him, leaving the lifeless body of Rachel to burn in the flames which would touch the people alive.

"Bruce! Wait!"

"No Eleanor. Go."

Eleanor fell to her knees and finally the flames engulfed her, but Bruce escaped unscathed, and melted into the night, sprouting wings from his broad shoulders and flew into the night.

"No..."

-

I awoke with a start and fell off the couch. There was a faint light from the moon peeking through the curtains, but the house was silent. Either Liam or Naomi were asleep, or they were in another part of the massive house and couldn't be heard. In any case, this was my chance to get out and find if Bruce was alive and well or not.

Asquickly as I could, I ran upstairs to my room and changed into comfortable jeans and a baggy t-shirt, and then returned to the ground floor where I pulled on Naomi's sneakers and bolted into the night; I was glad my mother and I had the same sized feet, because I would have hated running in the heels I'd been wearing at the ball. I found my way to the far garage and ducked into the enclosure, feeling around for the rack of keys. When I found them I grabbed the first set I could and put them close to my eyes.

The Mustang.

Sweet.

I hopped into the black car, which was where it always was, pressed the garage door opener and peeled out as fast as I could, not even caring about the noise I was making. I shut the garage door and drove towards where Wayne Manor used to be.

I got out of the car and felt intense heat radiating from what must have been red coals.

And found piles of smoking rubble.


Author's Note
Oooh, so Chapter Six is done and I like it a lot better than Chapter Five. I'm kicking myself over that one, but I will NOT rewrite it. I repeat: WILL NOT. I have to ingrain that into my brain so I'll actually finish the fic before I rewrite anything. Guh. So, anyway, if I didn't say this last time: the fic continues beyond the movie, into the space between the two movies. So I have a little more freedom to develop things. I really should have started earlier in the movie than I did, but that's all right. You'll all forgive me right? Please? Now I'm begging. Haha. All right, well, anyways, Chapter Seven should be interesting. Oh, and please excuse the random dream with the POV change. I was just experimenting. Lemme know what you all think, OK? Thanks all of you for the support! It really means a lot to me!