Disclaimers: I do not own Batman. I never will. I also don't own Gotham and everything else associated with that.
A/N: Okay, I'm glad a lot of people enjoyed the last chapter. The last chapter was the confrontation of Anne and Bruce, but mostly Anne did the attacking. Okay, this is a short chapter. But the next one will be longer. Reviews are appreciated! I need to know what you think about Anne! Reviews are loved!
Summary: Bruce Wayne's life wasn't perfect and neither was Anne Vera's, but when they met – perfect seemed possible. Yet perfect isn't easy to have – how long will it take for someone to realize that perfect isn't really perfect? Post DK-about five months after.
"Annie…Oh, Annie… you are so beautiful… Do you know how beautiful you really are? Annie… I love you… You're such a beautiful girl…"
Anne's eyes flew open. She found herself breathing rapidly, but there was no sweat falling from her head this time.
She checked the clock. It was one a.m. Already an hour has passed since the man she hated most went to jail for his crimes.
Don't want to be an American idiot!
She grabbed her phone and flipped it open.
"Vera," she greeted.
"Hey, Anne."
It was Eddie.
"Hey, Eddie." Anne replied; laying her head back down on her pillow.
"One hour…"
Anne nodded. "One hour."
"I've got more information…"
"And I want to hear it."
Eddie sighed and then continued, "Dan Harper. He was released from prison two months ago."
Anne sighed back. She knew that would happen. She didn't want it to happen, but it did.
"He's currently living in Metropolis…" Eddie mentioned.
Anne's eyes widened.
"Metropolis?" she exclaimed.
"I know… I know…" Eddie replied. "He's working as a cashier in Target."
Anne closed her eyes.
She remembered all too clearly on who Dan Harper used to be.
He used to be her stepfather. He used to be a person she trusted. But then everything changed when she turned seven.
That's when everything changed.
"I'm sorry." Eddie said.
Eddie was the only one who knew about it. Anne never told Jim or her gal pals. She couldn't. It was too hard. Besides, she got over it after a lot of soul searching and after a lot of fighting.
"Don't be," she assured. "He's no longer in my life. I'm no longer in his."
Eddie huffed. "He deserves to be in hell for what he did to you and the others."
Anne smiled slightly.
"Maybe…" she answered.
Annie…You feel so good…
Anne squeezed her eyes tighter. She felt her heart beating even more rapidly. A sense of fear, anger, and hate entered her.
"Do you need me to come over?" Eddie asked.
"No!" Anne exclaimed; opening her eyes.
"Anne…"
"No," Anne said softly. "It's fine. I'm alright."
"Are you sure?" Eddie asked; not at all sounding convinced.
Anne got out of her bed. She walked to her mini-fridge. She opened it and took out a can of Pepsi.
"Yeah, Eddie, I'm sure," she replied; opening the can.
She then opened the slider door, and walked out into the balcony.
"Uh…" Eddie said. "Alright, but you call me if you need me. I'll be there in ten if you do."
Anne felt the soft breeze against her and smiled. It gave her strength.
"I know."
With that, she hung up.
A tear fell down her cheek.
She wouldn't call him. She knew that. She became strong. She was the one who called the cops to get Harper arrested. She was the one brave enough.
She took a sip of her soft drink; thinking about the little girl that she used to be.
Before Dan Harper took everything away.
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"Bruce…"
It was Thomas Wayne.
He was wearing what he usually wore for work: a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck.
"Bruce…"
And then his smile turned to a frown.
"Do the means justify the ends? You are becoming what one beheld!"
Bruce woke up in a start.
The same thoughts he had after a woke up from the same dream after making his decision to end Batman and let Harvey Dent take his place were in his mind; ringing.
Have I become what I beheld? Really? And if I have, what am I? A fighter for justice, the salvation of my city, a bulwark, a hero, a champion… Or an egotist who enjoys dominating people weaker than I am? Is my whole crusade against crime just an excuse?
He pushed the covers off of him, and got out of bed. He walked down to where he looked out in the Gotham Skyline after Rachel's death.
He saw down in the same chair. He looked at his watch. It was four a.m. He only got two hours of sleep.
"You told me once that if the day came that I was finished… we'd be together."
"Bruce, don't make me your one hope for a normal life."
"But did you mean it?"
"Yes."
He knew she meant it. She was going to wait for him.
But then you died.
And his dreams of loving, of a normal life just faded.
He gave hope for all that for five months. He just went on being two of his three personas. He went out as Batman protecting his city, and walked around as the playboy Wayne to cover up.
But what happened to Bruce?
Bruce shut down.
Until Anne…
He liked her. He already admitted that to himself already. She was attractive in a cerebral – animalistic and royal kind of way.
There was something about that was strangely familiar. But there was also something there that was totally different from any person he had met.
And if there was one thing he liked about her most were her eyes. She had the most alluring, piercing, and green eyes that he had ever seen. They were hypnotizing and terrifying at that same time.
They were first thing he really noticed about her. It was her emerald eyes that got him taken with her.
But she hates me.
He had planned to buy the piece that brought them their first conversation, but he didn't expect to get such stinging words.
Well, I did give her a lot to work with.
She had called him a freeloader. She accused him of being ignorant of the wrongs in Gotham. She seethed and was sardonic.
He had pointed out about his foundation and his past, but she was quick to use it against him.
But there was a part of her rant that hurt; that hurt a lot, and it hurt even more just to remember it.
"Sadly, when you had to mature when your parents died. You were the only one left. I know what that's like, but you changed again. You matured and then retarded back to a child - a spoiled one; an ignorant one - a child that people admire and say he looks so handsome, but when thought about hard - just another man living life to 'fullest' but only winding up face down - alone."
She didn't know what he's been through. She sure as hell didn't know that he was Batman.
But she did have points…
Yes, she did have points. What she said was harsh, but necessary. She didn't know the whole truth. How could she? Wayne was the playboy. He lived by it.
He knew that people would criticize him. He just never though he'd hear one right in his face by someone that he wanted to get to know.
"Can't sleep, Master Bruce?"
Bruce glanced at his trusted butler and friend Alfred, and nodded.
"Bad dream, sir?" Alfred asked; taking a seat next to Bruce.
"Yes." Bruce replied.
"May I inquire about whom?" Alfred asked; already guessing in his mind that it was probably his parents or Rachel.
Bruce didn't answer. He just bent his head down somberly. He couldn't answer even though he wanted to.
Alfred sadly watched Bruce pull himself into his mind; slipping into a comforting sanctuary that he knew wouldn't last.
He didn't move from his seat but watched his charge with loving and grieving eyes as he remembered himself burning Rachel's letter, and what it said in it.
Dear Bruce,
I need to explain, and I need to be honest and clear. I'm going to marry Harvey Dent. I love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. When I told you that if Gotham no longer needed Batman we could be together, I meant it. But I'm not sure the day will come when you no longer need Batman, and if it does, I will be there, but as your friend. I'm sorry to let you down. If you lose your faith in me, please keep our faith in people.
Love now and always,
Rachel
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Anne was now sitting on the balcony wall; not afraid of how far up she was. She finished her can of Pepsi and threw it into the outside garbage can.
Dan Harper was no longer in her mind. She forced him out of her life and she did the same with her mind.
Something entirely different was weighing on her mind.
It was her words used against Bruce Wayne yesterday which only happened to be hours earlier.
"Simplicity is definitely a part of you."
That sentence immediately cut through her and made her have a reality check.
Had she taken it too far?
She wasn't sure if she crossed any lines, but she knew that she did push the wrong buttons even though it felt right at the time.
She knew from her friends that she had a sharp tongue; that if pushed you could say things that were both true and false and spin them the way she wanted it to be.
Despite the strength of her tongue, she has never lashed at somebody unless for a good reason.
Is it a good reason for what my perception is of Bruce Wayne?
Did she know Bruce Wayne?
No, she didn't.
Then maybe I'll have to find out.
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TBC
End-note: I hope you all enjoyed that. Loyal Friends will be updated this week. I am working on the next chapter. Reviews appreciated and keep me going!