A/n this is the longest chapter thus far, enjoy some more sassy Dawn.

POV switches,

V-Violet

J-Joker

B-Batman

D-Dawn

F-Frost

exc. exc.

I don't own any of the DC characters. Or Apple. Or Hamilton. Duh.

V

We stepped in the elevator half an hour later. It was by now, 3PM, and the plan was for me to head back to Dawns apartment. J had work to do today and tonight, so my plan was to try and get Dawn to let him have dinner there tomorrow. I wanted Dawn to see that he wasn't a danger to any of us, I wanted to see what life in Gotham would be like, my two lives (one so new I nearly didn't call it a life, more like an elongated dream) meshing together to create a new one.

J took my hand, and with his other hand, hit a button on the elevator. In my pocket was the new phone J bought me, and I was thinking, for the hundredth time, how glad I was that I'd forgotten my wallet at Dawns. I was so excited about going out with J, that I'd left it lying on the counter when I'd switched purses. The new phone he'd bought me was heavy in my back pocket. I had left the silky nighty in J's loft, along with the rabbit slippers.

I was hopeful that I'd be back.

The elevator descended quickly, and I held J's hand on the way down, leaning into his side. I was ready to see Dawn again, but being with him made me feel so much more than I'd ever felt in my life. To be totally honest, my life, while comfortable, was an unending stream of boredom. There was always a schedule, always a day to day monotony. I was grateful for the safety it provided, but being with J was so much more exciting. Despite the fact that I'd spent part of my night at the bottom of Gotham bay, I couldn't help but feel it was what life was meant to be.

The elevator doors glided open and revealed a small lounge area, much like the one outside J's loft. There was a black double door to our right, which J moved toward. He knocked sharply three times. There was a scuffle from the other side, and the door opened. Frost stood there, his jacket, and tie removed. The top three buttons on his white shirt where undone, revealing a chest with a light dusting of hair, his cuffs where also unbuttoned, and he looked at ease. I peeked around him, and realized that this must be his loft. There was a long semi-circular brown leather couch, which his jacket and tie where thrown over the back of. There was a small dining room table with the remnants of a lunch dish and two glasses of wine laid out. In the kitchen, which I could just see the edge of, was a girl, she was probably just a few years older than me, and very pretty. She obviously had some Samoan or Tongan blood in her. I recognized the distinctive features from the large population of Tongans in my old high school. Her hair was to her elbows, and pitch black, with a lovely wave that most would mistake for frizz, her face was lovely, and soft, very round, with full cheeks and a flat nose. On her nose was perched a pair of glasses that accentuated the lovely uplift at the corner of her almond shaped eyes. Her eyes where a dark brown, almost the same black as her hair, and very soulful, and her lips where a classic heart shape, and full, a dark brick pink color, nearly red. Her body was lovely, and the same strong shape I'd come to associate with islanders. Her hips where wide, her thighs strong, she was taller than me, probably about 5'8" or 5'9", her waist pinched in slightly, and her breasts where just above average sized, perhaps a C or small D cup, her shoulders broad, her upper arms where soft, not flabby, but very soft. She was all together beautiful, and had a very athletic body, her only marring was the bruises covering her lovely face, the splint on her hand, and cast in casing her left foot.

She limped over to Frost, her pink sun dress swooshing as she walked, I saw small cuts on her lower thighs, along with large, ugly bruises. One of her eyes had the marks of a healing bruise around it, and the left side of her face was slightly swollen. Her lovely lip was split open, but seemed to be healing cleanly. I wondered for a moment if Frost did this, but then remembered J telling me about "Emelina" during our brunch. This must be her. She stepped up beside Frost, and I had to admit, while it wasn't a very likely looking couple, they looked perfect together.

I suppose, because of Frosts monotone, disciplined nature, that I assumed him to be with someone the opposite. He was tall and broad, and since his job was protecting, I wrongly assumed that was the kind of girl he'd be with. Someone he needed to protect, and take care of. I was obviously wrong. This girl had a hard look, despite the smile she held. She looked as though she had a sharp mind, and could take you down in an instant. She was a strong, statuesque woman.

"Boss?" said Frost, standing tall, but I was confused to see something like fear in his eyes.

"Mister J." said Emelina, now standing beside Frost, her hand and his linked.

"Frost, Emelina." J said in greeting, nodding his head. Frost moved minutely in front of Emelina, as if ready to shield her. I looked at J, confused. He cocked a brow at Frost and Emelina.

"I need to take Vi home, Mr. Frost." Said J, brow still raised. Frost swallowed, but nodded. He turned to Emelina, and kissed her cheek, before releasing her hand and putting on his jacket suit. He grabbed a pair of keys off the wall beside the door, and motioned to the elevator, stepping out of his loft. He looked back at Emelina, and kissed her soundly once more, before closing the loft door with a soft click.

F

I felt anxiety running through me. The ride down was nearly silent, J and Violet where behind me, muttering and laughing to themselves. I was worried about what J would say or do once we where alone. I remembered vividly the last guy who'd gotten into a relationship with one of his, co-workers seemed to normal a word, collage I suppose would be better. His name was Nathan, and he'd gotten into a relationship with one of J's dancers, Anya, J only found out because Anya had begun missing work, and Nathan had been turning up late. I remember we were supposed to leave and visit the drug dealer who ran the lower south side, he had shorted us nearly 12K two weeks in a row. J was understandably frustrated with this, considering he not only provided protection for the man, but also supplied his drugs. We were supposed to leave at noon, as he left his house around three and went to the local park to meet with his lackeys most days. The plan was to get into his apartment, figure out why he wasn't paying, and scare him into cooperation, or kill him. We were all supposed to meet at the club by 11 AM, Nathan didn't show up till 1:30AM. The whole plan was blown, we didn't have time to make it to the man's apartment, and by the time we got another opportunity to get at the guy, he had skipped town without telling anyone.

J had me follow him around and figure out why he was late all the time, and I reported to him that he was seeing Anya. J got angry, furious really, that Nathan was fucking up his job for some girl. He confronted Nathan, who denied the whole thing. This was obviously a lie.

Nathan was still alive, and Anya still worked for J, but Nathan had lost his tongue that day. He now worked as an accountant for J's club, keeping the books, making sure the records where tax appropriate, so as to not arouse unnecessary suspicion from the law.

Finally the elevator dinged open; I led the way to a black SUV, and respectfully opened the door for both J and Violet. Violet climbed in, and J clapped me on the shoulder before sliding in after her.

We pulled up outside the apartment building of Violets friend. "I'll be back in a minute" J said as he got out of the car. He made his way over to Violets side, and opened her door, holding out his hand for her. I recognized the look on his face; it was the same look I got when I looked at Em. I wondered how this girl had wrapped J, a cold blooded murderer, around her finger so fast.

As I watched them enter the building, I thought about the last girl J had fallen for. He had originally meant to just use her. She was new, and vulnerable, and J had seen the madness underneath her fancy degrees. Dr. Harleen Quinzel. He'd made her snap in less than a month. J had gotten out of Arkham, with the lovely little blonde hair blue eyed doctor on his arm. Their relationship had been bloody, and wild. J was more fearless, more violent, and merciless when he had her.

Then he tried to make her like him. I didn't know everything about his origin, but I knew it involved Ace chemicals, he told me once that the chemical waste was like acid. He'd fallen in, and instead of dying, he'd been bleached, his once brown hair turning green, and tan skin turning chalk white. His lips, because of the blood vessels being so close to the skin, had turned cherry red. The chemicals, from what he told me, hadn't been all bad. He said he noticed that he aged slower, and healed quicker. I was surprised when he told me that he was in his thirties. He looked as if he was barely 25.

He had wanted Harleen, Harley as she was called by now, to jump in. And Harley wanted it too. They wanted to be together, and to be alike. So she did it. She jumped in. I had been outside in the car, waiting patiently for them to reemerge from the warehouse, when I heard him screaming. It wasn't a laughing scream; it wasn't a triumphant caw of victory. This was the sound of a wounded animal; it was a sound of pure sorrow. I rushed into the building, and saw him there. He was on the cat walk that ran like a grid between all the vats, desperately trying to revive Harley's lifeless corpse. They were both covered in the slim of the acid, their clothes melting away, Harley was bleached, the same as him. Her once golden hair was nearly white, just a shade darker than her pale skin. J was crying, desperately compressing her chest, he was letting out screams of frustration.

Harley wasn't moving. I didn't dare move towards J, I was scared, I'd never seen him like this. This was pure madness, not the calculated psychoses he portrayed to the public, this was a desperate, heartbroken madness. It took a long time, nearly an hour, before he stopped administering CPR, and began to let out screaming sobs of pain. He grabbed her body, and pulled it close to his chest, sobbing and crying out loudly. He looked up at me, and in between sobs, stuttered. "W-Why isn't she w-w-waking up?" He looked down at her, and hiccuped. "Harls? B-Baby? Y-you got me? P-p-…please, get up?" he stroked her cheek and cried out in pain when she didn't move.

I felt so helpless, my heart breaking for him. I'd only been his employee for about two and half years by that point, but I still knew him better than most anyone else did, and I felt responsible for him as if it was my job to watch out for the human part of him. And here he was, broken, shattered. We where there for another hour, before he stood, Harley cradled to his chest like a child, he sniffled, and I led him out of the warehouse, holding him up when he staggered under Harley's weight and his own sorrow.

We watched from afar as they buried Harleen Quinzel 3 days later. The police had found her body, posed and cleaned gently, lying in a bed of flowers outside the graveyard the morning after she died. J had stayed up all night and cleaned her, dressing her in her jester outfit, which she had worn while helping break him out of Arkham, gently brushing out her white blonde hair, and creating a beautiful halo of flowers and leaves around her body. In her clasped hands, he'd laid a small bouquet of roses, white and red.

After her funeral, J didn't leave his loft for 2 months. I came in twice a day and tried to make him eat, drink, and bathe. He just sat or lay in his bed, staring out at Gotham's skyline. His eyes where blank, his mouth slack. During those two months, I cared for him like a baby, I spoon fed him, bathed him, and brushed his teeth. He didn't acknowledge any of it. It was like he didn't notice me man handling his now frail body.

One day I came in, and instead of laying in his bed, wrapped in one of his robes, he was sitting in his living room. He was dressed, bathed, and there was a bowl of half eaten oatmeal on the counter, along with the remnants of some coffee.

"Boss?" I asked, approaching cautiously. He was staring at a picture in his hands, Harley at her college graduation, just a few months before she and J met.

"I asked her if she'd live for me." He said, his fingers ran down the picture.

"She said she would…" he muttered. I was right behind him now, and I saw a tear splash onto the photo, bouncing off of the frame it was in. I laid my hand on his shoulder hesitantly. He put his hand over mine.

"If she'd live for me…" he said, taking in a shaky breath, "I have to do the same for her."

He did most of his work from the comfort of his loft for the rest of that year, only leaving when he needed to kill or punish someone disobeying his rules. He never went back to his old self though. He was more subdued, more, sane almost. He was a lot quieter in private, and even in public. He was no longer the boisterous, violent mad man he had been. He was still just as vicious when he needed to be, and just as powerful as ever. No one dared cross him, while he wasn't as creative or patient with his torture, he still wasn't afraid to waste someone at the drop of a dime.

That was years ago, but he'd never been the same after Harley Quinn.

I couldn't help but wonder how this girl had brought him back to life. He was more honest, and his mind seemed more together. But I still felt the need to watch over him, to care for him like a child.

J exited a few minutes later. He was smiling, hands in his pockets as he strolled lazily toward the car. I moved to get out, but he saw me, and held up his hand. He opened the front passenger door, and slid in next to me.

"Where to boss?" I asked, resisting the urge to gulp nervously. He sat back in the seat and sighed dreamily, before opening his eyes. He pulled out his phone, and scrolled through it.

"I need to go to the club. I took a look at the books on my laptop this morning; it looks like Nathan is getting lazy. Then we need to go by Sarah's place. She hasn't been to work in a few days. I'm sure it's just something to do with her kid, but I want to make sure her boyfriend isn't back in town. We also need to drop by Lt. Johnston's home. He's been getting a little…. Out of line. I want to know why. Bring the body bags for that one. He may need to visit my car at the bottom of the bay."

"Yes sir." I said obediently, slipping the car into drive. As we glided towards the club, I saw him look over at me out of the corner of my eye.

"Are you ok Frost? You seem… extra tense today?" he asked. I swallowed nervously, and cleared my throat.

"Well, boss, to be honest, I'm a little concerned." I admitted hesitantly.

"Concerned?" he asked, cocking his head to the side.

"Yes sir." I replied, both eyes on the road. "I know you don't like your people dating one and other… I remember what happened to Nath-"

"Nathan had his tongue cut out because he was a liar, and an idiot. Not because he was with Anya." J cut me off, rolling his eyes. "I don't care that you're dating Emelina, Frost. You don't let it interfere with your work, and you didn't lie to me about it when confronted."

I looked over at him, quickly, confused, before looking back at the road. "Huh." I said, and he threw his head back, laughing loudly.

D

"Come on Dawn!" Vi pleads, oh my fucking lord. It's been half an hour, and she still won't let it go.

"No!" I say, again, for the millionth time. How can she ask me to allow a murderer in my home? Honestly, he's already fucking with my best friend, both physically and mentally. She's spent two nights with him, off doing god knows what, and each time she comes home dressed in fancy clothes. Today she came back at 3 FUCKING PM, dressed in brand name jeans, new converse, and a shirt with a fucking joker card on it. Oh hardy hardy har, Jesus, I'm terrified for her. I feel like she's loosing her mind!

"Why not?" she whines, I know if I turn around, her sea green eyes will be pouting at me, so I stay facing my refrigerator.

"Because, Vi!" I cry out in exasperation, throwing up my hands. "He's a killer!"

"It's part of his job!" She argues, and I face her, incredulously. My god, she really has lost it.

"Vi, what if this ends badly, huh? You know he can and will kill you!" I try to reason with her. Her face suddenly turns down from a pout to a grimace.

"No! Dawn, he, look, I don't know what it is but….. He's not what you think." She argues, her voice getting quieter. I furrow my brow at her, and sigh.

"How, Vi? Because all I've heard the two years I've lived here is how he's killed people mercilessly. He's a murderer." I look at her, pleading in my eyes. She looks at me and shakes her head.

"No, I mean, yes, but no. Please, Dawn, just one meal? Just give him one meal to prove how much he lov- cares for me." My eyes widen. I caught that. She was about to say "love", she's falling in love with him. I'm worried, and wonder once again if I shouldn't call her mother. But then I remember, were not kids anymore, and I can't make her mom fly out here and drag Violet home, even if it would be for her own best interest.

"Fine." I mutter, if only to shut her up. She squeals in delight, and grabs my arms, jumping up and down.

"OHMYGOSHDAWNTHANKYOU!" the words fall out of her mouth as a jumbled mess, and I roll my eyes.

"On one condition!" I say, pointing my finger at her.

"Of course!" she cries, a grin on her face, "anything Dawn!" I turn down my mouth at her, and squint my eyes.

"Jer comes, and the Joker doesn't bring any weapons." I'm fully aware that Jer wouldn't stand a chance against the Joker, but having him there would still make me feel safer. Violet nods excitedly, and I suddenly find my arms full of her, and my face buried in her long black hair.

"Of course! Oh Dawn, thank you thank you thank you!" She's squeezing me so hard, I choke, and tap on her arm.

"AIR!" I wheeze, and she immediately lets go.

"Oops, sorry, I'm just excited. I'm gunna text J now!" She pulls out her phone, and I'm taken aback. It's not her old phone, which was two models out of date, but a brand new top of the line iPhone.

"What the hell is that?" I ask, pointing at the phone.

"Huh?" she says, looking up from the screen. "Oh! Yeah, there was kind of…. An accident last night. I dropped my phone in the water, so J bought me a new one this morning. Isn't the case cute?" she says, holding it out to me. I roll my eyes in disbelief, and groan.

"He bought you a thousand dollar phone?!" I ask in disbelief.

"Yeah, I know." She rolls her eyes affectionately. "I told him I couldn't accept it, or the clothes, but he's just so sweet!" I'm suddenly taken by the urge to slap her, which I resist only by groaning and walking away from her.

WEDNESDAY week 2

V

I wake up the next morning, and slide off of Dawns couch, giddy with excitement. I head down to the grocery store and buy everything necessary to make a nice dish. I have appetizers, main courses, and dessert, before I realize that I want to buy a bottle of wine, I whip out my new phone, and call Dawn.

"Dawn…" I say sweetly as she groans.

"What, Vi?" she asks, yawning tiredly.

"Ummmm, I'm kind of at the store?" I say. She's quiet for a moment.

"So?" she asks, obviously not impressed.

"Well, I want to get a bottle of wine, but I'm only twenty, so I was wondering if you could…"

"No." she snaps, and the line goes dead. I huff and pout at my phone. Honestly, she's being so uncooperative.

I get home half an hour later, and Dawn is gone. There's a note on the dining room table "Gone out with Jer, be back by 5. Text me what kind of wine you want, and what time he's going to be there.-D" I grin down at the note, and feel fondness bubble in my chest.

J

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out of my pants pocket, looking away from the accounting I've been doing on my laptop.

Hey babe-V

I grin at my phone, and eagerly reply, happy to hear from my Dove.

Hey Dove, what's up sugar?-J

I was wondering what time you wanted to come over for dinner?-V

You managed to convince Dawn?-J

Oh yes, I can be very vexing/persuasive when necessary :p –V

Ha! Ok, well how about 7? I have a meeting at 6, it's on the way to Dawns place, I should be done by 6:30-6:45. Sound good?-J

Perfect! Er, I have another question?-V

Sure, what's up?-J

What kind of wine is good for a chicken dish?-V

I wonder for a moment why she expects me to know that, but then I remember that she's seen me in my cultured areas. She knows I'm learned on most everything, courtesy of Bruce, not that she knows that part.

Do you want red or white?-J

I've only ever had white?-V

I'll bring something babe.-J

You don't have to do that, Dawn is out; she offered to pick some up.-V

It's customary for a guest to bring a bottle, I'll bring it sugar.-J

Ok if you say so.-V

Oh! I almost forgot, Jer will be here, and Dawn doesn't want you to bring any weapons, is that ok?-V

My mouth turns down, and I debate for just a moment, before replying to her.

Of course Dove, anything for you.-J

Honestly, I think, we're not going to get into any fights, and I'm a lot faster and stronger than any of them. I don't really need any weapons.

V

I spend the better half of the day cooking. I prepare, chop, and heat everything necessary. The dessert, a chocolate cake, should be served cool, and the appetizer, sushi rolls with wasabi sauce, needs to be chilled before it's served. About four, I start getting dressed.

I wear the black skirt, white blouse, and Mary Jane's that J bought me, my hair is piled on top of my head, a few little strands falling down artfully here and there. I'm wearing a fake set of pearls and my lips are a bright red, nearly the same shade as J's.

I'm standing over the sauce for the chicken, a red and white apron thrown over my outfit, when Dawn gets home, Jer behind her, it's just past six, and I'm relieved she made it home before J got there.

"Hey!" she says, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Hi!" I say cheerfully, smiling at her and Jer.

"A. What's with the 50's house wife get-up? and B. You never texted me which wine to get, so I didn't get one. Want me to go grab one before he gets here?" She asks; leaning against the counter and watching me cook. I giggle and blush.

"J's picking up a wine, and, well, J got these clothes for me…. And I kind of like them. You know I love poofy anything…" She hums and rolls her eyes at me.

"Kay, well, I'm going to change. What time is he getting here?" She says, pushing off of the counter.

"He'll be here by 7, so hurry!" she rolls her eyes, and waves a hand at me.

"Yeah yeah yeah." She mutters as she moves into her room. The door closes with a quiet click. Jer and I are left in the main room. I give him a smile, and turn back to the sauce, stirring it so that it doesn't burn.

"Er..." he says, obviously uncomfortable. We've never really been alone before, so we're both a little awkward. "Um, can I help you do anything?" he asks awkwardly.

"Yeah, actually, can you set the table? We'll need water glasses, and wine glasses, J is bringing a bottle, I'm not sure if it needs to be chilled though, so you can just leave the wine glasses in here." Jer nods at me, and moves into the kitchen. My mary janes click on the linoleum as I move closer to the stove top, allowing him room in the tiny kitchen.

Jer sets the table, and I'm just pulling out the appetizers when my phone buzzes.

Be there in 10 babe.-J

I grin, and start laying out the first course while Jer cuts the chicken. We'll put the sauce, which is still warm, on just before we eat. I'm pleased that everything turned out well, and that nothing is burnt.

"Dawn!" I call as I lay out the napkins. Her bedroom door opens and closes.

"I'm here, I'm here!" she says. I turn and smile at her. She's wearing an emerald green cocktail dress that shows off her legs and hips. Her hair is half up, half down, and she's applied a dark pink lipstick. Her feet are still bare, but she makes her way over to the closet behind the front door, and pulls out a pair of nude sandals, slipping them on. Jer is wearing a simple white button down, and khaki slacks with a pair of brown leather dress shoes. His hair, which is way too long, in my personal opinion, is pulled back into a low pony at the nape of his neck. His beard, which is usually scraggly looking, has been combed through, and now looks far neater. He looks less like John Lennon at his worst and more like Jesus at his best.

"Y'all clean up nice!" I say with a grin. Dawn rolls her eyes, and kisses Jer lightly on the cheek. He grins, and I see him blush a little.

Just then a knock comes from the door. I light up like a firefly, and open the door. J is standing there, smiling at me, his silver teeth glinting in the light. I flutter forward, and peck him on the lips, and I feel him smile.

"Hey my lil' Dove." He says lowly, his blue eyes piercing me. I blush, and step aside, letting him in. In one hand, he has a single white rose, and a bottle of red wine. The other hand holds a small box. He smiles at me and winks, stepping in.

"Ms. Mulligan." He says to Dawn in greeting. She smiles at him tightly, obviously distasteful. He presents her with the bottle of wine.

"Thank you very much." She says politely, moving into the kitchen to open and pour the wine. J turns to me, and hands me the white rose.

"For you, Dove." He murmurs, winking at me. He then looks up at Jer, who, bless his heart, looks both awed and terrified.

"Hi, I don't think we've met. I'm J." He says, holding out his hand. Jer looks at it for a moment, before sticking out his own hand.

"I'm, uh… Jer. I'm Jeremiah Dooer. Dawn's boyfriend." He says dumbly, staring at J still.

Poor kid, I think to myself. J and Jer sit down across from one and other at the dinner table, and I see J set the box on the counter and send me a small wink. My heart flutters in my chest for a moment, before I help Dawn carry everything to the table.

Appetizer, and dinner goes smoothly. J and I tell Dawn and Jer about Hamilton, and we all talk easily about life in Gotham. It feels like there should be awkwardness, but there isn't. I tell Dawn about Frost and Emelina, and we both "awww" together, while J chews his chicken, a small smile on his face, and Jer quirks an eyebrow at us, muttering something about girls.

Then I take dessert out, and everything goes to hell in a hand basket.

"So, er, do I call you J, or Joker?" Dawn asks, a little tipsy.

"J's fine." He replies, smiling at her easily.

"Ok, J, how come Vi came home with a different phone? And why do you always send her home in different clothes?" Dawn giggles. I blush, and my eyes go wide, I stare at her pointedly, and grab J's hand.

"Oh, well…" he says. He coughs and shifts in his seat. "There was an accident, and we sort of wound up in the water…" he explains, "So I just had Frost grab her some new clothes and a different phone." There's silence, and I take a nervous sip of my wine.

"Ok, cool. But you know she's leaving in a week, right?" Dawn slurs, taking another sip of her wine, her second glass.

"Not if I have anything to say about it." J replies smugly. I blush and look at him pointedly.

"Wait, what?" Dawn asks, sobering up in a moment. I squeeze J's hand, and give him a panicked look. He ignores it.

"Well, I'm trying to convince her to stay here. Maybe go to Gotham Uni? She can live on campus or with me." J says, stretching his arm around my shoulder. I see Dawn's eyes move from J to me, fury on her face.

"Vi, you're not going to, right?" she says, nearly a hiss. I shift in my seat, and look down. J is looking at me, his body language screams casual comfort, but his eyes are solemn, and I swallow.

"I-… I don't know yet. I'm thinking about it." She slams her wine glass down on the table, and the stem breaks, luckily it's empty, so when it tips over, only a drop of red wine spills out.

"You can't be serious!" she cries out, flying out of her seat.

"Look, Dawn-" I try to reason.

"No! You look, Vi! What about your mom? How do you think you're going to be able to pay for GU, huh? What about your career? How do you expect to be a teacher if you're dating the most infamous criminal in Gotham?!" she yells in frustration, glaring daggers at me.

"Dawn, I'm not, nothing is set in stone, ok? I probably won't stay. I mean, I know I have to go home at some point…."

"No! Not at some point! You have to go home on Monday! That's in less than a week, and if I have to hog tie you, you're getting on that plane and going home!" she nearly screams, glaring at me.

"Dawn, please?" I beg meekly. She growls, and throws her hands up.

"You're such a hypocrite!" she says in exasperation.

"What?" I ask, taken aback.

"You threw a huge hissy fit when I came here, and now you want to move here so you can keep dating a criminal?! I mean really? You didn't want me going here because of criminals like the Joker!" her arms are crossed over her chest now, and she's glaring at me. I suddenly feel shame bubble in me.

"It's different!" I try to argue.

"Oh yeah, you're right, it is. I moved here to get away from my over bearing father, and to go to school, you're moving here so you can be with him! You are literally wanting to moving here to become a criminal's accomplice!" she's so angry, her face is nearly red. I stand, throwing my napkin on the table.

"No! You moved here to run away from everything! I'm thinking about it to create something! Do you know how dull and useless my life is there? Day after day is always the same! Nothing changes, I want it for the same reason you did!" I argue. She throws her hands up in frustration.

"No! You can't move here Vi! This place is a shit hole! If it wasn't for the freaking Bat, god knows I'd be dead!"

"Wait, what?" says J, leaning forward and looking at her.

"You heard me." She sneers at him.

"He's saved my life at least half a dozen times. He saved me from muggers, rapists, and mad men. He's the only good part of this city."

"Hey!" cries Jer indignantly, Dawn rolls her eyes and looks at him.

"Aside from you, obviously." She mutters.

J laughs, and throws his head back."Really? You think the Bat is good? You think he's a hero?" J says, looking at her in disbelief. Dawn looks at him with suspicion.

"Yes." She states simply.

J huffs and rolls his eyes. "Bats is a villain. He takes innocent people and bends them to his will. He uses that stupid cowl to manipulate people. He's got the police commissioner, mayor, and most of the business world in his pocket!" J hisses out. His eyes are dark and angry. Dawn tilts her head.

"Wh- what do you mean?" she mutters, glaring at him.

"I mean, he's a manipulative asshole. You know about Robin?" J says.

"Yes," says Dawn, "I know you killed him." J scoffs and rolls his eyes.

"I didn't kill Robin, Batman did. He snapped that kid up off the streets, and promised him the world, as long as he put his life on the line everyday! Batman forced that kid to become a little sidekick and deprived him of a normal life! Batman is a menace, he's worse than me. At least I'm honest about what I am! He calls himself a hero, and uses people to get what he wants." J's jaw is tight, and his nose is turned up in a snarl of anger.

Dawn looks uncertain for a moment, flabbergast. "He's saved my life…" she argues weakly, obviously shocked by J's outburst.

"Of course he has." J hisses, taking another swallow of his wine. "That's what he does. He saves you, and you become endeared to him. He gets off on people worshiping him like a god. That's why he does it. He doesn't actually care about saving people, hell, if anything he's done more harm than good. The criminals of this city are narcissists. They get off on attention. Batsy takes that attention from them. Instead of their crimes being published and whispered about on the streets, his so called heroic acts are glorified by the media! The criminals get mad, and try harder. Instead of robbing a bank, they go on a killing spree and take innocent lives, just to get some fucking attention. Batman is the real villain of Gotham."J stands, and Dawn takes a step back. He closes his eyes for a moment, and I see his jaw tick in anger.

Then his phone rings. He whips it out and answers, slipping into his work mode. "J." he barks. There's muttering on the other end and J groans, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm with Violet. Where is he?" more muttering.

"How the hell did he get that far away?!...Well fine, ok , fine. Just. God, I don't know….I can't! I don't have any weapons with me right now…Of course I can, but I'm not stupid enough to bring my fists to a gun fight, Frost!...have Daniels and his squadron cut him off at the bay. Then detain him…No! No, don't kill him. As much as I hate his guts, the guys useful. Just detain him…Yeah the warehouse is fine…Yes, fine….. 20 minutes….how close are you?...that close?...ok, ok, come pick me up…. Yeah, that's fine, see you in 5." J huffs in annoyance, and puts his phone in his pocket. He looks around at us.

"I gotta go" he mutters, looking at me. I stand from my seat, and squeeze his hand.

"Hold on." He says, grabbing the small box from the table. He take's my hand, and makes his way to the door. Before he goes, he turns back to Dawn.

"Thank you, Ms. Mulligan, for allowing me in your home. Sadly, I need to take my leave. I have work to attend to. Jeremiah." He says nodding at Jer, who's wide eyed, and raises his hand while nodding at J. J tugs on my hand, and opens the door, pulling me into the hallway outside Dawn's apartment.

"I'm sorry about that…" he says, looking at me regretfully. I smile at him sadly, and kiss him.

"J…." I trail off, and look in his earnest blue eyes before continuing. "J, will you tell me one day? About the Batman? You know him, personally, and you knew Robin, didn't you." J gulps and looks down.

"Yeah..." he says. "I knew them, personally." I put my hand on his cheek, and he looks up at me. "One day…" he whispers, leaning forward and kissing my forehead. "One day, I'll be able to tell you, my lil' Dove. But not today." He uses his free hand to push a stand of hair behind my ear.

"I wanted to give this to you at the end of a lovely meal with nice company. Sadly, things got a little tense, so…" He holds up the box, and smiles at me sheepishly. I smile at him, and take the box.

I take off the lid, and gasp. Inside the box, lying on a satin pillow, were two cuffs. One was white gold, and dotted with sparkling diamonds, the other one was simpler, and yellow gold. In the middle lay two tiny screw drivers, one yellow gold, the other white gold. I recognized them instantly. They where semi-permanent bracelets'. The idea was that your partner put the bracelet on you, using the screw driver to unlatch it, then they kept the screw driver, either on them always, or in a safe place, and the bracelet couldn't be removed by the wearer. The screw drivers where on silken cords, and I met J's eyes, astonished. He smiled at me softly.

"May I?" he asked kindly. I nodded dumbly, and held out my left hand. With my right hand, I held the box as he worked. He deftly unscrewed the bracelet, set it on my wrist, and re-screwed it. The bracelet fit perfectly, not too tight, and not too loose. I smiled at him, and kissed him gently. He slid the cord over his neck, and tucked the small silver screwdriver into his shirt. He took the box from me, and presented his left wrist. I put the bracelet on him, just as he had done for me, and then slipped the screwdriver over my head, tucking it into my blouse. I smiled at him, glowing with joy.

"Vi…" he whispered, I could smell the wine on his breath, he was so close that I could feel his chest pressed against mine.

"J?" I muttered back, my hands lying on his chest. One of his hands wound in my hair, pulling me against him in a hug.

"Stay with me?" he asked. I hugged him tightly, but didn't answer.

We stayed like that for a few moments, just holding one and other. His arms wrapped around my shoulders, and mine wound around his slim waist. He kissed my hair every now and then, and I sighed, feeling so at peace in that moment.

Then his phone buzzed. He pulled back, and looked at the phone. He smiled at me sadly, and slid it back into his pocket.

"Gotta run, babe."

"Be safe." I said. It slipped out before I could stop myself. That was how I'd always said "I love you". I said it to Dawn, to my sisters, anyone I loved. His eyes went wide for a moment in shock, like he knew, before they softened into something like desire. He grabbed me suddenly, and kissed me hard. His hands where in my hair, holding my head to him, I gripped at his shirt, and let out a small sound of surprise. His lips dominated me, desire, passion, and longing rolling off him in waves. He was hungry and needy, softening to little pecks when his phone buzzed again. He finally pulled back, and I gasped. I was breathless, and filled with affection for him.

"Come back to me?" I asked quietly.

"Always, baby." He whispered. He pulled back and kissed my forehead, before parting from me. He brushed my hair out of my face once more, and squeezed my hand before moving away from me. I watched him as he turned and walked down the hall towards the elevator. When he stepped into the elevator, he looked back at him, and I saw him smirk and wink. I grinned and blew him a kiss as the elevator doors slid closed.

The bracelets are Cartier LOVE bracelets. Violets is the style 10 Diamonds, in white gold

J's is the style is the yellow gold with four diamonds.

Sorry, I cant figure out how to put in the link for it, so you'll have to use google. :/ sorry ya'll

Remove the spaces to see it.