Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics or characters associated with DC. I only own my OC.

Thunderous applause for those who reviewed : 'Meshi Shiroi', HCW, Fairy Skull, Cybernetic Mango, Lisa Marie M., Crissana Collins, and AyenWayne.

Author's Note: My apologies for late posting of this chapter. Life, as usual, intervened—making an update near impossible, until now.

Side Note: The dialogue in bold is from Batman Begins—I don't own that either.

Enjoy.


"Stop pacing, Bruce, please." Regan whispered tensely as she shifted nervously on the black leather sofa. He was making the situation worse. "Why?" he shot back. Regan raised an eyebrow. Only an hour after declaring their 'love' for one another, they were bickering.

"It's not going to help you figure anything out."

"Right, you're lecturing me on how to deduct a criminal's plan of action?"

"Are you questioning my ability to judge you on your deduction skills?" She countered annoyed.

"Yes. I've lived and breathed the criminal underground for years."

He turned his back to her. His comment silenced her. 'Bruce had been a criminal? But he's Batman. How?'

Several minutes passed, and Regan's curiosity got the best of her. "You were a criminal?"

She heard him sigh. 'Crap, I made him even madder.' His stance slightly stiffened.

"I lived among them, and I witnessed the fine line between right and wrong.' The first time I stole so that I wouldn't starve... And when I traveled, I learned the fear before a crime and the thrill of success. But I never became one of them'."

"So let me get this straight. You immersed yourself into the criminal world, but you weren't one?" She was still confused. Riddles were not her favorite game.

"No. I paid the Chinese government to put me in prison so I could take them on. After a few years, I was approached by a man that offered me an opportunity to be more than what I was."

"And that man was?" She pressed in a soft tone. This was a whole new side of him, and the more she listened, the more she felt attached to him.

"Ra's Al Ghul. He wasn't the man I thought he was. After a couple of years of training, he said that I was ready to lead his men to Gotham—to destroy it. I refused and left. He came himself and brought his army. In his attempt to destroy Gotham, he released that fear inhalant in the Narrows."

She held her hands up in defeat. "I get it now, Bruce."

"You do?"

Regan was about to do something that she'd vowed she never do—admit that she didn't know everything.

"You're right. You do know more. You handled the Narrow's problem and the Joker's reign of terror. Who am I to judge you? Pace all you want."

He turned to face her, "You changed your mind?"

Shrugging, she stated, "Sure. You're the crime fighter. You know Gotham like the back of your hand."

Smirking, he took a seat beside her and whispered, "I win."

Astonishment flooded her system. "You did it on purpose?"

He threw his head back and laughed, "Of course, I never pace."

"I see." She muttered as she closed her eyes in humiliation. Losing wasn't her favorite past time. The game had been restarted, and he never told her. 'Men—go figure.'

"Okay, so what happened after the fear inhalant was released?"

"You're asking for the long and non-condensed version, aren't you?" His smile faded.

There was a part of Regan that didn't want to know. She had her secrets, and he had his. She knew that Rachel and he were involved-ish and something happened to the mansion.

"Yes and no. I'm curious about the criminals, not your personal life. I've read the tabloids."

"Right, Arkham's worst were released into the Narrows, including the Joker. Explosions, etc. Ra's men burned down my house before they began to destroy Gotham."

"So that's why Alfred was so touchy when I asked about the garage being new? Huh."

"Yes, that incident is rather touchy. They burned down my house on my birthday."

Laying her head on his shoulder, she felt anger overwhelm her. "That's awful."

"Yes, but it gave me a chance to re-build and improve certain parts of the house." His tone was light again.

"Like the southeast corner of the mansion?"

"Precisely."

Rolling her eyes, she curled into a ball beside him. Bruce wrapped his arm around her and teased, "Sleepy, Regan?"

"Possibly, but I'm awake enough to know that you're waiting for something. What are you waiting for Bruce?"

"It's seven in the evening, Rae. I'm waiting for it to be later. Criminals usually wait for the cover of darkness."

"Alright, so what are we doing until then?"

"I like what we're doing right now." His answer was music to her ears.

"Bruce?" she squeaked.

"Hmm?"

"What is my sister planning?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but I know it's happening later tonight."

"Should I notify Gordon and have the force on alert?" She questioned as she pulled away from him.

"It couldn't hurt. Now, can you please sit back down and call in a calm manner. I was enjoying your warmth."

"Hmm, maybe." She purred. Confidently, Regan sat down on his lap and laid her head in the crook of his neck. As she pulled out her cell phone, his arms wove themselves around her.

"Hello, Dispatch? This is Captain Regan Carmichael. Can you patch me through to Commissioner Gordon?" She planted a kiss on her love's neck as she listened for dispatch to connect her.

"Commissioner Gordon is in the middle of a call. Can you hold?"

"Yes, I'll wait." She stated patiently into the receiver.

Glorified elevator music sounded from her cell phone. Sighing contently, she pressed her face into his neck and inhaled. Why did he have to smell so delicious? Fighting back her current mindset, she focused on the obnoxious music coming from the phone.

"Commissioner Gordon."

She snapped out of her stupor and fumbled her phone. Grasping it tightly, she smoothly asserted, "Yes, Sir. This is Captain Carmichael. I have received information from a reliable source that there will be attempts on police officers and precincts tonight. My source couldn't give me an exact time, but he was confident that it would be after dark. Have our men on high alert."

"You said this source is reliable?" He sounded skeptical.

"Sir, I wouldn't have called you if he wasn't."

"Can I have the name of this source?" Bruce cleared his throat in amusement. 'He always wants credit.' She thought with a faint smile.

"The Dark Knight, Sir. He believes that a new criminal has plans to continue what the Joker began. Just have the men notified."

"Alright, Carmichael, if he says it; then there must be some truth to it. I'll alert the men."

"Thank you, Sir. May I also request that SWAT be stationed below the department in case something happens? No need for the best to be taken down."

"Sure thing, Captain. And do me a favor?"

"Anything Sir." She replied breathlessly.

"Tell the Knight that he's still okay in my book."

"Will do. Goodnight, Commissioner."

"Goodnight, Captain."

Hanging up, she glanced up to see Bruce grinning satisfactorily.

"What?"

"Couldn't call me Batman? I had to be the Dark Knight?"

"The Dark Knight is a cooler title."

"Really?" He questioned intrigued.

"Yeah, it's darker. If I was a criminal, I'd be more fearful of the Dark Knight."

"Hmm, do you know why I called myself Batman in the first place?"

"No, I'm assuming it has something to do with fear." She replied thoughtfully.

"Bats frighten me. It was time that my enemies shared my dread."

"Huh. Bats are creepy, I'll give you that. Does the cave have them?"

"Of course."

She unconsciously shuddered. Picking up on her fear, he chided, "Would you like to see them?"

Regan froze. Her breathing halted. Did she want to go back to the cave? She'd seen it once. However, that was when it was pitch black, and he was dying. Fear. Regan rarely felt that mindset, and for some reason, she felt it now. Was it because she was going to see what he feared? No, she was afraid of seeing his mask. He'd be different when he'd put it on.

"Ok." She agreed as she climbed out of his lap. What was she getting herself into?

Nodding, he motioned for her to follow.

The cave was dark as they entered. He left her side momentarily to turn on the dim lights. As the lights revealed the cave's jagged, dark architecture and its other occupants, Regan shivered. There were thousands of them sleeping soundly. "Do they attack?" She hoarsely asked.

He quietly laughed, "No, no. They're harmless. Good company when Alfred is away."

"I see. You do know that we need a plan." Regan asserted as she gazed at the collage of high tech scanning equipment. The computer montage was stunning. Live video feeds were recording known criminal areas. She was impressed by his set up.

"You mean, I need a plan. It's too dangerous. You're staying here with Alfred." Bruce returned boldly as he folded his arms over his chest.

"Right, like I'm going to just sit here in this grimy cave waiting for you. Let me do this. She's my sister. My responsibility." Regan pleaded as she returned her attention to him. Her light eyes looked intently into his dark ones.

"No, you're not supposed to take this risk. This is my burden." He murmured as he began to pull out various tools and gadgets. Her eyes scanned the massive drawers; there were hundreds of grappler guns, mini bombs, and bat-a-rangs.

"I'm a cop. I took an oath to protect this city. Just let me do my job." She stated as she watched him. His preparation made her antsy.

"Please, Regan. I'm not strong enough to lose you."

"Fine." She conceded due to his depressed, desperate tone. He opened a tall steel box that resembled an armory. One might consider what was inside a weapon—the Bat Suit.

He stared at it for several seconds before he tore off his shirt and jeans, leaving only his tank and boxers. Alfred mysteriously stepped out of the shadows and silently assisted the Dark Knight into the suit. Regan gazed into the armory look-a-like and counted over 150 parts of the suit. Each part clicked into place. The clicks made Regan ill. She knew that she'd have to get used to this. This noise would be a common occurrence. It took Alfred and Bruce over an hour to put together the suit. "What's it made of?" She shot over her shoulder as she took a seat in front of the giant computer collection.

"The suit's made of hardened Kevlar plates on a titanium clipped fiber—helps me be more flexible and mobile." He replied as he placed his gadgets into his utility belt. She noted how the suit had many gaps between the Kevlar plates. "Aren't you more vulnerable to injury from bullets or knives?"

Alfred cut in, "Yes, but it's worth the increased flexibility." She nodded in response. It made sense, and Bruce knew what he was doing.

As he placed the cowl on, she interrupted, "Wait." He paused, confused by her sudden outburst. Walking timidly toward him, Regan held a grim expression.

"Be careful." She whispered as she lightly kissed his lips. He didn't reply. After placing his cowl on, he swiftly slid into his car and left the solemn cave.

Regan and Alfred shared a look of amusement. "Alfred, I need a favor." She stated with a twinkle in her eye.

"Depends." Alfred returned coyly.

"I need a bulletproof vest and a mini microphone."

"That I can do. Are you disregarding his wishes?"

"Just this once." She replied confidently.

"Is this going to get you killed?"

"No, Mercedes needs to be distracted, so Bruce can take her out. Trust me; I know what I'm doing."

"What are you doing exactly?"

"Nothing," she mumbled as she ran toward the elevator.


Please Review ( no flames please) Revised 6/08/10