Don't know what junta is? Look it up ;)

She put the last of the stuff the Joker bought for her the past few weeks in the bag and zipped it closed. She put on her coat and headed out the room when disappointment hit her. She saw Richard waiting for her by the door of the warehouse, ending a call when he saw her.

She continued going down the stairs slowly, looking around the room.

"I'll be taking you home. He has work to do" Richard said opening the metallic door of the warehouse. Mia readjusted the backpack on the shoulder and walked passed him silently.

It was no longer snowing but the whole city was still covered in white. It was very chilly and if she wasn't wearing her gloves and three pairs of socks, she would have to have some limbs removed. She got in the van with Richard by her side as he started the engine. They drove slowly in the city, as it seemed like a normal day in Gotham. Mia placed her forehead on the window looking outside, feeling both angry and heartbroken once again.

" Don't take it too hard" Richard began "He just doesn't like goodbyes that's all" he said as they stopped at the traffic lights.

Well it's always about what he likes.

She signaled still looking out the window.

"If it's any comfort, he told me to check on you every week. You know, with all these Bane shit going on. And since you couldn't say with us forever, it kinda means something for a guy like that"

That's very comforting she signaled ironically. She just expected him to see her just for a moment after what they shared last night. Not ran off like a coward because he didn't want to look her in the eye with no darkness on his side.

He remained quiet, glancing at the girl every now and then as he drove. He opened his mouth, then regretted his decision and closed it. He opened it again until Mia glared at him annoyed. She stared at him as he drove, obviously waiting for him to say what he wanted and quit playing games.

"Jeez lady fine quit staring at me like that" he said as the girl's wide brown eyes pierced him. "It's just that…I think you're being very unfair. You're not really seeing how much you've changed him. But I do. I know him for-" he paused and Mia turned towards him fully, begging with her eyes. Richard sighed "We grew up together. We uh…we were taken in by the same foster family. And he…let's say he was always the one taking the beating for me. But that was it. He didn't care about anyone else. Only himself and me. Occasionally… I've never seen him act like that about anyone before. So uh…you know…you might wanna cut some slack to the craziest murderer in Gotham who kept you safe. Just a thought"

Mia stared at the road in front of her, thinking to herself. Maybe she was being harsh. Or maybe she was still just angry? Or selfish…

She sighed and stared out the window again, as the van stopped in front of her building. She stared at it, and for a moment, it seemed unfamiliar to her. As if she was not home. She grabbed her backpack and turned to Richard who was waiting for her to get out. She didn't really know what to say.

You tell him bye

"Will do. Bye sweetcheeks" he said as she opened the door. She smiled back at him faintly before he drove off. Mia stared at the van until it disappeared.

She got in the building and up to her floor, opened the door of her apartment and closed it behind her, resting her back on it sighing. She closed her eyes taking in the cold of the room and the subtle scent of humidity in the atmosphere, as she hadn't been home for a month. She suddenly opened them and headed for the living room, turning on the TV. She had to know what was going on in the city since she didn't have a clue if Bane put a bounty on her head or not.

She flipped through the channels and her blood froze at the sudden image that popped up on screen. She fell back on the couch, turning up the volume. The images were flipping from a collapsed entrance to a tunnel to the blown up field of Gotham's Football Stadium. She gulped, placing her hands over her mouth in terror as she heard Bane's announcement playing over and over on all channels.

"Now, this bomb is armed! This bomb is mobile! And the identity of the triggerman is a mystery. For one of you holds the detonator! And we came here not as conquerors, but as liberators to return control of this city to the people. And at the first sign of interference from the outside world, or for those people attempting to flee, this anonymous Gothamite, this unsung hero, will trigger the bomb. For now, martial law is in effect. Return to your homes, hold your families close, and wait. Tomorrow you claim what is rightfully yours".

Madman she thought to herself he's a madman

She got up and paced to the door of her apartment, then returned to her living room. She couldn't go outside what was she doing? But she couldn't stay there either. If everyone was home, maybe Bane would come for her again. Of course, she was no use to him but still, she didn't know how big his ego and how small his penis was. She sighed, running a hand through her hair.

On the other hand, it had been a full month since she escaped from him. Maybe he had been in her house looking for her already. And maybe he gave up, if he gave any attention at finding her again. Which she doubted.

She sat down on her couch with both elbows on her knees.

Wish Jack was here.

She thought to herself and snickered. Jack. It was so strange giving him a name. It was like taking a jar of Nutella and naming it liquid chocolate with hazelnut. It was just wrong. In the same sense, he was the Joker.

Although she had to admit, she kind of liked that she was now one of the few elite that knew his real name. It put a smile on her face and a raised eyebrow on her forehead just by thinking about it.

She shook her head and rubbed her face.

Concentrate she ordered herself, getting back to the issue in question. Should she stay here? Or go back to the Joker? For the third fucking time…

But this time, he let her go. He himself knew that no matter how they felt, nothing would work. They couldn't have a normal life together, or a beautiful family. One of them would end up being miserable and incompatible with the lifestyle. And even though she didn't want those things right now, she knew she wanted them in the future. And most of all, she knew he feared that if she stuck around any longer, she would end up dead.

She got up and opened her balcony door, looking down at the street below. It was empty. Suddenly, she saw a tank turning on her street and she got inside quickly, closing the door.

Junta, that's what that was. Fascism in her own city. She sat back down on the couch, bringing her knees to her chest.

Well she wasn't going anywhere any time soon.

"How long ago did you leave her?" the Joker said as he strode towards his laptop.

"Twenty minutes or so. I was already back when Bane made the announcement."

"Freak…" the Joker murmured as he worked his way through the city files "You said the bridge is already closed?"

"Yeah, bunch of his men are gathered there with machine guns" he remained silent for a moment "I can go get her-"

"No" he replied quickly "It's dangerous for you and I don't trust anyone of these suckers to go get her. And besides, she will not come back here. If someone goes for her, we'll just get her out of the city"

"Why? I thought you wanted her safe"

"Yeah" he said sharply, putting an end to their conversation. "Good thing is Bane hasn't looked for her. Maybe he won't even notice that she's back if she doesn't d do anything stupid and ssssttubborn."

Richard looked around the room "Won't she?"

He stood up readjusting his suit "Let's hope not"

A week later

She kept quiet with a baseball bat in her hands as she heard running on the corridor. Good thing was that this wasn't one of the most elite areas in the city and it took a while for people to come here. And even when they did, they just knocked on the doors and rolled in. But very few hurt someone. It was the very highest class that was murdered.

After Bane's announcement., all hell broke loose in the city. People just broke into people's houses, killing everyone on sight, ripping everything apart. There was a court, judging the rich and police on whether they should be executed or exiled. People took matters into their own hands but nothing seemed to be taken care of.

And he was nowhere to be found. Actually, none of them. Neither the Joker nor Batman. It was as if they had been swallowed by the earth. Both of them.

She opened the kitchen cupboard and sighed worryingly as her supplies were running low. She couldn't stay in her house any longer. She had no food in the fridge since she never got the chance to go grocery shopping when she came back, she only had some spaghetti left and her AC stopped working today. She had to do something if she didn't want to starve, or freeze to death.

And if she wanted to get food, she had to leave and return before six PM. After that, anybody seen on the streets without permission, got shot.

She put on her coat and winter hat, covering her mouth with her scarf, trying to be as less recognizable as possible.

She got out of the building and walked silently, as her feet sunk with a satisfying crunchy sound in the snow, leaving trails behind her. She walked fast, mingling with another group of people walking as she walked passed a tank. There were two of Bane's men sitting on it, one on top and one staring at them as they walked. She lowered her eyes, not daring to look up in hopes that none of them knew who she was. She continued walking and finally reached her grocery store.

She lowered her scarf as her mouth dropped. All she saw were empty shelves and broken cashier boxes. There was nothing left, neither in the fridges nor at the back of the store.

She turned around and gazed in the neighborhood. She continued walking for about five more blocks, finding out that other shops were at the same condition. She put her hands in the pockets of her coat, pausing to take a breath.

She stared at the people who happened to be walking with her all along. They were all going at the same direction. She followed sheepishly, having a very bad feeling about it but, yet, having no choice left. Finally, she knew where they were all going. Gotham's courthouse. It was packed with Bane's men and her first instinct was to turn and ran home. But all she would accomplish would be to either starve to death or increase her chances of getting recognized by attempting to get out of the house once more.

She walked with her head low and the scarf covering her mouth as she got up the stairs of the courthouse.

She finally let out a breath of comfort as she felt the warmth of the room. There were people sleeping there, with a fire going. On the left side, there was a line of people and someone was giving them soup. She walked to the line fast, keeping her head low as she did so.

"How did it come to this" a man said behind her and she jumped slightly in surprise "Last week I was cruising down at the Caribbean and now I am being served soup with a bunch of people"

"Everyone comes here Mike there is nothing left in the city" a woman whispered to him "Don't be such a brat you should be glad we're not dead"

Mia gulped and gazed around the room, trying to find any familiar faces. Nothing. In a distance, she could hear shouting and yelling but paid no further attention to it. She didn't want to know what was going on. When it was her turn, she took the plate that she was offered and went to the side. She ate her soup quickly in the dark corner, staying low. She had taken care of her hunger for now, but she still had no supplies for the days to come. No matter how many they were.

Later you think. Now go she told herself as she put the scarf over her mouth again and walked to the exit. She walked past the people that were coming in, touching them politely to get out of the way, when she heard it.

"What have we here" a deep, mechanical voice said behind her. Mia froze, not daring to turn around. She knew that voice. It was him. Bane was right behind her. She felt her legs melting in terror as she heard his loud breathing right above her head.

"Right on time" she heard him right next to her and squeezed her eyes, waiting for the attack. "I think it does a great job"

Mia opened her eyes and frowned in confusion as she saw Bane's hand reaching right in front of her. "Excuse me" he told her with subtle irony but didn't look down at her as he inspected a new model of guns that one of his men was holding in his arms. Mia let out a shaky breath, as she walked past him quickly, getting out of the building. She could hear him still talking as she walked, quickening up her pace, as she got further. She almost ran to the end of the road, never looking back. She finally turned to the left and lowered her scarf. She glued her back to the wall and closed her eyes, breathing fast as she felt her stomach turning. It was already dark but she didn't care at this point.

That was so close. A slightly different movement, and she was going to be dead. She breathed in and out deeply, before she heard a low giggle next to her. She turned to the direction and her blood froze in her veins. She saw the man staring at her, smiling demonically. She remembered him. And he obviously remembered her. It was her guard when Bane abducted her.

She glanced to her right and he raised his gun "Don't you dare" he told her signaling with his head "Turn around and walk" he told her. Mia turned around with difficulty as her instincts told her to run. "Go" he said, pushing her forward.

The wheels turned in Mia's mind and she walked slower than before.

"I said move!" the man said. Mia moved to the side just when he tried pushing her again, grabbed his hand and hit him hard on the nose with her elbow.

But he was so much stronger. He merely wiped his nose and grabbed her by the hair, dragging her and pushing her down on the ground. Mia turned towards him, just as he aimed her with his gun. She squeezed her eyes as she heard the gunshot.

He fell right in front of her feet as scarlet stains spilled on the white sheet of snow that covered the road. Mia jumped as she felt someone lifting her up from behind. She turned around frantically.

"Move move!" Richard said, looking behind her. Mia began running with him. She looked back for a second, only to see some of Bane's men emerging from the courthouse.

But before they could recognize them, they were out of sight.

She breathed crazily as they stopped in an alley by her house. Richard made sure that nobody came before going to her "You lucky bitch" he said breathlessly "God you are looking for trouble aren't ya? I knew I should follow you when you got out your house. You alright?" he told her and she nodded.

We should go in my house. it's safer.

"I can't. I'm just here to check on you and give you a message. We've arranged for a boat to take you out of the city tomorrow. Bring only a backpack cause we will be running to get you to the port. Anything you need will be arranged to you elsewhere. He said to meet us at your spot or something"

She nodded you're not coming?

"No…We have to get Batman back"

She raised her eyebrows in awe. He smiled faintly "You'd be surprised at how much the Joker loves Gotham and yet no one gets it. So it's arranged. Tomorrow night, one backpack"

He turned to leave when Mia grabbed his hand How is he?

Richard stared at her for a moment "He's alive" he said then and with that ran out of the alley as darkness enveloped the streets completely. She covered her mouth and ran to her building herself.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would see him again.

So the next chapter will be the final one. I do know how I am going to end the story but i would also like to know what do you think will happen? You know, let me know how many people i'll disappoint :p until next time, cheers