Deceit

If only he'd've shown up just five minutes earlier.

I blinked back tears and sniffled, in a poor attempt to cover up my obvious mourning. He stepped in and crouched down beside me. I didn't know what to say. It was too late anyways. I was sure that the Joker was long gone by now, with his keen determination and agility. Not to mention he did fear Bruce somewhat, though he wouldn't really admit to it.

I felt a firm hand rest on my cloaked backside, and I quivered from the touch, immediately reviewing the flashes of what occurred just minutes prior.

Tears continued to pool around my eyes. There was no holding them back. I briefly drew my eyes back down, unwilling to meet the dark hues of Bruce. I was just too damaged. I wanted to be alone.

"Diana, what happened here?" he spoke, more serious this time. I shook uncontrollably and rose up off my knees. I turned the other way and gently paced around. I was absolutely speechless. Bruce began to analyze the bathroom, being the detective he was. It was only a matter of time before he'd figure out what occurred just by studying the state of my restroom. The puddles of spilled water on the floor and the leftover murky water still in the tub really contributed a big hint; the colors red, black and white all being visible in the small patch of bubbles in the corner of the tub, the water itself being mostly black from the bastard's washed off makeup.

Bruce was on his feet now, seeming to take a big, frightful hint. What would I say? Or rather, what was he about to say?

"He was here…" he mumbled more to himself, while I felt my knees weaken more and more with each passing second. My head was throbbing like crazy; I'd never had such a terrible migraine in my life. Bruce's eyes were drawn back onto me, his mien grave as I'd ever witnessed it.

"What did he do? Did he hurt you?"

I solemnly met his hurt expression. "What the fuck do you think?!" I stammered, then collapsing back down to the hard tiles, my body enervating to a frightening extent. I felt his hands slip around me and pull me back up to my feet. His arm slipped around me as he helped me walk out of the horrendous scene. "Let's get out of here," he spoke softly, yet unable to hold down that earnest tone.

I continued to sob uncontrollably while Bruce practically carried me over to my bed. He tried his best to coax me, but I just couldn't hold back from releasing my tormented state in the form of hysteric depression. He sat down and pulled me onto his lap; my head went against his broad and welcoming chest immediately thereafter.

"Shh, Diana, you have to tell me what happened." He gently rocked me in his arms, providing pure comfort and just a bit of solace. Thank God he was there. I was falling apart. I was sobbing so hard that I could hardly speak. I was an inscrutable, muttering mess.

"H-he broke in, a-and-"

"When did he break in?"

I had to pull myself together. "*Sniff* U-um...I'm not entirely sure. When I got home I sensed that something was not right, but I - I just shrugged it off. Then I began filling the tub up, and I undressed, until I heard a loud noise come from the entryway. I got my robe on and then went to get my pistol, then I was going to call you, but the phone line was cut. I figured that I could just handle things on my own. I searched around the living room and kitchen with the gun held tightly in my hand, and after a couple minutes I figured that maybe the person had already left, but when I made my way to the laundry room...he - he tackled me, a-and I lost my gun. I was defenseless."

Bruce became immensely discontent. Then he began to blame himself, much to my discouragement.

"Goddamn it! I should have been here! Christ! Oh, Dian, I'm so sorry, I'm so-"

"No, Bruce! Don't blame yourself. This, this was my fault. I should have taken precaution when I felt that someone was here in the first place.

"What did he do to you?" I could tell that he was reluctant to ask me that, but he knew he had to. It was okay. He would protect me and provide the much needed support. I just had to be strong.

"He, um, he-" I was interrupted by Bruce's groan of fury. Oh, he knew what the Fucker did. It was obvious. I think that he just wanted to disregard the possibility as much as possible. He just could not fathom it.

He shook me suddenly, growing very tempered. His expression went from afraid to disgruntled in a short matter of time. He glared deeply into my eyes, then inquired, "he raped you?!" I'd never seen him so consumed with aggression. Though his eyes remained free of tears, his face went a deep shade of red and his overall façade underwent a contortion of pure venom. He was pissed.

"Bruce, it's okay. He's go-"

"How long ago did he leave?" he broke in, as if he had his mind set on capturing the bastard.

"Bruce-"

"WHEN DID HE GO?!" he demanded. I had to oblige. "Uh- about fifteen minutes ago." He grasped my waist and gently placed me aside him, then stood.

"He couldn't have gotten too far. I'm going to call Gordon and the rest of the force to call out a search party. If we really work at it we may be able to catch this prick tonight."

"Bruce, what if he comes back here?!" More tears flooded down my cheeks at the thought. Bruce was more considerate, however. "You're not staying here, Dian. I want you to come back to the manor with me. You'll be staying there."

My heart fluttered in relief. "Bruce, are you sure?"

"Of course. Now, get dressed and pack up what you need. Then I can drop you off and help you get acquainted. I'll have to go, unfortunately. I cannot pass up this chance at finally getting ahold of this freak. Don't worry, Alfred is back home and he'll be there with you to get you whatever you need. You're going to be fine."

I slowly brought myself to my feet, nearly stumbling back down from the numbness in my legs. Bruce went back into my bathroom to clean up the soaked towels and the rest of the mess while I made my way to my closet. I sluggishly let my robe drop down to my floor and tugged one of my old blue dresses off of the hanger and pulled it over my naked frame. I threw on a pair of boy shorts along with it, not really caring to wear a bra. My head throbbed intensely where I was stricken; the Joker's fit of rage having really taken a toll on my physical state. I slipped my worn white TOMS on before falling back down onto my bed from the spontaneous pang that had struck the back of my head. My man was at my side in seconds.

"I think I should perhaps get you to a hospital instead, Dian," he suggested, figuring that to be the only wise thing to do at this point. No, the last thing I wanted was to go to the ER. They would have to do a rape kit and everything. No, I just wanted to put this behind me like I did the other two incidents and move on. I simply doubted that there was any severe trauma to my head, and that the arduous pain that rung through my head on and off would pass over with time, rest and plenty of Motrin.

"No, Bruce, I just want to go to your place and get some much needed rest. That's all I need." He shot me a reluctant look then shrugged as if to say if that's what you think best.

He kept his arm wrapped around me and assisted in each step I took, for I was feeling fairly dizzy. He held onto my duffle bag composed of not much more than toothpaste, a toothbrush and fresh underwear. He phoned Commissioner Gordon on our way to his car, telling him of the incident I had endured involving the Joker's break-in, thankfully excluding the details on the forced sex assault.

I kept my eyes out the window the entire drive over to his place. Focusing my gaze anywhere else would have resulted in getting majorly carsick, and that was the LAST thing I needed to accompany my already prevalent migraine.

I appreciated Bruce's efforts to bring justice to my unfortunate experience, but it wasn't like I really deserved it. After all, that was the 3rd time I'd had sex with him, the first two times, well, the first time was at least somewhat preventable. I couldn't bring myself to confess this to Bruce. I just had to deceive him, though, is it really considered deceitful to not inform the man of the first two times we'd done it? I hadn't even confided such a thing to my diary. I felt contaminated. Disgusted. Infiltrated. I could barely accept theses things myself.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take you to a doctor?" Bruce asked with sincerity, while I continued to neglect the offer. "Just keep driving. I'll be okay."

He wrapped his arm around me again, immediately making me feel at ease. I remained gratuitous for his presence. What would I do without him? Such a savior he was. Put everything and everyone ahead of himself. The selfless man. God, I can't express how much I loved him.

My eyes were yet again stunned briefly at the size and appearance of his beautiful manor. He pulled into the large driveway and patted my shoulder and mumbled a gentle "we're here."

I groggily stepped out with my light bag in hand and nearly threw myself off with the mere closing of his Benz door. I prayed that Bruce had some Ibuprofen in his medicine cabinet, since I had un-thoughtfully left mine back at the complex.

I staggered for the doorway with my hand holding the back of my aching head, Bruce quickly coming my way. The door was opened before I'd even been ten feet away from it, a genial and humble Alfred Pennyworth stood at the threshold with a look of empathy on his elderly face.

"Evening Miss Prince," he spoke while barring a gentle smile, while I was having difficulty putting on any facial expressions aside from a grimace. I approached the kind man and shook his hand while mumbling "hello, Alfred," in return while making my way inside. I heard Bruce approach him behind me and explain the circumstances to him while I gazed upon the heavenly looking couch that promised comfort off in the living room; the very one that Bruce and I had made love on a few times before.

I crashed down onto it as if I'd just ran a freaking marathon. My head was undergoing one hell of a twinge, and I felt that I could be on my feet no longer. Tears shot down my right temple, now from the tension that throbbed away in the back of my head over the personal time with the war paint wearing jackass.

Bruce approached me a minute later with a glass of ice water and a couple motrin. He buried his left arm beneath me and leaned me upright, then placed a more plump pillow behind my head for better support. I wasted no time in taking those pills, and I prayed that they would work their magic in a little amount of time, for I couldn't endure much more of this.

"Alright, Alfred is here to take care of you. I have to go, and I'm sorry for that. The last thing I want to do is go on a wild goose chase aimlessly looking for the ass that did this to you, but I also can't afford to skip out on it."

I groaned in slight protest, not that I minded at all being alone with the humble old man, but I really wanted Bruce by my side to keep me safe. No offense, but I doubted that Alfred could really do much to save me from potential mayhem, except phone the authorities, and by then it'd be too late.

Bruce rubbed the back of my neck and kneeled down. "This could be it, Dian. We just might catch this lunatic tonight. Keep your hopes up." He planted a kiss on my forehead and then stood back upright. "If you need anything at all, just ask Alfred. He's extremely attentive for a man his age." I couldn't help but smile a little at that comment. Thankfully the butler was in the other room at the time, likely not hearing our meanless insultory.

"Bye, baby," I mumbled while he hurried away off to get his suit on. Of course he had to leave the place as Batman, and not Bruce Wayne. I just hoped that he'd be able to keep his word. That he really could capture the Joker.

…

I dozed off into slumber nearly thirty minutes later in that large, drafty and dark room. Alfred had offered me a few things within the first twenty minutes of my uncomfortable lay on the couch, my headache failing to cease even slightly, but I had turned down anything he'd generously throw my way. I told him that I was all set, and that he was free to go to bed, then he did so with a tad of reluctance. I could handle myself just fine. I was uncomfortable with the thought of anyone waiting on me.

I woke up after having slept for a few hours; the small digital clock on the coffee table showing it to be 1:12am. After a few minutes of stretching and yawning I slowly came to my senses. I laid upwards on the fluffy pillow behind me and felt relief at the notification of my headache having toned down in pain, though still looming around in the back corner of my head somewhat. I decided to go into his kitchen to get some fresh ice water; for my throat was very dry for random reason.

Of course his kitchen was lovely; so large and comprised of elegant artwork and color on the walls, even an island in the middle of the vast kitchen with a broad knife wrack hung above and a pile of left out ingredients perched on the middle of the table, mostly just salt shakers and bags of flour.

I wandered over to his expectantly substantial fridge and opened it up to see it stuffed full of all kinds of goodies. Everything from a basic gallon of milk to three large boxes of Betty Crocker cheesecake.

My stomach then let me know that I had never gotten the chance to have dinner due to the horrendous distraction I had to face. Well, I could go for some cheesecake...and one of the boxes was already opened. The cherries on top having looked too appetizing to turn down, I got that out and pulled the tray out of the box on the island. No more than a few slices were missing, so I'd be stingy with the piece I was about to cut. This wasn't my home, so I wasn't going to act like it was, despite what Bruce or Alfred had to say against that.

I was halfway through my slice when I caught a glimpse of a figure in my peripheral view. The kitchen was dark aside from the moonlight shining in from the other room, only providing some dim light into the kitchen. I knew shrugging this off would not benefit me in the latter, for I had learned that lesson the hard way. The ridiculously difficult way, that is. Just as my mother had told me years earlier: When a woman senses that something is askew, she should never disregard it as personal figmentation. A woman's perception and initial feeling is perhaps the most reliable thing in the world.

Well, I don't know about it being the most reliable thing in the world, but I knew she was correct about one thing: when you feel like someone is lurking about without your knowledge of it, run like hell! Being skeptical about my own instinct has really not gotten me anywhere good in life, and it was time for that to change.

I gracefully set my fork down and cocked my head sideways - to see no one. My heart began to pump madly again, then slowed once I'd heard a toilet flush. Then the door off in the distance was opened and out stepped old man Pennyworth. Of course! Who else would it have been? The Joker? He didn't who know who the Batman really was, let alone where he resided.

Alfred seemed to notice me while passing through the long hall. I originally didn't want him to spot me for mere reason of not wanting to perturb him. He slowly walked in and flicked the light on, gave me a disgruntled expression then transforming into a gentle grin.

"Well, you don't have to have a snack with the lights off now, Miss Prince. I just wanted to make sure that you could actually see what you are eating." He lightly chuckled in the end then began to go on his way. I had abruptly stopped him in need of an answer.

"Oh, um, Alfred, you, um, don't mind me eating this, do you?" I asked shyly, feeling kind of silly for doing so. He returned a warm smile.

"Not at all, my dear. Enjoy." I returned an awkward smile and thanked him as he headed back to his room. He reminded me of my grandfather. So kind and thoughtful, and of course extremely solicitous to overpower the other two. He had passed away in '98 from a heart attack, the memory of it panging my heart at the thought of it. He was my favorite family member after all, from losing my father at a young age from lung cancer and having a distant and reclusive mother and sister. He was the only one who really felt like family.

Once I finished my dessert, I headed back into the living room to catch some more shut-eye. Though for the rest of that night, all I could do was anticipate Bruce's return. I knew he'd be out all night, probably wasting his time to be negatively frank.

…

I must have dozed off some time after getting acquainted back on the sofa, for I was awoken by the sound of a door slamming. I squinted around the room fighting to adjust my eyes to the newly arrived daylight that seeped into the room through the tall, sheer curtains.

I leaned upright and saw Bruce storming across the hallway way off in the other room. He didn't seem satisfied. I got up and hurriedly ran out of the room to meet Bruce who was headed up the stairs. I went up the stairs while hollering "So? What happened?"

He continued his pace away from me towards his 'Bat Cave' to remove his armor, or so I'd assumed. I carried on with my pace, having acknowledged that my headache was gone entirely.

"Bruce! Tell me what-"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. There was no progress made. That freak really knows how to stay out of the spotlight when he's being hunted for."

My stomach plummeted in disappointment, yet I wasn't too phased. Of course the Joker was back in hiding, and if he didn't want to be seen, then he wouldn't be seen. He could work that way. That was just one of his many inhumanly characteristics.

I folded my arms and leaned against the doorway panel. "...It's alright, Bruce. Maybe next ti-"

"No, Dian! It's anything but OK!" He shoved the table before him that was full of gadgets to the floor in a sudden outburst of pure aggression. The table collapsed to the floor with an unnerving *thud*. I was startled by his furious audacity, yet I understood his frustration all too well.

I stepped around the broken shards and bits of his less useless weapons and placed my hand on his armored shoulder. He groaned, still in his 'Batman' state of mind, hence the slightly overly aggressive tendencies.

He sighed. "...Where do we go from here?"