A Common Need

By J. "Mysterious Wind" Ruisu

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"It feels right, it feels wrong,

Feels like when you have it, then it's gone,

I want more, more and more,

And if you steal the fire,

Give me some."

-'While We Wait' by Jack Johnson

Bruce

Alfred looked up, eyebrows raised. "Master Wayne. Dare I ask where you were?"

I grinned, dropping the emergency supplies bag I'd brought with me on a coffee table and flopping down in a chair.

"I think we should plan a masquerade party." I mused casually.

"Don't you think that's rather cliché?" Alfred perched himself on a chair across from me.

"Mm... I guess. What would you suggest, instead?"

"A 'Streets of Gotham' theme. Perhaps you could dress up as that Batman fool, and everyone else could dress up as criminals or policemen or something? It certainly would get everyone riled up."

I straightened my back. "You're a genius, Alfred!"

"Not the first time I've heard it." the elderly man smiled and stood up, once more.

"I suspect you'll be 'catching up on business' for a while?" the man asked as he walked away.

"You should be a detective." I replied, smiling and leaning back in my chair. This wasn't natural. In fact, this was absolutely disgusting, wrong, and bad. Completely distasteful, and it went against everything I had grown to be. But for a second, that didn't matter, at all. I almost forgot Rachel even existed, the memory of his lips lingering in my mind. So deceiving.

0 0 0

The day went by quickly. I pulled myself through business matters, catching up on sales and buys, all of that boring stuff. I even managed to make a few flirtatious comments on the state of the women in the offices. But my focus was reduced to about 40%.

When I finally managed to get into the suit, the sun setting over the horizon, it felt vaguely like coming home. I snuggled into the atmosphere, the taste, the smell, the character. Taking my time, I made sure that I had everything perfect. Then, with something clasped in my hand, I dove out into the night, sure of exactly where I wanted to be.

Harvey

The wind was cold on my face, feeling afraid and anxious, and yet completely happy. I paced back and forth on the roof, the massive spotlight sitting, empty of any light, to my left. For once, Gordon wasn't up here; it seemed he was preoccupied with something downstairs. As for everyone else, a large chunk of the force was busy with a basic drug raid, and investigating other petty crimes. Things certainly had been cracked down upon.

I felt the gust of wind from behind before I heard anything. I clenched my fists, turning around as slowly as possible. He stood, dark and menacing, a small smirk on his lips.

"Waiting after school for your crush?" he snarled, and I rolled my eyes.

"You bet." I grunted.

"Afraid I'll have to postpone that meeting, somewhat."

"What are you going to do, scary Batman!"

"Come over here." he beckoned with a large gloved hand. Tilting my head to one side, I took a few cautious steps towards him. He swept me up in his arms in seconds, and I was sure that I would be come jelly. Had he ever done this for Rachel? I doubted it. Things between them were fragile enough as it was.

"Do you still want to see everything?"

"What do you mean?"

"I heard you mumble, once, that you wanted to see everything with me. Do you still want to?"

In the back of my mind, I noticed that it was Bruce's normal voice echoing in my ear, now.

"Yes." I murmured, surprised that he'd heard that through my sleep.

"Hold on to my back, then. I've never done this before, so don't get mad." he was grinning as I clambered onto his back; I could hear it in his voice. He was surprisingly sturdy underneath me, as if I had nothing more than a feather's weight.

Bruce

Harvey was barely breathing as I took him on a loop around the roofs, holding onto him like he were a cherished piece of glass. The world flew by me, a sight I was used to, but occasionally I would hear a small squeak or scream from Harvey.

When I stopped, we were on top of the tallest building in Gotham. He automatically knew it from it's shape, and I could swear I heard his heart speed up through the layers between us.

"It's... amazing." he whispered, grasp tightening around me. I helped him to slide off, and gently, held him close, his face taking in the city below. As he gazed in awe, I slipped the item I'd been clenching into his pocket, withholding a cunning grin from my lips.

"I know this isn't everything, but I am going to show you more. We're going to find a way to make this work."

"You sound cheesy."

"Sorry."

Harvey tilted his head back so that our eyes could meet, and smiled. "I forgive you."

If I were in a movie, I would pan back and take in the scene. The Batman, his cape flying around him, and Harvey Dent, leaning into the vigilante with utter peace, grinning effortlessly, the lights of the city surrounding them. And then, the screen would go black.