I do not own the dark knight or any dc or marvel references.
Summary: At the age of 10, Claire Daring gets into an accident. When Claire wakes up she has years and knowledge she didn't have before.
Claire Daring portrayed by Jennifer Connelly
highlander348- Claire power allows her to make a shield and have visions but it causes her some physical pain on a cellular level. I plan on touching a bit of the supernatural aspect of how she got them. So expect Constantine making an appearance later. Costume- I don't know as she's not much of a fighter- Claire is a pacifist. She also grew up in a church- so physical fighting is difficult for her. She rather use her mind to fight hence why she manifests shields. I'm just writing as I'm going so later she may have a learn some defense from Bruce. On whether she'll be stronger than Bruce. Maybe not physically stronger but she will be more emotionally. When it comes to people she has a lot of compassion even for the Joker.
I Growl For Fun- Thank you for your support. Let me know what you think of this next chapter.
PART 2
Chapter 9
"Do you know how I got these scars?"
There was no actual story behind those scars because he first says it to a mob boss that he got it from an abusive father, then he will tell Rachel that he self inflicted it and the third story he was about to tell Batman he doesn't get a chance to tell him.
It's calculated move from the Joker.
He was deliberately doing some psychological manipulation.
"So I had a wife. She was beautiful , like you... we were happy, we were going to have baby even. She use to tell me I worry too much... who tells me I ought to smile more-"
She blinks confused- he changed the story a bit... Was it because of her? Pregnancy? Maybe it's following the 'Killing joke' plot line?
All it takes is one bad day... That's what he's saying... one bad day to become like him.
In the movie, the directors didn't explore the Jokers past because it made him more intimidating but she herself had her own speculations.
"-who gambles and gets in deep with the sharks- can't raise a kid in that environment! Hey. One day, they carve her face. And we have no money for surgeries- she loses the baby even. She can't take it. I just wanna see her smile again. Hm?"
She could see Rachel who was struggling against him was taking in those words.
"I just want her to know that I don't care about the scars... so, I stick a razor in mouth and do this to myself," he indicates to his own scars smiling manically. "And you know what? She can't stand the sight of me. She leaves." His voice chocked in emotion.
Though Claire knew that this was all a ruse. She couldn't help but think that think sound of emotion came from... 'something'. His story to the mob boss was similar where he talks about an abusive father... the story had someone he cared about reject him.
Perhaps these stories did offer some sort of an idea to his psyche.
"Now I see the funny side. Now I'm always smiling."
Rachel shoves him back and stands in front of me protectively. It warms her heart on how far they came as friends.
"You got a little fight in you. I like that."
"Then you are gonna love me," says Batman hitting the Joker with a punch to the face.
Claire takes Rachel's hand as they edge closer to the guests of the party while dodging clown masked men with guns.
Joker is suppose to distract Batman by throwing Rachel out the window to make a getaway. Perhaps if Batman isn't distracted and gets the Joker earlier- they could avoid the drama later where he kidnaps both Rachel and Harvey.
She needed to get Rachel away so Batman can do his thing without worrying about some damsel in distress situation.
Her back was turned briefly just about to follow Rachel to the safety of the crowd when she was roughly shoved back by an arm gripping at her elbow.
She was embarrassed by the girlish squeak that had caught her off guard.
"Claire!" she heard Rachel cry out in surprise.
The cold feeling of a gun was pressed to her head.
Her breath almost stopped as she sees the purple of the Joker's suit.
Her heart was pounding in her ears and the looming thought of causing someone's death was weighing on her. She honestly should not have come tonight.
Will Batman catch her in time like he had done in the movie? She wasn't Rachel- he doesn't know her. Would he risk himself for her?
She could just easily become collateral damage.
If she dies now, she changes nothing and Rachel and Harvey die regardless of her interference today.
She should of stayed out of it. Now she got the Joker's attention...
But.
Maybe there was a reason for Claire Daring to be here. That she became friends with Rachel, that she had this sense of feeling aimless despite her accomplishments that this new life offered her, there was a reason why she was reborn with these memories and without a family to mourn her.
Maybe this was the greater purpose for her.
Perhaps she should... get his attention that is.
He can tie her up at the building and Rachel won't have to die. Rachel and Harvey could have their wedding or perhaps Rachel changes her mind and goes with Bruce.
Rachel is the catalyst to Batman's downfall in the third movie as well. Two woman even take advantage of Bruce due to his trauma over Rachel.
If she takes Rachel's place. This won't happen- she saves her two dear friend's lives and Gotham doesn't lose Batman.
Well, that's if Batman catches her in time before she is a pancake on the sidewalk.
"Would ya look at that. You make for a wonderful hostage, Bright eyes."
Well if he was referring to the fact that she wasn't struggling like she should be then he would be right.
"Drop the gun." Batman says gruffly.
Looking at the heavy black armor in person she had to wonder how he'd caught Rachel before. Somehow her chances of her making it out alive tonight seem slimmer and slimmer.
"Oh, sure. You just take of your little mask and show us all who you really are. Hm?"
He shoots at the glass behind her and shoves her to the end of the now broken window.
"Let her go."
"Very poor choice of words."
She hears both Maria and Rachel scream.
Claire feels gravity taking hold of her. With eyes closed as she hopelessly tried to grip on to something. She was sliding down the building as she was gaining momentum the further she descended.
Claire felt her body drop.
And she doesn't scream.
She feels weightless... a familiar feeling- like the moments before death.
Her mind briefly thought of Maria, Father Reed, Grace, Logan, Rachel and Harvey.
If there was one thing she'd miss, it was them invading her loft with food. Sitting at a table with them... the company. She'd miss that.
For some reason- she didn't mind if Batman never saved her. She lived her new life without any regrets. Pursued a career she loved and said the things she wanted to say.
It was okay...maybe she got it wrong- maybe-
Something grabs her making her eyes shoot up in surprise- her vision was blurred. He changes our positions mid fall so he'd take the brunt of the impact... well the suit would.
They land of a taxi and she turns to see Batman. She was sure her eyes were amber again by the reflection of her eyes on his. That familiar dull pain behind her orbits ensues and she feels the amber flicker out.
"Thank you," she manages to gasp out. She sits up abruptly. She decides she gonna just pretend he didn't see anything.
"You should get going."
She had no snappy line here just appreciation that he saved her.
"You okay?" he asks- rasps? his gaze looks almost suspicious as she tries to see a way of getting off him and the taxi. She was sure he saw her eyes now and it didn't help with the Joker's nickname for her.
"Yeah," she looks at him before swallowing. "Just considering going back to therapy after my third near death experience," she says feeling light headed before her vision goes black.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chapter 10
After spending a night at hospital.
Logan takes her home and Rachel and Harvey visit after she was forced to consume Logan's customary eggs and toast. They were all spread on the couch with popcorn, blankets and the movie Rebecca on. Maria had excused herself out with promises that she'll come back.
"This movie is so dark," comments Logan bored as they get to the introduction of the sinister Mrs. Danvers. He sat at the end of the couch while Rachel sat next her with Harvey who had his arm around the couch intently watching. Maria's spot was left untouched and waiting for her return.
"Like my soul," she comments.
"You're being dramatic," replies Logan.
"Like your hair," she shoots back weakly.
"Did you happen to read the novel, Claire?" asks Rachel her voice sounding encouraging.
"Yes, I like the descriptions of Manderley estate, the sense of doom it expresses in words that deeply sings to my core."
"... How long is she going to be like this?" was Harvey's incredulous response after a brief silence.
"I got this Harvey, just had to get the prescription for her cure," says Maria sauntering in with a box in her arms.
Rachel and Harvey sit up curiously as Maria comes closer. The sounds of whimpers and movement was heard as Maria drew closer. When they peer within the box- swaddled in blankets were four very fluffy puppies.
"The buyers are going to pick them up tomorrow but we can play around with them today. I'll show you guys how we train them," states Maria.
In a daze, she reaches inside and picks one up. It neither struggles or whines but wags it tail happily.
"I'm gonna name you Tony," she declares looking at the his brown coat.
"You can't name them. I have to return them tomorrow," interrupts Maria.
"A temporary name then," she holds Tony close to her chest.
"So Claire's cure to her doom and gloom are puppies," summarizes Harvey.
"I call it puppy therapy."
"Huh."
"Better than the regular therapy," comments Rachel as lifts up a pure white puppy with blue eyes. "Got a temporary name for this handsome fella?"
"We will call him Steve- he fought in the war even took a bite at Hitler. He gets trapped in ice on a mission and when he is finally found, it is over 90 years later and now he's in the future. He meets Tony who is a the son of a friend he had in the past but they butt heads because Tony's insecure nature caused by his father who had dedicated his life on trying to find Steve."
She felt like her old self was returning.
"... I feel like she is referencing something and just won't tell us," comments Logan.
"She is always referencing something in that big head of hers." Maria picks up two black colored furry dogs. One was a girl and the other a boy. "These two?"
"Wanda and Pietro they are brother and sister pair from Slovakia," she answers flawlessly.
"Did she just create back stories for all of them?" Harvey pets Steve in Rachel's lap looking amused.
"What's Tony's back story?" laughs Rachel.
"He's an excessive drinker and womanizer."
"Basically Bruce Wayne," snipes Maria.
"Honestly you guys are crazy," Harvey shakes his head at us.
"Welcome to craziness of Claire Daring and company," chuckles Logan.
"Logan I shall not be reduced to 'and company.'" Maria huffs taking a seat near Rachel and herself.
"Someone's in the dog house."
"She's back with her biting comments. Can't say I missed you cause I didn't," Logan says sardonically looking at her blankly.
"Logan I don't bite, that's more your area than mine."
"I'm sure your area involves a cauldron and voodoo dolls."
"Don't make me take out my pins," she warns playfully back.
Tony barks in her hand and starts squirming around. "Okay, guys let me show you to teach your dog basic commands," Maria says.
They spent the night just teaching the group of Avenger puppies how to sit, stay and give high fives. It was the most fun she had in what felt like a long time.
Maria and Rachel convince her to go for actual therapy... for her near death experience.
That night as she watches from door of her loft, her four friends leave. Logan carrying the sleeping puppies in their box and Maria trailing behind him. Harvey and Rachel are right behind them hands clasped.
The evening was comforting and warm that it made a pain in her heart. It's like when you cannot tell whether you're happy or sad.
She thought if she could have one wish it would be that nothing will ever change and they could have days like this forever.
But the sun cannot be stopped in its path except by God and he will only do that until the end of the world.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chapter 11
For some time Claire use to believe that perhaps her other life didn't exist but after the night of meeting the Joker, what followed was an unsteady gait and questions about existence because it played out near the same as it did on the television screen minus her being there.
What is existence? What is reality? Does her actions have consequence?
In a way the idea that there exists a Superman in this world grounded her- that she wasn't the only other worldly being.
Though the implications were there she wondered how lonely Superman must feel with being different and other worldly.
"My mental health isn't good. Since the car accident- it's like submerging a coin in water. It doesn't rust instantaneously, but give it a few years and it won't even maintain its shape. This eroding has been happening for while... Perhaps survivor's guilt?" Claire Daring tries to explain while sitting hunched over.
Jillian Smith taps manicured nails on a steel clip board, gaze focused on the bent over form of Claire Daring whose eyes were unfocused.
"Your metaphors have remained as vibrant as it was when you were ten years old," comments Jillian smiling calmly.
"Which is why you agreed to shrink me," she points out almost snapping from her daydreaming.
Jillian laughs without humor. "I shrink you because you tend to barge in unannounced. And because you made it very clear that you have no intention of seeing a therapist more appropriate for your age group."
Claire shrugs... to see another therapist means that she would have to open up again and well it seemed tedious.
"Well, they won't have free lollipops," she points out.
"Ah-ha," Jillian nods slowly skeptically.
"What's your professional opinion on repressed emotions?"
"Is this about your second brush of death?"
"You know?"
"It was all over the news. It was a miracle Batman was there."
"Yeah, I didn't think he'd-" she pauses mid sentence. Jillian's voice always made her talk but she shouldn't say something that may implicate any knowledge of Batman or the Joker or she won't stop.
"Didn't think what?" Jillian hooks on to it. "That he'd come to save you?" concern drifting in her expression.
"That he has cute eyes," she deflects easily.
Jillian studies Claire in silence but doesn't push. "So repressed emotions? What makes you think that?"
Claire was mostly referencing her previous life that she couldn't remember hide or tail off. "Well, I have the signs. Childhood trauma, a struggle with relationships, anxiety, sleeplessness, addictive behaviors- in my case that would be alcohol to help me sleep," she lists of.
"When last have you been on a date, Claire?" asks Jillian.
She makes a face. "Not you too Jill! Maria and Rachel have both tried to set me up with their respective partner's colleagues. What does my near death experience have to do with my empty bed?" wondering if all woman in this world just have marriage and kids in their programming.
"To form a strong, long-lasting bond, intimacy is required to fulfill a human's basic need: it's what human beings crave in order to create a safe, loving and happy relationship perhaps even archieving peace of mind," Jillian states as she gifts her a blank look.
"You've archived great heights in your career Claire, you have enough friends that you don't see the need to expand to more, you neither struggle for money or have any aliments and since your relationship with Malcolm Myles you haven't pursued any intimate relationships." Jillian elaborates.
Claire heart stutters at his name... She hadn't seen him in four years and last she heard he was dating a lady cop.
"Basically, I wanted to know if you got over your attachment to Malcolm?" asks Jillian.
"I should be, I haven't seen him in four years," she explains.
"You need true companionship, Claire," Jillian stresses.
"I have that, I have Maria."
"Maria Perry and you have a symbiotic relationship. That may have been okay during your traumas but you haven't really overcome them. You have never spoke of it to Maria and allowed yourself to be truly vulnerable. You don't have a zest for life as you did when you were working up the ranks in Gotham or when you were with Malcolm."
"Maria... well she won't really understand and it use to trigger her when we a little so I don't like bringing the past up with her."
"That's understandable but what about relying on someone else. Like Maria relies on Logan. She hasn't really told you the extent of her past abuse. Have you spoke to her about it?"
'How about not relying on anyone?' she thinks cynically.
"No, I don't feel the need." she says carefully. "Mental and emotional trauma is hard to bring up around her. She hates her family and what they did."
"You're friends with Rachel Dawes and Harvey Dent- how much do they know?"
"They know what everyone else knows... Nobody really asks me about that night because they are afraid about how I'll react and feel."
"Do you want to be asked about that night?"
"No," somehow her answer made her feel lonely. She never be able to be open with anyone.
She cringes when her phone rings.
A saved by the cell phone situation.
Claire looks at the phone briefly, some cops name she didn't bother to type. "I have to go. I have to make some statement at the police station." She stands making her way to the door.
"Claire," calls Jillian. She stop just as she reached the door. "I'm glad you're alive. Take care of yourself."
The words made her feel like she was hit by a huge hammer.
..
..
"With no word from the Batman even as they mourn Commissioner Loeb these cops have to wonder if the Joker will make good on his threat in the obituary column of Gotham Times to kill the mayor..."
Make good? Isn't it make bad?
She didn't know why the news of Gotham did this. Making a spectacle is what the Joker wants. They should of kept this whole thing quiet. He wanted the whole of Gotham to pay attention about this. Instead of mourning the death of this man everyone just anticipated the Joker's next move.
She switches the television off.
Thankfully Maria and Logan were seated near Rachel and Harvey. They should be fine now.
She wasn't sure if the Joker would target her anymore. Everything was playing into the story of the movie.
She sat trying to recall the address of where Harvey and Rachel would be kept but her brain hit a blank. She couldn't recall the key information.
Meditation... The idea of meditation... that's an option. She pulled out an old video of instructional meditation. She hadn't done this since Malcolm left.
She sits herself on a pillow with eyes closed.
She takes a deep breath and clears her mind.
In Out In Out...
She feels herself sinking... memories of old. Sinking into the water.
"I'm where you should be, at the Major Crimes. I'm trying to deal with all this mess." Rachel says on the phone she points at a man who walks in. "Can I get the fingerprint analysis?"
"Rachel, listen, you're not safe there," she hears Harvey's voice through the phone.
Their voices were echoes, her body was weightless as almost watching everything occurring through tinted glass.
"Gordon's gone."
She watches Rachel's face as the words sink in sadness.
"Joker's named you next."
She opens her eyes gasping! No she needed to go further she needed those addresses.
"Rachel... I love you." Harvey's voice gasps.
"I love you too."
No, she needs to focus about after the Joker and Bruce interrogation scene. He gives Gordon an address.
"You got rules, the Joker's got rules-" she sees Carmine spit out.
Further she pushes forward. A dull familiar headache begins to form behind her eyes.
"Harvey called." Rachel says conversationally. As Bruce walks into a very expensive apartment room. "He said Batman is gonna turn himself in."
"I have no choice."
"You honestly think that's gonna keep the Joker from killing people?"
She shook her head she needs to look for the addresses.
"Bruce, I can't..." Rachel pushes him back after what looked like a passionate kiss. "I love Harvey... I can't be with you. If you're turning yourself in tomorrow I will be there as your friend. I'm asking you not to make me your one hope for a normal life."
She blinks the conversation went differently than she remembers.
...
...
"Which one you're going after?"
"Rachel!"
The imagine blinks and it's seen with a hue of gold instead of orange she sees herself running into the building. She studies the elevator and sees a red cable jutting out of it. It looked like a bomb so she takes the stairs.
"Rachel!" she sees herself yell once she gets to the top of stairs out of breath and pressed with time.
"Claire?- How'd you-"
"No questions we need to get out. Don't be struggling on your side Harvey. I believe Batman is on his way!" she assures through the phone.
She struggles with the pliers and begins breaking the chains using adrenaline and her very little muscle.
"Thank god!" she could hear Harvey gasp.
Once she manages to get Rachel free we make a break to the door. We had to use the stairs and she could feel herself lagging behind her friend.
Suddenly an explosion shakes the building and she sees Rachel fall right through the floor she reaches and a Shield forms around Rachel, Rachel's eyes widens.
She feels herself slipping.
A steel rod in-between concrete impales her and the Shield around Rachel shatters like glass and it's last thing she sees before she is suddenly awaken from whatever prophetic vision.
She starts to choke feeling a constricting feeling in her chest as if she was under water for a long time and just resurfaced. She looks outside to see the sun setting and her head pounds as if someone was constricting it.
She passes out in her lounge.
Chapter 12
Destination: 250 52nd street
The city lights obstructed any stars from the sky. There was just a void of darkness... it seemed empty. Like looking out as still waters. The air was cold that she felt it in her bones.
She stared out at the building. She had took the numerous stairs to get on top of the adjacent building to Rachel's one.
She had to be realistic. She didn't want to chance or trigger any of the Joker's traps in the building.
Far out on roof she sees her friend, Rachel Dawes tied up on the top of the building.
She believes the Joker's intention was to really kill Rachel. He places her on the roof and Harvey get's ground floor and he tricks Batman with the addresses.
She takes a long breath trying to ignore the voice of Rachel screaming out for someone. She could use a shield around her. It was the only solution she saw better than falling to her death and impaled by rubble.
She can do this...
She feels a familiar pull as if she was throwing a part of herself out there. She could barely hears sirens of the car before she feels flashes again. The explosion becomes a distant muffled noise.
The familiar golden hue, surrounded her but instead of watching herself she was on a bed with the familiar antiseptic smell of the hospital and beeping of the heart monitor.
She tries to move her hands but she was met with resistance.
clink clink
"Hi there Bright eyes!" as the Joker's face pops right in her face making her scream.
He shoves his dirty hand by her mouth almost suffocating her in the process and she kicks and kicks trying to struggle against him.
"You, foiled my plans. Really who would of expected this? Some freakish power you have there," he sneers. He studies my face longer and tears gather around my eyes. "Those are pretty but you seem like you ran out of juice..." he pulls out a spoon. "Really I should scoop them up like ice cream. Let me have a looksie."
She sees the spoon near her eyes as it gets closer and closer the heart monitor starts to sound erratic. She shakes her head trying to scream, crying out but -
The vision cuts when a marbles surface touches her hand.
Her eyes shoot up to see Rachel all tied up in a chair in a floating sphere ball starring at her as she was some extraterrestrial being.
She might as well be one.
She lets out a breath and the shield around Rachel disappears.
"Claire?" she chokes out and she stops herself from crying from joy.
It was almost too good to be true.
Standing she tries to use the pliers to help Rachel out of yhe chains. She could barely stand.
"How-?" began Rachel but she cuts her friend by giving her a hug as well as using her for some much needed physical support.
"No time to ask me anything. Rachel, what I do you can't tell anyone. I see the future too and if the Joker finds out about me he's going to kill me -I've seen it! You can't tell anyone! Not even Gordan or-or Batman..." she fights off sleep feeling her brain exploding with pain and heaviness in her eyes.
"Listen, Harvey thinks you're dead, Joker is going to use that. You need to stop Harvey from giving into the dark side," she says briefly wondering if she had enough time to be making star wars references.
She could start to hear the heaviness of her breathing.
"Try to transport me to my loft before you see Harvey. Also warn Batman Joker is going to blow up a hospital- he's planner despite his words... Joker is out of prison - carful how ya move now-" her words become slurred before she allowed sweet sleep embrace her.
Chapter 13
'Wakey wakey eggs and bakey, Bright eyes.'
When Claire snaps her eyes open, then jerks upright. Her hands weren't bound but her eyes tinted her vision with the orange color and she hears a crash. She's somewhere underground. Familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time.
"Claire, you're alright," assures a familiar voice hand on her hair brushing it down as she tries to catch her breath.
She looks to see Rachel alive and well looking equally exhausted.
"Did you see Harvey? Is he okay? The hospital explosion-" she throws out words.
"Harvey is missing and we were able to evacuate the hospital before it exploded," she assures.
Evacuate? She forgot the people in the hospital- Rachel had been a priority and in the moment she just threw out random knowledge that she knew to her.
She relaxes and the tint of orange disappears leaving her vision blurry.
"So you can turn that off at will?" says a familiar voice of God freaking Morgan Freeman who literally plays God in Bruce all Mighty. He works for a Bruce now- talk about being Meta.
Sadly she couldn't enjoy to look at the handsome sliver fox which was Batman's unofficial tech guy. She had to hide the star struck respect she had for man.
"Claire this is-"
"Lucius Fox," she interrupt Rachel in a daze.
"Saw me in visions?"
She turns her fuzzy gaze to Rachel's blurry form. "He's someone I trust Claire. You weren't waking up and I had to move you so-"
"You called Batman and now I'm in the Bat cave," she ends looking around curiously but could barely make out the vague environment. She wondered if Bruce and Alfred were around.
"Bat cave? I like that," laughs Lucius.
She didn't know what to say, so she curled her legs toward her for a little comfort.
Was she going to be permanently blind?
Will she ever paint again?
How does this change things with Rachel alive?
What happens now?
Lucius makes a slight motion with his arms ahead making her snap her attention towards him.
"Tell us about these abilities Miss Daring? How did you acquire them?" asks Lucius.
Rachel and him stay on a stool while she feels Lucius study her.
"When I was 10 years old I got into that accident... I think I died for a bit and something brought me back. I had these memories or visions..." she trails off. Honestly she didn't want others to have an existential crisis. So she'd have to shut up about comic books, movies and actors.
"Something brought you back?" repeats Lucius.
"God? I grew up in a Catholic church so it's something I'm inclined to think about," she states almost chuckling at the insanity of it all. She was talking to Morgan Freeman.
"But not certain?"
'This almost felt like an interrogation,' she thinks contemptuously. "Maybe, with my visions- I've seen more of this world that can be explained- which could maybe explain these abilities. Like aliens exist- did you know? I know I'm an alien though."
"Can you be sure?"
She makes a face and she could hear Morg- Lucius chuckle.
"So what else have you seen in these visions?" Lucius asks deciding to drop the alien topic which was relieved at.
"I saw the Joker then too... Batman as well... Not only that I saw the red blue blur... many others in the world. It's hard to explain. I knew how Rachel and Harvey would die before I met them," she says.
"So you knew about this for years," a harsh gravelly voice says. He was a big blur of imposing black nearly towering over the fuzzy form of what was Rachel.
She flinches and she almost wanted to cry that a character she had once idolized in her other life was being so critical of her. The harshness of his tone was demeaning and made her feel like a crappy person for ignoring to help many people with this ability something that took her years to make peace with.
Rachel instead holds her hand. "That must be painful... do you see the future of everyone you meet?" Her voice was patient, understanding and sympathetic.
"The amount of innocent lives killed by the Joker-" a very unforgiving voice grates on.
"Well, I'm losing vision and you can see the result of what happens when I use it... I wanted to be an artist and if I lose my sight how will I paint? It's selfish and I hated myself but at the time- I was someone who just lived for herself. My family died- I died. There was no one who would really understand!-" she exclaims she huffs almost reconsidering her next words but felt he needed to know how much of a target she is with her knowledge.
"I'm not some billionaire playboy philanthropist. I have to work to make a living and what if someone saw what I can do and wanted to use me. I'd be putting the very little people that gave me a semblance of reality at risk!"
She was winded with annoyance.
Bruce Wayne has no right make her feel guilty because what she does has consequences. Especially when he selfishly let Harvey take the heat when Harvey lied about being Batman.
She starts to feel slightly dizzy as she presses her head on her knees.
"Your eyes... how many fingers I'm holding?" asks Lucius.
"It's blurry- I can't even make out if it's a hand," she says disappointment and anxiety stabbing her chest. She tries not to feel anger over it.
"Mister Wayne, since the metaphorical cat is out of the bag. I'd like to take Miss Daring to my lab for tests, of course with Miss Daring's permission." Lucius turns his attention to her as if waiting for her response.
"Sure, I'd really like to continue my life with painting..." She trusts Lucius more than she'd trust Alfred or Batman. The man was ethical and empathetic to all.
"Harvey is missing? Did you see him before that?" her question directed to Rachel.
"We were too late. We think the Joker took him," she explains.
"We're working on trying to locate Mister Dent as we speak which will take some time unless you have any words of wisdom to offer," says Lucius patiently.
She hasn't heard a word from Bruce yet so she wasn't even sure if he was in the room or maybe he was sitting on the chair with that pensive noir look she sometimes see glimpses off.
She takes a deep breath and feel her vision flicker to orange hue again.
"Wait, Claire don't put pressure on your eyes!" warns Rachel.
There was a flicker of gold as Joker holds a police officer at gun point. Harvey stands in the background not doing a thing just glaring at the cop.
"Barbara, it's Anna Ramirez. Jim needs you to pack up and put the kids in the car right away... Those cops can't trusted. Jim needs you away from them as soon as possible. I'll call them off for 10 minutes and you'll have to move fast... 250 52nd street."
Harvey stands idly a brief look at guilt on his face reassures her that perhaps Harvey can be saved.
The Joker smiles mechanically his body bouncing with unrepressed excitement as he waves his gun manically..
"Claire!" Rachel's firm grip pulls her out from her vision. "Your eyes!" she stresses and wetness from there and a smell of iron.
"Whatever you're doing Miss Daring stop doing it. You might not ever recover your sight," warns Lucius from her other side as she feels a cloth of her face.
"It's the end game now. What you do will also affect a the future of Gotham's next major attack which will occur 8 years from now," she warns and a fall of silence and attention from everyone in the room was directed toward her.
"You jumped eight years to the future," Lucius's voice was dripped with astonishment and intrigue.
"250 52nd street! Harvey will be there with the Joker. There will be hostages... Detective Gordon's family," she says hastily. She could hear sudden movement. If she wasn't sure Batman was in the room she was now.
"You're going? I'm coming with you!" yells Rachel.
"It's dangerous-"
"It's Harvey- I have to go Bruce, the man that I love is in pain," which quickly shuts him up.
Claire had an uncomfortable feeling that she was in the middle of some cheesy Spanish drama.
Her head was swimming as she feels Lucius move beside her checking her vitals. She could feel how awkward the man next to her felt in waves.
"Rachel, Harvey may not be saved. You were suppose to die and he was to follow. There is a small percentage that you might change it... Bru- um Batman, trust Gotham to make the right decision and focus on saving Gordon's family."
She feels her vision slowly dim and she wondered if this was the last thing she will see or say and if it would do anything to save anyone. She hopes in whatever happens she won't find herself waking with the Joker trying to spoon out her eyes.
But for now as she closes her eyes she knows she closes them with no regrets.
End of part 2
Hi readers, I left this with a bit of a cliff hanger. What do you think? Reviews please!