"Nothing's painless in life."

Ellie doesn't know who to trust. But she knows that she doesn't want to endanger the people she loves.

And all the kids cried out,

"Please stop, you're scaring me."

I can't help this awful energy

Goddamn right, you should be scared of me

-Control by Halsey-

As soon as the morning came, Ellie decided to move her feet a bit, remembering how sleepy she felt yesterday. Her head was still aching though when she moved her head to pick up her bra, but in the end, nothing was painless in life. She chose to stay in her night clothes, aware that she didn't have anything to change into.

It was quiet as she stepped outside of her room, wondering if the kids already went to school. Yet it was still early that she might run into Bruce.

She met the one constant in the kitchen. "Alfred," she greeted him with a smile.

He turned around, his hands currently cleaning a cup, before he put it on the counter in front of her. "Good morning, Miss Ellie. How was your sleep?"

His words brought her back to the bad dreams and memories she was having, making her pause. "I, uh, restless, I would say," she truthfully offered. Ellie wasn't sure if she was ready yet to talk about what happened. She tried to change the subject, "Can I get a cup of tea?"

Alfred glanced furtively at her before he abided to her wishes. "Black, with sugar and milk?"

Ellie chuckled. "You know it."

She took a seat at a bar stool by the kitchen island, awaiting her steaming cup. Footsteps were sounding behind her, making her turn her head to see Bruce in his business get-up, a gray suit with his shining black shoes. He still hadn't shaved, his delicious stubble sending shivers down her spine.

What was wrong with her? Ellie reminded herself that so far, she could not get physically close to him without tensing up like a statue.

"Morning," she said, her body turning fully to him.

He was glancing carefully at her, his body language hesitant as he paused in front of her. Their bodies separating just a small distance from each other. "Good morning, Ellie." She was considerably smaller than him and had to look up at him, unsure of herself. She didn't really show a cordial version of herself, while she was being all distant to him – not only emotionally but also physically.

He halted a bit as he leaned forward, her tensing up and betraying her body. She could kick herself for her actions. Yet then he decided to give her a soft kiss to her forehead. Ellie exhaled, his sweet gesture making her come undone. She gazed at him in surprise, his small smile urging her features to soften at his gentle ways.

Bruce took a seat next to her, joining her as she blew on her tea in the meantime. Ellie took notice of Alfred leaving them as they enjoyed their breakfast, appreciating his thoughtfulness.

Bruce glanced at the clothes she was wearing, urging her to explain before he could speak, "I don't have any other clothes with me. I just..." she hesitated, "I don't want to wear my clothing from that day." Ellie felt shy and her mention of the elephant in the room, did nothing but create an awkward tension.

Bruce hesitated before offering, "You can have some of mine."

Ellie gazed at him, imagining his too big clothes on her small body. She still revealed a small smile in thanks. "Okay."

He cleared his throat, seeming to prepare himself to say something important. Her body already straightened at the possibilities. "Look, I … think we need to talk. About what happened."

"I know, I just..." Her mouth was forming a straight line, her heart was beginning to pound in her chest like it was awaiting something horrible to happen.

"I don't want to pressure you. I just want you to know that I'm here if you're ready."

Ellie glanced at him anxiously, unsure if he really meant it. "Okay," she only said, the smiling face of Strange and the focus in Crane's ice-blue eyes came to mind, forcing her to look for a change of topic.

"I..." Ellie cleared her throat, remembering something else. "I need to go back to my tech firm today, I need to check on something." She was looking down at the swirling brown hues of her tea, not looking up at him, as he pondered her suggestion.

Bruce exhaled a heavy breath. "Are you sure?"

She nodded, not being able to say the words out loud. Just thinking of stepping outside made her fingers shake and her head throb, at the possible dangers that were lurking outside. Yet she knew she had to do this.

There was no time like the present.

"How about if Alfred takes you there?"

She was contemplating his proposal, knowing that she felt like a wuss for not wanting to go out alone now.

"He just … I am not saying he must go inside. Just drive you." Bruce hesitated before saying his fears out loud, "I'm not comfortable letting you outside all alone. Please, do this for me."

Ellie gazed at the worried and broken expression in his smoldering eyes, and she knew she wouldn't be able to say no to him. Not to mention he was speaking his mind and echoing her own anxieties in the process.

She nodded in agreement. "Alright. That sounds good."

Bruce only offered a relieved smile.

Ellie was sitting at the backseat while Alfred was steering her to her requested location, his caring eyes looking at her through the rear-view mirror. "Do not fault Master Wayne for wanting to keep you safe, Miss Ellie. He truly cares about you."

Her gaze wandered, knowing that Alfred was telling the truth when it came to Bruce. He had to know his protege after countless years of looking after him.

"I know." She nodded, looking outside the window in contemplation, darkness covering them whole in the evening.

"There we are." Alfred parked the car at the curb, turning his head to glance at her in anticipation.

"Okay." She bobbed her head and took a few cleansing breaths to prepare herself. The last time she was in there was right before she had gotten abducted.

"I'll be right outside, waiting for you," Alfred reminded her softly, his caring words softening her.

She hummed. "This shouldn't take long," she promised him. Deciding to jump into the cold-water head on, Ellie got out of the car. The sound of a closing door echoing in the silence of the night. Unlocking the door to the company, her feet led her inside the dark space which was littering with computers on their desks. Ellie inhaled several times. "Let's just get this over with," she muttered to herself.

The brunette hurried towards her computer, turning it on. She felt comfort in the blue glint of her screen, lighting up the darkness.

"Working so late?" A modulated voice said from the corner.

"Oh my God!" Ellie cried out, her hand pressing against her chest in shock, as she jumped back. She could finally speak when her heart was quieting down. "Are you always lurking in the shadows, trying to frighten every unsuspecting woman?"

The small repenting smirk could be seen under the black cowl, the massive figure of Batman slowly stepping forward. The moonlight shining through the windows cast him into an almost ethereal glow. It felt like ages since she had last seen him, while she was attacked by … Strange's goons.

A flashing idea crossed her mind. Now it was clear why Crane and Strange lured her in. But it didn't make sense why they would choose her, based on a one-time occurrence.

The caped crusader snorted. "Only the criminals. You made yourself guilty of a crime since the last time?"

Ellie could have sworn he was raising a challenging eyebrow underneath the mask. She crossed her arm in front of her chest, unsure of his motive. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to make sure you were alright. You looked worse for wear a few days ago."

Ellie gulped, tilting her head. "Didn't take Batman interested in after care."

She felt admonished by his beat of silence and shook her head in answer. "I'm fine." Her voice cracked, hoping he wouldn't notice.

Batman paused, his mouth forming a straight line. "Now the truth, please."

Ellie's heart started racing again in his presence, his words pulling her back to the moment as both crazy doctors were interrogating her about the identity of the Batman.

"You know, you can tell us."

"You seem to be an important element, if the fluttering Bat keeps saving you."

"Tell me who he is."

Ellie shrugged, licking her lips nervously, and noticing how his ever so observant eye went to the wet spot. "I'm better," she said weakly.

"I want to know what happened," he growled, sending shivers down her spine. If he was treating her like a witness, she didn't want to imagine what it was like being interrogated by him as a criminal. He stepped forward.

Ellie blinked, trying to fight off the feeling of ants crawling underneath her skin. "They," she swallowed, trying to ignore her dry throat in the process, "the Scarecrow and Strange kidnapped me."

His head whipped in her direction at the revelation, surprise shining on his face. "Are you sure?"

"Strange introduced himself." Ellie snorted. "Like they always do," she muttered, villains always having to be all pompous. "I didn't see Crane put on his mask, but … there are not many villains out there playing around with toxins."

She noticed the twitching of Batman's lips. "What did they want?"

Ellie hugged her middle, not looking at him. "It wasn't even about me. They wanted me because of you." She continued at the look of shock crossing over his face again, "The psycho doctors just wanted to know your real identity." She shrugged, feeling like it was her own fault to begin with that she had been abducted. "I mean, I know it doesn't make sense. We just met like two times and I don't even know your real identity." She hastily elaborated when he gazed furtively to her, "Not that I want to."

Batman sighed, his eyes looking contemplatively to the ground. "You weren't supposed to get hurt," he whispered, pain lacing his voice.

Ellie shrugged, appreciating his words. "It's okay. Although maybe it shouldn't surprise me that they thought I meant something to you. They still should have done their research better." For some reason he was gazing at her meaningfully, like somehow her words were ringing true.

"I promise you, I'll keep you safe," he said, his deep voice ghosting over her, knowing he would not throw out these words without meaning them.

Ellie shook her head in bewilderment. "Still can't believe that I'm turning into a damsel in distress in this scenario."

His lips twisted into a small smile. "Everyone needs some help once in a while."

"I'm just … afraid this isn't the end yet. Somehow I feel like it was just the beginning."

Come to me with your thoughts.