On this particular off-day, Dahlia was doing some light shopping for home and picking a few things up for Crane as well. She figured if she was going to be spending so many of her days at his place, she may as well contribute to the massive amounts of tea and snacks she was consuming.

The sun was just about set and a light rain came in as she left the small convenience store, the moisture speckling the concrete. Although the walk back to her home was short, the rain began to come in heavier and more quickly. By the time she stepped into the building atrium, she was half soaked. Now that she was becoming much more fit and active, she opted to take the stairs rather than the lift.

Somewhere around the sixth floor, a crack of thunder boomed outside and the stairwell lights flickered. Then something in the air shifted. It was an indescribable feeling that Dahlia couldn't quite place, but suddenly she felt a chill. At first she worried if she was about to have another panic attack, but this sensation different. She continued up, hoping that wasn't the case, feeling more and more anxious every second.

Then another crack and the lights shut down completely, leaving only faint glows of moonlight streaking in through the stairwell windows. She froze on the step, being careful not to trip, and carefully moved up to the safety of the next landing. The next flash of lightning briefly illuminated an outline of a figure just ahead. At first she thought it was a trick from the shadows, but a footstep preceded the Batman stepping into the rainy window light. Her heart nearly lept out of her throat.

Up close, he was so much taller and larger than she originally thought - His sheer magnitude was enough to intimidate anyone. No wonder more and more people began to fear him.

"There's still time to turn back, Dahlia."

The body was frozen but Dahlia's mind felt as if it had been electrocuted. Hearing a low, gruff voice emerge from the mass was strangely unexpected. She asked, "From what?"

"Your future can be bright. Don't follow the shadows."

"M-My ..." The appall began to thaw her muscles, and she gently rocked forward. "My future? W-What would you know about my future? What would anyone?!"

The Batman didn't move, but Dahlia took several steps forward. He listened.

"You've done enough research apparently, but still don't know a single thing about me. The shadows followed me. I tried to get away from them literally as long as I can remember, and all they do is follow me." Her eyes became glossy. But she didn't shed a tear.

"And not a single fucking soul in this city cared. No one, not even my dad, was able to help me. The only soul in this city that cares about me, even just a little bit, is the fucking Scarecrow of all people. And what's terrifying to me ... even more terrifying than you ..." Another few steps closer and Dahlia was close enough to ram a finger onto his tall chest. The Batman still didn't move. " ... is the idea that someone in this world could have the tiniest chance of loving me. Just enough to let me feel a few seconds of ... comfort."

The Batman was focused on her, his eyes relaxed.

A quick breathe, and Dahlia added, just making a guess at what he may have ultimately been after:

"I'd die before I'd let you get your claws on him."

Another moment passed as thunder boomed. The Batman clasped his gloved hands around Dahlia's, then stepped backwards into shadow. A particularly bright flash of lightning disrupted her vision for just a moment, and when she stepped past the window light and into the shadow, her eyes adjusted and found no one there. The stairwell lights came back on.

Dahlia realized that something was placed in her hand. When she opened her fingers, a vial - similar in appearance to the fear compound - lay in her palm.

Dahlia wrapped her fingers back around the new vial and tucked it back away into the side of her bra. The car swayed again as the driver took a hard turn down a small street. From the rear-view mirror, Dahlia could see an onslaught of police cars traveling back down the street and on their way to the Shopping District.

The demonstration at Killinger's went without a hitch. Mostly because Crane and Dahlia - physically - had no involvement. Crane speculated that their antics had been getting too much attention, and called in an overdue favor from the Falcone family. Their men provided the labor, and for a fresh exchange, they got to play with the fear compound, grew their fearsome reputation, and keep everything in Killinger's coffers.

A single thought passed Dahlia's consciousness. Since when did we get involved with the mob?

Crane's previous rationale had become blurry with time. Still, it made less sense to Dahlia as to why they'd ever collaborate with criminals in the first place. Whatever. It was a thought that wasn't going to get solved right now. She upheld her end, and saw to it that the job was completed without any arrests.

The driver dropped Dahlia off around the corner from Crane's house.

The quiet, introspective mood that had struck Dahlia didn't relent, even after she and Crane conferred at Richard Dodge's estate to collect their payment. She let him do all the talking, claiming she was simply tired. There were a few chuckles, a couple words exchanged towards future partnerships, a drink or two, and then they left.

On the way back to Crane's, Dahlia realized how disassociated she felt, and how obvious her distraction must have been to him. She knew she had to say something. As soon as they arrived and the front door shut, Crane didn't hesitate. "Dahlia." She knew that tone of voice well enough at this point. "What's been on your mind?" The look on his face was mostly neutral. She didn't have the slightest guess as to what he may have been thinking. For some reason, he made her anxiety skyrocket. Her heartbeat picked up.

He must have seen that. Gently he reached out and rested a hand on her waist. Swallowing, she lowered her jaw and no sound came out. Then finally, she managed, "I-I met the ... Batman the other night." Crane didn't react. "He showed up in my stairwell, from no where. I don't know what he wanted. He didn't say."

"What did he say?" Finally he spoke. Something about him made her notably uneasy. His ... 'energy' ... had shifted.

Breath trembling, she replied, "Something about ... turning back. I think it w-was a warning."

"Or a threat." Crane added.

"I didn't mean to keep it a secret. I was scared that ..."

Finally something in his consciousness made him shift. Drawing her close, Crane embraced her. "It's alright, Dahlia. I won't let anything happen to you."