"Are you sure that car is one of Joker's?" Batman asked as he drove the Bat mobile through the darkened streets following a dark car near Gotham Pier.
"Yes; before I met up with you I saw the two men leaving a bar. It was some of the men that we encountered last night." The mysterious woman replied from the seat next to Batman.
"Then why didn't you drive your own bike; why do I have to chauffeur you around?" as he said this, he tried to focus in through the bike helmet she was wearing, extremely curious of her true identity.
"Because," she said, as the car ahead of them made its way toward an abandoned part of the pier, "if I had chosen to follow them on my motorcycle, they would've shot back at us just like they have been to your car. And I don't know if you've noticed, my bike doesn't have a bullet-proof shield! You know what else? You're a horrible person to have to fight with; you help as much as you can in this town, but you don't give a crap about the help I'm offering-"
Batman slowed the car to a stop, causing her to stop bickering at him. The car ahead had just disappeared around a very narrow corner, and Batman excepted now that this was a trap.
The woman looked over at him, realizing this as well, and said in her low, soft voice, "Should we get out of here, or engage in what might be a long, long, night?"
Without a word, Batman gathered all the weapons he could and hooked them onto his belt. The woman grinned from under her black helmet, ready for action.
They climbed out of the Bat mobile, and Batman locked it behind him. When he turned around, he saw the woman standing there, locking and loading her gun quickly.
"I want to arrest these men; not murder them." He said harshly.
"Take it easy Bats," she calmed him mockingly, "It's just tranquilizers, most of them anyway."
Batman didn't take lightly to her added humor, but she didn't care, and they quickly and quietly headed around the corner. Batman jumped on top of the building above, and looking around as the girl advanced on the dock. Neither the girl nor he saw anyone in sight; not a car or anything. The pier appeared to be empty. The girl walked carefully into the pier, finding the coast clear.
Suddenly, Batman flew down and pushed the woman to the ground, sliding them behind a giant crate. Just as they were behind it, the woman pushed him away from her, just as gunshots went off.
The woman kept her head low, and then quickly shot up and fired at the men thirty feet in front of her. Batman threw his batarang at them, hitting one down. When his cohort saw him fall, he took out what looked to be a small circle at the two.
It fell between them quickly, latching onto the ground. It was no bigger than a silver dollar.
Just as Batman and the woman looked at it, and then realized it was letting out a lucid gas, they fell unconscious.
Waking, Batman looked around to see where he was. He was inside the building on the pier, which was full of stored cardboard boxes and wooden crates. He tried to move, but realized he was tied securely to a chair, and couldn't fight his way free. He looked down to where his belt would be, but it was gone, he had no weapons. Batman groaned stubbornly, and then suddenly felt movement right behind him.
"Oh, you're awake finally?" The woman asked bored, obviously not panicked by the situation.
"What's going on? Is anyone in your view back there?" Batman asked, not having any luck at being able to turn his head around.
"Yes; those stupid men we fought earlier are about thirty feet from us, waiting." She said, from what she could see from the chair she was tied tightly in, their chairs back to back.
"For what?" he asked; it sounded to him like she knew what was about to happen.
"Him." Was all she uttered; from the sound of her voice, she hated this 'him' with a fiery passion.
Quickly, Batman realized who she was referring to, because he walked through the door in the far left corner of Batman's view.
"Good evening folks! It's a thrill to have you on the show!" Joker snickered at the two of him as he approached with two gigantic body guards behind him, each carrying a barrel of something.
Batman couldn't believe the ridiculous sight of the villain before him; he had bright green hair under his gangster purple hat, a white painted face with red ruby lips carrying a smile that wouldn't quit, and had a matching purple suit to match. Batman kept a smile hidden from the madman's view; he didn't think that this guy would cling to his fake title so literally.
"So, you're the 'bat' that keeps snooping around my boys; who are only trying to pull of an honest job for which only requires stealing and mayhem!" Joker laughed aloud, causing his associates to do so as well.
"I'm in no mood to play games; you return the files you stole and turn yourselves into the cops, and I'll put in a good word to you just so you can have a jail cell with a courtyard view!" Batman ruthlessly stated.
At that moment, Joker let out an excruciatingly annoying and loud laugh; hysterical to anyone who was crazy.
"You really are as 'batty' as I hoped you'd be. And, your lovely assistant is a pistol, which I can state from my own experience." Joker leaned to his left, referring to the girl.
He walked past Batman, suddenly forgetting he even existed, far too intrigued with the girl. Batman felt Joker put a hand on the back of her chair and lean in closely.
"How are you, darlin'?" he said in a bothersome whisper, "It feels like a million years since I last had a little chat with you. So much has happened, of course you can see. But not just that, I believe that you have grown even lovelier in stature since we last met."
Once he said this, Batman realized that the woman's helmet had been removed, and desired greatly to get a glimpse of her face. But what intrigued him even more, was their affiliation with one another.
"I'd rather look at you with my dark helmet on; seeing as how this bright light really isn't the most flattering thing for your new fashion statement!" the woman strained cockily.
"Oh, I do miss your sarcasm my darlin' Dee Dee! However, the light in this factory will only grow brighter, as I sadly depart from you now. It's a shame; I really would have liked to continue our relationship further, but you so reluctantly decided to shack up with the 'bat-freak'!"
Batman heard the woman groan in disgust, and he replied in a low voice, "The feeling's mutual 'darlin'."
"Don't make me rip myself out of this chair and kick you're pathetic excuse for a wanna-be cop ass-"
"Oh Bat-Brains?" the Joker happily yelled, he was back at the door from which he had come. His men were dumping a liquid from the barrels they were carrying all over the building. They quickly finished and ran over to the door and went out of it past Joker.
The villain smiled gleefully, "I'm sorry for your disposal; but you were a bit of a pest! As for you my lovely Dee Dee; let's see you get out of this predicament just as you did the last!" suddenly, Joker came overtaken by rage, and lit a match and threw it to the ground next to him. The gasoline, which was what the liquid was, was quickly set on fire and ran a trail all the way to the boxes and crates. It quickly formed a large fire. The Joker smiled at Batman, and waved before he shut the door behind him.
Batman struggled to get free, but the ropes were way too thick, even for him. However, he felt the girl wiggling as well, but not how he thought.
"Any ideas?" he asked impatiently.
"Like I always say, no matter what the predicament, I've always got something up my sleeve!" she had moved her right arm, as she wore a leather jacket, and soon out of the sleeve feel a small knife into her hand.
She quickly cut the rope loose, and cut herself free. She got up and ran away from Batman.
"You're going to leave me here?" he shouted angrily.
"Relax Bats," just at that moment she was in front of him, "I had to put on my helmet; I have a secret identity too you know!"
The woman quickly cut Batman free and added, "Can't have you waiting on my doorstep after work, can I?"
Batman got up, and they both looked at the door. The woman looked back at him saying, "They'll be waiting to see if we come out; we have to take another way."
They looked around for a door, but there was none, and there were no windows ironically. But right before the woman panicked, she heard the sound of a roaring engine. Then suddenly, the Bat Mobile broke through the walls just fifteen feet from her. She moved to dodge the flying debris, and Batman quickly opened the top of the car and got in.
"You coming?" he yelled with annoyance, the fire almost taking the entire building now.
The woman ran towards it, and jumped in the shotgun. Batman floored out of the hole in the building he had made, just as the entire place began to burn. The woman turned around and looked out the back; the building forcefully fell as they drove off of the pier, and back into the city.
Just then, she realized there was something funny about her helmet. Turning her head towards her own window, she took the helmet off slightly and removed a letter from it. Unfortunately, she put her helmet on quicker than Batman noticed she had taken it off. Still, he was interested in what she held in her hand.
Opening it, the woman read aloud, "'Lucky number three.'"
"What does that mean?" Batman asked puzzled.
"Nothing, just something between me and the Joker."
Just then, Batman stopped suddenly, causing the girl to fly forward. She looked up out into the street, and saw they were at her bike in the alley.
"Why such a sudden stop? You in such a bad mood over-"
"No games lady! What is this business between you and Joker? What is it you're not telling me Dee Dee?" While he said this, he forcefully grabbed the woman and shook her, not wanting the secrets any longer.
Becoming enraged and feeling abused, the woman shouted back, "I am no traitor to you, or to anyone else in this city! I couldn't begin to describe the horrible details of what's happened between me and that sicko! Bats, I can't do it! You have to believe me when I say that you can trust me!"
Even with her face hidden, Batman could see the fear growing inside of her. Coldly and unconvinced, he let go of her, quietly saying, "I don't trust you."
With the moment's silence being too much, the woman pushed open the roof of the car and jumped out, running over to her bike and quickly speeding off through the alley. Suddenly, Batman remembered something, and began to drive in the opposite direction, "I can't believe I forgot my date!"
Twenty minutes later, Bruce was coming through the secret door in his study at home, buttoning up his long, dark blue dress shirt. Alfred came into the room, and shut the door behind him.
"Late again, Bruce?" he said impatiently.
"I'm sorry Alfred! I know this has been the second time this week but, I met him, finally. And even though I still don't have all the information I want on Joker, I'll get it. Soon…"
He drifted off into space as he thought about Dee Dee, knowing one way or another, he would get what he wanted out of her.
"That's wonderful Master Bruce; however, you are twenty minutes late for your date, which is considerably shorter than the other night!"
"I know; did you get the rose from the garden I asked you for?"
Aggravated, Alfred put the white rose in Bruce's hand as he let the young man pass. He sighed, not knowing what to do with him.
"I'm terribly sorry for being late again, Allie." Bruce found her waiting in the kitchen, looking ravishing.
She had on a dark green skirt that went barely over her knees, and a nicely designed black tank top. Her hair was long and wavy, and her face was joyful as always.
He handed her the rose, giving her an extremely apologetic face. Allie, easy to persuade, get up from the chair she sat in and hugged him, "What'd you think? That I wouldn't forgive the most gorgeous and eligible bachelor in Gotham another chance? You must be crazy!"
Bruce grabbed her waist and pulled her in close, "I am, in some ways." He slowly leaned in and kissed her gently.
But just then, Alfred walked in and groaned loudly, "Will you please quit it Master Bruce? You need to eat your dinner which is far past cold!"
Bruce took Allie from his embrace, annoyed, but Allie laughed, enjoying Alfred's company, "You really are like a father to him Al. That's so sweet."
"Well, someone needs to look after this lug; he doesn't know the first thing about keeping a house clean, or having a nutritious diet may I add!" Alfred finished warming up Bruce's meal, and handed it to him.
Bruce sat down at the table, and Allie joined him without a plate, "Are you not hungry?"
"No; I ate with Al while you were still at your meeting. I wanted to eat while it was still hot you know!" she teased him pleasantly.
Afterwards, the two went into the living room and talked on the couch, enjoying their wine.
"I remember going to a vineyard when I was younger," Allie said, "We were visiting California, and stopped to look at a vast land with a lush vineyard. It was so beautiful. But of course, I was sixteen, and couldn't drink the wine. My parents wouldn't let me."
She laughed at the thought, and then looked at Bruce silently. Remembering the night on the balcony, Bruce asked her, "Your parents, how did they die?"
As soon as the words escaped his lips, Bruce could see Allie drift off into another world. She didn't answer at all, but only stared at a spot on the couch.
"Allie, are you alright?" Bruce asked, moving towards her.
"I'm sorry?" Allie looked up at him suddenly, seeing as though she didn't remember what he had asked.
But Bruce know that he shouldn't have said that, "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so forward about it. Loosing your parents is hard, I know. I was only a kid when it happened."
"You were only a boy?" Allie said, shocked, "What happened?"
Somber, but comfortable enough to talk about it Bruce explained the story to her. She was silent the entire time, and when he finished, she sat for a few minutes the same.
"I can't believe it," she said finally, "That's awful; you were there the entire time, watching. And, you were so young. That's just terrible Bruce; I'm so sorry."
"No, it's alright," he said reassuringly, "I'm more worried about you. How old were you when it happened?"
Slowly, Allie let the word slip from her lips, "May."
Bruce couldn't believe it, "May? As in May this year?"
"Yes."
"Allie, please tell me, what happened?" Bruce was holding her arms now, incredibly worried about what she must be feeling.
"It was, there was, pain." She softly said. A tear rolled down her face, and then she got up abruptly, "I have to go. Could you please call a taxi?"
Bruce felt like an idiot, so he got up and replied, "No, Allie I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought this up, I-"
"Just call the taxi!" Allie stated, not yelling, but coldly whispering it to him.
"Alright." And Bruce went off to make the call.
Ten minutes later, Bruce was putting Allie's jacket on her; the taxi would be there momentarily. They went out the front door, and Bruce quietly shut it behind him.
Allie wouldn't look at him. Bruce knew that she was in a state of shock, still not being over their death. He felt horrible; the evening was a complete disaster. Why did he have to screw it up?
Sadly, he took her hand in his, causing her to turn to him, "Look, I can't even begin to apologize for my behavior tonight. I never wanted to hurt you."
Putting her soft hand on his face, she encouraged him somberly, "You didn't, someone else did that back then."
But still, Bruce was unsatisfied. Seriously, he called her, "Alena…"
Just as he uttered this, she leaned in and kissed him sweetly. Bruce couldn't take it, he was so moved he felt as though he would cry. After a few moments, he heard the taxi pull up.
Their lips parted, and Bruce led her down to the taxi. Before she stepped into the cab, she told him, "Promise me you won't torture yourself for tonight. Oh, and tell Al I enjoyed the dinner."
She brushed her hand along his face again, and then got into the cab. It drove away slowly, and finally Bruce couldn't stand watching it anymore, and went into the mansion.
However, the taxi never sped up. The man driving it drove out of the Bruce's long driveway and out the gates. Just as they rounded the corner, Allie said to him, "You can stop here sir."
Curiously, the man asked, "Lady, don't you wanna go back into the city-"
But, Allie handed him a good sum of cash, and he obliged her. Allie got out and shut the taxi door behind her, and then watched the cab leave her sight. After she was completely alone, she sighed. Why did she have to talk about her parents? She felt as though she screwed up the whole date.
Cursing herself, she walked over to the side of the road and went behind a gigantic bush. After a few moments she came back around the bush not wearing her skirt, but tight black leather pants and a jacket to match. Also, she was pushing out a black motorcycle. Checking if anyone was around once more, she slid on her black helmet, revved the engine, and drove off to Gotham.