"Here, drink this madam," Alfred handed the bundled up Alena a hot cup of tea as they sat in Bruce's den.
"Al, it isn't hard! All you have to do is say 'Allie', 'Alena', whatever! Just not 'madam' or 'miss'! Being proper 24/7 gets pretty dull."
Alfred sighed, "Are you feeling better 'Alena'?"
Still very weak, she nodded, "I'm a trooper Al; nothin' slows me down. And if it does, I come back twice as fast; after a long break of course."
Alfred chuckled, but Alena only managed a smile.
"Bruce told me about your family. I'm terribly sorry that happened to you."
Trying not to spill the tea, Alena held it firmly in her hand, "It doesn't sound as bad as what happened to you and Bruce. I mean, he watched his parents die; I only had to deal with the aftermath of mine! Even though it was, gruesome."
"That 'Joker' sounds like an appalling lunatic if you ask me. He deserves to be put behind bars; or in a loony bin!"
Alena nodded. She didn't agree with Alfred, however. Jack didn't deserve to live; not after what he put her through. How many more people will he torture? Alena was very set in her mind that a painful death for this psycho was the only way to end it.
"Is that how he started it?" she asked finally; trying to get him out of her head.
"I'm sorry?"
"I don't mean to be forward, but I mean his parents' death. Is that what finalized Bruce's state of mind on becoming a disguised hero?"
At that time, Bruce walked through the back door; but they couldn't hear him; that was a good wing away from the den in the mansion.
"No, actually. It did leave him with bitterness; a longing for revenge. It wasn't until later on that he wanted justice. But on that road it led him to prison, and a horrible group known as The League of Shadows. However, I think its best that Bruce tells you that story, far after this situation with the Joker is gone and past."
Alena couldn't believe her ears, "Bruce? In prison? That is hard to imagine; I can't wait to burst his bubble one day with that question!"
"What question?" Bruce interrupted, abruptly walking into the room.
"Err, why do you always walk in on the middle of a conversation? I find it very rude! You're wealthy; you should at least have some form of manners!"
"Unfortunately I wasn't taught that very much in my lifetime." He replied, taking a close seat next to her on the couch and putting his arm around her.
"Understand, it wasn't that he wasn't taught Allie; he refused to listen!" Alfred retorted.
Alena smiled, "You called me Allie! I'm so proud of you Al!"
Alfred tried to ignore the fact he said that, and got up properly, "Can I get you anything else for now?"
"Yeah, I need you to call some movers to get the rest of Alena's things from her apartment. I couldn't get everything at once." Bruce ordered mockingly.
Alfred's eyes narrowed, "I will do that, but keep in mind that I wasn't asking you! Do you need anything else?"
Alena could tell Alfred was trying not to say either Allie or madam; so she grinned amiably, "No, thank you Al."
He bowed faintly, and then snapped Bruce an annoyed glare, then walked out of the room.
After setting her tea down, Bruce took Alena in his arms and looked in her face, "I brought most of your things over; well, whatever I could strap onto the back of your bike! The rest will be here by tomorrow."
"Thank you," Alena leaned over and kissed him gratefully.
Bruce touched her face with his hand and commented, "You look better; the color's returned to your face."
She put his hand in hers, taking it away from her face, "It wasn't that bad Bruce; I'm doing fine."
Bruce put his free hand at her lower side. She flinched painfully when he touched her.
"No, you're not. You've been beaten up badly Alena. God, when I walked in that room and saw you on the floor, I thought I'd lost you forever! It was stupid of me to leave you alone; I should've stayed with you. I should've protected you!"
"I can protect myself Bruce. So I slipped up once; big deal! I'm a big girl and I am able to take care of myself! I've been on my own for a long time now; I've been fine!"
"No you haven't! Joker's almost succeeded in killing you countless times! He even got your parents Allie, and Thomas was killed right in front of you! Believe me Allie; you need all the help you can get-"
"STOP!" Alena jumped up from the couch, "How dare you say that to me! How dare you tell me that their deaths are on my head! That was not my fault!"
"I'm not saying it is Allie! But you couldn't protect them; how will you protect yourself if you couldn't for them?"
Alena was in pure shock, "I don't believe this!"
Bruce tried to comfort her; he tried to hold her. But, she shoved him away, "NO! Get away from me!"
She ran from him; she ran up the great balcony and down the hall. The door ahead of her was open, and she ran inside; going straight ahead until she couldn't anymore. She stopped. Inside of Bruce's old bedroom, Alena was stalled in front of his vast window, caging her in.
Bruce slowly stepped towards her; not wanting to frighten her. The sunlight from the window streamed along her hair and her face; making her look wholesome. And that's how he saw her; that's how Bruce wanted it to be. He wanted so badly to make her bitterness and poison in revenge go away. He wanted it so badly.
He placed a hand on her delicate head, and before he could utter the words of apology, Alena collapsed in his arms. She cried even harder than that night on the balcony, with him in his mask. But now, he was revealed, and could fully be there to take care of her. That's all he wanted; he wanted the tears to stop. He wanted her pain to end.