Chapter 10

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New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.

Six months after Ra's al Ghul.

"Okay, I made some research on the people that works for Loeb and Surillo." I blocked Bruce's arm with my left arm and sent my right elbow in his stomach. Bruce grabbed my head, held it down and brought his knee up. I blocked his knee but staggered backwards because of the hit. "So far I have two suspects on both offices." I threw my punch in his face but he blocked it, twisted my arm over my head and pulled me to him. My back was against his chest.

"How do you know they're the ones?"

I elbowed him, pushed away from him and landed a hit on his ribs. I swung my arm at him but Bruce swiftly slid under it and kicked my legs. I landed on my stomach. "Bank account." I breathlessly answered turning on my back. "Money has been transferred into their account regularly for a while now." Bruce pulled me up. "It's small amounts. So, I can't prove that it's actually the mob paying them. But at least we got names."

"Yes, you've narrowed down the numbers. Now, we need to find out which one is going to act." Bruce said before gulping down his water.

"Yeah, it's better than nothing." I wiped my mouth.

"What about Ramirez?" Bruce asked.

"She's not working for Gordon. So she won't be interfering. The one I'm worried about it's Wuertz." I replied. "Look, let's not jump the gun, Bruce. First of all let's deal with the mob bosses, the Joker and the people who are bought and paid for."

"We are already tracking their money. All we have to do is wait." Bruce nodded. "Same with the Joker. And as for these two people, they're not a threats for now." Bruce continued looking at me. "Our priority are the mob bosses."

"No. Our priority is the Joker." I raised my eyebrows. "The mob bosses are the ones who are going to lead us to him thanks to their money."

"That's why they are our priority." Bruce countered smirking his arms crossed on his chest.

"Alright, you won." I grumbled. I picked up the newspaper that was on his desk. On the front page, there was a picture of Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawes, smiling broadly and holding hands. "Have you ever thought about stopping?"

"Stopping what?" Bruce asked as I kept my gaze on the paper.

"You know. Batman. Did it ever cross your mind?" I raised my eyes up on him. He was shirtless. Let's take a moment to appreciate the view, because it's a sight. Even though, the few bruises and scars on his back made me winced involuntarily.

"I'll stay the Batman for as long as Gotham needs him." He replied putting his short on.

"Alright, and if Gotham doesn't need you anymore. If Gotham finds another hero, will you try to have a normal life?" I questioned further.

"I never really thought about it. Why?" Bruce frowned turning around to face me.

"Because you did think about it. Well, another version of you, the one that's in my head, thought about it." I replied. "To be with her." I said showing him Rachel's photo. He walked up to me and took the newspaper from my hands. "You're in love with her, right?"

Bruce looked at me as if I grew a second head. "Rachel and I are friends since we're children but that's it. There's nothing more between us."

"You mean you're not in love with her?" I asked confused. So, not everything in this world is as in the movie.

"No. I am not in love with her." Bruce repeated. "Are you referring to your notes?"

"It got me worried. In spite of knowing what the future might hold, I can't stop thinking that something is going to go wrong. Inevitably." I sighed. "Harvey Dent is the hero Gotham needs but Batman the hero Gotham deserves." I muttered the words that I've heard from the movie. "I don't want Harvey Dent to turn into a villain, neither do I want that for Batman. Because in the end, Gotham also needs Batman."

"Are you telling me that I'll be Batman for the rest of my life?" Bruce asked.

"Anyone and everyone can be Batman." I smirked knowingly at him.

"That's not exactly an answer." He said grabbing something on the table.

"You love and you live for that kind of answer." He gave me an envelope.

"What is that?"

"An invitation to the Charity Ball." Bruce answered. "For you and your friend Sue. It's about time, I make it up to you."

"Thank you but you didn't have to."

"I would like to have you there."

"So you can show up with top-models on each arms?" I smirked quirking up an eyebrow.

"Are you jealous?" Bruce smirked back.

"I have no reason to be jealous, Bruce." It's true, I wasn't jealous. Because I knew that he didn't love those women and that he didn't have time to sleep with them. And because Bruce and I weren't dating. See, no reason to be jealous. And if it sounds like we're flirting, well, you're wrong, we're just jesting. You know like friends will do.

Before I could even blink, I found myself in a long, short sleeved, dark green dress. With a scoop neckline and an overlace top. I was wearing a sating waistband with a sliver decoration. I pinned my red hair on one side and let them rest on my right shoulder. The length of my dress was hiding my silver shoes. My purse matched the colour of the dress. I tucked my gun and badge in my purse.

"You're not bringing your gun." Sue scolded me.

"What? I need it somewhere I can reach it." I replied zipping my purse close. "And tonight is in my purse."

"Seriously, Bruce Wayne is inviting us at a Charity Ball and you bring your gun." She continued to complain.

"Bruce Wayne is not inviting us. He got us an invite. And I'm a cop." I countered. "I feel naked without it."

"Ridiculous." Sue scoffed. "How did you get him to get us an invite?"

"I told you I helped him save some of his belongings and he decided to invite us to his ball in return." I shrugged.

There was a knock on the door. "It's Liam." Sue beamed rushing to the door.

"Evening, Ladies, your ride has arrived." Liam announced stepping in.

"Why are you here, then?" I asked him.

"Because I'm your ride." He replied.

I snorted. "When I think you were my doctor." I shook my head chuckling lowly.

"I shouldn't have answered that?" He asked to Sue.

"You shouldn't have." Sue patted his shoulder.

With Sue on his right arm and me on his left arm, Liam entered the ballroom. All the finest people of Gotham was there and those who weren't there yet, arrived after us. A fancy night, in fancy clothes with fancy people. It's not everyday, something like that happens. A glass of champagne was offered to us as soon as we got in and since this night wasn't hosted by Mr. Wayne, Alfred wasn't there to welcome us. Another detail you need to know. Mr. Salvatore Maroni was there too.

Maroni took the head of the Falcone family, once the latter went behind bars. He's one of the mob bosses we're trying to trap and will be trapped. What he's doing here? I have no idea. But the fact that Commissioner Loeb and Judge Surillo are among the guests means that his presence is clearly a provocation against the law enforcement. He probably thinks that he's smart. Which he is clearly not.

Liam and Sue disappeared to go dancing. Bruce hasn't made his great entrance yet and I stood by the buffet watching or rather observing all the big oils of Gotham. Maroni stopped at my side holding two glasses of champagne.

"Would you like one, Detective Sanders?" Maroni offered smirking.

"No, thank you, Mr. Maroni." I refused his glass that he put on the buffet table next to me. Making sure to graze my skin with his hand while he did so. "I didn't know you came at this kind of event?"

"Just showing to the people of Gotham that I'm not all that bad." Maroni nodded. "Doing a good deed won't hurt me."

"Maybe. But it won't change who you are." I retorted.

"And who am I, Detective? Enlighten me."

"A piece of scum that will end his days in a cell." I answered with a smile looking right into his eyes. "And I can't wait to see that day." Maroni chuckled. "Next time will see each other. I will be leading you to jail. Until then, have a good night, Mr. Maroni." And I left him there. I walked up to the bar and ordered a dry scotch.

"That's pretty strong for a fragile lady like you." Someone with a smooth voice said appearing next to me.

"And that's the worst pickup line ever, Mr. Wayne." I turned to look at him; He paid my drink and ordered one for himself. "And who said I was fragile?"

"My mistake." Bruce smirked.

"I missed your big entrance." I continued.

"Too busy talking to Maroni." He whispered at me.

I sighed tucking my purse under my arm. We faced away from the bar with our drinks in hand. "Offered me a glass that I refused and he told me some lies about doing good deeds. Nothing to worry about."

"I'm not worried." Bruce retorted.

"Never said you were." I took a sip from my drink. "So, where are your dates?"

"Somewhere drinking champagne and swooning over some other rich man." Bruce replied diving his left hand in his pocket.

"Somehow I doubt that." I said back. "I know for a fact that every woman in Gotham are swooning over its prince. Including my already dating best friend, Sue."

"What about you?"

"I don't feel the need to flatter your ego, Mr. Wayne." I deadpanned.

Bruce emitted a low chuckle. "So who is he?"

"This is Dr. Liam Malone. He took care of me when I was stabbed a few months ago." I answered. "They started dating four months ago. She's happy." I smiled looking over at Sue who was laughing in Liam's arms.

"Bruce." A blonde woman stopped to our side and grabbed Bruce's arm. "I want to dance."

I rolled my eyes at the brainless skinny top models as Bruce smiled politely at his date. Before setting down his glass on the bar. His hand squeezed my elbow gently. "If you will excuse me." I smiled in answer and nodded slightly. He let go of my elbow, went on the dance floor and threw me a last glance over his shoulder.

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