Hi guys! Thanks for your reviews and thanks for following this story! Sorry this chapter took a while. It's the longest so far, because I decided to keep this party scene together, rather than splitting it up. Hope you enjoy it! :)
I was numb and when I wasn't numb, I felt depressed. I had no idea how much room in my life I had given him and now that he was gone - I felt like a massive emptiness had spread in my life, like a cancer eating away on everything.
It had been a month since the night the Joker had attacked Bruce and things in Gotham were relatively calm for a change. With the Joker behind bars and the mob out of business, the city was without organized crime for the first time in a long time.
The Batman had been very busy of late, even hunting down lesser criminals. He might be getting bored.
Over the last weeks, I had buried myself in work, trying to forget about Bruce, to little success. Even after everything that had happened between us and all the horrible things he had said to me, I couldn't un-love him. I wasn't able to just press a stop button on my feelings for him. A month had passed but the feeling of numbness and sadness had not eased. I had even lost some weight because I wasn't hungry most of the time. My world felt shaken and incomplete without him.
I also had tried to research more on what happened that night, but Gordon wasn't very cooperative.
"Were you aware of a threat against Bruce Wayne before the attack?" I had asked Gordon.
"No, I was not."
"Then why did you have a unit outside his apartment complex that night?"
"Mr Wayne is practically royalty in this city. We have units looking out for him on and off, especially in a time when a crazy clown is roaming the streets."
I knew Gordon was lying. I'm sure there was a threat against Bruce and that's why he wanted to protect me - otherwise it might have been me in cut-up pieces. In my heart I just knew that wasn't the real Bruce that night.
He had claimed that he lied about losing someone, that there was no Andrea. I researched car jacking victims named Andrea over the last 15 years. But none of them could have been it. The first Andrea that popped up had a record as a drug dealer - the second was a prostitute and the third was 63 years old.
He had lied! He never lost anyone.
It made no sense - his pain seemed so real when he had told me about her. But maybe this was just me clinging on desperately to the image of Bruce I had? The man that I had fallen head-over-heels for. I wasn't sure anymore, not sure if I could trust my gut instinct.
Maybe he was really that shallow and that's why he was one of the most high-profile playboys out there? Maybe he had even fooled me?
Sam was skyping me on a regular basis, concerned about my well-being.
"Stop looking at me like that." I said.
"Like what?"
"Like I'm some sad, lonely cat-lady or something."
She laughed. "You don't have any cats."
"So that's the only part of that list that you disagree with?"
"I think you need to go on a date - get yourself out there again."
"I'm not ready for that yet." The truth was, right now, I felt I would never be ready for that. There was something about Bruce that I had never felt before for anyone.
"Something. Anything. Leave your house for something else than work."
I nodded in thoughts. "He was lying."
Sam looked at me confused. "About which part exactly? He gave so many versions of who he is - I can't keep up."
"Andrea - the woman he claimed to have lost. I looked into it. There was never an Andrea."
"Doesn't mean that all that shit he was saying that night to you was true."
I sighed. "I just don't know what to believe anymore."
"Who cares. You deserve someone better. Leave him in his convoluted emotional chaos."
"Easier said than done. I'm not only dealing with missing him, I'm also questioning myself. Can I trust my gut instinct? I don't know anymore."
"I get it. But that's why I think you should just go on a date or something. That way you see that it's not you - it's him. He's the crazy one. I mean - I would question my sanity after an hour with the guy in a room by the sounds of it."
"I never questioned my sanity…" I protested.
"You know what I mean."
I was definitely not ready to go on a date with anyone - but maybe it was time to stop researching things on Bruce. Stop trying to find an explanation to this madness!
I had been alone before many times, but I had never felt this lonely - as if he had taken a huge part of me and I would never be whole again.
I needed to distract myself and work seemed like the perfect excuse. Maybe I was going to finally solve the biggest mystery in Gotham - who was the Batman? I had spent weeks researching his identity, to little success.
"I know who he is," Gordon said to me. "He's the Batman."
"Don't you want to know who is behind the mask?"
"Sure. But to me, his work is more important than finding his true identity."
Gordon had been more friendly and helpful of late, which was surprising because he wasn't known as a press-friendly person.
I continued my research. Who could he be? He must have money to pay for all his toys. Or he must have friends with money.
A quick research found that there were 492 billionaires nationwide - over half of them were in Gotham, one of them - of course - Bruce Wayne. Even reading the name made me ace. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. This could take forever... I had no clear lead, aside from the money. It could be anyone of these guys. It would have been smart to just leave it alone at this point - and in fact that's what a normal person would have done. But I wasn't normal - I felt broken in so many ways that I felt I was far from normal. The sadness and emptiness followed me around like a dark cloud. So instead of ending the research, I spent weeks looking into the finances of these billionaires, waiting for any irregularities. His identity wasn't Gotham's best kept secret for no reason. He was smart in covering his tracks. The money could be coming from anywhere. Foreign investments. Hidden in some company's assets... Frustrated I threw all the files in a box, kicking it in my closet. After weeks, I had found nothing.
It was a cold Sunday when I went grocery shopping, which consisted of not much food and a bottle of white wine. I was standing in front of the sushi isle, a picture of Bruce bringing sushi over to my place rushing through my head, which I tried to push aside quickly, when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"Miss Hunter."
It was Alfred. I turned around, looking at the compassionate face of the old butler. I was so happy to see him, I was about to hug him.
Over the last weeks, it was like Bruce had been a figment of my imagination and seeing Alfred made him more real. He was out there somewhere, about to have dinner himself - only that his was probably a lot better than mine.
"Alfred, so good to see you again. How are you?"
"Very well miss thank you for asking. How are you?"
"Good," I lied.
I didn't want to ask how Bruce was doing so there was a second of awkward silence between us instead.
"Could I buy you a cup of coffee?" Alfred asked me.
I didn't see that coming. "Um...sure..."
"Great. I know a great place just around the corner from here."
"You didn't run into me here by chance, did you?" I observed.
He didn't say anything but just smiled at me.
We sat down in the coffee place and I was still confused what Alfred wanted from me.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."
Everything he said was always so proper and polished.
"I am here to ask you a favor. Now I know, I have no right to ask anything from you." He said, concerned wrinkles forming on his forehead.
"What is it, Alfred?"
He sighed. "Don't give up on him."
I really didn't see that coming. I just stared at him, not sure what to say.
He sighed again, shaking his head. "I was not going to say anything to you. You probably have enough to worry about. I was hoping his condition was going to improve…"
"His condition?" Had his stab wound not healed properly?
"Ever since that night - he is just not the same. I have never seen him like this. I know he said many hurtful things…"
"…but they weren't true." I finished his sentence.
He looked at me surprised, a smile on his lips. "You know."
"Yes, wasn't too hard to figure out. He hired an escort. I looked her up. But that doesn't un-do what he said and how he acted."
Alfred nodded. "I understand."
"He lied about so many things that at this point I don't even know what to believe anymore. Saying he lost someone when he didn't…who does that?"
He raised his eyebrows. "He said he lost someone? Who?"
"Andrea - his first love. Bla, bla… I fell for that."
He smiled at me. "You didn't fall for anything, Ms Hunter. He really did lose someone. Only her name wasn't Andrea."
I looked at him in shock. "What was her name?"
He shook his head. "I'm sorry, I can't say. Master Wayne would kill me for talking to you as it is. But here is what I can say - he is so worried about protecting you and protecting himself from loss, that he'd rather cut you right out of his chest - no matter how painful."
"Did he know the Joker was about to attack him?"
He nodded. I knew it!
I sighed. "Well, all that is to little use. Even if I could forgive him - he still doesn't want to be with me."
He laughed. "That is all he wants, miss. I have never seen him like this. He just doesn't allow himself to be with you."
"Well, either way, not much I can do about."
"Indeed there isn't. But as someone who cares very deeply for Master Wayne, I ask you to please don't give up on him quite yet. He is like a son to me and I feel protective of him and seeing him in this much pain…it pains me. But I can't change his mind. You might not either. But maybe time will and I would just hate for you to shut your heart to him entirely."
So far I had been terrible at shutting my heart to him at all - let alone "entirely".
Another month had passed and Gotham was covered in snow and icy temperatures, resembling very much the emotional arctic tundra inside of me.
I did not feel any better - maybe even worse. I was getting worried about my sanity. Was I slowly losing it? Was this my one shot at happiness? Did we only get one soul-mate in life and I had met mine and that was it?
Luckily I had not run into Bruce ever since that night, but of course I would see him in the press every once in a while.
"Bruce Wayne ringing the bell at the stock exchange…" one of the anchors said. "It's great to see him doing so well after everything that happened to him."
Images of him, looking way too handsome for his own good flickered over the screen.
"And may I say, he looks great too." The female anchor added, smiling.
Don't remind me!
"That is it!" Sam said to me during our Skype session.
"What?"
"I've had it! No more sad Cat!"
"I'm sorry, was I talking about him?" I felt like I hadn't mentioned his name in weeks.
"I wish! That would give me something to work with. You seem completely emotionless. It scares the shit out of me, Cat!"
"Sorry. I'm fine."
"You're so far away from fine… It's like you're on a planet where that word doesn't exist."
"Sorry."
"Don't be sorry. I don't know… Be mad! Burn pictures of him!"
I didn't have "mad" in me. There was nothing in me left. Sam had hit the nail on the head - I was emotionless. Numb.
"I could try." I said.
"I'm coming to Gotham and I'm taking you to the Christmas Ball."
"What? How in the world did you get tickets to that?" The annual Gotham Christmas Ball was the time when the who-is-who from all over the country showed up. It was one of the biggest events of the year and one of the biggest parties. Bruce was not interested in events like these so I would not run into him.
"You heard me! My colleague had tickets and gave me two and I decided this would be the perfect distraction for you."
A week later, Sam arrived in Gotham. We had brunch, went shopping for outfits for the gala - momentarily I felt somewhat better. I hated that he made me feel this way!
Sam dragged me into stores I usually couldn't afford. She was a very successful lawyer, money wasn't really an issue for her.
"We have a winner!" I announced in the fitting room.
"Let's see it." Sam said, coming out of the other fitting room.
"What do you think?" It was a dark blue, one-shoulder dress. It had a long slit at the leg, expensive-looking glitter appliqué on the side that looked like water.
"Holy shit! If we can't get you laid tonight then I don't know." Sam said.
"Wait a minute… No one said anything about getting laid." I shook my head vehemently.
"We'll see about that. You know how many hot guys are going to be at this thing tonight? You won't remember who Bruce Wayne is tomorrow."
The thought of sleeping with someone else made my stomach turn.
"Tomorrow you're going to be like - Bruce who? Say it with me - Bruce who?"
I crossed my arms in front of me and just shook my head at her.
"No? I thought I was clever… Help me get out of this disaster of this dress, then." She pointed at the zipper of her dress.
"Master Wayne?"
Bruce sat in his leather chair in the darkness, staring into Gotham's night sky.
"Why are you sitting here in the dark?" Alfred asked him.
Answering that question seemed like a lot of work. He took a deep breath. "Enjoying the skyline of Gotham, Alfred."
"I don't think the word "enjoy" applies to anything regarding you anymore, Sir. I think of words like miserable, sad, lonely…"
Bruce raised his eyebrows at the butler.
"…brokenhearted, depressed, heavyhearted…"
"I get the point, Alfred." He interrupted the butler.
"I think it's time to do something about that."
"If you're suggesting I talk to her…"
"I am not. I am merely suggesting you go out in the world again."
"There is nothing out there for me."
"Not true. There is miss Catherine Hunter."
Her name stung like a blade. He took a sharp breath in.
Alfred continued: "Miss Hunter isn't Miss Dawes. She is alive. She is out there."
"She is out there because I am not around her. That's what is keeping her safe. We've had this conversation a million times…"
"Which is why, sir, I think you should get out there again. Now I excepted you wouldn't go out for fun - so how about chasing some criminals?"
"Unless you have a lead on something I don't…" He had outdone himself over the last two months, spending every night hunting bad guys, to the point of total exhaustion. It was the only thing that made the pain stop for a little while and it was the reason he did this in the first place - so he could be Batman and she could be safe. He had fought so hard that Gotham's streets were safer than they had ever been. There was nobody to chase anymore.
"I do, sir." Alfred smiled at him triumphantly. "Fox gave me a tip the other day. It looks like the mob is trying to revitalize their life savings. White-collar crime… Rumor has it they might be interested in doing business with a billionaire from Russia."
"I'll look into him."
"May I suggest that you meet him when he's in town, sir?"
"When is that?"
"He is scheduled to attend the Christmas Ball, sir."
He hated events like these but at least it gave him something to distract himself.
"Fine, let them know I'm going."
"Just you sir?"
Unfortunately, he had a playboy reputation to uphold. "No, put three more on the list."
"Very well sir."
Sam and I arrived at the ball, which was completely over the top. From the red carpet at the entrance, to the giant, real trees inside the massive hall.
"Who has real trees at a party?" I asked Sam confused.
"It's a winter wonderland theme, hence the ice sculptures and trees with stars on them."
"Why not get a regular Christmas tree?"
"That would be a little too cliche. Let's go to the bar."
I looked at the bar.
"What does a hedge have to do with winter wonderland?" I asked while I looked at the bartender, serving drinks in front of a hedge which was also a shelf for several bottles.
"The bar itself is an ice sculpture." She pointed at the bar, which was indeed made of ice and lit up in different colors.
Sam smiled at my confusion.
"What can I get you ladies?" The hot bartender, wearing all black, asked us.
"What can you recommend?" Sam asked, smiling.
The bartender immediately picked up on her vibe, leaning forward, putting his hands on either side of her. I rolled my eyes - this was happening every time we went out together. Before I knew it she was off flirting with some guy while I was sipping cocktails by myself.
"Our special today is a cocktail I invented actually. It's spicy and refreshing with enough Tequila to make it a good night."
"We take two of those."
"Coming right up." He said without breaking her gaze.
I sighed looking around and in that moment I saw James - out of all the people! I hadn't seen him since our fake date months ago. I had just made excuses of why I wouldn't be able to hang out and he got the hint and stopped calling. He was talking to another guy, when his gaze caught mine. Crap! I smiled at him and he started walking towards me. Double crap!
"Miss Hunter! Fancy seeing you here." He said, wearing a perfectly tailored tux.
"Fancy that!"
Sam handed me my drink.
"Oh hi James!"
"Sam! Good to see you. How are things at Howard and Associates?"
"Business as usual. How is saving the world?"
He laughed. "Not bad."
"Well, great seeing you."
"You are leaving?" He asked confused.
"No, no. Just...occupied with hot bartenders." She winked at me before returning to the bar.
Thanks Sam, as always.
James and I just stood there in silence for a second. This was awkward.
"So, how are things with you?" He asked into the silence.
Horrific, I feel empty all the time and sometimes don't see a reason to get out of bed. That wasn't going to work. "Great." I lied. "How about you?"
"Things are going well."
I nodded, taking a sip of my spicy cocktail.
"You look fantastic by the way." He said his eyes scanning me.
"Thanks. You look very dapper yourself."
"This old thing." He pointed at his tux and waved his hand.
I laughed, followed by another awkward silence. How I wished it was Bruce, not James, standing in front of me.
"Wanna check out the fire spitter?"
"What? They have a fire spitter? What the hell is this party?"
He laughed. "I know right. As if a normal party is just not cool enough for the Upper East Side folks anymore."
"You only have music and booze? What a snooze fest."
He laughed again.
"Exactly. So lame."
"Let's see this." I said, taking another sip from my drink, hoping the effect of the burning liquor would soon kick in.
"What do we know about him?" Bruce asked Alfred as he was closing the cuff links on his tuxedo shirt.
"Sergei Medved, made his money in the oil industry. Loves anything that money can buy..."
"Including power..."
"Correct, sir."
This should be fairly easy. Make a grande entrance a la Bruce-eccentric-billionaire-Wayne, meet Medved, arrange future business meeting, get out. A simple plan, but that still didn't mean he actually wanted to do it. He would rather get punched in the face than go to a gala with Gotham's social elite.
"Your friends for the evening have arrived, sir." Alfred said, referring to the three socialites Bruce had found for this occasion.
He sighed. "I'll be there in a minute."
Alfred nodded and left.
Bruce looked at his reflection in the mirror, hating the face that stared back at him. He knew it was the right thing to push Cat away from him, but that didn't make him hate himself any less for what he said to her. It also didn't replace the emptiness he felt ever since she was out of his life. Deep frown lines formed on his forehead. He looked older. He took a deep breath, trying to put the mask back on before going out there and playing the role of Bruce Wayne.
He walked out, putting on a fake smile, greeting them.
"Good evening ladies."
The three women turned around to face him. They were all gorgeous in their own way. One blonde, one brunette, the other black. All of them were immediately making eyes at him but it meant absolutely nothing to him, nothing in his body responded to them. If he was honest with himself, hed rather they weren't here.
He put his arms around two of them. "Ready to have some fun?"
The women, all dressed in tight dresses and very high heels, giggled in response.
"Yes, let's do it." One of them said, while putting her hand on his chest.
He never got used to women who were drawn to money like moths to light. If he wasn't a billionaire, none of them would be here.
He remembered when Cat said she wasn't impressed by his money. The pain rippled through his body again. Just thinking about her was painful.
"Let's go." He said waving Alfred over to get to the car.
Quick and easy - he reminded himself. Get in, make grande entrance, meet Medved, get out.
An hour had passed and I had my fair share of alcohol in me but I was not drunk. I never liked being drunk, because I never liked the feeling of losing control. I was drinking more than I normally would though, needing the alcohol to take the emptiness and numbness away, just for one night.
I felt a little tipsy, my worries a littler further away from me. James was cracking jokes and enjoyed myself as much as the circumstances allowed. Although he seemed perfect, I didn't feel myself drawn to him in the slightest. What was wrong with me? Was I looking for 'broken'? Was I looking for 'complicated'? In a weird way he made me miss Bruce even more, reminding me of the intense connection we had and the lack thereof between me and James. I could tell James was still into me, which made it even harder. If only I liked him... But whenever I even thought about what it would feel like to kiss him, my stomach was in knots.
He was asking me another insightful question. Before I could continue this evening, I needed to order another glass of wine.
Bruce and his ladies arrived at the party. He was walking on the red carpet with them, his arms around the hips of two of them.
Once inside he quickly went to the VIP area, where he suspected Medved. It didn't take long for him to spot the Russian man in his late 50s, surrounded by women in short, skin-tight dresses and numerous men that looked like his security guards.
He pulled the blonde girl by the side.
"Could you do me a favor?"
"Anything you want." She said a little too willingly.
"Take this glass of red wine and walk by that gentleman over there and then drop it accidentally on him."
She looked at him confused.
"He's an old buddy of mine." He continued smiling at her.
"Ah! You're playing a prank on him." She said laughing, leaning into his chest. "I'm on it." She said, winking at him and grabbing the glass of wine. She walked up to Medved, turned around, winking at Bruce again. Dear God, don't be so obvious! She walked a little further, spilling some of the wine on Medved, who jumped up.
"What the...? Do you know how much this suit was?" He asked in a thick Russian accent. "Are you stupid?"
Bruce walked up to him. "Sorry pal. My fault. I make sure you're more than compensated for it." He said putting an arm around the blonde girl.
Medved studied his face.
"You know how girls are," he continued. "They have not a care in the world, leaving the hard work up to us, am I right?"
"As it should be." Medved responded.
He knew this guy was a sexist douchebag.
"Exactly! Can't live with them, can't live without them."
"Who are you?"
"Bruce Wayne."
"The prince of Gotham. I have heard of you. Come, sit with me."
Medved was overweight, balding and by the looks of his puffy skin, an alcoholic. Bruce waived the other two girls over.
Medved waived one of his men towards him, saying something in Russian to him. Bruce's Russian was a little rusty these days but he understood that he had just ordered a $3000 bottle vodka.
"So, Mr Wayne, how come we haven't done businesses together so far?"
"Make me a proposal."
"I will have my people contact your people. Is that what you Americans say?"
He nodded. "Rumor has it you're already doing some business deals in the city. I'm guessing a business man of your statue isn't just here for fun."
He smiled at him. "I'm always having fun, Mr Wayne." He said as he groped the woman's boob sitting beside him. Bruce felt adrenaline immediately shoot up in his veins, he was ready to knock the guy out for treating women like that. Instead he put on a fake smile, leaning back, his thumb stroking the inside of the brunette's inner thigh.
"Oh I hear ya."
The plan was working perfectly, Medved was eating out of his hand. It would be so easy to set up a business meeting and get a closer look at his books. White-collar criminals were a piece of cake in comparison to the Joker.
"Ivan!" Sergei commanded one of his security personnel over to him. "Bring her over. In the blue dress." He pointed at someone on the dance floor. Bruce looked who he was pointing at and then it hit him like a truck at 70 mph. It was Cat, looking somehow even more incredible than he remembered, talking to a guy - James - while sipping on her wine. He felt his heart jumping out of his chest. All he could see was her. He wanted to run up to her, apologize and hold her close in his arms and never letting her go. It felt like everything was in slow motion, her delicate hands removed a strand of her silk-like hair from her face, while nodding in response of whatever the idiot had to say to her. Jealousy followed the feeling of longing. Where they together? He hadn't even entertained the idea of her with someone else, simply because it had been already heartbreaking enough to be without her. In that moment he remembered what Sergei had just said. He cannot call her over here!
"Pal, you don't wanna do that." He said smiling at him, trying to not sound threatening.
"And why is that?"
Because I will kill you if you do. That wasn't going to fly as an answer.
"She is a journalist. Unless you want her sniffing around your business...I would stay away from her."
Sergei looked at him for a few seconds without saying anything, before waving Ivan off.
"Then how about you give me one of yours?" Sergei gestured at the three women Bruce had brought. The thought of what he might do to them made him shudder.
"I don't share." He smiled at him.
Sergei laughed.
"I like you."
Bruce smiled, his heart beating at double the speed. All he was able to do was think about Cat.
The alcohol was slowly taking effect. I was still not drunk but tipsy enough to feel like I didn't care anymore. I was angry. Angry at Bruce. Angry at myself for being so hopelessly in love with him. But at this moment I felt like all I wanted to do was have fun - if only for a few hours.
It was like the saddest version of Cinderella ever - I was going out having fun before returning to my broken, grey world.
"I love this song!" I exclaimed, grabbing James by his hand and leading him to the dance floor. I could tell he was surprised - but pleasantly surprised. I felt bad for giving him hope that anything would ever happen between us, but the alcohol pushed the gilt away and I didn't care about anything than dancing right now. The loud bass vibrating through my body, I felt like I was able to let go off all my feeling for the first time in a very long time. James stared at me way too closely... I smiled at him before quickly doing something silly - in this case John Travolta's move from Saturday Night Fever to ease the tension. It worked - he was laughing, in turn making some silly moves himself.
But my distraction worked for only so long before I saw that look in his eyes again. Crap!
He tried to not make it too obvious that he was staring at Cat almost the entire time. He saw that look in Jame's eyes and he was ready to walk over there and knock the guy out. But on what grounds? He pushed her away - what did he expect? He slammed another shot glass of vodka, carefully spacing them out so he wouldn't get drunk. He could have done his usual and pretend to be drinking and not drink anything at all, but after seeing Cat, he welcomed the burning sensation of the vodka.
"Well Mr Wayne, I think we can do some great business together. I'll have something set up with your office before I leave the city."
"Looking forward to it Mr Medved."
"Are you sure you don't want to join us - how do you call it - going clubbing?"
"Thanks, but I already have plans for tonight, if you know what I mean." He said, holding his three women in his arms.
Medved laughed. "I like you!"
With that Medved and his men left. Bruce could leave now, seeing that his mission was accomplished. But he couldn't leave, not as long as Cat was in the same building.
"Why don't you ladies go dancing?" He asked them.
"You're not coming?" One asked disappointed.
"I like to watch." He said, smiling at them.
They giggled and left for the dance floor, downstairs. He stood by the bar, scanning the room for her. She was dancing with James - he felt like someone had punched him in the stomach, the jealously slowly eating away on him.
James moved closer, putting his hand softly on my hip, looking at me closely again. I looked away again, feeling more uncomfortable by the minute. Maybe I should just go home and feel sad for myself in my grey little world again?
And then I saw him - Bruce! He was standing at the bar, holding on tightly to a glass of some sort, the other hand in his pocket of his perfectly tailored tux. His eyes were burning through mine. I felt like I couldn't breathe anymore, my heart racing. He didn't look away, continuing to stare at me directly. His eyes seemed on fire. He looked mad. Was he jealous? Jealous of James?
All of a sudden I felt life inside me again that I thought I had lost forever. The way he looked at me made my veins pump with adrenaline and endorphin. I felt like I was tripping on some drug that I had been trying to wean myself off. He was my drug and right now, I was able to get a small hit. I knew nothing was going to happen between us - all I could get was the way he looked at me right now.
Although childish - I wanted to make him more jealous. This was my way of saying - see what you gave up! It was also a way to make his gaze even more intense with the fire of jealousy.
I looked at James, replying his gaze for the first time, moving closer to him. I felt bad for using him like this, but the pumping adrenaline made me crave for more of my drug - Bruce Wayne.
His hands now on both of my hips, I had my arms around his neck. He looked at my lips, I wasn't ready to kiss him yet. I quickly turned around, moving my body slowly against his, his hands on the sides of my body. I looked at Bruce's direction, checking if he was still there. The way he looked at me made me almost gasp. He looked beyond furious, his jawline hard, his dark eyes flickering with jealousy at me. I felt like I was alive for the first time in months. I wished I could just walk up to him, kiss him, but I knew that wasn't an option. As mad as I still was at him for saying all these horrible things to me, the desire to be with him was far greater - only I couldn't.
I leaned against James chest, tilting my neck ever so slightly. James got my hint, leaning forward, gently pressing his lips against my neck as his arms reached around my midsection, holding me against his body.
It wasn't the feeling of his lips on my neck that had my heart racing, but the fact that I knew Bruce was watching and feeling jealous. Knowing I had pushed the envelope, I was almost nervous to open my eyes again to his reaction. When I did, I was still surprised by his facial expression. I didn't know he was able to look even more angry than he had before, but he certainly did. His face was slightly leaning towards his chest, making his eyes stare at me even more directly, his brows in deep frown lines. The glass he had held in his hand before was now empty, both his hands were in his pockets. He never broke the gaze, holding my eyes firmly locked on his.
"There you are." Sam knocked me out of my fantasy world. I gasped in shock.
"You ok?" Sam laughed.
"Yes, totally."
"Good." She said, nodding at James. I wish I could tell her that I wasn't looking more like a human person again because of James...
"Can I borrow Cat for a second?" She asked James.
"Of course."
She pulled me off the dance floor.
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how mad would you be if I'm leaving now?" She asked.
"What?"
"Things with bartender boy are going really well..."
I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Fine."
"I mean, looks like you and James are getting along..."
"That's not really it..."
"I have to say, I'm so relieved you're getting that idiot Bruce Wayne out of your head. I was questioning your sanity a little bit there."
I wanted to tell her about Bruce, but after that line, I decided to keep that to myself.
"Yes, I'm all good. You go and have fun."
"You sure? I can totally stay."
"No, no. Tell me all about it tomorrow though!"
"I sure will!"
With that she left and I was trying to look for Bruce, but I couldn't see him.
I walked down the hallway, trying to find the bathroom but instead I was getting lost. I welcomed the little walk through the building as a moment to center myself. What was I going to do now? If Bruce was gone, what would I tell James? Thanks, I'm going home now. See you around?
He hadn't been able to look away. Seeing her with James, his hands on her body - it made his blood boil. He knew he had no right to be jealous, but that didn't mean that wasn't how he was feeling.
He watched her dancing, laughing. It looked like she was doing well, much better than him. The way she was laughing - he wished he had that emotion in him still. But instead - he felt emotionless these days.
"I am worried that you become more of the bat than the man..." Alfred had said to him. "If you have no one to care about in your life, I fear you are getting more out of touch with your humanity, sir."
Although he didn't want to agree with the butler, he had felt it already happening. There was no hope in him left, no ray of light. She had taken that with her. He didn't fear death anymore, anything that was taking him away from the pain was a sign of relief.
It had started that night when he had sent her away. He let the Joker torture him, because the physical pain was less of a burden for him than the emotional one. Becoming more of the bat than the man... It was true. He had grown colder, more distant, less emotional.
That was until the very moment he saw her again. He felt something inside of him that he hadn't in two months. Hope. His love for her was like light at the end of the tunnel of his life as Batman. For some reason, she made all the madness go away. The harder he was fighting, the more madness he saw. It seemed to never stop. Something about her felt so familiar, like a bastion of calm in a sea of insanity around him.
Staring at her, he wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and kiss her. He wanted to tell her everything but he knew he couldn't. Seeing James with her was killing him. When he saw James putting a hand on her hip, he was ready to break his arm.
Suddenly, her eyes met his and he felt like there was just him and her in the room. The way her dark eyes sparkled back at him, reminded him of the first time they met, but this time he was unable to look away. It felt too good.
She broke the gaze, looking back at James and he moved closer to her. Bruce felt his hands grip harder onto the glass. Then he saw James' eyes linger on her lips, slowly leaning forward. Adrenaline rushed through his body. If he kissed her, he might break his one rule. Before he could, she turned around moving her body closer to his. Seeing her body slowly move against his made him made his blood boil. He was biting his teeth together so tightly, his jaw started to get sore. His mouth was dry, his heart racing. He was furious - an emotional storm inside of him.
She tilted her head slightly and then James kissed her neck.
It felt like someone had punched him hard and right about now, he wished that was what was happening instead of seeing her with him. He downed the double shot of vodka he had in his hand and slammed the glass on the bar table. His hands balled into fists, he put them in his pockets, as if they were weapons he had to hide. The burning sensation of the booze did little to calm him down. The two emotions he was experiencing right now were driving him crazy. On the one hand he was so jealous, he was ready to kill James, or really anyone who would touch Cat. On the other hand he wanted her so bad that he had a hard time staying so far away from her.
He was not only angry at James for daring to dance with her - he was furious with himself for not being able to shut off his emotions for her.
The way her body looked under the silk fabric drove him mad, her hair dangling on her delicate skin. Images of them having sex in the past flashed through his mind, pumping endorphin into his system.
She looked at him again and he didn't give her the curtesy of looking away. He wasn't able to. He was spellbound by her. He imagined how it would feel like to just walk up to her, take her face in his hands and kiss her, feeling her lips, tasting her... He was clenching his teeth, fighting the urge to just grab her. In that moment a girl walked up to her and asked her something.
He had to get out of here - he slammed another double shot of vodka, wiped his mouth and left the bar, walking towards the three girls he came here with, who were still dancing.
"There you are!" One of them exclaimed.
"Ready to get out of here?" He asked, smiling.
They nodded and made their way to the exit. Even with all the sexual frustration he felt right now, he was not in the slightest bit attracted to any of them, despite the fact that they were objectively extremely good looking.
His eyes kept scanning the room for Cat, but she wasn't on the dance floor anymore.
They walked outside and the cold December air did little to slow down his heart rate. All he could think about was her.
The valet ran to get his Lamborghini.
"Bruce?" One of the girls looked at him annoyed.
"Yah?"
"I've been asking you where we're going next like ten times and you don't answer." She crossed her arms in front of her body in frustration.
She had been talking to him? He hadn't even noticed.
"Wherever you wanna go." He exclaimed with a big, fake smile.
All the girls started to laugh and giggle in excitement.
The valet pulled up in the car. Bruce opened the door for the girls to get in, grabbing the keys from the valet.
He got in the car, starting the engine, wishing Cat was sitting next to him again.
"Oh my God!" One girl exclaimed.
"What?" He asked.
"I left my phone inside."
Great.
"I'll get it. Where did you leave it?" He asked.
"I think in the VIP lounge."
He nodded, dreading going back in there but at the same time excited to possibly catch another glimpse of Cat.
He took the keys and got out of the car.
"She forget her phone." He said to the confused looking valet, throwing the keys back at him. "I shouldn't be long."
Still in thoughts about what I was going to do next, I decided another drink was in order. I didn't want to go home yet. I knew what awaited me at my apartment - emptiness, sadness. My life had been so dark over the last two months that I could not go back to it. Not yet. At the same time the spark I felt right now was because of Bruce - not James. So why stick around and possibly make it very awkward with James when Bruce had left?
As I took a sip of my wine, an image of Bruce and I in his shower at his summer estate popped up in my mind. I felt butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it.
I walked up some stairs, deciding what I was going to do with the rest of the evening. There were a lot of people, most of them absolutely wasted. The loud music humming in my ears, the beat vibrating through my body - I tried to make my way up the staircase.
"Sorry, this is VIP only," a giant security guy said, stopping me.
I nodded and turned around, trying to make out where I was going in the dim lights. At the end of the staircase I turned a corner and ran into someone, spilling some of my wine on them.
"I'm so sorry," I said looking at the person's shirt which seemed fine since it was white wine. "I can pay for the dry cle..."
It couldn't be. It was Bruce. He was standing in front of me, just staring at me. Why did I have to run into him? I wanted to kiss him so bad, my face just inches away from him. I felt my heart rate increase. I was so close to him, I could smell his cologne. His eyes focusing in on me. I had no anger left in me - or at least it was hidden so far away right now that I didn't remember it. All I wanted was him.
He continued to stare at me, almost looking angry.
Without saying anything, he grabbed me by my hand.
"Bruce?" Was all I managed to say. He walked down the hallway with me, not saying a word. What was going on. Just feeling his hand on mine made my heart skip a beat.
"Where are we going?" Was another question I managed to bring over my lips, but no answer on the other side. Instead, he pulled me inside a restroom. He closed the door and grabbed my face and pulled me towards his lips. His tongue forcing his way into my mouth with an intense urgency. Our tongues met over and over again and I never wanted it to stop. Tasting him, feeling his breath on my skin, it was all I wanted. I felt his heart beating as he pressed my body against his, holding me tightly in his embrace. I couldn't get enough but suddenly he stopped, stepping a big step back, looking to the ground.
"Sorry," was all he said.
"For what?" I asked.
"I shouldn't have..."
"Shut up." I interrupted him, walking up to him and kissing him again. I knew the second we would leave the room, things would go back to my grey reality without him. I placed one hand on his chest, which was moving heavily up and down while the other hand opened his belt. He stopped the kiss, grabbing my hand.
"Cat," he said in a pleading voice, his face inches away from mine, his eyes full of desire.
"What?"
He swallowed hard, shaking his head but not saying anything.
I knew he wanted this as much I did, but he was fighting it.
I leaned against his body, bringing my lips even closer to his.
"Stop worrying so much Mr Wayne," I whispered, slowly sliding my tongue along his bottom lip. He was standing there motionless, his breath heavy. As our tongues met again, his grip on my hand loosened and I slipped my hand inside his pants, feeling his erection. He groaned. I felt power drunk, holding him in my hand, slowly moving up and down, more in charge of him right now than he was.
"Fuck," he sighed in resignation. As if something in him had been unleashed, he grabbed me and turned me around, lowering my upper body on the marble counter.
He pulled down my panties, pushed two fingers inside of me, while his other hand was on my shoulder, pushing me even deeper into it. My body was practically begging to feel him again.
The movement stopped. I looked at him through the giant mirror. He dropped his pants, his eyes scanning my body. He still looked angry but whatever it was he was angry about, it wasn't as strong as his desire. His lips - before pressed in a tight line - were now opened as he was breathing heavily.
I braced myself for what would come next. I had a feeling it wouldn't be soft and gentle.
My suspicion was confirmed as he placed a hand on my back, pushing me further down on the cold marble counter and pushing himself inside of me with one fast movement.
I gasped for air as he thrust himself inside me hard and deep. I had forgotten how amazing this felt. After a few months without sex, my body had seemingly suppressed the memory. I held tightly onto the counter as I felt him moving inside of me. His movements were harsher than they had been before, as if he was angry with himself for something.
I also had forgotten how strong he was. Even if I would put all my energies into it, I would not been able to push myself up. He seemed to know this all to well, and took full advantage with fierce movements. One hand still on my back, his other hand grabbed my hips and pulled me even deeper into his movements. I didn't know how much longer I could handle the intensity of his movements, as my body gave in and collapsed underneath him.
But he wasn't done yet. He pulled me up again, turned me around and slowly lowered me on the counter again, pulling my legs up and over his shoulders, then pushing himself inside of me again. It felt so incredible, I wasn't sure if I was dreaming. Maybe in reality I was passed out drunk somewhere and this was just what my mind came up with? Even so, if my mind came up with this, I wanted to be passed out drunk every day.
His movements stopped for a second as he took off his blazer and loosened his tie before continuing. I felt my body quivering under his assault.
We had both been waiting so long for this that giving in felt just mind blowing. His eyes were piercing thorough mine, his breath heavier by the minute. I braced my hands against the mirror, pushing my body even closer to his. He closed his eyes and groaned. My legs on either side of his face, he held on to them as he moved even faster and harder. And then I could feel his body shatter in quick jolts as he emptied himself inside of me.
He let slowly go off me, not looking at me. I got dressed again when I looked at him and met his gaze, my heart froze for a second. His eyes were cold and calculated.
"This doesn't change anything," he said as he zipped up his pants again. "Just because I can't control my erection around you doesn't mean we're going to be boyfriend and girlfr..."
"Spare me the fucking speech!" I interrupted him.
He looked at me surprised as he was fixing his tie.
"Can you just stop treating me like I'm some sort of complete idiot?" I asked in a raised voice.
He didn't say anything, looking at me completely startled.
"Cat," I imitated his voice. "I'm an asshole...bla bla...insert something hurtful...insert something even more hurtful."
"That's not what I sound like." He said in a soft voice.
"I'm so over your stupid bullshit! I don't know why you think you needed to end things between us. But I'm a grown woman - I can make decisions for myself. Right now I made the decision to have sex with you in a bathroom. I didn't have the expectations to become "your girlfriend" after this. I had the expectation of having hot sex in a bathroom. Mission accomplished. So lets not ruin hot sex with some bullshit you think you need to tell me. Stop trying to protect me from my own decisions."
He just stared at me in complete bewilderment, both hands frozen on his tie . I left the bathroom feeling pretty great about myself. Not only did I have some of the hottest sex in my life, I also loved getting all those thing that had been on my mind for months now off my chest. With a smile I walked out of the bathroom, proud of myself. All that was immediately blown away when James was walking towards me.
"There you are!" He exclaimed.
Crap! I had completely forgotten about him.
"Um... James..." I avoided eye contact, still standing next to the bathroom door. We needed to get away from the restroom as quick as possible.
"I'm sorry..." I said looking to the ground, my arms crossed in front of my body.
He sighed, correctly interpreting my body language. "It's someone else, isn't it?" He asked calmly. "Just tell me it's not Wayne, the guy is a complete idiot."
In that moment the bathroom door opened. I was ready to disappear into thin air. Bruce walked out, fixing his tie. I was standing in between James and Bruce, the tension was so thick, you could have cut it with a knife.
James eyes shot at me and back to Bruce.
"Mr Douglas." Bruce said, nodding at James, his eyes staring at him in a threatening way. I could tell Bruce was loving this - showing James he had no chance with me.
"Mr Wayne." James replied in a tense voice.
I was waiting for Bruce to leave, but he was just standing there, his muscles tense, his eyes still focused on James, his hands in his pocket.
James was equally tense as they were in their staring contest. Both men standing tall with puffed up chests. I felt like I was in a bad movie.
I just stood there, hoping this moment would end soon.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening," Bruce finally said, fixing his tie way-too-obviously and leaving. It was like he wanted to make a point of fixing his damn tie again to make sure James understood what had just happened between us.
I looked at James and his eyes signaled that he was all-too aware of that.
"James, I'm really sorry." I said.
He shook his head and held up a hand. "Don't. I know everything I need to at this point. I hope he can make you happy." He said and left.
I watched James slowly disappear into the crowd. All the adrenaline and endorphin had vanished. I had to get out of here as quickly as possible. I made my way to the doors, when someone grabbed me.
"You're going nowhere." The voice said.
I turned around to see who was holding me by my arm. It was a man in a clown mask. Then I saw several of them, locking the doors. The Joker must have escaped prison.
Walking towards the exit, he felt like an emotional roller coaster inside.
Why hadn't she pushed him away? When she had bumped into him, her face only inches away from his, her lips slightly parted, he had tried to control himself. He waited for her to yell at him or just leave. Instead she was standing there, staring into his eyes. His brain went on auto-pilot and he just grabbed her and walked into the restroom, not thinking straight. Kissing her, feeling her lips, her soft skin, holding her in his arms, it was all he had wanted for months. Suddenly his brain came back and he realized what he was doing, stepping back, apologizing, not looking at her. She just told him to shut up kissing him again and then her hand wandered to his belt. Dear God, how was he supposed to control himself now? He grabbed her hand, pleading with her. Why wasn't she disgusted at him? After everything he had said to her - he was sure she would hate him. He couldn't resist her, which is why he needed her to stay away from him. Why didn't she? She smiled at him softly, leaning against his body, one hand pressed against his chest, he held the other tightly in his so she wouldn't tempt him any more than she already had. Her lips inches away from his, she slowly moved her tongue along his bottom lip. He opened his mouth, allowing her tongue to meet his again. He felt completely powerless over her in this moment and when his hand loosened around hers for a second, she took full advantage of the situation. Her delicate hand holding him tightly. He had no will power left to fight this. He was angry at himself for not being able to control himself any longer, he was angry at her for not staying away from him. He shouldn't do this, but his body was begging for release more than ever before.
Moving inside of her felt even more incredible than he remembered. Pressing down her upper body on the counter, he wanted her just to himself and now he could. In this moment, she was all his. She wanted him for some mysterious reason. His brain was still fighting with him, but his body had taken over a long time ago. For this moment, he just gave in and let it happen. He felt her collapse around him. Turning her around again, he looked her into her eyes as he continued. Her cheeks slightly flushed. He was drunk on her. It was like she was his drug and he couldn't get enough of her. She moved her arms over her head, pushing him deeper inside of her. He closed his eyes not wanting this moment to be over yet - but there was no way he could fight it any longer.
Now that his body had gotten what it wanted, his brain regained control. He avoided looking at her. He was always better at pretending to be someone else when he wasn't looking at her. But then she took him by complete surprise. She knew he was lying about why he broke things off. Had his charade not been convincing enough? She knows?
She left and he tried to get his barring before leaving again, still thinking about what she had just said. He opened the door only to see James talking to her. James eyes shot up at him. It was childish but he enjoyed this moment, seeing the anger in James' eyes.
"Mr Douglas," he nodded at him.
He just stared at him, letting him know that he had no chance with her. It was incredibly juvenile of him but he couldn't help it. He knew he had to leave them, although he would rather have knocked James out and then leaving with her, never letting her go again. But that wasn't an option. Instead he opted for leaving while fixing his tie again. In case James hadn't already put 2 and 2 together.
As he left, all the excitement was washing away and he knew what awaited him was emptiness again. He got back to his car.
"Where were you? You took forever." One of the girls asked annoyed.
He handed her the phone. "You're welcome."
He was driving, not sure where to go with them next when he received a call from Alfred.
"Sorry to bother you, Sir."
"That's quite alright. What's going on?"
"It's the Joker, Sir. He escaped from the MCU."
Bruce knew where the Joker would want to go on a night like tonight.
"I'm guessing he's going to make an appearance at the ball, Sir."
He wished Cat wasn't there. He sighed. "Yah. I'm on my way. Get everything ready."
He hung up the phone.
"Ladies, I'm terribly sorry but I have business to attend to."
They responded something, but all he could think about was making sure nothing happened to Cat.
I had hoped I was mistaken and it wasn't the Joker, but as the lights turned on and the music stopped, I knew he was here.
It got suddenly quiet as people tried to figure out what just happened.
And then I saw his horrid face appear from the darkness.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We're tonight's entertainment."
I felt myself frozen in fear. I should run. I should hide. But instead, I couldn't move. His face was scarier in real life than on TV.
"I'm looking for the Bruce Wayne. Have you seen him?" He asked an elderly man in the room.
I felt a lump in my throat, knowing that he came back for Bruce. He wanted revenge.
I scanned the room, hoping Bruce had left already.
"Where is he? Where is he?" The Joker was getting angry and more manic.
I pulled out my phone and texted Bruce.
"I already called 911," the guy next to me said.
I nodded as I hit send. Bruce, the Joker is here. He is looking for you. Make sure you stay safe.
I looked up from my phone again, seeing what the clown was doing. In that moment the Joker looked at me. His crazy eyes lit up. My heart stopped beating.
"Well, hello beautiful." The Joker was creeping closer to me. I felt like the walls were narrowing in on me. My heart beat was in my throat.
He was inches away from me. His black eyes were wide open, scanning my face. A giant grin on his face.
"And you are beautiful." He said, his thick breath hitting my skin.
I stood there, my arms across my chest, like a shield - as if they could protect me.
"Do you know where Mr Wayne is?"
I shook my head.
"Really? I find that hard to believe. Gotham's investigative reporter…doesn't even know where Gotham's prince is?"
I swallowed hard, looking to the ground.
"Look at me." His voice shrill and unnerving.
My eyes slowly went back to his face. His mouth twitching.
"I don't know what you want me to say. I don't know where he is."
His lips licking his mouth and scars. He was getting frustrated.
"Isn't he something like your boyfriend?"
"No." I shook my head. "Those were rumors. Don't believe what you read in the papers." I was terrified but somehow managed to stay calm.
He laughed. "Don't believe what's in the papers... Haha! I like that one. So, you don't know where he is. No idea?"
"Nope. He was here but he left. I'm not his personal assistant. I don't know where the hell he is." I regretted the tone of my words the second I said it.
His lips were twitching.
"Do you wanna know how I got these scars?"
He grabbed me by my face, placing a knife next to my face.
"I had a wife. She was beautiful, just like you…"
I couldn't even listen to what he was saying, all my energies were focused on the knife and his crazy eyes. Was he going to gruesomely disfigure me? Just for pleasure? I didn't know what to expect. He was so invested in his own story he wouldn't be expecting me to fight back. I kicked him right in the scrotum. He winced and let me go.
"You have a fight in you. I like that." He stood back up again and was heading towards me.
"Then you gonna love me." A deep, husky voice interrupted him. Batman.
Bruce went as fast as he could to change and become the Batman. He could taste the adrenaline. All he could think about was her. He could not let anything happen to her.
As he walked unnoticed into the room as the Batman he saw the Joker holding her by her face, a knife next to her eyes.
His hands immediately formed fists, his heart rate went up. If he was so much as to break an eyelash on her, he would break his one rule.
Suddenly she kicked the Joker, who fell back. He was surprised by her courage.
"You have fight in you. I like that."
"Then you're gonna love me." He said, now standing directly behind the Joker.
Batman and the Joker were fighting. Batman was clearly superior in his fighting capability. The Joker sent his men on him, with little success. Suddenly, the Joker came back for me, grabbing me by my arm, putting the knife by my neck.
Batman froze and stared at him, his eyes were on fire.
"Let her go." He demanded in a deep voice that seemed to fill the entire room.
"You just take off your mask and you can have her."
Batman's hands were balled into fists, his jawline hard. He looked furious.
The Joker must have started to feel the same way, as he was backing up with me towards an elevator.
Suddenly, he threw something in the crowd. A gas of some kind evaporating from it. People were coughing, unable to see, as he pulled me into the elevator.
"Let's take a trip. Up, up, up we go..." He was laughing, his eyes crazy.
He was holding me by my arm as we were slowly moving up to the top floor.
"What's your plan?" I asked.
"Plan? Do I look like a guy with a plan?" He laughed. "Ah...There are many ideas and they're running rampant in my head. Should I have you right here and take pictures of it and then broadcast them on television."
My stomach was in knots, I felt panic increase but tried to remain calm. I needed to occupy him as much as possible in the hopes of giving Batman an advantage once we reached the top floor.
"Or, should I just kill you? Slowly of course. Maybe start by cutting your pretty little face off? Do you know how long it takes someone to die while you're cutting off their face? An incredible long time. The worst part is the eyes. You see they start to dry out without eyelids."
"Fascinating." I responded dryly, rolling my eyes at him.
My behavior drove him insane, which was part of the plan.
The doors opened and he immediately placed the knife close to my neck again, this time the blade slowly carved into my skin. I winced in pain.
"Ahhhhh! Slow down pretty thing. We haven't even started yet."
"Let her go!" Batman's husky voice demanded out of the dark. "You don't need her."
"Oh but I do! Just in the short elevator ride I came up with so many wonderful ways of using her! Imagine having her tell the news with a massive Joker grin on her face!"
"What do you want? Whatever it is, let her go. You wanted me here I am." He said appearing out of the dark.
"Maybe you could watch? You know? As I'm bending her over I mean..."
"Touch her and you'll sign your death certificate." Batman's voice was so loud, so deep - it was not even human anymore. The deep bass of his vibrating through the room. I had never seen him this angry. Then again, I hand't had many encounters with him. This might be a Tuesday for him.
"You say it like death scares me." The Joker laughed again. "But you have nothing, nothing to frighten me with."
"What do you want?"
"Take off your mask."
I was watching Batman's eyes closely. I couldn't see much off him. His dark eyes were flickering like flames in the darkness.
"I'll take off my mask, you'll let her go?"
It was just the three of us up here in what looked like a conference room, giant glass windows all around us. Batman couldn't be seriously considering this.
"Ok." Batman agreed.
"No." I whispered.
"I'll show you who I am, you let her go."
"Yes, yes, yes..." The Joker was licking his lips in excitement.
Batman pressed a button by his mask and suddenly the Joker yelled: "Stop! I changed my mind. I don't want to ruin the surprise." He laughed.
He moved closer to the windows with me. "Instead I want to play a game. It's called fetch!"
What was he planning now? Still holding me tightly, with one hand, he took a gun out of his pocket and shot the window behind me.
"Let. Her. Go." Batman screamed at him.
"Very poor choice of words." He said. laughingly, as he pushed me out the giant window.
I fell on slick roof tiles, trying to hold on, but there was nothing to hold on to. I started screaming as I felt myself descending down rapidly.
Batman jumped after me, face forward. He looked straight into my eyes as he stretched out his hands. But they were too far away. Suddenly the roof ended and I felt my body free-falling down. This was it. My poor parents. This is going to be devastating for them. I was so scared that fear muffled my scream as I was plummeting towards certain death.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me towards an iron chest. The impact of Batman's body on mine almost knocked the wind out of me. How was he going to slow us down? I suddenly saw his cape stabilize. We were still falling, but at a much slower rate. Would this be enough. I felt my arms hold on to him in desperation. I knew we would meet the ground soon. I felt tears rolling down my face as I hugged him even closer. His smell was oddly familiar and comforting, but I couldn't place the scent. Whoever you are, you're either saving my life or you're about to die with me.
BAM! The impact vibrated through every part of my body. Was I alive? When I opened my eyes I saw that Batman had cushioned my fall as I was lying on top of him. We were on a car. His dark eyes looked straight at me in concern. He was alive!
"Are you ok?" He asked in a husky voice.
I nodded still in shock. I looked around and noticed people standing around us, taking our pictures. I didn't care.
I looked back at him. "Thank you!" It was barely above a whisper.
"You don't have to thank me." He said as he was slowly helping me up.
"You saved my life." My voice was still weak.
"Let's get you out of here." He said while getting up.
"Are you ok?" I asked concerned.
He just nodded as he was reaching for something on his - what looked like a utility belt.
"Hold on to me."
"What?"
"I'm getting you out of here. Hold on tight."
I was still under so much shock, I just did what he said. And just like that, we were in the air again.
But this time around it felt very controlled. I felt safe, which really didn't make much sense. Before I knew it, we were on a roof. It took me three seconds to realize I was still holding on to him.
Embarrassed I let go.
"Is there somewhere you can go?"
"Um… Home."
"Is there someone who can look after you?"
"Um…" I cleared my throat. "I'll be fine."
"You're under shock. You should have someone there with you."
"I'm fine." I said while I stared crying. GREAT! "I'm really not sure why I'm crying." I said while also laughing.
Batman's eyes narrowed in on me. I felt my breath increase. Was I still crying. What was happening. I think I am hysterically crying. Batman clearly didn't know what to do with me at this point. I tried to calm down so I could convince him to just drop me off at home. Instead I felt my knees give in. My whole body was shaking. He grabbed me before I could hit the ground, holding me close.
"I'm sorry." I managed to say.
He just held me in his arms like this for a moment, his face close to mine. I felt so safe with him.
His lips in a tight line of concern. The expression looked oddly familiar but my brain was too overwhelmed to understand where I'd seen it before.
I felt my breathing return to normal. I was able to control myself again. Slowly I got up with Batman helping me.
"I'm so sorry." I said while straightening my dress. "This is the last thing you need to worry about. You have real crimes to solve."
He just looked in my in concern. Did he think I was insane?
"You must think I'm crazy."
"I think you're scared." He responded in a low growl.
I nodded, feeling the tears come back. I took a deep breath.
"But, I"m not your concern. You saved my life. Is there anyway I can repay you?"
"Your safety is all I need."
The answer took me by surprise. It sounded like it was MY safety in particular he was concerned with.
"Well, thank you again. I…I can't thank you enough."
"You don't need to thank me. Ever."
I nodded, still shaking like a leaf on my entire body.
"Would you like to go home?" He asked.
I nodded.
"Let me make sure you get home safely." He said as he was walking towards an object in front of us. Suddenly, the cockpit opened. What in the hell was this?
He was looking at me in anticipation.
"You're dropping be back home in that?"
"Don't worry. It's safe."
He grabbed me by the waist and lifted me up like I was a fly. He was crazy strong. He started the engine and just like that, we were on our way flying over Gotham's skyline.
I could have died. It felt like I was about to die.
Batman didn't say anything as we were gliding over Gotham. I felt myself slowly relax. The bitter taste of adrenaline slowly vanish. Now I noticed how nauseous I felt. I was still shaking. We landed.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"On top of your apartment."
"How do you know where I live?"
"It's not that hard to find out."
Duh. He was able to find criminals. This was no challenge for him. He helped me get out of whatever this flying object was.
"Are you going to be ok?" He asked me.
I nodded, trying to pull together a convincing composure. I wasn't sure how convincing I was as his eyes still looked at me in concern.
"I'm fine. Thank you."
He nodded and jumped back in his flying tank.
Alfred walked into the storage unit only to find Bruce working tirelessly on finding the Joker. He sighed.
"You need to rest Master Wayne. You need to keep your strength."
"That was a close call Alfred. He held her in his hands! He almost killed her!"
"I know sir. But you saved her."
"Without me she wouldn't have been in this situation in the first place."
"This wasn't your doing, Sir. The Joker picked her at random. You played no part in this, sir." The butler realized Bruce wasn't having it. He was too concerned with her safety.
"She'd be safer with you, master Wayne."
Bruce's eyes shot up to him. "Meeting me was the worst thing that ever could have happened to her."
"You're not responsible for Rachel's death."
Her name still stung.
"I know you're scared. Scared of losing someone again. But that's all part of living."
"She's better off without me Alfred."
"Without you, she'd be dead."
"I need to find the Joker." Bruce switched topics. "He wanted Bruce Wayne. But I have a feeling that's just part of an act. He's like a dog chasing something. He wouldn't know what to do when he caught it. I was ready to show him who I really am, Alfred. I was ready to take of my mask."
Alfred took a deep breath and sighed.
"But the second I agreed to his terms, he didn't want to know who I was anymore. I need to find him before this madman can do any more harm to the city."
Somehow, Alfred felt he wasn't really speaking about the city.
