Here she is chapter 15, I hope you all enjoy and just to forwarn you that there is some minor heavy stuff in this chapter. Happy Reading!

All It Takes is One Bad Day

Everyone wants to be strong until a stronger gust of wind blows.

I woke up in more pain than the day before, it made that morning feel like a light tap on the head. I couldn't move at first, that scared me more than anything, I've never felt more fear than the thought of not having control of my body. Then I found out that reason was because of the mind numbing pain my body was in. It was like my mind and body were five seconds apart from each other.

It either took hours or minutes for me to be able to bring myself to a sitting position, when I did I wish I hadn't.

There were cuts and bruises of all shapes and sizes on the tops of my thighs and all the way down to my calves. They didn't stop there, I could see that there were even more on my arms, from my wrists all the way up to my shoulders. They weren't deep but not shallow either, most would leave a scar.

It's fitting don't ya think Scar?

I had to wonder if they went up to my face as well. What did he do to me?

I was dressed in nothing but my sports bra and underwear, my outfit from the night before was folded neatly on the end of the bed with an envelope and note on top.

Attempting to stand and walk to the bathroom really fucking hurt and brought tears to my eyes. I've felt all kinds of pain and it really doesn't lessen as time goes on, no matter what some would say. Talon was beside me every step of the way, ready to catch me if he could, my good boy. I eventually made it to the bathroom, again hours or minutes, I couldn't tell.

What I saw in the mirror wasn't me, it couldn't be. How could I not tell that my hair was gone? My head was completely shaved and my face would be unrecognizable in a morgue. My lips were swollen and busted, chapped with a cut running all the way from the top of my lip to under my left eye.

Look at that beauty, we're gonna fit that face to your name doll, it's gonna be brilliant.

I winced at the words ringing in my mind, maybe they were a memory. My right eye was black but not completely shut, but there were bruises all along the right side of my face varying in shades.

How could anything have been strong enough to keep me from waking up during this? I looked down at my arms again and saw a bruise on my inner elbow, a needle, ah that's how.

I'm gonna pass out.

I leaned against the counter before falling to my knees and reaching for the toilet. I hugged it before throwing up into the bowl, it was mostly dry heaving, I hadn't eaten anything in so long. Tallon was right beside me whimpering, wondering what was wrong with me.

"Tallon...go fetch my phone." Aren't I lucky I taught him that trick?

He ran off and I leaned back against the tub closing my eyes. Don't fall asleep Scar you can't, not yet.

Tallon came running back into the bathroom with my phone in his mouth. He dropped it into my lap and I rewarded him with a half assed head scratch, you'll get a better one later buddy I promise. I unlocked my phone and scrolled through my contacts, hovering over Bruce, he has a little bat symbol next to his name, before hitting the call button and putting it on speaker. It rang three times.

"Scarlett?"

"Hi Bruce," God I sound like shit.

"Scarlett what's wrong?"

Don't beat around the bush Scar, "I need help Bruce, please."

"Where are you?" How is he so calm?

"Home." It's not home, not really.

"I'm on my way, stay on the phone."

"No promises...I'm really fucking tired." I looked down at my thighs and saw that some of the cuts had started bleeding again, blood was getting on the bath mats. "It's a fucking horror show in here."

"Are you bleeding?"

"Oh yeah, but not from...bullet wounds," I can't breathe, am I hyperventilating, am I gonna pass out? "It's hard to... breathe Bruce."

"I know Scarlett, I'm almost there, calm yourself."

"Okay." Telling me to calm myself, I've never had a panic attack, I don't know what to do. Or maybe I'm having a late reaction to what I was given. "Hey Bruce?"

"Yes Scarlett?"

"Why did you leave the League? You...obviously had to, otherwise you wouldn't be, Manbat." I'll tell you why I left if you tell me. We never really did tell each other why all those months ago in an Arkham visit.

"We don't need to talk about that right now Scarlett."

"But...I wanna know Bruce."

I could hear him take in a deep breath and sigh, I wonder how far away he is.

"Maybe when you're safe Scarlett."

"I'll never be safe Bruce...you told me that...remember? The League is...always watching, waiting." I'm gonna be sick again. I leaned over to the toilet, narrowly missing it, I have no hair to hold back anymore. The thought made me start to cry, the cuts made me weep and the bruises made me ache. "Bruce?"

He didn't respond this time he just grunted, I could hear him breathing a bit heavier as well. What's he doing?

"How far away are you?"

I heard the front door bang open, did he kick it down? "Scarlett?!"

Tallon ran out of the bathroom and started barking at Bruce, thinking he was here to hurt me. Probably reminded him of the first time we met as well. I could hear Bruce calming him down and then Tallon ran back to me. I saw Bruce rush into the doorway and look at me with shock, maybe disgust, or even horror. I wouldn't blame him, I probably looked like a horror movie reject.

"Jesus Scarlett."

"Hi Bruce," I would have waived if lifting my arm didn't hurt so damn much.

"It's gonna be alright, we're gonna get you out of here, get you better." He came to kneel beside me and guided my left arm over his shoulder, I could tell he was trying to be careful of the cuts. He lifted me under my knees and I couldn't help but let out of groan, it really fucking hurt but I knew he was trying his best. Oh some ribs definitely have to be broken.

"No hospitals Bruce."

He stood and began to maneuver us out of the bathroom. "I know, I'm taking you back to the manor, Alfred and I will patch you up as best as we can there."

"Don't forget Tallon please...he should just follow us out." He's so warm, so comfy and very muscled.

"I won't, you can sleep now, it'll be okay." You sound so sure.

"Okay." I did exactly that.

I was woken up by the sound of a door opening and Tallon's head popping up. I was also in the softest bed I had ever woken up in, in my life. Every part of my body still felt like it got hit by a semi though so I knew that I wasn't dreaming anything.

"Ah good you're awake," I recognize that voice, "Master Bruce said to let you get as much sleep as possible but it's been quite a while and I'm sure that you need to eat." I saw him walk towards the bed carrying a tray that held a bowl, a glass and some bread. He set the tray down on the bedside table before turning to look at me again. "Do you need help sitting up Ms. Korin?"

I shook my head with a soft 'no thank you' before slowly sitting up. Once sitting Tallon immediately laid his head in my lap, my good boy.

"He has not left your side Ms. Korin, except to use the bathroom of course, even then he came right back." I won't lie that melted my heart. "I believe Master Bruce will be in shortly to speak to you, do you require any assistance before I leave?" I shook my head again, "very well, please enjoy Ms. Korin, if you need anything please let me know. Also please bear in mind that you had quite a few fingers and toes broken so be kind to yourself Ms. Korin...good day."

Once he left I looked down at my arms to see that they were completely bandaged, I lifted the covers to see my legs in the same situation. He wasn't lying about my hands and feet, I couldn't move most of my fingers or my toes. How did I not feel that earlier?

I wasn't wearing any pants still but I was now wearing a tank top so I had a little modesty. I could feel bandages on my stomach as well, and there was a tightness to my face. I lifted my hand to my cheek and felt butterfly tape along the long cut. My hand ran up to my still shaven scalp. It was an odd texture to feel as there were parts that were longer than others instead of it being completely smooth.

I gave Tallon his well deserved head scratches, they were long overdue. "Thanks for staying with me buddy." He just gave me a look that said 'where else would I be?'

I carefully reached over to the bedside table and grabbed the glass of water and bread that was on the tray. I'll drink that broth if I feel like I won't puke after eating this bread. The water was gone within ten seconds as was the bread, that's what happens when you don't eat for practically two days, dumbass.

The door opened again and Tallon's head popped up to see who it was this time, it was Bruce.

"How are you feeling Scarlett?"

"Like absolute shit but at least I'm not clutching a toilet wondering what the fuck is going on anymore. Thank you for coming by the way, you didn't have to, it means a lot that you did." Are all superheros as chivalrous as you by any chance?

"Of course, do you know what happened to you?" He asked as he came to sit on the opposite side of the bed.

"Do you mean do I know who did it? Or do I know everything that was done?" He nodded so I guess he meant both questions. "Well as to who did this...it was Joker. I had gone over to his club after you left, gun cocked, ready to blow his fucking brains out for setting me up. The last thing I remember is him snapping his fingers and falling to the floor. He said something about me being grateful that Harley liked me or else I would be dead. Can't really say that I'm all that grateful though." God did she know that he was gonna do this to me?

"Quinn?"

"Yeah, she was mine and the Joker's psychiatrist in Arkham. She helped him escape, and me by default." I was also the reason she's like this now but he doesn't need to know this.

"Her and Joker have been tearing Gotham apart for the past couple of weeks."

"Really? How have I not heard anything about that?" I know for a fact that I keep up to date on the news.

"The GCPD has been trying to keep it under wraps for the time being, they suppose that there will be some big announcement about the two of them soon. They'll slip up eventually and will be brought in...he's not going to get away with what he's done to you Scarlett."

"I've done worse Bruce, I could be dead, at least I'm not. I want him dead for what he's done but I know it's not gonna happen, at least not by me." He nodded his head at my words.

"I understand how you feel Scarlett."

"No you don't," you've never felt this helpless, have never been so twisted and mangled, even the League never broke someone down to this extent.

He stood and walked toward the window overlooking the grounds of the manor. "Yes, I do…" it clicked in my head what he was talking about.

"Jason?"

"When I was called in and saw the suit hanging from Perdition Bridge I wanted him dead more than anything else in the world. I was so angry because I knew that it was all my fault. Jason thought the Joker shouldn't be left alive after all of the things he'd done. I just wanted to bring him to justice, so Jason went after him on his own. He's dead because of me, and there are still moments where I want Joker dead, but if I kill him...I'm no better, even if I want to be."

What the fuck am I supposed to say to that?

"I can remember bits and pieces of what he did to me. Not necessarily the pain but I can hear his laugh, some words, buzzing. Everything is so fuzzy, I kind of want it to stay that way if I'm being honest." It hurts to talk about it, it shouldn't, I should be stronger than this.

"I'm sorry this happened to you Scarlett." He walked back over and grabbed my wrist checking the bandages.

"Like I said Bruce, I've done worse. Tell me honestly though, do I rock a bald head?"

That made him laugh, "I would never personally shave my head but you can pull it off well." He was still holding onto my hand and it was comforting, more than it should be. My broken fingers wanted to move against his but they couldn't.

"Why did you help me Bruce, with this and with Maroni?"

"It all boils down to what I proposed the first time you were here Scarlett. Until you leave Gotham for good the offer still stands. I see a lot of good in you, a lot of good that can be done for the city." You sure did care a lot about a city that hasn't done anything for you.

"I'm a criminal Bruce, not a vigilante." I do remember wanting to be a superhero when I was younger but I'm not gonna tell him that.

"If given a clean slate, what would you be?" He took his hand away from me and went to pet Tallon's head that was still resting in my lap.

"Normal, boring, working a nine to five job, barely making enough to scrape by, but I would sure as hell not have a target on my back. I know that's not possible but if I had a clean slate then I might consider working with you Bruce, but it wouldn't be definite." I had to lay back down, sitting up was hurting my ribs too much.

"Why did you leave the League Scarlett?" I think they wanna know that question as well Bruce.

"Haven't we been through this before?"

"Yes but tell me again." I settled against my pillows like I was ready for a story, Bruce went behind my head to adjust them and I quietly thanked him.

"I told you I was in too deep, with Ra's, the League, everything. I had almost been killed so many times by people within the League who wanted me dead for being so close to Ra's. It wasn't even the position that they wanted, they thought I was a virus in the working system, that I was distracting him. That wasn't true at all, nothing could have distracted him from the League. The night when I decided to leave was when Ra's wanted me to kill a girl and her two kids, they hadn't done anything, they were just in the wrong place, wrong time, like a lot of people, like I was. I couldn't do it, he put the order out to kill me right then...I told him I was pregnant, it was his. I left that night, I ended up losing the baby on my journey back to the states, it was too much to handle at the time I guess. I'm lucky that there was a doctor on the plane at the time."

To say that Bruce was stunned just didn't cut it.

"Why did you leave the League Bruce, you were meant to take his place, you were his most promising student, what happened?" I rested my hand on Tallon, right next to his.

"He wanted me to kill a man, I don't know if he was innocent or not, I wouldn't do it. To me killing the man that was put in front of me would make me no better than the man that killed my family. I was afraid that if I started to kill then I wouldn't be able to stop. I created Batman because I wanted to help Gotham through justice, not vengeance, to make criminals too scared to commit crime. It hasn't worked yet but it's a process." I did laugh at that.

"I remember hearing stories about Batman when I was younger, I thought he was just a shitty Superman without any powers." His head fell as he laughed, he has a very nice laugh but I don't think he has much of an occasion to.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, how long until I overstay my welcome?" I yawned out my words at the end of my sentence.

"You can leave anytime you like, but I would recommend staying until your wounds have partially healed."

"Great, I really can't thank you enough Bruce."

"It's no problem Scarlett I'll let you get some sleep." He took his hand away from Tallon and stood to leave taking my tray along with him.

"You can just call me Scar by the way. Hey Bruce? I haven't gotten a chance to see my back but I know it's just as fucked up as the rest but how bad is it?" He paused and wouldn't look at me, that's not a good sign.

"I don't know how to tell you Scarlett."

"Just tell me Bruce, I can take it trust me." The League made sure of that.

"He carved words, not just marks."

"What do they say?"

Jokes on you Scar, hahahahahah.

"Everyone! We welcome a new recruit into our ranks today. Our cause reaches to the states and brings us Sarala Lane. Sarala has travelled to train and help us bring balance to this world. Sarala, do you understand what you are committing yourself to?"

"Yes I do."

"Good... Dumas, step forward and kneel. Kill him Sarala, take this blade, the weapon of our League and end his life. Choose the life more valuable, yours or his. He would not hesitate to kill you my child. You must not either."

Minutes pass, a blade falls as do tears.

"Very well done Sarala, you begin training tomorrow. Come with me, we have much to discuss."

Hope you all enjoyed! Please let me know what you thought and I shall see you all next time.