A/N: TRIGGER WARNING. Domestic violence.

Thank you to all the people who have favorited and followed this story. It makes me really excited to continue writing. I love feedback. Feedback helps me write. Even if you don't want to leave a comment you are more than welcome to PM me. Enjoy.

Joker sat in his penthouse watching the news footage of the incident from that night. Who knew Scarecrow would be brave enough to emulate him. He would have to be dealt with accordingly. Nobody operated in his city unless he knew about it. He called the shots. He didn't need anyone thinking he wasn't pulling the strings. But it could wait. Other things needed his attention. His attention was on the pretty girl who was eluding him. There she was swimming in a sea of Versace and diamonds, looking a little frazzled and zoned out, but was tucked securely next to Bruce Wayne.

Joker was seething. How did she know him? What was she doing at the gala when to his knowledge, she lived in a regular apartment building, in a not so great part of town, around the corner from his night club. Frost had told him she lived there with the blonde haired man she kissed in the club. Purposely in front of him. He could see it in her eyes that she was curious. She wanted to know what it was like to walk on the dark side. He bit his lip because the thought of turning her out excited him. She wouldn't be easy. No, she was a smart girl. Appeared to have a good upbringing. So he would have to break her. Not violently. No, violence wouldn't work on her. He would have to charm her. Be a good boy just for her. Every girl wants a bad boy who would be good for them. Joker could be good. Oh he could be down right upstanding. He would have to. If it meant he got to kick with her for awhile.

Frost also knew her name but Joker wanted to hear it from her lips. This nice full lips whispering her name to him and then maybe perhaps screaming out his name after.

Joker got up from his sofa and called Frost. He explained he wanted to pay her a visit. The first chance they got tomorrow he was going to introduce himself.

"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you up?"

Rick put the car in park and looked over at his sister. They had spent the whole day together just talking and catching up. It was nice just the two of them reconnecting.

Luna leaned over and kissed Ricks cheek and hopped out of the obnoxious muscle car he had rented for the time being. She leaned in the window and shook her head.

"Nah, I got this."

She winked at her brother and backed away.

"Luna!" Rick called before she crossed the street to head inside. She looked at him and smiled. He did the sign language for I love you and Luna giggled. She did it back and watched him drive off.

As Luna crossed the street she noticed a metallic purple Lamborghini parked at front with tint so dark she wondered if they could even see out. Shrugging her shoulders and heading inside, a voice shouting stopped her.

"Excuse me miss."

Luna turned around to face the man who has asked her her name the other night.

"Wow, stalking. Maybe I should call the police." She said smiling and walking back down the steps.

"You're funny. My boss wants to talk to you."

Luna folded her arms in front of her.

"Your boss send you again? I thought I told you to tell him-"

"To ask you myself. That about right?" The window to the Lamborghini rolled down revealing the green haired bad boy.

"That's what I said." Luna shrugged nonchalantly.

Joker opened up the door and stepped out. He was wearing a pair of jeans and Van slip on shoes with a black t shirt. He walked up to Luna and slid his shades up.

Damn he had some pretty eyes. He extended his hand out to Luna.

"Mr. J"

Luna slipped her hand into his and shook it.

"Luna."

Joker chuckled. He hadn't pegged her for a Luna. She seemed like she would have a simple name. Jessica or Tiffany.

"Is my name funny to you?"

"Everything is funny to me."

"A man who can't take life seriously. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing."

"It can be anything that you want it to be."

Luna laughed a little and shifted her weight.

"So besides my name. Is there something that I could help you with?"

"A date."

"I have a boyfriend and even if I didn't, I don't think dating a notorious criminal would be good for my reputation."

Joker grinned flashing his silver teeth. Luna was from the Deep South, 'Da bottom' as it was affectionately nicknamed. She had always had a thing for the boy who put gold in their mouth.

"You have a reputation here?"

"No I don't and I want it to stay that way."

"So good, rich boys are your thing."

He was talking about Bruce. Luna suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. She wondered if every time someone said his name did his bank account get another dollar. This city seemed to be infatuated with him. How the man had a private life was something to be curious about.

"Who says Mr. Wayne is a good boy?"

Joker leaned back against his car and crossed his arms. This… being out in the open just having a conversation was unusual for him but it was refreshing. Luna wasn't some star struck bimbo. She had class. Joker had always been a sucker for a well educated woman.

"If you know how good or bad he is, something tells me you're on a first name basis with Mr. Wayne."

Luna's cheeks flushed a deep red that even her cinnamon skin couldn't hide. Was he implying she was intimate with him. She just could now even. Luna let out a laugh that was music to his ears.

"Not that this encounter hasn't been...unusual but I need to get upstairs. Nice meeting you Mr. J. Hopefully when you're out terrorizing the city and you happen to bump into me, I'll be spared. I've had enough rendezvous with the criminal underbelly to last me a lifetime."

Joker reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. He handed it to Luna and slid his shades back over his face.

"Maybe, maybe not. You have to pull a few chance cards to get a get out of jail free pass."

Luna smiled and waved him goodbye and headed up her stairs. She should've been afraid of him. Based on how the news this morning thought for sure it was his doing at the gala. But she wasn't. Oh she was intrigued. Looking down at the card in her hand. She read the back of it.

"Curiosity killed the cat." Was scrawled across in beautiful script letters along with a phone number. She pocketed it and continued up the stairs.

Using her key to open the door Steve was sitting on the couch watching tv, with the blinds wide open. Not that it mattered it was dark as night outside. He muted the tv and stood up. Luna set down her purse and walked towards him.

His eyes held dark circles and his lips were chapped. Looked like he had an episode while she was gone.

"I didn't think you were going to come back." Steve said quietly. His calm demeanor let her know that she was in fact right. Whenever Steve had an episode he needed her. He was always a nervous wreck after then and nobody but her could help.

"Don't I always come back?" Luna asked sitting in the recliner across from him. Steve let out a humorless laugh and hung his head.

Meanwhile, in the vacant building across the street Luna had a caped crusader watching and listening in to her conversation. Bruce couldn't help but feel a little jealous watching her comfort that piece of shit. He didn't deserve her sympathy. He deserved to be in jail. His watch beeped alerting him of some scum that needed his attention.

"You want me to get better and you want things to go back to the way they were, but you're around town doing god knows what with strange men." Steve stood up his eyes flashed with anger.

"I told you if you even so much as looked at another man what I would do Luna. Didn't I?"

Luna nodded her head. She was unable to look at Steve. Partly because she was afraid her eyes would tell that she was seconds away from having him blow her back out or because if she looked up at him he might hit her in the face.

"Answer me Luna. Use your words like a big girl."

Luna remained quiet which pissed Steve off. He grabbed her by her arm and used his other hand to grab her hair and force her head up to look at him.

"I said answer me."

"Yes you did."

"What did I say Luna?"

Steve yanked her head back more causing her to cry out.

"That you would kill me."

Steve smiled and threw Luna down to the ground. She immediately put her hands over her head and braced herself for the kick she knew was coming. When his foot connected with her body, it made contact with her hip. The next few kicks ranged from her shoulder to her ribs. Steve flipped her over and straddled her so his weight was in his knees. Luna was crying and begging for him to stop. Promising to be a better girlfriend. Swearing that she loved him. Which she did.

"You're a lying little whore Luna. I fucking own you. You remember what happened that night don't you?"

Steve asked grabbing her face and slamming her head against the wooden floor. Luna saw stars.

"Please Steve. I didn't do anything. I'm sorry let me explain."

Steve balled up his fist and slammed it into Luna's mouth. She felt the coppery taste of blood fill her mouth. Her hands flew up to cover her face but Steve grabbed them and punched her again.

Luna was in so much pain. Anymore hits and she knew she would pass out.

Luckily Steve stood up and walked over to the front door. He slipped on his coat and looked at Luna.

"I'm going to Florida for a few days. Clean yourself up and you better be here when I get back."

Was all he said as he walked out of the door. Luna rolled over on her side and curled into a fetal position. It was getting worse. Steve had never hit her in the face before. He never wanted anyone to know. Luna composed herself and slowly crawled into the kitchen to grab her cell phone. She couldn't call her brother, he would flip out and kill Steve. She texted the one other person who she thought would be willing to talk or to help, Bruce.

I know it's late but are you busy?

Bruce having left the building across the street before Steve started hitting her was in the middle of a fight. It took him awhile, having to subdue some assholes before he could respond.

I'm finishing up some things. Is everything okay?

Luna winced as she sat up and propped herself against the wall. Her fingers flying across the keypad to respond.

I just need a friend right now. Can you come over?

Which apartment is yours? Give me 20 minutes.

5C, doors open.

Twenty minutes later Bruce was dressed in normal clothes letting himself into Luna's apartment. He found her sleeping up against the kitchen wall. The lights in the apartment off. Finding a light switch he immediately rushed to Luna's side. Thinking maybe she was dead.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and Luna woke up swinging.

"Luna, hey, it's me Bruce. It's okay I'm. It going to hurt you."

Luna stopped swinging her arms and stared up at Bruce. She didn't know what to say. All she could do was cry. Bruce scooped her up into his arms and kissed the side of her head.

"I'm getting you out of here." Was all he said as he carried her out of the apartment.

When Bruce called Alfred and told him they would be having guests he didn't expect it to be a bloodied unconscious woman and her dog. He assumed that well yes there would be a woman but she would be able to at least meet him. As for the animal well Alfred didn't know if he was to keen on having to care for it. Seeing as how there was no telling when the woman would wake up.

The first thing Luna felt, even before she opened her eyes was her head hurt. Not like I drank too much the night before but it was throbbing. When she slowly opened her eyes she realized she wasn't in her home. As is if the vaulted ceilings and intricate wood work was any indication, the bright light flooding the bedroom was a dead giveaway. She kept her curtains closed at all times. Being from Florida even with ac on, it helped keep the house cool.

"You might want to take it easy ma'am." A gentle British voice reached out to her. She looked for the source of the voice and spotted an older gentleman carrying a tray of breakfast towards her. He sat it down on the night stand next to her and stood there.

"You are?" Luna asked. Her voice a bit raspy. She quickly grabbed the glass of orange juice on the tray, wincing as she did so. Gulping down as if she had been stranded in the desert for days.

"My name is Alfred. I'm Master Wayne's Butler."

Luna returned the glass back to its place. She propped herself up in her elbow.

"How did I get here? How long have I been sleeping?"

"Master Wayne arrived with you and your dog late last night. Do you have a name?"

"I'm sorry. You must think I'm rude. I'm Luna."

Alfred gave her a small smile.

"The bathroom is just around the corner there. I've set aside some clothing that should fit you. Do you require any assistance getting up?"

Luna shook her head and began the slow process of sitting up completely.

"Well Master Wayne should return soon. If you require anything at all I'll be down stairs."

Alfred nodded his head and left the bedroom. Luna followed his directions and enter red the large bathroom. Gazing at herself in the mirror. Her left eye and lips were swollen. The bruises on her neck more noticeable and her torso was riddled with angry purple marks. Steve had really done a number on her. She needed to remove herself from the situation. That much was clear. She just didn't know how. She loved him. Apart of her felt like she would be abandoning him if she left. Deciding not to think too hard about it at the moment Luna stepped into the shower. Trying to wash herself clean of the damage that had been done.

xBrownEyedGirlx: Its such a shame when I see victims of domestic violence stay in a relationship or leave only to find themselves exactly what they just tried to get away from. I hope Luna figures out how to free herself. Joker isn't any better when it comes to choices. Thanks for reviewing.