A ride at Midnight

Hm, the randomness of my mind when it comes to Batman...

She stood in the cool night air waiting for someone, I couldn't tell how long she had been waiting but I couldn't just leave her here in the bad part of town. It was a bad place for anyone who didn't know this city well. She was a pretty young woman, long dark hair and long pale legs that peaked from under her skirt every time she moved. I wondered why she out here in the cold once more.

"Hey pretty momma."

A bunch of teen boys who thought they were the gods of the night. She glanced at them and looked what was she thinking? One of the boy's grabbed her and she turned serpentine on him, her hand snaked out and clawed him across the face. She had steel claws on. Well well what did we have here?

"Aw, did that hurt litta' momma's boy?"

She smiled, her dark hair slipping down around her face like a curtain. The boy looked up at her in fear and the others were frozen with fear or confusion.

"You know attacking a lady these days could get you killed little boy. Go home to momma so you don't die."

She said softly to the boy on the ground with three very distinctive claw marks now across his face, he nodded and ran off with his little friends. Howling at her and calling her rude names.

"Oh why do I bother with this city? All the garbage walking round thinking they're the shit. Really? Was I that way too as a teen?"

She was talking to herself. Great I could have been saving innocent people not watching a crazy person.

"uhh are you alone pretty lady?"

God's the Joker! Why was he out and about? Hadn't he been in Arkham? I had just put him back not even a week ago.

"Not anymore, But I'm glad to have finally met you. I come baring news for you from a shadow in the deepest pit of this city. 'Watch your back.' Although telling you that is a waste of breath."

And she started to walk off. Joker wasn't about to let that happen and neither was I. I jumped down and plowed him to the ground. He lay there out of breath and dazed, I wanted her more than him. She had connections that I needed at the moment. Him, I could find very easily.

"Well isn't it my lucky night. I'm meeting everyone in one place!"

She laughed; I finally noticed the color of her eyes. Green as green as the Jokers, They stared at me, her emotions hidden behind them like a dog that had been beaten too many times.

"You need to see me to? Does your 'shadow' need to part some words to me as well?"

She smiled right before throwing something at me; I dodge it and ran at her. She spun to avoid me. Throwing another sharp object at me, this time nicking my arm.

"Ah, come on and get me bats. I'm not hard to get!"

She laughed and kicked the Joker who decided he didn't like being ignored. I realized she was throwing razor sharp cards at us. Cards that had a lowly two on it.

"What are you called?"

I yelled at her as she batted the Joker away again. He really didn't have a chance with her, she was strong. Terribly uninterested in our attempts to attack her. She must have been fighting for her life for many years now.

"Nothing! I've no name."

She smiled at me, it wasn't deranged like the Jokers, and it was amused. She was amused at my attempt to find out who she was.

"Well Mrs. No Name, Why are you doing this?"

She just smiled at me and wagged her finger.

"That's for me to know and you to find out."

She laughed and smiled at me. Oh no. That didn't bode very well for the city.

"Why does your shadow man want to tell me to watch my back?"

She sighed softly;

"Did you really think you could have Harley under your thumb? She's smarter then you gave credit, she is going to throw everything you taught her back in your face. She'll kill you before you can say 'duh'."

Well now, how did this shadow know that? Joker got a terrible look on his face, a rage that I had only seen a few times before.

"You're lying. She wouldn't do that."

The woman shrugged and threw a smoke bomb. Joker cursed and I followed her as best as I could. Two blocks over she stopped.

"He gone bats?"

I stepped out of the shadows;

"Yes."

She nodded and pulled out a black and mild, lighting it she inhaled;

"I'm linnor Herst. I work for a friend of yours actually. He tells me that you are quite the hero. I seem to recall that the city holds you in contempt cuz you killed what's his face."

I sighed, this was Herst? She was a great business woman. I hadn't met her before but my contacts from Berlin had worked with her they were quite the pair, I don't think I would have any connections in Berlin if it wasn't for them, so If they said Linnor Herst was the devil in heels one was better off believing them.

"So Linnor, why are you here. Last I heard you were in china."

She smiled and took another drag.

"I wanted to see you for myself. I mean you are the boss."

I smiled and shrugged;

"I don't know what you're talking about."

She giggled;

"Aw come on Bruce, you can't fool me. I knew you and Mat were they only ones to know that I went to china."

Well she had me there. I sighed and motioned her to follow me; I took her to the bat mobile. She giggled and checked it out.

"Man I wanted to look at this beauty! It's so cool and sleek!"

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. Of course I loved this beast too.

"Want a ride?"

She looked up at me a look of pure and unhindered want in her eyes.

"Really?"