Hope was happy, to be pleasantly surprised, by Bruce. He stopped by everyday, to see how she was healing.
"Mr. Wayne, what are you doing here?" Hope asked.
"I came to check on you. I was worried about you." He told her.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Coming on a little strong this early in the morning, Mr. Wayne." She said.
He held his hands up.
"I'm being serious." He told her.
She smiled.
"Of course you are. Come on in, I guess." She said.
She turned to head back to the living room. Bruce caught her hand in his. She turned, and looked at him.
"I was also serious about what I told you at the party." He said, stepping closer to her.
She looked up at him.
"I'm sure you say that to all the girls, Mr. Wayne." She said, taking a small step towards him.
He gave a smile. They were inches apart. He tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Only to those that I like." He whispered to her.
"Prove it." She whispered.
His smile widened, then he leaned in, and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and deepened the kiss.
He pressed her up against the wall. She gasped out in pain, pulling out of the kiss. He cupped her face with his hands.
"Sorry, too much...stimulation, right now. Lets get you to the couch, so you can rest." He said.
She laughed.
"Now you sound like Batman." She said.
"Really?" He asked.
She nodded.
"Both of you like to tell me to rest, or relax." She said.
"You must really need to do it then, if we both noticed." He told her.
She laughed.
"You're both stubborn, as well." She said.
He smiled,as he rolled his eyes.
"I'm sure that's where the similarities stop." He said.
"I'm sure." She said.
"What? You think that we have more in common than that?" He asked, as they sat down on the couch.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe. I'll get back to you on that. I still haven't kissed him yet. When I do, I'll let you know which one of you does it better." She told him, with a smile.
"Is that supposed to be funny, because, it's not." He said, with a laugh.
"I thought it was hilarious." She laughed.
He leaned in, and kissed her again. She eagerly kissed him back.
*X*
Everyday was the same. Bruce would stop by and they would get very close. He wouldn't pressure her to go too far though.
The day before she decided to return to work, she accepted a lunch invitation from him. While at lunch, she made plans to meet him for lunch, for the next few days.
At nights, she grew accustomed to Batman visiting her as well. The concerns she had about Bruce, was disgussed with Batman. He gave her advice. Usually, after her talks with Batman, she'd get surprised by Bruce. She had a whole new jewlery collection now, along with a new dress collection. The gifts would come after a talk with Batman. If she had any suspicions about that, it either was forgotton as soon as she thought about it, or she just didn't vocalise them.
Joker was very happy, when she returned to the Asylum. She also learned the fate of Harley, when she returned. Harley was moved to a facility with higher level security, named A.R.G.U.S. Joker was the cat that ate the canary.
"Doll face! I thought I'd never get to see you again." Joker said.
Hope sighed.
"Calm down, have a seat on the couch. So, tell me, what have you been doing?" Hope asked.
He waved her off, as he took a seat on the couch.
"We can talk about me anytime. Tell me what happened to you, after Bats stole you away from me." Joker said.
She sat in her chair, looking at him. She sighed.
"Batman didn't steal me from you. He patched me up. I rested and healed." She told him.
"Where did he bring you?" Joker asked.
"Bruce Wayne's manor." She said.
A miriad of emotions crossed Joker's face.
"Why'd he bring you there?" He asked.
"Before Harley kidnapped me, I had been at a charity event, at Wayne manor. His butler, Alfred, had been driving me home, when we were hit. I needed to make sure he was okay." She said.
"So?" Joker said.
Hope sat back in her chair.
"Joker, please. I don't think we need to talk about this any longer." She told him.
"I think we should." Joker said.
She shook her head, and stood up.
"Why?" She asked, walking over to the french doors.
"You know why doll face. I saved you, not Bats, I did." Joker told her.
She exhaled loudly, and turned away from the window. Joker was in front of her.
"Nobody is saying any different, I promise you. However, that's all it is. You saved me from a patient, don't read into it." She told him.
He smiled down at her, while trailing his finger along her jawline, and down her neck, to her collarbone. Her breath caught in her throat.
"It's much more than that doll face. It will always be more." He whispered to her.
"No." She told him.
He laughed.
"Yes." He said.
She swatted his hand away from her. She turned her face away from him.
"You are my patient, do not think for one second that you will be able to break my moral compass. I won't let you." She told him.
He gave a laugh. He pressed her into the wall, and put a hand at the base of her neck. She stood very still, barely breathing.
"I'll enjoy the challenge, doll face. I never truly had anything for Harley. You, on the other hand, are different. There's something about you, that I can't quite put my finger on. You intrigue me." He told her.
Joker was deadly serious. Controlled chaos was behind those eyes. She needed to contain him, and get out of this situation.
"You're all I can think about. I will have you." Hesaid.
She frowned.
"You and I will never be together, you are my patient." She told him.
He laughed. He leaned in, and took a deep breath, sniffing her. He gave a moan.
"I've waited this long for you, I can wait a little longer." He whispered in her ear.
Shivers went up and down her spine. Her heart was racing, as her mind tried to process what he had just told her.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked him.
He pressed his body against hers, and his lips hovered inches above hers.
"Doll face, if I tell you, it would ruin the surprise." Joker told her.
She needed to get a grip on the situation. She needed to take control. Before she could, his lips crashed down on to hers. She gasped, and tried fighting against him. He was stronger, and didn't budge. His hand left her neck, rand down her body, to her hips. He lifted her off the ground, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Her body was slowly starting to take over. Her mind was losing the fight.
Her phone began ringing, and it was enough to bring her to her senses. She managed to get ahold of herself, and push him off of her. She straightened her dress suit out, pushed him off of her, and went over to her desk.
"That won't be happening again." She told him.
She got to the phone, and answered it.
"Dr. Lake." She said, cautiously watching Joker's every move.
"It's Bruce Wayne, are you okay? You sound like you're out of breath." Bruce said.
"I'm fine, Bruce. Listen, this isn't a good time." She said.
"Can you meet with me today? I've been thinking about you all day." Bruce told her.
Hope turned away from Joker.
"Bruce, I will call you back. I can't talk right now, I'm with a patient. The second I have a free moment, I will call you." She told him.
"Of course. I will talk to you soon." Bruce said.
"Bye." Hope said.
She hung the phone up, and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"What did Brucey want doll face?" Joker asked.
"That's none of your business. I'm ending this session, right now. You have gone too far." She told him.
"When will I see you again?" He asked.
"I don't know." She said.
She dodged him, and went over to the door. She motioned for the guards.
"I'll dream of you." He told her.
The guards led Joker out of the office. She shut the door behind him, and locked it. She went to her desk, and took a seat. She put her head in her hands. She had let him get out of control. She should give him to someone else.
She took a sheet of paper out of her desk. She read it over, and filled it out. When she was done, she signed her name, and dated it. She exhaled loudly, and ran a a hand through her hair. She needed a drink. She bit her lip, and thought about what she should do.
She picked up the phone, and dialed a number from memory.
"Hello?"
"Bruce, it's Hope. I need a distraction. Would you like to meet me for a drink?" She asked.
"I wasn't expecting that." He said.
"Is that a no?" She asked.
He laughed.
"I know the perfect spot. I will pick you up in an hour." He said.
She smiled.
"Make it an hour and a half, I'm still at work." She told him.
"I'll be there, I'll see you soon." Bruce said.
"Bye." She said.
She hung up. She quickly grabbed her things, and cancelled her last couple appointments of the day. She hurried home.
She showered, and quickly washed. She chose a strapless white sundress, with strappy sandals. She straightened her hair, and did her make up. Just as she finished, there was a knock at her door. She smiled, and went to answer it.
"Perfect timing Romeo." She said, opening the door.
Bruce was smiling at her.
"You look amazing." He said.
"Thank you." She said.
She grabbed her clutch, and then took Bruce's arm. He led her out to his limo. Alfred was the driver. Hope smiled at him.
"Mistress Hope, you look amazing!" Alfred said.
"Thank you Alfred." She said.
"Keep an eye on Mr. Wayne for me tonight. He seems to find himself in sticky situations." Alfred said, giving her a wink.
She laughed.
"Oh, trust me, Alfred, I don't think Bruce will be far from my sight tonight." She said, looking over at Bruce, with a smile.
He raised his eyebrows.
"Really? I think I like the sound of that." Bruce said.
Alfred opened the door for them.
"So, what happened today?" Bruce asked.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
He took her hand in his.
"Is everything okay Hope?" He asked.
She sighed. Should she let him know what had happened today? She looked up at him, and gave him a smile.
"I'm fine, I promise. I was stressed out when you called me today, that's all. You actually chose the best time to call." She told him.
"Really? Well, I'm glad that I could help you." He said.
She laughed, as she leaned in, and pressed her lips to his. He groaned when she pulled away.
"If that's what happens, I'll call you at work more often." He told her.
She laughed.
"I might just take you up on that." She said.
He smiled, and kissed her. It soon turned to a full on make out session. At some point, Alfred put up the partition. They continued like this, until they got to the club. Hope quickly touched her lipstick up.
Bruce led her inside fairly quickly, and over to the bar. They ordered shots to start with. They drank. They danced. They were very close to each other.
She was quickly getting drunk. They were all over each other, until they couldn't stand it much longer. Bruce got the hint, and made a call to Alfred.
Bruce led her outside, and into the limo. She was almost on his lap.
"Where to now, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked.
Bruce looked at Hope.
"What do you want to do?" Bruce asked her.
She smiled.
"Your place?" She asked.
He gave a laugh.
"To the manor Alfred." Bruce said.
Alfred nodded, and put the partition up.
"Next time we should skip the club, and go straight to your place." She whispered.
"Not that I'm not enjoying this, but what made you change your mind?" He asked.
She bit her lip.
"Your impeccable timing, and the great distraction that you provide me." She told him.
He laughed.
"I'll take it." He said.
He leaned in, and kissed her.
Bruce helped Hope out of the limo, and into the manor. She giggled, as he picked her up, bridal style, and carried her up the stairs.
"Good night Alfred!" Hope called, waving to the butler.
Alfred laughed.
"Good night Mistress." Alfred said.
Hope giggled.
Bruce brought her to his room. He set her on the bed, and turned to shut the door. When he turned around again, he found Hope fast asleep, her hair all over the place.
Bruce laughed, and shook his head. He walked over to her, and helped her get under the covers. He quickly changed into pajama pants, and then got into bed, next to her. He pulled her close, and wrapped his arms around her. Bruce moved her hair away from her face, and kissed the top of her head. He closed his eyes, and tried drifting off to sleep. At least, for as long as possible.