Disclaimer: I own nothing except Scarlett. And any made up family members.
Nothing much to report. College has been sucking the life out of me, as it does for most 1st year students. But there's 2 chapters left so we're almost there! I just am awaiting the Public Enemies trailer, TBH. Depp and Bale. Nothing better.
An hour later, Scarlett opened her eyes to an empty bed. Bruce had vacated his spot and she heard him conversing with Alfred down stairs. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Scarlett stood and walked towards the staircase. The TV was on full blast and Scarlett heard the voice of Mike Engle drifting through the penthouse. As she looked down the flight of stairs, she saw Bruce leaning forward to watch the TV as Alfred stood behind him. Emily and Alberto had already left since the guest room door was open with the bed made. As she made her way down the flight, both men looked up at her.
"What's going on," Scarlett said.
"The Joker. He's threatening to blow up a hospital if Coleman Reese is not killed within the hour."
"Coleman Reese? Don't you work with him?"
"I do," Bruce said.
"Weasel of a human being," Alfred retorted.
"Why do you say that?"
"Coleman was going to blackmail Bruce using Lucius Fox's design's for the Tumbler."
"How did he find out," Scarlett questioned, walking toward the two male's.
"Don't know," Alfred replied.
"Well, in regards to turning this weasel in, it'll do no good. The Joker will do it if Coleman Reese is killed or not. He has no limits."
"How do you know," Alfred said.
"I'm living proof. The Joker said Batman would only save one of us but he was planning for all three of us to die. Harvey and I are still here but one of us should be dead along with…"
Scarlett stopped short of saying Rachel's name. She still couldn't think about her friend's death. Alfred gave her a small nod as Bruce turned the TV off.
"I'm going after him," Bruce said, standing up.
"In broad daylight," Scarlett said.
"No, I cannot go out in the bat suit. I'll have to go as Bruce Wayne."
He then turned and began to make his way towards the elevator shaft. As the metal doors slid open, Alfred looked over at Scarlett and inclined his head for her to come along as he began to follow Bruce. She came forward quickly as Alfred stopped in front of the elevator and said, "Will you be wanting the bat pod, Sir?"
"In the middle of the day, Alfred? Not very subtle."
"The Lamborghini, then?"
Bruce gave a smile and before the elevator doors closed, he said, "Take care of her."
Scarlett gave a huff and said, "Much more subtle my ass and I can take care of myself. No offence, Alfred."
"None taken, Miss."
Turning back towards the stairs, Scarlett made her way towards them and ran up the glass stairs quickly. Upon arriving back up in the bedroom, she grabbed her leather jacket before heading back down the stairs. Alfred was sitting on one of the couches and when she stopped in front of him, he said, "Do you need anything, Scarlett?"
"Transportation," Scarlett replied, with a grin on her face.
"I think I have just the thing," Alfred said, standing from the couch with a smile.
He quickly walked towards the kitchen as Scarlett walked to the elevator as fast as her boots would carry her. Pressing the button for down, she waited for the lift to get back up to the penthouse level. As the doors slid open, she saw Alfred walk back out of the kitchen and he threw her a set of keys. She noticed they were not for a car. Taking his black trenchcoat from the coat hanger, Alfred stopped by her side.
"Does Bruce have a scooter," Scarlett joked.
"You might say that," Alfred said, boarding the elevator.
Scarlett smirked before she stepped inside and pressed the button for the garage. The ride took about a minute and when they reached the ground level, the doors slid open and Scarlett's mouth dropped at the 5 cars parked neatly in a row. Alfred exited as Scarlett gaped in awe and he smiled at her astonishment. "Come along."
Walking out of the elevator, Scarlett followed Alfred past all the cars until he stopped in front of a red motorcycle. The one Bruce had been riding the day of the Mayor's assassination attempt. Giving a laugh of disbelief, she said, "You can't be serious, can you?"
"You told me once that you knew how to ride."
"I can but this is probably Bruce's most prized possession."
"I highly doubt that," Alfred said.
Knowing what the older man meant, Scarlett leaned forward and grabbed the sleek, black helmet from the handles. She shoved it on her head before she turned to Alfred and said, "How do I look?"
"You might want to put your hair up."
Scarlett nodded before taking the helmet off and putting her hair into a messy bun. She then pulled the helmet back on and swung her leg over the bike. As she started the bike, Alfred stepped away and said, "There is an earpiece inside. I have to go down to the hideout but I'll be connected to both of you. You'll know where to go."
"Got it. But, don't tell Bruce. He's got enough going on."
"Safe secrets, Scarlett."
Scarlett gave a smile before pushing the helmet's visor down and revving the bike up. Putting her foot on the gas, Scarlett maneuvered her body so she could exit the garage. With a kick of her foot, the motorcycle took off, leaving Alfred behind. Shaking his head, Alfred walked towards the car and said, "He's going to harangue her for this one."
The motorcycle was fast and Scarlett was taken aback by how much she remembered from her lessons. Her father had taught her when she was younger and Alberto and Mario always took her out biking with them. Since then, she had a fascination with the speed of the bikes. Inside the motorcycle helmet, Scarlett heard a small voice say, "Are you there, Miss?"
"I can hear you loud and clear," Scarlett yelled over the wind.
"Good. Now you know where he's headed. I'm surprised you haven't caught up with him."
"I see him up ahead."
Squinting, Scarlett looked towards the familiar Lamborghini and smiled when she realized it was him. It must have been the new model, since she never remembered him having it during their time together. Swerving in between a black Mustang, she said, "Should I stay behind him or try to get in front of him?"
"Stay behind him. Now, you'll be able to hear our conversation just try not to talk. When I need to converse with you, I'll silence Master Wayne."
"Someone ought to," Scarlett replied.
Staying at the speed she was at, Scarlett stayed two cars away from Bruce as he weaved in and out of traffic. The man was fast; she had to give him that. She followed him all the way to Wayne Enterprises, where she assumed Coleman Reese was. She also knew that he was most likely in Gordon's custody. As Bruce began to slow down, Scarlett did as well, careful to stay behind him. As they both rounded the corner, gunshots hang out and Scarlett blanched as a man was taken down.
Inside, she saw Reese in Gordon's custody. It seemed like people were taking the Joker's message to heart. Groaning, she looked back in front of her and saw Bruce beginning to speed up. Clutching the handles, Scarlett sped up as well but maintained a safe enough distance. Bruce and Alfred's voices kept ringing through her helmet and she found it quite annoying but she had no idea how to turn it off. So she concentrated on the road. Following Bruce down a side street, she stopped the bike as he came to a stop in front of an alley. All of a sudden he sped up again. Scarlett revved back up and followed him back onto the open streets.
He was following a black SUV closely and from what Alfred was saying, there was a police man inside whose wife was in the hospital. The hospital was going to be blown up and the young man might try to kill Reese to stop it from happening. Bruce told Alfred to message Gordon as he continued to tail the SUV. Scarlett continued behind him at a steady rate as her heart dropped into her chest, realizing Harvey was also in the hospital. He didn't know that she was still alive.
As the light up ahead turned red, the Lamborghini came to a stop. Scarlett was one car behind him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a black truck with a man inside it. He had a grim look on his face and he was eying the SUV that held Coleman and Gordon. Up ahead, she heard Bruce rev up his engine and as the light turned green, the SUV moved forward. As it moved through the light, the black truck slammed on the gas and headed for the SUV. In a split second, Scarlett watched as Bruce drove forward and took the impact meant for the SUV.
Slapping the handles of the motorcycle in frustration, Scarlett yelled into the earpiece, "That dumbass took the hit!"
"He was planning on it, Miss."
Revving the bike up, Scarlett slowly maneuvered over to the crash and stopped by Bruce's door. He looked up from the airbag, his hair a mess and said, "Can I help you?"
Taking the helmet from her head, Scarlett said, "I usually need the help. Not you."
"You look at home on that."
Giving her a small smile, Bruce leaned back into his seat and Scarlett turned the motorcycle off. She put the kickstand down and hopped off. The truck had hit the Lamborghini on the passenger side, so she was able to open Bruce's door. Bruce exited the car quickly and said, "I'm oblivious and weak."
Before she had a chance to respond, Bruce, more or less, fell into her arms. Grunting under his weight, she helped him away from the scene and over to the other side of the car. The man in the black car was arrested by the officers and Gordon came around the side of the SUV. Slumping down onto the hood of the ruined car, Bruce wrapped an arm around Scarlett's waist.
"Watch your hands."
"Play along," Bruce retorted.
Biting her lip, Scarlett stuck a smile on her face as Gordon came up to the two of them. He smiled upon seeing Scarlett and said, "Are you ok? Thank God you were not in the car."
"Yes. My feet are healing and I'm in good spirits, considering the outcome."
Gordon nodded before he turned to Bruce and said, "That was very brave thing you did, Mr. Wayne."
"What? Trying to catch the light," Bruce said, rubbing his neck nonchalantly.
"You weren't protecting the van?"
"Why? Who's in it," Bruce said, craning to look over at the SUV.
Scarlett turned her head and saw Coleman Reese being helped from the car. He looked over to the Lamborghini and he froze when he saw Bruce Wayne sitting on the car. Scarlett frowned at Reese before she turned back to Bruce and said, "What's a matter with him?"
"He knows about my nightlife, remember."
"Oh."
"You think I should go to a hospital," Bruce said, turning back to Gordon.
"You don't watch a lot of television do you, Mr. Wayne?"
Bruce smiled before a large boom sounded throughout the area. Knowing it was the hospital, Scarlett stood from the hood of the car and walked next to Gordon. Bruce turned to the inside of his car and retrived his cell phone. He needed to call Alfred.
"South East," Gordon whispered. He looked down to Scarlett who kept her eyes straight ahead. He knew she was thinking about Harvey Dent.
"It's Gotham General," Scarlett said.
"Did you clear the building," Gordon said into his walkie.
Gordon excused himself from Scarlett's side and she turned back towards the ruined car. Turning back to Bruce, she saw him being helped over to an ambulance. He was protesting against the officers and he glanced back to Scarlett. He pointed at her and said, "I'm not going anywhere without my girlfriend."
Rolling her eyes, Scarlett quickly walked towards Bruce and the paramedics. As she neared the ambulance, a yellow school bus drove by with some of the people from the hospital inside. The officers ordered cars to move aside and the people in the street quickly made their way to the sidewalk. One of the paramedics pulled Scarlett out of the way of the bus and she looked at the people inside, hoping Harvey was on one of the buses. As she looked up at the last window, Scarlett saw the smiling face of the Joker staring back. He was still alive.
Thanks to everyone who keeps reviewing. I've made the decision to keep this in the Batman Begins section b/c I guess you can loose alot if you move your story. Anyway, leave a review if you would like.
Also, I think my next story may be The Prestige. However, there's no catagory for it. Therefore; it might go in the random movies section. Ugh, such is life.