Have some BATMAN!

/-^l^-\ Same Week. Wednesday. /-^l^-\

"Dr. Cloudy!" cried the Riddler, referring to Alison. Something of a pet name he'd made for her. She asked to do one for Jonathan, to which the Riddler responded 'Dr. Craney-Boo?' had made her giggle harder than she ever had in her life, and she was now hanging it over Jonathan whenever she felt fit. Alison held out a little plastic cup as he walked along, being escorted back to his cell by two security gaurds.

"Here's your salad," she said dryly. The Riddler chuckled lightly and downed them. She'd convinced him they were going to make him even happier and enhance his riddle making skills whilst taking away violent urges, or something to that effect. Somehow, she got him to take it. She didn't know if it was doing any good.

"Do you not feel that is encouraging?" asked the figure behind her. Alison raised her head, ready to make a snap back but she found herself lost for words.

She was pretty stunned. Batman scowled under his cowl, not that his face wasn't fixed into a scowl permanently. Hell, he probably had bats ears under that cowl. He'd be an indescribable mutant or something.

"I don't like to pummel my patients to the near-death and spit aggressive vocabulary at them as I do it. I take a much more passive approach," she said when she had collected her thoughts, "not criticising you or anything, but I feel it is beyond you to make a comment upon my presentation of medication - and besides, he is well aware of what it is I'm handing him."

"Happy pills," nodded the Riddler childishly. Batman pressed his hand to the bars to stop him seeing out.

"Exactly," remarked Alison, raising a brow. Batman was shocked.

"I've never met you before. Dr..."

"Dr. Alison MacLeod."

"Dr. MacLeod," he nodded, turning around and walking off.

"Whoa, you wanted to say something then!" said Alison, chasing after him.

"I just find your approach a little peculiar," grunted Batman.

"Can I see the Bat-mobile?" she questioned childishly. She'd gone to a library after the news report that he had done something spectacular like save a life and researched him.

"From your window."

"Oh, that's oh so cold," she said, pretending to shiver, "What's the matter, Bats? Don't want to let anyone in? Afraid they'll take of your mask. Frankly, I believe the moment you do you aren't the same. I have no interest in undressing you."

"Fine, you can see the car."

Alison ran her fingers over the exterior frame of the car and glanced at Batman, pouting her bottom lip as she considered him.

"A defence," she said, "well armoured, well protective. Probably very suitable to your entire person. Hiding from the world but yet making a big ... bold... face..."

"Dr. MacLeod?" he asked, seeing a look of cognition on her face.

"Thank you, Batman. It was an honour."

She turned away and ran back up and sprinted for her office. She was about to reach for the phone when she glanced up to see Jonathan loitering in the door way.

"So, now you're after the Batman. You're putting yourself RIGHT up there, aren't you?"

"I told him I didn't want to undress him."

"I heard that," said Jonathan, "not many people have ever had the guts to waltz up to the Bat like that and ask to see his car... or tell him they don't want to undress him. Are you sure you don't need therapy?"

"Want to play doctor?" she remarked, "just excuse me for one moment?" she requested. Jonathan raised a brow and left. She picked up her mobile.

"Hello?" came Bruce's voice. Of course. That's too obvious.

"Hey. I just remembered I didn't say thanks for the flowers and felt it poor to simply text. So thank you."

"Oh, that's okay. How are you?"

"I'm good thanks. Just at work so I don't have long. How are you?"

"Splendid. Just relaxing. I'll let you get off."

"Alright. Thank you. Talk to you later."

"Bye Alison!"

"Bye Bruce."

Alison dropped her phone back into her draw and stood up and pulled the door back, glancing either side. Jonathan wasn't there. She wandered down to the next door and pushed it back.

"I thought you'd be trying to... Oh, you are trying to listen in. I only meant stand in the corridor."

"I look like I'm getting reprimanded like that," he scowled, "I didn't hear anything by the way."

"Good, Craney-Boo."

Jonathan lobbed a soft back book at her. It landed in her face. She hissed loudly and pressed her hand down on her cheek. Jonathan gaped and stood up.

"Oh no. Alison, I didn't mean to..."

She couldn't help but laugh. When she stood up properly she glared at Jonathan. His face instantly hardened. Half with un-amusement, and a little bit of anger but half with not wanting her to know he had genuinely felt bad.

"I didn't mean to amuse you so much!" he hissed.

"Hey," she said lowly, "do you still honestly feel contemptous towards me?"

"A little. You wind me up..." he said honestly. He disliked her game playing, whilst acknowledging some part of him thought she was exceptionally hot.

"For fun. I'm the only one I see who speaks to me properly"

"By properly I hope you mean civilly. I couldn't really see myself being your chum."

"Yeah right!"

"You bet?"

"I bet my thumbs you do."

"Your thumbs?"

"They're opposable?" she offered, shrugging. The corner of Jonathan's mouth twinged. Don't smile, you ass. She was fantastically odd though. She pointed at him and smirked.

"I'm not laughing," he stated, tightening his lips.

"You are smiling though."

"No," he said, turning around and letting a grin slip from him before taking his seat. She gave him a very suspicious look that made him laugh awkwardly. It was actually a little bit of an unsettling glare.

/-^l^-\

Bruce sat back in the chair and played around with his mobile in his hands for a few minutes, letting go of his thoughts a while. One would not leave him.

Why had Alison phoned him like that? He'd watched her speaking. What she had said had stirred her own thoughts, and provoked an odd exit from her. She had guts though. Most people were terrified to approach the Batman. She was apparently indifferent.

It terrified him to consider. Had she honestly worked it out? And if so, how had she done it that fast? He didn't want to put a distance between them; she was a psychologist - she'd pick up on that. But at the same time, trying to act normal would be a whole lot harder. But at least he had the dinner they had to pass that off.

Incidentally enough, Alison was considering the same thing later that evening. When She and Bruce went out for dinner they were out until 11pm. And Batman lurked in the dark.

But at the same time, how come they shared so many similarities. Both pushed out but in different ways. Both defended well and hiding some place where no one could easily get in. She knew that Bruce wasn't who he appeared to be. They were both givers and expected little in return but liked a thank you when they got it.

Being that he was organised, he would be keeping a careful eye on her. Either way she'd find out. If he suddenly paid drastic attention, then she could be 95% confident she wasn't clutching at straws.

Because I'm so eager and things, I'll post another chapter. Plus, if I keep going on one a day then we'll be here for 2 months or something crazy.