Chapter four: different

Bruce's POV:

I hadn't felt the butterflies Harmony gave me since Rachel. After she left me for Harvey all I'd been trying to do was forget dating completely, it's because of me that she was dead. It was different the way Harmony made me feel, like a whole new flavor, that seemed to be already very addictive.

"Master Bruce good to see you home so early, I wasn't expecting you until at least one o'clock."

"There's nothing going on right now unfortunately," I pulled off my cowl.

"I would rather say it is very fortunate, means that crime is going down is it not?"

"Hardly, the Jokers been doing under the table with things lately, sure a few show off dead bodies but I think he's been planning to use those as a distraction, for something bigger." Alfred laid a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm not saying your wrong but it wouldn't hurt for you to relax once and a while."

"I can't relax until that lunatic is out of Gotham, better yet dead."

Alfred took a deep breath, it was unlike me to want someone dead, I could never kill him myself.

"Master Bruce, your secretary called me and said that I had to remind you about a personal call you got during one of your meetings earlier today."

"Personal call?" I repeated pulling off other pieces of my bat suit.

"Yes from a miss Harmony Jackson." I froze, she called me back?

"Really, I'll have to call her tomorrow," I said calmly, inside though a small part of my adventurous side pushed up.

"Might I ask why she was making a personal call to you?"

"Oh it's nothing just a news photographer, probably just needs a follow up report on the charity dinner last night," I lied, avoiding eye contact with Alfred. I could lie pretty well, except to Alfred.

"The press, I hope you haven't made a fool of yourself." Ignoring Alfred I made my way up the elevator to the actual house part to get some sleep. After all the boring as shit meetings and most of the night wasted on scanning the crimeless streets I needed the last few hours of moonlight for myself.

Hours later I still wasn't alseep. When your Batman and you've got more weight on you, than the entire city it would be lucky for me to get any sleep at all. Most nights it would be restless tossing and turning, with nightmares of whatever masked freaks I ran into recently. Sometimes the only way I feel that I can stay scary is if I continue to scare myself.

"Master Bruce, hate to disturb you while your resting but Mr.Fox is here for you." Fox? At nearly 5 in the morning?

"Don't worry about disturbing me I'm wide awake," I assured him.

I made my way down stairs a little anxiously to a calm looking Mr.Fox.

"Lucious, what brings you here so late?"

"I'd just like you to know I contemplated coming up to your house several hours before deciding this information was important enough to bother you with," he started grimly.

"Alfred, could you please get us some coffee," I requested. He nodded silently also giving me a curious eye, as if I actually wanted him to leave.

"So what valuable info have you blessed me with this morning," I turned back to Fox.

"It's more of a theory, but I've heard over the grape vine that a serious load of toxins have been going through the black market, I'm talking expensive, military grade, experimental stuff."

"So the Jokers planning to make some sort of new biological agent?"

"Who knows, it's a myth, but I was thinking Batman should go check out the harbor tonight and see if this imaginary chemical is real, and if so you can get a sample," he suggested.

"And then we could maybe work on synthesizing an antidote?"

"First off find out if this street myth is real, then we can talk about antidotes if nessisary."

Alfred reappeared with mine and Fox's coffee.

"No thank you Alfred, I have to get back to work, and you Mr.Wayne, get some sleep, you look terrible," he remarked, just before turning to leave.

"Would you like two cups master Bruce?" Alfred offered. I waved him off "no thank you, treat yourself though."

"After all these years of being your butler you honestly didn't know that I was British, and I despise coffee."

I gave him an empty smile "you learn something new every day."

Alfred rolled his eyes and wandered off somewhere to most likely clean or as he called, keeping the order in an orderless mind. After the coffee there was no way I was getting back to sleep, so why not head down to the cave, maybe get something on this drug deal.

On my way to the elevator I walked past the kitchen, where I spotted a sticky note next to my charging cell. It was Harmony's number. I contemplated calling her over a few minutes and decided to just go for it.

Harmony's POV:

I couldn't sleep. My eyes hurt and I was exhausted but I couldn't sleep. Nightmares of what happened to me long ago, and what I imaged happened to Harold, haunted me. I rolled over on my side to look at my alarm clock, it was 5:07 am. Somehow I managed to stay up all night long thinking way too hard.

The sound of my phone vibrating from across the apartment caught my attention. I slowly made my way out of my cozy bed, cracking my various limbs as I walked to the cell. Without checking the ID, I answered the phone yawning whist saying hello.

"Sorry, did I wake you up?" A smooth voice responed. Bruce Wayne, he was calling me back. After the events of last night I'd nearly forgotten I called him in the first place.

"No no, I stayed up all night, thinking about how counting sheep is an effective way to cause one to rest."

"Sounds just like me, I'm free right now, we could meet up somewhere."

"Uh, now?" I said stupidly. He just said right now, why did I have to be so clumsy.

"Yes, now, I'll bring coffee too." Coffee that I didn't have to pay for that was better than the offices sounded really good right now. Anything to wake me up and maybe brighten my mood. Though Bruce may be able to do that on his own.

"Alright, where do you want to meet" I agreed. There was a short pause and a humming noise before he answered.

"Mmmhhmmmm, how does Gotham City Park sound?". That was only a few blocks from where I lived, easy to get to, and for winter time it was a nice day today. The only complaint I had was how scummy the place was. Graffiti, robbers, and most of all tons of drug deals. How could I refuse though?

"Okay, meet you there in thirty?"

"See you soon," he hung up.

Excited I hurried to the bathroom and took a quick shower. God forbid I smell like sweat, dead people, and depression. This was going to be the start of a whole new life, without Harold.

I finally resulted in wearing a V-neck shirt and black leggings underneath a petite coat. My hair was in a truely messy bun, and I managed to wear a minimal amount of makeup, a true teenager at heart. All of this had already taken me at least fifteen minutes, no harm in getting there early.

Running out the door I slipped on my rain boots. Right outside I ran into my neighbor, Ruth, again.

"Oh honey, where y'all runnin' to now?"

"The park, just for a walk."

"Just for a walk huh, I ain't see anyone so excited they had to run to go on a walk. If I wasn't stupid I'd guess y'all were meetin' someone." Ruth is like an all powerful genie, she was the reason I was here today going to meet Bruce.

"Yes I am, how'd you know?"

"I already told y'all how I know! No one ain't about to run for anything else, and sweety I didn't ever see you go joggin' before."

"Your something else Ruth."

"I know I know, well don't keep him waiting go off and meet this guy!" She told me.

By the time I'd made it to the park it was 5:30, he should be here any minute. The entire time I waited on a graffitied park bench I was nervously twiddling my fingers. Out the corner of my eye I swear I could feel someone watching me. I hated living and hanging out anywhere in Gotham.

"Here's the coffee," a voice rose behind me.

"Thanks, I'll try not to spill it on you," I joked. The warm cup of joe and Bruce's presence made any crime ridden street feel safe and comfortable.

"Hope you like it, I added a little cream." Cream, hopefully it wouldn't be enough to put me off breakfast or set off my lactose problems. I took a sip and couldn't help but make a wide eyed face. It was like god came down and touched my taste buds personally.

"What the heck is this, it's amazing!"

"Imported, I don't remember where's it's from, either Peru or Romania." I took another large gulp letting its hot smooth texture keep away the bitter morining chill.

Bruce sat down next to me and scanned over the park with his eyes.

"Terrible isn't it?"

"The park?"

"Not so much the park, but what's happened to it, I mean this is a place kids are supposed to play in and it's just littered with, with filth." He was right the park is discusting, I didn't expect him to care much though.

"It's been like this for as long as I can remember, though lately it hasn't been as bad as usual with Batman and all."

"Do you think he actually makes a difference, or are the criminals just getting smarter. Look at the Joker, no one has yet to figure him out."

I thought back to the robber and how much Batman scared him, how he most likely saved my life.

"Batman makes a difference, even if it's just saving lives when he can."

I caught a glimpse of Bruce's eyes welling up, but he quickly brushed it off.

"Well I'm going to talk to my company about restoring this park, all kids should get a chance to have a childhood."

Bruce finished his coffee, threw it away, and stood up.

"Let's go for a walk, how far do you live?"

"Only a couple blocks, but you don't want to go to my house it's small and dirty," I warned him.

"There's a bakery nearby, we could go there." Now that he mentioned it I was pretty hungry.

"Alright I'm down," I answered.

I huddled next to Bruce cringing to his strong and warm arm as we walked the unsafe streets. Surprisingly Bruce had a confidence about him. He walked unmoved by the enviroment and it's dangers, only focused on me and his destination.

"How do you that?" I questioned unclinging from him. He looked down at me puzzled, slowing his pace at the same time.

"Do what?"

"Walk around like you own the place". He smiled and looked back straight ahead.

"I don't mean to brag but I do practically own most of the building in Gotham."

"You know that's not what I mean."

He took a deep breath "A wise man once told me that the only way to tame a lion is to pretend like it isn't there."

"So you just pretend that Gotham is a sparkling city with little to no crime?"

"Sort of, but only when I need to, just because I don't acknowledge the danger doesn't mean I'm not aware of it." I admired Bruce for his strength and nobility. I only wish I had either one. Pathetic, weak, that's how I felt all the time, just the victim, the reciever of pain.

I didn't know why a man like Bruce Wayne could possibly like me. Wouldn't he want a confident woman who could take care of herself, rich and worthy of his love. Dispite me being so optamistic of his affection, I wasn't complaining. Maybe, just maybe, he was the answer to my existence. He might actually make this closed turtle, as Daisy put it, pop the fuck out.

The walk to the bakery was pleasingly quiet, I hadn't said much after our conversation of his confidence, but we didn't need to talk. I was thankful when we finally did reach the small mom and pop restaurant, since my stomach was growling so loudly. When we walked inside the small amount of people in the baker did double takes at Bruce. Yes, it was a celebrity and with a girl too. Bruce tried to ignore the whispers and glares but I could tell they were bothering him.

"Do you want to go?" I asked him quietly.

"No it's fine, a few people recognizing me can't hurt right?"

"Yeah it must suck having people worship you," I remarked. Bruce raised his eye brows at me.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean your famous, everyone knows you, it'd be hard to find someone who didn't."

"That doesn't always mean it's a good thing."

Getting attention and being knowticed was a bad thing? I guess I wouldn't know becuase I wasn't famous.

"What can I get you lovely folks?" An old woman who looked like she literaly jumped out of a Betty Crocker commercial asked us.

"A bagel, without cream cheese" I told her. She wrote my order down and looked at Bruce.

"Uh, I'm not hungry," he answered.

"Are you sure? We've got some really nice fresh baked muffins?". Bruce shook his head and the old woman shrugged.

"That's five dollars and sixty cents, do you need a bag?"

Seeing as how walking was much more comfortable for both of us, I might as well get it to go.

"Yes I'll have a bag please."