Alter-Ego (Batman fanfic)

Chapter eight: egg nog or happy juice

Chapter Eight: egg nog or happy juice

Bruce's POV:

Harmony fell to her knees beside me, still tightly clenched in my hand. I was too caught up in the Jokers display to move. Roman Sionis, who was he, maybe Black Mask? It had to be, why else would the Joker kidnap him? The build was right and the suit was the same, it had to be him. I could care less about Roman, more so about what the Joker had planned for, with the toxins I thought were destroyed.

"Why does he do these things, why does he hate everyone so much," I heard Harmony mutter below me. I never thought too hard about what the Joker had going on in what ever reminiscences of a brain he had left. He was empty, longing for a purpose, that unfortunently was Batman. 

"He's sick, a monster," I echoed trying to sound logical. Harmony let go of my hand and used it to push herself back off the floor. I looked at her face, and then at her eyes, which seemed to be prickled with tears. The Joker upset a lot of people, seeing Harmony with the same expression hurt.

"Are you okay?" I finally asked, forgetting to be Bruce Wayne.

"No, honestly, I'm terrible, but it's none of your concern, just a flicker from a dark past."

"You can tell me," I pushed, hoping that she wouldn't. This message from the Joker was a wake up call, I was getting too close to her, it was going to be Rachel all over again.

"I'm not sure that's the best idea," she admitted. I nodded understandingly. We all needed our secrets, I had one of the biggest of them all.

"I hate to leave you, but it's getting late and I should probably get this film developed or downloaded," Harmony said. I smiled, the sooner she left the better, I needed to stop Joker before this gets out of hand, Batman was coming out tonight.

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Fox walked into my office unannounced looking sweaty and disgruntled. I was currently speaking to one of our Japanese delegates, not the right time for a crime or tech emergency.

"Yaunto, if you'll excuse me," I apologized, walking to Fox calmly.

"It's not a good time," I hinted. Harmony had already interrupted my meeting earlier, any more of these and I might have to clear my whole day, again.

"I just thought you'd like to know there's a price on your head, or the bats to be specific."

"What? Did the joker place the hit?" 

"Not to what I know of, from what I've heard it's Harvey Dent." I stood up straight with shock, Harvey is dead, I killed him.

"Harvey died nearly two years ago, it's got to be someone else," I repeated from inside my head.

"I'm telling you Bruce it's Harvey, Gordon gave me the tip, I suggest you watch your back," Fox warned.

"I can take care of myself, it'd be nice to know who I'm dealing with, try to see if you can dig anything else up."   

Fox left with a thumbs up, and I returned to my coligue. The rest of the meeting I found myself drifting between sleep, conciousness, and my own mind. Harvey, still alive, I saw him die, he was dead. It was confirmed. Yet one of the only people I still trust, tells me he's almost 100% sure he's not. Inside a dark thought consumed me, thinking of how Rachel could have been alive rather than Harvey still flipping coins around. It's a twisted life. I regretted pushing Harmony away, imagining how she would have some way of comforting me, even if it was only her presence that would do so.

Harmony's POV:

Bruce seemed different after the display of Jokers new toy, happy juice. He looked like he was trying hard to decide something, and more than that he seemed distant. The feeling that I had before of comfort was gone and now it was purely awkward. Since I left on such unpatched terms at the football game a few days ago I'd found myself avoiding him all together.