Protect Me Dark Knight

14: Arkham Asylum

Bruce and I were laying on the couch with the news blaring from the TV. I was drifting in and out of consciousness with Bruce holding me to his chest. All was well; I was happy. Every now and then he would kiss my head and bring me closer. Just as I was to drift off into a deep sleep, the voice was cut off and then a much louder one. "Breaking news: According to the GCPD guarding Arkham Asylum, the Joker has escaped. We repeat, the Joker has taken over the Asylum-" "Hello Gotham!" I felt Bruce tense at the dreamy words and I sat up from his embrace. "Yes, I have escaped the dreadful room they call a cell here on the Island. Honestly, it truly lonely here, so I am making a request. Miss Regina Smith come to join me with her dear Dark Knight. I have a few tricks up my sleeve for them both. Oh and if you don't come my Little Bird, I may or may not have a few bombs ready to blow families to hell, & I know you wouldn't want that to happen again." His psychotic laughter made my eyes widened and the TV turned off. Without hesitating, I got off the couch as John came in followed by Alfred. "You're not actually going to go are you Bruce?" I ran down up a staircase, closely followed by Bruce. We were both silent as I went to out room and changed into combat boots and a hoodie of Bruce's. Putting a hair band on my wrist, I grabbed by iPhone from the nightstand. "Sweetheart, what did he mean again?" "I'm not going to let a child lose their family because of me, no. I'm not." His big hands gripped my shoulders, making me look up at his concerned, brown eyes. "Regina." Clenching my jaw, I spoke, my voice strained. "The Joker came into my home a few years back and shot my whole family. After, to make sure we were dead, he blew our house to the sky. I jumped from the window to another house's roof. The crazy thought I was flying, therefore he from then on called me Little Bird." His eyes were full of emotion and his lips pursed. "Come on." Together we sprinted to the cave.

Thanks to Lucius, Batman had gotten another Tumbler, this time with a stronger exoskeleton. Speeding threw the streets, we were soon being followed by GCPD cars. "I will never get used to this." I breathed, clutching the seat for dear life. Batman's rough laughter filled the tank, making my nerves relax. As we drove deeper into Gotham, we soon got to the outskirts and then a bridge. His puppy eyes peered at me and I glanced back as the Asylum gates surrounded us. "Holy gods." There were lunatics on the lose and dead guards littering the Island's entrance. As we entered the heart of Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, the iron gates slammed close behind us, letting only a few of the tens of police in after us. My eyes adjusting to the sudden darkness, I saw a giant figure in front us. Knowing it was Killer Croc, I started to shake at the knowledge of how he could snap my back like a toothpick. Batman's gloved hand held my face and I took a deep breath. "Let's go B."

Climbing out of the Tumbler, I faced the man that has haunted my every thought and dream with a new flare of anger. The Joker pranced out from behind his goons and I wanted to snarl. Clicking of metal against metal drew my hard gaze to Croc, making me shiver and my confidence sink. Staying close to Batman's side, the Joker giggled. "Well, well, that was quick! Wouldn't want another little girl broken?" He laughed evilly and shook his head, making his way towards us. Batman stepped in front of me slightly as the Joker reached for me. "You fell for it my dear little minx and you have fallen even more graciously into my trap." Raising his arms to the gods, loud screams and wails came from behind. I pressed myself to the Batman's back as he spoke, and he put a reassuring hand on my side. "You don't have any explosives in Gotham. You wanted her and here she is. What do you want with her?" An arm grabbed me from behind me, making me cry out in panic. Batman turned to my aid, but I was already roughly pulled away from his safety. I saw the Joker put a hand gun to my protector's head and I tried to rip free from the person's grasp. "Hold still princess." I looked up with fear in my eyes and saw Enigma, green coat and all. "Just what I wanted 6 years ago, to kill her. But now that you have grown so attached to her, watch you suffer as well." Catching Batman's eyes, I saw his fill with anger and determination, but his body was composed. "Come on Miss Smith, we have a special place for you and your Joker." I didn't yell, trying to save my voice for when I really needed it. Seeing police officers in the 3 cars behind the Tumbler, I saw Commissioner Gordon in one and John in another. Flicking my green eyes back to Batman's, a door was shut in front of us, cutting off my hope.

I was pulled along concrete ground and I felt the jeans on my calves wear to nothing, leaving my legs scraped and bloody. "Let go of me Enigma! Let go, you have nothing in this!" I was angry, but my voice trembled. "Oh you know nothing. Don't you wonder why you remembered me so quickly Miss Smith? I was destined to be with your mother, don't you remember? But then your pathetic father-" "He was not pathetic!" A loud slap made my head snap to the left. "YOU WILL NOT INTERRUPT ME. HE WAS PATHETIC AND WORTHLESS. I WAS MEANT FOR LUCY, NOT HIM." I felt my cheek swell already from the hit and I stayed quiet, trying to remember my surroundings, to see of any path of escape. "When I found out your mother and that scum were to be married, I cracked and seeked the assistance of the dear Joker. I'm sure you can remember from there." Noticing my sudden silence, he stopped in his tracks, letting the Joker and his goons make there way ahead of us. "What are you doing? Do you honestly think you can find a route out of here? You're as stupid as your father." Enigma dropped me to the gravel and raised his cane. "Sleep well princess." An obnoxious blow to my head lead my to blackness.

The first thing I noticed was the thumping in my head that felt as if someone was hitting me with a hammer. Prying my eyes open, I found the room I was in filthy and and there were patients with guns around the room. A flash of lightening and thunder made me jump. The same girlish giggle I had heard in the Manor made my blood boil. "Hello Miss Smith. When my Mr. J is off playing with B-Man, I get to watch over you. Won't that be fun?" The girl came into view and she had a microphone which some how I knew allowed out voice to be projected throughout the Island. "Piss off Quinn." Her lip curled and she shook her head. "Now, now the Joker told me to carve something into your skin when you woke, and now you're being a smart ass." She placed the microphone down with a giggle. "What do you think Bats? How about your name? To remind her that you couldn't save her, that you broke her promise." Suddenly the very slutty dressed woman pounced on me, the chair I was tied to slamming down to the cracked tile. Pulling a knife from her waistband, she went to work on my forearm.

Letting out a blood curdling scream, I wiggled trying to get free from her grasp, from the blade digging into me. "Stop! Please!" Hot tears poured down my cheeks at the blinding pain. I heard the men in the room laugh and I screamed again. "Sit still will you!" Harley slashed the knife along my face, blood dripping almost immediately. She stood when my voice was hoarse from shouting. "Jeez, Batman, she's a tough one, where'd you find her? I hope you enjoyed the entertainment! Bye bye for now!" She pressed a button on the microphone and she left, leaving me surrounded my greedy prisoners.