Heads and Tails Part 1 of 2
Title: Heads and Tails Part 1 of 2
Pairing: Harvey/Bruce
Rating: PG 13 for the whole thing
Warnings: Just me completing ruining two characters ^^
Summary: When Harvey is named as the Joker's next victim, he goes to find safety at Bruce's penthouse...
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters etc
Bruce hardly ever got any visitors at his penthouse so the knock on the door as the evening drew on was a surprise. Not many people knew he was living there and he liked it being that way but recently, he had been feeling just a little lonely, hiding out here and hoping the press didn’t find out where he was. He had thought about moving back to the manor so they couldn’t follow him through the large and barricaded gates yet further consideration had proved that a bad idea. Not only would he be even more lonesome out there, trapped on the Gotham outskirts, but he would also be leaving the city without its Caped Crusader. He knew a lot of people were finding the Batman more of a problem than a solution yet Gordon was still relying on him. The police force could probably survive without him but he had made up his mind that as long as the Joker was forcing Gotham into anarchy, he was staying. The newspapers could say what they liked about the Batman, he wasn’t going anywhere.
From out in the corridor, the knocking got slightly more insistent and Bruce began to imagine it was the press. He couldn’t think why they would be visiting at such a late time but he was constantly wary of their prying eyes. So, instead of answering the door, he called out, asking who it was. That seemed to be a more sensible idea.
‘’ It’s Harvey,’’ came the reply and Bruce frowned. Harvey Dent? What was he doing here? Still, he was better than the newspapers so Bruce rose from the couch and walked over to the door, unlocking and opening it. Harvey stood out in the hallway, seeming almost as confused as Bruce.
‘’ Harvey,’’ he said, glancing up and down the corridor. He was surprised to see Rachel wasn’t with him. She usually went everywhere with Harvey. ‘’ Harvey, what are you doing here?’’ Bruce didn’t want to sound rude but he felt he needed to know. After all, this was his home.
‘’ It’s a long story,’’ Harvey replied, sounding a little uncomfortable. ‘’ Can I come in?’’
‘’ Oh.’’ Bruce looked down the hallway again but then smiled, opening the door wider. ‘’...sure.’’
Harvey smiled back weakly and stepped in, watching Bruce lock the door. He seemed a bit put out that evening. Bruce didn’t really know what to do about that but once the door was locked, he guided Harvey to the couch and offered him a drink. He declined, instead perching down on the seat and taking off his jacket. Bruce gradually sat down next to him, wondering why he was so uneasy. He was normally so calm and it wasn’t as if he was shy. He hoped nothing had happened to Rachel to make him like this. ‘’ Something’s up,’’ Bruce remarked after the awkward silence had become too much. ‘’ Are you gonna tell me this ‘long story’ of yours?’’
Harvey smiled a little and slowly sat back, giving his hands something to do by loosening his tie. ‘’ It’s Rachel,’’ he said and Bruce’s stomach lurched momentarily. Rachel was a close friend of his, always had been - and Alfred’s for that matter, considering he’d looked after her for a long time. ‘’ Apparently, the Joker has named me as his next victim and she wanted me to come up here. She says it’s the safest place in Gotham at the moment.’’
Bruce didn’t know what to say to that. He knew not many people had access to it but he’d have imagined there would have been other places. Still, he was glad that Rachel was alright and that she’d sent Harvey up here, for more reasons than one. He had no idea that he had been in trouble. Though he probably could have guessed why the Joker had Harvey in mind for his next victim.
‘’ Where is she now?’’ he asked, referring to Rachel. He hoped Harvey didn’t think he was too into her (which he now knew he wasn’t) - what with being close to her whenever they were out together and now looking for and asking after her - but for her sake, he wanted to know. She could have easily been next.
‘’ Rachel?’’ Harvey replied. ‘’ She’s with Gordon, going over something. No doubt she’ll phone me later.’’
Bruce nodded. She’d be safe with Gordon. ‘’ So do you have any idea why...why it’s you?’’
Harvey shrugged but then nodded. ‘’ I don’t really want to think about it but I’ve got an idea...’’
‘’ What’s that?’’
‘’ I guess it’s because I know the Batman and he says that until he unmasks himself, people are gonna die. Well, not me. Not for scum like him.’’
‘’ You mean the Batman?’’ Bruce tried to stop his stomach lurching again as he realised Harvey may have been insulting his alter ego. But Harvey proceeded to shake his head, his eyes slightly wide like he didn’t want Bruce to think that.
‘’ No, no...’’ he replied. ‘’ No, not the Batman. I mean the Joker. What he’s doing to this city...’’
‘’ Are you scared?’’ Bruce didn’t know why he asked that. Harvey seemed a little startled by it too.
‘’ Scared?’’ he questioned. ‘’ No, I’m not scared. I’ve seen what he can do but I’m not scared. More angry than anything else.’’
‘’ Well, you should be careful...’’ Bruce muttered but Harvey didn’t hear him.
‘’ I’m sorry?’’
‘’ Never mind...’’ Bruce shook his head and then glanced at the empty glasses on the ornate coffee table. ‘’ Do you want a drink yet?’’ he asked instead. Harvey shrugged.
‘’ Sure,’’ he replied and Bruce rose, heading towards the kitchen.
***
As Bruce poured the drinks in the kitchen, he sighed and glanced through the door to where Harvey was sitting on the couch. It was strange having him round without Rachel but Bruce wasn’t bothered by it too much - at least he tried not to be. After all, Harvey was his friend and he was used to seeing him yet having him alone in his home made Bruce feel a little confused. It wasn’t that it was awkward - that had only been the initial feeling - but something else. Bruce still found it hard to admit though as he stole another look at Harvey, he couldn’t help it.
For as long as he’d known Rachel, he’d had a soft spot for her. She was beautiful and intelligent and strong and Bruce had adored spending time with her. He still did but there was a change now that she didn’t know about. In truth, only Alfred did. He had ways of finding out everything. Bruce didn’t mind though - he had thought he would have gone crazy if he didn’t tell someone.
The first time Bruce had met Harvey - or even found out that he was Rachel’s partner - he had, admittedly, been jealous. He had tried not to be as he always wanted Rachel to be happy but then a worse problem arose. At the start, he had thought that it was Harvey he was envious of - after all, Rachel obviously liked him a lot - yet then it slowly became apparent that was not the case.
He didn’t know why but his thoughts after that introduction began to gradually turn to Harvey and the most complicated of feelings started to develop. It could have been because Harvey knew exactly what he was doing and he was powerful and brave, not to mention handsome, yet Bruce had never been attracted to another man before so it was confusing. Still, he couldn’t stop these feelings for Harvey and after a while - especially after Alfred confronted him about it - he started to accept them.
However, it was still hard as he didn’t want to hurt Rachel and plus, he knew Harvey would probably never see him that way. So, having him sat on his couch all alone on an evening when Bruce had nothing else to do (and by this, he meant he had no reason to trade his billionaire profile for his vigilante alter ego) was almost saddening. He didn’t think he could tell Harvey how he felt for a long time, if ever.
But, still, tonight, Harvey needed to be here. If he was the Joker’s next victim, he would require all the help he could get, no matter how fiercely he denied that. Bruce, as the Batman, had seen the Joker in action and he knew well he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Bruce doubted he would kill Harvey straight out yet he would do something equally as bad to get information out of him - or whatever he desired. Harvey couldn’t let that happen to himself. And Bruce wouldn’t allow him to either. As much as he had tried to deny it in the beginning, he really did care about Harvey and the Joker wasn’t going to get anywhere near him - not on his watch.
Taking another deep breath, Bruce picked up the glasses of wine and with a rather false smile on his face, walked back into the lounge where Harvey was still sitting, looking a little more comfortable now. The drinks were handed out in order to broaden this comfort but it took a phone call from Rachel to truly do that. Harvey explained after that she’d called to check up on him, like he’d said she’d do earlier that evening, but then he began to stand up, as if to leave. Bruce immediately got frightened.
‘’ Where are you going?’’ he asked almost timidly, looking up at Harvey as he took his jacket from the couch. He smiled and shrugged it on.
‘’ I’m going home,’’ he replied simply. ‘’ Rachel won’t know - she’s already called here once. It’s not like her to call again - she’ll probably think that’ll seem overprotective.’’
‘’ But she has a reason to be protective,’’ Bruce said quickly, wanting badly for Harvey to stay for a number of reasons - safety, company and other things... ‘’ You’ve been named as -‘’
‘’ The Joker’s next victim, I know.’’ Harvey sighed and shook his head. ‘’ But I’m not scared, I told you. And anyway, the Joker doesn’t know where I live.’’
‘’ How do you know that? Harvey, I really think Rachel’s right. You’ll be much safer here.’’
‘’ No safer than I will be at home. Look, if it makes you feel any better, I’ll phone you as soon as I get there to say everything’s alright. Trust me, Bruce. I’m old enough to look after myself.’’
‘’ That doesn’t matter. And no, it doesn’t make me feel any better either. You know what this man is capable of.’’
‘’ Does he scare you?’’ There was a hint of disbelief in Harvey’s blue eyes.
Bruce shook his head. ‘’ No, he doesn’t. But what he might do to...to somebody does.’’ He couldn’t bring himself to tell Harvey he was scared for him, even though it was true. ‘’ You know you have to stay here.’’
‘’ Bruce, I don’t need a babysitter. I’m going and I’ll call when I get home...I’ll make sure the taxi driver doesn’t go anywhere overly dark.’’ And Harvey began to leave, heading for the door. Bruce knew he couldn’t just let him go like that. He was possibly putting his life at risk and Gotham had lost too many good people to add another name to that list. He couldn’t let him do this.
So, without giving it much consideration, Bruce leapt from the cough and to Harvey’s side, reaching out to grasp his arm. Harvey immediately jumped and turned back to him, an implication of surprise in his strong gaze. Bruce tried to say something but being this close to him had obviously affected his speech and nothing came out, just heavy breath. Harvey paused and for a while, the only sound was this heavy breathing, though neither knew why it was so heavy or why it was filling the room like that.
Yet they still couldn’t tear their eyes away from each other, a strange force suddenly developing. Bruce’s heart pounded in his ears and by the time he finally removed his hand from Harvey’s arm, he could feel his legs trembling too. It took all he had left to gulp past his increasingly dry throat and mutter four small words to his companion, echoing in the lavish lounge. ‘’ Harvey, please don’t go.’’
And then there was another pause, feeling like it went on for much longer than it actually did. Harvey looked back at Bruce with wonderfully blue eyes but finally started to nod, unbuttoning his jacket again. Bruce’s heart soared. ‘’ Okay...’’ he muttered, almost weakly. ‘’ I’ll stay...’’
Bruce smiled, never wanting to look away from Harvey’s pretty face.
TBC