Lara was supposed to just be visiting Amanda at Arkham. Give both lonely women something to do. Somebody to talk to besides Zip or the voices in their heads. She needed somebody to blame for everything. Things didn't go according to plan, though. She was thrown into something beyond her area of expertise. She's been to the threshold of Helheim and back, fought giant sea dragons and destroyed the Scion of Atlantis. Yet none of it prepared her for the Joker's games. She wasn't ready.

Disclaimer: I disclaim Tomb Raider and Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Contains spoilers for: Legend, Underworld, Arkham Asylum (of course), and slight ones for Beneath the Ashes and Dark Knight (just the whole 'Rachel died' thing)

And I'm totally using Christian Bale as my Batman. For he is sexy, contradicting and sexy.

EDIT: I have been notified that I switch between first and third person. If I continue to do so, correct me promptly. Because I am likely to not catch it.

. . . . .

"Zip, you did tell him I'm coming, didn't you?" I asked as she pulled up to the mansion.

"For the fifth time Lara, yes I told him you are coming" Zip said irritably.

"Alright. I'll call when I get unpacked." I tapped the button on her earpiece and climbed out of her car.

A light autumn breeze caught her as she stepped out. My hair, which was down for the first time in years, blew back. My brown eyes examined the mansion sadly. I haven't set foot inside Wayne Manor in years. At least not since mother died. The yard was nice and trimmed, bushes at even intervals and white flowers growing. A pang of sorrow shook me as I thought of my home, burned to the ground.

The front doors opened, and a polished man came walking down the front path, a smile on his face, "Lara Croft, decided to join the living, have you?"

I mimicked his smile while trying to mask the memories swimming in my eyes, "as much as I can, Bruce."

"I heard about your home, and about Alister. I'm sorry." Bruce had reached me now and gave me a hug.

Shyly, I hugged Bruce back. Even after eighteen years, Bruce wasn't the least bit hesitant about hugging me. Bruce broke it off, his hands lingering on my arms. "So, what brings you to Gotham?"

"Can't I visit an old friend?" I joked, knowing that Bruce was not the old friend she spoke of.

"Sure you can. Why don't we catch up, it's a little chilly out here."

"I've been colder, but alright." Lara accepted.

The two walked up the cobblestone path. My boots were silent while Bruce's Italian leather shoes clicked against them. There was the one difference between the us that I noticed right away- he was flamboyant and about being noticed while I was about stealth and straying from the crowd. The crowd wouldn't have Excalibur packed in her suitcase.

Bruce pushed open the door, spreading his arms out, "welcome to my home, Lara."

"It hasn't changed one bit." I lied. There were distinct differences I wasn't about to point out.

Bruce laughed and smiled, "good. I can have Alfred take your things to the guesthouse." The billionaires eyes landed on the ornate stone pinned to my shirt, "is that your mother's pin? I thought… I thought you said she lost it in the crash.

"She did. I just retrieved it from the wreckage. It's saved my life, actually." I stated, placing two fingers gently on the stone and thinking of Amanda.

"A tiny stone saved your life? You have to tell me that story, and confirm all of the, uh, rumors I've been hearing about you." Bruce flashed a charming smile.

"What rumors, exactly?" I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms.

"Oh, they're endless. You robbing tombs, killing a member of the Yakuza, getting into some place called Helheim…"

"I didn't get into Helheim exactly…"

"Of course not. It isn't true, just a rumor of course." Bruce half-smiled, "well, I believe we should take this to the kitchen. It's around lunchtime, isn't it?"

. . .

"So, how's Rachel been?" I asked as she sat next to Bruce at the breakfast bar.

Bruce's eyes bored into the tiled bar, "she's dead. The Joker killed her."

I reached out and put my hand on Bruce's, "I'm sorry. I had no idea-" I remembered Rachel. We had been good friends when we were kids.

"Its alright. Batman took care of the Joker."

"Batman? The vigilante that seems to have been idolized by this city?"

"Batman isn't a vigilante, Lara. He's a hero. And he is real, unlike the myths you cling to so dearly." Bruce quipped.

I turned to look out the back window of the house. Bruce's statement struck a blow against all of my work, "I don't cling to these myths. I research them, uncover their origins. Stop those who want to destroy them."

"Aha. So that's what you've been doing for eighteen years." Bruce smiled, "have you heard from, uh, Amanda lately? I read in the papers that a few months ago she was going out with Senator Rutland's son, James, before he died."

I shook my head and looked at the bar, "has it been that long since we've been in contact, Bruce? Amanda and I aren't on the best of terms. After the accident in college, I didn't see her for years. The next I saw her she tried to kill me."

"Well, it's good to see she didn't succeed. But… why, dare I ask, did she attempt to kill you?"

"We had conflicting interests. We were both after an artifact of immense power. She believed it would send her to Avalon, of all places. I wanted to use it because, at the time, I believed so very strongly that it would bring back my mother." I sighed. Bruce wouldn't understand.

"Lunch is served."

I looked up to see Alfred smiling and setting a plate in front of me. It was steak salad, "thank you."

"Lady Croft, its so good to see you again." Alfred smiled.

"Its good to see you too." I nodded politely.

"Lara, I understand that you would want to bring your mother back but how would an artifact be able to do that?" Bruce said, continuing our conversation.

I picked up my fork, drove it through a bit of lettuce and chewed on it slowly. Finally, I found myself able to speak, "I can't explain it really, I have to show you."

"Well, show me then." Bruce said as he picked up a piece of steak with his fingers and ate it.

I grimaced, "not now. Later."

"Fine with me. But I do have dinner reservations for the two of us, so 'later' will have to come soon."

. . .

Um… awkward into chapter is awkward?

I promise, it gets better. And Bruce gets to see Excalibur. Man, this would be way more fun if Mjolnir hadn't been destroyed at the end of Underworld.