Chapter 7

Time to seemed to move in slow motion for Esra she could see the bullet exiting from the chamber and flying towards her with no way for her to dodge in time "So this is how it looks when you watch you're about to die" she thought as she waited for the bullet to pierce through her, out of the corner of her eye though she saw a blur of black and Batman appeared in front of her. His body shifted back into her as a grimace of pain spread across his face and then he relaxed slightly before falling to the floor "HA he chose the wrong option" two face laughed as he ran down the alleyway leaving Esra clutching at the bullet wound blood soaking her hands "We have to get you to a hospital" she said pulling out a phone as his hand shot up violently grabbing it "No they'd have to remove my mask and find out who I am no hospitals, you know first aid I saw the certificate on your wall take me back to your place and patch me up there. Esra seemed too reluctant to but looking down at the man she realised he would rather bleed out and die than have the authorities figure out who he really. Helping him up onto his feet and supporting his weight over her shoulder they began to slow walk back to her house which thankfully wasn't too far away.

What normally would take her only 10 minutes to walk took an extra 20 considering she was supporting a heavy male who couldn't walk that well. They arrived through the front door as Esra placed Batman on the couch and quickly went into her bathroom gathering all the first aid supplies which she hoped were adequate to treat a bullet wound. As she walked back Batman had already removed his chest armour and was lying on the couch shirtless as Esra gasped shocked by the sudden sight and then averted her eyes blushing slightly, realising though this wasn't the time for that she took a deep breath and walked over looking at his chest. It was chiselled and perfectly sculpted like diamond with a six pack and rock-solid pectorals shaking her head from the image of his perfect body she looked at the tiny round hole just below his shoulder and grabbing her flashlight leaned forward to examine the wound. With tweezers she opened it slightly as Batman grunted and closed his eyes "Well thanks to your armour it cushioned some of the force so the bullet isn't in too deep I think I can dig it out with a small knife if the flesh can be held open long enough.

Batman grabbed the tweezers from her "I'll hold the flesh open you just use the knife to dig it out". Pulling out a tiny pocketknife and holding it in her right hand she shone the torch in her other hand onto the wound and leaned forward as Batman grimacing in pain managed to pull the wound slightly open "Just make it quick". As Esra started to dig the knife in Batman roared in pain but somehow he still managed to clutch at the tweezers and hold his flesh together, pushing the knife further in she managed to touch the bullet and wedge the tip of the knife under it "Alright just one quick pull and it should be out" she said quickly pulling the knife back while Batman's entire body shook and he roared in pain banging his head against the edge of the table and in the process dislodging the mask from his face as there was a tiny ding and the bullet popped onto the floor.

Esra though not noticing what had happened picked up the bullet "Alright we got the bullet free!" she exclaimed happily turning back to face Batman only to drop the bullet back onto the floor as she gazed upon the mask less dark knight for the first time.

"But that can't be... you're Bruce Wayne" she said staring at the face of her boss from work garbed in the dark knight's armour. "Well looks like you would've been wrong in the poll guessing contest then" he said coughing as he tried to stand only to slump back down onto the couch. Esra grabbed some bandages from her cupboard and began to patch the wound up trying to process everything that had just happened "My boss at work is actually the dark knight of this city, pompous arrogant Bruce Wayne is Batman the man who fights for justice" upon realising what she had called him and that it was directed at the man she had a crush on Esra dropped the bandages "I'M SORRY FOR CALLING YOU ALL THOSE THINGS" "Woah, woah where did that come from" he said standing up and going into the kitchen for a glass of water "Well I called you pompous, arrogant and womaniser when in fact that's just all a scene so people won't be able to place you as Batman" she also then realised she hadn't actually said those things to him she only thought them and felt even more embarrassed while Batman just laughed "It's fine trust me what you called me is probably the nicest thing anyone has called me in a long time".

"You did a nice job with those bandages thanks for that I really appreciate you not taking me to the hospital it's just I can't have anyone knowing my identity it can be easily used against me" "But I know your identity does that mean you'll have to silence me or something" she said backing away as Batman laughed placing his body armour and mask back on "I think with you I can make an acceptation you're a very special lady and my biggest fan so it's my gift to you that you know my secret" before he jumped out the window he turned back to face her "Oh and by the way we're still on for that date tomorrow as Bruce aren't we" as he jumped out the window Esra couldn't help but smile.