She’d stayed at Jonathan’s longer than she meant to, but it wasn’t like she’d promised Harvey she’d be home any certain time. He probably liked having their-- the apartment to himself. It wasn’t their apartment. It was her apartment, and he was staying there. Sure, they’d slept together now. Twice. But that… didn’t mean anything. Harvey could change his mind at any time, and she’d let him. He didn’t need someone clinging to him, someone begging him to stay. …She’d already put him through that with her nightmares.

Nadine tugged at the small, gold-bordered alexandrite around her neck as she entered the apartment. Why was she stressing herself out? If Harvey left… he left. She couldn’t control what he’d do, and now he had money. He might stay a little longer, let her feel safe, but… He’d want his freedom. He’d want to be able to come and go. He’d want to distance himself from her. And when the time came, she’d let him go.

After she locked the apartment back up, she looked around.

“Harvey?” she called. It was late enough, she reminded herself, that he might have gone out. Gone to put those files to whatever use he planned. Not that she didn’t know. “You ho—here?”

She wondered if Jonathan had even noticed.

Nadine told herself he had to have noticed. She hadn’t been to see him, hadn’t called even, in three days.

But if he’d been hard to work… he might not have realized the time had passed.

Just in case he was annoyed at her or he’d forgotten to stop working long enough to eat, she’d bought a dinner for two. She didn’t know what she’d tell him, how much she should say. He deserved to know everything, of course, but…

She’d have to tell him about Harvey eventually. He’d encouraged her, yes, but he still deserved to know that the impossible had happened. Harvey had— for the first time as far as Nadine was concerned— showed genuine interest. They’d slept together, rather than just sharing the bed. But Jonathan had told her that was fine. He had his work, and she had Harvey. That was what he’d said.

So why did she feel wary about telling him?

Then there were the files. Oh god. How was she supposed to tell him about the files? She’d sacrificed all of her principles for Harvey.

Nadine knocked at the door. Three days certainly wasn’t enough time to make her forget how to find him. As she waited for some answer from inside, she fingered the alexandrite necklace she wore. It was a fairly inexpensive little thing, bought with some of the money Harvey had given her.

No reason she couldn’t spoil herself just a little.

Nadine Lewis
Batman
217 words


What are your values worth?

The question had occurred to Nadine sometime while she was copying the files Harvey had asked her to.

What is integrity worth?

Was it worth five thousand dollars? She'd waited until Harvey had gone to shower that morning before she'd counted the money. Were her ethics for sale? For five grand? Or had she exchanged them for last night? The thought made her hand shake even as she entered the apartment complex, holding her briefcase's handle in a vise grip.

She wasn't sure what was worse— wondering if she'd sold everything she used to believe in for money... or sex.

Maybe that's why.

The thought came to her in the stairwell, and she had to stop. She couldn't let it even linger in her mind. There was no way that Harvey would do that to her. He wouldn't... use her like that.

By the time Nadine let herself into her apartment, she was pale and barely hiding how her hands trembled as she set the briefcase down on the coffee table.

“The files.” She spoke quietly without looking at the man sitting on the couch. It took all she had in her not to start crying. “Don't ever ask me to do something like that again.”

Nadine Lewis
Batman
644 words

Nadine Dent woke with a start at three in the morning. She trembled, her hands clutching blindly into the shadows. The firm arm around her tightened, and she calmed as she woke more. She felt the firm chest against her, heard the half asleep murmur of her husband's voice to tell her it was okay, to assure her she was safe. She kissed him lightly.

“I need to get a drink,” she whispered. If he understood her, he said nothing, merely rolling over when she got out of bed. Nadine smiled to herself as she watched him in the dark.

( How had she gotten so lucky?Collapse )

Nadine Lewis
Batman (OC)
510 words

Frank Sale left the District Attorney’s office at exactly six o’clock. He didn’t even bother to stop by the office of Nadine Lewis. She knew he was leaving, and he knew she knew. She would lock up without being reminded.

When she was sure Sale was gone, Nadine got up and peeked out into the hall. No one around. She took her briefcase and a stack of folders to the copy room. Page by page, she copied the information, making sure she had every document, every photograph, everything. Her hands shook as she replaced the files in her office. Then, carefully, always on the lookout for the security guards, she went into each of her coworkers’ offices. She gathered up the files office by office, copying and returning them before moving on to the next. It wouldn’t do if anything got mixed up. When she was finally finished, she took folders out of a box and packed the files away neatly, putting each one into her briefcase.

( She went back to her office.Collapse )

Nadine Lewis
Batman (OC)
400 words

Harvey Dent stood in front of a crowd of officers, journalists, and general onlookers. He was radiant. His hands gripped the podium, his eyes shined. Every word resonated confidence.

“The night is darkest just before the dawn. I promise you-- the dawn is coming.”

( Nadine Lewis kept her eyes closed a moment more, holding onto that image.Collapse )

Nadine Lewis
Batman (OC)
484 words

The silence of the small apartment was shattered at three in the morning by a scream. The young woman thrashed on her bed, still in the throes of a nightmare for several minutes. Finally, the fear died down, and she sat up. Her heart pounded as she looked around the bedroom. The shades were drawn, her lamp and ceiling light both on. In fact, every light in the apartment was on, every door save the front and bathroom doors taken down. Even in the bright light, it took her a few more moments to realize that she was safe. The demons in her nightmare were not around.

Shakily, Nadine Lewis got out of her bed and staggered into the bathroom. She splashed her face with cool water, aware of a trickle of blood running down her face. She looked at the small cut in the mirror, perplexed until she looked at her hands. The nails on one hand showed blood as well. She'd scratched herself, frantic from her nightmare. Nothing more, she assured herself.

( She made her way to the living room and sat on the couch before tucking her legs under her.Collapse )

Nadine Lewis
Batman (OC)
(gothams_dent, arkhams_dr)
553 words


“I love you.”

A very simple sentence in theory. Nadine Lewis knew that. Still, the words were loaded, at least when used in a romantic sense. She'd said them to Jonathan, and he hadn't even blinked. He hadn't paused, merely continued on. He'd done that twice. Nadine consoled herself with inward assurances that he simply knew how she felt, so hearing it said had not surprised him. He'd known she'd say it when she was ready, and he knew it was for the best not to make a big deal out of it. Nadine would have liked some acknowledgment of the gravity of what she'd said, but he was the doctor. He knew best. She was sure it meant a lot to him. He just didn't want to make her uncomfortable by drawing attention to it. That was all.

( She could say it to Jonathan.Collapse )