Batman (Nolan-verse) fanfiction.
Summary: Crime is universal. Alex leaves one hellhole for another and hopes that a change of address is enough to hold them off. No particular timeframe but closer to BB than TDK. (Batman/OFC)
A/N: May contain traces of references to other movies.

GHOST TOWN

The angels they don't come around, and the gods they run like devils
Chasing secrets no one talks about down avenues of glitter lights and pain
I'm looking for a place to leave my troubled thoughts behind
But trouble's growing all around and it's all I seem to find
In this land of make-believe, toxic February breeze
Cemetery boulevards and neon signs that say you've come too far
"Ghost Town" by Strung Out

Chapter 1

Gotham's skyline sweeps past the glass, a looming array of building after indistinguishable building, punctuated by the occasional tower spires, as the metro enters the commercial district. Wayne Enterprises is the largest of these towers but it is yet unseen, lying directly ahead at the end of the track: the hub of the city. Dropping her gaze back to the papers in her lap, Alex absentmindedly bites a lip as the confidence she had maintained over the last couple of days starts to dissipate and she is sorely tempted to simply turn back. She doesn't stand a chance, she is sure. Totally out of her depth.

Then a rumbling sound makes itself heard from her stomach and she grimly recalls why she is here. She skipped breakfast that morning. Two weeks of searching high and low for a job and an ever-dwindling bank account has made her willing to give this a shot. Even if it is something as ridiculously impossible as secretary to Bruce Wayne. Alex skims again over the notes and news clippings she has compiled in research. Bruce Wayne: head of Wayne Enterprises and countless subsidiaries, billionaire playboy with a penchant for extravagant displays of wealth and scandal, and remarkably vapid for a man running an empire. She despises him already.

The scenery turns dark outside the window and the intercom announces their arrival at Wayne Tower. Hastily packing her bag, Alex disembarks and grimaces upon catching sight of the time. She has five minutes. She rushes out of the station and into an elevator to the twenty-second floor where she bursts into the foyer just as the door to an office opens and an older woman escorts an impeccably dressed, stunning brunette on her way out.

"Thank you for coming, Ms Bennett. We will contact you shortly if your application is successful."

The two exchange farewell pleasantries and then the older woman sets her sharp eyes on Alex.

"Ah, you must be Alexandra Reilly, I presume?"

Alex puts on her game face and a bright (if not sincere) smile graces her visage, though she has a sneaking suspicion her neatly pinned bun has become completely dishevelled by now. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Van Patten."

They shake hands and Evelyn Van Patten, HR Manager of Wayne Enterprises, leads Alex into her office where Alex has to control herself from staring out the panorama glass walls at the breathtaking view of the city and harbour further beyond.

"So, Ms Reilly, I understand you're new to town?" Van Patten queries, seating herself down behind the polished mahogany desk.

"Yes, I moved from Boston a couple of weeks ago."

"And you were a school teacher there, weren't you?" Van Patten glances down at the resume on her desk. "You have a degree in childhood education."

Oh here we go. This is the part where she can see all the checkboxes being left empty. Solid work experience? Nope. Relevant study? Nope. Designer labels? Nope. "That's right," Alex nods. "I worked for six years at St Patrick's Catholic School, including two years of teaching a remedial fourth grade class."

"You might find that businessmen sometimes aren't much different from fourth graders," Van Patten's eyes twinkle at her and the two share a moment of polite laughter. Alex still isn't convinced the woman before her is entirely human.

They continue to discuss matters that seem to drag on for hours, such as the time Alex worked as a part-time secretary when she was seventeen and how she enjoyed it (not at all; her boss was an utter sleazebag), and her deep interest in Wayne Enterprises (only to the extent to which it could pay her rent and food). The interview is over in fifteen minutes according to the clock on the wall, but Alex is certain Mrs HR Demon's office contains some time warping properties because she feels exhausted.

"Just before I let you go," Van Patten gestures for Alex to remain seated, "I would like to bring Mr Wayne down to meet you personally. This is a customary procedure for those applicants who have high potential. Please excuse me; I'll only be a minute." She casts Alex one last smile before she exits the room and Alex can only stare after her and the closing door in wide-eyed astonishment. High potential? The woman is clearly mad.

Alex doesn't have much time to ponder the mysteries of Evelyn Van Patten's mind when Van Patten soon returns with Bruce Wayne in tow.

"Mr Wayne, this is Alexandra Reilly, one of our prime candidates."

In person, Alex realises he cuts a much more imposing figure than that captured in grainy photographs as he strides across the carpet to her and takes her hand.

"Alexandra. Wonderful to meet you." His smile is lazy yet disarming; a smile that probably melted most people but also spoke of idle rich to her.

"I'm honoured, Mr Wayne." She is also nervous. She can't shake off the odd feeling that his eyes, although friendly and warm, seem guarded or otherwise holding back.

"Evelyn tells me you're fresh out of Boston. How are you finding Gotham City?"

"Well..." Alex flits her eyes toward the full-length windows for an inspiring response, "It's a nice change. I'm still settling in so far, but the people I've met have been very helpful and kind." It's partially true. With her apartment being so close to the Narrows, it's only a nice change in the way it meant being away from the situation at home.

Wayne smirks a little, a hint of something sardonic, and she wonders if he caught what she was really thinking. "That's good to hear. I hope you don't ever have to find out about our crime rate -- I wouldn't want it to drive you away."

Ah. Of course, she should have known better than to sugar-coat the fact that there's no such thing as helpful or kind people in Gotham. Wayne included. "I wouldn't be driven by mere statistics, Mr Wayne, it would have to be personal experience."

He smiles again but this time she doesn't quite return it. "Listen, you'll have to excuse me." He dips his head in a gesture that's almost apologetic, but she can't really tell, and passes a nod to Van Patten to wrap things up. "I have a lunch meeting at the Four Seasons in twenty minutes. It's been a delight speaking with you, Alexandra."

"Likewise, Mr Wayne."

He leaves and Van Patten steps in to bring things to a close, giving her the usual 'best of luck' and 'we'll contact you' spiel before ushering Alex to the elevator doors. There is another girl out in the waiting room.

The moment she's clear of the stifling building, Alex heads for a hotdog stand and finds herself a bench in Wayne Gardens to rest. The lunch is far from gourmet but it's delicious on an empty stomach, and cheap. From her corner in the park, she watches the throng of suits weave about the block on their no doubt busy and important schedules, armed with their briefcases and Blackberrys. She doesn't imagine she'll be joining them any time soon after that encounter with Bruce Wayne and the thought is almost a relief. Almost. Alex digs out another newspaper clipping from her bag: this one of a vacancy at Gotham General for a receptionist in the paediatrics ward, and with a sigh, she dials the number listed.

A/N: Thanks for reading so far. Please review and give me any suggestions, I'd love to hear what you think.