A/N: Hello fellow readers,

I wasn't sure when I would post this story but Newsies was on the tele this morning and I couldn't help myself. Christian Bale was singing to me "post it!" =P Hope you enjoy! I'll probably have the next chapter up later today since this chap is more of an introduction. By the way, this story is 20 chapters long. Again I hope you enjoy and please review! Constructive criticism is always welcomed and if you just want to stop by to say a few words, that's fine too. No FLAMES please, thank you.

Sincerely,

Alightinthedark89

Summary: Sylvia Juarez is a well-known reporter for the Gotham Times. What happens when she writes an article that earns her the unwanted attention of the Joker? The article may just earn the best journalist award but it also could end her life. Takes place during the events of the Dark Knight. This is a Bruce/Oc romance.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated to Batman that's Bob Kane's domain. And I own nothing for the Dark Knight. That solely belongs to the genius Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros.

Chapter 1

"Hi you've reached Sylvia Juarez, your friendly neighborhood journalist/photographer. I can't come to the phone right now but if you'd like to leave your name and number I'll get back to you ASAP thanks." A beep followed the female voice from the answering machine followed by a much deeper but friendly sounding male voice.

"Oh, Miss Sylvia Juarez this is your wake up call. As it has been every morning for the past 4 years and I'll probably be doing it for the rest of both of our careers because you my friend continue to sleep like the dead. C'mon get up this taxi driver is charging me up the yin yang down here for waiting!"

A loud groan emitted from below the soft burgundy covers of the California King sized canopy bed. Sylvia never claimed to be a morning person especially when it was before her daily coffee, but she couldn't help but smile at her partner in crime's voice.

Marcus O'Hara had indeed been doing this every morning for the past four years since they started work at The Gotham Times. Four years ago felt like only yesterday for the two of them. Sylvia swung her legs over the side of her bed and began to get ready for the day as she recalled her first days at GT.

She had grown up in Gotham and knew her way around so it only made sense that she go to Gotham University to study journalism and photography. By the end of her first year she had written 25 stories for the weekly issue of GU Weekly, the university newspaper, and had an internship with The Gotham Times.

Marcus had been at GT already only he was more of what she would call an "assistant to everyone". When someone needed more ink, there would go Marcus. Someone needed more paper, there was Marcus. "Marcus the printer is jammed again," Marcus would be there in a heartbeat with a screw driver. No one would have thought the guy was actually smart.

The guy had a natural nose for a story. He was amazing with puzzles of any kind. He was one shit of a writer though but with his stories and her words they became one hell of a team.

It was with his help that she got her first story on possible mob restaurants located around the city. It was her story that got the majority of them closed down. It had been unheard of for an intern to get a story published in the GT, but thanks to Marcus, Sylvia had been the first.

Today Sylvia is five months out of Gotham University and is one of GT's top, most daring journalists. And she lived up to the name gracefully.

Sylvia smiled fondly at the memory as she exited her apartment on the seventh floor, locking the door and taking the elevator down to the bottom. Every morning, it was the same. She would meet Marcus outside and he would be with the cab waiting and have her morning coffee ready in his hand. He was the only one who was able to make it just the way she liked it; mostly sugar, hardly milk or cream and heated to perfection.

She grinned at Marcus as she climbed into the cab. He followed in after her telling the cab driver where to go. Sylvia sipped her coffee sighing in contentment.

"You are a god," she exhaled her breath coming out in a soft foggy puff.

"I know," he said with a smile.

"So what's on the agenda today?" Sylvia asked adjusting herself in the seat. Marcus took out his Blackberry and began to recite.

"Besides our weekly meeting with Dave this morning-" a loud groan was followed by this short statement from Sylvia.

Dave was the top dog of GT. He was not particularly annoying but the early morning, weekly meetings were enough to make Sylvia gouge her own eyes out… with a spoon…a very dull spoon.

"These meetings are pointless. It's just an excuse for Dave to parade around for an hour and put up the façade that he's actually doing something," Sylvia said before taking another sip of coffee.

"Anyway," Marcus grinned, "besides the meeting, we have an interview with the mayor about the rising of taxes on deliveries, then we have that Harvey Dent interview around three that is if you still want to go and trap him in his office to get a quote." Sylvia snorted almost spitting out coffee.

"That's not funny. I'm desperate. This guy has been giving us a hard time from the beginning and after everything we've done for this city they still won't even let me get a picture." Sylvia grumbled staring down at her brown coffee warming her hands.

"It probably doesn't help that what you write is the plain, bold truth. Most writers try to sensor what they write…less enemies, you know?," Marcus laughed.

"Oh sure take their side," she said punching his arm playfully.

"No I'm not taking their side. We are doing our job and we are doing it right and clean which is a lot more than I can say for the other reporters," he said putting his arm around the girl he considered his best friend and sister. There was nothing he wouldn't do for Sylvia.

"I know, like Tommy digging through the trash bins of that restaurant down on 27th to prove that they were buying their produce off the black market," Sylvia giggled.

"Exactly, we would never stoop that low."

"Of course not, that's just sad," she agreed looking out her window.

"Disgusting," Marcus put in looking out his window.

"Despicable," Sylvia said watching the buildings slowly go by.

The friends were still for only a moment before peering back over at each other, sly wide grins appearing on their faces.

Shortly they arrived at the great Gotham Times building. They both paid their half of the cab and walked into the building, Marcus holding the door open for Sylvia.

"Morning Miss Juarez and Mr. O'Hara, congratulations on another front page story," a girl at the front desk greeted.

"Thanks Kimmy," Sylvia greeted back as Marcus smiled. They called for the elevator and stepped in when its doors opened.

"Tenth floor today," Marcus mumbled pressing the button with the number 10 on it. The tenth floor was the top floor of the building where Dave's office was located along with the staff meeting room.

"Oh goody," Sylvia whispered sarcastically.

They arrived at the top floor and made their way to the meeting room. All the walls located on this floor were windows tinted to not let in so much of the sun but enough to keep it from being artificially lighted. Sylvia took her usual seat at the other end of the table so she could face Dave who sat at the top end of the table. Marcus took his usual seat on her right. The table was already filled with the other reporters the only person missing was of course Dave himself. He was usually late but not more than twenty minutes.

The room was unbearably silent as they waited for their boss. Sylvia looked at her watch that read 10:45. Dave was 45 minutes late.

"This has to be a new record," Sylvia whispered to Marcus who chuckled softly.

It was 11:00 when Dave's secretary, Patricia, came in with a phone placing it at his end of the table. She pressed the speaker button as the reporters looked on in confusion.

"You're on Mr. White," Patricia spoke.

"Hey everyone sorry I'm late. Traffic. You know how it is. Anyway, so what's doing everyone? What do you have for me?" Dave's voice resonated from the phone and they all took turns speaking. The meeting was tedious and long. It took another hour before Dave arrived looking sharp. Well, sharp for Dave. He had light denim jeans on with a black dress shirt. It was better than pajama Fridays.

The meeting did not end until after lunch. This was not good for Sylvia. She had had her interview with the Mayor at 12. She had to call and reschedule. This put her in a foul mood for the rest of the day. That is until Dave came down to the ninth floor, where only the best reporter's offices were located this consisted of Sylvia and two others followed by a few cubicles for their editors, with an announcement.

"We just got an anonymous tip…" Dave paused for dramatic affect, "The Joker's struck again. It's down on 21st-"

"Marcus," Sylvia shouted shooting up from her seat behind her desk grabbing her voice recorder.

"Ready," Marcus answered camera and other equipment strapped to his back.

The couple headed for the elevators. Sylvia paused before stepping in and looked back at her fellow journalists.

"Sorry boys looks like you miss out again," she smiled waving farewell as the elevator doors closed.