Dark city
The rain poured over the city of Gotham, beating harshly against it's weathered stones and grey walk ways. People were rushing back and forth, trying to get to their destinations, trying to avoid the rain as much as possible.
Police cars had stopped by the docks, the police doing their jobs, a few curious bystanders watched as the all to ferfmilular yellow tape fell across the entrance, Ace chemicals waste deposit was the site of the recent crime. Two body bags were taken away, cops taking eye witness accounts from workers who had been there the night of the crime.
A man in a long brown mac, a hat tipped over his face walked over to the tape, a fellow cop lifting it for him as he walked over to the place the CSIs were taking shots of with their cameras.
One singular red cape and bowl like hood, the hood itself glistened in the rain, the water droplets running over it's surface down the side as it reflected the man's image as he stared at it.
"This it?" he questioned, the head CSI stood up and walked over to him.
"There's a few foot prints leading off towards town but… there's no way this man will be alive soon, not with the amount of harmful chemicals there is in the water. He'll be dead now for sure, probably with skin and throat damage."
"Probably?"
"It's hard to tell Commissioner, there's so many mixes of chemicals in the water, who knows what he may look like now."
"Lets pray we don't find out," he mumbled as he shook his head, over hearing one of the witness's testimonies. "God, not again."
"What's wrong Gordon?" asked the CSI.
Gordon sighed and shook his head. "Damn bat again. Apparently this was his doing, but I don't think he would of pushed him in here," he gestured to the water that was glowing a faint green colour. "All of the people he attacks are left alive but badly beaten and screaming about a monster in the dark."
"So you think he's real?" the CSI questioned as he fiddled with his camera, trying to act like he wasn't paying any attention what so ever to what Gordon was saying. "Commissioner?" he looked up but Gordon was gone, walking back under the tape down the rest of the Alley, sighing slightly as he took his hat off and ran a hand through his hair before he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"I thought you were trying to quit."
He would of jumped if he wasn't used to it. "You made quite an impression last night," Gordon mumbled as he looked over at the dark oily figure that lay just in the shadows of the alley.
"The men were stopped, that's what count."
"And the Red Hood?" Gordon questioned as he looked at the white piercing eyes. "I heard he took a swan dive over the railing, you wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that would you?"
He was silent for a moment before speaking. "He panicked, tried to take the hood off and tripped over the railing. There was nothing I could of done."
"I'll take your word for that, friend," Gordon mumbled as he stamped out his cigaret and sighed.
"Sions is tightening his grip on the underworld. There's going to be a gang war between Penguin, Falcone and Maroni."
"Harvey Dent is determined to get Maroni and Falcone, I guess he wants he mob bosses out of the way before he deals with a gun runner and a drug dealer," Gordon placed his hat on before sighing. "I take it you've got a plan to-," he stopped mid sentence to find that his companion was gone. Shaking his head but letting a small smile twitch at his lips he chuckled slightly to himself. "Every damn time," he muttered as he walked off to the Police car.
The paper hit the desk with an all mighty slam that it made the occupant of the desk jump, jarring his glasses to the side in the effort and he looked up blinking in shock at the smiling raven haired woman who was wearing an off the should black top with gold trimming around the edge, the golden ankh that hung around her ankh shook slightly at her movement.
The boy before her blinked in confusion before he glanced down at the paper.
"You haven't heard have you?"
"Heard what?" he questioned looking up and straightening out his glasses, before he tugged the black long sleeve top he was wearing.
She expressed each of her words with her arms a smile never leaving her face. "The Red Hood got caught, finally and guess who it was that caught him, Edward!"
Edward frowned at that before shaking his head. "Let me guess, you're mysterious 'Batman'," he said airing quotation marks with his fingers.
The girl smacked his shoulder lightly as she glared at him. "He is real, nerd," she growled. "I thought you of all people would like to believe that he is, you read all of those super hero comics."
"Mist, he isn't real, how could he be and why would someone, anyone want to dedicate themselves to a life time of trying to change a city that is clearly not going to change. I mean, I saw the guy down the hall dealing drugs again, not to mention Black Mask's man that's always dealing outside the school gate and it's not only the pupils that buy it, it's some of the teachers too."
Mist rolled her eyes. "You have no hope for this city, do you?"
"I refuse to believe in false hope, bat themed vigillantes are included in that," Edward sighed and picked up the paper, handing it back to her as she snatched it back and placed it back in her bag before she hopped up onto his desk.
"You have to admit it is pretty strange that a whole bunch of different people are all saying the same thing right?" she looked down at him and smirked. "Explain that smarty pants, how is it that completely different people from completely different walks of life all describe the same thing."
"I'm sure there's a logical explanation for it."
"Which is?"
He frowned at her before shaking his head and glaring back at her. "There is a perfectly logical explanation for it, I just haven't figured out what it would be yet."
"In other words you don't know."
"Well do you?!"
"Yeah, he's real and they're describing a man dressed as a giant bat, who's saving our city and is doing a lot better job then the cops ever did."
Edward rolled his eyes.
"Look," Mist growled. "You may not believe in him but I do and I'll prove it to you, that he's real."
"I'll believe it when I see it," Edward muttered as the teacher finally came in, Mist hopped off his desk and sat behind him, taking out her books for english as the lesson began.
When the lesson ended Edward and Mist walked out, still arguing about the bat before Edward accidentally bumped into the psychology teacher.
"Ah, sorry Doctor Crane," Edward mumbled as he rubbed his shoulder, glancing up at the very tall and stick thin man who had to be about 6,3 maybe 6,4 who was glaring down at him with piercing amber eyes, that seemed to glow in the dark shadows underneath his eyes.
Mist was hiding behind Edward slightly as she stared up at him, he was creepy, the whole school had nick named him 'the school psycho' simply because of his mannerisms, hell even some of the other teachers called him that behind his back, that and 'scarecrow' because of the way he looked and the fact that every so often a hint of southern accent would sneak through his well practiced speech.
"It's quite alright, Mister Nashton," the Doctor drawled slightly before he narrowed his eyes behind his glasses. "See to it, that it never happens again in future."
"Y- yes sir," Edward muttered as he took a few steps back and almost bumped into Mist before the Doctor turned and strode down the hall, hardly seeming to notice or even care about the wide birth everyone in the corridor gave him as he walked past them.
"He gives me the creeps," Mist mumbled as she stared after him.
Edward nodded in agreement before he turned back to her. "I think he does that to everyone."
Mist smirked slightly before she glanced over his shoulder and grimaced. "Ugh, imbeciles at twelve o-clock," Edward turned to see the group of jocks and cheerleaders who were walking down the corridor, most of the cheerleaders were on their phones or attempting to do their make up as they walked, while the Jocks laughed and shoved anyone who got in their way into the lockers. "We better split," Mist continued as she tugged lightly at his shirt sleeve. "Before they make it this way, I have no desire to be laughed at and I bet you don't want a swirly today do you?"
He grimaced at the thought of it. "When do I ever want one of those?"
"Exactly," Mist laughed as she linked arms with him and tugged him along out of the school, walking down the steps, it was already starting to go dark.
"Ugh, I hate this city," Edward mumbled as they wandered the streets, sticking together as they wandered through the town.
Mist smiled slightly. "I like the city when it's lit up."
"Then Gotham's electricity bills must be very steep because I have never seen that happen."
"Well maybe not where you live, but where I live it happens on a regular basis."
"Ah yes, I forgot, the narrows are where the poor people live," Edward gave her a brittle smirk. "A place that only a drunk and abusive failure would live, yes?"
"I've told you to come round and stay at my place."
"As tempting as that is, if I went back home after a week of staying with you I'd probably be dead."
"Don't even joke like that, Edward."
"I wasn't joking."
Mist shoved him slightly and glared. "Good, 'cause it wasn't funny."
"Look I'm sorry, alright. Can I at least have the paper?" he gestured to it. "For the crossword puzzles?"
"You and your puzzles," she mumbled as she pulled the paper out and handed it to him. "What is it about them that you like so much, they always make my brain hurt."
"That's why I'm the genius and you're not."
"Oh I'm the idiot then?" Mist laughed as she punched his arm lightly.
Edward laughed and put the paper away. "There's no right answer for that is there?"
She shook her head and he smirked back at her.
"Excuse me, coming through!"
Edward and Mist jumped out of the way as a very small and little man went rushing past them, he seemed to be carrying a very big bag of something, a hat rested on his head as he ran past them, glancing at a pocket watch of all things as he ran.
"I'm oh so very late you see, oh so very late to tea!" he cried, more to himself they guessed then anyone else as he practically ran around the corner and disappeared into the dark.
"I'm late, I'm late for a very important date," Mist joked as she grinned at Edward who laughed back and shook his head.
"You're too cruel sometimes you know that?"
"Ah, but you love me for it, after all I broke Jimmy Jammy's nose with a good right hook after he ripped up your history book," she did the gesture as they began to walk again.
"I remember," Edward laughed as they finally came to the crossroads, one way lead into the richer part of Gotham and the other led to the narrows, the slums of Gotham.
Mist sighed. "Well, this is where we part good friend, have a good nights sleep to you! See you tomorrow, Edward."
"See you tomorrow," Edward waved back to her as he wandered down the road, keeping his head down all the way, especially once he reached the narrows. It was the best thing to do, there were some things that went on down there that you just didn't want to see, but the girl's screams was enough for you to take a guess as to what was happening.
He wandered into the apartment building, heading up the steps, not even daring to touch the banister, god knows what was on it.
He passed a couple who were trying to suck each other's faces off in the hall, passed the druggie's den that always reeked of cannabis, passing the call girl's room and by the sounds of it she had company tonight, the gay couple were there as usual and greeted him, they were the only ones who where nice to him, but they always stood on the outside of their apparent smoking, even thought Edward had told them how bad it was all the time. Finally he reached his home, fiddling with the keys he walked inside and was immediately greeted by the smell of alcohol.
Sighing and leaning against the door as he closed it, he looked up at the ceiling as if to ask, 'why me' before carrying on further into the apartment.
"Dad?" he called and there was a slurred reply from the arm chair.
Edward dropped his bag in the hall and walked over to see his father slumped on his arm chair with beer cans scattered around him, watching a football game, the wife beater stained like always as he drank more beer before he frowned.
"Boy, there's no more beer!"
"Probably because you drank it all," Edward mumbled under his breath.
"What was that?! No mumbling in this house, I won't have it!" his father growled.
Edward resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I said I'll go and get you some more," he explained as he went back into the kitchen and picked up the spare cash on the side before walking out, muttering as he closed the door. "Maybe you'll finally drink yourself to death with this six pack."
It didn't take him long to get to the liquor store, his father had conveniently picked an apartment complex that was near to the store. Obviously when it came to what he wanted he wasn't a complete idiot.
Edward wandered in and even though he was under age, in the narrows it didn't matter, most to the alcohol that was soled here was illegally brought into the country, part of the reason Edward didn't dare drink it.
"Back again, Nashton?" the man at the counter chuckled as Edward placed the six pack of beer cans on the counter. "Ya old man already drank through that last pack?"
"I'm hoping I get lucky and he finally drinks himself to death."
The man at the counter chuckled. "I bet you are," he put it through the resigner before smiling at him. "That'll be 30 dollars."
Edward blinked. "That's ten dollars more then last time."
"Cuts kid, what can I tell ya, they're a killer to business I gotta build my money up some how."
"I won't have it then, I'll go somewhere else."
The man at the counter suddenly grabbed his head and slammed it twice against the counter top, before he held it there. "I don't think I quite heard you correctly, did you just say you'd pay me 40 dollars and I can keep the change."
"No, I-," he put more pressure on his head. "Ahh, yes, yes that is what I said, here," he handed the money to him and the man grinned before he picked up the cash and Edward slowly stood up rubbing his head and he glared at him slightly.
Another boy wandered into the shop, keeping his hood up as he wandered around the store, neither Edward nor the man behind the counter payed him any attention.
Suddenly the man behind the counter grabbed the six pack and pulled two of the cans out of the pack.
"Hey!" Edward cried as he tried to grab the cans.
"Should of given me the money I asked for first, shouldn't ya smart alack!"
"My dad's gonna kill me if I don't bring him six cans!"
"Sorry kid, but six cans for that small price is sure stealing."
Suddenly the boy who had just entered the store came up and placed a six pack on the counter. "How much?"
"30 dollars."
"Now that's stealing for that amount of cans," the boy snarled as he glared up at him. "My friend here is right," he gestured to Edward. "You really are stealing stuff."
"No!" the man growled and pointed to him. "You're the one who steals stuff, don't think I don't see ya brat, sneaking around my store and nicking my stock!"
"You watch me? That's kinda creepy."
"Get out, get the hell out! You two Nashton, get the hell out of here!"
Edward quickly grabbed the pack of beers and wandered out followed by the other boy.
"Is he always like that to you?" Edward asked as they wondered outside, Edward shifting the pack of beers as they both wondered in the direction of Edward's apartment building.
"Pretty much. Does he always slam your head against the counter like that?"
Edward frowned before stating bitterly. "Pretty much."
"Well, he was right about one thing," the boy smirked as he finally took his hood down showing a horrid burn along the side of his face leading under his eye to around his nose and mouth. "It was stealing going on in that place," he fished in his pockets for a bit before he pulled out two cans of the same beer as Edward had bought and handed them to him. Edward stared in wonder as the guy just smirked at him. "Just wasn't him doing the stealing."
"I… I don't know what to say…"
"A thank you's always nice."
"Yeah, gee, thanks, oh god my dad's not gonna kill me now."
"Figured you'd be happy with that," the kid shrugged as he pulled out a cigaret and lit it, taking in a gulp before he breathed it out, fishing in his other pocket and pulling out his own beer.
"You know that stuff's bad for you right?" Edward questioned.
"Don't care," the kid shrugged as he took in another drag and breathed it out. "Names Garfield Lynns."
"Edward Nashton."
"Nice ta meet you Ed," Garfield grinned before he turned and began to walk off. "I'll see you round."
Edward blinked and watched the boy wonder off into the dark before he wandered back into the apartment complex.
He might finally have a friend here.
With that he walked up to his apartment, dumping the beer next to his Dad's chair before he wandered into the kitchen to get something to eat, pulling out the bread before crying out in shock as a rat stood there nibbling at it.
He hated the narrows.
Quickly he showed it away and out of the apartment, before closing the door but then quickly reopening it again as three more rats came running, carrying the loath of bread. Not that Edward complaining, he certainly didn't want it any more.
Shaking his head he closed the door as the rats ran off with their prize, running through the halls and the streets before they finally reached one of the passages to the sewers, running and dodging anyone that got in their way taking their food away with them before finally stopping at an odd looking thrown in the heart of the sewers, a grimy hand reached down and plucked the bread from their tiny grasps holding it up to his face he sniffed it before smiling.
"Look my many friends!" he cried as he held the bread up to the rest of the rats that littered the room, the boy stood holding the rusty old lantern with candles decorating the thrown, an old couch, as he proclaimed the prize to the other rats. "We have food!"
Suddenly a sound interrupted the momentary joy as a drunken man stumbled into the room, he glared at the kid.
"I knew I wasn't going crazy!" he proclaimed as he glared at the boy and drunkenly pointed at him. "You've been stealing my stuff, rat king!"
"You didn't need that much stuff," the boy protested as he glared at him. "I needed it for myself and my friends," he gestured to the rats around him.
"Ya' freaky little rat catcher!" the guy growled and stamped on one of the rats.
The boy's eye twitched slightly.
"Ha! See I killed one of your many friends!"
The boy narrowed his eyes, his fist tightening around the handle of the lantern. He glanced at the many rats around him and nodded.
Suddenly they began to converge on the drunken man who began to stumble back in shock, this had never happened before. Rats began to crawl up his leg, biting and clawing their way up, some fell from the roof and landed on his head beginning to bite at his face and arms.
Eventually he fell over and the rats swarmed him, smothering him and his screams.
The boy looked on grimly as he took a bite out of the bread glaring at the murder in front of him. He turned on his heel and began to walk back to his throne, neither caring for the man behind him other then casting one comment back. "Welcome to the food chain."
T.B.C:
Note: So this is my own take on the origins of the characters and such with my own characters thrown in the mix, as well as maybe a few age changes. I hope you guys enjoyed this one and are looking forward to the next one :)