AN: Well this is my first Batman fanfic.. I'm nervous about using an OC but I think it'll work out okay. :] Any way, this is chapter one and I know it's not long but enjoy!
The sound of gunshots woke Gabe from his light sleep. He was surprised he'd even been able to fall asleep at all, with the neighbors drunken shouts filtering through the rotted walls of his mother's apartment. As he got older, it was getting easier to sleep through but you never really get used to it. He sat up in his dirty mattress, being careful to dodge the springs sticking out at the end. Dim moonlight shown through his cracked window and he sighed audibly. Life in The Narrows was all he'd ever known and there seemed to be no escape from it.
Giving up on sleeping anymore that night, he walked to his dusty nightstand and pulled out a pair of torn black jeans that were very slimming on his legs. He stuffed his old leather wallet into his pocket, which only contained a few measly dollars and a worn out licence that he would use if he ever had the money for a vehicle of some sort. He pulled a white v-neck over his slender figure, the tight fabric accenting his lithe muscles. He combed his dark hair slightly and grabbed his aviators from the nightstand to hide his tired eyes. Before leaving the room, he made sure his pistol was tucked safely away in its holster inside of the leather jacket he'd stolen long ago from some less fortunate upper-class folks who wandered to the wrong side of town. He justified it by telling himself they had the money to buy a new one. Things were tough here and they should have known better than to flaunt their wealth.
On his way out of his mother's one bedroom apartment, he saw his mom passed out on the couch, her various needles haphazardly hidden under the messy coffee table. He scoffed in disgust. He once beautiful, vibrant face was now hollow and resembled more of a skeleton than a woman and her arms were riddled with red marks, the veins showing through her translucent skin. She wasn't even his mother anymore in his eyes. She was just some junkie, like all the rest of the people in his life he'd once tried to depend on. Well, he was 18 now and he had himself to depend on.
He made his way down the five levels of creaking steps and started out to the street, ignoring the gaze of the homeless within the alleyway behind his apartment. He hunched his back and attempted to not call attention to himself while he walked, terrified of having to deal with being jumped. He had no idea where he was going but he needed to go somewhere, he couldn't stand his room any longer.
His black Converse against the pavement was the only noise near by, which was slightly eerie for this time of night. On a normal night at one in the morning, you could hear the dogs fighting down the street or the gunshots that had woken him earlier but now there was nothing. The wind started to pick up and he hunched over further into his jacket, his pace picking up as he continued down the street. Two dark figures made their way out of the shadows of the buildings a few hundred feet ahead and he turned quickly on his heel, thanking God for the bar that just happened to be across the street.
After pushing his way through the door, loud rock music blared in his ears and he made a bee-line through the various drunks still hanging around and sat by one of his buddies from high school, Jimmy Grey at the bar. Jimmy looked as though he'd gone a few rounds in the ring with a sledgehammer, his face was splotched with various blue and purple bruises and his head hanging down, letting his greasy blood hair fall in front of his eyes. He smelt of booze and barely noticed Gabe as he sat down beside him. Finally after a few moments, Gabe put a reassuring hand on his back and spoke in soft tones.
"Hey man, how's it going? Ya look a little roughed up.." That was the understatement of the century, he looked like shit. Jimmy lifted his head slowly, every movement seeming to blast him with a pain. He flashed Gabe a toothy smiley, revealing a few bloody gaps where he'd obviously recently lost some pearly whites.
"Yeah well.. you know how some guys get when ya don't pay up. Turns out it ain't okay to laugh in the face of thugs 'round here." He rolled his eyes and let his head fall back to the counter. Gabe laughed slightly and nodded in understanding, suddenly aware of all the scars he'd acquired within his time. The bar tender, an older man Gabe had known since he could remember walked over and looked at him questioningly.
"Ya want somethin' boy?" As rude as he sounded, the old man had a tender way about him that Gabe had always admired. He always wished he'd known his own father long enough to admire him that way..
"Yeah Bernie, I'll just have a Coke.. and.. go ahead and get me water for Jimmy here. He needs it." Gabe pulled out his wallet and frowned at the fact that he'd be spending the last of his money on it. As he began to pull it out, he heard a grunt from Bernie and looked up to see the old man shaking his head at the money. Gabe lifted his eyebrow in question.
"Keep the money, boy. It ain't no good here for just a few drinks." Gabe could have kissed the greasy old man. He had a good heart, just another thing Gabe admired about the man. He nudged Jimmy and pushed the glass of water toward him, watching as the boy gulped it down quickly and flashed Gabe a grateful smile.
"Thanks man.. It's been a hard night, I tell ya.. I needed that." He shook his head and started into his glass for a while.
"No problem, Jimmy. Anything I can do for a friend I'll do it. You just say the word." He took a swig of his Coke and sat for a few minutes in silence, just watching a fly crawl up the wall behind the bar until he'd finished his drink. He passed the glass down the bar to Bernie and said his goodbyes before making his way out the door again.
The men that had been outside were no longer anywhere in sight so Gabe let out a sigh of relief, deciding he'd spent enough time out for the night. He started down the street again and kicked a small rock that was in his path. He was pondering where he would be trying to get work tomorrow when he heard someone call out his name from behind him. He turned quickly and lowered his aviators to see Jimmy running, it was closer to limping, after him. He was panting by the time he caught up to Gabe and had to take a moment to catch his breath.
"What's the deal, man?" Gabe said quietly, not wanting to call any unwanted attention to them.
"You.. you 'member how you said- said you'd do anything fo' a friend? Well.. I gotta pretty big favor to ask of ya.." He stuttered slightly as he spoke in a frantic whisper, his eyes glancing all around.
"Yeah? What it is?" Gabe was curious now.
"Well I got someone who's payin' me to do a job.. big money man. Like 40% of what we steal." Gabe sighed loudly, not enthusiastic about the idea of getting into a job that involved robbery. Especially after his run in with the law less than half a year ago for that very charge. Jimmy quickly tried to reassure him. "Look man, this guy I know, he says the job is easy-peasy, in and out. It's not from a bank or anythin'. It's from some lower level thugs that don't know how ta hide their shit. We'll be back before supper!" He seemed so excited. Gabe scratched his head and bit his lip nervously, not sure. Jimmy looked at him with the most pathetic, lost puppy look he'd ever seen and he felt his resolve crumble.
"Yeah I guess Jimmy.. but I don't wanna be takin' the rap for this if we get caught, that's the last damn thing I need now. I'm tryna get outta this life." The more he told himself that, the more ridiculous it sounded. Jimmy let out a little squeal of happiness and slapped Gabe on the back happily.
"Yeah man! You won't regret it, I swear on my momma's grave! Just meet me down at Bernie's tomorrow night 'round 8. Bring your best robbin' clothes." He gave me a cheeky grin and a wink and turned, slithering down the street, leaving Gabe standing there all alone. What was he getting himself into?
AN: Quite vague but it gets it started! I hope you all enjoyed it and I really would appreciate your reviews and opinions on it! The next chapter should be up by Wednesday or so. :3 Much love!
~Roxy Lynn.