Title: Encountering the Enemy
Universe: Nolanverse
Characters: Jim Gordon, Batman
Warnings: These characters do not belong to me. Takes place during Batman Begins (if the quote at the beginning didn't give it away . . .)
Summary: Gordon is delivered an ultimatum.
The voice at his back was trouble. He could feel it.
". . . Now we are two . . ."
Gordon had chased the phantom away that night, gun drawn with trembling hands.
Gordon kept his head low as he walked home. Rain-slicked streets combined with a dense fog that was beginning to settle over the city made navigating increasingly difficult. And dangerous.
A strangled cry sounded form a dark alleyway. Gordon paused.
The sound came again. A muffled scream. Gordon looked forward, down the street. Three blocks until he reached his warm home, filled with warm smiles and warm, leftover chicken from last night's dinner. He turned to the alley again.
Pulling out a flashlight with one hand, his other moved to his gun as he stepped into the darkness. It didn't take him long to find the body. A young man lay on his back against a garbage bin. A thin ribbon of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Kneeling, Gordon reached out a hand to feel for a pulse.
A deep voice rumbled above him. "He'll live."
Gordon twisted around, gun coming up reflexively. Something solid knocked it to the side. Gordon heard it land several feet away. Standing, he backed up a step and shone his light at the figure before him. Even in the harsh white glare, the phantom was still clothed in shadows. Dark eyes watched him, curious.
Gordon glanced about for his gun. It was too far to make a grab for it. His eyes turned again to the boy lying in a puddle of rain and rotten vegetable matter.
"He's a common thug," the voice rasped. "He doesn't deserve to roam the streets."
Gordon's attention swung back to the . . . man . . . thing before him. "No one gave you the right to decide that."
"You're department did when it decided that Gotham's citizens were less important than lining their pockets with dirty money."
Gordon bristled at the phantom's words. "My department -"
"It's up to people like us now," the thing continued, "to defend the innocent from the wicked."
"There is no us!" Gordon stated. "There is no we!" His hand gestured angrily to the unconscious man. "What makes you think you're any better than them?"
The figure was silent.
Gordon took a breath to steady his nerves. "I do need help," he admitted. "This whole city needs help." He paused, eyeing the shadow. "But not from vigilantes. Not from you."
The figure considered Gordon. It stepped forward, sliding smoothly away from the light. Gordon didn't bother to address this. The phantom leaned over the man. "I will remain so long as I am needed. You can accept my help, or you can refuse it. The choice is yours."
Gordon bowed his head. "Not if -" He glanced up into the empty alley.
The man groaned beside him.
Gordon ignored him. His eyes scanned the darkened alleyway before finally clicking off and pocketing the flashlight. "Never mind."
A/N2: Feedback appreciated!