Every Hero's Journey:
Disclaimer:
I do not own The Dark Knight/Batman Begins or any of its characters.
Chapter 1:
Batman was wounded, and riding his bat pod lost the cops in seconds in a dark tunnel. Blood oozed from the wound in his gut. He groaned, as the vehicle glided through the darkness. Black spots appeared before him, he felt light headed, and he was slumped over the bat pod. The tunnel zooming past him was twirling around. Harvey Dent's bullet had managed to pierce through.
'Why didn't I move when I could have?' His grip loosened on the bat pod. He began to lose consciousness, and things began to fade. He turned a corner. 'I can make it.' He thought determined. 'I've never had a gun shot this bad but I bet Alfred could fix it up.' His thoughts slowly became dimmer, as more blood flowed. Heaviness crept over his eyes as he struggled to stay alert. Suddenly he felt himself tumbling to the ground off the bat pod. The bat pod, luckily, slowed down enough to gently nudge against the brick wall. He fell into unconsciousness.
Next to him a cruiser could be heard pulling up. A police cruiser. The occupant shuffled near him, and rushed next to him.
"Batman! GET UP!" He shook Batman roughly. Batman groaned quietly. "It's Commissioner Gordon! You have to get out of here! Another squad is coming!"
As soon as Bruce heard these words he screamed at his slow brain to focus. Gordon was holding out a hand to him, and he clasped it tightly as he was pulled up. The commissioner put his shoulder underneath batman's weight, and helped him to the police cruiser. He managed to get Batman leaning up against the side of the car. Batman was awake, but barely. Gordon's eyes grew wide.
"You've lost a lot of blood. I need to get you to-"
"NOT the hospital." Batman growled, and bent over, his breathing heavy. 'Well then what am I supposed to do then?' Gordon wanted to shout, but seeing the vigilante's physical state, decided it was better not to. Gordon wracked his brain for a plan. 'First hide the bat pod, then the vigilante.' Gordon got hold of the bat pod, Batman didn't seem to mind this, and hid it amongst trash cans and litter in a tight crawl space. He backed up and made sure he couldn't see it from any angle. Once he was satisfied, he walked over to Batman.
"Hide in the back and lay the tarp over your body in the trunk." Gordon pulled a blanket from the back.
"I'll try not to bleed all over your car." Batman grunted. Gordon frowned at the humor he was trying to make at a time like this. 'He must not be thinking clearly.' Gordon decided. Just as he got Batman in the back and got in the front seat of his car, another cruiser pulled up next to him just as he turned on the ignition.
"Is everything clear? Any sign of him?" The officer asked.
"Not that I know of." Gordon lied.
"Okay," The cop almost drove off before turning to him again. "Commissioner, I think you should get back to your family. They are probably scared out of their minds wondering where you are. Consider what happened before your family's very eyes."
"Your right." Gordon nodded in appreciation, but inside he was feeling bitterness. They had told the police that Batman was the murderer of the five people. Batman had taken all the blame on his shoulders for Harvey Dent's crimes for Gotham.
"Take it easy now Commissioner. We'll find him." The young officer saluted and turned the car around. 'Now what am I supposed to do?' Gordon considered dropping Batman off where he wanted to go, but then shook his head. 'If the MCU cops see me anywhere but home, it will look suspicious.' Gordon sighed at his only option. For now he just needed to hide Batman as long as he needed to rest. He reconsidered his options, and found that giving the vigilante space in his home was the only choice he had. 'Just long enough to think about what to do.' He decided. Gordon drove his cruiser quickly (but not over the speed limit) to his home.
He passed houses, clubs, and stores on the way back on the deathly quiet street. His home was in sight, and he breathed a sigh of relief, and pulled into the narrow alleyway next to his house. He saw the light on in the house knowing his wife was probably still awake. He got out and went to the back trunk, and pulled Batman out of there. He was very heavy.
"Come on now. I need you to use your legs for me." Gordon grunted as Batman stood up straighter using all the strength he had. Gordon closed the trunk ever so quietly, and got his keys out to unlock the basement doors and swung them open. He motioned for Batman to follow and, with his help, Batman was able to walk down the stairs one hand holding the rail, and the other pressed up to his wound to keep it from flowing. He leaned up against the wall, and slid into sitting position closing his eyes. Meanwhile Gordon locked his car, and closed the basement doors behind him.
"Rest for however long you need." Gordon acknowledged not knowing what else to do. Batman made no notion of hearing him.
"Gordon" Batman said without opening his eyes. "I can't make it back." Batman growled. He hated admitting to weakness, but this was unsurpassable.
"What should I do?" Gordon was now frantic. Gordon turned to see Batman passed out.
"Jim is that you?" Barbara called coming down the staircase with a crowbar. Gordon smiled at the way his wife thought ahead of time.
"Yes." Gordon replied. He heard a gasp, and a mettle clatter of the crowbar as it fell from her paralyzed hands. She cautiously looked a little closer at Batman, and his wound. She immediately knew what had happened.
"Is there anything I can do?" She asked in a near whisper.
"Yes. Keep Babs and Jimmy out of this. I don't want them to have to see him like this." Her face remained worried. "How are you going to help him?" She asked. Gordon sighed, "I don't know. Don't worry… I'll figure it out." She nodded, and stared at Batman with concern etching her features. Her caring nature kicked in when she gave Batman's gloved hand a quick squeeze. After what Batman did for their family they felt they would do whatever they could to help this man. She smiled weakly at Jim, and whispered "good luck" and ascended the stairs. When his wife was gone he turned to Batman.
Gordon had some experience with bullet wounds. He had to, being in the Gotham police force for as long as he was. He shuddered at the thought of a how much blood Batman lost. He moved Batman in to a laying position on the floor and placed his folded jacket underneath Batman's head. 'Get the bullet out and do it fast.' He took off one of Batman's gloves, and felt for a pulse at his wrist. There was a low weak throb, and Gordon felt the beats shudder. 'His heart is working too hard for the lost blood.' The commissioner knew what he had to do. He just couldn't bring himself to do it. It would mean unmasking the man who sacrificed everything for their cause.
'This man shouldn't have to have everything taken away from him.' Gordon pinched the bridge of his nose. 'He's lost so much in one night.' Gordon came to his resolve. If there was one thing that Batman should never have to lose, it would be his life. If he didn't uncover the man behind the mask, then he would lose a lot more than his secrets.
He didn't even know where to start. The suit had hidden latches, and hooks. He should try to find where to start so he began to tug on the Kevlar when a gloved hand grabbed his wrist. Batman silently shoved his hand away, and unlatched the armor piece by piece, and Gordon caught on, and began to undo the Kevlar. The Batman had so many different pieces to this complicated suit. The black armor was faithful to Batman until Dent shot him. Batman drifted off unconscious after Gordon took over.
More and more human was shown underneath this creature's skin as he worked in the dark basement. He finally made it to the heart of the wound. Blood was soaking Batman's thermal clothes, and Gordon applied pressure on the bullet hole. Gordon was left with Batman's mask. He wondered what he should do. This was Batman after all. This man had been a mystery to him for so long. To unmask this person would be like robbing someone.
"Do it." He heard Batman's low growl. He was going to question him when he saw Batman passed out… again. He hesitated a moment before he took the mask in both of his hands, and pulled it off carefully. He features were slowly revealed. The brown hair was drenched with sweat, and face wet. He had sharp features, and an all too familiar complexion. 'I feel I've seen him before… wait… I know this face!'
"Bruce Wayne!" Gordon whispered in disbelief. Behind him he heard gasp. He jumped around to investigate. Someone was hiding, and Gordon looked around and saw movement in the darkness. He still gripped the cowl in his hand tightly as he crept towards the source of the sound. Underneath the staircase was a boy with blond hair. He pulled the figure into a standing position roughly only to find himself looking into the frightened eyes of his son Jimmy Gordon.
A/N: Did you like it? Hate it? Please let me know what you think so that I can improve my writing. I would appreciate any ideas, because this is my very first story. Thank you for reading! :)