Misconception:
Chapter 1:
Disclaimer:
I do not own anything that is Batman related.
The city was back to its original state. After the officials had brought in the last of the criminals, new colonies, and crime families had been reawakened. Crime spread like a festering disease across Gotham, slowly returning, as people worked against it. Criminals began to get smarter, and new leaders took charge. None heard from The League of Shadows; they had never returned. Their whereabouts was unknown to everyone. As Gotham healed from her previous attacks, new mob lords took over secretly. Some were lucky to get far into their businesses while others who were thwarted by the Batman were not so lucky. Even if Batman worked day and night, the corruption would never cease to be. That was the price he had to pay for being the only effective vigilante in the dark city. Crime rates however, never skyrocketed, with him they remained steady enough for the GCPD to control.
On this night two kids walked back from school a little later than usual. They talked as the ten year old boy kicked the snow around and the fourteen year old girl pulled her snow coat closer. The teacher had needlessly held them back, and she seemed rather nervous when she asked them to stay an hour to talk to them. The lady then asked them to assist her with other classroom chores. They had to miss their bus, and when the teacher released them, they had to get to their new home on foot. Both children were nervous about being out this late in the night, in such a dangerous and evil city. In the day time it was alright, but the night seemed to lure out the loonies, and murderous. The girl's eyes darted to every movement that was not their own, and didn't relax until she made sure it wasn't a threat.
She sighed, the boy was just as nervous, and she wanted to get his mind off of the dangerous ground they were treading on.
"Jimmy, where do you suppose he is now?" Babs asked her little brother, and he shrugged.
"I dunno. Probably beating up the bad guys." Jimmy looked up at his sister.
"Yeah, but don't you wonder what he does in his regular life? Who he really is?" Babs asked and mused as she said it. James feigned ignorance, and shrugged. Babs didn't know that her brother also shared a secret with her father. "I wish I knew…"
"Yeah… I wonder if he'll teach me any more of his fighting skills." James pondered excitedly, and changed the subject. Babs allowed a smile, and tucked the reddish brown hair behind her ear.
"I don't suppose dad will be talking to him anytime soon?" Babs asked, and held onto the straps of her backpack. She knew it had been awhile since any one had seen Batman.
"Well he did mention that he needed to discuss some information with someone tonight. Maybe we can ask dad." Jimmy suggested.
"I always wonder-" Babs froze in midsentence as a tall man cut in front of them. He was large, and towered over them, making them seem small and powerless. His yellowed teeth shone as he smiled with a crazed look in his eyes.
"Can I help you?" Babs asked trying to keep her voice calm. Dad always told her it was best to remain calm in these situations.
"Recess is over kids." The husky voice broke out in the suddenly abandoned street. Both Babs and James backed in the cover of the dark alley, and the man followed.
"What do you want?" Babs asked with an even voice, bravery in her tone. The man laughed darkly.
"Boss said it would be best to eliminate you two as a little gift for the Commissioner."
"Dad doesn't need anything like that, but we really should get home it's getting late." Babs grabbed James' hand, and tried to move around the fat man, but he didn't let them pass. He seized Babs by the arm.
"Listen here girly! You're going to do what I say when I say!" The man gripped Babs' arm tightly, and bruising it. Something seemed to snap inside the boy and he popped the man in the nose an instant later, emitting a small crack that could be heard. "Why you rotten little-"
He was interrupted in midsentence. Babs had skills since she became an acrobatic at school. Also few pointers from the wrestling team, that happened to share the gym, never hurt. She slipped from the thug's grip, and slinked behind the man, and grabbed the railing. She pulled herself up, and landed on the man's back, her arms strangling his neck. She would not let the man touch her little brother.
"Jimmy, run!" She shouted hoping the momentary distraction would give her brother a chance to escape.
"No way am I leaving you!" James shouted and ran head on at the thug. Babs rolled her eyes. Why did Jimmy have to go and be heroic? The man got temporarily winded but recovered quickly pulling Babs away and tossing her at a trash crate. She hit the metal and landed roughly, but got up only to see in horror as the man held her brother by his platinum blonde hair. In a moment he had her too, his arm around her neck trying to choke her, and James was held in a similar position.
"Let's get this over with you brats!" The thug yelled harshly, and handled them roughly.
"I have a problem with that." A voice rumbled behind the man, and Babs felt the thug tense. She and James looked at each other and smiled, despite their current position. In a couple seconds they were released, and not a moment later they heard the sounds of fists hitting against flesh. They turned and saw the man on his back, and the dark knight standing over him, tossing the knife aside in disgust. He grabbed the man by the collar and shoved him against the brick alley wall.
"If you attempt this crime again, prison will be the least of your worries!" The creature Batman growled darkly to the now whimpering man. They could see how angry Batman was, and the man nodded to the dark knight's wrath. The thug was almost crying. 'How pathetic…' Babs thought, and Jimmy looked to be having similar thoughts. Batman shoved the man to the ground, and the thug went running into the night. Both of their smiles disappeared at the look on Batman's face when he faced them. It was furious.
"What were you doing out this late?" Batman rasped at the two, and looked around the dead end alley.
"Our teacher held us back to speak to us." James piped up. "She had us in the room for several hours."
Batman's eyes narrowed and he looked at James.
"What's your teacher's name?" Batman demanded.
"Mrs. Edgerson." Babs supplied, and Batman nodded curtly. Batman sighed as he looked over the two, and guided them out of the dark alley to the light of the lamps.
"Go home now." Batman looked around in search of anyone who might be watching. Babs and James nodded, and looked at each other, but when they looked to where Batman was, they only saw an empty spot from where he had been.
In another part of Gotham a battle was taking place between two opposing forces. The gangsters lined the front of an old building, as the GCPD attacked them from behind their cars, wearing bullet proof vests.
"Let's move in men! Move in!" Blake shouted loudly to his squad as they tried to dodge the bullets that flew past. The sound of machine fire permeated the night air. The mobsters were starting to get weaker and weaker as the cops over came them. When Blake had thought it was going to get better, that's when they had brought out their automatic guns, and rifles. Now more machine fire rang out in the night. Blake leaned up against the police cruiser with a gun in one hand.
"Where is your friend when we need him?" Blake huffed as the Commissioner was reloading his weapon.
"…" Gordon mumbled, and snapped the clip on the gun. He quickly peered around the edge of the car with his gun, and fired at his target.
"They're aggressive tonight." Blake remarked as he finished reloading his own weapon. Gordon curtly nodded.
"Yeah well, aren't they always?" Gordon huffed; his breath could be seen in the cold air.
"Not since we've gotten a new mob lord on our hands. I hear he's the new patron for the Falcone crime family." Blake straightened his bullet proof vest.
"Who is this guy?" Gordon huffed exasperated. There seemed to be a never ending supply of mob bosses flowing into Gotham.
"Jeez Gordon, don't you read the papers?" Blake arched an eyebrow, holding his gun pointing upwards.
"I have a lot of work to do…" Gordon sighed, and Blake knew it was true. The Commissioner was always leaving the office late, and coming in early the next morning to continue the never ending stacks of paperwork, and cases.
"Well I've heard his name was Alberto Falcone, the son of the late Carmine Falcone." Blake informed, and glass could be heard shattering behind him. Gordon looked away from Blake.
"I knew he had a son, but I thought he had denounced his father's criminal ways, and quit the city." Gordon ducked as more machine fire narrowly missed him.
"It's no secret that he's involved, in fact the paparazzi announced his arrival on the front page. The picture showed him walking with some other minor mobsters, and shaking hands with them." Blake reported, and just then louder shouts could be heard and more gunfire rang out in the street.
"It's time we get in there." Gordon nodded, and they both crept to the front lines of the battle. The rage of the thugs was almost too much for them to overcome, until the Batman arrived. Gordon hadn't seen Batman or Bruce Wayne since they had gotten all the prisoners in. It had been several months since the man had made an appearance. Now Batman that he was needed again, and he was back to defend the city. The vigilante took them out, and left the instant he knew that the GCPD could overcome mobsters. A few of the officers shot at Batman, but the rest were too concerned and busy with finishing the gang war.
In the Wayne Manor study Bruce lowered himself in the chair wearily after coming back from his night crusade, and his eyes drooped as he watched the sun rise through the window from the east. His head was propped in a hand as he allowed himself to unwind from the night's activities. Alfred walked in with a tray of breakfast, and set it down on the end table.
"Thank you Alfred." Bruce nodded to his friend.
"How many were there this time?" Alfred inquired.
"There were seven gang wars last night alone. I've got my hands full with this mobster." Bruce shook his head.
The city had been recovering from the breakouts and the Commissioner's disappearance, and Batman had gathered all the criminally insane and prisoners including Crane, and Carmine Falcone. The crime rates had remained very low for eight months. Bruce always knew that the absence of crime and corruption would only be temporary. He knew it would return, but he had anticipated that the calmness would last a little longer.
Now it was in mid-December, and a new mobster had taken position, and returned to the city. Ever since his appearance he had been spreading little bits of havoc throughout the city. Of course the courts of law had not been able to convict and prove that he was the mob lord responsible for all the crime. He never went as far as to try to terrorize the entire city, so Batman knew that the man was only after business and keeping the crime family alive. Falcone was doing his job, a darn good job. He still worked to find some leverage against the man, but he was never able to find anything, with his hands being full with saving victims, and stopping gang wars. He knew that the man was good at evading him with ease.
The current district attorney was good, but not as brilliant as Dent had been. None of the lawyers were as dedicated at Dent and Rachel had been. The idealism in that branch of jurisdiction was no longer existent. All those who defended or prosecuted were only good to a certain extent. Some were uncorrupt, but that didn't mean that they were incredibly concerned about who they fought for, or fought against. It was a never ending pattern of ups and downs.
"Well then, you'll be pleased to know that you're schedule has been altered for the day."
"What are the changes?" Bruce asked tiredly. The sunlight permeated the cold study as the sun came up, and lit up the snow covered world.
"Your meeting with the CEO of Falstaff Corp. has been cancelled due them having some other plans. Lucille Amore was tired of being stood up on dates so she called off this evenings dinner, and all the other board meetings won't have crucial changes-"
"Wait did you say Falstaff, as in Gregorian Falstaff?" Bruce looked up at his butler.
"The very one… what is it?" Alfred looked at Bruce's exasperated expression.
"This isn't good…" Bruce muttered and stood up, and reached down to pick up a piece of toast. He looked at Alfred. "Falstaff hates Wayne Enterprises. This guy almost got the company out of business; three times, he's attempted this. He took advantage of the company when it was low on funds after building the monorail system. He's always been a rival to the Wayne's, and he only shows up when he sees an opportunity to take advantage."
"So he'll be trying to sabotage Wayne Enterprises now…" Alfred looked out the large window.
"Just another thing to add to my growing list of problems…" Bruce took a bite of his breakfast and turned to leave the room. Alfred looked at the tray of the half eaten breakfast in silent worry, but followed his employer into the large hallway of the Manor.
The manor was built exactly as it had been before, except with a few more modern touches. The new elevator to the underground caverns where secrets lay was one, and a few other things that would come in handy should anyone attempt to "visit" without authorization.
"Where are you going sir?" Alfred asked as he saw Bruce grabbing a coat.
"To exchange some information" Bruce pulled on the tan winter overcoat, and grabbed the white Camaro's keys. Alfred sighed in concern as his charge headed to the garage.
Gordon walked out the doors from where he worked, glancing down at the untraceable text. 'The usual place' He walked about three blocks, and turned a corner, and entered the alley where his friend awaited him. He spotted the person who summoned him and he leaned against the wall of the narrow alley.
"What do you have for me this time Wayne?" Gordon asked the secret vigilante. The person adjacent to him spoke from a shadowed part of the alley. Gordon could still make out the person's features. The man pulled out a file, and handed it to Gordon.
"These are the advanced searches for the mobsters Tony Zucco and Gus Marco." Bruce spoke in a low but not quite gravelly voice. They had often met like this since the mob wars had been more frequent. The nights were too busy with all the action, and this was a much less dangerous and more convenient way of exchanging important information. This was the first time Gordon had seen him in many months.
"Thanks…" Gordon looked down at the files and asked. "Did you see the news report for today?" Bruce shook his head.
"I only got in an hour ago." Bruce informed. Gordon pulled out a paper with his gloved hand, and gave it to Bruce. The head line was in bold print. 'FALCONE STRIKES AGAIN' Bruce sighed and shook his head. It always bothered him that everyone knew who the culprit was; it was just that they were too afraid to speak against them. He looked over the picture; it showed the same man with the dark hair and tan skin, wearing the sunglasses, and shaking hands with people who were obviously jailbirds.
"He's getting worse, since you've brought down some of his drug ports." Bruce handed the newspaper back to the Commissioner.
"How?" Gordon asked, obvious dread in his voice.
"He sent someone to kill James and Barbara again. I was tracking the assassin for a while, so he couldn't harm them." Bruce reported, and Gordon shook his head angrily.
"Who was involved this time?"
"Their teacher, you may want to run a background check on her." Bruce informed.
"I am seriously considering locking those two away in the basement." Gordon mumbled, and looked at Bruce. "Is that all there is Wayne?"
Bruce nodded, and Gordon turned to leave.
"Wayne?" Gordon asked before leaving. "It's good to have you back."
Bruce nodded to the older man, and Gordon walked out of the hidden meeting place as he looked inside the file. Moments later the billionaire left the place, and walked two blocks to where his car was parked. He was back, and he was ready. He was prepared to defend his city once again.
A/N: Hey, I'm back again! Are you ready for more? I definitely am up for another challenge. This chapter is basically for setting the stage. I wanted to start this story off with a different feel than the previous one, and give the floor to other characters in the story. More is coming. More explosions, action, and adventure are going to be included. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and if you didn't enjoy it, I'm sorry that you feel that way. Anyway, I can't wait to hear from you. Wish me luck as I embark on writing this new story! Thank you!