Batman: The Mythos

Batman: The Beginning Of The Caped Crusader

Chapter One - The Stage Is Set


Batman knew from the start that he had to become something more. Being only a man would not be enough. As a man he could be killed, ignored and pushed aside. It wasn't enough. He knew that criminals, by their nature are cowardly and superstitious lot so Batman decided to give them something to fear. That's how Bruce Wayne became Batman. But how Batman became and urban myth, later hero in Gotham, that's a different story. Bruce knew he had to start somewhere. His first attempts, test-runs, were mostly clumsy and Alfred was forced to find him many times from some dumpster full of bullet wounds and bruises. But he never gave up. And slowly Bruce started to get a hang of it.

More often than not, Bruce returned to Wayne Manor with dignity. He had managed to stop a robbery, caught some petty thieves but that wasn't enough. Only a warm-up for Batman to take on bigger threats. To really make a difference.

"Master Wayne, I assume that you are leaving to your nightly routine?" Alfred asked while bringing some food to the cave. Bruce was standing in front of his computer, running different surveillance footage on the screen.

"Alfred, could you come here for a second?" Bruce asked absent minded as always. "I'm going to a party."

"Oh so without the costume this evening then?" Alfred raised his eyebrows.

"No, I wasn't invited." Bruce said while opening a new window.

"Where exactly are you going to?" Alfred asked.

"Carmine Falcone is having a party with his scum. I am going to pay them a visit." Bruce answered. Alfred saw that he was looking at surveillance footage of some manor, most likely where the party would be held.

"Well before you go to anywhere you are going to a press conference or have you forgotten that?" Alfred reminded. "About the Arkham-project?"

"Yes, yes, I remember. Time to put on the costume." Bruce was still in his Batman getup but without the mask. He had been working for few weeks straight for this moment barely catching any sleep. Alfred wasn't even sure if he did sleep at all. He thought it would be humanly impossible but that seemed to be Master Bruce's new way of living.

"How are you going to explain your disappearance to the public, sir?" Alfred asked. Bruce had been back from his world tour under a year and he still hadn't made any public appearance. Press had been speculating about him ever since. Many thought he had been dead.

"Soul searching. Studying somewhere where I could be in peace. Protect my young mind." Alfred wasn't sure if Bruce was joking or not. It was always hard to say with him. Truth to be told, Alfred wasn't sure if Bruce was capable of joking anymore.

"Yes, and what about your nightly hobbies then?"

"No one can know about that. So far Batman has been only a whisper that the underworld has been buzzling about. Tonight I will become more than a whisper." Bruce answered.

"Have you ever considered settling down? Find some proper lady to keep you good and honest?" Alfred asked already knowing the answer.

"I have no time for such things. You know that Alfred." Bruce said still not looking to his butler.

Yes, I know that you think happiness is something that you are not allowed to feel. Alfred thought. Sometimes somethings should not be spoken, he had found out. He couldn't convince Bruce to let go of his parents' murder any more now than when he was fourteen. Somethings could not be changed no matter how much you would want it.

"So, will you be attending today's press conference?" Alfred decided to let the matter trop for now.

"Yes. Just give me a minute, Alfred." Sometimes he still sounded like a boy. That made Alfred smile.

"Very well sure."

Bruce was left alone in the cave again. It was just him against the criminal underworld. Just like he planned.

Bruce was standing in front of cameras in expensive designer suit. He was wearing his best play-boy smile, charming every reporter. It was surprisingly easy to put on the act. It was what people believed. Another young billionaire who drank too much and had too many women. This was expected from him. Bruce was just delivering what people already thought of him.

"As to celebrate my return to Gotham, Wayne Enterprises are going to re-open the Arkham Asylum as my dear mother wished. In all seriousness this was her dream and now is my time to honor her memory." All clapped. Reporters started to shout questions but Bruce was already making his leave. His security team was taking care of the reporters. To his surprise one particular reporter still managed to slip past them.

"Hey, Vicki Vale from Gotham Gazette, quick question; what convinced you to leave Gotham and only to come back now?" Vicki Vale was a young attractive woman with bright red hair and green eyes. She looked to be around Bruce's age.

"Oh, I was getting tired of European models. Wanted to come back to visit my sweet hometown." Bruce winked. Vicki tried to not break into a smile when Bruce left her. She now had the prefect headline for tomorrow's paper.

Couple hours later Bruce Wayne had disappeared and Batman had emerged. He was now at the town, testing out his new claw-gadget. It was finally working properly. It had took weeks for him and Alfred to figure out where the problem lied. Finally Batman was able to leap from building to building like he had pictured.

Now was finally the time for Batman to make a step up. He had planned everything. He had to make clear for Gotham's criminal scum who they were dealing with.

First he dropped the smoke bomb. Carmine Falcone was hosting a dinner with his elite business partners and some of his rivals. Everyone who was someone in Gotham was there. A perfect place for Batman to make his entrance.

Before the smoke could disappear Batman dropped in the room. Only light was coming from the window behind him so it casted an impressive shadow of the creature of the night. Everyone went silent. No-one dared to move or make a sound, every single eye in the room was staring the dark figure in front of them.

"Ladies, gentlemen, you have eaten well. You have eaten Gotham's wealth. Its spirit. Your feast is nearly over. From this moment on… none of you are safe. Enjoy your last meal." With that Batman disappeared. Panic started to rise in the room. Bruce didn't stick around to follow what happened. He didn't need to. He already knew. His first introduction to Gotham's elite had been successful. Now they had something to fear.

"Oh look at the morning paper. Master Bruce, you have never been one for the subtlety." Alfred greeted him the next morning. He was holding out a paper showing a big, fat headline; who is the mysterious bat-monster?

"Bat-monster?" Bruce reads. He thought his name would be simpler but this was something he could work with.

"I meant the other headline." Alfred said dryly. Bruce continued to read and spotted a smaller headline; Playboy billionaire back in Gotham, big plans ahead.

"Good, they took the bait." Bruce says.

"Remind me again why this act is necessary." Alfred puts the paper and the breakfast to Bruce's bed.

"Public cannot guess my true identity. It is coincidence enough that Batman began operating at the same time when I returned to Gotham. It is for the best to let as few people guessing the truth as possible." Bruce explained.

"You will need allies in your quest, Master Bruce." Alfred pointed out.

"I have you."

"As flattering as that sounds, knowing you having me on your side is simply not enough. You will need back-up in the field, allies in police-force, someone who can work with computers better than me and someone to build you your new… toys." Alfred said with a dry smile.

"Batman works alone, Alfred." Bruce said firmly.

"Perhaps, but Bruce Wayne doesn't." Alfred noted.

"GCPD is full of corruption. There is no allies for me there." Bruce continued.

"You might be interested in Sergeant Gordon. He was just moved here from Chicago." Alfred handed Bruce the file he had been working on.

"He is clearly been transferred here only for a cover-up." Bruce said after taking a one look at the file.

"Perhaps so, but he is immensely talented officer and stayed clean despite the corruption of the force." Alfred continued.

"He hasn't been here for long."

"Neither have you, sir."

"Batman works alone." Bruce said now with a stronger voice.

Alfred only led out a sigh and left the room leaving Bruce by himself.


Jim Gordon was standing on top of the GCPD building. He was slowly inhaling his smoke and looking down the city below. His wife, no ex-wife, Barbara had told him to stop smoking but Jim couldn't do it. Now he was left alone with couple's ten-year-old daughter, also named Barbara. She was a smart girl. Sometimes she visited his father at the station but Jim didn't want her there too often. The police force was full of dangerous people and he didn't want Barbara anywhere near them. She was very headstrong however. She wanted to help people but in a city like this, it seemed like impossible.

"Jim? Jim? Are you here?" Jim's partner, Harvey Bullock asked. He was older than Jim, slightly corrupted but a good man never the less, unlike Jim's first partner Arnold Flass.

"I am here." Jim answered. He turned around to face Harvey.

"Chief wants you to his office. While you are down there, tell him that I am not interested working as some kind of dog to find you for him." Harvey huffed. He seemed as grumpy as ever but Jim was used to it by now.

"Thanks, Harvey. Really appreciated." He said with a half-smile. Together they returned to downstairs. Harvey separated from him to return to his desk, presumably to take a nap while Jim was being yelled at by the current head of the department, Loeb. He was an unpleasant man, as corrupted as they come.

When Jim entered Commissioner Loeb's room he immediately noticed that something was off. Loeb seemed nervous and his face was redder than normally.

"Gordon, finally. What took you so long?" He spitted. Before Jim could answer Loeb decided to continue. "How's your case on the Bat-vigilante?"

Jim puckered his brows. Jim had been assigned to the case on the first place only because Loeb didn't like him and his honesty and because Loeb didn't view the case as anything serious or productive.

"Nothing new, sir." Jim answered trying to remain respectful despite his obvious dislike of the man.

Loeb was quiet for a while. Jim wasn't sure what to do so he just stayed put, not moving before Loeb would.

"Come sit here." Loeb said with a voice that tried to sound pleasant.

"Excuse me?" Jim was taken by surprise.

"I said come sit here." Loeb snapped. Then, unsure of himself like he didn't know how to say the word, he added: "Please."

Jim sat directly in front of Loeb's desk, still unsure what to do or how to react.

"Give me a quick rundown of your case, please." Last word was exaggerated but Jim decided it was best to ignore it. Loeb was just trying to find an excuse to kick Jim out of the force and Jim was not about to give him that opportunity.

"First sightings of the Bat started proximately little over a month ago. Some criminals have described him, if it's even a man, as violent, unnatural and scary. The Bat has so far only focused on stopping petty crimes, nothing major." Jim said. He had more files on the case, but honestly they didn't have much to go on. That was another reason why Loeb assigned Jim to this case.

"So far." Loeb seemed to sink into his thoughts so Jim decided to stay quiet wondering why Loeb was suddenly interested about Batman as papers had started calling him.

"Do we have any idea of his identity?" Loeb asked.

"Not a thing, sir." Jim announced. "If I may ask, sir, why the sudden interest?"

"Didn't you read morning's paper?" Loeb sounded skeptical.

"No, sir. Didn't have the time." Jim admitted. He had woke up too late. It was only thanks to Babs that he had managed to get on work on time. He had been working late last night causing him to oversleep.

Loeb slammed Gotham Gazette to the table. Jim was able to read the headline; who is the mysterious bat-monster? Before Loeb pulled the paper back.

"He appeared last night to a dinner party where I was invited." Loeb said absently.

"Really? I thought media wasn't even sure if he is real?" I wasn't sure that we're supposed to think he is real? Jim decided not to add.

"Oh, he is real. Smashed right into the dinner table." Loeb said.

"What was he doing there, if I may ask, sir?" Jim sensed that he was on thin ice but his curiosity took the best of him.

"Nothing that you need to know." The answer came too quickly. So nothing legal was happening at that dinner party then.

"Actually, sir, I am the leading officer on the case and by law I have to question possible witnesses." Jim hided his smile. He knew he had won.

"No official report was filed."

"I guess, we don't have any witnesses then." Jim tried to keep his face serious. Loeb was staring at him and he was staring back. After what felt like a couple minutes of silence Loeb finally turned his gaze away.

"Fine, I'll send you the list of people that was there but this stays of the book. And makes sure that the press doesn't hear about this." Loeb returned to his paper not looking at Jim anymore.

"Of course, sir." Jim took that as his que to leave.

Jim went to his desk and took his files on Batman case. There wasn't much. Only some sightings and some testimonies from small criminals.

"Jimbo? We got a new lead." Harvey was eating his sandwich and seemed to be in a better mood than earlier.

"What?" Jim was still focusing on his files.

"We got a new lead. Are you deaf or something?" Harvey started to sound grumpy again.

"Yes, I heard. I meant what lead." Jim responded.

"One of my contacts said that Batman made a visit to their whorehouse." Harvey seemed to be back in his good mood.

"You and your contacts." Jim murmured under his breath. "I'll drive." He said with a louder voice.

"Not a chance, pretty boy." Harvey joked and took the keys.

It took only a fifteen minutes to drive to Harvey's contacts meeting place. Despite Harvey's rough manners, Jim was very fond of him. He had helped Jim to survive last couple months in Gotham, learn how the city worked. Without him, Jim would most likely be dead by now. That's how rookies ended up in Gotham.

"Stay in the car." Harvey said when he pulled aside.

"No." Jim looked shocked. It had been awhile when Harvey had demanded that.

"Trust me, it is better if I'll go alone. These people mean business." Harvey seemed serious.

"No, I am your partner. I will not wait in the car like some five-year-old." Jim demanded.

"Argh, fine. But stay quiet and just follow my lead. Okay?" Harvey questioned.

Jim followed him to the back alley. It was odd that Harvey seemed nervous. Usually his contacts were mostly harmless, causing Jim only slightly disapprove his partner's choice of company but this time was different.

"Where is your contact?" Jim asked while waiting. He was debating in his head whether or not smoke a cigarette while waiting for the mystery contact.

"I said be quiet." Harvey retorted causing Jim to smile.

Finally someone came. It was a very beautiful young woman with short black hair, lovely figure and piercing green eyes. Her outfit left little to imagination leaving Jim to assume she was a prostitute.

"Harvey, back so soon?" She teased. "Who's your friend?"

It was very hard to say how old she was but if Jim had to guess he would say that the woman was in her twenties.

"Selina Kyle, James Gordon. James Gordon, Selina Kyle." Harvey gave the introductions. Neither Kyle nor Jim offered their hand. "Well, did you see him?"

"Batman? Yes he was around." Kyle smiled. She reminded Jim of a cat who had found a perfect thing to play with.

"So? Can you give us something to work with?" Harvey asked.

"Depends, how much do you have?" Kyle said causing Jim to roll his eyes. Both Harvey and Kyle ignored that.

Harvey handed some money to Kyle who counted them before putting them to her bra. "Yeah, the Bat was here couple nights ago. Took a real number on one Stan. Rescued Holly so be kind to him."

"Anything else? What did he look like?" Jim couldn't stop himself from asking.

"Oh look, he speaks." Kyle laughed. "He was tall, dark and brooding. What more you need in a man?"

"Do you have anything more to us?" Harvey asked. As an answer Kyle showed them an open palm asking for money. Harvey put some more cash into it which satisfied Selina.

"Ask Holly for more details. Tell her that I sent you and she'll talk." Kyle purred.

"Thanks Selina. Tell the girls that I said hey." Harvey said. He and Jim walked back to their car but when Jim turned, Kyle had disappeared.

"Why where you so jumpy around her?" Jim asked. Kyle had been pretty lightweight looking and at least couple inches smaller than Harvey. He saw no reason to be scared of her.

"I have seen her in a fight. Would not recommend to piss her off. Did you seen her? Like a cat." Harvey explained.

"Yeah, I saw it." Jim said. "Who is Stan?"

"He is a pimp. Works on East End of Gotham. Real nasty piece of shit, if you ask me." Harvey told to Jim.

"Wow, that's something coming from you." Jim joked.

"Hey, shut it." Harvey laughed.

"I'll drive." Jim took the keys from Harvey who was not paying attention.

Luckily for Jim and Harvey Gotham's rush hour hadn't begun yet so it took relatively little a while to drive to their destination. Jim wouldn't have noticed the small brothel unless Harvey hadn't pointed it to him. It was very dirty and very humble looking place. Girls were gathered loosely around it. Most were just passing time, talking but some were talking to potential customers.

"Which one is Holly?" Jim asked when he had parked the car.

As an answers, Harvey pointed the youngest looking girl with a short ginger hair to him. "Holly Robinson, Selina's pet."

"How old is she?" Jim asked with a worried tone. The girl couldn't be much older than Babs, not nearly old enough to be eighteen.

Harvey just shook his head sadly. "Holly? Selina send us." Harvey shouted.

When the girl heard name Selina she turned around and walked closer to two officers. This allowed for Jim to see her face. The first thing he noticed was a nasty looking black eye. "Yeah, that's me."

"She told us that you could give us information about Batman. He was here couple nights ago, is that true?" Jim asked ready to write something to his notebook.

"Yeah, it's true." Holly said crossing her arms around her chest.

"Can you tell us more?" Harvey questioned.

"Selina send you?" The girl checked. Both Harvey and Jim nodded. "Fine, but you'll buy me food."

In ten minutes all three were sitting in a diner. Holly was eating her burger like she had never ate before while Jim and Harvey waited. When the girl had fitted the first burger in and ordered a second one she finally started talking.

"Okay, so, couple nights ago, I was doing my evening round. It was a quiet night so I didn't get enough cash for Stan so he was real pissed. It didn't help that Tanya had fucked up earlier that day but never the less, the man was angry alright. So I come back, knowing that I don't have nearly enough money to satisfy Stan but what else can I do. Selina was still handling her stuff so I was alone. Well not actually alone but none of the girls couldn't help me with Stan." Holly held a break to have a long sip of soda before continuing.

"Stan was waiting for us outside, this is always a bad sign but I couldn't figure out what else to do so I went to him. He started yelling me that it wasn't enough, that I'm a stupid girl and a slut and that I stole the rest of the money. Kind of ironic calling me a slut don't you think. But anyway, he was yelling me like no tomorrow so I took it thinking 'this isn't that bad' but that was my mistake. Letting my guard down. So when I least expected, Stan backhanded me to the face. I fell to the ground ready to take the beating, I thought that he would kill me. I saw just couple months ago how he killed Sasha because she took some money from him. But then, the beating never came. When I opened my eyes someone else was beating the shit out of Stan. The street lights were gone but I saw a big, black figure, like a bat. I don't think it was human. He left Stan bleeding, told us to call the cops. For the first time in my life I did that. I and the girls were all hiding when the cops came to pick him up. He'll be back soon, though, your people won't keep him in for long."

Holly was almost done with her meal. She looked scared but also defiant. Now instead of focusing to her food she was glaring Jim and Harvey across the table.

"Can you tell us what did he look like?" Harvey tried.

"Yeah, like a huge bat." Holly said shuttering.

"Did you saw where did he came from?" Jim asked.

"No, I was kind of busy, you know, not dying." Holly snapped.

"Okay, if you can think anything else, just call us, okay?" Jim handed Holly a piece of paper. "Third burger on the go." He said to the waitress and paid for Holly's meals before leaving the diner with Harvey.

"Hey, HEY WAIT! What are you gonna to do to him, if you catch him?" Holly ran to them.

"Same thing that we do to rest of the criminals in this city." Harvey said darkly. Both men knew what was likely to happen but decided not to speak about it.

"You are not gonna catch him. No-one will." Holly sounded so sure of herself that Jim wondered if she didn't tell them the whole story.


Meanwhile in other side of the city, Barbara Gordon was coming home from school. She was used to moving alone since dad was so busy at work. Gotham was a dangerous place, Barbara understood that but she was a crafty girl. She kind of liked the city. Her mom wanted her to move out of Gotham with her but Barbara didn't want to leave. She wanted to help dad. And somehow she knew that she wasn't done with Gotham just yet.

When Barbara arrived home she microwaved yesterday's leftovers and began eating while doing her homework. They were very easy to her despite Barbara being only ten and being much more advanced in her studies than rest of her age group. After eating, Barbara started to get ready for her judo practice. She had begged and begged for permission to start some martial arts training from her dad and finally he had agreed saying it would be perhaps useful in Gotham to know some self-defense.

After eating she checked the fridge and wrote a shopping list to take with her to the practice. She could stop by some supermarket after practice. Her father never remembered to go the store on time.

Before leaving Barbara wrote a note to her father where she would be in case he got home before her. It was unlikely but not unheard off. Once her father got off from work while Barbara was out. She had forgotten her phone on that day and Jim began to panic and nearly called National Guard to find her. From that they onward Barbara remembered to at least leave a note on her whereabouts.

Judo practice didn't take long and as Barbara had predicted she arrived home before her father. She put the groceries to their proper places and was nearly finished with cooking when her dad got home.

"Barbara?" He yelled at the door.

"I'm in the kitchen, dad." Barbara said while taking lasagna from the oven. "Food is almost ready."

"Smells delightful, Babs." Jim looked tired when he sat onto the table. Barbara placed the plates before serving her home cooked lasagna. There was still some salad left from yesterday's cooking so Barbara decided to use rest of it today.

"How was your day at work?" She asked while stuffing food to her mouth. She was always starving after practice.

"Busy. Finally got a new lead on the Bat-vigilante case." Jim said while rubbing his eyes.

"Are you going to catch him?" Barbara asked. She knew that they shared a different view on the matter but decided not to bring it up.

"Of course we are. It's going to take some time but finally the bad guys will always get what they deserve." Her father tried to smile.

Barbara bit her lip so she wouldn't comment that she didn't view Batman as a bad guy. Her father seemed more tired than usual after work so Barbara wouldn't argue this time.

"How was your day, Babs, anything interesting?" Jim asked after some silence.

"Nah, teachers were talking to move me one class up again though." Barbara told.

"Again? I always knew you were a smart girl." Jim said.

"They even said that I could start taking some high school classes soon." Barbara informed with a proudness in her voice. She was always pleased to make her dad happy.

"That's wonderful, Babs." They continued eating in silence. When Barbara was ready she began to do the dishes while Jim started working again. He was always drowning himself to work. Barbara suspected that it was partly because of her mom but never mentioned it. Occasionally Barbara broke herself into GCPD's records to help her dad and the city. She wanted to become police officer like her father, to help people but Jim was strictly against it. Like a father, like daughter. Well usually it was like a son but Barbara was never the usual.

"I'll go to bed, dad. I have an early morning tomorrow. Good night." Barbara announced. Jim was too focused on his work to pay attention so Barbara snuck off to shower and then to her room. She locked the door and opened her computer.

Barbara had started trying to develop a program that would allow her an access to police files from her own computer. For now she needed to be at the station to access criminal records but slowly Barbara was determined to progress her own work. It was important that she wouldn't be caught. Her father would probably get fired or worse and Barbara was never going to allow that happen.

It was midnight when Barbara finished her working and decided actually go to bed. She cracked the door open just for little to see that her father was still working. Melancholically she fell asleep. Her last thoughts were focused around Batman.

The next morning came early. Barbara woke just before her alarm clock started yelling. Quickly she dressed, brushed teeth and checked that she got everything she needed in her backpack before going into kitchen. Her father was already up, reading the morning paper.

"Good morning, dad." Barbara said while pouring milk to her cereals.

"Good morning, Babs." Jim answered. He was focused on reading some article. Barbara read the front page; Batman strikes again, Maroni's shipments in trouble.

"Aren't Maronis known criminals?" Barbara asked.

"So they say. There is no concrete evidence. Every time we get a witness they mystically change their minds, disappear or…" Jim's voice disappeared behind the paper. Barbara knew what he was going to say anyway.

"So isn't it good that Batman tries to take them on if law can't?" Barbara asked carefully.

"You are much too young to understand this Barbara. You cannot just work outside the law, even in Gotham." Jim lowered his paper to look at his daughter. Barbara tried to not roll her eyes.

"But if the law doesn't work. What then?" Barbara asked.

"Then you try until law works. There is a certain system on how these things work. We have to respect them. Without law Gotham would escalate into complete chaos." Jim lifted the paperback up as a sign to end the conversation.

Barbara finally rolled her eyes. Too young to understand, he said. She would show him, one day.

"Dad?" She asked.

"Yes?" Jim was still reading his paper.

"The teacher told us that the Arkham Asylum is about to open again."

"Apparently it is. Bruce Wayne is marketing very hard on that. The press is eating from his hand." Jim sounded disapproving but that happened anytime they talked about the press. Apparently it had caused a lot of troubles for him and for his job.

"Isn't it a good thing? Finally many of those who need help will get some." Barbara proposed.

"Ideally yes, but things rarely go as planned. I really do hope that some kind of mental institution will come to Gotham." Jim said. Barbara looked at the clock and realized she would be late soon.

"Bye dad. Have fun at work." Barbara finished her cereals, grabbed her back and headed to the streets of Gotham to catch her buss leaving his father to read in peace.


A/N: I know Barbara is supposed to be a bit older than she is now but I made a possible timeline and Barbara had to be aged down. She is still three years older than Dick but his Robin career starts earlier than twelve.