Title: Lucky Strike (2/2)
Prompt (#1): Shot
Word Count: 1,243 (this part)
Summary: (This chapter) A rookie first-responder to the crime scene that was Batman's one undoing muses over Gotham, its famous vigilante, and how he fits into it all.

A/N: This was supposed to be a little ironic bit to end Part 1. Needless to say I got a bit carried away (whoops!) This guy was solely created to serve up the dramatic irony. Oh, and he also adds a little cameo to another animated series. *hint hint*

Being new to Gotham's police force had its advantages, sure, (like still being alive) but Kip Anderson was beginning to believe he was destined to only see the disadvantages. Besides the obvious ones that came with Gotham's dubious reputation as a criminal hotspot and a law officer's nightmare, he was finding that very few on the force had the patience and understanding toward "newbies ".

Each one seemed possessed by their own demons, the scars of their chosen occupation not always visible on their skin. An almost funereal air seemed to hang over the GCPD headquarters, and it burdened his newly cultivated enthusiastic heart.

Now, despite his inexperience he was no greenhorn; he had graduated from Metropolis' police academy at the top of his class and was personally proud of that achievement. But while no officer he met had been unfairly cruel, the supposed good-natured teasing had lost its initial humorousness, at least to him anyway. Maybe his hometown was part of what made him an attractive target, as the bright and cheery Metropolis was the absolute polar opposite compared to the dark and brooding Gotham City.

Unfortunately for Kip, it seemed Metropolis' sunny attitudes had rubbed off on him. But Gotham's dark antithesis was what had attracted him in the first place and eventually brought him to stay despite the rumors that shrouded the city like a looming cloud. Gotham needed law and order, while Metropolis had all they could ever need in Superman. Even the supposedly invincible Batman could not be everywhere at once!

Regardless of his current woes, however, Kip had a job to do. The Commissioner himself had even given him passing pat on the shoulder as he was on his way to the scene, telling him how much he had appreciated the enthusiasm. So, nothing short of a catastrophe would erase his good mood on this night. Because, hey, who gets a compliment from Commissioner Gordon (of all people) on their first big assignment?

The call had been nothing new for those of the well-seasoned caliber of officer. Someone had seen lots of unsavory activity going on in some old warehouse by the waterfront. Big surprise there! The Commissioner had sent a small detachment of officers to evaluate the scene, Kip being one of them. They had soon learned to expect the unexpected with this city and its inhabitants, so the GCPD always erred on the side of caution and sent more than was really necessary. One never knew when the Joker or Two-Face would rear their ugly heads on the Gotham streets again...

But despite the others' general indifference toward the current assignment, Anderson was ready and rearing to go. A little apprehensive perhaps, as who knew what could happen, but the excitement towards his first real case on the force could not be completely hidden from his features.

The detachment had checked the perimeter in the beginning and, after finding nothing out of the ordinary, chose to investigate the slowly decaying interior. They had thought at one point that they heard some commotion along the side street, but a preliminary sweep rendered nothing but the pitch black, dank atmosphere of the alley. The Lieutenant then ordered them to fan out and search the building for any signs of trouble or evidence. Who knew when or where some mobster would decide to stash away his contraband for safe keeping…

A fellow officer named Mandy Keefer had become all but attached to Anderson's hip those past few weeks, taking every opportunity to needle him about his inexperience. Apparently, she found his newly-instated position amusing, if only to herself. It was no different on this night, but his pleasant mood kept Kip from becoming as off-put by her teasing as he usually was. She really was a nice girl, he despaired. He really could grow to like her if she would ever lay off...

After some time had passed since their arrival, Kip was beginning to think that his first case would be nothing of consequence. But it was when the two of them were investigated an open area in the great expanse of stacked and broken crates, scrap metal, and various other debris of a bygone era that he saw it.

At first he had written it off as a simple puddle, the leaking roof adding to the dank atmosphere of decay and abandonment that was beginning to give him the willies. The dim light of night allowed the shadows to cast their darkness over them, spotting the entire floor. It had caught his eye momentarily, but he quickly dismissed it and moved on. It was only when he had walked past a large metal pipe that snaked its way to the roof that the still-bright hue immediately caught his undivided attention. A lump caught heavily in his throat. Blood!

He stared stupidly at it for a moment, as though his own eyes were faking the dark, crimson smear that streaked across the grey metal. His gaze was drawn downward with the direction of the stain, and it was then that he shockingly realized his error. A crimson trail wound drunkenly across the floor, leaving a dashed line like those on a treasure map. Unlike the ones he had made as a child, however, the ink that had been used here was anything but innocent. Halfway across the line was another mark in the form of a larger puddle that appeared splattered. He followed the trail with his gaze until it rested on a wooden door across the building, rusty metal hinges groaning eerily against the cool evening breeze. Whoever it was had left through that door.

Suddenly, he heard crunching footsteps behind him and jumped as an elbow was obtrusively poked into his ribs.

"Find something? Lieutenant says we should head back…"

Anderson's eyes met Keefer's twinkling ones, only to see their deep brown depths sober at his expression. She frowned questioningly at his paled skin.

"Look at that," Anderson said, pointing at the crimson trail.

She frowned again, which seemed to him to be a look of inconvenience rather than genuine concern. Crouching on the ground, she tested the stain with a gloved fingertip, pulling back when the scarlet liquid came off to stain the black of her glove. She sat back on her heels for a moment, as if contemplating the situation, before straightening up with a purposeful shrug of the shoulders.

"Oh it's probably nothing. Some animal probably dragged something into the building…"

Anderson started.

"All this blood, Keefer? I don't think so!"

A call came from behind them, indicating that the detachment was gathering together to head back to headquarters. Engines came to life with muted roars, the blue and red lights ceasing their blinding flashes.

"Well whose do you think it is then? Batman's?" she quipped, raising a quizzical eyebrow in his direction. "Don't worry, rookie, we checked the entire place… Whoever it was, they're not here anymore."

As he reluctantly followed her retreating figure back to the police vehicles, he mused that maybe he was as green as they said. After all, Mandy had years of quality experience to draw from. If it really was something to be concerned about, she would know. In time, he figured to himself, he would learn these things too. She did have a good point on one particular aspect of Gotham, though.

"Batman bleeds? Yeah- right!"

Note: I am actually serious about prompt suggestions... I haven't really figured out the next three myself, so if you'd like to see something in particular, don't be shy!