Disclaimer: Batman and all associated characters, from either the comic books or the movies do not belong to me. However the story and some related characters are original and mine.
A\N: thank you to all reviewers. I honestly read each and every review and take from it what I can. CC is greatly appreciated as are suggestions. I like to hear what YOU the reader think may happen, or what you may want to happen. I also do like to include ideas from readers (if they're practical) right into my story, so please… suggest!!
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I quit my job.
I quit school.
And I gave my sup a month's notice that I was quote on quote "getting the hell outta his would be condemned apartment building". He gave me the finger, yelled some choice words at me and slammed the door in my face. I was off to a good start.
It wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be to quit school. To be honest it didn't really feel like I was quitting more putting my scholarly life on hold in order to pursue other things. My academic advisor asked me if I'd consider talking to the resident physiologist , I politely declined. He said he didn't understand how a student with my devotion and aptitude in my studies would give up when I was so close to achieving the pinnacle of blah blah blah. I practically ran out of his office.
With the money I was reimbursed from dropping out of school, I used towards the first and last's month rent on a tiny one room apartment on the "safer" side of Gotham. It was clean, it was classy and it was damn expensive. It was a good thing that I had a little stash of cash in the bank, my savings would keep me comfortable for at least six months.
I know this all might seem like a complete inversion of what I was thinking when I began my story. But it's important that you understand that night when I was attacked outside of my apartment, it made me realise that it's not right to be scared, to fear walking home in a city that was once safe. I remember when I was child my father and I would walk the neighbourhood block, waving and smiling to other people. Now, people knew better than to come out at night. It wasn't fair, that we the citizens of Gotham now lived in fear, and the fact that so many of us were willing to accept this fear as normality just showed how many of us were truly cowards. Gotham was once our city and I fed up with watching as it was destroyed by the corrupt and wicked.
So I decided to do something to help the only way I knew how to. I became a Gotham city police officer. Now, now relax, I'll explain. After the recent events in Gotham it was basically hanging on the edges, struggling to compose it's self on the eve of such tragedy. The man responsible, or as I like to refer to him, the nut job, known as the Joker reeked havoc and near destruction to the city. He alone caused it's citizen to be on the verge of cracking giving in to his lunatics notions. But something held us together, ensured that we prevailed. Most say, it was because of men like Harvey Dent and some would even say it was Batman but I believe it was Gotham's citizens.
Anyway, because of the Joker's antics a great many lost their lives, including many from the city's police department. It's recent appointed Commissioner, declared that anyone fit, and willing would be allowed to apply for appointment on the police force, and would be able to fast track through the training and schooling and receive a badge within months. I honestly thought the commissioner was off his rocker, offering an open invitation to the city. Especially considering the amount of crooked people in the city who would have must likely taken advantage of an opportunity like this, but Commissioner Gordon was ready. I had heard from people that he had turned away nearly 95 percent of all applicants, which made me a little apprehensive about applying, I doubted if my motives were enough to secure me a position, if the Commission would think I was genuine. But I sucked it up, and told myself it was now or never.
I don't like to brag but let's be honest, I was probably the highest qualified applicant the force had seen in years, so I didn't really have trouble securing an interview with the Commissioner. The tests were pretty basic, asking me hypothetical questions like what would you do in this situation or what would you do if were offered money? Easy stuff to deduce if I was likely to become a thief or crack under pressure or if I was just a plain crazy person. I passed, and was asked to meet with Gordon that day. I wasn't nervous until he took me into his office, and regarding me with an air of experience that made him wish beyond his years.
"Why do you want to me a cop?"
No hello, no nice to meet you, he just got right down to the bottom line.
"Why'd you want to be a cop?" I shot back.
He took a moment, watching me. "If you're going to waste my time Ms-"
"Because I'm done being afraid, and I'm done depending on someone else to save this damn city. I think it's time for us, the citizens to stand up. To fight back, to say, this is our city and it's not going to be run by the criminals anymore. I'm here today, Commissioner Gordon because I want to make a difference. And you can laugh, you can think that's corny! But one day I want to be able to walk down the street for an evening stroll and not fear the repercussions for something that should be a carefree pastime." I sat back in my chair and I'm convinced I saw that man smirk, but he covered it up quickly taking a long sip of his coffee.
"I've looked at your application, you sure you don't want to be a politician?" To which I shook my head. He continued, "Listen, you could do more with your life kid. This job, it isn't safe. My officers go out, each and every day not sure if they'll come home. These streets are like a battlefield. When you sign up for this, you risk your life every moment you wear this badge." He tapped his badge that sat on the corner of his desk, probably for effect. I felt a pang of tenderness for him, he's seen a lot death lately, and it's showed on his weathered features.
I nodded. "I understand that, but with all due respect I risk my life every time I walk out my door. You can't deny that's how bad our streets are. I don't want to live in fear, and more importantly I don't want others to have to live in fear. But some people aren't as brave as others. Some won't stand up, but I'm someone who will. And to be frank I don't think you have a lot of sincere volunteers right now. Can you really afford to turn away someone who wants to be here?"
He cleared his throat and took another sip of his coffee. "You start basic training tomorrow, eight am sharp."
"Thank you!" I stood.
He waved me off, "Don't thank me…"
I didn't sleep much that night. I don't know if I was nervous, or excited, but I spent the majority of that night, looking out my window, watching as the cars passed by. I saw the sun rise, and I knew it was a new beginning. It might not have been the beginning I'd thought I'd wanted. But I knew in my heart that this was what I was meant to do. I was meant to save Gotham… well maybe that's a little too dramatic. I knew my purpose was to help assist in the emancipation of my city. And never in my life had I been so sure that I was now on the right path. This is when my life really began…
