Jim walked into the GCPD precinct. Commissioner Loeb had called a briefing of all the senior officers attached to the GCPD, meaning Jim actually got to visit the main precinct rather than the secondary one he ran down in Park Row, or 'Crime Alley' as it had been nicknamed following the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne.
"He's in a mood." Warned a tall, well built man with blonde hair, Lieutenant Flass "Apparently, he wants to know how that psycho you took a shot at last night got away, and why he's not in Arkham."
"He'll know when I do!" Jim shot back with a small smirk "Don't worry, Flass, I'll catch him."
"Good." Flass said, grinning back "Otherwise, maybe one of us will get him."
They both knew what Flass was talking about. Jim might have an itchy trigger finger at times, but he was one of the few cops who weren't crooked. If Flass or one of the several other GCPD officers who were on the take got hold of the vigilante that had chased down Zsasz, he'd probably find himself beaten into threatening people so as to re-enforce budget increases that suited Loeb.
Either way, Loeb didn't want that bat man that Jim had met caught. He wanted him on the streets, wanted him worrying crooks. After all, the man had been driving a tank and had avoided killing anyone; that showed a weakness that could be pressed.
Jim had seen several people pressed by Loeb and his people. Still, Jim wouldn't let that deter him.
He was going to find the bat man. Before Loeb.
...
Jim sat in the briefing, feeling bored. At the small table beside Jim's was Detective Essen, her long blonde hair tied up in a pony tail, whilst Flass was stood behind Loeb, a plump man in his late forties. Meanwhile, Officer Bullock was operating the slideshow projector for Loeb, going over the information.
"So, now that we've gone over what happened last night, it's time to go over our plan." Loeb said "Effective immediately, the secondary precinct is shut down."
"What?!" Jim roared as he stood up, the table in front of him nearly flipping "Commissioner, can I have a private word?"
"In a moment, Jim." Loeb said, smirking "In it's place will stand a new operation. This 'bat man' wants to use tanks? Well, we're deploying a special crimes task force with one purpose, and one purpose only. They are going to bring in the bat man. Dead or alive. Leading this task force will be our own Captain Flass. Serving as his second in command will be Captain Gordon."
"Commissioner, outside." Jim said, half growling "Now."
Jim waited until he and Loeb were both outside before letting loose with what he had to say.
"What the hell?" Jim said "That's my command. Flass can join as my second in command, but there'll be rules. Any cops found on the take in my department are immediately disciplined, and he won't be exempt."
"That's why Arn' is getting the command." Loeb said, a small smile appearing on his face as he said "He's a team player."
"A team player?" Jim said, grabbing Loeb by the scruff of his neck "How about I show you a team player?"
"Relax, Jim." Loeb said, Jim slacking his grip, Loeb responding by straightening his suit "I'm willing to compromise. I'll offer you joint command. On a condition."
"Which is?" Jim asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"You and Arn' work the bat man case together." Loeb said "That is non-negotiable. As to who gets the office... I'll leave that to you lads."
Jim grimaced. The last person he wanted as a partner was Flass. However, if he didn't take it, he wouldn't get anywhere. In this case, he didn't have a choice.
"Deal." He said simply "But I get the office."
...
Bruce sat in the living room of Wayne Manor, the TV on. While reports of his car had made it into the media, along with some low res images taken on a camera phone from on top of a car park, there was nothing about him. He smirked to himself.
He'd not wanted to make the news. It was nice to see the compliments thrown at his driving on the report, but he didn't really give a crap. Apparently, the Police were suppressing reports of the Batman who'd fought them, and that suited him just fine.
He pressed a control on the remote, turning off the TV. As he did, he stood, turning towards the door. He'd been able to avoid using a sling for his bad arm by use of a mechanical brace Lucius had delivered that morning. It had been designed to help soldiers who'd been shot and were a long distance from base, but in a pinch, it'd keep Bruce's mobility pretty close to normal.
Only someone who knew what to look for, and was actively looking for it would realise he'd taken a bullet the night before. Someone like the man stood in the door way.
"Where do you think you're going?" Alfred asked, folding his arms over his chest "Doctor Thompkins prescribed at least two weeks bed rest!"
"And I'm prescribing some time down at the warehouse." Bruce said, going to move past Alfred and finding himself gripped by the bad shoulder, being brought to the floor in seconds "What the f-"
"If an old man like me can bring you down that easily, then you can take some time away from the scum of Gotham." Alfred said, releasing his grip "You proved your point last night. You also proved you're not ready."
"What are you talking about?" Bruce said, picking himself up and looking at his shoulder, noticing a small patch of blood on the blue shirt he wore "Great, it's seeping..."
"Which proves my point." Alfred said simply "Costume or not, you're a man, you're flesh and blood, just like the rest of us."
"No. I need to be more than that." Bruce said, pausing as he pressed a control on the wrist worn device Lucius had given him, wincing as the servos on the shoulder brace tightened, clamping down on the wound "As a man, I'm flesh and blood, I can be destroyed. I need to be something more. That's what Batman is."
"So it's Batman now, is it?" Alfred said, shaking his head as he said "Was that a suggestion of your friend, Mr. Allen's?"
"Barry doesn't even know I've started this yet." Bruce said, brushing past Alfred "He'd probably give me the same talk you are."
"He'd be right." Alfred said, following Bruce through the house as he headed towards to the front door "You've always had what could be called an obsessive personality, but this? This is something different, something worse."
Bruce paused. Could Alfred be right? Was he obsessed? No, that couldn't be it. He was doing this so that no one else would end up like he had. A victim. More than that, he was making sure he wasn't one anymore.
"I'm doing this for the good of the people of Gotham." Bruce said as he moved towards the door "I'll see you later."
...
Jim and Flass sat in Jim's car. They'd spent the morning going over the crime scene from the night before, and reviewing the footage from Jim's car's camera. The bat man had been methodical, calculating. More than that, though, he'd had more than one opening to take Zsasz down lethally, and refused to take it.
"Guy's a retard." Flass said, biting into the hotdog he held "Should've killed Flass when he had the chance."
"What about the fact that he took a bullet and barely flinched?" Jim asked "It was like he had some kind of, I don't know, body armour?"
"Or maybe he's a man of steel." Flass laughed "With Central City having a guy in red and yellow spandex running around as a blur, I can imagine weirder things than a bullet proof guy."
"Then why the tank?" Jim asked, shaking his head "No, that was a guy in a protective suit. He was too hesitant to be anything else."
"Then where'd he get it?" Flass said, shaking his head "Not like everyone has a tank lying around."
"No." Jim said, pausing "I can think of someone who might though."
...
Bruce pulled up to the front of Wayne Manor. He'd gone down to the warehouse, just to go over the damage to the suit and try to repair it. He'd managed a patch job, although it had left what looked like a scar on the material. However, it was something he'd seen in the notes from Blackgate that had got his attention.
He got out of the car and moved towards the front door. As he did, he noticed the black BMW round the side of the building. They had company.
"Alfred?" He called as he walked in "Do we have guests?"
"Yes you do, Mr. Wayne." Came a voice from the top of the stairs, Bruce looking up to see a tall man with blonde hair, Jim stood behind him "Or is it 'the bat man'?"
"Excuse me?" Bruce asked, faking an indignant tone "Sorry, I don't believe we've met, Mr..."
"Captain Arnold Flass." The man said, slowly walking down the stairs and squaring up to Bruce, before pushing him, Bruce biting his tongue to avoid screaming in pain as his injury was hit "You look pissed off man. Want to hit me?"
"Captain Gordon, I'd appreciate it if you and your assosciate left my home immediately." Bruce said, looking to Jim "Unless you came with a warrant, Jim?"
"We just wanted to ask some questions, Bruce." Jim replied "Last night, there was-"
"Some whack job with a tank, I saw it on the news." Bruce said "To answer your inevitable questions, no, it wasn't me and no my company hasn't lost any prototypes lately."
"Bullshit." Flass said, pushing Bruce again "Come on, bat boy. Make a move."
Bruce felt his fists clenching. As he did, there was a cough from the top of the stairs. Flass and Bruce looked up, seeing Alfred stood behind Jim. He straightened his jacket, making the outline of the gun holster in his jacket apparent.
"I believe Mr. Wayne asked you to leave." Alfred said to Flass "Feel free to come back if you can get a warrant. Otherwise, this is harassment and I do believe, as you're trespassing, and entered the house under false pretences, I'm within my rights to have you arrested. If you don't mind, Captain Gordon?"
"Tempting." Jim said, a small smile forming on his face "Come on, Flass, it's time we left. Sorry about this Bruce. Nice to see you, Alfred."
"Always a pleasure." Alfred said, slowly making his way down the stairs, holding a hand out to Flass "Captain."
"Whatever." Flass said, shaking his head "C'mon, Gordon."
"I think you've forgotten who calls the shots, Flass." Jim said, smirking "See you later, Bruce."
"See you." Bruce said simply, watching as Jim and Flass left, closing the door behind them, before Bruce turned to face Alfred "We need to talk."
"What is it, sir?" Alfred asked.
"The man who killed my parents got out today." Bruce said "Jack Napier, Joe Chill, whatever he wants to call himself. He's walking free."
"I see." Alfred said "What are you planning?"
"He's going to meet Batman." Bruce said, pausing before he said "I'm going to show him what he made. And then, I'm going to kill him."
...
So, here's the next chapter. We can see here what the angry young man that is Bruce Wayne thinks he's capable of, and to say Gordon and Flass have their eyes on him is an understatement. We'll just have to see where it goes. R&R, please, no flames. B.