((I'm sorry for the long wait for this that read this story before, I got busy and worked on other things and I didn't like how long I made the chapters. I decided to split it up and will be updating it more. My writing has gone better, so I apologize for any errors that chapter one, two, and three contain.

(DISCLAIMERS, I do not own Batman or any of the characters in this story, nor the city it takes place in. All rights of the characters and the city belong to DC and Warner Brothers. Batman was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. I do not profit off of this story in any way

Warning: This story is mostly dark, it contains action and violence and strong language, I did not make it rated M due to the fact I feel it doesn't push too far into that direction.

This story was made for fans of Batman, and people who know little about I him. I hope that you all enjoy.

Also I apologize for any errors in this story, I have taken inspiration from the Year One Comics, Arkham, and telltale as well as many other sources

This Story is also available on wattpad and AO3)

Chapter 1: Shadows in The Night

Gotham City, a city ruled by crime and terror, corrupt cops, mob bosses, thieves, murderers, drug dealers, and more fill the streets and make Gotham the city it is, but tonight that change. Tonight, Gotham's criminals experience fear, the same fear that Gotham's citizen's experience day in and day out.

Gotham's dock's, the city and mob's greatest source of income Mayor Hill, Carmine Falcone, and Police Commissioner Loeb all working together, Hill and Loeb keeping the police away, meanwhile Falcone and his men sell drugs, guns, and anything else useful for profit. For years their pact has gone on, no one capable or able to stop it without Falcone, Loeb, or Hill taking action. Ten men patrolled Gotham's dock's, each one armed with an assault rifle in their hands, a pistol at their side, and knives strapped in their holsters, they were all on high alert for weeks now sightings of The Bat have been reported, men with broken bones, their bodies paralyzed in fear, the police unable to track him down, but one thing is known only criminals are in danger.

"This Batguy, do you think he's real? I mean the boss has been warning us about some dude going by Penguin and another man named Black Mask so it wouldn't surprise me if some Bat freak was next." One man said, a small chuckle coming from him as his eyes scanned the area in front of him, another man looking over at him and rolling his eyes. "If this Bat-person is real, there's gonna be a huge bounty on him, maybe if he does show up we can put a bullet in him and have Falcone pay us more than ever!" The other guy said, joy in his voice about the thought of a pay raise, three others laughing in joy at the excitement and thought.

On the rooftop above, a figure cloaked in black sat perched, his eyes glaring down watching and waiting, the suit had long black ears, the cowl and cape were black while the rest except for the gloves, bat logo, and boots were a dark grey. "So, if I may ask Master Bruce do you have a plan in mind?" A voice asked from his communicator, the man's hand slowly going up as he tapped his earpiece. "You should know by now Alfred, I always do." He replied with a slight smirk before glaring down once more as one man began to walk towards the warehouse he was on top of. "Should I alert detective Gordon?" Alfred asked as Bruce slowly stood up, his shadow looming over the men as his eyes stared down at the goon below him. "Call an ambulance first, then alert Gordon," Bruce replied, the man below slowly looking up as he heard a voice to see the Batman standing above him. "O-oh g-" before he could finish the vigilante had dropped down taking him out silently before taking cover behind one of the van's, Bruce quietly placing a tracker under the van. "Time to make them experience fear," Bruce said quietly tapping a button on his utility belt, two drones flying in the sky and circling the area, one of the drone's flying past two of the men causing them to turn as Bruce slowly pulled out two batarangs jumping from his cover as he threw both of the batarangs forward, one hitting and lodging into the back of one's knee, the other hitting one's collarbone and causing him to fall to the floor in pain. "HELP!" One of them cried out in pain, the seven other men that are left rushing over as Bruce took cover behind a few crates.

"Who did this?" One asked as he bent down going to remove one of the Batarang's, blood covering both as the two men cried in pain. "I-It w-was him, t-the b-bat, o-oh g-god he's going to kill us." One replied crying in fear and pain tears streaming from his face as the caped crusader slowly stood up from his hiding point firing his grappling hook onto a nearby lamppost while they were distracted as he grappled forward watching them for a moment. "W-who is this guy?" One man asked slowly looking around as he held his gun at the ready. "I'M SOMEONE YOU SHOULD FEAR!" Batman replied, his voice deep and echoing throughout Gotham's night, a small pellet like object landing in between the men as they all turned, smoke starting to flow from it as the men opened fire.

Within moment's Bruce lunged forward into the smoke, the bullets missing him as he kicked one of the men to the ground. "OH GOD, DON'T KILL ME!" One of the men yelled out, the other's turning to try and find where the scream came from before the sound of a snap caused them all to stumble back as the man's arm was broken. "RUN!" Another yelled, three men all running towards the nearby van, the other three running as far away as possible just trying to escape. "There's nowhere you can hide!" Bruce yelled out sending two batarangs flying into the back of one man's knees as he fell forward in pain unable to move. "HELP!" He yelled out as the other two continued running towards the van, Bruce firing his batclaw into one of them as it grabbed a hold of him and Bruce quickly pulled him forward as he screamed before disappearing in the smoke as Bruce broke his arm before knocking him out.

"Send the Batmobile," Bruce ordered as the smoke cleared, the three other men that were trying to escape running towards the road before the sound of an engine caused them all to stop and turn, bright lights shining from an alleyway as the Batmobile drove forward hitting the three of them and causing them to all go flying backward. "Those three are taken care of, it will take them a lot longer to recover I'm sure," Alfred said a bit displeased as Bruce turned watching as the last man got into the van and began to drive away. "Good, now time I find Falcone," Bruce said activating the tracker he had hidden under the van as he made his way into the warehouse where the cities drugs and guns were hidden, his eyes scanning the room as he heard the sound of sirens in the distance. "Loeb or Falcone will probably have someone mess up the transport of the guns and drugs. This could be a good chance to finally nail them both." Bruce said for a moment to himself slowly crouching down to place a tracker on one of the craters before quickly making his way out of the warehouse grappling onto a rooftop nearby as Gordon and the rest of the GCPD soon arrived, Gordon slowly getting out of his car as he sighed.

"Dammit, he already got away," Jim said for a moment with a slight sigh as his partner detective Harvey Bullock slowly looked over for a moment. "Hey, at least he didn't break someone's neck," Harvey said approaching one of the men who was shaking and sweating like a dog, Harvey slowly backing up as he saw the man. "But I guess this isn't much better." He said as Jim fixed his glasses for a moment. "I don't know who's side he's on sometimes." He said with a sigh before slowly walking off and behind the nearby warehouse as he took out a box of cigarettes slowly opening it for a moment to take one out before pulling out his lighter and lighting it. "Seems like Gotham is just getting more violent every day." He said to himself slowly closing his eyes for a moment, unaware that Batman had dropped down behind him at the exact moment.

"I want to change that Jim," Bruce said standing behind him, Gordon slowly reaching for his gun before hearing Batman's voice, his hand resting on it for a moment before he slowly moved his hand away and turned to look at the caped hero. "It'd help if you stopped scaring every criminal you meet half to death," He replied, the vigilante looking down at him for a moment. "I do what I have to Jim, I'm on your side, we need to work together in order to take down Hill, Loeb, and Falcone." Bruce retorted staring at him as Gordon slowly dropped his cigarette putting it out with his foot as he sighed looking down for a moment. "I get that, you're on the side of good, you want to do good, I don't fully agree with it, but I do understand it." He said slowly turning around for a moment. "I'm glad you understand Jim, once Falcone and the rest are behind bars, I'm sure that you and the rest of the force can keep the city and everyone safe without me." He replied, Jim, fixing his glasses for a moment. "Glad you think that you know it's funny when I first arrived in Gotham years ago I thought this city would never get better, I don't really like to admit it but when you showed up criminal's started going into hiding, they were scared, maybe there is some good you're doing." He said slowly looking back, the man, however, had already vanished, Gordon letting out a small laugh for a moment. "I really hope he doesn't do this vanishing act often." He said before walking back towards the crime scene.

Gordon slowly arrived back at the crime scene, his eyes scanning everything nearby as Loeb slowly arrived getting out of his car, a look of anger on his face as he clenched his fists. "This vigilante problem is getting out of hand." He said slowly as he approached the crime scene, his eyes watching as Falcones' men were taken into multiple ambulances as Loeb sighed before slowly spotting Jim in the corner of his eye, his teeth clenching as he slowly approached him. "Gordon, you and Bullock need to find this damn vigilante and arrest him, he's been causing trouble for too long," Loeb said as Jim slowly looked at him, he wanted to argue and say that the man was trying to do good but then again was he really? "W-We will deal with him, I don't know how or when but we will deal with it," Gordon said as Loeb walked past him before slowly taking out his phone and placing a call to who Gordon could only assume was Falcone. "Harvey, we need to get back to the GCPD, Loeb wants our top priority right now to be The Batman," Gordon said as Bullock sighed crossing his arms for a moment. "Fine, but you're driving." He said as the two slowly got into Gordon's car heading towards the station.

On the other side of Gotham, the streetlights flickered on and off as the engine of the Batmobile filled the night street as The Caped Crusader sped through the streets. "Alfred, I'm on my way to the Batcave," Bruce said as he quickly turned to the right speeding into an alleyway that he would come out from the other end on. "Alright sir, I have the entrance ready for when you arrive, I do hope you don't plan on staying up all night again, the fundraiser is tomorrow and I believe Mr. Dent and a lot of others needed you there," Alfred said as Bruce slammed his foot on the gas pedal, his hand pulling down a lever as the Batmobile quickly sped up as he drove towards a run-down warehouse outside of Wayne Manor, his hand turning towards a keypad as he pressed a combination of buttons, the garage of the warehouse slowly opening as the Batmobile drove inside before coming to a screeching halt as the garage door slowly closed. "Alfred, activate the elevator," Bruce said quietly as the floor below Bruce slowly began to decent downwards as he entered a large cave underground that sat right below the warehouse and Wayne Manor, an elevator shaft and stairwell allowed for quick access into the cave and back into the large mansion, the cave had multiple walkways and sections, one large section sat right in front of the elevator, a large computer with multiple monitors and tables were placed there, another section held the Batmobile for it to be parked at, another held suits, and then several more sections were empty, it was elaborate and thankfully off the books, nobody suspected anything thankfully about it as well.

Once the elevator had finished, Bruce slowly drove forward and off of it as the elevator then slowly rose back up. Soon the Batmobile came to a stop once more as the engine slowly turned off, the two bright headlights fading off as the top of the vehicle slowly lifted upwards as Bruce slowly rose to his feet before jumping out of the vehicle. "Welcome back Sir, I assume the night went mostly well," A British voice said, as Bruce turned to look at his Butler Alfred a small smile on the man's face, the man wore a black suit, and a pair of glasses, his hair was white and neat, and his eyes watched as Bruce slowly walked forward, his hands grabbing the mask part of his suit as he pressed two buttons on the side which would then unlock the mask and allow it to easily come off as he then pulled it off and held it in his hands. "Compared to how most of my nights usually go Al, I'd say it's one of the better ones," Bruce said with a small smile, which was rare for him and calmed Alfred down slightly. "Well then sir, I do hope you know that tomorrow night is the fundraiser, Mr. Dent, Gordon, Loeb, and so many more people will be there, please do try and be on your best behavior," Alfred said as Bruce let out a small chuckle as he slowly approached the suit stand. "I will Al, you head back up, I'll be there in a minute," Bruce said as Alfred slowly nodded before heading upstairs.

The sound of an elevator followed by the movement of a bookshelf filled the large manor, Alfred's head turned slightly as Bruce walked out of the elevator as the bookshelf closed behind him to cover the wall where the elevator was. "There's, leftovers in the fridge sir, Lucius also sent me an email saying he would like to speak with you tomorrow before the fundraiser, and I also took the liberty of finishing your schedule for the week," Alfred said as he slowly handed Bruce a notepad filled with times, meetings, dates, names, and more. "Thank you, Alfred, I'll look over it, you should go upstairs and head to bed or something, I'll be fine by myself for a bit," Bruce said as he looked up and at Alfred, a small smile crossing over the butler's face as he slowly nodded. "If you insist sir, I do hope you plan on getting some rest as well," Alfred said as he slowly turned to head upstairs as Bruce sat the notepad down for a moment as he then would make his meal before heading to bed as well.