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I am the Bat

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"I know what you did."

An armoured boot paused on a window pane. The building around them was under construction. Scaffolding clung all around like a cage, and plastic sheeting blew as the Gotham wind whistled through the hollow beams. Slowly, the black cape revolved and Batman spoke, his voice steady and without regret:

"Jim, I had to."

His partner shrunk a little, and the gun in his hand wavered as Batman turned to disappear in shadow.

"No. Stop!"

Gordan's cry rung — echoing off the concrete blocks — and Batman heard the click of the gun as it was raised dead centre of his back. A rookie mistake. Bullets wouldn't penetrate his armour. Not even at such close range. Gordan took a step forward, his glasses flashing with the city's light:

"I can't forgive you and I won't let you go!"

The timbre in Batman's voice changed as amusement overshadowed irritation, "you won't let me go?"

"You heard me." Gordan raised the gun a little higher so the line of sight was now just above his neck. "Why did you do it?"

Batman slid his hands from the open window and turned to face Gordan. "For the same reason I always do it. To protect Gotham."

"The murder of an innocent boy!"

"He was neither a boy nor innocent, Jim. What kind of monster would I be if I allowed another Joe Chill to live? Good families, these are Gotham's citizens…not scum like Chill."

Gordan froze. Batman wasn't sure if he had a comeback this time. Perhaps the old man was beginning to see the justice of it like he had done? But the moustached mouth quivered before bellowing, "that ain't your call to make!"

"Yes, it is, Jim," Batman assured. His boots twisted the dust as he began to pace. The gun followed and Batman spoke, the righteousness in his voice dark and melodic, "I am the night, Jim."

"You stay where you are!"

The armoured figure crept closer. "I am vengeance. I am judgement. I am —."

"Freeze God damn you or I will shoot!"

"— justice. I am The Bat!"

Like a snake strike, he snatched the gun up. The room flared bright like a firework — the bang so loud that Gordan shut his eyes. Seizing opportunity, he took Jim by the throat and began choking him. The old man fought, kicking helplessly at his own legs stiff as steel. He brought the man closer to his face. Half-breaths spluttered from the swelling lips, drool dribbling over his gloved hands. A dog forced underwater. That's what it sounded like. Glasses slid down the nose and suddenly he saw Alfred. A roar escaped him and he crushed the glass into the man's cheeks with his thumbs, yanking the gasping face towards his own where he buried teeth deep in the sweaty neck, biting hard. There was a dreadful cry, then a wetness. An iron tang pumped over his tongue and down his throat…

x

Bruce shot up — panting hard. His gasps of air sounded like a man drowning. He hit the light switch and stared down. His chest was covered in blood. It was dripping down from inside his mouth. He must have bitten something. Sweat coated his fingers as he ran them through his hair. He was sick of these dreams. Kicking the tangle of sheets away, he stumbled into his private bathroom where he spat a small piece of cheek in the sink, turning his head to the tap and rinsing and spitting till the water ran almost clear. His spine shook a little with adrenalin. Crashing back into bed, he closed his eyes without hitting the lights. Maybe he went to sleep, maybe he didn't, but moments later his phone buzzed, vibrating his nightstand like a clown rattling a tin can.

A down pillow muffled Bruce's scream, and he turned to snatch the phone:

"Regina."

"Did you read what I sent you?"

"Most of it."

"This is serious, Bruce." Her voice was shrill. "The future of Wayne Enterprises may be in jeopardy. I think it's about time its CEO stepped up to the plate!"

"Do you think I should have waffles or oatmeal this morning?" he asked. "What would you eat in a crisis?"

Regina couldn't possibly have missed the sarcasm in his voice, and Bruce could tell she was holding her tongue at the other end of the line. She knew better than to match his petulance. After some collected breaths she managed to croak, "just be there."

"Oh, c'mon! Like you and the board are going to let me say anything! Can I ask questions, huh, Regina? Or am I just supposed to sit there looking pretty like the right kind of Wayne? — remind them of the good old days of the company — but not too much mind — we can't have them reminded too much of Thomas in case they think I am a criminal too, or maybe I am, Regina. Maybe I am the devil!"

She waited till he had finished panting like a man in a fistfight. His harsh breaths slowed to crackle down the phone. "Are you done?"

"Maybe, I don't know…" he murmured, his voice now weary.

"Good. Now be there!"

She had hung up and Bruce let himself fall back on the bed, arms outstretched like he was being crucified. A giggle escaped the corner of his mouth, his lip swollen from where he'd bit it. Bruce wondered if he should take a leaf out of John's book and smear a lipstick over them — wear a pair of fishnets, high heels and strut into Wayne Enterprises like a floozy. The master bedroom suddenly chimed with laughter, stopping only when Bruce turned to peer at the book resting on his dresser. His hawk-eyes may not have been able to see the words, but they were on the lips of every Gotham citizen, spoken so often their syllables had imprinted on his brain in bitter tenacity:

'THE WAYNE ASYLUM'

This book was the albatross around his neck, dragging him down into deep waters. It threatened his reputation, his company, his finance…

A tarnished reputation he had proved he could live with, but without money — serious money — Batman couldn't exist.

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EPISODE ONE:

WHEN LEGENDS DIE

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NOTE: Hypothetical 'Season Three' where Bruce follows the 'Vigilante Route', chooses 'Batman over Alfred', makes 'Tiffany an Agent', and stays 'Loyal to Harvey' in the previous game. Other choices are implied and referred to throughout the story.

I've planned for 5 episodes each comprised of 10 chapters of varying length. I plan to upload a chapter per weekend day (Sat plus Sun) until I run out!

Episode List:
Ep 1 - When Legends Die (complete)
Ep 2 - A Kingdom of Fear (complete)
Ep 3 - Backstitch (half-done)
Ep 4 - Secrets Beneath (planned only)
Ep 5 - Shadow Over Eden (planned only)

...AND I've just noticed that 'Fanfiction Net' is full of adverts, so if you want a better reading experience head over to 'Archive of Our Own' or 'Wattpad' and search for me - SolemnFolly - there.

All the best and hope you enjoy!