Darker Nights
Monday, September 21st, 02:35
Cathedral bell towers pierced the clouded sky. Two gargoyles kneeled on the front ledge at their base, standing watch over the sinners of East end. One dark figure pulled the cape tighter against the cold wind.
"Go home." Suggested the other statue.
The caped figure neither moved nor spoke.
"You haven't made a sound all night and you're not trying to prove you still have the fight it in you." Nightwing continued. "You haven't had an hour of uninterrupted sleep since-" He swallowed. "My room is next to yours, Bruce, I've heard the noise." He didn't say 'cries', Wayne didn't need to feel humiliated right then. "I'm surprised you function at all."
Bruce looked away. "I'm not quitting." He whispered before jumping into the shadow depth.
Not long into his patrol, a whimpery plea drew his attention to a seedy alley. A local pimp was trying to get more than protection money from one of Catwoman's charges.
The Bat lunged himself at the man, knocking him to the floor. But when he got up the familiar shift of perception didn't happen, he wasn't focused on the now. The blows kept coming and though he could see them, there was nothing the dark knight could do about them.
Reflexively he pulled out an electric 'rang, blocking a punch that would have been his last and shocking the attacker to unconsciousness in the process.
Too close.
The Bat locked eyes with the all too young girl. "Catwoman still out of town?"
She nodded.
Damn it, Selina, where are you?
"There's a free clinic in the Narrows run by Dr Tompkins. She'll have the Wayne Foundation take care of your situation."
"Leslie knows Wayne?" The girl was critical of the news. "Guess the guy aint a total jerk."
"You'd be surprised." The dark knight replied while cuffing the pimp. "You can press charges but a vigilante testimony is void." He said apologetically.
She returned his gaze with a suddenly determined stare. "A girl and a minor against an adult man with a record. I'll jail the bastard."
Two exchanged nods of agreement, a defiance in face of hopelessness only the most jaded of Gothamites understood. Parting without goodbye, the Bat called it a night. He knew the city would be the end of him, but not just yet.
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