Song: A Different World - Corpse Party: Blood Drive Music Extended
POV: Bruce Wayne/Batman.
While waiting for the police to arrive, as the rain keeps coming down, Batman tries to find out about his current location and whereabouts. What he found was intriguing, concerning, and worth pondering.
First, by of course looking in a nearby mirror.
Next, confirming through the usage of the mobile internet connection on his phone that this was definitely another reality.
How so?
There's no mention of any of the superheroes that Batman would be familiar with in his world- though it is confirmed that this is a world of superheroes - having its own metahumans or mutants or those with superpowers - terms such as Quirks or Espers as those of a primary example. Different neighborhood, similar and familiar setting.
There's no mention of a Justice League or Avengers, and any of the cities he knew - Gotham, Metropolis, Bludhaven, Central City, and others don't even exist. Looking at a web platform app - Suzuki Map, he was somewhere in a location called Beika, a special ward within Tokyo.
Searching the name: Shinichi Kudo, he would have over more than five hundred results. Looking at some articles and past news medium - while confirming the current year of this world is 2029 - Reiwa Era - Shinichi Kudo is a famous high school detective, who's father is a famous novelist and who's mother is a semi-retired actress, who lives somewhere in Beika Ward - No. 21 Second Block Street. Currently, he attends in Teitan High School, one of the top prestigious schools in the country. At least he knows where to stay and collect his thoughts for the time being.
Browsing through the pictures on his phone, some of those pictures had the girl that he saved in that picture. One of those had the girl, along with two people in the photo. Another high school student had black medium hair and indigo eyes. Both of the girls wore the same uniform, indicating that they go to the same school.
Looking through the contact numbers, there were names that he didn't recognize.
"You wouldn't mind if I ask for your wallet, umm...miss?" The man asked the woman, who was sitting in the one chair that was available in the garage.
"Umm, sure, Shinichi," The woman looked a little confused before taking her wallet for the man to take a look at. Though a concerning thought reverberated in his mind - this girl was a little too trusting of him - the situation with her getting potentially kidnapped aside. Even if she does know who he was - or rather, who Shinichi Kudo was, to hand over someone's wallet indicated a great level of trust. He would have to keep a close eye on this woman from now on.
Ooue Sayaka
Paulownia Academy High School
Class 1-1
Age: 16
At least he knows who this woman's name is. He recalled spotting this name in his contact list as well. And after looking at a few things, such as a couple of thousand yen, a card that had the words 'Radio Personality' - indicating occupation and 'Mysteries and Horrors', he would say. "Thank you," Returning the wallet to its rightful owner.
"Sayaka-san," The man asked, gently but formally. "Can I ask you something? What was the last thing you remember before coming here?"
"Umm," Sayaka scrunched her eyebrows a little. "Well, I did tell you this late afternoon that I would be doing my current program: Mysteries and Horrors. That's what I did for the rest of the evening, until closing time."
It matches. The man thought. So it was about an hour before 22:00. That leaves a large gap for how Kudo Shinichi - the current body that I'm in - and his whereabouts.
"What were you doing during the program?" He asked.
"Hmm? You mean that you didn't watch or listen to it, Shinichi?" Sayaka looked at him strangely.
Hmm. By that reaction, it appears that Shinichi Kudo is an avid listener to the program. I may need to browse all of its past videos, and review it up to the very beginning. He thought.
"I've been busy," A double meaning. It was general but vague, in relation to the present situation. It was also an understatement, as the switch between getting killed by Darkseid while shooting him, to getting into the teenage body of a high school detective and getting dumped in another reality felt like a major whiplash in tone.
"Hmm," It appears that Sayaka didn't like it, pouting a little while having a cry-cute expression, before her arms were crossed. "Well, since you saved me, I would forgive this slight error of yours. I know how busy you are with solving cases after all. Anyway, to explain what had happened, I had that special interview that I've been talking about and had announced in advance through my social media accounts. The one with the popular idol, Hoshino Ai, which is quite a joy to be a part of." She spoke with a proud face, before eventually looking at the man in confusion. "But wait a minute, shouldn't you know this, Shinichi? Seeing as she goes to the same high school as you do?"
Not a moment later, the man would begin to search for the name on his phone and found results.
Ai Hoshino.
A young woman with a beautiful face, a thin frame, and gradient-colored eyes, purple to pink and a six-pointed star in each of them.
An idol that is quite popular in Japan. Her occupations included being an actress, radio announcer, and fashion model. And she's currently attending Teitan High School - the same school where Shinichi Kudo goes too. Oddly, recalling the contact list he browsed, her name was a part of it. That meant that she would know him - as Shinichi Kudo.
"I...ahem, yes, just thought I'd ask for clarification and for the sake of hashing all of the details to the local authorities when they arrive," He said.
"Ah, I see," Sayaka understood. "Well, anyway, I was out of the station and decided to take a little walk before...well," She looks at the tied-up goons in the rain. "These guys just showed up out of nowhere and grabbed me. Then, well, you came along and took them down...and by the way, how did you do all of that?" She asked, inquiringly.
She must mean the way I took down these thugs. He thought. "I simply took time to practice martial arts," He replied.
"Really?" Sayaka looked interested. "You never seem the type though. You would either talk about Sherlock Holmes, detective work, and soccer. That's the three things I would list down when I did my interview with you back in middle school. Though I guess that seeing as Ran-chan is your childhood friend, you probably had to learn those at some point. Is there anything you really can't do?"
Saying thank you, he thought, a phrase that he once spoke with someone special, as he glanced at his left hand where his silver ring should have been - he was good at many things, except showing gratitude.
I hope that she's alright. He thought. Considering that - if I am dead because of Darkseid, if someone salvaged my body, it would probably be Clark who would be able to do it, and I'd probably be given a funeral, and still keeping my identity a secret. Bruce Wayne would be declared dead, following Omega Protocol 1988, in the event that Batman dies. I would trust Alfred to probably carry it out.
Despite his current predicament, he's more worried about the people who loved him back home.
Flashback
It was both of them, two people, two different worlds, seated on a bench. Within was a conversation - which happened in a dream, yet was a real encounter, and conversation that Bruce Wayne and Batman could not forget. One of few.
"You lost your parents, Bruce," Zauriel, an angel (*1), would say with a tone of encouragement. He did not refer to him as Batman, but simply by name. "But you've gained something far more. A family, who loves you even more, in spite of and past the trauma."
"But..." He said, looking at him with narrowed eyes, yet his ears were attuned. "It's because of the trauma that made up and defines who I am, it's because of it that I pushed on, that I could stop people from ever having to face that trauma, so that they could have faith...while I take all of its failings."
"Ah, faith," Zauriel mused at the word, yet had a contemplative gaze. "Faith, in my understanding, centers around the virtue of hope. Hope doesn't mean pure naivety, nor does it mean to feign ignorance, nor does it mean seeking salvation away from the hurt, it simply means that even in the darkness, there is always a light, and you, my friend, became that light for everyone who truly needed it."
"Not everyone," He countered, as he could simply recall one prominent example - of a man, a clown so broken that he refuses redemption and a chance to become better, even if someone like him offered a hand to help.
"Ah, yes," Zauriel understood with a saddened smile. "But such is beauty and the price of free will, and the capacity to choose one's own destiny and inevitability, for good or ill, and even this is hardly so simple as black and white."
"But isn't that how I'm suppose to see things when others couldn't or shouldn't?" He countered. "If I could not, what would be the point?"
"To make the world make sense - even despite the shades of grey clouds that cover the light, while retaining something of a darkness. I could liken it to the old black-and-white coloring footage that humanity used long before coloring and highlights were invented. The world often seems light and dark, black and white, bright and dim, and yet, in all of that, there seems to be a blending that provides its own unique quality," Zauriel spoke in contemplation. "What is evil? What is suffering? Two of the oldest questions in existence, often it is two of the common faults that are hurled to Our Father (*2), but even such a question - at times honest and at times accusing - lacks even the simplicity of an answer. It is a mystery beyond words, a language of the heart that spoke of groanings, to ultimately rise high above the common human condition, and to become something greater." Zauriel explained.
The angel looked at him with a smile. "That would be what you represented for your fellow man, Bruce. A creature of shadow, but a heart of compassion, borne from that same suffering and evil. Instead of consuming you, it allowed you to open yourself to newer paths, to bridge ahead and offer salvation to even those who reject it - and precisely it is those who truly need it."
Present Day
At the very least, seeing as he was still alive and not dead, he could have the opportunity to check in his world and go back. Seeing as this is a world of supers, and a world that borders and transitions the line between modern and futurism, it would not be hard to find ways to go back. The only problem is how to get them.
His thoughts would be interrupted once he heard the sounds of police sirens nearby. The authorities have arrived. Police officers who have sub-machine guns would come out of the vans and would begin to drag the tied-up criminals. Among the officers who came out from the cars, there was a man who was walking towards Batman and Sayaka.
He had dark skin, but had a little light, with black hair and brown eyes, wearing a dark grey coat and pants, with a light blue collar and dark blue necktie, holding a grey umbrella.
"Ah, Kudo-kun, Sayaka-chan," He spoke with a smile. "We've got your message. Thanks for notifying us about the Pumpkin Heads by the way."
"It's no problem, officer," Batman spoke as he put his hands to his pockets - strange, he thought, it almost felt natural for him - careful yet inquiring tone covered his voice. This officer probably knows Shinichi Kudo, but the problem is he wasn't Shinichi, as far as he knew. He didn't want to make that obvious of course and opted to keep up the act. "I have to ask a question. What are the current state of affairs and the current views of the Tokyo Police Department regarding the Pumpkin Heads?" He asked, noting the title of the thugs - the gang's name no doubt.
"Well, it's similar to what the higher-ups discussed about it in the past, something you probably know about by now, Kudou-kun. I'm not sure how productive that would be to repeat it."
"Nevertheless - and of course immediately after you take both of our statements - you can start to refresh my mind about these current issues. Perhaps there could be an insightful detail that we may have missed."
"I see," The man nodded in understanding. Batman noted that the man looked at him with trust - a similar sentiment that Sayaka had with him. The calling card did mention that Shinichi Kudo was a police consultant - at the young age of 16. This officer had probably worked with Shinichi Kudo in the past.
"Well then," The officer would draw out a notebook and pen. "I, Detective Takagi Wataru, would have to begin to ask for both of your statements, if you don't mind."
"Sayaka-san," Batman looks at Sayaka. "I believe that you should come first. After all, I simply became involved a little too late, hence I may be lacking in some details."
"Hmm, I understand," Sayaka nodded.
While Sayaka provided the same statement that she explained to him, he was looking around a bit - borrowing a little of the umbrella, which Detective Takagi offered. He inspected a bit of the alleyway, and that included the truck that was nearby, which belonged to these Pumpkin Heads. He would also browse information regarding the Pumpkin Heads on his cellphone.
He was right to guess that the Pumpkin Heads were some kind of gang, which emerged only recently, sometime before the school period had started, around the month of March. Many seem to be composed of all types of shades - delinquents, drop outs, young adults who lost or got fired for their jobs, and other misfits. They all seem to follow one leader, no real name, but an alias - Jack O'Lantern, the Revolutionist Idealist. How creative, he thought dryly and with no form of humor. It seems that the Pumpkin Heads are divided in a sense into different categories. Some are known for being common thugs and who's operations range from protection rackets - getting into fights with local Yakuza and other gangs, and selling weapons considered illegal for purchase. Others are, just like the punks that he took down earlier, in charge of kidnapping certain individuals. As Sayaka was the host of a radio host, he wondered who she could have made enemies with. On the surface, it didn't seem to be the case, as Sayaka was quite popular, and not one hate mail could ever be discerned against her.
But of course, appearances are deceptive. Even the most innocent person could make an unlikely enemy, either unconsciously or unintentionally. That was just the dark side of human nature. Someone would hate you, even if you didn't do anything wrong to them directly.
After Detective Takagi would ask for their statements, and of course, explain a little more about the situation with the Pumpkin Heads - presently, around the same night, there had been a recent police raid - not too far from here, with assistance from a few members belonging to a government organization called B.A.B.E.L. (*2) - that would end with the capture of a couple of Pumpkin Head members and were brought in for questioning.
"What leads have the police and B.A.B.E.L. found out because of the raid?" He asked.
Takagi offered the two a ride in his car to take them to their respective homes, which he accepted.
"We've found a stash of AG-57 Plasma Rifles - Military Grade - recently shipped from somewhere in Europe. It allowed the department heads to reevaluate their assessment regarding this new gang," the detective explained.
"The fact that they aren't just merely a gang, but a newly budding terrorist organization acting like gangs, with some connections internationally," The man finished while looking at his phone, browsing anything related to this group.
"That's right," The detective sighed while affirming. "One of their supply chains was discovered to be rooted in a discriminatory and violent group known as the Normal People." He spoke the last part with disdain and disgust.
Normal People. Searching the internet, they were a radical terrorist organization that essentially a generally anti-metahuman organization by nature, but for the most part It was reminiscent of a group back in his native reality - the Friends of Humanity, and other such groups. Their motivation was simple, but disturbing. This terrorist organization was noted to be responsible for at least a few killings of people who have been shown to have abilities. A nonsensical motive, essentially, even taking into account that there are other races besides humanity that exist in this world who all co-exist.
He in fact noticed one of the officers from earlier who looked humanoid by half while the other half had an arachnid body.
And yet, discriminatory organizations still exist regardless. Perhaps the metahuman population of this world is generally the easiest, relatively speaking, to discriminate or target, due to being the most recognizable. That seemed to be fallacious - if often irrational - logic that sounded too similar to how the mutants of his native reality were discriminated.
Different neighborhood, similar and familiar setting.
"Well, here we are, Sayaka-chan," The detective addressed the woman seated in the front of the car, stopping by a suburban house, of about two floors. Despite being an acclaimed radio personality, Sayaka seems to live in a humble and simple household.
"Ah, thank you, Detective Takagi," She spoke with a courteous smile. Batman would note that the way Sayaka interacts with Takagi and other people (the officers from earlier) seems to be different from how she interacts with him - or rather, Shinichi Kudo.
"I'll escort you home from here," Batman said with an encouraging smile.
"Hmm, thank you, Shinichi," Sayaka made a pure smile.
"And thank you for updating me of the facts, Detective Takagi," Batman said.
"Any time, Kudo-kun," the detective smiled. "It's always an honor, after all, you did bail us a lot more than few times."
That would of course relate to his status as a famous high school detective. Batman thought. Fame comes with its own ups and downs. His experience as the façade of a billionaire playboy proves it throughout the decades. He lets the people think what they wanted to think - no correction, no compromise. He hides underneath a camouflage, and it's not so different now, playing on an entirely new identity - who he's still not sure of regarding his current predicament.
What happened to the real Shinichi Kudo if Bruce Wayne - if Batman was now occupying him?
This was not even the very first time Batman experienced a body switch. He did switch bodies with Superman after all as one prominent example. But he did wonder about the young man's current status. Batman needed to consider possibilities - some of which he wouldn't like. Two. One of which is, the real Shinichi Kudo is dead, and Batman is somehow inhabiting a dead body. Odd, as there isn't any sign of decay, nor the stench commonly found in a human body, nor the appearance of any wounds whatsoever. The other was...he is Shinichi Kudo. But both theories have some holes to them. If Shinichi is dead, then why is he here occupying his body? If he really is Shinichi Kudo, then how come there is some kind of gap, a memory loss of a decade's worth of life?
Stepping out from the car with a contemplative frown - but still carried a gentle smile for accommodating the young girl, not wanting to scare her, head inside the gate. The rain had already calmed down, but it was still dark. The police car would eventually leave after dropping the two off. If Batman wanted to contact Detective Takagi again, he would, as he did had his phone number, when he recalled the contact list.
As Sayaka rang the doorbell, a woman who resembled an adult version of Sayaka, but with black hair and had a Hello Kity hairclip, opened the door and looked worried.
"Where the heck have you been, young lady?" She chided, before realizing something. "Oh, Kudo-kun?"
"I'm sorry, okaa-san, but umm," Sayaka looked contrite. "I got...uhh...kidnapped?"
"Kidnapped?!" The mother exclaims, her eyes threatening to bulge.
"But it's fine! Shinichi saved me. He just happened to be passing by and saw me getting dragged into an alleyway," Sayaka clarified.
"Are you hurt anywhere?! Did you get assaulted?! Where are those punks who would do that to my precious little daughter, Kudo-kun?!" The mother sported a fiery yet worried look, making Sayaka feel like sweatdropping.
"They've been dealt with accordingly and had been handed over to the proper authorities, Sayaka-chan's okaa-san," Batman spoke the truth. "Detective Takagi, one of my acquaintances in the police force, had offered to take us home."
"Ah, I see," Sayaka's mother looked a little relieved, before embracing her daughter. "I'm glad...that you're alright."
"Well," Batman coughed a bit, drawing both of their attention. "I should get going. My home isn't far from here after all and it's getting late."
"Ah, but Kudo-kun," Sayaka's mother would look at him with concern. "You could at least eat dinner before you go. I've made some curry and fish."
Normally, Batman would reject such an offer, but for one, he needed to find out more about this world. Interactions with the locals of this reality would help for a start. And of course, getting to know Sayaka is one of his priorities, being one of the people who seem to know Shinichi Kudo - even to the point of unwavering trust - a past history.
"I would be happy and honored to accept the offer," He smiled.
So he did. It was just a quick round of dinner, and some casual talk that related to what had happened last night. The news was heard echoing from the television set, relating to the recent raid that the police and B.A.B.E.L. had conducted. From what he understood, Sayaka was an only child, no siblings. Her father was mostly at work, except on certain weekdays, as a simple salaryman under the employ of one of the branches of one of the wealthiest families of Japan - the Suzuki Financial Group - that deals with handling and organizing finances.
The Ooue Family, from his perspective, is a humble yet well to do middle class family.
He also learned a bit about Sayaka's radio show. Sometimes, Sayaka would interview a few people who are well-versed in the supernatural. Her friend, who Batman saw in one of the pictures of his phone's gallery, would be one of them. Naho Saenoki was the name, the one with the black medium hair and red glasses from the photo. She was what one could call an occult detective, paranormal investigator, and hunter, who had dealt with a few incidents that are related to evil spirits and restless spirits of the dead, some of which Shinichi Kudo had been involved in.
As it turns out, Beika happens to be a hotbed of supernatural activity.
So I have to worry about malevolent spirits and spirits from beyond the grave on top of common criminals. He thought dryly. It wasn't like the supernatural was surprising to him. He was the one who started Justice League Dark after all (*4). Not to mention, he did deal with the supernatural even during his Pre-Justice League/Early Batman days - Year One before the Joker came along by Year Two. He recalled dealing with a vampire case in Year One as one example (*5).
I usually let Zanna (*6) be the one to personally handle cases involving the supernatural, but she's not here, he thought fondly yet sadly. Instinctively he looked towards his vacant left ring finger that should have contained a silver ring.
Till death do us part. He thought grimly, as he still recalled the painful yet quick death he received. It almost felt like slow motion, like all of his life flashed before his own eyes.
"Once again, I appreciated the dinner, Sayaka-san's okaa-san," The man smiled.
"Oh, it's no bother," Sayaka's mother spoke with a cheerful yet grateful smile. "I in fact wanted to thank you, Kudo-kun. If it weren't for you, my daughter wouldn't have come home. A simple meal to the stomach after a long night should be adequate as payment, no?"
"Umm," Sayaka smiled a little, if a little bashful and slightly blushing. "Good night, Shinichi. And again, thank you for rescuing me."
The man offered a comforting smile. "Good night, Sayaka-san." He said, while leaving for the gate, with the mother-daughter pair looking on.
The mansion of Shinichi Kudo was not far from here. Only a few walks away.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Checking his phone, the name "Kudo Yukiko" appears.
Shinichi Kudo's mother. He thought grimly.
He felt a little conflicted, especially with regards to a.) His two theories relating to his condition, and b.) The fact that he's going to have to interact with someone who is at the same time both a stranger and a parent. If he's not Shinichi Kudo, it felt like stealing someone's identity - including familial connections, something Batman does not want, and would want to do everything to find him. If he is, well, that only complicates things - and the fact that he has no actual memory of Shinichi Kudo, which makes him lean a little to "I'm not Shinichi Kudo" a bit. Maybe he was just hopeful that he isn't. The reincarnation theory isn't exactly appealing personally. Without much data to go on to confirm either of these theories, he's simply going blind - at least in terms of social interaction.
"Hi~! Shin-chan~!" When he entered the call, he could hear a cheerful, bubbly voice. "How's my son doing right now?"
Batman was silent while walking towards his house. His heart felt, off - troubled due to the strangeness of it. He rationalized - or so he thinks - that this woman was the mother of someone he had inadvertently took one's own identity of. It took a few moments of silence, before the mother eventually spoke.
"Are? Shin-chan? You there? It's me, okaa-san? You're not trolling me with the silent treatment are you?" She asked.
"Umm...no, of course not, okaa-san," Batman spoke, carefully yet with a cover of positivity and formality. "What made you decide to call?"
"What? A mother can't call her son to find out what's he currently doing?" She asked. Batman probably imagined her eyebrow raising as she spoke.
"No, not that, just...wondering," Batman asks, turning a little to the right.
"Well, thought to tell you that your father and I had just gotten back to Los Angeles," Batman would note that, by timeframe, he supposed that she and Shinichi Kudo's father were here at some point before leaving for the airport. "Of course," The mother mused. "We had to hide our faces from Yusaku's hounding editors. You know how your father is at trying to skip deadlines."
"I see," Batman spoke simply.
"What? That's it? No witty comeback? No, "Is that all you want to tell me, okaa-san?". Nothing?" The woman asked, now speaking with a bewildered and pouting tone.
Batman felt a little awkward, before continuing. "No, not at the moment."
"...What's wrong, Shin-chan?" The mother now had a concerned tone. Batman could imagine the woman blinking a bit before continuing to speak. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything's alright, okaa-san," Batman said. "Unless of course you could count what had happened recently. It involved a friend of mine almost getting kidnapped by the Pumpkin Heads."
"Wait, what?" The mother asked, concerned. "What happened, Shin-chan?"
Batman - as Shinichi Kudo - explained to the woman about the events that transpired, in succinct summary. By the time he finished, he was already a few steps away to the gate that leads to the mansion - the home of Shinichi Kudo. Its architecture was in the style of the Tudor and Tudor Revival, at least covering a landscape of around half of the block, with a next door neighbor lot seen on the right. According to the Suzuki Map, the highlighted next door location was the Agasa Residence - belonging to someone called Professor Hiroshi Agasa.
Upon searching, it appears that he invents various experimental gadgets for a living - some of which such as the now acclaimed Bouncing Ball Experiment was now a hot topic for young children and teenagers. He also would recognize the professor's name from the contact list on his phone - thus he would probably pay a visit to this scientist and try to borrow his laboratory to work on a few gadgets himself. Though, there is a risk of being asked a question - Why the sudden interest?
Even with an occupation such as a high school detective, that doesn't really translate to using gadgets. On the other hand, superheroes and supernatural topics are a genuine concept in this setting, so it's best to prepare - hence one of the reasonings behind making his own gadgets. He did it several times before, sometimes even with fewer resources, even taking an entire night's worth and got a light scolding from Alfred, saying. "Sir, you really need to get some beauty sleep from time to time."
"I see," The mother spoke with a sympathetic tone. "At least Sayaka-chan is alright. And the Pumpkin Heads...Yusaku often talks about them to me."
"What were those, if I may ask?" Batman asked.
"Well, probably something you already know by now, Shin-chan. After all, the police and B.A.B.E.L. did a recent raid on one of Beika's nearby warehouses in District 10, and this spread all over the news," The woman said.
"Anything else that...otou-san said about it besides what the news media would say?" Batman asked, opening the gate with his key before closing the gate on his way in.
"Well, your father had been keeping tabs on them for a while, but from what I heard from him, it seems that Interpol is gonna be involved and would be helping Japan's law enforcement from now on. And considering the military grade weapons - and a possible connection with corrupt military officials, the JSDF could get involved as well, but that's of course unconfirmed."
"I see," He replied, thinking it over as he stepped in the front door, opening it to see the open layout interior of the place, with a staircase leading to the second floor. "Thank you, ...okaa-san..."
Song: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Soundtrack [01 - Main Theme]
Flashback
"Bruce, do you want to help me and Alfred with the gardening?"
"Yes, mother, I want to."
He could still recall the happiness, the jubilant smile on his face as he sees his mother, Martha Wayne, holding him by hand as they walked through the mansion's garden. He loved spending time with her, and learned from her on how to maintain the garden. He did this even long after she was gone.
Now, as a young man, in his early Year One as Batman, he - Bruce Wayne, with a business suit on the ready, stood under the gaze of two statues of his parents, which were surrounded by flowers. The night was still young - and he wished that he would at least have a break of fighting any form of crime - he doubted it but its the thought that counts.
"Ahem," Bruce turned around to find Alfred, black and white butler suit and all, looking at him in contrition and concern. "Apologies for disturbing you, sir, but it seems that there has been a violent gang war happening underneath the Narrows. The police are being overwhelmed, and...may need a bit of help."
Bruce narrowed his eyes a little. "Alright, Alfred, I'll be there." Then he looked at the statues with a resolute tone.
"...I promise you both, never again," He spoke softly as he begins to walk towards the mansion - where a grandfather clock stood - that if turned to the exact time the blood of his parents were spilled, he would access the cave, and the place where he becomes what he needs to be, in this or any other night.
"I love you always, my little sunshine," His mother spoke with a smile, and a kiss on his forehead, as he - a child of eight - stood, offering his mother a group of sunflowers with a cheerful smile...that transitioned into a man's grim look and opened, sharp eyes, with the cowl of a bat covering his face, and whose cape stretches and glides towards the horizon where the Narrows wait.
Present Day
"Shin-chan? Are you there?"
The concerned voice of Shinichi Kudo's mother brought him back a little, as his eyes opened, his blue eyes becoming ice cold as he stared at the larger-than-life library. Currently, he was browsing the collection of books - a variety - and he now has a book that dealt with a subject detailing a compendium of the History of World War II, a different one compared to what he was familiar with.
"Yes, okaa-san, I'm still here," Batman spoke positively, reading the details about something relating to an Esper-Arms Race and that each country had its own esper soldiers fighting in the conflict. At least there isn't HYDRA, or Vandal Savage (*7), or anything else. But other evils - and the same ones - were born from this war regardless. He thought grimly.
His eyes would draw attention to an old war picture that shows a group of espers that served the Imperial Japanese military - known for their exploits in defending the country from the Allied Forces, before getting betrayed by its own nation due to considering them as a potential threat. Where has he heard that excuse before? He thought.
On the table, there were plenty of books that were stacked, his future reading material. He had already skimmed over 100 books in the library, absorbing all of its information and content. Memorization was a necessary skill in the field that he honed to a tea over the years.
"Mou, are you sure you're alright?" She asked. "I noticed that you didn't even interrupt my ramblings like you used to do."
"We rarely talk anyway, okaa-san," Batman explained simply. "I'm sure just listening to you mumble on and on about random topics wouldn't really kill me. I may actually learn something."
At least it's preferable compared to listening to Nigma's riddles again. He finished the thought silently.
"I see..." She looked a little doubtful, but Batman could imagine a touching smile cracking a little. "Well, I probably kept you awake for too long, since it's half past midnight on your end."
"It is," He confirmed, looking at the grandfather clock that was nearby.
"Well, good night, Shin-chan," The mother said before the call hung up.
Batman sighed a bit as he continued reading.
That was essentially all he plans to do for the rest of the night. He never bothered to sleep. Investigating this world was of primary importance. As far as he knew, he was in uncharted territory. He does not recognize anyone or anything here, even if this is still Earth apparently. Different neighborhood equivalences different rules.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Hm?"
He looked at his phone again, seeing the name "Mouri Ran".
"Hello?" He asked, pressing the call button.
"Shinichi! Are you there?!" A young woman's voice called.
"Yes," Batman looked attentive. "Why?"
"I...I need your help, or rather, I need you to help my father."
"I don't need any help from him!"
Someone - a man - shouted in the background.
"Quiet, otou-san!" The woman chastised. "Please, Shinichi!"
"Alright, I'm on my way," Batman nodded as he stood up, closing the current book he was reading, and walking with a resolute tone, while putting his phone to his right ear. "Where's your current location and address, and the current situation?"
OP Song: Detective Conan The Culprit Hanzawa Lyrics Opening Full『 Tsukamaete, Konya』By Leon Niihama
Next Conan Hint:
* Story: Company President's Daughter Kidnapping Case - Episode 2 (Detective Conan Anime) - Volume 1: Files 2-5 (002-005)
Trivia For Chapter:
(*1) - Of note, Zauriel is a character from DC.
Story Incorporation Trivia: Zauriel is an angel of the Eagle Host of angels, one of the four hosts of Heaven (alongside Human, Bull, and Lion), and a member of the Justice League, and the Midnight Suns (a reformed version that combined two teams - Midnight Sons and Justice League Dark - after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths), and would act as a spiritual advisor/counselor to both teams. He is one of the only few who knows Batman's true identity.
(*2) - Our Father. What Zauriel refers to is the title of the Presence, a character from DC.
(*3) - BAse of Backing ESP Laboratory, or B.A.B.E.L. for short.
(*4) - A reference to Justice League Dark which is a 2017 American adult animated science fantasy superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Home Video.
(*5) - A reference to Detective Comics #'s 31 & 32, "Batman vs. the Vampire."
(*6) - Batman's pet nickname for Zatanna Zatara, a character from DC.
(*7) - A reference to "The Savage Time", the first-season finale of Justice League, aired on November 9, 2002.
Story Incorporation Trivia: Batman was one of the few (who recalled the original timeline) that experienced strange temporal events that resulted in Nazi Germany's victory in World War II, with Vandal Savage having taken over as the World's Fuhrer.
Worldbuilding Trivia:
* There was an event called the Crisis on Infinite Earths, which dealt with a pan-dimensional threat called the Anti-Monitor, which from Batman's POV happened in the year 2024. The major after-effect of this crisis essentially forced a multiverse renewal and a reboot, and a convergence of two primary universes - Earth-616 (Marvel) and New Earth/Prime Earth (DC) - and a few universes (Wildstorm, Vertigo, and a few), still retaining the past of both universes and the possible/alternate futures of both are still existing in some capacity in spite of the changes.