The Man Who Falls (9/10)

[mithen]

Title: The Man Who Falls (9/10)

Pairing/Characters: Clark/Bruce, Jack Ryder, Alfred Pennyworth, Harleen Quinzel, Barbara Gordon, Jim Gordon
Rating: R for violence
Warnings:  None needed
Continuity: The Dark Knight/Superman Returns crossover; a continuation of Leap of Faith.
Word Count:  5000Summary:  Clark Kent arrives in Gotham after the events

Comments

[undomielregina]

Oh, this was perfect. It was public, it was understated. It was exactly what Gotham needed, and it was Bruce reaching out and trusting someone to be where he couldn't. It's what was missing when he faced the Joker, and that's so fantastic. And it was redemption because this time, Bruce refused to make the devil's bargain and won as a result.

In an instant the world re-aligned, everything was clear, and there was no time to curse his own stupidity because Batman--Bruce--was speaking again.

Knowing Clark, he'll feel so guilty the second he has time. It's great that as soon as it makes sense, everything makes sense. And I do kind of love how through the entire story Clark likes the most real part of Bruce he sees and turns on the mask as a result. So there's no conflict when suddenly it all unifies into a sensible whole.

And Gotham learned that she has a hero who is never, ever going to give up on her. Plus, you know, the whole thing where being obviously friendly with Superman is likely to make it flat out impossible for anyone to think you're a murderer or child kidnapper. People got to help with the rescue, this time too, which is so totally the opposite of Batman's usual MO.

There were people crowding around him silently, touching him tentatively, as if to be sure he was real. That what they had witnessed--what they had done--was real.

I thought this paragraph drove home the way things had changed really effectively.

That moment where you let us realize that Bruce has been screaming in agony for an unknown period of time is so intense. The poor Gordon kids! No wonder Babs threw herself at him like that as soon as he was safe. She's such an amazing kid, and she's going to make an unbelievable Batgirl/Oracle someday(I like to think that in this world, she moves toward Oracle as she grows up the same way the Robins take on their own identities, no Killing Joke needed).

He had made his choice, and Gotham had saved him.

That's just fantastic and beautiful.

I'm so looking forward to seeing them finally talk candidly to each other in the last chapter. This has been such an intense story, it was really good to have the catharsis of the big final showpiece, so that now I can look forward to communication with way less tension.

[mithen]

It was public, it was understated. It was exactly what Gotham needed, and it was Bruce reaching out and trusting someone to be where he couldn't.

It was so satisfying to write Bruce reaching out and trusting Alfred and Clark (and Jim) to be there for him and do what he couldn't do.

Knowing Clark, he'll feel so guilty the second he has time. It's great that as soon as it makes sense, everything makes sense. And I do kind of love how through the entire story Clark likes the most real part of Bruce he sees and turns on the mask as a result. So there's no conflict when suddenly it all unifies into a sensible whole.

That's exactly the sort of feeling I was going for, yay! That he's always understood Bruce's heart, if not which mask was his. :)

And Gotham learned that she has a hero who is never, ever going to give up on her. Plus, you know, the whole thing where being obviously friendly with Superman is likely to make it flat out impossible for anyone to think you're a murderer or child kidnapper.

I bet some people do manage it! (I always suspect that even in the comics some villains think that Batman just knows how to hide his murders from the other heroes). But on the whole "Superman trusts him" is going to work for most civilians, I think...

She's going to make an unbelievable Batgirl/Oracle someday(I like to think that in this world, she moves toward Oracle as she grows up the same way the Robins take on their own identities, no Killing Joke needed).

I have this sort of fixed idea that movieverse Barbara does exactly that--I don't know, it feels right, doesn't it?

I'm so looking forward to seeing them finally talk candidly to each other in the last chapter. This has been such an intense story, it was really good to have the catharsis of the big final showpiece, so that now I can look forward to communication with way less tension.

I'm so dying to write it--I know just what you mean, that finally having them on the same page, understanding everything about each other, being able to talk openly--it'll feel like flannel sheets and a cup of hot cocoa to write. :)

Thanks so much for braving the insane downtime and leaving an awesome comment!

[zolac_no_miko]

It was exactly what Gotham needed, and it was Bruce reaching out and trusting someone to be where he couldn't. It's what was missing when he faced the Joker, and that's so fantastic. And it was redemption because this time, Bruce refused to make the devil's bargain and won as a result.

THIS. THIIIIIIISSSSS. That's the key to this story... how the addition of Superman, and of the relationship between Batman and Superman, makes all the difference. It shows growth and positive change in Bruce's outlook on life. It's better for Gotham, and better for Batman, and better for Bruce.