Ficlet: (Un)Observed | DCU | Jim Gordon, Batman | PG-13 | 1/1
Title: (Un)Observed
Fandom: DCU
Characters: Jim Gordon, Batman
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 792
Prompt: For dcu_freeforall: Harbinger
Summary: Jim has intel for Batman. What he gets in return put the whole developing situation in a new light. Bad things are brewing.
Disclaimer: DC and WB own everything, the schmucks.
Author's Notes: Twenty-third in the (Un)Familiar-verse; follows (Un)Expected. Finally, we get to see an outside POV in this series! >:D And I'm so glad to be writing this verse again. *hugs it*
(Un)Observed
Melting out of the shadows on the rooftop, Batman doesn't quite manage to startle Gordon. Hell, Jim's too used to this routine to let a little sudden appearance get the better of him.
“You have something for me, Commissioner?” Batman says, voice all glass and gravel, as usual.
Jim pulls a tiny flash drive out of a pocket of his long coat and hands it over. “Nothing more than chatter, I'm afraid. A few interrogations that made hard left turns into your territory.”
“My territory?”
A nod. “As much as anything in this city can be considered your territory. Word apparently has it that the Vampires are fracturing, that a coup might be in the works. I don't know how much we can trust, seeing as most of the rumors are coming from street thugs hopped up on who-knows-what and swearing allegiance to someone they're calling 'The Emperor', but there are stirrings that Arkham might be involved.”
Batman turns the little flash drive over in his hands, looking introspective-for as much as a man that keeps to the shadows can look more introspective than usual. “Why am I not surprised?”
And that's what gets Jim. He's known there was a connection between Batman and the Vamps for a while. The question is, how tight is that connection?
“You knew about this,” he proposes.
The sudden tension in Batman's shoulders speaks volumes. “No,” he says after a long moment. “But....”
Jim takes a gamble. “I know about the boy. Well, both of the boys.” He wishes he didn't, but it's his job to keep tabs on what goes down in Gotham after the sun goes down, and word of mouth is a powerful thing, especially when the rumors are true.
This time, Batman's mouth thins into a tight frown, and his hands curl into fists.
“Whoa, whoa,” Jim says, holding up his hands in surrender as he realizes he played his cards a little carelessly. “I wouldn't do anything about it. Just wanted you to know that I'm aware of the sort of company you've been keeping out here. Whether or not it's proper-all legality aside-to run with Wolves and Vamps, you and your... associates have been doing good work in the city. I just need to know what side you'll come out on if things go bad.”
Batman clenches his jaw, then answers firmly, “I'm loyal to Gotham, Commissioner. No one else. A Vampire civil war is none of my business, unless it threatens everyone else.”
“You're certain that this won't draw your clan in?” Jim counters, one eyebrow lifted behind his thick glasses.
“Whether it does or not, I won't endanger innocent lives.”
Another nod, and Jim feels at least a little satisfaction. “Good. This city doesn't need to lose anyone to what could be a nasty fight. If the Vamps are really about to schism, things could get ugly enough without worrying about the human population getting in their way.”
For a long moment, Batman doesn't comment, simply stares out at the hazy yellowed lights of Gotham. Then, “Have you ever heard of the Oracle?”
The hair raises on the back of Jim's neck. “Yes,” he admits, shoving his hands back down in his coat pockets. “Please tell me she doesn't have anything to do with this Vampire thing.” It could be worse than anticipated if she does; the Oracle doesn't come out of hiding for nothing.
“I don't know. She told me something big was coming in three months' time. That was two weeks ago, so the clock is running out. I don't want it to be this, but there's a very real possibility.”
Swearing under his breath, Jim can't keep his skin from itching at the thought that the Oracle might somehow be involved. The very idea of the Pythia gives him the creeps; all that ancient prophecy and all-seeing stuff is way beyond his pay grade, and far too dangerous to mess with, doom and death looming in the distance with every proclamation. “Well, then. I think we'd better prepare for the worst. A Vamp war might wind up being the least of our worries, but at least we've got a starting point. I'll keep tabs on Arkham and put out more feelers, and you ought to keep an eye on your boy.”
Batman freezes for a brief second, then nods. “Any intel I can gather, I'll get to you personally.”
“Agreed.”
But before Jim can comment further, Batman has melted back into the shadows. Gone.
Of course.
Another string of choice curses, and Jim turns to head back to the stairwell and inside. If they're gonna be ready for whatever nightmare is brewing on the horizon, and hope to have a snowball's chance in hell of keeping Gotham from going up in flames, then he has a metric shit ton of work to do.
~*~*~*~
Fandom: DCU
Characters: Jim Gordon, Batman
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 792
Prompt: For dcu_freeforall: Harbinger
Summary: Jim has intel for Batman. What he gets in return put the whole developing situation in a new light. Bad things are brewing.
Disclaimer: DC and WB own everything, the schmucks.
Author's Notes: Twenty-third in the (Un)Familiar-verse; follows (Un)Expected. Finally, we get to see an outside POV in this series! >:D And I'm so glad to be writing this verse again. *hugs it*
(Un)Observed
Melting out of the shadows on the rooftop, Batman doesn't quite manage to startle Gordon. Hell, Jim's too used to this routine to let a little sudden appearance get the better of him.
“You have something for me, Commissioner?” Batman says, voice all glass and gravel, as usual.
Jim pulls a tiny flash drive out of a pocket of his long coat and hands it over. “Nothing more than chatter, I'm afraid. A few interrogations that made hard left turns into your territory.”
“My territory?”
A nod. “As much as anything in this city can be considered your territory. Word apparently has it that the Vampires are fracturing, that a coup might be in the works. I don't know how much we can trust, seeing as most of the rumors are coming from street thugs hopped up on who-knows-what and swearing allegiance to someone they're calling 'The Emperor', but there are stirrings that Arkham might be involved.”
Batman turns the little flash drive over in his hands, looking introspective-for as much as a man that keeps to the shadows can look more introspective than usual. “Why am I not surprised?”
And that's what gets Jim. He's known there was a connection between Batman and the Vamps for a while. The question is, how tight is that connection?
“You knew about this,” he proposes.
The sudden tension in Batman's shoulders speaks volumes. “No,” he says after a long moment. “But....”
Jim takes a gamble. “I know about the boy. Well, both of the boys.” He wishes he didn't, but it's his job to keep tabs on what goes down in Gotham after the sun goes down, and word of mouth is a powerful thing, especially when the rumors are true.
This time, Batman's mouth thins into a tight frown, and his hands curl into fists.
“Whoa, whoa,” Jim says, holding up his hands in surrender as he realizes he played his cards a little carelessly. “I wouldn't do anything about it. Just wanted you to know that I'm aware of the sort of company you've been keeping out here. Whether or not it's proper-all legality aside-to run with Wolves and Vamps, you and your... associates have been doing good work in the city. I just need to know what side you'll come out on if things go bad.”
Batman clenches his jaw, then answers firmly, “I'm loyal to Gotham, Commissioner. No one else. A Vampire civil war is none of my business, unless it threatens everyone else.”
“You're certain that this won't draw your clan in?” Jim counters, one eyebrow lifted behind his thick glasses.
“Whether it does or not, I won't endanger innocent lives.”
Another nod, and Jim feels at least a little satisfaction. “Good. This city doesn't need to lose anyone to what could be a nasty fight. If the Vamps are really about to schism, things could get ugly enough without worrying about the human population getting in their way.”
For a long moment, Batman doesn't comment, simply stares out at the hazy yellowed lights of Gotham. Then, “Have you ever heard of the Oracle?”
The hair raises on the back of Jim's neck. “Yes,” he admits, shoving his hands back down in his coat pockets. “Please tell me she doesn't have anything to do with this Vampire thing.” It could be worse than anticipated if she does; the Oracle doesn't come out of hiding for nothing.
“I don't know. She told me something big was coming in three months' time. That was two weeks ago, so the clock is running out. I don't want it to be this, but there's a very real possibility.”
Swearing under his breath, Jim can't keep his skin from itching at the thought that the Oracle might somehow be involved. The very idea of the Pythia gives him the creeps; all that ancient prophecy and all-seeing stuff is way beyond his pay grade, and far too dangerous to mess with, doom and death looming in the distance with every proclamation. “Well, then. I think we'd better prepare for the worst. A Vamp war might wind up being the least of our worries, but at least we've got a starting point. I'll keep tabs on Arkham and put out more feelers, and you ought to keep an eye on your boy.”
Batman freezes for a brief second, then nods. “Any intel I can gather, I'll get to you personally.”
“Agreed.”
But before Jim can comment further, Batman has melted back into the shadows. Gone.
Of course.
Another string of choice curses, and Jim turns to head back to the stairwell and inside. If they're gonna be ready for whatever nightmare is brewing on the horizon, and hope to have a snowball's chance in hell of keeping Gotham from going up in flames, then he has a metric shit ton of work to do.
~*~*~*~