Detective | ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴛᴍᴀɴ

𝒆 𝒍 𝒆 𝒗 𝒆 𝒏

Sirens blazed through the dimly lit streets of Carnival Row, casting eerie flashes across the pavement. The longer she stared, the heavier the gloom settled in her heart. Regret gnawed at her, berating her for failing to see the warning signs earlier. A psycho had invaded her personal space, violating her body as if it belonged to him. Even her sanctuary, once a safe haven, now echoed with memories that would haunt her relentlessly, just like the rest of her tormented life.

Martinez watched a solitary tear slide down her cheek, his heart-shattering in half. The vacant look in her emerald eyes sent a tremor through his entire being. If the strongest, most resilient woman in the entire police force could be broken like this, he couldn't fathom letting his little girl wander the dangerous streets. "That despicable bastard," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. Gordon approached her, taking a seat on the steps beside her.

Delving into his pocket, he retrieved a crumpled pack of cigarettes. Jess recognized the familiar crinkle of Marlborough Reds. Despite his fatherly concern for her, Gordon always knew when to be an even better friend. He plucked a cigarette from the pack and handed it to Jess, a means for her to release some steam, quite literally. She jammed the yellow tip into her mouth, snatching the lighter from his grasp to strike it with a vengeance. The flame flared to life, only to flicker out after a fleeting moment in the sunlight. "There's no trace of the Riddler in your apartment," he began. "No fingerprints, no saliva, nothing."

"He was in my house..." Jess mumbled, exhaling a cloud of smoke from deep within her lungs.

Jim rested his hand on her upper back. "Is there anyone you can stay with?"

Jess rubbed the space between her eyebrows. "My parents live two hours away," she sighed, wiping away a tear trickling down her cheek. "I have to stay here, in this forsaken apartment."

"I can talk to my wife. You can crash on our couch for the time being," Jim suggested, his gaze gentle and understanding. "Someone needs to keep an eye on you until we catch that son of a bitch."

"No, I can't impose on you guys like that," she replied, frustration etching her face. "You have a family, and I can't just barge in like that..."

Jim watched as she covered her face in despair. "Kid, you can't be alone."

"She won't be," a voice interjected, breaking through the conversation. It was Batman. "I know someone."

Jess lowered her hands, noticing Batman holding out a jacket to her. He seethed with anger, his eyes burning with fury at the brokenness reflected in her face. She accepted the zip-up sweater, quickly slipping it on. "Thanks."

"He'll come to pick you up soon." The sun began to rise, casting streaks of light across Gotham's skyline.

"You better go," Jess said, stubbing her cigarette on the concrete step. "The sun's coming up, and I wouldn't want you turning to dust if you stay in it too long." A faint snort escaped Batman's lips. He extended his arm, utilizing his grappling hook to ascend to the rooftop just as a sleek black car pulled up to the curb.