Inbetween

Chapter Twenty Seven: Life Keeps Going

Life has been kicking my ass lately if I'm being 100% honest
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Bruce pulled on his cowl and looked over the files on the bat-computer before making his way towards the bat-mobile. Ivy and Scarecrow were secure in Arkham and all of  kryptonite was shipped off to the JLA tower in a lead-lined vault no one but Batman and Wonder-woman could access. Gotham had gone quiet after the two villains were put away and Metropolis was restored just as quickly as it was destroyed.

Batman got into the car and pulled out of the cave ready to start his nightly rounds; ready to stop any crimes that could occur. As he got onto the highway he could see the busy nightlife start to flood the streets of Gotham; all walks of life ready to start trouble or go party. He swerved between cars and turned on his scanner so he could find his first crime for the night. The radio waves had a small buzz but from what Bruce could hear there were no major crimes happening. He sighed slightly annoyed at the fact that his patrol would probably be a slow one; even though his main goal was the stop crime he always felt a sense of frustration when nothing was happening.

He cut into downtown Gotham where the streets crowded with people dressed in revealing outfits with glitter and gold. Bruce could see lines of people wrapping around night clubs and drunken words being exchanged by those in line. Bruce remembered his rookie days when he use to scope out the clubs waiting for a fight to break out or for a villain to turn up. He shook his head and accelerated so that he could find a secure area to park and start his patrol.

He pulled into an abandon alleyway and slipped out of the bat-mobile locking it with a push of a button on his belt in the process. The night's still air made the hairs on his arms raise but he shook off any feelings of unease knowing that he was simply overthinking the silence. He stepped away from the car and grappled onto the closes roof.

The cool night's air sent a chill down Bruce's spine and he suppressed the shiver that threatened to escape his body. The fog that covered the roofs was thick but Bruce could still make out what was behind it with the night vision in his cowl. He sunk into it and to the untrained eye it would be as though he disappeared.

Bruce grappled from roof to roof until he found himself outside of The Penguin's night club. He grabbed his binoculars out of his belt and scanned the area before looking into windows. He could see The Penguin yelling at someone from where he sat at his desk and Bruce shifted his position to get a better view of the dispute. The man Penguin was yelling at kept his eyes on the ground and only nodded in between shouts. Bruce could see the veins on the side of Penguin's temple and the blood rushing to his face made his skin a burning, red. Bruce had never seen the villain so openly angry towards one of his own.

"Slow night?" Clark's words came out soft and Bruce didn't even stir at his presence.

"It just started." Bruce zoomed in and could see a gun on the desk pointed at the goon.

"What are you looking for?" Clark landed beside him.

"Not sure yet." Bruce hummed, "I know he's tied to a cold case regarding Maroni's sister."

Clark looked over at Bruce who had his lips in a thin line, "want me to listen in?"

Bruce considered the request before nodding. Clark tuned in and instantly could hear Penguin's heavy Gotham accent. Bruce watched as Clark focused on the conversation; his eyebrows knit together the louder Penguin screamed. Clark watched as he threw a vase at the goon who narrowly dodged the hit. 

"He's upset because his worker left proof of some crime." Clark shook his head, "he thinks it's going to lead you straight to him."

"It did." Bruce couldn't stop the smirk that reached his lips, "what else is he saying?"

"He's going down to the docks apparently he's going to find someone to frame." Clark looked back over at Bruce who nodded.

"I'll meet him there." Bruce stood up from his spot, "thank you."

"Of course, do you want me to come with?" Clark offered though he already knew the answer.

"I think I got it from here." Bruce reassured him, "but if anything I'll call for you." 

"Be safe." Clark lifted off the ground.

"Lunch tomorrow?" Bruce looked up and spotted a bright smile on Clark's face.

"I'll see you then." Clark nodded and disappeared into the night sky.

Bruce sighed and started towards the docks not sure what to expect from the villain once he got there. Penguin wasn't a high level threat but he was a nuisance and Bruce knew that tonight would be a long night because of that. He climbed down one of the fire escapes on the side of the building and jumped into the Bat mobile. He punched in the coordinates and prepared himself for the fight he knew was going to happen. But in the back of his head he couldn't help but think about how great Lunch with Clark would be and how much he truly loved the other hero. 

In-between all the crime fighting, family squabbles, and media parades Bruce found peace in Clark.