Closer Than Your Shadow

Melt Into You

December 12th 10:32 p.m.
Gotham
Bruce Wayne's Apartment

"I apologize for Master Bruce's bluntness, but I can't say I entirely disagree with him," Alfred said once we were alone.

"Then I'll go to fucking France. If it keeps Dick safe from the FBI or whoever else, I'll do it. I won't fight you guys on it," I finally gave in. My shoulders fell as the words left my lips.

"You never learn, do you?"

I sucked in a breath and shook my head.

"You're talking in circles. Do you want me to leave or not? I don't understand what your telling me."

"I want you to save Dick. I want you to take responsibility over the person you've made him before he makes a mistake," his voice had grown to a whisper and I remembered what Dick said about the camera's.

"How do I save someone when I can't even save myself. I have nothing right now. No money. No friends. Nothing."

"Nothing is a strong word. I don't think you understand it's weight."

Alfred relaxed his brows after scanning my face and it hurt looking into his gray eyes because they reminded me so much of Lenny. Old and all knowing.

He used to look at me like that.

"He needs Zucco and the Maroni's. He doesn't need me," I confessed.

"There are things that you couldn't possib-."

"I know. I'm not pretending to be an expert at any of this but you're telling me something that should be coming from Dick. If he felt this way, he'd say it, but he hasn't. He's not going too. And to be honest with you. I can't blame him. I fucked up everything for him. If I'm lucky, he won't hate me in a few weeks. If he's lucky, I won't either."

He wasn't even coming to see me go.

It was burning a hole in my head. Everything was going to change in a few minutes and the person I needed most wasn't going to be there, then I realized how unbelievably selfish that was.

He had to deal with Zucco first. He had to do this for his parents. He had to see things through even if that meant not saying goodbye.

My eyes darted around the cave, and I registered it all. This was the last thing I was going to see in Gotham.

"Ms. Nightengale?" Alfred repeated and I balled my fists until it hurt.

"We need to go. Where's Bruce?"

"Ms-."

"Can you please just find Bruce." I wiped the rogue tear away and my skin jolted from the shock. I looked down at my hands. The veins were the same, so we're the scars. It was all real.

Bruce stalked back into the room like he'd been waiting for us to bring him up.

He was holding a black duffle bag and walked right past us. We followed him deeper into the cave in silence until we found Donna on the phone. She said a curt goodbye and stood up straight when Bruce charged past her.

She gave me a once over and I nodded to let her know I was alright. I glanced back and Alfred was still following. His eyes were glued to the back of my head.

What did the old man want from me?

What else could I do?

We walked for a minute or two before we got to an older archway. This one was crumbling.

I could hear something scratching at the walls. And then little thumps like a beat of a song.

Donna pressed forward behind Bruce, and I trusted her judgement even though my head told me to turn back.