DC's Path of Ruin: Book I

December 22nd, 2014 - Part 2

Day 6 - December 22nd, 2014 : Morning - Around 10:30 AM

Bruce was on his way to the center of remaining Gotham via the Bat-mobile. Lex' call regarding Gordon tore at his insides. He couldn't believe that he let himself get so distracted. Gordon's death may have very well been prevented if he had just been paying attention that night. That one night. He sighed as he nearing the Gotham City Hall.

His passenger seat came to life with a sparse cloud of lightly sparkling clouds. A smooth transition into existence they just as kindly eased away - dispersing to reveal the five foot seven magician's daughter Zatanna Zatara sitting with her legs crossed up on the dashboard, black heels bejeweled with a few faux gemstones at the tips of her shoes. She looked over at him.

Bruce continued with his drive, not really turning his head. He knew she was there however. "Diana sent you?" He asked.

Zatana shook her head, recrossing her legs.

"Sehtolc-tetniw!" She chanted quietly with a wave of her gloved hand, in another cloudy poof her clothes changed from her performance attire to mid women's fashion winter attire, she sighed and adjusted her blue scarf a little. "I was in the middle of a dress rehearsal when my deck called to me with you in mind. Turns out you're in a lot of trouble..." She frowned, knowing the truth of this Bruce. She cleared her throat and pulled her feet from the dashboard now that her fun was over, the entrance done. "Whatever you are about to do, I'm coming between The Hangman, and the Devil and Tower reversed - something terrible is bound to happen to you" She said with concern.

Bruce raised a brow under his cowl. He wasn't going to say anything as he didn't really believe in magic or superstition, thereby he continued driving.

Zatanna felt the cold shoulder and looked away unsure how to treat the not-not man who was once her childhood friend...and something else.

"The Hangman...it means you are deluding yourself." Zatanna told him with a whisper, playing with her hands awkwardly in her lap.

"Am I?" Bruce asked, deciding to humor her. He was rather desensitized to Zatanna, though, not personally. He was really desensitized to the entire Justice League in this dimension in general, she being a branch of it. The magician studied him and sighed.

"Don't be that way. You know what I'm saying isn't out to get you" She told him with a slight frown and unhappiness of her features.

Bruce nodded. "I'm sorry." He responded quietly, his own face keeping it's usual straight and near melancholy expression. She stared at him longer.

"You don't have to feel like a stranger to everyone. You're still the man who helped raise me...just another version of him" She tried giving him a smile, perhaps it was her background of fighting interdimensional demons and other creatures of the arcana that kept her moral compass from spinning on this. While not a full fledged member, Zatanna had heard enough paranoid whispers about Bruce. Well, this Bruce. But he was still the same man. Bruce chuckled a little and nodded once. It didn't really help with his viewpoint, but it was true.

He already knew the obvious statement that he was the same person, but he also knew the underlying feeling that was in everyone's hearts, whether they'd admit it or not: "They missed him." or well, their Bruce.

His presence here was wasn't really wanted due to the fact that in their minds, they may have simply felt that he was attempting to replace their own, which he understood wouldn't stand. His own dimension needed him, and he wasn't trying to use the fact that their Batman was missing to be an excuse. He did after all 'Owe' himself for helping against Superman, therefore he would return the favor by helping his Gotham, while on the search.