Two sides of the same coin

Chapter 6 - Apathetic

Bruce ran into the hospital with Selina on a stretcher while a doctor and officer escorted them through the halls of the building. The doctor explained what the situation was.

"We'll do everything we can. But the evacuation has us dealing with a skeleton crew."

Bruce barely listened to her, he only focused on Selina. He just wanted to stay by her side, he didn't want her to be scared or for her to feel the pain that she was put through because of him.

"Bruce."

Selina whispered out, Bruce quickly went to the side of the stretcher where she could see him.

"Selina, you're at the hospital. You're gonna be okay."

"Are you gonna leave me?"

"No, no, I'm gonna be right here."

"Promise?"

Selina whimpered, Bruce hesitated for a moment. He had never seen her like this, she was terrified. He could've stopped this, he was right there when she was shot. He stood there and watched Jeremiah pull the trigger. Jeremiah even seemed to wait for a reaction, maybe a chance for Bruce to save Selina? He quickly pushed the thought away.

'No, Jeremiah is just like Jerome. A murderer, that showed no remorse for anyone.'

Bruce could see that Selina needed comfort and decided to reply with the only words he could manage to form.

"I promise."

He lied.

Bruce let the police and doctor roll the stretcher away. He stood there, looking towards where Selina was. He had broken a promise, not even a minute after it was made. He slowly turned around and walked away. His eyes began to water, while thoughts began to build up in his mind.

'Why was it so easy to lie to her like that? It shouldn't be that easy. I shouldn't do it. But it was so easy to just...lie.'

Bruce walked out of the hospital and towards his car. He sat in the driver's seat and looked out towards whatever greeted his vision. He didn't really care, he only wanted for this to have never happened. The same apathetic stare as before grew across his face, and slowly his whole expression became emotionless. After a minute or two, he snapped out of it, coming up with a conclusion.

'That's right, it was a lie that held good intentions and would do no harm. A lie that was used to comfort Selina, that's all.'

Bruce lied again, but this time to himself. He let out a sigh and leaned back in the car's seat. Placing his head on the headrest while looking towards the ceiling of the car. Once again he dozed off, his thoughts lingered on nothing in particular. Thinking of Selina one minute then thinking of what was for dinner and so on. He lost count of time, getting his mind off of everything was really what he wanted the most at the moment. He knew it was selfish, and that he should be worrying about Selina, but he didn't want her on his mind. Not right now. He enjoyed the silence and safety that the car offered, nothing to bother him at all. It was something that he thought would be impossible for at least the next few days.

That perfect silence was interrupted by a knock on the car window. Bruce let out a sigh filled with disappointment and looked towards the window, seeing that it was Alfred. He opened the door and stood up, assuming that his butler would want to go inside the hospital. He was saying something, but Bruce only ignored him. He was trying to stay in the apathetic state, he felt safe in it. Nothing bothered him. He didn't get too emotional. And, despite how selfish it was, other people's emotions didn't bother him one bit. If he was being honest with himself, he hated that he was blocking everyone out. Recent events had shown him more than anything that not everyone will always be there, but Bruce was scared of confrontation at the moment. He was guilty of killing hundreds, and soon to be thousands, of innocent people along with nearly killing Gordon, Alfred, and Selina. He knew he didn't really do all of it, but he knew he was the main reason behind it.