Two sides of the same coin

Chapter 11 - parting ways

He let his thoughts slowly drift away from those words and towards the window. The bridges that seemed to hold a symbol of hope were gone and the city was thrown into chaos.

Gotham was gone.

Jeremiah's plan was a success.

This was now No Man's Land.

Bruce was snapped back to reality when he heard Alfred calling his name. He looked over towards where the voice was coming from. He was with everyone who had come to fight Jeremiah and Ra's. When Bruce spotted Alfred he was reminded that this Alfred was a fake, and the real Alfred was dead. Leaving a pang of annoyance from how this fake had the nerve to take his place. He wanted him out of Gotham despite it seeming impossible.

"Bruce."

Alfred placed a hand on his shoulder and slightly rubbed it trying to add comfort.

"Come on we need to go."

"I can't leave Alfred."

"This city is abandoned, master Bruce. There's nothing more you can do here, mate-"

"And if I say i'm staying, I'm staying!"

Bruce snapped at Alfred, he was a butler not a father so he shouldn't act like one. He brushed Alfred's hand off his shoulder and they both glared at each other. Alfred showing a forgiving glare while Bruce wore an angered one. Alfred broke the glaring contest by blinking and looking down at the floor.

"Oh... Oh sod it. Alright, fine. We'll both stay-"

"No, i'm perfectly fine by myself I don't need some butler following me around everywhere."

Their eyes met again and Bruce still held that angered glare, at that moment Alfred realized that Bruce was serious. He avoided his glare, careful not to let him see his hurt expression while he backed away. He raised his hands to show defeat but, he also wore a small smile. Not one that showed that someone was happy or proud but, one that showed sadness.

"Fine have it your way. But if you ever need help, i'm always here."

With that, he turned around and walked towards the exit.

Bruce sat there for a moment, deep in thought until footsteps echoed throughout the building. Each step was calmly placed on the floor but, couldn't hide the amount of joy they felt having finally brought the city to complete chaos. Bruce looked over towards the source of those footsteps and was immediately filled with a wave of uncontrollable anger. Jeremiah was happily walking towards him with a bright smile on his face. Bruce quickly got up and ran towards Jeremiah, pushing him to a wall and pinning him there. Memories of Selina lying dead on the ground filled his vision, which made him frightened but also more angered.

"Why?"

He let out a shaky breath, while Jeremiah's grin formed into a straight line.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to be more descriptive than that, Bruce."

"Why... why did you kill Selina?"

Tears began to fill Bruce's eyes as he let out more shaky breaths and his grip on Jeremiah tightened. Jeremiah on the other hand watched in silence, the only thing that held back his grin was the fact that he was shot in the shoulder from the fight that took place earlier. Although Jeremiah had a higher pain tolerance, he wasn't immune to pain. Despite not placing a grin on his face, the corner of his mouth were still slightly lifted up.

"Bruce, you really are oblivious aren't you?"

"W-what?"

"Yes, I was the one who pulled the trigger but who was the one that made the decision."

Bruce slowly met Jeremiah's eyes, immediately buying into what he was saying. His grip slightly loosened.

"Then who did it?"

"Jim Gordon."
His eyes widened, letting his grip on Jeremiah disappear. Bruce backed away from him, trying his best to believe that Gordon wasn't that kind of person. He knew it made no sense for him to do something like that but, couldn't shake the feeling that it was true.

'Maybe Jeremiah's telling the truth? Maybe Gordon really did kill Selina? Maybe Jeremiah really is the only one I can trust...'

Once Bruce realized what he was thinking, he tried to distract himself from thinking those things. But his mind declined and continued on. He became terrified of his own mind as his thoughts piled up on top of eachother. Soon Bruce couldn't pick out one thought from the others leaving his focus lost in, what felt like, a sea of lies.

His mind immediately retreated when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Bruce looked over to the hand, realizing that it was Jeremiah's he let his eyes slowly look up to meet Jeremiah's.

"It's okay Bruce, i'm here for you."

Bruce's eyes began to water, and after a moment of hesitation he gave up on fighting all his thoughts and gave in. He turned around to face Jeremiah and gently wrapped his arms around him, letting his head rest on Jeremiah's chest. Bruce felt at ease for the first time in the past few days, he felt comforted just from his warmth. On the other hand, Jeremiah wore a small smirk careful not to let Bruce see. He had done it, he had gained Bruce's trust in just a few days.

After a moment, Bruce realized that there was a subtle metallic smell. He looked around for the source, noticing that Jeremiah had blood staining the area on his clothes around his right shoulder. He focussed on one spot that seemed darker than the others taking note that there was a small hole piercing through his clothes and most likely through his skin.

"Y-you were shot."

Jeremiah barely spared a glance towards his wounded shoulder, unfazed by the fact that he was shot in the shoulder.

"Yes, but that is not our main concern at the moment."

His eyes flicked towards the door as if remembering something, his eyes flicked back to Bruce then he began to walk towards the building's exit. Signaling for Bruce to follow him, Bruce followed behind.
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