Two sides of the same coin

Chapter 12 - Lost Trust

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.

After arriving at the front of the building, Bruce noted that Gotham was unusually quiet. So quiet that you could hear a penny drop. The light of the street lights were replaced with darkness, which also added to the eerily quiet aura the city recently adopted. Jeremiah noticed that Bruce seemed to be deep in thought, assuming he was thinking about the current state of Gotham he softly replied

"The calm before the storm, the people of Gotham are still coming to terms with what exactly has happened."

He walked past Bruce and towards a car parked next to the sidewalk. Once arriving next to it, he slightly bent down and offered a knock at the window. The doors clicked, and Jeremiah opened the door then looked towards Bruce. Bruce cautiously got in the car. After he got in Jeremiah shut the car door, walked to the opposite side of the car, and swiftly sat down.

"Wayne Manor."

Jeremiah said while looking towards the driver's seat. Bruce followed his gaze and noticed that Ecco was the one who was in the driver's seat and most likely was the one who brought the car here in the first place. The car's engine roared to life and Ecco began to drive to their destination. He looked between the two, wondering if either one of them would worry about the bullet wound Jeremiah received but neither one of them even mentioned it. After a moment of, to Bruce at least, awkward silence he attempted to break it.

"How are we going to get to Wayne Manor? The bridges were the only way to get there, wouldn't it be easier to find some other building?"

Jeremiah let out a quiet sigh, somewhat disappointed that Bruce hadn't realized the obvious.

"The bridges aren't the only way off the island. As to why we don't stay here, it's less likely that we are put in an undesirable position. It also makes it easier for us to wait until we can predict how others will take action. Now, I assume you're curious of Jim Gordon correct?"

Jeremiah wanted assurance that Bruce would stay by his side and he didn't see a problems with telling a few tall tales to get his way. The question had peeked Bruce's interest and Although he wasn't curious of Gordon before, now that Jeremiah mentioned it, it did cause curiosity to stir in his mind. Most of it came in the form of questions such as why Jim Gordon, the great detective who had always provided as much help as he could, would do all of this or if he was even capable of it. Jeremiah noted the curiosity gleaming in Bruce's eyes and began to explain.

"Jim Gordon was the first to discover what had happened with the 'gift' that Jerome had left for me after his death. Although I dislike admitting it, I was vulnerable around the time I was sprayed with his insanity gas. Ecco was preoccupied with an errand I had sent her on and for some reason, unknown to me, Jim Gordon was there almost immediately after I had been sprayed. I assume he saw it as a good idea to take advantage of my vulnerability."

His hand, that was placed on his lap slightly tightened, which Bruce took note of.

"He made me do all those things, build those bombs, go after you, and kill Alfred Pennyworth. He threatened to hurt you if I didn't abide by his orders. I knew you would listen to Gordon rather than me so I did as he said."

Jeremiah looked away from his lap and towards Bruce, as if looking for some sort of reaction or maybe even acceptance. Instead of receiving a look of pity he received a blank expression, Bruce's eyes seemed soulless but after a moment a barely noticeable smile creeped onto his lips and he let out a small chuckle, almost sounding relieved. Once he blinked his eyes sprung back to life as he let his head rest on the headrest the car seat provided while he looked up at the roof of the car. The small smile remained there, making itself at home.

"So Jim Gordon, who was good to me ever since I was twelve, decided to use me as leverage."

He giggled while he spoke but, after a moment tears began to form in his eyes. The small smile remained as tears began to roll down his cheeks.

"I guess you really can't trust anyone in Gotham."

Although Jeremiah expected another reaction, he was still pleased with the reaction he received. Just like before, Bruce believed every word he said but this time without a single doubt.

The remainder of the car ride was mostly silent, aside from the oddities that the new anarchy brought such as an occasional explosion that occurred only a few miles away.

Eventually the car began to slow and eventually come to a stop. Bruce looked out of the window to observe his new surroundings. They had driven to the edge of the city, most of what he saw was the large body of water that separated Wayne Manor from the rest of Gotham.

Before he could take note of anything else, the car door was swiftly opened. He looked up to see Ecco holding the door open and looking down at him with a blank expression. Assuming that was his que to step out of the car, he put one foot out of the car and lifted himself up, leaving the comfort of the car. Once he stepped out he could immediately tell the difference in the air. Instead of being met with the occasional city air Bruce had been accustomed to, he was met by a rather unpleasant smell. He immediately recognized it as something burning, giving off a dreadful smell. He ignored it as best he could and walked towards the front of the car to where Jeremiah stood, waiting for Bruce.

"So, how are we going to get to Wayne Manor?"

"By boat of course."

He looked up to Jeremiah with a confused expression.

"By boat? Where are we going to get a boat?"

"No need to worry, I had Ecco arrange everything ahead of time."

With that he began to walk towards a staircase that lead into the ground and was protected by a roof. Once they arrived they were met with a gate, and unfortunately it was locked. Bruce looked towards Jeremiah, hoping he had known it would be locked but he was looking towards Ecco. Seemingly waiting for her to catch up with the both of them.

When Ecco caught up with the two she swiftly pulled out a key from her pocket and inserted it into the keyhole the lock provided. After unlocking the gate she opened it and walked in, placing her hand on something on the wall. Her finger flicked up, and with that a row of lightbulbs awarded her with light. Jeremiah casually began to walk down the stairs and Bruce was quick to follow. Ecco lead the way through the twists and turns throughout the underground tunnels while Bruce and Jeremiah walked side by side. Although Bruce found it somewhat odd, Jeremiah was enjoying himself and how all his plans had succeeded. Bruce walking by his side was only proof of his achievements.

Eventually the trip was met by another gate door, except this time it was unlocked and slightly cracked open. Ecco was the first to arrive at the door and she decided to go ahead and fully open the door. The sunlight that the sun managed to let seep through the polluted clouds filled there vision. Bruce was the first to adjust to the light and he quickly noticed the same body of water as before that harbored a boat that waited for someone to claim it.

Both Jeremiah and Ecco began to walk towards it, unphased by the fact that a boat was set up for the three of them. It took a moment for Bruce to follow behind but, eventually he did. After all of them got settled the engine of the boat roared to life and, at Ecco's request, began to move towards the piece of land that Wayne Manor sat on.

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Words: 1403
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A/N: Finallllyyyyyy it's not word for word from the show anymore!