Now We're Two... (Com. James Gordon)

[Deleted]

Even though the night had managed to briefly quiet down, chances are it was quiet just long enough to make room for the next crime to steal the spotlight, or the next case to upstage its predecessor. Didn't matter the amount of breathing time he had, or the fact that he found a blind spot -- even if it was fleeting -- in the newly infiltrating FBI's surveillance of Gotham, he wouldn't take the moment to rest. Not in the least bit. Instead? He crouched silently outside a notorious office, one he had managed to get lucky in bypassing the sweeping gaze of the Feds... a vigilante as notorious as Gotham City's Batman wouldn't go over looked like how the GCPD were known to do.

He would be tracked down with just as much severity as some escaping inmate from Arkham Asylum... it was because of his non-existent immunity with the FBI the reason as to why his nightly patrols and fleeting glimpses of vigilante heroism and sleuthing at its finest hadn't been as frequent as of late. Batman had been lying low as the Dark Knight and though it was saving the being created to fight the crusade on crime he had started from persecution, it was also taking its toll on his own personal stress factor and guilt and despite the risk, Batman could not stay silent anymore.

Now in his perched position, his inky cape clung close about his crouched, well armored form allowing him to blend into the shadows of the night that much better, he remained outside of that office, Commissioner James Gordon's office of the GCPD to be exact. It was dark, which suited him well, given he preferred it that way--specialized lenses allowing him to see as clearly as though it was day, in such lighting. He could hear the approach of footsteps heading to Jim's office, knowing it was Jim coming into glance over the new heap of case files that had been dropped upon his desk.

The window had been open ajar, which was more than the Bat needed to easily slip inside, or at least make his presence known. Either way, he remained completely unseen when Jim entered, and yet his presence was immediately known when his cool, dark tone of voice was suddenly heard in the silence of the office.

[glow=navy,2,300]"Jim, we need to talk."[/glow]

[james]

Over the years, he'd become rather used to these meetings and so he doesn't turn on the light at the voice and he hardly startles other than a quickly inhaled breath. James Gordon isn't one to startle easily, a person can't be in his job, dealing with what he did and who—his eyes peer into the shadows—he did. He walked over to his desk, choosing not to speak at first. He took a set of keys that stood atop the surface in his hands.

He was then at the office door, locking it. His next plan of action is the simple disconnection of his phone. He can reconnect it at the close of his conversation. James Gordon, all tasks done, including listening for anyone coming, took his seat and turned himself to the figure he had grown used to dealing with, with a person, that though he only knew this identity considered him a partner, and he would dare say friend and confidant.

He nodded grimly, “I figured you'd be here soon enough. I agree, we need to talk and I'm certain about what. This is about the F.B.I. And P.R.O.T.E.C.T. isn't it?” Yet the commissioner's voice was already colored in the certainty that that was in fact exactly what the Dark Knight had come to talk about.

[Deleted]

It was a well-practiced dance both the commissioner and the vigilante did when it came to respecting one another’s turf and trusting one another given they both were on the same side, fighting the same fight. When Jim confirmed the reason for the Bat’s unauthorized shadowy appearance at GCPD headquarters, Batman stepped a little further into the darkness of the office as a silent acknowledgement for Jim’s assuming question of topic.

[glow=gray,2,300]“What exactly is P.R.O.T.E.C.T.? Do you know when they first arrived and if they intend to permanently stay?” [/glow]

A quick pause was given and then in his infamous gruff, dark manner of speaking he asked one more question of his old time trusted partner… and friend.

[glow=gray,2,300]“Are the GCP working with the Feds?”[/glow]

[james]

Gordon nodded, yes, he'd figured that was exactly what the man wanted. He pivoted to follow Batman's movements, but his last question caused James to pause, not because he didn't know the answer, but because he wanted to word it in the best possible way. He reached to the breast pocket of his suit, all this stress was irritating his nicotine addiction, but he needed something to occupy him. He pulled out the box of tobacco and reached to his desk to grab his pipe. The action of stuffing the object and then lighting it gave him time to think on his replies. He took a deep inhale before speaking.

“The GCP is supposed to be working with the Feds, and you know there are enough officers who don't like you and the other 'heroes' taking their business or rather stopping it. Of course, they're fine with it, but you ask me, no. The official stance of the GCP is cooperation with the FBI, but what they're doing and this bill, it's too much.” He shook his head, tired eyes taking in the darker shadow of the Dark Knight himself.

“P.R.O.T.E.C.T. or the longer name, Preventing Risky Organizations Through Evicting Criminal Thought...It's a government bill, granting funds to the FBI in order to control criminal activity and their first experiment is Gotham City. Basically it is because the government is becoming suspicious of organizations like the Justice League and people like you who are taking the law into their own hands. They are hunting criminals, offering no right of habeas corpus, and then transporting them out of Gotham...they aren't afraid to shoot and ask questions later...and they've got an Embargo on the city. No trade in or out or it's horribly slowed. It needs to stop. He's making things worse. You know that when things get tough, that's when there is more likely to be a criminal partnership. It's going to blow up. The sentiment is positive, but they're going about this the wrong way.”

He leaned forward. “Months, it's been going on for months. I don't think this city can survive sane for much longer. I can feel the tension mounting. It's only a matter of time now. And the leader of this charade, he's gone too far too. Harming people who should be innocent until proven otherwise. It's madness, plain and simple”

[Deleted]

Taking Jim’s words into grave account, the Batman listened and began to formulate a methodical plan. Things had been high stakes before, juggling two lives and their separate identities, taking care of a new ward and dealing with the up-rise of his old ward… Now the Feds were infiltrating. If he didn’t like the repercussions the government was causing towards the heroes and vigilantes, aka, the masks—then he was damn sure that the Rogues of Gotham didn’t like this new 3rd party intervention either.

[glow=gray,2,300]“I will keep contact brief and on a need-to-only basis with you Jim, but just you. I don’t want the Feds targeting the last few good men on the GCP because of ties had with me. You do what you need to, Jim. I’ll do what I do.” [/glow]

His words were grave, dark, and grim—much like his entire persona. And as Jim now worked to light up his signature pipe with tobacco, the Bat went silent as a way of finalizing his decision. The moment the Commissioner looked up towards Batman, the cowl-clad crusader was gone—leaving an open window with fluttering drapes in his wake.