Wasteland [717][Open]

[Deleted]

Harvey groaned at the sound of his alarm.  He turned over and tried to slam at it but kept missing.  He gave up after a minute and yawned, face down in the bed. 

"VERNE!  Come shut off my alarm, pleeeeeeeeease?!"

He stayed there, snoozing away as music played on the alarm.  After a moment he started to wonder why his sister wasn't running in to turn off the alarm for him.  He was also pleasantly surprised they were actually playing a Falco song, in German, on the radio. 

"MA!"

No answer.

"MAAAA!"

Finally Harvey shot up to his knees in the bed.  Instantly his eyes were scanning the room he was in.  Confusion spread across his face in a heartbeat and he quickly scrambled out of the bed and looked at the room around him while his lengthy black hair was matted up at the back of his head from sleep. 

"What?  Where am I?"

Harvey looked down at himself.  He was nearly nude, the pair of boxers that seemed too big for him were having a difficult time remaining in place.  He grabbed them, keeping them in place, while he continued to turn and look at the room surrounding him.  His mother would have his head.  She was probably worried sick.

Harvey screamed at the realization that it was a man's bed he had just woken up in.  He began to frantically search for his clothes, but to no avail, all the clothes int he room belonged to whoever the room belonged to.  Harvey continued to panic convinced that he must have done something stupid and some older man had tricked him into doing something.

In the frantic search for answers Harvey found a wallet.  It looked like his, but it was fatter.  he quickly grabbed it and opened it.  Inside he found an ID.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING?"

Harvey stared in disbelief at the picture and the name on the ID.  It was his name and the picture looked like him, but it looked much different than he remembered himself.  Harvey ran out of the bedroom and found the bathroom.  He looked at himself in the mirror and then looked through everything in the bathroom, tearing it all up and leaving it all on the floor.  He headed back to the bedroom and looked again at everything.  He found something next to where he found the wallet.  He inspected it and the light of it came on.  Harvey was more than confused.  What was this? 

Eventually he found the land line and began dialing his mother's home number.  The line was disconnected.  He tried a few other numbers, all disconnected.  Harvey set the phone down and went to the closet and dresser and searched for something to wear.

In the closet he found his leather vest, adorned with all sorts of studs, stitches, patches, and whatever else suited his fancy.  He also found a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt.  He pulled it all on and moved through the apartment, taking the wallet with him.  Two sets of car keys.  One he recognized.  He grabbed it and headed out, making sure the door was locked behind him. 

Harvey took a few minutes, but he found the garage, and he found the Fairlaner he knew and loved.  He made quick work of taking off in it.  Without hesitation he headed to East End to go home.  One his way, that weird little light device started buzzing and ringing.  He looked at the screen and wondered what to do.  He panicked and after a moment just tossed the cell phone out the window.

Hours later his cell phone would be found along with his neighbors being interviewed about the screaming and knocking around they heard in the morning.  It would also be noted his wallet and car were missing.  The Fairlaner wasn't exactly a common car in Gotham.  He had been spotted and tailed by police twice today, but managed to lose them each time. 

It was about an hour past nightfall.  The teenager was parked in a dark and well hidden lot.  He was frowning and looking through the wallet under the dim light of a street lamp and the moon.  He was confused, scared, and alone.  He tried to go home, but his house was no longer there.

[Deleted]

“Dad! Dad?” The redhead called up the stairs as she babysat the casserole that sat in the oven. “I have called Bull thirteen times now and he’s not answered! Dad? You positive that he’s coming?” She started upstairs, only to find herself alone in the household that was typically bustling with activity. What was going on? She had prepared a meal big enough to feed an army with the knowledge that she was hosting a bit of a dinner party. Switching the oven off, she started into her father’s office and frowned when she noticed the police scanner had been turned down. She typically turned it up as far as the volume would allow so that she could be aware of what was going on in the city – but for some reason the dial had been moved to muffle the sound so low that it was practically inaudible. With the house strangely empty and no one answering her calls or texts – it was time that the ambitious redhead took matters into her own hands.

With her Batgirl outfit caressing her body so tightly that it appeared as if it was almost sprayed on, Babs evacuated the Gordon household unnoticed and started into the night. She attempted to call both her father and Harvey several more times, though their phones were unanswered. This couldn’t be a good sign, especially with the large targets that both gentleman had over their heads. Deciding to straddle her motorcycle and make quicker work of the city, she started toward her Momma Bull’s house, only to find the outside lit up like a Christmas tree from all the police cars. Her heart sank as she started toward the crowd, determined to get as much information as she could from the scene. It only took her a moment to acquire that there was no note of any kind, no ransom.

With that, the redhead began to ambitiously patrol the city. Batgirl searched for what seemed like hours with very little sleep from the night before to fuel her search. Alley’s, streets, parking lots and garages were all thoroughly inspected and she kept her communicator close on her hip as she waited for any kind of information to be fed to her. Another hour had passed and she pulled into a parking lot. The lights from her bike quickly illuminated what she would assume to be another empty lot and another dead lead. However, she was pleasantly mistaken.

The vehicle that she was highly familiar was parked between a dumpster and the alley. The redhead quickly parked and started toward the vehicle, fearing the worst. Had Harv been abducted and his car ditched? Or maybe what she was about to stumble on would be far worse than the horrid images that had been racing through her head all night during her search. She didn’t hesitate to rip open the door – not bothering to waste time peering through the dark windows.

[Deleted]

"WOAH!"

The teenager looked at the redhead and his eyes only got bigger at the sight of her outfit. He furrowed his brow much like his adult self always did when he saw or heard something questionable or strange.

"What is this? Halloween?"

The young man was clothed in a pair of old sneakers, jeans, a white shirt, and a tattered leather best covered in patches and other markings. His hair was a medium length, a little shaggy from its length. He was fit, lanky, and handsome. His brown eyes burned just as they would continue to through the years.

Finally he cracked a hint of a smile, bright white teeth flashing ever so slightly.

"Hmm, hi. I'm Harvey, and you are...?"

He spoke with a tone that suggested he was flirting now. He worked a brow to her. He may have been having the weirdest day, but girls were always his first priority.

"You from around here, beautiful? Oh, and what year is it?"

[Deleted]

    Jason ditched his motorcycle in a dark alley. Sure, it was easier to get around Gotham on the bike, but his mind was swimming and grappling/running was more quite and peaceful. Jason put on a brave face, but on the inside he was crushed. Detective Bullock had disappeared. Pleanty of officers disappeared in Gotham, but this one hurt. Jason had formed a sort of bond with older man.

    Jason swung around and checked locations Bullock could often be found at. He snuck around police officers and searched his house, he checked Harvey's favorite bar, places like that. Nothing. He was about to give up for the night, as he swung by a parking garage. Some voices stopped him though. He landed softly on the roof of the parking garage. He turned up the mic in his helmet and listened.

    "You from around here, beautiful? Oh, and what year is it?"

    As Jason heard the first sentence he blew it off figuring it was simple prostitution or something. He would swing in, stop them, then turn in for the night. It was the second sentence that bothered him. With a confused look on his masked face he silently dropped down a floor and observed the scene. As he looked around he saw a young redheaded woman in a caped, skintight, costume standing in front of a open car door.

    "Batgirl?"

    

[Deleted]

“Halloween? No, it’s summer. Who the hell are you?” Batgirl asked, peering into the back of the car in search for her dear family member. Her face fell when she noticed that he was nowhere to be seen, putting her at a dead end once more. Acting on annoyance, she seized the front of the occupant’s shirt, jerking him forward forcefully so that his gaze met hers. “Did you steal this car you little-“ She paused, releasing him. He was almost a spitting image of Harvey. Of course, he looked years younger and full of youth. In fact, he looked as though he could be nearly her age. What the hell was going on? This wasn’t making any sense. Did Harvey have some mystery child that she was clueless about? After all the kid could practically pass for a young version of him. This was just too weird.

When he introduced himself, she couldn’t help but scoff at his tone. This wasn’t making any since at all. “I’m Batgirl.” She declared, finding it peculiar to have to mention the name of her alter ego. It seemed like most would identify with the symbol across her ample chest instantly, but he seemed oblivious. “Harvey....let me guess...Bullock, right?” She asked almost in disbelief as if this was some huge joke. “Yep, born and raised. And are you serious?” She blinked, propping herself up on the car. “It’s 2014…are you on something?” She asked, pulling a flashlight from her utility belt and shining it in the boy’s face.

At the surface of her name, Batgirl whirled around to come face to face with a man she knew too well and had quite the history with. She flashed him a smile as she prepared to dismiss him, hands on her hips. “Redhood.” She stated almost smugly. “Look, you aren't needed...I’m handling this-“

[Deleted]

Harvey was about to say something else when the other guy popped up. He suddenly had a bit of a sour look on his face. He noticed the guy had a gun or three on him. Harvey gave him a bit of a glare.

"Hey, get lost, Red, the lady and I are having a conversation here."

Harvey watched the exchange between them. He hoped this schmuck wasn't her boyfriend or something. Finally Harvey got out of the car, standing to his full height. He was tall, much skinnier than either of them remembered, but it was unmistakable who he was if you stared at him for more than three seconds. That scar that had always been on his chin was there, though a little more noticeable than it had been in his adult existence. It was usually concealed by that infamous five'o'clock shadow of his.

"So, Batgirl, can you explain all this to me, at all, maybe?"

Harvey handed her the wallet that belonged to his adult counterpart. If he had not panicked so hard earlier in the day he might have also found his police badge that had still been attached to the belt of his pants from the night before. The wallet had his ID, a his bank card, a picture of he and his sisters when he was exactly the age he was right now and then another picture of them all as adults. There was also the picture of Harvey's first mug shot which also looked exactly as he did now, but with a longer and unrulier locks of hair. Harvey also generally kept $200 in his wallet in varied bills, there was at least twenty missing.

"You know who I am, but this... is this really me?"

[Deleted]

Jason watched as Batgirl turned around smiled at him. He took off his helmet, he had a domino mask on under it, and smiled back.

“Look, you aren't needed...I’m handling this-“

"Hey, a little help never hurt anyone. Besides, this case is... personal and I kind of have to examine this car. And the kid in it." Jason said, shooting Bullock a dirty look, asserting his dominance. He stood close to Barbara, to the point where they were almost touching. Jason's eyes widened as he looked at the teenage boy closer.

"Bullock!?!?!"

"Hey, get lost, Red, the lady and I are having a conversation here." Bullock stood up out of the car. He was tall, muscular, and skinny. Not so much as Jason, but Jason was also two years older than Bullock at the moment. Jason narrowed his eyes and stared directly into Bullock's.

"So, Batgirl, can you explain all this to me, at all, maybe? You know who I am, but this... is this really me?" Harvey extended his arm and waved his wallet in front of Batgirl. Jason snatched the wallet out of Bullock's hands, scowling at the younger teenager.

"Watch it, kid. Here's whats happening. Your name is Harvey Bullock. You are a detective in the GCPD. You are in your 40s. As of tonight, you disappeared. No trace of where you went was anywhere. That brings us up to now. If you really are Harvey Bullock, then somehow you have been made younger. We need to figure out why. Do you have any memory of what happened tonight?" Jason said coldly, searching through the contents of the wallet.

[Deleted]

Redhood stepping on her toes was almost starting to annoy him. Batgirl caught his elbow, speaking in a low tone so that Harvey would not hear. “Look, I appreciate it…but I don’t need you. And don’t talk to me about personal. He’s my family…” She said through gritted teeth. While she adored Jason, he could be so stubborn at times and so could she. Batgirl assumed it might be easier to simply deal with this alone, but he didn’t seem to think so. As usual, he forced himself into the situation, something she usually admired that now she was seeing the other side of.

She couldn’t help but smirk at Harvey’s comment. He was proving to shine a bit of a comical light on such a perplexing dilemma. However, she had to be grateful that he wasn’t hurt. While this was completely confusing and the cause for such a reverse in time was unknown, it wasn’t like she had found Harvey on the side of the road somewhere. She took the wallet from him, flipping it open to see all of the similar attributes that she knew her dear Momma Bull to carry with her at all times.

Batgirl handed the wallet back to Harvey, only to notice Redhood rip the wallet from the boy’s hand. She sent him a deadly glare, half-tempted to grab it back from him. “This is madness. But, yes…this is you…as Redhood said you are Forty-three. Somehow you – younger Harvey – have been transported through time and replaced your older counterpart.” She sent a playful elbow in her dear Jason’s direction, aiming for his gut. “And if you are going to stay, you need to be nice.” Batgirl muttered to him, finding it amusing that this younger version of Harvey insisted on flirting with her in front of the boy she had an on an off relationship with for the past few years.

If only it wasn’t the man who had helped raise her, she might have flirted back…but the idea that her Momma Bull was making moves on her almost repulsed her in a bit. Still, she had to admit; when Harvey was her age he was quite the looker with charms to match. She was sure this experience was completely terrifying for him, so she tried to play the good cop role while her unwanted partner insisted on being rude. Batgirl waited for Harvey to recall the events in the last twenty four hours. “Just try to remember anything you can.”

[Deleted]

Harvey watched the other two, despite getting grabbed at the collar and getting a wallet snatched out of his hand. He couldn't help the growl he let out at Jason. He looked back to Batgirl and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to recall everything, and placing his fingertips to his forehead.

"Alright, I woke up this morning, futzed around, and bolted. Before that though..."

Harvey was tryig desperately to recall something from before. Suddenly it struck him like a bolt of lighting. His eyes popped open and he lowered his hand out to his side from his forehead.

"I was at prom! I was dancing with Raquel Foreman. She... she kissed me. And then- and then I got punched by her idiot boyfriend. And then that alarm clock woke me up."

Harvey took the wallet back and looked at it. He looked to the other two again.

"Wait... You said I was a cop? I'm a cop? Why would I ever be a cop?"

Harvey was starting to become a little visibly freaked out. He sat back down again, putting his elbows on his knees and hanging his head in his hands. A familiar groan came from him and he looked back up at them.

"I just want to go home. My Ma's house ain't there no more! Where's my Ma? Where's my sisters?"

Unbe4knowst to the young man, his mother died a little over ten years ago after a battle with cancer and his sisters lived their own lives outside of Gotham. Though his youngest sister, Laverne, was returning home next week to stay with her brother and to make her permanent move back to Gotham.

[Deleted]

Jason looked at Barbara as she spoke to him.

“Look, I appreciate it…but I don’t need you. And don’t talk to me about personal. He’s my family…” Jason rolled his eyes at Barbara's stubbornness.

"Whatever. I'm not leaving." He observed the younger boy's clothing as Barbara spoke to him. He seemed to be wearing forty year old Harvey's clothes. He shot Bullock a look as he growled at him.

"I was at prom! I was dancing with Raquel Foreman. She... she kissed me. And then- and then I got punched by her idiot boyfriend. And then that alarm clock woke me up." Jason shot Barbara a worried look. It seemed that possibly Old Harvey and Young Harvey switched places in time. It would explain why Young Harvey would have the prom memories, but if this theory were true, Young Harvey wouldn't have Old Harvey's clothes on. Jason raised his eyebrows as he watched the young Bullock. He was obviously frightened. But Jason wasn't the comforting type of vigilante, that's Batgirl's job.

"Look, Bullock. You need to calm down. We aren't going to get anywhere if you have a panic attack." Sure, Jason's words were cold and harsh, but if they were going to get anywhere Harvey would have to calm down. Jason's heart broke at the next words the young Bullock spoke.

"I just want to go home. My Ma's house ain't there no more! Where's my Ma? Where's my sisters?" Jason tucked his head, trying to figure out his next words. He looked back at Bullock.

"Look, Harvey. I'm so sorry, but your family doesn't live here anymore. Your sisters moved away. Remember, you guys were adults. And your mom... Look, Harvey..." Jason put his hand on Bullock's shoulder. "I'm sorry, but... Ten years ago, your mother died of cancer." Jason choked back his tears. "But I want you to know, she died happily, with you beside her.

[Deleted]

She listened carefully to his speech, concerned and trying to be as consoling as possible. Not only was this her Momma Bull – a man who had gone through the efforts to help raise her – but he was genuinely shaken up. Batgirl could only imagine the stress of his day and waking up in a new place unsure of where he was. His story didn’t add up, and she wasn’t sure what exactly to say in reply – but couldn’t help to crack a smile at his surprise of being a cop. Little did he know, he was actually one of the best cops in the city who worked side by side with her father. Batgirl only wished that maybe it had been her unmasked self that had stumbled upon him, though she couldn’t risk exposing herself now.

Still a little annoyed that her – well, whatever Jason was to her anymore (it was all a bit confusing) – refused to leave the situation to her, Batgirl knew that they were going to have to work together as they had done many times before. Even to this day, Jason was never exactly good at well, putting things delicately. The moment he began to inform Harvey’s younger self of the death of his mother, she grabbed the masked man by the collar and ripped him away from Harvey mid-sentence. Speaking in a low, harsh voice so Harvey couldn’t hear, she hissed,” What do you think you are doing? The guy is heartbroken already; don’t let him know his mother is dead. And besides – what if he goes back to his own time with the knowledge that his mother’s life is on a timer quickly running out? That’s no way to live life. Take it easy."

“My friend here seems to have you mixed up with a different cop. I’m aware of your family status – you can say we have met before. Your sister, Laverne is a well-known Opera singer. She’s currently doing a tour in Europe and she had taken your mother along for the experience. In this time, you are the only Bullock living in Gotham City.” She attempted to smile reassuringly at him, unsure of what move to make next. Nothing about his story lead her to any clues or evidence that might help her solve this mystery. In all honesty – it was almost like magic.

[Deleted]

"Wait, what?"

Harvey looked awfully upset suddenly at the news of his mother. He also was upset his sisters weren't around. Laverne hadn't even been born yet, last he knew she was still a bump in his mother's belly. He looked at them both, confused.

Angry and upset the teenager slammed the door shut, tossing the wallet in the floor board of the passenger's seat. He turned the engine and it awakened gleefully for him. He threw it in reverse, narrowly dodging any obstacles in his way. He threw it back into drive and began to speed off. A few tears stained his eyes. He didn't like this. He just wanted to go home. As he began driving he didn't know where the hell he was going. Within a minute a pair of police cars spotted him and began chasing him. He was doing a good job at avoiding them until two more cut off the path ahead. He tried to turn down an alley but that was also blocked.

Harvey had to break hard to prevent the car from getting wrecked. Once he stopped several officers were already out of their squad cars and descending upon him. They instructed him to raise his hands and get out of the vehicle slowly. When he refused one pulled him out himself and slammed the teenager against the hood as they cuffed his wrists. They began to demand to know where Harvey was and who the hell he was. He just kept his mouth shut and spat a tiny little pat of blood on the hood. When they slammed him on it he bumped his nose hard enough for it to trickle a little bit of blood.

[Deleted]

Jason yelped as his... whatever his relationship with Barbara would be considered as... pulled him by the collar. He pulled her gloved hand off his collar and scowled. She was right, Jason shouldn't have brought it up, but lying to a confused, hormone fueled seventeen year old wasn't the best choice either. Jason turned back around and faced the wide-eyed teenager.

Red Hood guffawed quietly and rolled his eyes under his white-eyed domino mask as the beautiful young Bat tried to fix what Jason said. He could see it wasn't working. The younger teenage boy was trembling, and his eyes were getting puffy. This was not good.

Jason tried to catch the door as it slammed shut. He narrowly missed it, and stumbled as the car drove away. His eyes widened as he watched the car speed away, which was easily going 70 mph.

"Crap!"

He turned around and glanced at Barbara as he stood up and started sprinting towards the open side of the parking garage. He pulled on his crimson helmet and leaped out. It was four stories high, but Jason had jumped out of higher buildings. He launched a grapnel into a nearby building and began swinging. He let go of the line and free fell for a few seconds, before fiber steel wings came out of the back of his body armor. He grabbed the edge of the wings and began gliding. He followed closely to the car, having to use jet boosters a few times to keep up.

Jason cursed under his breath when he sighted the police cars tailing Bullock. He glanced down as Bullock's car almost crashed. He faced downwards, and the wind whipped around him as he plummeted towards the ground. He landed behind the officer pushing Bullock's head into the police car. He stood up and pressed the muzzle of his .45 pistol into the police man's head. This was a brave, and possibly stupid move, but Jason couldn't let Bullock be arrested, and he was pretty confident no one would shoot him while he had a gun pressed against the man's head.

[Deleted]

She could have punched Jason. Why did he have to be so stubborn? And now? His flaws could have possibly ruined everything. The disoriented, younger version of her Momma Bull sped away, but she was quick to follow. She was fully confident that if anyone could fix this, it was her. Following close behind Jason, she was practically horrified as she held the policeman at gunpoint. Having known the gentleman personally as ‘Babs’ she scowled in Jason’s direction and swore to get him back for this. She hoped he didn’t go through with it and harm the policeman, but she also didn’t want to associate herself with ‘Red Mask’. It was an internal struggle and at the end of the day it was Harvey that was her priority.

With the use of her trusty grappling hook, she used Jason’s distraction to her advantage. She jumped down into the scene, grabbed Bullock and shot the hook toward the nearest ledge on a rather tall building. Batgirl knew it might hurt the teen as she uncomfortably dragged his restrained form through the air. He was bound to be hysterical, but she was not willing to let him get captured, not like this. “Bull, you’ve got to calm down. I promise I am going to help you. I can get the cuffs off…” The hook carried their weight easily, getting them to the ledge so that they could easily climb on top of it. Once they were on top of the building, she moved toward him cautiously. “You want me to take them off right? Look, I have a key!”

She looked down to the scene before them, and then eyed the fire escape on the other end of the building. That would be far too obvious. They were going to have to travel by the roof tops in order to keep good time. Hopefully Jason would prove to be useful and keep the police at bay. She reached toward Harvey, wiping some of the blood and cupping his face. “It’s okay. We’re gonna figure this out okay?”

[Deleted]

The youth was quite frightened at the sight of the other young man pressing a pistol to the back of a police officer's head, even if the guy was arresting him. Harvey shouted no just as the girl came back into the situation. Mere seconds later he was whisked off and flying through the air and then kneeling on top of a building while she attempted to approach him.

He felt he could trust her. He just gave a single nod and allowed her to approach.

"How did you do all that?"

Once the cuffs were undone he pulled his white shirt up to wipe his nose, exposing that ridiculously defined torso of his for a brief moment.

"What's gonna happen? Where am I supposed to go? The police are after me because they think I probably kidnapped or killed...me."