Part One | Part Two| Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight | Part Nine | Part Ten | Part Eleven | Part Twelve|
Part Thirteen | Part Fourteen | Part Fifteen
Part Thirteen | Part Fourteen | Part Fifteen
There were always going to be times in Jim Gordon's life where he wouldn't quite know how to feel. This was definitely one of those times. He stood with his hands deep in his pant pockets, nervously rocking back and forth from his heels to his toes. It had been a few days since Batman was 'spotted' saving the Commissioner's life, and the Deputy Mayor claimed that Bruce Wayne was free to go. There was a lot to cover-up yet, like why Batman was taken into Arkham and Bruce Wayne freed? Well, with luck people would take Gordon's word over the two guards' words who had taken Batman in. Plus, the Batsuit wasn't in Arkham anymore, and there for no proof. In time people would just remember that Batman saved the commissioner and Bruce Wayne was falsely accused.
What mattered at this moment was that Wayne was finally going to to be set free from Arkham.
So why was Gordon so unsure of everything? It wasn't Wayne he was unsure of, in fact he was positive that the billionaire was perfectly sane. Gordon was unsure of what they would become after this, after everything that happened. It was so up in the air and Wayne, in the end, had the last word on the matter. A part of Gordon hoped that everything during Wayne's breakdown wasn't just the younger man's need for support and love. Gordon wanted Wayne for whatever reason he couldn't explain, even to himself. All he knew was that he needed the other man in his life, there was just this void that the other man filled.
At first Gordon thought that maybe it was the infatuation with Batman that made him feel this way, but it grew into something else – something real. But from the way Wayne handled himself the last couple days when Gordon came to meet with him on getting the paperwork done to get him out of Arkham, Gordon was sure that Wayne had no real interest. Or he was just damn good a playing games.
It made seeing the younger man a little bit unbearable. Gordon was afraid it would put a strain on his partnership with Batman as well. You'll just have to suck it up, Jim. Take one for team and move on. But moving on was difficult. Gordon cared for Wayne, in ways he thought should be illegal considering their age difference, considering he had once comforted Wayne as a boy. Considering Wayne was like a son to him. Gordon wanted to bash his head into the wall then, it was messed up notion to think of Wayne as kid and then see him as grown man, and want nothing else than to whisper dirty words to him and take advantage of him. Maybe Wayne would like it.
He probably wouldn't find out.
Two guards walked through the door with Wayne between them. For security reasons Wayne was cuffed until he was officially let go into Gordon's care. Wayne smirked at him as the guards left him there. The younger man motioned at the cuffs around his wrists, and Gordon pulled the key from his pocket, vaguely remembering just a few weeks ago having done this same thing, but under different circumstances. He almost regretted it then, but he regretted having to do it now, more.
He watched the cuffs fall off Wayne's unusually delicate looking wrists, watching as the billionaire rubbed his long fingers over each hand. Gordon hadn't meant to stare, and wasn't really aware he had been until Wayne reached out the same hand and touched Gordon's shoulder. He raised his eyebrows at Wayne as he lifted his head. Their eyes met – a long moment that felt like everything stopped for a split second, speeding back up to catch up with itself.
Wayne's eyes had an easy glow about them, relaxed and in control. “I don't know how you convinced Alfred to stay at the manor. I was sure he would come to pick me just to give me an earful about my behavior.”
“You might find that Alfred wasn't as worried about your actions as he was for your actual wellbeing,” Gordon replied, gesturing to the door where his car was parked. “But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared for the amount of words and language he might be likely to use.”
Wayne chuckled. “Thanks for the warning.”
Gordon unlocked the door and they slid into the car. The ride was in a comfortable silence, the radio providing some needed filler. It seemed Wayne had a lot on his mind, and every now and then Gordon would look out of the corner of his eye to see the younger man looking at him quizzically, as if trying to put together a puzzle and Gordon was the piece he couldn't quite fit.
“Something on your mind?” Gordon finally asked as they rounded the last curve before entering the gates of Wayne Manor. Wayne looked out the window, aware now that Gordon had been keeping an eye on him, even if he thought he wasn't being watched.
“Actually,” Wayne started to say as Gordon pulled into the driveway, “ there is.”
Gordon put the car in park, turning off the engine. He turned to Wayne, curiously. Gordon didn't say anything, not wanting to ruin whatever train of thought Wayne was having. Wayne scooted around in the seat until he was turned more towards Gordon, a serious and rather confused look on his face. Gordon could tell just by the look alone, that Wayne had been contemplating the same things Gordon himself had been for days now.
“Jim, I really want to make it clear that what happened during my... breakdown, that was –” Wayne was trying to explain, but Gordon cut him off before he could finish. These were words he didn't really want to hear, not if he already knew them.
“Stop. I know. It was a mistake to take things even as far as they went during that time. You weren't yourself and I was obviously trying whatever I could to help. I understand, Bruce,” Gordon explained, a little hurt in voice. He did understand though, because sometimes it was the way life dealt the cards. Gordon had never given a lot of hope to just one thing; the let down was far too painful.
Wayne smirked at hims slyly, narrowing his a bit on Gordon. “No, I don't think you do understand.”
“I don't think I'm following you then, Bruce,” Gordon said quietly. Before he could back up what he meant, Wayne had tugged on Gordon's tie and pulled him over the seat, their faces mashing together in a desperate attempt to sync their mouths as one. Finally, their lips fell into a steady pace, their tongues wrapped around each other in some hot, tangled mess. Wayne had a hand in Gordon's hair and one his hip, pulling the older man over the rest of the seat until he was straddling Wayne's lap.
Gordon pulled back, aware he hadn't really expected this of Wayne or himself, and looked the younger man in the eyes. Wayne's soul might as well have been spread open before him with just how open and honest he looked at Gordon just then. Complete trust. Wayne fingered the opening to Gordon's pocket and tugged on the handcuffs. Gordon wrinkled his eyebrows curiously.
“Use them,” Wayne said hoarsely, deep and wanting. Gordon pulled the cuffs out and flipped them open. He grabbed Wayne's hands and pulled them above his head and behind the headrest of the seat, linking them into place. Gordon then pulled the lever for the seat recline, and pushed it back a few inches for a more comfortable position. Wayne let out a ragged breath as Gordon scooted himself forward so that their hips were aligned, grinding against the younger man.
Gordon traced his fingers down to Wayne's hip bone, leaning his head down to the billionaire's ear. “What do you want, son? What do you need from me?” Gordon used a soft, seductive tone had hadn't used since he and Barbara were first married, and it felt new and exciting all over again to use it. Wayne's pupils dilated, cheeks slightly flushed. Gordon hitched a thumb into either side of the rim of the sweats that Wayne was wearing, and pulled them down just a few inches, caressing his hips with his fingertips.
Wayne bucked his hips in anticipation. “Punishment.”
-----
They managed to sneak into the house with Alfred or Dick noticing. Wayne quietly made his way up the stairs to his bedroom to change and Gordon attempted to make himself more presentable in the downstairs guest bathroom. When both were done they met at the bottom of the stairs and made their way into the living room where Dick and Alfred were talking. Alfred looked up, ready to stand but Wayne raised his hand and the older gentleman sat back down.
“We were expecting you quite a bit sooner, did everything go alright at Arkham?” Alfred asked, giving Gordon and then Wayne a once over.
“Everything went fine, we just... got a little waylaid,” Wayne explained as he took a seat in a chair across from the sofa. Gordon took the other next to Wayne's. A long silence between the four of them stretched for what felt like hours, but then Gordon found it himself to bring up a matter he had been wanting to discuss with Dick for the past few days.
“So, Dick,” Gordon started to say, pushing himself forward so that his elbows rested on his knees, hands clasped together. “How long as you staying in town?”
The young man raised an eyebrow, as if unaware that he would be discussing this today, let alone with Gordon. “Oh, I'm not sure. I haven't anywhere to be. My acts washed up and teaching, like I told you, is just not my thing. I might stick around here until Bruce kicks me out again.”
“I did not kick you out last time,” Wayne shot back, but he had a grin on his face that suggested that he knew Dick was teasing. “You can stay as long as you like. In fact, I'd like it if you stayed indefinitely.”
“Indefinitely?” Dick asked, looking over at Gordon to see if he had any idea what Wayne was talking about. Gordon shrugged.
Wayne nodded. “Stick around, you know. I have more than enough rooms in this house. And... You are pretty handy in the Batsuit.”
“Excuse me?” Dick was still shocked, maybe he was understanding what Wayne was asking, but he seemed completely in denial.
“You aren't going to make this easy, are you?” Wayne asked with a sighed. He stood from his seat, walking over to Dick and putting his hand out to him. “I think if I had someone to back me up, to watch my back every night, that things would run more smoothly. That maybe this incident won't happen again. I want you to be my partner.”
Now this, Gordon hadn't expected. Batman was most often a loner, someone who did things himself and by himself. Sometimes with Gordon's help, but that was never often. Gordon was quite proud, actually, that Wayne had been able to admit after everything that happened, that he needed some kind of help.
“I don't know...two Batman's?” Dick asked, looking at Wayne's outstretched hand warily. Wayne didn't move, standing his ground until Dick gave in. Finally, the younger man took Wayne's hand in a firm shake. “I want a different name and a different suit.”
“Done,” Wayne said as they dropped their hands. Gordon gestured his head to Dick.
“You know, there's also an opening in the police academy right now, I can pull a few strings. I think you'd be really good at it,” Gordon said, and Dick looked at him with a grin.
“Not quite the circus I'm used to, but okay. Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks, Jim.” Dick replied, a smirk showing up on his face as he nodded a little. Things were starting to take place, certain pieces fitting together in all their lives.
“Oh, it's a circus,” Gordon commented with a slight nod of his head, understandingly. “But the clowns you're used to are nothing compared to the clowns you'll meet on the streets of Gotham.”
-----
It took a few months but Gotham City had another election for Mayor. The Deputy Mayor stepped down, not wanting to take the responsibility into his own hands. Once the new mayor was elected, Bruce decided to face down his demons he had in the past and throw the new mayor a party. He wasn't worried this time around about anything going wrong. He had Dick to back him up and Jim Gordon, as well. If anything did happen, no one was likely to get hurt this time.
The new mayor was Maria Sueltz, the first female Mayor for Gotham City, and definitely in need of party. And who better than Bruce Wayne to throw one. This one was not going to be a masquerade, because Bruce was particularly done with masks outside of his night job. It was going to be a simple party, simple decorations with lavish food, champagne and sparking juice for the under-aged young adults attending.
Bruce waited by the door with Dick next to him. It had been weird at first to introduce Dick to people, as a lot thought that Bruce had finally come out of the closet and that Dick Grayson was his lover. After a few weeks of the press running false stories, Bruce finally cleared the issue up and explained that Dick Grayson, a long time family friend, was a new business partner and was staying at Wayne Manor until everything was settled.
Jim Gordon's car pulled up and Bruce stuck his head out the door eagerly. Gordon walked up the steps with his daughter, Babs, clinging to his arm. He was dressed in his nicest tux and she was wearing a beautiful purple evenings gown. It was still an hour or so before the party was going to start, but Gordon had promised to come early in order to help Bruce and Dick walk the perimeter of the house and be sure all the security cameras were working and the alarms were set.
Bruce hadn't seen Babs since the masquerade ball, she looked as if she had grown since then, older and more mature looking than she had the first time he met her. He put his hand out to her and he bent and kissed it, just as he had at the ball. She smiled at him, but this time her eyes met with Dick's and she flushed a crimson red. Bruce raised an eyebrow at Gordon, who was rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
“Dick, this Barbara Gordon, the commissioner's daughter,” Bruce said as he introduced the two. Dick took Babs' hand and smiled a lopsided grin at her. This time it was Bruce's turn to roll his eyes. He wanted to mention something about the age difference between them, but then he looked at Gordon and felt rather hypocritical.
“Barbara, can I take you on a tour?” Dick asked as the young girl looped her arm around his.
“That would be lovely,” she replied, looking back at Gordon with a giddy grin on her face.
Bruce fold his arms over his chest and looked at Gordon pointedly. “You aren't worried about them?”
Gordon shrugged. “Babs lives in Bludhaven now with her mother. That's a good hour from here. And she's seventeen now and I trust she'll make the right decisions.” He looked at Bruce and smiled. “And I trust, Dick. He knows there are limits and he knows the law.” Gordon moved closer to Bruce, putting his hands on either side of the billionaire's strong arms. Gordon pushed Bruce back into the wall and kissed him hard.
Bruce let out a soft moan when Gordon pulled back. “What was that for?”
“To get you to stop worrying,” Gordon answered softly. They heard footsteps and Dick and Babs walked back towards them, neither of them surprised.
“Are you two coming or not?” Dick asked as he gestured his head towards the back patio. Bruce and Gordon walked up beside them, and Dick leaned towards Bruce and whispered; “Someone has to chaperon you two.”
What mattered at this moment was that Wayne was finally going to to be set free from Arkham.
So why was Gordon so unsure of everything? It wasn't Wayne he was unsure of, in fact he was positive that the billionaire was perfectly sane. Gordon was unsure of what they would become after this, after everything that happened. It was so up in the air and Wayne, in the end, had the last word on the matter. A part of Gordon hoped that everything during Wayne's breakdown wasn't just the younger man's need for support and love. Gordon wanted Wayne for whatever reason he couldn't explain, even to himself. All he knew was that he needed the other man in his life, there was just this void that the other man filled.
At first Gordon thought that maybe it was the infatuation with Batman that made him feel this way, but it grew into something else – something real. But from the way Wayne handled himself the last couple days when Gordon came to meet with him on getting the paperwork done to get him out of Arkham, Gordon was sure that Wayne had no real interest. Or he was just damn good a playing games.
It made seeing the younger man a little bit unbearable. Gordon was afraid it would put a strain on his partnership with Batman as well. You'll just have to suck it up, Jim. Take one for team and move on. But moving on was difficult. Gordon cared for Wayne, in ways he thought should be illegal considering their age difference, considering he had once comforted Wayne as a boy. Considering Wayne was like a son to him. Gordon wanted to bash his head into the wall then, it was messed up notion to think of Wayne as kid and then see him as grown man, and want nothing else than to whisper dirty words to him and take advantage of him. Maybe Wayne would like it.
He probably wouldn't find out.
Two guards walked through the door with Wayne between them. For security reasons Wayne was cuffed until he was officially let go into Gordon's care. Wayne smirked at him as the guards left him there. The younger man motioned at the cuffs around his wrists, and Gordon pulled the key from his pocket, vaguely remembering just a few weeks ago having done this same thing, but under different circumstances. He almost regretted it then, but he regretted having to do it now, more.
He watched the cuffs fall off Wayne's unusually delicate looking wrists, watching as the billionaire rubbed his long fingers over each hand. Gordon hadn't meant to stare, and wasn't really aware he had been until Wayne reached out the same hand and touched Gordon's shoulder. He raised his eyebrows at Wayne as he lifted his head. Their eyes met – a long moment that felt like everything stopped for a split second, speeding back up to catch up with itself.
Wayne's eyes had an easy glow about them, relaxed and in control. “I don't know how you convinced Alfred to stay at the manor. I was sure he would come to pick me just to give me an earful about my behavior.”
“You might find that Alfred wasn't as worried about your actions as he was for your actual wellbeing,” Gordon replied, gesturing to the door where his car was parked. “But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared for the amount of words and language he might be likely to use.”
Wayne chuckled. “Thanks for the warning.”
Gordon unlocked the door and they slid into the car. The ride was in a comfortable silence, the radio providing some needed filler. It seemed Wayne had a lot on his mind, and every now and then Gordon would look out of the corner of his eye to see the younger man looking at him quizzically, as if trying to put together a puzzle and Gordon was the piece he couldn't quite fit.
“Something on your mind?” Gordon finally asked as they rounded the last curve before entering the gates of Wayne Manor. Wayne looked out the window, aware now that Gordon had been keeping an eye on him, even if he thought he wasn't being watched.
“Actually,” Wayne started to say as Gordon pulled into the driveway, “ there is.”
Gordon put the car in park, turning off the engine. He turned to Wayne, curiously. Gordon didn't say anything, not wanting to ruin whatever train of thought Wayne was having. Wayne scooted around in the seat until he was turned more towards Gordon, a serious and rather confused look on his face. Gordon could tell just by the look alone, that Wayne had been contemplating the same things Gordon himself had been for days now.
“Jim, I really want to make it clear that what happened during my... breakdown, that was –” Wayne was trying to explain, but Gordon cut him off before he could finish. These were words he didn't really want to hear, not if he already knew them.
“Stop. I know. It was a mistake to take things even as far as they went during that time. You weren't yourself and I was obviously trying whatever I could to help. I understand, Bruce,” Gordon explained, a little hurt in voice. He did understand though, because sometimes it was the way life dealt the cards. Gordon had never given a lot of hope to just one thing; the let down was far too painful.
Wayne smirked at hims slyly, narrowing his a bit on Gordon. “No, I don't think you do understand.”
“I don't think I'm following you then, Bruce,” Gordon said quietly. Before he could back up what he meant, Wayne had tugged on Gordon's tie and pulled him over the seat, their faces mashing together in a desperate attempt to sync their mouths as one. Finally, their lips fell into a steady pace, their tongues wrapped around each other in some hot, tangled mess. Wayne had a hand in Gordon's hair and one his hip, pulling the older man over the rest of the seat until he was straddling Wayne's lap.
Gordon pulled back, aware he hadn't really expected this of Wayne or himself, and looked the younger man in the eyes. Wayne's soul might as well have been spread open before him with just how open and honest he looked at Gordon just then. Complete trust. Wayne fingered the opening to Gordon's pocket and tugged on the handcuffs. Gordon wrinkled his eyebrows curiously.
“Use them,” Wayne said hoarsely, deep and wanting. Gordon pulled the cuffs out and flipped them open. He grabbed Wayne's hands and pulled them above his head and behind the headrest of the seat, linking them into place. Gordon then pulled the lever for the seat recline, and pushed it back a few inches for a more comfortable position. Wayne let out a ragged breath as Gordon scooted himself forward so that their hips were aligned, grinding against the younger man.
Gordon traced his fingers down to Wayne's hip bone, leaning his head down to the billionaire's ear. “What do you want, son? What do you need from me?” Gordon used a soft, seductive tone had hadn't used since he and Barbara were first married, and it felt new and exciting all over again to use it. Wayne's pupils dilated, cheeks slightly flushed. Gordon hitched a thumb into either side of the rim of the sweats that Wayne was wearing, and pulled them down just a few inches, caressing his hips with his fingertips.
Wayne bucked his hips in anticipation. “Punishment.”
-----
They managed to sneak into the house with Alfred or Dick noticing. Wayne quietly made his way up the stairs to his bedroom to change and Gordon attempted to make himself more presentable in the downstairs guest bathroom. When both were done they met at the bottom of the stairs and made their way into the living room where Dick and Alfred were talking. Alfred looked up, ready to stand but Wayne raised his hand and the older gentleman sat back down.
“We were expecting you quite a bit sooner, did everything go alright at Arkham?” Alfred asked, giving Gordon and then Wayne a once over.
“Everything went fine, we just... got a little waylaid,” Wayne explained as he took a seat in a chair across from the sofa. Gordon took the other next to Wayne's. A long silence between the four of them stretched for what felt like hours, but then Gordon found it himself to bring up a matter he had been wanting to discuss with Dick for the past few days.
“So, Dick,” Gordon started to say, pushing himself forward so that his elbows rested on his knees, hands clasped together. “How long as you staying in town?”
The young man raised an eyebrow, as if unaware that he would be discussing this today, let alone with Gordon. “Oh, I'm not sure. I haven't anywhere to be. My acts washed up and teaching, like I told you, is just not my thing. I might stick around here until Bruce kicks me out again.”
“I did not kick you out last time,” Wayne shot back, but he had a grin on his face that suggested that he knew Dick was teasing. “You can stay as long as you like. In fact, I'd like it if you stayed indefinitely.”
“Indefinitely?” Dick asked, looking over at Gordon to see if he had any idea what Wayne was talking about. Gordon shrugged.
Wayne nodded. “Stick around, you know. I have more than enough rooms in this house. And... You are pretty handy in the Batsuit.”
“Excuse me?” Dick was still shocked, maybe he was understanding what Wayne was asking, but he seemed completely in denial.
“You aren't going to make this easy, are you?” Wayne asked with a sighed. He stood from his seat, walking over to Dick and putting his hand out to him. “I think if I had someone to back me up, to watch my back every night, that things would run more smoothly. That maybe this incident won't happen again. I want you to be my partner.”
Now this, Gordon hadn't expected. Batman was most often a loner, someone who did things himself and by himself. Sometimes with Gordon's help, but that was never often. Gordon was quite proud, actually, that Wayne had been able to admit after everything that happened, that he needed some kind of help.
“I don't know...two Batman's?” Dick asked, looking at Wayne's outstretched hand warily. Wayne didn't move, standing his ground until Dick gave in. Finally, the younger man took Wayne's hand in a firm shake. “I want a different name and a different suit.”
“Done,” Wayne said as they dropped their hands. Gordon gestured his head to Dick.
“You know, there's also an opening in the police academy right now, I can pull a few strings. I think you'd be really good at it,” Gordon said, and Dick looked at him with a grin.
“Not quite the circus I'm used to, but okay. Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks, Jim.” Dick replied, a smirk showing up on his face as he nodded a little. Things were starting to take place, certain pieces fitting together in all their lives.
“Oh, it's a circus,” Gordon commented with a slight nod of his head, understandingly. “But the clowns you're used to are nothing compared to the clowns you'll meet on the streets of Gotham.”
-----
It took a few months but Gotham City had another election for Mayor. The Deputy Mayor stepped down, not wanting to take the responsibility into his own hands. Once the new mayor was elected, Bruce decided to face down his demons he had in the past and throw the new mayor a party. He wasn't worried this time around about anything going wrong. He had Dick to back him up and Jim Gordon, as well. If anything did happen, no one was likely to get hurt this time.
The new mayor was Maria Sueltz, the first female Mayor for Gotham City, and definitely in need of party. And who better than Bruce Wayne to throw one. This one was not going to be a masquerade, because Bruce was particularly done with masks outside of his night job. It was going to be a simple party, simple decorations with lavish food, champagne and sparking juice for the under-aged young adults attending.
Bruce waited by the door with Dick next to him. It had been weird at first to introduce Dick to people, as a lot thought that Bruce had finally come out of the closet and that Dick Grayson was his lover. After a few weeks of the press running false stories, Bruce finally cleared the issue up and explained that Dick Grayson, a long time family friend, was a new business partner and was staying at Wayne Manor until everything was settled.
Jim Gordon's car pulled up and Bruce stuck his head out the door eagerly. Gordon walked up the steps with his daughter, Babs, clinging to his arm. He was dressed in his nicest tux and she was wearing a beautiful purple evenings gown. It was still an hour or so before the party was going to start, but Gordon had promised to come early in order to help Bruce and Dick walk the perimeter of the house and be sure all the security cameras were working and the alarms were set.
Bruce hadn't seen Babs since the masquerade ball, she looked as if she had grown since then, older and more mature looking than she had the first time he met her. He put his hand out to her and he bent and kissed it, just as he had at the ball. She smiled at him, but this time her eyes met with Dick's and she flushed a crimson red. Bruce raised an eyebrow at Gordon, who was rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
“Dick, this Barbara Gordon, the commissioner's daughter,” Bruce said as he introduced the two. Dick took Babs' hand and smiled a lopsided grin at her. This time it was Bruce's turn to roll his eyes. He wanted to mention something about the age difference between them, but then he looked at Gordon and felt rather hypocritical.
“Barbara, can I take you on a tour?” Dick asked as the young girl looped her arm around his.
“That would be lovely,” she replied, looking back at Gordon with a giddy grin on her face.
Bruce fold his arms over his chest and looked at Gordon pointedly. “You aren't worried about them?”
Gordon shrugged. “Babs lives in Bludhaven now with her mother. That's a good hour from here. And she's seventeen now and I trust she'll make the right decisions.” He looked at Bruce and smiled. “And I trust, Dick. He knows there are limits and he knows the law.” Gordon moved closer to Bruce, putting his hands on either side of the billionaire's strong arms. Gordon pushed Bruce back into the wall and kissed him hard.
Bruce let out a soft moan when Gordon pulled back. “What was that for?”
“To get you to stop worrying,” Gordon answered softly. They heard footsteps and Dick and Babs walked back towards them, neither of them surprised.
“Are you two coming or not?” Dick asked as he gestured his head towards the back patio. Bruce and Gordon walked up beside them, and Dick leaned towards Bruce and whispered; “Someone has to chaperon you two.”