Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Reliance
Part Three
written by destinyawakened
“That was cruel. Even for you,” Alfred said to Bruce as he walked out of the guest room and started down the hall, the butler close behind. Bruce turned his head enough to shoot Alfred a glare of annoyance. “He's drunk and you're going to take anything he says or asks as absolute?”
“He's not that drunk. And he said yes to trip far before he started to drink.” Bruce explained as he stepped into his own room and began to peel off layers of clothing. He toed off his shoes, threw his tie on the ground, unbuttoned his shirt and wiggled out of his slacks before plopping face first down onto his bed of black one-hundred percent, six-hundred thread count, cotton sheets. Alfred was close behind him, picking up the clothes as he went.
“He's passed out in the guest room. If that isn't drunk I don't know what is!” Alfred proclaimed picking up the last of the clothing, standing at just the edge of Bruce's bed impatiently. Bruce rolled to his back and stared at Alfred uncomfortably, looking away again because he didn't want to see the disappointment in the older man's eyes.
“Alfred,” Bruce started to say, a softening in his voice, but when he had finally looked to the butler, Alfred was gone. Bruce wished that Alfred understood better, because Bruce was starting to see things in a haze and something inside him was making him very confused. Stick to the plan, Bruce thought as he threw an arm over his eyes lazily. He could go out tonight, could check in on the bombing earlier this week, but he was so tired and he ached at every stitch Alfred had recently taken out from his clash with the Joker and Dent. Maybe if he slept for just a little while he could wake up feeling less confused and more revived.
-----
Step Six: Become More
Aside from waking up at Wayne's penthouse a little frazzled and little hungover, Gordon didn't mind. He wasn't so drunk that he couldn't remember what happened or what was said. In fact, he was pretty sure he saw past a defense Wayne often had up with everyone. It might have been brief – a split second at most – but Gordon saw it, and that's what mattered. There was so much to the younger man than met the eyes; so much that couldn't be taken in with one sitting. Gordon saw this as a challenge, that Wayne was someone he had to fight to get to know on a personal, trusting level; even when the billionaire was being open and honest, Gordon knew there was more.
Which was leading him to believe that he might have been developing a bit of a crush on Wayne. Maybe not a crush – crushes were for teenage kids – but he was definitely starting to feel something other than friendly emotions towards the playboy. Gordon wasn't sure if it was just him, or if Wayne perhaps had same feelings. Gordon was determined to find out that weekend, one way or another.
-----
Bruce convinced Mayor Garcia that the trip was purely business related and that Jim Gordon was needed to attend the conference on new bio-technologies that might be useful for the GCPD. Bruce made up most of the information, he wasn't sure if anything like that actually existed. He'd worry about Garcia finding out later – if Garcia found out, and that wasn't too likely.
The limo was parked outside of Gordon's apartment building, waiting. Bruce was sitting in the back making last minute dinner reservations for a restaurant near the Ritz. The door to Bruce's left finally opened and Gordon slid into the seat next to Bruce, looking flustered. Bruce closed his phone, pocketing it, and smiled welcomely at the older man.
“Sorry, thought I had everything taken care of at MCU, but Garcia insisted that I go over regulations with Stephen's before I left. I don't know if leaving him in charge was a good idea...” Gordon began to ramble on, and Bruce placed his hand on the commissioner's shoulder to calm him.
“Jim, stop worrying. Leave work in Gotham,” Bruce said without trying to sound too stern, but also didn't want to sound as if he were joking. Gordon seemed to get the message, nodding and quickly switched his cell phone off. Bruce smiled at him encouragingly.
Gordon was quiet, as if he were either afraid to talk or had more on this mind than he cared to let on. Bruce prodded him a little. “I know I said no talking about work, but there has to be something new going on?” Asking without asking; very tactful, Bruce.
Gordon sighed and leaned his head back into the seat. “Barbara called this afternoon. Didn't think I'd hear from her again for a long time. It's only been a few months. I hear her voice and it feels like a floodgate's opened back up and I swear she's right next me.” Gordon adjusted his glasses, letting out an annoyed sigh. “She didn't even want anything – just to tell me the kids were fine.”
Bruce felt his blood begin to boil; this was not what he needed to deal with right now. Barbara Gordon needed to stay out of Gordon's life and stop toying with him. It just meant Bruce's plan might be a bit harder to achieve. Maybe. Right now, he needed to stay focused and try to get Gordon back on track. Bruce contemplated his move carefully. He slid his fingers across the rich leather seat until they just barely touched the other man hand. On instinct, Gordon's rough fingers wrapped around Bruce's long, slender ones.
“I know it's silly, a man my age getting sentimental about his ex-wife...” Gordon was struggling to talk, and Bruce knew it was probably more than the man's ex-wife he was thinking, but also his children. “It's hard to come home every night and have nothing.”
“You have more than you realize,” Bruce said softly, inching closer to Gordon. He started to feel the warmth growing in his chest again, the feeling that he might be happy... but that wasn't logical; Bruce was never happy anymore and all this was just another priority – another job. Just keep lying, Bruce.
Gordon swiveled his head just enough to where his eyes caught Bruce's – a dangerous sort of look behind the pale blue, mounting into something all together provocative. Bruce held his breath to keep the warmth in his chest from spreading, his head growing lighter with anticipation. He wasn't supposed to feel this way; he wasn't supposed to feel at all.
There was a hesitation on Bruce's part, where he felt he might be going to far. In the back of his mind the words of Alfred kept playing his mind about how someone was going to get hurt. He didn't need to be thinking about that now; he needed to get a grip of his feelings. Bruce felt his mind buzz and his heart pound in his chest. His eyes unfocused, looking past Gordon's glasses and deeper into the older man's soul, aware that Gordon was doing the same.
Bruce didn't feel himself move, the control of his own limbs were taken over by a needy haste. A split second reaction and his lips were pressed tightly against Gordon's. Bruce was sure the older man would attempt to push him away, but Gordon was dragging him in closer by the lapels of the his jacket, gnashing their teeth together in a heated frenzy.
A moan managed its way out of Bruce's mouth as he slid his hands down the curve of Gordon's spine – feeling every ridge – and around his waist. Gordon moved his hips with the motion of Bruce's hands as they wandered down to Gordon's buttocks. The older man man let out an exasperated groan. Bruce pushed Gordon into the seat, crawling on top of him. Bruce was vaguely unaware of how he was going to control himself; he'd already lost himself to the warmth laying below him, sandwiched between the seat and Bruce. The billionaire pulled away, hand on Gordon's tie, loosening the knot.
“This is crazy,” Gordon muttered under his quickened breath, eyes gazing up at Bruce in a haze of lust. Where Bruce thought for sure there would be questions and doubt from the commissioner, there was nothing but a willingly open soul, waiting for him to say what it was he wanted. Bruce could see Gordon trusted him completely. This is what you wanted, isn't it, Bruce? It was, but he didn't want to feel any of it, he wanted to mask it all away, pretend as he usually did with every other companion he took bed. He'd only openly loved on other person, and she had only been dead for a few months. So how was it Bruce was so able to move on now? A month ago his heart still ached at the thought of Rachel, at the mention of her name. Maybe it was the same for Jim Gordon and his ex-wife. Maybe they both needed this – needed someone.
No, Bruce thought, you won't get attached. He could control himself. He could. Feelings and attachment were not part of the plan.
You could let go for just a while, Bruce. She would have wanted you to be happy. That nagging voice in the back of his mind – the conscience he wished he didn't have right then – was verifying his actions, telling him everything he was feeling was right. There was no point in trying to fight it.
“Maybe a little,” Bruce said roughly after a few long seconds. He dipped his head to the commissioner's neck, licking the bitter taste of cologne and sweat. He could smell the intense testosterone fuming from the older man's sweat glands. Bruce pressed his forehead against Gordon's and tried contemplated his next move.
Gordon was looking him over pressingly, his mouth slightly open and Bruce found he wanted to kiss him again. Gordon let out a dithered sigh, Bruce's lips latching onto the commissioner's softly. Bruce moved his tongue slowly around the commissioner's mouth, bound to find each little piece of him. Bruce had to know each aspect, each underlying bit of information that made Gordon just so irresistible. And just exactly what it was that made Bruce lose himself.
Bruce pulled back, a rush of heat to his head made him gasp out, Gordon's sturdy holding him tighter to him. Bruce forced his eyes open. Gordon had taken his glasses off, his eyes bearing the willingness to continue. Bruce was tempted, but he knew that taking it this far might be more than pushing the consequences to come.
“What does this mean... for us?” Gordon asked, a shake in his voice. Bruce swallowed, his heart still racing in his chest; he hated that Gordon was making him lose control of everything. This was not like him. He tried to find control of voice, turning it into a tone that used so often when he was on the prowl to seduce.
“Whatever you want it to mean,” Bruce replied. A bell going off in the back of Bruce's mind told him he actually meant it and that he needed to stop, but there wasn't any stopping and Bruce assured the warning that everything was going to work to his advantage.
-----
Gordon stared at the single penthouse suite and then back to Wayne. The bellhop dropped their bags by the front door and Wayne slipped the man a fifty. Gordon stepped down into the den of the suite, noticing the built in hot tub in the middle of the room. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever dream of staying in a hotel this nice. Wayne closed the door behind them, walking up to Gordon's side. There was an odd tension in the air suddenly, and Gordon knew it had to do with the room. He turned his head to Wayne and looked at him pointedly.
“There's one bed,” Gordon stated. Wayne promptly plastered an innocent smile on his face.
“I booked a single before I asked you to come. I called an changed the reservations to a double, but it looks like they were... occupied.” Wayne explained as he walked into the living room portion of the suite, checking out all the amenities. Gordon followed behind him a tad reluctantly. Wayne started to peel his jacket off, throwing it onto the back of the sofa and then working the knot in his tie loose enough to pull over his head, and tossed it as well to the sofa. Gordon couldn't help but watch, especially after their hormone raged make-out fest in the back of the limo on the way to the hotel. He found he longed to take the stark white, button-up shirt off the billionaire and see what was beneath.
God, when did he become such a horny teenager again? When Bruce Wayne started showing you the least bit of attention. And who wouldn't want that? A man of Wayne stature, nature and class rarely showed anyone but those at his level the kind of the attention Gordon was receiving. But, it wasn't just about that, it was that Wayne was a different person than he let on and Gordon was slowly seeing all those parts coming together.
It didn't helped that Wayne was gut wrenchingly good-looking. Gordon watched as Wayne unbutton his the cuffs of his shirt, rolling up his sleeves and then preceded to undo the first three button on the shirt. He toed his shoes off next to the sofa, reaching for his belt when Gordon had had about enough. He took the ten steps between them, grabbed Wayne's face into his hands, and kissed him harder than he could ever remember kissing anyone before. Wayne let out surprised moan into Gordon's mouth, wrapping his arms tightly around the older man.
Gordon went for Wayne's waistband, removing the rest of the belt and untucking the shirt. His hands made good time in reaching for the rest of the buttons on the shirt, hastily pushing it down Wayne's arms, feeling the softness of his skin, and the odd knotted pieces of skin that felt like bad scarring. He pulled his lips from Wayne's, kissing down the playboy's fully exposed neck. His hands ran down Wayne's smooth torso, feeling each rigid, toned muscle as they twitched at his touch. Gordon let up, taking a seat on the sofa, hands on Wayne's hips. Wayne was watching him intently, his hazel eyes searching for what looked like an answer, but showing all the raw need built up in him.
The sight before Gordon was a beautifully toned, tanned young man, and the scarring Gordon thought he felt were actually there, some pink a probably just months old.. He didn't ask and didn't really want to know right then. Wayne was dropping every defense Gordon had ever known he had, letting the older man take control of the situation – letting him take what he wanted. Gordon unbutton Wayne's slacks and let them fall around the younger man's ankles. He took the rim of Wayne' boxers and pushed them to the floor as well, leaving the billionaire complete naked in front of him.
Wayne mumbled something that Gordon ignored, his eyes soaking in every last inch of bare skin. Gordon grabbed hold of Wayne's hard cock, giving it a few leisurely strokes. Wayne's eyes drifted closed, his head bowed slightly, teeth gritted. He reached out one hand to rest on Gordon's shoulder, to steady himself. Gordon wasn't sure he remembered how to do this, it having been quite some time since police academy. Maybe if he just started it would just come back naturally...He used his free hand to grab a hold of Bruce's buttocks, pulling him closer. Gordon wrapped his mouth around Wayne's cock, dipping his head down over the length.
“Jesus...” Wayne moaned, fingernails grasping holding of Gordon's shirt, while the billionaire's other hand found its way into Gordon's hair, pushing and pulling his head against Wayne's cock. Gordon swirled his tongue around the head of the playboy's penis, hand working the entire length with long, fluid strokes. Wayne started to buck his hips into Gordon's face, which turned Gordon on even more. He grasped Wayne's cock harder, tugging gently with each pull.
A strangled groan escaped Wayne's mouth, and Gordon's felt the younger man's whole body go rigid. Gordon held Wayne tighter to him as he came, allowing the billionaire to finish completely in his mouth, taking it down without much thought. Gordon pulled back, one hand still at the base of Wayne's cock, the other resting on his hip. Wayne was staring down at him, completely flushed. He had a few stray hairs resting across his forehead, mouth slightly agape, panting. Wayne reached for Gordon's tie, folding down into squatting position in front of Gordon.
“Mine,” he growled ravenously, pulling Gordon forward by his tie and into another kiss.
-----
Bruce wasn't sure how it happened, even still. He had told himself that it shouldn't have happened at all. Gordon made the first move and when he was staring up at Bruce with those liquid blue eyes – full of want and need – Bruce lost all thought of what was right and what wrong. It wasn't wrong, though. It felt incredibly right.
What felt wrong was that Bruce knew it wasn't in his plan and it now threw everything off track. He'd have to remedy this as soon as they were back in Gotham. Bruce sat back in the hot tub, arms up on the ledge. Gordon was out on the balcony smoking a cigarette, wearing only a blue satin bathrobe. He was staring at Bruce with an intense glare; their eyes locked. Bruce had a feeling – a deep, down cold feeling – that he was actually falling for Jim Gordon. And there was nothing he could do about it.
The glass door opened and closed. Gordon walked in, taking his glasses off, placing them down on the table by the door, and walked to the tub, staring down at Bruce. Bruce sighed, laying his head back on the ledge. Gordon walked over to the couch and picked up his boxers and pulled them on. He then made his way to the bed and sat down on th edge. Bruce finally pulled himself out of the water, grabbing the towel he left on the floor and began to pat dry.
He wasn't completely unaware that Gordon was watching him. Bruce ran the towel through his hair and Gordon spoke. “I warn you, I'm a light sleeper.”
Bruce laughed, throwing the towel onto the floor by the bathroom. He walked over to the bed, pulling the sheets back and giving Gordon and mischievous grin. “And I warn you, I sleep naked.” He then slid in between the sheet.
----
Gordon thought that maybe this was all happening for a reason. Two very lost souls meeting in the middle. Gordon had learned from a few conversations with Wayne that he and Rachel Dawes had been very close, and her death had hit him harder than he would admit to anyone outside of Alfred and Gordon. It made Gordon feel that he was closer to Wayne in just one more similarity.
The way back to Gotham was filled with a few mixed emotions for Gordon, as he had started to noticed t the faint scars along Bruce's torso and back, some looked like ravenous dog bites and others looked like knife and bullet wounds. Gordon had seen them all in his line of work, and he wondered just what sorts of extracurricular activities Bruce participated in. Some of the more haphazard looking scars looked at least a few months old, as they were still pretty pink around the edges. Gordon hadn't asked about them, maybe Wayne had stopped whatever it was he had been getting into. As long as no new injuries occurred, Gordon was sure Wayne had stopped. He filed away that bit of information tot he back of his mind, he was sure it would be more important later.
They arrived that evening at Wayne's penthouse. Wayne said he needed to change out of his suit after the limo ride, and Gordon took the few minutes to go out on to balcony to smoke a cigarette. He stood with his elbows on the railing and cigarette between his thumb and forefinger of his right hand. The sounds of traffic below in the city brought his mind back to work, back to criminals... back to Batman. He leaned his head into his left hand, taking a drag of the cigarette, and sighed heavily. Sometimes he wished he didn't let Batman take the fall for everything that happened; it wasn't fair. Maybe that was why he kept thinking about it. A man who gave up everything he stood for to take a blame for another man who fell completely down the wrong path. If only he could talk to Batman again, know everything was fine... that Batman hadn't fled the city or worse, was dead. He doubted the later, it just seemed so unlikely, and his mind kept telling him that he would have known if Batman had died. Maybe that was because...
“What's on your mind, Jim?” Wayne said from behind him. Gordon took one last drag on the cigarette and then flicked it over the side of the balcony. He turned around, leaning his elbows back against the rail. Wayne was wearing a pair of blue jeans, a white t-shirt and nothing on his feet. Gordon sighed, a smirk spreading across his lips. He didn't know how it happened, but he had managed to get himself into a relationship with Bruce Wayne. He liked it though, there was just something admirable about Wayne, even if he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
“Lots. Mostly just getting my mind back into work,” Gordon said, watching as Bruce made his way over to him. Bruce stood in front of him, leaning over and putting his hands on the rail at either side of Gordon. They were just about nose to nose now, and Gordon could feel Wayne's breath softly tickle the hairs of his mustache. He breathed in instinctively, smelling unusual mix mint and the strawberry sparkling water Wayne had earlier.
“Already?” Wayne asked, whispering into Gordon's ear, his lips caressing the outside of the lobe softly. Gordon shivered, closing his eyes at the sensation. “I thought for sure I'd have you for a few more hours.”
Gordon felt his breath hitch in his throat and then the touch of Wayne's lips against his throat, licking the soft spot between his neck and jaw. “You do... you're very good at distracting... me.” Wayne snaked a hand up Gordon's spine, to his neck, to his hair, pulling gently.
“Do you trust me?” Wayne asked into Gordon's ear. That was a question Gordon had no trouble answering, because somewhere in the last month he'd found he almost trusted Bruce more than anyone else.
“Yes,” Gordon replied in an exhaled breath, Wayne's other hand reaching around the front of Gordon's slacks to rub the growing bulge. Wayne mashed his lips into Gordon's, a desperately sweet sensation in his mouth as Wayne's tongue explored relentlessly.
Briefly, Bruce pulled back, gazing into Gordon's eyes. “I want you to know you can tell me anything.” And with that Bruce began to kiss him again.
Stage Six: Complete
-----
“I see you and Master Gordon are getting along well,” Alfred said plainly as he entered the hidden room in the penthouse. Bruce was sitting at his desk, looking over – for the first time in a long time – the police reports on the new criminals invading the city. Alfred glanced at the monitor and a slight smile appeared on his face.
“Yeah...” Bruce answered, not really listening to what Alfred had to say.
“I'm glad to see you getting back to 'work', Master Wayne.” Alfred was leaning over his shoulder now, and Bruce didn't object.
“Gordon's been worrying about some issues with a few new criminals. I thought I'd check them out and see what I could do.” Bruce stated, skimming through another article. “I'll have to go out patrolling tomorrow night.”
“You seem to be doing quite a bit for Master Gordon these days,” Alfred said with a hint of suspicion in his voice. Bruce looked up then at the older gentleman with a mean glare.
“He is my friend, “Bruce growled in a annoyance.
“I'd say he was more than that, with the way you two were going at it like rabbits this evening.” Alfred had his arms folded over his chest, glaring down at Bruce accusingly.
“What we do is none of your business.”
“No, I suppose not,” Alfred said as he turned to leave, but then looked back to Bruce for a moment. “I dare warn you though, sir, that you're playing a very deceptive game.” And then Alfred left.
Bruce glared after him, already quite away that his plans, the steps, the guide... everything was becoming harder and harder to follow. He never thought that he would actually start to have feelings for Jim Gordon – not real ones. He had to get his plans in motions and get what he needed from Gordon and end it quickly before it was too late, both of them.
-----
Step Seven: Convince him Otherwise
Bruce walked into Major Crimes, hands in both pockets. He knew for a fact that this was one of the days that Gordon would be there, over looking the cases that needed his attention. Bruce ignored the the several pairs of eyes that followed him across the room until he reached Lieutenant Stephens' office. He rapped gently on the door and was thens met face-to-face with Stephens himself. He looked at Wayne was some precaution and confusion, but Bruce heard Gordon say something from behind him and Stephens stepped out of the way.
“Thanks,” Bruce said as he walked passed the Lieutenant and into the office. Gordon nodded at Stephens, who took the clue and left. “How's the day at the office so far?”
“It's... busy.” There was some hesitation in Gordon's voice and Bruce knew something was up. Of course there was, Bruce had gone out last night on patrol, first time in weeks and had run into Gordon. It was awkward at the time – for Gordon at least – and they made haste in letting each other know that they were both appreciated. Gordon had voiced his concern for Batman and Batman shrugged it off with being busy and trying to stay low until most of the shock from October had calmed. Except now Batman was needed again, more maniacs were swarming the streets every day.
“Do you have time for lunch? You look like you could use a break.”
-----
Gordon sat across from Wayne at a small corner bistro just down the street from MCU. Wayne sipping on water and making some small talk with the waitress. Gordon wanted so much to tell Wayne he'd seen Batman, because if he didn't he might explode. But whenever he brought up Batman to Wayne, there seemed to be a tension that radiated off the younger man. There was a reason for that, Gordon thought, and he was pretty sure it had nothing to do with whether Wayne was a Batman supporter or not.
Finally the waitress left and Gordon let out a big sigh. Bruce raised his eyebrows at him.
“Bruce, there something I want to tell you,” Gordon began, taking a sip of his water to quench the tightening he was experiencing. He then leaned in towards Wayne so that no one near them could hear. “I know you've heard those press rumors about Batman and me. How I still converse with him and have him police the city, even after what he's... uh, done.”
Wayne nodded, not even the slightest bit of emotion showing on his face. After all, Gordon had told him this before, he could expect a new emotion. Gordon took a deep breath. “They might not be totally wrong.”
“What are you saying? Have you recently talked to Batman?” Wayne asked with an almost accusing glare, and Gordon suddenly felt he'd made the wrong choice in telling the billionaire. Too late now.
“Well, not in the last few months,” Gordon grumbled, looking down at his water glass, not wanting to meet Wayne's gaze, afraid he might see the truth. “I talked to him last night.” There was a moments pause before Wayne said anything in return, probably trying to gather his thoughts.
“You trust him? After he killed Dent and all those cops?” Wayne asked, his tone was growing a little irritable. Gordon only nodded, brining his eyes back to Wayne for a moment, waiting for silent answer to his questions. “Jim, a man like that is no better than the Joker. One slip up and he kills five people. Next it'll be ten, twenty, maybe even fifty.”
“I know,” Gordon whispered, even though he didn't believe it. He wasn't sure why Wayne was was doing this, why any of this mattered, because it was all so obvious... Wayne had a very disappointed look on his face and was rubbing his chin with his left hand. “Bruce...” Gordon wanted to let Wayne know that everything would be fine, that Gordon trusted all of him. But there was something in Bruce's mannerism that stopped him. Maybe now wasn't the time to bring that up. Wayne obviously had some sort of plan, something on his mind that wouldn't be settled so quickly. “Never mind.”
“Promise me that if you talk to him again, you will arrest him,” Wayne said sternly, a fierce and controlling look in his eyes. Gordon felt torn. He had Wayne on this side of his life, making up for everything he lost with Barbara and his social life; and then he had Batman on the other side who had told Gordon just last night how much his partnership meant to him and how in the end the city would better with both of them keeping on the job. And yet, the question still remained: Why? Nothing in what Wayne was doing made sense.
Maybe he could lie. Maybe he could have both and let Wayne continue with whatever it was he was trying to prove. God knew Gordon couldn't give up either one now. Gordon gave Wayne a nod of understanding. “Of course.”
At this point, Gordon's didn't care what it was Wayne was trying to do. All Gordon wanted was something to make sense.
-----
Bruce wasn't stupid. He knew when Gordon lied, it was obviously written across his face and it was why he made such a good cop. It was the reaction that Bruce expected and wanted from the older man. He needed to know that Gordon trusted Batman enough to not be swayed by even the closest person to him. Bruce honestly thought Gordon would crack, break down and do what Bruce asked of him. Some how Gordon's nobility attracted Bruce to him more.
No, no, no, Bruce, this is not how we're doing this. Bruce had to stick to the plan. Bruce knew for Gordon to pass the little tests he'd set up for him, that Bruce himself would have to fail his own plan. “Step Seven” needed to go down in flames.
The batsuit stood in the cage in front of him, and Bruce pulled the mesh body suit on and began to pull each Kevlar armored piece into place. He had to go out and see just how much he could really trust Jim Gordon.
-----
Batman stood on the ledge of the building watching Gordon and his team assess the situation on the street below. There was another bomb threat from a man calling himself the Black Mask. The building wasn't anything exciting, or even dangerous to civilians, but it would shut down a business or two for a couple of days if it happened to follow through and blow. Batman watched Gordon make a few gestures to his men and then the commissioner was alone, watching after the SWAT team. Batman had his chance.
Leaping off the side of the building, Batman outstretched the wings of the cape and landed silently behind Gordon. “Are there any hostages?” Batman rasped as he came up right behind Gordon.
Gordon jumped a few inches, slowly turning to meet Batman's dark gaze. “A few. We have this under control though. You should get out of here before they catch you here.” Batman almost smiled; Gordon hadn't even given it another thought.
“Are you sure?” Batman asked, trying to see if Gordon would change his mind or be swayed in the other direction. “You don't need me for anything?”
“What I need is you alive and out of jail,” Gordon said as he gave Batman an assessing glare. The door to the warehouse opened, and Batman saw one of the SWAT members emerging. Gordon placed a hand on the chest of Batman's armor and pushed him towards the shadows. Batman took that as the absolute answer he needed, and disappeared.
Step Seven: Failed
-----
Bruce should have been happy. Well, he was happy about Gordon's decision to trust Batman. It also showed Bruce that Gordon was the one person at the GCPD that was trustworthy. Sure, he lied to Bruce, but that wasn't what mattered. Gordon's faith in Batman and undying devotion to bring Gotham under control were what mattered. Gordon sacrificed a lot for what he believed and sought after. The plan was complete, and all Bruce had to do was end the romance he started. So, why was he being so hesitant?
When he thought about Jim Gordon, he found it hard to breath; and when he thought about what he had to do, he found it difficult to swallow as his throat threatened to tighten in anticipation. The question as to whether he could keep Gordon around in his life without the man ever finding out about Batman swirled around his thoughts for a good ten minutes before he decided. He couldn't stray from the course; he couldn't let his emotions get in the way of what was right. Not again. He tried this with Rachel, tried to give up on Batman and try for something he thought would be better. And in the end his feeling for Rachel prohibited him from doing the right thing.
Alfred entered the room with a cup of tea in hand, placing it down on the desk, looking at the “steps” list on Bruce's monitor. “Failed?”
“That was the point. If I completed step seven then Gordon wouldn't have failed,” Bruce casually pointed out, taking the tea cup into both hands.
“Can I assume Master Gordon passed your little test then?” Alfred asked dully, not wanting to make an issue of Bruce's project yet again.
“Yes,” Bruce said flatly. He sighed heavily and took a sip of the green tea, turning his chair to face Alfred. “I think I understand now, though, what you were talking about, Alfred. About someone getting hurt.”
“Oh?”
Bruce nodded. “I think I let myself feel too much. I opened myself up to him without even realizing I had already done it. I... I think I've gotten attached to him. I can't seem to convince myself to end this now. It was such a mistake, Alfred.” Bruce knew he was admitting to being wrong, something he rarely did these days, but Alfred was thrilled to see that Bruce was actually happy for once. If happiness was what Bruce got out of this more than knowing he could trust Jim Gordon. Alfred had a feeling Bruce trusted the commissioner all along, but something had pushed him to be sure. Fate, perhaps.
“Sometimes we do things we regret, Master Wayne. But there is always an upside to the down. Perhaps not all is lost. Maybe Master Gordon will be understanding when you tell him the truth.” Alfred said, patting Bruce on the shoulder.
“What's that suppose to mean?” Bruce asked. Alfred merely winked at him.
------
Bruce stood in front of Gordon, against the older man's apartment door. Gordon had actually called Bruce over, and it didn't sound like it would be a good conversation from the tone of voice Gordon had used over the phone. Gordon was just staring at Bruce now, a gaze that worked him over from head to toe, and back again. Bruce didn't know what he should be doing or feeling, but he knew he'd been naked and felt more secure than he did right then.
“It really should have been a bit more obvious to me,” Gordon said as he took a step forward, hands in his pockets. He looked at Bruce over the rim of his glasses, squinting at him.
“I'm not sure I'm following you, Jim.” Bruce had no where to go, stuck between a closed door and Gordon, he knew something he wasn't suspecting was about to happen. Bruce hadn't felt scared in a long time, since he was a boy... but suddenly a cold shiver was working its way down his spine.
“All the empty flirting with women. The booze you don't really drink. Conveniently 'catching the light'. Graciously offering new equipment officers, technology for our cars I've only seen one other place,” Gordon paused, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He looked at Bruce for some recognition, but Bruce was holding his breath waiting for the other man to finish. “I didn't see it clearly until last night. I'm not sure what it was that clicked, but something about the way you looked at me, the intensity, the glare... something in your eyes.” Gordon was just inches away from Bruce.
Bruce didn't know what to say, if he could say anything. He'd never expected Gordon would have figured it out on his own. “Jim, I... I don't know...” Bruce hadn't thought this far ahead, didn't have a plan for this. Had he really been that see-through? Did he let his guard down too long? When did this happen? How did this happen?
Gordon looked passive, but behind the calm blue eyes, Bruce could see something else brewing. “I never expected you to openly tell me. I honestly didn't want to know. I could have lived without knowing,” Gordon placed a hand on either side of the door by Bruce's head. Their faces were so close Bruce could feel the breath of the other man on his face. Gordon lowered his tone. “I could have lived without becoming Bruce Wayne's friend. I could have lived without being his lover. I would have been none the wiser to Batman's identity.”
“Jim...” Bruce whispered but Gordon shook his head, and Bruce kept to himself. He was feeling mixed signals; was Gordon angry or calm? The way the commissioner was looming over him, Bruce couldn't be sure which way the situation would go.
“Don't. You're reasons for all of this – the convenient meetings at the beginning, the pretending to care – it all doesn't matter. What matters is that you be honest with me now.” Gordon returned Bruce's whisper, his lips almost touching Bruce's, and it was as if they were suspended for a moment in time and Bruce didn't want to break it. How had he gotten in this position?
“I had to know that you weren't going to turn into one of the corrupt cops. I had to be sure that no matter what you would not be swayed from your loyalties to Batman. I never intended for it to go this far. I didn't mean to get so caught up in you... or have you believe that this was all real.” Bruce explained, but the words weren't quite what he wanted them to be, they sounded faded and arrogant, and only caused Gordon to grit his teeth a little.
“Is it real or am I living a dream that will end the minute I let you go?” Gordon asked, he had dread in his eyes as if Bruce's words would be the fate of everything. Honestly, Bruce knew they would be. He had the chance to end it now and move on and pretend none of it happened. That wouldn't work though, everything would change in his partnership with Gordon. Was it worth it?
Bruce breathed in, pulling Gordon's lips against his, however briefly. “Real,” he whispered into Gordon's mouth, finally giving into his own feelings. He hadn't been able to smile genuinely since Rachel was killed, but somehow Gordon was able to help him forget all that. Maybe this could be a new start. Maybe this could work for both of them.
Maybe this was Bruce's plan after all.
~Fin~
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