SEASON IX: LEVITY, PART 3
Even though we've gone back and forth about it in length, Bruce has always argued that while many could perceive it as a "revolving door" of anarchy and chaos that has plagued Gotham as a whole since the turn of the last century, Arkham Asylum has always remained a symbolism of the effort that forged the ideologies that make Batman and others like him a necessity. While it's various wardens and doctors have come and gone, usually gutted at the blade of some madman's grip, Arkham has eerily remained an impenetrable force that seems forever attached to the city's history. No matter how many times you knock it down, it always seems to crawl back up and continue to immobilize the madness that seeps out of the city's cracks and creases. But despite it's persistence, that never seems to stop some lunatic from trying to tear down it's walls and unleash hell onto the populace. Usually to get back at one of us in a personal stake of revenge, or directly free one of the criminal masterminds the Asylum houses.
Whichever it is this time is irrelevant. Because by the time I make it to the scene, I'm actually surprised to see that the chaos has wound itself down - so much so, that no one seems to actually need my help. On the outskirts of Arkham Island, my night vision scope tells me that despite an earlier established sense of panic going off of Batwoman's briefing, the situation has contained itself through the perseverance of the security staff. Not that I don't notice the familiar black and blue silhouette moving along the walls aswell, looking out for any escaped convicts that Cash Warren and the other guards might have missed in the struggle to keep the Asylum on lockdown.
I barely surpress a smirk, lowering my scope. The more things change, the more things stay the same.
Nice one, Dick. You're still every bit the Boy Wonder I hoped I could be.
Deciding that it's best to leave things as they are, I kick the ignition on the Ducati and continue on into Gotham. As much as I'm relieved that things were put on the fast track towards a resolution because of Nightwing's intervene, I can't help but feel like I just wasted my time stumbling back into old habits. When I was Robin, I had a pretty narrow set of goals established by my mentors: Stop crime first, let everything come second. But once I took a moment to look back on that philosophy last year, I realized where exactly that mentality had gotten me. While I was still licking my wounds from my fight with Slade Wilson, I briefly found myself dwelling on my father. For years, I had lived a double life that I don't think many of us got the chance to. I got to be a crimefighter and a son, working long hours of the night just so that I could support my dad through all of his struggles during the day.
But then things changed. As I developed my relationship with The Titans, hanging out with Conner, Cassie, Bart, Gar, and everyone else, I became more of the former and alot less of the latter. Most of my time was spent coming up with battle strategies instead of studying chemistry or attending school functions, and I was so caught up in my duties as Batman's protege that I wasn't able to see what was coming - namely, my father's murder at the hands of Captain Boomerang. Ever since that happened, I've been determined to change tactics for the better. Which is where my plan to run the scum out of The Narrows came into fruition. I'm not doing it for the sake of the mission, and I'm not putting my effort into it just to meet anyone's standards. I'm only doing it for me, Rose, and our baby. Everything else is going to the wayside.
Does it seem a little selfish? Sure, and that's part of why I decided to accept Batwoman's call. To make up for something that I felt I had been lacking on. But the truth is, I don't feel any more obligated to Gotham than I was yesterday. The city's in good hands with the others, and tonight proved that to me once and for all. I just want The Narrows for us - to be able to raise my son in view of my past, without subjecting him to all of the downfalls and horrors that come with it. As much as I know about the city, as horrible as the reality of living here is, I'm determined to show him only it's strengths. And hope he becomes a better man for it.
Tapping the side of my cowl as I veer onto Dixon and 3rd, my eyes scan the area for any onlookers as the bike slows down and cuts into a nearby alley, where the Ducati's hiding place awaits my arrival. Just a few more weeks of this, and I can store it somewhere else. Not anywhere as expansive as The Batcave, mind you, but close enough to it to be effective, yet mine all the same. Leaping off of it's seat, I wheel it over to it's proper spot and twist the module of my utility belt. The transponder in the area reacts, and blankets the Ducati in a field of light that blends into it's surroundings. Not a bad little gadget, for something I only worked up in my spare time.
Firing my grapnel towards the rooftops, I ascend into the night's air as my cowl's comm-link activates, telling me of an incoming message. Well, the most recent of the last thirty, anyway.
"Take it easy, Alfred. I'm on my way back now, just like I promised."
"I should hope so, Master Timothy. These walls aren't about to properly paint themselves, and I'm already two coats in on the master bedroom."
"Then be sure to save the third for me. Go ahead and take a breather."
"Rest assured, sir. I intend for nothing else."
I smile to myself. Even with the figures of his annual salary, Alfred could never be paid well enough for all of the multi-tasking he's able to pull off. Apart of me thinks that's the main reason that Bruce has never looked for hired help elsewhere, but I understand the other reasoning aswell. It's because he brings a warmth to each and every task that I think all of us treasure. Which is exactly why he was perfect for my latest little project in helping me set up shop, so to speak.
For years, I've traded homes more that I've traded shoes. Between Titans Tower, Wayne Manor, my dorm at Brentwood, and that old utility shack that I was living out of in my time away, I always felt like I was still living under someone else's roof. But starting now, that's all changed. After getting myself a part time job as a technical adviser to the offices of Wayne Enterprises' R&D division, I devoted part of my earnings and a generous trust fund towards the purchase of a brand new luxury apartment, right here on the edge of The Narrows. It's barely set up as it is, but Alfred's help is definitely gonna kickstart my efforts to move Rose in with me by the end of the month. For once, I'm actually gonna have a place that I can really feel like I can call home.
It feels good.
But more importantly, it feels
right.
