IT FELT LIKE THE WORLD HAS SHIFTED OVERNIGHT. Old heroes have come back from the ice. Aliens have fallen from the sky. A fight was coming and it doesnāt take the worldās greatest detective to feel that message in the air. The worse was yet to come.Ā
But Bruce had enough to worry about in his little corner of hell.Ā
Gotham was itās own entity. Always shifting. Always breathing new life unto itself. A cesspool of organisms and vermints that never ceases to surprise him and haunt him. Although for tonight, it seems to pull him into a different direction. Brought to his roof top, faced to face with one of his childhood heroes. He can almost feel the weight of one of his Superhero cards in the back of one of his old wallets.Ā
Yet, somehow, THE BATMAN manages to stay stoic.Ā
Eyes narrowed and suspicious as he took his time. Assessing the person and the scenario that could potentially play out. It wouldnāt be smart of him not to have considered the notion. Who would win? RICH BILLIONAIRE IN A BATSUIT or SUPER SOLDIER WITH A HELMET AND A SHIELD? But he didnāt seem to be on the prowl for a fight. No need for his guard to stand too high.Ā
With a low crouch, he reveals himself with enough lighting. Cowl and pointed ears an intimidating shroud, until heās stepping down. A low thud where his feet land before the other and his full figure is revealed. Slightly more MAN than SHADOW. And he exhales a breath before he steps around him, closer towards where the light still shone in the sky. Turning it off now that he was here. Not wanting to attract too much attention.Ā
THE BRIEFING HAD BEEN SIMPLE. Fury told him what he needed to know, and in that moment, that was all Steve had cared for. Yet the further he went from his temporary home -- a place he barely yet felt he fit in, the more stretched thin and uncertain he became. GOTHAM WAS STILL TERRIFYING. So much of it was riddled in darkness, figuratively and literally. Plenty of itās corners promising pain, whether brought on by the society built here, or Batman himself.Ā
BATMAN. They needed him, Fury had made that clear. The pressure was on, and now --- now he could feel it. Feel it slouching his strong shoulders, prickling at the skin at his neck just to lift the little hairs. The anticipation had been the worst of it; knowing the Bat was there and watching him, and simply waiting for the drop. For the reveal. For whether or not someone like him would trust a man like Steve, who felt so severely out of place. Out of his depths.
He fought Hydra. SLEPT ON ICE. Took on aliens.
Why was this harder to stomach?
It was some kind of graciousness given, that the Bat didnāt make him wait for much longer. After having expressed his awareness of his intentions, the shadows gave way to its barer. Itās harbinger fell to his level and slowly stepped out of the blinding shadow, just to barely be more than a silhouette in darkness. The LUMP in Steveās throat felt solid, but he swallowed it down all the same and didnāt drop eye contact.Ā
Fear had no place here, not now.
āIām going to go out on a limb here and presume you know who I am,ā it wasn't the best way to start, but he was trying. Trying to make it as clear and quick as he could, lest he waste too much of this manās time. Lose the opportunity altogether. Fail SHIELD.Ā āIf thatās the case, then you know Iām trying to do some good. Wouldnāt be here otherwise. I was sent here, actually, to speak with you --- convince you, really. Iām with SHIELD, and Iām not sure if you know who they are,ā if even he really understood who they wereā¦
āThe Director wants to extend an invitation. Bring in as many capable people as we can to form some kind of alliance. Make plans to prevent whatā¦.what happened in New York.ā Steve canāt help that he looks uncomfortable, and the put together FACADE fades just a little. āThis isnāt the best place to talk about it, and I know youāre busy...hell, I probably sound crazy...but if youāll just give me the chance to sit somewhere private with you and explain further, Iād...appreciate it. Even if you want no part of it. Just hearing me out would mean a lotā¦..sirā¦ā
