gotham is good friends with death.
they meet each other more often than not; death stays the night sometimes.
gotham trusts death. gotham trusts death more than anything, because death loves her children.
when her children die, gotham watches as their souls rise from their bodies. they are drawn to her, and she cups the cold spirits in her calloused palms. with great grief and love, gotham raises them up and passes them to death. he takes the souls, and gently cradles them to his bones.
the chill of the souls mix with his own, and death receives their memories. death now understands them. death now loves these souls.
(you must understand, death does not hate life. he in fact, loves her. life is long and beautiful, and death is very patient. he is content to watch as souls blossom in life's palms before being gently passed onto his own. death knows life is beautiful, and he's honored to be able to feel life in each soul he takes.)
death does not blame gotham for his visits. he enjoys her company, and he loves her children. they carry so many stories with them, and they bring much joy to an ancient like him. gotham is grateful her children are in such loving hands.
death is good friends with gotham.
and life still blossoms in her children.