Olden Days (Batman/Vanessa)

[Batman]

He looked down at her as she touched his arm. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of the situation. While he did find Vanessa to be extremely attractive, well any man would really, he didn’t have the luxury of getting close to someone. Of course he could be reading everything wrong as well. Maybe Vale was just needed someone to talk to, someone to finally let out all that she had kept up inside.

“We are the simular, but we are not the same Sergeant. While we do share the same goals, we do not share the same drive. I know about your past Sergeant and I understand your loss,”[/b][/I] he said in a sympathetic tone. “But you chose to find justice within the confines of a broken system. I on the other hand didn’t bother to waste my time and did what was necessary to get the job done. And I’m able to do what I do because, like it or not, Gotham needs a Batman. The people need someone who will fight for them no matter what.”[/b][/I]

[Vanessa Vale]

She tried not to feel insulted. Apparently he'd dug enough into her past to know about her mother, but none knew about her drive to find the one that had slaughtered her. She considered for a moment before folding her arms again, this time in an attempt to get warm.

"I see." She was trying to make sense of it. How was it right to not follow the law? No one should be above the law... or could he really be that kind of person? Or was he a person at all. That was difficult to say. Studying the man in the mask, he didn't seem to have too much emotion, except for the slight sympathy that came with talking about her loss.

Finally with a shrug she turned away again, "If you're suggesting I do what I do because of my mothers death then you're wrong. I was a cop before that and would still be one in any case."

She glanced back at him, "You must have been close to your predecessor. Maybe he was your father or grandfather?"

[Batman]

He could see that he had insulted her with his comment and it wasn’t surprising really. Even though he hadn’t meant to insult her, he could see how she would have taken it that way. All he attempted to do was point out the difference between the two of them.

He found it intriguing how every time she got close to him, she tried to study him. It was almost as if she was trying to use some kind of x-ray vision to see through his cowl and into his emerald eyes.

“I’m not talking about you becoming a cop Sergeant. I’m talking about staying a cop even after what had happened. It’s been how many months and you’re still investigating the murder?”[/b][/I] He said after she turned away. “And yes I was close to my predecessor. He taught me everything I know. He trained me since I was just a boy, but I find it interesting how you automatically think that my predecessor and I are related.”[/b][/I]

He wanted to try and plant doubt in Vanessa’s mind about her theories involving his true identity and relationship with the previous Dark Knight. Even admitting something as small as him and the previous incarnations being related could be disastrous and give her a slight edge in any investigation she may pursue.

[Vanessa Vale]

Vanessas eyes went wide and then narrowed, flashing with anger. She found herself starting to dislike the Batman. Apparently he thought he knew everything in the world about her but she knew nothing about him.

"It doesn't matter. And for your information, I might be hunting the person who murdered my mother, but at least im doing it to bring him rightfully to justice. And I wont be doing it behind a mask. And for your information, whatever you may think about me, I don't let what happened stand in the way of my judgment."

She turned away, starting to walk towards the door that lead back into the building. She had enough of this Batman. She stopped once more to turn back and say, "And one more thing, the next time I see you I'll have my badge. And I wont hesitate to do whatever it takes to bring you in. You might be fighting for the right reasons Batman, but you're doing it the wrong way. As far as I can tell there's nothing about you that makes you worthy of being some self righteous savior of mankind." With that she turned on her heels and continued to walk away.

[Batman]

He stood there in silence, rigid like a statue, as he left the rooftop. Thomas could understand her situation, probably better than anyone the woman knew, but it still didn’t make the situation easier. The last thing he wanted was for Vale to be an enemy, or at the very least an obstacle, he wanted her as an ally. His father had known the importance of working with the police in his crusade against crime. It was why he had allied himself with the young Lieutenant James Gordon when he first donned cape and cowl.

After several long moments of watching the door that Vale had just exited from, he let out a long sigh, and turned his attention back to the old relic that sat there on the rooftop. Reaching out from underneath his cape, he ran his hand along the outline of the bat emblem attached to the large protection lamp.

Closing his eyes, Thomas swallowed hard, and did his best to fight back the tears that were forming in his eyes. Hanging his head low, Thomas let a wave of guilt wash over him.

“I’m sorry dad. I’m sorry,”[/b] he said silently in his normal tone of voice.

Taking a deep breath, Thomas regained his composure, and made his way off the roof of the Gotham PD. The night was still young and he still had to patrol.

**End of Thread**