Chapter Text
James Gordon liked to think that he had made peace with death, he should have, every soul in Gotham knew what happened when you crossed The Bat, he’d brushed with death more times than he could count, and bore witness to it even more in his years as commissioner and before that, he should at least face it with dignity.
He's not scared when he wakes up stripped of his clothes and tied to a chair inside a dark cave, he does not give the Bat the pleasure of seeing him scared when the cave suddenly lights up and he spots the Bat and his partner staring at him, not even when the Devil gleefully informs him that he doesn’t plan on making his death a swift one, he tries to maintain his composure even as Batboy walks to him with a small knife.
But the moment Batboy slashes him with the knife he feels like he’s going to be sick, hasn’t felt this much fear since...
(A weeping neighbor’s call, His apartment thrashed and ruined, His little girl lying bruised and bleeding and not moving and-)
Because he had prepared himself for pain, but the wound is little more than a shaving nick, and it truly hits him how excruciatingly slow his death would be and he’s overwhelmed with a deep sense of despair and horror.
“Come on now, Jim! Surely it couldn’t have hurt that much!” The Bat says, the sadistic gleam in his eyes obvious even covered by his mask.
“Do make sure to take your time Batboy,” Batman says, a cold ruthless grin on his face, “The commissioner is a special guest after all.”, “Yes, Sir.” Batboy clips, not even a hint of emotion in neither his tone nor the green eyes behind his domino mask as he slashes his chest once again. Batman slaps Gordon’s bare shoulder almost jovially as he goes past him to sit in front of the Giant computer illuminating the cave and hurting Gordon’s eyes.
“I’ll be there shortly; He better be still alive after I’m done.” Batman says and even though Gordon can’t see him he can still hear the warning in hit tone towards Batboy.
The cave becomes dead silent except for the clack of the Bat’s fingers on the computer and the faint sound of metal cutting skin, and Gordon’s mind starts to drift…
God...he was- is such a pathetic man, he has the gall to be afraid after all these years, after all the poor souls both dead and alive that he’s brought pain upon because of his foolish war against the Bat? How did his daughter feel? Only 12 and bearing punishment for his stupidity, Barbra…she’s strong, she’ll push through the pain of his loss and pick up his torch, Montoya and Bullock will rally the police together even if it won’t be easy, and he knows this and it scares him, they’ve all already done soon much to help him in this mess and now it will all be for nothing…..
His thoughts are interrupted by a deafening Woom sound that sends goosebumps all over his skin and a blinding white flash that explodes in the middle of the cave, he squints at the source and barely has time to think as a black projectile is thrown past him by a figure he can’t make out as Batman utters a curse, followed immediately by a Red Blur that makes its way towards him and Batboy.
Barbra, he thinks pushing past all the confusion and fear, if he’s going to die, he wants his final thoughts to be of her. He thinks he’s earned this at least.