Legends There are legends that walk among us, the people of Gotham know. A inhuman bat-creature that flaps in the darkness, or maybe just a man in a costume no one can be sure. The brightly clad Robin, shadowy Nightwing and many others haunted Gotham, but few learned about the true nature of their protectors. Reporter Dani Grayton hurried down the street, her blonde hair flowing over her shoulders as she vaulted over a spilled trash can. Unlike some of the more famous TV personalities she dressed for comfort, including a sweatshirt, jeans and running shoes. "Damn he's fast," Dani muttered as she looked up at the black shape swinging across the sky. From here it was almost impossible to tell who the costume was, so the only thing she could do was try to keep up. Soon she could hear a siren's wail as Dani rounded a corner, watching as a man was bodily pitched out a window. Pulling her recorder out from her pocket she quickly began to dictate the details that she'd need for a story. She noted place, time and described the scene, then advanced with recorder in hand. "Uhhhh," the man groaned as she passed. Dani pushed the device towards him optomistically as she asked, "Excuse me, would you care to make a statement?" "Urgh," he moaned, the brown haired man looking at her blearily, "didn't do nuffin." "I'll make a note of that," Dani said as she pressed on. Dani quickly identified the building as a jewelry store, and considering the time of night there was no legal reason for the men to be inside. Drawing out her camera she tried a shot, illuminating three men facing off against one... and losing. The one man wore some kind of dark body suit, moving like a dancer as he cooly handled each attack, almost testing his foes. Then, having taken their measure he dropped them with frightening ease. Pulling a line from his belt he bound the men together them calmly dragged them out as he saw Dani standing there. 'Not Batman,' Dani noted as she took in the dark hair and the dark blue, light blue clothes, 'it's Nightwing.' Clearing her throat she strode forward and said, "Dani Grayton, Gotham Gazzette. Would you care to..." "No," Nightwing strode by her, drawing a gun like device out and firing it into the sky, "and I'd suggest going home. It's not safe at night in Gotham." "Thank you, Mr. Hero," Dani murmured as she turned off her recorder. Coolly she waited for the police to arrive, yawning tiredly. As she heard the first sirens near she thought, 'It's going to be a long night.' 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 With a groan Dani came awake, stretching out on her couch. The sunlight through thin clouds lit up the grungy city outside her window, a part of the town that had survived the quakes and no man's land. Getting up she shuffled by her desk to the coffee maker and switched it on, then stumbled to the door to get the paper. Drinking her coffee and flipping through the pages Dani was satisfied that she'd made page two this time. "Hero says it's not safe at night!" read the bold headline, with "police refuse to comment" just underneath it. With a satisfied smirk Dani cut out the article and pinned it up to the cork board covering the wall above her desk. On it were stories of the crazy and the outlandish from the two years she had been reporting iun this town, including the superhero stuff that she was so interested in. After making herself some breakfast Dani hurried out the door in t-shirt and her usual jeans, ready for the world. Her first stop was the police department, where she ran into the typical run around. The desk sargeant, obviously having read her story, tried to stop her there then when that didn't work she was fobbed off to various officers. Finally, due to a combination of dogged persistance and luck, she got into see the Chief of police. Commissioner James Gordon looked tough, maybe even weathered as he nodded greetings to Dani. Unlike some men who grow older and frail Gordon seemed to simply become tougher, like a well aged piece of leather. Even after returning to clean up Gotham Police Department he looked capable and ready to face whatever challenge may come. "Miss Grayton," Gordon nodded hello to her as he added mildly, "you've stirred up quite a hornet's nest." Dani took a seat, smiling slightly as she answered, "That's part of a reporter's job, Commissioner. Do you care to make a statement?" Gordon sat back in his chair, "Miss Grayton, did you know that crime has actually been falling in Gotham?" That made Dani raise her eyebrows. "You realize I find that hard to buy?" she replied. "Look it up," Gordon said calmly. He frowned, "The truth is, overall Gotham has less crime than the days of the mobs, but we have much more superhuman crime." He sighed, "Which, as you know, is much louder and visible than regular crime." "I can agree with that," Dani conceded. "As to our city being safe at night?" Gordon brought the interview around to her story, "I'd say we're no more dangerous than New York at night." "But not Metropolis or Keystone?" Dani said with a teasing smile. "If we had Flash or Superman living here..." Gordon shrugged. "Fair enough," Dani agreed. She looked at him thoughtfully, "Since your return a few months ago, I notice the Bat-signal has been restored to Gotham Central's roof. Is it there to play to the urban legend of the Batman, or is he real?" "I can't answer that question," Gordon said as he checked his watch for show, "as I have a pressing engagement." "Commish!" Dani complained as she was ushered out. "Sorry young lady," Gordon's eyes twinkled with amusement as he grabbed his hat and coat, "maybe next time." Not long afterward, Dani found herself outside, walking towards the taxi stall. "Private notes," she muttered into her recorder, "the city's stance on Batman has varied over the years. For a while he was nearly a public figure, being given keys to the city and official sanction, but over time that changed. As the years passed the distance between him and the city has increased, and as far as I know he is no longer connected to the Police. And as his appearances have dropped so has the legend of the Batman changed, from well known hero to eerie urban legend some people no longer even believe in." "Hey miss!" the taxi driver honked his horn to get her attention, "You wanna ride or not?" "Sorry," Dani climbed in, tossing her briefcase on the seat. "Were to?" he asked in a surly way. "Gotham Gazette," Dani ordered, "and don't take the long way around, or no tip." "Right," he flipped on the meter and they were off. Sitting back in her seat Dani watched the city wizz buy. "Better edit out the bit about legend of the Batman," she murmured to herself, "it's kinda pretentious." BOOM! Not far ahead of them the wall of a building exploded outwards as smoke poured out onto the street. The driver cursed as cars ahead jerked to a stop, swerving to avoid a suddenly parked car in the middle of the road. "Stop here," Dani yelled, tossing a generous amount of cash from her wallet to the driver and scrambling out the door. Running between parked cars she sought to get closer to the violence, her recorder at the ready. Amid the chaos around Gotham Bank men in combat gear scurried out of the building carrying money, followed by a oddly aristocratic woman. The black haired lady flinched at the sunlight, even distorted through clouds and shouted, "Hench!" The white haired older man with a unbrella hurried over, blocking the light as he said, "Yes, Miss Noctura." "Thank you," the almost bone pale woman smiled politely. Addressing the men she said, "Load up the truck, we haven't long until the police arrive." Dani listened, crouching behind a car. Whispering into her recorder she narrated, 'The criminal mastermind appears to be Noctura, also known as Natalia Knight. Wonder if she's related to the Starman Knights?" "Miss!" a feminine voice called. Looking up Dani saw that Noctura had noticed her, and was gesturing for her to come closer. 'Well, what do I have to lose?' Dani thought as she rose from her hiding place. Briskly walking to Noctura's side she nodded politely, "Dani Grayton, Gotham Gassette." "Miss Grayton," Noctura nodded, "I've read your works with interest." "Would you care to give an interview?" Dani offered even as the goons hustled out more money and items from the Gotham Bank. Noctura looked amused. "You're not afraid I'll kill you?" she asked. Dani concentrated on keeping her cool. "What would be the point?" she wondered. A smile, "If you intended to kill me you could have just had a henchman shoot me, but I think you're smarter than that." Noctura looked amused. Her slinky dress swirling around her, "It's true I usually let my associates do any killing..." "Precisely," Dani agreed, watching as several figures moved into position. "So, your statement is...?" she asked, keeping her distracted. "If Gotham had a less expensive medical establishment," Noctura sniffed, "I could get treatment for my skin disorder without resorting to such distasteful methods." Just then a oddly faceless woman jumped one henchman, arrows pinned another to a wall and the orderly roberry descended into chaos. "Oh dear," Hench noted, the attendant tugging on Noctura's arm, we'd best go, ma'am." "Don't you want to finish your interview?" Dani asked as the two criminals jumped into a fine sports car. "Later," Noctura smiled as she sped away. Dani watched her go thoughtfully, "Well that went well." Hurrying towards the fight she called, "Can I get a comment?" As one the assembled heroes answered,. "No!" "Everyone's a critic," Dani sighed. To be continued... Notes: Dani is the granddaughter of a obscure Golden Age heroine called the Spider Widow.
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