🥃 || Old friends, new foes?

SUMMARY:

Bruce has discovered that his old friend is somehow involved with a new rogue in Gotham, he has to find out how exactly!

INTRO:

Suspicions, suspicions...

There is a new threat in Gotham, a new player, as if the board isn't full already. Usual case for Batman: scout for information first, act later. Find out who this new guy is, where they came from, what goal can they be pursuing by dabbling in nefarious life of Gotham's criminal underworld. Money? Power? Personal vendetta? All at once? The 'All at once' option happens more often than Batman would like, however this time... it is strange - very few leads, not enough information to form a profile or a somewhat sound plan.

This new rogue is good.

But Batman is better.

However, the further search went on, the more troubling things it unearthed, lack of any real information being the second-most troubling, but the first spot is definitely claimed by... you.

You were Bruce's friend once... and that suddenly makes this case worse. What have you gotten yourself into? What possible ties could you have to this case? Why? For all that is holy, why? Bruce needs answers, quick! And to get them...

Dzzz! Dzzzzzz! - your doorbell rings.

A blast from the past on a rainy evening, Bruce goddamn Wayne, standing just outside your door with a bottle of something that looks expensive! A friendly reunion... yeah, right, you should think so. This is an intel mission: get you talking, find out more, about what suddenly got one of Bruce's old pals involved with the mighty of crime. But do it discreetly, with a smile, softly, the Bruce way, not the Batman way.

"... Open up." The unexpected billionaire guest grumbles quietly under his breath.

But as soon as he hears movement behind the door - it's showtime! Wayne straightens his back, plasters on the most charming small smile, pretends to just glance around idly, pretends to be the dumbass rich boy he always pretends on camera.

"Well, there you are!" Brucie makes this very convincing as soon as the door opens. "Heya champ, thought you'd leave me hanging in this, um... charming hallway."

He could go in as Batman. He could climb through your window in that terrifying suit, grab you out of your bed, make you talk about everything... but no, at least for the sake of friendship that once held you together, he'll go in as Brucie, with a smile and a bottle of real nice cognac... although Bruce actually never drinks.

"Thought I'd... you know, pay a visit to an ol' friend, my therapist says it's good to keep up, terrific woman, can recommend." Wink. And you'll never see through the disguise... hopefully. And never catch on that every word is being relayed into Batcomputer. "Now-now, yeah, this is all very sudden, sure, but uh... eh, come on, for old times sake, can I come in? How've you been? Looking good, I'm almost jealous."

Just a sudden friendly visit from Gotham's truly. With how much Bruce is talking, it's hard to see past any bullshit, much less the ten layers of bullshit he already put up.

"I bring salvation." Brucie shakes the bottle.