A/N: Hello, here with a new collection of stories in a new fandom. I decided as a Summer binge to continue my superhero quest and begin binge watching Gotham. Two episodes in and I find myself utterly fascinated by the dynamic between young Jim Gordon, Alfred and Bruce, inspiring this collection. I will be adding to it as I progress through the first two seasons, and taking requests as well, although fulfillment time depends on where I am in the seasons.

I do not own Gotham: All recognizable characters and situations are the property of their respective owners. This is just me having a bit of fun as I get my feet wet in a new fandom.

This first, I guess it's more of a short short takes place as a tag to episode 1x2: Selina Kyle as Jim reflects on Bruce's method of coping...as well as his own.

Not all that Different

"I'm testing myself." The boy's answer is so matter of fact, so sharp, that Jim finds himself wanting to flinch backwards. Testing yourself for what? He finds himself wondering. But all he does is raise his eyebrow a quarter of a fraction even as the answer finds its foothold. The boy saw his parents killed in front of him, so much worse than anything he saw on the front, even worse than anything he's done in the short start of his career here in Gotham. What Bruce is doing is not all that much different than what everyone thinks he did sending Cobblepot downstream in a bodybag, but he didn't so can he really understand? It's not all that much different, because Bruce is trying to build himself up to survive, and god bless him starting so soon, because even as an adult who knows the motives and the crookedness and the cover-ups first-hand, Jim doesn't think he will be able to do as much as this child in front of him is already. It is a test he feels like he will fail. But he can't, because if he does than Bruce does. If Bruce does, than Gotham has truly lost its chance at a future.

A/N: More to come. :) Let me know your thoughts, and if you want to see anything written.