The Bat and the Cat find each other in a post-Bane Gotham City. Gordon's troubles are just beginning as Bane's men scatter and federal forces begin their military occupation of Gotham City. Fox remains unconvinced of Bruce Wayne's demise while a distraught Alfred leaves the city for Florence. With the Wayne fortune lost, what future awaits Gotham City's greatest son?
All rights to the original story/characters go to Christopher Nolan, Warner Brothers, Batman Begins/Dark Knight DC Comics - Originally published: 8/21/2012 -

Edit for Dark of Day

In the Dark of Day

by LondonsWhipHand

Summary

The Bat and the Cat find each other in a post-Bane Gotham City. Gordon's troubles are just beginning as Bane's men scatter and federal forces begin their military occupation of Gotham City. Fox remains unconvinced of Bruce Wayne's demise while a distraught Alfred leaves the city for Florence. With the Wayne, fortune lost what future awaits Gotham City's greatest son?
All rights to the original story/characters go to Christopher Nolan, Warner Brothers, Batman Begins/Dark Knight DC Comics - Originally published: 8/21/2012 -

Chapter 1

"Wayne? Bruce Wayne?" Gordon was left speechless.

Selina watched the police commissioner stagger back from the black aircraft, as its engines fired to life. The bone-chilling guttural roar that accompanied the violent takeoff shook the ground. The surrounding buildings shuddered and trembled in the wake of the launch.

Selina sympathized with them. They were not the only things that had been shaken off their foundations. A kiss and then he was gone.

The wings were silhouetted against the light brick of an old foundry building and Selina snarled her lip into a smile as she admired the ugly lines of the craft. 'The 'Bat's' dark, dirty design reinforced that it was truly a child of the night, a winged demon created solely for its nocturnal utility. Now, thrust into the unforgiving light of day, it seemed almost surreal to see it navigating through the city, rising between the buildings like a giant vampire bat.

The engines complained mightily as Bruce fought for altitude while stabilizing the extra bulk of the nuclear device. The craft pulled unsteadily away from the heart of Gotham, trailing the deadly cargo in its wake.

"Too low," she heard her own voice moan out the words as she watched the craft attempting to climb above the towering buildings of Gotham. Selina flinched involuntarily as a barrage of missiles launched into the Gotham skyline. Brick and glass rained down on the streets as the shuddering craft navigated through the slim passage forged by its weapons. Thick black smoke cloaked the vehicle for a few moments before it burst free over the canal.

"He's got it, he's got it," Gordon breathed out, his voice hoarse with emotion. It was with intensifying personal grief that Gordon watched the dark craft streak past the breakwater and power out over the open ocean.

The engines redlined, the needles on the gauges buried deep into the critical level as 'the Bat' streaked out to sea. Every second that passed allowed it to pull further away from the densely populated city.

Citizens lined the shore to watch the events unfold. Cheers reverberated through the city as its inhabitants bore witness to the Batman's final act of heroic self-sacrifice. Batman had once again stood between Gotham and her destruction.

Gordon choked out a sound of pain as he watched the craft receding in the distance. The man piloting that craft was the man who had saved the life of his son. He had been the only person Gordon had been able to look to and trust… his one true ally in a city filled with corruption. The Batman was giving everything and the world would never know the truth. They would never know the true sacrifice it took to be the man behind the mask. They would never know that it was Bruce Wayne that had saved Gotham city.

A blinding flash of light on the horizon eclipsed the light of the sun. Gordon sucked in a ragged breath as the sound of the explosion rolled in from the distance. It seemed to arrive carried on the waves of the surf. Around him, the cheers for Batman continued, even as the orange cloud mushroomed across the horizon.

Selina made no move to look away from the blinding flash of the detonation. She didn't bother to shield her eyes against the falling ash and debris from the exploded buildings. She just stood silent and still and watched the Batman die again.

Her mind flashed to the night she led him through the tunnels to Bane. She had convinced herself that he had a chance despite her betrayal. She watched him slicing through the shadows, watching his power and agility as he cut down the sentry guards with practiced ease. He was beyond formidable; he was the Batman after all. She convinced herself then that he would be able to hold his own, even against the power of Bane. Selina swallowed against the tightness choking her throat. She refused to allow the painful lie to play itself out again… not now. Bruce deserved better than that lie.

The truth was, because of her, the Batman had never stood a chance. They were ready for him, lying in wait for him. When the trap was sprung she stood behind that fence and watched as Bruce Wayne was nearly beaten to death.

I thought he was dead… I stood by and watched it all happen. I just stood there and I did nothing… The overwhelming disgust and shame Selina felt at her actions now competed with the stabbing reality that this time there was no chance to make it right. Bruce was gone. There was no lie she could put between herself and that truth. Truth... Truth was to become her punishment. Facing the truth of what she had done. Facing the truth of what she had become when she decided to sell him out to save her own skin. She was doomed to carry those truths like an albatross on her soul forever.

Selina would have to own that punishment, but she didn't have to be alone in her hell.

As the bomb detonated her expression turned dark. Her heart blew away like the ash in the air, scattering among the drifting snowflakes. No, I am not going to be the only one punished here. There is plenty of blame to go around. "Anyone that had a hand in this... anyone that profited from it… anyone that contributed to his death… all of them. No one is walking away from this."

She had not realized that she said the words aloud until Gordon turned to her, unshed tears still bright in his eyes, "Not one of them," he vowed quietly beside her.

x

xx Special Thanks to Cheed - For Editing this Story! xx