spare the sympathy

-

His dry response nearly made Lisa laugh at the irony. She had always employed a bit of flirtation when dealing with people (specially the hero types) all the while being one of the most untouched people of her generation. Then again, its hard to stop being a virgin when you’ve got as many trust issues as she did. “Stories are only complicated when people make them complicated. People love drama and getting into all the little details of a story. Why muddy the water just so it can be filed away in a dusty box?” She asks casually, as her body had returned to its seemingly fully relaxed state. One of the last things Lisa wanted was for any police office to finally have her name on any sort of file. The youngest Snart had managed to keep her record clean. A shocking comparison to that of her father and brother. That didn’t mean she didn’t get into trouble (mostly at her brother’s side), it just meant she didn’t get caught. Lisa smirks at his last comment while she gets closer to him, looking him up and down. “The dry wit without a British accent for one. Secondly, your job and the level of enthusiasm you seem to have. And thirdly, your body language is too stiff and uptight for it to have enjoyed any good fun lately.” 

-

Jim shrugged. “The devil is in the details,” he said. “And sometimes the devil is the only one telling you the truth.” Another shrug lifted his shoulders as she spoke. “It’s part of the job,” he said. “And sometimes the dusty boxes come back out.” If there was anything he’d learned in all his time on the job, everything was connected in one way or another. The criminal community was smaller than most people suspected. Although maybe his vision of it all was skewed -- he’d spent a long time dealing with the Rogues. He raised an eyebrow as she stepped closer to him, though he stood his ground, meeting her gaze squarely. A soft snort fell from his lips as she spoke, looking at her. “I didn’t realize an English accent was a prereq for a dry wit,” he said. “I’ll have to tell the rest of the guys at the station. I’m not the only one, you know.” Harvey would probably have a field day trying to do a British accent if Jim ever mentioned this to him. He shrugged again. “Why shouldn’t I be enthusiastic about the job?” he said. “It pays the bills, after all.” Not particularly well, but he did fine. He could take care of himself and Peter when he had the boy on weekends, and his daughter on the off-chance that she needed anything from him now that she was all grown up. He snorted. “It’s good posture,” he said, though sarcasm dripped from his tone. “Nothing wrong with that.”

[ BAR ]:   for  your  muse  to  join  mine  at  a  bar || @detjimgxrdon​

Pietro was never really one for the bar scene but with his somewhat nephews being in town a drink was owed. It’s not that he didn’t love them don’t get him wrong it was just another piece of proof of how much of his sister’s life he’d missed out on. “Hey is this seat taken?” he questioned looking at the other for a moment before ordering something from the bar.

-

Jim glanced up from the scotch he was contemplating, watching the beads of condensation roll down the glass. “Oh, uh, no,” he said, offering the younger man a brief smile. “Go ahead.” He watched the younger man order something and cleared his throat. Feeling a little obligated to at least attempt conversation. “You ever been here before?” he said, though he was pretty sure he hadn’t. Jim frequented this bar pretty often himself and didn’t recognize the other man.

.

Bruce looked at his friend smiling softly “It’s true I’m sure he holds plenty of will and strength to take control just as well as you did start out.” He mused before chuckling softly patting the other’s should “Hey, You’d have my vote and hell of companion manager that no one could say not to. The idea of him being a detective is kind of adorable of course I can’t help but picture the little boy running a case” He smiled amusingly before nodding his head “Got to put in his time first before he tastes that nice promotion” He joked before looking at the other nodding his head “Yeah, I swear every time I blink another year passes, I hate it” He mused looking at the other smirking “Took a little break from City life and tried that country air for a bit, also visited the ocean for a while” He explained before tilting his head “Why are you thinking about taking a long-overdue break?” He teased his friend before nodding his head “Babs certainly has taught him all the high society type things but don’t worry old friend you never needed to worry about things like that.” he mused before shaking his head “Nope, just let yourself be pampered for a moment Detective Gordon” He winked at the other.

-

Jim chuckled a little as Bruce spoke, shrugging his shoulders. “Yeah, well, in terms of will and strength, he’s got plenty from his mother, too,” he said. “Between the two of us, I think both our kids are inclined to stand their ground, especially when it’s something they believe in.” He smiled faintly. ‘Thank you,” he said. “I’ll need people like you if I ever actually go for it. People care what you have to say, Bruce.” He smiled. “Sometimes at home I’ll set up little cases with his stuffed animals. You know, who stole the cookie from the cookie jar, or who put his bookcase out of order, that kind of thing. He’s pretty good.” He looked at him with another smile on his face. “Has my daughter put you up to this?” he teased lightly. He knew Barbara was often worried about how hard he worked, though he supposed she was one of the few who was actually concerned. He supposed everyone else just accepted it by now, if they cared at all. “I’m not really considering a break right now, no.” He snorted. “Well, if you insist.”

Beth pouted a bit when Jim didn’t respond much to her flirtations. The man had always been a little dense though. “I’d love to meet him. It would give us some time to be alone as well. You know, to catch up. After all I missed you, Jimmy.” she smiled, a hand lightly touching his arm. “I can be there around 5? Is that good for you. I’ll even make dinner! I’m sure you’re sick of take out right?”

-

Jim just gave her a long look when she pouted, and didn’t say anything. Even if the two sisters didn’t love each other, or like each other, for that matter, they were a lot alike. He knew when Beth was flirting with him, he’d always known, but he wasn’t dumb enough to reciprocate. Babs was hardly any less jealous now than she’d been when they were teenagers. “I’m sure you did,” he said. Like a child missed their toy. He shrugged. “5 is fine,” he said. “We’ll be home.” He looked at her. “Takeout is fine,” he said. “It’s cheap.” He shrugged again. “If you’re making dinner, keep in mind, Peter is three,” he said. “He’s not really big on vegetables.” 

Lisa was one of those people that was constantly observing those around her. In this case, Lisa couldn’t help but sense the man had almost a jaded tone when speaking of his job. It was understandable and for a brief moment she felt herself growing sympathetic to him but quickly sealed it up again. ‘Could still be like him’ she thinks to herself. “I bet. Specially in a city like this.” The ever present smirk remained fixed upon her lips. On the topic of secrets Laura gives a light shrug. “Really? Secrets have been different on my end. Sometimes they’re essential and sometimes…they’re just sexy.” Though on the topic of the child, Lisa’s gaze drifts over to look towards the family. A wave of relief and envy washed through her seeing the parents being how parents should be. As the though of what could have happened passed through her mind it caused a very subtle tensing of the muscle in the left side of her neck. So subtle someone would only see it if they were analyzing her closely. Looking back to the cop with the same smirk. “Kid seems to be alright. That’s all that matters right? Besides, its a simple story. Kid was in the street after a toy or something and was in the truck’s blind spot.” She says in her best casual tone that almost sounded cold combined with a very relaxed expression. Lisa smirks boldly and glances at him up and down. “Cars aren’t my style. Besides, looks like you could use a little more excitement in your life.” 

-

Jim only shrugged as she spoke. It had never crossed his mind to do anything else. The sole reason he’d ever even left Gotham was because Barbara and the kids here, and he didn’t want to be away from his children -- and he’d discovered that New York was almost as corrupt as Gotham, if not just as much. There was never a lack of work to be done here. “Mmm, yeah, nothing hotter,” he said dryly. He’d kept a fair share of secrets in his life, but for the most part, they sat heavily on him. There were those like Batman’s identity that he didn’t mind keeping, because they were for the greater good, but the rest were simply burdens. He studied the woman in front of him and noticed the definite tension in her shoulders, a little frown touching his lips. It was a detective thing, the ability to be able to read someone, but Jim couldn’t say that he knew what to do with the information he’d found. “Of course I’m glad that the kid’s okay,” he said. “But I’m guessing the story isn’t so simple. It usually isn’t. I notice you kept yourself out of it, even though you’re the reason that kid is alive.” He snorted softly as she spoke, looking at her again. “Oh, yeah, that’s exactly what I need, thanks,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “How did you know?”

randomized starter for @detjimgxrdon​

❛ Would you be sad if I said no? ❜ the blonde smirked as she watched Jim, leaning in the doorway. “I get why bitter babs would still be holding a grudge. but you ? i thought we were friends now jimmy?” 

-

Jim snorted softly. “I wouldn’t be sad, no,” he said. “I just figured you should meet your nephew, that’s all. I’m also only trying to point out that it would be easier for you to come by on Friday, when I have him at my place. Rather than all of us dealing with Barbara’s wrath.”

.

Bruce chuckled with the other at his words, he couldn’t really say he was surprised after all the Gordon genes seemed to run deep in both of his children there was no denying that. “Not really, I wouldn’t even be surprised to see him running a police station after graduating from the academy” He offered before laughing “They grew up way too fast, I can’t believe it, it seems like just yesterday Little Babs was just a tiny little thing:” He replied making a fake gasp “I’ll have you know I actually took a vacation, unlike someone I know “ He teased his friend before smiling “Its a happy skill to have after all being a people person is nice PR for anything he ends up doing” He mused before nodding his head “I suppose I understand, but lucky for you I’ve dealt with Babs a little longer than most so I’m sure she won’t stay mad for long, and it’s worth to see Peter’s smile” He replied before smirking “Great, there is burger joint just up the block a bit I’ve been dying to try.”

-

Jim chuckled softly, his pride in both his children suffusing his face with a warmth that it didn’t usually hold. “He would be over the moon if he heard you say that,” he said, with another quiet chuckle. “I mentioned to him once that I was thinking of going for Commissioner someday, and now he’s convinced I’m inevitably going to get it. And if I get it, he’ll want it, too. He already wants to be a detective.” He smiled crookedly. “After serving as a beat cop for a few years, of course.” He smiled a little. “Yeah, you’re telling me,” he said. “It seems like just yesterday Barbara was small enough for me to walk around with her sitting on my shoulders.” It was easy to forget the way the little girl had inadvertently yanked mercilessly on his hair, and to focus instead on how happy she’d been, thinking she was on top of the world. How he’d been able to give her that. “Oh, yeah?” he said, grinning briefly. “Tell me about it. Where did you go?” Jim gave a little laugh. “That’s true, I never thought of it like that,” he said. “He’ll probably be better at the dinners and galas and things like that than I’ve ever been.” He smiled faintly. “True,” he said. He chuckled. “Okay,” he said. “I’m guessing there’s no way you’re actually going to let me pay, huh?”

“I do. It’s fine, everything is going to be fine.” she assured him. This was exactly why she didn’t want her parents knowing the full truth, she didn’t want to worry them and she knew that’s exactly what it would do. “I know dad, trust me i’ll be fine and If I do need you I will let you know. Promise.” 

-

Jim tried to smile at her, but he couldn’t shake the anxiety that was building in his chest. It made him feel so defeated to realize there wasn’t anything he could do, even worse to think that maybe she didn’t really need him anymore. Or at least that she was pushing him away, a habit he knew she’d gotten from him. “Well, maybe you can help me with something instead,” he said, with a little smile. “Your brother’s birthday is on Friday and I’m honestly at a loss as to what to get him. If I get him something else police-themed I think your mother will have me hunted down.”

Lisa’s gaze gave the man’s uniform a once over before a convincing smirk appeared upon her lips. She never did have much trust in cops. After all her father, aka the worst person she ever had the misfortune of knowing, had been a cop. That was before it was discovered that he was a no good and dirty one. Though that didn’t stop some of the others in his unit having his back from time to time. All that and the fact no one ever took her brother and her away from their father after the ‘mysterious’ disappearance of their mother was still held as a major betrayal in Lisa’s heart. “Your profession, isn’t one I envy.” That was putting it very mildly and yet the smirk became a permanent fixture as she stood in front of him. “Not really, a girl has to have some secrets right?” She responds in a coy and teasing tone. “As for why I’m walking away, well… everything seemed like it worked out fine enough. Kids safe and I need to check around for my new ride. Any suggestions on a place I could pop by and grab one?” Her smirk seemed to get slightly bolder at that question. She did love trying to get a rise out of the staunchly hero type. 

-

Jim sighed softly as he watched the woman looking at him. “Yeah, well,” he said. “I get that a lot.” You would think becoming a detective would have helped a little bit, but the gun and the radio were still in plain view, not to mention the badge clipped to his belt alongside them. And he supposed to some people that it didn’t really matter whether you had officer or detective in front of your name. It all boiled down to the same institution. He raised an eyebrow as Lisa spoke. “In my experience, secrets usually don’t mean anything good,” he said. “Especially not when a kid came within a few seconds of losing their life.” He couldn’t help the little wince that crossed his face when he thought again of his own children. “It’s not like you’re in trouble. I just want to know what happened.” He looked at her for a moment, a soft sigh falling from his lips. “Depends,” he said. “When you grab that car, am I just gonna see you again? Maybe in a high speed chase this time?”

.

Bruce looked at the other chuckling softly “That sounds rather adorable, to say the least, I can just see your look of surprise at getting a ticket.” He mused nodding his head ‘I’m trying to reconnect with all of them, if possible, time certainly flies by when you aren’t looking.” He replied feeling hopeful that he could slowly rebuild their family. “You have quite a bad habit of overworking yourself, so I’m glad he pulled you away the other day, maybe I’ll have to come down and do the same from time to time.” He chuckled softly nodding his head “She is very nice, and Joy to be around, So I’m glad Peter is getting around to meeting everyone.” He smirked nodding his head “Good Tastes in that kid, well sometimes one must live with a little risk here and there, and to see Peter smile would make it quite worth it to weather Babs’s ire.” He paused for a moment to glance at his watch “It’s around lunchtime now, think you’d be free for a bite?”

-

Jim laughed softly and shrugged. “Honestly, what else would you expect from my kid?” he said, grinning crookedly at Bruce. “It does. Babs will be 27 on her next birthday, and Peter is turning three this week.” He chuckled briefly as Bruce spoke, raising an eyebrow as he looked up at him. “Oh, yeah,” he said. “Does that make you the pot or the kettle, Bruce?” Jim gave Bruce a little smile and shrugged his shoulders. “He’s the type of kid who’s never met a stranger,” he said. “I don’t know where he got that from. I wouldn’t call his mother shy but she’s definitely not a people person.” He laughed a little. “Well, as long as you’re the one she gets angry with and not me,” he joked. “She’s already perpetually mad at me because he wants to be a cop.” He smiled and stood up, stretching his arms above his head. “Yeah, sure, that would be great.”

.

Bruce smiled looking at the other chuckling at the story “That is really adorable, Have you received a ticket from little Officer Gordon yet?” He teased him the very idea sounds like such a cute scene. “I managed to steal away Dick for a few moments on his last day off it was nice to chat with him again. Cass is a sweetheart, I’m sure she’d love to hang out with us” He mused before nodding his head. “That’s good, he is loved by all who met him but then again so was Babs growing up, very much like a firebird taking on the world.” He mused he loved his children each one of them and wanted the best for them, he was going to be a better father this time around nothing would stop him. “I had to, None of my kids find Batman all that cool anymore, and they are all grown up” He pouted before smiling “I’m glad he liked it, think Babs would kill me if I got him a mini Bat-suit?”

-

Jim smiled softly as Bruce spoke. “Oh, a few,” he chuckled. “Mostly when he wants to watch one more Paw Patrol episode before bath time. The other day I got a ticket because I wouldn’t let Donut into the bathroom when I was giving Peter his bath.” He nodded with another little smile. “Yeah, Dick pulled me out of the office for a drink the other day,” he said. “I probably would have stayed at my desk for hours after shift if he hadn’t done that.” He offered Bruce a commiserating grimace, knowing that if anyone would understand working too hard, it was Bruce. Well, and Alfred. “Cass and Babs Jr are close, so Peter has met her a couple of times. He likes her.” He smiled. “Yeah, well, they’re amazing kids. I’m lucky,” he said. He gave a soft laugh. “Well, you don’t have to worry about that. Peter will probably find Batman cool for many years to come.” He grinned. “Probably, but Peter would be thrilled.”

-

Ever since Lenny’s passing and the emergence of her powers, Lisa had avoided attention the best she could. Though, one day while speeding along the road on her bike; she spots a small child run out into the street. A large moving truck turns the corner heading strait for the child. Without hesitation Lisa increases her speed, racing past the child and strait towards the on-coming truck. At the last possible second Lisa teleports off of her bike to the child, cradling the child in her arms as she rushes to the sidewalk. The sound of her bike being mutilated by the truck causes Lisa to scrunch her eyes tightly, making sure the child was protected from the debris. Once the truck comes to a halt Lisa releases the child, watching them return to their parents. Not wanting to even see what was left of her bike, Lisa stands up and begins to walk away when she hears a voice behind her. She produces a heavy yet silent sigh before she turns around to face the other, speaking in a highly fem fatale tone with a matching smirk. “Feel free to ignore that.” 

@assemblestarter

“I don’t think so,” Jim commented dryly. “Professional hazard.” He pulled the radio off his belt and called the accident in, calling an ambulance just in case -- it didn’t seem like anyone was hurt, somehow, but he definitely wasn’t going to take any risks. Especially not when there was a child involved. The kid looked to be about Peter’s age, and Jim felt a pang at the thought of how the kid’s parents must be feeling right now, even though the child was fortunately just fine. “You wanna tell me how you did that?” he said, looking over at the woman who had performed the heroic act. “And why you’re walking away like nothing happened?”

/

Felicia licked her lips for a moment as he spoke. “Experienced? What is it with good guys having a thing for bad girls in masks huh? Doesn’t sound true blue to me.” She smirked a little, her eyes staying locked on his, as if waiting for a move to be made. She was playful but she never dropped her guard on people. She could still get shot after all. As he stated he had met the real deal, Felicia’s head tilted her head as she nodded. “Consider me the upgrade then.” She scoffed, raising her hand to show his gun hanging from her index finger. “Then you better book some holiday in. I don’t go down easy.”

-

Jim just looked at her for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. “Yeah, well,” he said, his tone arid. She had twisted his words around, and he was quite sure he was on purpose. But he wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of fighting her on it. “Maybe I just get a thrill out of locking them up where they belong.” Jim huffed softly as he saw his gun hanging from her finger, reaching for the small pistol he kept hidden in a holster at the small of his back. You didn’t serve on the police force in Gotham without being prepared for a wide range of catastrophes, including losing your weapon. He drew and pointed it at her. “Put that on the ground and kick it over to me.”

Babs said letting her dad fuss over here. There was no arguing with him she knew she wouldn’t win that battle. Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything she really didn’t want him to worry. “Dad, I’m fine honest. You and Dick are busy and I can take myself, in fact I prefer it that way.” 

-

Jim nibbled on his lower lip, trying to think. He wanted to be able to help -- he’d do anything for his daughter, and it killed him to think that maybe there wasn’t anything to do. At least nothing that was in his power. “Well, if that’s what you want,” he said, forcing himself to smile. “I just want you to know that I’m never to0 busy for you, okay? If you need me for anything, I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

@detjimgxrdon​

It felt almost like​ looking at Bruce. Jim was one of the last few people at his desk, slaving away on a case. So caught up in it that he failed to see how much time he was spending on work. He understood better than most. The urge to help people. That pull to be a hero at all hours… but if you got too sucked into it- you turn into Batman. Which meant he’d have to reprise his role as Robin and lift him out of the darkness of the job. “Hey, Mr. Gordon!” Dick said, placing a hand on his own desk before leaping over it gracefully and walking over to his. Flashing him a smile. “Shift’s over. Whaddya say we get a drink?” 

-

Jim jumped a little as he heard Dick’s voice -- he had been so focused on the file he was poring over that he hadn’t even realized anyone else was still in the room. He usually stayed later than everyone else, even the captain, and it was often that he was the last person in the room when the janitorial staff came in. “Oh, hey,” he said, offering Dick a soft smile as he looked up. “Yeah, I guess I lost track of time.” He offered the young a man a sheepish smile. Being on his own so much of the time now, Jim was worse than ever about actually going home when the shift was over. There was something a little depressing about returning to that tiny, grubby apartment. “That sounds good,” he said, getting up and stretching his arms his head, wincing when he heard a little pop in his shoulder. “Any preferences where?”

“You’re welcome! I do get that a lot. Believe it or not!” Jervis said with a smile stretching across his lips. “Oh you don’t need a degree,” Jervis said with a swipe of his hand as if he was fanning off the very idea of it. “Not to help little ol’ me. You see… of my delusions, I am free. No more pesky insanity.” Jim asked him to get his feet off his desk and he let out a small, “Oh.” Before doing as he asked, taking them off and instead standing up to try and reach his height. Still a little too short- despite the heels of his boots adding length to him. Perhaps a hat… No, Jervis! NO HAT! NO TEA! He placed the tea in front of Jim instead of in his own hand where it was a deadly temptation. Leaning in over the desk to get try and get a bit closer. “Have some tea, would you like some tea while I plead?” He asked. “You see, Jimmy. I haven’t done a thing wrong! Not in months since I was let out of that dreadful place! And I think I hear Batman. Walking around my apartment floor! Pow, pow, pow! Go his footsteps in the night and I can’t SLEEP! Might you please just… tell him to stop watching me? Since you’re friends and all. I’ll promise to be a good Hatter!” He held his ears for emphasize on how loud the steps were in his apartment.   

-

Jim just raised an eyebrow as Jervis spoke, frankly surprised that it had taken Jervis so long to start speaking in rhyme. “Sure,” he said. “I’ll believe that when I see it.” He frowned when Jervis let out that little Oh, wondering why he felt a little squirm of guilt in the pit of his stomach. “They’re important,” he mumbled, as if trying to explain himself. “No, I’m--” He was about to refuse the tea, thinking there was no way in hell of knowing what Jervis had put in it; but he picked up the mug, anyway. Figuring at the very least it couldn’t do any harm further away from Jervis. If he hadn’t put anything in it already, now it would be marginally harder. “Batman,” he repeated flatly. He sincerely doubted that Batman would be walking around Jervis Tetch’s house, if not just because Batman was more of a lurking on the opposite rooftop type of person. Still, Jervis obviously believed that Batman was pacing his floor, which gave Jim proof -- not that he needed it -- that Jervis was definitely still insane. He supposed there wasn’t any harm in giving him a grain of comfort. “Fine,” he said. “I’ll take care of it. Does he show up every night?” It was clear to him what the answer was, but he was curious to see what Jervis would have to say.