Jim Gordon

Babs smiled at him, though her head was starting to feel so heavy from sheer tiredness that she wasn’t entirely sure how she was managing to hold it upright. “I know, I hardly ever am,” she said, grinning at him, unrepentant as she usually was. Peter stirred as Jim glanced down at him, sighing softly. His eyes fluttered open for a moment, latching onto Barbara. He reached out to gently pat her face, the trailing sleeve of his oversized GCPD sweatshirt brushing against her nose. She faked a cartoonish, high-pitched sneeze – ahhh-choooo! – which made him giggle sleepily, and Babs smiled at him. He rested his head back on Jim’s shoulder, nestling his face comfortably against his father’s neck, and within moments he was asleep again. Babs waited for a few moments to make sure he was deeply asleep before she spoke again. “I’ll bring him with me, then. God knows he never gets tired of visiting that place.” She sighed, her tone suggesting she wasn’t thrilled with how attached their son already was to the GCPD. “Her getting fired should be the least of her concerns,” she said dryly. “But she should avoid stairs for a while. And open spaces. And cars, for that matter.”

He let out a soft sigh when she spoke, leaving it at that. They didn’t need to continue talking about her attitude. Instead, he put his mind on her safety. Her hair was matted with blood and though she was smiling at him and interacting with Peter who was partially out of it from sleep. She was injured and he needed to rush her into leaving with him. He glanced around for his car before his eyes landed on an officer who was leaning against his police cruiser. It might be smarter to take that just in case he needed to use the sirens to get to the clinic or the hospital a little quicker. He glanced back to her, feeling Peter nuzzle up against him and head back to sleep. “Great!” He said, noting the tone in her voice. She wasn’t fond of their son being interested in his father’s job and it was something Jim easily understood. If he was honest with himself, he wasn’t fond of it either. It was too dangerous of a job. He lost officers far too often and he hated the idea of losing Peter like that. He wanted to edge him away from the idea in the future but right now- he was just too young and there was no point. “You really can’t say that in front of me.” Jim told her sternly before using his free hand to grab her upper arm. Taking her towards the officer.

Barbara offered him her sweetest smile, shrugging her shoulders. “Even if I forget, the odds are in my favor. I’m more likely to be exceptionally difficult than otherwise. It’s part of my charm.” She frowned as she noticed him wince, not really understanding the problem. And she didn’t see it as the same thing. She felt like Jim threw himself at death’s door like he was trying to break it down. As for herself, she just didn’t think her death would make much of an impact, but it wasn’t like she was rushing out to meet it. She shrugged. “Fine, but you might have to come to the house. I’m not leaving Peter with that little b–” She cut herself off, eyes flicking toward Peter’s sleeping face tucked safely against Jim’s shoulders. “She just left him there by himself when everything started. She’ll be lucky if I don’t get my hands on her.”

“You’re not exactly wrong.” He grumbled. Partially to himself. She’d always been a bit of a brat, but beneath all of that. She was fiercely loyal and protective to the people she loved. It was the quality that attracted him to her in the first place. Her recklessness however, stressed him out. Even if he might as well be looking in a mirror. Well aware of his own hypocrisy. He had to wonder if Peter might lose them both and end up alone. Glancing down at his son who slept against his chest, he briefly considered retirement once again before Babs broke his trail of thoughts with her words. “Just bring him by the station. Dick or Harvey won’t mind watching him for an hour. Oh, and fire her. Obviously she’s too neglectful to be watching children. Much less ours.”  

Lee assumed she was safe from prying eyes, hiding behind the door of her office. She thought it’d be okay to cry, to let out everything that had been building up over the past few days. When Jim entered the office, she tried her best to hide that she was upset. But there was nothing she could do to stop the flow of tears, and she let out a choked sob when Jim crouched down and wiped her face. There was no way she could tell him what had happened with Ed, so she shook her head, her hands covering his and holding them against her cheeks. “So much,” she said, truthfully. “So many things and I don’t even know where to begin.” Her voice was strangled, and her head felt heavy and full of pressure. “There’s so much darkness, Jim. It’s starting to swallow me whole.”

“It’s alright,” He said, reaching forwards and moving some of her hair behind her ear. He knew what it was like to have the Tetch Virus running through his veins. All that darkness. That anger. If it was left unchecked, it could destroy you. The sensation was suffocating and the only way he’d known how to catch a breath was to give into it. He didn’t know how she’d lived with it for so long and how she was still so good despite it all. “It’s okay, you don’t have to right now. Not if you don’t want to.” He told her. Although he wanted to know. It was really the only way he could help her in the long run, he knew better than to push her to tell him anything. “It’s not going to. There’s always going to be light. You just have to search for it. Is there anything I can do to help?” 

Babs wrinkled her nose. “Well, I’m tired,” she said. “I promise I’ll be especially intractable later to make up for it. Don’t let me forget.” She grinned at him as she hopped down, though it shifted to a grimace of pain just a moment later. “It’s fine,” she said, waving away his concern. “It’s just bruises. He had me up against the wall.” She spoke softly, not wanting Peter to wake up hearing something so frightening. “Oh,” she said, with a little pout. “Right.” She sighed, leaning on her elbow propped on the gurney. “I didn’t exactly ask for his insurance info,” she said grumpily. “He was very large. He picked me up like I didn’t weigh anything. He was white, bald.” She rubbed her eyes with her free hand, like a tired child. “He looked a little like, um…Barnes, actually. If Barnes was the size of a Buick.”

“Right. Because I’m going to remind you to be more difficult with me.” He said, sarcasm clear in his tone. He preferred when things were easier between them but it was rare. During the years they spent together, you’d think he’d learn what or what not to say but she was more unpredictable than the criminals he had to track down. He cringed a bit when she described the attack. He wasn’t surprised that she was nonchalant. Just impressed and a little concerned. She’d always been like this but he wasn’t sure if it was strength or if she didn’t mind the concept of death. Not that he could talk. He was sure she’d complained about the same thing when it came to him. “I’ll remember that... but I’m going to be asking for a proper statement tomorrow. If you’ll give it to me.” 

“Lee?” It was obvious he was never supposed to see her like this. He dropped by on a whim after work. Just wanting to talk to her again when he’d found her crying in her office. Immediately he closed the door after himself and went to her. Setting the bakery bag of treats he brought for her on the desk before crouching to get on her level. Reaching forwards and gently wiping a few tears from her face. “What happened?” He asked, trying to keep the anger out of his tone. Whoever made her this upset deserved to catch his hands. As far as he was concerned. 

“No need to worry yourself, Jihm. I don’t keep loaded guns in the house since Peter started staying over at weekends.” Whenever Zsasz got home, he took all the ammo out of his guns before unlocking the front door. He never wanted to be the reason that Jim’s son got hurt. Strange as it was, he cared about the little guy. Maybe even felt the closest thing to familial love that he’d ever feel. “I’ll try not to be offended by that comment.” If Jim would just let him get involved, Zsasz was sure he could hand Riddler over to him within 24 hours of looking. He had his connections and his ways of finding people who wanted to stay hidden. The Rogue code meant nothing to him. Victor Zsasz had never had a problem with backstabbing the people who assumed he was their friend. “Dinner with a good friend? Now, Jihm, I know you only have 4 friends. Me, Bullock, Penguin, and the doc.” Looking down at his magazine, he shrugged a shoulder. “It’s a bit boring for my tastes this week, just a lot of bull about Disco Fever being one of the most iconic disco songs.” Jim wasn’t going to change the subject that easily. “So, was the date with Penguin? I always knew he was a little fruity,” he teased.

“And I really appreciate that, I do... but you shouldn’t be keeping any guns in this house.” He said, knowing that Victor wouldn’t ever comply to that. He just felt like he needed to say it. The deal they had about Zsasz keeping his nose clean was still something he wanted to enforce. Even if he was pretty sure that the other man was going behind his back and working his old job anyway. He gave him a bit of a smile, “I promise you, I have it handled.” Although, part of him toyed with the idea that he might let Victor do it if Lee ever showed any signs of being in danger. He didn’t mind bending the rules for her if he was desperate. “What? I have more than just four...” He tried to dispute to no avail. “Batman. I’m friends with him.” He nodded his head when he said it was a bit boring before bringing it back to the date. “You think I’d go on a date with Oswald?” He asked, raising a brow before shaking his head. “No, I just had dinner with Lee. We were just catching up. ...At a restaurant.” 

Zsasz looked up from his Disco Weekly magazine when he heard Jim’s key being turned in the lock. They’d been like ships in the night lately, never around when the other was. He blamed that on his roommate being obsessed with the GCPD and all his annoying cop friends. Crossing one leg over the other, he watched as Jim greeted his dog, waiting for his greeting, too. It seemed to be taking too long, so Zsasz cleared his throat, an eyebrow raised. “Finally! I thought I’d turned invisible,” he said, relaxing into his armchair. “Thought I’d have to fire a shot to get your attention,” he grinned. “Hello, Jihm. What’s got you looking so… chipper? Did you finally catch the Riddler? Nothing short of that could bring a smile to that handsome mug of yours.”

“Hey, no shots.” He reminded him in a scolding tone. He couldn’t even really be mad at that. His heart was soaring right now and there wasn’t much anyone could do to bring down his mood. “No. Unfortunately, he’s still at large- and before you ask: No, I’m not desperate enough to ask you to go poking around for him. I just... had dinner with a good friend. That’s all.” He explained. It wasn’t really all they did but he’d probably feel the exact same about the night even if it was. It had been a very long time since he was out on a date with anyone and it felt good to be around someone else like that again. Especially her. “It was a good night. What about you, are you having a good time reading uh-” He cocked his head as he looked at the magazine. “Disco Weekly?”