what once was a city left drowning from the delusions of an attention seeking psychopath, now lays blanketed in thick layers of snow. heavy, like how how the bat suit has started to feel on his shoulders these days. burdened with the need to be more, to be what this city needs, but dragged down by his own careless oversights. he could have stopped it. the riddler's plan was all there, just like he said. but it was already too late when he finally had all the pieces of the puzzle. with the massive destruction to the east side of the city, his mind can't help but wonder how many lives had been lost, how many people could have been spared if he just hadn't been so—
the motorbike must have hit a patch of black ice because it suddenly jerks beneath him, almost throwing him from his seat if his reflexes hadn't caught him in time. he gasps for a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, the cold air like daggers in his lungs, and quickly corrects his balance. he can spill his thoughts into his journal once he's back; not here. with his attention back on the road, he continues speeding towards the entrance to the cave.
alfred is waiting for him by the time he cuts the engine and removes his cowl. black fringe sticks to his forehead from sweat, yet he still shivers and moves to dust off whatever bit of snow still clinging to him. he thinks he hears alfred mention something about a warm shower or some hot tea, and gives some sort of grunt in agreement. his attention is already on to his journal, [ 𝚝𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚍𝚊𝚢, 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚑... ] until alfred mentions cerise. immediately bruce lifts his head, and alfred repeats cerise's concern for his safety and that he should make himself known so as to put her mind at ease. with a glance back to his journal, and only the date scribbled there, he debates a moment before nodding. after sticking the pen between the pages, he closes it and brings it with him.
after shedding his suit, and letting the armor fall with a heavy thud onto the cave floor, he heads upstairs. it takes him a few minutes to locate what room she decided to settle in, and he nearly misses her if it hadn't been for the stark red color of her hair peeking out from a pile on the floor. bruce enters, hesitant, as he attempts to peer over the mountain of blankets at her. ❝ you still awake? ❞
