2017.01.19 - The Troubled Dreams of an Amazon
It was a cold, snowy night in Gotham City. The sort of night where just about everyone with a single iota of sense is warm and safe indoors somewhere. Everyone except Batman.
The Dark Knight is perched atop a run down apartment building in The Narrows, a notoriously dangerous part of town. His attention seems mostly focused on a small 24-hour bodega at the street level which, despite the time and the weather, is open. It's a small spot of light that offers warmth and hope in an otherwise cold and uncaring night.
A concession to the cold, Ganymede has once again wrapped himself in his midnight blue cloak with the hood pulled up to partially obscure his features. Though there's no mistaking who it is, with the way those curls fill out the hood, and still manage to spill out of it. Landing nearby, the young Amazon looks down at Batman, then at the object of his attention, eyebrows raised.
"Ganymede," Batman says with a sharp nod by way of greeting. "What brings you here on a night like this?"
"I had a dream." The Amazon says softly, moving to sit on the edge of the building, leaning against one of the gothic gargoyles, gray eyes thoughtful. "I could not sleep."
No stranger to prophesies, Batman naturally asks, "What sort of dream?" Could Ganymede have seen something important relating to Gotham City?
The young Amazon shrugs slightly, "It was... disjointed. Unpleasant. A woman's voice. A man's. Talking of war..." He shakes his head, unable to remember the detals now. "I could not return to slumber. Lord Morpheus eludes me this evening... I thought I would come to Gotham."
"War..." Batman says softly in a thoughtful tone. "There's half a dozen wars going on around the world right now," he points out.
The boy shakes his head, looking down at the city sadly. "Our message is a good one, but those of Man's World will not listen." He finally says softly, drawing the cloak close. It's not that he's physically chilled, in this case, but emotionally.
"It must be difficult for you to suddenly find yourself on alien shores in a world so full of turmoil," Batman says, showing a bit of empathy for Ganymede.
The Amazon doesn't cry... but it's clear he wants to. "You are all so needlessly /cruel/ to each other..." he finally whispers, once he finds the words. "Love and compassion are... weaknesses in your world." His breath catches, hard. "But that is why we are here."
"Cruelty is, unfortunately, the easy way out for too many people. They find it easier to use and abuse others for their own gain. That's why I fight against them," Batman explains, his breath foggy in the cold air.
"But violence begets more violence, in an endless cycle." The Amazon says softly. "There are times it is needed, and I do believe you use it only in those times... but..." he trails off, at a loss for words. It's hard for an Amazon, someone who has been taught the ways of peace, who has only learned martial skill to defend and protect, to see others being so violent. "How do you keep your way?"
"Sometimes it is a circular argument," Batman admits. "But most times, when criminals are faced with violence as a consequence of their own actions, it puts a stop to them."
"I do not wish to hurt anyone." he says softly. "It is not the way of the Amazons to strike first, and question only when the enemies are down... And I fear that in this world, it is the second method that may be required to save lives."
Batman takes a deep breath and lets it out on a sigh. "It's going to be hard for you," he points out, pretty much stating the obvious. "Most criminals won't stop simply for the asking. Not even the threat of incarceration is enough to dissuade the worst of them from committing crimes." He points down toward the 24-hour bodega which he'd been watching over. "Three times they've been hit for a protection racket. The third time Robin and I stopped the gangsters. They've not been back since. They know that I'm watching."
The youth nods, looking down at the bodega, thoughtful. "But there are not as many of us as there are of them. And there are things like the demon. We must stay... vigilent." He smiles at Batman, a sad smile, but a genuine one. "You are a good friend."
"I try to be vigilant, especially when it comes to Gotham City," Batman says. "How am I a good friend?" he asks.
"You listen, and offer advice." Ganymede points out, thoughtful. "And you do not... discourage me from doing this, but instead acknowledge my struggle."
Batman nods at Ganymede's words. "I view you as a potential ally," he says with surprising candor. "I am aware of your strengths but it also helps to know your weaknesses. There may come a day when you are too kind to someone who will not repay that kindness to your or anyone else. They'll take your kindness as permission to continue doing whatever bad things they're doing. And I'll be there to remind them that there are consequences for their misdeeds."
It's as if the thought of someone taking advantage of his kindness not only didn't occur to Ganymede, but is still somehow beyond his comprehension. "I pray that day will never come... but if it does, even knowing that... I hope I meet them with only further kindness." He smiles, looking down at the bodega, again, then looking up to Batman once more.
Batman shakes his head, lips pressed into a grim line. "You're too innocent," he remarks.
"And you are too cynical." Gany responds, though he's smiling. "Perhaps we can bring each other some level of balance by working together."
Batman snorts softly. It's not the first time he's been called cynical and it's doubtful it will be the last. "We'll see," he allows.
"Let us hope." Ganymede says with a smile, looking from Batman, out over the water now. "It is, in the end, all we have."
"Don't let this world ruin you," Batman says. "It will try to drag you down and change you, to dirty you. Guard against it."
The Amazon rises, smiling. Quick as a thought, he's at Batman's side, kissing the man on the cheek. "Always." He says softly, and then he's in the air, the wind caught in his cloak. "I think I will be able to sleep, now. Thank you for your counsel."
It's rare that someone can catch Batman by surprise. He reflexively jerks back just a moment too late. His skin is chilled from the cold night air and softly falling snow. "Sleep well," he finally says.