'Singing in the rain' or however it was that song went, Lucan wasn't quite sure it had been a while since he last sang anything close to a nursery rhyme, and he wasn't really singing at the moment either; they were sitting here watching a PG-13 horror story.
Polly would flinch at the occasional thunderbolt but seemed to have become rather invested in it. The rain was pouring down heavily, and a certain chill was sweeping through the mansion, causing her to shiver slightly. "You cold?"
She only shook her head in response relaxing fully into the chair and leaning her head back, small twinkling stars appearing over her head alongside sheep and flute-playing cherubs 'I guess sleep is starting to catch up with her'
Contrary to that was Lucan himself who was still very wide awake and had to find a way to either bore himself to sleep or entertain himself, he continued to listen to the TV, using it as background noise he couldn't help but feel strange 'The memes made it seem like this place was hell on earth'.
The station was interrupted for a moment as a blonde-haired woman appeared on the screen holding a microphone which snapped him out of his thoughts, he glanced back at where Polly was only to find her completely asleep, but making pained expressions while squirming around 'Nightmares?'
"We regret to inform you but four Gotham City police officers were found dead at six pm yesterday evening". The woman paused as a younger man whispered into her ears and her eyes widened slightly "I have just been informed that two adult males have also been found deceased".
'I take back whatever delusion I just had about the safety of this city'. He watched the news with interest, it was rare for there to be any news that interested him these days, not that he was someone who listened to the news before this moment.
"It is suspected these crimes are linked to the current masked vigilante that has been recently active in the last six months, witnesses say the man appears to be dressed as a large bat. A watch has been put out for this Batman to ensure that he is found and put to trial I am Vicki Vale and that will be all for the six o'clock news"
"Batman doesn't kill people though, it's his whole thing even though I know that much at least…" Lucan went quiet, his eyes widening as he recalled the last part of her sentence "It's six o'clock" he said in a panic but then recalled that it was in fact still raining heavily.
He had overlooked the fact that the reporter was standing at the scene with an umbrella, his heart gradually calmed down, he had been wondering how he would survive morning exercise with his lack of sleep but luckily the problem had solved itself.
***
The morning bell came swiftly after that thought but unlike how it would usually go, only a few people had come out of their rooms for breakfast, water and other things. Polly woke up and stretched looking out the window and still seeing rain scoffed and groggily started walking back to the medical wing.
Lucan himself was feeling tired and had gone back to his room to take an extended nap hope I don't mess up my sleep schedule.'
***
In the cafeteria, Lucan's blonde-haired roommate amongst others, was happily enjoying their meals as he began to explain what was happening to him with a certain hint of pride in his voice as it seemed like he quite enjoyed explaining things to people, while Lucan liked to listen.
"I guess with your memory gone and everything you wouldn't have been able to know that during morning storms like this, there's no training".
He rolled his eyes at the remark, he had no memory to lose to begin with, not that he was going to tell him that, but he had indeed almost forgotten.
His gripes aside Lucan shared what he had heard on the news with his roommate who calmly nodded his head and listened until he had finished, his expression remained unchanged, no perhaps he seemed even happier "Someone is taking all the scum off the street, that's a good thing"
Lucan tilted his head in confusion, he was wondering if perhaps his blonde friend had misheard him somehow but his next sentence had crushed that belief as he slouched back in his chair with his hands on his stomach "That said I don't think Batman kills people".
Lucan was surprised at how confident he sounded, it wasn't like he had an absolute way of knowing that the Caped Crusader did not in fact have a preference for the sight of human corpses "Why so sure?" Lucan asked, not hiding his skepticism.
The blonde boy shrugged, "I just think it doesn't really make sense for him to suddenly start killing people after doing nothing but maiming them before". Lucan nodded, it was a sound argument but that didn't mean it was solid enough for no doubts
"Maybe he changed his mind?" The blond boy shook his head, his sandy blonde hair bouncing as he did. He seemed rather firm in his opinion on the matter even if he didn't agree with him 'He's a pretty stubborn guy' Lucan had to stop himself from almost rolling his eyes "No? Seriously? Why not?"
Lucan wasn't sure what he was expecting to hear, but he most definitely was not expecting to hear the words he had heard next "Just a feeling really". Lucan was stunned, he hadn't expected blind faith to be the reason that he trusted the masked vigilante so much "Why do you trust him?"
Lucan paused briefly, he had never considered someone asking him the question; actually, he had never asked himself that question either, did he truly trust the dark knight? There was a lot of evidence to suggest he was at least effective at his job, he trusted his skills and the depth of his knowledge, but what he didn't trust was his sense of judgment.
Lucan also liked pure heroes even if some of them came off as annoying but he couldn't fathom keeping someone like the Joker alive, while he was aware that the Joker had yet to appear at least in any form he was familiar with, it would be a future problem people would die, people who just wanted to get by.
He clenched his fist but took a deep breath and shook his head, it wasn't quite the right time to be afraid, the consequences of those actions had yet to arrive and hopefully, he would be able to find somewhere safe to live, 'No offence to this place but it will definitely be a magnet for those people, maybe an actual giant bat would even take residence here or something'
"I don't really trust him, but I at least think I know what he's capable of," his friend thought for a moment and then grinned standing up from his seat to head back to their room.
"Well, that's a fair answer, trusting strangers never really ends well". Lucan gave him a hypocritical look, wondering if perhaps he was unable to hear the words coming out of his mouth after trying to force him to effectively trust in a stranger who runs around beating people up in a black leather suit.
"I never said I was perfect". The blonde shrugged before waving him goodbye, exiting the cafeteria. Lucan was about to stand up from his seat too when his friend suddenly strolled back in. "Oh yeah and staying up late is bad for you and especially for Polly she's already short she doesn't need to be shorter"
'How did this freak know I didn't sleep' Lucan thought back on how the blondy always woke up first "'Okay well that's understandable but he shouldn't know I spent that time with someone else'
The blonde had a cheeky smile on his face, he was completely enjoying the situation right now but before Lucan could ask anything he answered himself "Polly told me, you guys were all cuddled up yesterday".
"Don't be weird, I'm just a kid" Lucan waved him off and in return gave him a mischievous smirk
"This is Gotham though". Lucan wore an incredulous expression, as though anything was believable as long as it was done in Gotham.
'Is this place actually hell? Was I sent to hell?' he was starting to feel the memes were justified
***
With food settled Lucan was strolling back to the common room with his hands in his pockets when he saw a rather rare sight.
Strangers, it was called an orphanage but he had rarely seen any visitors in fact aside from an occasionally sick child being added to the medical wing now and then almost no one ever came.
That said to someone like Lucan everyone was a stranger he could be making a mistake. It was also possible he wasn't a visitor and was just someone from deeper down in the medical wing.
But if the reactions of the children around him were anything to go by, then he definitely wasn't one of the staff.
The more Lucan looked at him the more sure he was that this man had nothing to do with this place.
He had an air about him that made him feel old, but he didn't look very old, at least Lucan didn't think so.
He was tall, looked like he was in his late thirties, possibly early forties, with nearly swept-back, jet-black hair.
His skin looked a bit rough, with broad shoulders and a thick build, like someone who spent a lot of time outside or perhaps doing strenuous activity, but at the same time, he felt refined.
Lucan looked at the man over again, taking note of his neat expensive-looking attire that he wore like they were spare pyjamas, unconcerned.
He walked through the halls of the orphanage with slow measured steps, taking in every inch of the facility, gazing mostly at the drawings on the walls made by Polly "What interesting paintings"
His voice was deep and subtle, confident but not loud, he spoke like someone who expected to be listened to explicitly when speaking, neither too fast nor too slow.
He passed by the common room and stopped just in front of Lucan, his hands behind his back, his calculating gaze landing on him.
"Hello there child, these are very nice paintings don't you agree?". Lucan hadn't expected the man to speak with him so his brain somewhat froze.
"Um… yes, well they I would say they're morbusiness-like nice". The man raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything silently urging Lucan to continue.
He didn't even know why he was suddenly nervous but he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and steadied himself "I don't know much about paintings really, good afternoon sir what brings you to Willow Wood?".
The man gave a small smile, taking out one of his hands from behind his back and patting him on the shoulder. "I'm just here to see a friend"
"Not to adopt?" The man paused and then looked round the place again.
"Well I suppose this place is still an orphanage, tell you what I'll consider it if my meeting goes well". Calm and business like but at the same time rather generous it was quite an odd blend of traits but somehow they all made sense.
Shortly after Bradley appeared from the upper floors his pale white skin seemingly even more pale than usual as he looked between the man and Lucan.
He walked over and calmly stepped between them offering to show the man upstairs. The man's smile slowly faded as he looked up at Bradley.
He frowned.
Author's Note:
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.