On the Brink [a ficlet/ open RP thread]

[gothams_dent]

Everywhere around him, the City of Gotham was falling apart.  As he stood on the rooftop of the District Attorney’s office, looking out at the expanse of skyscrapers and lights, Harvey Dent wondered how much longer he’d be able to keep it together.

It was easy to go on television, smile for the camera and offer promises.  It wasn’t that he didn’

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[knowthenbreak]

She stood in the doorway for awhile, her back to the flight of stairs that led to the roof of the DA's office. She'd dozed off at her desk for an hour and woken with a violent start, some unnamed figure haunting her dream, and she'd needed a breath of fresh air.

Apparently, she hadn't been alone in the idea.

It made her hesitate, seeing him there. Perhaps she should leave him alone, to his thoughts. There was so much happening that she wanted to bury her head in her hands and not look up again for another decade. Or that made her want to pack her bags, retreat to Florida. Maybe it was selfish, but she saw Gotham as a test now. If she could survive here, survive now, she could survive anything.

She stepped out onto the roof. "So, this is where you hide the booze?" She laughed a bit, but it was, like her voice, quieter than she'd meant it, more awkward than joking. The thin attempt fell away a moment later. "I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you. I just needed a breath of fresh air, and it's safer here than outside the building."

[gothams_dent]

At her voice, Harvey nearly dropped the glass of scotch. Quickly he regained his composure and clutched the tumbler, willing his hand not to shake.

"Nadine." His voice was steady, managed to be kind even. A small smile spread across his lips. "You're not disturbing me. I was just...taking a breath."

[knowthenbreak]

"Sorry to startle you." She didn't know why her voice was quiet, almost hushed. Maybe it was still thoughts of the Grayson case, or maybe it was the way that the noise of Gotham, what little there was in the night, seemed so distant. Or maybe she was just so tired she couldn't speak louder.

"I needed one too. It gets.. so stifling in that building." Not because of poor ventilation. Or at least that wasn't her guess. She really thought it was just from all the cases they saw, all the gory details, and having to set everything the police had in order, prepare a case, make victims relive gruesome crimes... It was overwhelming, but she wouldn't admit that.

[gothams_dent]

"Yes, it does." Harvey tilted the glass in her direction. "I'd offer you a drink but the bottle's down in my office."

[arkhams_dr]

Late at night, in his lab, Jonathan Crane cleaned up the last of the test subjects. The body made a satisfying thump as it slid down the disposal chute - not that anything could ruin the good doctor's mood. The new batch surpassed all expectations; with the addition of components from the psychotrope Key 17, his new compound nearly crossed from medicine to magic. He was giddy with triumph. All the moment needed was someone to share it with, someone who would know what was happening and be helpless to stop it. Too bad I don't have the Batman's phone number, Crane giggled as he dialed, But there's always a backup plan.

Somewhere across town and far above, Harvey Dent's cell phone begins to ring.

[gothams_dent]

Before he could reply to Nadine, Harvey's cell phone went off. He reached into his pocket.

"Let me guess," he said aloud. "The Mayor? Gordon?" He gave a slightly unsteady laugh. "The Batman?"

A small smile at Nadine and he answered.

"Dent."

[arkhams_dr]

"Oh, hello, Harvey," Crane's voice was smooth, practically a purr. "How are you tonight?"

[gothams_dent]

"Crane." Harvey's voice was unmoved and his jaw clenched. "What've you done now?"