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Chapter 4 - Chapter 3: “I’m Not Kidnapping This Guy, He Just Passed Out”

Gotham – Tuesday – 7:42 p.m.

Frank Gallo was just walking home.

Nothing special. Just another cold Gotham night. Fog clinging to the sidewalks like cigarette smoke. Sirens in the distance. His coat smelled faintly of tomato plant and WD-40.

He'd just picked up a space heater from a pawn shop for Mrs. Cheng on the fifth floor. Poor woman's radiator had given up during a cold snap. Frank, naturally, had decided to carry it home himself.

Because when you looked like Gotham's last executioner, delivery guys stopped offering.

He turned the corner and spotted a man slumped against a brick wall. Not homeless—too clean. Maybe late twenties. Nice coat. Expensive shoes. Pale as a ghost.

The guy swayed.

Mumbled something.

Then crumpled.

Frank caught him just before his head hit the pavement.

Frank (flatly): "You okay?"

No answer.

Frank patted him down—no wallet, no ID, no phone. Just a Gotham University badge clipped inside the coat.

Frank: "You had one job, coat."

Two Minutes Later – Frank, Carrying a Full-Grown Man Through the Streets of Gotham

He was halfway back toward his building, slumped guy fireman-carried over his shoulder like a sack of bricks, when a passing couple saw them and screamed.

Woman: "Oh my God he's taking him!"

Man: "That's the Gaunt Man! That's what he does!"

Frank (tired): "He passed out."

Man: "Let him go!"

Frank: "He's not conscious."

Woman: "You monster!"

Frank kept walking.

At Frank's Apartment – 8:10 p.m.

The guy woke up on Frank's couch, wrapped in a knit blanket with Mr. Tibbles perched on his chest.

Guy (blinking): "Where…?"

Frank: "You fainted."

Guy: "Who are you?"

Frank: "Frank Gallo. You had no ID. No phone. You're not bleeding. So I brought you here."

The man sat up slowly. Still woozy. Looked around the small, quiet room.

Guy: "You live here?"

Frank: "Yep."

Guy: "…This isn't a murder den?"

Frank: "Nope."

Pause.

Guy: "…You're the Gaunt Man, aren't you?"

Frank closed his eyes.

Frank: "I really didn't kidnap you."

Ten Minutes Later – With Tea

Frank made tea. The man still looked like he might throw up or bolt, but Mr. Tibbles stayed on his lap like a living hostage negotiator.

Frank: "Name?"

Guy: "Theo. Theo Harwood. I work at Gotham U. Assistant lecturer."

Frank: "You diabetic?"

Theo: "No. I think I was drugged. I was on my way to a research presentation. Next thing I know, I'm waking up on your couch. With your cat."

Frank: "He likes you."

Theo: "Comforting."

Across the Street – Someone's Watching

Karen from 3C leaned out her window, watching Frank's living room with binoculars.

She wasn't nosy. Just concerned.

Karen (to herself): "That better not be a hostage. I just got him to return my Tupperware."

She dialed a number.

Karen: "Hey, Montoya? Yeah. Frank has a new friend. You might wanna check it out."

Meanwhile – The Internet Is Exploding

Footage of Frank carrying Theo through the streets was already viral.

"The Gaunt Man strikes again!"

"Man mysteriously disappears in East End—last seen in the arms of Gotham's vigilante cryptid."

"The Gaunt Man takes his victims home. For… justice? Snacks? Unclear."

At the Precinct – Montoya and Ramirez

Ramirez: "He's got a what now?"

Montoya: "A houseguest. Name's Theo Harwood. Gotham U academic."

Ramirez: "You think he's safe?"

Montoya: "Honestly? Safer than with most people. Gallo's scary, not homicidal."

She sighed.

Montoya: "But if this goes sideways, the media's gonna eat it up like a Joker livestream."

Back in Frank's Apartment – 9:04 p.m.

Theo sipped his tea with both hands, looking around the apartment.

Theo: "You're not at all like I expected."

Frank: "What'd you expect?"

Theo: "Cages. Bones. Maybe a shrine to vengeance."

Frank: "I have basil."

Theo: "Oh. Of course."

Pause.

Theo: "…Can I stay here for the night? Just until I figure out who drugged me?"

Frank stared at him.

Frank: "People already think I abducted you."

Theo: "Then what's the harm?"

Frank sighed.

Frank: "Fine. Don't touch the cat."

Later That Night – Theo Asks Questions

Theo: "Why do people think you're dangerous?"

Frank: "I have this face."

Theo: "It's not that scary—"

Frank: "I also carried a guy out of a burning bodega once and got blamed for the fire."

Theo: "Oh."

Frank: "And broke up a fight at a club. Got accused of organizing it."

Theo: "…So basically, Gotham is allergic to your existence."

Frank: "Yep."

Theo: "And you still help people?"

Frank shrugged.

Frank: "Someone has to."

Montoya Shows Up – 10:30 p.m.

A knock at the door.

Frank opened it. Didn't even blink when Montoya walked in with two officers behind her.

Montoya: "Evening. Thought I'd come say hi before the SWAT team gets ideas."

Frank: "He passed out."

Montoya: "So I've heard. You got a witness?"

Theo (from the couch): "Hi. Still alive."

Montoya: "You staying here voluntarily?"

Theo: "For now. Also, there's soup."

Montoya raised an eyebrow.

Montoya: "You're serving soup now?"

Frank: "Better than an interrogation."

Montoya and Frank – Quiet Conversation in the Hall

Montoya: "You know, someday, this city's gonna push you too far."

Frank: "Already did."

Montoya: "And you didn't break?"

Frank: "Breaking's easy. I do hard."

She nodded. Not approval exactly—but understanding.

Montoya: "Call me if Theo turns out to be a vampire or something."

Frank: "No promises."

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