Folks today the Gotham's night feels suffocating. It seeps into your bones and lingers. The wind whips through this broken cathedral. It used to be grand, but now it's just a skeleton. The spires broke off like the city's spirit.
Rex is on the roof, Rebellion hanging lazily over his shoulders, surveying the chaos below. Gotham pulsed like a damaged heart tonight. He senses who's coming even before the shadow moves.
"Bats, you really stink at sneaking up on me," Rex calls over his shoulder, not bothering to turn at first.
Batman steps out, cape rising, hood pulled low, eyes shining like judgmental headlights that see right into your soul. The wind makes his cape fluttered as if he's auditioning for a vampire movie.
"You've caused a mess," Batman growls, his voice rough.
Rex just laughs. "You'll need to be more specific, man."
"LexCorp. Forty-three dead."
"They shot me first." Rex's tone is flat, as if he's discussing the weather.
Batman's jaw tightens. "You went too far."
"They tried to control me." Rex's smile fades, and his eyes turn cold. "I'm not some mutt, baty"
The space between them feels tense, like a knife fight with the air.
"I've seen your kind," Batman says, his voice harsh. "You dodge consequences, act like you're untouchable."
Rex's eyes narrow. "Nah, Bats. I'm not untouchable. I'm just way past your control."
Batman steps closer, his boots crunching. "You're dangerous."
Rex shrugs. "So are you."
"But I wear a symbol."
Rex grins, sharp as broken glass. "That symbol's rusty. You really think rules matter in this city?"
Batman's hands clench, as if he wants to hit a wall. "Rules keep us from becoming them."
Rex steps in, close enough to smell the sweat and anger. "That's your problem, Bruce. You're always trying to define a line. Me? I don't need a line. I don't need a costume to know who I am."
[PSYCH TENSION: Red alert. Someone's about to snap.]
Batman's eyes narrowed. "You're making unwanted enemies."
Rex beams wider. "Yeah? Good. At least enemies are honest."
Silence crashes down.
"You're not untouchable," Batman mutters.
"And you're not immortal," Rex shoots back, right in his face. "You can't save everyone. I don't have to."
Batman remains still. His fists, however, are tense.
Rex turned away, boots scraping as he approached the ledge. Gotham's wind howls, challenging him.
"I'm not your third rate villain, Bruce."
Batman's eyes flickered, though he won't admit it.
"But I'll never be your fucking sidekick, either."
Rex glanced back, giving him a cocky smirk.
"Don't forget it."
He disappeared off the step, blending into Gotham's shadows like a ghost with attitude.
Batman stands beneath the shattered cross, the city screaming around him. The cracks in the League just got a whole lot deeper.