[ EU ] Batman gets into a moral argument with a low life , common thug , and loses .

The shadow swept through the night, barely touching down on each roof top before it was gliding toward the next. Sometimes people could feel its breeze. Some of them thought it was God. Others thought it was evil incarnate, but the shadow called itself no such thing. He was merely an instrument of justice. 
 
 Below the shadow came the shouts of vile men. The shadow crept closer. Another argument over drugs. Five men. Two on three. Easy enough to handle. One of them drew a knife and lunged at the duo in a mad rage. Immediately, one of the two drew a gun and popped a bullet into his skull. 
 
 The shadow moved in swiftly, overcasting the four before they knew anyone else was there. He bashed two men's skulls together, immediately leaving their bodies in a crumpled heap. The shadow had done this many times before. They would live. 
 
 One of the remaining two men had enough wits about him to retaliate. He started throwing punches at the shadow, but it was all in vain. None of them made contact, and he too quickly fell to the ground. All that remained was the man with the gun. 
 
 `` Batman,'' he stated. It was not an exclamation of fear. He did n't even seem surprised to see the famed figure. The man sighed, shook his head, and tossed his gun to the ground. 
 
 This was unusual for Batman. They almost always fought back, but this one did n't bother. He would have to think of another way to deal with him until the cops arrive. In a flash, Batman grabs the man and drags him to the nearest lamp post. He roughly tied his hands and legs to the post with some wire from his utility belt. 
 
 His eyes cast to the ground, the man spoke, voice barely a whisper. `` You think you're better than us?'' 
 
 Batman did n't know why he even bothered with the thug. Perhaps it was his choice to surrender peacefully and calmly. 
 
 `` No,'' he replied curtly, turning away. 
 
 `` Then stay here,'' the man replied. `` Turn yourself in when the cops arrive.'' 
 
 Batman turned around. Now, he truly looked at the man. He was young, maybe his early thirties. He looked like any normal citizen - jeans, clean t-shirt, windbreaker jacket. He looked healthy. He did n't look like the kind of person that sold drugs, but looks are deceiving. People lie. Now, this man was challenging him, like he did n't just kill a man. 
 
 Batman should have left. There were probably more gunfights, rapes, and robberies to deal with, but here he was, talking to a petty murderer. 
 
 `` I ca n't do that. Not until Gotham can take care of itself.'' 
 
 `` Then you *do* think you're better than us.'' The thug said bitterly. 
 
 Batman stepped closer and rummaged through the thug's pockets, pulling out a bag of cocaine. 
 
 `` I do n't go around ruining lives and killing people,'' Batman said, tossing the bag to the ground. `` Over drugs.'' 
 
 The thug laughed. `` I might be a drug dealer, but you're just as bad as me. You do n't think you've destroyed people, Batman? Look at those men on the ground. How many bones do you think you've broken? How many people have you left hanging onto life when they would be better off dead?'' 
 
 Batman rarely thought about the people he put away. He did what he had to do. `` Bones heal.'' 
 
 The drug lord shook his head. `` You've permanently damaged some people that had hardly any prison time, but they're going to have to live with you. Tell me Bat, if someone went around beating the shit out of people left and right, would you stop them?'' 
 
 `` Yes, but - `` 
 
 `` That's you! You put on a cape and mask, and suddenly it's okay for you to do.'' 
 
 `` It's the lesser of two evils. Those people chose to do what they did.'' 
 
 `` You think everyone has a choice? You're lying to yourself. You're trying to ask people to function in a fucked up world. Make us obey the law when people like you ca n't follow it yourselves. You ca n't fool me, Batman. You have to be loaded to have all the shit you've got. That's how you can get away with pretending to play the hero.'' 
 
 `` I'm no hero.'' 
 
 `` Then what are you doing out here, huh?'' The man stared Batman down and for once he struggled to describe his reasons. 
 
 `` I'm... helping justice because others ca n't.'' 
 
 `` Bullshit. This is n't justice. You're fucking up the world more. Sure, people are scared of you. `` The Dark Knight''. You follow your `` code'', but you are n't making any difference. Crimes are always going to happen if people do n't feel they have any choice but to resort to them.'' 
 
 Batman grew angry. Was this thug saying the man who killed his parents did n't feel like he had a choice in the matter, like he *needed* to kill them? `` There is always a choice!'' 
 
 `` Then sit,'' the drug lord said quietly, `` and wait with me.'' 
 
 `` What good can I be to the world in prison? Who will help the people of Gotham when crooks like you are running around?'' Batman's voice cracked with rage. 
 
 `` I am a citizen of Gotham. What good will prison do me? Judges and lawyers will be paid to throw me in and lock the key while they thrive off of the suffering of the common folk. You are n't helping the world, rich boy. You're aiding a fucked up system. You do n't even understand. You do n't know the pain. You've been coddled all your life. You're delusional.'' 
 
 `` You do n't know what I've been through!'' Bruce said viciously. `` You do n't have any idea! All you've ever done is cause more pain. At least I'm trying to help.'' 
 
 `` You've caused just as much pain as me. I was just trying to survive. You think I wanted to kill that guy back there? You do n't think I've lost people I loved? You think you're special. Well, you are. You were born on a pedestal that everyone else is holding up. You are n't helping anyone. You're living off of them.'' 
 
 Bruce looked at the man in silence. Maybe he was n't a liar after all. Maybe he was right. He did n't feel like he had any choice but to be Batman. Maybe this drug lord felt like he had any choice but to sell drugs. 
 
 `` You *really* want to help people?'' The drug lord asked. `` Fix the prisons. Give to charities. Stop wasting money being a clown. Make Gotham a better place to live. Put on the suit and tie and make a difference. Those are the only ones who can. Get the citizens of Gotham the help they need. I was one of those people you were so keen on helping, once upon a time. Stop the stupid Batman act. You're no better than me in principle. You were just lucky enough to be better than me.'' 
 
 Bruce did n't have any arguments left. What did he do at Wayne Corp anyway? He let other people run it for him - business men. What had he done for the world as Bruce? The drug lord looked back at the ground, he was done arguing. In the distance, Wayne could hear sirens approaching. Swiftly, he began to walk away. 
 
 `` Where are you going?'' the drug lord asked. Maybe, for a second, he thought Bruce was going to turn himself in. 
 
 Bruce kept walking. `` To take off the cape and mask, and put on the suit and tie.'' 
 

