It's his second year as Batman. Second year back in Gotham.

He's got a good thing going. Steady with Commissioner Gordon, the Batsignal has been made, and so has the Batcave. He's got a reputation. Fear surrounds him. Follows him like the shadows.

He is lonely. It is a necessary evil.

He stumbles through the night, clutching the wound in his side. Alfred will know how to handle it. And he will. As soon as he gets home, as soon as he crosses the entire city on foot, because some new villain just wrecked his car. And he really would use his grappling hook, if he could lift his arm without the searing pain of his new injury.

He keeps his eyes open. Alert. He needs to seem invincible, like a force of nature. He can't let anyone know he's human.