Chapter Text
The building was not empty like it should have been, something had changed in the air, something warm, something full of life where he lacked any. The dust had shifted in the air, a cloth sheet covering an antique chair wrinkled in a way he knew it hadn't been previously.
Someone had gotten inside the building, whether it be friend or foe, it was damn rude not to knock or announce yourself first if you were visiting. Hasn't anyone learned proper manners these days?
"I know someone has entered my building, show yourself!" He called out, voice echoing throughout the walls.
A yelp, one filled with fright, was his answer, leading him to an odd man curled up in the corner, his clothes white coveralls with polka dots covering them, a black hoodie with polka dots decorating it, and goggles perched on top pulled tight over his head. The man had a strange technological backpack, mechanical bracelets around his wrists, and strangest of all, a beeping collar flashing around his neck and slightly constricting it in a way that looked most uncomfortable.
He reached towards the man with the intent to remove the collar when the man finally noticed him, a truly fearful look on his face.
"Ghost!!" The man yelled, backing away further into the corner, not the best decision, he could've easily gone between his legs or around him.
"Yes, I'm very much aware I'm a ghost, sir. What are you then? Should I be screaming, "oh no! A human!" Or should I be a good host to my first guest in several weeks?"
At that, the man calmed ever so slightly, so he used that chance wisely, reaching for the collar once more and allowing his hands to pass through and disable it. The collar ceased its horrid beeping, clattering to the floor uselessly.
"Isn't that better? What is that collar thing anyways? Couldn't have been good to keep wearing it."
"It's a power dampening collar," the man began to speak quietly, having a very clear North American accent of some sort, it was far different than his prestigious London accent, "they put it on me in the prison to stop me from using my powers."
"Powers, you say? Of what variety?"
"I… shoot polka dots out of my hands."
"How exciting! I may ask that you don't do that here, they'd mess up the fun amounts of dust that's been accumulating. That was a joke, of course," he received no laughter from the man, "er, I'm James Craddock, you may know me as the Gentleman Ghost, I should have introduced myself better."
"Um, Abner Krill, Polka-Dot Man," the man was still speaking quietly, "I'm sorry for breaking into your house… I needed a place to stay after escaping."
James raised an eyebrow at that before quickly remembering what Abner had said about the prison, nodding shortly. He glanced around the room, humming as he strode around removing the cloth covering each piece of antique furniture, folding as he went.
"What are you doing?"
James smiled at Abner, forgetting his face was invisible and impossible to see.
"Well, if you need a place to stay, I should make it hospitable. I need to get in contact with Mr. Dent or Mr. Walker for their assistance in restoring the plumbing to this building, but I promise the electricity still functions."
"You- you're letting me stay after I broke in? You should be kicking me out!" Now Abner's voice was louder, the corners of his mouth turned down.
"It wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me to throw out a guest! What sort of man do you take me for?"
Abner opened his mouth as if to say something then closed it, his frown growing ever so slightly. James wondered if Abner simply hadn't experienced kindness or common decency before.
"You may take my bed, I don't use it anyway," James began to speak, watching his new guest's face go through a few expressions, "you're telling me a few different things with those faces you're making, so let me just interject, you may stay here, free of charge or any true conditions for as long as you need."
"That's… that's too much to ask for."
"Well you technically haven't asked for it, I'm giving you it because I haven't had a guest in so long. Do we have a deal, Mr. Krill?"
James extended his hand towards Abner, whose face had tinted pink for some reason. They awkwardly shook hands, awkwardly being because James's hands were impossible to see and required guesswork.
"I guess I'll stay if you really want me to, thank you so much."
"Wonderful! I must call Mr. Dent or Walker! Not sure which one, depends on whether or not they're busy and if I've remembered to charge my portable landline. You know, I really do miss messenger pigeons, what a shame they're no longer bred."
"Doesn't… Penguin have birds?"
"Well, yes, but he's been unsuccessful in bringing back this species, it's rather unfortunate, really, it requires many, many years of work that he's unable to spare due to his club work."
The couch creaked, signaling that Abner had sat down, coughing soon followed, which meant that he really really should dust the place. He felt bad for not preparing better, wondering where he'd left the feather duster.
"If you need rest, the bedroom is just down the hall, you may need to dust it off once I find that slippery duster."
"I could help. You're already doing a lot just letting me stay here."
“I shouldn’t put my guest to work, but if you truly wish to do something, could you get my portable landline on the charge and send out a message to Walker? Tell him I need assistance as soon as he’s available and remind him of how I helped with his daughter.”
“Is… Walker also known as Killer Moth?”
“Yes he is! I’m rather surprised you know of his identity!” Jim’s face broke into a grin, thankful he didn’t have to skirt around identity issues.
“He, um, he was a few cells away from me, they had transferred him from Blackgate.”
At that news, Jim became rather confused. He could’ve sworn he’d seen Walker out and about just yesterday! How could he be in another prison?
“Does he have any copycats?” Abner asked, his brows furrowed in thought.
“Well, he had copycats, but he gifted Joker a Moth-Signal of sorts to customize and confuse the Batman with and in return, Joker took out the copycats… that was about a month ago, three and a half weeks to be precise and I do keep better track of my time nowadays. I do not want to go through one of those American history books again.”
Abner now looked just as confused as Jim felt. There really was no way a copycat could come back in such a short amount of time, it just wasn’t possible.
“Abner, do be a dear and continue what I’ve started with the cleaning. I hate to put you to work because you’re my guest and we’ve only just met, but I simply must get to the bottom of this. I promise I will repay you for this and you can wear my clothing if need be.”
Jim now had a mission to take care of, his body gliding through the wall with ease as he set out into the night. Someone was most definitely impersonating his friend and he would most definitely get to the bottom of this.