Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 17:26:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight 2

Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent
chapters, will have celebrities in it.  I have no knowledge of their
sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality.  This is all
from my own mind.  Scary!!  People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!!

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss
Whedon.  Copyright 20th Century Fox.

Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics
and Warner Bros.

X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel
Comics and 20th Century Fox.

Talamasca, Lestat, Louis, and all related characters created by Anne Rice.
Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.

I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in
case, I have myself covered.

In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life,
you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal.  I
hope you all enjoy this.  I appreciate any feedback that you may want to
give.  This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my
feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with.  Part
of his background is mine.  I do hope that you enjoy it!!!

I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from
those who do not.  I would enjoy hearing from you.  Any emails you send,
please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on.  Thanks.

jmsotc@yahoo.com

I also have several online messenger services.  If you want to chat with me
in real time, email me and tell me the services you use and I will tell you
my screen name.
 
Chapter 2 New People in Life

	Hank unloaded the equipment quickly from the van.  I helped a
little as Jean checked out the size of the house to figure in for the size
of protection the security device should be.  Once the van was unloaded and
Jean finished her readings, we began setting up the equipment in the
basement and running outlets throughout the house that would scramble any
mutant signatures within the walls.  It was not difficult work, just long
and tedious.

	Hank and I were almost finished connecting the cables on the
equipment when the phone rang.
	"I'll be right back," I said.  And up the stairs I went.  "Hello?"
	"Hi, dearest."
	"Hi, love of my life.  How was your Meet and Greet?"
	"It went okay.  We met the band we are touring with.  They seem
really nice."
	"Great!"
	"They invited us to dinner at the B-Street Club.  Want to come with
us?"
	"I don't know how long things are going to be here hooking up the
equipment.  Jean and Hank are over here now."
	"How is it going?"
	"It's going okay, Lance.  Not sure how much more is involved.
Neither Hank nor Jean specified."
	"Oh.  Are you hungry?  I can pick up something for you for lunch."
	"I would love an oriental chicken salad from Applebee's.  Could you
pick me up one of them?"
	"Sure."
	"Better grab one for Hank and Jean as well."
	"Okay.  Four oriental chicken salads coming up.  See you soon.  I
love you."
	"I love you, too, Lance."  We hung up and I went back downstairs to
help finish the equipment hook up.

	Lance arrived with lunch not too much later.  Us four sat around
the kitchen table.
	"What do you want to drink?" I asked.
	"Ice water, please," Hank answered.
	"Soda," Lance replied.
	"Ice water is fine," Jean said.
	I got the drinks and we sat down to eat.  "So, how was your Meet
and Greet?" I asked Lance.
	"It went well.  The opening band was there."
	"What's their name?" Jean asked.
	"Ocean Whispers."
	"I will be sure to listen for them.  Some of the teens at the
school will probably be buying their CD."
	We chuckled.
	"They invited us out to dinner," Lance added.
	"Really?  That sounds like fun."
	I was feeling a bit nervous about it.  I didn't know if any was
gay.  And if so, would any be putting the moves on Lance?  After all, they
would have more in common with him than I do.  They could understand things
better.
	I felt something in the back of my mind and I looked over at Jean
who was looking at me.  She gave me a quick wink and went on eating.  She
obviously knew what I was thinking.  What am I saying?  Of course she knew
what I was thinking.  She was telepathic!
	"We didn't get a chance to talk too much.  We both had things to
do.  One of their band members...Dylan I think...ended up fainting.
Poor Justin felt bad, too, because Dylan was sitting next to him.  I think
Dylan is gay and has a thing for Justin."
	Lance saying that Dylan had a thing for Justin helped qualm my
fears.

	That evening, Lance got ready for the dinner meeting as Jean, Hank
and I made the final connections to the transmitters which emitted a field
to keep mutant detection out of the house.  As much as I didn't want to
have to use it, I knew I didn't want Lance put in any danger by me.
	"That should do it," Hank replied.  "It doesn't take much power to
run it.  Most of their mutant detection equipment is rudimentary.  I have
had ample time to develop a blocking device of our mutant genes.  Things
should be safe and sound here now."
	"Thanks, Hank," I answered.  I reached out and took his hand,
shaking it.  "It was a pleasure to meet you as well."
	"As were you, Mr. McCoy."
	"Are you ready, Hank?" Jean asked.
	"Yes."
	"Keep in touch, Eric.  If you need anything, please let us know."
	"I appreciate it, Jean.  I appreciate everything."
	"Glad we could help."
	Jean and Hank left the house and drove away.  I turned as Lance
came down the stairs.  I whistled at him.  He smiled.
	"Quit flirting," he said.
	"Man, you look sexy in that!  Too bad you have to go out!  I'd love
to undress you right now!"
	Lance laughed.  He came down the rest of the way and we kissed.  I
was a bit dirty and didn't want it to get on his clothes.  "Are you going
to come to the dinner?"
	"Look at me," I said stepping back and holding my arms out.  "I
don't look good enough to come to dinner."
	"I'll wait."
	"But I don't think your new friends will.  Go on.  Have a good
time.  Besides, I think I will do some patrolling tonight.  I didn't do any
last night and I think Batgirl, Nightwing and Robin would like the help."
	"Okay.  Since you're not coming I guess I can leave and be on
time."
	"You would let me make you late?"
	"With you on my arm, no one would care.  They would be too in awe
of your cuteness."
	"Now who's doing the flirting?"  I smiled.  I kissed him goodbye
and off he went.  I went upstairs and showered.  Afterwards I put on a pair
of shorts and a t-shirt, as I would be changing a little later on for
patrol.
	As I stepped off the steps into the living room, the doorbell rang.
I opened it to see Joshua on the other side, tears running down his face.
"Joshua, what's wrong?"
	I invited Joshua in and we sat on the couch.  "I know you are upset
about Logan being gone.  That's understandable.  It's hard when the person
you care about is no where to be found."
	"It's not just that anymore, Eric.  There's more."
	"What is it?  I'm here if you want to talk."
	"It's...my dad."
	"Your dad?  Did you find your dad?"
	"Yeah.  His name is Bishop and he's a mutant."
	"That's good you found your father, finally."
	"It would be good if he hadn't disowned me."
	"Disowned you?  What do you mean?"
	"I told him...that I'm gay and he disowned me."
	"Oh, no," I whispered.  I leaned in and took him into my arms.
"I'm so sorry that happened."
	"He showed up earlier today.  Mom and he were talking.  She told
him that they made me.  He wanted to see me, which is why Marie came and
got me.  I shared with him all of me, who I was and stuff, and
he...disowned me."
	Joshua broke down in tears.  It was all I could do to not start
crying with him.  I know the fear of not knowing if your parents would
disown you when you come out to them.  But to have it actually happen...
	I felt so bad for Joshua.  I stretched out my molecules to give him
some comfort, some love from me.  It seemed to work as he calmed down a
bit.
	"You've had a lot on your mind, haven't you?" I said.
	"Yeah," he answered wiping away a tear.
	"I have an idea.  Did you bring your X-Men suit?"
	"Yeah."
	"Do you have it with you?"
	"It's on underneath my regular clothes.  We never know when we will
need to wear them with the Friends Of Humanity after us."
	"Let's suit up and go on patrol.  That will help you get rid of
some of this stress and tension."
	"Okay."
	I went up to the spare bedroom where I kept my Bat-suit and
changed.  Joshua went into the main bathroom and took off his outer,
regular clothes.  He came out and knocked on the door.
	"Come in," I called knowing it was either Joshua or Lance, although
I highly doubted it would be Lance.
	Joshua came in wearing a black spandex uniform.  A large sky blue
"X" covered the front and went down his arms.  Blue boots covered his feet.
	"Looks good," I replied as I pulled on my gloves.  "We almost
match."
	"Yeah," he answered.
	I pulled my mask over my face and we went downstairs.  "Did I ever
tell you about Robin and Nightwing?"
	"I think so, in one of your letters."
	"They are pretty cool.  Robin is about your age.  We may come
across them tonight."
	"Cool."
	"Ready?" I asked.
	"Definitely."
	"Come on."
	Over the wall we went.  In no time we were jumping from rooftop to
rooftop in downtown Orlando.
	"So how are things at the school?" I asked.  "You mentioned in your
letter about you and Logan.  Hard to believe.  He seems so macho,
so...heterosexual."
	"He can be a bit rough around the edges, but I think it's just a
defense because he's been hurt so much in his past."
	"Understandable.  I almost did that in Los Angeles after I lost
Justin.  From there, things kind of spiraled downwards.  I was raped,
treated like an object, and gays were being bashed left and right.  I
couldn't take anymore and decided to do something about it.  I turned hard
and lashed out at anyone who disagreed with me or threatened me in any
way."
	"That's not a good way to live," Joshua replied.
	"You're right, it's not.  With support from friends, I was able to
let go of the pain and deal with life."  There was the sound of breaking
glass and immediately Joshua and I became alert.  "What's your X-Men name,
again?" I asked.
	"Psyche."
	"That's what I thought it was.  Let's get to work, Psyche."
	I pulled out a grappling gun and shot a line.  I grabbed Psyche and
we swung down to the street level.  Down the street we ran toward the sound
of the broken glass.  We arrived at a magic shop, the front window busted.
	"Burglars?" Psyche asked.
	"Possibly.  But don't count on it."
	"Why?"
	"I'll tell you in a minute."
	Cautiously I climbed up onto the ledge of the broken window.
Without warning something tackles me and we fall out of the window.
	"Batman!" Psyche exclaims.
	I kick whatever it is off of me.
	"Vampire!" Psyche yells.  I noticed claws appear on his hand like
Wolverine's; only these appear to be made of energy, psychic energy,
psionic energy.  With a quick slash, Psyche decapitated the vampire.  He
came over and reached out his hand.
	"Thanks," I said as he pulled me up.
	"No problem.  I wonder what he was looking for?"
	"Looks like we have more here to ask."
	Several more vampires climbed out the window.  A man wearing purple
robes floated out of the window and hovered in mid-air.  "Ah, costumed
freaks."
	"Look who's talking, Merlin?" Psyche said rather cocky-like.
	"Merlin?"
	"Yeah, from King Arthur's day."
	"I'll show you Merlin, boy!"
	The wizard's hand glowed and he threw a fireball at us.  We jumped
away from each other and the ball hit the street.
	"Missed me!" Psyche yelled.
	The wizard threw another one.  Psyche ducked.
	"No matter."  The wizard turned to his minion vampires.  "Kill
them."
	The vampires surrounded us.  Slowly the wizard hovered into the
air, up to the roof of the magic shop.
	"We've got to find out what he stole," I replied pulling out two
wooden stakes.
	"How do you propose we do that?"
	"Fight off some of these first.  Then I'll go after him."
	"Sounds like a plan." Psyche extended his psionic claws.
	Two vampires lunged at me.  I flipped over them and rammed the
stakes into their hearts from behind.
	Two vampires ran at Psyche. He sliced one's head off rather
quickly.  The other vampire swung a fist at him.  Psyche dodged and kicked
the vampire in the mid-section.  With a quick slice down, Psyche severed
the vampire's head off.
	I turned.  A vampire swung a fist at me and caught me in the jaw.
I spun and fell.  Vampires are awfully strong!  The vampire climbed on my
back and grabbed the back of my head, lifting it off the ground.
	"I finally get to taste the Bat," he said.
	I saw Psyche's boots and after a quick movement, the vampire turned
to dust.  Psyche helped me up.
	"Thanks, again."
	"That's what I'm hear for."
	"Think you can handle the rest?"  There were about four more
vampires.
	"Yeah.  Where are you going?"
	"After the wizard."
	I floated up to the rooftop and saw the wizard three buildings
away.  I ran for all I was worth and jumped from building to building.
When the wizard was on the other side of a rooftop that I had landed on, I
pulled out a bat and threw it at him.  The bat hit him in the head and he
fell to the rooftop.  Within moments I was on top of him.
	"Who are you working for?" I asked.
	"Someone more powerful than you could possibly imagine."
	"Would this someone have a name?"
	The wizard smiled at me.  His hand came up and a flash of light hit
me.  I flew off of him and hit the rooftop hard.  When the flashing lights
in my eyes subsided, I looked around.  The wizard was gone.
	I pulled myself up and saw Psyche coming over the rooftop.  "Where
is the wizard?" he asked.
	"Got away."
	"What next?"
	"We investigate.  Try to figure out what he stole from the magic
shop."
	The two of us headed back to the magic shop and went inside.  The
place was a little ransacked, just in one area.  We looked through some of
the labels on the floor.
	"This is crazy," Psyche said.  "How are we supposed to know what is
missing?"
	"You're right.  I don't have much knowledge in the way of magic.
If I could get a hold of a Watcher or the local Slayer..."
	Sirens were heard in the distance.
	"We better get out of here...police are coming."
	Psyche and I jumped out the window and climbed to the roof.  Once
we were over the edge, the police cars pulled up.
	"How will we find out what the wizard took?" Psyche asked.
	"Police report in the newspapers.  I may be able to come down here
tomorrow and ask him.  Let's get going."

	The rest of the night was uneventful.  Psyche and I returned to the
house and changed.  As we walked downstairs, Lance came in.  It looked
rather suspicious as Joshua and I were pulling our shirts on walking down
from upstairs.  Lance looked at us rather concerned, with his brow
crinkled.
	"We just got back from patrol," I said right away.  I didn't think
Lance would think I could have sex with a minor.  But again, I could have
been jumping to conclusions.  "How was your evening?"
	"Rather interesting.  The band "Ocean Whispers" has some kind of
powers."
	"What?" I asked concerned.
	"Yeah.  We were attacked by vampires."
	"Oh my goodness.  Was anyone hurt?"
	"No.  Well, yeah the vampires."
	"I wonder why they attacked you?" I said out loud.  "I mean,
besides the fact you're gorgeous and they were probably jealous."
	"Maybe they just wanted to feed," Joshua suggested.
	"Maybe.  There were an awful lot of them, though."
	"Hmmm..." I said.
	"What?" Joshua asked.
	"I didn't tell you guys this but...I've been running into
vampires lately who have been telling me of a growing evil.  It doesn't
sound very good.  I wonder if Batgirl had contacted the Watchers' Council
yet."

To Be Continued...

Psyche and Batman teaming up.  How did you like it?  The actual events of
NSYNC and Ocean Whispers can be read in
	
Tales of a Superhero Band dylan@celticwarrior.com

And don't forget to read:

Tales of a Young Mutant jas931@hotmail.com
Tales of the Protectors aj_williamson@yahoo.com