Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2002 07:51:33 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Trials of a Real Dark Knight 20

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.

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.

The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice.
Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.

Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe
created by George Lucas.  Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and
Lucas Books/Ballantine Books.

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

This story has taken on a life of its own.  From its inception a year ago,
I had only thought it would last ten chapters maximum.  As you can see, it
has grown tremendously.  Mostly due to readers emailing me and telling me
they've enjoyed it or have received help due to certain issues addressed.
I've enjoyed writing this story but it would not have been written without
men and women reading it and telling me they've enjoyed it.  I do hope that
you continue to enjoy each new chapter as our hero lives and grows.

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.

authorjames2002@yahoo.com

I also have several online messenger services, one of which is this yahoo
email address.  Some of you know them; however, in the recent weeks I've
changed my screen name.  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.

Author's Note: The Boy Band Story Awards is coming up.  If any of you would
like to nominate my story for anything, I believe the nominations begin
October 1st.  I got into writing because I wanted to create these
characters and tell their stories.  I didn't expect the story to grow like
it has.  If I didn't have readers, it probably would not have lasted as
long as it has.  Thank you for your support.  Chapter 20 It Happens Every
Time

	"Any suggestions on how to stop these guys?" I asked.  "I've been
away for a while."
	"Let's cut them off," Robin suggested.  "Nightwing and I can go
around and tie off an intersection with heavy cabling."
	Nightwing and I nodded.  The two young men split off at the next
intersection and went right.  I continued to pursue the fleeing car.  It
was speeding up and I knew I had to slow it down to give Robin and
Nightwing enough time to get set up.  The question that remained was how to
slow it down.  Then it came to me.
	'I'm a mutant who can control molecules.  Why not do something to
the car to slow it down?'
	I held up my hand and concentrated on a wheel hoping I could make
it explode or something.  All I could do was cause the tire to swell and
deflate a little, nothing more.  It was difficult to do since I had to
concentrate on driving the motorcycle as well as using my mutation.  The
car did slow, thank goodness.
	As we neared another intersection, I saw Nightwing drive across the
road and around the corner lamp post.  Robin was on the other side with his
motorcycle parked.  The car approached the intersection at full speed and
drove right into the cable.  It was low enough that the impact caused the
cable to slice through the tires.  The car would not be going anywhere for
a while.
	The thieves leapt out of the car brandishing their weapons.  Two
took off across the intersection while three more went after Nightwing and
Robin.  The crooks didn't have a chance.  Robin hurled one his metal birds
at a man who was firing upon him.  The bird's wing entered the barrel as
the thief pulled the trigger.  The gun exploded when the man pulled the
trigger.  Nightwing quickly disarmed the other two by throwing one of his
birds and dodging the gun firing and kicking the gun out of his hand.
	I sped up and pulled up on the handlebars of my motorcycle.  The
front tire went up and I hit the back of the car driving up over the trunk
and roof.  Gunning the engine I jumped into the air and cleared the hood of
the car landing on the street.  The two thieves headed for the corner
building, a hotel.  I stopped my motorcycle and climbed off running inside
after the robbers.
	The lobby wasn't that crowded this late at night.  The patrons who
were there were shocked and frightened by two men wearing masks carrying
guns.  I'm sure a man dressed in a black bat suit didn't help either.
	The thieves ran to the elevator and hit the button.  The elevator
was on that floor so the doors opened immediately.  They climbed in and hit
the "close doors" button.  The doors closed and the elevator car started
its ascent.  I got to the door a bit too late to get it to come back.  The
next best thing would be to follow it up.
	I put my fingers inside the cracks of the door and started pulling.
They slowly opened, but it was too slow.  I felt my mutation kick in and
the doors opened a little easier.  Looking up, I saw the car several floors
up already.  I pulled out my grappling gun and shot a line into the floor.
Then I leapt into the shaft.  The motor on the gun slowly pulled me up to
the floor of the car.
	"What the hell is going on?" one of the thugs said inside the car.
"Is one of them guys following us?  He can't be!"
	The elevator bell rang and the car stopped.
	"Let's squish this guy," the other said.
	I knew exactly what he was doing.  He hit the lowest level the
elevator would go to and it would squash me if I were to stay underneath.
I looked down at the floor beneath us and opened the door with my power.
Then I swung my body outward and released a bar on the bottom of the car.
I grabbed onto the ledge of the opened door and pulled myself up as the car
passed that floor.  With that taken care of, I had to get to the next floor
up and stop the two thieves.  Who knew what patrons they were robbing or
taking hostage?  I had to stop them.
	I arrived to the stair case and threw the doors open.  Running as
quickly as I could, I ascended the stairs to the next floor and exited in
time to see the two thieves running toward the stairwell.  When they saw
me, however, they skidded to a stop and turned around heading back the way
they came.  As they neared a room, the door opened.  They turned and jumped
inside tackling whoever was coming out.
	"Oh God, no," I whispered.
	I ran to the door and heard it lock.  Putting my ear to the door, I
listened to the commotion inside.
	"Please, don't hurt us," a young man's voice said.
	"What do you want?" another asked.
	"Shut up!" one thief yelled.
	"What's going on?" a third young man asked.
	"The Bat is after us," the first thief yelled.  "And we are going
to use you as hostages."
	"Please, don't hurt us."
	"Shut up!" the second thief yelled.
	I heard a thump.  He must have used his gun and hit one of the
young men.  Now the thieves were into assaulting young people.  I couldn't
let them escape and I couldn't let them hurt any of their hostages.  If
there is anything that makes me angry, it's someone hitting a child of any
age.
	I relaxed my mind and stretched out sensing where the hostages were
and where the thieves were.  The young men were over on the couch checking
out their friend who was hit.  One of the thieves stood near the door and
the other stood at the balcony door.  There was a chance I could do what I
had in mind.
	I stepped back from the door and swung my leg forward concentrating
all my energy into the force.  My foot hit the door and it flew off its
hinges hitting the thief standing near the door and falling on him.  I
stepped inside and the man at the balcony looked up at me his eyes wide
with fear.  I walked toward him and he pulled the gun up to fire.
	I held my hand up and he fired.  The first bullet flew into my hand
but did not penetrate my suit.  I had stopped it cold.  Then the barrel of
his gun melted under my power and the second bullet exploded in the barrel.
	"Aaah!" he screamed out in pain clutching his hand.
	I marched toward him and he stepped back further and further until
he was up against the door.
	"What do you think you are doing terrorizing these young men?"
	"Don't kill me," he whimpered.  "I...I didn't mean to..."
	I punched him in his mouth and he flew through the balcony door's
glass.
	"Don't even say it," I replied.
	The man underneath the door was knocked out cold.  'Good,' I
thought. 'I can concentrate on this guy.'
	I stepped out onto the balcony facing the thief.

	Robin spun around and kicked the thief in the chest knocking him
into the car.  The man went to punch him, but Robin blocked and punched.
Nightwing threw a rope around him and yanked him to next to the other two
thieves and tied him up as well.
	"Where did Batman go?" Nightwing asked.
	"The hotel," Robin answered.
	The two turned and ran toward the hotel.
	"Which floor is he on?"
	The sound of glass breaking zeroed their gaze onto the balcony and
they saw a man backing up to the ledge.
	"I think that's it," Robin answered with a grin.
	Nightwing laughed.  "Let's go."
	The two ran to the hotel and headed for the elevator.

	"You call yourself a man?" I asked the thief.  "A true man does not
hit a minor.  A true man does not steal.  A true man takes responsibility
for his life.  You are not a true man."
	I grabbed the thief and picked him up by his collar.  I pulled him
close so that we were nose to nose.
	"You make me sick."
	I turned around and threw him into the hotel room.  He landed on
the floor with a thump and passed out.  I guess the excitement was too much
for him.  I walked into the room and went over to the young man lying on
the couch.
	"Where did he hit you?" he asked.
	"The face," the young man answered.
	He turned his head and I saw the mark on his face.  It was a large
bruise.
	"You should get that looked at."
	The young man looked familiar as did his roommates.
	One of the men went over to the phone and picked it up.  I watched
as he dialed 9-1-1.  'Good,' I thought.  'He's on the ball.'
	"Get some ice," I ordered.
	The dark-haired one went into the kitchen and a few minutes later
came out with the bag of ice.
	"An ambulance and squad car are on their way," the one who called
9-1-1 said.
	Nightwing and Robin appeared at the doorway.
	"Everything under control?" Nightwing asked.
	"Yes.  The police and paramedics are coming.  We should tie these
two up in case they wake up from their unconscious state."
	Robin immediately moved in pulling out some rope.  Nightwing helped
me move the two together and Robin wrapped them up in the rope tying the
ends really tight.
	"That should hold them," the Boy Wonder stated.
	"Are you going to be okay?" I asked the teens.
	"Yeah," one answered.  "Thanks."
	The others spoke their words of gratitude and the hotel manager
showed up at the hotel room with security.
	I looked at Nightwing and Robin and nodded.  They knew what I was
signaling.  The three of us turned and ran to the balcony jumping off and
shooting lines across the street to lower us to the ground.
	Once on firm concrete, we pulled our lines in and headed back to
the motorcycles.  The lights could be seen in the distance as they came
closer and closer to the hotel.  Nightwing quickly untied the cable and
wrapped it up.  Robin mounted his cycle as Nightwing and I mounted ours.
Then we drove off into the night.
	We stopped a few blocks away.
	"That was amazing," Robin said.  "It's good to have you back."
	"It's good to be back," I answered.
	"What happened?" Nightwing asked.  "Why has it been so long since
we've seen you?"
	"There were many complications in England," I told him.  I went
into the story as vaguely as I could since I didn't want them to put
together that Batman and Eric McCoy were one in the same.  The two seemed
very interested at what transpired.  Nightwing seemed very interested in
the events leading up to the death of Batgirl, Christine, at the hands of
Macai.
	We finished our discussion and went our separate ways.  It had been
long enough I was away from Lance.  As much as I enjoyed stopping villains
in their tracks, nothing compared to the arms of the man I loved.
	I pulled up by the wall to the pool and jumped to the top.  I then
lifted the motorcycle with my powers over the wall to the poolside and
jumped down.  After propping the bike up against the wall, I went over to
the house and opened the sliding doors.
	Lance and JC were sitting in the living room.  Lance saw me and got
up and hugged me.
	"How was everything tonight?" JC asked.
	"Adventurous," I answered.  "There was a robbery at a store and the
thieves fled to one of the hotels downtown.  Two took hostages but they
were taken care of with minimal damages to innocent bystanders."
	"Your life amazes me sometimes," JC said.  "I'm going to head out
now."
	"Thanks for staying with me," Lance said to JC.
	"You're welcome.  Thanks for letting me."
	JC shook my hand and left.
	I pulled my mask off and kissed Lance.
	"You are going to have to do something about that goatee," Lance
said with a smile.  "I don't like hairy faces."
	"If you want me to shave, I can shave.  Not a problem. I do have
another problem, though."
	"What's that?"
	"Batman has a motorcycle and needs a place to keep it."
	"Let's take it downstairs for the night.  We can figure out
something more permanent later."
	I went to the back and got the motorcycle being careful not to mess
up the kitchen floor.  We took it to the basement door and I careful took
it down the steps.  It would be fine there for the day, but tomorrow night
when I would go out on patrol, I would have to bring it back up.
	After closing the basement door, Lance and I went upstairs.  I
changed out of my costume and hopped in the shower.  When I got out, Lance
had the entire house locked up and everything ready for the night.  He was
sitting in bed flipping through a book when I came out with a robe on.
	"What you said a little while ago was true," I said.
	"Oh?" Lance replied putting his book down.  "What's that?"
	"We need to come up with something more permanent for Batman.  I
can't keep coming here in the suit, and I can't store Batman's things here.
This isn't his domain to be perfectly honest."
	Lance placed his bookmark in the book and sat it on the nightstand.
I walked over to the bed, took off my robe and climbed in beside him.
	"I know how you feel about Batman, Lance.  You have suffered a
great deal because of his existence.  Had it not been for Batman, we
wouldn't have been separated for so long, you wouldn't have been abused.
As much good as Batman has done, hurt has been caused by his existence."
	"I wouldn't think of asking you to not be Batman, Eric.  It is part
of who you are, for whatever reason you feel you need to be him."
	"But I shouldn't bring it home.  I shouldn't put it in front of
you.  I shouldn't expose you to the torturous memories he brings."
	"Eric, you are Batman.  And Batman is you.  I could never harbor
the pain that has been caused.  I love you.  Always and forever.  Nothing
will change that."
	I smiled and kissed him.  "We'll figure something out for Batman.
He can have his own place.  I don't want to share this with him."
	I curled up next to Lance.  My mind went back to what he said, "I
could never harbor the pain that has been caused".  'I could,' I thought.
'I like being Batman.  But every time I pull the mask on, my mind will
always think of the harm caused to you, Lance.  And that is unforgivable in
my eyes.'
	Slowly I drifted off to sleep listening to the beat of Lance's
heart.

To Be Continued...

I still need a Batmobile design.  Is there anyone with design and artistic
talent willing to give it a shot?  Anything and everything will be looked
at.

Next up: "The Cave"