Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 07:49:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: Adventures of a Real Dark Knight 28 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. Star Trek and all related characters created by Gene Roddenberry. Copyright Paramount Studios. 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 Chapter 28 Building the Future I awoke in the morning and showered. I missed Lance not being there, but I knew I would see him soon. I dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. Not too much later, the door opened and Lance and JC walked in. "There you are!" Lance said as he ran across the kitchen to me. He embraced me tightly. "I couldn't sleep at all last night without you beside me." "I missed you, too. But the threat is over." "What threat?" JC asked. Lance and I looked at JC then back at each other. Should we tell him? That was the question that flashed between us. Lance knowing jeopardized his safety. But now that he knows, he can be more observant to trouble. Did I want to put JC, or any of the other guys in that position? It would endanger their lives. But the connection they had to Lance already endangered them. If they knew, they would at least be on guard in case trouble was started. "I'll tell you later, JC," I said to him. Lance looked at me but I gave him the look that said it would be okay. "Well, I'm glad whatever was going on is taken care of. I guess I'll be going. We have a big day today. Right, Lance?" "Oh yeah! I forgot all about it." "Forgot what?" "You'll see." JC bid us goodbye and left. Once the door shut, Lance and I kissed passionately. "I missed you last night," I said. "The bed seemed so large and I felt so alone." Lance hugged me close. "I know. I felt the same. But everything is well. We're together now. That's all that matters." Lance and I went upstairs and I helped it shower. My skin was a little dry because of it, but that was fine with me. Afterwards, Lance and I dressed and I prepared him a big breakfast. "Now, what is going on today that makes it such a big day?" "Come with me." Lance and I got in the SUV. He started it up and drove it away. We ended up at the teen center. To my surprised, all the bands that nominated me for the award for the future was waiting outside in grubby clothes, looking ready to work. "What's this?" I asked. "It's what we all planned on doing...help you get the teen center up and running. We are here to help clean the place." "I don't believe this," I replied in surprise. Lance parked the car and we got out. A cheer went up from the guys. "I can't believe you are all going to help me." "It's the least we can do for you," Aaron Carter said. "What you will be doing for teens like me with this place will last a lot longer than what we will do here today." "And what you are doing here today will stretch into the future. By your actions, you are helping to build the future. I thank you for what you will do here today...as well as future generations thank you." "What do you want done first, boss?" Justin asked. "We should split up into two groups, one for the outside and one for the inside. JC, Nick, Brian, AJ, Daniel, Ste, Joey, Chris and Mark can take the outside. Everyone else with me inside. Let's get started." I walked in and we began sweeping the floor, wiping the walls and cleaning the windows. Once a window was cleaned, it was opened to let in fresh air. We started on the bottom floor and worked our way up. At around noon, we had most of the outside clean and the first two floors cleaned. We sat on the floor on the first floor eating lunch when a visitor arrived. It was Robby. "Robby! Come in!" "Hi, Eric. What's going on?" "We are working on the teen center! I'm glad you are here!" "Yeah. Umm.... why didn't you call me to come and help?" "I didn't know how to get a hold of you to help." "Oh. I'll have to give you my address." "Please do. I would appreciate it. Come in. Let me introduce you to..." "OH MY GOD!!!!" Robby exclaimed. "What is it?" "Do you know who is helping you?!?!" he asked. "Yes. Isn't it wonderful?" "OH...MY...GOD! I can't believe that I'm standing...in front of...OhMyGod!" Everyone smiled and some even chuckled. "It's okay, Robby. Just breathe," I said. "I reacted the same way as you. Just calm down. Once you get to know them, you will see they are normal, just like everyone else. The only difference is their income and their popularity. Come with me." I escorted Robby out of the center so he could get some fresh air. "Are you okay?" I asked. "Yeah. I'll be fine," Robby answered between breaths. "I just can't believe you are surrounded by such gorgeous well-known guys." "Uh...thanks...I think." "Oh...it wasn't a put down. I just can't believe someone I know knows so many celebrities." "Oh. That. There are times I can't believe it myself...let alone that I'm dating one." "What?" Robby looked at me shocked. "Who?" "Don't you remember when you came here? My boyfriend? It was dark. I didn't recognize. His name is...oh my god! You are dating Lance Bass?!" "Yes." "OH MY GOD!" "Calm down, Robby!" I said trying to hide the laughter. "But it's Lance Bass!" "I know! I'm just as excited about it, too! But now is not the time to get out of control." "You're right. I'm sorry." "It's okay. Now, did you come here for a particular reason? Or did you just want to stop by?" "I came by to see when you were going to get started on the center. I wanted to help." "Would you like to help?" "Um...yeah, I guess." "Do you think you can control yourself around the boys?" "I...I don't know. I would like to give it a try, though." I smiled at Robby and Okayed him to come back. We went back in and the guys talked to him, helping him to get used to them as people and not celebrities. I had him in my group so I could be there to help him in case he lost control again. We worked hard for the rest of the day and the outside was completely cleaned as well as the first two floors. I knew that we would have to do some remodeling on the inside, as well as have the place inspected by the appropriate agencies, but I was confident that it would open by the summer. Slowly, the guys left leaving Lance, Robby and myself inside. "Do you like what is happening here?" Lance asked me. "Yes. I'm so proud of all of you for your help and determination." I leaned back into Lance's arms and we looked at the place. Robby entered the room from the bathroom. "Oh, sorry." "For what?" I asked. "For interrupting your moment." "You didn't interrupt anything...well, anything that you are not allowed to see." "Are you sure?" "Yeah. Why not?" "Most gay men don't like to show affection around others." "I'm one that doesn't care," I replied. "If we keep hiding from the rest of the world, the rest of the world will believe that we think it's wrong, that we DO have something to hide. I, for one, am not ashamed of who and what I am and whom I love." Just then the door opened up and in walked an attractive young man of mixed heritage. I stood up from sitting with Lance. "Hello. I'm Eric McCoy. Can I help you?" "Hi...my name is Ryan Brookdale. Are any of you in charge of this place?" "He is," Robby said pointing to me. "Can I talk to you?" "Sure. Let's go over here." Ryan and I went over to the other side of the room. "What's going on?" I asked. "Well, it's not for me. But I've been noticing some things going on at the school that I was hoping you could help with." "And what would that be?" "Students disappearing." "What?" "Yeah. There are some students that haven't been in school for two weeks. And these are kids that do whatever they can to not to miss unless it's for a legitimate reason." "Do you have any suspicions as to what is going on?" "About a month ago, right after Thanksgiving, we noticed this woman hanging out around the school after school let out. At first, most of us thought nothing of it...except me, that is. I tend to get very suspicious and nervous about anything new going on. "At first the woman would just watch the students at random. Then it became a bit more focused, like she was picking certain kids out. I noticed that students she would watch were eventually not coming to school any more. "I think the woman is either doing the kidnapping or is part of a group of kidnappers. It seems to be too specific." "What does she look like?" "She is five foot five inches, has black hair. Sometimes I've seen her wear glasses." "Have you talked to her or heard her speak?" "No. The only time she ever seemed to talk was when she approached the students. And then she would only speak quietly enough to that one student." "What kind of car did she drive?" "A Ferrari, I think. It didn't have any distinguishing marks on it, like the car manufacturer. I know a little about cars, that's why I think it was a Ferrari. It was red." "Okay. I'm not a police detective, but I will try to find out something. Thanks for your concern. I'm sure your friends appreciate it." "Yeah." With that Ryan left. "What was that all about?" Robby asked as I walked over to him and Lance. "That was a Middle School student...his name is Ryan Brookdale. He said some students are missing. He wanted to know if we could do something. I told him that we weren't police detectives but that we would try." "Hmm," Robby said. "It's getting late. I think I should go now." "Do you need a ride home?" Lance asked him. "As cool as it would be to have a celebrity take me home, no, I don't need a ride. But thanks for the offer." "You're welcome." "Thanks, Robby, for all your help," I said taking him into an embrace. "It is most appreciated." "If you think that was all the help I'm going to give, you are sadly mistaken. I plan on helping you and this place until the day I die." "That is very kind of you." I watched Robby leave the center. Then I turned to Lance. "We should lock up and head home." I went upstairs to check the windows to be sure they were locked. Lance followed behind me. "What are you going to do? I know you are not a detective, but you are Batman. Do you think there is anything you can do to help?" "I don't know. The description he gave of the woman matches the same woman who I saw with some kids a few weeks ago. And if it is the same woman, it is also the same woman who hired the Penguin to kill us. If that is the case, we are going to have to be very careful." Lance was quiet for a moment as we finished up checking the place. We left and headed home. The drive home was a silent one. We were too exhausted to really talk. When we got in, I headed straight for the bathroom. I wanted a bubble bath to help me relax. Evidently Lance wanted one, too, because he joined me. He lay in the tub and I lay comfortable in his arms. "I could fall asleep like this," I said. "I know what you mean." "The water is so relaxing. Your arms make me feel so safe." "It feels right to have you in my arms," Lance replied. I turned my head and kissed him on the cheeks. "What was that for?" "Because you are wonderful," I answered. We lay there for a good half hour, until we were nice and wrinkly. Then we dried off and went to bed. I fell asleep cuddling with the man I was in love with. To Be Continued... Hmmm...it seems the teen center is starting to take shape. But who is this Ryan Brookdale? It sounds like Talia is continuing whatever her father has planned out. Eric is still going to have his hands full taking care of the teen center as himself and trying to stop Talia as Batman. More stuff to come!