Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2001 07:59:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Adventures of a Real Dark Knight 50

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.

Author James <authorjames2002@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 50 Protecting the City

	Lance and I lay in each other's arms on the couch.  We had just
finished dinner and were relaxing and enjoying each other's company.  I
turned and looked out the window.
	"I should probably patrol," I said.
	"Damn," he whispered.
	"I'm sorry.  If I wasn't Batman, you could keep me all to yourself.
Maybe, one day, I will hang up the cape and mask...when my work as Batman
is done.
	"That would be nice."
	"But until then..."
	"I know...until then I have a superhero for a life partner."
	"Speaking of life partner, when are we going to have the commitment
ceremony?"
	"That's something we are going to have to decide when you are not
getting ready to patrol the city for monsters who come out at night."
	I moved my head up off Lance's chest and kissed him.  "You are
wonderful."
	"I know," he answered.
	I chuckled a bit and then went upstairs.  Not too much later Lance
came up.  I was pulling on my gloves.
	"I still think its weird."
	"What's weird?  Bad weird?  Good weird?  Exciting weird?  Or crazy
weird?"
	"I think its exciting weird to see you in that suit."
	I walked over to him and kissed him.  Then I pulled on my mask.
"I'll be back soon.  Sooner if nothing is going on."
	"Okay.  Be careful."
	"Always."
	I went out our bedroom window and into the night.

	As I patrolled around I came across Batgirl.
	"There you are," she said.  "We've been looking all over for you."
	"Why is that?"
	"Robin needs your help tonight."
	"For what?"
	"There is supposed to be something going on at the school around
1:00 in the morning.  I would help, but I have other plans.  Nightwing
would help if he could, but he can't either."
	"Which leaves me.  Not a problem."
	It was only 10:00 so I had three hours before I had to be there.  A
good amount of time to do some patrolling.
	"I'm going to patrol for awhile.  Would you like to come with me?"
I invited.
	"Sure."
	Together Batgirl and I went from rooftop to rooftop looking at area
businesses and local late-night hangouts.
	"I staked some vampires the other night.  There is something big
going on," I told her.
	"Really?  Did they say anything?"
	"Nothing specific.  More along the lines of general 'we are full of
darkness that you can't understand' stuff.  Nothing more than that."
	"Hmm, interesting.  I'll talk to Kara about it.  Have her do some
checking with the Council on it."
	"BOO!" someone said behind us.  We both turned to see Nightwing
standing behind us with a grin on his face.  "Can I join the party?"
	"Sure," we both replied.
	"Just bring your own drinks," Batgirl added. Nightwing laughed.
	I could tell while I was imprisoned in Ra's Al Ghul's dungeon,
Nightwing and Batgirl had gotten closer.  Good.
	"Anything major going on?" Nightwing asked.
	"Just standard patrol," Batgirl answered.
	"Good.  Cause I heard there was going to be a major break-in at a
warehouse near the industrial district."
	"Let's get going," Batgirl replied.
	In no time flat we were swinging to a warehouse rooftop where we
had seen a truck pull in the back.
	"Kind of late for a delivery, wouldn't you say?" Nightwing said.
	"Not too late to be checked out," Batgirl replied.
	These two were working together well as a team.  I was impressed.
	We walked over to a doorway and I manipulated the lock to open.
Slowly, with Batgirl and Nightwing behind me, we went down the stairs.
	Coming to the top floor I heard voices.  I indicated to my partners
what was going on and that I was going to investigate.  I inched closer and
closer to the doorway of an office where the voices were coming from and
peeked my head around the corner.
	"Take these files, too.  We want it to look like industrial
espionage," one man said.
	"Isn't this industrial espionage?"
	"Not really.  At least I don't think so.  I'm not sure what the
word is when you steal from your own company."
	I turned and motioned for Batgirl and Nightwing to come closer.
They listened as the man went on about how the company cheated him out of
work he had done and so forth and how he planned on making them pay for
their crime against him.
	"What if the police show up?" the second man asked.
	"That's why I brought this," the first man answered as he pulled
out a gun.
	"You're not planning on killing any cops, are you?"
	"Only if they get in my way.  Desperate times call for desperate
measures."
	I pulled out a bat and let it fly.  It hit his hand and knocked the
gun out.  We barged in on him and a fight ensued.  Nothing major to tell,
really.  They were two untrained thieves breaking in to a warehouse looking
for files that were stored here.  Batgirl, Nightwing and I easily subdued
them and found the guard that was knocked unconscious. He called the police
and we were off.

	Around 12:00, Batgirl and Nightwing had to split to attend their
prior engagements.  I, on the other hand, had an hour before I had to meet
Robin at the High School so I continued my patrol.  I happened upon a
nightspot and just watched for a while.  As I watched, a man in club gear
came out of a club and walked down the street.  As he walked another man
approached him.  Immediately I became more attentive.  I watched their body
language to try and decipher what was being said.  The man who approached
the club-goer pulled out a gun and had the clubman go into the alley.
	I moved down the roof and to the side to watch as the clubber
pulled out his wallet and give it to the man.  The man took the money.
Instead of letting the clubber go, however, the man pulled down his pants
just a little.  He wanted the clubber to perform oral sex on him.  With his
dick exposed, there was no way he was expecting any kind of interference.
	I jumped down between the mugger and the clubber.  I grabbed the
wrist of the gun hand with my left hand.  With my right hand I backhanded
the mugger. I managed to get the gun away from him and then kicked him in
the stomach.  He flew into a dumpster and slumped to the ground
unconscious.  I tied him up and told the clubber to call the police.  It
was now 12:20 and I headed over to the High School.
	I met Robin on the rooftop of the High School.
	"I'm glad you made it," he said to me.
	"That's what friends are for.  How many are here?"
	"The Skulls have already showed up.  I think they are planning on
ambushing the Raiders.  Some are hiding in the shadows, in doorways.  I've
been waiting for a couple to show up here."
	"Do you want us to take out the Skulls before the Raiders get
here?"
	Robin looked up at me questioning my statement. "You're the
grown-up here.  What do you think we should do?"
	"This is your mission.  You asked me to come help you, not decide
for you.  What do you want me to do?"
	"Okay." Robin said.  He was silent for a moment. "Maybe we should
take out the guys hiding.  Then, when the Raiders show up we can stop both
of them.  We can make both gangs know we aren't playing around."
	"Sounds good to me.  Let's get to work."
	Robin told me of the location of several of the Skulls then we
split up.
	My first target was hiding behind the garage across the alley.  I
made my way down to ground level then quickly hurried around a couple
houses so as not to be seen by the gang.  Hopefully not being seen by the
occupants of the houses, either.  I found the house whose garage a Skull
was hiding behind and made my way up the driveway.  I could make out the
form of the gang member standing in the shadows cast by the two close
garages.  He had something in his hand.  As I watched his hand, he turned
it so I could make out the silhouette.  It was a gun.  If there is one
thing I've learned, it's kids and guns don't mix.  I worked my way closer,
stopping ever so often in the shadows so I wouldn't be seen.  I got up
behind him and my fist came down on his back rendering him unconscious.  I
grabbed him quickly before he could fall into the light and pulled him
back.  I grabbed the gun and emptied the bullets.  I wish I could have
manipulated the molecules of the gun to make it into something else, but my
power isn't that advanced.  I can only operate simple molecules and those
of my brain.  I could blend mine in with others so that I could sense where
they were if they were hiding, and I could pick people up.  That was all.
The best I could do was use enough heat molecules to melt the inside of the
gun so it would not be able to fire.
	I looked out and saw another gang member hiding in the doorway of
the school.  I pulled out a bat and threw it, hitting him and knocking him
unconscious.  Robin was taking care of two more guys hiding, leaving only
the leader standing in the light.  Then he swung down toward the leader.
The leader pulled out a gun, but Robin kicked him, knocking him to the
ground.  Quickly, Robin grabbed him and hoisted him up.  I jumped the fence
and ran over to them.
	"No more," Robin was saying.  "No more gang wars.  No more guns.
No more senseless fighting and death."
	"You don't understand," the Skull leader said.  "We have no choice.
It's either kill or be killed."
	"No," I said.  "This isn't a war.  You are not fighting for a good
cause.  You are killing your friends."
	The sound of a gun being readied caught our attention.  The Raiders
encircled us and one pulled out a shotgun aimed right at us.  "Look what we
found.  It's the fag Batman," he said.  "Looks like we get to make a name
for ourselves in more ways than one tonight."
	I manipulated the molecules of electricity and caused an arc of
voltage to come out of the fence and hit the gun.  The kid dropped it in
pain.  I turned to them.  Their jaws dropped.
	"His eyes!" someone declared.  "They are white!  With lightning
shooting out of them!"
	"It's over," I said.  "This gang war is over.  No more fighting.
If I hear of any more from Robin or anyone else, I will come looking for
you.  Spread the war.  Batman is declaring war on gangs."
	The Raiders stood for several minutes in silence.  Then, suddenly,
they all turned and ran off, scattering in different directions.
	"Good work," Robin said.
	I turned to the gang leader.  "Did you understand that?"  He nodded
slowly.  "Now get out of here."
	He took off running leaving the Boy Wonder and I alone.
	"Good job, Batman.  You really scared the shit out of them."
	"That was the plan," I replied.  "I can't stand the fact kids are
killing kids.  They are losing their innocence younger and younger.  It's
scary.
	"And I'm glad I have you on my team, Robin.  You are a great asset
to this city, and to me.  I appreciate you."
	"Thanks," Robin said.
	I reached out my hand and shook it.  Then turned and left.

	I looked out at the city.  It was such a beautiful city.  And it
had some great protectors.  I counted myself lucky to be working alongside
the likes of Robin, of Nightwing, and of Batgirl.  They knew their stuff
and did it well.  Their hearts were in the right place, and I applauded
them for it.
	The moon shown brightly in the dark sky and I returned home.  There
I found Lance listening to music on the patio.  He was listening to Enya
singing "Only Time".  I loved that song.
	"Hey, stud," I replied jumping from the wall and landing on the
patio.
	"Hi, gorgeous."
	I pulled off my mask and kissed Lance full on the lips.
	"How did things go tonight?" he asked.
	"Let me go change, first.  I'll be right out."
	Within moments I was in a pair of sweats and a muscle shirt hefting
a glass of ice tea.  I went out to the patio and Lance motioned for me to
sit between his legs on one of the loungers.  I did and he proceeded to
massage my shoulders.
	"So, how did things go?" he asked.
	"Okay.  We had a break in to deal with, a mugging and two teen
gangs rumbling.  All in all a rather quiet night compared to what I've been
dealing with for the past few months."
	"That's amazing.  I don't know how you deal with all that stuff all
the time.  It would bother me."
	"I don't know how I do it either.  I just can."
	"I guess it takes a certain kind of person to do that kind of
work."
	"Just like it takes someone as talented as you to sing the way you
do."
	Lance grabbed me and pulled me into a hug.  "I love you. You know
that, don't you?"
	"I love you, too."
	"Good.  Then you'll forgive me for what I'm about to do."
	Without warning, Lance stood up and picked me up.  He carried me
over to the pool and threw me in.  I landed with a splash.
	"That's unfair!" I said.  "You tricked me!"
	Lance stood at the poolside laughing up a storm.  I reached out my
hand and used my mutant ability to pick him up.
	"THAT'S unfair!" Lance exclaimed.  "You are using your mutation!"
	I brought him over the water and released him.  He landed with a
splash.  I laughed hard as he recovered from the splash.  He swam over to
me and splashed me.  We played in the water for a little bit before getting
out.
	"You know the visit by England's princes?"
	"William and Henry?"
	"Yeah.  NSYNC is invited to the reception."
	"Sounds like fun.  Are you going?"
	"As long as you are going, too?"
	"I guess I can go."
	"Good," Lance replied.  "Cause I want to show you off to everyone."
	"Goofy," I said.
	Lance wrapped his arms around me and we went inside. Another day
done.  Another evil thwarted.  Now it was time to relax.

The End

Another 50 chapters concluded!  That makes 100 chapters of adventures for
our hero!  I'd like to know what you thought of this series.  Did you like
it?  Not like it?  Like it better than "Tales of a Real Dark Knight"?  Or
did you like "Tales" better?  I'd like to hear from you.  And in case you
were thinking this was the end of our hero's adventures, think again.
Coming soon, "Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight".