Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2003 22:55:24 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: Judgments of a Real Dark Knight 26 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. 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. 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. Other stories in this universe written by other authors: "Tales of a Superhero Band" "Tales of the New Phoenix" "Tales of a Young Mutant" Chapter 26 Old Flames It was nice to be out on the streets patrolling. After the battle with Apocalypse, I needed some return to normalcy. We didn't defeat Apocalypse in the strictest sense, but we did stop his plans. He realized there was a force to reckon with. The mutant would think twice before starting another plan to conquer the world. Meanwhile, I had my own conquering to do, like getting back to my studies. As well as protecting the streets from scum. I watched as a lady walked down the street. A car sat by the road with two occupants who seemed to be conversing. To my surprise, a hand darted out and grabbed the purse of the lady and pulled away. The woman fell to the ground as she tried to keep a hold on her purse, but the thieves wouldn't stop. I pulled out a bat and hurled it at the car attempting to hit a tire. Unfortunately my aim was off. As the car came in my direction, I leapt off the building and landed on the hood. I looked through the windshield to see the men's eyes widened in surprise. "Pull over," I called out. After a moment, they regained their senses. The passenger pulled out a gun and took aim. I rolled toward the drivers' side as the bullet went through the windshield. He aimed his gun at me which went into the driver's line of sight. "Get that damn thing out of my face! What the hell do you think you're doing?" the driver said. "I'm trying to kill Batman! What do it look like I'm doing?" "You're going to blow my face off with that! And then I'll have to shove it up your ass!" I pulled out a bat and jabbed one of the wings into the glass. The glass cracked at the hole I created. After placing the bat in its appropriate pocket, I reached inside and grabbed the steering wheel. The driver battled with me for control. But I overcame. I steered the car into a fire hydrant and then into a lamppost. As water sprayed down, I slid off the hood and over to the driver's side. The driver pushed the door open and hit me. I stumbled backwards and he climbed out. The passenger climbed out as well and pointed his gun at me. "Don't come any closer, Batman, or I'll blow your damn head off!" With a quick flip of the wrist, a bat was airborne and hit his hand. He dropped the gun in pain. Then I spun around and kicked the driver in the head, knocking him to the ground. The passenger took off running down the street. I pulled out a bat that had cable tied to it, and hurled it at the runner. It wrapped around his legs and I pulled, causing him to fall forward. He landed with a thud and clawed trying to get away. I pulled him to me and grabbed him by the collar hoisting him into the air. "Where is the lady's purse?" "It...it's in the car!" "Thank you." I tossed the man into a nearby wall. He landed with a thud and slid to the ground. I walked over to the car and peeked inside. The man watched me and turned slowly getting to his feet. He climbed to his feet and took off running. I tossed a bat at him and hit him in the head. He fell unconscious. I pulled the purse out of the car, retrieved my bats, and handed the approaching victim. "Oh thank you, Batman! Thank you so much!" she said. I nodded to her. "Have the police been notified?" "Yes," she replied. "They should be here any minute." "Good. Find some place safe until they arrive." I pulled out my grapple and shot it to the roof of the building. I ascended into the night and continued on my patrol. A Greyhound bus pulled into the stop. The driver turned to the passengers. "Here's our stop, everyone. This bus isn't going any further. You have fifteen minutes to use the restroom and find your next bus. Take it easy and have a safe journey." The driver and the passengers disembarked. The driver went to the cargo area where he passed out everyone's luggage. He handed a bag to a young woman in her early twenties. She was rather thin with blonde hair and blue eyes. "Thanks," she said in a sweet voice. Then she headed into the terminal. After using the restroom and getting some water, she found a phone book to find a taxi service. Once she found one she called a taxi and requested to be taken to an address she read from a paper. The taxi driver told her to relax and enjoy the ride. It would take at least twenty minutes to get there. "No problem," she replied. "I've got plenty of time. I'm in no rush." I finished patrol and headed back to the house. I parked the bike in the lower level lair and went upstairs to find Lance in the den. "What's up?" I asked as I kissed him. "Nothing much, really. There is just some trouble with me getting on the Russian shuttle." "I'm sure you'll get it." "I have some businesses willing to sponsor me. But I'm not sure if it will be enough." I gave him a squeeze. "I'm going to get a shower. Don't be up too late." "I won't," he replied giving me another kiss. I went upstairs and showered. It was nice having to deal with two thieves instead of vampires or mutants. I seemed to be turning into a supernatural expert, which isn't really something to put on a resume. I climbed out and dried off. As I pulled on my pajama bottoms, I heard the doorbell ring. "Who could that be at this hour?" I said out loud. I pulled on my robe and went downstairs. Lance opened the door. "Can I help you?" he asked. "Yes. I'm looking for Eric," a familiar female voice spoke. 'Oh my God,' I thought. "Does he live here?" she asked. "Who may I say you are?" "My name is..." "Tina," I said coming down the steps in a rush. Lance looked at me and then at her. He opened the door further. "Eric!" Tina exclaimed dropping her bags and embracing me tightly. "Uh, hi, Tina." "I'm so glad I found you. It's been so horrible without you." "What's going on?" Lance said getting upset. I sympathized with him. I would be jealous, too. "Hey," I said releasing my embrace hoping she would get the hint. "What's going on?" Tina released her embrace and grabbed her bags. "Can I come in?" I looked over at Lance, whose face gave no answer except for being upset. "Sure," I replied motioning for her to come in. "How did you find me?" "Matt gave me your address. It took me weeks to actually get him to talk about you. He has been so distant since the summer. He never said what happened or anything. What happened between you guys, anyway?" "Eric," Lance said. "Hold on a moment," I said to Tina. I followed Lance into the den. "What the hell is going on?" Lance asked. "Tina is someone from my past." "I figured that out. What is she doing here?" "I don't know. I'm just as shocked as you are that she's here. I never figured I would see anyone from Canton here." "What is she to you, though? Why would she come here to see you?" "We used to date," I answered. Lance's jaw dropped. A car drove down the street past the house of the address on the piece of paper the man had in his hand. He looked at the house and eyed it maliciously. "She's here," he muttered. "Then we'll have to get her tomorrow. She will have to get out of the house some time soon." The car drove to the main road and turned. Fifteen minutes later, it pulled into the Double Deuce Motel. The man climbed out of the shadows and approached the manager's window. He knocked and waited for the manager to approach. He turned to the left only giving the man his profile. "Can I help you?" the man asked. "We need a room." "Two beds or a twin?" "A twin, please," the man answered. "That will be forty dollars for the two of you." "Thank you," the man said pulling out his wallet and slipping the money under the window. "Here's your key," the manager said. "Room twenty-two." The man took the key and went to his car. Once he found room twenty-two, he went in and locked both the dead-bolt lock and the doorknob. Then he tossed his bag on the bed and entered the bathroom. Flipping the light on, he looked at his bad eye partially covered underneath the hood. "You what?" Lance said incredulously. "We used to date. It never went anywhere." "This is too freaky!" "I could say the same thing about you and Jessica. You and her still see each other." "But you knew about us before you and I got serious. And she doesn't grab me like Tina did to you." I walked up to him and took him into my arms. "I know. This is freaking you out. I'm just as freaked out as you." "Probably not over the same thing." "You're right about that," I replied. "Not only is she from the church I used to go to, but she doesn't seem to know I'm gay." "Well, you better tell her right away," Lance replied. "Not yet. She's upset about something else. We should wait." "Like hell!" Lance said raising his voice. "I'm not going to let some blonde slut come into my home and try to seduce my husband!" "Ssh!" I tried to calm him down. "I'll tell her. Just relax and we'll find out what's going on. Please?" Lance looked at me and finally the anger subsided. His face turned red and tears welled up in his eyes. "Oh," I said my heart breaking. I took him into my arms and he grabbed me. His body shook with each sob. "I'm so sorry you are going through this. You know I love you dearly. Nothing, and no one could come between us. I promise." Lance squeezed me and then released me. He grabbed some tissues from the tissue box and wiped his eyes. "There must be something serious going on if she's here," I said. "Batman might be needed." "I'll be okay, Eric." I touched his shoulder and rubbed it reassuringly. Then I headed back into the living room to find Tina looking through the photo album. "Hey," I said to her gently. "Hey," Tina replied putting the photo album away and sitting back down. "Is everything okay?" "Yeah, things are fine." "Your roommate seemed upset." "Yeah, and I don't blame him." I went over to the couch and motioned for Tina to join me. "What brings you all the way to Florida?" "Mike," she answered. "Something is wrong with him. He's changed." "How so?" I asked. Part of me could care less. This was the guy she dated while she dated me. She didn't seem interested in him at first, even though he was much better looking than me. But he forced himself into her life and she was a kind person. He had gone through a divorce and needed a friend. Tina wanted to be a friend to him and spent a lot of time with him. I know it sounds weird that I have a problem with him, especially because I'm gay and now married to a magnificent guy. But when you are trying to change something you think is wrong, and here is an opportunity to change but its shot down, it hurts. I opened my heart up to her wanting to be heterosexual. And she wanted to date me. And then my heart gets broken. I was devastated, though I didn't let it show to others. Many in my family thought that was what made me gay, but I reassured them I was always attracted to guys even before Tina. "A few weeks ago, there was an accident," Tina began. "There must have been something wrong before then, though, because it seemed after the accident that Mike was another person. He became mean and violent. Reverend tried talking to him, and it seemed to do some good. He did get some control." "Why are you here if everything is okay?" "Mike no longer is the person I fell in love with. He has become horrible recently. Even to the point of committing crimes. Reverend thinks he is possessed by a demon, that he let one in when he was scarred by the accident. "I fear for my life. I couldn't turn to anyone. They couldn't understand. Immediately I thought of you, but I didn't know where you went. No one did. Except Matt. I remembered him saying you moved to L.A. When I asked about it, he said you had moved to Orlando. I couldn't figure out why you would move so far away. You used to love church. You could always be counted on to teach in the Sunday School, or help out in other ways. "Any way, I asked Matt if he had your address and he said he did. It took me several weeks of poking and prodding and finally he gave it to me. How he acted, though, was like you died. What happened between you two to cause you not to be so close? It doesn't seem right. Does it have to do with your roommate?" Lance came into the living room and stood in the doorway to the kitchen looking at Tina and I on the couch. "Here's the thing, Tina. Lance isn't my roommate. The reason Matt doesn't want to be around me any more is the same reason I no longer live in Canton and stopped going to church. You see, I'm gay and Lance is my husband." Mike reached up and pulled off the cloth covering half his face to reveal a scarred, discolored and disfigured side. "She can't run from us any more," he said in a gruff voice. "Two-Face will get her." To Be Continued... I know you weren't expecting this to happen. What do you think this will mean for Eric and Lance? How do you think Tina will react? I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings and comments. More good stuff to come!