Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 16:17:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: Tales of a Real Dark Knight Chapter 43

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!!!

Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter you are commenting on.
Thanks.

jmsotc@yahoo.com

Chapter 43 Finding Out

	Bullwhip shot out a whip and swung from the window down to the
ground.  I tried to loosen the whip, but couldn't.  I was being hanged.  I
watched as he disappeared into the shadows and slowly my consciousness
followed.
	When I came to, I found myself in the alley across the street.  The
Huntress crouched over me.  I tried to breathe deep remembering that I was
in the process of being hanged.  When I did, sharp needles penetrated my
esophagus.
	"Don't breathe too fast.  Your body just had a shock to its system.
You nearly died."
	"What happened?"
	"Bullwhip tried to hang you.  Then he got away.  Freeze didn't
stick around.  He had his own plans to attend to.  I had to use a Diamond
Head arrow to cut through the whip.  You plunged three stories to the
ground.  I brought you over here to resuscitate you."
	"Thanks," I said with not much enthusiasm.  The Huntress detected
it.
	"What's the problem?"
	"I don't know how much of this I can handle."
	"What do you mean?"
	"I told my best friend I'm gay.  I lost Hunter.  And now this.  Too
much at one time."
	"Not to mention the rape and Aaron."
	"I've been through a lot."
	"Maybe you should take a night or two off, just so you can rest and
reflect."
	I stood to my feet and staggered a bit.
	"Take it easy."
	"I'll be okay.  I just need another minute to get my bearings."
	I sat for another minute or two then stood up.  This time my
balance was much better.
	"So, what do you think we should do from here?" the Huntress asked.
	"There's nothing we can do right now.  I think I'm going home to
rest."
	The Huntress smiled at me.  She knew she won the battle.
	Not too long after that, I lay in my bathtub relaxing in a warm
bath.  I was waiting...for what I didn't know.  I just knew something was
coming.  Something big.
	I finished and got out of the bath.  I pulled on some boxers and a
t-shirt and went to bed.
	When I woke up the next morning, I dressed and went to work.
Dr. Allison met me at the door.
	"How are you feeling?"
	"Better, Doctor.  Thanks."
	"You're welcome.  If you feel you need some more time, or need to
lessen the load, let me know.  I would be happy to help."
	"I appreciate that."
	Dr. Allison left and I went to my office.  I sat down and turned to
face the window and thought about everything again.  It took my mind away
from where I was at the moment.
	A rapping at my door brought me back to attention.
	"Come in."  In walked Justin.  "Hello, Justin."
	"Hello, Dr. McCoy."
	"How are you today?"
	"I'm doing okay.  Thanks for asking."
	I moved from my desk to the chair as Justin sat down on the couch.
"Did you finish the reading I gave you?"
	"Yeah.  Thanks.  I've learned...a lot."
	"Like what?" I prodded, wanting him to talk about whatever he
learned, whatever was on his mind about the subject of homosexuality.
	"I learned that it's not a choice, being gay.  I learned that it's
natural for a gay person to feel those feelings, even though it feels
unnatural for straight people."
	"And does that change your feelings toward your friend?"
	"Yeah.  It makes me feel a little okay to love him like I have
been, as a brother."
	His words went into me.  God, how I wished Matt would come to that.
He might.  I just told him the other day.  There is still hope.
	"Does he know this?"
	"I haven't told him, yet, if that's what you are asking."
	"Yeah.  That's what I'm asking."
	"I don't know how to tell him.  Should I even tell him?  I mean, if
I just go on as if he knows and I treat other gay people nice, won't that
be enough?"
	"No.  Because, as far as he knows, your change of actions towards
gay people is only a courtesy to him.  He will feel as if you are treating
them decent simply because you know he's gay.  He won't know that you've
had a change of heart.  And that's something he will need to hear.  It's
the only way he will let his end of your friendship grow any more.
Otherwise he will think you hate who he is and he won't open up to you.  He
won't be able to be himself around you."
	Justin sat quietly for a few minutes; I'm sure contemplating what
I've just told him.  You don't know how much I wished Matt would've been
able to hear what I just said.  So many friends don't realize that their
gay friends need to hear them say it's okay to be gay.  They need that
affirmation from their friends that it's normal.  They may know it in their
hearts, but in their straight friends' eyes they are less than a person or
evil.
	"I don't know if I can say it.  Maybe if you were with me."
	My eyes widened, but quickly I brought them normal.  Should I do
this?  Do they know that he's been seeing me?  I had to ask.
	"Do your friends know that you've been seeing a psychologist?"
	"JC knows."
	"Does he know my name?"
	"No."  My line of questioning was making Justin suspicious.  "Why
should he know?"
	"I don't know."
	We talked for the next ten minutes about religion and
homosexuality.  It was quite an enlightening conversation.  Right after he
left, I knew I had to tell his band friends that I was counseling him.
They had to know before I "met" them.
	As soon as Justin left, I picked up the phone and called JC.  I
still remembered their number.
	"Hello?" JC answered.
	"Hi, JC."
	"Eric?"
	"Yeah."
	"Did you just now remember our number?"
	"No, I've always remembered your number."
	"Then where have you been for the past few months?  We've missed
you being around."
	"I'm sorry.  I wasn't able to handle seeing Justin."
	"And you are now?"
	"Well, sort of.  You see, I'm counseling him."
	JC did not say a word.  For a moment I thought the line had broken
between us.
	"Does he know about you and him being together?"
	"No."
	"You didn't tell him?"
	"No."
	"And you think it's safe for you to counsel him?  I don't think
so."
	"JC, listen, please.  Let me explain."
	The phone went dead.  JC hung up on me.  I didn't blame him.  Maybe
I was unethical for not telling Justin.  But I thought I would be the best
one to talk to him about this situation.  My interest in him, first, wasn't
the same as it was.  I know there is no chance for a relationship and I've
recovered from the break-up.  My feelings toward him have shifted to that
of a caregiver or protector of sorts, almost like it was when we first
discovered Turic's true nature.
	I had to convince JC of this.
	When I finished work for the morning, I headed off to school.  The
gym was still off limits to students.  I didn't blame them.  I didn't think
I could ever enter that building ever again.
	I headed to class and found a new teacher in for Dr. Israel.  The
police were still looking for him.  Class was interesting that day as the
hour unfolded.
	"What was Dr. Israel discussing last?" the substitute asked.
	"He was telling us he came up with a cure for the disease of
homosexuality," one student said.
	I raised my hand.
	"Yes, Mr.... McCoy?"
	"I would like to say that homosexuality is not a disease."
	"How do we know this?" the sub asked.
	"Because there is no cure for it."
	"We don't have a cure for AIDS or cancer," someone shouted out.
	"I didn't mean it in the sense of the word cure.  What I meant is
that it's not something you catch or is transmitted.  Being gay has
something to do with the way someone is born, it's biological."
	"Like a birth defect," another student shouted out.
	The class chuckled.  But I was becoming irritated.  Stay calm, I
told myself.  No need to throw a book, or trashcan...or teacher's desk at
the poor sap.
	"Some have called it that," I replied.  "But recent research has
found that it may be genetic."
	"So gay people are mutants!" yet another student said with glee.
	They were taking everything I said and changing it to mean
something else.  I hate when people do that.
	"It's something with the brain, I believe some doctors have
discovered."
	"Then gay people have brain damage!"
	I couldn't deal with this kind of slander.  I gathered my things
and stood up.
	"Where are you going, Mr. McCoy?" the teacher asked.
	"Away from these bigots."
	Some of the class just laughed.
	I stormed out angry.  Angry at what they were saying.  Angry at
what happened to Hunter.  Angry at Dr. Israel for causing this discussion
to begin with.  Had he not done what he did, Hunter would still be here and
we wouldn't be discussing this.  Who am I kidding?  If it weren't for him,
no one would be discussing homosexuality and everyone would still have
pre-conceived notions of the subject.
	I went to the park to walk for a little bit.
	The sun began to set as I strolled the grounds.  The air had a
slight chill to it.  October was finally here.  Halloween would be coming
up.  I'm sure a busy time for Jessica and Garrett.
	I arrived at the hotel and went inside.  The manager remembered me
and said I could go up.  When I said the guys weren't expecting me, he told
me to go up anyway.  I told him I preferred not to but would like to call
the room.  He gave me a phone and some privacy.
	"Hello?" JC said.
	"JC, it's Eric.  I'm down in the lobby and really want to talk to
you."
	"About what?"
	"You know what about."
	"If you are referring to Justin, I just told him about you."  My
heart sank.  "He's pretty upset."  In the background I heard someone mutter
something and JC respond, "He's downstairs."  Then he moved back to the
phone.  "He's on his way down now.  I suggest you leave.  Justin's not
happy with you."
	"I'm not leaving.  In fact, I want to face him about it."
	"You're awfully brave."
	"Bravery has nothing to do with it, JC.  Being honest does.
Perhaps you can all come down.  And we can all have it out right here in
the lobby."
	"Maybe we'll take you up on that offer."
	I hung up the phone and steeled myself for what was coming.  And it
came.
	The elevator doors opened and out came just, face flushed with
anger.  He looked around until he spotted me.  "You son of a bitch!" he
yelled.
	Several people turned in the direction Justin was looking.  I knew
their eyes were on me, but all I could focus on was Justin and his rage
toward me.
	"How could you not tell me?!"
	"Justin, do you want to go someplace private and talk about this?"
	"Not really!  I want to talk about it right here, right now!"
	Another elevator arrived on this level and the rest of NSYNC came
out.  JC, Chris and Joey were mad.  Lance looked confused.
	"Then let's have it out right now," I said.  "Do you want to hit
me?  Then do it.  Do whatever you feel you need to do to vindicate
yourself.  Then, whenever you are done, I would be happy to explain myself
to you."
	Justin hesitated, knowing that all eyes were on him.  I placed the
ball in his court for him to act.  It was all up to him.
	Justin balled up his fist and punched me as hard as he could.  It
was a good punch, too.  I was definitely going to bruise.  I clutched my
eye and looked up.  All eyes were in our direction.  The members of NSYNC,
except for Lance, appeared gratified by Justin's action.  Lance, however,
seemed upset by it.  I could not let him know that I knew how he felt about
me.
	Looking at this situation, it was rather strange for me.  If it had
been anyone I did not care about, my anger would have been kindled and my
mutant gift would have gone into action.  But Justin was someone I cared
about.  He had been my lover at one time.  Now he was a patient and, dare I
say it, friend.
	"Now can we talk?" I asked.
	Justin looked over at JC, Chris, Joey and Lance for an answer.  "I
don't know.  After what you did...?"
	"What I did?  What did I do?"
	"You took advantage of a situation you had no business being
involved in!"
	"Let's go upstairs, Justin," JC said.
	The group headed toward the elevator.  Lance looked back several
times.
	I watched the elevator doors close and I felt something inside me.
I'm not sure exactly what it was.  I wasn't angry at Justin's feelings.
Maybe it was the choice he was making about hearing me out.  I was
frustrated.  I guess frustration is another emotion that activates my
mutation.
	I ran to the stairway and once the door closed, began floating
upwards.  It was strange, this feeling of floating.  I guess this is what
went into operation when I would jump from building to building or jump off
of a building and manage to land without seriously breaking anything.
	I arrived at their floor and looked around.  I remember when Lance
was sitting on these very steps and cried because he was in love with
someone.  I was so saddened by his sadness.
	I opened the door onto their floor and heard the elevator arriving
at their floor.  The bell sounded and the doors opened.
	"I still can't believe he had the gull to not tell me about us!"
Justin was saying.
	"Maybe if you gave him a chance to explain, Justin," Joey replied.
	They exited the elevator and stopped in their tracks, all eyes upon
me.
	"How in the hell did you get up here?" Chris asked.

To Be Continued...

So Justin finally found out about his relationship with Eric.  Are you
surprised about his reaction?  Do you think he acted in a normal way?  Do
you think he should have acted differently?  I'd love to hear what you
think!  Email me!  All emails get a response!