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!!!
This section of chapters is a continuation of my first story "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". 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
This chapter was co-written by one of my readers. He came up with the idea and we put together the story. Here is his email address. I'm sure he would be happy to receive feedback from you.
jas931@hotmail.com
Chapter 9 Tormented
One week later...
Joshua awoke excited about what had happened in the last week, also terrified by it. He was a mutant. What could be cooler than that? But he also had to deal with so many new things in his life...especially with his adoptive family gone. And now going to school again only this time it was a strange school.
Reluctantly, Joshua got up and showered. Roger, his adoptive father, drove him and Peter, Roger and Kara's biological son, to school.
"Are you nervous, Joshua?"
Joshua looked up from his thoughts. "A little."
"You will be fine. Peter will help out, won't you, Peter?"
"Yeah," Peter replied unenthusiastically.
Joshua could sense Peter's feelings. Peter was thinking about having a gay boy living down the hall. Plus, Peter didn't know how to treat Joshua because of the death of Joshua's parents. He didn't know what to say.
Joshua picked this up and wanted to reassure Peter he didn't have to fear his gayness, nor treat him differently because of what happened to his parents. He was a normal kid, just like Peter. But he didn't have the chance.
The car pulled up.
"There you go, boys. Have a good day."
"Thanks," Peter said climbing out of the car.
"Thank you, Mr. Wilkes."
"Please, call me Roger."
Joshua nodded and got out. Peter was gone. He had already gone into the crowd leaving Joshua behind.
"That's just great," Joshua thought. "Leave me behind."
Joshua made his way through the crowd and into the school. He had to see the principal first and his guidance counselor to get his schedule and locker assignment.
"I wish Eric were here," Joshua thought. "He could help me."
Across town, Jessica and Garrett were sitting up at the mansion looking at the videotape she recovered with the help of Batman and Freeze. It had been a month and finally the computer was able to restore the footage. It was finishing it up at the moment.
"Do you have any suspicions as to who it could have been?" Garrett asked.
"I don't know. Get me Dr. Israel's list of clients and I can go by process of elimination."
"Not all of his clients believed his treatments were evil. Many welcomed them. Didn't Batman say one time he rescued such a patient?"
"Yes, he did."
The computer beeped a few times.
"It's done."
Garrett and Jessica watched as the footage unfolded. There, on the screen, was the murderer. The murderer beat Lt. Harrison, also known as Bullwhip, and Dr. Israel before damaging the machinery and causing a fire. It looked as if Dr. Israel was begging for help, but his murderer walked away coldly. Then the explosion and all went black.
Garrett and Jessica sat in muted silence. Then slowly a whisper escaped Jessica's lips.
"My God."
Joshua walked down the halls and saw Peter with a group of friends. His face lit up a bit hoping to make some friends himself; hoping Peter would introduce him to the other guys. But it didn't happen. Peter walked away and was followed by his group of friends. Joshua couldn't believe it!
"What's going on?" he thought. "I've been through enough. I don't need this! It can't possibly get worse!"
"Hey, kid," someone yelled.
"Strike that," Joshua whispered. "It's gotten worse."
Joshua turned to see another group of guys walking up to him. They had a maleficent look on their faces.
The taxicab drove up to Xavier institute for the gifted. I was hopeful. I had called Ororo from my office and planned on discussing Joshua's situation. When the cab stopped, I paid my fare and got out. I was greeted instantly by Kurt.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. "Aren't you supposed to be working?"
"I am working, sort of. Where's Ororo?"
"She's waiting for you. She asked me to meet you here. Follow me."
Kurt turned and disappeared.
"Very funny, Kurt," I muttered.
Kurt appeared a few feet in front of me. "Are you coming?"
I shook my fist at him in mock anger and followed him down the hall. He took me to the sitting room and had me take a seat. Moments later, Ororo and Remy appeared.
"Hello, Eric," Ororo said.
"Hi, Ororo. Hello, Remy."
"When you called, you said it was urgent we meet. What is it?"
"I met a boy a week ago."
"You here to borrow a nice care to take him out on a date?" Remy said.
"Listen, Remy. I know you don't like me all that much. But after what you and I did a month ago on Halloween, I would have expected more from you. That was something Logan would have said."
"Enough, you two. What about this boy, Eric?"
"He's a mutant. His powers are just manifesting. He's only fifteen. I'm sure he's scared and unsure of what is going to happen to him. I was wondering...hoping that you would be able to take him in and help him develop his powers."
"But what of his parents?"
"They are dead. Killed by vampires. Right now he's in the care of a foster family. If I get your acceptance of him into the school, I could do some pulling and convince the appropriate authorities that he should be here."
"That would be fine. Have you discussed this with him?"
"Yes. I told him I would come to see you. He's hoping you will let him begin training here."
"All right. Let's meet him."
We stood and headed for the door.
"Thanks, Ororo. I knew I could depend on you."
With that, I took my leave and headed to the Department of Human Services.
Joshua sat in the principal's office waiting area. He had just gotten into a fight with two guys because they felt it their job to humiliate him on his first day of school. His nose was bleeding, but he was able to blacken one of the bullies' eyes and split the lip of another. They were in the principal's office telling their side.
"It figures," Joshua thought. "These guys will get the benefit of the doubt because they have been going here longer."
The door opened and the two guys came out. They threw Joshua a dirty look but didn't say a word.
"Mr. Monroe," the principal called.
Joshua stood up and entered the office.
"Have a seat," the principal said. He walked over and sat down behind his desk. "Mr. Monroe, mind telling me what happened?"
"They started it. I was going to class and they called me. I turned around and they started name calling."
"Really? What did they say?"
Joshua muttered off a few of the many horrible names that bigots and hate-mongers only know and dare utter. The principal said he would deal with them and then had Joshua's foster parents called to come pick him up.
On the ride home, Joshua could sense Kara's thoughts.
"Why? What could have happened that would make him want to fight? After all he's been through, surely he would not want to stir up trouble. Maybe that's the problem, what he went through. Maybe he is too angry about it and has no other outlet. I think I'll call Eric and make another appointment to see him. It's too late to go in today. Perhaps I can make it for tomorrow."
Joshua enjoyed the rest of the ride home. Kara's mind was at rest. He did not have to worry about her thoughts intruding upon his own.
At home he went up to the bedroom and looked in the mirror. The song from Disney's Mulan came to his mind:
Look at me
You may think you see who I really am
But you'll never know me
Everyday
It's as if I play a part
Now I see
If I wear a mask I can fool the world
But I cannot fool my heart
Who is that boy I see
Staring straight back at me
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside
I am now
In a world where I have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Who is that boy I see
Staring straight back at me
Why is my reflection someone I don't know
Must i pretend I am someone else
For all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside
There's a heart that must be free to fly
That burns with a need to know the reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think how we feel
Must there be a secret me I'm forced to hide
I won't pretend that I am someone else
For all time
When will my reflection show who I am inside
When will my reflection show who I am inside
Joshua collapses on his bed as tears fall down his face.
"God, it's too much. It's too much."
Joshua falls asleep crying.
I arrived at work and immediately called the Department of Human Services.
"Hello? This is Eric McCoy. Can I speak to Lena?"
"Hello."
"Lena. This is Eric. I am calling about Joshua Monroe."
"What have you got?"
"I think him being in a public school is not going to help him. He has issues he needs to deal with."
"And where do you think it would be best for him to go?"
"I was thinking of Xavier's School for the Gifted."
Lena got silent.
"Are you still there?"
"Yeah. What makes you think he needs to be there?"
"They've dealt with youngsters who have had troubled pasts, with kids who have a hard time dealing with things. I think he would do well there."
"I'll have to go to the school and talk with them about an orientation."
"I already have. They are willing to meet and assess him for enrollment."
"What about the tuition? Do you think the city should pay for it?"
"That's something you will have to discuss with them. I'm sure something can be arranged."
"All right. We'll take care of this tomorrow."
I hung up with Lena feeling very happy for Joshua. I assured myself he would be overjoyed at the prospect of going to Xavier's School for the Gifted. But would he be willing to leave his old friends behind?
To Be Continued...