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
Chapter 10 Framed
I went over to see Lance after work. It was the week of Thanksgiving and I had hardly seen Lance over the past few weeks. Now with school being over, I worked longer hours to help pay the bills and save up some money. I had done much training with Garrett and the Huntress, and with the X-MEN. They were beginning to trust me and I was glad for that. I finally made enough amends with them that I was considered one of their own.
My feelings for Lance were growing and I was hoping that we could become a couple soon. I was beginning to love him, actually love him. I still had feelings for Justin, but not like they were. They were different. We were friends, and I was his therapist, helping him to come to terms with Lance's sexuality.
I entered the hotel lobby and the manager approached.
"Hello, Eric."
"Hello. How are you today, Howard?"
"Quite well, thank you."
"Good. Do you know if Lance is here?"
"I'm not sure. You may call up if you like."
"Yes, please."
I followed him over to the desk and dialed their number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Lance. It's Eric."
"Hi, Eric. Come on up!"
I entered the elevator and went up to his floor. The doors parted and I stepped out to be greeted by a warm embrace.
"Hi, Eric. It's good to see you. How are things going?"
"Better now that I don't have school and other stuff to do. All I have is work. How have you been?"
"Okay. We are getting these new songs down and everything. Come on in."
I walked with Lance toward his room. I peeked into the groups make-shift living room and saw Joey and JC playing video games.
"Where is Chris and Justin?"
"Talking to their girlfriends."
"Oh."
We went into his room and sat down at his table.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
"Yeah, a little."
"I'll order room service."
Lance went over and dialed the number. I took a look around his apartment remember the last time I was in here. I had come straight over after school to go out to eat with the guys. I had used Lance's shower and when I peeked out of the bathroom door to see if the coast was clear, Lance stood in his boxers in the middle of the room. I was very tempted to give in to my urges but refrained. One thing about me is that my mind can overcome the rest of my body parts, most of the time.
Lance walked back toward me.
"I ordered something light for us. Is that okay?"
"Sure."
"I wanted to talk to you about what happened when we went out for dinner."
"I was thinking about that, too."
The phone rang.
"Excuse me," he said and went over to the phone. "Hello...yeah...he's right here. Do you want to talk...? Okay."
Lance hung up and came over to me. "That was Jessica. She was wondering if I had see you lately."
"Hmm, maybe I'll call her later. Anyway, where were we?"
"We were talking about the dinner date we had."
"That's right." I looked over at the clock. "Can I turn on your radio?"
"Uh, sure."
I could tell Lance was unsure what was going on. He was trying to have a serious conversation with me but I seemed to be playing dumb about it. I was definitely playing, but with good reason. I went over to his radio and turned it on, tuning it to a local radio station. The DJ was in mid sentence.
"...the phone lines, taking your calls, requests and dedications."
"Is there something you really wanted to listen to?" Lance asked a bit worried.
"Something I want us both to listen to."
The DJ went on. "Our first song was called in and dedicated an hour ago. This is from Eric to Lance."
Lance looked over at me as the music started. I grinned at him. The song was "I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" by REO Speedwagon.
I can't fight this feeling anymore
And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow
What started out as friendship has grown stronger
I only wish I had the strength to let it show
I tell myself that I can't hold out forever
I say there is no reason for my fear
Cause I feel so secure when we're together
You give my life direction, you make everything so clear
And even as I wonder, I'm keeping you in sight
You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
It's time to bring this shipment to the shore
And throw away the oars forever
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through the door
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore
I moved over to Lance and put my arms around his neck and began to move slowly. Tears were in my eyes and streaming down my cheeks. Lance moved his hands up to my waist.
"You dedicated this song to me?" he asked.
"Yes. The words speak so much to what happened between us. We started out as friends and it grew into something more. That's what I always wanted to happen in my life."
My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you
I've been running round in circles in my mind
"It has, Lance," I said
Cause you take me to the places that I thought I'd never find.
And even as I wonder, I'm keeping you in sight
You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
It's time to bring this shipment to the shore
And throw away the oars forever
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through the door
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore
I couldn't fight it anymore. It was destroying me from the inside out. I leaned in and kissed him full on the lips.
We must have been kissing for a while because the next thing we knew the door was being pounded on by JC.
"Lance, your room service is here!"
Lance and I broke it off and smiled at each other. Lance went over and opened the door.
"Thanks, JC."
"Yeah. They've been waiting for almost five minutes."
JC left and Lance wheeled in the cart.
"Please, have a seat at the table," Lance replied.
I sat down at the table as Lance moved the cart over to the table.
"I've wanted to do this for a long time. When I saw you and Justin together it hurt, but I knew you and he were happy. How could I take that away from anyone?
"Then, after what happened with Turic...well, I was almost happy it happened. Not happy about you being hurt. I wanted to be there to comfort you, but you never contacted us or anything. But I was happy because there was a possibility for us to be together. Now, here you are and we are having a quiet dinner together."
Lance served out the food.
"Do you remember when we got the call from Johnny to go back to Orlando?"
"Yes."
"We're going. I'm going to Mississippi for Thanksgiving then on to Florida. I would like you to come with me."
"What about my life here?"
"I'd like you to build one with me."
I couldn't believe what Lance was asking. He wanted me to come with him and build a life with him. I loved my job, I really did. But part of me wanted to go with him. And what about the fact I'm Batman? Could he really come to Orlando?
"I would love to. But I really need to think about it first."
"I thought you would say that. It's all right. Take whatever time you need. I'll give you my parents' number in Mississippi and my number in Florida so you can call when you decide."
"When are you leaving?" I wondered.
"The day after tomorrow."
I nodded.
We sat and talked enjoying the meal and each other's company
"Well, that was delicious," I said eating the last bit of food on my plate. "I can't thank you enough."
"Just the look on your face is thanks enough."
"I'll be right back," I replied as I got up and headed to the bathroom.
I did my business and when I opened the door I noticed the strangest and most intriguing image in my life. It wasn't Lance lying on the bed naked. The image was actually out the balcony doors and in the sky bouncing off the clouds. It was a Bat signal. Someone made a Bat signal... and they were calling me.
"Uh, Lance. I just remembered I have something to take care of. I hate cutting out on us like this...I've waited so long to have this but..."
"It's okay. I understand. Call me tomorrow?"
"Definitely."
I walked up to Lance and gave him a long lingering kiss then took my leave. I took a cab home and suited up as quickly as possible. Then followed the signal to the place it was being projected.
I found the Huntress along with the police Commissioner standing on a rooftop. The Huntress must have wondered what the signal was about as well, that would explain her presence.
I jumped to the roof and stood before the two women.
"Can I help you with something?" I asked.
"Batman," the Huntress said, "we need to talk."
"Sure."
I followed the Huntress and the police Commissioner down to the Commissioner's office. We went inside and the Huntress closed the door.
"What's the problem?"
"I've fixed the video footage. I showed it to the Commissioner and she agreed that we should show it to you."
"Okay."
I stood back thankful they had discovered the identity of Dr. Israel's murderer, the arsonist who destroyed the building. My mind went into all possible suspects: an angry client or relative of a client, someone who hated his brand of treatment...the list could go on. I was thankful he was gone, but I didn't want him to be dead. Unfortunately, we cannot control the will of others.
The Huntress popped in the tape and the footage began to unfold. I watched as a shadow fell over the window of the clinic, then a dark shadowy figure burst through smashing the glass. I couldn't believe my eyes. I couldn't believe who it was...me!
"What the..." I said.
"It gets better," the Commissioner said.
I watched as I, or someone dressed like me, smashed up the equipment, beat Bullwhip and Dr. Israel and set a fire. Then coldly walk away as Dr. Israel begged for help, for mercy. Then the tape went black.
The two women turned to me anger in their eyes.
"What happened?" the Huntress asked.
"What do you mean?" I replied.
"What happened? Why did you do this? I know you dislike Dr. Israel for many reasons. But that doesn't justify beating him and then letting him suffer in a blaze. Something must have happened to you again like last time. What?"
"Nothing has happened. Huntress, you have to believe me, I didn't do that. You have to believe me. Don't you?"
"I don't know if I do any more. You've shut me out of your life before and gone on a manhunt. Who's to say you aren't doing it again? Have you been feeling vengeful lately? Angry? Hurtful?"
"Huntress, it's not like that."
The Commissioner decided to not stay quiet any more.
"This is senseless trying to reason with him. Batman, listen to me. You have done some pretty dark things in the past. I was not sure of you before then. Last time you did something like this, I was ready to have every officer out looking for you with orders to shoot to kill. The Huntress assured me you could be reasoned with. I went along with her recommendation reluctantly. I see I should have ignored her and brought you down. I have no choice now but to place you under arrest and remove your mask."
I looked from the Huntress to the Commissioner. I couldn't let my mask be removed, not now. Every child I had helped, everyone actor and celebrity I had come in contact with as Eric was now on the line with this single act of exposure. I could not allow anyone to be hurt by his or her association with me.
I let my mind relax and reached out. I pushed the Huntress and the Commissioner back with my mutant power and ran for the window. I jumped into it, smashing it to pieces and plummeted to the ground. As I fell, I opened my cape. My mutation went into operation again and I landed safely. Then I ran as fast as I could in no particular direction.
I eventually made it home and changed into regular clothes. I heard a rustling outside and looked out my window to see the Huntress.
"I'm alone," she said. "We need to talk."
To Be Continued...