A/N: Hey guys, gals and pets at home who have the ability to use the computer whilst your owners are out of the house (That's right, I know). Anyways, I hope you guys are feelin' fine and slaying dragons. BTW there is something about this chapter I think you should know, I will change the third person writing to make it look like a movie script because I've got a montage scene. Anyway, see ya.
- Wayne Manor -
Bruce Wayne sat in his armchair as the news flickered on the TV in front of him. For two days, Gotham City News had been showing stories about Scarecrow's death, causing Bruce's guilt to rise even higher.
"As of now, the search is still underway to find Dr. Crane's body, or what's left of it, from underneath all this rubble. This is Heather Jenkins for Gotham City News, back to you Ted," the news reporter announced as fire-fighters walked in and out of the still smouldering building. The scene suddenly changed to show newsreader Derek Marsh sitting in the studio.
"Thank you Heather. Still on the concept of fear, three teenage boys from a high school in New York suffered panic attacks all at the same time" he announced, causing Bruce's eyes to widen.
"One of the students was able to capture the moment on film using his cell phone. Roll the clip" Derek asked, seconds before the clip started to play. Bruce's mouth hung open as the scene unfolded. He watched as the boys suffered different panic attacks before a separate teenage boy with black hair knelt down in front of one of them. The boy he knelt in front of, responded by quickly edging away from him, right before passing out on the ground. The clip suddenly ended, once again showing Derek sitting in the studio. Bruce noticed something vaguely familiar about those panic attacks.
"Those weren't ordinary panic attacks. I've seen them somewhere before" he said to himself. He quickly looked back at the TV.
"The boys were quickly brought to New York Downtown Hospital and are on the road to recovery," Derek announced again. Bruce got up out of his chair and headed towards his office, he pulled back the painting on his office wall and pressed the button underneath. Behind him, a secret panel opened, revealing the elevator to the BatCave. He stepped inside and the elevator headed downwards, the panel closing soon after. Once at the bottom, he emerged wearing his Batman armour and headed to the vehicle bay. Alfred stood near the BatComputer, dusting away before turning to face Batman.
"Is there a problem sir? Alfred asked in his posh accent. Batman pressed his thumb against the panel, causing 'Access Approved' to appear in bright green letters. The door opened and Batman climbed into the BatWing. He turned to Alfred before closing the hatch.
"I'm heading to New York. Keep the place clean whilst I'm gone. Remember what to do if anybody tries to break in?" he asked.
"I am well aware of where the Musket is, sir" Alfred responded, getting a smile from Batman. He closed the hatch and the engines roared into life.
- New York -
Eddie ran as the rain continued pouring down. He turned a corner and headed down an alleyway. But as he arrived at the over end, he got that well known feeling in his bladder. He sighed; the rain wasn't making it any better.
"There has to be a bathroom around here somewhere," he said to himself. He scanned the rainy street until he saw a small coffee place on the corner. He ran inside, there was nobody there except an African-American woman behind the counter with a nametag that read: Jessica. She gave him a quizzical look as he entered. He put on an embarrassed grin.
"Hi. Um…can I use your bathroom?" he asked. She raised an eyebrow at this.
"Can you read, kid?" she responded before pointing her thumb at a sign behind her. It read: BATHROOM IS FOR PAYING CUSTOMERS ONLY. Eddie groaned as his bladder became tighter.
"Can I use the bathroom, then buy something?" he begged. She thought about it for a second, and then she smiled.
"Fine. But be quick" she warned. Immediately, he ran for the bathroom and slammed the door behind him. A couple of minutes later, he emerged with a look of relaxation on his face. He headed over to the counter and sat at one of the stools. Jessica headed over to him.
"What'll it be, kid?" she asked. He looked up at her.
"A black coffee, please?" he ordered. She nodded and headed over to the coffee machine. She returned a few seconds later with his coffee. He let out a sigh. She noticed this and put on a sympathetic face.
"What's up, honey? You look bummed out" she commented. He looked up at her and let out another sigh.
"I've just had a bad day, Jessica" he replied. She poured herself a cup of coffee and leaned on the counter in front of him
"Don't worry about it, kid. We all have bad days," she said, comfortingly. He let out a small laugh.
"You have no idea what mine was like. Mine was much worse," he said. Jessica looked puzzled.
"How worse?" she asked. Eddie scanned his brain for a good explanation. He couldn't just say: I put something in these guys' drinks that made them have panic attacks. After a few seconds he answered.
"Jessica, if you had the ability to make people pay for the bad things they've done, but it made them suffer much worse than you expected, what would you do?" he asked. Jessica had a look of bewilderment plastered in her face. Yet she still responded.
"Well, if I could do that, I'd do whatever it took to make them pay for the things they've done, especially if they tried to hurt my family. I've got a little girl back home, sweetest thing I ever laid my eyes on, but even though I'm in a tough place, I still treasure every moment I spend with her" she said.
"Tough place? What's wrong?" Eddie asked sympathetically.
"Well, me and my husband are having trouble making ends meet. I'm barely earning a living here and he's making scraps at a tollbooth. We're trying our best to make her childhood worth living, but we're going to have to stop sometime" she sighed. Eddie looked at his reflection his coffee, he realised that other people were having tougher times than him. He looked back up at Jessica.
"So…you'd do what's right?" he asked. She nodded. Eddie smiled and chugged down the rest of his coffee. He wiped is mouth with his sleeve and got up out of his stool.
"Thanks Jessica" he said before heading towards the door. But before exiting, he turned back to Jessica.
"By the way, how much was the coffee?" he asked. She smiled.
"You know what, it's on the house. You seem like a nice kid. I'll see you around" she responded. He smiled, but before he left, she called him back.
"What's your name kid?" she asked.
"Um…Eddie," he replied.
"Well Eddie, good luck with whatever it is you're doing" she said before heading back into the kitchen. Eddie chuckled and headed back out into the rain.
- New York City Downtown Hospital -
Commissioner Gordon headed through the hospital doors and walked up the receptionist.
"I'm looking for the three boys who were brought in today," he said, holding up his badge. The Nurse nodded and started typing on the computer.
"They're in Room 23" she responded. Gordon nodded and headed for the elevator. He opened the door to Room 23 and headed inside to see three teenage boys cowering in their beds.
"I take it you got my message?" a deep voice came from the corner, making Gordon jump. He turned to see the Caped Crusader standing in the shadows.
"Yep. I saw the News Report. You thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked. Batman nodded.
"Fear Toxin. But there's only one way of knowing for sure" he said. Gordon looked at him.
"What way?" he asked. Batman reached inside his Utility Belt and produced three vials, each containing a red liquid.
"They the kids blood samples?" Gordon asked. Batman nodded once again.
"I…borrowed a sample from the lab. I'll have to scan each dose so I can guarantee the toxin's effects" he said before heading to the window. He opened it, but before climbing out, he turned to Gordon.
"If Scarecrow's still spreading fear…then we could be in some serious trouble," he said before jumping out of the window.
- The BatCave -
Batman looked at the BatComputer's screen as the computer scanned the blood, numbers and strings of DNA flashed by as the data was recorded. Alfred arrived a few seconds later.
"Do you believe that Dr. Crane is spreading fear from beyond the grave, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked. Batman however, did not take his eyes off the screen.
"I don't believe in ghosts anymore, Alfred. Just the monsters that lurk in the city streets. Hold on a second" he said as the string of DNA from each of the blood sample converged on each other and the words: 'EXACT MATCH' appeared on the screen.
"I knew it. Each of the blood samples is laced with the fear toxin. But how can Crane still be doing this? I saw him die with my own eyes" Batman pondered. Alfred rubbed his chin, before turning to Batman.
"Master Bruce. What does a king do when he dies?" he asked. Batman looked puzzled.
"What are you insinuating, Alfred?" Batman asked.
"Just answer the question" Alfred replied. Batman thought for a second.
"Well, the title would be passed on to…the king next in line" Batman's eyes widened. If it were a snake, it would have bitten him. He looked at Alfred and smiled.
"Alfred. You never cease to amaze me. But wait…I don't know where to start looking in New York" Batman said. He then raised his head and turned to Alfred.
"Alfred? If you were facing a person who used fear as a weapon, who would you ask to help you?" he asked, sounding like the Riddler.
"I would find a man without fear, sir" Alfred responded. Batman headed over to the BatWing and hopped inside once again.
"I'm going back to New York" Batman told Alfred.
"What for, sir?" Alfred asked. Batman turned to him before closing the hatch.
"There's only one person in New York who has no fear. You may call him a Guardian Devil" Batman said before the hatch closed.
- Broadway Fashion Studios, the next day -
Eddie headed through the glass doors of the studios and made his way past all the designers as the placed different articles of clothing on the models. He scanned the crowd and grinned as he noticed the guy he was looking for. Danny and Eddie were best friends; he was two years older than Eddie and had left school before him. The main thing Eddie knew about Danny was that he was gay. After he left school, he'd gotten a job in fashion at the studios. Every now and then, Eddie would need a suit or a costume and Danny could get it for him. Danny was busy sketching out dress designs, his straightened ginger hair hung in front of his eyes. When Eddie tapped him on the shoulder, he turned and a grin appeared on his face.
"Hey buddy. You still straight?" he asked as he gave him a hug. Eddie sighed.
"Sorry to disappoint you, pal" he responded. Danny raised his eyebrows.
"Too bad. So, what's my favourite customer in need of today?" Danny asked. Eddie smirked; he'd been planning the excuse all night.
"I need you to make me a costume. This guy at school's throwing a costume themed party for his birthday" he lied. Danny nodded contently.
"Okay. So, what do you need the costume to look like?" he asked. Eddie reached into his pocket and produced a folded piece of paper. Danny unfolded it and raised his eyebrows.
"I'm going as a superhero I designed myself. I need it done soon, do you think you can do it?" Eddie asked. Danny grinned.
"Don't worry. It should be done in two days to…Kevlar? You want me to make a bullet proof vest to go underneath?" he asked confusingly. Eddie bit his lip.
"Umm…I want it to look realistic. Is that okay?" he asked.
"Sure whatever. If you come back in two days, it'll be done by then" Danny explained. Eddie grinned in response.
- Switch to montage -
(Music playing in background: Avenged Sevenfold - Bat Country)
-Scene of Eddie "borrowing" some syringes from the school nurse's locker -
-Scene changes to Danny measuring and cutting out leather into a certain shape -
-Scene changes to Eddie in woodshop, melting and welding metal into the shape of a glove -
-Scene changes to Danny sowing the leather into the shape of a trenchcoat –
-Scene changes to Eddie in his science lab, adding different chemicals to a test tube, every so often, glancing at the piece of paper with the fear toxin formula written on it-
-Scene changes to Danny constructing a pair of Leather, studded boots-
-Scene changes to Eddie adding the final component needed for the fear toxin. He smiles and says: It's finished. A few seconds later, his phone rings. He answers it to hear Danny say: It's finished. Eddie grins-
End montage -
Eddie admired the costume which the mannequin wore, it wasn't how he'd pictured it at all, it was better. Danny put his arm around his shoulder and grinned eagerly.
"Well, do you like it?" he asked. Eddie nodded.
"It's perfect. The vest is made of real Kevlar, right?" he asked in return.
"Completely bulletproof. Can't be any more realistic" Danny replied. Eddie chuckled.
"This is going to be awesome" he thought to himself.
A/N: Hey guys, in the next chapter, you will see Eddie take on his alter-ego. As for now, I hope you review and as soon as the next chapter is complete, I will post a picture on TwitPic showing you what his costume looks like. Just click on my profile and I will leave you a link. Laters.
