Cat page 6

"Hello?"

"Hi Blade." Tac said. He could swear that he heard her smile over the phone.

"Oh my God, Tac! I'm so sorry about what happened yesterday." Blade said quickly. "I messed up—

"No, it was mostly my fault. I didn't check to see if Winthrop was around. And it was my phone he was reading from."

"Yeah, but it was a secret until I typed Terry's name. That was really stupid. I shouldn't have done that." She admitted.

"Okay, let's agree to disagree – it's both our faults."

"Okay." She said. There was a pause and Tac felt his mood lighten. "I really missed you today. You won't believe how many bitches are trying to take your place already."

"I missed you too. Unfortunately you're going to have to find another running mate. Bruce is taking me out of Hamilton High and putting me in private school."

"Oh no." Blade said, truly disappointed.

"We'll always have the weekends. Clubbing at Marlow's. Shopping at Phipps." He assured her. Blade sucked her teeth. "Plus I'm planning on cutting class a lot so I'll come and see you at H.H." She laughed. "So tell me, was the whole school a buzz with the news of my affair?"

"It's all everyone is talking about. You're the biggest thing since that whole Torrance calamity." Blade said. "You wouldn't believe how many people are sucking up to me just to get information. It's ridiculous."

"But you love suck ups." Tac said. She giggled.

"True but this time it's irritating. They think I'd sell you out like that….plus I don't know all the details anyway."

"Man, have I got stuff to tell you." Tac said.

"Likewise."

"By all means, you first." He offered.

"Well despite everything that happened, Dana showed up for school today. She looked terrible though. Like she cried herself to sleep and didn't bother trying to hide it with makeup. Max was holding her hand all day as she played the victim. And she kept glaring at me like I was to blame for her losing Terry to you."

"I swear." Tac started. "She just gets more and more irrational."

"She walked around all day pretending she didn't know you or Terry existed."

"Well after last night he's pretty much not her concern anymore."

"What happened last night?" Blade asked – truly curious. Tac paused and bit his bottom lip. "Is it a bad thing?"

"No, not at all." Tac answered. "Terry and I had sex." Tac held the phone away from his ear when Blade screamed.

"Oh my god. No fucking way!"

"Yes way. But it's a secret so put it in the vault." Tac said.

"Oh everyone thinks you guys were screwing anyway." Blade said. She let out sigh. "So how was it?"

"Amazing." Tac swooned as he flopped back on his bed. "I don't want to rub it in your face but Terry is the one guy you should've gone after." Blade laughed. "He's just… I have never felt this way about anyone. I mean I love you and I've loved other people before but this is something completely different."

"Sounds like you've got it bad." Blade said.

Terry's stomach was in knots. When his suspension ended he thought he'd have no problem going back to school. He figured it would take about three days for the whole thing to blow over. But as soon as he walked in the door he felt eyes on him. Heard whispers of 'That's him' and 'you got to be kidding, no way'. If he didn't know any better he'd swear the whole thing happened yesterday. But it was nearly a week ago. Despite that he still got heckled.

His first annoyance came in the form of Nelson, which Terry saw coming a mile away. He made some stupid joke about Terry wanting to be on the wrestling team so bad, finally figuring out why he always lost– that he liked getting pinned. Terry nearly took his head off but Max was suddenly there, holding his arm. Seeing her made Terry fill with dread. She immediately started telling him about everything that had been going on with Dana. Terry figured he better get it over with so he could move on. Max led him to where Dana was sitting in the quad and stood back as he approached her.

"Hey." He said as he sat down. She jumped and looked at him – glaring when she realized who it was. "Look, Dana – this isn't how I wanted this to end."

"But you did want it to end." She said. "How long did you want that to happen?" Terry was taken back by the question.

"A few weeks. A month tops." He answered truthfully. She scoffed. "I didn't want to hurt you this way. I was trying to—

"You were trying to do it in a way that didn't make you look like the bad guy. But guess what – you are!"

"What, no I didn't—

"Do you really think I deserve this? I mean I know I'm not perfect but I didn't deserve to be cheated on, lied to and replaced by a boy. Do you have any idea how humiliating this is?"

"No, Dana. I have no idea how embarrassing it is to have all your dirty laundry aired in front of everyone." He said sarcastically. "I can't help the way I feel Dana. Would you rather I just go on dating you and lying to myself? I would've been miserable."

"Well as long as you're happy then I guess that's all that matters." She said and rolled her eyes.

"I know it hurts now and I know you hate me for saying it but I really like Tac. Not that you'd know this but he's sweet and—

"You're right. I don't want to hear how you think the sun shines out his ass." She snapped. Terry couldn't help but laugh. He snorted, trying to suppress it and hid his smile behind his hand.

"Look, I'm trying to apologize, break up with you proper and move on." Terry said. "I'm sorry I found someone else….actually I'm not sorry about that and I more than likely never will be. Tac makes me happy. I suggest you find someone that can do the same for you."

"So that's it?"

"I'm not sure what else you want to hear." Terry said as he got up. He walked back to where Max was waiting. She followed him inside. He recognized the look of curiosity on her face.

"Where is Tac? I didn't think he was suspended – not after Bruce came up here and all."

"Bruce is putting him in private school." Terry said. "Getting home schooled until they get the acceptance letter."

"You okay with that?" Max asked.

"I'm gonna have to be or Bruce won't let me see him." Terry answered.

"What?"

"Bruce didn't like how things went down. And I did kind of screw things up. He said if I can't get my shit together I couldn't be involved with Tac." Terry said.

"Gauging how 'ok' you are with that I'm guessing you are already 'involved' with him."

"Max, don't start."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"What I mean is don't make me feel bad about something that makes me feel good."

"Why not? You did it to me." Max countered.

"Well, you were engaging in an illegal virtual reality machine that would've left you a vegetable." Terry said. "I am having protected sex with a boy – do you see where this might be different?"

"You slept with him!?" Max said louder than she should have. Everyone in the hall seemed to stop and look at them. Terry rolled his eyes and pulled her aside.

"Yes, okay." He answered in a hushed tone. Her eyes went wide.

"When?"

"Tuesday night." Terry said. Right now Max was the only person he could talk to about it. And he had been dying to tell someone. Howard had been avoiding him a little – he doubted the other boy would get his recent change. Much less appreciate hearing about the more intimate details.

"Damn, didn't take you long to move on."

"Max, I've been sleeping next to him for over a month. We've been patrolling. We train together. Our 'relationship' has been going on for a lot longer than anybody really knew."

Tac sighed and Bruce looked at him. He was daydreaming again. Wistfully looking off into space while twiddling his pen between his fingers. If Bruce didn't know any better he could swear that Tac was smiling. Just then he felt like he didn't know something. He pressed a few buttons on the computer and checked the security feeds from Tuesday. He smirked.

"So," He said. Tac jumped when Bruce was right behind him all of a sudden. "Did anything happen Tuesday night while I was gone?" he asked.

"Not really." He lied and Bruce could tell. "Oh, I think we need better security though. Somebody was creeping around the garden after you left."

"I suppose that's how this ended up on the front page of the Inquisitor." Bruce said as he tossed the newspaper down on the table in front of Tac. He frowned when he saw the picture on the front was off him – sitting in his window. The headline reading 'Wayne Heir Scandal at School: are drugs to blame?'

"Great." Tac said sarcastically. "Just because I'm home in the middle of the day I have to be an addict?"

"Well technically you are." Bruce pointed out. "But I think they're referring to cocaine – not splicing serum."

"Life would be so simple if I was a regular coked out socialite. Becky Veland doesn't know how good she's got it in rehab." Tac said sarcastically.

"Any other visitors besides the paparazzi?" Bruce asked. Tac lifted an eyebrow.

"Why ask, it seems you already know the answer."

"Tac—

"I was scared. I thought it was…I thought it was him." Tac said as he wrapped his arms around himself. "And next time it could be. I mean if some stupid guy with a camera can make it through the gate what's to stop him? Without my serum or you, I go right back to being the kid he snatched off the street."

"I suppose we could do something about that." Bruce said. "But why didn't you call me?"

"I thought I did." Tac said. Bruce knew it was the truth. "Like I said, I was scared." He looked at the newspaper again. "You know they wouldn't be able to get photos of me at home if I wasn't always here." Bruce tried not to roll his eyes at his hint. He just handed Tac a set of keys and a leash.

"Go fetch Terry from school for me. Take Ace." Bruce said. Tac hoped up and smiled wide. "Do the speed limit. Go to the school and come right back here. No side trips to piercing parlors or crack dens."

"Aww…" Tac pretended to be disappointed at the stipulations Bruce lay out but he just snatched up the keys and leash and ran up the stairs with Ace following close behind him.

Tac waited in the parking lot for Hamilton High. Anxiously awaiting the final bell and the flood of students to follow. Ace picked up on his unease and let out a whine. "Relax boy. He's coming." Tac said and pet him on the head. He leaned against the side of the lavish town car and crossed his arms. It was odd being out in the quad alone. It was so quiet – the only noise came from the wind slowly sifting the leaves on the trees. Tac suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He got the strangest sensation that he was being watched. He looked over his shoulder and then whipped his head back in front of him when the wind suddenly gust around his feet. Ace barked at his sudden movement and he yelped when the bell rang. His heart was beating out of his chest at the sudden panic attack. Even as the students filled the parking lot he still felt incredibly alone and vulnerable. He jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Hey, this is a surprise." Terry said. Tac hugged him. "Whoa…what's wrong? You're shaking."

"Just… an over active imagination." He said as he eased his grip. "How was your day?"

"Long." Terry said with a grimace. Tac spotted Dana over his shoulders. And after watching them for a minute she turned her nose up and walked to her car. Terry leaned in and kissed Tac on lips. He pulled away when he heard Nelson laughing.

"Check it out, guys. The thought to be extinct 'Octo-homo'." Nelson said. Tac wished he had his serum – it would've felt so good to punch the spit out of his mouth and toss him like folding chair.

"Bastard." He hissed. Terry cupped his chin and made him look at him

"Ignore him." He said before he kissed Tac again. "Let's go somewhere and fool around."

"Can't." Tac said. "I'm under strict order to bring you back to the cave. Plus I think we better cool it a bit – Bruce was hinting that he knew about what we did Tuesday night."

"Does this mean no repeat?" Terry asked disappointed. Tac smiled at him.

"Well… he might be taking a nap when we get back. We could—

"Mr. Wayne." They looked up when the principal approached them. "My agreement with your grand father not withstanding – public displays of intimacy between any students involved with one another are strictly forbidden on school grounds." Tac just rolled his eyes and handed Terry the keys to the car.

"Let's go."

"Are you okay?" Batman asked. Cat just continued to stare down at the city. His tail was flicking back and forth behind him. His ears were twitching up and down. "Hey!"

"Wha—did you say something?" Cat asked as he turned to Batman.

"I asked if you were feeling alright." He said as he moved to him. Cat just avoided his gaze and sighed. "Look, if this is about the other night, tell me. If you regret it—

"No!" Cat said louder than he meant to. "I mean…no, this isn't about that. And I don't regret a thing. You were fantastic." Batman smirked but it soon disappeared when he notice Cat still looked distressed. "Lately I've been having this feeling. I don't know what it is – it's similar to an anxiety attack. Mostly when I'm alone it's like someone is watching me."

"You're the heir to Wayne corp – people are constantly watching you." Batman pointed out.

"This is different." Cat said as he wrapped his arms around himself. It was odd seeing him this way when he was spliced. Usually all of Tac's insecurities and paranoia ceased when he spliced himself. The serum made him strong, confident and egotistical but it seemed what ever was plaguing him from his civilian life had managed to stick in his head even with the genetics-altering drug running through him. He looked at Batman and forced a smile. "Don't worry yourself with it. I'll just have Bruce up my Zanix dosage." He brushed it off with a cocky chuckle and looked down at the street. "Come on. It's show time." They both jumped over the side of the building and descended on the thieves trying to break into the pharmaceutical company. Cat dashed after the ones that ran and Batman took a few licks from the ones that stayed to fight. Cat only caught two of the five that ran – Batman knocked out all six that fought.

After breaking up a few more robberies Cat headed home by himself. Batman chuckled when Cat gave himself the antidote. When he changed his clothes he made himself look like he had been out all night partying. He ruffled his hair, put several neon colored wrist bans on and ripped his jeans. "Bruce thinks it'll help with the whole secret identity thing to keep the public thinking I'm a 'troubled kid'." He said. He turned to Batman and smiled.

"You gonna be okay on your own?" He asked as he lowered Tac down to the street.

"Yeah." Tac assured him before he kissed him. "See you at sunrise for a nap?"

"You better believe it." Batman said. He watched as Tac walked out the alley and on to the street. He went back up to the roof and kept an eye on Tac as he hailed a cab. One finally stopped and he put on a great routine – stumbling into the seat and clumsily reaching for the door. When it pulled off Batman extended his wings and took to the sky. He was sure the front page would have a picture of Tac walking in the gate of Wayne Manor – looking tired and disheveled with a headline somewhere along the lines of "Wayne does nothing to help delinquent youth". Batman called it a night after foiling a car theft and a mugging. When he made it back to the cave he was surprised to find Bruce was still tinkering around in the lab. He tried to think fast as he changed out of the suit – come up with a reason why he had come back instead of going home. Bruce gave him a look like he knew the reason why.

"Hey…I was—" He was interrupted by the intercom. It made a loud noise as it clicked one and echoed in the cave.

"Bruce! Ah—stop!" Tac's frantic scream was cut off after aloud thump. Terry raced upstairs after Ace as Bruce limped to the elevator. Terry made it to Tac's room only to find the door was locked. Ace barked and scratched at it.

"Tac? Tac, open the door." Terry said as he tried the knob.

"Break it down!" Bruce ordered from down the hall as he exited the elevator. Terry backed up and got running start before ramming into the door with his shoulder. It cracked the frame and he kicked it in. Ace leapt over the broken door and at the figure holding Tac to the floor. He let go of Tac's neck and blocked as Ace snapped at him. He jumped back before running for the window. He leapt through it and shattered the glass. Ace just ran to the window and barked as the attacker fled. Terry knelt next to Tac and looked at the dark marks forming around his neck already. He also noticed his lips were a little blue.

"He's not breathing." Terry said as he propped his head back and opened his mouth. Bruce watched as Terry performed CPR – nearly wringing his cane in his hands anxiously. He sighed when Tac finally coughed and started moving. "Oh thank God." Terry gasped as he caught his breath. He stood up and looked out the window when Bruce knelt down and Tac hugged him. He started crying and Bruce tried to quiet him.

"He was here!" Tac sobbed as he clung to Bruce's shirt.

"Who?" Bruce asked. "You saw who attacked you?"

"It was him. It was Randy!" Tac said as he pulled away. Bruce looked at him before he looked at Terry.

"He's dead." Terry said. "He can't have—

"It was him!" Tac screamed. "Don't let him get me. Don't let him get me!" he cried.

"Geez, what happened?" Max asked as she read the morning edition of The Inquisitor. Terry rolled his eyes when he saw there was a picture of Tac being wheeled into the ambulance. The type over it reading: 'Hard Partying Heir, Hospitalized'.

"That's just a cover up. He was attacked last night at the house." Terry said. "He says it was the guy that abused him when he was a kid but he told me that guy was dead."

"You told me everyone thought Victor Fries was dead. You've seen Inque 'die' at least twice." Max rationalized.

"Yeah, getting hit by an old eighteen wheeler just isn't the death sentence it used to be." Terry said sarcastically.

"So why did Bruce have him hospitalized?" Max asked.

"The house has been compromised. We can't very well lock him up in the cave until we figure this out. Bruce sent him to one of those celebrity rehab hospitals – you know the ones with tons of security." Terry said. "It's the perfect cover for why he'll be living in the city for a while until we can secure the house. Bruce has even gone to a remote location."

"This guy really has you guys spooked." Max said.

"He was turning blue Max. I had to revive him."

"Oh my God." She gasped and put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.

"Bruce would be able to defend himself but not for long… this whole thing is just kind of crazy. But hopefully I'll catch the guy and everything will go back to normal…well sort of normal."

Terry smiled as he watched Tac sleep. He actually looked peaceful, rather than plagued like he had been the other night when Bruce had to sedate him to get him to calm down. It was hell getting through the security at the hospital. He had to give them his social security number and nearly promise them his first born just to get into the parking lot. It was a good thing though. Tac was safer here than he was at the massive manor. Here at least if his private bodyguard was taken out the people monitoring the halls would be able to help him. The house was just too open and the security system hadn't been updated in decades.

"Hey…" He sighed when Tac's eyes fluttered open. He seemed a little alarmed for a second before he recognized Terry. "Sorry."

"It's okay." Tac said and leaned up for a kiss.

"I wanted to come see you before I went on patrol, see how you were doing." Terry looked at the bandages around his neck for a second.

"Well apart from going insane and having my name smeared all over the papers as a drug addicted, hopeless spoiled brat – I think I'm doing pretty good for someone who saw their rapist basically come back from the dead." Tac said as he sat up.

"You're not insane. You were definitely attacked by someone. And it's believable that Randy may have survived and tracked you down." Terry said. He noticed Tac tensed when he said his name and made it a point to remember not to say it again.

"Damn paparazzi have my face in the paper everyday ever since I came here." He sighed. "Luckily I have friends in high places to help me." Terry smiled when Tac grabbed his hand.

"I don't care if I have to sit on that window sill forever, I won't let him get to you again." Terry said as he leaned in for another kiss.

Despite his recent troubles Bruce thought it was a good idea to introduce Tac to the company. After all, he'd be taking over it some day and it brought Bruce great joy to let Paxton know that his time as acting chairmen was limited. He assured the board of directors that Tac's delinquency was all behind him – that now he'd help Tac turn his life around. There were of course questions about where he'd been this whole time, who his parents were and even a few demands for blood tests. Bruce answered their questions without missing a beat. And Tac just sat there and tried not to squirm under their scrutiny. They all remarked on how he was unfit for the role but Bruce reminded them all that he was only sixteen. Ten years from now he'd be he epitome of everything expected of the CEO.

Tac thought he was imagining the way Paxton was looking at him. It was somewhere between a glare and utter disbelief. Like he couldn't believe that one day he'd be kicked out of his seat of power by this frail, wispy twink of a boy. "I see you're doing well after your over dose." Paxton said – just a little too loud. "How's the treatment center – I hear it's top notch."

"Very." Tac answered shortly. He wanted so badly to tell Paxton to go 'fuck himself' for making that snide remark.

"I must say you look very familiar." Paxton said as he leaned closer. "You know my new assistant is good with faces." He turned his head and nodded. "He'll be able to tell me." Tac thought he was dreaming as he watched Randy stole up to them and stand beside Paxton. He just stared with wide eyes as the terrible man smiled at him. "Ronald this is Tac Wayne – the new heir apparent. Tac this is Ronald Latiner. He took over for Ms. Thorpe last week."

"Nice to—

"Ahhh!" Tac shrieked and flinched away when Ronald reached to shake his hand. All conversation in the boardroom halted and every eye in the room turned to look at them.

"What—

"Stay away!" Tac fled from the room as fast as he could. He heard Bruce call after him but he didn't stop. He ran into the bathroom and locked himself in the handicap stall. The walls and door went all the way from the ceiling to the floor. He sat on the toilet and brought his legs up to his chest before hugging them tightly. His mind raced and for several minutes he felt like he couldn't breathe. 'What is he doing here? How is he alive? Run! You should keep running! No, hide here! Just keep hiding! He found me. How did he survive? I knew it was him the other night, I knew it. He's going to kill me! Oh God—' Tac looked up when he heard the bathroom door open. 'He's coming!' The footsteps were slow; whoever it was clearly didn't have to pee. 'He's looking for me!' Tac thought his heart would beat right out of his chest – the pain definitely made it feel like it could. Darkness crept into the corners of his vision. He felt like the only bulb still lit was directly over him – drawing Randy like a beacon to his location. 'Oh God.' The steps stopped in front of his stall and he put his hands over his mouth to keep from screaming. 'He's gonna kill me. He's—

"Tac?" The room suddenly seemed lighter when he heard Terry's voice on the other side of the door. He flung the door open and leapt into Terry's arms.

"Terry! He's here!" He cried.

"Who?"

"Randy! He's posing as Paxton's new assistant. He found me! He found me and he's going to kill me!"

"Shh…" Terry hushed him as he stroked his hair. Tac just clung to him and sobbed.

"This is a nightmare."