"What do you think you're doing?" Bruce threw a surprised and suspicious glare as Terry appeared, clad in the Batsuit, late in the evening.
"Something I need to."
"Like?"
"I need to talk to Dana, alone, no interruptions, no possibilities of anyone hearing, or seeing us." With half begging eyes, he continued. "I have no plans of patrolling, or dealing with anyone other than Dana. But, I need to know."
Bruce nodded once, "be careful."
"I'll be at my usual haunt." Slowly spreading his arms, he activated the wings, taking off gently.
He hadn't called a head of time, that would have given her a chance to back out. After five days of moping about the mansion, literally worrying himself sick, he decided it was time to take things into his own hands. Then acted quickly before he lost his nerve.
Flying over her house, he found her, just where he figured she'd be - in her back yard, sitting in the gazebo. She screeched, shocked to the core as he flew through, scooping her up. Feeling her grab on, relaxing as soon as she realized it was Batman, brought him some relief. He knew Dana, and one thing about her, if she didn't like what was being done to her, she had a very strong set of lungs. He smiled at that thought as he took her higher, to the far end of town.
Landing on the top of the tall building, he set her down near the centre, away from the concrete overhang he often stood on. Turning for a moment, knowing they were far enough from prying eyes and ears, he pulled his mask off, clipping it to his belt. Moving to stand on the far ledge, he gathered his thoughts. By the time he turned around, Dana was standing behind him.
"Why Terry?" Why did such a simple question have to be so difficult?
"For a lot of reasons."
"List them, please?" at least she was willing to listen.
"When I first found out about Bruce, all I could think of was striking out at those involved with my father's murder. I was fooling myself." Terry lifted his arms in a helpless gesture, one that contrasted greatly with the suit he was wearing. "After Powers, I realized that it wasn't enough, that so many others had suffered I have, as Matt has. I thought, if I brought them to justice in some form, I'd feel better, we'd all be able to go on with our lives. But I got a taste of this, of being on this side of the law and I was addicted. When Bruce offered me the job, I knew what I was taking on. That not only would I be able to help Mom monetarily, but I would learn how to be Batman. Not Terry the 'Juvie Exile'," he spat out with bitter sarcasm. "I have so many regrets in my life, this," he pulled at the suit, "is a way for me to redeem myself."
"Terry, you don't have to..."
"I know, Bruce said the same thing; but my soul tells me different."
Her eyes sparked with realization. "You blame yourself for your father's death." Terry's head dropped. "Even after all you've seen, after what you've learned about Powers being Blight."
"That was my fault."
"What?" disbelief echoed in the air between them.
"When I first fought Powers, after dad died, I didn't know enough, I was careless. Powers was engulfed by the poison gas when a drum spilled. That gas, and the treatment to eradicate it from his body, turned him into Blight." Terry turned from her, stopping at the overhang. "If I had waited, paid more attention to what Bruce was telling me..."
"Ter," she gently touched his elbow. He faced her, watching her look at him, as her brown eyes paused at the red bat symbol on his chest before her eyes met his. "If you hadn't stopped him, how many others would have been hurt?"
He swallowed, unsure of his own emotions. "Why do you still care, Dane?" his voice wavered, afraid of her answer. "I've lied to you, put this ahead of you, of us."
"You saved me, and so many others. I used to wonder why you were suddenly getting hurt all the time, I was suspicious of you and Max. I was afraid I was losing you." Touching his face, his black hair blowing in the strong breeze, tugging at her jeans and blue sweater. "Now I know, and you have nothing to fear. You've always been your own person, Terry. To know that you..." she trailed off unsure of how to phrase her thoughts. He was smiling, a relaxed, understanding smile and she knew she didn't have to continue. Truly looking around for the first time, she noticed how high up they were. "Where are we?"
She was so close to him, so easy to gather her into his arms and forget; but it wasn't time yet. There was still more she needed to know, to accept. "I come here a lot, to think..."
"To brood?"
He snickered , "yeah, I guess that too." He stepped closer, closing his hands around her upper arms. "I wanted to share it with you." He turned so they could both see the city scape, the many levels of bright lights below casting a glow into the clear night. It almost appeared surreal from their vantage.
"It's beautiful, the view is spectacular. I'm not even sure where we are." She watched him, the churning emotions - the love, the joy; bordered with a tinge of anxiety. He seemed comfortable with himself. Dana never realized that *she* was the missing link in his life. Sure they had spoken about having a life together, but he could never have fulfilled that with the weight of the secret he had been keeping.
"It's the 'bad' side of town." His words brought her out of her thoughts. He was looking over the ledge, something catching his eye. Grabbing his mask off his belt, he pulled it on in a graceful, practiced motion. "Be right back," he told her before diving over the side.
She swore she heard a scream in the wind. Peering cautiously over the side, she watched his descent. His voice, deepened to the voice of Batman, rang in her ears. How had she missed that before? It was his voice. She'd seen him as Batman so many times, yet never clued in. Did she not know him as well as she thought? Her heart was in her throat. How many times had she witnessed Batman in action? She couldn't count them on both hands. She had always watched with a jaundiced eye, critical and judging. Until he found her in the sewers. That evening, her opinion of Batman had changed drastically.
The mugger was too caught up in his victim to notice Batman until it was too late. Dropping feet first, Batman nailed him in the torso, throwing him into the far wall, effectively knocking him out. With ease, Batman tied him up, then turned to the frightened woman.
"Thank you," she managed to stutter.
Batman nodded before taking off.
"That was foolish."
Terry hmphed, "could you have ignored her? Maybe you need to look in the mirror."
"Touche," was the quick answer before the unmistakable sound of the com clicking off.
Dana was waiting, sitting near the centre of the roof. Landing lightly, his stitches stung from the stress, but a few torn stitches were worth it.
"You know," Dana began, "I've never really watched you before - not like now." She shyly clarified.
"And?" he removed his mask again, not wanting to hide anything from her. Wanting her to be comfortable, despite the fact that he was in the suit.
"And you're fantastic." He blushed, eyes darting away for a second, when they returned to her, she had stood and crossed over to him. "But, aren't you supposed to be taking it easy?"
"I couldn't just..." Her fingers on his lips stopped him, as did her smile.
"You've always been old fashioned, McGinnis. I can't help worrying about you though."
"I kinda like it that you worry." He moved closer, feeling an attachment to her he hadn't felt in months.
"Is it intentional?" her hands moved to rest on either side of the bat insignia.
"What?"
"Your voice? Or is it the mask?"
"The cowl doesn't effect my voice," he immediately understood what she was asking. "It's actually the only open section of the suit. I change my voice for two reasons; one - so that it's more difficult to recognize it..."
"And two?"
"To intimidate. I used to use that voice when I was running with the gangs. No one questioned me when I did. I thought it would be a good tone for Batman to have. Max just about fell on her butt the first time she heard me."
Dana giggled, "I wish I'd been able to see that."
"I can't give this up, Dane." He turned serious all of a sudden.
"I wouldn't ask you to." That took him by surprise, making her smile again. "I've never been able to stop you from doing anything you've had your heart set on. And in this case your heart is in the right place." Turning him slightly, she hugged him, gazing over the city lights. "Promise me something?"
"If I can." It felt good to answer her honestly.
"Bring me up here again. It's breathtaking, and it's nice to share something only you can experience."
"I promise to bring you here as often as possible." Resting his cheek on top of her head, he shifted so she wasn't leaning on his stitches, then wrapped his arms around her, holding her snugly, appreciating the ability to continue on with his life.
"Something I need to."
"Like?"
"I need to talk to Dana, alone, no interruptions, no possibilities of anyone hearing, or seeing us." With half begging eyes, he continued. "I have no plans of patrolling, or dealing with anyone other than Dana. But, I need to know."
Bruce nodded once, "be careful."
"I'll be at my usual haunt." Slowly spreading his arms, he activated the wings, taking off gently.
He hadn't called a head of time, that would have given her a chance to back out. After five days of moping about the mansion, literally worrying himself sick, he decided it was time to take things into his own hands. Then acted quickly before he lost his nerve.
Flying over her house, he found her, just where he figured she'd be - in her back yard, sitting in the gazebo. She screeched, shocked to the core as he flew through, scooping her up. Feeling her grab on, relaxing as soon as she realized it was Batman, brought him some relief. He knew Dana, and one thing about her, if she didn't like what was being done to her, she had a very strong set of lungs. He smiled at that thought as he took her higher, to the far end of town.
Landing on the top of the tall building, he set her down near the centre, away from the concrete overhang he often stood on. Turning for a moment, knowing they were far enough from prying eyes and ears, he pulled his mask off, clipping it to his belt. Moving to stand on the far ledge, he gathered his thoughts. By the time he turned around, Dana was standing behind him.
"Why Terry?" Why did such a simple question have to be so difficult?
"For a lot of reasons."
"List them, please?" at least she was willing to listen.
"When I first found out about Bruce, all I could think of was striking out at those involved with my father's murder. I was fooling myself." Terry lifted his arms in a helpless gesture, one that contrasted greatly with the suit he was wearing. "After Powers, I realized that it wasn't enough, that so many others had suffered I have, as Matt has. I thought, if I brought them to justice in some form, I'd feel better, we'd all be able to go on with our lives. But I got a taste of this, of being on this side of the law and I was addicted. When Bruce offered me the job, I knew what I was taking on. That not only would I be able to help Mom monetarily, but I would learn how to be Batman. Not Terry the 'Juvie Exile'," he spat out with bitter sarcasm. "I have so many regrets in my life, this," he pulled at the suit, "is a way for me to redeem myself."
"Terry, you don't have to..."
"I know, Bruce said the same thing; but my soul tells me different."
Her eyes sparked with realization. "You blame yourself for your father's death." Terry's head dropped. "Even after all you've seen, after what you've learned about Powers being Blight."
"That was my fault."
"What?" disbelief echoed in the air between them.
"When I first fought Powers, after dad died, I didn't know enough, I was careless. Powers was engulfed by the poison gas when a drum spilled. That gas, and the treatment to eradicate it from his body, turned him into Blight." Terry turned from her, stopping at the overhang. "If I had waited, paid more attention to what Bruce was telling me..."
"Ter," she gently touched his elbow. He faced her, watching her look at him, as her brown eyes paused at the red bat symbol on his chest before her eyes met his. "If you hadn't stopped him, how many others would have been hurt?"
He swallowed, unsure of his own emotions. "Why do you still care, Dane?" his voice wavered, afraid of her answer. "I've lied to you, put this ahead of you, of us."
"You saved me, and so many others. I used to wonder why you were suddenly getting hurt all the time, I was suspicious of you and Max. I was afraid I was losing you." Touching his face, his black hair blowing in the strong breeze, tugging at her jeans and blue sweater. "Now I know, and you have nothing to fear. You've always been your own person, Terry. To know that you..." she trailed off unsure of how to phrase her thoughts. He was smiling, a relaxed, understanding smile and she knew she didn't have to continue. Truly looking around for the first time, she noticed how high up they were. "Where are we?"
She was so close to him, so easy to gather her into his arms and forget; but it wasn't time yet. There was still more she needed to know, to accept. "I come here a lot, to think..."
"To brood?"
He snickered , "yeah, I guess that too." He stepped closer, closing his hands around her upper arms. "I wanted to share it with you." He turned so they could both see the city scape, the many levels of bright lights below casting a glow into the clear night. It almost appeared surreal from their vantage.
"It's beautiful, the view is spectacular. I'm not even sure where we are." She watched him, the churning emotions - the love, the joy; bordered with a tinge of anxiety. He seemed comfortable with himself. Dana never realized that *she* was the missing link in his life. Sure they had spoken about having a life together, but he could never have fulfilled that with the weight of the secret he had been keeping.
"It's the 'bad' side of town." His words brought her out of her thoughts. He was looking over the ledge, something catching his eye. Grabbing his mask off his belt, he pulled it on in a graceful, practiced motion. "Be right back," he told her before diving over the side.
She swore she heard a scream in the wind. Peering cautiously over the side, she watched his descent. His voice, deepened to the voice of Batman, rang in her ears. How had she missed that before? It was his voice. She'd seen him as Batman so many times, yet never clued in. Did she not know him as well as she thought? Her heart was in her throat. How many times had she witnessed Batman in action? She couldn't count them on both hands. She had always watched with a jaundiced eye, critical and judging. Until he found her in the sewers. That evening, her opinion of Batman had changed drastically.
The mugger was too caught up in his victim to notice Batman until it was too late. Dropping feet first, Batman nailed him in the torso, throwing him into the far wall, effectively knocking him out. With ease, Batman tied him up, then turned to the frightened woman.
"Thank you," she managed to stutter.
Batman nodded before taking off.
"That was foolish."
Terry hmphed, "could you have ignored her? Maybe you need to look in the mirror."
"Touche," was the quick answer before the unmistakable sound of the com clicking off.
Dana was waiting, sitting near the centre of the roof. Landing lightly, his stitches stung from the stress, but a few torn stitches were worth it.
"You know," Dana began, "I've never really watched you before - not like now." She shyly clarified.
"And?" he removed his mask again, not wanting to hide anything from her. Wanting her to be comfortable, despite the fact that he was in the suit.
"And you're fantastic." He blushed, eyes darting away for a second, when they returned to her, she had stood and crossed over to him. "But, aren't you supposed to be taking it easy?"
"I couldn't just..." Her fingers on his lips stopped him, as did her smile.
"You've always been old fashioned, McGinnis. I can't help worrying about you though."
"I kinda like it that you worry." He moved closer, feeling an attachment to her he hadn't felt in months.
"Is it intentional?" her hands moved to rest on either side of the bat insignia.
"What?"
"Your voice? Or is it the mask?"
"The cowl doesn't effect my voice," he immediately understood what she was asking. "It's actually the only open section of the suit. I change my voice for two reasons; one - so that it's more difficult to recognize it..."
"And two?"
"To intimidate. I used to use that voice when I was running with the gangs. No one questioned me when I did. I thought it would be a good tone for Batman to have. Max just about fell on her butt the first time she heard me."
Dana giggled, "I wish I'd been able to see that."
"I can't give this up, Dane." He turned serious all of a sudden.
"I wouldn't ask you to." That took him by surprise, making her smile again. "I've never been able to stop you from doing anything you've had your heart set on. And in this case your heart is in the right place." Turning him slightly, she hugged him, gazing over the city lights. "Promise me something?"
"If I can." It felt good to answer her honestly.
"Bring me up here again. It's breathtaking, and it's nice to share something only you can experience."
"I promise to bring you here as often as possible." Resting his cheek on top of her head, he shifted so she wasn't leaning on his stitches, then wrapped his arms around her, holding her snugly, appreciating the ability to continue on with his life.
