Batman stepped closer, and Kurt really, really wished he had the energy
left to port out of there. Then a rather unpleasant thought occurred to
him. This was real life, not comic books. What if Batman really did kill?
It was at this point that a brightly clad figure descended from somewhere overhead and stepped between Batman and Kurt. Robin.
"Didn't you hear what I just told you tonight? He's Nightcrawler, from the TV show. He doesn't belong in this dimension." Batman stopped and his glower lowered slightly, from wet-your-pants scary to collapse-in-a- quivering-heap scary. Kurt considered the fact that he might come through the night in one piece. Batman obviously had a strong attachment to and respect for Robin.
Batman answered, "That doesn't explain how he knew who we are."
"Comic books." Kurt squeaked. Uh-oh. That glare just went up to wet-your- pants-right-before-he-guts-you scary. Obviously not the right answer.
"WHAT!?!" Batman roared.
"Comic books." Kurt answered again, fighting the urge to run for his life. He was in an enclosed area. It seemed like Robin was on his side. Better to stay by Robin. "In my world, you're comic book characters. I've even got a few in my backpack. If you get it I'll show you." Now was not the time to mention that he knew who everyone else was too.
"Robin" Batman called, never letting his glare at Kurt waver in the slightest. Obediently Robin moved off. Kurt thought he was dead. He was SO dead. Robin returned a moment later carrying Kurt's backpack. OK, maybe he wasn't dead. Kurt opened it up and retrieved one of the Batman comics. Better to leave the JLA comics put for the moment. He carried it up to Batman who took the book, perused it for a moment, then looked as if he was considering not killing Kurt.
A glance between Batman and Robin seemed to be all the communication they needed. Batman moved off to a different area of the cave while Robin took up a I'm-gonna-guard-you-because- Batman-told-me-to-and-I'm-gonna-do-a-good-job-of-it-even-though-I-don't- think-your-dangerous stance. A few heartpounding minutes later, Batman returned.
"There are compounds in this ink from plants that died out decades ago, yet the extracts are only a few months old. This was obviously a commercial printing job. It seems that this Nightcrawler is telling the truth." The glower was still present, but now lowered to an I-don't-quite-trust-you level.
At this moment Alfred chose to make his appearance. "Master Bruce, Master Dick, breakfast will be ready soon. There are two extra place settings for our guests, and I suggest you take the time to clean yourself up now.
"Guests?" Batman echoed, truing to hide his puzzlement.
"Surely you remember that Master Wallace was to come to the Manor this Saturday. Now I suggest you make yourself presentable. Something in his tone told everyone who was really in charge at Wayne Manor.
Batman and Robin obediently followed Alfred up the stone stairs,
followed by Kurt with his backpack. Kurt had the feeling that he
would still be getting the evil glower if Alfred had not
interrupted. Kurt sidled a little closer to Robin and asked, "How did he know?" referring to Alfred's timely arrival.
"He's Alfred. He knows everything," Robin, or rather Dick, replied with absolutely no trace of joking in his voice. He looked as if he wanted to ask something badly.
"Well?" Kurt encouraged.
"Can I have your autograph?"
"Was?"
"your autograph. How often do you think I get to meet cartoon
characters come to life?"
"Considering your life..."
"Yeah, but still..."
"...Let me get cleaned up first. What did I fall in, anyways?"
"An open dumpster"
"No wonder. It'll take me forever and a day to get the smell out of my fur."
"No it won't. We've got this extra strong shampoo in the bathroom that should take that smell right out."
"Are you sure?"
"If it worked last time we had to chase Croc [1] into the sewers, it'll work on you."
"Okay..."
"This is so cool! You're my favorite character on the show. I've
even got a Nightcrawler keychain on my backpack."
"This is slightly freaky. But I guess I can't freak out too bad.
You're my favorite character in the comics."
"You're right. That is freaky. Better give you the heads up. Wally's an even bigger fan than me."
"Think he'll actually eat at normal speed"
"..."
You're all in the comics. JLA, Titans, everyone."
"Don't know."
Just as Dick said, the shampoo worked like a charm, and he was soon
ready for breakfast.
[1] Killer Croc, a lizard-like mutant
It was at this point that a brightly clad figure descended from somewhere overhead and stepped between Batman and Kurt. Robin.
"Didn't you hear what I just told you tonight? He's Nightcrawler, from the TV show. He doesn't belong in this dimension." Batman stopped and his glower lowered slightly, from wet-your-pants scary to collapse-in-a- quivering-heap scary. Kurt considered the fact that he might come through the night in one piece. Batman obviously had a strong attachment to and respect for Robin.
Batman answered, "That doesn't explain how he knew who we are."
"Comic books." Kurt squeaked. Uh-oh. That glare just went up to wet-your- pants-right-before-he-guts-you scary. Obviously not the right answer.
"WHAT!?!" Batman roared.
"Comic books." Kurt answered again, fighting the urge to run for his life. He was in an enclosed area. It seemed like Robin was on his side. Better to stay by Robin. "In my world, you're comic book characters. I've even got a few in my backpack. If you get it I'll show you." Now was not the time to mention that he knew who everyone else was too.
"Robin" Batman called, never letting his glare at Kurt waver in the slightest. Obediently Robin moved off. Kurt thought he was dead. He was SO dead. Robin returned a moment later carrying Kurt's backpack. OK, maybe he wasn't dead. Kurt opened it up and retrieved one of the Batman comics. Better to leave the JLA comics put for the moment. He carried it up to Batman who took the book, perused it for a moment, then looked as if he was considering not killing Kurt.
A glance between Batman and Robin seemed to be all the communication they needed. Batman moved off to a different area of the cave while Robin took up a I'm-gonna-guard-you-because- Batman-told-me-to-and-I'm-gonna-do-a-good-job-of-it-even-though-I-don't- think-your-dangerous stance. A few heartpounding minutes later, Batman returned.
"There are compounds in this ink from plants that died out decades ago, yet the extracts are only a few months old. This was obviously a commercial printing job. It seems that this Nightcrawler is telling the truth." The glower was still present, but now lowered to an I-don't-quite-trust-you level.
At this moment Alfred chose to make his appearance. "Master Bruce, Master Dick, breakfast will be ready soon. There are two extra place settings for our guests, and I suggest you take the time to clean yourself up now.
"Guests?" Batman echoed, truing to hide his puzzlement.
"Surely you remember that Master Wallace was to come to the Manor this Saturday. Now I suggest you make yourself presentable. Something in his tone told everyone who was really in charge at Wayne Manor.
Batman and Robin obediently followed Alfred up the stone stairs,
followed by Kurt with his backpack. Kurt had the feeling that he
would still be getting the evil glower if Alfred had not
interrupted. Kurt sidled a little closer to Robin and asked, "How did he know?" referring to Alfred's timely arrival.
"He's Alfred. He knows everything," Robin, or rather Dick, replied with absolutely no trace of joking in his voice. He looked as if he wanted to ask something badly.
"Well?" Kurt encouraged.
"Can I have your autograph?"
"Was?"
"your autograph. How often do you think I get to meet cartoon
characters come to life?"
"Considering your life..."
"Yeah, but still..."
"...Let me get cleaned up first. What did I fall in, anyways?"
"An open dumpster"
"No wonder. It'll take me forever and a day to get the smell out of my fur."
"No it won't. We've got this extra strong shampoo in the bathroom that should take that smell right out."
"Are you sure?"
"If it worked last time we had to chase Croc [1] into the sewers, it'll work on you."
"Okay..."
"This is so cool! You're my favorite character on the show. I've
even got a Nightcrawler keychain on my backpack."
"This is slightly freaky. But I guess I can't freak out too bad.
You're my favorite character in the comics."
"You're right. That is freaky. Better give you the heads up. Wally's an even bigger fan than me."
"Think he'll actually eat at normal speed"
"..."
You're all in the comics. JLA, Titans, everyone."
"Don't know."
Just as Dick said, the shampoo worked like a charm, and he was soon
ready for breakfast.
[1] Killer Croc, a lizard-like mutant