WARNING: This story is rated R (just to be safe) for language, violence,
and mild sexual content.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Batman, Nightwing (even though I'd like to) or any of the related characters. They are owned by WB, AOL Time Warner, and DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane, God rest his soul.
Agent Thomas, Agent Hicks, Carmella and Sammy, along with the story, though, are mine. Read but do not hurt.
Timeline: Sometime after NML, but before the "Bruce Wayne Murder?" series.
Ok, because I was so long getting chapter 19 up, I have decided to go ahead and give you guys three chapters at once, so I hope you enjoy!
And by the way, I'm not Catholic, but after doing some thinking, the Wayne's would be. After going to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, I have wanted one of my characters be Catholic, hence Thomas being Catholic. And besides I love some of the prayers the Catholics have!!
Anyway, enough of that mumbo jumbo crap, I hope you like! And please review!!!
* * *
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
It had been over a decade since she recited those words, but they ran through Thomas' head unbidden.
She wasn't exactly sure why she had found her way to this cathedral. Something was calling her there.
It was old, and the dust from the fallen buildings outside had made its way into a blanket on the pews. Thomas forced herself to look up at the crucifix, but something below it caught her eye first.
Batman.
He was kneeling on the steps with his head down. His cape surrounded him like a shroud. Thomas bit her lip. Something about the scene before her pulled at her heart. It hurt.
This wasn't a hopeful man looking to a God. No, this was an angry man looking for a God. A God that he didn't even believe existed.
"When did you lose your faith?" Her voice echoed through the cathedral up to the belfry.
In all his years behind the cowl, he could still count the times he had been startled on one hand. But tonight he should have known better. He dropped his defenses and the sudden voice shook him. He remained unmoved though, not showing his surprise.
She had caught him off guard and he couldn't think of anything to say, so he told her the truth. "I was eight years old."
He could feel her sigh deep within his bones. "So young," she spoke quietly.
He cringed. He didn't want her pity, didn't deserve it. He lowered his eyes to the ground. "When did you lose yours?"
"The day before you found me. I was lying in the dark. I couldn't even feel the pain anymore. Simply forgotten." There was a pause, and behind his closed eyes the Batman could see her. It was an image that he could never forget. So young, he thought. Then she continued, flipping the words as if they meant nothing. "That's when I knew there was no God."
The silence hung ominously. Thomas' eyes found their way up to the crucifix.
"I haven't forgiven you."
Batman turned around slowly. Agent Thomas watched the muscles in his jaw contract. He was fighting with himself for something to say. When his words finally came they were riddled with guilt and anger. "And I haven't forgiven myself."
As you shouldn't, Thomas thought bitterly. "By the way," she could hear her voice getting cocky, "your partner-Nightwing, I think is what you're calling him now-he has some of my things, and I would like them back."
"Agent Thomas?!"
Thomas jumped at the sudden yell of her name. She turned to the back of the sanctuary. Within seconds following the voice, a man wearing a suit, that looked as if it had seen better days, rounded the corner.
"Jesus, Thomas. I've been looking all over this city for you." The man ran his fingers through the dark blonde mop on his head. He raised his eyebrows waiting for an explanation from his partner.
Thomas hit herself in the head. "I forgot about the airport. Hicks, I'm sorry."
"That's alright, I can find myself a ride. But I was more worried about you. I couldn't get through to your cell and you haven't been back to the hotel. If something happened to you, I'd never forgive myself."
Forgiveness.
Thomas whipped her head around. The Batman was gone.
"Thomas, are you alright?" Hicks asked craning his neck to follow Thomas' line of sight.
She shook her head. "I'm fine."
"Good," he said, sounding like he didn't believe it. "Because if you're up to it. I've got a lead."
Thomas turned, happy for the distraction. "What did you get?"
Agent Hicks was suddenly down to business. "Well, there were four explosions at the same time this morning. All using binary liquids stolen from Star Labs in Metropolis. Gotta love those guy's imaginations. Anyway, the weird thing was, each explosion used about twenty pounds of this stuff, except for the fourth one. The GC Bomb Squad only found traces of about two pounds."
"Where did that one go off?"
Hicks smiled. "Arkham Asylum."
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Batman, Nightwing (even though I'd like to) or any of the related characters. They are owned by WB, AOL Time Warner, and DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane, God rest his soul.
Agent Thomas, Agent Hicks, Carmella and Sammy, along with the story, though, are mine. Read but do not hurt.
Timeline: Sometime after NML, but before the "Bruce Wayne Murder?" series.
Ok, because I was so long getting chapter 19 up, I have decided to go ahead and give you guys three chapters at once, so I hope you enjoy!
And by the way, I'm not Catholic, but after doing some thinking, the Wayne's would be. After going to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, I have wanted one of my characters be Catholic, hence Thomas being Catholic. And besides I love some of the prayers the Catholics have!!
Anyway, enough of that mumbo jumbo crap, I hope you like! And please review!!!
* * *
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
It had been over a decade since she recited those words, but they ran through Thomas' head unbidden.
She wasn't exactly sure why she had found her way to this cathedral. Something was calling her there.
It was old, and the dust from the fallen buildings outside had made its way into a blanket on the pews. Thomas forced herself to look up at the crucifix, but something below it caught her eye first.
Batman.
He was kneeling on the steps with his head down. His cape surrounded him like a shroud. Thomas bit her lip. Something about the scene before her pulled at her heart. It hurt.
This wasn't a hopeful man looking to a God. No, this was an angry man looking for a God. A God that he didn't even believe existed.
"When did you lose your faith?" Her voice echoed through the cathedral up to the belfry.
In all his years behind the cowl, he could still count the times he had been startled on one hand. But tonight he should have known better. He dropped his defenses and the sudden voice shook him. He remained unmoved though, not showing his surprise.
She had caught him off guard and he couldn't think of anything to say, so he told her the truth. "I was eight years old."
He could feel her sigh deep within his bones. "So young," she spoke quietly.
He cringed. He didn't want her pity, didn't deserve it. He lowered his eyes to the ground. "When did you lose yours?"
"The day before you found me. I was lying in the dark. I couldn't even feel the pain anymore. Simply forgotten." There was a pause, and behind his closed eyes the Batman could see her. It was an image that he could never forget. So young, he thought. Then she continued, flipping the words as if they meant nothing. "That's when I knew there was no God."
The silence hung ominously. Thomas' eyes found their way up to the crucifix.
"I haven't forgiven you."
Batman turned around slowly. Agent Thomas watched the muscles in his jaw contract. He was fighting with himself for something to say. When his words finally came they were riddled with guilt and anger. "And I haven't forgiven myself."
As you shouldn't, Thomas thought bitterly. "By the way," she could hear her voice getting cocky, "your partner-Nightwing, I think is what you're calling him now-he has some of my things, and I would like them back."
"Agent Thomas?!"
Thomas jumped at the sudden yell of her name. She turned to the back of the sanctuary. Within seconds following the voice, a man wearing a suit, that looked as if it had seen better days, rounded the corner.
"Jesus, Thomas. I've been looking all over this city for you." The man ran his fingers through the dark blonde mop on his head. He raised his eyebrows waiting for an explanation from his partner.
Thomas hit herself in the head. "I forgot about the airport. Hicks, I'm sorry."
"That's alright, I can find myself a ride. But I was more worried about you. I couldn't get through to your cell and you haven't been back to the hotel. If something happened to you, I'd never forgive myself."
Forgiveness.
Thomas whipped her head around. The Batman was gone.
"Thomas, are you alright?" Hicks asked craning his neck to follow Thomas' line of sight.
She shook her head. "I'm fine."
"Good," he said, sounding like he didn't believe it. "Because if you're up to it. I've got a lead."
Thomas turned, happy for the distraction. "What did you get?"
Agent Hicks was suddenly down to business. "Well, there were four explosions at the same time this morning. All using binary liquids stolen from Star Labs in Metropolis. Gotta love those guy's imaginations. Anyway, the weird thing was, each explosion used about twenty pounds of this stuff, except for the fourth one. The GC Bomb Squad only found traces of about two pounds."
"Where did that one go off?"
Hicks smiled. "Arkham Asylum."