Disclaimer: I do not own any DC Characters including Batman, Superman or anyone else. They all belong to their respected authors and DC Comics. As for Haley Brown, He's my original character.

Hoody Boy: Elseworld Stories
The Adventures of Haley Brown
Arc One, Part One: Proposal

Long Island, New York, 9:00PM

The low din of conversation, forks and knives and glasses clicking together filled the dim room. James and Amy sat opposite each other looking into each other's eyes.

"You know... in all the months you and me have been together, I never thought you'd actually break down and get a job." Amy said looking at him.

James smiled as he looked at her, "Well it's in your company."

"So? You've drifted around for 500 years and yet now when you see me you settle down. You haven't picked up a gun or went to the shooting range in so long I'm beginning to think you're actually just an average joe." Amy said taking a sip of her wine.

"Well, between you getting shot, Haley getting killed and all that madness, I can't quite say I liked the life anymore. Seeing my friends and the person I love getting hurt isn't exactly what I had in mind." James reminded.

"James, I've been talking with Alice." Amy began, "Lately she's been more and more worried of Haley. He wants to be normal which is good in my opinion but you and me both know for a fact that Haley is not normal. he can blend but he'll never be able to perfect, he'll always and forever be Haley Brown, no matter how much he dilutes it."

James nodded, Amy continued, "I think the two of them, Alice and Haley really want the opposite of the other. Alice wants Haley to be that super hero he was and Haley wishes Alice was still normal. I don't doubt either of the two regret what happened to the other one but I'm worried. I know Haley wants to be normal but I just don't know."

"Ames..." James said looking at her, "Stay out of this fight. Those two're either going to work it out or split up. I hate to see them sad and angry but there's truly nothing we can do."

"It's just... I'm scarred that'll happen to us. I don't want to be alone anymore. I wanna be with you for as long as I can, forever if possible."

"Careful with Forever, it's a long long time." James remarked.

Metropolis, 4:30 PM

Haley pressed the button for the 21 first floor and his apartment. Half way he stopped the elevator and hunkered down into the corner. He scratched his head and let out a sigh.

"You're suspended till you get your head right Brown!" Perry White shouted.

"I understand Mr. White. I'm sorry to be causing you such a problem." Haley answered and walked out of the Office.

"LOIS! You spelled mobility wrong, there's no E!" White shouted.

Haley sat in the elevator and looked at the wall. Memories of the early years burned etched themselves across the gray steel. Bullets whizzing paste, boxes being blown apart. Screams. Men being cut down in a rain of bullets. Haley saw himself holding and M-60 letting it rip and roar. Streams of bullets flying out of the chamber like a waterfall. The image distorted and changed. The rush of the wind as he and the girl of dreams lunged off a balcony as it exploded from a grenade.

"Never again..." He muttered.

"Shut up Haley."

"NO! It's over! I'm just Haley Brown! Nothing more!"

"Shut up! You're not just Haley Brown! You're Hoody Boy! You're the powerhouse. A brick house among twigs. YOU!"

"NO!"

The voice was silent. Haley looked up, he was out of breath and his throat hurt. His mind wasn't doing to well either. Ever since he'd quit, part of him wanted the thrill but the logic said no. He didn't want to be a monster again. A monster kills people. Haley pressed the button and straightened himself up. The elevator doors opened up and he stumbled out. he knocked on the door. Alice opened it up and took a good look at him. She gasped.

"Jesus."

Haley hugged her and lost his footing. Alice held up him up and slowly lowered to him his knees. He put his back to the corner and covered his face with hands. He sobbed.

"I don't want to be a monster..." Haley cried.

Alice knelt down beside him and hugged him close, "You're not a monster Haley."

"I am! I killed people! I'm a god damn monster..." Haley said through his sobs.

"Shhh." Alice said rocking him back and forth.

Haley grabbed her and buried his face on her shoulder, "Please tell me what I am Alice. I've lost myself, I don't know what to think anymore."

Alice patted him on the back, "Do what you think is right. You're my Hero if that means anything. You make my day every time I see you. I miss you being happy. You haven't been happy since you retired."

"I just don't want to be a monster. If I do it again, I'm a monster again."

"As long as you don't let it consume you Haley, you will never be a monster." Alice said holding him.

"Alice..."

Alice hugged him, she was feeling the tears rolling down her cheeks now. She'd never wanted to pressure Haley into doing anything but she broke that. She felt horrible that Haley couldn't have a normal life. She'd had one, but she'd left it all behind and she'd accepted it. Haley had accepted this too, till he killed his own mother. She couldn't bear to think how much that had to hurt, it must've killed him.

"You're not a monster Haley. You were and still are a Hero." Alice said mentally, "You're Superman in my world."

Long Island, New York, 9:30 PM

"Amy, I never wanted to do this again but I think you are the only person I'd love to spend my life with." James said looking down, Amy looked over the table.

"Will you Marry me?" James asked.

Amy clammed up, her whole life she'd been the nerdy little girl that sat in the front of the class, turned her work in early all through high school. Her parents loathed her ingenuity, thinking she should marry riches. Amy figured she'd marry someone who she could get along with, not a man who'd lived and seen things she'd read history books. She wasn't prepared for this moment.

"Yes."

Wow, so simple, so easy. Life threw a curve ball, and she'd just sent it out of the park. She was going to marry a immortal.

"HEY!" James and Amy looked up from their table.

"Alright! I know Amy Strauss is here! Unless this slut steps forward I'll kill these people!" A Man yelled.

He was carrying a Mac-10. James made every single calculation that was required. The guy had about as much common sense as a bag of hammers.

"I'm Amy Strauss." Amy said standing up, James stood up with her.

"Who the hell are you!" He said pointing the Mac-10 at James.

"I'm Amy's Fiance."

"Ex." He remarked and fired the Mac-10.

The bullet perforated James and blew him over like a strong gust of wind. The diners screamed but Amy stood stark still. If she had to, she could kill him with a knife, but she'd guess James was packing, and James had already begun to move.

"Alright, get over here you bitch or I'll cap someone." He commanded.

Amy grabbed a knife and hid the blade behind her forearm. James was already up, his guns out and by the look of him, he wanted more then to just beat this hooligan to pulp, he wanted a full order. Stupid fool. She walked towards him stepping over the rich and famous of New York.

James was making his way through the tables, staying out of his line of sight. His hand cannons were out, cocked and loaded. He wasn't happy. He goes to propose to Amy and this jag off wants to screw it all up. Not tonight.

"Alright buddy, just calm down." Amy said.

She knew the score, keep his senses on her. James would sneak up behind and put his brains on the wall. It worked like clockwork. He grabbed Amy by her snow white hair and turned around to meet James face to face. He screamed letting her and the Mac-10 go. James shoved him back and pointed the gun at him.

"HOLY SH-!" He got that much out before James pulled the trigger and the man fell limp.

James lowered the gun and grabbed Amy's hand and brought her close. She shoved her mouth into his and they locked in an eternal embrace that only lovers have.

Metropolis, 11:30 PM

"Yes sir." The man said and set the phone down.

Haley Brown was weak and he could be taken easily. The girl however would pose a problem but she seemed rather insignificant. The man still wondered though with a hint of doubt in his mind if this sniveling person really was the kid who almost killed Shrike, who took down Slade, Beat Batman, fought and killed Brown Recluse. Could he truly be so dangerous. The man laughed.

"Haley Brown..."

Author's Note: Tad Short but all the sappy moments kinda put me out of the mood. Ah well! We all know conflict is on the horizon. Cheers to Robster72 for the review!