Two months into her new job and Maxine was getting a real feel for it. The job itself was well within her abilities. Compared to what she left behind this work was child's play.
It had been more of an adjustment, leaving the familiar haven and routine she had had in Gotham, than she had planned on. Major culture shock. This city was only a quarter of the size of Gotham and the people here were so... friendly. She had been subjected to more niceness in the last few weeks than she had gotten in living in Gotham her entire life. It was not easy to return the kindness' without a major effort on her part. The ingrained wariness she had needed to live in Gotham was difficult to set aside and made her appear aloof to people here. Learning to share oneself with others was hard to do.
The worst part of her new life was the nights. She did not know what to do with herself when she headed home from work as the sun began it's trek downwards in the western sky. Without conscious thought her body began it's usual adjustment to steel itself against another session as Batman's backup. Through years of reacting it had learned to prepare itself for the onslaught of tension and excitement and mental stimulation required to keep Batman a step or two ahead of any opposition he might encounter.
Maybe that was not the worst part now that she thought about it. Maybe that was not the reason she felt an ache twist inside when she thought about what she left behind. Who was she trying to kid? Why was it so hard to admit that she missed them? Both of them. Them-- Terry and Bruce and..... Terry.
Funny how much she let herself think of him now that there was a physical distance between them. No more having to hide her real feelings. He was not the only one who had gotten good at keeping up a front.
It had not been easy keeping him at arm's length when she wanted to explore their relationship as much as he did. Especially hard after he gave up Dana because he was so vulnerable then.
It did not take him long to fill the empty space though. As Bruce's up and coming associate at WayneTech there were plenty of woman who were willing to occupy the little time he had between his duties. Bruce had encouraged the playboy image for Terry, explaining the public wanted to fit him into a mold and letting them do so would help cover the alter-ego activities. Terry bulked at the image at first, but after a little practice found the acting was an amusing pastime. And she had to admit that she found it amusing herself, having to stifle many a laugh when she watched him experimenting with some outrageous behavior at the various business functions.
That was all in the past now. She had a new life here, complete with new friends and even a romantic interest. Travis Whitfield, a handsome, gentle hunk of a man had found his way into her life the second day she had moved to Amurst. For the first time in a long time she let herself relax and find happiness in exploring a new relationship.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Batman stood in the pre-morning darkness on the parapet of the tallest building on the west side of the city. Stretching tired muscles, he gazed out over the shadowed manmade landscape, absorbing and appreciating its labyrinthine architecture. His wide yawn was interrupted suddenly by his own expression of astonishment. A voice resounded worridly in his ears.
"What is it?"
"You gotta see this. It's unbelievable." Terry exclaimed in quiet awe and switched on the remote viewer in his cowl that would be transmitted back to Bruce in the distant cave. The scene unfolding before them both, left them mesmerized in simple wonder. It was dawn spreading over the breadth of Gotham. The play of gradually increasing sunlight through and across the low set of thick clouds and uneven edge of the city's skyline was awash with indescribable colors. Minutes passed in silence before Bruce remarked solemnly.
"In all my years I've never seen two alike."
"Now that's a mind-boggling revelation." Terry's low voice answered.
"Is it?"
"Think about it. Three hundred sixty-five days times- what- how old are you now anyway? A hundred years? That's a lot of sunrises." He baited his mentor. Bruce took it, not letting the grin on his face show in his voice.
"Is that how you show respect for your elders? By making fun of their age?"
"Not usually. I'd rather challenge their cautious approach to everything. I don't have the patience for it."
"Well at least you're honest even if you aren't very nice." He held in a sigh of relief at the sound of Terry's brief chuckle. The first light-hearted exchange they had had since Max left almost eight weeks ago.
The young man had grown increasingly quiet as the weeks progressed and thrown himself even more single-mindedly into Batman's work (if that were possible). If it were not necessary that Terry keep up at least a pretense of his job as Bruce Wayne's apprentice at WayneTech, Bruce figured the youth would not even bother taking the costume off at all.
Any veiled suggestion from Bruce that Terry might like to make a visit to Maxine was met by a mute look of disapproval. A direct command that he at least call her was answered by some sharp retort about the sense of that since he was the reason she had left in the first place.
There was a serious undertone to Terry's next hushed words. "Something is happening here Bruce. It's like.... I don't know.... like a different pulse has entered the city. Something that doesn't belong. It's so vague. I can't seem to make sense of it, but it's too strong to just.. let it go."
"Good." Bruce's deep voice swelled with quiet approval. "Very good."
Terry blinked in surprise at the sound of praise and affirmation in his mentor's voice. A rare occurrence. His voice just above audible Terry asked. "Do you know what it is?"
"No. But it is there."
Terry bit back an impulse to speak his next thoughts. 'How long have you known Bruce? How much do you know that you aren't telling me because you're waiting for me to find out on my own? When does the training end and the partnership begin? Because that's probably the closest I'll ever get to being Batman. A partner instead of his fully trained apprentice who he feels is good enough to do justice to the title on his own. Tell me what you know Bruce. I don't like the feeling going down in this city. Let's do something about it now instead of letting it build to a dangerous level. Don't use this as another lesson for me. I'm tired of lessons.' Sound of Bruce's gruff voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"You all right?'
"Sure. Why you asking?"
"Because I've been trying to talk to you for the last minute and you haven't responded."
"Sorry. What were you saying?"
"You remember we have a board meeting this morning at ten?" He heard Terry's muffled noise of dislike and frowned. "Should I make an excuse for your absence?"
"No. I'll be there." Terry answered, sounding like he was being asked to stand before a firing squad.
"Make sure you don't snore this time if you nod off."
"You're never going to let me forget that are you?"
"That kind of image does not convey confidence to the other members. And we need their total confidence if we expect them to do their best work. And we need their best to-- "
"-- to keep the company viable and ready to change for whatever the future holds." Terry finished the memorized oratory verbatim with a resigned sigh. "I'm on my way."
It had been more of an adjustment, leaving the familiar haven and routine she had had in Gotham, than she had planned on. Major culture shock. This city was only a quarter of the size of Gotham and the people here were so... friendly. She had been subjected to more niceness in the last few weeks than she had gotten in living in Gotham her entire life. It was not easy to return the kindness' without a major effort on her part. The ingrained wariness she had needed to live in Gotham was difficult to set aside and made her appear aloof to people here. Learning to share oneself with others was hard to do.
The worst part of her new life was the nights. She did not know what to do with herself when she headed home from work as the sun began it's trek downwards in the western sky. Without conscious thought her body began it's usual adjustment to steel itself against another session as Batman's backup. Through years of reacting it had learned to prepare itself for the onslaught of tension and excitement and mental stimulation required to keep Batman a step or two ahead of any opposition he might encounter.
Maybe that was not the worst part now that she thought about it. Maybe that was not the reason she felt an ache twist inside when she thought about what she left behind. Who was she trying to kid? Why was it so hard to admit that she missed them? Both of them. Them-- Terry and Bruce and..... Terry.
Funny how much she let herself think of him now that there was a physical distance between them. No more having to hide her real feelings. He was not the only one who had gotten good at keeping up a front.
It had not been easy keeping him at arm's length when she wanted to explore their relationship as much as he did. Especially hard after he gave up Dana because he was so vulnerable then.
It did not take him long to fill the empty space though. As Bruce's up and coming associate at WayneTech there were plenty of woman who were willing to occupy the little time he had between his duties. Bruce had encouraged the playboy image for Terry, explaining the public wanted to fit him into a mold and letting them do so would help cover the alter-ego activities. Terry bulked at the image at first, but after a little practice found the acting was an amusing pastime. And she had to admit that she found it amusing herself, having to stifle many a laugh when she watched him experimenting with some outrageous behavior at the various business functions.
That was all in the past now. She had a new life here, complete with new friends and even a romantic interest. Travis Whitfield, a handsome, gentle hunk of a man had found his way into her life the second day she had moved to Amurst. For the first time in a long time she let herself relax and find happiness in exploring a new relationship.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Batman stood in the pre-morning darkness on the parapet of the tallest building on the west side of the city. Stretching tired muscles, he gazed out over the shadowed manmade landscape, absorbing and appreciating its labyrinthine architecture. His wide yawn was interrupted suddenly by his own expression of astonishment. A voice resounded worridly in his ears.
"What is it?"
"You gotta see this. It's unbelievable." Terry exclaimed in quiet awe and switched on the remote viewer in his cowl that would be transmitted back to Bruce in the distant cave. The scene unfolding before them both, left them mesmerized in simple wonder. It was dawn spreading over the breadth of Gotham. The play of gradually increasing sunlight through and across the low set of thick clouds and uneven edge of the city's skyline was awash with indescribable colors. Minutes passed in silence before Bruce remarked solemnly.
"In all my years I've never seen two alike."
"Now that's a mind-boggling revelation." Terry's low voice answered.
"Is it?"
"Think about it. Three hundred sixty-five days times- what- how old are you now anyway? A hundred years? That's a lot of sunrises." He baited his mentor. Bruce took it, not letting the grin on his face show in his voice.
"Is that how you show respect for your elders? By making fun of their age?"
"Not usually. I'd rather challenge their cautious approach to everything. I don't have the patience for it."
"Well at least you're honest even if you aren't very nice." He held in a sigh of relief at the sound of Terry's brief chuckle. The first light-hearted exchange they had had since Max left almost eight weeks ago.
The young man had grown increasingly quiet as the weeks progressed and thrown himself even more single-mindedly into Batman's work (if that were possible). If it were not necessary that Terry keep up at least a pretense of his job as Bruce Wayne's apprentice at WayneTech, Bruce figured the youth would not even bother taking the costume off at all.
Any veiled suggestion from Bruce that Terry might like to make a visit to Maxine was met by a mute look of disapproval. A direct command that he at least call her was answered by some sharp retort about the sense of that since he was the reason she had left in the first place.
There was a serious undertone to Terry's next hushed words. "Something is happening here Bruce. It's like.... I don't know.... like a different pulse has entered the city. Something that doesn't belong. It's so vague. I can't seem to make sense of it, but it's too strong to just.. let it go."
"Good." Bruce's deep voice swelled with quiet approval. "Very good."
Terry blinked in surprise at the sound of praise and affirmation in his mentor's voice. A rare occurrence. His voice just above audible Terry asked. "Do you know what it is?"
"No. But it is there."
Terry bit back an impulse to speak his next thoughts. 'How long have you known Bruce? How much do you know that you aren't telling me because you're waiting for me to find out on my own? When does the training end and the partnership begin? Because that's probably the closest I'll ever get to being Batman. A partner instead of his fully trained apprentice who he feels is good enough to do justice to the title on his own. Tell me what you know Bruce. I don't like the feeling going down in this city. Let's do something about it now instead of letting it build to a dangerous level. Don't use this as another lesson for me. I'm tired of lessons.' Sound of Bruce's gruff voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"You all right?'
"Sure. Why you asking?"
"Because I've been trying to talk to you for the last minute and you haven't responded."
"Sorry. What were you saying?"
"You remember we have a board meeting this morning at ten?" He heard Terry's muffled noise of dislike and frowned. "Should I make an excuse for your absence?"
"No. I'll be there." Terry answered, sounding like he was being asked to stand before a firing squad.
"Make sure you don't snore this time if you nod off."
"You're never going to let me forget that are you?"
"That kind of image does not convey confidence to the other members. And we need their total confidence if we expect them to do their best work. And we need their best to-- "
"-- to keep the company viable and ready to change for whatever the future holds." Terry finished the memorized oratory verbatim with a resigned sigh. "I'm on my way."