NIGHT IS AS BRIGHT AS DAY

Terry stands upon the Gotham city bridge, glancing around the streets as he ponders to himself.

"Bruce use to glide around these streets and skies like a giant bat. Instilling fear into everyone who saw him. The mere mention of his name would shoot shivers down criminals spines."

Looking upon his hands he clenches his fists and punches the ground with his right fist.

"And me... People mention Batman now... They automatically just think that it's a younger, untested replacement. A shadow of what Batman really use to be. A poor man's copy. A replica. Even worse than a rip off."

He stands up and spreads his wings, having the desire to do what Bruce use to do every night. Glide around the city and make himself known to the people. That he is out there. That he is always watching.

But to his own curiosity, he takes a moment to think. And calculate, why is he feeling this way? Why now of all times? He use to be alright with just wearing the suit and allowing himself to just do the job like...

He stops himself from finishing that thought. Because it's not right. He was going to think that Bruce use to do the job like that. But he's not Bruce. Not even close. No...

"I'm going to have to make some... changes."

At first Terry was going to allow his rocket boots to blast off and take him into the skies. But he remembers, the real Batman didn't have rocket boots. The real Batman relies on stealth. On darkness and shadows. Having faith in his own skills that he had mastered and honed throughout the years. Developing himself into some sort of creature of the shadows. A mere figure in the darkness. Something that if you would catch a glimpse of, you wouldn't be entirely sure whether or not what you had scene was actually real or not.

"If I want to be The Batman, and not Some sort of batman. Then I need to start acting like him. And quit pretending. I'll have to take this path that I have chosen. I'm going to have to finally go full in. Because this suit... This vision of me. This version of Batman... Just... isn't... Batman."

He takes off the mask and holds it before him. Glancing into the eyes of the mask. The eyes of this version of the dark protector.

"A teenage boy wearing a suit that an old man developed just because he couldn't do everything that was required of him. Bruce created this suit just because he was starting to slow down. He was letting the suit do most of the work. That's what he said. That's what he told me all those years ago."

The urge and desire to throw the mask away begins to flow over him. A strong hate for this suit begins to rise as his body tenses up. He grunts as his eyes squint a tiny bit glaring at the cowl.

"Not Batman... More like Bat-FAKE. Pretending. Toying around... Impostor."

Slowly he puts the mask back on as he walks to the edge, he takes position and dives into the air below his feet. Spreading his wings as he begins to glide.

All that he said, all his actions just now. He was running under the assumption that Bruce couldn't hear him just because he turned off the communications link. However, even now Terry is showing just how much of a none Batman he is.

All because Bruce has counter measures for anyone trying to cut him off from communications. From any link through the world. But one of most, the link the very suit he created.

Bruce looks upon the screen. Observing the feed coming in from the camera of the mask Terry is wearing.

Those words he spoke. All that he said, all that he did. Those actions.

They all show that Terry is starting to advance. He is starting to grow as Batman. And finally starting to see for the first time. A small glimpse into the mind and the world of Batman.

"At least he's starting to understand."

...

She sits next to a small fire of paper and cardboard. A few plastic bits and leaves gathered together to start a small fire. Her arms wrapped around her knees and, a small shiver runs down her body as she adjusts to the temperature.

"Stupid."

She whispers to herself while looking upon the fire.

"My life is so stupid. Everything. All of it."

Inque tosses a few sticks upon the fire bundle, feeding the only source of heat she currently has. Careful not to grow the fire too much. Not wanting it to cause too much smoke in the building. Careful as to not attract attention to the building.

She wonders to herself about the events that brought her here tonight. Thinking about everything.

"For once, the bat actually helped me. And yet... my own fortune has been turned against me. All because I wasn't careful. Or... is it that the times are changing again."

A noise comes from across the room. The sound of glass shattering.

Turning around quickly Inque forms into a puddle and glides across the room, taking no chances. One too many times the bat has caught her by surprise. One too many times he has created a problem for her in life. But no more. If he has come here now, of all nights. She's going to kill him. Maybe.

However, coming to the cause of the noise, she located the source of the problem. Ice. The cold has gotten to the point that it has broken one of the ceiling glass squares.

"You have got to be kidding me. Now I have to deal with more cold? Just perfect. I'm not going to be able to get any sleep."

Walking over back to the fire she sits before it. Covering herself with the rain coat.

"I seriously need a boyfriend. If I had one, I know for sure that I would be able to at least get a good knights sleep."

True as those words are. What kind of a man would let her slay even the night? Knowing full well that a bounty lies upon her head. Over $40,000 dollars just to bring her to justice. How could she ever trust anyone?

"I hate myself."

She scoots herself closer to the fire ever so slightly. Tossing the rest of the twigs and paper upon the fire and laying down resting her head. Glancing upon the dancing flames as she allows herself to lose herself in the growing exhaustion. Letting the place of dreams to take her.

"I want someone... Anyone... To just... I just know that I could be a good girlfriend."

Slowly she passes out.

Those words... spoken next to an open small fire.

Inque doesn't know it. But her wish. Her spoken inner thoughts. Someone will grant them.

...

Terry arrives in the cave. Jumping out of the Batman Beyond vehicle. Silent and focus.

"You're early." Speaks Bruce.

"It's a quiet night." Responds Terry. Not even bothering to look at his mentor. But rather making his way to the costume cases. In particular, the original suit.

Terry knows that Bruce was able to hear every single last word he spoke upon the bridge. He also knows that Bruce is well aware of what he wants. What he feels he is ready for.

"The old suits have a bit more weight to them. No tech to help with movements or sonar. But they worked with the time and age of what they are meant for."

Terry closes his eyes and smiles at those words. Already knowing that Bruce is just trying to distract him.

"They never really helped with ballistics either. Bullet holes and all that."

Terry turns and glances at Bruce face front. Taking a few steps closer to him. His anger and frustration showing more than anything.

"I'm done with it."

Terry locks his eyes to Bruces eyes. Knowing full well that what he says, What he just said. Is fully understood by his teacher. His mentor.

"This thing I'm wearing. This skin. This... thing."

At one point in his life, wearing the suit. It was something that made him feel honor. A symbolic version of himself devoted to learning. Becoming a vigilantly. But now...

Now it just feels like a suit that belongs to someone else. Like he's cheating himself from becoming something more.

Becoming a symbol of darkness. A silent enforcer of justice. Becoming incorruptible, becoming everlasting. A dark knight.