BATMAN BEYOND

LOVE ANOTHER NIGHT

Spellbinder and Ghoul arrive at the Wayne D.N.A. science labs district, being prepared to do the near impossible. The jokers had been instructed to gather some genetic samples from the remains of the locked away corpses from the original Gotham villains.

And in this case, they are to obtain a sample from a horrible creature.

"So you want to do this quiet and quick, or the direct approach? I'm good with either way." Spellbinder says this with a calm and relaxed voice. Knowing that he will be rewarded very generously for his assistance.

"No way man, This is a Wayne building. The security in this place is equal to a military base. The best option we got right now is to hit the air vents and sneak in as best we can."

The tone of Ghoul's voice trembles a bit as he manages these two sentences. He doesn't know if he will even be able to get out alive once they enter. But to him, running away isn't an option. His former gang members had castrated him from the group after his previous failure. And two members of the gang ended up getting injured.

The Dee Dee Twins suffered bad shrapnel wounds from an exploding oil drum from a failed attempt of extorting privet investment files from an oil refinery. They had intended to blackmail the C.E.O. But from one of Ghoul's bombs being poorly thrown at the security guards, it instead bounced off the doorframe and rolled towards a gas oil drum, erupting it and burning the entire building to the ground in one night.

All the while, the shrapnel penetrated the twin girls flesh, wounding them all throughout their bodies. As well as having them suffer 3rd degree burns.

Once they arrived back at base, and the twins being air lifted to the nearest hospital by the medics. The gang turned on Ghoul and beat him within an inch of his life. Then throwing him out of the hideout, with only one message that was given to him.

"If you ever dare to show your face here again, you'll never have a face again."

That memory from three months ago, still rings in his mind as if it just happen last night. Almost causing two girls to die. And caused the gas prices in Gotham to go sky high. If this had been within the era when cars still used gas to get around, then people would have wanted to hang him in the middle of the city. However... even if no one knows who he is, he knows that because of his actions... innocent people did die that night, trying to put out the fire.

"I'll go in alone first. You can maybe cause a distraction. After all, the gang told me to do this, and I just asked you to help me out. They said that you would be rewarded with something very valuable that might come in handy for your line of work."

Spellbinder smiles under his mask while listening to Ghoul. And in that moment, gets an idea.

"Maybe I can help you out in your mission right now."

He reaches out his hand towards Ghouls face, and within a flash of light, suddenly everything changes for the young man. No longer is he in a parking lot across the street from Wayne D.N.A. Science labs. Instead... his vision changes to the picture of him in a jungle, ready to head into the ruins of a Mayan building. Indiana Jones style.

"Now go young Ghoul, an adventure is waiting for you."

Meanwhile

Terry is looking at Inque with a bit of a perplexed look on his face. Confused as to why she would speak those words in such protest. But through his training, he knows that giving a long period of silence, only will add to his mother forming more questions than he would like to make up answers to. So he knows that he must form a basis of a story, a plan of attack.

"Mom, I know you don't really approve of this woman and really don't like the idea of me dating someone older than myself. But Inque and I have a... close relationship, and understanding between each other. I was going to introduce you to her eventually, but not like this. Really this wasn't my first or last option. Things just sort of... got out of hand."

He changes his glance toward Inque and states the obvious, with words that have two meanings. A meaning for his mother and a completely different meaning for Inque.

"This was something out of my control."

Mary McGinnis looks at his son, and then looks at Inque. And can see that they do share some sort of unspoken connection. A understanding. But just exactly what it is, she can't place her finger on it. But the fact that he has fought her for many years, and stopped her from robbing places on many occasions, is something that would never come to mind.

"You two seem close. How long have you been going out?"

Inque gives a sly smile and looks at Mary, giving an answer with a soft and calm voice while resting her elbow on the side of the couch and placing her chin upon her palm.

"We have been going at it for a couple of years actually. I think Terry might have even been 19 at the time. Isn't that right my darling Terry?"

Mary glances at her son with a stern look in her eyes.

"Is this true Terry? You starting going (at it) with this woman while still dating your girlfriend Dana?"

Crap. Shit... he thinks to himself. Just what kind of corner is Inque trying to put him in? Just what is she trying to do here? He's too young to have a mental break down! But regardless... Dana did tell him, that if he would hang up the phone... that if he wouldn't explain things to her. That the two of them would be through. That she would drop him like a bad habit. That they will no longer be a couple.

So realistically... he can take that fact to his advantage. Really... how bad is it going to be if he can just play along with Inque's little game right now? If it will help him to get off the hook from his mothers suspicions, than why not play along? Maybe Inque is trying to help him out in her own way at this point in time. If she was going to try to do something to hurt him and his family, she would have already done it.

Honestly, without the suit, the bat suit, he's no match for Inque. If she honestly wanted to, she could kill him and his family right here and now. But looking at her, she's just sitting there, relaxed and just looking at him. At his eyes, giving a slight smile. And just then, a little wink and even licks her upper lip in a sexual suggestive provocation. Causing him to raise his right eyebrow.

He collects himself, closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Looks at his mother, and gives the best answer he can come up with on the spot. Feeling like he has ten spotlights upon him.

"Yeah, I was seeing her while dating Dana. But nothing happened between us. Not at the time. We wanted to keep things quiet between us since she's a well known criminal. I liked and still like the rush of dating a bad girl. But not too long ago, Dana dumped me, so I started to see Inque exclusively. Things are a little serious between us and Inque promised to turn a new leaf. Have a clean and as normal life as she possibly could. She told me that I'm good for her and when she's around me, she wants to be a good girl. She even said that she wants to make home cooked meals for my lunch breaks."

He looks at Inque and smirks, sending her a signal in a suggestive manner, letting her know that, (you want to play games? Alright, let's play some games. Beat that line.)

Inque's eyes widen in shock at what he just said, yeah she does actually know how to cook, and in fact can be a pretty good housekeeping wife and mother. But for such a young man to play with her like this, it's a little out of the blue.

Mary turns and looks at Inque, her eyes narrow in on her, both anger and judgment are shooting at Inque.

"Is this true Inque? Did you in fact say those words to my son?"

Inque smiles and laughs a little softly. Looking down shaking her head, accepting the fact that he's playing with her right now. But she's going to raise the bar just a little bit.

"Yeah, I did say those things. But only after he told me that he wants to marry me and start a family."

Terry stops breathing and gulps in shock of what she just spoke. He honestly can't beat that. His mind goes blank and Mary looks upon him in shock.

"You... did you really tell her that?"

Well... shit...

"Yeah... I... I might have said that in passing."

Just then, Inque interjects her other statement.

"Terry even took me to his work a few times. I worked alongside him and we even played a little bit while he was on the clock. Physically."

Mary folds her arms and shakes her head.

"I don't need to hear anymore. Just don't have sex inside the house. You two can sleep in Terry's room. But if you are going to fool around, just keep it quiet. I... need to process this."

She looks at Inque and states a welcoming sentence.

"If you are as good a cook as Terry says you are. Maybe I can help you prepare a meal in the morning. I can go shopping for the ingredients you need. I want to see how good a cook you are."

Inque smiles and nods. And then Mary slowly walks away with her head down and arms folded. Thinking about what has just been placed upon her doorstep.

Her son is dating a criminal. And she's right here in her house. They have had intimate moments... and want to start a life together. At least that's what it sounds like.

But the fact is... this was all a game between Terry and Inque. And when Mary leaves, He marches to Inque and leans in, frustrated and in rage.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you say those things?"

Inque smiles and takes this chance, moving in and kissing Terry passionately, sliding her tongue into his mouth and tasting him. Closing her eyes and grasping the back of his head with her left hand. And gently pulling him in with her right arm onto the couch. Placing his body atop herself. Entangling him into a lovers grasp.

The words they spoke might have been a game. But those words are suggestive, and when implemented, can become seeds of truth. The truth buried deep inside all humans.