Hey there MistFits! (that's what I'm calling my readers/fans. i know, i have too much time on my hands lol)
Part 3 to this short fic. I'm hoping to wrap this ishness up in part 4 so here's to hoping. A little more of a background description of Max's family i guess. Please forgive any potential typos. Characters may be OOC and this plot may not coincide with the original Batman Beyond Animated Series storyline.
LOL Guest reviewer: Shhh! Don't spill the beans! :D (also, maybe a little of both? I have not the slightest clue what im doing with this craziness LOL You should see me smacking my head against the keyboard over here trying to figure out this ish *giggle*)
And also: YAY for a little Ace! I love that Great Dane! I need to make a fic for him and Max. Ace rocks. "Good bad dog". (he might be a little ooc too.)
Part III
When She Calls
Batman flew over the afternoon Gotham autumn sky with a faint grin. No matter how screwed up this city was, from up here it was always a beautiful sight – and made him realize how badly it needed his protection; and how much he wanted to do so. Whenever he'd faintly consider giving up, a ride through the skies always put things into perspective for the young vigilante. Over the time passed being Batman had become more than just avenging his father…it had become preserving life. "Good work," came Bruce's voice over the radio.
Batman smirked. How rare it was to hear a word of praise from the retired hero! So rare, that McGinnis tended to roll with it comically. "What's that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of my total badassery."
Teenagers. "You have a way of ruining a perfectly good compliment, McGinnis."
Batman chuckled, changing direction of the car to bring it back in since the streets had fallen momentarily quiet, much to the lad's joy. "Sorry." He snorted – not really. "Which reminds me: still need a ride to dinner with the gang?" Bruce, Barbara, and Dick had been getting together over the past couple days. Last night when Terry came in from delivering a night of justice (he chuckled – that sounded like a Superman line), he was pleasantly surprised to find the three companions down in the Bat Cave, wandering and gazing at the "trophies"; reminiscing on old times. There was nothing wrong with that of course, but for once it made Terry feel out of place – like he had encroached on something private. McGinnis felt awkward in their presence, probably always would. These were the Originals, and no matter how much Terry tooted his own horn he was pretty sure and content with the fact that he would never measure up to them.
He could practically hear Bruce raise a wrinkled brow. "Got something more important to do?" the old man inquired in a tone that begged the boy to be insolent enough to consider what he was getting paid for as "meddlesome".
Batman rolled his head with exasperation. "Not like that," the vigilante corrected. He swore Bruce enjoyed it when they butted heads. "It's just…something's up with Max."
Now that was different. Bruce never knew the girl to be troubled enough (or at least allow herself to appear as such) to actually gain Terry's concern. She was typically a fairly "kept" person in the emotional and personal departments. Wayne had to admit he admired that. "Oh?" pried the old man with some interest.
"Yeah. Her dad's in town."
Bruce looked at a tray with some medicine resting on it and frowned like a child who hated eating their vegetables. Stubborn old crook. "She's nervous about seeing him?"
Now it was Batman's turn to raise a brow. Was spending time with Dick and Barbara actually making the grouchy senior citizen civil? If the former Batfamily members could be here to see this right now! "Noooot exactly. They aren't on the best of terms. Her dad is," Terry explains, "kind of a prick; whenever she does talk to him, or the RARE chance she sees him, she goes into this – I don't know – depression or something." The hero's grip intensified on the throttle with irritation. "I don't like the way he makes her feel."
Bruce looked away from the medicine to the computer screen curiously. "Like an abandoned child," the former Dark Knight knowingly concluded. It was no mystery that most children of divorce often felt abandoned or unloved usually by one of the parents in particular.
But McGinnis picked up on what Wayne was judging and immediately grew defensive. "Like trash," Batman corrected with a growl back in response, pushing the throttle a little harder than necessary. His words plainly revealed Max wasn't just looking to place blame on her father, but rather something was actually wrong and her situation was not an average statistic…and for Bruce not to think of it (or more importantly, HER) as one.
The Wayne heir sat on the other end, listening to Terry's protective tone concerning the emotional wellbeing of his close friend. Listened – and noticed something. The role of Batman protected and preserved the life of all – good or bad – sometimes at his own expense. But there would always be those whose safety was a much higher priority to the hero. Bruce Wayne knew the nature of Max's meaning to Terry more than Terry did himself. From the friendship, to the trust of Batman, the patch jobs on McGinnis' bruised and battered body, the late night visits…Wayne could see it all clearly – yet knew that such feelings could be dangerous in more than one way for both parties involved. This was typically why the old man was against the youthful protégé delving too deep into his relationships – knowing they would either lead to distraction…or heartbreak. Even still, Bruce loved to hear McGinnis squirm. "Just ask her to marry you, then it wouldn't matter what her father does." The sound of the car stalling reached the old man's ears and he cracked a devious smirk.
"DAMNIT BRUCE! BE SERIOUS!"
"I am being serious. I'm pretty sure she's in love with you," Wayne cynically teased with a raise of the brow in his twisted sense of humor. "And you're obviously head over heels for her but too scared to say anything about it. It's the perfect scenario given the circumstances."
"She's not in love-! I'm not scared-! Ugh! You're a real piece of work, you know that?" snapped a flushing red McGinnis. "I would never marry Max for something so stupid!"
Bruce thoroughly enjoyed hearing the panic in McGinnis's voice and almost felt a chuckle building in his chest; how far he could push the teen was the game here – but the results of that game could only be found by maintaining a serious tone. "So saving her from an abusive relationship with her father is, and I'm quoting you here, 'stupid'?"
The engines revved aggressively louder. "Of course NOT!"
"Then what's the problem? People do it all the time."
"NOT to Max. I'll never let anyone do that shit to Max," the teen declared angrily through gritted teeth. "There are other ways to free her from her asshole dad other than marriage, Wayne. You know: like legally or some shiz! How old school are you? Besides, Max deserves someone who can give her EVERYTHING she wants – not just a name. If I ever married Max it would be for MORE than just-." Terry faltered. If he ever married Max? Since when had he even considered that she'd be willing to marry someone like him? Terry's eyes widened. She? Consider HIM? Shouldn't he have been asking that question the other way around? Sure, he loved Max…as a best friend – how could anyone NOT love Max? She was funny, and witty, and a total brain, and compassionate, and beautiful-.
Bruce linked his fingers together in thought before offering an immediate subject change to confuse the boy and mess with his head just for the hell of it. "Tell you what: I don't need you to drive me. We've got a way. But I'm not sure how late I'll be, so take Ace with you."
Terry squeaked. "ACE?"
Bruce gave a look, typing into the computer system before looking down at the dog lying comfortably at his feet. "Thought you two were on good terms since Cuvier?" The sound of the back doorway opening and jets fills the cave as Bruce hangs up the line, turning the chair to the revamped black Batmobile while it glides inside the cave and hovers over the landing pad before smoothly setting down. The kid handled that thing pretty damn good, Bruce had to give him that…which meant the better he was able to control it, the more reckless Terry McGinnis drove.
The mobile's top pulled back and Batman stood to his feet. "We are," the young replacement answers once he jumped out the cockpit and dusted off his hands; he pulled off the cowl and eyed the four legged beast before tussling his black hair with his fingers. "But I think he's still pissed about the last time."
"Last time?" asked Bruce, giving the canine an intrigued gaze.
"Yeah, the last time I had to watch him…when I tried to give him a bath." Ace lifts his head, pulls his lips back over two rows of glistening fangs as if insulted by the human boy's words, and growls. Terry flinched before pointing in accusation, "SEE?"
Bruce reaches down and pats the loyal companion's head with a playful and secretive smirk, obviously amused. "You just gotta know how to handle him."
Terry scoffed as his phone rang and he reached inside the car for it, stating, "Then you do it from now on. He's your psycho dog, not mine." The teen grabbed the cellular and glanced at the screen before breaking out into a smile and putting the receiver to his ear after hitting the "answer" button. "Hey there, Kitten," he teased with a slouch against the Batmobile. "Need those tampons?"
"Terry."
McGinnis's smile disappeared as swift as it had come and he sprung upright with furrowed brows. Her voice was low and hushed, strained…that was not like Gibson. "Max? What's wrong?" Bruce looked up and cocked his head.
There was a strange sound on the other side of the phone: like, a growl mixed with a whine of pain; like something had hurt her and she was pissed about it. "He's going to make me move to Florida…"
"WHAT?!" snarled McGinnis in disbelief.
"I don't want to go with him," Max's shaky voice heaved. "Terry…"
"I'm on my way. Keep the window open." He didn't give her time to answer, just made his order, hung up and commenced in climbing back up into the car.
Bruce leaned against his cane, watching his future alter ego make preparations to depart. "Taking the car?"
Terry plopped in the seat and began throwing switches across the dashboard. "She needs me now," he answered in his Batman voice, showing just how peeved off he was. "It's the quickest way."
More like the less "illegal" way. The senior citizen could only dream about how far the boy would be breaking the speed limit. Bruce lowered his greyed brows. "You sure that's responsible?" McGinnis gave the old man a cold look, the only dispute necessary. That single, silent scowl was enough to make the old man decide this was one fight it was best not to pick at any further. Wayne turned his back and the thrusters started up almost instantly. The retired hero looked down to the Great Dane. "Ace?" The dog snuffed and gave his owner his uttermost attention. Bruce grunted. "Go." The beast was up on his feet and took off like an inked blur towards the vehicle, tensing on capable muscles before springing into the air and inside of the Batmobile just as the cover began to close. Bruce heard the sound of a bark and cry of disapproval from Terry before the Batmobile took off down the tunnel, and the former Batman began heading up the stairway towards the mansion with a cocky grin. As usual, he won yet another round.
The lights along the walls of the Bat Cave entryway blurred past them as the cowled hero tensed. The outside door opened and the car whizzed into the night sky and woodland surrounding Wayne Manor. The sight of this place used to creep the boy out – now he found it comfortingly beautiful. Ace squirmed in the back, claws scratching against the window. Terry huffed. "Knock it off," he commanded. The Dane bit into the rear of the seat and growled a little to voice his dispute; McGinnis looked back and gave the mutt a hard frown. "Look," Batman warned, "keep it up and I'll take you back to be alone-," the Dane snuffed as if he didn't care, "-instead of taking you to Max's." Almost as if on command the midnight hound sat and snapped his chops shut; looking as still as a perfectly manicured statue…from hell. Terry raised a brown but diverted back to the sky as they approached the buildings of downtown Gotham.
With Ace finally under submission Terry let his mind wander back to Max and the potential severity of the situation that he'd find. The way she sounded on the phone was unacceptable – and the reasoning as to her distress bothered him. McGinnis kicked himself mentally: he never should have let Max go home along knowing her father would be waiting. After the whole Spellbinder fiasco Max finally gave her best friend a more in depth view into her family life: and honestly, Terry couldn't blame her for wanting to be trapped in a falsified world where the hell she'd experienced was non-existent.
But there was more than just the stories she'd told. Terry had a problem with her father. When Gibson had offered the details, McGinnis compared that with findings of his own extensive research; findings he was not fond of. Regina Gibson – Max's mother – was in the clear. She had her own cosmetics line and through hard work had become successful, moved upstate after the divorce was finalized, and maintained a healthy relationship with her daughters to the point she deserved a reward for her efforts. How Regina was able to juggle a growing business and her growing/grown children was beyond Terry; still, both daughters praised their mother for managing. Terry met Regina a couple times: she was without a doubt one of the sweetest women he'd ever met…and made a mean peach cobbler.
Diana Gibson – Max's older sister – was a bit more…complicated. Terry had met her on a few occasions too, though these meetings were typically short and not as pleasant. Both sisters clashed heads A LOT, but Diana was virtually a non-factor in Max's life both emotionally and physically. She was a flight attendant for some big time corporate mogul's private airline – one that catered solely to the filthy rich. Diana often found herself traveling the world on a continual basis, AND even fooling around sometimes with the most unsettling characters. If Paxton Powers were to take a ride on her plane, Max and Terry were pretty sure Diana would be riding him in the luxury bathroom. Fun and money were Diana's game; and she never lost. But then, Terry supposed the elder daughter was used to bad influences and manipulating others in her life because of her father.
Terry clenched a fist as he fooled around with a few controls in front of him and tried to call Max but found the line busy. McGinnis had dug up some interesting information on David Gibson and the boy was pretty sure that 1. His youngest daughter was completely unaware of what he did, and 2. That Terry distrusted him as much as he hated him. David grew up on the rough side of Gotham. He climbed his way to the top though not with resilience or hard work, but instead with underhanded and dirty tricks – like stealing other people's tech or business plans and calling them his own while threatening or "getting rid of" anyone who would try to stop him or retain their work. David worked for some kind of techno Customs Company and for years successfully dragged others down to wind up on top…but that changed last year when a co-worker of David's killed himself. Apparently the co-worker was in line for a promotion after the reveal of a project when suddenly his work had been corrupted and tampered with, tons of data stolen or erased to the point that when he still tried to push the product it nosedived. Said employee lost the promotion, and within a few months Gibson just so happened to reveal new plans for a similar concept – one in which the "original" lacked to make it successful.
David Gibson was promoted. But the problem came weeks after when the employee accused the co-worker of stealing his work. Curious, the company prepared an investigation, when the man suddenly dropped all charges and went missing…he was found in his home some days later with a suicide note splattered with what remained of the brains he'd blown out. No one looked any further into the situation – coming to the conclusion that because of his failed project, inability to handle the stress of his work being void, and David reaping the success he'd so hard strived for, that the man ended his own life – and eventually all was forgotten…Terry wasn't saying that David killed the co-worker – maybe the employee really had committed suicide – but McGinnis was positive that something David said or did led the co-worker to that result. To put it simply: Terry didn't trust Max's dad. Based on what the future Great Detective had found it was obvious David's personality was one that wanted everything for no cost. And this mindset evidently cost the man his own family…though Gibson obviously didn't see it as a loss. McGinnis of course never told Max these things, but steadily remained wary whenever David was too close to Max than Terry liked.
The Batmobile weaved through Gotham's business district and McGinnis found himself thinking into detail more than before; particularly on Bruce's accusatory jibe from earlier. It was no secret just how much Max meant the world to him – the boy's clique at Hamilton Hill knew it, even his own mother and brother were fond of her as a result of their bond. There wasn't a single night Matt didn't ask if Max was babysitting, or Mary inviting the girl over for dinner. Their relationship and the severity of it often raised questions at Hill High – and when Dana moved away the gossip only got juicier.
Though Terry wasn't sure if he was more upset at people's assumptions on the basis of the two teen's friendship…or if there was some underlining reason as to why he didn't feel the need (or have the heart) to correct them. Fact was that Maxine Gibson had wormed her way to a special place in Terry McGinnis's heart; neither of them had been completely conscious of it, but with every day their attention became more and more focused, more curious, as to the extension of those feelings and just what it meant for them. Yet of one thing Terry was positive of: that he would not allow anyone to hurt Max; not even her own father.
"Why would you give him a key, Diana?" Max demanded into the phone as she paced the living room floor and flung her opposite arm about dramatically.
Diana Gibson lounged poolside in a barely there peach bikini, sipping on a daiquiri and eyeing a sexy piece of African chocolate at the resort in Cameroon where she was resting. Side by side you almost couldn't tell that Diana and Max were sisters: Diana's facial features were far more angular like their father, almost square as opposed to Max's oval one; she was taller and about a shade lighter in complexion with long, thick raven hair; and though their figures were very similar, Diana's was much smoother due to her height. She was a goddess, a wonder – as strong willed and independent as she had been spoiled when growing up. The African prince on the other side of the pool winked before diving into the cool and rich blue water. Diana bit her lip. "Oh c'mon Maxie-," the sibling started with her perfect little dialect.
Max cut in with a growl, "DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
"-it can't be THAT bad, darling," Diana continued with a roll of the eyes. Diana always thought Max's problems were trivial compared to her own.
Max lightly pounded a fist against her forehead. Why did she think she'd be able to get anything intelligible out of Diana? "I ripped that bitch's weave out."
Diana sat up in shock on her lounge chair with a broad grin of disbelief. "Shut UP! You did NOT!"
"Does it sound like I would joke about something like that?"
Diana grabbed her sides and fell back with a guffaw that was somehow still uppity. "That's rich! You never did like her. Well," the elder sibling stated honestly, "I don't like her myself, but not even I would dream of putting my hands on her first. Dad's gonna kill you."
Max sighed, leaning against the countertop as support for her sudden exhaustion. "Well to be fair he hit me first."
Diana raised a brow and stopped smiling as doubt and mild concern for her sister – an emotion she rarely executed – overtook her features. She held the phone tight to her ear. "He hit you? What did you say to make him hit you, Maxine?" Silence was the only answer and Diana huffed, almost knowing exactly what had been spoken back and forth between the father and youngest daughter. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I thought giving him a key was a good thing. He is our father after all. And I thought it might help make things better between the two of you. It's your own fault when you think about it, though." And Diana just ruined it. God, her sister and father were professionals at fucking up a decent conversation.
"Excuse you?" cautioned Max as something big raced past her window – the only problem? She couldn't see anything. The girl immediately knew what that meant as she walked towards the window and unlocked and opened it, enjoying the cool evening air as she caught a glimpse of the sunset before treading back towards the counter.
Diana tensed. "Come on. I did it because everyone knows your relationship isn't the best. If you actually gave dad a chance I wouldn't have felt the need to get involved." The eldest sibling twirled her fingers around her long black locks as the prince slowly made his way up the steps out of the pool dripping in water like a delicious Africanized Aquaman…He could be the king of her seas. And she would aim for that tonight! "You really need to let this drama with dad go. You're making things far more difficult than it has to be." He stood over her with a glistening smile and she raised a knee and smiled right back with hooded, lustful eyes.
Max was flabbergasted and disgusted; then again, she should have known better. "How could you even say that?! Just because YOU'RE okay with acting like the divorce didn't fuck up your head doesn't mean I have to pretend-…" Max clenched the bridge of her nose. "Forget it, Diana. You've never got it. Enjoy Africa."
"Max waaaiiit-!"
The line hung up and Max slumped her upper torso against the kitchen countertop with a deep exhale that made her chest hurt. No. She was not going to let her sister's usual lack of understanding and compassion get to her. Max was not going to feed into the irritation and weariness of it all!
"Max?" At last, someone who could soothe her emotions and ease her soul. She looked over a shoulder to see Batman paused between the window with his backpack across a shoulder and an overgrown Ace squirming in his arms. His white eyes stared at her compassionately, and she could tell that he'd overheard…and that he pitied his best friend.
Gibson turned to face him and gave the hero an exasperated grin, outstretching her hand as invitation for him to enter…an invitation in which he obliged. Batman crossed into the room and set down Ace with a "Sit!" before closing the shade. When Batman looked back however, Ace was crouched low on his belly and scooting slowly towards Max with a whine as she kneeled down and opened up her arms. "Damnit Ace, I said, 'SIT'!" The Great Dane gave his secondary master a disrespectful huff before commencing in his approach for Max.
Well, if McGinnis didn't make things better, this monstrous hound definitely would! Diana had taken the cat, and the younger daughter was often lonely in the house. But it was okay, she was pretty sure she was a dog person anyway. Max clapped her hands and cooed, "C'mere Ace! C'mere boy!" The dog took off like a bullet and slammed his entire body into the girl, wriggling about happily as the beautiful human gave him unconditional affection in rubs and snuggles.
Batman pulled off his cowl and pouted. "How is it that he never listens to me? He respects Bruce, he becomes a lovable puppy with you, but he half-asses everything I say."
Max rubs the Dane's large black face and presses her nose against his as the dog gives a happy whine. "You just gotta know how to handle him. He's a sweet little thing, aren't you boy?" Ace barks in agreement as Max rises to her feet and treads into the kitchen where the pup follows dutifully. "You hungry, Ace? C'mon let's get you something to eat!"
Terry heads to the bathroom to change out of the suit while stating, "Little and sweet are two things Ace are NOT." Max rolls her eyes as her best friend disappears and goes into the bottom cabinet, pulling out a large doggie bowl and bag of food. She orders Ace back into the living room at his spot beside the door where a large upraised black iron food tray sat. Max filled the first silver bowl with water and walked it into its place. Terry was out of the bathroom by then, standing next to Ace and watching the show with interest. Max had dog-sat Ace plenty times before, and he knew she kept his own supply of food and stuff here at the apartment. Ace trotted up to Max when she came back out with a second bowl filled with a mixture of kibbles and canned food – it looked like the meal of every dog's grandest dreams.
Max held up a finger and Ace immediately sat on his hunches with a lick of the chops. Terry gawked. "Stay," Max commanded before setting the food in the tray. Ace sniffed it hungrily but turned his attention directly back at Max with a stomp of the foot. Gibson tilted her head and shifted her eyes quickly from the food back to the loyal companion. "Eat." Ace obeyed happily. Terry was astonished.
"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed, walking to the couch and plopping down in defeat. Max came out from the hallway closet with an enormous doggie bed and hand full of toys that she set up near the window. Terry rolled his eyes annoyingly. Max chuckled, then came over to join him, tucking a leg under her and sitting right at the end with her arm and head resting against the top of the couch. McGinnis consciously moved closer and she raised her legs so he could sit under them, her thighs across his lap. The blue eyed hero touched the Oracle's outer thigh and gazed at her closed eyes. As fun as the little show was, now it was time to get down to business. "Max," Terry whispered. She opened her eyes and he became aware at just how tired and frustrated she was and it killed him. "What happened?"
Maxine withdrew a long breath and lay her head back against the arm of the couch wearily, staring up at the ceiling with concealed emotions. "Terry?"
"Yeah?" answered the boy, waiting for her to begin. His voice revealed patience, and by her sigh he could tell Max appreciated that to the utmost.
Gibson reached up her hands and began playing with the collar of her Eeyore shirt. "Would it make me a bitch if I said I hated my old man?"
Terry shook his head even though he knew she couldn't see the gesture. "It would be a sad thing to say," the hero admitted, "and even sadder to hear – but no, that wouldn't make you a bitch."
Gibson hesitated. "What if I said I wish he'd go away and never come back?" She could feel Terry stiffen and Max stopped playing with her shirt and sat up, staring at him as he gave her an unreadable look. Though Max thought she saw disapproval…vast disapproval; and perhaps, maybe, a hint of pain.
Terry's brows furrowed deeply. "Kitten," he warned low as she averted her pupils from his judging. "You don't want to go there." She snorted and Terry gave her thigh a gentle squeeze that regained her focus. "I'm serious, Max. I'm talking from experience. Losing your dad isn't something you want…no matter how big of a prick they seem."
Guilt overwhelmed Gibson as Max leaned forward and placed a palm against Terry's cheek. "I'm so sorry, Ter," she whispered before biting her bottom lip regretfully. How much of an idiot was she? No matter what she was going through why in the breathing hell did Max even find saying that of all things to him of all people, appropriate? Stupid, stupid, stupid!
But Terry shook his head in forgiveness and held the hand on his cheek before pulling it away and setting their hands on her lap. "Now, what happened?"
The young genius rolled her eyes and gnawed her jaws as Ace trotted by and curled up on his bed. "So, when I get home," Max begins to explain once she leans back again and flings her wrist dramatically in a manner that makes Terry smirk, "I open the door to find my dad's gold-digging girlfriend sitting comfortably on the couch. And then my dad comes out of my bedroom – my fucking bedroom Terry! What the hell was he doing in my bedroom? – and acts like he doesn't even know who I am; which makes sense seeing as how he thought I was fifteen." Max scowled. "Do I look fifteen to you?" Her hands directed towards herself before stopping beneath her breasts…and Terry fought not to flush as he stared at them a moment longer than he should have. But Max continued, uncaring or perhaps not even noticing his slight discomfort, "Then good ole daddy gets mad at me for not being here at the speed of a fucking bullet. Do I look like Supergirl or something? And if I were does he honestly think I'd be stuck here dealing with this shit? But the kicker Terry," Max adds with a false grin of happiness, "is that he finally wants us to bond – by forcing me to move to Florida with him and his fiancé. Can you believe he's marrying that tramp?"
Terry held up a hand to stop her as he tried to wrap his mind around everything she'd said thus far. "Okay, pause. Why Florida?"
Max widened her eyes and shrugged in frustration while pointing a finger right at him as if that were just the point; the great mystery as to why her father was so insistent on screwing her life right down the toilet. "He said he got a promotion or something? I can't remember, I was too stupefied by his dreg level of ignorance."
"But, you're not going," Terry asked softly, tracing his fingers along her thigh, "are you?"
Gibson shook her head, though the best friend could see that she seemed unsure by the question – not by her own wants, but the wants of her father. "I'd rather fall in a pot of acid. I've got a life here, you know?" Max played with her fingers and felt her eyes start to water for the first time tonight as she quickly worked to wipe the tears away. "I don't want to go, Terry," the brain huffed, hiding her sadness behind a tight frown as she sniffed and her frame grew rigid before beginning to fall into soft trembles.
Terry's heart immediately broke. Even now she still tried to stay strong when she clearly needed to be weak. McGinnis admired Max's strength, but he wished she knew that she didn't always have to be. "Kitten," he whispered, outstretching an arm and wrapping it about her back. "You don't have to give up everything you worked so hard for here. This is your home. When has your dad ever sacrificed anything for you? Don't sacrifice yourself for him. Besides," the teen teased, tickling her sides as she gasped and squirmed, lightly pushing against him with silent giggles that the girl tried to keep muted yet failed, "what will Hill High do without you? Chelsea will be heartbroken, Nelson won't have anyone to play along with, and put him in his place all the time; the VRROOM will lose a legend, Batman will lose his Oracle…but even more importantly…I'll lose my best friend, and the only person in this world who gets me – ALL of me."
The school brain gasped under his assault, clutching his shoulders, "Terry! Stop! STAAAAHHHHP!" Max giggled as she kicked her legs and lightly shoved against him until eventually both of them were laughing and had collapsed off the couch onto the floor in a wild fit of giggles. Ace barked from his doggie bed before prancing over, jumping like a pup all over the two playing humans until their game subsided a bit. Between the tickles and rolling about Terry found himself sitting against the couch…and Max was on top of him, looking down at the teen with soft eyes. A moment of smiles and heavy breaths passed between them, Terry's hand on her back stopping just above the crown of her buttocks and Gibson's cheeks reddened a little before she poked his nose and dismounted, climbing back on the couch, pulling him with her, back to their previous cozy position. "You're crazy."
"You love me for my crazy," Terry joked. "Anyways, just stay here. Problem solved. He can't make you go."
Max paused and the happiness she'd felt moments before melted as if on command. "But," she answered silently, casually stroking Ace's head before he departed back to his bed, "I really can't stop him, you know? My dad gets everything he wants – he'll drag me to Florida kicking and screaming and not give a damn about it. There are no options when it comes to him."
"Is your father that big of a prick?" Max says nothing and Terry's face immediately contorted to a disapproving scowl. Well, that definitely could change the outlook of things. If David was willing to force his control over people on his own daughter then it was no wonder Max felt so unsure about whether or not she'd truly be able to deny his order to go to Florida. "But you told him you didn't want to go," pried the Bat as if that simple statement were enough.
But it wasn't. "Damn straight I did," testified Max. "And do you know what I got?" She tilted her head to show him the faded imprint on her face…and Terry burned with rage – even Ace seemed disturbed by the sudden shift in the air.
"He…hit you?" slowly questioned McGinnis as he removed her legs and rose from the couch. Being a bad father verbally was one thing, being an absent father too – but to physically put his hands on his daughter (for something so trivial nonetheless) was something else entirely. Terry figured David was trouble, someone not to be trusted; but never had the vigilante thought Gibson was capable of causing this kind of harm to his own family (or at least what remained of it). McGinnis began to pace the floor in thought as Max watched him, obviously feeling uncomfortable with his irritated display.
"Yes," she stated, though quickly carried on as he shot his expression of unfathomable shock in her direction, "BUT I got what I wanted. I proved to myself that the relationship we used to have didn't exist anymore, and that I couldn't be with him even if I wanted to. Plus," Max added with dastardly cheer, "I got to finally kick Shannon's ass. Sucks dad got in the way, though." Terry scoffed in mild approval of her victorious tussle but continued to pace before her, deeply engulfed in thought until Max reached out a hand and gripped his wrist. She looked at him, knowing her attempt to calm him had failed, and therefore realized it was better to just tell him what she was the most afraid of: "Terry…he's going to come back. He's going to try to make me go with him. Brawl or not, I can't stop that."
That frightful assurance in her voice nearly drove him over the edge. Terry growled, "You're not going anywhere with him, Max. You don't HAVE to."
Max raised a brow as if such a thing were an impossibility. "What are you-?"
But the wheels of his mind were turning and he tapped his chin in potential realization. "There's always a way," he spoke to himself more than her, "Maybe we could look into…I don't know….Emancipation or something."
Max shook her head with furrowed brows of doubt. "Terrence, be real," her voice gave a sarcastic chuckle.
"I AM!" McGinnis emphasized, facing the girl completely and gripping her shoulders.
Maxine Gibson was absolutely dumbfounded at how convinced her best friend seemed by any hope of additional options to keeping her out of David's grip. Didn't he understand that there was no going against her father? Sure, Max could try – but not even her determination could stand solely against him. "Terry," Max stated, grabbing his jaw and forcing their eyes to meet as she tried to get what she considered an indisputable fact across to him, "listen to me Bats, honey: I appreciate your enthusiasm and everything but even if we WERE able to do this Emancipation gig – my father is heading off to Florida next week. There legally won't be enough time-."
McGinnis shook his head fervently, cutting off whatever she was about to say; dismissing every word that would dare reject keeping her free from David's control. "C'mon, there's always a way," he insists, gripping the wrist that had his jaw. "You forget who I work for! Bruce is tight with Commissioner Barbara Gordon – if we go through her maybe it could open a door to getting you legally separated from your old man, or at least keep you in Gotham until then, right? Right?"
The Commissioner? Max faltered – was that even possible? "This is insane!" the brown skinned beauty and brain whispered as she felt suddenly unsure; unsure and perhaps longing for the chance. She looks around the apartment, the only home she's had since the divorce, before meeting his face once more. "Terry," Max starts in a barely audible voice laced with fear of him being right. "There still may not be enough time-."
Oh no she didn't. There was no way in hell that McGinnis was going to let Max accept this and surrender to what her father was doing. He knew Max didn't want what David was pressuring on her, and Terry would not let her step through the door of misery. Max was too good – he wasn't going to let her give in now! Not with there being a possibility right before them, no matter how faint it seemed. "I'm not gonna lose you to that idiot. Max-!" The secret vigilante stared at his partner and dearest friend passionately as if preparing to convey something, something that captivated Gibson as she allowed herself to be pulled deeply into his embrace, feeling the boy's hands hold her frame tight possessively. "Kitten-."
There was a rough knock on the door before the lock turned off and the front door opened: and standing in the doorway was David Gibson as he paused in shock at the sight before him evident on the man's features. His daughter was trapped in the arms of some punk…and it looked like they were on the verge of something…adult. David's surprise melted into anger as he stiffened. "What the hell-? Who are you? What the hell are you two doing?" David Gibson took off his expensive jacket and tossed it across the kitchen counter once he crossed the threshold and slammed the door shut.
Terry shifted his position and pushed Max behind him completely to protect her as the girl nervously exchanged glances between both men. "Nice to meet you Mr. Gibson," McGinnis introduced with an obvious lie and furrowed brows. "The name's Terry McGinnis – Max's best friend, and I'm sorry to inform you that Max isn't going anywhere with you."
David Gibson snapped his head back, insulted by this little piece of white trash's balls. The older man rolled his tense shoulders to loosen them up threateningly. "That's not up to you, BOY." David takes a step forward. "Mind your business, or I'll have to teach a lesson about respect! Max, get over here, now!" David commanded, but Max didn't move an inch and he clenched his visible teeth in anger. He was ready to unleash some frustration – between Shannon's anger and Max's disobedience Gibson was pissed and needed to punch something to take out his rage on. He had come to get Max, to tell her that she was going for her own good – only to find this punk standing in his way. If David didn't get things done his way willingly; he always found a way to convince others to see things from his point of view…no matter what means necessary. And no one was exempt.
McGinnis grinned darkly, sliding a foot forward and raising his hands in a ready crouch. "Yeah?" the teen asked tauntingly. "We'll see."
But Max suddenly rounds between Terry and stands in the middle of the irritated men, holding out her arms for each of them in prevention. Question was: Would they listen?
TO BE CONTINUED…
