Terry cleared the cobwebs from his head. There was a moment of confusion before he remembered what was going on.

Nash and his friends followed Willie and his date out. Being the homophobes they were they picked a fight. Seven to two, not much of a fair fight, though wills date didn't stick around to help and Watt's wasn't a fighter, however from the looks of him he did try.

Now only Terry stood between Nash and his goons. At least the fight would be fair he thought. Terry made a mental note to watch out for Nash's left hook, because his jaw hurt like hell. Then he made short work of some of Nash's friends. Now it was only him and Nash.

"Just let it be Nash." Terry advised.

.n..

Blaze walked out the back exit of the club, she'd heard that there was a brawl going on, but she never expected to see Willie behind Terry, as Terry and Nash was about to go at it.

"Stop protecting that fag, Terry! We don't want any fags at our party."

"Or our school chimed an onlooker."

That was it for her; she was through with Nash's antics. This would end now.

"Go home Nelson!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

"But sweetie."

"I don't want you here if you're just going to be an ass."

A man in nice clothes walked out the door and over to Blaze, he whispered something in her ear.

"No! They can't do this to me." She pouted as a number of police officers arrived and started to send every one home.

Terry walked over to Blaze. "What's going on?"

She glared at him before stating. "The cop's are closing down the club for the night, thanks to you two." She walked off inn a huff.

Terry glared at Nash then walked over to Willie. "So Watts how come when ever we meet, I always end up saving your ass."

Willie looked up and into Terry's eyes. "You're Zorro?"

"Yeah, unless it was some other person who handed you his new T.M. cargo pans in that dressing room."

Terry helped Willie to his feet. He could see that Willie was a little distracted. His eyes followed Willies directions and he caught a glimpse of Blaze heading back into the club.

Willie wanted so bad to kiss Terry. He wanted to press his lips up to the other boys and make them swollen and hot. He wanted to show Terry how grateful he was, to show him how much he craved him, but there were too many people.

The last thing he wanted to do was have everyone picking on Terry like they picked on him. And then there was Blaze. She was really upset and he couldn't just let her walk off feeling like shit. She's his best friend.

Willies hand slowly moved up to touch Terry's face, but he redirected it to brush a few strands of hair out of his eyes. Being so close and not being able to touch Terry like he wanted was a nightmare. He had spent all night looking at him in the Zorro outfit, just wanting to be closer to him, and now that he was finally within arms reach he couldn't touch him.

Willie couldn't take this anymore; he needed to get away before he lost his mind. "I should go see to Blaze." He marched for the door as fast as he could with out running; he looked back at Terry before ducking inside. "Thanks…Terry."

Terry could see the turmoil on Willies face, the need alone to reach out and embrace each other was almost tangible. Terry watched Willie walk back into the club after Blaze, and then he sauntered over to Nash.

"Take your trash and go; I'm through playing with you."

It was the steal and well honed Batman voice that he was using now, and the no shit face he had would make Bruce brim with pride.

Nash and his boys packed up and left. They walked to their cars and like a true bully, Nash shouted out of the window of his car just before driving off. "This ain't over!"

.n..

Days later

There was an uproar in the Hamilton High Lunch room. The mob surrounding the two boys was rowdy and baying for blood as the pair circled each other menacingly.

"Fight - fight - fight," chanted a bunch of boisterous freshmen, pumping their fists in the air.

Terry sat on the table in the corner of the lunch room, arms folded and expression grim.

"Why can't they give it a rest - it wasn't that funny," he said to Max, who was sitting next to him, trying to concentrate on her textbook.

"They must have done this show about fifty times now, and the whole thing was getting really tired," Terry continued crossly.

Terry took an aggressive step towards Nelson Nash, and the crowd simmered down with anticipation and glee.

Max quickly pulled him back. "If they see how offended you're getting, they'll just do it more," said a patient Max, who had listened to Terry's views on this subject numerous times already. "Just be glad Blaze isn't here to watch this stupid fight again.

Where is she, anyway?" chimed Dana.

"In the library with Willie, of course," said Mel gloomily. "He's already panicking about the mock exams - I mean, they don't even start until January, and they're not even the real deal anyway. Honestly, she spends more time in the library than she does with Nash these days. and Nash is hot."

"Can't blame her though, what with all this nonsense going on between her and Nelson," said Dana.

Terry knew full well that Dana's last comment was a not-so-subtle dig at his own behavior as of lately. Mind you, she didn't have a clue as to what they entailed; but he was spending less and less time with her and more and more time with Mr. Wayne.

She was giving him a second chance and he was still making all the same mistakes. Though his second chance was more for her then him, truth be told. She had caught Willie and him, two nights ago after the party sneaking a heated kiss, when they thought no-one was looking. She couldn't stand the idea of her ex being gay. What would people say about her. She could fix him, she knew she could. They hadn't seen her; all she had to do was just act like she didn't know and play the kiss and makeup card. She wouldn't give him a choice. It worked, kind of.

There was another roar from the crowd as Nash managed to huddle behind Dean and cry out help, help; Oh! Terry pleas just make him stop!

"That's it!" said Terry, annoyed at seeing this mockery.

Terry leapt to his feet and Dana automatically reached out a hand to drag him back.

"Don't Terry - it's just not worth it," said Dana feebly.

Max had beet him to it; she had plunged straight into the middle of the crowd and was shouting her head off.

You think this is so funny, but it isn't in the least," she yelled. I've had about enough of it now, and so has Terry, Willie and Blaze. All Willie was doing the other night was trying to have a word with… his friend about something, and then you waded in and attacked him because you heard a rumor that he was gay, so Terry helped him out-"

"That's not how it looked from where I was standing," said Nash scrambling off the floor.

"Nor me," agreed Dean.

"Well, I should know, because I was standing closer than either of you two." said Terry.

"You mean, you should know because you're kinda like his boyfriend now," said Dean, with a derisive laugh. "But is he really all yours Terry, or do you have to share him with Max? She's butch enough. Are you having little threesomes -?"

Terry launched himself furiously at Dean, and suddenly Melanie, and Max was at his shoulder, this time showing little enthusiasm about holding him back.

"Stop it - don't fight," Dana said quietly and urgently in Terry's ear. "Think about your wrestling match tomorrow. You won't be able to play if you get injured."

"I'm not going to get injured. I'm going to injure him!" said Terry, making another lunge at Dean, but unable to safely slug him without hitting any of his friends.

"Go on, have a go if you think you're hard enough, Terry!" jeered Dean.

"Shut your face, Dean," said Max sharply. "Or we'll let him go."

"Oh, I'm so scared." That got a laugh from the crowd and then Terry slugged Dean.

This time the uproar in the Lunch room was real and The "Fight - fight - fight," chanting was overbearing. Principle Akpette was called in, but by that time the damage was done.

.n..

Xavier Institute.

"No Scott, I thing their ok; but their still a little sad."

"And what about all those people in Gotham."

"Blind-spot told me that she gave them the whammy, so no-one's gonna remember a thing. Everyone just thinks it was a big fight."

"Do you think Joshua survived?"

"There's no way of knowing for sure but I think it's safe to assume that he did."

"Have you heard from him yet?"

"No, no one has and I can't find him, I even tried using cerebral."

"And what about?"

"Proteus… He's alive. The news is out Scott. Not only has the mutant population been decimated, but something's going down under our nose and I don't know what it is. I hate to admit it but I had to call in some outside help. The Batman, he'll be here tonight."

"You what!"

"Sooner then later, our enemies will come looking for us and I don't plan on being caught off guard when they do."

"If you want blood on your hands, so be it."

Emma heard a thud at the front door.

"I'm going to protect these kids at any cost, Scott"

She opened the door to find a bloody Joshua, his wings ripped off. He was on the ground in front of her. The wounds were still fresh, not even an hour old.

She gasped. "Jay… Oh my God."

TBC

Ok I hoped you liked this so far. I know I still have some questions that are unanswered. Give me time, the plot will unfold; all be it slowly and it will come.If how ever you happen to let your curiosity get the better of you, then feel free to ask, actually ask anyway.
Not that I'm going to answer the question in full, but it will be a reminder to me of what needs to be tied up.
Anyhow I wanted to let you know that I'm planning on writing a one chapter fic, about Joshua's absence.
It will be dark and gruesome but sexy and informative as well.
Look for it soon the name of the fic. Will be called.

"Fade to black"