As of this past Tuesday (May 18th) I have been writing for for 6 whole years! I really genuinely can't believe it, but it makes me really hopeful that I can maybe write for a living. Fingers crossed.

So now that my classes have (finally and almost amazingly) drawn to a close, I find that my muse is slowly starting to die down as well. For those of you that amazingly enough have stuck around for a while, you know I have issues sticking on task for long periods of time, but at least I can say I finished the basic colors pretty quickly. After that, you'll probably be seeing less of me because I'll have work and vacation and I get distracted easily. XD

Sorry, guys.

Anyway, I've had this song picked for this drabble for a while now (obviously, you can see why it's so perfect) and it was like half the reason for me to write a Black drabble.

Oh, and similar to my Blue drabble, I'm giving fair warning to all you Superman fans that there's minor bashing ahead.

What? It's Gotham. Obviously, rivalries are involved and obviously Gotham will beat them. ;)

$4$

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and I want it painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing off when your whole world is black

- "Paint It Black," by The Rolling Stones

Black.

Max visited Metropolis a couple times.

Once, for a trip in middle school. Twice again in high school. After she started working with Terry at Wayne-Powers, the trips became something usual- couple times every few months, sometimes more, sometimes less.

Metropolis, especially after the technology boom, was all glittering asphalt and mirrored glass and dazzling metal. And it was always bright out- sunny skies, painted robin's egg blue and dotted with the occasional fluffy white cloud.

It almost hurt if you looked at it for too long.

Max hated Metropolis. There was something about their almost idyllic society that just rubbed her the wrong way. She didn't like their clean, graffiti-free streets, perfect architecture, or how people would always smile and wave every time she accidentally made eye contact.

Metropolis was just too clean.

6

Max stabbed the 'Enter' key on the touchscreen pad, watching as the computer whirred and sent out her group e-mail to everyone that worked in the technology branch for Wayne-Powers. Things were quiet in Gotham for once, and she appreciated the extra time to spend on work and having a semblance of a social life.

Not that she really ever did anything with her social life when she got the opportunity. Tonight was being spent in her comfiest pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a marathon of the old crime-drama classic, Criminal Minds, on TV Land.

Even when she could have a life, she squandered it on TV and trashy movies. Sad.

The front door was carelessly flung open, but she didn't bother looking away from her pad. She already knew who it was- Terry. It was always Terry.

"We gotta make these people start coming to us," he complained, rolling his neck tiredly as he simultaneously loosened his dark blue tie and slipped off his shoes.

She cracked a grin, glancing up at him long enough to bat her big brown eyes. "What, Ter?" she asked innocently. "You sayin' you don't absolutely love Metropolis?"

Terry flopped down on the couch tiredly next to her, shooting her a well-worn glare. "How many times am I going to have to tell you this?" he said. "I'm the Goddamn Batman, and I live in Goddamn Gotham."

Max paused, setting her touchpad down on her lap temporarily. "I'm pretty sure that's not how the line goes," she said.

Terry chuckled, stretching out and then quickly standing up again. "Alright, so maybe I embellished a little," he ceded with a roguish wink. "But I am the Goddamn Batman."

She rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop the smirk. "Does that mean the Goddamn Batman is leaving for his real job now?" she asked, bringing up the Net on her touchpad. "'Cuz you know how Wayne gets all touchy when you're not on patrol on time."

"Thanks, Mom," he said sarcastically, tossing her a glance as he pulled off his tie and began to unbutton his shirt. "I already have the old man constantly harping at me. I don't need another one."

She stuck her tongue out at him, feeling suddenly impish. "Not my fault it's true," she said, checking her e-mail.

He didn't bother to respond, stripping out of his shirt and unbuckling his belt. Max watched him undress, quickly and fluidly changing into the batsuit. The suit he wore during the day was the real mask, the costume he wore to fool family and friends and coworkers into thinking he was the joking, happy-go-lucky Terry McGinnis everyone thought they knew.

He wasn't. He was the Batman first, Terry second.

"You know I hate Metropolis," he said quietly, but there was that distinct gravel to his voice that only Batman possessed. He turned around, halfway out their large bay window, mask staring at her impassively.

Metropolis wasn't right- there was none of the character, the originality, that Gotham possessed.

Gotham was dark and gritty and beautifully honest- a testament to its savior. Batman was a shadow of the city, black blending into more black, a smudge against the night, everywhere and anywhere people needed him to be.

Gotham was Metropolis' antithesis, and Batman was their prime example.

Max smiled softly, ruffling a hand through her carnation pink locks as she watched him blend seamlessly into the nightscape behind him. "Yeah," she said, "I do, too."

$4$

Black was fun. Pretty pointless, and I just know I'm going to spark some division about my opinions on Metropolis vs. Gotham, but try not to get too snarky, mm'Kay? Then it just gets annoying. ;)

This was actually a pretty long one, but I didn't really know where I was going with it (which is partly why it also took so long…) and I had to erase and revise a couple pieces before I could get it to fit nicely in the box I was picturing.

My mess is just as much of a jumbled mess as I know you're all picturing.

If everything goes as planned, White will happen next. After that, I'm not sure. I was thinking about maybe having a poll? Is that a good idea? I think I want to write Pink and Purple and then… I don't know.

Opinions? :)