Episode 3. Lover and Friend

"Let's have a seat in the living room," Andrea said, gesturing toward the couch just a ways from them.

Selina went and stood behind the couch. She allowed Bruce and Andrea to take the couch, sitting next to each other.

"Can we have a moment Selina?" Andrea asked her.

"Sure," Selina said. "I'll go for a walk. I told you I'd share him with you but don't leave me out of anything fun." She gave a sly smile, and her words got a slight eyebrow raise from Bruce. "And Andi girl?"

"Yes?" Andrea said and smiled at the term of endearment.

"If you're going to tell him," Selina said, "make sure you tell it all. We're all too old for secrets now…" She left the two of them alone and actually decided to climb to the top of the lighthouse.

Bruce waited.

"I have a son," Andrea said.

"We have a son," Bruce said.

They shared the silence that followed.

"You thought I was dead," Andrea said. "After I raised him all that time, I was going to tell you about him. Then, I met Selina, Dick, Jason and Barbara, Tim, and Damian." She paused. "I'm not making excuses. I should've told you regardless, but I didn't want to come and turn your life upside down, your family upside down."

"Does he know that I'm his father?" Bruce asked.

"He doesn't know…" Andrea said. "I didn't tell him you were dead. Just that you were on a mission to save the world. He knows your name is Bruce but not the Bruce Wayne. His name is Carlito Wayne Beaumont. I named him after my father and you."

"He never thought to come search for me?" Bruce asked.

"He assumed: military, special ops," Andrea said. "I've never confirmed or denied: only told him we couldn't discuss it. However, I kept your secret like you kept mine."

"He trusted you," Bruce said. "Like I did. He never questioned it. He never dug."

"He was always a good boy," Andrea said, "even if a bit mischievous. He became a good man: like you. He has a heart of gold, even if it takes a little bit to reach it."

"He doesn't know about Batman or Phantasm," Bruce said.

"Not at all," Andrea said.

"Is he a metahuman?" Bruce asked her while he tried to process what he would do about this son and if he should be the one to tell him the truth. He decided not to tell him: same as he did about Terry.

"I'm not familiar with the term," Andrea said.

"Has he ever exhibited abilities or powers neither one of you could explain?" Bruce asked.

"No," Andrea said. She shook her head. "If he had, he would've told me." She paused, then she continued. "He did always admire Batman. He thought Superman was cool, but he thought Batman proved anyone could be a hero."

"You might not want to hear this," Bruce said, "but if he is anything like your father, and me, he is keeping something from you. Tell me where he is now. Is he in Gotham?"

"I assure you he's not," Andrea said. "He's never been. Right now, he lives on a reservation: on the west coast. It's called the Red Clay Raven Reservation. He's far from Gotham."

"I won't tell him who I am to him," Bruce said. "You're his mother. I will leave that to you. However, I will find him: to see what secrets he has." He stood.

Andrea stood.

"Are you angry with me?" Andrea asked.

"No," Bruce said, staring deep into her eyes.

"Will you tell me whatever it is you might uncover?" Andrea asked.

"No," Bruce said, "but I will urge him to come to you, to tell you the truth."

"And if he figures out you are his father?" Andrea questioned him.

"I won't confirm or deny it," Bruce said. "I'll let him decide his next course of action. How old is he now?"

"Twenty-one," Andrea said.

"I'll call you when I locate him," Bruce said. "You'll pick up the phone this time."

"I will," Andrea said.

"Goodbye Andi," Bruce said.

"Goodbye Bruce," Andrea said. "We'll see each other again: and soon."

Bruce left Andrea. He closed the door behind him when he left. He climbed the lighthouse to join his wife. He stood behind her. He looked over her as she looked out over the water.

"You've got a kid," Selina said. "Don't you?"

"His name is Carlito," Bruce said.

"Are you okay?" Selina said, turning around to meet his eyes. "You think he's got it in for Gotham?"

"If he's anything like his mother: no," Bruce said. He didn't feel the need to answer her first question. "We've got to travel west now. Still want to stay with me on this journey?"

"That's a silly question," Selina said, slapping him upon his chest. "If I wanted to be bored in my golden years, I never would've married you." She proceeded to climb down the lighthouse.

Bruce followed her after he looked out across the water with a brief smile. Selina knew she had warmed his heart and made him smile. Bruce let the smile fade. Three days had passed. He planned to talk to Terry soon. Based on Virgil's message and his knowledge of Gotham, he knew more trouble was on its way.

~~~

"Thirty-three-year-old Mayor Nikolai Kuznetsov dead at the scene within City Hall," Gotham City News Anchorwoman Noor Rashid reported on the morning news.

Terry watched the news in the Belfry. Noor interviewed Commissioner Gordon. Terry received a call from Max. He muted the news, and he clicked a button on his earpiece to project her hologram. She was there with him. She sat and leaned on the computer console.

"How's it going?" Max asked.

"It's going good," Terry said. "Working on a case."

"I can see that," Max said, looking around. "You don't usually spend time there unless you need space to think."

"Did Carrie and Matt have you call me?" Terry asked.

"Yes and no," Max admitted. "We haven't talked in a while either. Anything I can help with?"

"No," Terry said and smirked, "but let me bounce some ideas off you."

"Go ahead," Max said. She smiled and waited to her him out.

"I met the masked figure from Bruce's past," Terry said. "We had a chat. I recorded the voice, unscrambled it, and found out he's a guy. RJ called him The Phantasm: from one of grandfather's journals. I ran the guy's voice against every criminal that's ever darkened Gotham's door and didn't get a match."

"Not the original guy," Max said.

"Not the original guy," Terry said, "which he told me. We're both successors. The funny thing is there's no record of a masked criminal or vigilante that ever went by The Phantasm: in Gotham's records or Bruce's."

"So," Max said, "you either find the original Phantasm or find this new one. You send me the voice clip I can extend the search to the country."

"He wanted to work together," Terry said.

"Why would he think you'd work with him?" Max asked: puzzled.

"You haven't seen the Gotham news," Terry said. "The mayor was murdered last night. Phantasm seemed torn by the news when I told him during our chat."

"You don't think he did it?" Max questioned.

"No," Terry said, "but I think he knows who did. I think he was trying to prevent a murder. Someone else has come into town, and whoever it is struck last night: for the first time. That person goes by Omen. Omen will murder again."

"Sounds like you better talk to Bruce sooner rather than later," Max said.

"If Bruce had answers," Terry said, "he would've already contacted me. The old Phantasm and this new one I don't think are connected: at least not by any kind of motive. I'll leave the voice recognition to you, have Carrie and Matt try and get more info about the journal from Barbara, and I'll go with RJ and interrogate the enforcer that was left near dead last night."

"You have a plan," Max said, "but can you explain to me why you don't think Phantasm and Omen are working together?"

"He spoke to me about his admiration for Batman," Terry said. "When I heard his real voice, I guessed he might be about my age. He did beat his victim bloody, but he also showed care and concern for him. He also apologized for his mistakes."

"Doesn't sound like a homicidal maniac," Max said. "I'll give it to you. Does bare some further looking into."

"Glad to hear you agree," Terry said.

"Hey," Max said. "I know I'm out of state, and you have plenty on your plate. Call me. I'll make time. I'll call you too."

"You were my first partner outside of Bruce," Terry said. "You're in this until the wheels fall off." He made her laugh. "I'll keep you updated; you keep me updated."

"Got you," Max said.

They ended their call.

Terry had his mind on Phantasm and Omen right after. He couldn't say for certain that they had metahuman abilities or they had certain professional skills they were using to their advantage. Virgil might be harder to get a hold of, but Ovid was always a good time to work with. He couldn't help smirk. Max and Phantasm reminded him that he was Batman: Batman his own way.