Batman Beyond-Rebirth! The Legend Returns!
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It had only been a couple of days since Terry McGinnis had officially become the new Batman, and his life was already spiraling in directions he could have never imagined. The night patrols, dodging Gotham's worst, and dealing with Bruce Wayne's strict mentorship were becoming the new norm. But something felt off as soon as Monday rolled around.
It started small, with whispers.
Terry first noticed it while waiting for the subway to get to school. Two people stood across from him on the platform, occasionally glancing his way, speaking in hushed tones. They didn't seem dangerous, just curious. Still, it unnerved him. Then, as he walked through the school hallways, it was more of the same. People were giving him strange looks, sneaking glances, and whispering to their friends as he passed by.
ȚWhat the heck is going on?Ț
At first, he brushed it off. Maybe he was just paranoid, still getting used to the idea of being Gotham's new Dark Knight. But by the time the final bell rang, it was impossible to ignore. As Terry stepped out of the school building, he saw it—the reason for all the attention.
A giant poster, plastered on the side of a skyscraper, loomed over the city street. It was an advertisement for an upcoming movie, one that he had no idea about—yet there he was, right in the middle of it. Dressed in a sleek tuxedo, standing confidently with a pistol in hand, was Terry McGinnis as James Bond.
The tagline read, "After 20 Years... The Legend Returns."
Terry stood frozen, mouth slightly agape as he stared at his own face blown up to the size of a building. People around him nudged each other and pointed, some whispering his name as they passed by. This was not the kind of attention he needed—especially not as the new Batman.
What the hell is going on?
The form of an expensive luxurious old school car hovered a few blocks away, and Bruce's voice came through his earpiece. "Terry. Get in."
Terry didn't need any more encouragement. He bolted down the side streets, ducking through alleyways to avoid more stares, until he finally hopped into the the flying Rolls Royce. The cockpit sealed shut, and the vehicle took off into the sky.
"Bruce," Terry said, his voice incredulous, "I'm on a freaking movie poster! Why am I on a movie poster?"
The old man's gravelly voice was calm, almost amused. "That was the plan."
Terry blinked, his brain struggling to catch up. "The plan? What plan?"
Bruce didn't take his eyes off the car s navigation as they sped toward the Batcave.
"We needed a cover for your increasingly erratic schedule, something that would explain why people might start noticing you missing at odd times. This is it."
"A movie star? Are you serious?"
Bruce's lips quirked into what might have been a faint smile.
"It works. Hollywood's going to love you. You've got the look, and more importantly, it explains the bruises and fatigue. People will think you're just working on the movie."
Terry leaned back in his seat, rubbing his temples.
"Okay, but James Bond? And how long has this been in the works?"
"It's been in motion for months. Your father didn't know about it, but Wayne Enterprises had a hand in it. We were preparing for the possibility that someone would eventually take the mantle of Batman again. When I saw your aptitude in action, it was easy enough to finalize the deal. The studio was looking for a fresh face, and I gave them one."
Terry snorted. "Yeah, real fresh. But what about school? I'm barely holding on with all this Batman stuff as it is."
"You'll shoot the film over the summer. Until then, you'll attend a few promotional events, nothing too disruptive. We'll arrange your schedule accordingly."
Terry couldn't believe it. "You're seriously telling me that my life as Batman now includes being James Bond in a blockbuster movie."
Bruce glanced at him. "Would you rather people suspect you're something else? This keeps them from looking too closely."
Terry groaned, leaning forward. "This is insane. What if I screw up?"
"You won't," Bruce said, with complete confidence. "And besides, you've got your priorities straight. The movie is a smokescreen, nothing more. It keeps people off your trail."
They descended into the Batcave, the stone walls rising up to meet them as the car changed to reveal it was a disguised Batmobile that touched down on the platform. Terry jumped out, still feeling like his life had just taken another bizarre turn.
The poster flashed in his mind, his own face staring back at him from a 40-foot billboard.
"And here I thought being Batman would be the weirdest thing in my life," Terry muttered.
Bruce raised an eyebrow.
"Get used to it, kid. This is only the beginning."
Terry sighed, tugging off his jacket as he looked up at the various Bat-Suits lining the cave.
"You know, when I agreed to be Batman, I didn't think it would involve this kind of double life."
Bruce's voice echoed with a mix of amusement and caution.
"Being Batman is about misdirection as much as it is about justice. You'll be fine, Terry. Just remember why you're doing this."
Terry looked over at the suit—the sleek black-and-red symbol of his new life.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I remember."
But still, as he prepared for another night of patrol, he couldn't shake the image of that massive poster, and the knowledge that soon, the world would know Terry McGinnis not just as Gotham's secret protector, but also as the new James Bond.
He could already hear his parents teasing him about it and his little brother milking it for all it was worth.