Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 18:40:50 -0700 (PDT) From: Author James Subject: Trials of a Real Dark Knight 27 Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox. Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros. X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. Star Wars and all related concepts created by or based on the universe created by George Lucas. Copyright 20th Century Fox, LucasFilms Ltd. and Lucas Books/Ballantine Books. I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered. This story has taken on a life of its own. From its inception a year ago, I had only thought it would last ten chapters maximum. As you can see, it has grown tremendously. Mostly due to readers emailing me and telling me they've enjoyed it or have received help due to certain issues addressed. I've enjoyed writing this story but it would not have been written without men and women reading it and telling me they've enjoyed it. I do hope that you continue to enjoy each new chapter as our hero lives and grows. I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from those who do not. I would enjoy hearing from you. Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks. authorjames2002@yahoo.com I also have several online messenger services, one of which is this yahoo email address. Some of you know them; however, in the recent weeks I've changed my screen name. If you want to chat with me in real time, email me and tell me the services you use and I will tell you my screen name. Chapter 27 Day of Leisure, Night of Work Lance and I went to a nearby shopping mall to look around. There wasn't anything specific that we were looking for, just spending the day together. The mall music they were playing happened to be "Dream Street" and the song they were playing was "It Happens Every Time", one of my favorites. We looked through the mall checking out Kaufmans, Dillards, The Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle. Up until now, no one recognized Lance, which can happen. You would expect there to be an announcement that a celebrity was going to be at a mall or be surrounded by bodyguards. Most, I think, just thought the man I was with resembled Lance Bass. It was close to noon when we decided to get some food at the food court. I grabbed some Chinese and Lance grabbed some Mexican and we sat down to eat. "I'm having a real nice time today," Lance said. "Me, too. I'm glad we can spend this time together." "Especially getting ready what we are getting ready for." I smiled from ear to ear, which caused him, in turn, to do the same. As we ate, a scream from down the corridor rang out. Everyone in the food court turned to see what was going on. Throngs of people were running away from the center of the mall. Something scary or dangerous or both was going on. I stood up. "Eric," Lance said. I turned to him and realized what he wanted me to realize. I was not wearing my bat-suit. 'But Eric can do something,' I thought. "I'll be right back," I said to him. "Be careful." "Always." I ran in the direction the crowds were coming from. When I reached the convergence of the mall corridors I saw what everyone was screaming about. Several men with guns and ski masks were standing in the fountain and on the sculpture firing upon the security. 'They don't care who they hit,' I thought. I was getting ready to attack when Batgirl showed up. She plunged down through the skylight and landed in the middle of the villains. She swung her leg around and kicked several thieves. One brought up his gun and hit her with the end of it. He brought it around to hit her again and she grabbed the end of it. A struggle over control of the weapon ensued. She ended up ramming it into his gut then brought the end up hitting him in the face. The guy fell back and down to the ground. Another guy took aim at Batgirl but something flew in and hit his hand causing him to drop the gun. I turned in the direction the object came from and saw Robin leaping into action. He somersaulted forward and then leapt at the man tackling him. "He's improved," I said to no one in particular. The two superheroes battled the thieves and in no time disarmed and tied them all up. They went up through the skylight as the police showed up behind me and down the corridors. "What the hell happened here?" one asked. "Batgirl and Robin," I said. "I watched them disarm these guys." The officer nodded though he didn't seem impressed. He waved for everyone to move in. Soon the officers were rounding up the thieves and escorting them off the premises. Other officers were interviewing the employees of the stores where things were taken. There was nothing for me to do so I headed back to Lance. "Are you okay?" he said approaching and taking me into an embrace. "I'm fine. Batgirl and Robin showed up and took care of them. I wasn't needed." "Just so long as you weren't hurt. Let's go." Lance and I exited the mall but my mind was on what I said. "I wasn't needed." 'Could it be that I can stop being Batman? Do Batgirl, Robin and Nightwing have everything under control that they don't need Batman?' Lance drove us back to the house. When we got in, there was a message on the machine. It was Jesse. "Eric...I really need to talk to you. Something is up with Chris...he's...he's getting mean. We're at the Hilton in room thirteen forty-five. Call us, please." Then the line went dead. Lance looked at me. He was obviously concerned as much as I was. I picked up the phone and called the Hilton. When they asked for the room number, I gave them thirteen forty-five. Their phone rang five times with no answer. Something was seriously bad. "There's no answer," I told Lance. "What should we do?" "Go over." I ran upstairs, grabbed my suit and Lance and I headed out to the hotel. We took the SUV so there would be room for me to change in the back if I had to. All seemed normal when we got to the hotel. I took my bag and we headed up to the thirteenth floor. When we found the room, I rang the bell. There was no answer. "God, don't let them be dead," Lance muttered. It shocked me. Normally, that was something I would say. But...I didn't. There wasn't time to contemplate why or why not. There were lives at stake. I grabbed the doorknob and used my powers to open the lock. When I entered, I found Greg, Matt, and Jesse lying on the floor unconscious. There was a puddle of blood under Jesse. "Oh God," I said running over to him. "Call 9-1-1." Lance ran to the phone and called 9-1-1 while I checked Jesse. He was breathing. The blood was from a wound to his head. Greg and Matt stirred and I went over to them. "Jesse!" Greg said moving toward him. I grabbed him and held him back. "He's alive. We need to leave him be until the paramedics get here." "They are on their way," Lance said as he hung up the phone. I went back to Jesse and checked him out. I pulled my shirt off and applied pressure to the wound. Then I looked up at Greg. "What happened?" "Chris. He is seriously upset. He went off on Frank and Jesse about being a couple and how it was all wrong. Then he got violent." "Where's Frank?" Matt said looking around. "What's your driver's number?" Lance asked. He dialed the number. There was no answer. "Nothing," he said. "What is your license number?" I asked. They told me and I looked up at Lance. "Take over here. I'm going to look for them." Lance nodded and knelt down applying pressure to Jesse's wound. I stood up and ran out the door. I ran to the elevator and used my powers to plunge down the shaft and land safely on the first floor. I ran out the door to the SUV. In a few moments I was driving down the road. I picked up the car phone and called the hotel room number. "Hello?" Lance answered. "Ask them what time this happened?" I heard Lance ask the question. "Around noon, they said." "They've only been gone for a half hour. They can't have gotten far. Put Greg or Matt on the phone." "Yeah," Matt said. "Has Chris ever been to Orlando before?" "I think so." "What was his favorite place? Did he ever tell you?" "He liked the beach." "I'll be in touch," I replied and hung up. I turned the SUV around and headed toward the beach. They couldn't have been too far ahead. I slammed on the gas and shot forward. It came to my mind to pray. 'God,' but that was all that came to me. It was as if I couldn't talk to God. 'What the...' I wondered. But for the second time today, I didn't have time to figure out why. There were lives in the balance. As I drove down the highway, I came up on the band's bus. I didn't want to damage Lance's SUV so I called Lance and told him where I was leaving it. Then, I pulled over and changed into my Bat-suit. Within moments, I was riding on top of a Greyhound tour bus heading in the direction of Chris and Frankie. It didn't take too long for the Greyhound to get close to Dream Street's tour bus. I used my powers and leapt to the bus landing squarely on the roof. Shortly thereafter, the bus turned off the highway and pulled up to the beach. Chris and Frankie disembark and walk out toward the beach. "What are you doing, Chris?" Frank asks. "You hurt Jesse, Greg and Matt. What is going on with you?" Chris turned around with tears streaming down his face and rage in his eyes. Frank reached his hand out to comfort Chris. Chris pushed his hand away. "Don't touch me!" "Chris, come on, man. Let me help you." "You can't help me! You can't do anything for me!" "What's going on?" I said making my presence known. "Batman!" both boys muttered. "W-what are you doing here?" Frank asked. "I saw what the aftermath in the hotel room. Your friends are really upset and angry, and I don't blame them one bit. What's going on that would cause you to attack your friends?" "You...you don't know!" Chris yelled. "You can't know! And you don't care! Not after what you did the other night!" "What?" Frank asked looking from Chris to me. "The vampire? The sex?" I asked. "Which is it, Chris?" "You can't know," Chris said. "How could any of you?" "Maybe if you told us," Frank answered. "No. I won't humiliate myself. I won't..." Frank turned to me. "Ever since our meeting with Eric McCoy when he told us being gay was okay, Chris has flipped out extra! He always expressed his opinion that it was wrong and would ruin his career! Now, he's unreasonable! Tonight was the icing on the cake!" "Wait a minute," I replied. "What did he say?" "He said being gay was wrong." "And it would what?" "Ruin his career." Frankie realized what he said and he turned to Chris. "You hate us because it would ruin your career! You hate us because it would ruin the group!" Frankie moved after Chris but I grabbed his shoulder stopping him. "That isn't it. It's not about the group. It's about him." "What do you mean?" Frankie asked me. I looked up at Chris. "Being gay would ruin your career. Is that what you said? You're gay." Frankie's eyes widened in disbelief. Chris collapsed to his knees crying uncontrollably. "My God," Frankie whispered. "Sometimes those who speak the loudest against it, are those who are dealing with it and don't want to be." Frankie ran over and knelt beside Chris. All that Chris had done melted away and Frankie saw the fearful young man Chris really was. Lance's SUV pulled up next to the tour bus and Lance climbed out with Greg and Matt following. They ran up to us, Lance stopping at me and Greg and Matt approaching Frankie and Chris. "What happened?" Lance whispered. "Chris is gay, too." "What? Why was he so adamant against Jesse and Frankie being gay?" "Deep inside he felt it was wrong. I thought Jesse had internalized homophobia. Chris is in an even worse condition." I took my leave of Lance and headed back to the SUV where I changed my clothes. Matt and Greg stood watching their friend shaking from the uncontrollable crying. "Hey, where's Eric?" Matt said turning back to Lance. I came running down the beach appearing out of breath. "What's...going on?" "Where have you been?" Matt asked me. "Long story. Too long to tell in such short breath. Suffice it to say, I got lost. I thought I knew a short cut." When I saw Chris and Frankie, I asked, "What happened?" "Chris is gay, Eric," Lance said to me. "He doesn't want to be, but he is." "That explains why he reacted so vehemently against Frankie and Jesse." Lance nodded. I walked up to Chris and heard him mumbling. "I tried not to be. I tried not to be. Why can't I stop? Why can't I not be? Why?" I knelt down beside Frankie and took Chris into my arms. "You poor boy," I cried with him. "I'm so sorry." Tears welled up in my eyes and I cried with him. 'This must have been what Hunter cried night after night in his bed when no one was around,' I thought. 'He must have tried so hard not to be gay hoping it would change him. So much damage done by those who hate homosexuals.' It was at that moment I realized what the center would be all about, helping those who have internalized their state of being bad. And I knew the name of the center: The Hunter Center for Teens. Chris wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me tight. "Why am I gay?" he asked no one in particular. "Why am I gay? Why can't I be normal? Why?" "It's going to be okay," I said to Chris. "We'll get through this." I stood up picking Chris up in my arms and carried him to the SUV. "Greg, you, Frankie and Matt ride in the tour bus back to the hotel room," Lance told the remaining band members. Eric and I will take Chris to the hospital." They nodded and headed to the bus. Lance ran to the SUV and opened the backdoor so Chris and I could get in. Once inside, he closed it, got behind the wheel, and drove us back to town, where, with any luck, Chris would find the help he needed. To Be Continued... What a powerful chapter! Chris's adamant feelings against homosexuality stemmed from the fact he himself is gay! Have any of you gone through that? I have. I used to be so anti-gay figuring if I was loud enough and negative enough, I would stop being gay. That only served to damage me. If any of you are going through this, seek professional help. Find a gay-affirmative therapist who can help you. Contacting gay organizations or gay-supportive organizations can lead in the right direction. You can receive help with your feelings. You are not alone.