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Description
Dana’s car pulled up to the gates of Wayne Manor, just like the spot where Terry first began his adventure. Leaning against the closed gates, Terry stood, his hands in his pockets in the dead of night, looking up at Dana as she pulled up. He approached her as Dana climbed out of the car.

“Thanks for coming here.”

“Well, Terry, you asked me to. Though...Im not sure what any of this is about...”

“There is something I need to show you, Dana.”

Dana couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, crossing her own arms as she could tell something was on Terry’s mind. He was sweating. Nervous. Whatever was on his mind, it was something big.

“Okay. Then show me.”

As Terry took Dana’s hand, the gates with the large iron W on it opened as Terry led Dana inside, soon walking into Wayne Manor itself. As soon as they stepped inside, Dana looked around in large, empty halls, crossing her arms as she tried to fight the cold shiver that went down her spine.

“This is the first time you’ve ever brought me here. I always kinda wondered what the inside of this old house looked like.”

“It’s nothing special.”

“Are you kidding? How many time can you say you’ve been invited into a billionaire’s home?”

“I guess I’m used to it. To me, it’s just where I work.”

“Well, Im glad you finally showed it to me.” Dana gave Terry a soft smile, as terry lightly pulled his hand, leading her down the hall to the living room.

“There is something else I need to show you. It’s right here.”

“Gee. It’s...a clock. Way to show a girl a good time, Terry.”

Terry carefully opened the glass case to the clock and pulled on the cord. With a mighty click, the clock swung open, revealing a hidden panel behind it as Dana’s mouth slowly opened in surprise.

“Oh. Okay. That I didn’t see coming.”

As Terry walked down the steps into the passageway, Dana followed behind, slightly nervous as she wasn’t sure what to expect. The steps were dark, as if she was stepping into a shadow itself. But down the hall, she saw light in the distance, eventually, as she reached the bottom, her eyes opened in complete astonishment. She could not believe what she was seeing. The first thing she saw was the Batmobile, sitting in the middle of the...cave, almost as if it was waiting for it’s next mission. Next was the ‘costumed memorial’ set up against the wall, with the Batman costumes, both new and present, the original Batgirl costume, and the original Robin costume, with a notable empty spot next to them. Turning around, she spotted the massive computer set up with a very familiar body manning it.

“Is that you, Terry? Jack and Mel are already out on assignments with Dick. The old man is Metropolis, trying to get Supes to clean up that whole ‘Damien’ thing going on. Im surprised that you would be down he-----oh.”

Max turns around in her chair to see Dana looking back at her, both equally surprised to see each other before Max sees Terry, somewhat understanding what is happening.

“Oh...um...hey Dana.”

“Hey Max.” Dana still looks surprised, but still, she finds herself blankly understanding.

“You know, Im sure Ace could go for a good walk. I think I’ll go take care of that and...leave you two alone.”

Max immediately gets up and heads out of the cave as Terry walks over to the Batcomputer, resting his hands on the keyboard and let’s out a long sigh.

“Dana...there is something I need to tell you...something that’s...well...it’s going to be really hard to say to you, but—“

“You’re Batman.”

“...Okay, I guess it won’t be that hard.”

Dana walked over and sat down on the chair in front of the computer, folding her hands and looking up at Terry, actually trying to understand.

“I think part of me always knew. How tired you’ve been for the last few years. Always busy with this ‘job’ that you never wanted to get into detail about. In fact...it’s sorta a relief. The other part of me sorta thought it might have been another girl...”

“I’d never do that to you, Dana.”

“I know, Terry. You’re a good guy. You’d never do anything like that to me...though I really wish you would have told me earlier.”

“I wanted to...I wanted to tell you since the beginning, but I couldn’t. Batman has a lot of enemies....I have a lot of enemies. If anyone ever found out who I am, they would get at me through my friends and family. I couldn’t put that kind of risk on you.”

Dana thought for a moment, then looked back up at Terry, her hands squeezing at the chair.

“Last year, when those Jokerz attacked me at the club?”

“An old enemy from even before the time when I was Batman. Figured out who I was. Looked to make my life a living hell.”

“But you see? I was in danger either way, if I knew you were Batman or not. Face it Terry. Your enemies are my enemies...”

There was a brief moment of awkward silence, neither sure quite what to say. The tension was growing until finally...

“So...are you going to put it on for me?”

“What?”

“Come on, Terry. You drop something as epic as “Im Batman” into my lap, and you think you’re not going to wear the suit for me? *Scoff* Yeah right.”

“Dana, I—“

“Suit. Now.”

Terry shook his head and sighed. “Alright. But only for you.” As Terry walked past the display case, grabbing the Batman suit and heading into the cave’s changing room, Dana got up and began wandering around the cave, finding herself in the trophy room. The giant penny. The robot dinosaur. Penguins. Joker cards. Question marks. Each item she saw told a story, and part of her was anxious to hear the story.

“Ahem...”

Dana turned and saw Terry standing in the Bat costume, holding the mask in his hands. A playful smirk came across her face as she walked around Terry in a circle, allowing her to take in every inch of Terry’s body in the batsuit.

“I thought you were wearing that ugly armor suit. With the red cape I’ve seen in the news reports.”

“That’s not me. That’s the new Batman.”

“New Batman? But...why does there need to be a new Batman?”

“Because I quit.”

“You...you what?”

“Damien Wayne, the son of Bruce, is Batman now. Forced me out and took over the role.”

“How in the world did he do that?”

“Damien is...unlike any of the costumed nuts I’ve faced before. He’s dedicated a lifetime to not only being Batman, but to beat me. He threatened to hurt everyone I cared about unless I faced him in a battle to be Batman. I accepted, and failed.”

“Come on, Terry. I’ve seen this guy. He’s violent. Heartless. He’s a masochist. He’s no Batman. You are.”

“What do you want me to do, Dana? Let him hurt you? My mom? My brother? Max?”

“Yeah...Max...how long has she known about you being Batman?”

“She figured it out a little after I first put on the mask, but that’s besides the point. Damien’s Batman. Im not. End of story.”

Terry turned his back on Dana, and in turn, Dana slowly put her arms around Terry, forcing him to look her in the eyes.

“Look, Terry...nothing in the world would make me happier then having you not be Batman anymore. To finally have you all to myself. But I can’t do that. I can’t simply sit back and keep you to myself while this city needs a hero. This Damien guy is a menace, and if somebody doesn’t stop him, then he’s going to kill someone, and only you can do the job. I have faith in you...”

“But, the threats...”

“Life is full of threats. That’s all part of living. Whether you are Batman or not, tomorrow will always bring a crisis, and whatever that crisis is, Im ready to experience them with you...I love you, Terry. You and Batman.”

Dana rests her hand in Terry’s before leaning in and kissing his adoringly.

“...But what if I can’t stop Damien? What if I just get beat again?”

“You can stop him, Terry. I believe in you...”

Dana takes Terry’s mask out of his hand and slips it on over his head, finally having Terry stand as Batman once more as the computer interrupts with a breaking story, drawing both of their attention.

“...DOWNTOWN GOTHAM AS JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED LEADER SUPERMAN IS APPARENTLY BATTLING THE MASKED VIGILANTE, AND FORMER LEAGUE ASSOCIATE, THE BATMAN. WE ARE GETTING REPORTS THAT BATMAN HAS SOMEHOW GAINED A LETHAL DOSE OF KRYPTONITE, KEEPING THE LEGENDARY ‘MAN OF STEEL’ AT BAY...”

“Sounds like the city needs you now more then ever.”

“Dana...everything I’ve told you here...everything Im afraid of...what if I can’t....”

“Shhhhhhhhh...”

Dana interrupts Terry, this time kissing him over his mask before breaking it, looking deep into the eyes of the cowl.

“Go save Superman. Go save Gotham. Go save the world.”

Terry couldn’t help but smile under his cowl.

“I love you.”

“And I love you too.”

Reaching into his utility belt, Terry took out a remote control and activated the Batmobile, forcing the bay door open as he took to the sky and leapt into it. Looking back at Dana one more time, having a proud smile on her face as the bay door closed, an exhaust flame belching out the back as the Batmobile took to the sky and out of the cave as Dana simply watched on admiration.

“Go get him, Terry...I believe in you.”

-THE END

Description
Dana’s car pulled up to the gates of Wayne Manor, just like the spot where Terry first began his adventure. Leaning against the closed gates, Terry stood, his hands in his pockets in the dead of night, looking up at Dana as she pulled up. He approached her as Dana climbed out of the car.

“Thanks for coming here.”

“Well, Terry, you asked me to. Though...Im not sure what any of this is about...”

“There is something I need to show you, Dana.”

Dana couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, crossing her own arms as she could tell something was on Terry’s mind. He was sweating. Nervous. Whatever was on his mind, it was something big.

“Okay. Then show me.”

As Terry took Dana’s hand, the gates with the large iron W on it opened as Terry led Dana inside, soon walking into Wayne Manor itself. As soon as they stepped inside, Dana looked around in large, empty halls, crossing her arms as she tried to fight the cold shiver that went down her spine.

“This is the first time you’ve ever brought me here. I always kinda wondered what the inside of this old house looked like.”

“It’s nothing special.”

“Are you kidding? How many time can you say you’ve been invited into a billionaire’s home?”

“I guess I’m used to it. To me, it’s just where I work.”

“Well, Im glad you finally showed it to me.” Dana gave Terry a soft smile, as terry lightly pulled his hand, leading her down the hall to the living room.

“There is something else I need to show you. It’s right here.”

“Gee. It’s...a clock. Way to show a girl a good time, Terry.”

Terry carefully opened the glass case to the clock and pulled on the cord. With a mighty click, the clock swung open, revealing a hidden panel behind it as Dana’s mouth slowly opened in surprise.

“Oh. Okay. That I didn’t see coming.”

As Terry walked down the steps into the passageway, Dana followed behind, slightly nervous as she wasn’t sure what to expect. The steps were dark, as if she was stepping into a shadow itself. But down the hall, she saw light in the distance, eventually, as she reached the bottom, her eyes opened in complete astonishment. She could not believe what she was seeing. The first thing she saw was the Batmobile, sitting in the middle of the...cave, almost as if it was waiting for it’s next mission. Next was the ‘costumed memorial’ set up against the wall, with the Batman costumes, both new and present, the original Batgirl costume, and the original Robin costume, with a notable empty spot next to them. Turning around, she spotted the massive computer set up with a very familiar body manning it.

“Is that you, Terry? Jack and Mel are already out on assignments with Dick. The old man is Metropolis, trying to get Supes to clean up that whole ‘Damien’ thing going on. Im surprised that you would be down he-----oh.”

Max turns around in her chair to see Dana looking back at her, both equally surprised to see each other before Max sees Terry, somewhat understanding what is happening.

“Oh...um...hey Dana.”

“Hey Max.” Dana still looks surprised, but still, she finds herself blankly understanding.

“You know, Im sure Ace could go for a good walk. I think I’ll go take care of that and...leave you two alone.”

Max immediately gets up and heads out of the cave as Terry walks over to the Batcomputer, resting his hands on the keyboard and let’s out a long sigh.

“Dana...there is something I need to tell you...something that’s...well...it’s going to be really hard to say to you, but—“

“You’re Batman.”

“...Okay, I guess it won’t be that hard.”

Dana walked over and sat down on the chair in front of the computer, folding her hands and looking up at Terry, actually trying to understand.

“I think part of me always knew. How tired you’ve been for the last few years. Always busy with this ‘job’ that you never wanted to get into detail about. In fact...it’s sorta a relief. The other part of me sorta thought it might have been another girl...”

“I’d never do that to you, Dana.”

“I know, Terry. You’re a good guy. You’d never do anything like that to me...though I really wish you would have told me earlier.”

“I wanted to...I wanted to tell you since the beginning, but I couldn’t. Batman has a lot of enemies....I have a lot of enemies. If anyone ever found out who I am, they would get at me through my friends and family. I couldn’t put that kind of risk on you.”

Dana thought for a moment, then looked back up at Terry, her hands squeezing at the chair.

“Last year, when those Jokerz attacked me at the club?”

“An old enemy from even before the time when I was Batman. Figured out who I was. Looked to make my life a living hell.”

“But you see? I was in danger either way, if I knew you were Batman or not. Face it Terry. Your enemies are my enemies...”

There was a brief moment of awkward silence, neither sure quite what to say. The tension was growing until finally...

“So...are you going to put it on for me?”

“What?”

“Come on, Terry. You drop something as epic as “Im Batman” into my lap, and you think you’re not going to wear the suit for me? *Scoff* Yeah right.”

“Dana, I—“

“Suit. Now.”

Terry shook his head and sighed. “Alright. But only for you.” As Terry walked past the display case, grabbing the Batman suit and heading into the cave’s changing room, Dana got up and began wandering around the cave, finding herself in the trophy room. The giant penny. The robot dinosaur. Penguins. Joker cards. Question marks. Each item she saw told a story, and part of her was anxious to hear the story.

“Ahem...”

Dana turned and saw Terry standing in the Bat costume, holding the mask in his hands. A playful smirk came across her face as she walked around Terry in a circle, allowing her to take in every inch of Terry’s body in the batsuit.

“I thought you were wearing that ugly armor suit. With the red cape I’ve seen in the news reports.”

“That’s not me. That’s the new Batman.”

“New Batman? But...why does there need to be a new Batman?”

“Because I quit.”

“You...you what?”

“Damien Wayne, the son of Bruce, is Batman now. Forced me out and took over the role.”

“How in the world did he do that?”

“Damien is...unlike any of the costumed nuts I’ve faced before. He’s dedicated a lifetime to not only being Batman, but to beat me. He threatened to hurt everyone I cared about unless I faced him in a battle to be Batman. I accepted, and failed.”

“Come on, Terry. I’ve seen this guy. He’s violent. Heartless. He’s a masochist. He’s no Batman. You are.”

“What do you want me to do, Dana? Let him hurt you? My mom? My brother? Max?”

“Yeah...Max...how long has she known about you being Batman?”

“She figured it out a little after I first put on the mask, but that’s besides the point. Damien’s Batman. Im not. End of story.”

Terry turned his back on Dana, and in turn, Dana slowly put her arms around Terry, forcing him to look her in the eyes.

“Look, Terry...nothing in the world would make me happier then having you not be Batman anymore. To finally have you all to myself. But I can’t do that. I can’t simply sit back and keep you to myself while this city needs a hero. This Damien guy is a menace, and if somebody doesn’t stop him, then he’s going to kill someone, and only you can do the job. I have faith in you...”

“But, the threats...”

“Life is full of threats. That’s all part of living. Whether you are Batman or not, tomorrow will always bring a crisis, and whatever that crisis is, Im ready to experience them with you...I love you, Terry. You and Batman.”

Dana rests her hand in Terry’s before leaning in and kissing his adoringly.

“...But what if I can’t stop Damien? What if I just get beat again?”

“You can stop him, Terry. I believe in you...”

Dana takes Terry’s mask out of his hand and slips it on over his head, finally having Terry stand as Batman once more as the computer interrupts with a breaking story, drawing both of their attention.

“...DOWNTOWN GOTHAM AS JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED LEADER SUPERMAN IS APPARENTLY BATTLING THE MASKED VIGILANTE, AND FORMER LEAGUE ASSOCIATE, THE BATMAN. WE ARE GETTING REPORTS THAT BATMAN HAS SOMEHOW GAINED A LETHAL DOSE OF KRYPTONITE, KEEPING THE LEGENDARY ‘MAN OF STEEL’ AT BAY...”

“Sounds like the city needs you now more then ever.”

“Dana...everything I’ve told you here...everything Im afraid of...what if I can’t....”

“Shhhhhhhhh...”

Dana interrupts Terry, this time kissing him over his mask before breaking it, looking deep into the eyes of the cowl.

“Go save Superman. Go save Gotham. Go save the world.”

Terry couldn’t help but smile under his cowl.

“I love you.”

“And I love you too.”

Reaching into his utility belt, Terry took out a remote control and activated the Batmobile, forcing the bay door open as he took to the sky and leapt into it. Looking back at Dana one more time, having a proud smile on her face as the bay door closed, an exhaust flame belching out the back as the Batmobile took to the sky and out of the cave as Dana simply watched on admiration.

“Go get him, Terry...I believe in you.”

-THE END