Batman Beyond Dimensions #4

HOME.

Home again.

I like to be here, when I can.

And not when it’s some other version of it.

This time I’m really here.

My Batcave.

My Gotham.

My Universe.

But not for long… Just long enough to pick up a few things.

 

I walk over to the Batcomputer, and look around. The cave is already lit. Carrie must've been in recently.

It’s so much cleaner here, than the last one I visited.

 

Sir, now we’ve temporarily stopped at home, I suggest we make some minor repairs to the-

 

“Yeah yeah, A.L.F.R.E.D, I’m on it.”

 

That fight with the OMAC was taxing on the suit, I haven’t been able to activate the nanotech since the fight. Luckily the Batcomputer has managed to synthesise a new batch, which I immediately apply to the suit. Within seconds it’s repaired and I’m able to activate it and switch into my street clothes.

It never fails to amaze me.

 

“Schway”

 

The next stop is to replace the grenade. I’m not quite sure if I trust Tim’s past tech. But nonetheless, I’ll still carry it with me. The gamble might be able to pay off someday. I pop off the strip of metal, with the carving on it, and put the grenade in it’s place.

Hmmm.

Maybe I should get it checked out.

A enclosure in the Batcomputer opens up, and I slot the strip in. Hopefully this analysis will yield some results, and I’ll actually be able to figure out what this thing is.

A lone voice cuts through the silence, and my concentration.

 

“I had a feeling you’d stop off here.”

 

Immediately turn. I’d know that voice from anywhere.

 

“Oh my god, Dana”

 

“Hey, Ter”

 

She steps out of the shadows, beautiful as ever. I haven’t seen her in so long. And by the expression on her face, she hasn’t seen me in a while either.

 

...

 

The cave is not exactly the place you want to have stage a reunion with your fiancée.

So we exited the cave, and the manor altogether.

And instead down to the beach that resides near the opening for the Batboat.

No one ever comes down here. I guess that’s why it makes it romantic.

It’s silent too. Dana slips her shoes off and taps her toes at the edge of the water. She instantly retracts them, and lets out a soft yelp. Looks at me and giggles. But it quickly fades.

I look away from her, and my eyes move across the horizon.

There’s an abandoned pier in the distance. It’s now a Jokerz hideout. Strangely dangerous letting it be so close to the cave. But it makes sense to keep my friends close, and my enemies cl-

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

“I- What?”

 

“You heard me Ter, why aren’t you talking to me. You’ve been back 5 minutes, and you won’t even look at me.”

 

“I’m sorry. It’s just-”

 

“You’ve been gone for three months, Ter… what have you been doing?

 

“Looking.”

 

“Not at me, clearly… It feels like you don’t even want me anymore.”

 

This shocks me into reality. And immediately I’m listening to what she’s saying.

 

“Dana… I’ve had a lot to do. So much searching…”

 

“For what? For answers? You’re never going to find them.

Bruce is gone. Accept it.

Please. Just stay here. Don’t leave me again. Don’t leave your family. Don’t leave Matt.”

 

We start to walk up the rocky path that runs along the beach. She puts her shoes back on, and looks to me for a response, before we continue walking again.

 

“Matt knows I’ll be away for a while. He knows how important being Batman is.

You know how important it is. But I’m not saying that you’re not important. I’m just-”

 

“Doesn’t matter. I can deal with it. I’m your fianceé.

But he’s your brother. He’s just a kid, that misses the only father figure he has left in his life. You should at least visit him. Or call him. He misses you so much.”

 

“I know, but I just can’t. None of you are supposed to know I’m back.”

 

“I get that, but I’m not cool with this, Terry. I miss you more than anyone. I need you back. And if you won’t stay for me, or for your brother. Stay for this city. Things haven’t gotten better since you’ve left.

Sure, Carrie is keeping a firm hold on the city. But for how long?

Jokerz have been too much for her to handle.

Your absence is killing this city.

It’s killing me.

And you know what the worst part is? Even though you’re back, I can’t even talk to my Terry anymore. Instead, standing in front of me, is Batman.”

 

These words sting. Slag, do they sting. Have I been gone too long?

 

“Terry, you need to stop and think about what’s more important. This quest of yours or-“

 

A voice comes out from in front of us, interrupting Dana:

 

“Ooooh ho hoooo. What’s this? A romantic stroll along the beach?”

 

The man dressed in purple and wearing shitty makeup, who approaches us out of the shadows, needs no introduction. Nor does his gang.

 

“Jokerz.” I scowl under my breath.

 

It’s the usual suspects again. J-man, the Joker wanabe, and his gang. Come to think of it, most of them are wanabes. Ghoul? Scarecrow wanabe. Terminal? Two Face.

I haven’t seen Terminal in a while. He’s not part of this group.

They begin to surround us, one of the Dee twins is already at our backs, and ready to strike.

Dana grips my arm. Then releases it.

She looks up at me and grins.

 

“Go get ‘em Ter”

 

As if in response to her words, the suit materialises around my hand, up my arm, and across my chest.

 

Before they know it, The Batman is standing in front of them.

 

Immediately Woof, Scab, Ghoul, and Deidre bail out of fear. What twips. I was expecting a small fight. I guess I’ve been absent for so long, these guys have only just remembered again what it feels like to get their ass beaten.

 

J-man is the last one left standing. He starts to back away as I approach him.

 

“Was that some sort of an attempt at a joke? Or a threat?”

 

“Uhhh… no. NO! I was genuinely concerned for your safety. Wow. Look at how edgy these rocks are… pleasedontkillmemisterbatmansir”

 

I lean in and growl at him:

 

“The only edgy thing here is you, emo droog.”

 

This confuses him. Exactly as intended.

 

“Uh… was that some sort of attempt at a joke? Or a threat?”

 

I take the opportunity to get in a quick punch, and he goes down easily.

Jokerz are nothing compared to the big bads like Superman or OMACs. At least Superman gives me a run for my money. Even when I have Kryptonite. These guys are complete schwarbage, and can’t eve-

He propels himself up from the ground, and tackles me down.

Damnit. I need to pay more attention to Tim’s advice to wise up.

Once down I look up and see that he’s stumbling away from me and towards-

 

Oh no.

Dana.

 

J-man approaches her, with his knife in his hand, giggling uncontrollably.

He raises it to her.

I’m too far away… I won’t be able to get to her in time.

I bring a batarang to my hand, and raise it as well.

He starts to bring it down, and I throw it at his knee.

Unexpectedly, Dana charges forward and kicks him in between the legs.

How did I get so lucky with this girl? Only she’d have the balls to do something like that.

He goes down, and as he does the batarang that was meant for his knee goes to his head and he face plants.

Dana starts to laugh. And she’s right to, that was hilarious.

I join her, and J-man gets up. And stares at us in bewilderment, as we laugh at him.

He starts to hobble away; wounded, intimidated, and ultimately defeated.

He throws back a threat, to make himself seem manly again:

 

“I know who you are, Batman! I know your girl! I will find you!”

 

Dana scoffs at this: “Let them try.”

 

He continues to hobble away for a few metres, then stops, clutches at his groin, moans, then tries to run towards the pier, where the rest of his gang is hiding.

 

I go over to her and hug her from behind, and we watch him, giggling away.

Moments like these are what I live for. And I can forget all about my troubles. I can forget that the Jokerz are a serious gang. Or that Gotham is ridden with crime and corruption. And more importantly that Bruce is gone, and every single version of him in the multiverse is dead.

 

...

 

After a quick visit to my family, and even dinner with Dana. We’re back inside the cave, and she waits as I prepare to leave.

It was nice. Seeing my mother again, and having my little twip of a brother be annoying, yet adorable. And just being with Dana, made this whole thing worth it. This little stop over was nice, while it lasted.

 

But it’s not what I need to do.

 

I go to the Batcomputer again, to check the results.

 

Nothing.

 

I eject the strip and return it to my belt. Fat lot of good that did. Passing by Bruce's desk, I pick up the only thing that catches my eye. A small box of inter dimensional communicators.

It’s time to go.

The suit covers my body again, fully repaired. And I go to leave.

But I can’t. Not yet.

I feel Dana’s gaze on my back, watching my every move.

So I turn to address her. She has those big puppy dog eyes, that everyone has when they want something. But it’s her mouth that lets me know what she wants:

 

“I wish you could stay longer…”

 

“Dana… I need to do this”

 

“Then go Terry… just go. Don’t expect me to be here waiting.”

 

She then begins to leave in a huff. But I can’t let things end on a note like this. So I call her back.

 

“Dana. Don’t be like that, you know that I’d do anything to be here with you.

But some things are more important”

 

“Yeah. Like some creepy old guy”

 

“Like the disappearance of my father from the face of all existence”

 

She stops in her tracks, turns around, and hugs me apologetically.

 

“Terry. You know I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just… scared I’m going to lose you. Every day I worry whether you’ll come back or not. Or how long I have to wait until I see you again. Will it be another day? A week? A month? Or will you just not be back at all?

 

We stop everything. My suit drops away. All arguments and fears are deflated.

And we just embrace.

All this jumping from world to world, and ultimately I’m holding my true world in my arms.

Everything stops for a second. And we quietly enjoy being in this moment. Just her and I.

 

I don’t know for how long. It felt like an eternity. And in that eternity, nothing mattered. All my problems went away. It was just me and her… My Dana.

But before I get lost in the emotion, I look into her eyes, plant a soft kiss on her lips. and pull away.

She looks at me, with the most pained expression on her face.

She knows this is the moment I have to leave, and pulls me back for another quick kiss.

Tell her you love her Terry.

Just tell her.

 

“You know… I really needed this. To be here, and see you.. But-“

 

“I know Terry. Just go. I’ll… I’ll be waiting for you”

 

I place one of the inter dimensional communicators in her hand.

 

"If you ever need me back. Just call."

 

She doesn't reply, as she knows I have a much bigger mission on hand.

I go again to tell her that I love her, but can’t find myself to utter the words. So I simply turn, suit up again, and leave her. Hopefully I’ll see her again.

I glance back, and she blows me a kiss, and smiles.

 

“God I love her”

 

She giggles.

 

“I love you too, Terry”

 

Wait… did I say that out lou- The vortex appears with its palette of bright colours, and sucks me in. Once again, I’m propelled towards an unknown destination. Unsure what I will find.

But I hope one day, I’ll be able to come back here.

When all of this is over.

And see Dana again.

Done