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Batman Before	By : Jessy8 Category: DC Verse Cartoons > Batman Beyond Views: 8886 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Batman Beyond, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Batman Before
- 2-ch 2
- 3-chapter 3
- 4-ch 4
- 5-chapter 5
- 6-chapter 6
- 7-chapter 7
- 8-ch 8
- 9-ch9
- 10-ch 10
- 11-ch 11
- 12-Chapter 12
- 13-Chapter 13
- 14-Chapter 14
- 15-Final
- 3
- 4
- 5
Batman Before
By Wildfire
Chapter Four
11/15/05
Hard, itchy. Pain! Terry let a groan out and forces himself to turn onto his back. He blinks as he stares up into the dark blue night sky. He blinked a few times, trying to remember where he was and what had happened. He remembered going to bed? Yes, he had been getting ready to go to bed because he had school in the morning. So, how did he end up out here and covered in bruises? He blinks as he feels something crawl onto his chest. He looks up and is surprised to see a small kitten crawling and mewing on his upper body.
“Hey, little guy. Where’d you come from?”
He forces his stiff body to sit and pick up the small animal. His eyes move around; he was surrounded by trees and was lying in grass. At first, he thought he was at City Park, but it was too clean and too big for that. He stands slowly and was relived to see his backpack lying next to him. He picks it up and slowly starts walking, softly holding the kitten to his chest.
His eyes narrow on a statue. Wait, that statue was in City Park. He moves slightly faster to get to the statue to see it up close. It didn’t have graphite all over it, but it was definitely the same statue.
‘Well, if this is the statue, then the way home is this way,’ he thinks as he turns to the left of the statue, taking a trail toward where he hoped home was. As he walked, his whole body ached and started to hurt more in just certain areas, his ankle was throbbing, and his side felt like he was on fire, making it harder to breathe.
When he looked at his arms and stomach, he could see bruises; he wondered what his face must look like. As he touched his face, it felt swollen and his left eye felt like it might close shut. He finally reached the street and his eyes widened. It looked like Gotham... but not. The buildings were shorter, and they looked older, more worn down. But they were the same buildings! They looked like how they were before they had re-approved all the buildings and re-built on them.
The small kitten meows, snuggling into Terry’s arms. Terry looks down at the kitten and rubs the cat’s head.
“Suddenly, I feel like that girl from Kansas.”
He heads for home, but when he got there, there wasn’t an apartment building. It was a bookstore. He looks around in the dark night, wondering where the hell he was. It was definitely Gotham, just not the Gotham he knew. Would Bruce’s home still be there? Would Bruce? He starts heading in that direction when a car whizzes past him.
Terry stares as the car disappears. It was an oil-burning car? But gas-burning cars had been outlawed. Why would there be one?
His side hurt so bad. He slowly sat down on the floor, leaning against the bookstore’s wall. Was he in a VR system? But how could he hurt if this was a VR? It should just feel like an electrical tingle not pain. Where was he? Why was he so hurt? Where was his home? How come he wasn’t still at Bruce’s? He knew he was starting to panic, but he couldn’t help it. His heart raced and his head felt heavy. Where was he?
*&*&*
Police Officer Dick Grayson had the night shift that night. Normally, he refused night shifts (for personal reasons), but he needed the extra cash; Bruce had decided not to loan him any more money. The night was so quiet, though; he hadn’t seen one crime. He stops as he hears a small meow. He looks down, seeing a small kitten.
“Hey, little guy. Where’s your mommy?” He reaches down to pick up the small animal, only for it to dart away into the alleyway. “Well, good luck, then.”
He stops as he sees a slight reflection shine from the alleyway. He moves slowly in and is surprised to see a teenage boy lying there, so he quickly moves in to check for a pulse. He was relived to find it there and gently moves the boy’s head up.
“Hey, kid.” He uses a pressure point on the boy’s shoulder, making the boy gasp and wake up. “Hey, kid. You okay?”
His eyes wander for a second, then land on Dick. “Where am I?”
“On Lanson Street. What’s your name, kid?”
“Terry. Who are you?”
“I’m Officer Dick Grayson. What happened to you, Terry?”
“I dunno. I can’t remember.”
“Do you know where you live?”
“Here” he gives a dry laugh, “but it’s gone.”
Grayson listens, wondering if the boy was tripping on some kind of drug. “Alright, let’s get you to a hospital.”
“No!” Terry jerked away. There was no way in hell he was going to the hospital, he’d end up back in bed for another two months. No, no, he wasn’t going to the hospital again.
“Okay, calm down. What’s wrong with the hospital?”
“I dunno.” Terry was having a hard time sorting out his thoughts.
“Alright. Well, let’s go, then.” Dick starts to pull the boy up, but Terry punches on instinct, then moving back. Dick avoided the punch and moves back as well. “Easy now. You don’t want to fight me, kid. Come on, I won’t hurt you.”
“Leave me alone.”
“Look, kid... Terry I can’t leave you here.” He took a cautious step forward. “Come with me.”
Terry blinks and looks at him. “What was your name?!”
Officer Grayson sighs. “I’m Officer Dick Grayson. I won’t hurt you; I’m a cop. I jus--”
“YOU’RE LYING!”
Dick jumps, slightly surprised. “I won’t hurt you, I promise.”
“THAT’S NOT YOUR NAME!” Terry backs up further.
“Alright, Terry, why don’t you calm down and we’ll go to the hospital? You’re in some kind of shock and you’re freaking out. I promise you’re okay. Come with me.”
Terry’s mind was racing a mile a minute. “Y-You’re Bruce’s son?” His mind screamed for this guy to please say no.
“He was my guardian, yes. Why? Do you know him? I’ll tell you what, you can call him; just come get in the car. It’s not far from here.”
Terry leans against a wall, breathing hard. He was stuck in some sort of virtual reality system. He was screwed; they’d know he was Batman...! They’d see it. His family would be in trouble. Bruce would be in trouble. He had to get out of here...!
Terry’s brain searched for any info he knew on virtual reality. When Max was in hers, it was all perfect; she wasn’t really moving. She couldn’t get hurt? But he was hurt. He looks down at his body. He could see it, but more importantly, he could feel it. He was hurt, but how could he be hurt in a virtual reality system?
Terry grabs the out-reached arm and flips the man; he blinks and looks down at the police officer. Shit! He hadn’t meant to do that -- he had just felt someone close and reacted.
Grayson blinks and sits up. “Alright, kid, that’s assault. I need you to come with me.” He stands up and goes to get the boy. However, as soon as he got close, Terry tried to bolt. Grayson took after him and pounces and a fight began. Dick was surprised when he was actually having trouble fighting this kid. He was good. Suddenly, they were both rolling and Terry stands and runs. Dick takes after him again.
Terry had no idea were he was running to, only that he had to run and run fast ‘cause right now, he was fighting a very realistic Nightwing, and that wasn’t exactly something he wanted to do.
He was vaguely aware that he was climbing a fence or something before he ran headfirst into something. He fell down on top of whatever it was, only to be hauled up a second later and held tightly by someone’s arms. His eyes blink as he stares down at a much younger Bruce Wayne. His head whirls about and nearly smacks Dick’s head. He had run to Wayne Manor. He hadn’t even realized it, but he supposed it made since, after all, whenever he was trying to escape someone he had come here. But the Manor wasn’t close; how had he gotten here so fast? He smirks, realizing he was sweating and breathing hard. He had run all the way here, while being hurt, and outran the legendary Nightwing?
“Dick?” Bruce was standing now.
“Sorry. He took flight. I couldn’t control where he was going.”
Terry was amused to notice that Dick was also out of breath.
“And who is he?”
“Some kid. I think he’s tripping on some--”
“Terry, Terry McGinnis. And I’m not on drugs I don’t do drugs.” He yanks away while breathing, his hard eyes never leaving Bruce. Dick kept a firm grip on Terry’s arm. “I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to fight you. I was,” he pauses, “confused. I’m sorry.”
“Where do you come from, Terry?” Bruce asks, looking down at him.
Terry gives a dry laugh. “I have no idea anymore. Honestly, by all logic, I don’t exist.” His eyes move to the Manor. The bat cave was there; maybe he could use the computer and set his bat suit-- HIS BAT SUIT! “MY BAG?! WHERE IS IT?!”
“Woah, calm down.” Dick held on tightly to him. “I’m sure you left it back in the alleyway.” He pulls out his handcuffs. “We have a nice, long walk back, though I am impressed you ran here. Thought you’d never slow down.”
“Dick, are those cuffs necessary?”
“Yes, Bruce. He attacked me -- that’s assault. Yes, I have to arrest him.”
“Look at him, Dick, he’s hurt. Leave him with me and I’ll watch him. Have Alfred drive you back down. You can get your car and his bag and come back, and then arrest him, okay?” They stared each other down for a while. “Come on, Dick. Do you really think I’ll lose him?”
“Alright, but be careful; he’s fast. You lose him, you will be finding him again.” Grayson looks down at Terry. “Don’t do anything stupid. He’s not as nice as he looks.”
Terry chocked back a laugh at that. To think Wayne ever being nice.
“I’m serious,” Dick says, having mistaken Terry’s slight laugh for not believing him.
Bruce gently takes hold of Terry’s arm and pulls him away from Dick. “Let’s go inside. You can get Alfred and I can get you some water.” He said the second part to Terry.
The walk to the Manor was slow, as he now felt a little numb; the running was now taking its toll on him. He now knew why Bruce had suggested that he stay; it would have taken him forever to walk the distance back to the alleyway.
He was stepping into the house when his knees buckled under him. He was surprised to suddenly have two pairs of hands pulling him back up. Apparently, they had been waiting for it. He was half-carried to the living room and set down.
“You okay, Terry?” It was Bruce’s voice, but it was so different.
“Nope.” He leans his head back on the chair. “You know, I’d feel one-hundred percent better if you were 83.” He looks to Dick. “And if I didn’t know you at all.” He starts laughing almost hysterically, until his body literally shuts down and passes out.
Bruce sighs. “I was waiting for that.”
“I wonder what he’s on.”
“I don’t think anything, actually. My guess is he’s going through something really traumatic and he had a panic attack that sent him into shock. I don’t think he meant to attack you.”
“I hope he did, ‘cause if he didn’t and he was just having a panic attack, that means he’s an even better fighter, and I could barely keep up with him as it was. And damn, for an injured kid, could he run! He must have run for 35 minutes to get here. Where’s Tim?”
“At a friend’s house, working on a school project.” Bruce picks up the younger boy. “I suppose I’ll put him in one of the spare bedrooms.”
“Bruce, you cannot have any more kids! You’ve fucked with enough kids’ lives!” Dick glares at him.
“I never tracked or forced any of you kids. I never told you about my secret, and when you did find out, I never asked you to do it. In fact, all of you just decided to do it with or with out my permission. So don’t you dare tell me it’s my fault.” Bruce continues up the stairs.
Dick growled and stomped out of the house.
*&*&
Terry woke to the feeling of something cold and wet on his forehead. His eyes drift around Wayne’s house. He yawns and blinks; this wasn’t his normal bedroom. He wondered why Bruce had put him here. He sits up with a grunt; his back felt as if it were on fire. His whole body did.
“Easy, young master. You’ve been through a lot, now lay on back down--”
Terry stares at the skinny old man. “Who are you?” he interrupts.
“My name is Alfred, and I see to taking care of this house and all people living in it.”
“Since when?!” Terry’s eyes dart about. No, it was definitely Bruce’s house, so why was this old man claiming--?
“Since always. I’ve been in this house for over…”
Terry stopped listening at this point. He remembered last night, his fight with Nightwing, running into a young Bruce. And now here he was with the famous Alfred, the man that helped make Batman, the man who without him Batman would have died early.
“And then Moby Dick said, ‘But I need--’”
“What?”
Alfred laughs. “I was wondering when you’d notice what I was saying again. Now, come. Lets get you up and fed. Growing boys need food.”
“God, I hope I’m not growing more.”
A small meow alerts Terry to the small kitten, as it moves around Terry’s feet.
“Hey, I thought you were lost when I ran last night.” He picks the kitten up.
“Master Dick brought him over with your bag.” He points to the book bag. “However, I don’t see anything special in the bag, just a change of clothing. If you were planning on running away, you didn’t think it out too well.” He helps the boy sit up, mindful of his wounds. “I highly recommend you tell Master Bruce where you’re from so he can take you home.”
“Ohh, I’d love that, but I think this time even Bruce Wayne can’t solve this one. At least, not yet.” Terry sincerely hoped he could find a way into the bat cave and more importantly, find a way back to the future or present.
“He might. You’d be amazed at the things Master Bruce can do. Give him a chance and he could surprise you.”
“You know, I’ll tell you what. In 40 years, I’ll put my trust in him -- I’ll even become his worker, and I’ll be a hard worker. But until then, I’d rather not.” Terry pulls away from the older man. This was insane -- he was going insane. He had to find a way home, but how?
“Of course, Master McGinnis. Now, let us go get some food.”
They slowly exit the room and head down the stairs. As they got closer to the bottom, they could hear yelling coming from the kitchen.
“Bruce, you can send him to an orphanage for all I care, but you can’t have him!”
“Dick, you make it sound like I’m going to rape the boy. I’m just giving him a warm, comfortable home ‘til he can remember where he’s from.”
“Ohh, sure. And what are you gonna name this one psycho boy?!” Dick was obviously angry. Terry also noticed Alfred was walking louder down the stairs.
“Dick, this is ridiculous. We can’t--” All noise stopped by the time they got to the kitchen. Only Bruce was in there, and the TV was now on.
“Did Dick just leave,” Terry asks, “or is he just going to get his handcuffs to arrest me?”
Bruce looks up. “Dick left last night after dropping your stuff off. He hasn’t been back, and I don’t think he’s going to arrest you.”
“Really? Could have sworn I heard him when I came down the stairs.”
“You must have been hearing the TV. Noises echo strangely around this home. Sorry to scare you like that.”
Terry nods with a smirk. So Dick had come as Nightwing. He had probably become Nightwing to burn off some energy and came back to try and talk Bruce into giving him up again. So how did he leave? His eyes scan the room. Windows? No, too obvious. The house had many secret passageways, most of which he didn’t know about. His eyes scan the room and land on a small shadowed area perfect for hiding in.
“You know,” he walks toward the area, “your kitchen is really clean.” He was almost there. If his suspicion was true, then--
“Master Terry, why don’t we go for a walk? I can show you around the compound?” It was Alfred. Interesting.
“I thought you wanted me to eat?” He turns to Alfred, raising an eyebrow.
He causally put his hands in his back pocket, hopping he still had his bat transmitters. Bingo, he found one. He sighs, pulling his hand out of his pocket and leaning against the counter. He carefully put the transmitter under it, careful not to show what he was doing to Bruce, Alfred, or the shadowed area where Nightwing was hiding.
“Why don’t we go out? I need to go pick up Tim anyway, and that way you can meet him.”
Terry smiles. “Sure, why the hell not? Hey, either of you guys have a spare toothbrush I can burrow, and maybe some clothing?”
“Alfred, after you guys eat, take him and Tim to get some new clothing. And Terry, there’s a spare toothbrush in the upstairs closet.” He points to the stairs. “If you just go up the--”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll find it. I’m sure there’s only so many closets.” Terry races up the stairs, purposely being clunky. “THE LEFT CLOSET?” he shouts down, more to keep them busy than anything; he knew exactly what closet it was.
“THE RIGHT ONE!” Bruce shouts back up.
“ALRIGHT!”
He grabbed the toothbrush and headed into the bathroom. He shut the door, then pulls out the second half of the transmitter and puts it in his ear, listening. Instantly, he was flooded with the conversation from below.
“I’m telling you, Bruce, he knew I was there! He stared right at me -- even smirked at me!”
“Dick he was just looking around. There’s no way he could know.”
“Your lying to yourself, and you know it! That boy knew I was there, and I think he knew who I was too! And his damn eyes move like yours do. When you think he’s not looking at you, he is! I’m telling you, there’s something funny about this kid.”
“Well, that’s more reason for me to keep him here then, isn’t it? I believe the saying is keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”
“I’m telling you, you’re making a mistake on this kid. There’s something funny about him.”
Terry continued to listen, but was aware that Alfred wasn’t talking, which probably meant he wasn’t there, which probably meant. He looks to the door and quickly flushed the toilet. There was no way Alfred could hear the transmitter -- it was directly in his ear and quiet -- but the old man would find it funny if Terry wasn’t doing something in the bathroom. He turns on the faucet and goes back to listening to the conversation as he starts brushing his teeth.
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Batman Before