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. Scary!! People actually get a glimpse into my 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.
Star Trek and all related characters created by Gene Roddenberry. Copyright Paramount Studios.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life, you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this. I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with. Part of his background is mine. I do hope that you enjoy it!!!
jmsotc@yahoo.com
Chapter 11 Learning a Legendary Art
The next day at work, I was very nervous. I had so much going on: soon to be learning a new style of fighting (actually an old one), I hoped, and going to see Justin, I hoped. I began working right away trying to get as much done as possible. As I typed, Joshua came out and started laughing at me.
"Don't hurt yourself, Eric. Keep that up and you'll have to take an extra day off just to recuperate."
Was this guy a mind reader or what?
"Actually, I wanted to say something about that to you, Josh."
"What? A day off?"
"Yeah."
"Is something physically wrong? Like is it for a doctor's appointment or what?" I could tell he was asking out of concern just by the look on his face.
"No, nothing like that. It's just..."
"Oh, Justin."
"Well, sort of. He wanted me to come to New York for their concert on Friday night. We would spend the weekend together and come back on Sunday so I wouldn't miss work on Monday."
"Oh."
"Um, so could I have Friday off?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, I know, I just started. It's not a very bright move to take a day off a month into a new job."
"No, that's not it. Eric, I hoped that you would have learned by now that I don't have problems with that. Of course we all have to work. But we also need to take time to have a personal life. I understand. It's not a problem. I'm sure Debbie could cover for you."
"Thanks, Josh. You are the best boss I've ever had."
He started laughing at me. "Just don't hug me...in public, any way."
I laughed back. It was decided. One of my fears was put to rest. The second was what waited for me tonight.
After work, I rushed home. The phone rang right after I ate dinner.
"Hello."
"Hi, baby. What are you wearing?"
"Soon, I'll be wearing an airline ticket. Josh said it wasn't a problem."
"Awesome!!! But you don't have to worry about booking a flight. I can arrange for the record company's jet to pick you up."
"Oh, no. That's okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I'll arrange for your ticket to be waiting for you at the airport. I get everything arranged. Just pack for two days."
"And nights?"
"Don't worry about packing anything for that."
I could hear the smile in his voice.
"My goodness, you're sly."
"Like a fox." We both laughed. "So where have you been? I called twice last night and you weren't home."
"Sorry about that. I got in just as you hung up from the second message. I've been running some errands."
"That's okay. I forgive you. This time. You just better be home when I call or I may get suspicious that someone else has swept you off your feet."
"Don't worry about that. I can think of anyone I'd rather have sweep me off my feet."
We said our goodbyes and hung up. Moments later, the phone rang again.
"Hello, love."
"Eric, is that you?"
I couldn't believe I just called Jessica love. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah. Sorry. I thought you were someone else."
"Apology accepted."
"Good. So, what's the word?"
"The word is 'yes'. He will train you."
Jessica proceeded to tell me where to meet her. I had to wear my suit.
An hour later I suited up and left, excited to get some good training under my belt. I followed the directions the Huntress gave me and came upon an old mansion. I looked around the area attempting to find her. I didn't notice a soul so I proceeded to the grounds and then to the back door. I knocked only once, when the door flew open revealing Jessica.
"It's you."
"Were you expecting someone else?"
"Not really. But you can't be too careful. Come in."
I walked in as she closed the door behind me. Then, she walked ahead of me and said, "Follow me." And follow her, I did.
She led me down to the basement filled with lots of gymnastics equipment. The floor was covered with a soft mat. A dummy hung from the ceiling. And a man in his 40s stood by a cabinet full of weapons.
"Garrett," the Huntress said. The man turned.
"Oh, yes. Thank you, Jessica," my new trainer said in an English accent. "You are the famous Batman."
"I wouldn't go so far as to say famous."
"Hmm, well. What can I do for you?"
"I need training to fight better. I need more skill."
"And exactly why should I help you? What could you say to convince me that you would use this training for good?"
"I don't know. I've been present and helped the Huntress with her slaying. If I were to be trained properly, I could be a great asset to you. Plus, since you think I'm so famous, doesn't my reputation speak for itself?"
"Indeed it does. But you don't need skills in fighting to save someone from a burning building."
"But considering I've met the person who stoked the fire and he cleaned my clock, I should be better prepared for when I meet him again."
"Suppose I say 'no'. What then would you do?"
"Search for another trainer who isn't bigoted."
"Bigoted? Whatever do you mean?"
"What I mean is the last place I went to ask for training rejected me simply because I was born different than them."
"Would you care to share this difference with me?"
I became apprehensive at his questions. I didn't want to answer them only to be rejected because of them. It was wrong, plain and simple. And I doubted I could tolerate any more.
"Yes, I would care to share it with you. Gain my confidence and trust and I will."
"Yet you come to me for training when you don't trust me. You sound duplicitous."
"Perhaps I am. Perhaps I have reason to be. All you would be doing is teaching someone, equipping someone to aid your Slayer in her duties when she needs it. You would also be aiding someone in his own personal fight against the evils of this world. I would just be a faceless student. But once you know more about me, I become someone you could judge, maybe even despise. Not something anyone should do."
"Well spoken. Your heart seems to be in the right place. We will start training. If I see anything that merits concern, your training will end...permanently."
I nod in agreement.
"Very well. Take off your cape. We need to get you stretching."
For the next two and a half hours, Garrett put me through a battery of exercises and techniques. I was shown basic attacks and blocks and, most importantly, how to fall so as not to injure myself. These would come in handy...if I survived the training. Garrett pushed me...hard. Several times I wanted to give up. I'm not ashamed to admit it. Sometimes we all are faced with challenges in life that we would rather give up than meet, whether it's improving our bodies by exercise or diet, our minds with study, our hearts with dating and rejecting. It takes the most legendary art form to overcome such things: courage. Can courage be an art form? Sure. Like art, courage comes in many different forms and styles depending on the situation. Perhaps we should all look at the ways in we express, or should express courage.
By the time we finished, I was sitting on the floor stretching again so I wouldn't cramp up, sweat saturating my mask, attempting to control my breathing.
"You did very well," Garrett congratulated me. "This is going to prove very interesting."
"Thank you."
"No. Thank you. Not many people can say they've trained two legends." Jessica looked over at me and smiled. I returned the smile with what little energy I had left to put into a smile. "Perhaps you should shower and go home. Or go home and shower. It's up to you."
"I'll go."
"Will we be doing this every evening?"
"I will be here tomorrow night. We will go night-by-night, at least until we can figure out a schedule. I will be unavailable for training this weekend."
"It's just as well. It will take your body several days to get used to the training. See you tomorrow night."
Jessica walked me to the back door where I had entered. Opening the door found a nice breeze blowing in. It was welcome.
"He can certainly motivate others to succeed, can't he?"
"He excels at pushing others." We laughed. "Take care of yourself, Batman."
"And you, too. See you tomorrow night."
I left the house and disappeared into the night. On the way home, the wind blew harder, cooling me off. And then rain.
I approached a local Borders Books, Music and Café, my favorite hang out. As I went across the rooftop I heard some yelling, which gave me pause.
"Tom, wait up!" a person was calling from the doors to another that went out into the rain. "Tom! Please!"
I jumped down and ran to a nearby car to overhear what was going on, in case Batman was needed.
"Tom," the young man said as he reached the one he pursued.
"What, James? What do you want?"
"We need to talk about this!"
"There's nothing to talk about! You don't care about me! I loved you and you cheated on me with Andy!"
"Can't we work this out?" James pleaded.
"No. I can't trust you. It's over."
"Fine. If that's what you want, then that's what it will be. I'm going to Andy."
With that James left and returned to the bookstore. Tom watched him go. I could see the tears in his eyes. He turned and walked deeper into the parking lot.
I moved closer to him. He seemed to be mumbling something. It wasn't until I got real close that I knew what he was doing. He was singing. In fact, he was singing one of my favorite sad songs "Could Have Been" by Tiffany.
The flowers you gave me are just about to die.
When I think about what could have been makes me want to cry.
The sweet words you whispered didn't mean a thing.
I guess our song is over as we begin to sing.
Could have been so beautiful, could have been so right.
Could have been my lover every day of my life.
Could have been so beautiful, could have been so right.
I'll never know what could have been on a cold and a lonely night.
I continued to listen to him sing. My heart went out to this man. His dark hair matted to his head from the rain, tears falling from his almond shaped eyes, and his nose running from the crying he was doing. He was facing something he never wanted to: rejection and pain. Part of me wished I could have stepped out and given him a hug, a word of hope, something that could assure him things would turn out okay. But I couldn't. Not dressed the way I was.
I watched him climb into his car and sit in the driver's side crying his heart out. It made me think of so many other people who have been hurt by someone who cheated on him or her: the pain and loneliness. Nothing can be done but to continue on with life and grow from the pain. Of course the question arises: which is better to be in love and then hurt or to never be in love? A very unfair comparison. Everyone falls in love regardless of whether that love is given fruition. The difference is being able to express that love. Being able to express love is much more valuable than not being able to. Speaking from experience, denying your expression of love can be self-damaging. I had gotten to the point of not being able to have human touch. But, thankfully for me, I met Justin. And he seems very understanding. I am one of the lucky ones. Others have not been so fortunate and have ended their lives prematurely because they have repressed their feelings to the point of thinking any kind of contact, whether sexual or just in comfort, is wrong in their own eyes. How tragic.
I watched as Tom started up his car and drove away. I continued on my way home thinking of him and sending my prayers out to him for healing and hope. Once home, I showered and went to bed. My sleep did not give me rest. My mind was on Tom, I knew. But in my dreams, it was I who was hurt by Justin, instead of Tom by James.
I dreamt that Justin fell in love with some guy in New York. In my dream, I had arrived to find him arm in arm with another man. They were waiting for me.
"Go on back, Eric," Justin was saying. "I found me someone else. Someone who appreciates me for me and will give me what I want and need."
"You mean sex."
"Yep. I need to be able to express my love, Eric. I like to do that with sex. You don't want sex. Not until we 'get to know each other'." Justin and his boyfriend broke out in laughter. "Get to know each other! How old-fashioned is that?"
The two laughed at me and I began to cry. And then I ran. But no matter how fast or far I ran, their laugh was echoing in my ears.
I awoke in a cold sweat. It was four in the morning. And I had been crying in my sleep. "It was only a dream," I told myself. "It was only a dream."
I got up and got a drink of water. Again my mind went to Tom and I prayed for him. "God, let him find hope and peace. Lead him to true love, the one You have for him. Help him to heal."
I lay back in bed, but couldn't sleep. So I lay there until my alarm went off.
To Be Continued...
It's not as long as they usually are. And in this chapter I got a bit philosophical. I hope you don't mind. I wrote this while going through a difficult time. No, no one cheated on me, but there has been some pain imparted on myself and someone else, and my prayers do go out to him.
In this installment is one of the songs I mentioned a few chapters ago. More to come. Feel free to email me with your thoughts and feelings about some of the issues I've talked about.