It's interesting what love can make metahumans do...

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GOTHAM:

It was a night out hunting, with Batman, his daughter Robin and Batboy (Thomas Gordon) on the rooftops of Gotham's high rises, giving pursuit to some of their most ardent and intractable opponents. In Batboy's case, it was personal. He wanted to insure that Barbara, his insane sister, who had donned the guise of the sardonic and psychotic clown Harlequin, would come to no harm from police vigilantism. Since the death of his father, James Gordon, several years ago, the Gordon City Police Department had gotten harder edged and more inclined to shoot to kill when it faced off against one of Gotham's costumed criminals, leaving Batman and his allies to try to neutralise the threat before Commissioner Turpin called in SWAT heavy artillery and lives were lost. But this evening, Harlequin and Pierrot, her teenage sidekick, were eluding them, leading the family to suspect that bootleg tech was being supplied to their opponents by a third party.

However, in an instance, fate intervened. A thorn- or claw- shaped projectile suddenly lodged itself in Harlequin's leg. Ataxia and unconsciousness followed. An instant later, an unexpected uppercut left Pierrot sprawling dazed, as Robin caught up to their quarry and handcuffed the dazed adolescent supervillain, while Batboy zipped his sister up into a straitjacket. Only then did their unexpected ally step into the light: "Hey, Bats, Girl Wonder, Baby Bats. Nice to be back in the smoke."
Batman frowned: "Terry, thanks for the assist, but...this isn't like you."
"Not that we're not grateful for the assistance, but... like Batman said, why?"
Terry Blake looked momentarily regretful, which registered on his erstwhile enemies:
"Look, I've got limits. You know that. No killing, no torture, no getting third parties caught in the crossfire."
"I do realise that, Terry. But this is going further than you've been willing to go before. Actually helping apprehend other costumed criminals." Batman said, trying to assess the situation.
"Then you'd better get used to it, Bats. Because things have changed for me and I'm not the man I once was." And with that, Catman sprang from the rooftop and was riccocheting from the rest of the skyline at such a pace that a bewildered Batman, Robin and Batboy couldn't locate him. 
As they dropped their assailants outside the GCPD, Batboy asked: "Okay, this has been a weird evening. What the hell's got into Blake? Not that we couldn't do with the help, but that was more constructive than he's ever been."
Robin looked up at the night sky: "I think I can guess. Remember, he used to be partners with Tanaka's old enemy Lonny Sharif, the late Captain Cold?"
"Right, but Captain Cold was killed by an assailant called Frostbite, causing his sister Lisa to become the new Captain Cold. Anyhow, Helena, I thought those two had broken up?"
Robin sighed: "Perhaps it's because of James, Tom, but I know that love is a complex thing. Things left unsaid, parting as friends and not in bitterness. I think Terry Blake realised something when Sharif died while Frostbite stole his tech. It might have been enough to shock him over to our side of the ledger. Permanently."
"I hope you're right, Helena. Dare we hope?"
"It happened with Mom, Dad. Perhaps history is repeating itself."

COAST CITY:

It had been a warm night and it was Pride Month throughout the world. Accordingly, after he'd halted a bridge collapse in Canada and saved a group of Quebecois suburbanites from a flash flood, Green Lantern decided to stop off at one of Coast City's gay bars en route back to Rio de Janeiro and home after he changed back to his civilian identity, Jose Hernandez. Truth to tell, he felt numb. He might have rejoined the Justice Alliance a few weeks ago, but he still felt numb, as if he were merely going through the motions. He felt that way in the bar as well, sitting well away from the life, laughter and embraces in the main body of the venue. Then a shadow fell across him. He looked up to see a tall, redheaded, muscular man:
"Hey. You look as if you need a shoulder to lean on. I can relate."
"I'm afraid I'm not going to be good company. I lost someone recently."
"Yeah? That's why I can relate. Same here. Terry. Terry Blake."

Suddenly, Jose realised who the other man was. But something confused him. There was tenderness and regret in the other man's eyes, and vulnerability. If this was Bruce's morally ambiguous quasi-criminal associate, he wasn't putting up a macho facade at all. Was he like this off duty? Or was this a trap? He'd hardly had anything to do with Batman's rogues gallery, although he knew that Terry Blake was gay, and that he'd been in a relationship with...  with Tanaka's adversary, Lon Sharif, the first Captain Cold. Then Blake leant forward and whispered:
"And yeah, Green Lantern, I know it's you in civilian duds. I need to talk. And I think you need to, as well." At that moment, Jose could have bolted- but his power ring told him that Terry Blake's physiological responses didn't indicate deception. He was being honest and candid as he spoke with him. He decided to stay and see what would happen.

Jose swallowed: "Yeah, I heard about Lon. Even though you two had broken up, I guess there was unfinished business. And frankly, what happened to him was lousy, disgusting and undeserved. Just because we're on opposite sides of the scorecard doesn't mean that I can't empathise with a broken heart and grieving over a dead lover."
"Like you and Hermes Trismegistus? Exactly. And let me reciprocate, Jose.  You two were a couple, you were going to get married and suddenly, in one cruel abrupt moment, all those dreams were shattered. I'm sorry. Tell me if I'm going too fast."
"I don't know if it's ever going to be all right, Terry. Everywhere I turn, everywhere I look, I still feel his presence. I still think sometimes that all I'll have to do is just turn around and he'll be propped against the bar, smiling at me, ready to take me in his arms. But that's not going to happen. It'll never happen again-"
Jose stopped. Tears had begun to spill over Terry's eyes:
"I know. I know that pain. Even if Lon and I weren't together anymore, I never wanted him to be murdered by that thieving murderous piece of offal. Even when Lisa took her revenge, it didn't erase the pain I still feel about leaving him to die like that. Because I thought it was my fault-"
"Terry, don't. Don't do it to yourself. He wouldn't have wanted..."
"I still do, Jose. Sorry. Look, perhaps I'd better go."
"Terry? I don't want to be alone tonight and I don't think you want to be, either."
"Jose, I...I don't do one night stands..."
"One question. Losing Lon...did it mean you've left the old life behind?"
Sobbing now, Terry Blake nodded: "I have. It's not worth it, Jose. Not after it cost me the man I used to love."
Jose reached over and kissed him: "Hey. I've been alone for too long. And I think you have too. Touch me. Hold me. It's going to be okay."

LATER:

Amidst tangled sheets, Jose Hernandez and Terry Blake lay across each other. Terry's hand was entangled in Jose's hair, as Jose's hand played across Terry's chest:
"Thanks, man."
"I hope this is regular."
"Yeah. Yeah, it will be. I needed that. You did, too. I could feel that."
"Incidentally, were you purring before?"
"Well, I am transgenic. And to answer your next question, perhaps. Eventually."
"I'm sure I can talk Bruce around."
"I'm not sure it'll be that easy. Both of us have history."
"I know he can be stubborn and fixated sometimes. But he's not completely a lost cause."
"I'd almost forgotten how good this could feel."
"I hadn't. I want it again, Terry. With you. For whatever time we have together."
"Thanks, Jose. For believing in me. I hope I'm worth it."
"I know you are, Terry. I know you are."


THE END [5.52 PM, JUNE 20, 2023]