Chapter 7: Birds of Feather

 

(Disclaimers: In this chapter, the character Manuel, also known as Hammer, identifies as gay, although it is noted that he previously dated Dick Grayson on a few occasions. Bruce Wayne, known for his charm with women, remains oblivious to the personal life of his sidekick. It is important to clarify that the portrayal of Batman and Robin in this narrative reflects the 1960s interpretation. Additionally, Batman's character exhibits tendencies that could be perceived as homophobic, which I feel is important to acknowledge for readers who may be sensitive to this subject.)

After finishing her shift, Lori made her way to a place called the Night Diner. As she entered, her eyes were drawn to individuals in vibrant costumes, casually chatting in the booths.  Lori's eyebrows shot up, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. Lady Lightning waved Lori over, sitting next to a guy in a costume

“This is Lori, aka Electra Woman,” she introduced. The man, dressed in a blue and black bodysuit with knee-high leather boots, extended his hand for a shake. Lori settled into the booth. “You might know me as Lady Lightning, but I used to be Lightning Gen. My real name’s Geraldine Nyers.”

“I’m Manuel Gabby, but you can call me Hammer,” he said with a charming smile, his light brown hair with blonde highlights and captivating brown eyes making quite the impression. His fitted bodysuit was a flashy mix of gold, blue, and black.

 “Looks like he works out,” Lori thought.

 “Seems like someone’s got her eye on me,” he teased, winking at her.

“Um,” Lori stammered, feeling her cheeks heat up.

 “No worries, I’m into guys,” he said with a grin.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but…”

 “No need to apologize. Even she,” he said, nodding at Geraldine, “was interested in me,” he laughed, and Geraldine playfully nudged him. Lori smiled, feeling welcomed and at ease with them.

“This is one of the rare underground diners or cafes where we can gather and connect with others like us," Lady Lightning shared. Lori glanced around and took in the diner’s nostalgic 50s atmosphere. The floor was adorned with black and white checkered tiles, the walls were splashed with vibrant red and white, and there was a bar offering a variety of drinks, though none contained alcohol. 

"So, how long have you been a superhero?" Hammer asked Lori.

"I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to wear a costume and fight crime," she said, pausing to tap her finger on her coffee mug. "I went through something really traumatic." 

 "You don’t have to go into details," Geraldine quickly added, sensing Lori's discomfort about sharing her past and as to why she decided to become Electra Woman.

"My twin sister was killed by a robber at the bank where she worked," Hammer shared.

"I’m really sorry to hear that," Lori replied, offering her condolences.

 “I’ve come to terms with losing her, and now I fight to make sure no one else loses their sister or brother,” he said with a solemn sigh. Lori looked at Geraldine.

 "Since we're sharing our pasts, I've got a story too," she began. "I was married with two kids, and my husband, a police officer, was killed while on duty. The police tried to catch his murderer, but they had no luck. It was tough to deal with, and while his life insurance and savings helped with the bills, I couldn't just let his killer roam free. One day, I was walking along the beach during a storm..."

"Wait until you hear this, you won't believe it," Manuel cut in. Geraldine shot him a glance but carried on with her tale. 

“My kids were home with my mother who decided to live with us to help me out. I grieved for my husband, my soulmate, my everything. As I stood there, watching the storm roll in, I noticed unusual bolts of multicolored lightning illuminating the water.

 My heart raced with fear as I spun around to dash back to my car, but the winds were wild and relentless, making it hard to move. I could hear the ominous crackle of lightning getting closer, and then out of nowhere, a blue light surrounded me—intensely hot yet oddly comforting, lifting me off the ground. As Geraldine shared her tale, her eyes sparkled with the memory, and static electricity danced at her fingertips. Lori leaned back in surprise, while Manuel gently placed a hand on Geraldine to soothe her.

She inhaled deeply and continued, “After I got hit, everything went dark, and the next thing I remember is waking up in a hospital. A few months later, I got back to my usual life, but something had changed. I discovered I could generate lightning from my hands. That’s when I decided to embrace a part-time vigilante life, it's my calling.” 

"You mean superhero lifestyle," Manuel said, grinning. Geraldine playfully rolled her eyes. "I do use my powers for good, but it took a while to get a handle on them. When I first became Lightning Gen, my focus was solely on finding my husband’s killer, and I did. I should have handed him over to the police, but my emotions got the best of me. All that pent-up energy just exploded, and I ended up frying him alive. I killed him." Lori fell silent. 

“She’s the only one in this group that has superpowers,” Manuel said and asked Lori, “Do you possess superpowers?” He took a sip from his milkshake. 

“No, my uncle creates high tech devices that I can use against the criminals, and I took up a martial arts class so I can fight better.” Geraldine nodded, “I understand. You had to cope with what happened to you and that was your motivation to become who you are now. But in your pursuit to find him, please be careful. Justice is golden but murder will haunt you forever,” she said.

Lori nodded, “Yes I understand.” She understands that Geraldine is offering her good advice, yet when she faces Tim again, she feels uncertain about the outcome.  Manuel’s gaze drifted to the window for a moment before he swiftly turned his attention back to the bar. Lori raised an eyebrow and looked out. A man and a college age student were walking toward the Diner. They emerged from a sleek black vehicle that instantly reminded her of the Batmobile. A realization struck her, and she whispered, “No way, it’s Batman and Robin.” Geraldine observed as they entered, while Lori noticed Manuel’s disapproving expression and eye roll.  "I can't help but wonder what brings them here," he remarked with a hint of sarcasm, "I mean, heroes like them probably find our city too dull—no villains to pursue." He laughed lightly. Lori noticed Robin and mused, "Robin seems to be around Manuel’s age."

"Why do you say that?” she asked Manuel. Geraldine shifted her attention to Manuel, and together they turned to see Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, approaching their booth with Robin, both still in their superhero attire, as Bruce’s gaze locked onto Lori.

“So, this Diner is open to civilians too?" he said, softly grasping Lori's hand and pressing a kiss on it. His eyes, hidden behind the mask, roamed over her with a playful glint. Lori felt a rush of warmth, her cheeks flushing as she offered a shy smile.

Geraldine introduced her, saying, “Bruce, this is Lori, who goes by the name of Electra Woman.”

“Electra Woman?” Bruce raised an eyebrow, then flashed a charming grin, “Electra Wow.”  Lori's cheeks turned red again. Bruce glanced over at Manuel and scoffed, “Looks like this table is reserved for the ladies.” He chuckled, and Dick Grayson aka Robin joined in with a laugh. Manuel's expression hardened. “Dick and I were just passing through town and...” 

Manuel cut in gently, “Perhaps it’s best if you just move along.”  Bruce narrowed his gaze at him. Dick made a face at Manuel and rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Bruce, we should probably get going; it’s going to be a long drive. Let’s pick up some food to take with us.” Bruce agreed, chuckling as he replied, “You’re right, boy wonder,” he paused.  “It was great to see you, ladies,” he said, then turned to Manuel, “And I’m talking about the real ladies, not the fairies.”

Bruce's cutting comment carried a subtle homophobic edge directed at Manuel. As both men made their way to the bar, they placed an order to take with them. Every now and then, Dick would steal a glance at Manuel, but Manuel remained completely unfazed. Once Bruce and Dick received their order, they departed, leaving Manuel to exhale a breath of relief.

Lori remarked, “I could feel a bit of tension simmering between you and the dynamic duo.” Geraldine turned her gaze toward Manuel.

“Yeah, that’s true,” he replied. Lori, eager for more insight, fixed her eyes on him.

“A while ago, when Mr. Bruce Wayne was on the hunt for a sidekick, he distributed flyers everywhere, hoping to discover his boy wonder.” Manuel finger quoted, boy wonder. 

“I had been busy tackling crime when I made the decision to apply. That’s when I met Dick at Wayne Manor, where the interviews were happening.”

Lori remarked on the long journey to Gotham, “It’s quite a drive for an interview.”

Manuel responded, noting that landing the job would secure a bright future. After a brief pause, he added, “Most of the applicants were young men ages 18 to 25. Bruce selected two candidates: Dick and me. But Dick is like me, gay, well somewhat. He is bi-sexual.”

“Hold on a sec,” Lori interrupted. “So, Dick is bisexual?” Manuel nodded in response, “Absolutely, he is, but there's no way he'd ever admit that to his boss, not even if the world depended on it. Dick and I may not have been a couple, but we did go out a few times. I thought we had a mutual understanding. When it came time for the final decision, Dick completely betrayed me.”

Lori stared at him, puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"

He informed Bruce that I had made inappropriate advances towards him and disclosed that I am gay. Lori's eyes widened in surprise. "So, Bruce Wayne is homophobic? That's shocking," she remarked. Geraldine agreed, "He’s all about women, not men."

Lori suggested, "What if you just told Bruce that Dick is a bisexual?"

"I refuse to lower myself to his standards. Dick chose to live in a mansion, he is supported by an older man," he hesitated. "A man completely unaware of his private life. But I won't say a word; I'm above that." Lori reached out, taking Manuel's hand in hers.

“You’re an amazing person, and we love you just the way you are,” she remarked. Geraldine put her hand on theirs, gave Manuel a knowing nod.  “Thanks,” he said with a smile. Contrary to the way the media often depicts gay men, not everyone conforms to that stereotype; in fact, one would never guess that Manuel, known as the Hammer, was gay. The trio chatted for a bit longer before exchanging their farewells. Upon returning home, Lori was unaware that it was already past 3 am, so she stealthily ascended the stairs to her bedroom, she tipped-toed as not to wake up her uncle.

Chapter 6: No Secrets

 

A coworker drove Kris home, and as she entered her apartment, she realized she was alone. “I wonder where he disappeared to?” she thought. After locking the door, she draped her jacket over the coat rack and walked towards her bedroom. She walked past her brother's room; she couldn't help but peek inside. A sigh escaped her lips, and her gaze then fell to a curious shoe box that was slightly visible from beneath the bed. Intrigued, she stepped in, pulled it out, and settled onto his bed. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to open it.

 Her gaze fell upon an unexpected sight. Her eyes grew wide, and her jaw dropped in disbelief. “No,” she murmured softly. Nestled within the shoebox was an assortment of small treasures, all belonging to women. A set of pink lace panties lay there, adorned with an embroidered name. "Lisa," Kris muttered. Scattered around were numerous articles detailing the rapes that had taken place over the last eighteen months. She was shocked and mortified. 

She hurriedly packed everything away and slid the shoebox back into its spot. After that, she hopped in the shower and then flopped down on the sofa. The television was silent when Tim walked in as Kris remained seated, gazing at him intently.

“Hey Kris, I figured you’d be fast asleep by now.”

She shook her head and asked, “Tim, where have you been?”  

He looked at her, confused, “Uh, I just stepped out for a bit,” he replied tersely. Kris's gaze fell on his sweatpants, where a small tear was visible on his leg. Her eyes narrowed, filled with suspicion. He caught her scrutinizing look.  

He smiled and said, “I think it’s time for us to get some rest.” He added with a chuckle, “By the way, I appreciate your concern for me and that you decided to stay awake.” Despite his lighthearted tone, Kris’s eyes remained steady. She gradually rose to her feet and made her way to bed. Tim had just gotten comfortable in his room when he realized the shoebox was slightly moved from its usual spot. His heart raced as he stood up and headed towards his sister’s room.

"Kris, are you up?” He pushed the door open, and she shot up in bed. 

"What do you want?" she replied, her voice laced with lingering hurt and anger. He studied her with a wary gaze.

"Did you look in that shoebox under my bed?" he asked, his brow furrowing. She let out an exasperated sigh and got to her feet, folding her arms tightly as she shot him a disapproving glare. The air was thick with tension until Kris broke the silence, asking, “What’s with all those things in that shoebox.”

She wasn’t intimidated by her brother; she held her position firmly. He swallowed hard and exhaled, “Kris, I just have a passion for collecting things and…”  

“And you’re the serial rapist, aren’t you?” Her voice escalated in volume. A heavy silence hung in the air until he finally spoke up. 

“Kris, this isn’t your concern. I need you to stay out of my room from now on,” he warned, making his way toward his bedroom. She let out an exasperated sigh and trailed behind him, positioning herself in the doorway of his room. 

“So, you never answered my question,” she said tightly with a tinge of sarcasm. His face turned red with fury. He would never harm his sister, yet he felt an overwhelming urge to shove her out of his room right there and then.

“Tim, you didn’t! If you get caught, I’ll lose you, and I’ll be left all alone,” she insisted fiercely, her eyes welling up with tears. Tim realized he had upset her, and she was anxious about the possibility of being abandoned if he faced the consequences of his actions.

He gave a nod and replied, “I’ll talk to you when I’m ready, okay but for now go to your room,” With that, he closed the door, leaving Kris feeling bewildered. She huffed and made her way back to her room, but sleep eluded her once more. With a final, weary sigh, she shut her eyes.

Tim lay on his bed, gazing at the ceiling above. The clash he had with Lori, known as Electra Woman, was thrilling, though she landed a few solid hits on him. A dull ache throbbed near his right rib. He exhaled in frustration and let his eyelids fall shut. The holiday season passed, and January was well on its way. For the past two weeks, Lori had been absent from class, which made Kris a bit anxious. She decided to reach out, and Lori picked up the phone.  

“Hey Lori, I noticed you haven’t been in class. How have you been?” 

Frank entered the room with a steaming cup of hot cocoa for Lori, setting it down on a coaster on the coffee table. 

“I’m okay, I just got caught up with some personal matters,” Lori said, taking a sip from her mug. She placed the drink on the table, carefully setting it on the coaster while grimacing slightly. The remnants of her recent fight with Tim were still evident, with bruises marring her skin. Although she had returned to work, the makeup she applied skillfully concealed the marks, and her choice of long sleeves helped keep her injuries hidden from prying eyes.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing you next week! Tim has been teaching me some cool new moves, and I can’t wait to share them with you,” Kris exclaimed. Lori lets out a sigh and looks over at Frank, who responds with a subtle nod before heading off to the kitchen. “I’ll be in class next week,” she replied to Kris. Kris beamed before they ended the call. Lori sensed that Kris might not have a lot of friends and could benefit from a positive female presence in her life. She couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like for Kris living with her brother.

 "Was that her?" Frank asked as he entered the room. Lori gave a nod in response. "That poor girl has no idea about him," he commented and added, “being trapped in ignorance means being limited by the boundaries of one’s own basic understanding and...”

"And she will learn the truth eventually," Lori replied, letting out a sigh and added, "I might have to quit the martial arts class soon; the time is approaching and when it happens, Tim will go to jail.” Frank looked at her intently and asked, "Do you have any thoughts on who attacked you a few weeks back in our front yard?"

 Lori sighed and responded, "I have my suspicions, but I can't be sure." Frank knew exactly who she was thinking about. Later that day, she dialed the number written on the back of the business card that Lady Lightning had given her.  

Lori introduced herself, "Hi, I’m Lori. Can I talk to..."  

Before she could complete her sentence, a man interjected, "Just a moment," and shouted, "Lady Lightning, you have a caller!" 

 The phone was handed over to Lady Lightning. "Lori, is that you?"  

"Yes, it’s me. I’d love to get together and talk," Lori responded.  

"Of course! I’ll give you the address, and we can meet at 8 PM."  

"Great, I’ll make a note of it," Lori replied, writing down the information on a notepad. Lori eagerly anticipates the moment she will meet the woman who came to her aid during the altercation with Tim. 

"Lady Lightning, I can't help but wonder what your true name is," she pondered as she looked at the business card. 

(Images used in this blog are for the reader's entertainment)

Chapter 5 

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