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.