Summary: Terry McGinnis reflects on his being the heir of the Batman legacy.

I Am the Knight (Title may be revised)
By: Carmen Wayne

"Just remember, Terry, be back here in an hour," I hear my boss say.

"Yeah, I know," I respond. "Batman out."

I shut off the com-link and slowly start up the batmobile, speeding up into the air.

Being Batman is pretty shway, I guess. It's not fun when no one knows, or no one will believe you, but, hey, I can't complain. I have this cool suit, shway car--no AWESOME car. I get paid for doing this, and I'm helping save peoples lives.

Not that I don't wish I had someone to share it with me. I mean, I have Bruce, Barbara and Max… But it's not the same as having someone next to me. Yeah, yeah, I know. No reason to drag someone else into a job you can do by yourself…

But what about situations where I *will* need help? Do you have any idea how many times Bruce and Max have saved my BUTT in the last month alone?!

I can't complain. This job is too awesome. Besides, when someone runs around saying he's Batman, I'll know better because I am Batman.

Jeez, that's another thing. I don't even think 'Terry' anymore. I used to think that Bruce was nuts for calling himself Batman so long after his retirement… Or at all. But I've learned now.

Batman consumes you. Batman doesn't become you. You become Batman. It's almost scary how it sucks you in. People say that we're freaks for leaping into spandex and running all over Hell and back like NO body's business. They say we should be thrown in Arkham with all the other psychos that we FIGHT.

And whoever says that can go to Hell.

We SAVE their LIVES! We SAVE their CHILDREN! And all they can do is insult us?! Unbelievable!

Unappreciative saps.

I became Batman to avenge my father's death. Honestly? I was going to return the suit to Bruce and say my goodbyes. But when he showed up and offered me this as a job… How could I refuse? It'd mean my mother wouldn't have to work so hard.

Nearly six months later, look at me. I'm Batman…

And I don't WANT it!

The pressure is too much! I can't TAKE it much longer… But then I remember the people who need someone to protect them. Whether they appreciate it or not, I can't care. I don't care. I have to keep going for them.

I like the whole inconspicuous thing… Imagine if Nelson Nash ever knew I was Batman?! …Then again, that'd prove pretty interesting! But, no. I can't. My identity would lead to Bruce. His would lead to Tim Drake and Dick Grayson. Slowly but surely it would go through, revealing identities I can't even imagine! Barbara, maybe Max, Superman, the Flash, Green Lantern…

As if that's not enough pressure, if I were to get killed and Bruce couldn't get my body in time, then the cops would find out and tell my mother. She'd probably disown me or something!

I try to act cool. I mean, if I don't people will know. They'll know I'm Batman, they'll know I'm not happy as Batman. Everyday I wonder if I should drop it so I won't be unhappy anymore, and all the previous thoughts come to mind. But then, the most dominant is:

Bruce Wayne was NEVER happy as Batman.

So I'm HONORED to follow that path. Yeah, I do respect Bruce. The dude was THE Batman! Even in my suit and in his old age, he whupped me.

"I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman!"

I'll be so happy when I can say that. Yeah, I'm Batman. I think of myself as Batman, but yet… I can't really say it aloud. When I said that to MR. Fixx, it was a slip-up.

Am I really doomed to live a life like this? A life of sorrow and pain… Loneliness and denial of anything pleasant?

I suppose so. Not happy about it, but honored. I guess it goes with the territory. That's okay, though. I can deal. Better than someone else suffering this. Who knows? One day I might be in Bruce's position, and I might have a Bat--er, Terry McGinnis working for ME. Until then, I need to realize I'm helping people I love. People who are loved and love. I am helping them at the cost of me and my sanity.

I am the knight.
I am the Batman.