Fic: Castle In The Clouds III: Raise The Drawbridge!!! (6/9)
Title: Castle In The Clouds III: Raise The Drawbridge!!! (6/9)
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Bruce/Dick, Arlen Spear, Jim Gordon, Barbara Gordon
Genres: Challenge, Drama
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Enemies of The Prince of Gotham and his Royal Consort storm the Castle!
Chapter Summary: The Reverend Spear has fanatical followers. Bruce and Dick have loyal friends.
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Date Of Completion: February 2, 2009
Date Of Posting: March 9, 2009
Word Count: 583
Author’s Note: This story fits my 2009 DCU Fic/Art Tabloids Challenge.
The entire series can be found here.
VI
JIM’S BET
The crush of paparazzi had grown exponentially since Arlen Spear’s inflammatory comments. Bruce and Dick paused outside the front gates, Bruce saying, “The Reverend Spear smeared Dick Grayson and a whole group of talented, hard-working people with his comments yesterday.”
“What do you have to say, Dick?”
“How’s it feel to be labeled a thief and a liar?”
“Do you consider yourself immoral?”
Dick got out of the Porsche, resting his arm on the hood of the car.
“I find it pretty disgusting that the reverend would smear a whole group of people with his bigotry. Circus folk are extremely hard-working and honest.
“And not to mention the scurrilous remarks about gay people!
“This is loving Christianity? Pretty odd brand of it, if you ask me.”
“So you consider Reverend Spear a bigot?”
“He seems eager to stereotype entire groups of people. I call that bigoted.”
“Bruce, do you agree?”
“What do you say, Bruce?”
“C’mon, give us something!”
“I’m in perfect agreement with Dick.” Bruce revved the engine. “Now we have to get to work and school. Goodbye, ladies and gentlemen.”
Dick got back into the car and the Porsche roared down the road.
& & & & & &
“I don’t think you have to worry too much about the ravings of a catamite.”
Arlen Spear sat comfortably in his chair on the Live The Word set. The studio audience cheered, the reverend looking down on them benevolently.
“The boy is really quite pathetic. An orphaned urchin taken in by a wealthy benefactor, seducing a morally-loose man.”
Applause.
“Good people should not have to put up with such scandalous behavior. Gotham is a good city with good people. We need to shed our sinful image.”
Applause.
“People want us to give up. They want us to go away, to keep our mouths shut.
“Will we keep quiet?”
“No!”
“Will we turn a blind eye to sin?”
“No!!”
“Will we allow sodomites and thieves honor here in Gotham?”
“No!!!”
& & & & & &
Jim Gordon shut off the TV in his office. So much for the luster of the Wayne name. Bruce was going to take a hit.
A nasty one.
A knock on the door announced the end of Jim’s ruminations. He started to request entrance when Barbara poked her head in.
“Hey! Glad to see you, Princess.”
“Hi, Dad.” Barbara came in, shutting the door behind her. “I’m surprised the force isn’t mobilized for battle.”
“Why?”
“Apparently Gotham’s under siege by sodomites and lion tamers, according to the Right Reverend Arlen Spear.”
Jim snorted. “Right of the Attila the Hun, but not right about much else. Windbag!”
“An influential windbag.” Barbara kissed her father and sat down in the chair in front of his desk. “He’s really hammering Bruce and Dick.”
“The crazies are usually out for blood.” Jim sighed. “A shame, really. I’ve never seen Bruce happier.”
“I know. It really sucks that people are bound-and-determined to destroy that happiness.”
“There’s always someone jealous.”
Barbara nodded sadly. “Is there anything we can do to help?”
Jim sat back, resting his hands on his stomach. “Maybe keep Bruce’s name in the news…in a good way.”
“I like that idea, Dad.”
Jim smiled. His little girl always loved a good cause. Her green eyes glinted with determination. Her red hair was arranged neatly in a bun, her clothes very professional.
She looked ready for battle.
In a battle of wits, Jim always bet on his daughter.
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Bruce/Dick, Arlen Spear, Jim Gordon, Barbara Gordon
Genres: Challenge, Drama
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Enemies of The Prince of Gotham and his Royal Consort storm the Castle!
Chapter Summary: The Reverend Spear has fanatical followers. Bruce and Dick have loyal friends.
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Date Of Completion: February 2, 2009
Date Of Posting: March 9, 2009
Word Count: 583
Author’s Note: This story fits my 2009 DCU Fic/Art Tabloids Challenge.
The entire series can be found here.
VI
JIM’S BET
The crush of paparazzi had grown exponentially since Arlen Spear’s inflammatory comments. Bruce and Dick paused outside the front gates, Bruce saying, “The Reverend Spear smeared Dick Grayson and a whole group of talented, hard-working people with his comments yesterday.”
“What do you have to say, Dick?”
“How’s it feel to be labeled a thief and a liar?”
“Do you consider yourself immoral?”
Dick got out of the Porsche, resting his arm on the hood of the car.
“I find it pretty disgusting that the reverend would smear a whole group of people with his bigotry. Circus folk are extremely hard-working and honest.
“And not to mention the scurrilous remarks about gay people!
“This is loving Christianity? Pretty odd brand of it, if you ask me.”
“So you consider Reverend Spear a bigot?”
“He seems eager to stereotype entire groups of people. I call that bigoted.”
“Bruce, do you agree?”
“What do you say, Bruce?”
“C’mon, give us something!”
“I’m in perfect agreement with Dick.” Bruce revved the engine. “Now we have to get to work and school. Goodbye, ladies and gentlemen.”
Dick got back into the car and the Porsche roared down the road.
& & & & & &
“I don’t think you have to worry too much about the ravings of a catamite.”
Arlen Spear sat comfortably in his chair on the Live The Word set. The studio audience cheered, the reverend looking down on them benevolently.
“The boy is really quite pathetic. An orphaned urchin taken in by a wealthy benefactor, seducing a morally-loose man.”
Applause.
“Good people should not have to put up with such scandalous behavior. Gotham is a good city with good people. We need to shed our sinful image.”
Applause.
“People want us to give up. They want us to go away, to keep our mouths shut.
“Will we keep quiet?”
“No!”
“Will we turn a blind eye to sin?”
“No!!”
“Will we allow sodomites and thieves honor here in Gotham?”
“No!!!”
& & & & & &
Jim Gordon shut off the TV in his office. So much for the luster of the Wayne name. Bruce was going to take a hit.
A nasty one.
A knock on the door announced the end of Jim’s ruminations. He started to request entrance when Barbara poked her head in.
“Hey! Glad to see you, Princess.”
“Hi, Dad.” Barbara came in, shutting the door behind her. “I’m surprised the force isn’t mobilized for battle.”
“Why?”
“Apparently Gotham’s under siege by sodomites and lion tamers, according to the Right Reverend Arlen Spear.”
Jim snorted. “Right of the Attila the Hun, but not right about much else. Windbag!”
“An influential windbag.” Barbara kissed her father and sat down in the chair in front of his desk. “He’s really hammering Bruce and Dick.”
“The crazies are usually out for blood.” Jim sighed. “A shame, really. I’ve never seen Bruce happier.”
“I know. It really sucks that people are bound-and-determined to destroy that happiness.”
“There’s always someone jealous.”
Barbara nodded sadly. “Is there anything we can do to help?”
Jim sat back, resting his hands on his stomach. “Maybe keep Bruce’s name in the news…in a good way.”
“I like that idea, Dad.”
Jim smiled. His little girl always loved a good cause. Her green eyes glinted with determination. Her red hair was arranged neatly in a bun, her clothes very professional.
She looked ready for battle.
In a battle of wits, Jim always bet on his daughter.