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Language:
English
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Published:
2022-05-25
Updated:
2022-05-29
Words:
1,264
Chapters:
2/?
Comments:
25
Kudos:
130
Bookmarks:
22
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1,166

Dear Mr. Thomas

,

Summary:

After a rough day for Terry McGinnis, newly self-appointed Batman and overwhelmed teenager, he decides to reach out to his old counselor from juvenile hall for a bit of judgment-free support as he tries to weather the changes in his life.

Duke Thomas, formerly known as the vigilante Signal and currently known as an overwhelmed youth counselor, receives an email one day from a past counselee of his that he finds himself unable to decline- because damn does this kid need help.

Take a peek at their back-and-forth communications as they try to sort out villains, family relationships, high school drama and a not-so-legal sidejob in Neo Gotham (but plz don't tell Mr. Thomas abt that last part).

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter 1: good news!!! employment :)

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

To: Duke Thomas ([email protected])

From: Terry McGinnis ([email protected])

Subject: employment :)))

 

Dear Mr. Thomas,

 

I GOT A JOB!!! I know, it really feels like I shouldn’t be happy about this, especially since my dad just died, but you were always telling me that I’d get there, and somehow, I did!!! I’m gonna be this rich old guy’s chauffeur or something. It’s gonna be schway. I feel like I’m actually going to be going somewhere with my life, you know? And there’s no way I’d be here without your encouragement. So thanks for everything. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Terry McGinnis

To: Terry McGinnis ([email protected]) 

From: Duke Thomas ([email protected])

Re: employment :)))

 

 

Dear Terry,

 

That’s great news!!! I’m so happy that you’ve got something good going for you now! You said that you feel like you “shouldn’t be happy about this”, but considering the circumstances I have to disagree. When life gets tough we should treasure every positive thing we can, not shut them out. Celebrate this victory as much as you want! You’ve earned it!! 

 

I’m very sorry to hear about your dad. I’ve mentioned before how hard losing my parents was, so I know what it feels like and hope you can find someone like a therapist, (or a schway as hell counselor) to work through these events in a healthy manner. Unfortunately/fortunately since you’re not at juvie any longer, I can’t be your official counselor, but please know that I’m always rooting for you and would love to receive more emails like these, if you would be so inclined to remember an old man like me.

 

I wish you the best of luck in your new job and hope it brings you all the prosperity you deserve! And if it doesn’t, you can always find a new job! (Or, you can exercise your proletariat rights and tell your boss to screw off, but don’t tell them that.)

 

Well wishes,

 

Duke Thomas

Youth Counselor

he/him/his 

City of Neo-Gotham 

107th Level Youth Penitentiary 

07097, Neo Gotham, 107th Level, Block 7002.4 

[email protected]

(201)867-5309

Notes:

--New fic!! As you can see, it’s a collab between me and @blackdragonhellfire, who writes the Terry sections while I write the Duke ones! Chapters will be up whenever, and I hope y’all get a kick out of our little au!
--Also I think Duke would be great at helping kids with troubles like the ones he and his friends had when he was younger, hence the youth counselor thing. It fits his ethics and his life mission- something that being a cop does NOT (*cough* white knight *cough*)
blackdragonhellfire: yeah, I’m not exactly a big BB comic fan, and I know next to nothing about Duke (which is why Ook is writing him) but I’m having a great time procrastinating on my other fic by writing this one! Lol

Chapter 2: shit going down. Advice wanted

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

To: Duke Thomas ([email protected])

From: Terry McGinnis ([email protected])

Subject: shit going down. Advice wanted

 

 

Dear Mr. Thomas,

 

You could say shit’s been going down in my life recently. I’ve tried to be healthy about it and access mental health resources like you said, but Mom and I can’t exactly afford anything outside of school… and it turns out that my school counselor is actually a dreg in spandex who calls himself Spellbinder, so you were the next best option I could think of. 

 

Anyway, most people think old guys are all nice and sweet and “ohhhh, you’re such a great young man!” and all that but I’ve learned in the past few weeks that THAT is a lie. My boss is the grumpiest old man I have EVER had the pleasure (or displeasure) of meeting. Like he wants everything done one way, and I want to do stuff my way, and then he yells at me and threatens to fire me, and THEN I have to tell him he’s not gonna have much luck finding a replacement, and then he’s all like “fine” and I’m like “whatever” and life goes on, you know? Dana (my girlfriend) keeps asking me if I can just get a new job, but she doesn’t get it. No one else is gonna hire me with this record, and besides, I feel like I’m actually helping people with this job. Even if I have to deal with a shitty boss. And hey! He pays pretty well.

 

Hope you’re doing better than me, 

 

Terry McGinnis

After reading Terry’s latest email, Duke had to take a moment to make some tea, text some friends, and go bug his coworkers in the breakroom. And then also scream into a decorative pillow that he kept on his office’s couch for a little bit before he was in the correct headspace to reply.  When this week was over, he and his fellow counselors would be treating themselves to a long night on the town for surviving the storm that had followed the reveal that Neo Gotham’s newest Rogue was none other than a school psychologist. 

 

He’d thought the name Hamilton Hill High School had sounded familiar when he’d heard the news this morning. No one was reported seriously hurt thanks to that new Batman, but he’d still worried. Especially since Billings had gone after Bruce… nope. Not thinking about that right now. Now was the time he set this blow to his family’s secrets aside to focus on a kid who needed his help.

 

He wrote:

 

To: Terry McGinnis ([email protected]) 

From: Duke Thomas ([email protected])

Re: shit going down. Advice wanted

 

Dear Terry,

 

I’m very glad that you sought out ways to fulfill the advice I gave you in my last reply, and I’m even sorrier that it didn’t work out. I’m about to be a bit annoying with the questions so bear with me but- are you okay? Were you or any of your friends directly affected? How do you feel about the school’s response to this? Did Billings’ machine have any lasting effects on anyone? Did He ask any unethical questions in his search for victims? 

 

As well, would you like a reference for how psychologists should behave to check and see if he did anything? If anyone needs a trusted professional to talk to, please let me know and I’ll hook them up with some non-supervillain care. It’s not standard practice, but I agree that I’m a much better option than Billings is and I would love to keep more frequent contact with you if you feel comfortable giving counseling another shot after that disaster.

 

Onto a more positive note (for both our sakes), how is living with your mom going? It must be quite an adjustment. Does this mean you’re living with your brother again too? How does that feel? I remember his visits always put a smile on your face, but I imagine that being together full time is very different. You’ll remember me talking about my time in foster homes when I was younger, so I understand how hard the moving part is, if you need an understanding ear.

 

I’m sorry to hear that work is tough! It sounds like you can’t/don’t want to quit (which, sidenote, what you said about your record making you unhirable is absolutely untrue! If you ever do decide to look for a new job, I know people who will happily help you navigate the stigma and find employment opportunities,) so the best advice I can offer you is to find a communication style that will help your boss compromise with you. That might mean talking to him in an uber polite, roundabout fashion (not your favorite, I know). That might mean learning to acknowledge what he says to he knows you’re listening to him. I’ll link a couple of articles here and here for you to check out, but it’s a complicated subject that requires knowledge of both parties, so I can only help you remotely, I’m afraid.

 

I hope something I’ve said today is helpful, and I commend you for reaching out to me again! That’s a big step that I’m glad you’ve taken.

 

Stay safe,

 

Duke Thomas 

Youth Counselor

he/him/his 

City of Neo-Gotham 

107th Level Youth Penitentiary 

07097, Neo Gotham, 107th Level, Block 7002.4 

[email protected]

(201)867-5309

Notes:

blackdragonhellfire: one of the links is a bum link. Guess which :3
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Notes:

Edit and Announcement Log! (by ya boi blackdragonhellfire)

5/29/21: got rid of the dates in the emails because I felt like they're too much of a hassle.