A slinky figure raced quietly through the night, jumping over rooftops and running through alleyways with ease. The person finally stopped to rest on a fire escape just as the moon cast a faint outline upon her figure.
The woman dipped a hand into the pouch slung over her shoulder and extracted a handful of pearls.
"Beautiful," she murmured in a throaty voice as her fingers rubbed through the gems. "Just beautiful."
"Hold it right there, Catwoman!" piped a young perky voice.
The woman slipped the pearls back into her pouch before slowly rising to her feet. The Feline Female's mouth turned into a smirk when she saw the eager lad standing in front of her. He wore a red fighting uniform, green boots, a yellow-lined cape and had a childish face barely masked behind a black cloth that covered his large blue eyes. The tightened muscles around his mouth barely diminished his youthfulness and small size.
"Oh my," she cooed to him. "You're adorable."
The Boy Wonder's face flushed. "I'll show you adorable, you criminal freak! You're going to give back what you've stolen or I'll put you behind bars for good."
Catwoman's eyes narrowed sharply. "No one speaks to me like that," she hissed maliciously.
With a flick of her wrist, sharp claws protruded from her gloved hands. She lashed for him with the speed of a leopard. There was the ripping sound of fabric and Robin staggered back. The front of his tunic was shredded.
Catwoman's claws clicked together tensely. "Shall I scratch you a bit harder next time, little boy?"
He balled his small fists up in preparation for a good fight.
The threat was cut short by the flapping sound of a cape. A black figure descended from what seemed like thin air before landing on his hands and knees between them. He slowly stood up, his lofty figure even more intimidating against the silhouette of a full moon behind him.
Catwoman glanced at the logo on his chest before appraising the rest of his body. Her anger quickly melted away.
"Magnificent," she breathed out.
"I wish I could say the same," his deep voice responded. "But it's time to end tonight's meeting." He stretched out an open hand, beckoning for her to turn over the stolen goods. She starred at his palm before lifting her head back up to the glaring eyes.
"Mmm, nope," she concluded.
"What'd I tell you, Batman? She's just as bad as Poison Ivy," accused the boy.
"Shut up brat," Catwoman snapped.
The boy punched a fist into his left palm. "That does it! Nobody calls me a brat."
"No. You're just the Boy Blunder," she added.
Catwoman somersaulted backwards and landed on the edge of the roof. "Catch me if you can," she smirked before taking off. The boy's legs took off into a fast run.
"Robin!" Batman shouted. But the two of them had already dashed off.
The Dark Knight growled in disapproval. He aimed a grappling gun at the next building and fired a line of cable until it wound around a ledge. Batman swung off in search of the rivals.
By the time he had caught up with them, Robin was chasing the thief across the catwalk of the Aquatic Mason Warehouse. The Boy Wonder's cheeks were bright red from the cold and his face was tight in determination while Catwoman seemed to be amused with the chase.
"You're pretty good for a kid," she said as she cartwheeled her way across the fragile metal bridge. Catwoman finally stopped in her tracks, slim feet standing up together in a flawless gymnastic stance. She turned around to anticipate the next move.
Robin took a flying leap into the air and threw his body into a triple flip. Before she could move out of the way, his agile maneuver caught her off guard. One small boot hit Catwoman squarely in the jaw and she staggered backwards. The woman rubbed her sore jaw with the back of her hand, glaring daggers at him.
A whip cracked in the air. Robin nimbly jumped back to avoid the biting nip of leather.
"That's the last straw, baby bird!"
Batman's boots thumped upon the catwalk, causing it to shudder. He stretched out his arm in front of Catwoman to block her attack.
"Enough," he ordered her.
"Your kid is getting on nerves," she said.
"She's the one who stole that jewelry," Robin defended himself.
"I said enough."
Neither of them had the gumption to disobey that tone of voice.
"Gotham City has more to worry about than your personal squabbles," he chastised them.
Robin rubbed his shoulder awkwardly and tried to avoid looking his mentor in the face.
Batman turned around to face Catwoman. His solemn face betrayed no sign of relenting.
"This is your last chance, Catwoman. Give up those pearls or face arrest."
She shifted her weight from one foot to another casually. "Does that mean you'll let me off the hook if I do?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you gave me a choice."
"Because you'd choose wisely. I know you, Selina."
Her mouth relaxed into a smile. "What else do you know about me?" she asked in a coyish tone.
The stare between them was cut off by a juvinile cry for justice.
"Raaarh!" Robin went charging towards Catwoman, who was more prepared this time. She cracked her whip and the end of it lashed around Robin's wrist three times. His tugging and struggling was of no use because she gave a hard jerk, causing him to knock against the catwalk and topple over.
Batman raced to the railing. "Robin!" he shouted.
A splashing sound answered him.
A-A-A
One day later:
Dick groaned softly as he turned over in his bed. Alfred placed a fresh cool washcloth upon the boy's brow. Bruce Wayne stood over him, watching with silence and concern.
"So hot," the boy mumbled. Dick broke out into a fit of coughs and tried to cover his mouth with a fist.
"I suppose that is what happens when certain crime fighters go out in a February chill," Alfred said as he gave a reproachful glance at Bruce.
"I told him he needs to get leggings," Bruce replied. "But the kid wouldn't have any of it."
"My parents wore those costumes," Dick mumbled thickly. "I'm wearing 'em when we fight."
He couldn't eat the soup that Alfred had prepared but at least Dick managed to swallow a spoon of medicine that was sticky, bright pink, and tasted like peppermint.
Alfred replaced the medicine bottle and spoon on his nightside table. The butler pulled the covers up to the boy's chin and tucked Dick in securely. "Rest well, lad. You should get your strength back soon."
After he and Bruce had left the room and the door was securely closed, Alfred eyed at his master with tremendous scrutiny.
"What exactly happened the other night?"
Bruce's lips thinned irritably. "Dick tried to take on Selina all by himself. Needless to say, she wasn't pleased with my partner's presence."
The butler nodded. "Ah, I see. The Catwoman has a certain disinterest for birds."
"Disinterest is putting it lightly, Alfred. She used her whip to knock him into a cooling tank. I never had such an urge to shout at Selina right then and there but Robin needed medical attention first. Catwoman and I haven't crossed paths since."
"Has there been an increase in her crime sprees?"
"Not lately. I think she's trying to stay out of Batman's way this once."
"But I thought you two were quite fond of each other."
Bruce frowned for a moment. "She seems to enjoy pursuing Batman's company enough, at least more than her interest in Bruce Wayne."
"The pressure of a duel lifestyle does challenge a relationship," Alfred noted aloud. "But do you believe that Ms. Kyle could suspect your alter ego altogether?"
The billionaire thought this over carefully. "Selina's no fool. But she's complicated the situation. And having Robin around only makes it more complicated."
"I presume Master Richard would not even consider dismissing his nighttime activities."
"Nor will Selina," Bruce pointed out. "Robin will keep fighting and Catwoman will keep stealing. And as flattered as I should be with this attention, it's hardly helping the current situation in the Narrows."
"The drug runners, I presume?" Alfred asked. "The news reports state that criminal profits have been escalating over the last few months."
"I know. More income for those scumbags means more power is poured into their criminal empire." A flicker of anger crossed Bruce's face. "I can't afford another week to go by wasted on petty personal disputes."
"Speaking of time, Master Bruce," Alfred pointed to the clock. "Mr. Queen will be arriving within the hour.
Bruce glanced at the brass clock on the wall and groaned when he saw the gold-tipped handles edging closer to 11 o'clock.
"Damn."He pressed his fingertips to his temples and began to massage them, hoping to suppress a migraine. "I almost forgot about Oliver."
"I will lay out the brown blazer and there's still enough time for a hot shower," the butler offered. "Perhaps coffee in the lounge for you both will allow enough time to converse at ease."
"Thanks Alfred."
Bruce headed for his quarters where he shed his clothes and stepped into the marbled bathroom. He turned on the water as hot as it could go and allowed himself a rare moment to relax his overworked muscles. The water pounded down upon his body while he pressed a hand to the glass, mulling over the past recent events.
Only Alfred knew how much of a difference having the newly christened Boy Wonder around was making in the life of Gotham's grim vigilante. Dick Grayson was a welcomed blessing after years of isolation and tormented nightmares. Even though Bruce had scolded the boy from time to time, he was inwardly glad to have someone else around. It turned the burden of crime fighting into a rewarding challenge knowing that such a bright and enthusiastic person like that circus boy was willing to follow him.
Batman was more than just a vigilante now. He was a mentor. A partner.
A father.
But Bruce's new role also gave him greaterresponsibilities. Dick was still just a child. And children do not always understand all of the ups and downs of a potentially romantic relationship. To Robin, the world was always seen in black and white, good and evil. Cut and dry. Catwoman was no different than any other criminal and deserved the same brute force of justice.
Batman thought otherwise.
Catwoman's heists were always smaller and far more personal than other psychopath freaks and corrupt businessmen. She stole but she didn't kill. She could tease but not be ruthless. She never hurt innocent bystanders. And sometimes she even secretly return priceless artifacts back to the museums, as if the challenge was just the thrill of the chase to show that she could get away with bending the rules.
There was also the undeniable attraction between then. Without words, Selina was able to tempt Bruce to take one step out of the darkness and one more into the light. He would find himself caught in an overwhelming desire to surrender the mask and just be a man who could take Selina into his arms. He found himself still wanting to stand in that vulnerable moment bordering between the law and love.
But in this case, love makes war.
A-A-A
Ten minutes later:
"Remember what I said, Roy. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Oliver Queen paused and added to the perky redheaded teen next to him, "Or anything I would do, for that matter."
"Gotcha," Roy smirked.
"I mean it, kid. Wayne's a Boy Scout compared to me so don't go running around his house," the blonde-haired man warned him. "If you so much as unscrew a doorknob I'll hang you upside down in the old well for a week."
"Cool!"
Oliver Queen just tugged on his beard. Then he cleared his throat and knocked twice on the heavy oak doors. There were footsteps heard inside and then the doors parted revealing Alfred.
"Mr. Queen I presume," he remarked with a slight bow.
"You've got it," Oliver said.
"I trust your trip from Star City was safe?"
"Safe and uneventful. Not that I'm complaining."
Roy looked up at Alfred. "Wow, you look a different than you do in the papers, Mr. Wayne."
Oliver nudged the boy in the ribs. Alfred chuckled softly. "I am Alfred Pennyworth, Mr. Wayne's personal butler."
"Oops, sorry. I'm Roy Harper. Pleased to meet you, sir," the boy said.
"Now will you say 'I'm sorry' to Mr. Pennyworth for acting like a big shot?" Oliver asked him.
"I'm sorry to Mr. Pennyworth for acting like a big shot," Roy announce to a tee. Oliver didn't seem amused but Roy noticed a smile on the butler's face.
He gestured behind him. "Do come in, sir. Master Bruce has been expecting you." Oliver and Roy walked into the house and Alfred shut the door behind him.
Roy's eyes flickered all over the mansion, noticing the elegant gold-fringed carpets, oil paintings in polished wooden frames, and pristine marble statues. None of that tacky artsy stuff or dreary neo-looking furniture that looked like junk to him. If only he kept the curtains open a little more for sunlight, this place would look fit for a king.
"Wayne's rich but kinda creepy." Roy bent over to examine a polished suit of armor. "Hey, can I get one of these, Ollie?"
"Sure, kid. Right after you build me that space rocket you promised."
"Aw…" Roy groaned.
The doors of the lounge parted. "Oliver! Good to see you again," Bruce beamed, walking towards him.
"Likewise," the playboy of Star City nodded. They accepted a friendly handshake before Oliver turned to his young friend.
"Roy, I'm proud to introduce you to Bruce Wayne, Gotham's First Son and the only man who can beat me at tennis. Bruce, this is my faithfully annoying ward, Roy Harper," Oliver said.
The playfulness of Roy's twinkling eyes was noticed by Bruce and he shook the boy's hand firmly. Roy looked up at Bruce in awe.
"Wow, you're bigger than you look on television," he breathed out. "Do you play football, Mr. Wayne?"
"A little. But I can't stand the bruises."
"I can't tell you how glad I was to see you at that conference in Metropolis last month," Oliver said to Bruce as they started to head into the lounge. "All those head honchos ranting on about 'development PR' makes me want to string them up like Christmas lights."
"You don't approve of Lexcorp's new division branches?" Bruce asked.
"No more than I like losing five games in a row to the likes of you.
Bruce laughed heartily and slapped Oliver in a friendly manner on his back. "We'll talk about it over some coffee."
"Great!" Roy beamed.
"You don't drink coffee," Oliver reminded him.
"How about some hot chocolate?" Bruce offered him. "I'll have Alfred make you a cup if you like."
"Thanks Mr. Wayne."
"And while Oliver and I are talking business, how'd you like to have a look around the house as well?" he added.
The boy's eyes grew big as plates. "Would I ever!" Roy blurted out.
"Bruce, I wouldn't recommend it," Oliver cautioned.
"Don't worry, there's nothing that can break and not be replaced," Bruce assured him. "Go ahead, Roy. I'm sure you'll finding something to your liking."
Roy took off in a mad dash up the the steps of the grand staircase.
"Don't expect a green light," Oliver still warned Roy from downstairs.
"Noted," Roy called over his shoulder.
"And leave those mallets alone!"
"You're no fun, Ollie."
A-A-A
Roy spent twenty minutes mimicking all the serious stature on the second floor. It would've been more fun with a friend but he managed to pass the time all right. There were a ton of books in the library but he didn't know which ones to read so he just spun the globe as hard as it could go and jumped on it to give himself a little merry-go-round ride.
He studied the long corridor lined with polished oak doors. So many options, so little time. Each room had a different colored carpet and bed in matching colors. Gold, blue, green, and pink. Who slept in these places? Did Wayne use this place as a hotel sometimes?
Then he'd have a lot more girls running around the place, Roy thought to himself.
Looking into bedrooms was getting boring after a while. He decided to randomly pick a new room.
"Aright, lets see…Eenie.. meenie… miny… moe!" Roy pointed to a door.
He reached for the doorknob when he heard a sound coming from two doors down. It sounded muffled through the wood but he certainly detected some living behind it.
With gleeful anticipation, Roy twisted the doorknob and opened that door. The room was cool and dark. The curtains had been pulled shut, blocking out nearly all of the bright sunshine from outside. But the sight of a rumpled bed with one small lump sticking out of the mattress was quite different from anything else in that mausoleum of a house.
Roy tiptoed forward and peered into the bed. A boy, just about his age, was tossing in his sleep. His sweaty skin was a flushed crimson color, a surefire sign of sickness.
"Wayne collects little boys?" Roy smirked. "Or maybe this is really his kid that he's hiding from those stupid reporters." The thought was so amusing to him that he began to chuckle to himself.
Dick's eyes fluttered open before reasting wearily upon the newcommer.
"W-who are you?" he asked in a faint rasp.
"Roy Harper," the redhead announced. He made himself comfortable at the edge of the bed and offered his hand but Dick just starred at it without moving an inch.
"Oh right. Germs." Unfazed, Roy put his hand down. "And you are?"
"My name is Dick Grayson." The boy coughed twice after introducing himself.
"So, what'd Wayne do to make you get the specks?"
"Specks?"
"The coughs. The sniffles. I call them the specks because you tend to see specks in front of your eyes when you're sick."
"Makes sense." Dick picked up a glass of water from his nightstand and took a sip.
"What's a kid like you doing in a place like this anyway?" Roy demanded.
"I'm Bruce's ward. I live with him."
"Cool. Sounds like me and Ollie."
Dick rubbed his forehead sleepily. "Oliver Queen? He's here?"
"Yakking with Wayne downstairs about some boring business shtick they've got coming up." Roy swung his legs back and forth reluctantly. "Does Wayne rub shoulders with hot shots all the time?"
"Sometimes. But its worse at his fancy parties," Dick said, putting his glass back.
"Let me guess. All the ladies pinch your cheeks like you're a pincushion."
"Yes. How'd you know?"
"Ah, I used to get it all the time. They simper and try to kiss you and say how smart you are for your age even if you'd yell that you were a hundred years old. And what the heck is a cummerbund for anyway? Don't these people even hear of blue jeans?"
Dick couldn't resist cracking a smile. This guy was pretty funny. He had a feeling that he and Roy were going to get along just fine.
Roy saw several thick books stacked up on the nightstand.
"You read those?" he said with a wrinkling nose.
"The pictures that are cool."
Roy raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Dick pulled up a huge book and opened it up, offering to show him. Roy moved a bit closer to see.
"See that man? He's supposed to be this immortal legend called 'Demon Head'. The book says that he's over 700 years old and had an army that stretched across the globe." Dick pointed to the portrait of a tall gray-haired man on a horse. He brandished a sword in one hand while the other was pointing towards troops behind him. Underneath his feet were piles of corpses from enemies who had been trampled to death.
"Gross," Roy whispered softly. "Cool but gross. Hey, checkout those daggers. They're all crooked!"
"That's a kris, Roy. It's crooked to throw off your enemy's position. The book says that some of them have spiritual powers that make them loyal to their masters."
"Go on," Roy urged him. Dick leafed through a few more pages.
"Here's the Demon's Head fighting a duel right off the Mediterranean Sea. Look at those camels! And all those sandstorms! And on the next page…"
"Bow-chika-bow-wow! Dancing girls!"
A-A-A
Meanwhile…
"We're expanding our technology departments between both cities," Bruce announced.
"Like that Dr. Laurens who's heading STAR Labs solar energy program?" Oliver suggested.
"She's a very clever woman, Ollie."
"Then date her, Bruce."
"Just to close a deal! I should be on my guard."
"And in charge. Don't let someone like Luthor boss you around, Bruce."
"Pigs will fly before Lexcorp will put Wayne Enterprise into the ground."
"Or Dr. Laurens dates Lex Luthor himself."
They both laughed aloud.
Oliver glanced at the clock. "It's been fun, Bruce. But I have to round up the cavalry and head out." He brought cupped hands over his mouth and called out. "Roy! Where are you?"
No response.
"He must be glued to the big screen television," Bruce suggested.
"No, that's too easy for someone like Roy."
The two men went upstairs and began to search in all the rooms. Nobody was found in the game room, library, pool area, or gym. They checked downstairs. Alfred's prepared mug of cocoa remained untouched in the kitchen.
"What have you done now?" Olive muttered.
The sound of two people talking was heard back on the other floor. They went up the steps and followed the sound just across the hallway. Oliver pushed open the door and he and Bruce looked inside.
"So then they lower the body in the pit and it starts to glow all slimy and green."
"Cool."
"I think they perform the ritual out in the open for that reason."
"Figures. Woah, he sure looks mad at getting demon glop all over him. Check out those markings on the ground. You think they were contacting UFOs?"
"Hey yeah, it says right here! Listen to this: 'Believing that they could communicate with forms of life from outside the planet, the natives used their writing to leave permanent messages in their field crops.'"
"Who'd ever think of that? Oh man, I need to get me some of that stuff."
"Deerskin underpants?"
"No, the body paint. Looks great for Halloween."
The boys snickered together.
"Ahem!" Bruce cleared his throat.
Dick and Roy looked up at the billionaires. Dick shut the book.
"Oh, hey Bruce! Mr. Queen! Roy's been reading with me," he piped up. "He also collects Crimson Avenger comics too. How cool is that?"
"That's great, Dick. Glad to see you've made a new friend." Bruce looked at Roy. "And thank you for cheering him up."
"Just doing my job, sir."
Oliver shook his head. "I think I've underestimated you, kid".
"S'ok, Ollie. You can buy me a cheeseburger on the way back." Roy said. "Is it time to go?"
"Yes."
"Aw man, and just when we were getting to the good part!" Roy handed the book back to Dick and nimbly jumped off the bed. "Thanks a ton, Dick. It's been fun."
"Can Roy come back sometime, Bruce?" Dick begged his guardian.
"He's welcome whenever he pleases," Bruce promised him.
"You hear that, Oliver? I'm going to be invited to a celebrity's house!"
"You already live with one, kid."
"Oh yeah, I forgot."
Oliver put a hand on Roy's shoulder and they started to head out. The boy turned his head back and waved cheerfully. "See ya later, Dick. Lose the specks, ok?"
"You've got it, Roy." He gave his new friend a thumbs up which was returned with another thumbs up and a wiggle of the ears. The boys grinned across the room as if they had already known each other as life long friends. Oliver and Roy walked out and were escorted back downstairs to their car.
Bruce turned to Dick. "The specks?"
Dick sat back in his bed and picked up his book. "Oh, just something between Roy and I," he said lightly.
"A secret, hmm?"
Blue eyes peeped out from the top of the book. "You're not the only one who can hide things, Bruce," Dick replied.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
Dick just licked a finger and turned a page.