AN: Just a fun little short I wrote for the BCRU group. Thought I'd share on here. The bolded words are words I used from the prompts :-)
Disclaimer: Not mine, just making money
Batman Vs. Batman
Stephanie looked around the garage of RangeMan cautiously as she stepped out of the car. No one was around. Good. What she was doing was risky. She wasn't sure the Merry Men or Ranger would understand why she was doing this, but she just had to. Clutching her large purse to her chest she made her way to the elevator she hopped on and hit her fob for seven, praying nothing would stop her trip up.
Of course, that didn't happen. The doors opened on the third floor and Cal stepped in. "Hey, Bombshell, what's going on?"
"Oh, hi, Cal, nothing much, you?" She said, shifting away from him, putting herself in the corner.
Cal gave her a funny look, "You okay?"
"Sure! Of course! Why wouldn't I be?" Stephanie giggled, realizing how crazy she sounded. She gazed at Cal's tattoo, wondering again how he got it. Then it happened. A tiny little noise that gave her away.
"Mew!"
Cal's gaze dropped to her purse which was being clutched precariously to her chest. "Steph, did your bag just meow?"
"Um…no?"
The doors opened again bringing Lester in to join them. "Beautiful! When you going to leave that no-good cousin of mine and run away with me?" He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Sorry, Les," Stephanie laughed, "Not happening."
"You okay? You look nervous." He said.
"Her bag meowed." Cal told him.
"IS that something kinky you and Ranger are going to try later?" Lester asked.
"No!"
"Mew!"
Both Lester and Cal looked at the bag. Lester stepped forward. "Steph, what's in the bag?"
"The Packers going to the Super Bowl is what's in the bag!" She exclaimed trying to buy herself some time.
"Nice try, Beautiful," Lester grinned, "You're a hockey fan, but it's impressive you know they might go to the Super Bowl."
"Steph, we can do this the easy way or the hard way." Cal said stepping forward.
She stared up at the two large men towering over her. Normally she would've just laughed and sent them on their merry way, but she was so nervous she cracked.
"Okay!" She opened the bag and reached in.
Lester's jaw dropped when she drew out her prize. "You're trying to sneak a kitten into the building?"
"Well, I was aiming for seven, but you guys caught me." Stephanie said cuddling the all black kitten to her. "It's just, I was chasing a skip and I ran by the pet store and saw this little guy who reminded me so much of a cat I had when I was little, Katherine, and I just couldn't make myself walk away. I kept trying, I really did, but he just kept giving me this cute little whine and the adoption agency was at the store today so I just had to give him a home!"
"Dude," Cal looked at Lester, "When is Ranger expected back?"
"Probably in a couple days." He replied.
Stephanie clutched the kitten to her chest. "Oh god, he's going to be pissed, isn't he? I didn't even think to talk to him about this—but he's out of town and—"
"Whoa, whoa!" Lester held up his hands, "Calm down, Beautiful. I know Ranger, he's not going to make you get rid of this little guy if he makes you happy. You both live in the apartment. Besides, he had a cat when we were growing up, so it's not like he doesn't know how to take care of one."
"Plus, this isn't Bob." Cal said.
Stephanie raised her eyebrows and nodded. Bob was notorious for destroying things and Ranger really would be pissed off if Bob ever made an appearance at RangeMan. It was probably a good thing she and Joe ended on friendly terms.
"So does he have a name?" Cal asked as they rode to seven with her.
"Yes." She bit her lip to keep from grinning. "Batman."
Lester burst out laughing. "Shit, I can't wait to see Ranger's reaction now."
"Bombshell, you know he needs food and toys right?" Cal asked as they stepped out of the elevator.
"Yes. It's hidden in the car. I was hoping to sneak back down there, but since my secret is out, you can go get it." She tossed him the keys and grinned.
"Actually, Beautiful," Lester caught the keys before Cal could, "I'm betting you don't have a scratch post, so I'll go out and get a few things that will help save some of the furniture."
"Really?" She looked so much brighter at the idea of keeping Ranger's furniture unmarked by Batman.
"Well, it won't save it entirely, but if we can keep his attention diverted from it for the most part, you should be okay."
A few hours later, Stephanie was watching the kitten explore the giant cat tree Lester and Cal brought back. So far his attention hadn't wandered near any leather furniture and he seemed to enjoy all the toys, especially the laser pointer. Stephanie couldn't stop laughing when he jumped up the wall trying to catch it.
Bobby, Tank and Ella had each come up to the see new addition to the apartment. Ella had cooed and cuddled with him while Tank and Bobby each played with him and the toys.
"Okay, Batman, you play there and behave while I get some work done before Carlos comes home." She held the kitten in front of her face. She was rewarded with a lick from a sand-papered tongue.
Setting him on his cat tree, she went to the home office and sat at the desk to work on some of the reports that had piled up. Ranger had been in the wind for the last few months, but he had managed to get messages to her on occasion and she was able to let him know that she hadn't destroyed any of his cars and she had taken on more of the business aspect of RangeMan, while working part-time for Vinnie.
She was so focused on the report in front of her she shrieked in surprise when tiny needle like claws connected with her shin. Looking down, Batman was using her leg to crawl up into her lap. She bit her lip as she reached down and picked him up.
"Okay, buddy, sit here, and do not hurt my legs anymore." She said sternly. He purred and rubbed his face against her finger before curling up in her lap and going to sleep.
/\/\/\/\/\
"Carlos!" Stephanie cried out and ran across the apartment to greet him. She jumped on him, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
"Babe." He kissed her hard. "I missed you."
"Mmm, I've missed you." She murmured running her hands along his shoulders and neck looking for injuries. "Did everything go okay?"
"Yep."
Knowing that was all he could tell her, she nodded and kissed him again, then found herself pressed against the wall. She moaned as his lips trailed down her neck. His hands slid under her shirt, caressing her skin.
"Batman, no!" She exclaimed.
Ranger froze. "Babe?"
"Oh, Carlos, I'm sorry, not you." Stephanie said.
"Not me? Then who are you calling Batman?" He gave her a quizzical look.
"Um…" She motioned behind him.
Ranger turned and saw a black kitten standing on top of the counter with handcuffs dangling from his mouth. He took one look at Ranger and jumped off the counter, cuffs with him.
Setting Stephanie down he strode over to Batman, who had tangled himself in the cuffs and was currently trying to chew at them. Reaching down he picked him up.
"New friend, babe?" Batman dangled from his hand. He meowed and started purring.
"Aww, Carlos, he likes you!" Stephanie grinned at him.
Ranger looked at him and moved him so he was cuddling him to the chest rather than holding him by the scruff of his neck. Batman had different ideas however and jumped onto his shoulder.
"Babe, explain." He said as the kitten settled himself on his shoulder.
Stephanie explained what happened and her attempted smuggling in which failed. By the time she was finished, Batman was up to Ranger's head, batting at the diamond stud in his ear. She said, "I'm sorry I didn't wait until you got home, but he was just so cute and he looked like he needed a good home."
"It's fine," He brought her over to him and kissed her. "He's kind of cute."
"Really?" She grinned and wrapped her arms around him tightly. "I love you."
"I love you." He spotted the cat tree and took Batman over to it and deposited him on it. Grabbing Stephanie he said, "Now, let me show you how much I missed you." He threw her over his shoulder and headed for the bedroom.
Three days later Stephanie walked into find Ranger and Batman having a stare down in the living room. "What's going on?"
"Babe, your cat just chewed up one of my reports."
"Are you sure it was him?" Stephanie asked.
"Babe. I'm not in the habit of eating paper."
"I guess he likes the taste of it."
"Babe."
"Carlos, I'm sorry." She wrapped her arms around him. "I probably left the papers on the desk. I'll put them away."
He bent down and picked Batman up and set him on the top of the cat tree. Pointing a figure at him, which the kitten promptly batted at, he said, "Stay there, Bruce."
"Did you just rename our cat?" Stephanie demanded. "You can't do that. You'll give him a personality complex."
"Babe, you can't call both of us Batman. You'll give me a personality complex." Ranger replied, sounding righteous. "Besides, Bruce is Batman's real name."
Stephanie looked like she wanted to argue. Instead she smiled and shook her head. "Alright. Bruce it is."
"And tonight, he's staying out of the bed."
"You left the door open."
"Babe, I'm not competing with a cat."
"Maybe he's an alpha male." She offered.
"The only alpha in this apartment is me." Ranger informed her putting his hands on hips.
"Hm. Batman vs. Batman. This could get fun." She grinned.
Ranger raised an eyebrow and stalked toward her. His wolf grin appeared and she ran laughing toward the bedroom, with Ranger chasing after and Bruce-formerly Batman- racing behind them.
The End
** An: I had to put in the kitten climbing leg bit. One of my cats used to climb up leg when she was kitten to get to me. My legs looked like POWs until she was able to jump into my lap, lol
