HI! yes I'm actually alive it just was serious bout of writers block.. anyways I won't bore you with the details. So without further ado. I Hope you enjoy this.

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Consciousness was an essential part of being a thief (and to function as a person, but priorities first). As the elusive feeling of awareness returned to the high as a kite thief, she couldn't help but notice she was no longer in Kansas and there was a distinct lack of Toto.

No One surveyed her holding pen, and noticed that despite being in a glass cage she wasn't restrained. 'Someone obviously doesn't have a lot of experience kidnapping thieves.' No One stretched and stood up from the bench she was laid across as the drugs were slowly deconstructed in her body. The illusory thief cracked her neck and noticed that her mask was still firmly in place even though the Bats had ample time to remove it along with her utensils that were still there. 'Maybe he removed it then placed it back?' Or ya know didn't bother removing ….it?

The thief sighed as she examined her confinement to find some sort of structural weakness in the design of her own personal box. No One sighed and just as she was about to give up she spotted the two horizontal poles on the top of the box as a plan started to form through her head. It was a long shot and honestly one of her more unconventional plans. But a plan is a plan, now how to remove those poles. Checking her bag the elusive thief noticed that the homemade C4 was still exactly where she left it as well as the acetone.

Glorious.

Positively Glorious.

As No One palmed the malleable grey explosive to a more useful form she began to smear the concoction onto the glass in front of her. She failed to notice the security camera's documenting her every move, and reporting it back to the two masked vigilantes watching as the thief worked.

The thief hummed 'The Spider and the Fly' as she dabbed the acetone onto the C4 adding a flammable ingredient to the already dangerous chemical. No One let out a slight giggle as she pulled out an computer chip that was programed into her phone that acted as a detonation charge. Which was in her bag with her other useful goodies.

Once No One finished her little art project, creating the perfect circle out of C4 with acetone to make it more malleable. The masked thief placed the old computer chip in with the C4 and ducked under the only form of protection the metal bench with her bag of tricks.

Then No One pressed the detonation button and placed her arms around her head and curled into a ball.

The resounding blast banging her arms against the side of the glass case then the floor as the C4 detonated and the Polycarbonate started to melt. No One couldn't contain the near hysterical laughter that bubbled up from the reaches of body, lips twitching as the super heated plastic started to melt onto the floor as the thief pushed herself out from under the bench and into the rest of her cage. As the acetone and C4 worked wonders on the glass going way above the melting point of the bullet proof glass, No One stopped to examine her work a small smile hidden beneath the black mask. She then proceeded to place a hand in the center of the circle and push the glass out of its place and watch as it crashed onto the floor. With a hand on her hip she pulled herself out of the

"Game and set. Lets see if we can get match in there as well Bats."

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Batman and Robin both watched as the elusive thief made a explosion out of some home made products. Robin payed more attention to the hysterical laughter that sent chills up his spine noticing the way the thieves plan became either the mark of genius or the mark of insanity. The thief seemed to have an affiliation towards the more life threatening avenues of discovery. As the explosion seemed to reach the melting point of the bullet proof glass and the glass had a perfect circle with the thief exiting out of the glass cage.

Batman immediately noticing the mess the thief had just made sighed and moved to intervene with Robin to keep the thief contained. Batman moved to the shadows as Robin moved to confront the thief that sauntered out of her holding pen.

Head cocked to the side as she considered the little bird, not moving any further as Robin also stopped to stare down the thief. Scowl firmly in place as he considered how to deal with the versatile thief.

"You know out of all of my wildest dreams, this one is ranking pretty high on the 'This will never happen' list…. I mean seriously if I didn't know any better then I would assume that I'm in the Batcave."

"How do you know that this isn't a dream, thief?"

"There now you did it. Congrats you just ruined my dream by talking Bird Boy, that is one very impressive skill by the way."

Robin withheld the groan and decided to take a page out of the thieves book and take the initiative.

Then Hell officially broke loose.

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"Oh bother, why must every time I leave someone gets injured?"

Alfred sighed as he received no answer from neither the thief nor the little bird. Who were both pouting rather exceptionally.

The fight that broke out between No One and Robin was messy to say the least with Robin's arm still sore giving the thief a brief advantage during their brawl. That is until Robin started using the area of the Batcave to give himself leverage over the normally unpredictable thief. The fight would have continued if Batman, coming out of the shadows, grabbed both of the brawlers by the cape and the back of the neck.

And promptly separated them.

With both Robin and No One sitting across from each other with Batman and Alfred separating them. No One handcuffed to the observation table, as she and Robin stared the other down neither willing to test Batman nor Alfred by crossing the gap to continue with the brawl. That just seemed like a horrendously bad idea.

"Our guest should be fine with rest, perhaps a bit of anti-inflammatory drugs and a bit of sleep and she should be up to her normal shenanigans in no time. Now if you'll excuse me I'll need to prepare dinner." With that Alfred disappeared through the door leading out of the Batcave and into Wayne manor, leaving mentor and student to watch the capricious thief, examining her surroundings.

Batman turned and motioned for Robin to follow him through the doors but keeping the thief supervised by camera's.

"So … still think she's team material? After she almost killed herself in an asine plan to escape?" Robin asked looking increasingly confused as Batman looking at the two dimensional version of the thief as if she was some mysterious puzzle to be solved. Batman's mind was elsewhere as he contemplated how well the thief actually did. If she joined the team her brilliance and unpredictableness tempered with their rationality would work in their favor against the less sound of mind opponents.

Batman continued to mull over how to make the thief join the team, as he walked away from the medical station and to the giant computer set.

"Dick, she just made an escape plan within ten minutes of waking and while it was extreme it worked. She carried around homemade C4 which is extremely volatile while detonating it with little more than an old computer chip and acetone. She then proceeded to escape while taking on an opponent that had a much better understanding of the terrain and still adapted to fit the fight. The fact that she escaped with minimal damage is impressive. She just needs the right initiative to join the team." Batman looked at his sidekick as Robin continued to stare at the thief.

The sidekick stared at the back of the thief seeing the damage that she could deal with. The fact that the thief worked so hard to get out of an unfamiliar place and to any place that would have been considered "safe". Robin sighed as he silently agreed with his mentor about the thieves potential, but couldn't help but think of the risks involved.

The potential 'What If's'.

The uncertainty was unsettling as well as terrifying.

"Dick get some rest I'll get Alfred to let you know of any changes with our guest."

Dick sighed but nodded towards his guardian as he trudged up the stairs to his room, to get some rest. Knowing that all hell was going to once again break loose when their 'Guest' got out of the handcuffs.

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Hell which was supposed to break loose, apparently froze over first. As the thief, still with the mask firmly in place, glared daggers at the overgrown bat and was now out of the handcuffs. Luckily the 'guest' hasn't decided to throw objects at the masked hero, yet. The staring contest continued until Robin came down the flight of stairs then the thief broke the contest by turning her glare towards the new arrival. Robin actually making an attempt to not rile up the unstable thief as the moved closer to Batman, with both hands raised in an attempt to be placating.

The thief returned to her staring contest with Batman. Shoulders bunched protecting her neck while looking like an extremely pissed off drenched cat. It almost made Dick feel sorry for the unfortunate thief.

"You want me to what? Join the rest of the indoctrinated idiots to what exactly? Fight your conceptions of evil?"

Almost.

The brief pause to before the condescending smirk and a sarcastic articulation. "You're really scraping the bottom of the barrel to actually want to recruit someone whose occupation is in a direct conflict with yours Batty."

Robin couldn't stop the snort of agreement coming from himself. "Yea, trust me we know."

The thief turned her attention to boy wonder and gave a measured look before attempting to ruffle the birds feathers.

"How's the wing little bird? I hope I haven't clipped them before you run out of cheesy one liners. I mean 'Stop Thief' is good and all but kind of repetitive after a while."

The thief mentally pat herself on the back as Robin's face started to turn red and luckily Batman intervened before another fight could break out in the Batcave.

"You have a specific type of skill set that may be useful for the team that is being assembled. If you want to get out of Juvenile hall, with only Parole that could be easily waived by you joining the Young Justice team."

The thief stopped to consider what Batman had said with a slight head tilt. Weighing the Pros and Cons as she went through a mental check list. She considered the possibilities of being able to bargain with the Dark Knight. Before switching her gaze back to Boy Wonder. "And what about you birdie how are you feeling about working with the thief that you couldn't catch? Does it bother you?"

Before Robin could answer however Batman once again intervened to stop a fight that would have most definitely broken out between his sidekick and the argumentative thief, who still lacked a name. "What is your answer thief? Join the Team or Juvenile Hall?"

The thief let out a withering sigh as she debated with herself once again before crossing her arms across her chest as she finally let her captive audience know her decision.

"Firstly I do have a name other than 'Thief', not that that isn't a positively catchy name or anything, but for the record its No One, if we're going to be working together we might as well know each other apart from ya know 'Stop in the name of the law Thief'. Secondly I have a few conditions before I agree to anything if we can come to some kind of agreement then sure I'll join the Idiots are Us League."

When all No One received were a nod of acquiesce and a glare of death, coming from Batman and Robin respectively. She continued albeit with a doomed feeling in her stomach, but still continued.

"Alrighty then, First things first, I'm so not a hero so while everyone will be off 'cleansing' the world of hard working entrepreneurs like myself, I shall offer ideas but I won't get involved unless it is absolutely mandatory that they need a thieves perspective. The next thing is I'm a thief guys no amount of 'community service' is going to change my outlook and if I see something of use I'm going to liberate it because it's who I am and who I was raised to be. Lastly if ya'll haven't noticed I don't like to fight, as in it's not terribly high on my bucket list in fact it isn't even on my bucket list so while the supposed team is off doing God knows what, I'll be making life difficult via sabotage and play the support role. Do we have a deal?"

It was quiet before Robin started to snicker at the thieves proposal. "I'm curious as what makes you think that you can bargain-"

"-Counter offer: first you go through the same training regime as the rest of the team. We will discuss more in depth about the extent of your thieving when we are able and Lastly you work as an active member of the team. If you do this it will count as your parole unless you want the Gotham PD to know who you are."

Robin and No One stared open mouth at the Bat as both of their minds tried to process what just happened. The same thought went through both of the youngers minds.

Wait.

What.

The.

Hell?

"Hold on for just a minute you are actually agreeing with this, Bruce?!" Robin just short of shouting said. No One stopped and stared at Robin then quickly turned her gaze to Batman who sent Robin a reprimanding glare as Robin turned white as a ghost, before turning back to the thief.

"Bruce as in Bruce Wayne as in owner of Wayne Enterprises? Oh…. this makes a bit more sense…. Kinda. At least I know why you were so upset" The thief paused and then turned to Robin with a look of dread mixed with intrigue. "Which makes Boy Wonder here Richard Grayson." then with a sardonic smile No One continued. "Karma is an absolute bitch isn't she, Boy Blunder."

As No One started to antagonize Robin once again, Batman moved over towards the massive computer right across from the thief as he brought up all of No One's information, including her 'secret' identity. As the bickering died down between the sidekick and the renegade thief, Robin couldn't help the sly smirk that crossed his face as he overcame his initial shock and turned towards No One.

"Well at least I'm not failing Biology. So tell me how is that information you gathered from Wayne Tech. really working for you, study buddy?"

The glare versus the sly smirk, in reverse Bruce sighed and removed his mask as he stared at the thief the likeness between Charlie and Selina was unsettling but useful. As the thief groaned and teased his sidekick, he turned back to the computer to collect his thoughts as he let the thief and his sidekick vent their frustrations on each other's.

"Guilty as charged little bird. But just so you know stealing information from Wayne Tech. was so not my idea originally, It was the consequence of losing a bet against Catwoman." No One let out a wistful sigh before continuing "It's not like you're the only business that I liberate information from, I mean Starlabs has some really impressive new tech. So does LexCorp, I mean not that I'm complaining, but its just weird that all of a sudden advancements that he's making, just getting past all of the basic security measures was an absolute pain in the ass. And to make things worse Luther is an absolute butt munch when it comes to encrypting things. Don't even get me started on all of the new and improved security measures that I had the honor of discovering. He had lasers and turrets in the main freaking hall, lasers. And no air ducts! Makes you wonder if he's plotting world domination again or preparing for a fight against Superman... Again."

Bruce and Dick shared a look as the thief regaled them with her disastrously, successful adventure through Starlabs and her near death experience with discovering LexCorp hospitality. Bruce eyes narrowed in concentration as No One continued to express the sheer amount of dislike she has for Luther, with some pretty creative slurs. The two questions remained however, 'What type of advancement had Luther made and why did Superman not notice?'

Bruce sighed as he rubbed his throbbing temples the more information the thief divulged the more questions remained unanswered. The obvious lack of attention that was paid to the thief while in Metropolis was beginning to become an annoyance. But for the thief that was probably a blessing until a couple minutes ago when she told them. The thief paused and stared at Bruce, emerald eyes calculating before she gave a shit-eating grin and cocked her head at him. "You know I do have to get home before curfew is enforced, so I'll agree to join the poor souls that you indoctrinated and so on and so forth, if you actually keep your end of the deal Bats. But I really want to know what your second condition is unless you haven't thought about it, surprise me. I just need a ride back home because I have no idea where I am other than the elusive Batcave."

Bruce looked at Charlie and considered his options, he could take her back to Selina or he could take her to Mount Justice for Dr. Fate to bind her to someone who could keep tabs on the thief. Deciding not to piss off Selina seemed to be a more prominent option considering Dr. Fate could be at the watch tower or with his daughter.

With an abrupt jerk of his head Bruce consented to drive the minor back to Selina. He needed to discuss Charlie's newly found employment with the League, and make sure Catwoman wouldn't interfere with her prodigies growth.

As the master of the mansion maneuvered himself towards the entrance to his extravagant home, he looked back to see Dick engaging the thief in conversation and silently hoped that it wouldn't come to blows yet again. The bickering continued up the stairs and through the house, the closer they got to the entrance the more asinine the topics became.

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The ride back to Selina's apartment was awkward to say the very least. With Charlie wide awake in the passenger seat as Bruce drove down the winding streets towards the heavily populated city. The silence through the first half of the ride was mildly expected with Charlie glued to the window watching how the road disappeared into the cryptic and dark woods, before the inevitable channel surfing and button pushing.

Right as the small hand reached for the shiny red button, a bigger hand swallowed the smaller wrist. "Don't. Touch." with a meaningful glare to put incentive behind the two words, directed towards the thief. The silence lasted all but thirty seconds before Charlie decided to break the ice before the next ice age hit the car.

"You know, you should never say 'Don't Touch'. Its like saying 'Don't Press the red button' it's a total invitation to press all of the buttons not just the red one." Charlie completed this explanation with hand movements to boot. Before another glare was cast her direction, prompting her to give an exaggerated eye roll in return.

Back to brief silence.

A fidget.

Then a sigh.

Hands moving back to the radio listening to some random pop song that sounds like the last hundred of thousands. Charlie sighed and pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on top of the dark fabric of Dick's sweat pants, a generous donation to the less fortunate, as she gazed out of the front windshield watching the dangerously deadly concrete jungle approach.

Watching as the road proliferated as the sports car drove past the various business district and towards the waiting apartment complexes. The nauseating feeling of doom settled right in the pit of Charlie's stomach as they passed street after street, corner after corner. 'Welp I'm definitely grounded for the rest of my natural life. Unless I get Selina a Mother's Day present… But what could I give her...' Glancing around the automobile for things of unique value and coming up with blanks, Charlie let out a huff and glared at Bruce Wayne.

A slow dangerous smile began to overtake the blonde's face as she regarded the billionaire. Mind already forming different ideas to get out of trouble, but also add some sense of closure for her dearest, darlingest, mommy. She turned her head, shit-eating grin firmly in place as they grew closer and closer to her lovely abode.

The graceful figure of Selina leaning against the brick wall of the apartment complex looking like she was about to start nuking the entire city. Eyes narrowed at the sports car that pulled up to a stop in front of her. Not even the slightest bit surprised that Charlie popped out of the passenger seat with the shit-eating-grin of all grins but when faced with the glare of her legal guardian she placed both hands up in the air in surrender when faced with the fierce glare.

"Hey Selina, I know that I'm late, however I got you your Mother's Day present." With a dramatic wave of her arms she gestured towards Bruce. Selina eyes already pinning Bruce to where he was, without breaking eye contact with Bruce the cat burglar addressed her ward.

"Kitten what did I say about taking home strays?" Selina turned her piercing eyes from the billionaire with a vendetta complex towards her ward with psychotic tendencies.

"That they bring home fleas and it's and I quote 'It takes someone with the patiences of a saint to deal with our Landlord because he has a stick a mile bleeping long shoved so far up his Bleep, that it is impairing his already fragile cognitive thought process." Charlie gave Selina a dazzling smile before "Did I get it all?" Before Selina could correct the blonde she was rudely cut off by her wayward ward.

"Anywho I'm gonna head up to bed long day ahead of me tomorrow and I'm sure you and Brucey here have a lot to talk about. Enjoy your Mother's Day present Selina."

And Charlie took off like the devil himself was on her heals. The last thing she heard was Selina's voice slipping through the door and bouncing off of the walls like a rubber ball that someone threw too hard. "You are still grounded Charlie!"

Charlie paused and looked back at her mentor before she awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck and came back down the stairs with a strained smile. "Yea about that... Brucey here will tell you all about it." With a mock salute to the billionaire extraordinaire before she resumed the mad dash up the flight of stairs.

There was probably more to Selina's speech but the ward was already bounding up the stairs taking three at a time leaping over recyclables that was left out in the hall. Just as she bounded up the last section, her apartment just in sight her foot missed the last step. The stumble she took to regain her footing was anything but graceful and all of its synonyms.

The sarcastic clapping caught Charlie's attention as she whipped her head over to the source of the disturbance. The jagged ebony black hair, the green ripped kimono, and the unsettling grinning cat mask.

Cheshire.

Charlie sighed as she leaned up against the door leading to her sanctuary. Mentally weighing pros and cons in her head as she stared at the assassin.

Con: She could die within the next two minutes and Selina won't be able to get her out of this mess.

Pro: If she did die at least it would be over quick Cheshire does have some sense of honor. Kind of.

Con: She was tired and dealing with an assassin who-really-needed-to-get-laid was at the very bottom of her bucket list tonight.

Pro: Cheshire never came here unless to talk about something. Something really big and really important.

'Why the hell not I'm already in trouble not much more Selina can do to me.' Charlie gazed at the assassin with poorly disguised intrigue before she sighed turned and opened the door leading into the apartment. With her back turned as Charlie searched for coffee through her sparse cabinets wondering just where Selina hid the delicious caffeinated beverage. The virtually soundless foot steps alerted the thief towards the presence roaming around her humble abode, thumbing objects of interest before placing them back and when Charlie couldn't keep her curiosity at bay any longer she confronted the member of League of Shadows while still facing the window.

"

You know Chesh if you wanted to see me so badly you could have just called. You know like a normal person." Charlie exhaled as she got no response from Cheshire. "Hun, I'm already in a bad mood I don't need you to add to it. And the whole Assassin's Creed thing stopped being intimidating within the first twenty seconds."

Charlie glared out of the window in front of her seeing Bruce's car drive off with Selina, probably to unwrap her gift. Charlie shuddered briefly before resigning herself to the fact that Jade wasn't going to leave and if she pushed the issue things would escalate into a fight. Something that Charlie wasn't in the mood for especially after that heist went south and landed her with a permanent shadow starting tomorrow. Charlie leisurely turned around (if she looked on edge Jade would try to exploit like any criminal worth their salt) and crossed her arms over her chest as she regarded Jade with a cool calculated gaze, not at all surprised at the cool metal of one of her blades pressing insistently into Charlie's neck.

With Jades grey metallic eyes glaring holes into Charlie. Her Cheshire Cat mask removed revealing the livid grey eyes the slight trembling of the lower lip as the corners of Jade's lips were pulled back in a silent snarl. Four words gritted out of a clenched jaw as she turned molten pools of silver towards condescending emeralds.

"You. Set. Me. Up."

Charlie arched her neck in a vain effort to stop the uncomfortable pressure of cold steel against her neck hands dropping from her chest to the unoccupied counter behind her. Eyebrow arched in challenge as a smirk began to pull at the corner of her lip, head tilted in acknowledgment about the set up.

"And you were sent to kill me, you can't seriously blame me for having a contingency plan. Look on the bright side the League was happy that one of their information brokers lived and I'm happy that I got the information that had some value. It's always good to have backup plans in case that they have some prevalence in the future. Especially when dealing with fickle assassin's like your precious league." As Charlie was talking keeping Jade's attention solely focussed on her words and not on her body language. She palmed the counter for the ceramic cup that was somewhere on the counter that seemed to be a mile long.

Cheshire scoffed at that. "It was just business, nothing personal."

"I'm sorry, but I find attempted murder on my life to be very personal. But hey I may just be defective."

Cheshire glared venomously at the deceptively sweet thief a cold smile gracing her lips as she pressed the metal of the blade even further against Charlie's neck. "I wouldn't be antagonizing me further Charlie. After all I am the one with the sword."

The positively wicked smile that Jade received from the thief was all of the warning that she had before Charlie grabbed her dominant hand and twisted until the disgusting sound of bone being ripped from ligament. The cry that escaped Jade was more of shock at the fluid movement of the attack. When the sword dropped gracelessly from Jade's hand and clashed hard onto the floor Charlie kicked it out of the way and towards herself. Charlie then gripped the ceramic cup and smashed it into the dislocated shoulder.

When Jade crashed into the floor Charlie had the sword in hand and straddled the pained assassin. Charlie pressed the cool metallic surface of the blade into Jade's neck right over her Carotid Artery.

Jade who was beginning to thrash around until the feeling of her own sword being pressed into her neck made her still. Jade was about to yell at the thief until she noticed the difference in her captors eyes. Gone was the cocky playful smugness and was replaced with detached, calculating intrigue, like the look a biologist would get when cutting open a frog. The unsettling grin that belied all good intentions, and promised painful endings if resisted. Jade's blood froze as she listened to the cadence of Charlie's voice the ice mixed with acid. The type of tone Charlie used when she was in one particular mood, the mood that never ended well for anyone involved.

"Now since you obviously didn't hear me when I told you the first time." A brief unnerving pause as Charlie tilted her head to the side demented smile still firmly in place. "I'll reiterate it for you. I am not in a charitable mood. So you get one last chance to quit screwing around and acting like I killed your beloved sister, and listen very carefully because the next time I get attacked in my own house by you. I'll have you tied up and delivered to Killer Croc for food. Do I make myself clear?" Charlie's voice didn't raise much past a coarse whisper but what she lacked in volume was made up for in facial features.

Containing her unease was second nature for Jade, being an assassin does have it perks. However seeing the killer instinct in Charlie's usually deviously harmless eyes was sending warning bells after warning bells through the ebony haired teens head. With a nod of acquiesce to the thief's demands the cool metal was immediately removed as Charlie gracefully stood. Gently laying the sword down on the kitchen counter and offering Jade a hand with a slightly apologetic smile, Charlie helped pull Jade to her feet as she stared at the floor face paling as her words and actions finally caught up to her.

Jade watched as Charlie's mouth opened and closed a few times and Jade couldn't stop the snort that escaped from her, before throwing Charlie the proverbial bone.

"Does Selena still have that black coffee that I liked so much?"

Not the most graceful topic change but it was enough to get Charlie to stop looking so ashamed of herself and back to the normal playfully sarcastic nature that was just so Charlie. With a bright grin that had Jade shaking her head and giving an encouraging nod to go get the coffee Charlie all but skipped over to the cabinet to retrieve the 'hidden' coffee.

The startling shift in mood that seemed to occur with the thief always confused Jade. How someone who so obviously had a killers instinct restricted themselves towards just petty theft, was a testament to Selina. Jade understood it to a degree with her sense of duty and what not but the thief seemed to have a very fickle 'honor among thieves' thing going on. Jade was kicked out of her pondering as Charlie walked towards her one cup of coffee and one cup of hot chocolate in her hands.

They sat on the well loved couch in a comfortable silence, the calmness more for Charlie's benefit than Jade's since Jade was used to the threat of death lingering around every dark corner that she goes into. Jade glanced at Charlie noting the slight shaking of her hands as she took a sip of the hot dark liquid flowing down her throat, the bob of the muscles of Charlie's neck moving to swallow the concoction. Already knowing that Charlie was having hot chocolate instead of coffee, one of Selina's rules more than likely. Jade took a long, slow sip of her own beverage as she waited for Charlie to begin the conversation. When Charlie finally seemed to work up the courage to tell Jade about the outcome her ill fated heist.

Charlie debated for a few more seconds before deciding to come clean to the only person in her age range that she could relate to (she was using the term age range very lightly). "So I got caught by Batman."

Alright not the best way to start this conversation, but she really didn't have a lot of other options at this point so band aid method it is. "And the only way my identity remains anonymous is if I join the Kiddie Brigade. You know the one your sister is on." Charlie flinched and closed her eyes waiting for the inevitable scolding, but when none came within the first minute and a half Charlie hesitantly opened one eye to stare at Jade.

Jade had an unreadable look on her face as she stared at Charlie. Before a small nod in acceptance was received and Charlie let out a breath of air that she didn't even realise that she was holding. Jade's verbal response made Charlie suck in another breath as she made eye contact with Jade. "Don't let them change who you are, it would make for one bad story if you stopped thieving. Your identity is the one thing that will always stay with you whether you like it or not. And be very careful not to break any of Selina's precious rules as entertaining as it is to fight you when you have snapped, I doubt the kiddie brigade would agree." After a brief pause Jade looked at Charlie eyes serious. "Do me one favor though and ... watch after Artemis for me. I know I won't be there for her but she deserves more than what I can offer."

Charlie looked shocked as Jade looked away and out towards the window lost in her own thoughts of the past could have beens, and Charlie couldn't stop the small smile from taking over her face as she launched herself at Jade and wrapped her arms around her waist. Charlie was literally vibrating with uncontained joy as she released Jade who looked more at ease now that Charlie was off of her. "I knew you had a heart somewhere deep down in that cold-hearted-killeriness!" Jade scoffed lightly at that before wincing as she moved her damaged shoulder.

Charlie sighed as she unraveled herself from the couch and jerked her head towards her room. When she was sure that Jade was following behind she rummaged through the boxes under her bed. With a squawk of triumph Charlie pulled out a seemingly random box as Jade sat down on her bed eyebrow raised in silent question. Her only response was a small smile and "A generous donation from StarLabs." Jade chuckled at the implications before settling down as Charlie placed the box on the bed and retrieved something that looked like an iPad but semi transparent. Charlie brought the unnamed device up to Jade's shoulder and watched as it created a three dimensional replica of Jade's shoulder seeing what how much damage was caused to her shoulder. Charlie let out a breath of relief as the damage indicated wasn't serious just minor and should heal just fine for the assassin. When Charlie nodded to Jade that she was good, Jade gave a curt nod before looking at the clock.

"Isn't past your bedtime kid? Wouldn't want Selina coming back and seeing you up especially after you told her about 'forsaking crime' for the good of all mankind." Jade said this with a smirk on her face as she made her way out of Charlie's bed room to grab her mask. As she placed on the mask and turned towards the window to leave she was stopped by Charlie.

"Hey Chesh…. I just wanted to tell you that I'll look after Artemis for you…. and you know about-

"-Don't say anything to sentimental kid. We have reputations to keep. But do me a favor and stay alive I don't want to have to disobey orders just to save your sorry ass." With that Cheshire disappeared into the dark Gotham night as Charlie sighed and closed the window behind her and whispered to herself.

"Yea" with a resigned sigh Charlie continued "Appearances to keep, or destroy."

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Selina was shaking with barely contained ire as she was confined to the classy sports car. Glaring out of the windshield lip twitching up into a sneer throughout the entire ride to a diner just out of Gotham. The repeating tap of claw like fingernails tapping against the pitch black leather upholstery.

The street light turned red as the sleek sportscar slowed to a stop Bruce turned his head to Selina not at all surprised with the picture of a severely upset mother. When the light turned green and they continued the trek towards the hole-in-the-wall diner the tension tangible. When reached the diner and the sports car pulled up to a complete stop Selina just short of bolted from the car.

Yea Selina is definitely in the process of raising Charlie.

Sauntering away from the car head held high as she walked into the vacant diner. Just as she was about to open the glass and metal door she turned her head towards Bruce, who was just exiting the car face a careful mask with an eyebrow raised at Selina's raised hackles. Eyes cold and suspiciously distrusting of his motives for taking her prodige hostage without telling her.

When Bruce was taking his sweet time Selina went to get a table at the unsurprisingly empty restaurant. Taking a seat in an empty booth Selina waited for her companion to join her as she stared out the window nails clicking against the polyglass table liner, as her bat made his way leisurely towards her.

Brushing off the master cat-burglar's brusque attitude towards him as she pointedly ignored him until he sat down. Glaring at the seated billionaire with as much ferocity as possible, she waited for him to make his move.

"Who are Charlie's actual parents?" Giving Selina too much room to maneuver around a question just leads to more questions and no answers. But a direct approach ... Well that was a fifty-fifty chance but still better than the former.

Selina froze for a second the let out a scoff.

"You mean to tell me that you have spent how long in my wards company, and you haven't placed that psychotic laugh that terrifying intellect?" Selina couldn't stop the mirthless laughter bubbling up from her throat. "My job is to keep Charlie grounded to be her rock. Bruce who do you think her parents are? I'll give you three guesses."

The look on Selina's face made him pause in his investigation the weariness etched into the deepest crevices of Selina's being. The weight of her confession and the realization behind it.

The Joker. Harley Quinn.

But how did Selina gain guardianship over Charlie?

As if answering Bruce's unspoken question Selina divulged a precarious secret.

"Harley spent the majority of her pregnancy in Arkham, as I'm sure you're aware of, but when she and Red showed up at my doorstep practically begging me to take the infant and in a stroke of misplaced compassion I did. Harley knew that the Father would kill both of them so to save Charlie, or herself depending on how you look at it, she gave her up to me. I can keep her focussed on less destructive avenues and to keep her head down incase of instances like the one she is in now." Selina sighed as she looked lost in thought as a small smile began to pull at the corners of her lips. The first unguarded expression of the night.

The silence that followed was a comfortable one. Selina with a soft smile gracing her lips as she stared out in space. Bruce was silently mulling over what Selina had told him. As quickly as the smile that had graced her features it disappeared just as quickly. Eyes serious as she regarded the billionaire.

"My ward isn't the most stable she has some terrifying moods. Since you have her your identity you should know that she doesn't care. Unless there is profit involved." Selina paused and gave Bruce a meaningful look. "I'm only saying this because you need to have another plan, Charlie is too much like her father to not exploit this. I know my ward probably better than she knows herself so she will either decide that your alter-ego isn't worth discussing with anyone or she will think that it is the most amazing thing ever and this information needs to be broadcasted everywhere."

Bruce looked at Selina in confusion, mind racing as he stared at the master burglar. Before a soft smile reached his calloused face eyes softening. "I have seen her pull one of her moods with me. I have an idea as to what would work with her however." He waited for Selina to relax enough to tell her. "I plan to have her and Robin to be placed together in a bond of sorts courtesy of Dr. Fate. In an effort to keep her from causing too much damage and to have Robin keep a steady eye on her so that she can't tell."

Selina stared incredulous at Bruce before a small chuckle escaped her lips. Shaking her dark head she looked at Bruce before giving voice to her thoughts. "Are you planning their wedding already Bruce? With the way you go on about your … plans…. Should I be concerned?"

With the serious look that she received from the billionaire Selina's newly found mirth disappeared. The solemn look in his eyes giving the thief pause and a chance for him to speak his peace.

"Selina there is a storm coming and Charlie just scraped the tip of the iceberg with her botched attempt at Lex-Corp. She made herself priority number one, other than Superman." The brief pause before Bruce continued the gravity of what he was saying hitting home with Selina. "If the people who I suspect are in control then the last several missions were nothing but distractions to keep us away from their main goal."

"Which is what Bruce? World domination? We all know how this song and dance go. So forgive me if I'm not impressed."

Bruce leaned in close to Selina and whispered one name that made the color in Selina's face turn whiter than snow. "Vandal Savage." As he leaned back he watched as Selina schooled her face in an impassive facade. Before she stared long and hard at Bruce. "We aren't talking about world domination, that comes later, we're talking about the destruction of half of the planet including the Justice League and anyone who is in their way."

"That still doesn't answer why you need or even want Charlie. Depending on her mood she might not even be of any use to you or the team."

"The team needs a new perspective, and Charlie can provide it. Her tactical mind can help out the team without directly getting involved." Bruce paused letting Selina process this. "Selina this is the best for all parties involved. Charlie can finally find out what she wants to do instead of being forced into something that was all she has ever known."

Selina ground her teeth together as she stared at him the hypocrisy that was going on was getting ridiculous. "You preach about Charlie having a choice, about her turning a new leaf yet the choice you gave her was turn a new leaf or go to prison. How is that giving her a choice?"

"It's all of the choice that she needs, Selina she has already agreed to it."

With a final glare Selina turned from Bruce towards the empty streets of Gotham. Before whispering "There really isn't anything that I can do is there?" The resulting silence from her companion was all of the answer that she needed. Selina chewed on her bottom lip as she sighed and gave a jerky nod of acceptance. Before turning her head eyes cold with grim determination. "Charlie is mine. My ward, my apprentice mine. I'm only letting you borrow her. If she gets killed on one of your suicide missions I will not be pleased. I still expect her to have her schedule free for Mother's Day."

With a nod to the waitress to signal that they were ready to order. The waitress shuffled over exhaustion prevalent over her face as she jotted down both orders of coffee and with a smile turned and left.

The "date" then proceeded as normally as it could given the circumstances.

With Selina and Bruce engaged in an epic battle of wills.

When they entered the sleek new car Selina made quick work of moving over the gear shift and straddled Bruce's lap.

A sultry smirk and anger seemingly forgotten for now, Selina's hand moved from his outer thigh and down to the seat recliner and used the combined weight of both herself and Bruce to push it down into a laying position. Her other hand drawing random patterns across his chest before having them press slowly harder and harder into the thin silk button up shirt and into his skin. Before moving up and into his hair.

Eyes dark with lust Bruce rested his hands on Selina's slim hips. Retracting her hands from their previous tasks to grab the wandering hand and pin them next to Bruce's head and leaned down to whisper in his ear.

"I do believe that you are my present Bruce. Not the other way around."

After that there was nothing gentle about that affair,not that there was anything gentle to begin with.

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With the ride back to Selina's apartment was far more comfortable than the one to the diner. Selina preening over the scratch marks she left on Bruce's arms and down his back. The Cheshire grin that she was sporting and pleased glint in her eye as they neared was difficult to miss. Before she exited the vehicle she turned and with a sultry smirk leaned over to whisper to Bruce. Barely a few seconds later she turned gracefully stood from the low car and sauntered into her complex. Leaving behind a beautiful sportscar and an extravagant man.

When she walked into her apartment the first thing she noticed was the broken ceramic mug that had pieces littered across the floor.

A sign if a fight as she edged closer into the kitchen she noticed from the corner of her eye the movement of another person in her apartment on her couch.

And it was just her ward.

God Damnit Charlie.

Raking a hand through her tousled short black hair Selina put down the ceramic cup that she didn't know that she was holding onto the counter.

Drool escaping from Charlie's mouth and creating a small puddle of saliva that her cheek was resting in. Bits of hair joining into the melting pot of a bad hair day.

Gorgeous. Simply beautiful.

'And this is my genius prodigy.'

A small smile playing at Selina's lips before grabbing a sticky note from a near by desk and writing a message across it. Moving some of Charlie's hair out of her spit and sticking the note across her forehead Selina gently brushed her wards hair out as well as humanly possible before leaving to her bedroom.

After all she did have a few social callsto make.