This one took longer than I thought, but I had fun writing it!
Also a thousand thank you for the eight reviews! Only two chapters, and I am so motivated!
Remember, Motivation is your Superpower!
I hope you have fun reading this one!
Catwoman. That was her second persona. Or maybe it was her real persona? She certainly had a lot more fun being a cat than she did being a business woman. She loved the thrill that ran through her veins, the rush she got from a narrow escape or a perfectly executed scheme.
It wasn't like she needed the jewels or priceless artifacts, she just had fun taking them. So much fun. Most people were addicted to drugs or alcohol. She was addicted to thrills and a certain Bat that was currently chasing her over Gotham's roofs in the dark.
How she loved when he chased her.
That might have been the biggest reason why she never stopped stealing. Because she could always count on tall, dark, and mysterious to find and chase her.
She laughed in the dark as he flew behind her. She stopped and blew him a kiss, "A little slow tonight aren't we?" She smirked at the statue of a man a few feet in front of her.
"Hand over the diamond."
Selina purred, "Now, now, we've been doing this long enough for you to know, " She flicked out her whip and let it tie on a street lamp below, "Cats don't do what their told unless they want to. And sadly," She fluttered her eyelashes, "I don't want to." She jumped and flew downwards and disappeared in the alleyway before he could jump after her.
Selina sighed as she ran through and twisted in the back alleys. She knew he'd give her some extra time to get away. He had the tendency to do that lately.
She licked her lips as she edged around a bend. She was taking the long way around on purpose, maybe he would catch up and they could - a loud clatter cut her thoughts and stopped her cold. Her clawed hand reached for her whip as her eyes narrowed toward the sound.
Silence.
She glared harder and tip toed soundlessly forward. Somebody was here. That much she knew.
A sharp, low string of curses caught her ears. A mischievous grin spread across her flawless face, those were some tough words. By the sound of the voice it had come from a younger boy.
She snuck around the corner, couldn't hurt to take a peek. Besides, the phrase, 'curiosity killed the cat' was a myth anyway.
Her eyes widened in surprise at what she saw.
A small boy in a tattered red hoodie was flitting around the freaking Batmobile! Her mouth fell open as she forgot where she was. The kid was moving so fast and so smoothly she hardly could believe that he was a common street rat.
He undid a few wires deftly, connected something she couldn't see and literally popped out the Batman's tiers.
Selina almost laughed. She could only imagine the shock on the great and terrifying Batman's face when he found out his tires had been pilfered!
She couldn't help it, she snorted.
The boy froze and whirled around glaring at the shadow she was standing in. She sighed, oh well, so much for watching the show.
"Hey! Who's there? I'm warning you, I'm armed." He called out, pointing the tier iron at her spot.
Selina's grin grew more and more, something flickered in that boy, his voice had a slight rasp to it that she knew would grow up with one hell of an ability to twist hearts.
"Armed are you." She purred smoothly and stepped under the flickering wall light.
The kids eyes widened a fraction before he fixed it in a hard glare.
Dang. Boy had a fierce look that seemed way beyond his age, "Yah. Armed. Now leave." He snapped and grabbed a one of the heavy wheels.
Catwoman smiled, "If you don't mind my asking kid, what made you think you could get away with lifting The Batman's tires?"
The dark haired boy didn't answer as has rolled another one away.
"Come on. Tell a curious bystander." She coxed.
He huffed, his shaggy bangs fluttered up, "What made 'The Batman' think it was smart to park his car in Crime Alley?"
Oh, spicy. Definitely spicy. She liked it.
But Batman wouldn't. He'd swoop in any minute and he'd catch this kid. She had no idea what he'd do to the little punk but she doubted it would be good. Something flickered in her mind. She smirked and snapped her whip out, it coiled around the stunned boys body tightly.
"H-Hey! What the hell lady! Let go! This is my steal!" He struggled and pulled back, no fear in his face, just bubbling anger.
That was something. Especially since she could scare grown men into submission. Selina pulled him closer with one yank. He stumbled and yelped as she caught him before he hit the ground.
"Crazy lady, gonna-"
"Hang on there Tiger, "She lifted his face up by his chin. Her breath caught as the boy glared viciously at her through a thick set of dark lashes with a fire lighting his mixed blue green eyes.
She saw something in that face. Her mind flashed back towards years ago. Helpless, hurting, starving... But fierce. Determine. Strong.
"You hungry kid?" She asked suddenly, still staring at him.
Confusion flickered across the boys face, "What?"
"You're not going to get away with those things. Batman will catch you. What I'm gonna offer you is much safer and more probably." She explained carefully, gauging his reaction.
The sharp face morphed into a sarcastic smirk, "Yah right lady, sorry but I think I'm too young for you, and I'm not that desperate."
Typical suspicious response. Her heart tugged, "Not for anything like that Tiger. I promise. Just food, and a nice warm place to sleep. By yourself." She loosened her grip a little.
"Why? Why would anyone do that for nothing?" He countered darkly.
Selina let her hold on the small malnourished boy go, "Let's just say, you remind me of someone I used to know. So, we got a deal?"
He glared a little longer. Clearly fighting fiercely inside himself. She waited patiently, listening in case Batman was approaching.
A low grumble came from the kids stomach. He gripped it and bit his lip, "Fine. You win. But if I smell something fishy, I'm gone. Got it."
She smirked, Fishy? Hah, that was funny. She was a cat after all.
"Understood. Hang on minute."
She turned towards the detached tiers and started stacking them together. She expected the kid to run off the minute her back was turned, so, to say she was surprised he was still there when she was done was putting it mildly.
"Ok Tiger." She hoisted him up in a piggy back, "Hold on!"
She cracked her whip and in three seconds they were air born. She boys body had stiffened when she'd touched him the first time, she'd expected it to. Now he was tightening even more.
"Woah!" He gasped as the wind stole his breath away, "This is AWESOME!"
She couldn't help but smile.
Batman was disappointed in himself. He'd let her get away. He'd let the criminal get away. Again. This had to stop. He couldn't do this anymore. She wasn't easy to deal with though. The only woman he'd ever dealt with that could distract him so easily, it was ridicules.
He shook his head as he landed soundlessly behind his sleek car. He'd have to find out who she was. They'd been doing this for years now but something had always stopped him from looking into her secret identity.
He stopped.
His tires.
His security locked tiers. They were gone. The Batman, for once, was shocked.
Who could have done that? He turned and saw, all four tiers with titanium based hubcaps intact stacked carefully on top of each other, a red piece of paper stuck on top caught his eye.
He picked it up and read it.
Dear, Tall, Dark, and Mysterious,
Your tires were almost jacked.
Your welcome.
Love, You know who.
P.s. The diamond's in the hole.
The dark knight let out an exasperated sigh as he picked the brilliant stone from one of he empty hub cap bolt holes.
God, he needed ten aspirins after this.
Maven heard the balcony doors open. She let out a relived sigh and headed toward the living room from the study. She was one of the only people to know her employers second persona. That's not to say she liked it when Selina went gallivanting out at night in a cat costume stealing and jumping dangerous heights leading on a nuttier man in a bat costume. Actually, it gave her frequent head aches and anxiety.
But Selina had always come home ok, maybe sometimes not in one complete piece but alive at least.
But seriously, it was wearing on her nerves.
"Thank god your back! I just barley got-Gah!" The red haired woman choked on air, she quickly stifling the cough with her hand.
A small framed, sickly looking, little boy with dark circles under his eyes and holes in his clothes was sauntering around with a too-big-for-his-size attitude, taking in everything as if he belonged there.
She gasped wordlessly.
Selina laughed lightly, "Deep breaths Maven. Deep."
"Selina! Wha-"
"Maven, this is Jason Todd." She'd finally gotten his name when they stopped for a minute at the edge of a warehouse, "He's from Crime Alley and will be staying with us for a while."
Maven bit back another choke, "Ok, no! Selina, you can't . . . I mean, what will the press say? You can't jut go around collecting little lost boys like their stray cats! You already have at least ten cats! Be serious!" Her face was almost as red as her hair, she was so flustered.
"But Maven," Selina pouted, "He's beautiful."
The woman glared and turned shrewd green eyes toward the little rat.
He stared back, unaffected by her scrutiny, "You got something to say lady? Say it to my face."
She gasped, shocked by the rudeness that came out of his tone, "What . . ."
Selina stifled a laugh, "Isn't he darling." She placed a carful hand on the boys thin shoulder, Maven noticed the mild tenseness in his body.
What the heck was Selina thinking! This boy was a stick of dynamite! He'd blow up any second and they'd never see it coming! Crime Alley? For god's sake, the things that came out of that place were horrifying.
But . . .
Maven looked at her employers face as the raven haired woman looked down at the boy with a fond smile.
Selina had come out of there herself.
That was probably the reason behind this. Maven swallowed and looked at the boy again. He looked sad. No, more like pathetic. Barely even flesh on his bones. Probably just skin over whatever was underneath.
She relented, "Oh, all right. But this is your choice. You have to deal with it." She finally calmed down but still kept the displeased look on her face.
"Of course I'll deal with it." She kneeled in front of the boy, "Now Tiger, what do you want to eat before bed?"
Maven watched curiously as the boys hard face fell away replaced by surprise, "Eat? I-I don't know. Whachya got?"
Selina grinned, "Anything you want." She stood up and pulled off her mask, shaking out her beautiful dark hair, "By the way, I'm Selina Kyle, aka, Catwoman. You can keep that to yourself I'm sure."
He nodded firmly.
"Good. Now let's go eat something."
Maven watched, still rooted to her spot. A headache growing already.
The next morning Selina sat at her kitchen bar, legs crossed, newspaper in hand and enjoying a refreshing cup of coffee. Isis, her black cat, the jewel of her collection of cats, sat next to her waiting for his morning nourishment.
"Mmmh, Diamond of Egypt stolen last night. Commissioner states Batman brought it in. Culprit is still unknown." The raven haired woman let a soft smirk form on her flawless face as she sipped the hot liquid, "Wonder who it was." She joked coyly.
Maven came in, her hair in it's curlers, still in her night gown, "Really Selina. You let that little urchin sleep last night in a clean bed with those filthy things on?" She was not pleased by the new comer at all.
Selina just liked him more and more, "Sorry, didn't have anything for him to change into yet. But don't worry, we'll fix that today. Is he still in the shower?"
"Yes. And using up all the hot water I bet. Have you told Dick yet? Or are you planning on keeping it a secret somehow." Maven was really cranky this morning.
"I haven't told him yet. But I will. As soon as he-"
"Morning Selina, Auntie Mave, what's for breakfast?" Dick Grayson popped in as if he knew they were talking about him. The poor boy was blissfully unaware of their new guest.
He'd been with Selina for nearly three years now, he'd moved quite far from the depressed little boy she'd met in the beginning. Every bit of his dazzle had come back faster than she had hoped actually. He was adored by nearly everyone he met now.
Especially Selina.
Maven gave Selina the stink eye and walked out as briskly as she could without seeming immature.
If Dick saw, he didn't comment.
Selina sighed, better now than later, "Dick, there's something I want to talk to you about."
"Hold that thought, Lemme just get a towel, I'll be right back ok." He rushed off suddenly towards the hall.
Selina blinked. She waited.
The boy grabbed his towel and headed back towards his guardian. He stopped in front of the bathroom door. He heard the water turn off. Huh, was Auntie Mave already done showering? But he just saw her?
Inside, little Jason Todd was running his fingers through his wet black hair, trying to comb it out. Selina had given him a decent set of clothes, a black T-shirt and the smallest jeans she could find. They were still really baggy on him, the Jeans slipped constantly. They had been Dicks two years ago, but she couldn't find anything tighter for him. He didn't mind.
"Ok. Now. let's see what I can score for breakfast then I'll book before things get weird." He'd planned to leave last night, but the bed had been so ridiculously comfortable that he fell asleep better than he had in years and didn't wake up. But he couldn't stay here.
He was ok with Selina. But he didn't trust that Maven woman.
Carefully he reached for the door handle and pulled the door open.
A dark haired boy jumped in surprise on the other side. The boy screamed.
Jason hiccupped and punched him. Straight in the face.
The boy went down in an instant, still shrieking, now grabbing his face. Jason was breathing hard, his pupils dilated, this situation was triggering danger signs in his brain which was winding him up for a fight.
Even though this boy looked too soft to be a threat.
"Selina! There's an intruder in our bathroom!" The boy shrieked.
Jason's eyes snapped up, hand still fisted as he noticed the lithe woman standing at the end of the hall. Biting back a laugh.
Jason figured this wasn't a situation he had to run from after all. He looked down at the still yelling boy.
"Hey! Shut up will ya! Some of us want our ears to last until old age." He snapped fiercely.
The boy stopped, and sat up. His watery blue eyes raked over the intruders form, "Who-who are you? Selina, who is he?!"
Jason decided he didn't like the accusatory note in the boys voice, he became defensive," Jason Todd. Who the hell are you, wimp?"
Selina snorted ungracefully, surprising both boys, "Sorry, I meant to tell you but you ran off before . . .oh god!, that was priceless!" She gasped through laughs.
Dick sat up with a pout, "Me getting punched in the face is funny to you?" He gapped, a betrayed look on his face.
The older woman composed her self, "No. That wasn't what I meant." She cleared her throat, resisting the urge to laugh at them again, "Jason, this is Dick. He's my first ward, Dick this is Jason, I found him last night and he, if he wants to, will be staying with us." She cast the street kid a meaningful look when she said that.
Jason's face twisted in disbelief, "Your name's . . . Dick? The hell?"
Dick glared, "Shut up, your names dumb too."
"No it isn't, it's manly!"
Dick snorted this time, "Yah sure."
"God, and I thought my parents hated me. At least they gave me a decent name, Dick." Jason scoffed, a smirk appeared on his face when the older boy fumed.
"You're a little jerk!"
"Oh, that hurt my feelings," Jason countered, feigning hurt, "You got another one Captain Co-"
"Ok. Enough. Both of you." Selina cut off Jason's insult, "Dick, go take a shower, Jason, you're not allowed to make fun of his name unless absolutely necessary, and Dick . . . your older, act like it please."
The older boy looked depressed suddenly, "Great, just when I was getting over my depression, I get a younger brother I didn't want."
The look on Jason's face was a cross between shocked, disgusted, and hopeful. It was a strange tornado of expressions and Selina had no idea how he pulled it off, but she could guess he wasn't expecting to be called a brother by anyone.
Maybe this could work.
"Ok, ok, come on Tiger, we got things to do."
Jason looked at her, suspicion lacing his eyes, '"What kind of things?"
She ticked it off on her fingers, "Shopping for clothes that actually fit, shopping for more food since you ate most of it last night, and . . ." She regarded him seriously for a minute, "Getting adoption papers to make you officially a member of this home."
She waited. Dick waited, although he probably didn't know what he was waiting for.
Selina waited to see what the kid would say. And at the same time her eyes were pleading for him to except this invitation for a chance at a life.
Jason shrugged, "Whatever. As long as you feed me. I think we'll be ok."
She let out a sigh she wasn't aware was waiting to come out, "Good. Come on then. I'll see you later Dick, and don't forget your report. It's due Monday."
She lead Jason out of the hall, while Dick protested all the way behind them.
She passed Maven in the living room, who gave her an 'I told you so' look.
Selina smiled, "It could have been worse."
Maven shook her head and stared at the slowly forming bruise on Dick's face.
Oh god, this was going to kill her.
Arkham, here I come.
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