Rating: T+
Pairing: Bruce/Selina
Genre: Romance, Suspense
Notes:
Ah, Gotham, why do I love you yet hate you at the same time?
Before I rant, that's below, I will say that Gotham has impressed me (the Baby Bat/Cat relationship, Oswald's epicness, the beautiful cinematography, Harvey Bullock being Harvey Bullock, etc.) but it had also disappointed me greatly (the villain-of-the-week approach, Jim Gordon lacking in the badass department, the universally loathed Barbara, the very big plot holes or stupid decisions these "smart people" tend to make, etc.).
This story, however, I will try to keep as originally intended. Two major intertwined plots (Bruce/Selina & something else) with a few nods here and there to the bigger universe. So, with that said, enjoy the chapter. And a big "THANK U" to everyone who has read and reviewed my little gift to you fans!
Disclaimer: Don't own Gotham.
The call from Cat came a little later than he had expected.
Even after he had told himself over and over again to stop anticipating any further contact with that girl, he couldn't help but be anxious which each passing day she had not contacted him at all. It took her nine days to make the call, nine days of Bruce having to lie to Alfred about the whereabouts of his phone; claiming to have lost it somehow. The elder man proposed a replacement, which Bruce got but urged Alfred not to disconnect the other one. His reasoning (which involved him "remembering" having lent it to a friend for his use and once his friend was done with it they could disconnect it) did not sound to convincing, especially since it retconned what he had earlier said about the phone (having lost it, not borrowed it), but Alfred allowed the boy to do as he wished.
So nine days after that horrible morning of nearly getting stabbed or worse by people who hate Cat (he could sort of understand them) and almost getting caught by Jim Gordon and subsequently getting grounded for life by Alfred; Cat called.
And Alfred answered.
"Wayne Residence."
Bruce couldn't understand what shewas saying, but he could make out her voice. He knew it was her. And he could probably guess what she was going to say based on Alfred's subtle facial expressions and responses. "I beg your pardon?" Alfred questioned, causing Bruce to stiffen. He internally begged any higher power to at least give her enough, just a little heart to not spill the beans on what had transpired that night. Alfred's follow up response, a polite sarcasm in the form of "really?" did little to put Bruce at ease.
"That he ain't," Bruce breathing got a little softer when Alfred spoke a little more laid back, meaning Cat hadn't unintentionally (or intentionally depending on his changing interpretation of her) ratted him out. Fittingly, giving her cred.
"Hold on just one secon' love, oi, Master Bruce!"
"Right here Alfred," Bruce quickly moved himself into view from the hallway, walking towards the phone. As he moved to pick up the phone, Alfred pulled it back just above his reach. "Now Master Wayne. What have I told ya about eavesdropping?"
"You said not to…" he automatically answered. "But I wasn't, I was walking towards the study room and heard you talking. Correctly guessed it was for me."
"That it is, a young Miss Irena; here you are."
He muttered a "thanks" to Alfred and proceeded to pick up the phone. "Bruce Wayne."
"Geez, are all you rich guys so stuck up? What's wrong with a simple "Hello?"" definitely Cat on the other end.
"So…" Bruce spoke up, making sure Alfred was out of earshot. "Your name's Irena?"
"Fat chance Cock Robin. That's a little alias I use every now and then; and if you don't want a spanking from yer butler, listen up!" as she spoke, Bruce felt himself a bit infuriated by it all. Not only was she still teasing him with that damn "code name", but he still didn't know her real one. Was she always this secretive? "First, I told your butler that I was, as you heard, a Irena Dubrovna, a class-"
"Irena Dubrovna? Seriously, Alfred's probably seen the movie."
"-mate… Is it that obvious?"
"Ca-Irena, the name works, change the surname. First, it sounds Russian, which you are not. Second, it's from a movie."
"…I'll consider it. Anyway, I probably mispronounced it, I think." She paused for a bit, probably pondering whether she had sunk herself or not with that lie. "Either way," she continued. "I told him I was a classmate of yours and that we have an assignment to finish due next week. So get your butt ready and tell him to drop you off at the public library. I'll find you once you're there."
"Wait, I wanted to drop in at Wayne Industries since I've been hearing some rumors lately about… Hello? Cat, I mean Irena? Hello? ...Damn."
She hung up.
-0-
"Here we are, public library," Alfred seemed to weight each word as he spoke, leading to a prolonged sentence. Bruce just looked at the library's entrance, before turning to Alfred.
"Thanks," the young boy spoke up, as he unbuckled himself. "I'll call you once I'm done. Do remember it is a big project, so it may take some time."
"No worries, I'll just fancy myself a party with some ladies at the manor until you are done Master Wayne."
Bruce gave a soft laugh as Alfred helped him exit the limousine. "You do that," was all Bruce said before telling Alfred goodbye and walking towards the library. Since he did not see Cat outside, he presumed she was waiting for him inside, so that way he went. Inside, quite the few people were scattered about, some reading, other writing, and some just talking in low, hushed voices. Not seeing Cat inside either, he decided to take a seat. If this was her idea of a practical joke he would have to stay a few hours just reading until he could call Alfred to pick him up. He hoped she didn't have that type of sense of humor.
He had never been too fond of jokes.
"Beg your pardon, my good sir?" he heard someone speak, and as he turned to see, a young girl sat across from him, legs crossed and with a book in hand. "I just find this such a delightful read."
"Almost caught me Cat. Almost," Bruce smiled as she actually seemed to pout.
"And after I got dressed up for you… men…" she placed the book down and rested her back against the chair she had sat on. Bruce eyed her for a minute. Maybe two. She looked… different? Not physically, per say, since the only thing she had changed was her clothing, a little less leather and a little more colors, and her hairstyle. But she seemed happy, glowing. "What?" she interrupted his staring.
"You look really nice."
"…Yeah, Cock Robin, we should head out."
"Cat, that name is going to get me attention I don't need or want."
"I told you rich boy, in the streets, if you want something you either earn it or steal it. So either you earn yourself a better nickname or kill some guy whose nickname you like and take it for yourself. If not, Cock Robin you stay."
"That's not fair."
"The streets ain't fair Cock Robin," and she stood up, leaving the book in the table. He eyed her as she walked closer. "Come," she spoke up, "We have some sightseeing to do!"
He didn't bother to ask. Knowing what little he knew of Cat, she loved surprises. Giving them rather than receiving, he presumed, but either way he probably wouldn't get an answer. Not a true answer at the very least. So he followed Cat as she made her way out of the library, and both kids nearly fainted upon coming face-to-face with Alfred Pennyworth.
"Alfred!"
"Master Wayne," he spoke, before turning to Cat. "And you must be Irena?"
"Ya," Cat's horrible attempt at a Russian accent made Bruce mentally want to strangle her.
"I just came back to give you Master Wayne," he spoke as he turned back to Bruce. "The friendly reminder to not "lend" your phone to any more of your irresponsible friends. Two bills is enough for one young man, I think."
"T-Thank you Alfred, I wasn't going to lend this one, to anyone," Bruce responded, trying his best to come up with a lie against the one man who knew him the most.
"Is that causing him trouble?" Bruce eyes widened as Cat spoke up, not at him but at Alfred; thankfully in her normal tone. Her bright green eyes stared softly at Alfred, who gave of a slight smile.
"Now then, you wouldn't be this "friend" he lent it to, would ya?"
"Yeah, I am," Bruce felt himself go pale as the conversation went on. What was she thinking? "My dad doesn't want me to have one since he thinks I'll be, in his words, "just chatting it up with boys until three in the morning". So Bruce told me to keep this one, well, after he accidentally left it at school and I called him to remind him about it. So now I can talk to boys… well, this boy, and we can do school work and stuff. Education and junk."
"Quite the gentleman, ain't he."
"Yep."
Bruce was lost.
He had no idea if Alfred was buying this little story or not. He didn't know what Cat was plotting or if she was just as lost as he was. All he knew was that he had to say something or risk everything falling apart. So, he analyzed the situation. Alfred was probably there to check up on him. His previous lie about the phone and such set of an alarm in Alfred, and the elder man was keeping a close (closer) watch. Cat's story fixed the plot holes in his earlier version, so he could go with that, but that left one unanswered question. Why are you two going outside when you came here to study?
He needed a reason, a good solid reason to go outside. He told Alfred he had come for a big project, which meant, it wasn't a test. Studying wasn't everything. He had an idea.
"Oi, Master Bruce," Alfred turned towards his you ward. "Why are you two going outside when you came here to study?"
Bruce smiled.
"We already did a bit of research, but I thought it would be fun to add something a bit more current," he began, his lie all set up. "The project is about the effect Arkham Asylum's reopening will have on Gotham City as a whole, which I chose for obvious reasons, and I wanted to a pay a visit to Jim Gordon and see if he could give me his perspective. We're heading there now."
As both Alfred and Cat stared, he could practically see the words "the hell?" floating above Cat's head; Bruce hoped he had sounded convincing enough to at least be given the benefit of the doubt.
"Very good, need a lift?" Alfred asked, and Cat practically stared through Bruce's skull with the glare she gave.
"We rather walk."
"Oh… Oh! Right then, carry on."
At this Bruce blinked, confused. Did Alfred buy it all? As Alfred told the two to be careful, no going into dark alleys and staying in public places, Bruce felt confused by his sudden turn until after both he and Cat began to walk away that he saw what Alfred did. He winked at him.
Alfred thought that he and Cat…
"Figures…"
"What?" Cat asked, walking besides Bruce, out of earshot of his butler. It had taken every ounce of self-control for her not to just turn tail and run.
"I think Alfred thinks I, well… it doesn't matter," she looked at him funny as he spoke, before turning to face the direction they were walking in.
"So, let's get going," she spoke up as she began to pick up speed, only to be stopped by his hand on hers.
"Cat, wait. I-We need to go to the GCPD building."
"What! Why the ever loving-?"
"Because that's what I told Alfred. He talks a lot with one of the officers, which is the one I told him I'd see. So if I don't make an appearance there, I'm caught," his words made sense, but she didn't change her expression at all. "…Cat?"
"I can't go there."
"What? Why?"
"Hello, thief," she spoke as she pointed at herself. "I know you don't know these streets at all, but the streets know me. I walk in there, I ain't walking out. Not without clawing someone's eyes out."
As Bruce wondered whether she was saying that figuratively or literally; Cat crossed her arms across her chest. "But…" she allowed the word to stretch out. "You can go in and out no problem, right. You know this guy. Jim Gordon. Say," she moved closer to Bruce, wrapping her arms around him, fingernails sharp as claws against his sweater. "Maybe you could steal something for me…"
"Absolutely not, those are the police! I couldn't steal from a prostitute, how am I going to rob a cop?"
"Kid, relax. You're with me, I'll tell you how," her words did not sound that reassuring. "Just get Jim Gordon to get you to his desk, and get him to leave you alone there. Then call me and I'll tell you want to do. You know my number, it's your own."
-0-
This was the stupidest thing he had ever done.
He had absolutely no idea why he was doing this. Maybe he had gone mad. That had to have been it. Because under no sane judgment would Bruce ever agree to steal something from the GCPD, from Jim Gordon much less, for some street thief. Maybe Alfred was on to something; he had fallen for her. Was this his way of trying to impress her?
"Bruce?"
It was Jim Gordon's voice, walking towards the young millionaire seated at the lobby. "What brings you here? Essen told me you came to see me."
"Uh, yes. I have a special assignment at school, which involves a case you recently had. I was hoping maybe you could give me a hand, Officer Gordon, if you are not too busy…"
Jim pondered it for a bit before nodding. "Alright, I guess I can give you something. It's not an active case, is it?"
"No, it's about Arkham, but more of its impact rather than any actual case."
"Alright, come to my desk, I can spare ten, maybe fifteen minutes," Jim said and he led Bruce towards his work station. As expected of Gordon, out of all of the desks and surrounding areas in the building, Jim's was the tidiest. Jim took a seat, while Bruce too one as well on the side of the desk, where potential victims would often seat. He felt bad, and sick to be thinking about stealing from Gordon…
…But at the same time, he felt a sudden thrill. A nervousness of whether he would make it or not. The same damn sensations the criminal lot felt every time the broke the law.
"Alright Bruce, ask away."
"Right," he muttered, coming back to reality. Questions, he didn't have any. He hadn't thought this through. He had been too busy thinking about stealing that he had not thought of the consequences of such an action. If he stole something from Gordon, even if Gordon didn't see it, he would still have been the last person near the desk. And Jim Gordon was far from stupid.
Furthermore, calling Cat up, even with Gordon far away, would still be heard by any of the other cops nearby; unless he spoke very softly, which would still garner attention as mysterious behavior. And lastly, if Alfred got word of this, he could kiss his freedom good bye. And at that moment it made sense.
'You're something else Cat…'
"Right," he repeated, in the same tone. "I just want to know your opinion about Arkham. Is it really safe for it to be reopened? I mean, like, is it prepared?"
"Well," Gordon started, pondering. "If you want the GCPD-friendly answer, then yes, it most certainly is. If you want an answer without any bul-malarkey, then clearly not. Arkham Asylum is almost as old as the city itself. And it has not been remodeled at all. I can't see anybody benefiting from treatment there at all."
For a fake topic of discussion, Bruce had been really interested by that response. It pretty much summed up his view of the place's current state. "And what would you recommend, for its betterment?"
"Better staff, and far more investment in security and equipment. That place has too many liabilities for it to be a stable-"
"Jim!"
Both Bruce and Gordon turned to look at an approaching Harvey Bullock, waving around a set of papers as he walked. Following closely behind was a young bespeckled man Bruce had not seen before. "Jim, get this, we're in deep shit."
"Harvey! Language," Jim corrected his partner.
"Oh shit, sorry abou-Oh shit. I mean, ah forget it, the kid lives with a general ripper for a butler, I'm sure he's heard worse."
He has, but not from Alfred…
"What Bullock here is trying to get across is a most stunning revelation we just received word of," the younger man spoke up, the one accompanying Bullock, in a calculative tone Bruce had not heard before.
"Alright Ed, what's going on?"
"Riddle me this," Ed, as Jim called him, started. "What is it that no man wants to have but no man wants to lose?"
As Jim looked on, waving his head in confusion about Ed's choice of revealing important information, Harvey seemed ready to smack him. "For God's sake Ed, enough with the riddles. Jim, R-"
"A lawsuit?"
The other three men stared. Bruce had spoken it without realizing it, not even sure if that had been what the riddle guy had been implying. He got his confirmation as Ed nodded while adding: "Yes, that's it exactly."
"Lawsuit?" Jim's tone got a bit louder.
"Yeah, Jim. Sionis is here threatening to sue us for entering his property without a warrant."
"Screw Sionis, is he's not responsible for those killings he damn well knows who did them."
"Tell that to these papers."
As Jim took a look at the files Harvey gave him, his burrow wrinkled with concern, he quickly turned to Bruce. "Bruce, can we do this some other time, I'm getting sued so maybe I can visit you or something?"
"Sure," Bruce spoke up, standing up. "The assignment isn't due until next week, just give me a call and we'll schedule."
With those words spoken and hands shaken, Bruce went and walked away from the desk and towards the lobby. He hoped Jim and Harvey would be alright; they were cops investigating a murder of some sort, so it gave them some leeway to try and mask it as a crime scene wherever it was that the got it without a warrant. Or at least Bruce hoped they could. As he walked away, he couldn't help but feel that Ed was staring at him.
"Bruce."
The voice was soft, somber. It sounded more like a rehearsed calling than an actual greeting. But, given the circumstances, Bruce sort of understood, or thought so at least. "Roman, been a while."
"Yeah," same tone, without bothering to look at Bruce. Standing crossed arms near the exit to the building was a childhood "friend" (acquaintance?), son of a wealthy family Bruce's own parents used to socialize with. Roman Sionis, son of Richard Sionis, who seemed intent on suing Jim and Harvey for everything they're worth.
"How's the family?" Bruce attempted small talk, not really sure why.
"Around, my father seems intent on getting money the easy way, idiot can't seem to see past his own actions to predict the consequences," as Roman spoke, Bruce felt a weird sense of pent-up rage and disinterest all rolled up into one. He had heard from his father that the Sionis family wasn't as happy as they made it seem, but Roman seemed downright hateful of his father in the way he spoke. Then again, given how sensitive Bruce had gotten on the topic of parents since his own parents' passing, he could be misjudging everything. He was well aware parents and children did not always get along perfectly; and not everything said was always meant. After all, Roman was three or four years older than him, so he was at that "rebellious age" everyone spoke about. And again, who was Cock Robin to judge?
"Takes a good wakeup call sometimes to realize what was there, huh?"
At this Roman made eye contact with him, and smirked. "True, one good call can do wonders."
"Yeah, anyway, hope everything resolves itself alright. It was nice seeing you Roman."
"Likewise Bruce."
With nothing else to be said, Bruce exited the building and walked to where Cat had said she would wait for him. The sight he came across surprised him. Cat was sitting on the floor, legs spread with a young feline playing with her fingers as she caressed him (or her) all across the back. One scene made Bruce understand her a lot more. Not just why she was called Cat, but who she was. Playful and harmful all at once, but never one to harm an innocent. And for the first time he understood something about the criminal world.
"I'm back Cat."
She turned to face him. "You never called."
"Wasn't supposed to, was I?" he gave her a knowing smile, taking a seat next to her in the same manner, locking the cat between their legs as the formed an oval. "Stealing from the GCPD is suicide, it's a fool's errand. Something not even you could pull off. You wanted to teach me to think things through, not to blindly go after a steal just because someone said so. To plan my thefts and choose my targets… right?"
"Let's go with that."
Not the answer he had expected. Still, for what it was worth, he was enjoying himself. More than he ever thought he could or would again.
"Also, Cat?"
"Hmm?"
"I think I've earned a change in nickname."
"That again, listen Co-"
"No, you listen," he hadn't meant it so rough, but Cat actually stopped speaking an eyed him a certain way he hadn't seen her look at, well, anything. "I-I earned it, like you said. I've already passed two lessons from you, stole a guy's wallet, outran Jim Gordon, successfully fooled by military trained butler, and I've managed to steal something no one ever has."
"Fifty five bucks?"
"No, your attention."
She was dead silent. He was wondering if she had understood it the way he had meant it to sound. In his reasoning, she had been paying a lot of attention to his progress and the like; so it was a fair assumption. As for being the only one to manage that, he had no idea, but he just didn't like the idea of anyone else taking her attention like that. For some reason or the other. But she still stayed silent. Even the cat was silent.
"C-?"
Then she laughed.
And he felt like strangling her again.
"That was so corny," she spoke between laughs, earning herself an embarrassed laugh from him. "Oh, what the heck, I like to see you squirm every time I call you Cock Robin, but I'll admit it is a bit weird for me to be seen hanging out with a guy with that stupid a name. Next thing I'll be getting called Pussy Cat."
"My point exactly," he said, avoiding eye contact.
"So come on then," she stood up; allowing the cat to go on his merry way. Then she turned and began to walk. "Come then, the day's still young. Let's go do what I wanted to do."
"Hey, but wait. What's my nickname then?"
It was here he understood. He wasn't interested in the criminal element. He didn't want to see their world, he wanted to see her world. He wanted to understand her. Because if someone can be so kind to those creatures that cannot give anything back, that someone couldn't be such a bad person after all. So he decided, upon that day, that no matter what, he would see the better nature of this girl, and never give up on her. Never.
"What do you think? You only have one alias."
"Huh?"
"You're my Robin."
The Author Rants About:
Other Characters Introduced Thus Far
This is a little biography section for you folks to know what I'm using from the Gotham canon and what I'm not for each of this characters introduced in these last chapters. First In, First Out; so:
A. Alfred Pennyworth: If there's one character Gotham did perfect, it's Oswald Cobblepot. But since he had yet to appear, let's talk about the second best guy. Alfred is pretty much the same as in Gotham, strict, but caring. Here Bruce and Alfred yet to do any actual "training" of sorts, but given that his teacher here is Miss Kyle, Alfred may have other things to do.
B. William Earle: A CEO of Wayne Enterprise, who's pretty much the same guy as he was in Batman Begins. And since Wayne Enterprise is rather corrupt, you know he is not that well intentioned as he seems. He'll probably pop up again, but is not really a major figure at all.
C. James "Jim" Gordon: The hero of another story, or canon. It's funny, because Gordon himself is a secondary hero in all of Batman's mythologies, so it evens out. Gordon is pretty much unchanged from Gotham. Granted, he's still an Officer of the GCPD, rather than a security guard at Arkham, but such is the fate of AU-ish stories.
D. Harvey Bullock: Utterly unchanged from canon. Harvey is still the same guy. Heck, his backstory in "Spirit of the Goat" is canon here as well, so, you know this guy already.
E. Barbara Kean: Utterly changed from canon. I won't go into a mad rant about why she sucks in Gotham, but here she is more like the version in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Caring, helping and somewhat naïve, but gentle. She did have that past relationship with Renee Montoya, but she's no drug addict, no longer with her and she's told Jim about both things already. They're much more stable here.
F. Lucius Fox: Again, The Dark Knight trilogy version, albeit younger. If he talks, just imagine Morgan Freeman's voice. Who am I kidding? You already have.
G. Julie Madison: She hasn't really appeared, but I've name-dropped her enough to warrant a spot here. Julie appeared in Batman & Robin (unfortunately), but this version of her is based on a child version of her comic self. Given that she was the first love interest Batman ever had, she's a natural contender for the spot even today. Well, so long as daughters of demons or purple-loving reporters don't show up…
H: Edward Nygma: Riddle me this, who will this guy become? And that's not a riddle, that's just a question… Anyways, Edward here is his Gotham self, albeit toned a bit down to be less cartoony (Jim Carrey version) and a bit more clever and obsessive (Arkham Origins version). Still a good guy (for now), who just loves speaking in riddles.
I. Roman Sionis: Son of Richard Sionis (the bad guy from episode 08: "Masks"), Roman here is a teen who is evidently quite frustrated with his parents and the way the act. Like his comic book self, his parents force him to get along with Bruce and the elite to try and save face. Incorporating the Gotham storyline, his father is involved in killings, but Jim and Harvey have yet to prove it. Roman himself hates his father for always having such a false face.
The Author Responds To:
1. Croclover95: Fanfiction, for me, should be used to make your own canon. I simply can't, unless it's for a one-shot or something; be faithful to canon and still make stories interesting. I feel constrained. That's not what fanfiction is for. But I sincerely appreciate the response, the feedback, the sheer amount of positivism I received from your review. Thank you. I've done this story for those who feel Gotham should focus more on Bruce and Selina. This is the story for you!
2. cokeerr: Thanks, and about him tagging along, she does have something up her sleeves right about now…
3. ArmyWife22079: That made me laugh. Yes, Selina will get Helena out of her relationship with Bruce… in twenty years or so.
4. Solvdrage: Thank you, I love it to be compared to the show, it makes the story feel authentic. And as you can tell, this story has roots on pretty much all the batman media: The Animated Series, The Dark Knight trilogy, the Tim Burton films, the Arkham Games, heck, even the Adam West show!
5. claire3loves3music: Yeah, I was actually conflicted about calling Bruce "Cock Robin". It is from an actual story (poem? fable? whatever), but given today's meaning, it did seem vulgar (in no way helped by Selina's "Pussy Cat" comment). But, since I intended to have Bruce use the "Robin" code, it seemed appropriate. Heck, the first Robin is called Dick, so…
6. Mattia18: Thanks for the praise. I would not call this the best Gotham fanfiction (first, I would sound way too arrogant; second, I've seen some good stuff around here lately); but I am honored you think that way. If it is the best story here for you, then I've done my part. Thanks again!