.
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Ethan sat in his apartment living room giving Snowball some fuss, the cat purred contently snuggled up close on his lap as Ethan ran his fingers through her fur.
Selina's feline friend had become a regular visitor to the Tucker household but Ethan didn't mind, in-fact he had grown attached to the company it helped make his home feel less lonely.
In his mind there was nothing worse than coming home to an empty apartment. There were still times when he expected to hear his Dad humming an old show tune while he fixed dinner or see his Mother sitting in the living room watching one of her TV shows.
It was those little things he missed more than anything else.
Snowball swatted her tail against his chest with a 'thump' demanding Ethan pay more attention to her. He smiled massaging the back of the cats head, Snowball stretched her front paws out lazily, pleased that her human companion indulged her demands.
Selina hadn't been happy with Ethan after the Academy incident. She had gone completely silent on him, Ethan had been worried that she might have skipped out on him but after Snowball turned up on his doorstep with a sassy worded note hidden under her collar he realized that Selina was keeping her distance till it all blew over in-case the Bat tracked him down.
It's not like he was trying to give Gotham's famous dynamic duo leads but he had to do something, besides it wasn't like Ethan could lead them to Catwoman anyway. Selina had been very careful of that. He had nothing to give her away; no address, no phone number, no cat-shaped projector to light up the night sky, nothing.
The only information Ethan did have was her name and that was useless seeming how it wasn't exactly a secret, there was nothing to link him and Selina together.
It had been terrifying the first few days.
Constantly expecting his door to be kicked down at any moment or for the Bat to come smashing through his window but after the days turned into weeks Ethan came to the conclusion that the vigilante didn't know where he was and so that lead him to the present relaxing on the couch with Snowball without the fear of a bat-induced death.
Despite Selina's disapproval Ethan didn't regret what he had done.
He saved someone and not just anyone, he had saved Robin and that made him feel good, really good. For the first time in his life Ethan had used his powers for an entirely selfless purpose.
Robin had been much more intense in person, he was a shoulder shorter than the rock-wielder but had the presence of someone double his height. Which for whatever reason Ethan found hot but he kept that to himself. Selina would have too much fun if she found out that her accomplice thought Batman's sidekick was cute.
When Robin had asked him to stay Ethan had almost agreed, he could have lied and said he was another vigilante, pretended to be a hero so he could fight alongside them, maybe shake hands with the Mayor and have little figurines made of him.
But he couldn't.
Ethan knew who he was and more importantly what he was.
Heroes didn't do the things he did.
Snowball's ears snapped to attention. She pounced off Ethan's lap jumping onto the window sill leading to the fire escape outside meowing.
Ethan knew Snowball only responded like that for one person.
She can't just knock on the front door can she.
He moved to the window unlatching it and sliding it open, the cold night air hit his face causing Ethan to shiver.
"Are you coming in? Or is your plan to freeze me to death first?"
Selina appeared in the window frame sliding into the room elegantly geared up in full costume, she did a once over of the apartment then made herself at home on the couch.
Snowball hurried to her side loyally nudging Selina's hand with her nose.
"Don't think you're slick Sparkles, I know Snowball gave me away"
Ethan's mouth twitched ever so slightly.
"She might have helped...nice to see you too"
Selina smiled.
"Did you miss me?"
"No"
"You did! I knew it, couldn't get enough of my charm"
"I was enjoying the peace and quiet actually"
Selina sighed dramatically.
"As much as I would love to keep our witty banter going...we have places to be tonight"
Finally. Ethan thought.
"Let's get going then"
Selina shook her head looking at the joggers and shirt Ethan wore with distaste.
"Oh right...give me a minute"
Ten minutes later and Ethan emerged from his room wearing his leather suit.
"You spend more time in front of the mirror than I do"
"Lucky for your mirror"
"Meow that sarcasm is getting sharper"
Ethan shook his head knowing Selina would never take it seriously.
"So where are we heading?"
Snowball jumped off Selina's lap as she got up curling up on the warm spot left behind.
"Follow me we'll speak on the way, oh and you might want to throw on a coat it's chilly tonight"
Ethan nodded noticing that the skin Selina usually exposed was for once covered with a thick jumper hidden under her suit, he decided if it was cold enough to make Catwoman put something warm on he would need the extra layers. He grabbed his fur-lined winter coat on his way out following his criminal partner out of the window and up the fire escape.
When he reached the roof Selina stretched her limbs in preparation for the journey.
"Fair warning, we're heading to a rough part of town, I need some intel and the man who has it likes the bad kind of company if you get what I mean, any problems with that?"
"If I had any would you listen to them?"
She smiled cheekily.
"Probably not"
And off she went pouncing across the rooftops completely unfazed by the distance between them and the ground.
Ethan wasn't as practiced as Selina but luckily his powers filled in for his lack of balance. The teenager used his super-strength to propel him through the air raising bridges out of the stone work where necessary to stop him from falling.
Selina didn't wait up for him already five paces ahead and by the time they made it deep into the bowels of Lower Gotham she was a good four or five buildings in-front of him.
Ethan knew when they reached the bad part of town he could taste it on his tongue, toxins bleeding out of Ace Chemicals spread far across the neighborhood giving the air an acidic flavor. The streets were arid, empty pathways abandoned the moment the sun had touched down. Everyone avoided this area, even the GCPD, it was home to many foul things.
Selina came to a halt up ahead and Ethan tensed his legs to jump across the last few buildings landing beside her with a thud.
"You're getting better" Selina praised.
"No thanks to you"
She shrugged.
"I'm not teaching you anything, you're teaching yourself"
Ethan had indeed become much more comfortable with his abilities and while Selina wasn't teaching him, learning 'on the fly' was.
There were times when he nearly lost control, emotions he found still made him unsteady, especially anger or fear but he was working on that, so long as he didn't accidentally topple his apartment building in his sleep because of a nightmare there wouldn't be any issues.
"That's the place, my informant is inside"
Ethan looked at the cub below them. It wasn't hard to miss. 'The Tap Room' was displayed in big neon lights illuminating half the street in a red haze, it was a simple enough building most wouldn't think there was a club there to begin with if it wasn't for the sign and two burly bouncers outside the entrance.
"Whose the informant?" Ethan asked.
"Sherman Fine, goes by the 'Broker' to most, we've had dealings in the past"
"The good or bad kind?"
Selina smiled to herself.
"Both...he deals in information selling to the highest bidder, he also has a small mafia under his command, hence why you're here"
"What?"
"You're my backup if things go south" Selina didn't look at Ethan as she spoke.
The teens pulse quickened as it sunk in. He'd been in fights before sure but never with armed men. He was pretty much invulnerable to everything while crystal so he didn't think he had to worry about being shot but the thought of putting that to the test didn't appeal.
"Relax kid, I didn't come for a fight, I'm just looking for information"
Ethan had a feeling that wouldn't matter. Selina was a trouble-maker.
"So we're here to buy information that's it?"
A look of pure horror crossed the cat burglar's face.
"I'm not buying anything"
"So...what? You think he'll just give you the information for free?"
"Of course he will, I'm going to ask very nicely"
Fight...There's going to be a fight I know it.
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(Half an hour later)
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"Not a chance kitty cat"
The teenager rolled his eyes at Selina.
"Ask nicely you said" Ethan mumbled under his breath.
Selina nudged him in the ribs.
After being forced to wait in the freezing back alleyway for twenty minutes Sherman had finally agreed to meet with them.
They had been guided through the dark club by armed guards into a small office where the 'Broker' resided, the armed goons remained with them inside the room guns primed and ready to use if need be.
Ethan had gotten a good look at the clubs patrons, most were drunken idiots who paid them no mind too busy eyeing the strippers on display but the others in the club watched them intently daring them to make a move.
It didn't sit right with Ethan being around gangbangers and drug dealers. These were the kind of people his parents had fought to keep off the streets and yet here they were indulging themselves without consequence.
He ignored his burning prejudice reminding himself that he was here to back Selina up nothing more.
Catwoman moved away from him leaning over Sherman's polished wood desk to leer at him seductively.
"Do it for me...As a favor, you have no idea how grateful I'll be, or maybe you do..."
Sherman leaned forward with a dirty smile.
"Yeah?"
"I''d be so, so grateful"
He hummed looking Selina up and down shamelessly. Ethan suddenly found the carpet incredibly interesting.
"As much as I want to take you up on that offer I can't"
"Not even for me?"
"Not even for a pretty thing like you, I'm a business man, handing out freebies is bad for business"
The 'Broker' seemed like a grimy piece of work dressed like a funeral director and had about the same appeal as one but that didn't stop Selina from laying it on thick.
If it were up to him he would have slammed Sherman's head through the floor by now.
"Fine...lets cut out the pleasure and skip right to business then"
Sherman looked disappointed but nodded to the seat in-front of his desk. Selina took it with a smile hooking one leg up over the other.
"How about we make a trade, I'll give you something valuable and in return you'll give me some information, sound good?"
"I know what you're after kitty...that kind of information won't come cheap"
Catwoman inspected her claws appearing disinterested.
"And I know you've been after a certain painting..."
That peeked the Broker's interest his eyebrows shooting up.
Ethan tried to hide his surprise considering all the trouble they had gone through to get that painting, he didn't think it was worth trading off for some intel.
"You have it?"
"Maybe, maybe not, maybe I sold it on already"
Sherman rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"You get it to me, then we'll talk"
Selina tutted.
"I think not, see there's this long line of buyers waiting to place their bids on this piece, why should I wait?"
"You think any of my competitors will dare steal a deal from me?"
"We both know they'd do it in a heartbeat"
The Broker leaned on his elbows studying Selina carefully.
"Very well, how will I know you won't disappear after I give you your intel"
"Sherman, you know I'm good for it, as you said it'd be bad for business on both our parts"
He nodded satisfied with the answer.
"Fine, but I expected it to be delivered first thing in the morning"
"I'll have it to you by mid-night tonight"
"Done, now the item you're after it's-"
The door opened and in rushed another gun-for-hire this one was red-faced and bulbous shoving his way past Ethan to whisper in Sherman's ear.
The Broker kept a perfect poker face gesturing for the man to stand behind him, he leaned back in his chair and with a fictitious smile his eyes wondered over to Ethan for the first time since he entered the room.
"How rude of me...you never introduced yourself Mr...?"
Ethan didn't know how to respond. He couldn't give his real name but if he gave a fake one the Broker would be able to tell the second it left his lips.
"Ralph the man asked you a question"
Selina tilted her head towards Ethan lazily but despite her relaxed posture Ethan could see the danger bubbling in her eyes. Something was wrong.
"It doesn't matter...I was just curious"
Sherman sat up quickly resting both his hands on the desk as his men raised their guns.
"I am afraid my dear pretty kitty, that there had been a change of circumstances, someone wants your boy-toy over there and they are paying big to get him"
Ethan's pulse quickened as he heard the safety on the guns click off. Selina didn't move she remained calm staring Sherman dead in the eye.
"Are you sure you want to do this? It would be very bad for business"
Sherman shrugged.
"If anything my reputation will improve after people know I killed Catwoman"
I knew there was going to be a fight.
Instincts kicked in and Ethan was moving at the same time Selina was.
One gun fired from behind Sherman, the bullet missing it's target by inches giving Selina enough time to get close enough to slam her elbow into the gunman's face stunning him as blood exploded out of his broken nose. The two men behind Ethan aimed at Catwoman and he flung himself in-front of their field of vision.
"NO! DON'T SHOOT HIM!"
The henchmen didn't appear to hear Sherman's scream firing their guns in unison. What they didn't expect was their bullets to ricochet off crystal skin with a sharp 'ping'. One ended in the wall and the other bounced back into one of their legs.
The henchman on the left screamed holding the fresh bullet wound.
Ethan ignored the blood oozing out of the man instead tackling his uninjured buddy to the ground, there was a struggle but the teenager was quicker and stronger than the thug. He ripped the gun out of the man's grasp and punched him square in the face. Ethan made sure to hold back some of the super-strength so he didn't turn him into paste, the man underneath him slumped against the floor unconscious.
Ethan sensed the wounded thug behind him move. The rock-weilder turned just in time to see the man raise his fire-arm fingers squeezing the trigger.
Ethan quickly grabbed the barrel of the gun so it pressed against the palm of his hand, the trigger happy fool fired three times in succession but the bullets didn't make it past Ethan's hand.
"What the-" A heeled black boot struck the thug, knocking him to the ground.
"You okay Sparkles?"
Ethan couldn't stop looking at the blood pooling on the ground. The fact that the blood wasn't even his made him want to throw up.
"Kid...?"
Selina touched his shoulder, the physical contact snapped him out of it pulling him away from his confused daze.
Ethan nodded weakly letting his skin return to normal as he got up off the floor. He reassured Selina he was fine then they both turned their focus onto the last conscious man in the room.
Sherman stood behind his chair glaring at his incapacitated men.
"Fucking snowflakes"
Catwoman was on him in an instant. She twisted his arm behind his back using the leverage to slam the Broker's face into his desk.
"Let's talk business shall we?"
"Ow! Wait! We can still make a deal!"
Selina laughed darkly.
"You just tried to kill me, give me one reason not to rearrange your face"
"I'll tell you what you want to know! Free of charge!"
"Not good enough"
Catwoman twisted his arm further to the point where the joint was on the brink of popping out of its socket.
"FUCK! OKAY! Okay!"
"Tell me what I need to know and who's after my friend over there"
"Listen... his got eyes everywhere, he'll know, just-"
Ethan jumped at the scream that followed. There was only so much violence he could take and he was worried that Selina would go to extremes he wasn't prepared for.
"Selina" She snapped her head up him.
"Enough...please"
Catwoman's face softened and she let Sherman go.
The Broker scrambled away into the corner cradling his shoulder.
"Fuck you Cat! God damn it!"
"I'm known to be sympathetic not patient, now talk"
Sherman growled through gritted teeth.
"Dent. Dent has your item and his after your little fuck buddy"
That name didn't ring any bells for Ethan. But he noticed Selina's shoulders tense and her face sharpen as she grabbed the Broker's chin roughly.
"You better not be lying"
"I'm not! He keeps the tech close at all times that's how his managed to stay hidden"
"Why is he after Sparkles over there?"
"I wasn't sure at first but now I know"
The Broker smiled crookedly at Ethan.
"You're that meta-human, the one everyone's after...he wants to use you to kill the Bat"
Ethan's eyes bulged.
"What?! I'd never- Who is Dent?!"
Sherman laughed cruelly.
"Not a smart one is he?"
Ethan squared his jaw glaring at the Broker. The claws holding his chin began digging in ever so slightly.
"Where is Dent hiding."
Sherman gaped shaking his head wildly.
"No! I can't tell you that! He has hundreds of men! He'll kill you, then kill me for telling you where he was hiding!"
"How about that...there really is a silver lining to everything. I won't ask again Sherman, this is your last chance to make it through tonight with all limbs intact"
Ethan thought Sherman might try his luck but instead he gave it up.
"The Old Gotham Courthouse" The Broker whispered.
"Ugh of course"
"You got what you want, now let me go"
Selina smiled releasing the Broker's face, when she next spoke it was with a sassy edge.
"Pleasure doing business with you pretty, oh and one more thing"
Sherman's head popped back from the force of the strike thrown his way. The Broker clutched his face yelling all sorts of angry curses.
"I'm keeping the painting"
Ethan realized he had witnessed at least threebroken noses tonight.
Catwoman strolled past the teenager telling him to follow but the rock-wielder grabbed her arm instead.
"Selina...who is Dent?"
"You really don't know?" She said curiously.
The look on Ethan's face said it all Selina tutted watching Sherman in the corner of her eye.
"Kids these days...I'll tell you, but not here, if we're lucky the rest of the club didn't hear us over the music, we might be able to slip out quietly, if not then...you get the idea"
More fighting...more bullets..more blood.
"Right...lets just get out of here"
After a narrow escape from the Tap Room the odd pair travelled back to Ethan's home in complete silence. When they reached the safety of the apartment Ethan collapsed on the couch lengthways as a curious Snowball ran up to Selina rubbing her neck against the thief's ankles. Catwoman smiled picking the feline up.
"You feeling better now kid? Had me worried back there, thought you were going to faint"
Ethan didn't have the energy to keep a brave face going so he told the truth, there wasn't a point in keeping it a secret. Selina had been there, she probably knew what was going through Ethan's head before he did.
"I've never...used my powers like that before"
"You've never fought with them?"
"I have, just not against...normal people"
"You consider Gotham gangsters normal people?"
Ethan huffed.
"You know what I mean, people who break easy"
Selina moved to the couch shoving Ethan's legs out the way to sit.
"Don't think too much into it, you did good, you may have even saved me from a couple of bruises"
"I saved you from two bullets"
"I had it all under control"
"Are you sure about that?"
"Positive"
After a brief pause in conversation Snowball wriggled in Selina's arms dropping down to her lap to curl up.
"How did it feel? Getting shot for the first time"
Ethan looked at the hand he had grabbed the gun barrel with, it felt fine, and there were no bruises or marks. Now that he thought about it he hadn't felt it at all.
"I didn't feel anything"
"You're kidding"
"I can't feel anything while crystal"
Selina scoffed.
"Bullet proof but no idea what it feels like to be shot, go figure"
Another pause followed before Ethan remembered the question that had been burning on his tongue for the entire trip back.
"Selina, who is Dent?"
The thief had been resting her head against the back of the couch when she heard the question she giggled like it was the silliest thing she had heard all day.
"You really don't know do you?"
"No, but if that asshole was right we're going to be paying him a visit soon, I need to know"
"Just don't freak out"
"Why would I?"
"Dent as in Harvey Dent, although the list of people who remember him by that name grows smaller every year, your generation knows him by his villain name, Two-Face"
Shock took over the teenager.
"Two-Face?! Two-Face is looking for me?! Shit! No! Fuck!"
"I told him not to freak out" Selina whispered to Snowball.
"His looking for me, why?! I don't- he thinks I'm going to kill Batman for him?!"
"'Think' is a strong word, Harv is crazy, doesn't do much thinking these days"
"One of the worst villains out there is looking for me, What if he tracked me down? It'd lead him to-"
Ethan couldn't finish the sentence the thought of Two-Face being anywhere near his Mom was too much to handle.
"Look it's bad but it's not as bad as it could be, if Batman couldn't track you down I doubt Harv is going to, Sherman isn't going to let Harv know he saw you especially since he gave away his hideout location to us, you're going to be fine"
His nerves settled slightly but that frightened panic of being discovered didn't fade away.
"What do we do now? Are we really going to pick a fight with Two-Face?"
Selina hummed in thought.
"We don't really have a choice, he has what I want and his head-hunting you, we need to take him out of the picture for both our sakes"
"Sherman said he has hundreds of men, we can't fight that many, not without people getting hurt"
"Then we need to come up with a Plan B"
Ethan wasn't much of a thinker but something clicked hearing 'Plan B'.
"I have an idea"
The cat burglar looked at her companion sceptically.
"What about a literal Plan B"
She got what he was implying.
"You mean...?"
"Yeah..."
She shook her head dismissively.
"That's a terrible idea..."
"Yeah it is, but it's our best option"
Selina held his gaze not verbally agreeing with him but her eyes saying 'I know'.
Ethan would have to warm her up to the idea but not even Catwoman could argue his point if there was one person capable of taking out Two-Face without a problem it would be him.
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