Hi, long time no see. First off, sorry I'm making you wait so long, second...please don't review just to shout at me. If anyone out of THREE HUNDRED people want to reveiw- God Damn it, let it be construstive. Other than that, thank you to everyone else for reviewing, you make my day. PS - I HATE this chapter - it refused to come out right.

Chapter Six

Love or lust, Selena Kyle

Selena Kyle was more than she appeared to be.

Of course, in Gotham city, that was probable a given. Everyone wore a mask here. You had too. To the world as a whole she was rich; beautiful, very generous to the poor and loved animals. To a more...shadier side of Gotham, Selena Kyle was a name that shut mouths; out of loyalty, fear or benefit. And of course to a very elite group of people she was a very talented criminal. So many sides to one person with so many different names and skills, she was unpredictable at best. You'd be surprised how she managed to keep it all together....Of course to one man she was just one person.

And god, what a man he was!

Now she might be a criminal (though she was far from being just a criminal) it didn't mean she was necessarily a bad person. At least not bad person by Gotham standard, she was...amoral. An exception to the rules because she was...on the fence as it were - not that the police sawit that way. Sure, it must be great to be Superman and have all those morals but not everyone could be so good and still live at a high standard. In Gotham it was do what you need to survive. No matter what that may inter.

Of course 'doing what you need to survive' was a stretched definition for Selena, given her love of stealing from the mob of all people. The mafia didn't take kindly to being ripped off and would return the favour - in a 'Rip your head off and leave your body at the bottom of the river' sort of way. However the goods were normally unreported as stolen and the rep that came with it sealed the deal for her as it were. It was a win-won situation for her.

She never felt guilty for her crimes, why should she? She was just living. But at times she....she felt guilty. Not for stealing – hell no, but for...well being alive. For living in richest when she shouldn't be, when she walked down the streets in the west end and seeing life there...Pretending suddenly seemed so much harder among people like her.

People like her.

She didn't look back. She didn't 'know'. She didn't even try to remember...She couldn't forget either.

She couldn't forget the pain, the hunger, the fear.

Not knowing where her next meal was coming from.

Never know what she would do next to live.

The anger at the world for making her into something they spat at, for destroying her life...

Turning her into life's little play thing...

No, these were things she would never forget. Selena wasn't someone to whine about how hard her life was –is. She was a person of action, of doing something rather than sitting around whaling. Selena was a hardened, strong willed, independent woman who needed nothing from nobody. She took what life gave her in raw talent and turned it in to a weapon.

Yet...even she wondered what she would have done with her life if her father hadn't be abusive.

Her mother hadn't died.

If she and her little sister hadn't been put in a prison-like state run orphanage

If she hadn't run way from the abusive matron.

If she hadn't had to grow up on the street.

If she hadn't turned to crime to feed herself.

If she hadn't fallen in love with an assassin and then made him teach her even thing she would need to survive in the big games

If only...

But it hadn't happened and nothing could change that now. No one had offered her a kind hand and nice home; no one offered her a change to live a good legal life. She would probably never even know what it was to love or even like someone without suspicion and reluctance. Maybe that was why she was here, waiting, because she had never had that change to be normal or 'good', because it was too late for her now. But it wasn't too late for him.

No one offered her a kind hand but that didn't mean she couldn't.

However when Selena had come to that decision, she had to rack her brains of a way to help the kid – of which there wasn't many. She couldn't tell the cops on account that if they didn't charge him, they would just put him in a state orphanage which - in her opinion - was far worse than any jail. She couldn't take the kid away because Ivy wouldn't let her...so that only left one option.

The Bat.

************************

The wind howled across the space between the closely packed buildings like an angered wolf, baying for her nightly bloody meal. However as a cat person Selena wasn't sure she liked that comparison although she had to admit – it did sound like an animal. Hungary, animalistic, like a darkly predator. It was cold, it was wet and she wanted to go to bed but frankly she couldn't. She wasn't mean to be meeting him here. But he wasn't here. Not yet at least, but God help her if he...

Where in name of God was that damned Bat? A typical man, always there when you don't want him and never to be seen when you actually do...Ahhhhh! Men!

Selena – or rather Catwoman- huffed and shifted to get more comfortable against the icily unyielding wall she was leaning on, her feet resting on a low build between the wall and the twenty foot drop to the ground. The face of the clock was ticking away unseen, counting down the hours until midnight. The shadows seemed to stretch on forever, unbroken but for the soft pale rays of moonlight. The air smelled cleaner but then the wind might change and give her a face full of pollution.

She was so freaking tired and He. Was. Late.

Not fashionably late, oh no he was LATE-Late! The sort that meant a girl has already left by then. The moonlight ironically was the only light source and was (romantically) lighting up Gotham before her eyes. It actually looked less dangerous than normal. Sort of belying, almost...beautiful in its own way. Selena had to admit she never really paid much attention to the architecture of their city but now...hey it was rather nice. She wondered how high the crime rate was going to go up tonight. Of course at this point Selena couldn't help but bemoan the several exhibitions and jewellery stores she had been planning to hit tonight instead of sitting in the cold. All on her own.

Life was so unfair.

Because here she was, trying to do a good deed and not only did Bruce- um Batman- stand her up but she was freezing her poor tail off on this clock tower. Spandex alone didn't keep a person very warm in autumn. Kevlar was far too bulky for her use. Form over function sucked at times, really.

She shivered violently, was Batman even coming? Had he not got her message? Was he standing her up? How dare he... She stood up, think maybe she should leave. She didn't have time to spend sitting around empty clock tower on mystery men, when robbing a Jewellery exhibit could do just as good a job.

"Thanks Bat..." she muttered, but before she could leave a strong, familiar arm suddenly shot out of nowhere. He grabbed her arm, turning her around to face him, face to face.

"Catwoman."

Her breath caught in her throat. His voice was exactly as she last remembered it; Dark and smooth, like melted chocolate, contrasting to his normally rougher tone. It was like crushed velvet and rich silk, caressing her skin, making her shiver in remembrance of their last...heated...encounter and...all that it had entailed.

With that delightful memory to warm her up and a saucy smile touching her lips, she purred "Hello Handsome,"

Batman stood stiffly and cocooned in shadows, outside of the moonlight. Only his dark hand was visible resting on her arm. Like a shadow trying to enticing her into its grasp. His dark cape billowed dramatically in the night, almost invisible in the darkness, like the night itself was clocking him. And yet she saw that it couldn't conceal any of his attractiveness or presences. At this close ranger, she could hardly miss it, it was over powering. Ohhhh.

'Selena' however, also noted with concern the slight tightness around him; the sort he got when he was tired or overworked. Like he was trying to keep a tight rein on the situation and keep it all in his control, even as he felt it slip softly through his grasp to his rage and frustration. The small tightness that to anyone close to him (few though they were) was a warning sign, a sign that Bruce was being pushed. His restraint on his emotion was slipping and he might lash out violently at the nearest person. Of course Selena knew the harder he held on to it, the worse it would get, building and building until it exploded outwards.

'Maybe I should loose him up a little...' Tempting, oh so very tempting...She slid closer, very close, wrapping one her arms around his neck, pulling him to her. "You're tired," she breathed right in his ear. Teasing and taunting. Eager.

He didn't take bait to the play, "And you have information."

She pouted unhappy; he was very tense it seemed, "Why should I tell without a favour in return?"

He pulled out of the embrace roughly, growling darkly at her. "That's it, is it Selena?"

His hand dug deeply into her skin, bruising her. She tried not to flinch, it hurt. "What do you want? Money? A child's life is in the balance!" He hissed, as his frustration peaked and some leaked out of his control and into the open.

Selena was tempted to hit him but instead she crossed her arms. Someone had to be the good friend after all, "What do you take me for, handsome? Here I thought you knew me better! I don't want your money..."

She looked up into his eyes, trying to just will her intention into those hidden blue gems that she loved with thought alone. She wanted - not needed - him to understand, to understand her, because...

"...I need your help."

Bruce paused.

And it was Bruce not Batman, Selena could tell because of the way his body softened but remained on guard. Just like how he could tell Selena from Catwoman not matter what outfit they wore. His temper, it seemed was back under control as he took a deep but undetectable breath and relaxed ever so slightly. Just enough to do for now. He let go of her wrist gently (neither had noticed he was still holding on to it) sending her a sorry look for the bruise she would no doubt have later. Then he warily asked, "Help with what exactly?"

Catching the thoughts in his head, Selena had to laugh. "Oh, not help with a job, Handsome. I work alone, remember. I....need you to do something for me, if I tell you. I need to help a child find a good home..."

Selena turned away, her back facing him. She didn't like asking for help, not from anyone - if not especially from him. She wasn't use to being able to ask for it. She slid down onto the low wall, leaning over to see the distance flashing lights far below them, the faint noise of road-raging traffic floating up to her. A small shift and fluttering of a cape and Bruce was sitting beside her, meaningfully not looking at her face but following her gaze downwards to his city.

"Are...you....your..."He chocked over the words, unable to said what was on his mind. Selena looked at him concerned and confused as he seemed to be struggling for both words and air. That wasn't normal. Bruce normal said what was on his mind, damning the consequence or the polite decency he was no doubt smashing to bits. Bruce fought down a blush as Selena's 'what the hell?' look got more intense.

"Your...I meant we...over a month....umm..." He was Batman; the dark knight, the prince and favoured son of Gotham. And he was also lost for words for this situation, oh no. Anything but this, anything. He really didn't need this right now.

"What?" Selena demanded, turning to face him now completely now. Coughing again Bruce tried to gesture casual to her stomach.

"What?"

Bruce tried again annoyed, pointing a finger blatantly at her mid-section. Selena (like most female however) didn't take kindly to someone pointing at her stomach and slapped his finger away.

"What? Bruce!"

Bruce panicked there and sputtered out, "You're pregnant, aren't you? Oh god...." There, he had said it.

Selena looked at him blankly, he wondered if she heard him at all...

Then she flinched violently...

And then she slapped him across the face.

"Owww, what the hell was that for!" he said raising a hand to his sting cheek.

"Bruce, you're an idiot! I'm not pregnant, what the hell made you think that!"

"Well, you said..."

"I know what I said," she hissed, "But that wasn't what I meant!" Here she forced down the blush. Ok, so Bruce assumption wasn't too unlikely given...recent...escapades....together.

Bruce straightened himself up, trying to regain his lost dignity. He failed. He hated how Selena made him feel like a fool. "So, if you're not..."He flinched "Then what did you mean?"

Selena sighed, "The boy you're looking for, I...I know where he is." Bruce's –sorry Batman's – head snapped around to her so quick she was worried he might have hurt himself. "Where? Is he hurt? Where is Ivy? Sel-Catwoman..."

Catwoman brushed off his threatening tone, back to business. " I have no idea where thorny is but the kid...is safe for now." She held up a hand to stop Batman's demands before they came, "I'll tell you but you have to do me a favour. Make sure the kid goes somewhere safe and happy. Not into care and not into an orphanage."

She looked him straight in the eyes, ripping her masks off for a minute to let him see her open face. "If I thought he would be safe with Gotham's finest I would have handed him over by now. But I don't and he isn't. He hasn't done anything wrong Bruce, and you've set the whole of Gotham's underworld after him! I know you didn't mean to but you did. He's a kid, barely five and Ivy is all he has, he's an orphan all alone. I don't think she can look after him, I don't think Gotham can and I know I can't! But...you can. I know you'll do this one small thing..."

She leaned forward, her face barely an inch away from his own, "Please, Bruce. Save him. For me, please."

"I don't want him to get hurt anymore, I look at him and I want to keep him safe. Material instinct or something but... I've seen too many kids get hurt in this city. I just want to save one. Please promise me you won't hand him over; just...just get him a family, someone nice. In – I don't know- metropolis or something, just somewhere away from here! Please!"

Her pale lips ghosted over his. Bruce didn't pull away, his hooded eyes still on hers, ensnared and enchanted.

"Please...for me, Bruce."

His breath tingled over her bare naked skin as she leant forwards and meet his lips. Everything melted away at once. He only felt her soft, warm lips against his firm one. Pleasure coursed through him, making him shiver in delight. He leant forward, eagerly sliding one gloved hand around her pale neck. The power between them was amazing.

It was simple and chaste but still so powerful. Leaving them panting and flushed in heat and attraction.

Breathing deeply to force not only the air into her lungs but also to push down the reckless side of her screaming to take him there and then, Selena leant back. Her pixy cut black hair had been slicked back but was now messing up. Bruce had run an excited hand through it.

Short of breath, Bruce leant forward, running his gloved hand over her pink face and pushed her hair out of her face. "Where is he?"

She signed, rubbing into his hand like a content cat "Promise?"

"Promise."

"He's at my penthouse," her lips quirked, "I'm sure you know your way there in the dark?"

Smirking he leant forward and stole another kiss in answer. Sometime he wished she would stay, that things could be like this...but it couldn't be because Selena was a wild cat and wouldn't be tied down, not by him or anyone else. But that didn't mean he didn't...didn't love her all the same.

Leaning back he stood up and turned, his cape catching the wind and flutter desire to take flight. Love – it was a complex word - for them. For both of them.

He stood on the edge and readied to jump when...

"Bruce?"

He half turned on the small ledge. Her mask was back in its place; Catwoman was half in shadows, half in moonlight. It made her look more enchanting and forbidden than normal, her eyes alight with desire as she smiled, both relieved and in promising.

"...don't wreck my house. Remember, I know where you live and would hate to have to make you pay..."

And she was gone and Bruce was tempted to wreck it if only for the promise of seeing her again. One more time....

Promises, promises....


Ok, I wasn't going to end it there but felt than too continue would just total waste the mood. Originally this wasn't meant to be very ummm... romantic, yes Selena is a love rival at this point but I...don't really do overly lovely scene, because I write and then feel really stupid. But the first dialogue sucked and I was so stuck on it, that it took me three months to write (in my spare time mind) and ended up hating it. Scarped it. And write this....What do you think? Too much? It impossible to Write Batman/Catwoman Bruce/Selena scene without some flirting as I discovered....and the pregnant bit, on the moment spur, however I think it might just com in usefully later on...who knows! I'm the Writer and I don't know how half the story is going to pan out!!!!

The best laid plans of mice and men.....too bloody true....