A/N/ - Hello again guys! Sorry for not posting in a while but I have been crazy busy! As an apology I offer you all two chapters rather than one! I will update again as soon as I can

~HappyBiscuit~

Chapter 6 – The Deal

The first thing I remember about that morning was that I was in pure bliss. The pillows, the mattress, the duvet, it was all just so soft. I wasn't even alarmed at the fact I had been moved; I was too comfortable for that. Then I realised I was alone: I was alone and naked in someone's home and I had no idea where my clothes are.

Oh shit… Ok Selina, calm down. We'll find a way out of this, it shouldn't be too hard.

There was a knock at the door, I sat up and covered myself appropriately; I had just finished as Alfred walked in. All suited up, holding a tray and heading towards me.

"Good Morning Ms Tayles."

"Mornin' Alfred, right?"

"That is correct Ma'am."

He proceeded to place the tray on the cabinet next to me and lifted the cloche.

"Is there anything else you require?"

"No, thank you."

"My pleasure Ma'am."

He then turned to leave but before he did, I remembered the predicament I was in.

"Oh, Alfred?"

"Yes Ms Tayles?"

"Where are my clothes?"

I could feel my cheeks as they heated; but Alfred just smiled which helped ease the awkwardness of the topic.

"Mr Wayne asked me to send your items to the dry cleaners, and for the time being he has provided you with something to wear. I will have it brought in if you like?"

"Yes, please. Thank you Alfred."

He simply nodded before turning and leaving the room. I was then alone; free to plan how I was getting out of there. My stomach decided to cut my train of thought with a loud and rather obnoxious grumble. Then I smelt the food; the aroma drawing me towards the tray and wrapping me in its comforting arms.


It took me all of two minutes to devour the feast that was delivered to me and I sat on the bed feeling royally full. Alfred had come up and dropped off the outfit that Bruce had picked out; I had been in the shower when he had come back so I got a nice surprise. Well it would have been a nice surprise had the outfit been something I would've normally worn. It was this cutesy white day dress with a black belt and a small pair of black pumps. This wasn't going to be a good day.


When I arrived downstairs, after getting myself completely lost in the manor's maze of corridors, I was greeted by my gracious host.

"Good Morning, Miss Tayles."

"Good Morning, Mr Wayne."

When I reached the bottom of the stairs I finished my statement with a small curtsy; a smile playing at the corners of my mouth.

"And how are we this morning?"

"Refreshed."

I saw him hesitate before he continued the conversation.

"I hope you didn't mind that I moved you. I just thought I would be better for you to sleep in a bed."

"No it's fine. Thank you."

The conversation felt awkward, I'm not sure why. I honestly felt like a pre-teen with a crush. It was embarrassing. We stood there for a moment absorbing the awkward silence that was engulfing us.

"Are you in a hurry to leave?"

Now that question stumped me. Did he want me to go or was that an invitation to stay?

"No, well, unless you need me to be?"

"Not at all, to be honest I have already made our plans. Assuming you would like to do something with me today?"

You are getting in deep here Selina, you better be careful. Remember do not get attached; you are here to steal from him at the end of the day.

I wish I had listened to my brain; just gotten out of there before there was any pain, any wrong doing, before I fell for him. I should have just left Gotham as planned; then I wouldn't be here; cold and alone. I accepted his invitation and we headed off.


After about a twenty minute walk we arrived at our destination. The Wayne's owned a large estate that included some of the woodlands around the manor. We had stopped at a beautiful spot where the trees opened up and there was a pond with a waterfall and before us he had set up a picnic hamper and a blanket.

"Wow!"

"Nice, isn't it?"

So we sat, made small talk and ate; it was borderline cute and I don't do cute. That was the first proper date I had ever been on; the kind of men I usually go for, don't do that sort of thing. But not him, he was different; and in those moments I thought I could feel happy.

"You look lovely."

I felt my goddamn cheeks reddening again. What the hell is wrong with you Selina!

"Thank you."

"Would you like some wine?"

"Yes please."

He poured the wine whilst the conversation paused. I wasn't sure if I was meant to fill it but I did.

"This place is beautiful"

"That is part of the reason my parents bought it, my mother was a lover of nature."

There was another pause; I was debating whether or not to ask the question that continually ran through my head. I decided to go for it.

"Does it annoy you?"

"Does what annoy me?"

"The amount of publicity that their deaths created, the fact that you are arguably known mostly because of the worst moment of your life?"

"Sometimes; but it taught me things that I will never forget. It shaped me into the person I was meant to be."

I don't know why but his response made me smile. Honestly I think I always knew he was Batman, I just chose to not believe it.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Your parents?"

Part of me wanted to tell him the truth, but my subconscious kept yelling at me; screaming that it was a bad idea. So I lied.

"Both my parents died when I was little, so I was raised by my aunt, who was a kindergarten teacher."

"How did your parents die?"

"Car accident; they were hit by a truck."

Lies have always come naturally to me; it is the easiest way to survive. What most people don't realise is that you need to keep some of that lie true. The only part I didn't account for was that this man was smarter than I gave him credit for; he knew I was lying but there was no possible way he knew my true story. Or at least he didn't until I told him and that was something I never thought I'd do.

We stayed there for an hour or so, and then I felt that it was time for me to go. We walked back to the Manor and Alfred called me a cab; our goodbye kiss was short but sweet. Then I headed back into the city.


I walked up the steps to my apartment and walked through the door. I set down my bag and threw myself on my couch. Unfortunately for me, I had yet to snap out of my fairytale and had missed that I wasn't alone in my apartment.

"Hello Selina."

I practically jumped out of my skin; I got up to face the intruder.

"Are you not going to offer me a drink?"

Ivy.

"You again!"

"That's really not how you should treat a guest."

"You aren't a guest, I didn't invite you."

Her smile was broad and I could smell the pollen off of her.

"Wait, how did you know where to find me?"

"Oh please, lets not play these silly games; I'm not your average woman."

"But the games are the best part."

She let out a wheezy laugh, but other than that ignored my last comment.

"It's time for that favour."

"I don't owe you anything."

"You don't even know what it is yet."

"That doesn't mean I'll do it."

"Or about the fifty/fifty cut."

I paused and in that pause, I could feel her arrogance growing; her smile broadening as she realised that she had found one of my small weaknesses.

"And anything money you make off of anything else you take, is yours."

"And what are you getting out of all this?"

"You not asking any questions."

"That's all?"

"Yeah, that's all."

I mean how could I of passed up a deal like that? Yes, I suppose, I didn't know at that point what it was, but that is a brilliant deal: especially for a cat burglar. So we shook on it and she left: just like that.


The rest of the day seemed to fly by and it wasn't long until I was prowling the streets in need of some excitement. As I jumped over rooftops I heard the same screams; con artists looking for someone to play hero. The worst thing about the East End was: the people would sell you out in a heartbeat if it meant they got a little something in return. Be that money, power or even leverage. There was no sense of companionship, no sense of community; in Gotham everyone was just out for themselves. That, in turn, caused the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer.

I run straight past them without looking back, they're not my problem. I continued forward until I was knocked over by body a lot larger than my own. I was lying on the floor with the other person on top of me, slowly they moved to face me and propped themselves onto their hands. It was Batman. Again.

"Did you miss me?"

Silence.

"Y'know, some people might consider this stalking."

Almost as if on cue a boot collided with Batman and sent him rolling away from me. I jolted up to my feet to face the attacker and was faced with a brute of a man. The attacker then charged towards me and went to take a swing, I quickly dodged it and threw my leg at him hitting him perfectly. He fell forward slightly and I mistakenly quickly glanced in the Dark Knights direction to see if he was alright.

By the time I turned back he brute was throwing his fist towards me; it made contact and I was sent backwards; I went over the ledge and landed on the roof about four feet below, smacking my head on a ventilation shaft.

I felt my eyes growing heavy; I saw the Dark Knight stand and charge towards the brute; but then my eyes closed. My eyes opened again just as the brute took a swing and missed: and then my eyes closed. My eyes opened one final time to see the Dark Knight finish his opponent: and then the closed, finally letting the unconsciousness take me.