Notes:

This takes place in the past.

It had been 7 weeks and, if the permanently looming dark cloud over Wayne Manor was any indication, Ororo was going a little stir crazy. Bruce sighed and got out of his car, bracing himself for the confrontation. She was in the library. Looking up from the book she was reading, she gave him a smile. "You're home; I despise you." She shut the book and crossed her arms.

He shook his head. "I love you as well." he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She was gearing up for another fight that would probably result in another hairpulling night for the meteorologists at the Gotham news stations.

"Just because you saw a few suspicious shadows doesn't mean-"

"Ororo, it's not paranoia if someone is actually trying to kill you." He cut her off. Her nostrils flared.

"I know that, but I'm a sitting duck here." She said. "It's not fair that you get to walk free, while I slowly go insane in this large empty house."

Bruce sat down next to her. "It's temporary."

"Is it?" She asked. "Haven't you ever considered that this could be Talia's plan? She knows you, Bruce. She knows that you're over protective and that your first instinct will be to keep me close by locking me up in your house." She crossed her arms. "The only outcome to this scenario is me going the way of Jack in the shining."

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "Interesting reference point."

Ororo glared at him. "Watch yourself, I saw an axe in the batcave."

Bruce loosened his tie. "Ororo." He groaned, running a hand over his eyes.

"I'm not going to throw my life and freedom away because of some crazy ex girlfriend." She stood and walked out. Bruce was about to say something when she walked back in. "Part of me actually thinks you enjoy this." She put her hands on her hips, glaring him. "This way I'm in a place where you can keep me completely under your control. You've never liked the fact that I was so far out of Gotham and now not only am I here; I'm trapped where you can keep track of me constantly."

Bruce looked up at her, his mouth slightly open. "Ororo, that's ridiculous." He said, angry and defensive. Ororo might not have been completely wrong, but he wasn't about to admit that. Standing, he stepped so he was a few inches from her and looked down. Ororo glared up, raising her chin. Her eyes flashed. Outside, the clouds grew darker. "Don't even think about it." he said.

"About what, Bruce?" Ororo hissed. "The thing about caging a weather witch is it has consequences."

"You're using your abilities as leverage." Bruce said.

"Leverage?" Ororo laughed, without any humor. There was another rumble of thunder. "I guess I need leverage because this is clearly a hostage negotiation."

Bruce closed his eyes. "Ororo, I-"

"Can we at least go to a restaurant for dinner tonight?" She asked. "I'm not asking for the moon."

He was about to answer when something outside the window caught his eye. "The Batsignal's up." He said, moving past her.

"How convenient." She said, following him down to the cave. "Do you and Gordon have a plan that whenever you have a relationship problem you want to avoid, he throws up the Batsignal?" She planted herself in front of him.

He hadn't done it on purpose, but he had to admit that he was grateful to the criminals of Gotham for being extra active in the past few months. He moved past her, going over to his display case and grabbing his suit. He could feel her seething behind him as he pulled his suit on.

"You know what?" Ororo said. "Talia wins. I can't do this." She turned and walked towards the bottom of the stairs leading back up to the house.

"What?" Bruce said. A small wrench of fear in his gut. She couldn't mean.

"I can't DO THIS." She said. "My entire life is at the institute. My family and I've been stuck here, counting the stalactites in this place, there's 326, by the way. There's nothing here for me."

Bruce flinched back. Stabbing would have been less painful. "Nothing?" He said, schooling his expression. Ororo looked aghast and covered her mouth.

"Bruce, I didn't mean." She reached for him, but he moved away, unable to look at her.

"I think you've said everything you need to." He said, pulling his cowl over his head and going to the batmobile.

Ororo watched him roll out of the Batcave. She hadn't meant a word of it. Her frustration had been building up and she'd snapped. His face had been so...closed off and broken. She walked out of the cave. Alfred was cleaning in the office. She wasn't fooled; he'd probably heard the beginning of the argument and was waiting to hear the after math.

"I messed up." She said.

"No you did no, Ms. Munroe." Alfred said, putting down the duster. "You are correct in your assessment of Talia's intentions. Master Bruce is singleminded and often does not see the obvious until it hits him in the face."

She sat in one of the armchairs. "that doesn't sound like Batman."

"I'm not talking about Batman." Alfred said. "I'm talking about Bruce Wayne."

She looked at him. "I told him I there was nothing here for me."

"Master Bruce is a smart man, once he cools down he'll realize you didn't mean it." Alfred said. "And he'll also realize that he isn't happy without you around." He put a hand on her arm. "I always hoped he'd find a balance between his work as Batman and the man I knew he could be. I was beginning to loose that hope...and then he met you." He smiled. "He loves you."

Echoes of a conversation long past came to her.:"a love built on trust and friendship and honesty...And complete fear that one day you'll realize the horrible mistake you've made and leave."

Ororo covered her face. She got up and turned back to the cave, determined to talk to Bruce. She'd swoop in, help him with his case and then he would no longer have an excuse to escape her.

"I'll be back." She said, running back down to get her uniform.

Flying over Gotham, Ororo looked around, trying to find Bruce. Ahead, a group of dark shadows appeared to be moving. She frowned and flew closer, landing about a rooftop away. Looking around, she bit back a gasp. Bruce was standing in the center of the roof...and Talia was in front of him, running a hand down the side of his face. She grit her teeth, but Talia had brought at least 20 assassin friends as backup. Bruce flinched away from Talia. Ororo edged closer, trying to hear what they were saying, but she could only hear snatches of the conversation on the wind.

"Leave...ro...lone" It sounded like Bruce.

"Oh, Bruce." Talia said. Ororo frowned. How is it that she could hear Talia clearly? "She's not worth your time."

"Well it doesn't matter any more." Bruce said. "Because you've successfully chased her away."

"Oooo." Talia said, pouting. "How tragic."

There was a noise behind Ororo. She whipped around, preparing to strike. The woman behind her held her hands up. She was wearing a black leather catsuit...literally. Her suit had cat ears and a whip wrapped around her waist that mimicked a tail. She pulled her goggles up. "I come in peace." She whispered.

"You're Catwoman." Ororo replied.

"And you're Storm." Catwoman said. "Batman's new flame." She looked over the side of the roof. "What's happening there?"

"His assassin ex girlfriend is trying to kill me." Ororo explained.

Catwoman nodded. "Sounds dangerous." She grinned, looking a lot like the chesire cat, which was probably the effect she was going for. "I want in."

"I'm hoping you don't mean helping her off me."

"Please darrrling." Catwoman purred. "If I had wanted you dead, I wouldn't be swapping pleasantries with you."

Ororo nodded and looked back at the roof. The argument was getting heated.

"I guess I should track her down." Talia said. "Teach her a lesson. After all, how dare she leave you?"

Bruce glared at her. "For someone who was so hellbent on having her do just that, you seem to be upset that she did what you wanted."

"I didn't want her gone." Talia said. "I wanted her to learn a lesson. She's not allowed to have you. She's also not allowed to walk away until I give her my permission." She turned towards the rooftop. "Luckily she's come right to me." She looked directly at Ororo and Catwoman.

"Oh dear." Ororo said.

"That's not good." Catwoman agreed. "You better split."

"And leave Bruce?" Ororo hissed.

"He can take care of himself." Catwoman hissed, grabbing her arm. "Plus she's after you." Ororo walked over to front of the rooftop. "This is going to be a disaster." She muttered covering her face.

Ororo looked down at Talia. "Hello. I believe you've been trying to kill me."

Talia moved forward, examining her. Bruce's eyes were comically wide. "Storm, you need to leave." He said.

"No, I came to tell you that I didn't mean any of things I said before you left." Ororo said. "I was angry and they just came out."

Bruce nodded. "I know."

"I'm not leaving...at least," she paused, giving him a smile. "I won't if you take me out to dinner tomorrow."

He smiled, in spite of himself. Talia looked at the two of them, fuming. Behind Ororo, Catwoman was shaking with silent laughter.

"As heartwarming as this is." Talia hissed. "I'm growing annoyed."

"My apologies." Ororo said. Her eyes went white, and thunder rumbled. She held out her hands and bolts of lightning came down from the sky. She held out her hands. "Let me make this simple; you have no right to threaten me."

Talia glared at her. "You'll never love him like I do." She pulled a syringe out of her pocket and turned to Bruce. "And I'll prove it." He moved towards her, intent on grabbing the syringe, but her plan wasn't going after Ororo. When he drew close, she stabbed him in the neck.

"NO" Ororo shouted as Bruce crumpled to the ground. She swept Talia and the other assassins off the roof with a gust of wind. Flying down next to Bruce, she picked up his head, putting it in her lap. "Bruce." she said. "Bruce." She shook him.

"Poison." Catwoman had jumped over from the other rooftop and had picked up the syringe, sniffing it. Ororo began searching through his utility belt, looking for the universal antidote he kept in there. He'd created it himself.

"Found it." She murmured, pulling out a vial. Opening Bruce's mouth, she forced the antidote into his mouth. Closing it, she prayed, please goddess don't let him die. He shuddered and his breath became more even. She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding and looked up at the sky. Catwoman looked at him, then over at Ororo.

"Need help bringing him back?" She asked.

Ororo shook her head. "I can fly him back." She said. "Thank you for offering." She said. "I'm Ororo."

Catwoman pulled her goggles off. "Selina." She replied. "When this one gets back on his feet, you and I should hang out." She stood. "Don't tell Bruce. He'll think I'm corrupting you."

"Too late for that, I'm afraid." Ororo said.

"I like you." Selina said, readjusting her goggles and running off of the rooftop. Ororo pulled Bruce into her arms and took off, flying back to the batcave.

"Be strong my love." She said, clutching him against her as Gotham went by beneath her. "We'll be home soon."