Title : Return to Reality

Author : Madd13

Rating : T

Disclaimer : All credit to DC Comics to the creation of all characters involved.

Characters : Selina Kyle, Edward Nygma, Bruce Wayne, mention of and scenes with others.

Summery : Sequel to Something New, Please, Selina returns to Gotham to find she's been very missed.

Edward limped back into his home, grimacing as dirt was trailed into his nice clean house. It had been a concern and damn good reason why he had been mindful of what he touched while out and about. It was a reason he hadn't leaned against anything. It not only saved him from sullying his suit, but his home as well. Now, he was lucky if blood didn't drop onto the floor. He scowled, trying not to draw attention to himself as he started to make his way toward the bedrooms.

That was hardly going to happen. His mere entrance made Selina look up from the computer in front of her. She had taken a small glance his way before really breaking her attention from the screen. She wouldn't have been fazed by Edward returning, but the fact that blood registered in her mind after a moment made her swing around. "What the hell happened to you?" She asked as she took in not only the blood, but the dirt as well. Clearly he had been beaten up to a small extent. It wasn't the worst beating he had ever received considering he was able to walk even if he was limping.

The brunette paused, eyes shifting to take in her worried expression. "A little bat paid me a visit," He growled in response. He wondered if he should tell her everything about the encounter or just try and get her to leave. The latter actually hurt to think about. It was partially selfish as he didn't want to lose the one person that could stand to be around him this long. Partly, he just wanted to piss Bruce off more considering he really didn't want them together in any capacity. Then there was the fact that he thought he truly loved this woman. It was strange to think that he could actually feel so deeply for someone when he had pushed everyone else away. He still couldn't understand how he had allowed anyone to weasel their way passed his defenses.

Selina rose, moving around the couch to try and help support Edward's weight and keep from hurting him more at the same time. She couldn't see all the injuries, but she assumed there were more than he would want her knowing about. As if a broken nose and a black eye weren't enough. A few ribs seemed to be impeding his overall movement, bruised if not broken. "What did he want?" She hissed, lips curling down in a harsh scowl. It was such a Bruce look that Edward gave a small chuckle before wincing in pain.

"He wants you for himself. Behind bars and away from 'the likes of me,'" The genius replied, using Bruce's words. Yeah, the likes of him. He wasn't the worst person that Selina could spend her time with. There was Joker after all. The thief's scowl deepened further, hissing quietly as she began hating Bruce more. How dare he try to beat Edward into leaving her? How dare he try to control their lives? Bruce would learn his lesson if it was the last thing she did. It would be a long and painful lesson as well since she had so many lives to spare.

Selina took a deep breath, lightly urging Edward forward. She planned on helping him, making the thin man feel a little better after having a nasty bastard try and put him down so harshly. "For a spoiled rich boy, this is one thing that anything he has can't buy," She said quietly, letting the hatred for Bruce start to show through. The love she once had for the brooding man was finally starting to die a true death. The fact that he thought he could control not only her, but anyone that she had a relationship with. It would not be tolerated in the least.

The pair made their way slowly to Edward's bedroom, easing him onto the soft bed for comfort. Those aching ribs kept him from disrobing easily, making it a laborious task to take on alone. The Cat sighed and began to ease his jacket off, making sure the inside was out when she dropped it to the floor. She knew Edward's want of a clean house and it became automatic to try and keep everything that way.

It was a slow process, but she eventually got his shirt off as well. Uncertainly stayed her hands, wondering if she should continue helping him. Seeing her trepidation, Edward, gave her a small smile. "Thank you, Selina. I'll handle it from here." With that, he took a deep, pained breath and tried to stand. He still wasn't well enough to do so on his own.

That killed any worry the raven haired woman had. "Come on, Gimp, I'll help you get that blood off your face," She said, gently wrapping her arms around him and steadying him until he could stand. "That's gonna be a doozy of a black eye." She had been aiming for mildly amusing but could see the newest injuries were too fresh for him to even grin at.

"He's going to try to keep breaking us up," He murmured, staring at his feet as they made their way to the bathroom. He didn't realize that he considered them truly together. He was much too tired to examine his own words and it didn't faze Selina in the slightest. "Such is the way of spoiled children." She shook her head, wondering if she should call Alfred and tattle on Bruce. He wouldn't necessarily be of much help, but he might be able to talk sense into the other man.

Or … "We can make his life a living hell right back."

/

A living hell would be coming to Gotham. As if the streets weren't terrible enough with all the true loons running around, there was going to be a whole new level of bad coming in. It would be frustrating as well for Batman, but the villains of Gotham as well. The Calvary was coming in and no one but Edward was aware of the storm about to hit town.

Catwoman leaned again a building on the edge of the city, waiting for her back up to come in. It was funny. Not only were her friends coming, but her ex-boyfriend, and they had the full blessing from Batman's fellow hero. How weird was it that Wally wanted his own Rogues to come to Gotham to cause complete havoc just to give Batman a hard time? The speedster had even laughed uproariously when the idea had been passed by him.

The Flash Rogues were invading Gotham City and showing everyone up. Two cars pulled up, one that was subtle, barely noteworthy. Len was in the front seat, obviously agitated. Mick was beside him, staring out the window. Mark was in the back, nose in a book and not bothering to look up as the car slowed. The second was a great deal more vibrant. It was brilliant yellow. James bounced in time with the beat of the music, quite happy to be on a road trip. Hartley was beside him, head in his hand and desperate to get out of the car. He loved the man, but going home he was riding with everyone else.

Evan's absence was painfully obvious.

"I still don't see the purpose of bringing them here," Edward sneered, eying the second car with distaste. He was able to wrap Gotham around his little finger, using Poison Ivy to bring Superman down to his knees. Yet, Selina chose to bring in this band of misfits as if that would do them more good. "Do you know how well these guys work together? Have you ever seen them in action?" The thief asked, turning a nasty look on the brunette man.

He scowled, eyes narrowing. "Of course I know how well together. I don't need to see them work. They do me no good though." With a huff, he tapped his cane sharply and turned his back on them all. He may love Selina, but this was ridiculous. There was no reason to bring the Flash Rogues here. It wasn't like anyone other than Selina and Wally West was going to get serious enjoyment out of this. Well, Trickster would but that was more just because he loved mayhem.

Shaking her head, she put a light hand on Eddie's shoulder. "Think of them as shiny new pawns in your chess game. Ones that actually take direction well with no slip ups." Leaving it at that, she walked away to greet the out-of-towners. Hartley was the quickest to get out, eager to have anything other than James' music hurting his oversensitive hearing. It may not have been at full volume but it was more than enough to give him a massive headache.

"Hey, Sel," He greeted, glad to see his friend. He gave her a quick hug, gaze drifting over to the sulking Edward. "That's him?" The red head asked quietly. Selina nodded, watching her friend give the genius a once over of what he could see. "From this angle he's pretty cute," He said with a sly grin. He received an equal smile with a devious look in her eyes. "You should see him in his pajama pants." Even though she had seen Edward in less than just pants, that first morning stuck with her, becoming one of her favorite things to wake up to.

She kept her arm around Hartley's waist as the others joined them. She greeted them each, receiving quiet hellos back and a simple nod from Len. He never had been all that verbal. "Arkham Asylum is rigged to have a break out in about an hour. That'll bring the Bat out of hiding. From there …" Catwoman continued to convey the plans to the Rogues.

It was going to be a long and interesting night.