Nota Bene: This story is not canon. I don't follow the comics and only know the various stories from the movies and growing up with Batman cartoons, supplemented with internet research. As with my previous stories, this started with a dream and is combined with ramblings of my own mind. In this case, it is a little personal fantasy, too. Batman. Mmm. Hot.

Reviews, as always, are greatly appreciated.

Batman: Revelations

Chapter 11

The next day, Selina called in sick at the museum. She was in serious need of a mental health day, she decided.

She had woken up that morning, mind swirling, replaying the events of the previous day, over and over again in her mind. The duality of her life and her relationships was haunting her. Just when she thought she had come to some kind of conclusion about her relationships with both Batman and Bruce, she started to doubt herself.

Did Batman really care for her? There seemed to be more and more between them than merely flirting and sexual tension. Could she give up what she had with Bruce to keep exploring what relationship with Batman could develop? But what was going on with Bruce? When she was with him, she could believe in having a normal life – well, as normal of a life as a cat burglar was capable of. But after that initial flash between them he kept a physical difference that she couldn't understand.

Selina spent the day wandering the streets of the city and ended up at the animal shelter. Some time playing with the strays and helping keep them socialized for adoption always centered her mind.

It wasn't until just an hour before she was due at the manor for dinner that she made her decision. She couldn't keep up the split. While her body craved Batman, and there was the promise of a more substantial connection growing, she couldn't end things with Bruce without understanding him and the emotionally intimate but physically lacking relationship.

–

Dinner at the manor was wonderful, but did nothing to ease her mind.

Bruce had invited Dick to join them. Selina learned Bruce had taken him in after his parents were killed and raised him as his own. Dick was now a police officer in Bludhaven, a dangerous city. While she had turned to theft to survive the streets, he was now serving a city to protect others from suffering the fate his parents did. Admirable. What a jerk, Bruce. You just had to be so perfect that you took in an orphan and raised him so well he's dedicated his life to service, Selina thought to herself.

The evening was enjoyable, Dick and Bruce bantering throughout the seven courses. She had successfully brow-beaten Alfred into joining them again, as well, despite his protests. It felt like some kind of perverse family dinner. The significance of Selina meeting Bruce's son was not lost on her, either. From what she had seen in the press, Bruce couldn't hold a steady relationship to save his life, but she was now included in family dinner? Her guilty conscience was plaguing her by the time dessert was served.

"Alfred, you are a genius with chocolate mousse! I could live off of that alone." Selina purred her praise to Bruce's surrogate father. "Watch out Bruce, I might just have to steal Alfred away from you." She winked at Alfred conspiratorially.

"Ah, yes, Master Bruce. With as much as Miss Kyle builds my ego, I may just be tempted."

Bruce laughed. "You don't have a chance. Alfred has been with me my whole life. You'd have to be an absolute master thief to steal him from me." Bruce's eyes sparkled and he laughed harder.

Selina, on the other hand, suffered a flash of panic, which was quickly suppressed. Nothing. That was nothing.

When Selina rose to start clearing the table, Dick shoed she and Bruce away. "It may have been a few years since dinner dishes were a part of my chores, but I think I can still handle a plate or two. Bruce, go entertain your guest."

They strolled, hand in hand, in the garden. Selina marveled at the open land and the stars visible in the clearing of trees. "Amazing that just this far outside the city, you can see the stars. Oh, look! There's a shooting star!"

Bruce turned and watched her. Her face shown with excitement and she smiled as she pointed to the sky. "You're supposed to make a wish on a shooting star."

Selina laughed. "And what did you wish for, Mr. Wayne?" She turned to face him and he grabbed her other hand in his.

"I've already got what I would wish for, Selina."

She stilled when he grew serious and smiled gently. "Bruce..." he kissed her hand, this time turning it over to reach her palm, his lips lingering. She shivered and felt the goosebumps erupt throughout her body.

"My wish? I just wish I understood you, Bruce. I can't keep you out of my mind." Selina stopped, hesitating. "I'm just... struggling to define what it is that we're doing here. The first night we met, we almost ripped each other's clothes off and had sex against a wall with a party full of people a room away. Since then, you haven't so much as kissed me. You buy me flowers, take me to the opera. We watch bad TV on my couch. We're here practically having a family dinner at your house. I know you wanted to slow things down, but…what is this? What are we? A girl wants to know she's desired."

Bruce kicked himself. He should have known this was coming. He was playing a dangerous game with Selina, and he knew it. Continuing the double life was hurting them both. But it just wasn't time yet, not with everything going on in Gotham. First Scarecrow, then Harvey Two-Face. Both of them had gone after him recently, and both reminding him how he had failed the city time and time again. He had no idea what could be next and he wouldn't endanger his growing relationship with Selina until he had this figured out and had come to terms with his own weakness.

Against his better judgement, Bruce pulled her into a fierce embrace and kissed her, hard and hot, mouth slanting over hers. He felt her gasp then grab his lapels with both hands.

Oh, God. There it is. Selina thought. That heat that had almost engulfed them the first time they kissed exploded again.

Bruce was working hard to control himself despite the overwhelming need to hold her and never let go. Her moan brought him out of his stupor, and he pulled away, just enough to put his forehead against hers.

"Selina, never doubt that I want you. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known. You aren't intimidated by who I am, other than Alfred and Dick, you are the only person to treat me like a normal person. You make me laugh, you frustrate the hell out of me, you are the only woman i know who is as smart as I am. You make me burn." Bruce broke their embrace and turned to pace angrily, his voice deepening slightly.

"I'm not…there's more to me than you know. My soul is…battered. My mind is confused. I'm still working through some issues. You make me want more. You make me want…everything. There's just something I need to work out first." His agitation had calmed somewhat and Selina watched the way he moved. Powerful, confident, smooth. But his anguished tone revealed uncertainty and hesitation.

"I… Selina…. It's just…complicated. I wish I could explain everything right now, but I can't."

He was hurting, and she didn't know why. First Batman, now Bruce. Selina thought back to that night on the rooftop when Batman had confessed his weariness, told her he was in pain.

Bruce sat back down and looked into her eyes. He wanted so badly to tell her what was in his heart. He didn't want her to worry about their relationship, hated that she was obviously confused about him, conflicted about her relationship with Batman and with Bruce, despised that there were tears in her eyes.

He reached over and took her face in his hands. When a tear finally escaped, he brushed it away with his thumb. Her breath caught. Batman had once done the same when she had shed tears for his pain.

Shit. Oh my god. The rush of adrenaline washed through her, but somehow, she was able to keep her features calm. Selina stood and turned away. Then turned back and sniffed.

"I'm just being an emotional woman. I'm sorry, Bruce." She once again linked her fingers with his. It's ok. You'll explain when you're ready. I'll be here. You're worth the wait."

Selina then led him back towards the house, hand in hand, and changed the topic. "Do you think Alfred has any more of that chocolate mousse in the fridge?"

When Selina got home a few hours later, barely made it into her apartment before she collapsed. She managed to close the door, then simply slid to the floor and started to laugh, harder and harder until tears were streaming down her cheeks and her stomach hurt. Isis, disturbed from her blanket on the recliner, climbed onto her lap and licked the salty tears from her face.

"Isis, he's Batman. Bruce Wayne. All the times he cancelled dates, when he got "phone calls from the office." They weren't phone calls, Isis! He had to leave to run off and save the city!" Selina Kyle lived alone, she was used to talking to her cat. But tonight, she felt a little crazy for it.

"It's complicated, he says. Hell, yeah, its complicated. He's dating Selina Kyle at the same time he's dry-humping Catwoman on rooftops. That fucking bastard." The hysterical laughter returned. "Well, I guess I was doing the same thing."

A couple of calming breaths later, Selina realized something else. He knew. He had to. It made total sense.

He's "working through issues" — he's trying to figure out how to do this. He's "battered." Oh, God. How many times have I seen Batman bloody and bruised? He couldn't have explained the injuries. He had said she made him burn. He knows how we are together. The minute we ripped each others clothes off, he couldn't have explained why his body was battered.

Isis meowed uncertainly as Selina continued to freak out.

"I'm in love with him, Isis." Bruce. Batman. They're the same man. But not really. Batman was dark and brooding. Forceful, powerful. The Bruce she knew was kind and charming. Smart, funny. He was quicker to laugh now than he was in the early days. But who was he really? Was that the real Bruce or the Bruce he could be around her.

But she had done the same thing to him. Catwoman was seductive and sassy. She was a criminal. Selina Kyle ran a small antiquities museum, flirted with him while they hit the town, and was the kind of woman who got invited to family dinners. He must be wondering which one she really was.

The truth was that the true Selina was somewhere in between. She loved her job at the museum, relished the walks in the park, but needed the adrenaline of being Catwoman, loved to push herself to the limit time and time again. She imagined the the real Bruce was somewhere between the one she knew and Batman.

Family dinners – the thought triggered something in her mind. Batman and Robin. Oh, god. Robin. Who had he been? Bruce must have loved him like a son. Adopted son. Dick. Shit, he must be Nightwing.

What was she going to do? How was she gong to handle this? She loved him. Them. The man in between that he really was. But could Batman really love a criminal? Could he have a real relationship with a woman who broke the law to get a high?

Selina sat back, and poured a glass of scotch from the bottle Bruce now kept in her apartment. She loved being Catwoman. It wasn't the money any more. It hadn't been for a long time. It was the freedom. The exhilaration of the heist, the chase. The careful planning it took. The proof that she controlled her own destiny. Could she give it up for him?

Or did she need to? Twice now they had fought together instead of against each other. They worked well together, moving in unison. She instinctually knew what he was his next move was going to be in a battle. They clicked, operating as one. If she was honest with herself, it was a thrill. A bit more dangerous than what she was used to, but those same skills that made her good as a cat burglar — smarts, skill, athleticism, quick to adapt to the situation — hadn't she used those against Scarecrow and Two-Face?

She was still unsure. Could she make this change permanent? From villain to hero?

Crazier things had happened. Like the two men she was in love with being the same person.