goldenblast
John tossed his jacket on the couch and grabbed a beer from the fridge as he went out on the balcony. He stared out into the polluted night; smog from shops, car vents and engines and honks, police sirens, people shouting, and some gunfire here and there. After spending a couple moments of silence, John got his phone and started looking for some day jobs. He knew definitely what he was going to do at night, but it was not going to pay in cash. He'd gone out today job hunting, but found nothing that caught his interest. He heard the front door open as Ellen came back home, back after a few days spent undercover on a case, tossing her keys on the entrance table and announcing her arrival.
"I'm home! If you know you're not supposed to be here, leave now or rot in jail."
"Just me, hon!" John shouted from the terrace. "There's food in the fridge."
He heard the fridge open but no sound of the microwave, and a minute later Ellen was walking out to the terrace with a beer bottle in hand.
"Left early?" She asked, without a formality of a greeting between them. Ellen simply leaned over the railing and stared out into the city, waiting for a reply.
"Actually, I think I left late." John said completely nonchalantly, expecting her to pick up on his meanings. Detective Yin did.
"You quit?" She said with very little hint of surprise as she walked back to sit on the other chair.
"Yup, but I think I might come back if Rojas is out."
"I'll drink to that!" Ellen tipped her bottle over and John clinked his bottle to hers.
After a sip, Ellen continued the conversation.
"So what'd he do? Another heated argument about the Batman?"
"Not specifically, but he was brought up. Rojas wants to arrest Catwoman for a crime that she apparently looks guilty of."
"What is it with you two protecting Catwoman? Remember the time I got fired over Catwoman?"
"No. Really. How did it go again?" John asked with sarcasm.
§§§§§
It was late at night and Detective Yin was still in the museum, trying to piece together who the thief was. The scene was messy, but the missing item was a statue of a cat. That would obviously imply Catwoman. But what didn't make sense was the second point of entry. Maybe partnerships were in season this year. Just as she thought that, her flashlight caught the Batman hiding in the corner, and she nodded to him.
"I want everyone to recase the point of entry. Let's go."
With that order, all the police officers left the main crime scene, leaving the room empty for the Batman.
Back in her office, Det. Yin stared at the cork board. There was Catwoman, and a bunch of other pictures related to the case, but who was the second perp? She stared at the bat radio on her desk for minutes, then decided to put her new partnership to the test. Yin made a fool of herself unable to find words to talk with him, but apparently he was hunting down a couple leads. And just when she was sure she heard a meow on the radio, a call came in reporting that Catwoman and Batman were caught leaving the scene together.
Batman couldn't be the second perp, could he!?
She was going to bust him, how could he lie to her? She was to be blamed for trusting a man who played dress up.
But dress up or not, he was the only one who could help when penguin was holding Gotham hostage.
Yin called Batman again, letting him know she knew he was working with Catwoman, and Batman filled her in on what he'd found.
An hour later, police squads were racing to the demolished lighthouse, with Rojas in the lead.
They arrested a tied up Penguin, but of course, Rojas wanted the Batman apprehended for something, minimally for the destruction of the lighthouse, but it was easier to catch an actual bat than the detective. Additionally, there was warrant to hunt down Catwoman as well, but Batman convinced Yin that the thief had been principal in bringing down Penguin, so Yin dropped the case on Catwoman.
But Rojas did not accept a letter of recommendation for a Catburglar from a Vigilante, and fired Yin for partnering with the Batman.
Months later, Yin played a critical role in freeing Gotham from the control of Joker. She saved two boats full of people from being remotely blown up by the Joker and got D.A Harvey Dent, now going as Two-Face, into Arkham Asylum. And when Gordon had been found alive and promoted to Commissioner, the second thing the Batman did after all the important stuff was to make Commissioner Gordon reinstate Detective Yin indefinitely.
§§§§§
"Yeah, we've both been screwed over Catwoman."
"What I don't understand is Batman, being the crusader against crime that he is, why would he protect Catwoman?"
John knew why, and he wished he could tell her, but it wasn't his place to. He hoped that Bruce would do it soon, cause if and when Ellen found out herself, it wasn't going to be easy.
"Maybe Catwoman's his inside woman, who know why he does what he does."
"Sure, but-"
The doorbell caught Ellen off guard and, both of them being detectives, immediately turned towards the front door.
"I got it," John got up, but Ellen stood up with him.
They both opened the door to Mr. and Mrs. Wayne.
John stood there shellshocked, but the arrived guests were all smiles.
"Good evening, hope we haven't caught you guys at a bad time." Said Bruce, but his voice implied no apology.
"We were in the neighborhood so we decided to drop by. Didn't come empty handed!" Selina added as she held up bags of food from the best hotdog stand in Gotham.
"I am so grateful you married a street girl!" John happily told Bruce as he took the bags from Selina and let the couple in.
The boys set the food in the living room while the girls got the glasses and plates from the kitchen. Once they were all settled, Bruce spoke first.
"So, heard you lost your job."
"And I just found out why! Thank you! Anything you need from me, you got it."
"I'm the only one who doesn't understand what's going on."
"And that's why you're a good detective, Ellen." Bruce complemented her.
He put his food down and wiped his hands, then stood up and walked toward the patio. He slid the door close and placed a device on the glass, that at first made the all the glasses shake, as if they might break, but then everything was still again.
Bruce came back and sat down in his spot, and Selina put his hands on his shoulder. John sat shifting uneasily in his seat.
"What I'm about to say, I trust stays between us." Bruce started, but Ellen finished.
"Let me guess, you're the Batman."
Bruce and Selina smiled, and John's reaction was unreadable.
Bruce reached into his jacket and pulled out a bat radio, sending a beep to Ellen's radio. She took her piece out from her bag and watched as Bruce spoke. His voice was his own, but it came through the radio as the Batman voice.
"Neat trick!"
"Better than destroying my vocal chords every night."
"I should've caught this sooner! I mean, I know John's Nightwing. There couldn't have been more suspects other than you."
"I wouldn't be as smart as I'm believed to be if you'd found out sooner. But I do give points to you, Ellen. You're a worthy opponent, partner I mean."
"I guess that's the best compliment I've ever gotten."
"And you..." Ellen addressed Selina. "How do you... no, you couldn't be!"
"Guess the cat's out of the bag now!"
§§§§§
Across town in the darker parts of Gotham, someone else was pulling out the past.
"And you're sure this is Selina Kyle we're talking about?"
"Well sure it's her! Worked five years together. Y'know, not many places hire a duo of girls by the name of Bunny and Kitty. Not respectable places, anyway."
"Perfect! It's the dishonor that I need. This plan goes right, Bunny, and consider your debts forgiven."
"You're my rabbit's foot!"
"Sure, just the same as you're mine. You're gonna help me bring Bruce Wayne to his knees!"
A Storm's Coming