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.

Batman continued to frown at the night. A month of being careful of Edward and Selina and he didn't still understand so therefore he was giving himself room to process everything. Tonight he would try and confront at least one of them. They had called in outside help to prove that he had bigger things to worry about than whatever was going on between them.

However, there was this niggling little voice that was insisting that he try and get near the Cat. Alfred had said that Bruce was still looking for a way to properly express himself to the one woman that truly confused him. He felt strongly for Selina but his sense of justice always got in the way. Alfred himself thought that the dark haired woman was a good person despite her crimes, thought that she would do well for Master Bruce if only the brooding man could follow his heart rather than his head.

None of this made sense to the blue eyed hero. He still thought that the reason the feline thief was with Edward was because he encouraged her bad behavior. Oddly, he hadn't seen much criminal activity from either of them since the Rogues had come and gone. It was as if his allowing them to just be together was freeing them up to just learn how to be together. Were they actually a good influence on each other?

He had to know.

Leaping from the building, Batman spread his cape, using it as a glider to ease his way down to a rooftop from the tower he had been standing on. He had glimpsed the Cat's sleek figure and planned to stop her and get some answers. It took only minutes for him to catch her, though keeping her still was going to be an issue. Selina hissed, clearly still pissed off with him. "Back off," She growled, falling into a defensive stance.

"I simply want to talk, Selina. Please," Bruce replied, the "please" catching her so off guard that she actually froze. Her eyes narrowed, slowly standing straight as she tried to think of what he would want to simply talk. He had his answer about where her heart truly lay and she was never going to go back to him. Edward was actually doing so well for her that she was starting to really believe that she was allowed to have a good relationship.

Batman frowned, trying to think of the right words. "I cannot figure this one out. Nygma has finally given me a riddle I cannot answer," He said tersely, blinking his discomfort. Catwoman tilted her head, for all the world looking like a real cat that had found something interesting. "He lets me be me. He doesn't condemn me when I can't control my urges." It was a simple answer. It covered everything that was wrong with her relationship with Bruce.

He had wanted to possess her, make her part of his arsenal at Catwoman. He had wanted to control her, make her into an "upstanding" trophy wife in the public eye. His world was so black and white that the grey area she created was incomputable in his mind. She had to be "fixed" to fit into his world and she just couldn't. It was like trying to fit a circular peg into a square hole. It just didn't work.

She sighed, actually moving forward and patting his shoulder. "You aren't going to understand this one, Bruce," Selina said quietly, the look on her face obviously pitying the fact that his brilliance couldn't cover this. She softened the look with a small smile. "Try finding a nice police woman to ask out. Or maybe one of your little hero buddies if they can handle a gloom cloud like you. At least they'll agree with you."

Batman frowned, processing the suggestion. He had tried with Diana and Zatanna to form some sort of relationship. If he put as much attention into a connect like as he did chasing the elusive Catwoman, could he perhaps find what Selina was finding with Edward? He opened his mouth, ready to respond. He actually turned in a full circle to find himself alone. "Oh, now that is bothersome."

/

Catwoman slid in through an open window, carefully keeping silent as the thief mentally peeled off her alter ego upon entering her home. There was a small frown pulling at her lips as she tried to understand what had just happened. She was mindful to take off her boots before wandering too far into the living room, a new habit that someone else had instilled in her. "I just had the most curious encounter," She said, her way of calling out to her live in sweetie.

Edward entered the room, in slacks and a button up shirt that wasn't completely buttoned. He was also barefoot and carrying a cat. It was the most casual he got and yet another new habit from cohabitating with someone else. He scratched idly behind the feline's ears, raising a brow. "How nasty were they and do they need a lesson?" He asked, assuming that the encounter hadn't been all that pleasant.

Walking over, Selina gave the cat a small pet and carefully leaned in for a chaste kiss, their typical greeting when either of them got home. "Bruce stopped me, still trying to wrap his mind around us," She answered, tugging the zipper on her suit down enough to start getting comfortable herself. Her reply made Edward hold his tongue, lips pursing a little. He was still bothered by the whole ordeal, still a little miffed that they had called in the Rogues to really show Batman that he couldn't boss them around without consequence. Also, it had been their first real show that there was nothing that was going to separate them unless they decided they didn't want to be together anymore.

Months and counting and they were still together. Still able to completely distract each other with a simple gesture. One look at Selina heading toward the bedroom to get comfortable erased the scathing comment for now. The cheerful lech he could be came out and the night went without further thought on the big, bad Bat,

/

Late morning arrived and Selina moved easily through the kitchen, getting a light breakfast together since it was starting to get late in the day. She had to go on tip toe to reach something and strong arms wrapped around her waist. "Have I ever told you that I so love when you wear my shirt?" Edward purred, rubbing his nose against Selina's neck.

Twisting in his arms, the thief grinned, glancing down. "Only every morning. Just like I always tell you I love those pants on you," She commented, enjoying the view of his bare chest and the black silk pants he had worn the first morning she had woken up in his home. The comment that was supposed to come next was cut short with a deep kiss until Edward pulled away, an evil glint in his eye.

"I've been thinking," He announced, moving to the coffee pot and pouring two cups. Selina snorted, "You? Thinking? That's a surprise." The brunette gave her a look that comment deserved and pressed on. "I think I know an underlying reason for your batty encounter." Coffee mugs in hand, he moved to the two seater table, his old evil grin returning to his lips. It made Selina pause, knowing that something that she might not entirely like was coming.

Edward ignored the suspicion. "He misses us. He misses the challenge and the chase. I think we should give him what he wants." Well, her fingers were getting a little itchy lately. Selina gave a small sigh, sitting carefully in Nygma's lap.

"We should team up. He would never expect that."