Chapter 20 : Taking to the Streets
Selina Kyle walked down the narrow sidewalks of the East Side looking at all the young street girls standing around wearing heavy makeup and low tops. She shook her head. It was heartbreaking to see innocence fading away from the lustful acts of men. She noticed a familiar face; a 23 year old blonde haired woman dressed in leather, hair long and flowing.
"Misty," Selina called out. The woman turned around and looked at her.
"Well who let the cat out the bag. Selina Kyle it's been a long time. Still out chasing your dreams?" Selina grinned her teeth together. "Last time I heard about you kitten, you were on your way to Stonegate but Ginger told me that they your bail was paid in full."
"It doesn't matter. I need to know if you seen Holly."
"Holly..." Misty paused for a moment. "The little skinny blond haired kid that followed you around?"
"Yes."
"Can't stay that I have. If there's anyone who knows her whereabouts it's Ginger. You can find her at Club 88 near the docks. She works as a bartender down there."
Selina looked at Misty with a small smile. "Take care," she said and then walked away.
Bruce Wayne took off his shirt, which revealed his tight abs and chest, threw it on the cement floor and walked over to his back pack, unzipped it and pulled out a dark blue sweater. He pulled it over his head and then reached inside the back pack to grab his black running shoes.
A few minutes later Bruce was dressed in normal street clothes, hair slicked back. He walked over to another steel desk and pressed a button, the concrete wall on the far hand of the chamber hissed open as he strode towards it.
He entered the dark hole and rolled out an Augusta MV, a bike he stored as backup when he needed to travel through the streets in the daylight. He rolled the bike onto the lift, and placed a red helmet over his head. He pressed the button and both him and the bike arose on the lift.
Two seconds later he fired up the engine and bolted through the steel doors. "Lock," he commanded from a radio transmitter in his helmet. The steel door closed shut. He turned to the fenced entrance and zoomed out into the street that would lead him down Lower 6th street and then to the Lower 5th Overpass.
As Selina walked past the locked down stores, she noticed a familiar face of an officer John Blake the only cop that she trusted in this city. Blake was standing near a brick wall wearing a plain dark blue jacket and black jeans. Selina walked up to him.
"Officer Blake?" she asked as he turned around and looked at the youthful dark haired woman coming closer.
"Back so soon?" Blake asked. Despite his calm exterior, he felt relieved to see her considering how bad things had been going lately.
"Yes. Don't worry I found Bruce Wayne and he is safe," she assured him.
Blake felt his heart race with anticipation, he gaped at her in disbelief. "Where was he?"
"Someplace where most men dread to think of when they stare in the darkness."
Blake cringed. "Where is Bruce Wayne?"
"Like I told you officer, he's safe." She replied noticing the he wasn't wearing a uniform. "What are you doing out here without an uniform?"
"Things are working a little differently now Miss Kyle. This city is lost to us," he said with dismay.
Selina crossed her arms. "Lost what do you mean lost? Sorry it's been a while since I've been in Gotham. Please enlighten me on the current state of Gotham."
John sighed. "Dead cops found in dumpsters, the whole city in lock down and the commissioner in a hospital bed." Selina's eyes went wide.
"The Commissioner, what happened?" Her eyes were showing concern.
"Bane happened. He injured the commissioner at Arkham. Broke two ribs and punctured a lung."
"That's terrible. Where is the commissioner?"
"Gotham General."
Selina knew that he had to tell Bruce. After all Gordon was the only friend Batman had. It was heartbreaking for her to hear those grim words. She respected Gordon as a human being and never dared crossed him when she was the stealth thief known as the Cat. Right now her main concern was Gordon's family and Holly.
"I'm sorry to hear that officer Blake. Gordon is a good man and no good men deserve to be broken like that." She said remembering when Batman was thrown on the roof top by Bane and then how Bane jabbed his knee into Batman's back. Remembering those memories sent chills down her spine.
"I need to know where's Bruce Wayne?"
"Around." She stated. "Why are you concerned about the billionaire playboy officer? I remember you told me that you consider him your friend why?"
"I like Bruce. He's a good man. Rich and spoiled rotten but I think he actually has a caring side."
"More than you know." Selina could sense that she could trust John, that he was a good kid. He might be a good partner in helping her find Holly. "Officer Blake, I need your help. My friend of mine is missing. She's a street girl about sixteen years old and has blonde hair."
"In this city Miss Kyle, you should start by looking at the gravestones." Selina lowered her head. John could sense that she was depressed and worried. "But she might be at the homeless shelter. If you want I can accompany you."
Selina smiled. "That would be great." She looked at his youthful face. "You know I think you're the only cop in this city that has a heart alongside from Gordon."
Blake smiled. "I protect and serve the people of Gotham. That's my duty."
Selina was considering his vow. To her he seemed a lot like Bruce Wayne. Both caring for the foundations of humanity and dedicating their life into protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
On the corner of 8th Street near the Gotham docks, Bruce rolled his Augsta MV into an alleyway. He removed his red helmet which revealed his dark chocolate brown hair that had the afternoon sunlight reflecting in the deep strands.
He got off and began to make his way down the narrow alleyway that would lead him to a night club that was once own by Carmine Falcone, the infamous crime boss that shared a cell and killed Joe Chill.
He walked to the entrance, a bouncer was standing there with his big bulky arms folded and deep brown eyes staring down at the billionaire.
"Get lost pretty boy," the bouncer snarled. "Only the Russian's men are aloud."
Bruce pulled out his wallet and took out a massive amount of cash. He waved it around. "You think you find an exception?" He watched the man lick his lips as he placed the pile of bills in his chubby hands.
"Now are you going to let me in?"
The bouncer nodded and moved out of the billionaire's way. Bruce walked through the doorway, the smell of ash from cigarettes hovered in the air making it difficult to breathe. His eyes were burning from the strong smoke, a flashy tall woman stared at him with her eyes covered in heavy makeup.
"Why hello handsome? Come for a drink or maybe something else?"
Bruce smirked. "I'm looking for Anthony Gossi."
"Gossi"
Bruce nodded.
"What are you like his friend or something?"
"Something like that sweetheart."
The woman nodded. "Wait here. I'll see if he's decent enough to talk to." Bruce watched the woman walked down the aisle and towards the end where a closed in office was. She opened the door and stepped inside.
"What is it Betty?" A tall built dark haired men with ice blue eyes asked as he counted wads of bills on his cherry oak desk.
"There's a man out there wanting to see you," she gestured over her shoulder.
"Yeah. What does he look like?" He asked, not looking up as he continued his count.
"He looks like Bruce Wayne, Tony."
Anthony lifted his head up and gave her a grin. "Really? Well please send him in."
Betty nodded.
Bruce was leaning against the bar looking at all the customers sipping glasses of beer or fine wine. Most of them worked for the Russian while some he recognized from past encounters at the Gotham Docks or East End warehouses. Betty walked up to him and looked at his handsome features.
"Gossi wants to see you handsome," she said. Bruce stood up straight and followed her to the office. She opened the door and he stepped inside the dim lilted room that reeked of yeast from the beer. Gossi was sitting behind his desk with his hands folded on the top and eyes looking at Bruce.
"Bruce Wayne, I never thought I would cross paths with Gotham's favorite prince."
"I didn't come here for a social call," Bruce growled. "I came here for information."
"Information? On what? I have nothing to do with your kind rich boy."
Bruce clenched his jaw. "I want to know what happened to Gordon."
"Gordon. What are you like his friend?" Gossi smirked and then laughed. "The prince of Gotham is friends with the sweet old commissioner. Oh this is just too much to take it. I need a drink. Would you care for a drink?" Bruce shook his head. "Come on one drink isn't going to ruin your charming looks Mr. Wayne. Besides if you share a drink I'll tell you what you need to know."
Bruce sighed. "Alright."
Gossi poured the golden liquid into a tall glass and slid it over to Bruce. The billionaire lifted the glass and took a sip of the bitter tasting liquid that made his throat burn.
"Now you want to know about Gordon. Have what I heard pretty boy, is that Bane got to him at Arkham. Roughed the commissioner pretty bad. All I know is that Gordon is bed ridden now." Gossi said sipping his glass. Bruce stared at him with his piercing eyes. "Now the question I must ask Mr. Wayne, how come you came down here? In a place where you're kind is not welcome. You're taking a great risk."
"Because you're the only one that knows about Bane's plan." Bruce felt dizzy. He began to cough.
"What's a matter can't hold your own drink pretty boy?" Gossi laughed. "I told you that you're taking a great risk. But about Bane. Whatever his plan is it's something that will destroy Gotham."
Bruce wrapped his hands on his stomach as two men entered the office and looked down at him.
"Boss what do you want us to do with him?"
"Bring him outside and let the toxin finish him off." Gossi commanded as the two bodyguards grabbed Bruce and dragged him out of the office. "Have a nice day Mr. Wayne."
The bodyguards threw Bruce hard into a pile of trash bags in the back alley. Bruce looked up at them and spat out blood from his mouth as he watched them enter through the back door. He wiped the blood from his lips with his hand and then felt light headed. He reached his jean pocket and pulled out his mobile phone and dialed.
Selina Kyle was at the East End Docks with John Blake waiting for Ginger to come. Her cell phone began to rang.
"Excuse me," she said to John. "I have to take this."
John nodded.
Selina flipped the phone open. "Hello?"
"Selina…." Bruce coughed. "Selina I need you to …."
"Bruce?" Bruce what's wrong handsome?"
Bruce felt his stomach turning. "Poison. Blood has been poisoned."
Selina's brown eyes went wide. "OK Bruce I'm coming. Tell me where you are."
"Falcone's club. 8th Street."
"Hold on handsome," Selina looked at John. "Bruce is in trouble. I have to go to him."
John nodded. "I'll stay and talk with Ginger for you. You go to Wayne."
Selina leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."
She ran to the ninja bike, pulled on her helmet and fired up the engine as John Blake walked over to Ginger who was exiting the back door.
"Excuse me Ginger?"
"Yes?" Said the red haired woman that smelt of yeast and cigar smoke. "Can I help you?"
"I'm Officer John Blake. I need to know if you of seen a teen named Holly Robinson?"
"Holly Robinson. The little blonde haired girl. Yes. Last night."
"Where is she?" Blake asked.
Ginger shrugged. "I don't know. She lives in homeless shelters and on the streets. She came to me last night, I gave her some cash and took you're out for a meal. She is in trouble officer?"
John nodded.
Meanwhile Bruce lurched down the alleyway, staggering and smashing into trash cans. He could feel the vile rising up his throat. He bent down, his heart was pounding and his face felt numb. "No," he said wincing as he threw up the vile. Everything was spinning.
Selina rode into the alley looking at the piles of unwanted garbage. She saw Bruce Wayne lying on the pavement, his body shaking and yellow vile running down his neck. She removed her helmet and hopped off the bike and ran to him.
"Bruce?" she said in a heartbreaking tone as she looked at his sickly form. "Bruce can you hear me it's Selina?"
Bruce opened his eyes and looked at the young woman. "Selina," he coughed.
She placed her hand on his on his forehead. "You're burning up. I have to get you to a hospital."
"No hospitals Selina. If Miranda find out..." He coughed. "Please Selina take me to the bunker."
"The bunker? No I'm taking you to my apartment." She ripped her shirt and wiped the vile off his face and then helped him up onto his feet, letting him lean his body against her as they walked. "Can you make it ?" she asked.
"I'll try," he groaned.
Selina helped onto the bike, she placed him in back of her, let him wrap his arms around her waist and fired up the engine. "Hold on Bruce. Just hold on."
Wayne Enterprises Subbasement
Talia stood near the crates with her arms folded as she watched her men test out the combat Tumbler's weapon systems. Bane was standing with her.
"Bane," she said glaring at the Tumblers. "I want Selina Kyle in my grasp by tomorrow night."
"I already have the girl."
"Yes. She's the perfect bait for luring the cat."
Bane smiled under his mask.
"Treat her with your special care."
Across town Selina helped Fox lay Bruce on the her kitchen table. She rubbed her hand on his forehead and leaned her head forward. "Come back to me handsome," she whispered as she pressed her lips on Bruce's forehead. Fox placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry Miss Kyle. Bruce has always been a fighter." He removed the plastic tubes and placed them into Bruce's arms.
"What are you doing?" Selina asked.
"We have to perform a blood transfusion. I have to flush out the poison. It's the only way to save him." He looked at the pale face of the young man, the man that gave his life back and made him feel worthwhile again. "Selina I need you to hold his hand and don't let go."
Selina placed her hand into Bruce's and squeezed tightly. Tears were following down her cheeks as she saw the blood run down the tubes. She could feel Bruce's pulse. "Bruce if you can hear me, please come back to me. I need you. I love you."
Fox withheld his tears from rolling down his face. "We're almost done. But we need to put blood back into him or else he will go into shock."
Selina looked at the face of the man she respected and loved and then looked at her arm. "Take my blood."
Fox nodded.
2 hours later...
Bruce awoke shivering with his head pounding and sheet of sweat on his bare chest. He looked up and saw Selina sitting on floor of the couch with a bowl of cold water and a cloth. Her eyes were red from the lack of sleep she experience in the last 13 hours of taking care of him.
"Selina," he rasped. Selina placed her hand on his rest. "What happened to me?"
"You were poisoned with a deadly toxin. I called Mr. Fox and he took a sample of your blood and then we preformed a transfusion."
Bruce looked at the hole in her arm. "Selina. You gave up your blood for me?"
Selina nodded.
"Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me handsome." She said rubbing her arm.
He leaned his head forward still feeling light headed and then pressed his lips on her forehead. "I don't know what I would do without you." He lifted her head and pressed his lips on her crimson lips, she closed her eyes as he ran his fingers through her hair. He realized in that brief moment that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He just had to find the courage to tell her that he loved her. But he wasn't ready.
"Wake up little girl."
Holly Robinson groaned as she flicked opened her eyes, her head was pounding and her body frozen from the lack of clothing she wore. She only had a skinny top on and pair of ripped jeans.
The smell of human sweat hovered in the air around her as she looked at a bulky form standing near the window.
"Who are you?" she asked clenching her teeth. "Why did you bring me here?"
"All your questions will be answered Miss Robinson," a mechanical like voice rasped. The sound of it made an uneasy chill come over Holly.
"How do you know my name?"
"That's not important."
"Then what do you want with me? You're not going to kill me."
The figure shook his head. "No. You'll live until the mission is complete. Now tell me where I can find Selina Kyle."
Holly's eyes went wide. "I don't know where Selina is. She left Gotham months ago."
"We'll I heard she's back with Bruce Wayne." The figure stepped out of the shadows of the room revealing the masked face of Bane. Holly recalled the time when Bruce saved her from rapid gun fire and bought her to his mansion where his butler treated her high fever.
"Now Miss Robinson I want you to sit tight and enjoy the show. It's going to have shattered results," he spoke sinisterly as he turned and left the girl to her thoughts.
4 hours later...
Bruce Wayne awoke and found himself under the covers of Selina's bed. Midnight was curled up in a ball on a window beside him . He reached over and rubbed the black cats thin body, she opened her golden yellow eyes and glared at him.
With his head pounding Bruce sat himself up leaning his drenched body against the headboard, the sheets and pillow cases reeked with the smell of vanilla, as he pulled them off to reveal his bare chest, he smacked his feet on the carpeted floor and felt his forehead.
To his surprise he was still under the weather, his eyes were heavy and body shaking with chills.
"Selina," he called out.
"She's gone Mr. Wayne," Fox replied as he entered the bedroom with a cup of tea.
"Gone? Where Mr. Fox?"
"Miss Kyle said she was going to look for Holly." Fox said as he handed Bruce the cup.
"How long was I out this time?"
"Roughly ten hours."
Bruce smirked. "Well I'm getting better dealing with poisons."
Fox shook his head. "The poison that was in your system Mr. Wayne was very deadly. It's compounds were designed to destroy your blood cells making your body produce less until her heart would stop. But I flushed out the toxin before you reached that stated and Miss Kyle offered her blood so that you would not go into shock."
Bruce turned his head and looked at the black cat who now moved to the center of the bed.
"Did she say where she was going?"
"No. But don't worry she'll be back. Now get some rest, you're still running a fever."
Bruce sat back on the bed and looked at the older gentlemen. "Mr. Fox?" he asked.
"Yes Mr. Wayne?"
"Do you think Alfred is..." he paused, almost afraid to ask his question.
"I think he's fine. He's a stubborn old man and won't give up the fight."
Bruce nodded. Feeling a small bit of relief. Just as much Selina was concerned for Holly, he was the same with Alfred. He needed to find a way to free him from Tate's confinement. "Hold on Alfred," he thought to himself.
Across town Selina was walking on the cement bridge of the Lower 5th over past, a million things were going through her mind as light snow began to fall. Down below she could see people shuffling through the streets, pacing into stores while holding on to their items tightly.
She continued to walk and then she stopped and placed her gloved hands on the ledge.
"Enjoying your new life kitten?" A cold woman's tone asked from behind. Selina turned around and found herself staring into the eyes of the woman she betrayed.
"What do you want?" Selina growled. "Haven't you done enough?"
"Revenge is never enough kitten. You know that more than most."
"I've changed."
"Yes. All because of Bruce Wayne, the man that will lose everything he ever cherished. I heard about your little rescue operation in Romania. How you and Fox flew to the Well of Shadows and freed Bruce." Talia laughed. "But he's not free kitten. He'll soon be a fading name on a gravestone and you can't protect him."
Selina clenched her jaw. "Yes. I can."
Talia removed a dagger from her jacket pocket and waved it around at Selina. "This blade will enter Bruce's Wayne if he tries to stop us."
"You know he will. I will be there fighting with him."
"No you won't."
Selina had a confused look on her face as she watched Talia remove a picture for her coat pocket she placed it in Selina's hands. "Recognize this girl?"
"Holly," she said with distress.
"Yes. Stubborn little thing."
Selina formed her hands into fists, eyes furious. "If you have done anything to her, I'll scratch your eyes out," she threatened angrily.
"Relax. She's safe. You can see her tonight. At midnight come to the old subway tunnel and come alone. If I see pointy ears with you Holly dies."
"How do I know you'll keep your word of not harming her?" She asked.
"You don't." Talia smiled as she turned and walked away.
Bruce Wayne rode through the snow covered streets on his Augusta MV that Fox found in the back alley of Club 88. He glared at the empty sidewalks through his helmet.
Everything that his family ever fought for, all the lives he risking his own life to save were just a fading memory. He looked at the crumbling walls of the buildings, broken windows of stores and smashed police cars with bullet holes etched in the dark blue metal. Gotham City was becoming a ghost town and soon if he didn't find a away to stop Bane and the shadows it will become a graveyard.
Selina Kyle walked under the overpass towards a narrow part near a cross walk. Tears were forming in her eyes as she thought about Holly. She waited for the light to change green and began to walk to the other but before she could placed her high heel boots on the curb she heard a high pitch scream coming from up top of the cement overpass. She made it to the curb and then lifted her head, she saw a small child running and screaming as a man was chasing him.
Selina glared at the tall man and then she ran up the stairs , fury was imbedded in her hazel eyes as she screamed out.
"Leave him alone!"
The tall dark haired man with a tattoo on his face turned around and licked his lips as he looked at Selina.
"Hello there sweetheart come to play?"
"No. I've come to dance." She purred as she moved in closer keeping her eyes on the child. "I love to dance with strangers."
The man smiled.
"But I'll lead." She did a round house kick with her high heels to his gut sending him falling backwards and then she sat on his body and leaned her head forward and smacked the knife out of his gun sending flying to the other side.
The child watched with amazement as Selina whispered in the thugs ear, "I never play with a stranger."
He gritted his teeth and pushed her off, sending her falling on her back, making the fabric of her gloves rip.
Bruce looked up at the overpass and saw two figures fighting on the cement bridge. "Got to be Selina," he said in his mind as he parked the bike at the side curb and threw his helmet on the ground.
He ran up the cement stairs with his fists ready to strike. As he reached the top he saw Selina on the ground, a knife to her throat and a ugly man laying on top of her smiling.
"Get off of her!" Bruce snarled.
The thug stood up and glared at him.
Bruce ran tackled the thug and then he did a jab with his elbow and then did a spinning kick making the thug lose his balance, making fall hard to the ground. Selina got up and dusted off her pant legs and walked over to the small child.
"You alright dear one?" she asked. The child nodded at he watched Bruce take down the thug, is if he was staring a Batman. Bruce finished his brawl and wiped the blood from his lip. He walked over to Selina and the boy.
"You alright?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Why was that man attacking you?"
The boy removed a piece of food from his pocket. "This is why?"
"He attacked you because of food?" Bruce asked.
"Yes Mister. There's not much food."
Selina looked at Bruce. "Where do you live dear one?" she asked.
"I live across the street Miss."
"Then I suggest you go home. It's not safe to be out here alone."
"I know."
Both Bruce and Selina watched the child scamper off down the stairwell. She turned and looked at him , and saw the blood leaking from his lip.
"I thought you were going to stay in bed?" she asked wiping the blood off his lip with her gloved hand.
"I was restless." Bruce replied.
Selina walked over to the ledge and looked down at the street below them. "What's happening to Gotham Bruce ?"
"Bane is taking control of the city Selina. He's becoming a ruler of order and chaos."
"You have to stop him Bruce. He wounded Gordon and he's going to kill anyone who crosses him including women and children." She lowered her head. "I can't believe I was a part of their plan."
Bruce wrapped his arms with a sweet embrace. "You're a part of my plan now." She turned around and dug her head into his chest.
"They're going to kill them Bruce. Talia is going to kill our friends."
Bruce ran his fingers down her back. "We'll get them back Selina."
"No. Bruce. I have save Holly alone. If you are found with me they'll kill you and her."
"Let me worry about that. Right now I need to see Gordon."
Selina lifted her head and remembered what Blake said to her. "He's at Gotham General. I can you get you there."
"No. I can't go as Bruce Wayne. I need a disguise."
She paused. "I think I might have just the thing."