Disclaimer: Still don't own anything except Serenity Anderson.

A/N: You reviewers totally reek of awesomeness and without you guys I would have given up long ago! Fear not, I refuse to quit and will finish this story if it kills me. I love you reviewers!! But gah, don't waste your time reading this; go read the chapter I finally wrote, it's shorter but I figured shorter and sooner than longer and ... longer... Anyway Go! Enjoy! Read and let me know what you think! Questions, comments, concerns - I want to hear them all! Enjoy!!

+ is a quote from the movie Spiderman. I'm merely borrowing it for my humble fic. Have a nice day:)

Selina was angry.

Wait- scratch that, she was beyond angry- she was furious.

The conversation between herself and Harvey had not been pleasant or easy and to an untrained ear, not very coherent. With Selina being less than happy and Harvey / Two-face fighting with each other to retain dominance over their mouth, the talk had not been easy to get through. When Harvey started to make a reply Two-face would cut him off and start spouting off- sometimes making sense but most of the time not.

It only ensured in pissing Selina off even more than she already was.

It had taken a little bit of time and required her to bring back a couple of her old threats but in the end she heard what she wanted to hear. Serenity was the one behind the break-in - like there had been any doubt- and if that wasn't bad enough it appeared she was out for revenge.

Selina was many things- but naive was not one of them. She knew what Serenity had in mind when she found who she was looking for…but that wasn't what bothered her. What bothered her was the fact that she didn't know if Serenity wouldn't be able to go through with it. It was the fact that Selina was learning that she didn't know Serenity as well as she thought she did.

It scared her.

She had known that Serenity had been hiding things, she was a teenage girl, of course she was hiding things, but Selina had never guessed that it was something to this extent. Serenity had never been about hurting people, and Selina never taught her to follow that mentality. Selina had taught her self-defense for protection purposes, empowerment, and to help build confidence.

Now that she knew what Serenity was planning they were going to have that long awaited talk and were finally going to get some things out into the open.

One thing was for certain- the upcoming confrontation was not going to be pretty.

Selina's fingers tapped on the armrest of the couch as she waited for Serenity to come home from school. She tapped her fingers to keep her hands occupied more than anything else.

She'd be a lying though if she didn't confess that she was impressed with the way Serenity carried out her plan. She had managed to, single handedly, break into the GCPD headquarters. Selina would have smiled with pride if the situation didn't include the circumstances that it did … but that didn't change the fact that Serenity had done it without any help from anybody- it was her own skill and intelligence she relied on. And she had done it.

There was no denying that it was impressive even if it was done with wrong intentions in mind. A great thief was a great thief. Period.

The shuffling sound of footsteps outside the door alerted Selina to the fact that she was no longer alone. The sound of the lock being picked was heard as the door was unlocked and pushed opened.

Selina noticed it right away.

It was the way that Serenity was clutching the strap of her book bag tightly between her fingers but yet it was slipping haphazardly off her shoulder. It was the way her steps were still solid yet distracted. How her eyes weren't glazed over but yet were unfocused all the same. Seeing without seeing anything at all. Selina knew that look. She'd worn that look before. Serenity just had a smoking' hot kiss.

And it meant one thing - Serenity was off balanced.

Steeling herself, Selina ran her tongue over her front teeth and let out one long breath to steady herself.

Showdown time.

Serenity knew as soon as she stepped foot into the apartment that something big was going to happen. She may have been in a daze from that kiss Terry planted on her but she knew to trust her gut when it got that heavy lead feeling. It was just something that one knew; it was instinct.

Warning bells were blaring and a big red flashing sign screaming "DANGER" appeared in her head– Serenity knew better than anybody to follow her gut and right know she knew some serious shit was going to go down.

As soon as her eyes fell on Selina she knew everything her body had been warning her about was accurate. Her spidey-sense was still up and running.

A scary expression was currently on Selina's face. Truth be told it was her eyes that were speaking the loudest. Her emerald greens were flashing vividly even as her face seemed emotionless and still like marble stone. Serenity tilted her head to the side in contemplation as she opened the refrigerator in the guise of searching for something to drink - what could Selina be mad about? Serenity hadn't gone for "a night on the town" for a couple weeks. She had hoped that, that fact alone would have kept Selina happy and oblivious…okay so maybe it was just wistful thinking that Selina would be preoccupied but-

Serenity was rambling. Okay, she was rambling in her thoughts but it was still rambling. Stop. Think. Rub those brain cells together- what exactly could have Selina discovered that would put that look in her eyes…

Her grip of the door handle tightened as her eyes widened. Holy shit, she knew. That was the only thing it could be.

She knew? A long second passed before her eyes narrowed slightly, how could she know!? Harvey? Out of the corner of her eye Serenity saw that mornings paper crumpled in Selina's right hand.

Shit.

Swallowing quickly, Serenity tried to act normal. She couldn't panic. Panicking would do nothing and everything would be over before it began. Normal. She had to act normal ... Why the hell was it so hard to remember what normal was supposed to be like?

Serenity opened her mouth to say something normal but it was Selina's voice that filled the room, "Let's cut out the crap, shall we?"

Serenity immediately shut her mouth and straightened up, slowly closing the refrigerator as well. Turning her head, blue eyes peered over at Selina. The rest of Serenity's body following suit until she was facing Selina head on.

Selina watched in dismay as the blue of Serenity's eyes seemed to grow colder by the second. Harder; like ice. This was it. Selina swallowed her resolve to be soft and put on her own game face, clearing her throat and jumping right in.

"Did you think I wouldn't find out?"

The question was calmly asked. There was no need for shouting- that would no doubt come later.

"I knew you would," came the equally calm answer. A small smirk flickered across her young face, "- just not so soon."

Selina mentally shook off her unease. Serenity was very headstrong and would no doubt be stubborn…but she was Selina Kyle. She'd dealt with Batman. There wasn't anything or anybody she couldn't handle. The thing that was bothering her the most was how Serenity seemed so calm. What was going on with her? Serenity wasn't a killer, she was hurt and confused.

"What the hell are you thinking - honestly?" Selina questioned, her gaze never wavering from the tense girl in the slightest.

"I was thinking about getting closure," Serenity stated coolly, fingertips rubbing against the palms of her hands.

Selina noticed the gesture right away because it was what she used to do out of costume when she was wishing she was in costume. It was a small gesture to remind herself that she wasn't wearing her gloves.

Serenity was sinking in her own darkness.

"This isn't about closure," Selina snapped back, emerald eyes flashing, "this is about revenge."

"Justice!" Serenity immediately spat out, unconsciously stepping closer to Selina.

The tension building between the two woman seemed to snap and crackle almost like a physical presence. Even though her body may have been aged Selina's spirit was as young and alive as ever and shone clearly through her eyes.

"This isn't justice." Selina said disgusted. "Justice is balance. Justice is-"

"Like you're the one to give a pep-talk about right and wrong and justice."

It was meant to sting and had been aimed to hurt. And sting it did. It stung like Batman deciding to just let her fall off a twenty story building without her whip. It hurt; a lot. Selina blinked but didn't give Serenity the satisfaction of flinching. Shit, she felt that one right to the bone, but she would never show it. Serenity wasn't pulling any punches, it was time to take the kid gloves off.

"Do you really think that killing one worthless coward is really going to make you feel better? Going to fix anything?" Selina questioned passionately, mentally begging Serenity to just stop and really think about what she wanted to do. Serenity didn't fully comprehend the consequences of her future actions - she didn't realize what torture she'd be unleashing on herself. Right now she was lost, but if she went through with her plans she'd be gone forever with no hope for return.

"Probably not," Serenity replied honestly, but with no less intensity, "but I have to do something - he has to pay for his sins!"

Selina's brows furred slightly as she shook here head in disbelief of the words that were coming out of Serenity's mouth. This wasn't the girl whom she lived with, whom she had raised…this was somebody else. A stranger.

Green eyes hardened in determination, "Are you willing to sacrifice your innocence for this?"

Serenity gave a bitter laugh and her eyes seemed to darken even more, "that was taken from me years ago."

Her breath caught in her throat when Selina realized in alarm that she was losing; she was losing Serenity. Sweet Bastet, she couldn't lose Serenity. She was all she had left. Fighting back the burning sensation that signaled that tears were coming, Selina tried again to reach her.

"You'll never be able to look at yourself in the mirror again. You'll be tainted and that darkness you're feeling now? That's only going to get worse." Selina dropped Serenity's gaze and let out an unsteady breath before continuing, and when she did her voice dropped to a whisper, "vengeance is consuming, and I don't want to see anybody else I love get swallowed up by it."

Serenity felt herself waiver at Selina's heartfelt words. She didn't want to kill anybody but she felt she had to. How was is fair that a piece of garbage like him was allowed to live while innocent lives were taken instead? Why was her mother and her brother forced to pay for his stupidity and his mistakes with their lives?

Selina's voice broke into her thoughts, "If wearing the suit is a temptation you could always stop. Forget Catwoman, forget the legacy, forget stealing. Just be normal."

Normal?

Selina noticed with growing hope how Serenity's eyes softened and how her posture relaxed the smallest bit - but that was until she heard her soft-spoken words.

+"Not everyone is meant to make a difference. But for me, the decision to live an ordinary life is no longer an option."

The gray haired beauty blinked back her tears in stunned silence. She had only ever wanted to help Serenity, make her stronger, give her confidence. She never wanted to turn her into this - this shell.

"You always have an option. You can't do this to him," Selina reasoned softly.

Serenity swallowed roughly before a look between a sneer and disappointment crossed her features. She shook her head slightly,

"I thought that out of everybody; you'd understand."

Selina looked at her with haunted green eyes that spoke of experience and pain. A tired and bitter smile twisted her lips and she replied dryly, "I do, only all to well. "

"Then you know why I have to do it."

It was a statement. A Fact. Like Serenity said the sky was blue or the grass was green or that Batman needed some serious stress relief. A strange sensation began to fill Selina, and odd one she hadn't felt in a long time and it took her a few seconds to realize just what exactly she was feeling. Panic. It was panic that was beginning to crawl up her spine and slink across her nerves.

"Serenity-" Selina moved to grab Serenity's arm. Serenity shook her head from side to side yet moved away so the action was evaded. She didn't want Selina to try and talk her out of it.

"No"

"Listen to me-" Selina tried again beginning to loose her grip on her control over the situation. This wasn't turning out anything like she had planned. It was worse. Even the cats knew to stay away.

"No," Serenity repeated shaking off Selina's advances once more.

"LISTEN TO ME!" Selina's voice shook despite the volume of her shout, desperation dripping from her tone, "STOP now! While you still can!"

"I can't!" Serenity shouted back, tears beginning to streak down her cheeks unchecked, "This is something I have to do. You can't stop me." As if snapping out of a haze Serenity took a step back and picked up her school bag from where is had been dropped carelessly on the group sometime during their word exchange. Hoisting the bag up onto her shoulder in a form of twisted déjà vu from that morning, Serenity opened the front door. She hesitated for a moment casting one last glance at her mentor from over her shoulder; an apology for a sin she had yet to commit.

"One way or another, it ends tonight."

And with her whispered words she was gone.

Her mouth was open and her hands were shaking, but Selina only noticed the silence that now seemed to engulf the apartment. Selina bit her lip to keep it steady between her teeth before letting out a teary laugh,

"I'm getting too old for this."

Feeling one of the cats nudging her leg, Selina gratefully sank into a spot on the sofa simultaneously ignoring the mews of protest. Trembling hands came together, almost as if in prayer, in front of her mouth. She took a calming deep breath to steady herself before her brain kicked back into action. Blowing out the air in her lungs, her hands dropped to her thighs rubbing the material of her pants. She was a thief to the end and thieves lived by one major code; Protect what is valuable.

Serenity was priceless.

Selina's eyes narrowed with resolve. She knew where she had to go next.

§§

Well, Selina thought shrewdly, this was the last place she thought she'd ever be. Ever.

That old fight or flight instinct can roaring back into her system and she wondered for the umpteenth time just what exactly made her nervous. She'd been here before, numerous times actually and for some unexplainable reason each time here she got the urge to make a mad dash for the nearest exit. Steeling herself she reminded herself why she was here; Serenity. She needed to be here for Serenity's sake. She was doing what she had to, to get Serenity back.

"The place looks great - new drapes?"

The question was swallowed by the surrounding silence. Okay, she was wasting time with her quips and that was one thing that she couldn't afford right now. She had to put aside her pride. Her weathered hands clenched the material of her skirt before smoothing it out over her legs. She had to do this.

Her eyes locked with the steely blues of Bruce Wayne's as she answered his unasked question. The words echoing around them in the damp bat cave, "I need your help."