For someone who'd woken up groggy and dehydrated not long before, Selina sure felt energetic stepping into that courtroom.
It would be a closed hearing, but Commissioner Gordon had pulled some strings to allow both her and Bruce to attend it on Bruce's request. And although it was for parts of interest only, there was a fair amount of people crowded in that room; whom they would come to realize later were all victims and families of victims affected by the Joker's reign of terror over the city. And although they hadn't officially made it into that list, they could both attest to his tyranny more than anyone else there.
They sat down on the far corner of the bench, near the center corridor, but on the last row, trying not to draw too much attention. Selina kept her sunglasses on, to both avoid a blinding hangover headache and keep herself less recognizable.
Bruce looked around the room for Jim Gordon when the doors behind the judge's stand were opened and the room fell silent.
Harley was led in guarded by five cops, even though she was in a wheelchair. She wore an orange jumpsuit over the many bandages on her right leg, and her eyes seemed lost and unfocused, almost unaware of her surroundings. She was even paler than usual, and her colored tips were fading.
Bruce glanced at Selina regardful, and she simply gave him a half-smile, assuring him she was alright. The public was asked to stand up for the judge to walk in as all paid attention to him making its way to the stand. Except for Selina. Her eyes immediately went straight to the narrow-backed petite woman standing beside Harley. She couldn't see her face, but she'd recognize those deep dark straight hair locks anywhere. She'd woken up to them many times.
As soon as they sat down, Selina reached out for Bruce's hand, gripping it like she needed support. He turned to her concerned, and asked quietly what was the problem. She had to cover her mouth and gulp to hold back the urge to throw up; she physically felt like she'd been punched in the guts.
Bruce patted her back anxiously, at a loss of what was going on. His questions were then immediately answered when they started going over the names and announced who was representing the defendant.
Eiko was Harley's lawyer.
Bruce stared appalled at the woman as she walked slowly and confidently to approach the judge. As soon as words started coming out of her mouth, Selina had to swallow again to the sound.
"Do you wanna leave?", he whispered under his breath to her.
Selina took off her sunglasses and took a deep breath, still covering her mouth. She closed her eyes for a second and gulped again, and when she opened them she looked like she'd regained most of her composure.
"No, I'm fine," she mumbled in a strangled voice, then tried to speak steadier, "I'm staying."
The trial began and for the next four hours, they were obligated to sit through excruciatingly explicit displays of how Harley managed to swoop and snatch the Joker out of prison; then it was about how she helped him conduct the many assaults around the city for the following weeks, including Lucius Fox's death, and then culminating on the terrorist attack in Paris.
The prosecutors were sparing no opportunity to flash pictures and videos and police reports on the countless bodies the twisted couple had left behind. Harley was quiet for all of it, keeping her head down and not once looking up, seeming barely responsive. Once in a while, someone in the auditorium would get up on a whim and ask to be excused, rushing out the room weeping.
Selina held her fort for most of it, because it wasn't exactly the accusations that were leaving her physically nauseous or borderline distraught. It was the times Eiko would stand up and start proclaiming, giving speeches about how Harley was not to be held accountable for the Joker's crimes, as she herself was many times victim of his cruel actions. She would go on to make a strong case about how Harley was deeply manipulated and psychologically abused, and should be declared mentally incapable of answering to her crimes, as she'd been tricked and coerced into practicing them.
Halfway through it, as Eiko argued showing "evidences" that Harley was predominantly a spectator during the Paris events, she claimed that the "defendant would even feed and care for the hostages behind the Joker's back."
Selina instantly froze as she felt and then quickly located a pair of empty apathetic eyes turning to her, looking at her like she knew she'd been there the whole time. Her look seemed to carry no hidden message and it only lasted a second, but it was enough to leave the whole public uneasy with her sudden reaction.
Bruce stroked Selina's leg comfortingly, but hadn't the judge called for recess to deliberate shortly after, she would've had to leave or at least get out to get some air. People started standing up but she was the first out the door, with Bruce following her closely by.
They walked towards a less crowded corridor and further away from prying eyes, and Selina was pacing the floor like a caged animal. Something was rotten in the state of Denmark.
"I don't know what's going here but I don't like it," she said nervously.
"I know," Bruce said as she continued treading agitatedly.
"How the hell is Eiko involved with this?!"
"I'll call Alfred immediately. He'll run a check on her and see if he finds anything."
As soon as Bruce started dialing on his phone, someone called him from behind.
"Mr. Wayne?", Jim Gordon approached.
"Commissioner Gordon," he put his phone down surprised and shook his hand, "nice to see you again. Thank you for the favor, we really appreciate it."
"Of course," he said, "we all owe you."
The atmosphere was a bit heavy with all the unsaid words and meaningful looks. It was the first time they'd seen each other since Gordon found out Bruce was Batman and since he'd discovered he wasn't dead.
"Miss Kyle," he greeted her and she simply nodded her head, standing further back, too absorbed and focused on avoiding a meltdown.
Coming to know all that had gone down with Selina regarding the Joker and Harley Quinn, he could understand why she wouldn't mind much for social formalities at the moment, and why she was acting so flustered. But then again, she also wasn't one to exchange much pleasantries with men of the law, though she knew she did have a lot to thank him. As her, he'd only now come to realize he'd probably been the one to lead her to Bruce.
"Mr. Wayne, I was glad to find that you were alive."
"So was I," he chuckled softly.
"May I ask," he began guardedly, "is it only you… Bruce, who is coming back?"
"Yes, it is."
"But then who…?", he started saying, then looked around realizing that wasn't the most private place to have that conversation.
"Someone else. Someone you can trust, too. Trust me," he said reassuringly and simpered.
Gordon didn't seem all too convinced, but seemed to drop that matter for the time being. He glanced over to Selina, who was leaned against the wall deep in thought and appearing oblivious to their talk.
"I'm sorry to hear about what happened," he said to Bruce, and he quickly understood what it meant, "you two deserve better after... well, you know."
"Thank you, Commissioner…", Bruce said and then promptly had a thought, "Actually, would you mind if I asked you for one more favor? Miss Quinn's lawyer. Could you have a recent background check done on her? Miss Hasigawa was Selina's… someone from her past, and we're just a little wary of how she came to be the attorney on this case."
Gordon frowned suspicious, "Alright, I will. There's something else too… I've only recently became aware of the specifics of what happened in Paris…", he said and this time he turned to Selina, "and I realized there's another related trial being held here today."
Selina got up from the wall, now looking cautious, but also suddenly interested. Gordon stepped to the side so they could see behind him as he motioned to a few people gathered outside another auditorium door. Surrounded by them, stood a tall man with dark skin wearing an orange jumpsuit with his hands cuffed on his front. As if he'd telepathically heard them talk about him, he met Selina's eyes as soon as she met his.
"Hey! You remember me, right? Come here!", he shouted and grinned from across the room.
They were all startled by his abrupt and unexpected approach. However, not wanting to draw unnecessary and unwanted attention to them, Selina crossed her arms and started walking calmly towards him, ignoring Bruce's objections and getting him to follow behind her, then.
Deadshot seemed thrilled about it.
"Hey, still recognize me when I'm not tied to your bedpost? Last time I saw you you had your tongue down my throat," he reminded her amused and smirked biting his tongue, glancing at Bruce provocatively and attracting a few curious eyes beside them.
Selina didn't waver. And Bruce had already heard that story long before, since his curiosity wore her down enough to tell him how she'd managed to capture Deadshot himself.
She continued looking at him unfazed, "The way I remember it, the last time I saw you, you were wailing like a manchild because I'd just hand-delivered you to the cops like a common criminal."
His teasing expression quickly disappeared, and he whispered under his breath, "Look, I'm just trying to warn you. Something's up. This isn't over yet, not anymore."
"Why should I believe you?", she eyed him annoyed skeptically.
"You shouldn't. But I don't like being used, I don't like being played. The Joker played me. I'm just trying to pay back in spades."
"He's dead. What else do you want?"
"It doesn't count, I didn't get to do it."
"I know. I did it," she stated unmoved. She could practically hear Bruce reprimanding her flouncing in his thoughts.
"What?", he laughed quietly in disbelief. "No shit. You killed the Joker?", he mouthed soundlessly. "Man, she a badass," he pointed at her now speaking to Bruce, who just gritted his teeth irritated. "Look, I know it's not your thing, you know, the hero thing, but I know you know who to talk to. Tell him she's up to something.
"Who is?"
"Who do you think? She would never go down all gracious and free and easy like that."
Someone started announcing on the speaker that the sessions were about to begin again and some guards came to take Floyd away.
"I have no reason to lie to you at this point. Don't say I didn't warn you," he said as he distanced himself.
The rest of the trial ended up being over really quick. Harley was sentenced to three life sentences to be served at Arkham Asylum without parole. No one seemed surprised. Selina had imagined hearing those words would bring her some sort of closure, or at least the sensation of breathing relieved, but she felt neither. Instead, she was only more nervous. She rushed and pulled Bruce out of the room as soon as they were cleared to leave, afraid she might accidentally lock eyes with Eiko.
Outside they ran into Gordon again. Before Selina could fly out the door, Bruce grabbed her hand and stopped to ask to speak to him privately. They gathered in a corner and told him what Deadshot had shared with them, but the commissioner didn't seem so worried.
"She'll be in jail by the end of the night. What could she pull off from there?"
"It's like you don't remember the last thing she pulled off there. You're all underestimating her," Selina chuckled disbelieved, directing at him for the first time that day, "she was dangerous then, and she's possibly even more dangerous now, when he's gone. You just can't see past the doll face and the puppy voice."
"I can get you a few minutes with her if you think that would help. If you think you can get something out of her."
"I most certainly can't. She's too smart for that... But I guess I need to see and at least try."
Bruce gripped her hand tighter, "You don't have to do this. We can figure it out another way."
"It's alright. I want to do this."
"I'll go talk to the officers in charge of her then," Gordon said and left.
"What are you planning to say?", Bruce asked skeptical.
"I don't know. Maybe I'll play the sympathy card. But you can't go inside with me. She won't let her guard down with you in there."
"And what makes you think she might with you?"
"The fact that she's already done it before."
Bruce didn't seem too convinced, but he couldn't find an argument good enough to try to talk her out of it.
By the time Gordon had set their encounter, they'd put Harley in a small room usually assigned for lawyers to talk with their clients. Selina first peeked at her through the little glass window on the door before coming in, giving Bruce one last reassuring smile. Harley was on her wheelchair and had her back to the entrance. She was cuffed to the table, looking almost inanimate.
"You have five minutes," a guard whispered before he shut the door.
Selina stepped in closer calmly, reaching for the chair right across from her. She'd expected seeing and being in a room with her in such a direct way would've left her triggered somehow, or at least a discomposed. But she felt tranquil in the clutch.
"I was right," Harley murmured torpidly without looking up. Selina decided to keep quiet, and after a while she continued, "you'd want to come back here for this."
Selina just stared at her, mostly just analyzing and studying her better from up close. She had dark circles under her eyes, and her appearance and posture looked apathetic overall. Her voice wasn't as high-pitched and annoying as usual, and she spoke almost like she wasn't trying to be a cartoon character. But her eyes still seemed a bit reactive, though not in a good, sane way.
"I'm a psychiatrist, I can read people well. Now that I'm "harlequin" as well it's even easier, cause they tend to dismiss or underestimate me. They look at me and they just see crazy, which is just a step away from stupid," she mumbled vacantly.
"I don't think you're stupid," Selina replied unmoved.
Was the "Joker effect" wearing off? Selina looked at her, and despite the obvious signs of anguish and despair, she almost looked… normal. Even the way she talked, her choice of words, her no longer flamboyant reactions and expressions…
"What are you up to, Harley?"
The corner of her lips upturned almost imperceptibly, "What do you mean?"
"Why did you want me here for this?"
"Did I say I wanted you here? I said I knew you'd show," Harley waited for Selina to question her, but when she didn't she clarified anyway, "you're a person who seeks closure. Even if you have to come up with one yourself. Isn't that why you went after your family, the Falcones, years ago?"
"No. I wanted revenge, not closure," Selina replied firmly and unfazed.
"Sometimes they are the same thing," Harley smiled, staring at the table.
"So that's what you want?," Selina asked sarcastically, then changed to a more serious tone, "You already have your closure, Harley. Take it. Don't let him drown you along with him."
"Is that what you would do? If I or he had killed your Bat?"
Selina tried not to flinch at her words and fall into her trap, but she still felt the need to gulp, "That's not the same and you know it."
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Harley sighed and sat up straighter. It looked like she had to make a huge effort to do so, and not physically speaking. "It's actually disappointing that you would think that just cause he died it's all over and "closed". As a woman I thought you'd be a little more progressive than that… Many of his plans were actually mine. Of course, living in the world we live in, he'd be the front cover for all of them anyway. I was just the crazy girlfriend sidekick. But I didn't care. Though, for example, he thought I was stupid and wasting time researching and concentrating on you. I was the one who made him see you were the key to hitting Batman where it hurt."
"On the contrary. I've always known you were more clever than him. In a way most people wouldn't understand. Which is why you should know better than to be dragged down too. You're the shrink here, so I'm sure you know there was no other way out for him, but there is for you. You're not as bad as he was, as much as you tried to convince him that you were, and that's a good thing. But you're also more dangerous than him for that, cause it's like you're trying to prove a point. He's not here to see it. Let it go."
Selina could swear she'd just seen Harley fight off a tear, but out of respect she looked away. Why was she even inclined to such considerate gestures? Was it just cause the girl happened to secretly toss her a sandwich once or twice so she wouldn't starve? Or cause she'd look the other way too when Selina felt like crying? Well… both, maybe. But it was mostly because Selina could almost relate to the pain in her eyes.
"You're not a lost cause yet. In fact, if I'd met you a couple years ago, we probably would've been friends. I know that under all that glitter and paint and insanity, you're not a sweet little girl. You're all crook too, we'd get along. But in a normal way… you don't have to be good, Harley. Just be less him, and more yourself."
"Look who's talking," Harley puffed humorously, "the fact is we're both stupid, Selina. We've both changed for love and love doesn't last."
Selina skipped the philosophical discussion, "I like who I've become either way."
"For now. I thought I liked myself too. But then I realized I only liked me because that was how Puddin' accepted me. Then he died and I don't know who I am anymore," Harley said frustrated. "You're right. In other circumstances; there's an alternative universe where you and I could've been friends. It's not this one, though, we've driven in different directions. And you've killed my reason to live, and now you and I both know I'd very much enjoy killing yours… and if he dies, or leaves you, then what? What are you left with?", she asked provokingly, "I guess now you get my answer."
Selina barely felt a shiver rushing down her spine when the guard opened the door demandingly, announcing her time was up. She didn't respond to anything, simply standing up and leaving without another word. Bruce expected her on the other side looking nervous.
"Is it weird that I feel a little bad for her?", Selina asked on the way home.
Bruce looked at her like there was a second head growing where hers stood.
"I can't imagine losing you," she explained.
His face slowly became more understanding and he softened his voice to speak, "Yes, it's weird. But also, it's not. That's empathy. Proof of much you've changed."
"Yeah, so I've heard," Selina mumbled to herself, then continued talking so he wouldn't ask her about it, "but even seeing her like that; it didn't make me regret one bit of what I've done."
She looked at him. His fingers around the steering wheel tensed up a little bit, turning his knuckles slightly paled. She knew he didn't care for her stone cold tone when the subject of Joker's death would arise, which was why she never brought it up.
"Either way, I'm glad you stopped me from killing her. Her, I would've probably regretted. He was bad to the bone, but she's not. She's just crazier and more impulsive," Selina muttered pensively, "I'm fair certain I would've died if it wasn't for her."
Bruce sat on it for a while and the car became silent as they drove through the heavy Monday traffic.
"So, what's the verdict?", he asked after some time.
"She's not done. She's planning something, I can feel it." She wanted Selina to feel the pain she felt, and Selina picked up on that. Which was why she felt completely justified saying, "I think we should just bolt. I know it's a little too anti-heroic for your taste, but she can't hurt us if we're not here."
Bruce reached for her hand on her lap, "I'll do whatever it is you need me to do, Selina. Wherever you wanna go I'll take you. But you should know that it doesn't matter where we are, if it's here or in China, I'll never let anyone hurt you again."
She gripped his hand back tighter. He'd gotten it all wrong, that wasn't what she was afraid of. He'd thought she was scared for herself when her own safety was the last thing in her mind - Harley was right; love had changed her. Harley's last questions to her echoed in her mind - what would she even look like without it?
She shivered, scaring that thought away.
"Okay. So am I ever going to find out what that key on my nightstand is for?", he changed the subject, smiling and interrupting her mental wanderings. She simpered.
"I told you. We have to be disguised. And it has to be late at night," she said, but then remembered what they had just discussed and sighed, "I guess we can do it tonight, then, since we'll be leaving soon. I'll coordinate with Blake."
Selina would've brought her Glock with her hadn't she seen Bruce's face when she picked it up. But she decided to compromise and limited herself to just rolling her eyes and putting it away, not wanting a fight. However she did not restrain herself when it came to the white weapons, grabbing two different knives to take with her.
Since her afternoon talk she'd been more cautious and worried, always feeling like there might be someone else watching or stalking them. But she knew it was her paranoia talking .
They had to run there. Bruce didn't have many of his Batman equipment with him. They sprang from roof to roof, running from building to building, occasionally using Batman's grappling hook gun and making their way south.
The streets were clear and empty in most parts of town. It was late already and their suits in the dark made them look just like shadows or figures moving through the night.
Selina stopped abruptly on the edge of a building and looked back and around curiously. Bruce followed her eyes confused.
"Do you remember this roof?", she asked kind of funny.
It took him a second to realize what she was talking about, but he did, "The first time we fought together… Bane's mercenaries were chasing after you."
"Also the first time I saw Batman," she smiled, then jumped off to a lower roof above her, "we're almost there," she called out to him.
They wandered for a few more minutes until Bruce realized they were closer to the margins of the Gotham river. He could see the docks closed at that hour from afar, and was concentrated on making sense of all that when Selina hugged his waist out of nowhere and got him even more confused.
"Get us down from here, Bat," she demanded and smirked.
Bruce smiled and shot the hook over to an electrical post across the street. He gripped her back tight as she tangled her legs in his and they jumped off the building.
She led him to a place by the river surrounded by a tall metal grid wall, which she promptly began to climb. It was a self-storage unit site. When she looked down, she realized he was still standing there on the ground looking hesitant.
"Don't tell me you're going to lecture me on trespassing."
"No…", he said unconvincingly.
She rolled her eyes, "I'm an owner, so technically I'm in the right to be here. Besides, the entrance is all the way over there and we might not want to wake up the night security guard dressed like this."
He puffed, deciding to just go with it and climbed behind her.
They walked all over to a storage unit numbered 65 right in front of the river, and Selina squatted down graciously to reach the lock. The roller gate started slowly going up. Bruce looked at her curiously, but she just ignored him.
Selina stepped in first, bending down to pass through. Once it was completely opened, Bruce was astonished and nonplussed at the sight of her leaned over his old motorcycle, smirking at him boastfully. Well, not much a motorcycle as it was a two-wheeled war tank. His Batpod stood there unbelievably undamaged and seeming in perfect condition, aside from the dust from lack of use.
"So, what'd you think?", she asked.
"I thought this was gone. That they had apprehended it or something," he said baffled.
"Like I'd let this baby sit seized in a depressing auto pound. Or worse, be violated by cops . Ugh."
"I can't believe you did this," he rushed to her excitedly and smacked a quick kiss to her lips, then going straight to sit on it.
He turned the engine on and pressed the throttle without releasing the brake. The machine roared loudly even with the softest touch and he grinned. Even with his cowl on she could see how thrilled he was and it made her laugh too.
"Now you see why we needed to come disguised and at this time? Or did you think I was leading you into a trap again?", she teased him.
"It might've crossed my mind," he joked and she slapped his arm playfully, "so… wanna go for a ride?"
"Absolutely," she smiled, lifting her leg up like a goddamn freaking gymnast and mounting behind Bruce.
She'd forgotten how inclined the seat was - she was practically lay down on his back as she wrapped her arms around his waist. He didn't seem to mind one bit. He let go of the brake and in a second they were almost immediately at maximum speed.
They passed the entrance gates and hit the streets. The cold air hit their faces almost physically bashing them, but the sensation was exhilarating. The speed, the force, the freedom, the way their bodies were inseparably pressed together.
They drove along the dark empty roads going nowhere specific, simply enjoying the ride. Batman's cape was being partially restrained by Selina's body, which produced even more wind on her sides, and she adored it. She closed her eyes and rested her head down on his back, breathing in the cool air and urging to live in that moment indefinitely.
It didn't last long, though, because all of a sudden they were surprised by the sound of sirens approaching. Selina's old instinct initially kicked in and made her tense up. Was it for them? Then she remembered that it didn't matter, and that they'd never catch up to them anyway.
"That's one sound I don't miss coming at me," she yelled against the wind.
"I don't think it's for us," he shouted back.
She thought for a second, then replied a little hesitantly, "Wanna go check it out then? One last time for old time's sake?"
Bruce didn't answer at first, but then shortly after he hit the brakes and turned the handle bar around, performing a brutal and abrupt bootleg turn. The wheels rolled over adjusting and they were quickly back on track, only in the opposite direction.
"Are you sure you want Batman to be seen with me?", she yelled, "Wouldn't wanna ruin his reputation at this point."
"We've been spotted together before. Besides, I don't care. Like you, I have two lives. I want you to be part of both of them," he replied and Selina blinked and started questioning if his head was right.
"That's not your life anymore, Bruce," she remarked charily.
When he was about to respond, the scene suddenly entered their visual field.
An old bistro on the corner was on fire, being swallowed into enormous waves of flames. People were running out the door covering their mouths and coughing loudly, running into cops' open arms. Bruce furiously pushed the throttle further to its end.
The police officers looked at sixes and sevens since the firefighters hadn't arrived yet - they stared at the scene unable to react without having much to do, only helping the victims that made it out; and they became even more perplexed as Bruce and Selina pulled up promptly and unexpectedly next to their cars, treading rapidly and confidently through and past them, going straight into the fire ignoring their objections.
In situations like that, they barely had to communicate to be on the same page. It was as if their minds immediately went into sync, and they just knew what to do. Bruce ripped two shreds of fabric from his cape and handed it over to Selina. They both tied it around their mouths and nose and dove into the chaotic heat.
There was shouting and screaming and structures crumbling and crashing. Bruce saw Selina suddenly begin running towards immense swallowing flames who threatened two cornered women. It went against his every instinct to watch her doing that and not try to stop it, but his mind needed to be sharp and clear from any and all of his unnecessary and unwelcome patronizing feelings.
He grabbed as many as three kids or two persons at a time until the firefighters showed up and started extinguishing the fire. They yelled that the structure wasn't going to hold up much longer and Selina ran up the stairs against their directives for a quick last sweep to check if there was anyone else. Bruce watched as a stone pillar cracked in half next to one of the fighters and he sprang forward pushing him back violently, making them hit the floor hardly as the ceiling started slowly collapsing over their heads. He screamed at them to get out and promptly stood on his feet ready to sprint upstairs to find Selina.
He had to bend down to avoid getting hit in the head by the wreckage and rubble falling off, and he desperately started calling for her as the grounds began caving in at a faster pace. It was becoming impossible to breathe and see, and his eyes wandered rapidly around searching for her, but he found nothing. He was about to freak out when she tapped his shoulder hastily from behind and pulled them both running to the door. She carried a bundle of sheets pressed closely to her chest as they stormed out only seconds before the whole building went down. They pulled the cloths off their faces and breathed in heavily. He only then realized it was a crying baby in her arms.
This woman came rushing towards her with opened arms to grab him, bawling her eyes out, anxiously sobbing and thanking her. The dad suddenly held her tight and she forced out a smile while trying to hold back the urge to push him and cough her lungs out. Bruce pinched her arm softly and whispered for them to go, and she quickly understood when she saw the numerous police vehicles and ambulances pulling over and crowding the street.
This time she mounted the Batpod first and he smiled, sitting behind her and gently gripping her waist as she sped it up towards the dark night. She'd forgotten how much she'd loved riding that thing, and then remembered how different were the circumstances the last time she'd done it.
She was driving back to the storage unit and only then she realized how far they'd gotten before. They were both quiet, still catching their breath and absorbing what had just happened. Bruce's right hand had reposed on her shin over her boots and he was caressing it idly; and while his thoughts were all over and nowhere in particular, she was having to focus to not let it distract her and get them accidentally killed by being thrown up in the air or smashed by a thousand pounds worth of metal.
Bruce broke the silence explaining he'd overheard it was a gas explosion that was caused by another explosion in an old metro line that stood just under the restaurant. Selina just nodded along and did her best at pretending she could concentrate in whatever was coming from his mouth when all she could do was pay attention to all other body parts of his that were pressed hermetically tight against her.
By the time they arrived back at her deposit, she was all worked up, and so she quickly got off the Batpod even before he did. He looked confused, but she just marched over to the corner and squatted down going over a box of things.
"So, that was hot," he muttered and crossed his arms, leaning idly over the tire.
"Yeah, I know right?", she mumbled distractedly, "My lungs are still stinging."
"No, I meant you."
She stared at him over her shoulder, looking stunned and slightly amused.
"I mean it," he simpered convinced, "running off to buildings, saving babies from burning alive. That's hot... And it suits you too."
Selina stood up carrying a cardboard box and rolled her eyes, but he could see she was affected. She walked slowly and stopped in front of him, with only the box separating them.
"Well, you know what they say, birds of a feather flock together," she murmured, then brought one hand to his chest, "You weren't so hard on the eyes either. Maybe one day we can put this old suit to good use for… other things," she purred, softly tracing his mouth with her thumb.
He smiled a bit tense and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"What's that?", he managed to say, but his voice was throaty and he hadn't been able to take his eyes off of her.
"Nothing important right now," she whispered staring at his lips, then put the box away on the large tire so she could get closer.
His arms automatically wrapped around her waist and hers around his neck, and she dove in hurriedly urging to feel his mouth on hers. He pulled her in tighter and kissed her passionately, realizing he missed her more than he'd let himself acknowledge. He opened his legs to accommodate her body closer and let out an involuntary moan as, naturally, he felt her stomach press against his bulge with the proximity.
Her breathing faltered too when she felt his hardness become evident clamped between them. Her heart rate was so accelerated she could swear she was able to hear it.
Their tongues danced together in their mouths impatiently. It was apparent that only that contact wasn't enough and it wasn't doing it for them anymore. Selina embraced Bruce as hard as she could to try and relieve a bit of the aching need she had to feel him entirely, and he did the same, holding her as if he wanted them to merge and become one.
But she wanted more. The pressing desire between her legs was becoming harder to ignore and it urged for even the slightest bit of friction - and she wasn't getting any in that position. She gripped his cape near his neck and pulled him in, turning around and showing him what she wanted as she sat down on the seat and spread her legs.
He gladly abided and clutched her hips tightly against him; they both moaned in satisfaction as they felt each other's heat pressing close together. Her reaction only got him hornier, and they both noticed it instantly as the strain in his suit became more prominent and throbbing. Her sounds were the only thing he'd ever heard capable of setting off such desperate and urgent reactions on him.
Her hands went down to his ass as her hip impulsively started thrusting and rolling against him as if it had a life of its own. She couldn't hold back any longer, her pulsing desire for him had already taken over her completely. He groaned inside her mouth and pulled her hair back softly in need to release a bit of the tension he felt. She separated them for a second to catch her breath and stared deep into his eyes, panting. Even though he had his cowl on, he couldn't hide the fire in his eyes. And under her mask, hers were a mirror of his, showing the deepest lust and thirst for him.
"Selina…," he puffed, "are you sure…?"
"Shut up," she moaned, bringing his lips to hers again, "I can't believe our suits are a one-piece," she groaned frustrated in between kisses.
He ignored it and turned her body to the side to lie her down completely on the seat. He mounted it and lay on top of her. She opened her legs and tangled them around his body, careful as to not accidentally stab him with her bladed heels. His lips traveled south to her neck and she exhaled profoundly, her mouth dropping into a silent O.
Unable to hold himself back, he rubbed and thrusted against her urging for some kind of pressure. A primal grunt came of his mouth, and Selina could hear a bit of his Bat voice pouring out into his tone, sending her arousal through the roofs. He clenched her waist hardly and they began moving against each other, dry-humping as if they were two desperate teenagers.
It wasn't exactly the same, not being able to touch each other's skin or feel their warmth and sweat as they joined together. But it was doing it for now. They couldn't bear the thought of separating their bodies even for a split second to take their clothes off. And Selina was scared she might have second thoughts if she did, which he probably subconsciously knew and figured that this might be a good start for her.
However, with his pulsating dick stroking so firmly against her fully covered wetness, that was all she could think about - how she wanted him deep inside her, stretching her out like only he could and having her scream every curse word known to men. Just the thought of it made her thrust back up against him.
Their mouths devoured each other's hungrily and Bruce brought his hands up in between them to stroke her boobs over her suit. She moaned surprised and bit her lower lip to keep herself from doing it louder.
"Are we seeing this through?", she asked out of breath.
"I don't know," he muttered short-winded, "what do you think?"
"I think both our suits are impermeable and stain-proof."
Without another word, she grabbed his head and kissed him harder, but their breathlessness was getting out of hand. They simply rested their foreheads against each other and continued jolting together, pursuing their much needed climax.
Selina thought how lucky they were that the Batpod was so heavy and steady, or else they might have fallen straight down to the floor long ago with the intensity that they were moving. Bruce gripped her hair from behind and bent her head to the side so he could suck on her neck and rest there.
"Bruce," she cried out, feeling her high beginning to rise.
"God, I want you," he moaned.
They continued thrusting against each other not giving a care in the world. They were all there was. Her legs started shaking with the amount of pleasure she was feeling and he gripped her thigh strongly to help her steady as she rode it out. But he was starting to feel it too, his dick was getting harder by the second and there was no way it'd last too long.
Selina held his head over his cowl looking for his hair to pull, but there was nothing for her to sink her nails into. The frustration of it all only sent her even higher up, and all her muscles started trembling as her insides tensed up in the most delightful torture. She gripped the bat ears attached to his cowl, and let the waves wash over her.
"Oh, god," she cried, puffing and panting.
"Fuck," he mumbled, the sight and sound of her cumming being too much for him to handle.
She continued rolling her hips against him in a desperate attempt to ride down that inexplicably strong orgasm and it sent him over the edge too, grunting against her neck and grasping her waist hardly for support.
They lay there quietly for some time, trying to catch their breath and wiping out the sweat from their faces. None of them said anything, but after a while Selina couldn't hold it back any longer.
Her laugh started muffled, but then took over the whole room, and Bruce's followed close behind. He lifted his head to look down at her and their laughing became even more uncontrollable.
"Oh my god," she giggled, "did we just…?"
"I honestly can't believe we did this," he chuckled getting off of her and sitting up, "and the gate is opened! Can you imagine if a boat passed and saw this?"
"They'd probably just think it was some weird role playing thing," she smirked, asking for his hand to sit up too.
Every time they'd sigh and think they were done, one of them started laughing again.
"We should go home. You know, take a shower," Selina said after a while.
"Yeah, definitely."
"I left a change of clothes for us in an alley near your place."
"You never told me what's in this box," Bruce said picking it up.
"It's no big deal. I can show you when we get home."
Almost an hour later, they were walking quietly through the Wayne penthouse front door with the box and two huge bags containing their messily folded and suits shoved in. It was past 3am and they didn't want to wake up Alfred.
When they got to their suite they went straight to the bathroom and took a quick shower together. They were still shocked and disbelieved at their little episode and how desperate they were, and they'd laugh every time they remembered it. But Bruce was also tremendously happy and relieved things were finally going back to normal and Selina seemed to be more at ease.
He'd also been impressed with how well she'd dealt with the trial - which he'd initially presumed would've set her back a bit by making her relive everything; as well as the conversation with Harley - which he hadn't heard, but she'd seemed relatively well after; and most of all, the shock of her "encounter" with Eiko, specially in those circumstances. Even with her initial reaction, she handled it better than he would've thought she would. At that point, he'd thought they might have had to leave, but she stood her ground firmly and pushed through it.
"I'm exhausted," she groaned jumping into bed.
"Well, it was a long day," Bruce said as he picked the cardboard box from the floor and put it on the bed, "do you mind? I'm actually really curious."
Selina sat up and shook her head, "Go for it. But I told you, there's nothing there. Just some of my old stuff."
"Exactly. I wanna know what my girlfriend chose to save before fleeing town," he smiled teasingly.
She chuckled, "Alright, then. But it doesn't matter anyway. When I opened it today I realized I didn't care for most of these things anymore."
"Really?", he asked ironically, picking up one of the items inside it, "Not even this… I wanna say glass bowl?"
She quickly swiped it from his hands, "No. And it's a crystal ashtray, jackass. It's Tiffany's."
"Do you even smoke?", he asked, already going through something else.
"Well… no. On occasion. Anyway, that's not the point."
"Okay, so the stolen jewels I was kind of expecting. The shoes are… I don't know, I wanna say impractical? But I think a better word would be useless. But this… This I did not see coming," he said, flaunting a first edition of "Where The Wild Things Are".
"First of all, the jewels aren't stolen. Well, they were stolen, but not by me. My mother stole them from her mother, so it's technically my mother's," she clarified, "and the shoes are not impractical, they're collectibles, which means expensive. Which means pawning money at any time."
She picked up the book from Bruce and flipped through the pages, "And this was my favorite childhood book. It's a first edition," she mumbled brushing her fingers on the images, then continued unsure and quieter, "Eiko gave it to me."
Bruce looked at her and sat down on his side of the bed. Studying her expression, he knew she wouldn't want to get into it at the moment. So he did exactly what she would've wanted to do. He deflected.
"Where The Wild Things Are?", he asked skeptically and amused.
She chuckled, "Yeah, I was a very angry kid."
"Yeah, I can imagine that. But I can see it, though. A little boy with an absent mom creates a world of his own where he's ruler of all monsters and wild things? Kinda suits you."
Her eyes slightly widened in surprise, "You've read this?", she asked amused.
"Of course. It was one of my favorites too. Although, I preferred King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table."
She rolled her eyes and laughed softly, "Of course you did."
He raised his eyebrows inquisitively.
"A little boy sworn to save his country from all the troubles that plagued it? No superpowers, just the right equipment?", she smiled, "Come on."
"I never saw it this way," he chuckled, "it's weird that you know so much about these things. But also kind of amazing," he said as he took off the rest of the items.
"It's a nice escape. Also nice to see how other people are surviving life," she mumbled distracted looking at some papers. He smiled at her.
"What are these?"
"Birth certificates, death certificates, obituaries, documents in general. They handed most of them to the adoption agencies but I got to keep some of the originals. Though my siblings' are only copies."
"Are these them?", Bruce muttered, focused on the picture he'd just stumbled upon.
A little girl sat on a couch holding a newborn in her arms next to a bigger baby. She smiled tightly and the little boy looked at her. He'd recognize those big almond eyes anywhere.
"Yes," she replied a bit appalled when she saw the image in his hands.
"There's more here," he mumbled, but then he noticed her hesitant expression, "or I can put them back and it's done."
"No, it's alright. You can look. I just forgot these existed, I haven't opened it in years."
Bruce flipped through the photographs with such curiosity and interest she decided to occupy herself with something else to not let it affect her; so she started idly re-reading the children's book in her hand.
The second picture in the stack was of Maria Kyle and her baby girl. She was beautiful and had the kindest smile, but aside from her eyes she didn't look much like Selina. She held her daughter closely and there was a hand on her shoulder, but the corner of the photo had been cut off, leaving someone out.
The next one was of the whole family. They were all leaned over an opened car trunk, seemingly in a roadtrip, but there were no smiles. Selina and Aiden stood on the corner looking tense and uncomfortable next to Maria, who carried a young Maggie. The father sat on the trunk in the middle of the picture holding a jack. He was the spit image of Selina, though way less pretty.
It was one of the only pictures his face hadn't been cut off. The only other was one of only him and Maria in their teen years. He held her from behind and they laughed, looking very comfortable around each other. The rest were mostly of Maria alone or with the kids.
The last one, though, caught Bruce's attention. There was an unforeseen couple in the snow, beaming widely while holding Aiden and Maggie, now older. On the back, there was an almost faded inscription that read "Nielsen Family Christmas".
Bruce didn't know how to explain or put it into words, but in that moment his heart ached for Selina. She could've had that life. A simple, white-picket-fence, cheesy-Christmas-sweater, safely boring suburban life; instead, she spent her childhood switching between living in prison and the streets, being anything but a kid, while the siblings she'd protected her whole life got to live sheltered and cared for in a loving home.
He put the photos away and looked at her; she read her book and touched the images, seeming distant and distrait. When she lifted her eyes back to him, she smiled faintly, and the pain in his chest hit even harder. He put the book back in the box, along with everything else, and lay down next to her, hugging her from behind and pulling her into his chest, resting his chin on her shoulder. She tangled her fingers in his and kissed his hand.
In that moment, he swore to himself he'd always, above all, take care of her, no matter what. He'd give her the life she had always deserved. Even if they had to flee the country, leaving it to deal with its problems on its own. She was his only problem from now on. The only step left to take was to make it permanent and official.