Selina doesn't follow Bruce to the Cave, but it's a close thing. She gave them space knowing Dick's bedside would be full when his siblings get word of what happened. For all their posturing, they were a bunch of softies. It would only get worse once word spread to the rest of the hero community.
Instead, Selina went home. She unlocked her window with a flick of the security latch and swung in with an ever elegant and practiced ease. Her cats came running, and she opened her mouth to greet them when it hit her.
Suddenly, her uniform, which is usually comfortable like a second skin, was too tight and she couldn't breathe. She striped off a glove while clawing at her neck. She pressed down on already sore bruises, and scratched at her skin with her sharp blade like claws. She gets the top half of the uniform around her waist, gloves tossed to the side, and a single boot off. Her cats are circling and meowing at her but she can't hear them over the looping heart monitor "beep beep beep bbeeeeeeeeeeee-" going through her head.
She stumbled to the bathroom. Lopsided steps between one heeled boot and a bare foot. She turned at the last second from the path to the bath and threw up in the toilet.
Her own scream echoed through her mind. Bruce was promising death and Luthor was talking about the greater good.
Then Dick was murdered right in front of her.
Selina continued to dry heave, struggling to catch her breath.
All she could hear was that goddamned flat line. She knows Bruce and Lex are talking, but she doesn't care. Her kitten was dead.
Luthor cut through her line of sight, then the monitor stopped. There's a gasp. Not hers, she realized. Dick, with a thick needle still in his chest, was alive again.
Shaking, she pushed away from the toilet bowl. She cleaned her face with some toilet paper, flushing it away. She dragged herself to the tub, pulling a towel around her shoulders like a shall and collapsed.
Selina woke to a beeping in her ear. This one was high pitched, almost kin to a chirp. She put a hand to her head, pressing the com unit still tucked in her ear. She doesn't say anything, as the line connects.
"Ms, Kyle?" Alfred's voice drifted through the line; he sounded tired with something else underneath she couldn't identify.
"Alfred?" She asked, her own voice rough and raw. She rubbed a hand across her face, then along the back of the cat curled up on her chest.
"Oh Ms Kyle."
Selina lurched forward, dislodging the cats that had taken refuge around her. It was sorrow she realized, weighing him down. "Alfred what's wrong?" She was moving, pulling herself out of the tub, pausing just long enough to claw at the shoe still tied to her leg.
"Master Rich-" He cut off with a choking sound. "Dick has passed away."
She stumbled, crashing into the doorway to her bedroom. "No," She whispers, "Alfred no."
"I am so sorry to be the one to-" The man starts.
"No," She cuts him off, pushing away from the door with a renewed determination. "Dick is alive."
"Ms. Kyle, please."
She strips off the rest of her costume, pulling at a pair of jeans. "Alfred, he was aliv-"
"I know this must be difficult-"
"You don't understand-"
"Selina!" Alfred cuts through the line.
She freezes, stuned.
"Please," he whispered, like a prayer.
Silence settled between them for a long moment.
"Bruce made the announcement a few hours ago. He refuses to come from the Cave. We've-" Alfred paused to clear his throat, "that is to say, Master Timothy, Master Jason, and Myself have decided to gather some of his closest friends and family together in a few days before a service. We believe it would be Dick's preferred way to celebrate his life, compared to a typical funeral. A more public funeral will be held later for both Nightwing and Richard."
Selina nodded, knowing Alfred couldn't see her. She bit her lip, keeping herself from protesting. Dick was alive. He was alive when they left the facility. He was alive when they split up just miles from the cave.
"We would be honored for you to join us." Alfred continued.
"Of course," Selina said. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. You know that."
The line disconnected after a few more words. Selina sat there taking long controlled breaths. She stood, tossing her head gear to her bed. She picked up a perfume bottle off her makeup table. She slammed it against the ground with a satisfying crash. More followed, one after another, littering the floor with sparkling glass and mixing floral scents. Selena comes to a photo, one of the few she has in the apartment. It's of her and Bruce taken together one Christmas. It was a little blurry, Bruce had gotten Dick a camera for the holiday, and he was still learning to use it. It was one of the first pictures he had taken with it.
The wood splintered along with the glass cracking. The one right along Bruce's face was oddly poetic.
Selina admired the view, how they towered over the city. The skyline was clear and clear compared to Gotham. The occasional cloud was picturesque instead of gloomy. She turned to the liquor cart, pouring herself a few fingers of an amber liquid from a crystal decanter. She paused thoughtfully before pouring a second, smaller serving. She turned to the desk, eyes skimming over the strewn papers. Nothing of interest and not why she's here. Selina sat settling comfortably in the high back chair and waited, nursing her drink.
Lex Luther had no plans on seeing Selina Kyle aka Catwoman or anyone from that day for a very long time. He stands by his decision. He saved them all, and that included Richard, in the end. Ends justify the means in this case. He was very surprised to find her sitting at his desk not even days later drinking his five figure scotch like they had had a meeting scheduled and he was late.
He dismissed his personal assistant and security team; he ignored their concern for safety and reminders of meetings in half an hour with a wave of his hand. Lex closes the door, locking it with the security pad before turning to his unexpected guest.
Selina moved around the desk while his back was turned, taking the guest seat. One leg was tossed over the other, she swirled the glass in hand. She had already made her power move, but she didn't need to be rude.
Lex moved past without a glance, taking a seat. He ignored her, instead straightening the papers on his desk and lining his pens just right. Finally comfortable, he took the glass Selina had previously prepared for him and reclined. He studied her for a long moment. "I will admit Ms. Kyle, I was under the impression we would not be seeing one another for a very long time, if ever again."
Selina smiled. It was sharp and almost cruel, "Believe me Lex, I was thinking the same thing." The man raised an eyebrow in question, prompting her to continue. "I'll cut to the chase. I need your video of the event."
Lex's face darkened, "I don't know what you're-"
"Cut the shit" Selina snarled, slamming her glass on the desk. "We both know you have the whole mission. I need the events with Nightwing."
"Why would I give you that?" He countered, guarded but curious at the woman's insistent anger. "That footage could be twisted to incriminate me if stopped early, why would I hand that out?"
"Because I need proof Nightwing was alive when we escaped." She insisted.
Lex frowned harder, "What? Surely you can just contact Batman-"
Selina shoved away from the desk, "I need it to prove him wrong."
"Ms. Kyle, you are not making any sense," Lex growled, eyes following as she paced the room like a caged tiger.
"Batman will be announcing Nightwing's death to the public in just a few days."
The man started back shocked, letting out a small oh. His face fell thoughtfully, he turned in his chair to look out at Metropolis.
Selina took the moment to compose herself again. By the time he turned back around she was seated again.
"That is unfortunate," Lex said, steepling his fingers, his voice was all fake sympathy. "Nightwing was a critical asset to the league and community at large."
"You can't be serious?"
"Very. He will be missed by all." Lex turned to his computer with a nod. "I will have security escort you from the property. They will check you for stolen goods." He said. "I'm sure you understand, given your reputation."
Selina scoffed, causing the man to freeze. "Please Lexie," she drawled, her voice a deep purr. "Did you think I didn't come with a back up plan?" She was smiling again, the one that usually meant she walked away with millions.
"Alright Ms. Kyle, you have two minutes." He agreed, his body tense. He leaned back back in his chair again, in fake control.
"Superman."
Lex cocked an eyebrow, "What about him?"
"It's no secret which Robin Superman likes best. Hell, you said it yourself Lex, if explained right it doesn't look so good for you. Do you really want to be the guy who not only killed Batman's son but Superman's nephew?"
"Batman knows the truth." He countered, "And Superman doesn't kill."
She disregarded the Batman comment, "Maybe this will be a reason to?" She let the thought hang, picking up her forgotten drink. She stood, walking to the drink cart. "You're right, of course" she called over her shoulder. "They would be the least of your worries."
Lex watched her, jaw clenched and silent.
She poured it half full then raised it to the light. "It's everyone else you would need to be concerned about." She turned back, taking a long drink, savoring the burn. She began a slow walk to her seat. "Some heroes are a bit morally flexible. Red Hood wouldn't hesitate. Red Arrow, either of the Amazon's, Star Fire, to name a few more. And there's the rogues to consider. Ivy has always had a soft spot for him, Harley too. Joker can be a bit protective, if he finds out while in the wrong mood..." She trails off with a smirk, settling into her seat.
"Are you threatening me?"
"No," Selina smiled and leaned in close. "It's a promise."
Lex studied her, and she let him look. Eventually he nodded and turned back to his computer to start typing. She let him work without interruption. He pulled out a flash drive, plugs it in and eventually back out again.
"Here," he says eventually, holding it out. "Starts when we found him and cuts when we parted ways. It should be what you need." She reaches for it, but he keeps his grip. "I trust my part in this will be over."
"Of course," she nodded. "You've been more than generous."
Lex snorted but let the drive go. "Leave," he demanded, spinning in his chair to look out onto the city again.
Selina stood, slipping the drive into her purse with a satisfied smile. She turned, enjoying the click of her heels against the marble floors on the walk to the door.
"Oh, and Ms. Kyle?" Lex called, back still to the room.
Selina paused.
"You can leave my car keys on the table at the door."
Selina pulled a key fob from her purse, "Oops, must have picked this up by accident." Selina called.
"Goodbye, Ms. Kyle."
Selina strutted past the secretary and into the executive elevator with confidence. She rode it down to Lex Luthor's private parking garage. She scanned the selection, she pulled a device from her purse. Flipping the switch, it acted as a duplicate to the key she left upstairs.
"Leave the key," Selina mocked under her breath, sliding into the driver's seat. "Shouldn't underestimate a lady, Lex."
Selina hit the gas. She had a few questions to ask.
a/n: part two in works... to be finished and published.