Chapter 10: The Claws of the Cat
AN: We are still in the first arc! The first arc ends when I say it is and we enter into the second arc. Okay, I hope you all understand this chapter, well I happened to enjoy writing this one after how I did chapter 9 to lead to here. How you may ask? Well check it out
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Letter From A Thief - Chevelle
Iceberg Lounge - The Met Room
Down below the Iceberg Lounge, somewhere underneath the main lobby that has the main diner and tables located. We see a circle table was set up, for a secret business meeting that the Cold Empress herself - Anastasia Coldbird had called to order.
Now normally, Anastasia won't be dealing with those two unless it was for good reason and it was. It would involve new bussiness options for them and Black Mask removed from power by a new bat flying around. She also had Candy and Tracy manage the club for the rest of the day while she has her meeting down below & relax afterward.
Soon enough, the Cold Empress smelled something like surgery and spicy in the air, hitting her nose, and frowned at knowing who had come first to the met. She also heard a certain flip of a coin, ringing to her ears, and now has a good idea on came to the room first.
The said coin flipper was a young woman in her late teens with a graceful and athletic figure to her, making some want or be jealous of her. She had red hair that barely pass her chin in length and a rare form of purple color eyes. She had pale white color skin, like something of a few clown dose but this was part of a bad chemical bath in her case and makes her more uniquely beautiful. She had black lipstick on her lips.
Her attire was a purple shirt with only one button holding it together, leaving her chest and stomach area open to be shown, while also on her shirt had a green collar & also a flower on the left side, purple sleeves that reaches close to her upper arm to the shoulder, purple pants with a green outline around the waits & combined with her purple heeled boots, the right glove was black & left one was white, and finally wore a business coat that one side was dressed one while the other side was burnet.
This was Duela Dent, often known as Wild Card and head of all of Two-Face Gang/operations. Yes being Harvey Dent's daughter but took the clown persona to be different from her father and carries a very familiar two-headed side coin.
Duela flipped the coin one last time, landing on the good heads, and smiled in a kind manner, having the personality of a kind woman that tries to follow her fate in control. She has two personalities and her coin helps her on which goes while judging those before her to either fix their mistakes or face the wrath of the judge before them.
Hence why a Wild Card can be used on either side.
"You're first to come, Wild Card," Anastasia pointed out, which was rare at times but was kind of hoping that Wild Card show up last this time as it can be a headache on dealing with someone that has two personalities, sometimes.
"Why of course, empress! You called and I came," Duela happily said with a bow greeting and took her seat.
"I did as our agreement states we will have business meetings and keep a fine business line in order. Keeping our heads down is a key way to survive and avoid Black Mask from gunning after us. It's sicking sometimes to hide and get barely enough to stable our own businesses," Anastasia informed.
"True, a shame on that. My operations on the game systems and gun marketing have been on edge of late. One wrong move, old blacky would start shooting up my place. And I just had Sugar & Spice done some modeling at home," Duela said, always enjoying the two's company and their personality to mirror her own two as well. They are a great source of company for her.
"Hmm, there's that. I would explain why I call this meeting once our certain mark comes," Anastasia said, knowing this was rare that the other was late as she usually is with Wild Card, being partners and all. So it's rare to see one here and then two appearing together.
"What has two faces that can never meet eye to eye but yet are working as one? What am I?" A new female voice rang out, getting the two's attention, and soon saw the last one of the meeting walking into the meeting room.
She was a tall young woman, the same age as the clown girl, having a lighter shade of red hair almost like a mix of orange & red, and moved back. She had dull green eyes and purple lick lips on her kissable lips.
Her attire was that of a pure business suit for women but with her flare of style and desgin. She had a purple collar long-sleeved shirt while leaving some top buttons open for some of her chest areas to be free, a purple bow tie, a green vest on the top of the shirt, purple gloves, green pants, and purple heels. The last part of her attire was a special cane that had a question mark at the end of it and her hat was green with a black question mark, completing her look.
This was Henrietta, also known as Enigma, Duela's parnter and only friend.
Duela smirked and said, "A coin. You are my coin that has heads on each side. You riddle ties to the relationship that empress & I have."
"That's right. I was surprised that you wanted to have a meeting together, Anastasia...when we agree to once a month for our side meetings. Not even time for this month," Henrietta pointed out.
"I know that but something or rather someone has got my attention," Anastasia said, getting the two's attention and that was very rare.
Someone that got the Cold Empress's attention? That's a surprise.
"Who?" The pair questioned.
"Batman," Anastasia replied, very simply.
"The Batman?" Henrietta raised an eyebrow.
"I thought he was dead," Duela said, puzzled, and pulled her coin, playing with it in her fingers, as a way to calm herself down.
"A new bat actually. I saw him, myself. He stormed my club, looking for answers, and wanted information on Black Mask's operations. I point him to the duration of the safe houses, all of that intel just waiting to see the light of day. Or by the shadows of the bat," Anastasia explained, much to the pair's surprise and interest in the empress's description of this New Batman.
Duela took to put her coin in her left hand and soon flipped the said coin, causing a sound to be heard and landed in the palm of the said hand, landing on the bad head side now. Her friendly and questionable look soon became a sadistic grin with a hit of seductive in her eyes now.
"Sounds very interesting. What do you have planned for this new Batman?" Duela asked, not losing her smirk, and placed her coin away.
"Now...nothing. I still want to see how Batman does against Black Mask and his criminal empire. I want to inform you both of some new ground rules and much more struggles that would come for the three of us. However, it would be worth it in the end. Once the old blackie is done and all of his empires fall there's going to be a power struggle that Batman cause. A lot of loss but a lot of ground to gain for the three of us and new business as well," Anastasia stated, getting the two to nod their heads in agreement and would be helluva the wait if they play their cards right.
Their business would be changing very soon.
Meanwhile - South of Gotham
In the south area of Gotham, on a rooftop we see a familiar long shredded cape moving along with the wind in a smooth and calm manner for the time being. The hazel/golden eyes showed deep thought and said person thinking about what had happened a day or two ago.
Naruto and Barbara entered this now tense and awkward relationship after having sex with one another. Not to say a bad tense and not on talking terms but rather tense enough for them to not talk to one another and become very awkward between one another. Their friend and partner relationship is become very hard now, with awkwardness at its highest, and very hard to talk to one another.
Of course, Naruto had tried to talk with Barbara about and fix the stain in their relationship that could lead to but she brushes it off and quickly blamed their fling on hormones. There's that but the blonde really wants to at least talk to fix things up but hasn't been able to and the redhead mostly stays at the dorm at the university when she gets it or somewhere else. He sighed and would try again after his patrol. He decied to take on a solo patrol tonight to help clear his head but not take action against Black Mask or his operations.
Now we see Batman watching over a good part of Gotham from the building and waiting for any kind of crime to be stopped. Maybe to blow off some steam or take his anger out on, he wasn't sure, to be honest. It was a very quiet night, almost dead or quiet as a moose. The shinobi bat didn't like it, not one bit, and figured someone would do something tonight after the reports he has been getting.
Those reports; one was on some kind of metahuman with firepower burning down criminals and buildings of them. Two, a biker with a red helmet shooting or cracking skulls on Black Mask's men. Three, Black Mask rumored on taking some action against the crime families in Gotham if they don't view him as the Kingpin of Crime, the Emperor of Gotham. Talk about ego on that guy.
The Dark Knight had a feeling when he and his friend/parnter get back on their mission to take down Black Mask, the metahuman and biker would cross paths with them. It was only logical and a lot of work would come from the bat.
"(Sigh)...there's a lot of work need to be done...now it's October, huh?" Batman thought before seeing it was the first day or rather October 1st, meaning it would be nine more days to his birthday, and saw some Halloween decorations for the holiday to come.
The shinobi from another world doesn't view his birthday very highly due to the actions of his parents, godfather, and the toads to some stupid old story of some come to savor saving the world. They all favored those damn spoiled brats he would never call them siblings. He will never call them family, never again...never again be fooled again or be used by them.
The new bat clenched his hands into a fist, remembering some painful memories but took a deep breath and calm down, not allowing his anger to get the better of him. That was the past and won't live in the past, instead live for the future.
The shinobi bat then remembered one person, the one that was strongly a true mother to him, making celebrating his birthday enjoyable. Mikoto Uchiha, the one woman who he views as his mother in all but blood and remembers deeply within his memories to some painful ones as well. Satsuki Uchiha, Mikoto's daughter, was Naruto's only friend back in that world and someone he deeply care about, despite some rivalry between them which was common for their age.
Mikoto's death...play a major part in Naruto eventually leaving Konoha, Elemental Nations, and that world for this new one. And his drive as well, a drive to become strong as well. He made a promise and would live for his mother's memory.
Batman soon felt something and rubbed the back of his head, getting some memories of different things such as training, combat skills, and schooling. His Shadow Clones are done and got their memories as his own combined. A very useful way of his training. Sadly not one of them was able to find Barbara or get the chance to talk to her, yeah probably not a good idea to use Shadow Clones to talk to something that major.
Then all of a sudden, the New Dark Knight heard something and got his attention to look to the right side of the building's roof. He remembered that there was a door that leads to the rooftop and the building he was one is an apartment complex housing. He frowned and looked around if someone was up there, if so, he would leave as not many take kindly of masked people that fight crime all night.
To Batman's surprise, he saw a black cat by a jack-o-lantern and kind of wondered how a cat got up there.
"Hello there," Batman greeted, walking towards the cat in a calm manner to not scare it and started to pet it, much to the cat's surprise but they relaxed in the touch as it was getting petted.
The Bat checked and saw that the cat was indeed a girl while picking it up.
"I wonder where your owner is, little girl," Batman said while having the black cat in his arms and petting her, getting some good purs in response and enjoying the company of the grim reaper figure.
The New Dark Knight saw that this cat has a red collar with a golden bell of sorts on it and no nametag. What was strange, is that the bell had no ringer in the said of the said bell. Just for looks, it seems but still the bat wonder where the owner is. They shouldn't be far away and could be one of the renters in the apartment complex. It seems logical but the bat was going to be wrong on that and would learn soon enough.
"Oh~ what do I have here~?" A certain voice asked, being female and seductive tone, ringing to the bat and getting his attention to see who was calling him from behind.
The New Dark Knight saw a mature woman with short dark brown, almost black hair with pale skin tone and also a pair of deep green eyes, looking almost like those of a cat, as well as having a very developed figure that could turn heads in a moment, with wide hips and yet a slim waist, long smooth legs and also a pair of very large breasts.
For her attire we could see that she was wearing a very tight, black bodysuit, having high-heeled boots on her feet, her bodysuit hugging her figure perfectly, with black leather loves n her hands with claws on each one of them, claws that looked like those of a cat, with multiple zippers on her upper body, the middle one of the suit being zipped down, revealing her large bust to the world, and finally, for her head, a black leather cap, with ears similar to those of a cat along with a pair of large goggles.
This was Catwoman or underneath Selina Kyle, a cat thief that is well-known in Gotham.
"Do you mind returning my little kitten, bats?" Catwoman asked with a smirk.
"I...of course," Batman said, being the only words on his mind, and was surprised on seeing such a beauty like that.
The New Dark Knight allowed the cat to jump out of his hands and back into her owner's arms while petting her.
"Welcome back Isis, we will go home soon," Catwoman said as she petted her cat, getting some purs in response.
Batman hummed in to respond and wasn't sure what he would do in this situation.
Catwoman kept petting Isis while her eyes watched Batman before her and had to test him very him, for her own reason that would be explained very soon. Time to start the game.
Batman looked back at the cat but to his surprise only saw Isis licking her paw and Catwoman was nowhere to be seen. He blinked and wonder if this is how Barbara and others feel when he suddenly disappears during some patrols. It feels strange for that trick to happen to him now.
Then all of a sudden, the new bat felt something being pushed up against him and felt it on his back. At the corner of his eye, he saw the cat had her chest up against his back and her smirk never leaving her face. He was so shocked by this and how she managed to get that close to him without even realizing it.
"Are you able to fly better as he can wear that mask of yours?" Catwoman asked before leaning in and kissing the bat's cheek, much to his surprise as his eyes widen and blushed on that.
Catwoman giggled before taking her to leave and the test begins or in her eyes, the fun.
"Hey!" Batman called back, out of his shock and embarrassed state, starting the chase and doesn't know he was being tested by Gotham's best thieves.
Catwoman jumped onto the next rooftop, using her speed and agility to stay ahead while showing her grace through her acrobatics. She looked back for a second to be a bit surprised at how much the bat was following her and was a bit impressed but the chase wasn't over.
Batman followed after the cat, chasing after her, and used his agility along with his shinobi training to keep up with Catwoman. He can tell that this cat had training and lives up to her namesake of being an actual cat.
"Cats are quick and agile, but bats can fly better," Batman thought keeping after the cat thief.
Catwoman then stopped the run, bringing out her whip, and snapped alive. She then swung, having her whip strike at the bat close to his legs and causing him to stop to avoid getting whipped.
Batman could easily tell that this cat had more than just her agility and claws, which he was lucky he stopped on time.
Catwoman brought her whip back and around her waist not before smirking and winking at the bat before running again, resuming the chase. Batman kept following her and saw more graceful she was in her agility as she used it to escape him. She jumped on side of the building to the other, using her claws as well to help grip onto the said building, and was escaping the bat down below. Or so she thinks.
Once Catwoman got up on the rooftop and looked back to see the bat was nowhere to be seen. She must have lost him but smirked.
"Maybe cats are better during the night than bats," Catwoman commented but became surprised and stopped as she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders.
The New Bat was behind the cat and said, "Maybe but bats can hear any cat from miles. And you are a very loud kitty."
Catwoman was surprised and impressed but also some sadness at what she thought was true now. This was indeed a new bat and not the original.
"Not bad Bats, not bad at all. To tell the truth, I was interested to see if you were Bruce or not," Catwoman said much to the shinobi's surprise.
The New Bat didn't expect that and someone that knows who was Batman, well Bruce Wayne is Batman.
"Your reaction to my fun and your skills to chase me made me realize that he won't be the original, not the one I am used to at least," Catwoman explained, regarding how her teasing and kiss surprised the new bat, very different how Bruce's response to her fun.
Batman let the cat go and allowed her to face him while wondering what else Catwoman had to say to him.
"I got my answers it seems...Bruce is dead huh?" Catwoman said or rather stated, conforming to her fears and realizing that he was most likely dead.
The New Dark Knight hesitated to say anything and didn't know that Bruce had this close ties with Catwoman. The files never say and only just some information on her. A few reasons why but it seems Wayne had some luck with women and might not understand them, maybe and anything can happen.
"I never know you two were close," Batman honestly said.
"Kind of, it's rather complicated. He discovered who I was behind the mask and I did but we just did the dance with each other and even put me in jail once," Catwoman admitted.
"Can't tame a cat," Batman commented with a smirk underneath his mask which the cat can tell from the sound of his voice, getting a small giggle leaving her lips.
"Something like that, yeah but I didn't come here to bring up some memories...rather tell you something," Catwoman said, cutting to the chase and being serious, no longer playful.
"What's that?" Batman asked.
"You should have just left the mantle to die before it kills you, just like him," Catwoman replied, very direct.
The shinobi from another world were quiet and understood what Catwoman was trying to do, save him from that path he was walking on. That path, the darkness, and heading to the abyss, could consume him but he won't. He won't lose himself to that and would always remember why he became Batman.
"I don't this for the mantle...," Batman started, catching the cat off guard and surprised by what he said next.
"I did it for Bruce or rather Batman, honor him. To make sure his legacy won't be forgotten and that Gotham needs help. The city and her people need Batman now more than ever. I know not everyone would want my help, I am not looking for glory or frame. I didn't don the mask and symbol because of that. I did it because I want to and honor what one person can do for this city that lost hope for so long," Batman finished, much to Catwoman's complet surprise by his words and his reasons for donning the cape & cowl.
"You...you are an insane idiot," Catwoman commented.
"I have been called by that number of times," Batman admitted, mostly from a certain ice princess back in his former home.
"Like him but better," She added with a smirk before reaching for her belt to grab something, a com-like device of sorts, having her mind made up.
The cat throw it which the new bat got it easily and saw it was indeed a com-ear piece tech device.
"You can make contact with me or me too. Trust me, bats... you are going to need all the help you can get," Catwoman explained.
"Something tells me I would, Cat. A storm is coming and anyone can trigger it...I rather not be one that triggers it but would end it and Black Mask's criminal empire would fall," Batman said, knowing that the Kingpin of Gotham would start a gang war once his empire starts to fall apart.
"A power struggle would happen," Catwoman pointed out.
"It would but nothing is ever easy and challenging...I think it makes things interesting. Take care, Cat," Batman said, taking his leave and gliding off the rooftop to resume his patrol but a part of him did enjoy the chase between him and the cat thief. Something to keep an eye on.
Catwoman sadly smiled and shook her head in amusement, seeing that this Batman was different and had a sense of adventure in him after all. But deep down, something was stinging her and her train of thought. There are levels of sadness and now...she needed to go home once she picks up Isis. She knows that she was not able to keep Bruce safe due to their disagreements and never telling one another the full truth, but maybe she could keep this new bat from dying.
That was this cat's promise to the bat and we shall see how that goes down.
Time Skip
Gotham University
At the university, it was almost over and we see Barbara going through some trouble on her end. Granted, she knows that it was her fault for talking with Naruto about what happened and working something out but something was stopping her and not talk with the blonde. Putting more tension than awkwardness in their relationship. Now the redhead was talking to her friend about this due to her seeing the problem between them.
"Soooo...you two had sex? Was it good?" Julia asked, couldn't tease, and smirked while giggling at seeing Barbara's blushed face in embarrassment.
"Shhhh! Julia! I don't want everyone to know!" Barbara half whispered and half yelled at her friend who was trying to keep herself together from laughing hard.
"Sorry, Barbara. I can't help it. This is you and you so embarrassed because you had the best sex of your life," Julia commented.
"I...it was...I just don't know," Barbara said, sounding a bit odd and not like her normal self.
"Well how about you tell me from the start and go from there," Julia said, no longer teasing and wanting to help her friend.
"It just happened...after we talk then had a workout session and the next thing happened to another. We just then...well you know," Barbara said while having her cheeks light pink.
"It pretty much sounds like you two need to have a talk, talk things out," Julia remarked.
"Naruto tries but I push away him. It just makes things more awkward or tense if it keeps up. I don't want to ruin our friendship," Barbara said with a frown now.
"If you have a chance, just talk about it. Not right away but slowly go into it. And this time, you start a talk with Naruto than him. You two can only fix this problem if you both talk about it on equal terms," Julia explained.
Barbara nodded her head and saw how much her new friend was right, getting some weight off her shoulders and relaxing.
"And it sounds like you are falling in love with Naruto," Julia added.
Barbara didn't say anything, knowing that her black-haired friend might be right on that, and saw that the relationship of partners & best friends is leading somewhere else. She could only know when or if they have talked, what their relationship can be like.
Unknown to Barbara and Julia, someone had overheard everything between, well two actually. The first is from a rose flower plot, the flower opening, and a certain person had that, very interesting information there. The second was a fellow student, who's the same age group as Naruto & others with black hair that she keeps it straight and long to reach down to her waist, and this interesting color of green eyes which a pair of glasses covers them. She had a figure that matches Barbara and Julia, having some men looking at her or some women jealous of her.
Her attire was a white shirt that a similar green & purple smile she created, a black vest top underneath the said shirt, grey pants, and purple shoes. She also carried her handbag around with her.
This was Alexis Kaye who moved out of Snyder to come to Gotham due to her obsessions and interest in life.
Alexis was surprised to hear about Naruto and Babara having sex and Julia doing her best to help the red out. She knows the two girls from their share classes in chemicals and the criminal mind. She was a bit, a small bit jealous of that but rather wondering about what her prank parnter of crime was doing.
Yes, Naruto had met Alexis when she was doing to pull this prank on drama girls who also bitched at her and others. Instead of reporting her, he decied to help her and made the prank even more enjoyable, they got a pretty good laugh and enjoyed it. They now do rare moments of pranks when school is not open and that towards those they deeply dislike, had it coming big time.
Alexis would talk with Naruto later, now she has more important matters to attend to and one to make a new group once the Kingpin of Crime is finally off his throne. And then the power struggle is triggered.
This was going to be interesting. Very interesting indeed.
