Batman Return of the Dark Nights

Written by: Panthera

Disclaimer: The characters within this story belong to DC Comics and Warner Brothers I have just borrowed them for a while. No harm is meant I will return them unharmed when I'm finished the only character contained within that is not DC is that of Zanah she is an original character created by me and my friend.  Now, on with the story.

Chapter Five

At Wayne Manor…

Bruce, Dick, and Zanah sit in the lounge together watching the news. During a commercial break Dick turned to Zanah and asked. "So, Zanah what was that business with the men's room about?"

Bruce feeling this discussion was none of his business yond and said, "I'm tired… I think I'll go to bed. I'll see you in the morning," before he left.

That was odd. Dick thought to himself.

"Is he okay?" Zanah asked.

"I don't know… hey don't change the subject. You said later the parties over. So tell me what that was all about."

"Well..." Zanah began before the news came back on.

"In other news the Gotham Museum was robbed this evening of a priceless Jade statue. The famed Jade Cat…" the TV began before Dick shut it off. "Bruce someone stole the Jade Cat from the museum." Dick shouted after him.

"Catwoman," Bruce sighed with disappointment. He then moved upstairs.

"You were saying," Dick prompted.

"You know that woman who dropped by?"

"Yes."

"She wasn't crazy. Those two guys were a hit team."

"Really?"

"Yes, they were carrying .357 magnums with silencers."

"Zanah…"

"Relax, I took care of them. Right now I'd imagine they're rotting in a jail cell."

At the Police Station Across Town…

An attorney bails out two men from the charity ball and informs them they are to speak with the boss tomorrow.

Back at Wayne Manor…

"Why didn't you tell me what you thought I could have helped?"

"You already saved me once I figured I owed you and Mr. Wayne."

"You saved me remember by going with me to the ball," Dick said.

"I didn't want to start a panic."

"I understand, if we had both gone after them it may have aroused suspicions."

"Exactly."

"Well Zanah, now that the ball is over where will you go."

"I don't know."

"You could stay here."

"Yes, I could."

"Zanah will you stay here?"

"I don't know."

"Stay here tonight at least, no need to leave it's late. If you want to you can leave in the morning."

"No, I will stay here, I'm safe here," she whispered. Besides I am happy here." She said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, and I thank you very much for your kindness." Besides if those goons belong to whom I think they do you and Bruce will need protection. Zanah thought to herself.

"So now what should we do?"

"How about a movie?" Zanah suggested.

"Sounds good," Dick replied and he put in a movie and then sat back down next to her.

Upstairs…

Bruce walked into his room and took off his shoe, jacket and tie. He walked over to the bed and flopped down on it out of sheer exhaustion. He reached over to turn on his bedside lamp and froze as his eyes caught the silhouette of an unknown person. He turned on the light and to his shock he saw Catwoman sprawled out on the bed. He blinked with disbelief. He hadn't seen her in years and now he had seen her twice in one night. Am I dreaming? And if not why is she here? Why twice in one night?

  "Batman, Bruce, or Bat or have you even gotten to bat. I was hoping you would get here sooner. I've been waiting for you almost an hour. Did you have fun at your suck up party?" She asked.

"Selina, what are you doing here?" He asked.

Selina said nothing for a moment trying to figure it out herself. She looked at him and thought; I'll give him one chance to redeem himself. "I came back for you Bruce; you see I've been thinking and I'd like to start over if you still love me," she whispered moving closer to him.  She grabbed him gently at the shoulder and neck with one hand and with the other hand she grabbed his shirt tight dragging him closer. She released her grip on the shirt collar and ran her index finger down the front of his shirt as she mesmerized him with her seductive look. Her claw popped off his top button.

Reality hit Bruce with an incredible force and he blinked worried. What am I doing? He asked himself as he sprang to his feet and took two steps away from the bed.

"What's the matter afraid of fire; are you afraid of getting burned?" She asked.

"I played with fire once as Batman and I did get burned remember," he replied and after a short pause he added. "Besides you came back to Gotham for that cat."

"Oh come on Wayne lets cut out the paper doll."

"I don't want to she my fiancée."

"What would poor Barbie be heart broken if she lost her Ken? Okay then let's just cut her."

"No."

"Why are there impressionable children around?" She asked.

"No, it's just I'm honor bound."

"Yes, but you said it yourself we're right for each other the same."

"We may have been right for each other once but, you were gone so long that I forgot about you."

"Forgot about me. How could you just forget about me? It's the blonde right she looks sweet to me, but remember too much sugar will give you a cavity."

"That maybe true, but a little sugar isn't as bad as getting burned by fire."

Catwoman got up off the bed and walked over to Bruce she pulled him close so that they were nose-to-nose and said, "Yes, but when fire and fire converge they flare up and form an inferno." She then closed those last few inches between them and covered his lips in a kiss.

Bruce kissed her back hungrily as he pulled her close to him things all too familiar and much too inviting. Bruce was lost in the moment caught in the past. Suddenly disgust washed over him as re reminded himself he was engaged to Julie. Bruce pushed Selina away ending the moment and returning to reality. "Get away from me."

Selina felt rage gathering and she struggled to contain it. She wanted to expose her claws and lash out at him. She wanted to tear into him, like he was tearing into her, but she knew this was out of the question. He could hide it from his society friends and even Julie but Selina could see he wasn't in the best of shape. His escape from the explosion had been a close one. Her anger would have to go unsatisfied for now.

  "Selina why did you come here?"

"I told you I came back for you."

"No, you came back for that cat, but I what I want to know is why you came here tonight. And I want to know now!"

Selina's anger couldn't be contained a moment longer so she lashed out at him with the same weapon he had used to cut her. His cruel words were returned with the same brutal cruelty he had shown her earlier. "You think I came back for that stupid cat, how low an opinion you have of me. Yes, Catwoman's reasons for returning to Gotham were for that cat. Selina however came for a different reason entirely."

"What then?"

"It's not my place to tell you that spineless child's thinking you could ask her yourself next time you see her only thing is I'm not sure she'll want to talk to you after the way you treated her. Really Mr. Wayne such behavior from Batman I could understand, but from you it wasn't right."

"If she wasn't here for the cat then why did you take it?"

"You were there you figure it out."

"Return the statue."

"Not on your life Bruce. It's mine now, and with me it will stay."

"Selina!"

"Selina's not here right now and neither are you good night Batman."

"Catwoman!" He said grabbing her by the arm.

"Don't anger me further Bruce I know you're not in the best shape. I'd hate to see you get hurt," she said coldly.

"What do you want?"

"You're asking the wrong girl… Good night Mr. Wayne," she said coldly and with that she was gone.

Bruce sighed as he finished shedding his clothes. Selina you were alive, 5 years without a word. Where have you been? Why didn't you contact me? … She looks better then she did five years ago if that's possible… and she tasted so good… What am doing I'm marrying Julie? Selina's my past. She's over and done with. How many times have I wanted her to be alive? How often have I wished it? Now that she's back I wish she'd vanish again. Why did she pick this moment to reenter my life? Why now right when I was about to finally get on with my life? Bruce thought as he lay down for the night. He quickly fell asleep. But this night even his sleep would not let him forget Selina. His dreams drifted back to the party.

He saw himself dancing with Julie Selina interrupting and his turning and following after her into the closest room. He slammed the door as before, and turned to face her. His brown eyes stared at her brimming with anger. He grabbed her by the arm and held her at bay. "Damn it Selina what are you doing here?"

"I came to warn you…"

"Don't give me that Selina you've been missing for 5 years and you just show up out of the clear blue for this. I'm not stupid, so why are you really here?" he said pulling her closer staring into her green eyes his brown ones demanding the truth.

"I came back for you Bruce. I …" she began before he kissed her locking the door. She kissed him back hungrily as she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him close to her so that he was pressed against her. "I missed you," she purred softly as she worked at his tie.

"Selina not here not now," he whispered.

"What are you worried someone will find us together?" she asked and she kissed his neck.

"No, it's just I'm here with someone, I love her…" eh began before she kissed his lips silencing him.

"Come on Bat's let's go home to the cave," she purred softly.

"Selina…"

"Bruce I wasn't just feeding you a line someone wants you dead. If we leave they'll leave too…"

"Selina I can't leave that woman is my fiancée. I…"

"If you love her then why are you looking at me like that Bruce? I shouldn't turn your head so," she purred as brushed her fingers across his lips. He kissed them before letting her go. "Selina I thought you were dead," he said.

"I'm not dead Bruce and I want you back," she purred.

"I can't do that to Julie…"

"Can you marry her when you still want me? Tell her the truth Bruce." Selina said before leaving him.

Bruce walked out of the small room and it all fell dark.

*                                                      *                                           * 

 The next Morning…

Bruce, Dick, Zanah and Alfred sat eating breakfast. Bruce was trying to shake loose from the shock of finding Selina was alive. He was also struggling to remove the images of his dream from the night before. "So Dick how was your night?"

"It was anything but boring."

"Oh, by the way that woman was right about someone being after you and Gordon. I took down two guys last night carrying .357 magnums with silencers." Zanah said.

"Oh?"

"Yes."

She was telling the truth. Bruce thought to himself confused. 

"What I'd really like to know is who was the other guest that showed up?" Dick said.

"Selina Kyle, an old girlfriend."

"Really, and how is it you let her get away?"

"I thought she was dead," Bruce replied softly before he got up from the table and left.

"Should we be worried about him," Dick asked Alfred.

"I don't know sir… If what Miss Zanah says is true…"

"I don't mean the thugs I mean Selina, he's acting very oddly."

"Master Bruce can handle Miss Kyle."

"I don't know Al you didn't see how shaken up he was last night."

"What do you expect sir she's like a ghost?"

"I didn't think about it like that." Zanah said.

"Neither did I." Dick replied.

"In a couple of days he'll be fine don't worry. He just has some things to sort out."

"What do you think she wants?" Zanah asked.

"I don't know miss."