"Black Cats"
Disclaimer: I don't own them and probably never will...
~
CH 4: THE FLASH
The other members of the Justice League greeted Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman when they entered the kitchen. The ones who had been in the Watchtower all day were sitting around the table, eating.
"Where's Selina?" Batman asked.
Hawkgirl stood from her seat. "Can I see you in the next room?" When they had left the other five, she crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't know if Selina normally has mood swings, but she's been acting strange... well, claims Flash. He said that she had licked his cheek and straddled him after they had a calm conversation about you. Before that, we had all witnessed her trembling."
"I'll check on her. I think she's having a rough time. A couple of days ago, she was crying and begging me to take her away from reality." Batman rubbed his chin. "Would you mind me putting you and Superman in charge of watching Selina?"
"Not at all. She's afraid, Batman. I don't think she can deal with –"
"No." He shook his head. "I know her too well. It's something else. It has to be." He looked away from Hawkgirl. "Where is she?"
"Running on the treadmill."
Batman headed for the weight room and found her running. Earphones blasted music, and sweat trickled down the sides of her face. She didn't notice him from the corner of her eye, so he shut off the treadmill.
"Hey!" Selina tore off her headphones and looked at Batman with a strong glare. When she realized who had gotten her attention, she smiled.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm all right, I think. Did you find the bastard?"
"Not yet. We don't even have any leads." Batman then added, "This isn't going to get solved overnight. I wish it would."
Selina stepped off the treadmill. "I want to go home."
He shook his head. "No. You have to stay away from –"
"The planet?" she finished.
Batman almost smirked. "You don't know who's after you."
Selina grabbed her water bottle and sat down on the bench press. "The cop who had a gun pointed at my head told me something. I didn't want to tell your friends."
"What did he say?"
"He said that he had a message for me and you. He then added that it was too bad I wouldn't be able to tell you myself."
"Selina, they're after you to get to me." Batman sat down next to her.
"It's my own fault." She gave a small smile. "Could you do me a favor and deliver a message for me?"
"To who?"
"Could you somehow tell Bruce Wayne that I'm safe? He's probably worried sick." She sipped her water.
"Consider it done."
She lightly kissed his lips and thanked him.
"Do you love him?' Batman asked without realizing it.
"Why?"
"Because you deserve someone who loves you in return. He could take care of you." Batman stood. "You should have someone normal like him."
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"I think I love him."
~
"Hey Princess, do you want a smoothie too?" The Flash poured a few glasses of the strawberry smoothies.
Diana shook her head. "No, thank you."
Superman watched as Hawkgirl came back to her seat. She had an expression of worry written on her face. Her caring surprised Superman. She didn't strike him as one who would go out of her way to help a criminal.
"Batman wants us to be in charge of Selina," she whispered to him.
He nodded. "Makes sense." Superman sat back in his seat, thinking.
"She's not herself," Batman stated once he closed the kitchen door. His usually unemotional eyes held so much concern.
"What do you mean?" Superman asked.
"Selina just admitted that she's in love with Bruce Wayne."
The Flash wrinkled his nose and placed the smoothies on the table. "So...?"
"She doesn't share her feelings. Selina isn't like that." He looked away from the others. "She'd never willingly give information like that."
"Are you saying that she's gone insane?" Green Lantern crossed his arms over his chest.
"I don't know. I didn't think that this could happen. I thought Selina was strong."
"Even the strong ones have breaking points," J'onn reminded.
Superman decided to change the subject. "Well, we should get out of here. I need to get home." He stood from his seat. "Who else is coming?"
Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Superman left for Earth while the others stayed to watch over Selina.
~
"So, what's your story?"
Diana turned to see a blonde that she hadn't met. "You must be Selina Kyle. I'm –"
"Wonder Woman. I know. I've seen you on the news." Selina came to sit beside Diana. She took a smoothie when Diana offered her one. "Needs alcohol." She ran a hand through her hair. "Where are you from?"
"What?"
"Well, you're not wearing a mask, so I figured that you didn't have a secret identity."
"I'm an Amazon princess."
"Wow."
Hawkgirl joined the other two. "Is this a private meeting?"
"Only ladies allowed." Selina then closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. "God, I have a headache."
"Do you need anything?" Diana asked.
Suddenly, the color drained from Selina's face, and her eyes rolled back in her head. She fell over, but Diana caught her before she could hit the floor. The girl had passed out.
~
Batgirl rode her motorcycle through the secret entrance and into the Batcave. She parked her cycle and took off her helmet. When she walked to the area where the Batcomputer was stationed, she was surprised to see part of the Justice League standing next to Batman.
"You didn't mention company," she joked as she came to join the men.
Batman slightly grinned. "Batgirl, these guys are –"
"Superman, The Green Lantern, and The Flash," Batgirl finished.
"Yes, we've never met," Superman told and gave a friendly smile. She knew that he was Clark Kent and was good friends with his "cousin," Kara, who was really Supergirl.
The Flash used his super-speed to come stand beside to her. He wore a grin on his young face, but she had to guess his age because his mask covered most of his features. "It's nice to meet you. You haven't been on the news much, but I remember seeing your picture in the newspaper. Let me tell you that you're very photogenic, but you look even better in person."
"Thanks," she said with a raised eyebrow. Batgirl then moved her attention to her boss. "The fingerprint shop was a dead end."
"Damn." He blew out some air and shook his head. "Why don't you and Nightwing search the crime scene for clues?" Before she could leave, Batman made a suggestion. "Take Flash with you."
Batgirl glared at Batman and spun around on her heel. "C'mon." She walked along side Flash to the cycles. She got on hers and put her helmet back on. Next, she pressed the button on her utility belt that paged Nightwing. Sure enough, he answered.
"Yeah?"
"Meet me a block away from the museum. The alley near the Starbucks."
"Got it."
The Flash tapped her on the shoulder. "Was that Nightwing?"
"Wow, and I wondered why you were a superhero." Batgirl rode out of the Batcave, and The Flash ran next to her. He was remarkably fast.
Ten minutes later, Batgirl and The Flash arrived at the meeting spot. She pulled off her helmet and hopped off her bike.
"You know, I've always found women on motorcycles very attractive."
She made a disgusted look. "Let me guess. The black rubber helps too, right? Well, you're looking at the wrong girl."
"Why? You've got a Batboy?"
Batgirl looked to the floor. She didn't want to admit that the answer to his personal question was a heartbreaking no. Barbara and Dick were no longer an item. When "Robin" had learned who actually wore the Batgirl mask, he quit the team. Now, she didn't even know what they were. "Robin" hadn't only walked out on Batman; he had walked out on her also.
"Who's this?" Nightwing asked from behind The Flash. Batgirl introduced the two and then explained Batman's request. Nightwing nodded. "Okay. Batgirl, get into the video room and shut down the cameras in the Egyptian section of the museum. I'll –"
"I have an idea," Flash interrupted.
Annoyed, Nightwing huffed. "What?"
"Well, why don't you two shut off the power completely, and I'll make a quick sweep of that hallway?"
"In the dark? You don't even know what you're looking for."
Flash raised an eyebrow. "Last time I checked, neither did you."
Batgirl shrugged. "Maybe he's right. I could cut the security line from outside the building with my hand held PC."
"You have a flashlight?" Flash asked. After Batgirl handed him one, he said, "Thank you."
The three heroes quickly made their way to the back entrance of the museum. Batgirl pulled out her mini-computer and hooked it up to the security box located on the building. Within a few minutes, she was set to shut off the power.
"Just give a signal, Beautiful." The Flash prepared to run. After she turned off the security cameras and alarms, she gave him a nod. He ran.
"Whoa. It's different when you're not seeing him on the news. He's really fast." Nightwing met Batgirl's eyes and noticed that something was wrong. "What is it?"
Her eyes widened. "Nothing."
"What did he say to you?"
"Nothing," she repeated.
"Bar –"
"Nightwing!" She sighed heavily. Before she could say more, The Flash returned from the museum. Batgirl turned the power back on, and they raced back to the cycles. When Nightwing jumped on his bike, Flash handed him what he had found.
"I think Batman has to analyze it," Flash stated.
~
Batman heard Batgirl and Nightwing pull into the Batcave along side Flash. He didn't move his eyes from the computer screen. The trio came to him, and Nightwing placed a plastic bag on his computer keys. Batman lifted the bag to examine its contents.
"Flash found that at the scene," Nightwing explained. "Can you tell us what it is?"
Batman studied the broken item. It was mostly black in color, but there was a bit of yellow in the center.
"Someone stepped on it or something fell on it," Batman observed.
"No kidding. I could've told you that," Flash snorted.
Batman ignored The Flash's remark. He emptied the contents of the bag onto a slide and slipped it underneath a microscope. Sure enough, he could identify what it was.
"It's a device that releases smoke. It had been disguised as a cat's eye marble." He narrowed his eyes. "That's not Catwoman's style."
"Then whose style is it?" Flash questioned.
~
J'onn stepped away from Selina's bed as she awoke. The human rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"You fainted," he told her.
The girl nodded. "Yeah, but why?'
The Martian gently touched her shoulder and pointed to a bruise on her arm. "It seems that something had been harshly injected into your system."
"Do you mean a shot?" She looked at what J'onn had indicated. "I'm Catwoman. It's just a bruise. Look how dark it is; I must've gotten it two nights ago."
He shook his head. "No. You don't remember."
Selina pulled away from the Martian. "So what do you want to do about it?"
"I'd like to examine a sample of your blood, if you do not object." When she granted permission, J'onn pulled a syringe from a drawer. He tightened a string around her forearm and cleansed an area right above her vein. Once he took some blood, he gave her some gauze to stop the bleeding with.
"So, you think that whatever it is that's inside of me is making me act this way?"
"Perhaps. And if it is, maybe I can reverse its effects with an antidote of some kind."
She smiled. "For an alien, your heart is really in the right place. I just wish that I could be like that sometimes."
~
"I want you to go downtown. There is an underground weapons shop on the corner of seventh and –"
Nightwing interrupted, "We know where it is."
Batman ignored the interruption. "You and Batgirl go and find out if anyone ordered any of these." He handed the bag containing the marble to the junior.
Flash noticed the look in the kid's eyes. He held a whole lot of anger. Figures. Flash didn't like him in the first place.
"I'm just doing this because Selina needs help."
Bats narrowed his eyes. "Right. I forgot how smitten you were with Catwoman. After all, you're a grown boy now." He turned his back to Nightwing.
"Don't you turn away from me!"
Bats glanced over his shoulder. "For being such a Lone Ranger, you still have a lot of growing up to do."
Nightwing attempted to advance on Batman, but Batgirl stopped him. "Come on. Let's go. We've got somewhere to be." Pulling his arm, she led him away. They left without another word.
The Flash walked over to Batman and watched him sit down. He couldn't quite read the expression on Batman's face. Actually, Flash didn't know Batman could change his expression.
"Why are you still here?"
Flash was surprised. "What?"
"Go home and rest for a while." Batman pressed play on his computer screen. The security tape played. They watched as the Catwoman look-a-like stole the Egyptian cat. "Did you see her roll that marble?"
"Yeah. So?"
"Catwoman wouldn't do that. She'd be able to avoid the alarm lasers without needing to see them."
"Wow. That's kind of sexy when you think about it." When The Flash received a glare from Bats, he laughed. "What? It is." He sighed. "I think you have to ease off Nightwing a bit. After all, Selina is very seductive."
Bats narrowed his eyes. "Flash, anything with breast is seductive to you. Anyway, this has nothing to do with her... But I do know that she is a manipulator."
"Do you?"
"Go home, Flash."
"Fine. I guess I'll see ya when I see ya." The Flash then quickly ran out of the Batcave using his unbelievable speed. He raced through Gotham and toward his home in Central City.
~
Hawkgirl handed Diana a cup of coffee and sipped some of her own. She sat down beside the princess and took a cookie off of a dish. As she ate it, the two sat in silence. Diana mixed a little cream into her java and tasted it. She added some more. They were worried about Selina, so they just stared into space. They each thought about what could've provoked the blonde to randomly faint.
"It doesn't make any sense."
Diana looked at Hawkgirl and questioned, "How so?"
"Selina's healthy. You saw her."
"No, I'm not." Selina walked into the kitchen and joined the redhead and the brunette. "J'onn believes that I'm acting weird because I had been injected with something."
"Injected? With what?" Diana asked.
"He doesn't know."
"Do you remember being injected with anything?" Diana then sipped her coffee.
"No."
Hawkgirl gave a confused expression. "Well, this just gets stranger and stranger."
~
"We want information." Nightwing slammed his fist on the counter. "And you're going to give it to us."
The man behind the counter smirked. "Why would I help the caped crusaders with info?" He narrowed his small eyes and ran a hand through his thin, greasy, gray hair. "Let's face it, most of my clients hate you. If I help, business will go down."
"Yes, but I'm sure the police would be grateful if we gave the address of this lovely, and might I add, illegal weapons shop to them." Batgirl handed the plastic bag to the man. "Now, I'm sure you know what that is. I'm also very aware of you specializing in designing weapons as everyday objects."
"What's your point?"
Nightwing reached across the counter, took hold of the man's collar, and pulled the old man to himself. "Who ordered those devices and wanted them to look like cat's eye marbles?"
"Well, the usual customers."
"Names!" Nightwing demanded.
Fear entered the man's eyes, and he swallowed hard. "He'll kill me."
A gun was fired, and the old man couldn't speak. Blood leaked from his mouth. Nightwing let go of his collar, and the man slumped to the floor. Another shot was fired, and Nightwing shielded Batgirl beneath his body.
"Dick," she whispered. "Look." She pointed to a box with a clock that was counting down to zero. It was at thirty-seven.
"Shit." Nightwing took hold of Batgirl's arm and the duo raced out of the home and onto the street. A second before the house blew, Nightwing forced Batgirl behind a parked car and once again shielded her body with his own. The old house was engulfed in flames, and the fire lit the night. He slightly pulled away from Batgirl and touched her face. He could see all her features perfectly and didn't see any cuts. He ran his thumb over her bottom lip.
"Are you hurt?" he asked his ex. She slightly shook her head. "Let's go home then." Nightwing helped her to her feet and to the motorcycles. They were gone before the police arrived.
~
Friday (Day 5)
Diana handed Selina a knife, and she began to spread jam on her toast. The night prior had been uneventful. They had all slept peacefully, except Diana. She had decided to watch the thief, just in case something went wrong. Hawkgirl poured coffee for the three, and J'onn worked tirelessly in the lab all by his lonesome.
"So Selina, can I ask you a couple of questions?" Hawkgirl sat down beside the girl known as Catwoman.
"Sure."
"Who do you think is doing this to you?"
An emotion flickered in her eye, and Selina became defensive. "Didn't we already go through all this?" She put down her toast and stood. "It could be anyone. Two-Face doesn't like me much. The Riddler dislikes me. Poison Ivy and I aren't too fond of each other. The Penguin hates me. The Joker would love to get his hands around my throat... Need I go on?"
"I guess not." Hawkgirl scratched the back of her head. "But who would make the connection between you and Batman?"
"Anyone in their right mind," she replied. Selina opened one of the drawers and grasped something inside.
Diana didn't feel comfortable. "Selina –"
"Don't call me that," she ordered.
"What?"
"I'm not your friend, Wonder Woman. I am your enemy." Selina turned and revealed the large cleaver in her hand. "I am Catwoman. Hear me roar." The blonde's green eyes had somehow become a shade darker. The smile on her face was evil. It sent chills down their spines. "I'm a bad girl. You're the good girls. Shouldn't somebody kill someone?"
~
(Oh no... Someone's going to die?)
Disclaimer: I don't own them and probably never will...
~
CH 4: THE FLASH
The other members of the Justice League greeted Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman when they entered the kitchen. The ones who had been in the Watchtower all day were sitting around the table, eating.
"Where's Selina?" Batman asked.
Hawkgirl stood from her seat. "Can I see you in the next room?" When they had left the other five, she crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't know if Selina normally has mood swings, but she's been acting strange... well, claims Flash. He said that she had licked his cheek and straddled him after they had a calm conversation about you. Before that, we had all witnessed her trembling."
"I'll check on her. I think she's having a rough time. A couple of days ago, she was crying and begging me to take her away from reality." Batman rubbed his chin. "Would you mind me putting you and Superman in charge of watching Selina?"
"Not at all. She's afraid, Batman. I don't think she can deal with –"
"No." He shook his head. "I know her too well. It's something else. It has to be." He looked away from Hawkgirl. "Where is she?"
"Running on the treadmill."
Batman headed for the weight room and found her running. Earphones blasted music, and sweat trickled down the sides of her face. She didn't notice him from the corner of her eye, so he shut off the treadmill.
"Hey!" Selina tore off her headphones and looked at Batman with a strong glare. When she realized who had gotten her attention, she smiled.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm all right, I think. Did you find the bastard?"
"Not yet. We don't even have any leads." Batman then added, "This isn't going to get solved overnight. I wish it would."
Selina stepped off the treadmill. "I want to go home."
He shook his head. "No. You have to stay away from –"
"The planet?" she finished.
Batman almost smirked. "You don't know who's after you."
Selina grabbed her water bottle and sat down on the bench press. "The cop who had a gun pointed at my head told me something. I didn't want to tell your friends."
"What did he say?"
"He said that he had a message for me and you. He then added that it was too bad I wouldn't be able to tell you myself."
"Selina, they're after you to get to me." Batman sat down next to her.
"It's my own fault." She gave a small smile. "Could you do me a favor and deliver a message for me?"
"To who?"
"Could you somehow tell Bruce Wayne that I'm safe? He's probably worried sick." She sipped her water.
"Consider it done."
She lightly kissed his lips and thanked him.
"Do you love him?' Batman asked without realizing it.
"Why?"
"Because you deserve someone who loves you in return. He could take care of you." Batman stood. "You should have someone normal like him."
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"I think I love him."
~
"Hey Princess, do you want a smoothie too?" The Flash poured a few glasses of the strawberry smoothies.
Diana shook her head. "No, thank you."
Superman watched as Hawkgirl came back to her seat. She had an expression of worry written on her face. Her caring surprised Superman. She didn't strike him as one who would go out of her way to help a criminal.
"Batman wants us to be in charge of Selina," she whispered to him.
He nodded. "Makes sense." Superman sat back in his seat, thinking.
"She's not herself," Batman stated once he closed the kitchen door. His usually unemotional eyes held so much concern.
"What do you mean?" Superman asked.
"Selina just admitted that she's in love with Bruce Wayne."
The Flash wrinkled his nose and placed the smoothies on the table. "So...?"
"She doesn't share her feelings. Selina isn't like that." He looked away from the others. "She'd never willingly give information like that."
"Are you saying that she's gone insane?" Green Lantern crossed his arms over his chest.
"I don't know. I didn't think that this could happen. I thought Selina was strong."
"Even the strong ones have breaking points," J'onn reminded.
Superman decided to change the subject. "Well, we should get out of here. I need to get home." He stood from his seat. "Who else is coming?"
Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Superman left for Earth while the others stayed to watch over Selina.
~
"So, what's your story?"
Diana turned to see a blonde that she hadn't met. "You must be Selina Kyle. I'm –"
"Wonder Woman. I know. I've seen you on the news." Selina came to sit beside Diana. She took a smoothie when Diana offered her one. "Needs alcohol." She ran a hand through her hair. "Where are you from?"
"What?"
"Well, you're not wearing a mask, so I figured that you didn't have a secret identity."
"I'm an Amazon princess."
"Wow."
Hawkgirl joined the other two. "Is this a private meeting?"
"Only ladies allowed." Selina then closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. "God, I have a headache."
"Do you need anything?" Diana asked.
Suddenly, the color drained from Selina's face, and her eyes rolled back in her head. She fell over, but Diana caught her before she could hit the floor. The girl had passed out.
~
Batgirl rode her motorcycle through the secret entrance and into the Batcave. She parked her cycle and took off her helmet. When she walked to the area where the Batcomputer was stationed, she was surprised to see part of the Justice League standing next to Batman.
"You didn't mention company," she joked as she came to join the men.
Batman slightly grinned. "Batgirl, these guys are –"
"Superman, The Green Lantern, and The Flash," Batgirl finished.
"Yes, we've never met," Superman told and gave a friendly smile. She knew that he was Clark Kent and was good friends with his "cousin," Kara, who was really Supergirl.
The Flash used his super-speed to come stand beside to her. He wore a grin on his young face, but she had to guess his age because his mask covered most of his features. "It's nice to meet you. You haven't been on the news much, but I remember seeing your picture in the newspaper. Let me tell you that you're very photogenic, but you look even better in person."
"Thanks," she said with a raised eyebrow. Batgirl then moved her attention to her boss. "The fingerprint shop was a dead end."
"Damn." He blew out some air and shook his head. "Why don't you and Nightwing search the crime scene for clues?" Before she could leave, Batman made a suggestion. "Take Flash with you."
Batgirl glared at Batman and spun around on her heel. "C'mon." She walked along side Flash to the cycles. She got on hers and put her helmet back on. Next, she pressed the button on her utility belt that paged Nightwing. Sure enough, he answered.
"Yeah?"
"Meet me a block away from the museum. The alley near the Starbucks."
"Got it."
The Flash tapped her on the shoulder. "Was that Nightwing?"
"Wow, and I wondered why you were a superhero." Batgirl rode out of the Batcave, and The Flash ran next to her. He was remarkably fast.
Ten minutes later, Batgirl and The Flash arrived at the meeting spot. She pulled off her helmet and hopped off her bike.
"You know, I've always found women on motorcycles very attractive."
She made a disgusted look. "Let me guess. The black rubber helps too, right? Well, you're looking at the wrong girl."
"Why? You've got a Batboy?"
Batgirl looked to the floor. She didn't want to admit that the answer to his personal question was a heartbreaking no. Barbara and Dick were no longer an item. When "Robin" had learned who actually wore the Batgirl mask, he quit the team. Now, she didn't even know what they were. "Robin" hadn't only walked out on Batman; he had walked out on her also.
"Who's this?" Nightwing asked from behind The Flash. Batgirl introduced the two and then explained Batman's request. Nightwing nodded. "Okay. Batgirl, get into the video room and shut down the cameras in the Egyptian section of the museum. I'll –"
"I have an idea," Flash interrupted.
Annoyed, Nightwing huffed. "What?"
"Well, why don't you two shut off the power completely, and I'll make a quick sweep of that hallway?"
"In the dark? You don't even know what you're looking for."
Flash raised an eyebrow. "Last time I checked, neither did you."
Batgirl shrugged. "Maybe he's right. I could cut the security line from outside the building with my hand held PC."
"You have a flashlight?" Flash asked. After Batgirl handed him one, he said, "Thank you."
The three heroes quickly made their way to the back entrance of the museum. Batgirl pulled out her mini-computer and hooked it up to the security box located on the building. Within a few minutes, she was set to shut off the power.
"Just give a signal, Beautiful." The Flash prepared to run. After she turned off the security cameras and alarms, she gave him a nod. He ran.
"Whoa. It's different when you're not seeing him on the news. He's really fast." Nightwing met Batgirl's eyes and noticed that something was wrong. "What is it?"
Her eyes widened. "Nothing."
"What did he say to you?"
"Nothing," she repeated.
"Bar –"
"Nightwing!" She sighed heavily. Before she could say more, The Flash returned from the museum. Batgirl turned the power back on, and they raced back to the cycles. When Nightwing jumped on his bike, Flash handed him what he had found.
"I think Batman has to analyze it," Flash stated.
~
Batman heard Batgirl and Nightwing pull into the Batcave along side Flash. He didn't move his eyes from the computer screen. The trio came to him, and Nightwing placed a plastic bag on his computer keys. Batman lifted the bag to examine its contents.
"Flash found that at the scene," Nightwing explained. "Can you tell us what it is?"
Batman studied the broken item. It was mostly black in color, but there was a bit of yellow in the center.
"Someone stepped on it or something fell on it," Batman observed.
"No kidding. I could've told you that," Flash snorted.
Batman ignored The Flash's remark. He emptied the contents of the bag onto a slide and slipped it underneath a microscope. Sure enough, he could identify what it was.
"It's a device that releases smoke. It had been disguised as a cat's eye marble." He narrowed his eyes. "That's not Catwoman's style."
"Then whose style is it?" Flash questioned.
~
J'onn stepped away from Selina's bed as she awoke. The human rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"You fainted," he told her.
The girl nodded. "Yeah, but why?'
The Martian gently touched her shoulder and pointed to a bruise on her arm. "It seems that something had been harshly injected into your system."
"Do you mean a shot?" She looked at what J'onn had indicated. "I'm Catwoman. It's just a bruise. Look how dark it is; I must've gotten it two nights ago."
He shook his head. "No. You don't remember."
Selina pulled away from the Martian. "So what do you want to do about it?"
"I'd like to examine a sample of your blood, if you do not object." When she granted permission, J'onn pulled a syringe from a drawer. He tightened a string around her forearm and cleansed an area right above her vein. Once he took some blood, he gave her some gauze to stop the bleeding with.
"So, you think that whatever it is that's inside of me is making me act this way?"
"Perhaps. And if it is, maybe I can reverse its effects with an antidote of some kind."
She smiled. "For an alien, your heart is really in the right place. I just wish that I could be like that sometimes."
~
"I want you to go downtown. There is an underground weapons shop on the corner of seventh and –"
Nightwing interrupted, "We know where it is."
Batman ignored the interruption. "You and Batgirl go and find out if anyone ordered any of these." He handed the bag containing the marble to the junior.
Flash noticed the look in the kid's eyes. He held a whole lot of anger. Figures. Flash didn't like him in the first place.
"I'm just doing this because Selina needs help."
Bats narrowed his eyes. "Right. I forgot how smitten you were with Catwoman. After all, you're a grown boy now." He turned his back to Nightwing.
"Don't you turn away from me!"
Bats glanced over his shoulder. "For being such a Lone Ranger, you still have a lot of growing up to do."
Nightwing attempted to advance on Batman, but Batgirl stopped him. "Come on. Let's go. We've got somewhere to be." Pulling his arm, she led him away. They left without another word.
The Flash walked over to Batman and watched him sit down. He couldn't quite read the expression on Batman's face. Actually, Flash didn't know Batman could change his expression.
"Why are you still here?"
Flash was surprised. "What?"
"Go home and rest for a while." Batman pressed play on his computer screen. The security tape played. They watched as the Catwoman look-a-like stole the Egyptian cat. "Did you see her roll that marble?"
"Yeah. So?"
"Catwoman wouldn't do that. She'd be able to avoid the alarm lasers without needing to see them."
"Wow. That's kind of sexy when you think about it." When The Flash received a glare from Bats, he laughed. "What? It is." He sighed. "I think you have to ease off Nightwing a bit. After all, Selina is very seductive."
Bats narrowed his eyes. "Flash, anything with breast is seductive to you. Anyway, this has nothing to do with her... But I do know that she is a manipulator."
"Do you?"
"Go home, Flash."
"Fine. I guess I'll see ya when I see ya." The Flash then quickly ran out of the Batcave using his unbelievable speed. He raced through Gotham and toward his home in Central City.
~
Hawkgirl handed Diana a cup of coffee and sipped some of her own. She sat down beside the princess and took a cookie off of a dish. As she ate it, the two sat in silence. Diana mixed a little cream into her java and tasted it. She added some more. They were worried about Selina, so they just stared into space. They each thought about what could've provoked the blonde to randomly faint.
"It doesn't make any sense."
Diana looked at Hawkgirl and questioned, "How so?"
"Selina's healthy. You saw her."
"No, I'm not." Selina walked into the kitchen and joined the redhead and the brunette. "J'onn believes that I'm acting weird because I had been injected with something."
"Injected? With what?" Diana asked.
"He doesn't know."
"Do you remember being injected with anything?" Diana then sipped her coffee.
"No."
Hawkgirl gave a confused expression. "Well, this just gets stranger and stranger."
~
"We want information." Nightwing slammed his fist on the counter. "And you're going to give it to us."
The man behind the counter smirked. "Why would I help the caped crusaders with info?" He narrowed his small eyes and ran a hand through his thin, greasy, gray hair. "Let's face it, most of my clients hate you. If I help, business will go down."
"Yes, but I'm sure the police would be grateful if we gave the address of this lovely, and might I add, illegal weapons shop to them." Batgirl handed the plastic bag to the man. "Now, I'm sure you know what that is. I'm also very aware of you specializing in designing weapons as everyday objects."
"What's your point?"
Nightwing reached across the counter, took hold of the man's collar, and pulled the old man to himself. "Who ordered those devices and wanted them to look like cat's eye marbles?"
"Well, the usual customers."
"Names!" Nightwing demanded.
Fear entered the man's eyes, and he swallowed hard. "He'll kill me."
A gun was fired, and the old man couldn't speak. Blood leaked from his mouth. Nightwing let go of his collar, and the man slumped to the floor. Another shot was fired, and Nightwing shielded Batgirl beneath his body.
"Dick," she whispered. "Look." She pointed to a box with a clock that was counting down to zero. It was at thirty-seven.
"Shit." Nightwing took hold of Batgirl's arm and the duo raced out of the home and onto the street. A second before the house blew, Nightwing forced Batgirl behind a parked car and once again shielded her body with his own. The old house was engulfed in flames, and the fire lit the night. He slightly pulled away from Batgirl and touched her face. He could see all her features perfectly and didn't see any cuts. He ran his thumb over her bottom lip.
"Are you hurt?" he asked his ex. She slightly shook her head. "Let's go home then." Nightwing helped her to her feet and to the motorcycles. They were gone before the police arrived.
~
Friday (Day 5)
Diana handed Selina a knife, and she began to spread jam on her toast. The night prior had been uneventful. They had all slept peacefully, except Diana. She had decided to watch the thief, just in case something went wrong. Hawkgirl poured coffee for the three, and J'onn worked tirelessly in the lab all by his lonesome.
"So Selina, can I ask you a couple of questions?" Hawkgirl sat down beside the girl known as Catwoman.
"Sure."
"Who do you think is doing this to you?"
An emotion flickered in her eye, and Selina became defensive. "Didn't we already go through all this?" She put down her toast and stood. "It could be anyone. Two-Face doesn't like me much. The Riddler dislikes me. Poison Ivy and I aren't too fond of each other. The Penguin hates me. The Joker would love to get his hands around my throat... Need I go on?"
"I guess not." Hawkgirl scratched the back of her head. "But who would make the connection between you and Batman?"
"Anyone in their right mind," she replied. Selina opened one of the drawers and grasped something inside.
Diana didn't feel comfortable. "Selina –"
"Don't call me that," she ordered.
"What?"
"I'm not your friend, Wonder Woman. I am your enemy." Selina turned and revealed the large cleaver in her hand. "I am Catwoman. Hear me roar." The blonde's green eyes had somehow become a shade darker. The smile on her face was evil. It sent chills down their spines. "I'm a bad girl. You're the good girls. Shouldn't somebody kill someone?"
~
(Oh no... Someone's going to die?)