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After Bruce returned from seeing Sheila out, I glanced at him, and said "An honest dollar?"
"Of course. You haven't earned one since Catholic school, you know, 'Selina'."
I winced, and said, "You're right, 'Bruce'. However, right now I am just about dead on my feet. These damn heels may look sexy, but they're a pain. I don't know how you managed all these years. Right now, what I want..."
"Is a hot tub and twelve hours sleep. I feel the same way." Bruce stood, and continued as he offered me a hand up, "I've gotten lost twice in this museum. I did manage to find the kitchen, but that's about all."
"You'll get used to it." I told him. "The main building is in the shape of an elongated 'U', with sub corridors..."
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::Hey. Wake up, Selina! You'll turn into a prune!:: I heard 'Bruce' think.
::Oh. I think I already am!:: Still, I pulled the drain plug, and stepped out, my hand groping for a towel as I sat on the edge of the big whirlpool tub. Without thinking about it, I dried and wrapped my hair, then pulled another towel around myself, tucking it in under my left arm automatically. I pulled on a white robe, then strolled down the hallway to 'Bruce's room.
"Hey!" Bruce said.
"Relax. It's not like either one of us hasn't seen the other's body before."
Bruce nodded, then said, "I guess its just habit. I seem to know how to do things..."
"That you've never done before. I know. I just kind of let the body go on automatic..."
"Yes." I said. I scrubbed my nose in an automatic motion I remember seeing Selina make before.
::And why shouldn't it? You ARE Selina Kyle now:: 'Bruce' thought.
::You're right. We're going to learn a lot about each other, aren't we, 'Bruce'?::
::That we are, 'Selina', that we are. Are you hungry?::
::Nope. Exhausted. Catch you tomorrow?::
::Sure. G'Night::
I reached up to give him a sisterly peck on the cheek, and said, "Good night."
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"It's six a.m. at Gotham's hit oldies station, WGHO." I heard as I slapped the button. I yawned and sat up, the sheets and blankets pooling around my waist. I stretched, and black hair fell in my face. I leaned back in the king-size bed, and looked around the guestroom. As Bruce, I had often entertained women as part of my 'playboy' image; I found it mildly amusing to be in this room now. Still, it was well equipped with assorted women's clothing and accessories.
Experimentally, I touched 'Bruce's mind, and found him still asleep. I yawned again, then pulled the sheets back to climb out of bed. I turned, and pulled the sheets up, making the bed out of habit. I shivered, the peignoir I had found in the dresser was certainly sexy, but not particularly warm for Gotham in October. Pulling it over my head, I stretched again to loosen up a bit, then headed toward the shower.
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I sighed as I examined what was left of my cat suit. The top had taken most of the abuse, and looked like a swarm of moths had attacked it. The leggings were still in good shape, as were the boots - all they needed was a good polishing. My lingerie from yesterday smelled of chemicals, jail, and sweat. I tossed that in the 'burn' pile.
"Now then. What to wear..." I asked myself. I sat back against the side of the bed, and continued aloud, "Since I'm going to be living here for a while, I'll have to get my stuff out of Selina's apartment. So... something I can pack in. Alfred was inspired when he supplied this room." I stood, and pulled out the lingerie drawer. I pawed through the bras, checking the size tags to find one that would fit my D cup. Pulling one out, I didn't even think about it when it went on. Sliding that drawer closed, I checked the panties, pulling out a high-cut bikini pair. I pushed that drawer closed as I wiggled into the snug panties.
"Okay, Alfred, you've supplied everything else a lady might want." I said to myself as I looked through the cabinets. "Do we have...yes! A sewing kit! Excellent!" I spied a shoe polish kit next to it under the bathroom sink, then sat tailor-fashion on the rug with my discoveries, and proceeded to separate the leggings from the torso of my poor, abused cat suit. Tossing the ruined top aside, I stood to pull the leggings on, then knelt to work on my boots. Finally satisfied, I pulled them on, zipping them to my knees, then stood, tottering a bit on the heels. I took a deep breath and relaxed, and walked to the dresser again.
"What goes with gray leggings?" I asked myself. "Black, of course. Let's see what we find." I checked the other drawers, and finally found a turtleneck black bodysuit with long sleeves. I held it up, looking at it, then pulled it on. I reached inside to adjust my bra straps more comfortably, then pulled it the rest of the way down. I peeled down the leggings, then snapped the crotch closed. Pulling the leggings back up, I fluffed my hair ::My beautiful long hair!::, then checked myself in a mirror. "Not bad." I told myself. Remembering a pale rose sweater dress, I grabbed it, then tossed the 'burn' clothes in the trash. Pulling the dress on, I checked myself again, washed my hands, then, heels clicking on the tile and wood floor, I headed downstairs for breakfast.
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"Good morning, Alfred!" I said as I walked into the kitchen.
"Good morning to you, Miss Kyle." He replied warmly. "Breakfast shall be ready shortly."
"It will be ready even sooner if I help." I told him. Alfred hesitated, and I smiled, and said, "I know that Bruce wasn't exactly handy in the kitchen. Let's face it, I, err, he, may be the world's greatest detective, but he could barely operate a can opener. Now, Bruce has Selina's memories, and she's got mine. She was pretty good around a stove, so let me try, and you can stand by the fire extinguisher, if you want." Alfred hesitated again, then nodded.
"You won't try anything... extreme, will you?" He asked. "I still remember the curtains catching on fire..."
"It's amazing how I managed to do that, and still mess up frying an egg." I smiled. "No, Bruce is going to sit back, and let Selina drive." I nodded at the kitchen table, and said, "Pour us some tea, old friend, and I think I can manage a first course of porridge with milk and sugar. Let me know how I do with that, while the sausage and eggs cook."
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"Um. Something smells... wonderful!" Bruce said as he came in. He was wearing a Gotham Knights sweatshirt, shorts, and tennis shoes.
"Miss Kyle insisted on trying her hand at my stove. I must say, she's a dab hand in the kitchen." Alfred said.
The toast popped, and I cut it, setting the triangles in Alfred's favorite rack. As I set it with the butterballs on the table, I looked at Bruce, and said, "Aren't you a bit cold?"
"Yes, but..." He gestured helplessly. I looked him over, and saw where he'd stuck toilet paper to the cuts on his chin. I smiled, and he said, "You're not wearing makeup, I see."
"But I..." I sighed, nodded, and said, "Touché. We'll have to help each other." He nodded. Alfred started to get up.
I told Alfred, "You sit. What do you want?"
"Coffee for Master Bruce."
The teapot whistled, and I moved to rescue it, and finish the eggs. Bruce mindlessly reached in a cabinet, pulling out a large, dented spill-proof stainless mug. He stopped, then looked at the mug.
"I became weary of sweeping up coffee cups, Master Bruce." Alfred tartly commented.
"Oh. I see." He carefully placed the mug on the counter, then slowly and carefully poured coffee. As he was replacing the carafe, the mug somehow skittered off the counter, bouncing and spilling on the clean white tile floor.
"Oh! How... I'm sorry!" Bruce blushed, and Alfred sighed. I caught the mug on the bounce, and glanced at it. I dumped the remaining coffee down the sink, then quickly washed and dried the mug while Bruce mopped the floor. I took the mop out of Bruce's hands, putting it back in its bucket in the 'mud room' kitchen entry while he shambled back to sit at the table.
Adding sugar, I poured more coffee, putting it in Bruce's hands while Alfred commented, "Master Bruce, I had hoped that one good thing to come out of your little adventure with Miss Kyle would be a bit more grace in the kitchen. However..."
"Please, Alfred, call me Selina. Unless you wish me to call you 'Mr. Pennyworth'." I threatened with a smile. I turned back to the stove, and heard a key in the lock.
"Brr. It's cold out there today." I heard a voice say. After some stomping, I turned and saw Dick Grayson enter, and stop cold on seeing me.
Wiping my hands on a yellow gingham apron around my waist, I held out my hand, and said, "Hello. I'm Selina. Selina..."
"Kyle. What are you doing here?" Dick said.
"Cooking breakfast." Bruce said into his coffee mug.
"And doing a smashing job of it, too." Alfred added.
"Coffee?" I asked.
### Chapter 3: Of Clothing and Englishmen
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