Title: Tag
Chapter Completed: December 17, 2004
It had tuned into a week of the same. A cycle that Sara and Star were trapped by. The Penguin and the Joker were using Star's skill for financial gain, so much so that her ultimate goal had been derailed. She spent all her time catering to their greed. The bank robberies were child's play; she had much more important matters to attend to. Much greater evils she had to right.
"But you do owe for staying here," Sara piped in, justifying the turn their life had taken, the turn they were trapped in.
Star scoffed, "That debt has been long paid!" She never understood how Sara could just keep letting them use her, how Sara could just lie there and take it, without scratching and fighting back. She wasn't going to stand for it, not now that she was there, living and breathing in their body; "I am not going to let them keep using us. They will NOT make you a victim again. I won't let that happen!" Star rode the rage freely.
"I know," Sara's voice became quieter, "I'm thankful for that. I'm glad that I have you."
"And you'll always have me," Star smiled, obviously a smile that Sara could not see, "You've always had me, just never let me out." The resentment was clear, the dominate personality angry with being kept at bay for years before.
"We have to get back on track here…we have to start making them all pay," it was one of their few, shared thoughts. One of the moments when both agreed, and no one voice coloured the comment. One of her rational thoughts?
"Make them all pay? I think someone's a little loony-toons," The Joker sing-songed, catching the last part of her conversation with herself, "Talking to yourself is never a good sign." He mocked her with a serious tone.
Star turned at him, sharply, "And what are you, the authority on the subject?"
He giggled at her, the answer in the twisted laugh.
"Why don't we just play nice," his ruby lips twisted in their dark grin, stalking her around the space. Obstacles lined the night-club layout.
"Maybe I don't want to play nice!" She backed herself into one of the club's pillars, giving him a chance to catch her by planting his arms on either side of her frame.
A pink tongue darted out to lick the twisted smile, "That could work too…"
"Don't be picking on the girl," Selena Kyle strolled into the club, breaking up the little pairing, hips swaying like she had every right to be there.
He jumped back, turning to face the newest member of the rogue gallery to appear. "Here Kitty kitty," The Joker rubbed his finger and thumb together like calling a cat.
She turned to him and hissed, "I'm here for the bird."
"Someone wants her ears scratched," he continued to tease her as he backed away, he knew better but couldn't help himself, "or maybe a nice rubber mouse…"
"Hate that clown," she snarled, obviously feeling dirty for being there in the first place. But she and Oswald had business.
"An acquired taste?" Star offered.
Selena smirked, "That could be said for all of us, couldn't it dear?"
The girl felt shy under the honest gaze that was fixed on her, and gave a half shrug.
"Nice scar," Selena pointed, un-apologetically to the space of exposed skin peeking out from the girl's costume, the star shaped scar was still visible in its swollen and red mess.
Unconsciously she raised a hand to cover it, "Parting gift from the man who made me what I am today." Her voice tinged with both pain and hatred in its attempt to stay even.
"Never give a man credit for who you are," Selena snapped, "They may have pushed you to bring out that side of you, but it is all you."
"Is it?" Star questioned back, "How do you know which personality is right, which one do you listen to?"
"I can't tell you that, it's a lesson that's different for all of us." Her face clouded, "And some of us are still trying to figure that all out." There were many that she could be speaking of Bats, villains and herself.
"Does anyone ever figure it out?" She crossed her arms over her chest.
She gave a humourless laugh, "We can hope, can't we?"
"Selena darling," Oswald waddled in, "How nice of you to visit…"
"This isn't personal Os, it's business," she held up her hand to stop his advancements, "I believe you owe me?"
The short man nervously darted his eyes between Selena and Star, settling back on the Catwoman, "Have you met the little dear?" he motioned his head toward the odd one out, not sure if their business should be discussed in front of newcomers.
"Quit stalling," Selena never turned her attention away from the man, holding her hand out.
He grumbled to himself, reaching inside of his jacket to retrieve a brown-paper envelope. With an unceremonious thud, he slapped it into her waiting hand, eyes narrowing.
"Pleasure doing business," she offered him a fake smile as she curled her fingers around the coveted object. "You can't give them credit for anything," she winked at Star before exiting, the same sway to her hips as before.
Star smiled. Was it possible she had just met a success story? Another who had achieved in breaking and rising above the men that littered her life?
TBC
