The next day Robin agreed to take me with them at the museum. They were going to meet with the owner, who seemed to have cut short a business trip, from what we were informed. We arrived at the museum, just so that I could see the Grey family, well, only the men. Xavier was there with his father, Richard Grey. A tall man in his fifties, with grey eyes, dressed in a dark grey suit, with brown hair and a few silver spots here and there, was screaming at the officers.
"Leona, Mr. Grey owns the museum" whispered Cyborg. What a coincidence. My eyes widened a little, but I kept my smile on my lips. I was in so much trouble if dad found out.
"And here are the little curious ones" Xavier approached us, looking at me and Raven.
"You!" Richard saw the titans and started screaming at them for letting Catwoman escape with the diamond. A vein popped on his forehead, and his face became red as the back of my Louboutin high-heels. I cleared my throat and straightened my back. Xavier looked at me with amusement, but curious about what I wanted to do.
"It's not their fault, Richard" I said, coming in front of the titans.
"Listen here, young lady. I don't know who you are but…" He took a better look at me and his face became soft, with a smile on it.
"Leona? Leona Wayne? Is that you?" I gave him a large smile and went next to him.
"I cannot believe my eyes! It's been years since I have seen you. Come here" he extended his arms and gave me a big warm hug.
"How are you? How's your father and your gorgeous mother? Does she still have the old mobile number?" he joked, dragging me away from the titans.
"They are very well Richard. They are on a trip in Europe. How are you?" Xavier came right by my side, feeling a little left out.
"Not so well, as you can see. I'm very mad at what happened, Leona. It was guarded by the titans! I thought it will be safe... I guess I was wrong. How will I explain this to those pesky English people?" he looked devastated. I felt sorry for him. I would have put the Scepter back anyway, I don't need it and I wasn't going to sell it on the black market.
"I'm sure the titans will find it soon. I promise you" I said to Richard. A police officer came to us and Richard had to go give a declaration.
"Your father is very upset" I told Xavier who nodded. I looked at the titans and they were searching for anything that would lead them to Catwoman. Good luck with that.
"He went through a lot to bring the scepter here" we were walking along the corridors, making small talks here and there. We arrived at the Egyptian part of the museum.
"May I?" I asked pointing at the huge thick red string that stood at the entrance.
"Next week will be the opening of this section. We brought new artifacts. But for you, I can give you the grand tour" he rose the string and I went through the gates, with him following me close behind. An actual small pyramid brought from Egypt was in the museum. Anubis and Thoth were guarding the entrance of the pyramid. The roof of the museum in the room was made of glass, so the sunlight fell on the pyramid and the statues. In the room I saw a smaller version of the sphinx made entirely of stone, an ankh made of gold, jewelry as well, old rusted weapons... The pharaoh's sarcophagus was in the middle of the room, next to a sign that said, 'Don't touch'. I examined the papyruses: Cleopatra and Caesar, Ramses, Ra, Isis... I stopped in front of two medium high statues: Bastet and Sekhmet, one with the head of a cat, the other with head of a lioness, each holding a scepter in their left hand, and in their right hand, they held a golden cultic object called aegis. Between them, a papyrus with a cat that looked like Lore and seven priestesses bowing to her. Behind the cat, facing the priestesses was a goddess, but you couldn't say if the head was one of a cat or a lioness.
"Did you know that Bastet and Sekhmet are the same goddess?" I asked Xavier.
"I thought they were different goddesses" he responded.
"Bastet was the goddess of warfare in Lower Egypt. Sekhmet was the parallel warrior lioness deity to Bastet in Upper Egypt." I looked at the statues.
"They shared similar roles and same imagery, but that changed between 945 and 715 BC. Bastet became the cat goddess, while Sekhmet remained the lioness goddess." I touched the cold glass that protected the papyrus. I was in a state of trance.
"One goddess, but with two identities... She is a rarity... The Goddess of the moon and sun... She represents the duality in all women, docile yet aggressive, nurturing yet ferocious" I felt Xavier approach, stopping inches behind me. Feeling his breath on my shoulder sent chills down my spine.
"Destined to have two lives..." he said looking at the statues. Like every hero and villain on this planet... Like me. I turned around just to face his chest. He grabbed my chin and raised my head slowly, making me look in his now dark grey eyes that hid a dangerous storm. I felt small in his presence, yet I felt protected. And he sure was very familiar. While my heart was beating like crazy, he was calm and relaxed. I think I might fall for him.
"Like everyone" his fresh mint breath tickled my skin. I felt his lips lightly brushing mine.
"Xavier" I heard his dad's voice. He dropped his hand, smirking at me.
"I'm here" he called back and took a step and went to the entrance, living me confused. Between the goddesses was a crown in the shape of a snake, with black diamonds that was said to be Bastet's crown. I turned around and gasped when I saw what story told the other papyruses. After the one with the priestesses, a papyrus showed how a woman saved a Mau cat. Then, the same woman was drowned in the water by the priestesses, all before the eyes of Bastet. The water of the Nile it was said to have the power to purify. On the next one was a mummy, in the middle stood the Mau cat along other cats, and behind her stood Bastet. The next papyrus showed the mummy rise, but had the head of a cat. It wasn't Bastet otherwise it would have had the obelisk and the crown... It was the first Catwoman. She was just like any other woman, but was found worthy after she was tested... How I was tested one week before I drowned.
== Flashback ===
I took a sip from the glass of juice. We were in one of Richard Grey's hotel in Gotham city, invited to a charity party.
"Bruce!" he said seeing us and came to shake hands with my father.
"Patience, you look gorgeous" he said admiring her. She was dressed in a vanilla evening gown, which let her back naked. He kissed my mother's hand, or the material from the long vanilla gloves she was wearing.
"And you must be Leona" he said. He bowed and took my hand, kissing it. I smiled politely at him, blushing.
"And who is this young man?" asked my mother and looked at a young boy, dressed in a black costume.
"This is my beloved son, Xavier" said Richard introducing him. He was a little taller than me, slender, his brown hair slicked tightly back.
"Xavier is 10 years old" said Richard, proud of his progeny.
"Three years older than our daughter" said my father and put his hand on my back.
"Xavier, why don't you take Leona and go to your room to play on the console? Your old father has something to speak to Leona's parents." Said Mr. Grey smiling gently at us. The boy just nodded, not saying a word. I followed him to "his" room. We took the elevator to the last floor. He held the door to his room for me to enter first. I smiled at him exploring with my eyes his room. It was big, with a king- sized bed, a couch in front of a huge plasma. The balcony was opened, the breeze moving lightly the thin white curtains. He jumped on the sofa and took a console, starting the plasma. On the screen appeared the name Mortal Kombat and the next second he was in a trance, fighting with a man dressed in yellow against some huge thing with 4 arms. I looked around the room, not knowing where to take a seat.
"You have a kitty" I said seeing a cat next to the curtains.
"I don't have a cat. Must be from one of the tourists" he answered not even looking at the cat. She meowed and went to the balcony.
"Wait kitty, don't go" i said and ran to the balcony.
"Where is she?" I asked Xavier. But he was so caught up in the game that he didn't hear me. I looked for the kitty and heard a meow below the balcony. She was sitting on a pylon almost one meter below the balcony.
"Don't worry kitty, I'll save you" i said and took of my shoes. I grabbed the bars of the balcony and looked down to see where the pylon was. I gulped looking down, as the wind ruffled a little my hair. I jumped and landed right on the pylon.
"Come on kitty" i said grabbing her and looked up. I climbed to the balcony, holding the kitty tight.
"Almost there" but I didn't saw where i put my feet. I stepped on the long golden dress and slipped. I let out a yelp and looked down. Big mistake...
"Xavier!" I cried panicked, holding with a hand the edge of the balcony. I yelled his name again hoping that he would hurry. I heard his footsteps and how he rushed when he couldn't see me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me over the balcony. I fell on top of him and felt how his heart was racing.
"What the hell was in your head?" he asked mad.
"I helped the cat" I answered him. He put a hand on my back and tried to calm down. The kitty was in front of us, unharmed. I looked at the tag on the collar that the kitty was wearing, it said Midnight.
"If you would have fell, your father would have killed me" he said relieved that I was safe.
==== End Flashback ====
This thing started thousands of years ago. I was so caught in what I had discovered that when Xander put his hand on my shoulder, it startled me.
"Sorry. The others are asking of you" he looked at me.
"Are you ok?" he asked a little concerned, after seeing how panicked I was.
"Yes, let's go" I grabbed his hand and took him away from the papyruses, before he took a better look at the papyruses. Yet, they don't know the story. They don't know that someone had to die to become Catwoman. It was my luck that mother kept this secret away from everyone.
"There you are" said Starfire and came at me flying.
"Leona, do you want to come to pizza with us?" she asked me.
"Friend Leona, are you and Xavier girlfriend and boyfriend?" I blushed and let go of Xavier's hand. He laughed and said no, because I couldn't talk.
Midnight caught me in the city, walking on the edge of a building like I was walking in a park. I had at my belt the Scepter. On my way to the museum, I saw Robin patrolling on the streets on his motorcycle. I hid quickly in the shadows when I heard Raven's cape ruffled by the wind. She, besides Starfire passed me, and went in the same direction as Robin. I went on the other side of the building and took out my whip. I caught a bar with it and swung to the other building next to it. I did a flip in the air and landed gracefully on the roof. I ran and jumped of the edge of the roof, between two buildings. I stretched my arms and stopped the falling with my claws. I was at the back of the museum. I jumped again from my spot catching a bar. I let go immediately of it and landed on a truck that was next to the back entrance of it. I climbed the wall to the rooftop. I walked right to the roof glass of the Egypt room. I looked down and the moonlight gave the pyramid a mysterious air. The guards passed the papyruses and went out. But somebody else was in there. Someone from the shadows moved and went to the golden ankh. He was going to steal the artifacts. I did a hole in the glass just big enough for me to fit. I placed it beside me and jumped in the room, hiding myself in the shadows. It was a woman dressed in black and red, with a Cleopatra hairstyle. She stopped from what she was doing and looked behind. I smirked because she couldn't see me, but she sensed where I was. She threw little bombs that froze the spot where I was standing if I didn't jump.
"So, it's true, Catwoman walks among us" she said looking at me interested.
"Looks like you brought the Scepter with you. Is that a trophy you wear for everyone to see? "
"You know what they say. Diamonds are a girl's best friend. And what fun is it in if I don't show to the world what I have?"
"Steal what you want, but this part of the museum is mine, and stay out of my way." she said and turned her back at me going straight to the crown with black diamonds. I grabbed my whip and caught her with it.
"I don't think so" I threatened her, pulling the whip enough for her to get the message.
"Stupid girl, you should have stayed in Gotham City" she said in a strong French accent; my whip fell to her feet as she snaked her way out of it. She attacked me, trying to hit me with a punch. I swiftly dodged her attack. I leapt to her left side and struck the woman then I flipped backwards and hit her in the chin with my foot, sending her flying in the wall. I took the ankh that fell from her hand and put it back in its rightful place. She got up and swung her hand like whip at me. It punched the wall behind me and I rose my hands up, clawing her arm when she withdrew it, leaving a trail of blood on the floor. She screamed in pain and looked at me furious.
"Look what you did to my beautiful costume!" she yelled angry at me.
"You are more concerned about the costume than the injuries?" I asked her. She was boiling of anger. She came at me fast and punched me in the stomach. I was left out of breath and fell to my knees. Her fingers became sharp like talons, ready to pierce me with them.
"I told you not to interfere" she said pissed. She grabbed me by the throat as she slowly tightened her grip. I tried to slash her arm again, but her fingers caught my wrists and left me no chance to move.
"Let's see if cats truly have 9 lives" she said, prepared to stab me. As the talons approached me, she stopped and looked confused. I felt a grip around my waist and I was thankful when I felt that tingling sensation in my body. From all the commotion, I didn't sense him.
"Two nights in a row, I think we should officially start dating." I heard a mechanized voice. Red X was holding me bridal style in his arms. I smiled at him and gave him a peck on the cheek. I looked around with precaution, waiting for her to strike at any moment.
"Don't bother, she's gone. Are you ok?" he said looking examining me for any scratch or signs that I was bleeding
"If you hadn't shown up, I would have had 8 lives by now" I turned around and started walking through the rooms.
"And where do you think you're going, kitty cat?" he askes me, as we passed some Greek statues. I stopped for a moment to look at the statue of Venice, then turned my head to look at him.
"To put back what I stole" I answered him.
"The things don't work that way when you steal something. Finders keepers"
"Just like you did with the suit?"
"Wonder Boy wasn't going to wear it. And admit it, it looks better on me" I threw him another look and smirked at the statement. We arrived shortly in an empty room, with only a small column with a red cushion on it. Everything looked normal, but one thing was missing.
"Wait" I heard his worried voice. I didn't bother to stop, I knew the alarm was deactivated when that woman entered the museum. I took the Scepter that was hanging heavy on my belt in my left hand. I looked at it then put it back to where it belonged.
"Now what?" he asked, watching me as I stepped closer to him. With my face inches away from his mask, I snaked my hand around his waist.
"You want to do this now?" he said with a husky voice.
"Yes" I pushed the alarm button behind him, then the teleportation button on his belt. In seconds, we were on the top of the building, next to the museum. I kissed him, leaving lip marks on his mask. I closed my eyes and heard the sirens of the police cars approach. With small steps, and imagining a catwalk in front of me as I put one foot in front of the other, I approached the edge of the building. The titans where already with the police, and I could see Xavier's father running in the museum. I smiled a little thinking at the surprised face he will have when seeing the Scepter. Without looking behind, I crouched and looked at the roof a few meters down.
„If you try to steal the Scepter, I will personally kill you" I said sensing X's heartbeat like drums in my ears. I jumped and remained weightless in midair for a second, then came down on the roof. I leaped from building to building, with my mind blank, except from the fact that I had to get soon to the tower. If X teleported there, as he usually does after an encounter with me, then that was the last thing I wanted him to find out.