And then there was darkness. Darkness suffocating my body like a damp, musty, thick blanket, clinging to every inch of my pale skin. I've seen darkness before, the kind that makes the city looks like an old-fashioned photograph, everything a shade of grey. This isn't like that. This is the darkness that robs you of your best sense and replaces it with a paralyzing fear. In this darkness I sit, muscles cramped and unable to move. I only know my eyes are still there because I can feel myself blink, still instinctively moisturizing the organs I have no current use for. The silence was echoing in my ears. I sat alone terrified in the darkness. From time to time I gulped, hearing a little pop in my ears. I remembered this friendly darkness that surrounded me and kissed my cold skin. It was death. It was the same feeling I had when I was a little girl. I remembered it perfectly.
„The cops are here! Let's go!" A man's voice yelled from across the room.
„I am not leaving her here. That piece of garbage doesn't deserve happiness" I heard my teacher's voice. A woman in her forties, with short platinum hair and green eyes yelled. Her red lips formed a line as she glared at me.
„Teacher, I promise I'll behave" I managed to say, with my voice cracking.
„Oh, sweetie, this is not about you, this is about your father. He broke my heart, now I will break his" she said, and blind folded me. She picked me up and started running.
„Angelique, leave her!" the same man yelled.
„No, he needs to be taught a lesson" the cold wind caressed my cheeks as we got out of the building.
„Goodbye, love" she dropped me and for a second, I thought I was free. Not once in my life had I been so wrong. Freezing water surrounded my body. My heart started beating so loudly, I could hear the thump in my ears. Being tied up didn't help me. I struggled to free myself, and after some time, I got tired. And a little after that, I lost the fight. My body paralyzed from the cold water, it was no use to keep fighting.
‚I wished I was with mommy' I thought before I entered in the dark completely.
I blinked again, not knowing what to expect. Regaining composure, I found out I wasn't afraid anymore. I accepted this state. The only guilt I had is that I had no memory whatsoever to how I got here. That made me feel a pressure on my chest. Maybe it was my fault, I think I made a wrong decision. Maybe I was in the city and I miscalculated when jumping from a building. The pressure continued, and it started disturbing me. I tried to shake it off, thinking that maybe I was in a plane crash. That didn't seem right, and the pressure persisted. I knew that it had something to do with me falling. The moment the pressure took the air from my lungs, surprising me, a flash before my eyes made me realize what happened. I was with Xavier, we drank, danced, then I was pushed off the cliff. I started to gasp for air. In the back of my mind, I could see my inner goddess raging with hate and madness. I took control of my body and started clawing my way out of the darkness. I screamed when my eyes finally welcomed the bright white light. It bothered my eyes, but for now, I never wanted to close them again. My mind was spinning from information. I was in the tower, in my room, the only thing covering my body was the sheet from the bed.
„Lore" I looked at the small feline next to me. She meowed at me. A long sound I was glad I heard. I took her in my arms, her soft fur brushing my skin and rose up from the bed, feeling like a truck hit me. A loud knock made me grab my head.
„Leona, lunch is ready" that was Robin's voice. Confusion struck me. How did I end here? I looked down at myself and gasped. I dropped Lore and ran to the bathroom, only to see the fear on my face. I was covered in dry blood. I entered the shower and started scrubbing my skin inch by inch, searching for the wound. Half an hour later an insistent knocking from Robin at my door could be heard.
„Leona?" he yelled from the other side of the door. I wanted to answer but I couldn't. My voice would crack. Tears trailed my cheeks, falling on my knees. There I was, the fierce Catwoman, hugging herself on the bathroom floor, scared.
„...Are you ok?" I heard Robin ask softly. I was on my feet the moment I heard the door open. He was rigid, but softened immediately when he saw me.
„I'm okay" I answered, not looking at him anymore.
„Good, cause you're in a lot of trouble" I rolled my eyes and took some clothes. Getting the point, he left me to change. I stomped to the living room, with Lore beside me. A moment ago, I felt weak, but now I just wanted to eat and find out what on earth happened to me. The doors opened and only Stafire and Robin were to be seen.
„Leona! Welcome, did you have a good rest?" Starfire took Lore in her arms and started petting her. As my little friend purred in her arms, I nodded at her at took a seat at the table, in front of pancakes.
„How did I end up here?" The red headed looked at Robin, confused.
„Leona, Xavier came in this morning with you. You were reeking of alcohol, not able to stand on your feet. Even your cat couldn't stand you. She hissed and scratched you. Then you fell on the floor, asleep. Care to explain what happened?" Robin sounded like my father after I came from a shop session in the night.
„My head still hurts, Robin. I don't remember how I got here, or why I was covered in blood" Silence fell on us, as they gave me a serious.
„Leona, are you hurt?" Starfire's concern puzzled me in that moment.
„No, I took a shower and... what?" I asked them as their faces become more and more serious. Then it struck me. I just told them what no one wanted to hear, especially from a guest in someone's house.
„Leona, you had no blood on you when Xavier brought you" a sound of alarm turned on in my brain. How could I come home, so drunk that I can't remember what happened? And how can they not see the blood I had. I was covered in it from head to toe, my hair was still sticky from it, and the smell of iron was in my nostrils permanently. Seeing Robin and Starfire gravely concerned, I smiled sheepishly.
„That's right. I'm on my period." Robin blushed a little and cleared his throat.
„Oh, then ok" He left the room when I required a pill for my headache.
„Starfire, where did Lore scratched me?"
„On the left wrist. She scratched you badly. You were bleeding" Lore jumped from her arms and went to her bowl to eat.
„Thank you, Star" I started to eat when my stomach growled. Feeling a little better, I examined my intact wrist. More questions unanswered. What happened to me, and if I don't have any scratch from my beloved cat, then who was here?
Raven brought me to reality when she put a cup of tea in front of me. I thanked her mechanically and took a sip from it. Soon, the others came too. Beastboy wanted a revenge at the game, Robin yelled at me, while Starfire was happy that we had a gorgeous day ahead of us.
‚ I know that you think you don't fit in.' As I was playing, I heard Raven's voice inside my head. It seemed like I was in a trance.
‚ but from the moment you came here, we tried to protect ourselves, even though Robin vouched for you. In the past, we were hurt, we were deserted, and we had each other to turn to. Then you came along, and we don't know what you are capable of.'
„My little sister!" strong arms wrapped around me and lifted me up, making me lose the game. Cyborg became my brother these days, he started caring for me in a way I never imagined.
‚Leona, this is now your family, and be careful who you make an enemy. You do not want to get on my bad side" I looked at Raven and for a moment I thought I saw a pair of red eyes. I smiled at her, when a delicious sensation traveled in my body. The inner goddess moved her tail swiftly, and was sharpening her claws, ready to strike Raven. My pupils became slit, just like a cat's eyes, lucky for me, my dark chocolate eyes hid them well.
„Cyborg, I lost the game..." I said pouting my lips. His eyes widened and looked at Beastboy.
„Nobody steals my baby sis her trophy! Get yo' ass back here and fight her like a man, Beastboy!"
„No!" Beastboy transformed into a kangaroo and started jumping, to avoid being caught by Cyborg. In all that commotion, I started laughing. I drank what was left in the cup, and went next to Raven.
„You started trusting me, but can I trust you?" she smiled and took the cup from me, preparing another cup of tea with her powers.
„yes, you can" I smiled softly at that statement. Half an hour later, sitting in my room next to the opened window, I tried to remember last night. Hearing Lore purring brought over me a state of calm. As the city lights twinkled, my mind traced off. It couldn't have been him. But we were alone on that hill. I spoke with Xavier today, and his statement was that I was a bit too drunk, and that he brought me home in one piece, with my clothes on. I played again and again in my mind how I was transformed the first time. I knew about Midnight giving me the breath of life, but now it felt just like that. I must of...
„died..." I said realizing that. I got up and took the costume from under the bed. The night seemed longer with each passing thought, I felt the cold air hitting me as a lonely road greeted me. Driving with 200 km/h always calmed me, but now it was not the time to enjoy the rush. I parked exactly on the cliff, and started searching for anything that seemed off, like the little rocks and dirt with blood that I left when I dug my fingers in it, to stop my fall. As I looked down, I was hit with an image, of me, dressed in a ripped tank top and torn jeans, dead on the rocks. I died. Yesterday was the day I died a second time. In that moment, my worries vanished, taking every bit of strength in my feet. Serenity came veiling my body and bringing me on my knees.
At the crack of dawn, I fell on my bed, feeling empty. A piece of me was missing, left on those cold rocks. I hugged the fluffy pillow, and just as my eyes started closing, a presence appeared in my room, more exactly, in my bed.
„I was starting to get the idea that you forgot about me" I opened my eyes lazily and came face to face with the skull.
„how can I forget such a pretty face?" it was nice to get a compliment from time to time. I smiled, watching him as he put his hands behind his head and looked at the ceiling.
„So, what's new? I haven't heard in a while from you" he shifted his weight too look at me, resting his head in his left hand. Thank you, Robin, for inventing this costume, now I had what to look at. Almost every perfect muscle was defined with this suit. I felt like a wolf with my tongue out, just like in cartoons.
„you know, the same old, kitty cat. Diamonds, xenothium, diamonds again. How about you?"
„You know, same old things. Salons, spa's..." dying.
„You have been busy. I imagine you can't keep such a figure so easily" I blushed and tugged at my sheets, covering myself. I forgot I was only wearing a large t-shirt that barely passed my butt. I was very secure about my body, yet, he made me blush, and under his gaze, I felt stripped naked and vulnerable.
X's P.O.V.
She blushed and pulled the sheets, covering her perfect body. I have been with many women, but none of them looked like her. Her hair was not curly nor straight. It looked like a mane that framed her oval face perfectly. Her eyes seemed black, but I have seen them up close and they were brown, just like the dark chocolate. Her body had a muscle definition that certainly was achieved from all the jumping, running and fighting. If I didn't know any better, I would have said she was an actress. I know she is the little cat thief that appeared in my town. How many girls fly from Gotham City here?
„how do you like the city so far, princess?" she lazily opened her big brown eyes to look at me.
„Too little activity. How do you entertain yourself? Apart from stealing" I smirked at her.
„I don't keep a low profile, like others. I just go out whenever I want"
„And what makes you believe I keep a low profile?" she almost whispered that last part. I instinctively started caressing her on the head. She moaned softly, and a little smile appeared on her lips. In a few minutes, she started breathing steadily, sign that she was asleep.
„For instance, you don't go out as Catwoman that much" the cat startled me when she jumped next to me. She put herself between me and Leona, as if to protect her. From the information I gathered about Catwoman, one thing was for sure: she could make any cat listen to her, and not only the little fluff balls with sharp razor claws, but the big ones as well. I took out my mask and ruffled my hair. I remained still, looking at her figure. In my mind remaining by her side to sleep sounded like a good idea. Who wouldn't want to wake up next to her? And her bed was so comfortable, no wonder she fell asleep immediately. I got up and examined her room. It was clean in a kind of messy way. The coffee table in the room was full of make-up, jewelry, and the couch was full of her clothes, folded to be fair. What got my attention was half of a black box that stuck out from under her bed. I pulled it out and opened it, to be greeted by the black mask. I took one of her gloves and I remained amazed by the diamond claws incorporated in them. It was so simple compared to my suit. She had only her mask, the suit that was purely cosmetic, the gloves with the diamond claws, and her whip. The suit was full body with a zip up, black and made of latex, sticking to the body in all the right places when worn. I wanted to laugh, comparing my suit to this costume. My suit was bullet proof, my gloves had many gadgets in them, as well as the mask and the belt, and here she was, ready to wear this and fight with heroes and bad buys. She wasn't someone to underestimate, she fought well when I first met her. And just like her predecessor, her prowess in stealth and acrobatics were amazing. I thought I was good, but after seeing her in action in videos from several cameras in Gotham city, I had to admit I was not that good.
„Maybe that's why she wants you so much" I murmured to myself. I put all the things back as they were. I glanced at her when she rolled over, giving me a glance at her lace black bikini and tight tummy. Now I knew it was time to leave, before I made any rash decisions. I gave her a peck on the forehead and teleported myself out of her room, when the sun light made its way into the room and the alarm of the Titans broke the silence.