"What's the matter B, cat got your tongue." Selina laughed, picking a piece of lint off his shoulder. He can't help the tension he feels, but he's more than happy to have her teasing.
"Of course, just like old times" Kicking himself for the bad joke, feeling someone approach from behind him.
"Yes, exactly like old times, how are you, Miss Vale?" Her eyes never left his as she greeted the woman.
"What a surprise! The Wayne's home at last! Or I suppose former Wayne's" Vicki linked her arms through Bruce's.
Selina briefly glanced at their entwined arms, before responding "It is a surprise, isn't it? Much like seeing you here, last I heard you were in Metropolis with the Daily Planet"
"Gotham has a way of pulling us back home doesn't it." Vicki looked less than pleased, "Bruce was just telling me about his travels abroad"
"I don't think I ever agreed to storytime, Vicki," Bruce grumbled.
"Oh I'm sure that the Gotham Gazette readers would love to hear all about it, and we both know how much Vale hangs on your every word." Selina gave them both a nod and sauntered away.
Tonight was definitely full of surprises, Bruce was frustrated and irritated. He wanted to talk to Selina, what was she doing back, why was she wearing the same necklace that was stolen earlier. All these questions and he couldn't bring himself to ask the most important one, how does she still have so much power over him.
"I apologize Miss. Vale-" he started
"Really? Back to last names" Vicki interrupted him.
"I'll have my assistant call you and set up a time for the interview." Bruce pulled his arm from her and walked away.
The billionaire vigilante never saw Selina again that night. The gala lasted too long in his opinion, but he knew that it was important to the board as well as Gotham to see his public persona. No matter how much he longed to go back on patrol.
The last guest left and Bruce let out a long-suffering sigh. He undid his bow tie and made his way to the kitchen. He could hear Alfred in the kitchen talking, assuming he's directing the cleaning crew. The voices became clearer and more familiar and looking in from the hallway he stopped in his tracks. Selina Kyle was standing next to the faithful butler drying the dishes and laughing.
"I really do not think you should be helping Mistress." Alfred shook his head, knowing there was no use trying to stop the young woman.
"And I really think you should have let the caterers clean up their own mess." Selina nudged his shoulder with her own.
"They did plenty of the work already, maybe I wanted to have a chance for a private conversation with you my dear. Did you enjoy yourself?" he asked.
"Honestly A, I wasn't expecting to, but I truly did. Oh! I brought you some of that tea you like, but no sharing it with anyone" Selina put the last plate away before moving to the barstool.
"Thank you, I'll be sure to keep it for myself unless you'd like a cup now." she nodded and Alfred moved a kettle to the stove "I'm glad you've come home, Mistress Wayne."
"Don't start. It's Selina or Miss Kyle, let's not ruin the night with a petty argument over names." Selina glared at the older man.
"If you don't like the title madam I wonder if you'll do something about it. Master Bruce certainly won't." the butler was stern but with kind eyes "He missed you, he'll never say it but he did"
"Alfred I love you but I'm not going to have this conversation this late. I'll have to take a rain check on the tea as well." Selina slid from the stool and kissed the man on the cheek "It's late and I'm still jet-lagged. Sleep well."
Bruce was raised to know better, but he was rooted to the spot listening to the two of them talk. With the conversation ending, he turned and walked away, wondering if Selina would be leaving through the servant's entrance or make her way to the main entrance. He hoped for the latter, but he wasn't that lucky. He'd have to find his answers another way.
Letting Alfred know that he'd be down in the lab finishing up some leads on the open cases. He started with Selina, when had she come back, who was she working with, and if she had any ties to the cat burglar. Her Paris gallery was doing well, the clientele was eclectic, and some more known (to Bruce anyway) than others, Lex Luthor, Gabriel Agreste, and Diana Prince. She had a few artists and designers that sold solely with her gallery alone. From her employee's listed none stuck out except one Holly Robinson.
Holly and Selina had been close as children they had practically raised each other. They both came from nothing and fought to survive on the streets. Holly had been arrested for prostitution and assaulting an officer just after Selina and Bruce eloped. Knowing how close the two of the women were, Bruce had offered to post bail and Holly agreed to community service. He never knew what happened to the woman after that, Selina only said that Holly was finding herself and the conversation was dropped. Either Holly Robinson had found herself a new identity as a cat-burglar or there was more to the story. Whatever the case Batman would find out soon enough.