Chapter 3 No Pain

Lost in the Echo (Linkin Park)

On the streets of Gotham, we see a number of thugs cuffed on the wall and street pipes from the heroic pair patrolling on the night. The Bat and Cat had done a good amount of work after officially entering a relationship and fully partners now or lovers off the streets. Now they were heading home together, to the Batcave has Batman wants Catwoman to fully be in and among other things.

We see the Batmobile speeding through the streets of Gotham, disappearing into the night, and head back to base.

"Heading to your home, huh handsome. I haven't been to Wayne Manor or your secret cave," Catwoman admitted as she enjoyed the drive with the man she loves back to his home which might be their home down the line.

"Yep, we will be there shortly. And you have been looking at Wayne Manor for your next heist," Batman said, adding a surprising fact.

"What? No, I haven't, well one time before I went to Paris. Glad I skip that heist," Catwoman said.

"Glad you did too or otherwise might be a little strange to get some unwanted attention," Batman said, knowing what could help if the press saw him in Wayne Manor and would connect the dots.

"Batman in Wayne Manor, Gotham's Prince is the Knight. Doesn't sound like a good ring to me for the front of the page," Catwoman joked for light humor.

"It does not," Batman agreed as he trun to the left which caused the cat to land on his lap which she planed for.

Catwoman smiled as she rested her head in the Bat's lap and tranced his chest with her right hand to her fingertips.

"You know we could have a little time before heading home, handsome?" Catwoman teased with a smirk as she moved her head a little closer and her right hand moving down but was stopped by the Bat's left hand.

"Maybe but I rather not ruin my car's inner works. Alfred cleans them every week and I rather not have him clean our mess," Batman said, not wanting his father figure to clean the aftermath of his passion moments with Selina.

"Ohh fine but later?" Catwoman asked with a small pout.

"Yes, later," Batman quickly replied which the Cat smirked and wasn't leaving the lap.

"You could get up."

"Nope. It's warm down here. I can think of a lot of ways for the next moment, Alex."

"I bet you would, Selina. I bet you would."

The ride to the Batcave was quite and interesting as the pair finally made it home. The Batmobile stops as it soon comes into the cave and parks up for the night until another patrol comes which the pair came out of the car.

Selina took off her goggles and mask, admiring and was impressed with the cave, to say the least.

"Impress?" Alex questioned as he takes off his wraps and masks.

"Much more. Where do you get this stuff?" Selina asked, noticing different things in the cave that she remembers seeing one time at one point and some notable ones.

"I had a lot of time over the years," Alex replied which was true.

Then the sounds of grunts and spar taking place got the pair's attention to see the two teens sparing in hand to hand combat. Ben and Cassandra decied to get some sparing in to pass the time before they go on patrol or not but keep themself in shape. It looks to be the blonde's favor as he counters the punches and was about to strike but stopped when he noticed who was in the cave.

"Catwoman!" Ben said in shock on seeing Selina here and with Alex which left him open.

Seeing the opening, Cassandra punches Ben without noticing, so hard that send him to loses his footwork and right in between Alex and Selina who was got him from hitting the floor by them.

"That doesn't count, Cassandra," Ben said as he was pulled up by Alex and dusted himself off.

"It does, another win for me. And Cat here," Cassandra pointed out.

"Yeah, I noticed that. So why she's here?" Ben asked as he walks over to the table to get some bottles of water for him and Cassandra to drink up.

"She's with me, us. Selina will come home for a while now," Alex replied as he turns off the sparing floor and let it return to the workout floor.

"In more ways than one," Selina added with a smirk which Alex smiled on that.

Ben and Cassandra got onto that which made them smile and something else as well.

"Who confess first?" Ben asked, getting to the point.

"Who jump the relationship?" Cassandra asked.

"Huh?" The pair questioned the two teens on what they meant.

"Who confessed and start the relationship first, you or Selina?" Ben asked.

"I did and had our relationship move up," Alex said, choosing his words carefully and didn't want Cassandra to get some thoughts to start getting on Ben, they are not ready for that.

"I believe we confess and agree to work together in more ways than one. But why the questions?" Selina asked, wondering where the teens were getting at.

"Weeeell...Cassandra and I made a bet with everyone on when you will confess to Selina, Alex. Dick bet Monday, Tim next week, Alfred stay out of it but said he will get the room ready for whatever reasons I don't know, and even Jean-Paul was on that bet to Tuesday. Cassandra bet Wednesday and I bet Thursday which is today, meaning I won the bet," Ben explained with a smile on his face.

"No fair," Cassandra said, being annoyed that she lost the bet.

Alex and Selina smirked at this to their amusement which the Cat can tell that won't be boring here as she thought and looks forward to the fun she will have with her lover & his family.

Later

Later and some little time to relax, we see Batman and Catwoman in the Batcave doing some work. The night wasn't over and one more patrol before calling it a night.

"So what's next handsome? What's next on our patrol for the night?" Catwoman asked.

Batman hummed in thought and already had the thought of going to a certain place to meet an old enemy of his which today is the best night to visit him. He handed the Cat a cup of coffee which she gladly takes and drinks some too.

"We are going to Black Gate and visit someone," Batman replied.

"Who?" Catwoman asked as she drinks some of her coffee.

"The person you robe from," Batman said which almost made the Cat choke on her drink but calm down.

"I was mind control on stealing that money, as you know," Catwoman pointed out.

"I know but I don't think he knows and will most likely be after you for payback on stealing his money. But that's not the problem," Batman said.

"What's the problem and who is this person?" Catwoman asked.

"Bane, he is the one you stole from. Hush might have a deal with Bane but something must have happened for this new player to steal his money," Batman answered.

"Well shit," Catwoman cursed, so much for good luck.

"Yeah, but I don't think he will be after you or Ivy. Bane would most likely work for Hush to get to me, the one person he wants to break again," Batman said, recalling painful memories of his last major fight with Bane who became the man that broke the Bat by breaking his spin. Yeah, not so good memories for memory line but anyway.

Catwoman sighed as she finished her coffee and kissed the Bat's cheek for her own luck.

"I guess to Black Gate then, huh?" Catwoman said.

"Yep, Black Gate it is," Batman said as he pressed a button on his belt which had his ride starts up for their drive to the prison that held Bane.

Small Time Skip

Black Gate

We see the Batmobile park outside the prison with Batman exiting out of the car. Catwoman was close to coming out but was stopped as the Bat placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Stay put. If Bane finds out that you stole his money, mind control, or not, he will come after you. While money is not an issue for him but it helps when he needs it the most. Stay here and wait for my call," Batman said which there's was a hit of concern in his voice and wasn't unnoticed by the Cat.

"Alright but don't take too long. Also, should we be worried about Ivy as she set up the robbing the money?" Catwoman asked.

"Most likey and we will. I will question Bane about his involvement with Hush and see what I can get out of him. There's a chance that Bane might be aware of Hush's plans and he could give something to help him escape Black Gate but only one way to find out," Batman explained as he went to the back of the car and pick a tool just in case things get out of hand.

"You know that Ivy has feelings for you," Catwoman pointed out, seeing it was the best time and get the worry off her chest.

Batman stopped in his tracks and know that to be true as he had mixed feelings for Poison Ivy as well over the years. He had done his best to help her as he knows all about her past and what she is now. There were times certain feelings rise up but never came up as the two never talk about it and builds up.

"I see," Batman said.

Catwoman raised an eyebrow at that and said, "And?"

"It is mix feelings for me over the years as well," Batman simply replied as goes to Black Gate.

Catwoman wanted to say something but didn't as she was can understand that and see why it's mixed feelings now. She will have to talk to Bats about that, but later as they have work tonight.

With Batman, he used the shadows as he enters the prison and avoids all of the guards that were guarding the cells on a high level which a great number of them were somewhere else instead of their normal position. He had an idea that a fight will most likely happen between him and Bane but this time will be different and he had a feeling that he will get some answers to the case he is working on.