To my faithful followers!

1) I'm not dead! I have not forgotten about this lovely fanfiction I've just been busy as all hell with work and dealing with a concussion!

2) I have been debating on buckling down and trying to finish my novel so my posts will be a bit slower (as if they weren't already am I right? :P)

3) How's the story? Anything you guys like to see in the future? Let me know in the comments and I always love reviews for my work!

Sincerely,

- TFS

It felt too strange being out of costume for so long. Bruce had been going to meetings regularly, showing up not half asleep and the League had yet to call him for any pressing matters save the usual. It was all a routine to him and it was because of Barbara that he was going strong. His guard however was ever present, something was bound to go wrong but thus far in their four months of having a relationship nothing had yet. She was a nice distraction from Jon's death.

The funeral was for lack of a better word, unremarkable. There was only him, Barbara and a few of the policemen who found the young boy and even the Commissioner who ragged on at him, jokingly of course, about his love for kids, especially the broken ones. He smiled ruefully in response, but comments like that always struck a raw nerve for him. Barbara was well disguised that day and squeezed his hand tightly to stop him from bursting out at him. He figured the man would know that even know his parents and childhood were still a touchy subject. Being cold could last for so long.

The few experiments the pair of them had raked their minds over curing her condition have shown positive results in sixty-three percent of the samples, but over time the samples decayed and rotted. On a larger scale it would cause the subject to decay from the inside out. He shuddered at the thought of that but never said his piece. Even now he did his best not to show weakness. He was still Batman, and showing weakness, even without the mask, always irritated him.

Bruce still looked to the future though, and probed gently with other heroes as well as Dick Grayson, who now went under Nightwing, for any troubled teens that sought guidance. His argument was that teenagers could be taught and molded and adults required much more time. With Gotham's crime rate steady but not inflating he needed to make sure who he picked was perfect for the role. Not good, not recruited on a chance whim, but perfect.

Perfection was scarcely found in the unforgiving streets of Gotham.

"Batman without his mask?"

He turned his head slightly and then looked back at the screen. The latest reports from the GCPD were in, and it seemed there was a string a murders all linked to the same weapon; a cleaver. He could only fathom which of his gallery would use that and only the Joker fit the profile. The images he saw though didn't show a sadistic madman but showed a skilled hand at carving meat. He was happy he was eating salad that evening.

"Kal, always good to hear from you. How's the League?"

He turned his chair and Superman had his arms folded over his chest with his eyes narrowed. He was an intimidating man to be certain, but Bruce had a contingency plan for everyone of the League. The contingencies were needed in case something should happen and during his darker moments he had been tempted to use them on the self-righteous, especially Superman.

"Worried." He stated simply.

"About?"

"You're barely at the Watchtower and the few conversations we've had they were short. I'm checking in that's all."

Bruce smirked a bit. "Of course, Barbara and I are doing fine but right now this string of murders is starting to draw my eye."

"Enough to throw the cape on again?"

He shrugged a shoulder. "Most likely, I may have the cowl off Kal but I spar with Barbara everyday."

"Spar or "spar"?" he asked, using air quotes for a certain emphasis.

"A bit of both when we're all worked up."

"I thought a gentleman never tells?"

He saw her come into the cave, but didn't say a word, but Kal's face was worth it. It was blushing scarlet even as his kitten slid into his lap with an arm curled loosely about his neck. She kissed his cheek and nuzzled his neck. He kissed her furry cheek and nuzzled her neck in turn even as his arm looped around her waist.

"Err… Cheetah… That… I was… uhh…"

She laughed softly, waving a claw dismissively. "Relax, Superman I won't say a thing to Lois."

His eyes widened and he shot a glare to Bruce who only smirked in turn. His hand traced along her side and she only wiggled in his lap in response.

"Why did you tell her of Lois?"

"I trust her, and I do not say that often."

"She could s-"

"Kal. Don't." He said in a low, warning tone. "We've went over this several times already. If she wanted to betray me, she could have when we first met. She didn't, even during her amnesiac state."

Kal opened his mouth to say something else but pinched the bridge of nose instead. "Fine, but if this blows back on you I won't be there to help you."

Bruce's eyes narrowed on him. "I didn't need it before, did I?"

Superman turned on his heel and sped away. Bruce allowed a shaky breath to slip from him as he leaned back in his chair. "…That was fun." He murmured.

"I take it you two have been arguing.. a lot?"

He nodded, turning his chair about while peering at a few of the reports. "He doesn't just villains, former or not, I don't blame him but I stand by my decisions. I suppose he'll have to deal with it."

She kissed and nipped at his neck teasingly. "It's been a good few months hasn't it?"

He nodded, smiling as his lips grazed at hers. "It has, little kitten."

"Anything new?" she asked, pointing at the screen.

It was another thing he admired about Barbara. Her intelligence was endless. Her years as a chemist, and he supposed her time as a supervillain, turned her into the woman she was today. His hand idly traced at her hip still as he peered over the reports, a pensive frown curled at his lip.

"Nothing out of the ordinary. The cleaver is the same though. They even matched the marks it made within the victims."

"Sentimental value?"

"Perhaps. Or it's what the murderer found solace in, a good chop and his problems were done. I'm thinking more of a mental breakdown."

"Seems your rogue's gallery is filled with those sorts…"

He felt a heavy weight suddenly on his shoulders at the mention. "Don't get me started."

"Though I'm curious…" she purred.

His brow quirked and he nipped her ear, causing her to gasp sharply. "About?"

"Did you make them? Or did they make you?"

He frowned. "Hugo Strange asked me that same question…"

"What was your answer then?"

Bruce shrugged, peering sidelong at her before looking back at the reports. "In all honesty? I can't remember. All I know now is I'm here and so are they, and I… well we I suppose now, need to make the best of it."

She nuzzled into his neck. "Always with the evasive answers."

He chuckled softly. "It's what I do best."

She leaned back, perking a brow with a demure smile. "That's all you do best?"

A playful grin tugged at his lip. "Well… not the only thing I do best."

She giggled as she pressed his lips to his in a fiery kiss. He returned it while the hand tracing at her hip slipped down and grasped her rump. She gasped into his mouth for a moment but he pulled away.

"Now, are you going to go out there again?"

He nodded. "If I can get another into Arkham that's be preferable… who knows what'd he'd do in a prison full of living people, but I want you to stay here, kitten."

"What?!"

"In case I need help I know someone will be here to help. Alfred can only do so much for me when I'm out there."

She nodded, a cute pouting curling her feline lip. "If you insist."

He cupped her furred cheek with a smile and nipped the pouting lower lip. "If anything happens or changes I'll call you straight away."

"Promise?"

He hesitated for a moment. He didn't have to rely on anyone, trusting someone was one thing, but to solely rely on them was a different matter entirely. He leaned in and kissed at her ear, saying nothing as he gave a small nod.

"Good, now get dressed… and also take your time getting undressed. Unless you want me to distract you a bit first?"

He played coy, looking confused for a moment. "And how would you do that?"

Her claw raked pleasantly along his groin in answer. He shuddered and grinned at her. He turned off the reports, the address of the most recent murder in mind already as he lifted her against his strong frame. She kissed him feverishly, her rough tongue ground at his. He didn't mind the texture oddly, but still had to get accustomed to it each time. He suckled at her lower lip before he carried her onto one of the few chest press machines he stored down it. It wasn't a bed, but it would work.

His clothing was off in a hurry and he was already throbbing for her. Her hand squeezed and stroked him slowly. He watched, biting his lower lip as he stared at her wide feline eyes. She was enjoying this. She always bit the corner of her lip when she was enjoying something at hand, in this case literally. He let her have her fun for a moment more before he pushed her back onto it. She was already moist for him.

It was his turn to tease her now. He pressed in, allowing his tip to drag along her folds. She arched her back and moaned out. She grasped her bust while her eyes went half lidded.

"Oh Bruce…take me…"

He wasn't sure if it was the eyes or her tone but he complied. He slammed into her, grunting softly as he bottomed out within her. His hands slid to her rear, grasping tightly as his hips curled and rammed hard into her sex. He watched her face contort and twist in pleasure. She was rocking against him in turn, doubling their bliss. He felt her juices stain his flesh. He showered before going on patrol anyway, he didn't mind the mess. He kept going as sweat with dotting his chest when he pressed in, grinding her bust with his torso. She screamed in pleasure and was soon cursing beneath her heated breathes.

Then she came, her back arched again, eyes fluttered. He felt her finish and coat his length in her slick juices. He didn't hold back either, teasingly biting into her neck as he pressed in tightly. His warm, thick ropes of cum stained her inner walls. He held in for awhile before he pulled out, shuddering as a bit more stained her folds. He took in the sight of her, fur nearly glowing as her enchanting eyes. She leaned up, biting his lower lip teasingly.

"Come back safe." She whispered.

Those words echoed in his ears even as he slipped into the Batmobile and sped off into the night and a sudden pit of worry began to form in his gut.